Three Girls Gone by Carolyn Arnold is the fourteenth book in the Detective Amanda Steele series. This time, Amanda and her partner Trent are called to investigate the murder of six-year-old Hailey Tanner. However, as the case unfolds, Amanda realizes it closely mirrors a cold case once led by her former boss. As a result, she must race against time to stop another tragedy in this gripping and emotional police procedural, perfect for fans of crime thrillers and strong female detectives.

The girl in the ballerina dress lies still on the carousel with her face toward the blue sky. In her tutu and slippers, she’s ready for her next performance. But as the morning sun shines down upon her, she no longer feels its warmth on her cheeks. Her bright light is gone forever.
When the body of Hailey Tanner is found in a local park, Detective Amanda Steele races to the scene. Interviewing her devastated parents, they confirm that Hailey never made it home from her dance class. Searching for clues in the family home, Amanda discovers that some ballet clothing was taken from Hailey’s room. Could the killer have been close to her?
As Amanda and Trent question potential suspects, they’re painfully reminded of a similar case. Julie Gilbert, another gifted performer, was murdered in exactly the same way twelve years ago. Amanda’s former colleague, Katherine Graves, never gave up hope of bringing the killer to justice and now with a clear link between the two victims, she steps back into the investigation.
But she’s soon warned off when a threatening note is found in the hem of Hailey’s dress. “This girl’s your fault. Stop looking or there will be more.”
With boxes of evidence files and potential leads, Amanda knows that Katherine must have been getting close, but when a third girl is taken soon after, the clock starts ticking again. There’s no way Amanda will let another child suffer at the hands of this twisted killer. But how much will the team be prepared to sacrifice, and can they save this girl before it’s too late?

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Three Girls Gone is the fourteenth book in the Detective Amanda Steele series, and Carolyn Arnold once again delivers a gripping and emotionally charged police procedural. From the very first chapter, the tension is palpable. It draws the reader into a case that feels both heartbreaking and deeply personal for Amanda. The details of her latest investigation bear an uncanny resemblance to a cold case. A case that was investigated years ago by her former boss, Katherine Graves.

In this installment, Amanda tackles one of her most difficult cases yet. Six-year-old Hailey Tanner disappears after leaving her ballet class, and days later, a woman stumbles upon her body in the park, dressed in a tutu. The haunting image lingers, driving Amanda’s determination to bring the little girl’s killer to justice. As the investigation unfolds, Amanda realizes the disturbing similarities between her current case and a cold case from the past are too strong to overlook. Just as she starts to piece the puzzle together, the unthinkable happens—another child goes missing.

Amanda and her partner, Trent, find themselves racing against time to stop a killer before he strikes again. I really liked how Arnold balanced the procedural elements with the emotional side of the story. Amanda’s compassion, her resilience, and her drive to bring closure to the victims’ families continue to make her such a relatable and admirable character. The partnership between Amanda and Trent remains one of my favorite aspects of the series. Their mutual respect, teamwork, and growing bond add heart to the story.

Arnold’s writing once again shines with vivid descriptions, realistic dialogue, and just the right amount of suspense. The pacing is steady, building momentum as the clues unfold, and the emotional stakes are high from beginning to end. Three Girls Gone may not be the most shocking book in the series, but it’s one that tugs at your heart while keeping you on edge.

Overall, this is another strong addition to the Detective Amanda Steele series—gripping, emotional, and thought-provoking. Fans of police procedurals with strong female leads will definitely want to add this one to their reading list.

Story Evaluation
Plot	4
Characters	5
World Building	4.5
Writing Style	4.5
Pacing	4
Cover	4
Enjoyment	4.5
Ending	5
Overall:

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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