Reviewed by Tina Avon for RebeccasReads (8/08)


I have just finished reading The Stolen, by author Jason Pinter. I have to say that I am coming into this series a little bit late, but no matter, I found myself thrown right into the storyline and definitely will go back and read the books I am missing.

Pinter has written a great whodunit! I love this type of book - one where you keep thinking you "know" who the killer is, only to discover a few pages later that you really don't. The main storyline centers around a kidnapping and the two main characters Amanda Davies, who is a Legal Aid Lawyer and Henry Parker, a seasoned and somewhat scattered journalist.

The author cleverly introduces us to Daniel, an eleven-year old who was abducted five years ago, and mysteriously returns home one day. Parker interviews the boy and suddenly finds himself unable to let go of the story and what Daniel has said to him. There is a pattern emerging of more young children having been kidnapped and then released - and nobody has any memory of the events.

Amanda and Henry need to get to the bottom of the situation, so they team up to investigate. This is going to prove itself to be more problematic than just solving the kidnapping; there is a lot of chemistry and unresolved issues between these two. I was a little worried about this particular storyline as it has been used before, but these two are so different and yet so similar that the extra "heat" added to the book's intensity and was a nice touch.

The storyline moves ahead at great speed, and I like that the author does not use all of the old standby ploys to move the plot along. The two main characters are interesting together and Henry is a bit scattered and at the same time seems to have a few personalities within himself. At some point, I was not sure if Henry was creating more of the problems in his head or if the kidnapper what manipulating him; it all gets very confusing and totally engrossing. On the other hand, Amanda is a strong and tough heroine who appears to have only one weakness: Henry. However, together they make a great team as they try to get to the kidnapper and stop these horrific crimes.

I enjoyed this book and had a hard time putting it down. This is a great thriller and I bet you won't be able to figure it out until the end.

I have read all of Jason Pinter's books so far and this one was terrific, though quite different from the other books. The plot is more intricate and deep and the characters, especially Henry, are even better defined. I found the story to be intriguing as well as the most realistic out of the three. In The Stolen, Pinter proves how well he can intertwine themes of desperation, corruption and finally hope. I can't wait for THE FURY!

One of the most unbelievable things has happened. Twelve year old, Daniel Linwood has returned home. So your probably saying so what's the big deal about that? Well the big deal is that five years ago Daniel Linwood vanished. The police, his family and the community searched but never found a single trace of what happened to young Daniel. Now here he is, standing on his parents door step without a single scratch on him as if he never was gone.

Henry Parker is a reporter with the New York Gazette. Henry's boss gives him the assignment of interviewing the Linwood family reunion story. While interviewing Daniel, Henry learns someone or something more sinister is behind a whole string of children disappearing just the same way as Daniel did. Henry could have just stumbled on one of the biggest stories of his career. There is just one problem... Henry needs help. Henry knows just who to turn to be will she lend a hand to Henry or will Henry be on his own this time?


Henry Parker is a fine character. He's one of those reporters where they will do anything to bring the readers the best stories around even the gritty and grimiest ones that other reporters might not tough. The Stolen is the first book I have read by Jason Pinter featuring Henry Parker. I have wanting to check out a Pinter book for a while. Well after finishing The Stolen I have to say that I was not disappointed. I am glad to say that I have now read a Jason Pinter book and enjoyed it. While not a new author, Mr. Pinter is one of the greatest new author's to come my way. The Stolen is Mr. Pinter's third book featuring Henry Parker. You can be assured I will be checking all Mr. Pinter's other books featuring Henry Parker.

A young boy mysteriously reappears five years after being kidnapped from his parents home with no memory of the lost time, and reporter Parker soon realizes that something else, something larger, is afoot. THE STOLEN is a little different from the first two Pinter thrillers (THE MARK and THE GUILTY), and in my opinion the differences makes it the strongest of the trio. Pinter tones down the flying bullets and foot chases from his first two books (which were entertaining, but maybe a smidge over the top) and concentrates on more of a slow burning mystery with ramifications that strike at the heart of broken families, community, and of course Parker and his friends and loved ones. Henry is not a perfect hero, he's made mistakes in nearly every aspect of his life (sometimes maddeningly so), but this is refreshing and more realistic than some of the Captain America dopplegangers in the genre. This is a very good entry in one of the better new crime series to come along.

THE STOLEN is the third book of the Henry Parker series. While I feel all three books were equally good for storyline, the strong suit of the books are the characters. THE STOLEN was a bit predictable but I am glad I read it and I will continue to read books by Jason Pinter.