Little Girls Lost [Import] [Hardcover]

Jack Kerley (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd (July 2, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0007214359
• ISBN-13: 978-0007214358
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Banned Book"? What's the controversy?, November 27, 2009

By 

¿Que es Nozer? "Quien sabe." - See all my reviews

This review is from: Little Girls Lost (Perfect Paperback)

This is the 4th book in Jack Kerley's Carson Ryder/Harry Nautilus series. It was written and scheduled to be released in 2006 (I think) but was delayed due to the subject matter- the kidnapping and sale of young black girls to rich pedophiles. Although the material is unpleasant, there are no graphic sex scenes(see Dennis Lehane's "Gone, Baby, Gone"). There are many books that are far more lurid than this one, so I'm not getting the controversy.
On to the actual novel.....
At the start of the book, Carson Ryder is flying solo (the absence of Harry Nautilus, his partner, is explained later). The main plot concerns solving the case of the missing girls but as with all of Kerley's books, getting there is all the fun. He weaves a story filled with (odd) heroes and twisted (and occasionally sympathetic) villians.
No spoilers here- read & enjoy the book!
Highly recommended!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Quirky Characters and Scary Premise, August 14, 2010

By 

Book Addict "Paranormal Reader" (CA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Little Girls Lost (Perfect Paperback)

When children are suddenly snatched out of their homes or from the streets with no clues about their whereabouts, people begin to panic. Compounding the problem is the perception that black missing children don't get as much attention as white missing children. Carson Ryder is thrown into this mix to help solve the crime without the help of Harry, who has been injured and is in the hospital. The two mysteries of missing children and Harry's attack both feature in this tale. This book ties all of its loose ends up at the end (sometimes in a way that's a bit too tidy), but is a satisfying and thrilling read. For a fun few hours of action, I'd recommend this book.

4.0 out of 5 stars Review from The Word Fiend, April 21, 2011

By 

Shelagh (South Africa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Little Girls Lost (Paperback)

Little black girls are disappearing in Mobile, Alabama, the last one snatched from her own room. The police are at a loss. There are no obvious leads and no trace of the girls. Detective Carson Ryder is called in to help investigate the latest disappearance and finds the case being clouded by departmental politics and power struggles. Missing his partner, Harry Nautilus, who was injured in a vicious attack Ryder finds himself growing more and more frustrated and isolated. When the community and mayor start demanding action, Ryder's bosses have no choice but to call in Conner Sandhill, an ex-cop with a reputation for solving difficult cases. But Sandhill left the police under mysterious circumstances and not everyone is happy to see him back on a case. Ryder and Sandhill must work together to find these girls.

I have to come right out and say that I am a fan of J.A. Kerley's books and this one did not disappoint me. One of the great aspects of this book is the plotting. There are a number of story threads, but at no point did I feel like I was battling to follow what was happening. This allows Kerley to introduce different viewpoints into the narrative, adding to the suspense and drama. And for me that suspense is what a thriller needs to be successful. The pacing was also handled well and as the book proceeded, the rising sense of tension in the community and policemen added to the tension of the case itself. This meant that there were no dull spots and that the story could always support the tension that was being created at the time. It is a difficult thing for an author to manage, but one of the things I think is essential to a good thriller.

Conner Sandhill is a new character and I have to say that he stole the show in this book. He is a wonderfully larger-than-life character who, through the course of the story, is fleshed out and given depth. The conflict between his past as a policeman and the life he has made for himself in his restaurant as `The Gumbo King' makes for a situation ripe for character development. And Kerley doesn't waste it. Having read some of Kerley's other Carson Ryder books I was, however, disappointed by the supporting role that Ryder seems to have been cast in in Little Girls Lost. He has always been an interesting character and while I did enjoy Sandhill I think that Kerley could have made better use of Ryder as an equal partner in the investigation. I enjoy Kerley's characterisations and the supporting cast and antagonists are all well written, giving me a good understanding of their actions and decisions.

While I was reading this book, something felt off to me. And it was only when I visited Kerley's website that I realised what it was. This is the first book not written from Ryder's perspective. The perspective in this book is in the third person. It does have the advantage of allowing Kerley to explore different viewpoints as the story unfolds, but I have to admit that I missed being inside Ryder's head and in the thick of the action.

Overall this is a well-written thriller that will keep you turning the pages late into the night.