Finders Keepers

This is the third book in the Exmoor trilogy by Belinda Bauer. It is a standalone book; however, I would recommend reading the Exmoor books in order as you gain greater insight into the characters and their motivations. The premise of this crime story/police procedural is that someone is kidnapping kids and leaving notes at the kidnapping site that say their guardians don’t love them.

In the community where the abductions happen Jonas Holly, a local policeman is recovering from the tragic death of his wife for which he assumes responsibility. His only reason for living is to get back to his job and assist Detective Inspector Reynolds and Detective Sergeant Elizabeth Rice in their investigation of the missing children. Both Reynolds and Rice are familiar with the area having worked on the previous murder cases with Holly.

The perpetrator seems to be taking kids, a girl thirteen and a boy, nine when they are briefly separated from their parents by circumstances the kidnapper could not predict ahead of time. To the investigators, this means that the person responsible is lying in wait and seizing opportunities as they arise. He or she is using precious seconds when parents’ backs are turned, or children are briefly on their own. Jess Took, one of the victims was waiting inside a horse trailer for her father to return from a hunt.

Steven Lamb, a child in the first book in the series is now a middle teenager. He harbors suspicions about Jonas Holly, thinking that all is not right with the policeman. Steven has doubts about Holly’s version of his wife’s death having witnessed an intimate scene with the couple that indicated domestic abuse before she died. As a paperboy, Steven is a silent observer of many of the members of the community, and his curiosity motivates him to work with his friend Lewis to lay a trap for the kidnapper. It works, though not as he had planned, and he becomes one of the kidnapped.

The story is filled with wonderful characters from DI Reynolds who is constantly fiddling with and adjusting his hair plugs to the teenager who “borrows” cars and improves them, so when the owner gets the car back it's in a much better condition than when it was stolen. The humorous episodes prevent the mystery from becoming too dark. Those familiar with Bauer’s work know she is not afraid to explore disturbing themes. She does here with a thoroughly compelling mystery, great writing, and a white-knuckle ending.

In MB's first book. I paused partway through this and wondered what happened. How did her writing become SO ugly? I'll read one more and if the trend continues, no more MB for me.

Boring, wordy, figured it out early on. First and last time reading this author

Another great book by Belinda Bauer. This 3rd in the Exmoor Trilogy (which I finished in 3 days) is highly satisfying and deliciously creepy with the odd dollop of humor thrown in. It can be read as a stand alone, but I read the previous 2 and would suggest to any newcomers to Ms. Bauer: read all three in order, you will be so glad you did! Highly recommended.