The Child Thief

Smith succeeds in creating a narrative that is both an engrossing thriller and the story of a man struggling in the grip of historical events that he only partially understands. (Nick Rennison THE SUNDAY TIMES)

This is a pursuit thriller of the highest quality, reminiscent of the classic of the genre, Geoffrey Household's Rogue Male. (Myles McWeeney IRISH INDEPENDENT)

A terrific book with an original setting ... [it] works both as a compelling thriller, in which readers are drawn into Luka's confrontation with the mysterious child thief, and as the story of one man entangled in historical events larger than his personal battle against a psychopathic murderer (BBC HISTORY MAGAZINE)

Smith is a talented writer who incorporates the forbidding landscape of Ukraine as a central character in the cat-and-mouse chase ... the well-constructed plot is nicely complemented by Smith's adept turn of phrase (SUNDAY BUSINESS POST)

Dan Smith does not rely on cliche and schmaltz to add depth to his storytelling - he relies on skills of which an author can be proud: good writing, proper characterisation and an imperfect main character who you nevertheless find yourself willing to prevail (LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE (NORTH EAST))

It's amazing. Try it today - I can't recommend it enough! (WATERSTONES BOOKSHOP REVIEWS)

[A] taut, smart thriller... The Child Thief offers up a tense pace and nervous twists, but it's emotionally satisfying. Beyond its obvious thriller qualities, it's a story about fathers and sons, about the aftereffects of war, and about a ruthless and unforgiving slice of history. Highly recommended. (HISTORICAL NOVELIST SOCIETY)