I was so excited to discover that this novel had been published! Finally, after four novellas, Tess Winnett had her own full-length novel again - my wish had been granted! Sadly, though, "The Girl They Took" didn't meet my expectations and I was left feeling disappointed.

The storyline was slow and lacking. There were no twists and turns or nail-biting moments that I usually expect from Leslie Wolfe books and Winnett wasn't her usual strong, feisty self. Instead of solving a sex crime, which is what FBI Agent Tess Winnett does best, she had to find a kidnapped child. The plot dragged and I wasn't as invested as I usually am when Tess is on a case. Overall, "The Girl they Took" was an okay read but not to the usual standard I associate with this author. ( )

The Girl They Took by Leslie Wolfe certainly packed a punch. This is the first Tess Winnett novel I've read, and I was not disappointed. I was hesitant about accepting this book for review because it's the eighth novel in the Tess Winnett series, but after I was informed that it read as a standalone, I jumped right in. I can say without a doubt now that you definitely don't need to read the other books in the series to enjoy this one.

Based on my basic knowledge of the previous books, I can see how Tess's character arc may have improved in this installment, and long-time fans of the series may be excited to find out how Tess handles her first ransom kidnapping case. Since this is the only book I've read in the series, however, my review will focus more on how it was as a standalone rather than how it relates to other books in the series.

My experience reading this was enjoyable but odd. I was hooked in the first few chapters, lost some interest in the middle chapters, and then couldn't put the story down for the remaining third of the story. I think part of why I lost interest was because the kidnapping wasn't quite like the blurb led me to believe. A few descriptions felt a little clunky, but the author did an excellent job capturing the characters in a way that I could connect with them, or at least understand them.

Leslie Wolfe withheld just enough information to leave me wondering what was really going on and where it was all heading. It was a smart move for the author to keep track of how many hours the child spent missing, as it revved up the tension even more. The suspense was executed splendidly and built up to an excellent conclusion. The Girl They Took was a well-structured, twisty adult thriller perfect for fans of the genre, especially those who enjoy getting into the antagonists' minds.

(Disclaimer: I signed up for this tour through Silver Dagger Book Tours and received a free digital copy of this book from the author for review purposes. All opinions in this review are my own and are honest and unbiased.)

Trigger warning: This book includes some physical violence and brief mentions of sexual violence and pedophilia. ( )