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M. A. Hunter
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Discarded: An absolutely nerve-shredding and gripping crime thriller you won’t be able to put down (The Missing Children Case Files, Book 4) Kindle Edition

by M. A. Hunter (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 out of 5 stars 173 ratings

The Missing Children Case Files: Case 4

‘Mind-blowingly addictive!’ Samantha Lee Howe, USA Today-bestselling author of The Stranger in Our Bed

Where better to hide a body than in someone else’s grave?

When a girl goes missing from the shores of Dorset in a crime eerily similar to one two decades earlier, her parents enlist investigative journalist and bestselling author Emma Hunter to find her.

Where better to bury the truth than in someone else’s lie?

But then police archivist Jack calls her saying they’ve found a suitcase of bones beneath the ash of the trafficking den burned down in Berkshire eight months ago.

When monsters rise the children are the first to die…

As Emma contends with the question of whether her worst fear has finally been realised, her agent summons her to London. She’s been sent a message from the killers. A warning.

The fourth nerve-shredding chapter in The Missing Children Case Files is an unmissable crime thriller exploring what happens when the truths that make us human are discarded and empathy rots into evil – perfect for fans of J M Dalgliesh and Michael Connelly.

Praise for The Missing Children Case Files:

‘Wow!… Kept me guessing throughout and I raced to the end – and what an ending! Can’t wait for the next instalment!’ Caz Finlay, bestselling author of the Bad Blood series

‘A darkly thrilling new series… I can't wait to get hold of the next one!’ R. J. Parker, bestselling author of The Dinner Party

‘I did not want to put it down. This is a solid 5 star read from me… Highly recommended to fans of crime fiction’ Rebecca Kelly, author of Monstrous Souls

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  1. Book 4 of 6
    The Missing Children Case Files
  2. Print length
    385 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    One More Chapter
  5. Publication date
    March 4, 2021
  6. File size
    3.2 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08F9BMYF7
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ One More Chapter
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 4, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.2 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 385 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0008443344
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 4 of 6 ‏ : ‎ The Missing Children Case Files
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 173 ratings

About the author

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M. A. Hunter

M. A. Hunter

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M.A. Hunter is the author of psychological and crime thrillers, including The Boat Party, One Wrong Turn, and Every Step You Take. Born in the north-east of England, he now lives in Southampton where many of his stories are set, allowing him to use his insider knowledge to deliver realistic and unsettling suspense on every page.

Away from writing, M.A. loves to read anything that will keep him awake at night. He’s also a passionate advocate for contemporary cinema and binge-watching the latest offerings from streaming services. He is married with a son and a daughter, and two dogs.

M.A. also writes under the name Stephen Edger.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
173 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Brutally Honest Reviews
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant installment in this great series
    Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2021
    I’m absolutely loving this Missing Children Case Files series, but if you haven’t read the first three, don’t start here; you need to go back to the beginning and start with Ransomed. If you haven’t been following from the beginning, you really won’t have a full handle on true crime author Emma Hunter and the tragedy that has defined her; her sister Anna who has been missing for over twenty years. Everything Emma does, she does with Anna in mind, especially now that some clues to what really happened to Anna are starting to surface. Emma can tell she’s getting closer… and there’s a shocking twist in this book as it’s revealed to the reader (but not Emma) just how close she really is.

    The series deals with some difficult and potentially traumatising themes, with abducted children forced into abusive situations and some of them, yes, discarded, as per the title. The discovery of a young girl’s long-buried bones in a suitcase trigger a new avenue of search for Emma and her friends in the police force, and then some photographs are emailed to Emma’s agent which point to conspiracy at a very high level, something which isn’t resolved here but is obviously going to be a focus later on.

    I’m not always a huge fan of books which end without resolving all the major mysteries - it can feel like a con to get you to buy the next in the series - but each book in this series focusses on its own major case, tying up that one in the book while unlocking more parts of the overarching mystery of what happened to Anna. It’s cleverly done, and far from annoying me, it has me on the edge of my seat waiting for the next installment! Five stars for a great read - but make sure you start at the beginning of the series to get the full enjoyment out of it.

    Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
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  • langleyd
    5.0 out of 5 stars Book #4 in a mesmerizing series
    Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2023
    This series has been amazing! This is book #4 in a series where each book centers on a missing child case. Yes, they are fiction. No, they don't FEEL like fiction while you are reading and the tension builds to the point you have to set your kindle aside for a few minutes.....but not too long. Emma Hunter, an investigative journalist who now assists with missing children's cases, keeps digging and things happen quickly. The characters and the community in which they live and operate seem so real, you almost know you've been there. The stories are heartbreaking, Hunter doesn't let up on the crime just to get more readers. So, be warned, the subjects are dark and the road to solving them at times gets scary, but at least in these books, the crime does get solved.
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  • SZellmer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Another Good One in This Series
    Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2021
    I'm really torn on this one - I'm a huge fan of this series, but by the end you'll be asked to believe the unbelievable and it's all that sticks with me when I think back to the story. Emma is asked to assist with a new case of a missing girl at the insistence of the girl's mother. When she meets with the investigators on the case, who does she comes across but her old nemesis, DS Zoe Cavendish. Zoe has hated Emma from the moment they were introduced, believing that Emma profits off of the vulnerability and tragic circumstances of the victims that she writes about. We know that's nowhere near the truth, but Emma tolerates Zoe's rudeness as usual, only sticking up for herself when Zoe's at her worst. I hope we discover some event in her past to explain her excessive disgust with Emma - it's too harsh to not be personal.

    At the same time that everyone's searching for the girl, a body is found at the site of the studios that Freddie set fire to. Emma really hopes it's not the body of her sister who went missing twenty years ago. The last thing she wants is to confront the realization that her sister didn't survive. To make matters worse, someone has been contacting her through her agent - sending possible evidence of more victimized children. Is the sender looking for Emma's help or bragging about their crimes? She and Jack can only hope they figure it out before more bodies are found.

    I'm not one to post spoilers, so all I can say regarding my major issue with this book is that there's something about her sister that Emma apparently never knew. In all of the years living with her, talking about her, and investigating her disappearance. Speaking with relatives, officers and the media. Researching every shred of legal documentation she can find. Not a clue about this. Twenty years.

    I'm left with the dilemma of how to rate this story. I love every other thing about this series up until this point. But when a reader is asked to believe something so unbelievable in an otherwise gritty, realistic portrayal, it just feels wrong. It wasn't necessary, I don't understand why the author thinks we would just run with it, and to me, it took away from the surprising ending. I was literally like "Nope - I can't even process THAT when I'm still irritated about THIS.' But I do want to see how things progress following this latest installment, so I'll continue on, praying that's the only time I'll ever have to suspend such incredible disbelief.
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  • Linda
    5.0 out of 5 stars love this series
    Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2021
    Book 4 in the series. Absolutely loving this series. I cannot wait for the next one. Wish I could read it RIGHT NOW! The drama and anticipation increases with each book. The ending of this one in particular, has me itching for more.
    Emma continues her quest to find out what happened to missing children, especially her own sister Anna who has been gone for more than 20 years. Using her investigative journalist skills, along with help from others, Emma never gives up hope. M. A. Hunter is quickly becoming a favorite author.
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  • Babs
    4.0 out of 5 stars This one was interesting in many ways....
    Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2021
    Not disappointed in the 4th installment. I really think we are one step closer to finding out what happened to Emma's sister, Anna.

    This one really threw me as the twists and 'then' and 'now' were all mixed up name wise. I really thought we found Anna, but alas could it just be a play on names? I liked it.

    This one was interesting in many ways, the cases are all starting to circle each other and I can't wait for Emma to uncover exactly how they all connect. And seriously, I'd like to jump in the book and help the woman sort her romantic life out. Ha.

    I'm ready for the next one and so bummed it's not out yet. LOL.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • T. Wood
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ever Improving Series
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 4, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Investigative journalist Emma Hunter is well known for her work locating abducted children and the subsequent books about her work so when the mother of a newly missing girl asks for her help she doesn't hesitate.  Unfortunately this brings her into contact with a detective inspector who isn't one of her biggest fans and makes no attempt to hide her displeasure at Emma's inclusion in the investigation!

    Emma is also celebrating the release of her friend from jail while trying to dampen down her fears after an old suitcase containing bones has been found in the rubble of a recently destroyed building. Along with her occasional colleague PC Jack Serrovitz, she waits for the results of the DNA tests; this couldn't really be all that's left of Anna, her sister who's been missing for over two decades could it?

    This is the fourth novel in this series which needs to be read in the correct order and is, in some ways, ripped from the headlines. Emma is written sympathetically throughout but this time seems to have more backbone showing than usual. Maybe, because her best friend is away on holiday, she has to take the lead and protect those around her who desperately need her help.

    There are return visits from all the main protagonists along with an interesting new character I'm not totally convinced about yet! As always Emma’s search for her missing older sister, Anna, runs throughout this book and we learn more about her and the life she shared so briefly with her family.

    There is a cliffhanger at the end which makes me wish I could grab and read number five immediately. With only two books left in this excellent and original series I am looking forward to finding out what happens next, especially as Jack's investigation is definitely gathering pace.

    I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. This series gets better and better and is a great read.
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  • Kindle Customer wobbling
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ridiculously addictive
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 19, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    This whole series is a read in one sitting. They are all so well written and the characters jump out and grab you. The more I read the higher my recommendation is to read them
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  • Bradd Chambers
    4.0 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 30, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Sat up til 3am finishing this. That twist at the end…… I’m speechless! How did I not see it coming?
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  • Pauline
    5.0 out of 5 stars E M Hunter novels
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 12, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I read the book and found it gripping
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  • Dan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great product
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 27, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Great product and author
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