Hidden Angels is another thrilling installment in Arnold’s Detective Amanda Steele series. Despite being the thirteenth book, the series continues to grow stronger with each case, offering original and captivating mysteries. With well-developed characters, engaging plots and suspense that keeps readers hooked from start to finish.
Title: Hidden Angels
Author(s): Carolyn Arnold
Series: Detective Amanda Steele #13
Also in this series: The Little Grave , Stolen Daughters , The Silent Witness , Black Orchid Girls , Her Frozen Cry , Last Seen Alive , Her Final Breath, Taken Girls , Her Last Words , Missing Before Daylight , The Wildfire Girl , Her Deadly Rose
Published by Bookouture on February 20, 2025
Pages: 358
Genre(s): Crime Fiction
Source: Netgalley
Format: eArc 
Purchase: Amazon|Audible
Rating: 
Series Rating:
As the wall is peeled back, everyone falls silent. Then they see her. The near-perfect remains of a young female, two jelly bangles and a neon necklace being the only clues to how long she had been hidden there. But who was she? And who could have possibly wanted to take such an innocent life?
When the body of girl is discovered in the walls of a Woodbridge church, Detective Amanda Steele is immediately called to the scene. On arrival she meets FBI Special Agent Sandra Vos who explains that while negotiating a hostage incident moments before, a gun was fired. The bullet missed its target but exposed human remains.
The victim has been perfectly preserved, her jewellery and summer dress taking Amanda back to her own teenage years. DNA quickly confirms that the victim was taken over thirty years ago. Thinking about her own daughter, Amanda cannot imagine the devastation for the young girl’s family and vows to find the killer.
Amanda and her partner Trent determine the suspect behind the attempted shooting, Cameron Cofell, had a very clear reason for exacting revenge on the church’s priest. As they question the wider community, a neighbour reveals her long-held suspicions too. But when she is found murdered, Amanda knows this killer is prepared to do whatever it takes to keep their dark secret from ever coming to light.
Soon the investigation takes Amanda and Trent to an abandoned farmhouse—a place that haunts Cameron’s nightmares—where they find a faded photograph that holds the mystery of another chilling cold case. But just how far back does this evil go, and how much will Amanda and Trent need to sacrifice to find the killer?
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Amanda’s current case involved solving a decades old murder. While Amanda along with her partner Trent don’t usually solve cold cases, they approached this case with the same diligence as they would with any of their other cases. This case landed in their laps when a hostage situation led to the discovery of a body hidden in the walls of a church. The body belongs to a sixteen-year-old girl who went missing thirty-one years ago when she was only eight years old. The big questions arising from the discovery were who kidnapped and killed her and why?
Throughout the course of their investigation Amanda and Trent unearthed disturbing secrets. As a mother the case affected Amanda and she made it her mission to find justice for this young victim. The investigation revealed a connection between the individual behind the hostage situation and body found in the church. This twist along with many others added to the complexity of the case, making it the most challenging of Amanda’s career.
Each new piece of evidence, takes Amanda and Trent deeper into this twisted and dark world. Once again Arnold sheds light on the depravity of human behavior. This is one of those mysteries where not all the answers were obvious. The cases presented in each installment work as standalones, however the undercurrents of Trent and Amanda’s relationship makes it preferable to read the series in order although not necessary.
Hidden Angels is the perfect read for persons who enjoy a challenging mystery. A mystery that keeps the detectives involved on their toes and the reader engaged from start to finish. If you’re looking for a gripping crime novel this book is a must-read.
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About Carolyn Arnold
CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international best-selling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has four continuing fiction series—Detective Madison Knight, Brandon Fisher FBI, McKinley Mysteries, and Matthew Connor Adventures—and has written nearly thirty books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from cozy to hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures. Both her female detective and FBI profiler series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining, leading her to adopt the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™. Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower. She currently lives just west of Toronto with her husband and beagle and is a member of Crime Writers of Canada.
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