Taken by Cynthia Eden
Series: Lost, #5
Romantic Suspense
November 29, 2016
Avon
Reviewed by Tori
Favorite Quote: “Once she looked out at the world and never seen any darkness. She’d trusted blindly, dumbly. Not anymore.”
Bailey Jones is the only known survivor of a serial killer known as the Angel of Death. Except Bailey saw another woman there. One who Bailey helped to escape and then she just disappeared. From the deputy who rescued her to the shirk she’s been seeing, no one believes her. But Bailey knows the woman was there and has come to LOST for help in locating her. She never expected to be attracted to the agent assigned to her.
LOST agent Asher Young knows all about the fear, pain, horror, and guilt that Bailey carries around inside her. His own experiences have left a darkness in him that he fears may strike out at Bailey should he give in to the burning attraction that is slowly consuming him.
As more bodies turn up, all marked with the same tattoo that the Angel of Death used on his victims, Asher fears that whoever is playing games with them will not stop until they claim their final victim-Bailey.
Taken is the fifth installment in Eden’s dark romance suspense thriller series-LOST. Based on the LOST agency (Last Option Search Team) that uses their considerable skills to help law enforcement find people, each story revolves around a couple who helps one another to keep from tumbling into the abyss. Though each book is loosely based on the agency and the arc bleeds over a little, each one can be comfortably read as a standalone.
Dark, gritty, and intense, Eden gives life to our worst fears as she slowly builds a harrowing tale of intrigue, suspense, deception, and horror that all revolves around one person-Bailey Jones-and a memory that no one is sure is even real. The heavy atmosphere pulls us into the story instantly as Eden jettisons the reader in the past and we experience Bailey’s kidnapping through her eyes as it happens. The fear, pain, confusion, and horror all blend together as she tries to understand what is happening. When Bailey is able to escape her bonds and surprise the killer with another woman. The woman escapes, leaving Bailey with the killer, and Bailey finds herself once again at death’s door. When she is saved by the police and assured her tormenter is dead, we skip forward to the present and her hiring of LOST.
Taken is easy to follow romance wise; Eden uses dual narrative and internal memory flashes of the protagonists’ pasts in order to flesh them out and help build on the chemistry that ignites upon their first meeting. The mystery itself is a little more complicated. Though somewhat formulaic overall; two damaged people, a vicious series of crimes, a race against time; the always smooth presentation and intriguing clues dropped gives rise to intense emotions as the plot picks up speed, leaving the reader tense with anticipation till the very last page. Eden methodically maps out Bailey and Asher’s investigation and the police interactions, creating a solid base on which to build this decidedly convoluted mystery.
Bailey and Asher are an interesting mixture of contrasts and similarities, adding depth and background to the main storyline. The romance holds an integral place in the story and Eden uses the investigation to help draw out their developing emotions for one another. Strong sexual tension only adds to this couple’s appeal.
Bailey has lost so much since her kidnapping and torture. Her whole life has been turned upside down and she is merely a shell of who she used to be. She fears everything and is constantly harassed by the media. Her reaching out to LOST is two-fold. She wants to find the other survivor and take her life back. Asher Young is an ex-navy seal who joined LOST after he was discharged; much to the relief of his friend and the owner, Gage. He and his twin sister were also the victims of a kidnapping as teenagers…only their story ended a little differently with Asher killing the kidnappers. Asher is a natural born protector. The kidnapping affected him deeply and he has spent his life in dangerous situations to make sure no one suffers like he and his sister did ever again. Both he and Bailey are scared that their pasts now define them but together they learn differently.
A diverse cast of secondary characters keeps the suspense and mystery flowing smoothly. Each person adds personality, drama, and insight into the story. Through them we finally get the full truth behind what exactly happened to Bailey and why. The events leading up to the reveal is quite a twisted journey. At times I did feel that the story dragged in the areas. There was a lot going on and it seemed to stumble over itself as Eden began to untangle all the threads and lead us towards the end.
Eden wraps up everything nice and neat in a climactic finale that answers our questions and wraps up all the loose ends. Bailey and Asher are left in a good place and Eden gives us a preview of the next story, Wrecked, and heroine, Asher’s twin sister, Ana.
Grade: B-
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This sounds dark but appealing. Thanks for the review.
I’ve enjoyed the whole series and Eden’s other works.