The bestselling author of Twenty Years Later delivers a chilling thriller where nothing is at it seems and each reveal is more shocking than the last…right up to the jaw-dropping final twist. “A gripping thriller that will blow readers away." –Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author on Don’t Believe It “A superb storyteller.” —Robert Dugoni, New York Times bestselling author Two abducted girls—one who returns, one who doesn’t. The night they go missing, high school seniors Nicole Cutty and Megan McDonald are at a beach party in their small town of Emerson Bay, North Carolina.

Police launch a massive search, but hope is almost lost—until Megan escapes from a bunker deep in the woods. . .

. A year later, the bestselling account of her ordeal has made Megan a celebrity. It’s a triumphant story, except for one inconvenient detail: Nicole is still missing.

Nicole’s older sister, Livia, a fellow in forensic pathology, expects that one day soon Nicole’s body will be found and her sister’s fate determined. Instead, the first clue comes from another body—that of a young man connected to Nicole’s past. Livia reaches out to Megan to learn more about that fateful night.

Other girls have disappeared, and she’s increasingly sure the cases are connected. Megan knows more than she revealed in her book. Flashes of memory are pointing to something more monstrous than she described.

And the deeper she and Livia dig, the more they realize that sometimes true terror lies in finding exactly what you’ve been looking for . . .

“A fast-moving page-turner. . .

. Donlea skillfully maximizes suspense by juggling narrators and time all the way to the shocking final twists.” —Publishers Weekly “Well worth the read.” —Booklist “Donlea’s sophomore effort is solid. He keeps the reader guessing and second-guessing until the end, thanks to an expertly crafted abundance of potential suspects.” —Library Journal

In the shadow of a quiet town lies a mystery that has captivated the community, a girl abruptly vanished, and no explanation in sight. The Girl Who Was Taken is a gripping psychological thriller that plunges you deep into a world of intrigue and deception. When Megan McDonald, a young high school graduate, is found after being missing for months, she returns with haunting memories and a dark mind-set that borders on obsession.

Beneath the silence lies a tale of duplicity and human vulnerability that challenges perceptions of truth and memory. As the layers of the investigation unravel readers are introduced to an unforgettably tense narrative with unpredictable twists. Delve into the intricacies of the human psyche with characters driven to uncover secrets and confront their own fears.

The Girl Who Was Taken draws readers into the haunting aftermath of a disappearance in a small coastal town. Megan McDonald returns home from what was presumed to be an abduction while another girl Nicole Cutty remains missing. As Megan struggles to reintegrate into her life the mystery of Nicole's fate lingers over the community.

\\ The narrative intertwines the perspectives of Megan who wields her trauma as a tool for healing and Livia Cutty Nicole's sister whose determination to solve her sister's disappearance becomes an all-consuming quest. These complex characters drive the story into the unsettling territory of truth and deception. \\ Exploring the dark corridors of memory and the resilience of the human heart the book delves into themes that challenge the reliability of perception and the lengths to which individuals will go for answers.

As readers are drawn deeper into the narrative the shocking revelations expose the fragility of human trust. \\ Throughout the book the weight of unspoken grievances and hidden truths push the story forward creating an atmosphere of doubt and suspicion. The tension escalates as Megan and Livia's intertwined paths reveal the harrowing truth about their trust in others and themselves.

\\ The engrossing plot keeps readers on edge skillfully weaving a web of psychological tension that holds them captive. With its deft crafting of suspense and richly drawn characters The Girl Who Was Taken offers an enthralling exploration of trauma survival and redemption. \\

The author masterfully intertwines complex character portrayals with a gripping plot delivering a multifaceted narrative that leaves readers pondering long after \\ \nUniquely leveraging alternating perspectives the book offers a nuanced view of the mystery enriching the suspense with layered storytelling The result is a page-turner that captivates from start to finish \\ \nStunning in its psychological depth the novel challenges conventional thriller constructs through profound exploration of emotion compelling readers into a journey that questions reality versus perception \\