Finders Keepers by Belinda Bauer

Finders Keepers by Belinda Bauer is the final part of the Exmoor trilogy and the sequel to Darkside. Whereas Darkside doesn’t really feel like a sequel to Blacklands (the first book in the trilogy), Finders Keepers really does feel like a sequel. This time Steven, the main character from Blacklands, is given equal top billing with PC Jonas Holly, the main character from Darkside. Also stepping into the spotlight are Taunton detectives, DI Reynolds and DS Rice, along with Steven’s little brother, Davey.

When a 13-year-old girl is kidnapped from a car park, DI Reynolds assumes it’s because many people are annoyed with her father. There will be a ransom note, then she will come home… But there’s no ransom note and soon another child is taken from another car park. And he isn’t the last.

The kidnapper leaves no clues, apart from a note on the steering wheel. The children have just disappeared without trace. On Exmoor, there are a lot of places to hide.

After the traumatic events of Darkside, Jonas is finally deemed well enough to go back to work. But is he really safe? His colleagues are unsure and Steven doesn’t trust Jonas at all. Is he right to be worried about the local policeman or is it all in his imagination?

Meanwhile, Davey comes up with a way to get lots of money. Surely nothing could go wrong with his plan…

Finders Keepers is a real page turner and the darkest of the Exmoor trilogy novels. I couldn’t put it down and read it in three days. Despite the dark subject matter, the writing is light and humorous. If you enjoy a detective novel, I would definitely recommend the Exmoor trilogy. You don’t have to read Blacklands first, but I would say that it definitely makes sense to read Darkside before Finders Keepers.