Book review

Stalking victimisation has been defined in many ways, two main elements are identified at the opening of the book that characterise it; a course of conduct by the perpetrator and the presence of fear in the victim. Chapter 1 makes the case for the need to focus in children in the context of domestic abuse (DA), and highlights that research has increasingly recognised that ex-partner stalking and procedural stalking (Saltmarsh et al., 2021) can profoundly harm children as well as adult victims. The field of domestic abuse is identified as first modelling this perspective by acknowledging and centring children’s experiences of harm, with studies such as Noble-Carr et al. (2020)’s meta-synthesis emphasising the need to place children’s voices, safety and recovery at the heart of both research and responses.

The book is structured in three parts, each building the case for understanding ex-partner stalking as a profound threat to children’s safety and development. Part 1 conceptualises stalking as a multifaceted phenomenon in children’s lives, drawing on psychological, sociological and trauma-informed perspectives to show how children are directly harmed through fear, instability and disrupted caregiving. Part 2 explores systemic and professional barriers to identifying children’s experiences and meeting their support needs, identifying serious gaps in expertise, risk assessment and interagency coordination. Part 3 shifts towards practical approaches, presenting child-centred interventions and models of risk management that promote safety and resilience.

Part 1, “Ex-Partner Stalking as a Multifaceted phenomenon in Children’s lives” presents three chapters, “Children ad Collateral victims of separation/divorce stalking” (DeKeseredy) outlines the consequences of child exposure to stalking, its pervasive nature, negative effects and encourages the reader not to ignore the protective value of a secure relationship with a mother who is a survivor of stalking abuse. Laitinen and Nikupeteri’s chapter presents an analysis of interviews with children affected by stalking, sessions where children were working with professionals as well as case reports and judgments, providing an authoritative account from the child’s perspective of being “in the system”. The last chapter (Hauch and Elklit) details a deeper dive into children’s perspectives “A psychological and trauma perspective on stalking” outlines the developmental impact of it that persists into adulthood, empathising the need for timely intervention.

Part 2 “Challenges in Identifying Children’s Needs for help” addresses the barriers for professionals in identifying the needs of children in stalking cases and the second chapter in this section shares practical experiences of professionals working with it. They outline key areas that can be protective. Vinkka et al. identify the factors that prevent children for receiving help, listing both the ineffectiveness of old frameworks and gaps in professional knowledge that prevent effective working practices. Nilosaari et al.’s chapter completes this section and draws attention to the necessity of responding to not just to risk of danger, but also to the risk of impacts on child development. Crucially, these chapters challenge traditional safeguarding models that fail to distinguish stalking from general interparental conflict, advocating instead for trauma-informed, stalking-specific approaches.

Part 3: “Responses and Interventions” offers the most practise focused section of the book. The chapters explore how institutional responses can underestimate or misunderstand the nature of stalking and its impact on children. Strand et al. address the problem of an adult focused risk assessment and deficits which overlook individual children’s protective and vulnerability factors that have been recognised in domestic violence practice (Vikander and Strand, 2025). The final chapter of this section offers some best practice strategies for working with children and young people. Nilosaari et al. outline ways of working to support children’s coping, drafting a child focused safety plan and a model for creating support when enabling child contact between children and the stalking parent. They highlight the need to support feelings of safely and personal agency. The volume concludes with a call for culturally competent, coordinated and child-focused interventions that recognise the distinctive harm stalking causes.

The strengths of the volume include its rigorous empirical base from a range of national studies that provide vivid qualitative insights directly from children and their (to date) little examined perspective within this specific dynamic ecosystem. A strong theoretical base is integrated with applicable risk assessment and intervention frameworks.

This book builds on the recognition of children as victims of abuse in DA consolidating what has been learned and offering the first complete volume that specifically examines this in ex-partner stalking. In summary, it considerably advances our understanding of ex-partner stalking’s intergenerational impacts. It establishes a foundation for future theorising, policy development and practice reforms. The text advances psycho-criminological theory by explicitly positioning children as active observers and interpreters. Its practical value is clear: the authors provide concrete guidelines for practitioners, from social workers to legal professionals and mental health providers.