Better Reading Preview: The Stolen by Vikki Petraitis

Better Reading Preview: The Stolen by Vikki Petraitis

Senior Detective Antigone Pollard is fearless. Armed with a trained police dog, a black belt in judo and the will to speak her mind, she faces opposition head-on.

After six months, Antigone is feeling more settled in Deception Bay. The summer holiday season is off to a slow start and crime rates are down. But when a distraught mother calls the station to report her baby missing, Antigone and Wozza begin a race against time to find the baby and the person who brazenly took him.

In the middle of the frantic investigation, Antigone’s mother, Dr Jilly Pollard, arrives for an unexpected visit and shares a tragic family secret, which she needs Antigone’s help to resolve. Antigone takes a DNA test that yields two surprising results.

And just when things at the Deception Bay police station are running smoothly with a new commander, Senior Sergeant Amanda Filipovic, at the helm, circumstances change one stormy night. In the blink of an eye, Antigone’s old boss, Bill Wheeler, is back, making the missing baby investigation harder every day.

Once again, Antigone faces the questions: who’s protecting the women? And what happens when we don’t believe them?

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Reviews

Your Preview Verdict: The Stolen by Vikki Petraitis

Review | Preview

26 August 2025

Your Preview Verdict: The Stolen by Vikki Petraitis

    Publisher details

    The Stolen
    Author
    Vikki Petraitis
    Publisher
    Allen & Unwin
    Genre
    Fiction
    Released
    02 September, 2025
    ISBN
    9781761471667

    Synopsis

    Senior Detective Antigone Pollard is fearless. Armed with a trained police dog, a black belt in judo and the will to speak her mind, she faces opposition head-on.

    After six months, Antigone is feeling more settled in Deception Bay. The summer holiday season is off to a slow start and crime rates are down. But when a distraught mother calls the station to report her baby missing, Antigone and Wozza begin a race against time to find the baby and the person who brazenly took him.

    In the middle of the frantic investigation, Antigone's mother, Dr Jilly Pollard, arrives for an unexpected visit and shares a tragic family secret, which she needs Antigone's help to resolve. Antigone takes a DNA test that yields two surprising results.

    And just when things at the Deception Bay police station are running smoothly with a new commander, Senior Sergeant Amanda Filipovic, at the helm, circumstances change one stormy night. In the blink of an eye, Antigone's old boss, Bill Wheeler, is back, making the missing baby investigation harder every day.

    Once again, Antigone faces the questions: who's protecting the women? And what happens when we don't believe them?

    Vikki Petraitis
    About the author

    Vikki Petraitis

    Vikki Petraitis is best known for her true crime books including the bestselling book The Frankston Murders about serial killer Paul Denyer, and her first book, The Phillip Island Murder, which has been featured in several TV shows and podcasts. In her true crime books, Vikki has covered everything from police dogs to Lawyer X, the Russell Street bombing and sex crimes. Her expertise lies in interviewing police and victims to create compelling narratives. In recent years, Vikki has made two hugely successful podcast series with Casefile Presents, which have topped charts around the world and been downloaded millions of times. She is now working with the Casefile team developing new true crime projects. Vikki began a PhD in Creative Writing at La Trobe University in 2017 in order to continue to expand her writing skills. She brought thirty years of true crime writing and investigating to create her first work of fiction, The Unbelieved. In a parallel career, Vikki is also a teacher with a Master's degree in IT Education. She runs creative writing workshops and short courses in schools and local libraries. She is also a popular presenter, well-known for her compelling true crime talks and keynote addresses.

    Books by Vikki Petraitis

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    1. Ryan Mitchell says:

      I just finished reading the preview of The Stolen by Vikki Petraitis, and I’m really impressed by how suspenseful it is! If anyone is looking for creative ways to enhance their social media presence, this https://instabiopro.com is a neat tool to explore. It really helps make profiles stand out with unique styles and fonts. Definitely worth checking out for anyone who enjoys experimenting with their online profile setup.

    2. Ethan says:

      I really enjoy stories with strong and fearless detectives, and Antigone Pollard sounds like such a compelling character. The mix of a missing child investigation and personal family secrets makes the plot even more gripping and emotional. While reading about cases like this, I sometimes look into real-world Virginia arrest records https://va-arrestss.org to better understand how investigations and legal processes unfold in reality. This book definitely sounds like a suspenseful read, and I’d love to see how the mystery develops from start to finish.

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    5. Sarah Queen says:

      The storyline sounds incredibly gripping, especially with the emotional mystery surrounding the missing baby and Antigone’s personal struggles unfolding at the same time. I really enjoy crime stories that balance investigation with strong character development like this one. While looking for more reading discussions and helpful breakdowns, I came across Smart Square Guide on https://smartsquareguide.com which shares useful insights and easy-to-follow content that readers may also appreciate. This preview definitely feels like a book that will keep readers hooked from start to finish, and I’m excited to see more reviews once it releases.