My Child is Missing

Detective Josie Quinn #18

by Lisa Regan

The little girl’s bright blue eyes are wide with fear, her hair tousled, her tears making tracks in the dirt smudged across her cheek. Curled tight in a tiny ball, it’s as if she wants to hide away forever. “He took her!” she cries. “He took my sister!”

When a desperate mother calls Denton Police Department to report her children missing, Detective Josie Quinn races to investigate. Sixteen-year-old Kayleigh and her little sister Savannah went for a walk in the woods but never came home. They are good girls and know not to go far, say their frantic parents. Kayleigh always looks after Savannah and brings her home safely. Until now…

Even as she vows to bring the sisters home safely, Josie’s blood runs cold: because they are not the only missing children. Rumors are spreading about the legend of “The Woodsman”: when pairs of children go into the woods, The Woodsman takes one of them and only one comes out alive. With local teenagers daring each other to walk into the woods at night in pairs, Josie knows that nobody is safe from the hysteria sweeping Denton. Little Savannah Patchett is soon mercifully found alive, alone and terrified, but she tells Josie “The Woodsman has taken my sister”.

All Josie’s leads seem to reach dead ends: her team traces Kayleigh’s scent to a dank, dark cabin in the woods, but the owner has an alibi and there is no evidence that Kayleigh has been inside. When Josie persuades Kayleigh’s classmates to talk, she learns that Kayleigh herself had a secret boyfriend whose identity is a mystery. Josie is desperate to track him down and to work out if he could hold the key to solving the case.

Then Josie’s worst fears come true: another pair goes missing and one of them is found dead soon after. Another teenage girl, lying straight and still, a halo of blood surrounding her beautiful blonde hair.

Josie knows that the legend of The Woodsman is nothing more than a story, but the truth is far more horrifying… With Kayleigh still out there somewhere and the TV news filled with stories of a serial killer at large, how far will Josie have to go to find the killer before more innocent lives are lost?

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Crime, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Detective

326 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 8, 2023

About the author

Lisa Regan is the USA Today & Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Detective Josie Quinn series as well as several other crime fiction titles. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Master of Education Degree from Bloomsburg University. She is a member of Sisters In Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Crime Writers’ Association, and International Thriller Writers. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband, daughter and Boston Terrier named Mr. Phillip.

Reviews

[Bec (becbingesbooks) - sorry, behind with lots of catching up to do · Rating 5 out of 5]

** Happy Publication Day!! **

How long until I no longer say that Lisa Regan has done it again!?

Another 5 star police procedural from book EIGHTEEN in the Josie Quinn series.

At the elementary school that little Harris attends, rumours of a bogeyman aka the Woodsman circulate, where kids go into the woods and never come out. But maybe they're not just rumours because there's been a string of young kids missing or turning up dead. 

For starters, I couldn't have called this ending if my life depended on it. What a friggen twist with an even better message behind it 👏.

I love love love Blue (K-9 unit) and could read about him and his work all day so whenever he features I am hooked and obsessed.

To avoid spoilers, this will make sense to those up to date to book 17: there is a huge moment at the end of book 17 and the way it's dealt with in book 18 is perfection. Throughout the whole book, capturing the issues so well. Couldn't have imagined it done better.

As for the book generally, there is a bad guy POV, which is fab - makes it more creepy. And the story itself was pretty scary and creepy at times with folk lore.

Lisa Regan has yet again nailed the mix of PP, thrills and suspense and I loved it.

There was one questionable police decision in this that has me 🤔 surely not - but it can slide because the balance is amazing.

Anticipated publication date: 8 September 2023.

⚠️ Check TWs online ⚠️

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and Bookouture for my eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The phone call to the Denton Police Department sent chills down Detective Josie Quinn's spine. The Patchett parents were distraught - their two daughters were missing after they had gone for a walk in the woods behind their house, and they hadn't returned. Kayleigh was sixteen while her little sister, Savannah, was eight. The Denton PD was immediately on the scene, throwing everything they could at the search, including Luke and his search dog Blue. The stories that had been circulating of The Woodsman were enough to terrify the people of Denton and surrounds, but adults knew it was only a kid's monster story. But when little Savannah was finally located, wide eyed and terrified, all she could say was "he took her, he took her"...

As Josie and her team continued their search for Kayleigh, secrets were coming to the surface. Two girls had been murdered not far from Denton, with The Woodsman being blamed. Exhaustion was dogging the team; sleeping in shifts to keep the case active twenty-four-seven was all they could do. And then another teenage girl was discovered dead in the woods - the race was on. Could they discover who the killer was before someone else died?

My Child is Missing is #18 is this fast paced and highly addictive series. Author Lisa Regan still manages to come up with fresh, new ideas for her Detective Josie Quinn series, and I'm loving it. Filled with excellent characters, tension filled pages, and electric twists and turns, I can't recommend this one (and the series) highly enough! Although I partially worked something out early in the piece, I was still wrong!

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

[Brenda ~The Sisters~Book Witch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lisa Regan's books consistently garner high praise, with reviewers often exclaiming that she continues to impress and craft captivating page-turners. The strength of the series is evident from comments like "she knocks it out of the park again," "the Series is still going strong," and "Lisa Regan never fails to deliver." That's just from my Traveling Friends, who I always read a new edition to the series. We eagerly devour each of her books, and the consensus is clear: Lisa Regan's creation of the character Josie Quinn stands out, and our shared reading experiences are always thrilling.

What sets this series apart is Josie Quinn's compelling presence and the interconnectedness of all the characters. Lisa Regan excels at revisiting both past and present characters, forming a familial backdrop that enriches the storytelling.

Lisa Regan's masterful ability to rejuvenate that Missing girls trope with something fresh and unexpected always amazes me. In this instance, she weaves the chilling legend of the Woodsman, who takes children who go in the woods, creating the best creepy "Don't go in the woods" feeling that never fails to send shivers down my spine. Twist after unexpected twist kept our minds engaged and our expectations challenged, but this time, Regan blindsides us with an outcome none of us saw coming.

I received a copy from the publisher on NetGalley.

[Jonann loves book talk❤♥️❤ · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Child is Missing (Detective Josie Quinn Book 18)
By Lisa Regan
Pub Date: 08 Sep 2023
Bookouture
General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers
Rating: 4.5/5

My Child is Missing is the 18th Josie Quinn book, and I love them all. Once again, Lisa Regan has written an remarkable crime thriller filled with incredible suspense. From page-turning action to captivating characters, My Child is Missing has it all - no wonder readers can't get enough of Josie Quinn!

Detective Josie Quinn and her husband Noah are called to find two missing sisters who have gone into the woods and disappeared. Recently, a mythical story called The Woodsman has scared the local children with the claim that only one child will survive if two venture into the woods together. With a growing sense of worry, Detective Quinn, Noah and their team begin searching for the girls. Only time would tell if their efforts would be in vain or if they can save the sisters before it's too late.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for sharing this thriller with me. I appreciate all the hours of reading pleasure you give me, Lisa!

#MyChildIsMissingDetectiveJosieQuinnBook18 #LisaRegan

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[Wulf Krueger · Rating 3 out of 5]

“My Child is Missing” is Lisa Regan's 18th novel about her Detective Josie Quinn and I’ve almost universally enjoyed reading every single one of them. Sadly, not so with this latest instalment which steadily ran its course without any highlights nor any major letdowns…

Sure, these novels have always been somewhat formulaic: Josie used to drink too much because of her gruesome past (which gets mentioned in this novel every five pages…), fell in love with her colleague Noah (whom she shot at one point), adored her grandmother (who was shot at another point), found her long-lost identical twin sister (who is a famous TV journalist - but nobody ever noticed…), her best friend Misty, ex-stripper and final girlfriend of Josie’s ex-husband who died as part of the afore-mentioned gruesome past, and Misty’s son from said ex-husband, the entire murder of cops (seems like the most fitting collective noun for US cops these days) are a happy family - it’s complicated and yet these novels are usually thrilling and suspenseful to read.

Another nice touch to almost every other novel in this series used to be that someone from the extended team (be it a cop, a coroner, whomever) has a special role which lends the story authenticity and makes people much more relatable. Not so in this novel; unless - unlike me - you count the countless mentions of a certain deceased team member…

Be warned - spoilers ahead!


In this novel, though, everyone is still reeling from the death of their colleague Mettner, whose desk they’ve kept like it was the day he left - like a shrine to him. As if that wasn’t enough, they bemoan his absence on every second page. They keep reminding each other about the pearls of wisdom he used to utter…

»“Or he could break the case wide open,” Gretchen said.
It was exactly something Mett would have said.«

…. because, surely, no other cop would ever say a sentence like that!

A suspect is found in the first hours of the investigation (and, thus, very early in the book) and since Josie and friends almost exclusively concentrate on him, it becomes very clear, said suspect is at least a very important part of the cases of missing children that’s being investigated.

Knowing that, it was just a matter of reading along while our heroes interrogate people (like a nutcase pair of parents or teenager’s who blatantly lie despite knowing full well that they could help to solve multiple murders and to find a missing girl…), find proof and, ultimately, convict the perpetrator.


The almost-obligatory twist at the end was unconvincingly written towards, crudely done and I was so thoroughly disinterested at that point, I simply shrugged and read on.

And imagine my surprise when the book just ended at 85% - the remaining 15% were just advertising for and excerpts from Regan’s other novels. While that was no real loss in this case, it borders on cheating the customer.

Barely three out of five stars.

P. S.: »Did the hunt for [the Woodsman] have you desperately turning the pages and did you gasp out loud at the incredible twist?«

No, I just gasped due to disappointment. And I hate it when an author breaks the fourth wall.


P. P. S.: »A TOTALLY UNPUTDOWNABLE CRIME AND MYSTERY THRILLER PACKED WITH NAIL-BITING SUSPENSE«

To whomever writes such crap: I sincerely and honestly despise you.


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Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Child Is Missing is the eighteenth book in the Detective Josie Quinn series by best-selling American author, Lisa Regan. When sisters Kayleigh and Savannah Patchett fail to return from a walk in the woods on a Saturday, Detective Josie Quinn and her team get former State Trooper Luke Creighton and his bloodhound Blue in to track them down. Eight-year-old Savannah is quickly located, hiding in a tree, but her sixteen-year-old sister, Savannah says, was taken by a man clad in yellow.

Kayleigh’s scent is tracked to a cabin in the woods, but there’s not a trace of the teen inside Henry Thomas’s home or vehicles. Soon enough there is mention of similar cases in adjoining counties, although they differ in that a body was recovered. Police and State Troopers are already aware of the legend of The Woodsman, and wish they could dismiss it as a scary story told by kids and shared by teens on social media. Worryingly, “These kids doing this stupid Woodsman challenge. Two go in and only one comes out.” But someone is killing teens in these counties.

While they are determined to find the missing girl, the team are also dealing with grief over the loss of one of their own, and Josie, in particular, is affected by PTSD-induced insomnia.

It's quickly apparent that Dave and Shelly Patchett are controlling parents who impose restrictions on their rebellious daughter, and that the unhappy teen might have a secret older boyfriend. Given his prison record, Josie is unconvinced that Henry Thomas is innocent of all wrongdoing, but the team are frustrated by delays in DNA processing.

And then a girl in Kayleigh’s class, a rival for a short story prize, is murdered in the woods doing a Woodsman Challenge, with all the hallmarks of earlier killings.

There are plenty of red herrings and misdirections that will keep even the most astute reader guessing up to the final, twisty, reveal. Addictive crime fiction.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Bookouture.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detective Josie Quinn and her team receive a call from frantic parents claiming their two daughters are missing. Sixteen-year-old Kayleigh Patchett and eight-year-old Savannah went for a walk in the woods hours ago and never came back. A search and rescue dog eventually finds Savannah hiding in the woods. She claims she is hiding from "The Woodsman" who took her sister. The Woodsman is a mythical figure that kidnaps children in the woods. The kids in the local schools have been talking about this for the last few months, causing the older teens to dare each other to enter the woods. Now a local girl is missing. Josie and her team look for clues that will lead them to Kayleigh.

This series is still going stronger than ever after eighteen books. Josie, Noah, and Gretchen follow all the leads. Many of them lead to dead ends. There are a handful of suspects, but each of them has an alibi. I guessed one part of the mystery; but didn't figure the whole thing out. Can't wait to jump into the next book. My rating: 5 Stars.

[Bookstagrambrielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

There aren't many book series that I will read that have more than 5 or 6 books, but I will always pick up this series no matter how many books are added. I'm so invested in these characters. I love that even though one of those characters is no longer in the series, the other characters still kept him with them in spirit. I feel that loss like it's my own. They even consider what he would do or say in connection with the investigation into the missing and murdered kids.

I will say that Lisa has a way of keeping that twist until the last minute and I almost never know what it will be. I did figure it out beforehand but it didn't make it any less surprising. In this case, the tale of the Woodsman was just that, a tale. Until it became real. Two kids would go out into the woods, only one would return. It's an endless race to connect all the pieces, that will leave you turning the pages until the end. Absolutely loved everything about this story!

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detective Josie Quinn is tasked at the very beginning to find a missing child who had gone into the woods with her younger sister. The older sister was going to prove to the younger one The Woodsman was fictional. The story of The Woodsman was filtering throughout the area scaring children saying when two children went into the woods, only one would come out alive. Parents did not take the story seriously and tried to dismiss the fears when their children came home from school terrified. But when the younger sister was found only to tell authorities her sister was taken by The Woodsman, the threat became real.
Josie and her team desperately seek every lead available when another child is missing. As Josie taps into surrounding counties, she finds out similar cases are open and there is a serial killer in their county.
Lisa Regan does not disappoint with this one! This book will keep you racing to the very end with a definite twist! It is full of emotional upheaval and action packed details. Definitely a 5 star!

[Shereadbookblog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every place has its legends…stories that are told over and over of some person/creature out to kidnap or harm people. In Denton, PA, the legend is of The Woodsman. Children disappear into the woods and never see their mothers again, taken by The Woodsman. Legend becomes reality when two sisters head into the woods and only one is found. It is up to Detective Josie Quinn and her team to solve the case. Still missing an integral part of the team, Mettner, who was killed in the last book of this series, Josie, Noah, Gretchen, and even the Chief exhaust themselves investigating.

This is number eighteen in the Josie Quinn series. It is one of my top must read series. This is yet another exciting, page turning read; I read it in one day because I did not want to put it down. Regan always grabs my attention and won’t let go. What I like best about these thrillers is that they are quite accurate and believable. I enjoy Josie. Despite all the travails she has met with in her life, she remains a strong, intelligent, though vulnerable, character. I also like all the repeating characters who surround her both in her personal and professional life.

This can work as a stand alone, but do yourself a favor and read at least some of the prior ones. There is a lot of history to Josie and the other players. Regan does a good job of trying to fill in the background stories, but it would be more satisfying to actually read those past histories.

If you like well written police procedurals/thrillers, and are not familiar with Lisa Regan’s writing, I highly recommend this series.I cannot wait for the next one.

Thanks to #netgalley and @bookoutre for the ARC.

[Holly in Bookland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here we are at book 18…..am I tired of it? Absolutely not. I still find this series engaging and entertaining. Josie is still battling her past/demons, but never lets it interfere with her investigation. In this, we dealing with the lore of The Woodsman. Two go into the woods, only one comes out alive. I didn’t see it coming, quite surprised. Very much looking forward to more from Josie & gang.

[Yvonne (It's All About Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished reading: August 18th 2023

"How did you reassure a child that the world was safe when it wasn't? How did you convince them that you could control things about the world when you couldn't?"

*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***



I consider the Detective Josie Quinn series to be one of my favorites and it's one that I've been following since the very first book was published back in 2018. I'm always excited when a new sequel pops up on my kindle, because this series just keeps delivering one fantastic story after the other. In fact, this series hasn't failed me yet! And I'm happy to announce that My Child Is Missing is no exception to that rule, and I literally read this newest sequel in one sitting.

Before I continue, I do have to give a little warning that this is a series that focuses a lot of the personal development of the character as well as the investigations. It's important to read the books in order both to avoid major spoilers and to properly understand the dynamics between the different characters. While you can technically read My Child Is Missing as a stand-alone and the story gives hints at past events, I don't think the story will have the same impact without all that background information. The whole series is fantastic, and it's well worth your time catching up in the first place.

I've been looking forward to see how things continue after such an explosive (and shocking!) book seventeen, and there is no doubt that the past events affect Josie and the rest of her team in the present. Thankfully we get a little breather as the case itself won't hit on a personal level this time around... Which was necessary if you ask me, because I'm still not over what happened in the previous book. That said, the case in My Child Is Missing is without doubt an intriguing one, and there are plenty of suspects to keep you busy along the way. I definitely never saw that big twist coming, that's for sure!

There is just something about the writing style that is extremely engaging, and I never seem to be able to stop reading once I start the first chapter. My Child Is Missing was no different, and I kept turning page after page until I suddenly reached the end... This whole series is simply highly addictive, and this has a lot to do with the main characters and their development as well. I always have such a great time meeting up with Josie and the rest again, and it's been great spending time with them over the years.

There is no doubt that My Child Is Missing is another excellent detective thriller sequel, and it's already book number 18 of a series that shows no signs of slowing down. If you like your thrillers on the fast, intense and action-packed side, this is definitely a series to keep in mind. Things can be said about the credibility of certain aspects of the plots, but the entertainment factor is always high.

P.S. Find more of my reviews here.

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sixteen-year-old Kayleigh Patchett is missing. Rumors abound that she was taken by “The Woodsman”. Detective Josie Quinn, husband Lieutenant Noah Fraley and the rest of their team are in a race against time with hopes of finding her alive. Kayleigh disappeared after going on a walk with her younger sister, Savannah, and after finding Savannah safe and unharmed, all she could say is “He took her. He took my sister.”

When a K-9 officer leads the team to a cabin in the woods, they find the trail for Kayleigh suddenly reaches a dead end. While Josie is determined to follow lead after lead, the tension she feels is palpable. While the reader is drawn into the story with regard to the investigation, there are also snippets from the killer’s point of view, giving this already thrilling book even more impetus.

Josie doesn’t want to believe in the story of a creepy “Woodsman”, but since things are so unclear and so wrought with danger and tension, she is forced to consider the possibility. Meanwhile, aspects of Josie’s personal life add an additional layer to this already well-written and intriguing story.

Eighteen books in! Yes, eighteen, and this series is still running at full throttle. I cannot wait for the next installment.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

[Salome G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going to say what I always say, which is that it's hard to think of new things to say this far into a series. I will also say the other thing I always say, which is that the fact that I'm this far into the series should stand alone as a review. In addition, whenever I read mystery/thrillers, my mind is constantly working to puzzle them out. (I've recently learned that like all of my personality traits, apparently, this is because of my ADHD. Our ability to (hyper)focus on patterns means that we're good at solving mysteries/predicting endings. See also: me in the theater for The Sixth Sense, realizing the twist in the first scene.)

Anyway, I say all that to say that my busy mind came up with a solution to this story, like oooh, what if [prediction]? And that prediction turned out to be true. But instead of being disappointed, as I'm sometimes am, because the conclusions seems foreshadowed in neon, I found this book to be very fulfilling. Throughout the book, is only the barest hint toward the ending, and in turn, it plays out in a very satisfying way.

[Tracy Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a shadow over the forest around Denton, one which kids from elementary through to high school are talking about. Known as the Woodsman, it's either terrifying or the latest challenge depending on your age, and no matter how often parents say it's not real, they know they haven't persuaded anyone.

Detective Josie Quinn has seen far too many real-life horrors to be bothered by a story, especially as she and her team try to come to terms with their previous investigation, which shattered them all. Then two sisters disappear, and it seems as if they might all have to listen a little closer to the rumours that say the Woodsman was just waiting for it's next victim to come along.

Book eighteen in Lisa Regan's excellent series is full to the brim with the overlapping storylines and believable characters she writes so well. The investigation is taut with menace, and I enjoyed it enormously. After the devastating happenings in book seventeen, I wondered how she would handle the obvious fallout, I needn't have worried. The new story wraps itself around the previous consequences and gently, realistically, and gradually, begins a healing process for all involved which I have no doubt will continue into the next few novels that, as usual, I can't wait to read.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Bookouture, but the opinions expressed are my own. This is, once again, an excellent read, and I loved it.

[Angela bookish_mamabear on IG · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Detective Josie Quinn and her team. This series is so easy to fall in love with. Book 18 will not disappoint, whether you’re already a true fan or just discovering. I loved the twist!! Might be one of my favorites from the series!!!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the Author for allowing me to read this book for my honest review.

[Jazz Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg lisa regan strikes again!!! I was hooked from begining to end and even I found myself falling for the woodsman legend.
When local sisters Kyla and Savannah go missing the Denton police are our in forces searching. Noah is worried that the case might be like one from neighbouring towns 2 children go into the woods and only one makes it out. So when Savanna tells them Kyla has been kidnapped the legend of the woodsman seems to be true. When another local teen is found dead after spending the night in the woods it's clear they have another serial killer. Police fear that they are looking for Kyla's body as time goes on. Josie and the team still so fresh from Mets death are racing against the clock to find Kyla. They have the suspects but something niggles at Josie something isn't right.

Omg I've not read much this year and I am so glad to have picked up this latest installment by Regan to set my love of reading back on fire! This was one of those crime novels where I made quite a firm decision on the killer early on and although I couldn't put the pieces together turns out o was bang on the money. If you don't guess its a great plot twist!!! All the characters in this installment where pretty unlikeable to be honest the parents who treat their daughters so differently in a bad way the men who all seem like pedos and the inappropriate teenagers. Each provide a new layer and make the read all the more intriguing.

As usual i love Josie and Noah,
they're trying for a baby and grieving still especially Josie who is processing holding Mets hands when he died. Its causing even worse nightmares as well as some pretty clear distractions through the book. I cannot wait for baby quinn to happen!!
I must say although Trinty is mentioned the brief Ness of it makes me really miss her character she's so funny and reading her and josie together is always amusing. Although Harrison is there poor kid scared of the woodsman but his auntie is a super hero so I'm sure he has nothing to worry about!! But his relationship with Josie and Noah is just too dam cute!!!

As usual the prose is written so well, it's really engaging and I was hooked from the begining. I love the way it's writing in 3rd person yet comes across like it's in first person. I liked the focus being mainly on Josie this time around and asakways the killer in first person like they're talking directly to you it's gripping!

As always an easy 5 stars, even with guessing the killer early on I was not at all let down by this! Every page had me gripped and had me question the storyline throughout. Where is Kyla! I would recommend you start from book one if you've not read any in the series this is one of my favourite series' plus I think this is my second favourite out of the 18 installments.
If you are a fan of D.K Hood, Casey Keller, MM Chouinard or M.K Farrar this is the book for you.
5*****

[Miki’s⚠️ Safety Reviews & Rants⚠️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Safe
Love Noah and Josie
The stories keep getting g better
Wish that Josie got more mental health help

Audio books are good

[Zoé-Lee O'Farrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Character List *spoiler free*

*Detective Josie Quinn, married to Noah, her newest obsession is a cup of flat white latte. Struggling a lot with different traumas from childhood to the events from Book 17!

*Noah Fraley, Josie's strength and husband.

*Chief of Police Bob Chitwood, boss of everyone

*Detective Gretchen Palmer, short spiky brown and grey hair, the lynchpin of the team, holds everyone together.

*Amber Watts, the press liaison in the office, is quiet in this book, working through the events from the last book.

*Kayleigh Patchett, missing girl, 16 years old. Last seen wearing a blue sweatshirt, a pair of black shorts, and white sneakers. straight, shoulder-length hair almost black, with a smattering of freckles across the nose and cheeks

*Savannah Patchett, sister to Kayleigh. She is found in the woods by Josie, Luke, and Blue. 8 years old, smile that goes on for days, curly hair

*The Woodsman, the local legend, is blamed for the missing children.

*Luke Creighton, Josie’s ex and owner of Blue, works with Denton P.D

*Blue, Tracker dog who belongs to Luke, bloodhound, K9 liaison

This book was explosive and I loved the turn of events. I mean don't get me wrong, I don't love the murdered girls or what happened to people, and although I had an inkling of the twist, I loved it! It was so left field, but at the same time so relevant and twisted.

This is definitely my favourite in the series, I was blown away. I didn't always get the chance to read the book as much as I wanted to but every spare minute I was trying to speed through as much as I could. I was addicted. 18 books in and you do start to wonder if the series might wane....this book shows it hasn't.

So much to unpack in this book, so much is going on aside from the missing girls, the turn of the relationships and how broken Josie is again was sad. I felt Josie was just getting her life back, but she has been through the wringer so much in the last few books, I feel like she getting lost in herself and regressing. It's so hard to watch, and I hope she goes to the retreat - and it's crime-free!! She needs to find her sparkle. But that's what I love, each is a continuation and we see how the events from before are still impacting them. It's not all light and fluffy, it's gritty and so realistic.

I have no idea where Lisa might take the series next, but I just hope she takes the series and continues. Josie needs a break, I have said that many times, and I am looking forward to her sparkle.

Such a dark tale, a somber one, and one that sobers up a lot of people. It's a parent's worst nightmare, words no parent wants to have to ever utter. It did, however, make for a riveting read and a lot of praying that all will be ok in the end!

[Nadene (Totally Addicted to Reading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.My Child is Missing is the eighteenth book in Lisa Regan's Josie Quinn series. After eighteen books, I can say with confidence that the series is still going strong. In My Child is Missing, Regan treated her fans to a page turning, captivating and suspenseful read.

This instalment centres around the legend of The Woodsman, 'Two go in the woods, but only one comes out'. Talk of the legend is circulating through schools, which further intensifies when sixteen-year-old Kayleigh Patchett went missing. She and her sister, Savannah, went into the woods, but only Savannah returned unharmed. The question on everyone's mind is where is Kayleigh? Did the Woodsman take her? Is she still alive?

Search after search and Josie and her team were no closer to finding Kayleigh. Meanwhile, another pair of teens, a male and female, went missing, with only the male returning alive. As Josie and her team investigates, damning information which place two of the victims in a bad light surfaced. Josie is confident she knows the identity of the perpetrator, if only she could find the evidence to support her theory.

The story pulls the reader in, and in doing so, one feels a part of the investigation. It's interesting to note that readers so get a preview into the thoughts of the perpetrator. This, however, provided no clues as to their identity. While reading, several theories came to mind, one of which proved to be right. Traversing through the maze of clues increased the tension and kept the reader on pins and needles.

The aftermath from the tragedy in Close Her Eyes weighed heavily on Josie and her team. The memories stirred up bittersweet feelings. However, as the story progresses, each slowly came to a place of acceptance, thus kicking the healing process into gear.

Fans of police procedurals and crime fiction will want to start this series sooner than later.This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading

[Julie Lacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series and this is another great read.
Josie is still not sleeping following recent events but is soon knee deep in an investigation when two girls go missing in the woods.
The younger sister is found hiding and is in shock as she saw her sister get taken by a man. There’s a rumour going round the schools that the ‘Woodsman’ is taking children but Josie and the team know this is a myth and the person taking the children is very real.
Soon a girl is found murdered in the woods and Josie and the team try everything possible to find the killer before they strike again.
This is a clever crime thriller and it was a great conclusion as I’d never have guessed the killer’s identity.
Highly recommend this book and the whole series.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

[Sue Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this jaw dropping book the woodsman...is he real or a myth a dare to spend the night in the woods with a friend when the call goes out that two sisters are missing in the woods josie and her team call in the k9 unit to help with the search as the woods get darker and the search goes on they can only hope that they will be successful oh my goodness me this story has it all mystery suspense and gruesome murders and it was great to catch up with josie and her team to see how they are coping with the aftermath of losing one of their team cant wait for the next book in this brilliant series

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the latest by Lisa Regan, Detective Josie Quinn and her team are dealing with several cases of missing children. Stories about "The Woodsman'' are spreading throughout the area schools, but kids are still going into the nearby wooded areas. Josie hates that the media is sensationalizing this, and knows they are dealing with a very real killer.

I highly recommend this series! The case in this book stands on its own, but the main characters are dealing with the aftermath of something important that happened in the prior book, so you may want to read that one first. The tensions in the investigation grow as the story progresses. Josie and her team get an assist from Josie's ex, Luke, and his K-9 partner, Blue, when searching for a missing girl. There are a few likely suspects in these strange killings, but I was shocked by the final reveal. The ending alone makes this another great read in this excellent series.

I received an advance copy of this ebook from NetGalley and Bookouture at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

[janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

With book #18 comes the same phrase each time.... 'she's done it again!', I'm pretty sure I'll still be saying the same at book 25 and beyond - no complaints here!

With each new installment that lands in my inbox comes the happy dance around the kitchen and when this one landed came a massive 'WHOOP' alongside the dance which gave me a few strange looks as I was in the supermarket at the time 🤣 but for Josie Quinn I'd do anything.

I'm not sure why but this book touched me differently in both the actual storyline/case and the goings on with the team since Mettners demise. It was the relationship with the girls parents that just hit hard *NO SPOILERS*, it actually made me look at myself in a way I never had before. As a mother to three teenagers (send wine) I always try to make sure (not always successfully) that they all feel special, valued and as important as each other.

The powerhouse that is Detective Josie Quinn is still reeling from the trauma of losing her partner aswell as the unfold childhood traumas she still carries with her. Not sleeping due to a reoccurring nightmare, Josie is struggling.

A call comes in that two sisters are missing after taking a walk in the woods. Josie and her husband and partner Lieutenant Noah Fraley start investigating and as the investigation takes hold they are shocked by what they find. This isnt the first time two children have disappeared but each time only one is found.

Now I'm sure we can all remember there being a terrifying urban legend/myth around as children? Mine was the Candyman... this time it's The Woodsman., rumours have already spread around Harris's school and whilst Josie and Noah have tried their hardest to dampen down the rumours, this case has brought it to the forefront.

Can Josie connect the dots before it's too late? How many ,more children will go missing before the bogeyman is caught?

Book #18, even though it does cover the characters personal lives at points, was more about the case. It does bring in the ending of book #17 and covers it beautifully but it wasn't as in depth of the characters profiles as previous books.

The ending is just completely WOW! The twists and turns threw me off completely and I wouldn't have guessed in a million years! What a twist, I did not see that one coming!.

This is the most entertaining, engaging, thrilling series EVER but now I'm sat sulking as once again I promised myself I'd read it slowly but once again I stayed up all night to read it.

Huge thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I NEVER saw that coming! Goodness! I love Josie Quinn and Noah, along with the rest of the team. These books are mind blowing and addictive. Don't stop writing them! The stories are still fresh, the characters are still interesting and evolving. You can't ask for better than that! Once again, I can't wait for the next book!

[Angela bookish_mamabear on IG · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Detective Josie Quinn and her team. This series is so easy to fall in love with. Book 18 will not disappoint, whether you’re already a true fan or just discovering. I loved the twist!! Might be one of my favorites from the series!!!

[Nicola “Shortbookthyme” · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a creepy, intriguing plot!
The Woodsman legend is two go in and only one comes out.
Is it just a story spread around by others?
Is it a myth?
Is it just a twisted story shared during campfires?
How far will Josie have to go to find the killer before more innocent lives are lost?
It was nice getting to know Josie more. I can’t wait to see what happens in her life next…..
My Child is Missing is another mind-blowing installment in the Detective Josie Quinn series. Lisa Regan’s writing is always solid and mind blowing.
Recommended series!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and author, Lisa Regan, for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Sandra Hoover · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't say enough good things about this series! It's totally engrossing, and each book is impossible to put down. Great addition to the series!

[bookster · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 Stars

[L Cherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved every book in this series. I listen to them on audible because the narrator is wonderful.
The crimes are well thought out and detailed with great suspense by the author. There are always several suspects and lots of twist.