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Missing
Single mum Ellie is shown a missing person post on Facebook.
It’s of her three-year-old son, Tyler…
But he’s right there, holding her hand. Surely this is some kind of prank – she knows her friend Louise can go too far with her jokes sometimes. And Ellie is used to the other mums gossiping at the school gates… But now the other parents are questioning whether Tyler is really her child. Ellie does everything she can to prove the post is fake, but the longer it goes on she knows it is malicious. Who would do this to her? And why? It could be her ex, Darren, but deep down she knows it must be linked to what happened all those years ago – the night she’s been doing her best to forget… All she knows is that she has to keep her son safe – no matter what.
It’s of her three-year-old son, Tyler…
But he’s right there, holding her hand. Surely this is some kind of prank – she knows her friend Louise can go too far with her jokes sometimes. And Ellie is used to the other mums gossiping at the school gates… But now the other parents are questioning whether Tyler is really her child. Ellie does everything she can to prove the post is fake, but the longer it goes on she knows it is malicious. Who would do this to her? And why? It could be her ex, Darren, but deep down she knows it must be linked to what happened all those years ago – the night she’s been doing her best to forget… All she knows is that she has to keep her son safe – no matter what.
298 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 27, 2023
1262 people are currently reading
851 people want to read
About the author
Ruby Speechley
24 books153 followersRuby Speechley is a psychological thriller writer. Her debut novel, Someone Else’s Baby, was published by Hera Books on 25 July 2019.
You can contact her on Twitter: @rubyspeechley, Facebook: ‘Ruby Speechley Author’ or via her website: rubyspeechley.com
You can contact her on Twitter: @rubyspeechley, Facebook: ‘Ruby Speechley Author’ or via her website: rubyspeechley.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 222 reviews
September 18, 2023
Single mum Ellie is shocked to be told about a post on Facebook stating that her three-year-old son Tyler is missing. Ellie obviously knows this is fake, but can she convince others this is the case, especially the school gate mafiosa? However, much more importantly, who is behind the campaign? Could it possibly be her ex Darren who has never really wanted anything to do with Tyler? Maybe though, it’s something infinitely worse that she’s been trying to forget. All she knows for certain is that she will do everything in her power to keep her much loved son safe.
This is a quick easy read which does have very serious undertones to it which makes you shudder. The premise is a good one and there are occasions when the unfolding drama feels off kilter and some elements are chilling. There is one that really freaks me out. Aspects of this are sadly all too believable.
However, I don’t especially care for the way it’s written as there are a lot of sentences that feel more like statements which don’t get across the creep or menace as well as it could. At times things get bogged down in minutiae which detracts from the seriousness. Whilst I can honestly say there is a lot going on as the plot has plenty of drama which keeps me continuing to read on, it does get somewhat chaotic and this tends to lose the main point of it. We start in one place and end up somewhere else.
Ellie as a character confuses me too. Whilst on the one hand, I have huge sympathy for her as she has an awful lot on her plate and much to dissect, she also absolutely baffles me. A lot of her actions make absolutely no sense at all. There is one incident with Tyler later in the book, which has me scratching my head in puzzlement. The school gate witchery are quick to judge too, maybe this is all too accurate!
Overall, this is a mixed bag read for me
as parts are good and others not so much. I think I’m a bit of an outlier with this one as there are many glowing reviews so be sure to check those out too.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Boldwood Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Trigger warning - rape.
This is a quick easy read which does have very serious undertones to it which makes you shudder. The premise is a good one and there are occasions when the unfolding drama feels off kilter and some elements are chilling. There is one that really freaks me out. Aspects of this are sadly all too believable.
However, I don’t especially care for the way it’s written as there are a lot of sentences that feel more like statements which don’t get across the creep or menace as well as it could. At times things get bogged down in minutiae which detracts from the seriousness. Whilst I can honestly say there is a lot going on as the plot has plenty of drama which keeps me continuing to read on, it does get somewhat chaotic and this tends to lose the main point of it. We start in one place and end up somewhere else.
Ellie as a character confuses me too. Whilst on the one hand, I have huge sympathy for her as she has an awful lot on her plate and much to dissect, she also absolutely baffles me. A lot of her actions make absolutely no sense at all. There is one incident with Tyler later in the book, which has me scratching my head in puzzlement. The school gate witchery are quick to judge too, maybe this is all too accurate!
Overall, this is a mixed bag read for me
as parts are good and others not so much. I think I’m a bit of an outlier with this one as there are many glowing reviews so be sure to check those out too.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Boldwood Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Trigger warning - rape.
September 14, 2023
**TRIGGER WARNING** Rape. Sexual Assault.
Single mother Ellie is shown a missing person post on Facebook. It's of her three-year-old son, Tyler. But he's right here holding her hand. Surely this is some kind of prank - she knows her friend Louise can go too far with her jokes sometimes. And Ellie is used to the other mum's gossiping at the school gates. But now the other parents are questioning whether Tyler is really her child. Ellie does everything she can to prove the post is fake, but the longer it goes on she knows it is malicious. Who would do this to her? And why?
I was pulled in from the first page. Only the need for sleep made me put this book down. This is a tense, twisted, suspenseful, and thrilling read. There are some heartbreaking scenes. The characters are well-developed and I really liked Ellie, she was quite sweet. The book shows how the internet can ruin people's lives with just a few clicks. I did not know who I could trust or believe.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #RubySpeechley for my ARC of #Missing in exchange for an honest review.
Single mother Ellie is shown a missing person post on Facebook. It's of her three-year-old son, Tyler. But he's right here holding her hand. Surely this is some kind of prank - she knows her friend Louise can go too far with her jokes sometimes. And Ellie is used to the other mum's gossiping at the school gates. But now the other parents are questioning whether Tyler is really her child. Ellie does everything she can to prove the post is fake, but the longer it goes on she knows it is malicious. Who would do this to her? And why?
I was pulled in from the first page. Only the need for sleep made me put this book down. This is a tense, twisted, suspenseful, and thrilling read. There are some heartbreaking scenes. The characters are well-developed and I really liked Ellie, she was quite sweet. The book shows how the internet can ruin people's lives with just a few clicks. I did not know who I could trust or believe.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #RubySpeechley for my ARC of #Missing in exchange for an honest review.
December 2, 2023
Terrible
It’s so badly written, and a completely unbelievable story which highly predictable.
The main character is dull as can be, the story doesn’t flow well, unfortunately I had to read it to the end I wish I hadn’t bothered.
It’s so badly written, and a completely unbelievable story which highly predictable.
The main character is dull as can be, the story doesn’t flow well, unfortunately I had to read it to the end I wish I hadn’t bothered.
December 11, 2023
250 {out of 300) pages before she calls the police
This could be a good story, but the plot relies on the characters being dumb. The heroine ought to have been much more freaked out. She keeps plodding along, managing to do her job and the school run, as increasingly menacing things happen to her. She tries to sleuth it on her own rather than call the police. She's so wooden and illogical that it makes the book unenjoyable.
This could be a good story, honestly. It just needs to be written much better.
This could be a good story, but the plot relies on the characters being dumb. The heroine ought to have been much more freaked out. She keeps plodding along, managing to do her job and the school run, as increasingly menacing things happen to her. She tries to sleuth it on her own rather than call the police. She's so wooden and illogical that it makes the book unenjoyable.
This could be a good story, honestly. It just needs to be written much better.
December 1, 2023
Before reading this book, I was definitely on a reading slump. The last couple of books, something just didn't click for me.. Finally, my reading slump is officially over!! Domestic suspense like this is one of my favourite genres, I read it fast, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and one star less is simply because of the predictability of some of the twists and the unbelievable naivety of the main character..
September 17, 2023
Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood books for access to this arc in exchange for my honest review !
This is the first book I read from this author and I really enjoyed it ! If you're looking for a fast read, this is it ! I felt so sad for 2 characters !! At some time, I thought it was another character who was behind all this. Even if it didn't end like I was hoping it would, I would still recommend this book.
This is the first book I read from this author and I really enjoyed it ! If you're looking for a fast read, this is it ! I felt so sad for 2 characters !! At some time, I thought it was another character who was behind all this. Even if it didn't end like I was hoping it would, I would still recommend this book.
September 14, 2023
Ellie is a mother who is raising three-year-old Tyler all by herself. Several pre-school mothers already dislike her, but when she is shown a missing child photo claiming to be her son, things escalate. Tyler has been by her side the whole time. Surely, it's a mistake or is it a warning? Ellie is aware that the threats are getting worse, and she needs to find answers before her son is in real danger.
The reading was a rollercoaster, showing the internet's strength and how it can ruin lives with just a few clicks. The author addresses serious issues, including rape and sexual assault. I think the author did a good job handling this and fitting it into the story. The writing was fantastic, and I finished the story in just a few days. I was hooked and couldn't put this down. Ellie's life took a turn for the worse with every chapter, bringing new horrifying twists and turns. The writer did an excellent job developing the characters, especially Ellie. I was constantly imagining how I would react if I were in her situation. I'm excited to see what the author writes next.
The reading was a rollercoaster, showing the internet's strength and how it can ruin lives with just a few clicks. The author addresses serious issues, including rape and sexual assault. I think the author did a good job handling this and fitting it into the story. The writing was fantastic, and I finished the story in just a few days. I was hooked and couldn't put this down. Ellie's life took a turn for the worse with every chapter, bringing new horrifying twists and turns. The writer did an excellent job developing the characters, especially Ellie. I was constantly imagining how I would react if I were in her situation. I'm excited to see what the author writes next.
September 9, 2023
My Review:
Enjoyed!!!!! I definitely did not expect any of that. It was going one way then bam it went another and another but in such a good way. I have to say what a great read this was. I was speechless by the end. Now let’s talk characters. They were awesome. You didn’t know who to trust or what to even believe. Now let’s talk plot. I loved it. What wasn’t there to love about it is the real question. It was super interesting and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I read this one in just a few sittings because of it. Up next is that awesome ending that I never saw coming. Wow, just wow. I couldn’t believe it. I have to say that this is my favorite book by this author so far. It had all the things that I look for in a good book. I can’t wait to read more by this author.
In conclusion, the plot, the characters and all the twists in this book made this book an enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend it and happily give it 5 Hearts❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Enjoyed!!!!! I definitely did not expect any of that. It was going one way then bam it went another and another but in such a good way. I have to say what a great read this was. I was speechless by the end. Now let’s talk characters. They were awesome. You didn’t know who to trust or what to even believe. Now let’s talk plot. I loved it. What wasn’t there to love about it is the real question. It was super interesting and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I read this one in just a few sittings because of it. Up next is that awesome ending that I never saw coming. Wow, just wow. I couldn’t believe it. I have to say that this is my favorite book by this author so far. It had all the things that I look for in a good book. I can’t wait to read more by this author.
In conclusion, the plot, the characters and all the twists in this book made this book an enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend it and happily give it 5 Hearts❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
May 29, 2024
The only thing that kept me reading was to find out who was actually behind it all. It was one of the most far-fetched, unbelievable plots ever, and the characters were so completely dumb and unlikeable that I couldn't warm to them at all.
January 20, 2024
Whoever edited this should be sacked!! 😄
February 25, 2024
Triggers- r*pe, sexual assault, kidnapping, harassment, assault, legal involvement, stalking.
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Spoilers beyond this point
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horrific. had such a good idea behind the story but honestly? dreadful. part of this is due to my own personal trauma hence the 2 over 1 star.
a young single mother finds out a missing poster of her young son is being sent around on the internet. immediately /almost/ every person who knows of her doubts that the child she’s had since birth is actually hers? loads of creepy shit starts to come out and devastation when baby daddy- ISNT BABY DADDY. weird flashbacks of a clown in an air b&b start to piece together what is happening.
breaking into her home, leaving cryptic messages in her apartment, an injury to her sons best friend all keep the story interesting and had such promise. kidnapped the son from a school trip etc etc.
until the end - wtf???
the person who is teased to actually be rapist baby daddy is baby daddy and he brags about it to no end.
he is caught, legal proceedings happen and he is incarceration for his crimes alongside those against 6 others in….. 45 MINUTES.
idk if you have experience of the judicial system but a perpetrator of serious sexual offences against adults as well as adding in charges of attempted kidnapping to a child does…… not ever take 45 minutes. this rly rly pissed me off and the whole thing of caught to ending was ONE. CHAPTER.
too triggering for me personally and felt a true sense of violent rage at the thought of something that is so traumatic for real people is being pushed through so quickly, without seemingly any prior research and glazed over like nothing happened. lived happily ever after. as if you can move along from someone messing with your head for MONTHS and stalking you, breaking into your own space numerous time and drugging you out??? bizarre. would not read again. overall- taking my personal trauma away- was super rushed and shitty ending to what could’ve had a lot of promise.
______________________________________________
Spoilers beyond this point
______________________________________________
horrific. had such a good idea behind the story but honestly? dreadful. part of this is due to my own personal trauma hence the 2 over 1 star.
a young single mother finds out a missing poster of her young son is being sent around on the internet. immediately /almost/ every person who knows of her doubts that the child she’s had since birth is actually hers? loads of creepy shit starts to come out and devastation when baby daddy- ISNT BABY DADDY. weird flashbacks of a clown in an air b&b start to piece together what is happening.
breaking into her home, leaving cryptic messages in her apartment, an injury to her sons best friend all keep the story interesting and had such promise. kidnapped the son from a school trip etc etc.
until the end - wtf???
the person who is teased to actually be rapist baby daddy is baby daddy and he brags about it to no end.
he is caught, legal proceedings happen and he is incarceration for his crimes alongside those against 6 others in….. 45 MINUTES.
idk if you have experience of the judicial system but a perpetrator of serious sexual offences against adults as well as adding in charges of attempted kidnapping to a child does…… not ever take 45 minutes. this rly rly pissed me off and the whole thing of caught to ending was ONE. CHAPTER.
too triggering for me personally and felt a true sense of violent rage at the thought of something that is so traumatic for real people is being pushed through so quickly, without seemingly any prior research and glazed over like nothing happened. lived happily ever after. as if you can move along from someone messing with your head for MONTHS and stalking you, breaking into your own space numerous time and drugging you out??? bizarre. would not read again. overall- taking my personal trauma away- was super rushed and shitty ending to what could’ve had a lot of promise.
May 11, 2024
This was a really good story and I didn't see the end coming which is always good. If you enjoy a good thriller but don't want any violence then this is for you.
***********************************
Single mum Ellie is shown a missing person post on Facebook. It’s of her three-year-old son, Tyler…
But he’s right there, holding her hand. Surely this is some kind of prank – she knows her friend Louise can go too far with her jokes sometimes. And Ellie is used to the other mums gossiping at the school gates… But now the other parents are questioning whether Tyler is really her child. Ellie does everything she can to prove the post is fake, but the longer it goes on she knows it is malicious. Who would do this to her? And why? It could be her ex, Darren, but deep down she knows it must be linked to what happened all those years ago – the night she’s been doing her best to forget… All she knows is that she has to keep her son safe – no matter what.
***********************************
Single mum Ellie is shown a missing person post on Facebook. It’s of her three-year-old son, Tyler…
But he’s right there, holding her hand. Surely this is some kind of prank – she knows her friend Louise can go too far with her jokes sometimes. And Ellie is used to the other mums gossiping at the school gates… But now the other parents are questioning whether Tyler is really her child. Ellie does everything she can to prove the post is fake, but the longer it goes on she knows it is malicious. Who would do this to her? And why? It could be her ex, Darren, but deep down she knows it must be linked to what happened all those years ago – the night she’s been doing her best to forget… All she knows is that she has to keep her son safe – no matter what.
September 15, 2023
This book was a really good thriller that sometimes made me hold my breath which is something I love when it comes to thrillers.
I liked how the book felt very real and as a mother to two it was easy to relate to the mothers feeling and scares during a few scenes.
In real life there are a lot of missing person posts on Facebook and just like in this story some has been proven to be false for various reasons.
For me this was an quick read since I really didn't wanted to put this book down until it was finished because it is so good.
If you are looking for a realistic thriller that contains a mother and a child where the mother is trying to do everything to keep her child safe then this is for you.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for letting me read this amazing thriller.
I liked how the book felt very real and as a mother to two it was easy to relate to the mothers feeling and scares during a few scenes.
In real life there are a lot of missing person posts on Facebook and just like in this story some has been proven to be false for various reasons.
For me this was an quick read since I really didn't wanted to put this book down until it was finished because it is so good.
If you are looking for a realistic thriller that contains a mother and a child where the mother is trying to do everything to keep her child safe then this is for you.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for letting me read this amazing thriller.
October 8, 2023
I really enjoyed this thriller. Whilst I guessed a few of the twists that came, the delivery of them was perfect. The book felt easy to follow abd a good read. It's my first from this author but certainly want to read mor
March 7, 2024
I really enjoyed this read but I thought it took a long time 4years for her to realise what happened to her
I would recommend it it’s a great book
I would recommend it it’s a great book
July 6, 2024
I don't usually give bad ratings, so I feel awful doing so. But this one was predictable, anticlimactic and read like it was written for a high school creative writing project. Sorry.
August 31, 2024
meh. this one was obvious
September 29, 2023
Missing by Ruby Speechley is a book I was overjoyed to find on as I really enjoyed her previous book, Gone.
She has a real talent for thrillers that involve families and children and she gets into the characters’ feelings from the start.
I was hooked on Missing all the way through. I automatically felt for Ellie, and I was questioning from the start whether things were true or not. The atmosphere and tension between Ellie and the other mothers at the school was incredibly realistic and I was really concerned for her and especially Tyler and his wellbeing.
The plot was easy to follow, and it was so wonderfully twisty that one minute I was asking myself “Is this really happening?” “Is this really true?”
Missing is a thoroughly enjoyable novel from one of my favourite thriller authors and I’m looking forward to more books by her.
Thanks to Ruby Speechley, Boldwood and Rachel’s Random Resources for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
5 stars
She has a real talent for thrillers that involve families and children and she gets into the characters’ feelings from the start.
I was hooked on Missing all the way through. I automatically felt for Ellie, and I was questioning from the start whether things were true or not. The atmosphere and tension between Ellie and the other mothers at the school was incredibly realistic and I was really concerned for her and especially Tyler and his wellbeing.
The plot was easy to follow, and it was so wonderfully twisty that one minute I was asking myself “Is this really happening?” “Is this really true?”
Missing is a thoroughly enjoyable novel from one of my favourite thriller authors and I’m looking forward to more books by her.
Thanks to Ruby Speechley, Boldwood and Rachel’s Random Resources for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
5 stars
October 6, 2023
This is my first book by the author and I will definitely be reading her other books.
I was genuinely freaked out from the beginning. The book touches on issues social media trolling, stalking and the dynamics of school mothers and their cliques.
I liked the flashbacks to the past and that they also developed at the same pace of the present storyline.
I was genuinely freaked out from the beginning. The book touches on issues social media trolling, stalking and the dynamics of school mothers and their cliques.
I liked the flashbacks to the past and that they also developed at the same pace of the present storyline.
Read
May 3, 2024An enthralling read, there were lots of potential suspects and the end was still intriguing enough that I wasn't able to predict it despite questioning who Harry is/was. I didn't like the lack of an end to Ian's storyline or whether or not the woman hiring the dog sitter was involved or not but otherwise I thought it was a great way to end the story.
December 23, 2024
TW: abuse, nonconsensual sex
Missing was one of those thrillers that left me feeling a bit creeped out, hitting me on a level that not many books reach… like maybe I should make extra sure my doors are locked before I go to bed. I really don’t like to give spoilers of the books I read in my reviews, but this was one that I definitely felt like it needed the trigger warnings I included at the beginning. That said, the Prologue hints on these topics, so I don’t feel like it’s a true spoiler.
This book was a quick read. The chapters were fairly short and had a bit of a “potato chip effect” where “just one more chapter” turned into reading many chapters at a time. I pretty much read the last third of the book in a single sitting.
This story follows Elle, a single mother in England with a 3-year-old son, Tyler. Elle feels a bit “weak” in the beginning, as she obviously lacks self-confidence, only has a couple people she can consider friends, and is still in love with Darren, who broke up with her 4 years ago. It’s pretty early on that a missing poster that shows a picture of her son starts circulating, and this is just the beginning of a chain of disturbing events that happen in the story. I found myself questioning the intentions of almost every character at one point or another, though I managed to piece together a lot of what was going on (and who was responsible) a while before it was all actually revealed. I was glad to see a decent amount of character development along the way, and I grew to like Elle more and more as the story progressed. The book ended in a way that left me feeling satisfied with the outcome.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the free advance copy of Missing. All opinions expressed in my review are completely my own.
Missing was one of those thrillers that left me feeling a bit creeped out, hitting me on a level that not many books reach… like maybe I should make extra sure my doors are locked before I go to bed. I really don’t like to give spoilers of the books I read in my reviews, but this was one that I definitely felt like it needed the trigger warnings I included at the beginning. That said, the Prologue hints on these topics, so I don’t feel like it’s a true spoiler.
This book was a quick read. The chapters were fairly short and had a bit of a “potato chip effect” where “just one more chapter” turned into reading many chapters at a time. I pretty much read the last third of the book in a single sitting.
This story follows Elle, a single mother in England with a 3-year-old son, Tyler. Elle feels a bit “weak” in the beginning, as she obviously lacks self-confidence, only has a couple people she can consider friends, and is still in love with Darren, who broke up with her 4 years ago. It’s pretty early on that a missing poster that shows a picture of her son starts circulating, and this is just the beginning of a chain of disturbing events that happen in the story. I found myself questioning the intentions of almost every character at one point or another, though I managed to piece together a lot of what was going on (and who was responsible) a while before it was all actually revealed. I was glad to see a decent amount of character development along the way, and I grew to like Elle more and more as the story progressed. The book ended in a way that left me feeling satisfied with the outcome.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the free advance copy of Missing. All opinions expressed in my review are completely my own.
September 30, 2023
It all starts with a social media post that her son is missing. It’s impossible because her son is with her. It’s always been Ellie and her son Tyler, but now Ellie must prove she’s the mother.
This story is told in third person and is an interesting book. It is a quick read and it will keep you guessing. I enjoyed the book and plan to read more books by this author.
This story is told in third person and is an interesting book. It is a quick read and it will keep you guessing. I enjoyed the book and plan to read more books by this author.
February 3, 2024
I found this book slow & repetitive if I’m honest. I didn’t like the main character and her victim mentality. I have no idea why Ian was included in the story as he served no purpose other than to show us that Ellie was so utterly irresistible that men do strange things when they are near her 🙈
Just a bit of nothingness which is a shame as the idea behind it was good
Just a bit of nothingness which is a shame as the idea behind it was good
February 29, 2024
not good!
I ended up doing a good bit of “skimming “ pages to get through this book. I found it boring and didn’t connect with any of the characters.
I ended up doing a good bit of “skimming “ pages to get through this book. I found it boring and didn’t connect with any of the characters.
September 25, 2023
It's every mother's worst nightmare...
Except Ellie is having different kind of nightmares. Ones featuring clowns and snake tattoos and a very heavy sense of deja vu. And then there is the daytime nightmare where whispers at her son's nursery lead a friend to show her a Facebook post in which a missing person poster has been shared around. A missing person poster with her son's photo on it! But Tyler is not missing. He's right here holding her hand and climbing into the back seat of her car. Surely this is a prank...isn't it?
But the other mums are not seeing the funny side of it as they each pass judgement on Ellie. She's used to them gossiping but now they are questioning whether Tyler is really her son. Some hurl vicious accusations her way while others merely insinuate.
With the help of her friend Louise, Ellie tries to prove that the post is fake but that means reactivating her Facebook account which she deactivated when she was harrassed by someone she thought was her friend. But the longer this goes on and the more the post is shared, the harder it is going to be to narrow it down and find just who has it in for her.
Ellie is a single mum and lives alone with her 3 year old son Tyler. His father, Darren, has never admitted paternity and has refused to pay any child maintenance but Ellie is getting to the point that she is going to need his financial help with the raising of their son. But the more she tries to contact him, the more vitriol she receives back from his new girlfriend. And Darren is more vehement than ever that he is not Tyler's father. But Ellie knows she was not unfaithful...so who else could it be? Unless...no.
The shadow of a memory lingers in the back of her mind from four years previously on the eve of her weekend away to Jersey with best friend Molly. What happened that night? If anything? And is it linked to what is plaguing her now?
This is a fairly easy and quick read that does bare some sinister and creepy undertones. Things like stalking, rape, revenge porn to name a few. That and that the internet is forever. I liked Ellie and Katie but the two were also infuriating. For example, the incident with Ellie's flat key that Katie lost...why did she not see why Ellie was so upset? And then leaving Ellie's son in the care of her boyfriend, someone Ellie had never met, and thinking that was OK? And Ellie made me scratch my head on occasion too.
The writing is an easy style and the chapters short and snappy (my favourite kind). I am always a sucker for missing child tropes, although the said child is not actually missing, but it is still a good read. The twists were fairly predictable but it didn't ruin my enjoyment of a good story.
Overall, a quick easy read with a satisfying end.
I would like to thank #RubySpeechley, #Netgalley, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #Missing in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Except Ellie is having different kind of nightmares. Ones featuring clowns and snake tattoos and a very heavy sense of deja vu. And then there is the daytime nightmare where whispers at her son's nursery lead a friend to show her a Facebook post in which a missing person poster has been shared around. A missing person poster with her son's photo on it! But Tyler is not missing. He's right here holding her hand and climbing into the back seat of her car. Surely this is a prank...isn't it?
But the other mums are not seeing the funny side of it as they each pass judgement on Ellie. She's used to them gossiping but now they are questioning whether Tyler is really her son. Some hurl vicious accusations her way while others merely insinuate.
With the help of her friend Louise, Ellie tries to prove that the post is fake but that means reactivating her Facebook account which she deactivated when she was harrassed by someone she thought was her friend. But the longer this goes on and the more the post is shared, the harder it is going to be to narrow it down and find just who has it in for her.
Ellie is a single mum and lives alone with her 3 year old son Tyler. His father, Darren, has never admitted paternity and has refused to pay any child maintenance but Ellie is getting to the point that she is going to need his financial help with the raising of their son. But the more she tries to contact him, the more vitriol she receives back from his new girlfriend. And Darren is more vehement than ever that he is not Tyler's father. But Ellie knows she was not unfaithful...so who else could it be? Unless...no.
The shadow of a memory lingers in the back of her mind from four years previously on the eve of her weekend away to Jersey with best friend Molly. What happened that night? If anything? And is it linked to what is plaguing her now?
This is a fairly easy and quick read that does bare some sinister and creepy undertones. Things like stalking, rape, revenge porn to name a few. That and that the internet is forever. I liked Ellie and Katie but the two were also infuriating. For example, the incident with Ellie's flat key that Katie lost...why did she not see why Ellie was so upset? And then leaving Ellie's son in the care of her boyfriend, someone Ellie had never met, and thinking that was OK? And Ellie made me scratch my head on occasion too.
The writing is an easy style and the chapters short and snappy (my favourite kind). I am always a sucker for missing child tropes, although the said child is not actually missing, but it is still a good read. The twists were fairly predictable but it didn't ruin my enjoyment of a good story.
Overall, a quick easy read with a satisfying end.
I would like to thank #RubySpeechley, #Netgalley, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #Missing in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
October 2, 2023
Missing 🎒
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thank you to Netgally, Boldwood books and the author for sending me an ARC of this one to read and review.
Don’t let the title and cover picture fool you. Missing is not a case of a child who has gone missing, but a case of a mother being harassed and bullied online. When Ellie is being treated weirdly at her sons preschool she realizes that the mothers must be online talking about her again. A single mother with a questionable past is the talk of the school. Unfortunately Ellie discovers that the rumors going around online are worse than she feared, and someone has made a mock missing poster of her son, and it’s circulating around online. On top of this, her ex Darren doesn’t believe Tyler is his son. Will Ellie be able to clear up these rumors about herself and her son? Will Tyler ever know his dad?
As someone who has read mostly thrillers, this book felt different and refreshing with s new plot I’ve never really read before. I’m really enjoyed the plot and the idea behind the book. I struggled with some of the dialogue and the narration style of the character. Sometimes the conversations didn’t feel authentic or real. There were also a lot of extra characters who didn’t really matter such as some of the other moms at the preschool, which felt a little like fluff.
I struggled with the middle of the book and found it slower to get through. The last 1/3 of the book really got me back into it because I was determined to figure out where the story was going.
All that to say I do believe this book is worth the read and some will find the plot interesting and different. If you can look past some of the dialogue and narration style you will probably enjoy this book! Considering the author has only written 2 published books, I’d be interested to read her other book Gone and see what else comes from her.
Trigger warnings: SA, themes about hurt or missing children
For more reviews and book content check out my instagram @readitwithtay
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thank you to Netgally, Boldwood books and the author for sending me an ARC of this one to read and review.
Don’t let the title and cover picture fool you. Missing is not a case of a child who has gone missing, but a case of a mother being harassed and bullied online. When Ellie is being treated weirdly at her sons preschool she realizes that the mothers must be online talking about her again. A single mother with a questionable past is the talk of the school. Unfortunately Ellie discovers that the rumors going around online are worse than she feared, and someone has made a mock missing poster of her son, and it’s circulating around online. On top of this, her ex Darren doesn’t believe Tyler is his son. Will Ellie be able to clear up these rumors about herself and her son? Will Tyler ever know his dad?
As someone who has read mostly thrillers, this book felt different and refreshing with s new plot I’ve never really read before. I’m really enjoyed the plot and the idea behind the book. I struggled with some of the dialogue and the narration style of the character. Sometimes the conversations didn’t feel authentic or real. There were also a lot of extra characters who didn’t really matter such as some of the other moms at the preschool, which felt a little like fluff.
I struggled with the middle of the book and found it slower to get through. The last 1/3 of the book really got me back into it because I was determined to figure out where the story was going.
All that to say I do believe this book is worth the read and some will find the plot interesting and different. If you can look past some of the dialogue and narration style you will probably enjoy this book! Considering the author has only written 2 published books, I’d be interested to read her other book Gone and see what else comes from her.
Trigger warnings: SA, themes about hurt or missing children
For more reviews and book content check out my instagram @readitwithtay
November 18, 2025
What would you do if you were suddenly confronted with a poster of your child with the word ‘missing’ printed above it? Would you brush it off as a sick joke, or would you immediately fear that something far more sinister is going on?
But of course, it doesn't stop there, and it quickly becomes clear that someone is enjoying dragging Ellie’s name through the mud and discrediting her in front of the other parents at school. She does everything she can to prove that the accusations are lies, but once people are convinced of something, it’s often hard to change their minds and make them see the other side of a situation.
Things seem to calm down a little, but Ellie still has several burning questions she desperately wants answers to. And when the answer to one of them finally comes, her world collapses even further, and she fears that something she pushed deep into the back of her mind may actually have happened. And now she needs to know the whole truth — once and for all.
This was yet another fantastic book by this talented author. I loved how she filled the path from start to finish with obstacles Ellie had to overcome in order to clear her name, cut ties with people who were nothing but dead weight, and finally embrace those who were truly her friends.
I enjoyed every twist and turn, every roadblock, and the deep love Ellie shows for her son.
It just goes to show how important it is to be careful about who you let into your life. Some people are wolves in sheep’s clothing, believing that anything is allowed simply because they want it.
Ellie may have been a bit reckless in the past, but aren’t we all when we’re young? She learned her lesson and came out stronger. Kudos to her!
I couldn’t find a single thing in this story that bothered me or didn’t make sense — but that didn’t surprise me, given my experience with the author’s previous books. For me, this is a very well-deserved 5-star read.
Thank you.
But of course, it doesn't stop there, and it quickly becomes clear that someone is enjoying dragging Ellie’s name through the mud and discrediting her in front of the other parents at school. She does everything she can to prove that the accusations are lies, but once people are convinced of something, it’s often hard to change their minds and make them see the other side of a situation.
Things seem to calm down a little, but Ellie still has several burning questions she desperately wants answers to. And when the answer to one of them finally comes, her world collapses even further, and she fears that something she pushed deep into the back of her mind may actually have happened. And now she needs to know the whole truth — once and for all.
This was yet another fantastic book by this talented author. I loved how she filled the path from start to finish with obstacles Ellie had to overcome in order to clear her name, cut ties with people who were nothing but dead weight, and finally embrace those who were truly her friends.
I enjoyed every twist and turn, every roadblock, and the deep love Ellie shows for her son.
It just goes to show how important it is to be careful about who you let into your life. Some people are wolves in sheep’s clothing, believing that anything is allowed simply because they want it.
Ellie may have been a bit reckless in the past, but aren’t we all when we’re young? She learned her lesson and came out stronger. Kudos to her!
I couldn’t find a single thing in this story that bothered me or didn’t make sense — but that didn’t surprise me, given my experience with the author’s previous books. For me, this is a very well-deserved 5-star read.
Thank you.
October 30, 2023
The combination of the book title, cover and blurb hooked me in..
Ellie is a single mother looking after her little boy Tyler.
One day she starts receiving funny looks from other parents and it soon becomes clear it’s all because of a post on Facebook… a post to say her son Tyler is missing!
As we all would do, parents judge, some too quickly and it takes a while for common sense to kick in and
show the post is a fake… but who would do that? And why?
We soon learn Ellie has a disturbing past. While she’s now sober that wasn’t always the case and one night many years ago something happened that she’s been trying to hide from.. but she can only run so long and that past will need to be confronted.
Not to spoil too much but the phycological fear of Clowns that Ellie has really hit home for me as it’s my fear.. but Ellie has much more of a reason to fear them than me.
As the plot progresses It feels like someone is playing mind games with Ellie but who and what is the end game here?
The pace of the book was perfect for me.. it kept you hooked but never bored.. I spent most of my time thinking I knew who was behind it..and their connection to Ellie but it’s the motivation behind the why that had me stumped and I feel that’s just like Ellie is.. it’s
takes her a while to see the danger she’s in but when she does she can’t put all the pieces together.
I try to give none spoiler reviews so I’ll not go into detail but the mind games, the utter torment Ellie goes through is unreal.. it’s subtle but builds and builds as the pressure
raises, she really doesn’t know who she can trust and being so far away from
her close friend means she’s isolated and those she does confide in just don’t
see the danger either
Pace 5* Plot 5* Character Development 5* Loved it! 5*. (Clowns -5* urhghghghghhghg I hate clowns ha ha)
Ellie is a single mother looking after her little boy Tyler.
One day she starts receiving funny looks from other parents and it soon becomes clear it’s all because of a post on Facebook… a post to say her son Tyler is missing!
As we all would do, parents judge, some too quickly and it takes a while for common sense to kick in and
show the post is a fake… but who would do that? And why?
We soon learn Ellie has a disturbing past. While she’s now sober that wasn’t always the case and one night many years ago something happened that she’s been trying to hide from.. but she can only run so long and that past will need to be confronted.
Not to spoil too much but the phycological fear of Clowns that Ellie has really hit home for me as it’s my fear.. but Ellie has much more of a reason to fear them than me.
As the plot progresses It feels like someone is playing mind games with Ellie but who and what is the end game here?
The pace of the book was perfect for me.. it kept you hooked but never bored.. I spent most of my time thinking I knew who was behind it..and their connection to Ellie but it’s the motivation behind the why that had me stumped and I feel that’s just like Ellie is.. it’s
takes her a while to see the danger she’s in but when she does she can’t put all the pieces together.
I try to give none spoiler reviews so I’ll not go into detail but the mind games, the utter torment Ellie goes through is unreal.. it’s subtle but builds and builds as the pressure
raises, she really doesn’t know who she can trust and being so far away from
her close friend means she’s isolated and those she does confide in just don’t
see the danger either
Pace 5* Plot 5* Character Development 5* Loved it! 5*. (Clowns -5* urhghghghghhghg I hate clowns ha ha)
September 25, 2023
All my reviews can be found at: http://www.jessicasreadingroom.com
This review will appear on my site on October 4, 2023 as a part of the blog tour.
~~~~
Whoa!!! I’m not a parent, but the book description had me wanting to read this book! And it is a roller coaster of a ride along with the Energizer Bunny: It just keeps going and going! I had no idea how this was going to end! The chapters were shorter which made this one a quick read that I enjoyed and did not want to put down! I didn’t know who to trust or believe.
Missing shows the danger of the internet and social media: How just a few clicks can change a life. And how much we all seemingly believe what we see on there. People’s lives can change for better or even much worse because of Facebook!
Admittedly Ellie did annoy me at first: Just go to the police! I mean there isn’t much that could be done but at least you have a record of what is going on. She did grow on me after a little time.
Ellie is on her own with her three-year-old son Tyler. Ellie’s ex denies that Tyler is his when she insists she was faithful to him. But also during their time together she drank a lot and there was one night were she blacked out. And she has nightmares of a clown.
So yes, if you have a fear of clowns, you might not want to read this one. The clowns were a bit creepy!
The big twist didn’t totally work for me with the villain and everything that happened. But otherwise I did really enjoy this novel! Missing was the first for me by Speechley and I do plan to look into what else she has written!
This review will appear on my site on October 4, 2023 as a part of the blog tour.
~~~~
Whoa!!! I’m not a parent, but the book description had me wanting to read this book! And it is a roller coaster of a ride along with the Energizer Bunny: It just keeps going and going! I had no idea how this was going to end! The chapters were shorter which made this one a quick read that I enjoyed and did not want to put down! I didn’t know who to trust or believe.
Missing shows the danger of the internet and social media: How just a few clicks can change a life. And how much we all seemingly believe what we see on there. People’s lives can change for better or even much worse because of Facebook!
Admittedly Ellie did annoy me at first: Just go to the police! I mean there isn’t much that could be done but at least you have a record of what is going on. She did grow on me after a little time.
Ellie is on her own with her three-year-old son Tyler. Ellie’s ex denies that Tyler is his when she insists she was faithful to him. But also during their time together she drank a lot and there was one night were she blacked out. And she has nightmares of a clown.
So yes, if you have a fear of clowns, you might not want to read this one. The clowns were a bit creepy!
The big twist didn’t totally work for me with the villain and everything that happened. But otherwise I did really enjoy this novel! Missing was the first for me by Speechley and I do plan to look into what else she has written!
September 20, 2023
When a poster of a missing child goes viral on Facebook Ellie is horrified to see the poster contains an image of her son Tyler, especially as Tyler is stood right next to her and is certainly not missing. Is this someone’s idea of a prank or a sick joke? Ellie has no idea what to do she has no idea how this has happened, who is behind this and it soon becomes clear other people are judging Ellie as she faces quite a lot of backlash and other mums from the nursery question if Tyler is her son.
Things begin to escalate for Ellie and it soon becomes clear that someone is out to get her. Ellie begins to question everyone around her, her ex boyfriend and her closest friends all becomes suspects in her eyes.
Soon Ellie comes to realise that these viscous pranks maybe linked to her past and the traumatic events that took place in her life 4 years ago. Ellie sets off on a personal mission to find out exactly what happened all those years ago and is determined to find out who is out to get her.
With twists, secrets and lies this book has everything you need for a good thriller. There was rape, attempted child abduction and plenty more to keep the reader interested. I was hooked right from the start.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for this review. I’ve read many of Ruby Speechleys books and would recommend not just this book but any of her others.
Things begin to escalate for Ellie and it soon becomes clear that someone is out to get her. Ellie begins to question everyone around her, her ex boyfriend and her closest friends all becomes suspects in her eyes.
Soon Ellie comes to realise that these viscous pranks maybe linked to her past and the traumatic events that took place in her life 4 years ago. Ellie sets off on a personal mission to find out exactly what happened all those years ago and is determined to find out who is out to get her.
With twists, secrets and lies this book has everything you need for a good thriller. There was rape, attempted child abduction and plenty more to keep the reader interested. I was hooked right from the start.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for this review. I’ve read many of Ruby Speechleys books and would recommend not just this book but any of her others.
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