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The Missing One
Kal McKenzie always had a tricky relationship with her mother, Elena, but when Elena dies of breast cancer, Kal is bereft: how do you mourn a mother whose love you could never count on?
While clearing out Elena's art studio, Kal finds a drawer packed with postcards going back thirty-seven years. Each bears the same message from a stranger called Susannah Gillespie, who owns a gallery on a remote British Columbian island, a place of killer whales and storms. On impulse, Kal sets out for Spring Tide Island with her toddler, Finn, in tow. Can her mother's hidden past hold the key to their ruined relationship?
Once she arrives at Susannah's isolated home, Kal quickly realizes she has made a big mistake. The handsome and enigmatic Susannah is alternately elated and disturbed by Kal and Finn's arrival, and refuses to talk about her friendship with Elena. As Kal struggles to piece together what happened between the two women in this inhospitable place back in the 1970s, Susannah's behaviour grows more and more erratic. Most worryingly of all, Susannah is becoming increasingly preoccupied with little Finn...
While clearing out Elena's art studio, Kal finds a drawer packed with postcards going back thirty-seven years. Each bears the same message from a stranger called Susannah Gillespie, who owns a gallery on a remote British Columbian island, a place of killer whales and storms. On impulse, Kal sets out for Spring Tide Island with her toddler, Finn, in tow. Can her mother's hidden past hold the key to their ruined relationship?
Once she arrives at Susannah's isolated home, Kal quickly realizes she has made a big mistake. The handsome and enigmatic Susannah is alternately elated and disturbed by Kal and Finn's arrival, and refuses to talk about her friendship with Elena. As Kal struggles to piece together what happened between the two women in this inhospitable place back in the 1970s, Susannah's behaviour grows more and more erratic. Most worryingly of all, Susannah is becoming increasingly preoccupied with little Finn...
480 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 16, 2014
113 people are currently reading
2290 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Atkins
66 books422 followersLucy Atkins is an award-winning author and journalist. Her bestseller, MAGPIE LANE, is a literary mystery set in an Oxford College, and was chosen as a Book of the Year by the Guardian, The Telegraph, Good Housekeeping magazine and Radio 4's Open Book. THE NIGHT VISITOR has been optioned for television. Her latest novel, WINDMILL HILL has been described as 'a triumph' by Philip Pullman and was a Summer Books 2023 pick in The Guardian and The Observer.
Lucy teaches on the Creative Writing Masters degree at Oxford University. She is a book critic for The Sunday Times, the Guardian, and other publications. She has also written several non-fiction books, including the Amazon #1 parenting bestseller, First-Time Parent (Collins, 2008).
Instagram @lucyatkinswriter (includes Free Live Creative Writing Classes)
www.lucyatkins.com
Lucy teaches on the Creative Writing Masters degree at Oxford University. She is a book critic for The Sunday Times, the Guardian, and other publications. She has also written several non-fiction books, including the Amazon #1 parenting bestseller, First-Time Parent (Collins, 2008).
Instagram @lucyatkinswriter (includes Free Live Creative Writing Classes)
www.lucyatkins.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 263 reviews
July 27, 2015
This book desperately needed a ruthless editor.
As other reviewers have mentioned, the beginning was alright and the ending was eventful, but the middle really dragged its feet.
The incessant antics of Kali's toddler annoyed me. I often skimmed sections about whatever he happened to be doing. And he did a lot of stuff in this book.
Kali was a terrible protagonist. She was whiny, annoying, and weak. I couldn't tell if she loved her mother or resented her - I thought she often flip-flopped while reminiscing about her past.
Doug was a terrible character. Kal's father was worse. When someone flies across the world, with a toddler no less, on a whim after the death of her mother, I think there should be a lot more panic than some text messages and emails.
The glimpses into Elena's life was the most interesting parts. It was exciting to learn about the orcas and the research that Elena was a part of. I wish the book would have been more of Elena and less of Kali.
As other reviewers have mentioned, the beginning was alright and the ending was eventful, but the middle really dragged its feet.
The incessant antics of Kali's toddler annoyed me. I often skimmed sections about whatever he happened to be doing. And he did a lot of stuff in this book.
Kali was a terrible protagonist. She was whiny, annoying, and weak. I couldn't tell if she loved her mother or resented her - I thought she often flip-flopped while reminiscing about her past.
Doug was a terrible character. Kal's father was worse. When someone flies across the world, with a toddler no less, on a whim after the death of her mother, I think there should be a lot more panic than some text messages and emails.
The glimpses into Elena's life was the most interesting parts. It was exciting to learn about the orcas and the research that Elena was a part of. I wish the book would have been more of Elena and less of Kali.
February 19, 2015
I finished this book because of the descriptions of the Pacific Northwest and the whales, despite it having a nearly insufferable main character and the fact that the plot twist is pretty evident. The loving and excruciating descriptions of the main character's "adorable" child were pretty nauseating so after a while I just started skimming them, especially since the child sounds like a total nightmare, but I did think it was an interesting story in the end, just way too long and with poor character description.
July 1, 2017
Wasn't keen on this storyline to long and story dragged on,just not my cup of tea.
April 12, 2015
I really don’t know why I completed this book other than the fact that I am a compulsive book finisher, but I am glad that I did.
I really did not like the character of Kali; she was a whiner and winger of the highest order. She set out on her own mission heading nothing and no one. Kali is totally self-centred almost to a point of obsession. She is a mother of a two-year old who she takes on a trek with very little thought or planning! Who in their right mind would do that but oh wait she’s grieving (if that is an excuse). Her reason for the trek was to find out about her mother. To be honest though who really knows what their mother was like before they were born? Children only really ever learn what their parents are willing to tell them.
The other character equally unlikeable was Susannah. She too was selfish, stand offish and untrustworthy but for entirely different reasons.
This reader felt that the wonderful descriptions of the rugged landscape were made often at the expense of the storyline. Likewise the many conversations between Susannah and Kali, Kali and Doug, and Kali and her son were repetitive beyond belief causing the story to flag in all the wrong places.
I had already guessed part of the plot line but not everything. The book was a plodder until about 80% when it took off at a break neck pace but honestly the things Alice didn’t realise had been done to her I was like WHHHHAATTT!!!
I do not think the payoff warranted the time spent reading this novel and will find it difficult to read another book by this author.
Full Disclosure: ARC received from Netgalley for an honest review.
I really did not like the character of Kali; she was a whiner and winger of the highest order. She set out on her own mission heading nothing and no one. Kali is totally self-centred almost to a point of obsession. She is a mother of a two-year old who she takes on a trek with very little thought or planning! Who in their right mind would do that but oh wait she’s grieving (if that is an excuse). Her reason for the trek was to find out about her mother. To be honest though who really knows what their mother was like before they were born? Children only really ever learn what their parents are willing to tell them.
The other character equally unlikeable was Susannah. She too was selfish, stand offish and untrustworthy but for entirely different reasons.
This reader felt that the wonderful descriptions of the rugged landscape were made often at the expense of the storyline. Likewise the many conversations between Susannah and Kali, Kali and Doug, and Kali and her son were repetitive beyond belief causing the story to flag in all the wrong places.
I had already guessed part of the plot line but not everything. The book was a plodder until about 80% when it took off at a break neck pace but honestly the things Alice didn’t realise had been done to her I was like WHHHHAATTT!!!
I do not think the payoff warranted the time spent reading this novel and will find it difficult to read another book by this author.
Full Disclosure: ARC received from Netgalley for an honest review.
January 26, 2015
4.5 Stars
Lucy Atkins has written a wonderful debut novel. The Missing One is partly a quest to find out more about a mother whom has just died and partly a psychological thriller. We readers don't feel the psychological suspense until the last 1/3 of the novel, because Atkins subtly uses it while building it to a crescendo as we realize the danger Kali, Finn, and Susanna find themselves in.
Shortly after her mother's death, Kali McKenzie is looking for her mother's birth certificate. Her younger sister - Alice - can't bear to go into Elena's studio. So, Kali does. And she finds a few things that are mysterious: 37 postcards saying "missing you ~Susanna and a letter from her father Graham -"did he have an affair" just like Doug? Those texts...
Kali can't think about the state of her marriage right now. She can't stay there in her mother's house. She can't go home to Doug. What can she do? She can go to British Columbia and try to find the answers to her difficult relationship with her mother. The trip will prove cathartic or it will show the limits of what a mother will do to protect her young just like the Orcas.
It is a tale of survival and of betrayal. One action can dramatically change someone and forever alter the course of her life. It is the beautiful story of the Orca. Everyone must read this one.
Lucy Atkins has written a wonderful debut novel. The Missing One is partly a quest to find out more about a mother whom has just died and partly a psychological thriller. We readers don't feel the psychological suspense until the last 1/3 of the novel, because Atkins subtly uses it while building it to a crescendo as we realize the danger Kali, Finn, and Susanna find themselves in.
Shortly after her mother's death, Kali McKenzie is looking for her mother's birth certificate. Her younger sister - Alice - can't bear to go into Elena's studio. So, Kali does. And she finds a few things that are mysterious: 37 postcards saying "missing you ~Susanna and a letter from her father Graham -"did he have an affair" just like Doug? Those texts...
Kali can't think about the state of her marriage right now. She can't stay there in her mother's house. She can't go home to Doug. What can she do? She can go to British Columbia and try to find the answers to her difficult relationship with her mother. The trip will prove cathartic or it will show the limits of what a mother will do to protect her young just like the Orcas.
It is a tale of survival and of betrayal. One action can dramatically change someone and forever alter the course of her life. It is the beautiful story of the Orca. Everyone must read this one.
January 16, 2014
This was an absolutely gripping read. Kali always had a strange relationship with her mother, was never 100% sure of her mother’s love for her, and when her mother dies she realises it is too late to sit down and have a long overdue chat with her and try and find out what is souring their relationship. When she comes across a horde of hidden postcards from a friend in British Colombia, she impulsively flies there to meet Susannah to try and find out about her mother’s life before her birth and to get an idea of what shaped her, and maybe get the answers she is looking for.
What follows is very powerful stuff, a slow moving tale of maternal love and family secrets. The story is told from Kali’s viewpoint and also through flashbacks to her mother’s life which gradually bring out the secrets that have been kept from Kali all her life. I admit I did try and guess what the secret was but I was still surprised when it was finally revealed. As the story moves on and the secrets are getting closer to being revealed there are more and more sinister undercurrents flowing throughout the story which then moves to a well paced, quite chilling climax and has an ending that is extremely satisfying.
At the same time as the story is told, we also have the story of the whales that Kali’s mother was studying unfolding in the background, and I particularly enjoyed reading this. I felt I learned far more about the plight of the whales from reading this book than from any documentary or newspaper article I have ever seen. It is certainly shocking and moving reading.
Many thanks to the publishers for sending an ARC in return for an honest and unbiased review.
What follows is very powerful stuff, a slow moving tale of maternal love and family secrets. The story is told from Kali’s viewpoint and also through flashbacks to her mother’s life which gradually bring out the secrets that have been kept from Kali all her life. I admit I did try and guess what the secret was but I was still surprised when it was finally revealed. As the story moves on and the secrets are getting closer to being revealed there are more and more sinister undercurrents flowing throughout the story which then moves to a well paced, quite chilling climax and has an ending that is extremely satisfying.
At the same time as the story is told, we also have the story of the whales that Kali’s mother was studying unfolding in the background, and I particularly enjoyed reading this. I felt I learned far more about the plight of the whales from reading this book than from any documentary or newspaper article I have ever seen. It is certainly shocking and moving reading.
Many thanks to the publishers for sending an ARC in return for an honest and unbiased review.
October 7, 2015
I probably wouldn’t have finished this had it not been an audio book. The protagonist is most exasperating! She whines and dotes ad nauseum on her toddler, Finn. This behavior is exacerbated by the narrator, with her attempts to talk baby talk! Despite my frustration I had no alternative at hand, as I listened while walking. So I persevered, and redeeming qualities slowly emerged. The plot was fairly unique and suspenseful, and the side subject of killer whales intriguing.
May 12, 2015
I just finished reading this book and while I couldn't put it down during the last portion, it took too long to get there.
The main character, Kal, can be very annoying, self-centered, and is completely oblivious at times. There is so much time spent in her thoughts, which repeat themselves, that I started skimming entire paragraphs. I guess if you look at it as that how many women's thought processes operates, I can see why the author chose to do this. However, there is a reason I have not written a book chock-full of my scatterbrain thoughts - it is exhausting! There were moments in the beginning when I started to relate to her, but then that changed. I do not think her and I would be friends.
What kept me reading was the character Elena and the flashbacks of her past. All of these sections were wonderfully written, very descriptive - you really felt like you were there. And of course the mystery of the postcards and what Kal's mother had been hiding all these years. I started guessing much of the plotline, but it did not take away from the reveal and there were a couple surprises.
I don't want to give away any of the story or outcomes of the book, but there were definitely some loose ends I wish we could have found out more about, maybe in a epilogue.
**The copy I read has different cover art than the one shown here. The angle is from above and there is has a woman in a small boat and you can see orca's under the surface of the water**
The main character, Kal, can be very annoying, self-centered, and is completely oblivious at times. There is so much time spent in her thoughts, which repeat themselves, that I started skimming entire paragraphs. I guess if you look at it as that how many women's thought processes operates, I can see why the author chose to do this. However, there is a reason I have not written a book chock-full of my scatterbrain thoughts - it is exhausting! There were moments in the beginning when I started to relate to her, but then that changed. I do not think her and I would be friends.
What kept me reading was the character Elena and the flashbacks of her past. All of these sections were wonderfully written, very descriptive - you really felt like you were there. And of course the mystery of the postcards and what Kal's mother had been hiding all these years. I started guessing much of the plotline, but it did not take away from the reveal and there were a couple surprises.
I don't want to give away any of the story or outcomes of the book, but there were definitely some loose ends I wish we could have found out more about, maybe in a epilogue.
**The copy I read has different cover art than the one shown here. The angle is from above and there is has a woman in a small boat and you can see orca's under the surface of the water**
October 5, 2021
DNF. I wanted to love this book. The audiobook had orcas! It was set in Vancouver! It was 20 hours long! I thought I had a book I could spend a good chunk of this week enjoying. Unfortunately it wasn't meant to be. It's 20 hours before the book desperately needed editing. It had an okay start, but the middle was just a slog. And the KID. Holy crap, the kid was an absolute fucking brat. He would repeatedly smack his mother in the head and she would just laugh and think it was the cutest thing in the world (maybe this is addressed later in the book, but as it stands, she's raising a monster). Even worse than his behavior was the narrator reading his dialogue. Good. Lord.
I am a little sad because I really did have high hopes for the subplots about orcas in capitivity, the Pacific Northwest settings (which were admittedly well done), but it got to the point where I just couldn't keep going.
I am a little sad because I really did have high hopes for the subplots about orcas in capitivity, the Pacific Northwest settings (which were admittedly well done), but it got to the point where I just couldn't keep going.
March 26, 2020
I absolutely adored Lucy Atkins’ latest book MAGPIE LANE, so it was a no-brainer that I wanted to devour more of her writing. With a premise of family secrets and an atmospheric coastal Canadian setting, this one sounded very much up my alley!
I am happy to say that THE MISSING ONE was a winner for me from beginning to end. I immediately connected to the main character Kali, a young mum whose own mother Elena has just died of breast cancer. Kali and her mother had a distant, trouble relationship, so when Kali clears out some of Elena’s things and comes across some mysterious postcards and letters from a woman she has never heard of, she realises how little she knows about Elena’s life before marriage and children. Kali’s father is no help, so Kali travels to Canada to track down one of her mother’s old friends in the hope of getting an answer to some of her questions.
This all rang so true for me! My mother died as a child, so I could relate to Kali’s frustration of not ever knowing her mother as a person, her hopes, her dreams, her history. I also related to Kali’s travels with a small toddler, and some of the scenes made me laugh and cringe in turn. Her misadventures, her fears, her anxieties – it read like my own story in parts. I too have relied on the kindness of strangers to take me in when I missed public transport and found myself stranded in a foreign country with a toddler. I was LIVING this story!
Even thought the middle of book was a bit slow in parts and perhaps bogged down with detail, the last 1/3 of the story really picked up pace and was quite nerve-wrecking. Suzanne, the woman Kali is staying with in British Columbia, was such a mysterious, fascinating and disturbed character that I literally had to hold my breath as the full extent of past secrets unfolded.
Apart from the mystery, the armchair travel component of this story was exquisite. I now simply HAVE TO go to Vancouver Island to see the rugged coastline and perhaps also the orcas, about which I learned so much by reading this story. As far as armchair travel goes, it doesn’t get much better than this, so if you are a fan of wild and remote settings this should definitely be on your list.
In summary, THE MISSING ONE ticked all the right boxes for me. With a main character who seemed to share so much emotional baggage with me and an atmospheric setting, the heart-pounding finale to the mystery capped off an all-around good story. I want to read more from this author!
*blog* *facebook* *instagram*
I am happy to say that THE MISSING ONE was a winner for me from beginning to end. I immediately connected to the main character Kali, a young mum whose own mother Elena has just died of breast cancer. Kali and her mother had a distant, trouble relationship, so when Kali clears out some of Elena’s things and comes across some mysterious postcards and letters from a woman she has never heard of, she realises how little she knows about Elena’s life before marriage and children. Kali’s father is no help, so Kali travels to Canada to track down one of her mother’s old friends in the hope of getting an answer to some of her questions.
This all rang so true for me! My mother died as a child, so I could relate to Kali’s frustration of not ever knowing her mother as a person, her hopes, her dreams, her history. I also related to Kali’s travels with a small toddler, and some of the scenes made me laugh and cringe in turn. Her misadventures, her fears, her anxieties – it read like my own story in parts. I too have relied on the kindness of strangers to take me in when I missed public transport and found myself stranded in a foreign country with a toddler. I was LIVING this story!
Even thought the middle of book was a bit slow in parts and perhaps bogged down with detail, the last 1/3 of the story really picked up pace and was quite nerve-wrecking. Suzanne, the woman Kali is staying with in British Columbia, was such a mysterious, fascinating and disturbed character that I literally had to hold my breath as the full extent of past secrets unfolded.
Apart from the mystery, the armchair travel component of this story was exquisite. I now simply HAVE TO go to Vancouver Island to see the rugged coastline and perhaps also the orcas, about which I learned so much by reading this story. As far as armchair travel goes, it doesn’t get much better than this, so if you are a fan of wild and remote settings this should definitely be on your list.
In summary, THE MISSING ONE ticked all the right boxes for me. With a main character who seemed to share so much emotional baggage with me and an atmospheric setting, the heart-pounding finale to the mystery capped off an all-around good story. I want to read more from this author!
*blog* *facebook* *instagram*
March 8, 2014
I really enjoyed this book at first, found it absolutely gripping. I was desperate to know what happened between Elena and Susannah in the 1970s. But towards the middle, the pace flagged a bit and got quite repetitive. It improved again towards the end, but by then the surprises where easy to guess. There were a few other things I didn't like about it - the way Kal indulged her annoying toddler Finn, the way we never found out anything about Susannah's son, and also the fact the birth dates didn't add up - unless this book is set in the near future? Apart from that, though, it was an engrossing mystery and I'm glad I read it. I'll certainly read another of hers.
March 17, 2015
So.. Lots of people to tell you whats what. I am going to say that the prose in the book took me away sometimes, in a away that made me unaware what I was reading, there was just this sublime place.. Then suddenly it jarred me back to figuring out exactly what was what. Is Kali crazy? Is Suzanne?? What did her mother do? Whey did her mother hold her at bay.. Then you were back in this lulled place again. I enjoyed it a lot. I liked the gothic transalatic updated spin...
November 24, 2013
Coming January 2014 from Quercus
Thank you to the author and publisher for the copy via netgalley.
Kal McKenzie always had a tricky relationship with her mother, Elena, but when Elena dies of breast cancer, Kal is bereft: how do you mourn a mother whose love you could never count on?
So, I found myself reading two equally compelling but very different books about how the choices of a parent can affect their children – this one and the recently reviewed “This Child of Mine” so I’m surprised I’m still standing – phew, talk about emotional responses to books, “The Missing One” had me tied up in all kinds of heartache in the best way possible.
Kal is a complete mess when we meet her in the opening stages of this story – having just suffered the loss of a mother she never really understood, she is also tackling the very real possiblity that her husband is having an affair – this leads her to an impulsive move and one that may cost her more than she imagines.
Determined to unravel her mothers past in order to come to terms with her own sense of self, Kal travels to a remote location to unlock the secrets of her childhood. Taking young son Finn with her, she finds a mystery with its roots in the lives of a group of people she had never even heard of – including in a very real sense, her own mother.
We hear the story of Kal’s journey alongside snippets of her mother Elena’s earlier life, and as the tale progresses, long held and deeply buried secrets start coming to life -and this is compelling stuff.
Some amazing characters can be found here – Kal herself is a nightmare in a wonderful way, I often wanted to slap her, so naive is she about the motives of others – and so seemingly determined to continue on this path despite circumstances screaming at her “NO GO BACK! ANYWHERE BUT HERE!”. To be fair to her though, her father is no help – he is annoyingly cryptic and if at any point in the whole dilemma he had actually just told the truth, so much heartache could be avoided – and therein lies the beauty of the storytelling here..our very real and heartfelt attempts to protect our children can often be the very thing that is doing them the most harm..
When Kal meets Susannah, an old friend of Elena’s, things really begin to snowball – a wonderfully drawn complex character, Susannah holds the key to it all, but she is strangely reticent…and the very real sense of threat surrounding her is palpable in the pages she inhabits…cleverly done.
Descriptively speaking this is beautiful writing – the parts of the story that deal with the wonderful wildlife, specifically Killer Whales, is brilliant and I learnt a lot – I feel some research coming on, I want to know more about this subject. As a backdrop to Elena’s life and the things that drive her, it is organic and totally believable…you can almost forgive her for what comes later.
All in all a wonderful tale, well told, one that may leave you slightly overwrought in the best way possible, and one that I would highly recommend for those who like family drama with a mystery and thriller element.
Happy Reading Folks!
Thank you to the author and publisher for the copy via netgalley.
Kal McKenzie always had a tricky relationship with her mother, Elena, but when Elena dies of breast cancer, Kal is bereft: how do you mourn a mother whose love you could never count on?
So, I found myself reading two equally compelling but very different books about how the choices of a parent can affect their children – this one and the recently reviewed “This Child of Mine” so I’m surprised I’m still standing – phew, talk about emotional responses to books, “The Missing One” had me tied up in all kinds of heartache in the best way possible.
Kal is a complete mess when we meet her in the opening stages of this story – having just suffered the loss of a mother she never really understood, she is also tackling the very real possiblity that her husband is having an affair – this leads her to an impulsive move and one that may cost her more than she imagines.
Determined to unravel her mothers past in order to come to terms with her own sense of self, Kal travels to a remote location to unlock the secrets of her childhood. Taking young son Finn with her, she finds a mystery with its roots in the lives of a group of people she had never even heard of – including in a very real sense, her own mother.
We hear the story of Kal’s journey alongside snippets of her mother Elena’s earlier life, and as the tale progresses, long held and deeply buried secrets start coming to life -and this is compelling stuff.
Some amazing characters can be found here – Kal herself is a nightmare in a wonderful way, I often wanted to slap her, so naive is she about the motives of others – and so seemingly determined to continue on this path despite circumstances screaming at her “NO GO BACK! ANYWHERE BUT HERE!”. To be fair to her though, her father is no help – he is annoyingly cryptic and if at any point in the whole dilemma he had actually just told the truth, so much heartache could be avoided – and therein lies the beauty of the storytelling here..our very real and heartfelt attempts to protect our children can often be the very thing that is doing them the most harm..
When Kal meets Susannah, an old friend of Elena’s, things really begin to snowball – a wonderfully drawn complex character, Susannah holds the key to it all, but she is strangely reticent…and the very real sense of threat surrounding her is palpable in the pages she inhabits…cleverly done.
Descriptively speaking this is beautiful writing – the parts of the story that deal with the wonderful wildlife, specifically Killer Whales, is brilliant and I learnt a lot – I feel some research coming on, I want to know more about this subject. As a backdrop to Elena’s life and the things that drive her, it is organic and totally believable…you can almost forgive her for what comes later.
All in all a wonderful tale, well told, one that may leave you slightly overwrought in the best way possible, and one that I would highly recommend for those who like family drama with a mystery and thriller element.
Happy Reading Folks!
September 8, 2014
I started off reading this book because I liked the blurb. The front cover was appealing too and it was on Net Galley being promoted by Quercus Books.
I wasn't 100% sure as I've not heard of the author before now.
I've been gripped throughout this storyline. Kal is crushed when her mother dies of cancer. She's always felt pushed out from her Mother's affections, although now grown she knows that her Mother did love her. Her sister had a more closer relationship with her Mother.
Kal is undergoing some difficulties in her own personal life with her husband who she feels is having an affair because of a text message or two she has come across on his phone.
Whilst clearing our her Mother's studio she comes across many postcards that come from the same lady each year on the same day. She is now curious. As we progress in the story, she goes in search of more about her Mother as no one seems to be opening up to her. Make no doubt about this, its a thriller. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I was annoyed when I didn't have more time over the weekend to carry on reading this until the end.
The ending wasn't as expected.
Apart from the story, this author writes very well, captures your imagination, brings the words of the page to life along with the characters within it.
I would most definitely recommend this read to be on your wish list.
I wasn't 100% sure as I've not heard of the author before now.
I've been gripped throughout this storyline. Kal is crushed when her mother dies of cancer. She's always felt pushed out from her Mother's affections, although now grown she knows that her Mother did love her. Her sister had a more closer relationship with her Mother.
Kal is undergoing some difficulties in her own personal life with her husband who she feels is having an affair because of a text message or two she has come across on his phone.
Whilst clearing our her Mother's studio she comes across many postcards that come from the same lady each year on the same day. She is now curious. As we progress in the story, she goes in search of more about her Mother as no one seems to be opening up to her. Make no doubt about this, its a thriller. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I was annoyed when I didn't have more time over the weekend to carry on reading this until the end.
The ending wasn't as expected.
Apart from the story, this author writes very well, captures your imagination, brings the words of the page to life along with the characters within it.
I would most definitely recommend this read to be on your wish list.
May 24, 2015
Novel set in British Columbia, Canada (chillingly thrilling)
Do you remember how, as a child, you could lose yourself in a book? The real world would just fade away while you immersed yourself in the fictional world of the novel. It seems to be a sad fact about growing up that the ability to do this fades with time. Imagine my delight, then, to discover that for large parts of this novel I lost all sense of the world around me. I think I may have even missed a meal, and that’s saying something. This debut novel by Lucy Atkins is chillingly thrilling and also extremely well written, two qualities that only rarely coexist.
When Kali MacKenzie’s emotionally distant mother, Elena, dies, Kali finds herself in a pretty miserable place. She suspects her husband is cheating on her, her career has more or less ground to a halt and she fears, despite her greatest efforts, that she is failing to be an effective mother to her 17-month-old son, Finn. Elena has succumbed to a fast moving cancer and, true to her nature to the last, has told no one about it, hence depriving Kali of the opportunity to ask the questions that had troubled her throughout her life. Why was her mother always so cold towards her when Kali’s sister seemed to be favoured? Why was her father always so emotionally withdrawn? Why would Elena never talk about her past?
As she is searching for her mother’s birth certificate, Kali comes across 37 years-worth of postcards from someone named Susannah, each one with the same simple message “Thinking of you”, posted from Canada to their family home in Britain. On a whim, Kali decides to take her young son off to Susannah’s isolated home on a remote British Columbian island in search of answers to her questions. When she leaves a message for her father telling her where she’s gone, he, taciturn as usual, simply tells her that she should not go anywhere near Susannah but will not elaborate. Now, I’m not going to tell you anything more about the story, but, suffice to say, she should have listened to her father. Atkins shows her real skill in the creation of the character Susannah – subtle, believable and ultimately terrifying. Who is ever going to forget those eyes?
But this is not just a thrilling novel, it’s also a very clever one. While she is giving us this gripping story, Atkins is also exploring how the past influences the present and how important and influential mother-child relationships are. The novel is structured to allow Atkins to develop this theme; there are two voices – Kali’s first person, present tense narrative, becoming ever more agitated and uncertain as the novel proceeds and Elena’s third person, past tense narrative, which cleverly creates a sense of the distance and control that was Kali’s experience of her mother. As Kali uncovers her mother’s story, she gradually reaches an acceptance of her mother and, at the same time, comes to the understanding that motherhood is really a matter of “damage limitation”.
There is a strong environmental element to this novel also, as Elena tells us about her life’s work as a pioneering orca researcher in the 1970’s. Atkins cleverly ties this narration into the rest of the novel as Elena’s main interest is in the relationship between mother orcas and their children. I have to confess to skipping some of the detail in these sections, not because they were uninteresting but simply because I was too keen to get on with the main story.
Most of the book is set on various remote British Columbian islands in winter and Atkins recreates the feel of the place in chilling detail. It’s far from an attractive picture. It’s cold, miserable, dangerous and terrifying – a perfect setting for the story.
All in all, this one should go to the top of your book list.
Do you remember how, as a child, you could lose yourself in a book? The real world would just fade away while you immersed yourself in the fictional world of the novel. It seems to be a sad fact about growing up that the ability to do this fades with time. Imagine my delight, then, to discover that for large parts of this novel I lost all sense of the world around me. I think I may have even missed a meal, and that’s saying something. This debut novel by Lucy Atkins is chillingly thrilling and also extremely well written, two qualities that only rarely coexist.
When Kali MacKenzie’s emotionally distant mother, Elena, dies, Kali finds herself in a pretty miserable place. She suspects her husband is cheating on her, her career has more or less ground to a halt and she fears, despite her greatest efforts, that she is failing to be an effective mother to her 17-month-old son, Finn. Elena has succumbed to a fast moving cancer and, true to her nature to the last, has told no one about it, hence depriving Kali of the opportunity to ask the questions that had troubled her throughout her life. Why was her mother always so cold towards her when Kali’s sister seemed to be favoured? Why was her father always so emotionally withdrawn? Why would Elena never talk about her past?
As she is searching for her mother’s birth certificate, Kali comes across 37 years-worth of postcards from someone named Susannah, each one with the same simple message “Thinking of you”, posted from Canada to their family home in Britain. On a whim, Kali decides to take her young son off to Susannah’s isolated home on a remote British Columbian island in search of answers to her questions. When she leaves a message for her father telling her where she’s gone, he, taciturn as usual, simply tells her that she should not go anywhere near Susannah but will not elaborate. Now, I’m not going to tell you anything more about the story, but, suffice to say, she should have listened to her father. Atkins shows her real skill in the creation of the character Susannah – subtle, believable and ultimately terrifying. Who is ever going to forget those eyes?
But this is not just a thrilling novel, it’s also a very clever one. While she is giving us this gripping story, Atkins is also exploring how the past influences the present and how important and influential mother-child relationships are. The novel is structured to allow Atkins to develop this theme; there are two voices – Kali’s first person, present tense narrative, becoming ever more agitated and uncertain as the novel proceeds and Elena’s third person, past tense narrative, which cleverly creates a sense of the distance and control that was Kali’s experience of her mother. As Kali uncovers her mother’s story, she gradually reaches an acceptance of her mother and, at the same time, comes to the understanding that motherhood is really a matter of “damage limitation”.
There is a strong environmental element to this novel also, as Elena tells us about her life’s work as a pioneering orca researcher in the 1970’s. Atkins cleverly ties this narration into the rest of the novel as Elena’s main interest is in the relationship between mother orcas and their children. I have to confess to skipping some of the detail in these sections, not because they were uninteresting but simply because I was too keen to get on with the main story.
Most of the book is set on various remote British Columbian islands in winter and Atkins recreates the feel of the place in chilling detail. It’s far from an attractive picture. It’s cold, miserable, dangerous and terrifying – a perfect setting for the story.
All in all, this one should go to the top of your book list.
July 19, 2017
Many months ago I added this book to my Nook queue. And for many months it sat untouched on my Nook. I read the synopsis more than once and it just didn't sound too appealing to me. Yes I do like my occasional family drama, but lately I had been steering in the thriller/detective genre. So sadly, this book was looked over more times than it should have been.
One night after getting frustrated trying to pick which book to read next I decided to give it try, thinking I would loathe it.
I was hooked right away. The Missing One is an amazing book and probably one of my favorites this year. Lucy Atkins spins a "whale of a tale", pun intended in the part mystery, part family drama.
Kali is at a loss. The mother she felt didn't love her as much as her younger sister, has died. Kali's father is a stubborn man retreating to his office to deal with what has happened. When Kali suspects her husband is also cheating on her she does some quick research and finds her mom has ties in British Columbia. Wanting to escape the realities life has recently dealt her, she packs up and with her barely two year old son Finn and heads across the world to find more about her mother.
She soon meets a bevy of interesting characters, including Susannah, an old friend of her mothers. Despite her fathers warnings, Kali finds herself at Susannah's doorstep in a bind. She soon realizes her mothers past may be far more complicated than she had ever dreamed, and that Susannah had a big apart in her mothers undoing.
I don't want to get into too much detail because I don't want to spoil it for anyone. What really had me reading this into the middle of the night was well, everything. The characters are so drawn out in details that you feel for them. Yes I did find Kali a little annoying at times, especially when it came to talking to her son, but I think it emphasizes the theme of motherhood even more. I didn't like that her dad was being stubborn and wouldn't tell Kali what was wrong with Susannah despite being afraid for her. I mean hello, if you are that worried, tell her WHY. I guess then it would not be much of a book then.
Susannah is one of the most unique and creepy characters I've ever read. She appears normal and the town folk seem to adore her, but her mannerisms are haunting. This book reminded me a lot of Mark Edward's books. Just like Edwards, Lucy Atkins can take a seemingly normal bunch of characters and make them utterly scary. The atmosphere in the book was very tense and creepy. I LOVED every detail about the setting and the weather. You could feel the chill of the air and rain run down your spine as you read this.
One of the best things about this book was how it integrated a very unique subject. Killer whales. Yes, you read that right. Killer whales, or orcas, play a prominent part in this book. When I was a kid I wanted to be a marine biologist...like every other kid. This book was amazing at telling about the whales and how they can be like humans in a sense.
This book was just completely amazing. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a great page turner. Be warned, it may make you want to pack a bag for British Columbia.
One night after getting frustrated trying to pick which book to read next I decided to give it try, thinking I would loathe it.
I was hooked right away. The Missing One is an amazing book and probably one of my favorites this year. Lucy Atkins spins a "whale of a tale", pun intended in the part mystery, part family drama.
Kali is at a loss. The mother she felt didn't love her as much as her younger sister, has died. Kali's father is a stubborn man retreating to his office to deal with what has happened. When Kali suspects her husband is also cheating on her she does some quick research and finds her mom has ties in British Columbia. Wanting to escape the realities life has recently dealt her, she packs up and with her barely two year old son Finn and heads across the world to find more about her mother.
She soon meets a bevy of interesting characters, including Susannah, an old friend of her mothers. Despite her fathers warnings, Kali finds herself at Susannah's doorstep in a bind. She soon realizes her mothers past may be far more complicated than she had ever dreamed, and that Susannah had a big apart in her mothers undoing.
I don't want to get into too much detail because I don't want to spoil it for anyone. What really had me reading this into the middle of the night was well, everything. The characters are so drawn out in details that you feel for them. Yes I did find Kali a little annoying at times, especially when it came to talking to her son, but I think it emphasizes the theme of motherhood even more. I didn't like that her dad was being stubborn and wouldn't tell Kali what was wrong with Susannah despite being afraid for her. I mean hello, if you are that worried, tell her WHY. I guess then it would not be much of a book then.
Susannah is one of the most unique and creepy characters I've ever read. She appears normal and the town folk seem to adore her, but her mannerisms are haunting. This book reminded me a lot of Mark Edward's books. Just like Edwards, Lucy Atkins can take a seemingly normal bunch of characters and make them utterly scary. The atmosphere in the book was very tense and creepy. I LOVED every detail about the setting and the weather. You could feel the chill of the air and rain run down your spine as you read this.
One of the best things about this book was how it integrated a very unique subject. Killer whales. Yes, you read that right. Killer whales, or orcas, play a prominent part in this book. When I was a kid I wanted to be a marine biologist...like every other kid. This book was amazing at telling about the whales and how they can be like humans in a sense.
This book was just completely amazing. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a great page turner. Be warned, it may make you want to pack a bag for British Columbia.
January 28, 2014
The setting – Vancouver, Vancouver Island and the Broughton Archipelago
A powerful story about what a mother will do to protect her child and how searching for the truth can reveal all sorts of discoveries you may never have imagined.
The story of Kali, a woman whose mother has just died of cancer, is going through a difficult time. Having sorted through her things, she finds some postcards which were sent from the same woman on the same day each year. So, she tracks her down to a remote Canadian location. But why is this strange woman so fixated on Kali’s small son Finn.
The setting - the location of this novel is as central a part of the novel as the story of Kali and her quest to find out the truth. The writing takes you there so cleverly and is so evocative of the archipelago and the sea mist. You can almost taste the salt on your tongue as you read….
These whales and their habitat are where the book excels for me as I found reading about the whales in the Canadian archiepelago absolutely fascinating -
'Each pod the extended family – revolves around a matriach, and she can live to be eighty years old, maybe more. She makes all the decisions about where they go and when. She gives all the orders -and they obey her. Maybe because of this tight structure, they have these really powerful family bonds: Loyalty, love,devotion, trust. They’re highly civilised – they celebrate and play, they socialise, they have traditions, they even grieve when a family member dies.’
This book not only transports you to Vancouver Island and the sea, but allows you to trail your hand on the water's surface and to feel the salt spray on your face as the whales greet you before reentering the water.
For the full illustrated review, with a sighting of those stunning orcas, then please visit
Join me on a book trail to Canada: the book trail
January 19, 2015
This has a gothic atmosphere to it that I liked very much and it kept me on the edge of my seat most of the time and was a hard book to put down.
Kal( Kali) is in a bad place her mother just died and she found some texts on her husband’s phone that don’t look good, and while cleaning out her mother’s things she finds some postcards from a woman she has never heard of and in her mental state she decides to go half way around the world to talk to this woman to find out more about the mother she was never close to. The woman she finds is Susannah who is at best an unreliable narrator at worst well…
A lot of this book is at a frenetic pace because it moves along with Kali’s mind which is going in 20 different directions and it’s palpable while reading this book, I felt a sense of the frantic as I read and also dread because you just felt there was more to things and Kali was too wound up to see straight, but the problem is she brought her child along for the ride. The recent death of her mother has Kali in a tailspin she can’t think straight but she goes on this mission to find out more about her mother’s youth what was she like in college and is the reason they didn’t get along because her mother gave up her PhD study to have her? But there is the old adage “be careful what you wish for” because what she finds out may not be what she wanted to know.
I don’t want to give too much away because I don’t want to ruin anyone’s enjoyment of this story. So I will close this by saying I really enjoyed this book; I loved the gothic thriller feel to it and as I said I had a hard time putting it down because I needed to know what was going to happen next. My only little qualm was the ending chapter but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of this book. So if you like gothic atmosphere, thrillers, and family secrets give this one a try.
4 Stars
I received this book from Netgalley and the publisher (Quercus) for a fair and honest review
Kal( Kali) is in a bad place her mother just died and she found some texts on her husband’s phone that don’t look good, and while cleaning out her mother’s things she finds some postcards from a woman she has never heard of and in her mental state she decides to go half way around the world to talk to this woman to find out more about the mother she was never close to. The woman she finds is Susannah who is at best an unreliable narrator at worst well…
A lot of this book is at a frenetic pace because it moves along with Kali’s mind which is going in 20 different directions and it’s palpable while reading this book, I felt a sense of the frantic as I read and also dread because you just felt there was more to things and Kali was too wound up to see straight, but the problem is she brought her child along for the ride. The recent death of her mother has Kali in a tailspin she can’t think straight but she goes on this mission to find out more about her mother’s youth what was she like in college and is the reason they didn’t get along because her mother gave up her PhD study to have her? But there is the old adage “be careful what you wish for” because what she finds out may not be what she wanted to know.
I don’t want to give too much away because I don’t want to ruin anyone’s enjoyment of this story. So I will close this by saying I really enjoyed this book; I loved the gothic thriller feel to it and as I said I had a hard time putting it down because I needed to know what was going to happen next. My only little qualm was the ending chapter but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of this book. So if you like gothic atmosphere, thrillers, and family secrets give this one a try.
4 Stars
I received this book from Netgalley and the publisher (Quercus) for a fair and honest review
April 10, 2015
I read the opening of this novel online and loved the quality of the writing; it is beautifully atmospheric and the kind of book that wraps itself around you completely. The story was immediately compelling; following a rocky patch with her husband and getting nowhere when she questions her impassive father, Kali takes off across the world in search of her mother's past, with her two year old son.
The narrative is mostly from Kali's first person point of view in the present tense, taking us through her experiences as the B&B she booked, on a tiny remote island near Vancouver, is closed and she turns up on the doorstep of Susannah, the woman who has been sending her mother annual postcards. While Susannah is unforthcoming and verging on hostile, she insists the two of them stay - the turbulent weather reflecting the mounting uncertainty within the cottage. The writing lets us live every detail alongside Kali, as she comes across more and more mysterious layers in her own past.
The book is long, 569 pages, and my only gripe is that some aspects could have been pared down without losing the impact. For example, there are sections from Kali's mother's point of view, recounting her research into the sounds made by whales to communicate. It goes into considerable detail and whilst it reinforces the themes of 'a mother doing anything to protect her infant' - it pulled my interest away. Essentially, Kali puts herself and her child in grave danger and the book captures the jeopardy and mounting suspense extremely well. Highly recommended.
The narrative is mostly from Kali's first person point of view in the present tense, taking us through her experiences as the B&B she booked, on a tiny remote island near Vancouver, is closed and she turns up on the doorstep of Susannah, the woman who has been sending her mother annual postcards. While Susannah is unforthcoming and verging on hostile, she insists the two of them stay - the turbulent weather reflecting the mounting uncertainty within the cottage. The writing lets us live every detail alongside Kali, as she comes across more and more mysterious layers in her own past.
The book is long, 569 pages, and my only gripe is that some aspects could have been pared down without losing the impact. For example, there are sections from Kali's mother's point of view, recounting her research into the sounds made by whales to communicate. It goes into considerable detail and whilst it reinforces the themes of 'a mother doing anything to protect her infant' - it pulled my interest away. Essentially, Kali puts herself and her child in grave danger and the book captures the jeopardy and mounting suspense extremely well. Highly recommended.
February 4, 2014
I was hooked from the first few pages, and the rest is perfectly paced. It's a 'just one more chapter' book because once reading, I couldn't put it down. It's a gripping thriller about dark family secrets, the desperate need for truth, and the bonds between mother and child. Set in British Columbia, the setting reflects the emotional turmoil of the characters - wild, rugged, unpredictable, isolated - I can still feel the icy wind and the disorientating fog. At times I wanted to scream at Kal, the protagonist, 'just get the hell out' but was equally compelled to find out what the secret was, and to see whether it was worth putting her young son in danger for. Atkins seamlessly weaves in the significance of Orcas (killer whales) and their maternal social organisation which adds depth and dimension to Kal's relationship with her own family. I absolutely loved this book and am so chuffed that I just stumbled upon Atkins and this book. One to watch and will definitely be reading her future books. Soon I hope!
October 25, 2015
An excellent book. Definitely worth reading. Well written with a different storyline from your conventional thriller. It had me captivated from page1, kept me guessing throughout. The suspense builds brilliantly so that you know that something is wrong but you are never quite if this is in the characters imagination or not. The setting is breathtaking the remoteness cape fearesque. Past and present are woven seamlessly together in a story of denial, torment and tragedy. It felt very real and I cannot wait to read the next book by this talented author.
February 12, 2015
I recommend this book to EVERYONE!! It is amazing, so well written and the ending was totally different to what I thought it was going to be. So sad I've finished it.
January 27, 2018
This novel has a way of seeping into your emotional core. What begins as a woman's search into her dead mother's past become a discovery of self and a twisted touch with madness.
July 4, 2017
I've been only reading this in the garden in good weather which is why it's taken me a while to get through. I take paperbacks out there and I'd won this copy some time ago now. I usually prefer my trusty Kindle...
It was a lovely story and we learn a lot about whales as well. I don't know how people manage to live out there so remotely in British Columbia documenting their habits. I'd hate it as I can't bear to be cold !!
Kali's journey certainly taught her a great deal about her mother although it would have been better if she hadn't needed to make this trip at all, if her parents were more honest with her in the first place. Secrets and lies always end up coming out in the end after all. It's quite a long book and could have been shorter, I think...there's quite a lot of needless description in it that I'm not a fan of but I would imagine many like the additional detailed padding to a tale.
I was shocked silly to read, before I'd even started the book 'First published in Great Britian in 2014 by Quercus'.....that's appalling and made me gasp !! And seeing daughers as opposed to daughters was a shocker, too. So those massive howlers and I think I saw "to" missed from a sentence but they're the only errors I noticed.
I enjoyed reading Elena's thoughts about being friends with women. That made me smile. And the final paragraph had me sobbing...
I'd certainly try another by this author, though. Possibly one that's not as "wordy"though.
It was a lovely story and we learn a lot about whales as well. I don't know how people manage to live out there so remotely in British Columbia documenting their habits. I'd hate it as I can't bear to be cold !!
Kali's journey certainly taught her a great deal about her mother although it would have been better if she hadn't needed to make this trip at all, if her parents were more honest with her in the first place. Secrets and lies always end up coming out in the end after all. It's quite a long book and could have been shorter, I think...there's quite a lot of needless description in it that I'm not a fan of but I would imagine many like the additional detailed padding to a tale.
I was shocked silly to read, before I'd even started the book 'First published in Great Britian in 2014 by Quercus'.....that's appalling and made me gasp !! And seeing daughers as opposed to daughters was a shocker, too. So those massive howlers and I think I saw "to" missed from a sentence but they're the only errors I noticed.
I enjoyed reading Elena's thoughts about being friends with women. That made me smile. And the final paragraph had me sobbing...
I'd certainly try another by this author, though. Possibly one that's not as "wordy"though.
May 7, 2021
This book should be titled Jumping to Conclusions and Off Rocks While Missing Danger Right in Front of You, which is what the main character did throughout. An impossibly dumb protagonist and increasingly improbable plotting. I did give it two stars for the descriptions of the orcas and life in a floathouse, but as the author says these were inspired by another book I’d prefer to have read that one.
December 26, 2022
I picked this up because I enjoyed reading Magpie Lane by the same writer. This one was a lot clunkier and could have used some savage editing. There were just too many pages where the protagonist focused endlessly on her toddler in a way that rarely moved the story forward - was he warm enough; did he need a diaper change; did he need milk etc. There were many, many typos. Despite these complaints, I enjoyed the Pacific North West setting and I thought this had the makings of a good story, especially the parts about Elena in the 1970s.
December 20, 2022
Somewhere in this with a good editor is a decent book; thriller, mystery and a lot of interesting facts about Orcas that are quite fascinating. At 511 pages it rambles on and on, I thought I’d never get to the end of it but the plot was good enough to keep me wading forward. There’s so much repetition, clunky transcriptions of emails and phone calls between her family, too many instances where the author is trying desperately to justify character behaviour. At around 330 pages this would have been a far better read and got better reviews; it’s a shame the editor didn’t guide the author better.
October 10, 2020
4.5 as a surprise
July 1, 2024
2.5
The author did a fabulous job of explaining the Canadian landscape and the orcas but the characters were all awful and far too much narrative from a 18 month old!
The author did a fabulous job of explaining the Canadian landscape and the orcas but the characters were all awful and far too much narrative from a 18 month old!
January 19, 2015
A special thank you to Quercus and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
THE MISSING ONE, a gripping and emotional debut by Lucy Atkins, taking readers on a journey from California, England, to British Columbia with an intriguing mystery thriller of dark family secrets—bridging the gap from past to present.
Kali seeks to unravel her unknown past. Her mom’s life is a mystery, having died of cancer, and her grandparents are deceased, as well. Her dad is not forthcoming with any information. Kali often felt her mother favored Alice, her sister. Kali wants to be a good mother and feels a strong desire to explore her past.
As she is clearing out her mom, Elena’s art studio or storage, Kal discovers some postcards, from a Canadian gallery owner named Susannah. Always, “thinking of you.” Did her mom have an affair? Who is Graham? She reads this letter which has her questioning if Alice knew about the affair? The postcards have Canadian stamps, though one is sent from Taos, NM, and another from Seattle and a few from further afield—Quito, Moscow, and Durban. The later postcards come from the Susannah Gillespie Gallery.
With her ten month toddler Finn, Kali impulsively flies to Vancouver to meet Susannah, (even though she has not notified her of her impending arrival), who has sent post cards to her mother, Elena for over thirty years. In addition, another impulse – she suspects her husband Doug is having an affair.
Of course, now that she is here in this remote area of Canada, there is bad weather, heavy storms, killer whales, and she is fighting for her life as well as her son, Finn. Who is this woman Susannah? Is she dangerous? Does she have more family and if so where are they? What a chilling adventure!
Kali travels halfway across the world looking for her mother; putting Finn in terrible danger, and herself and possibly another life, but the truth has been staring at her all the time from the crease in the wedding photo. However, she could not see it because she was too busy running away, spinning stories, and pressing them into blanks.
It is easy to forget, when you are running away from something that you are always running toward something else. “Sometimes you need to run away in order to get somewhere.”
A very intriguing tale, as have been reading quite a few novels about parent’s withholding information about the past, allowing their children to go to great lengths, while they are trying to protect dark secrets and ultimately cause more problems, by doing so.
The Missing One offers vivid descriptions of the islands off the coast, nature, beauty, whales, orcas, and other elements of the sea, as the book switches from the present, one woman’s quest for answers and a mother’s mysterious past.
Even though I was frustrated at Kal’s behavior at times, the beauty of the novel, lies in the narrative— almost poetic, the vivid descriptions, the setting, the wildlife and connection to human nature.
As Kali discovers her mother was a pioneering orca researcher—an activist and scientist in the 70s— the storylines intersect,nd secrets are unraveled as the tension builds. Like the whales, her mother lives in two world: breathing in one, then diving beneath.
An ideal selection for book clubs and discussions, with an array of viewpoints and motives; from those trying to protect one another, by withholding the truth.
A mix of women’s fiction, strong female friendships, relationships, suspense, thriller, family drama, animal rights, activist, and feminist—for an engrossing and emotional page-turner thriller. An ongoing main theme of parental love; a strong and powerful tale of motherhood, a parents’ love for their child, and the lengths they will go to save their them; with parallels of the orcas protecting their own as they stray--similar to human dynamics. An author to watch...look forward to more.
On a side note: With similar subject matter, I am strongly reminded of one of my favorite US authors, Mary Alice Monroe. Having read many of her books, she is known for her intimate portrayals of women's lives, and an active environmentalist; she draws themes for her novels from nature and the parallels with human nature—drawing attention to various endangered species and the human connection to the natural world.
Judith D. Collins Must Read Books
THE MISSING ONE, a gripping and emotional debut by Lucy Atkins, taking readers on a journey from California, England, to British Columbia with an intriguing mystery thriller of dark family secrets—bridging the gap from past to present.
Kali seeks to unravel her unknown past. Her mom’s life is a mystery, having died of cancer, and her grandparents are deceased, as well. Her dad is not forthcoming with any information. Kali often felt her mother favored Alice, her sister. Kali wants to be a good mother and feels a strong desire to explore her past.
As she is clearing out her mom, Elena’s art studio or storage, Kal discovers some postcards, from a Canadian gallery owner named Susannah. Always, “thinking of you.” Did her mom have an affair? Who is Graham? She reads this letter which has her questioning if Alice knew about the affair? The postcards have Canadian stamps, though one is sent from Taos, NM, and another from Seattle and a few from further afield—Quito, Moscow, and Durban. The later postcards come from the Susannah Gillespie Gallery.
With her ten month toddler Finn, Kali impulsively flies to Vancouver to meet Susannah, (even though she has not notified her of her impending arrival), who has sent post cards to her mother, Elena for over thirty years. In addition, another impulse – she suspects her husband Doug is having an affair.
Of course, now that she is here in this remote area of Canada, there is bad weather, heavy storms, killer whales, and she is fighting for her life as well as her son, Finn. Who is this woman Susannah? Is she dangerous? Does she have more family and if so where are they? What a chilling adventure!
Kali travels halfway across the world looking for her mother; putting Finn in terrible danger, and herself and possibly another life, but the truth has been staring at her all the time from the crease in the wedding photo. However, she could not see it because she was too busy running away, spinning stories, and pressing them into blanks.
It is easy to forget, when you are running away from something that you are always running toward something else. “Sometimes you need to run away in order to get somewhere.”
A very intriguing tale, as have been reading quite a few novels about parent’s withholding information about the past, allowing their children to go to great lengths, while they are trying to protect dark secrets and ultimately cause more problems, by doing so.
The Missing One offers vivid descriptions of the islands off the coast, nature, beauty, whales, orcas, and other elements of the sea, as the book switches from the present, one woman’s quest for answers and a mother’s mysterious past.
Even though I was frustrated at Kal’s behavior at times, the beauty of the novel, lies in the narrative— almost poetic, the vivid descriptions, the setting, the wildlife and connection to human nature.
As Kali discovers her mother was a pioneering orca researcher—an activist and scientist in the 70s— the storylines intersect,nd secrets are unraveled as the tension builds. Like the whales, her mother lives in two world: breathing in one, then diving beneath.
An ideal selection for book clubs and discussions, with an array of viewpoints and motives; from those trying to protect one another, by withholding the truth.
“The captive orca was trying so hard to stop her baby from hurting itself on the sides of the tank that she forgot to feed it. The instinct to protect trumped the instinct to nurture.” -- Perhaps Kali reacted as well and learns motherhood is triumphant, an extraordinary force not to be messed with.
A mix of women’s fiction, strong female friendships, relationships, suspense, thriller, family drama, animal rights, activist, and feminist—for an engrossing and emotional page-turner thriller. An ongoing main theme of parental love; a strong and powerful tale of motherhood, a parents’ love for their child, and the lengths they will go to save their them; with parallels of the orcas protecting their own as they stray--similar to human dynamics. An author to watch...look forward to more.
On a side note: With similar subject matter, I am strongly reminded of one of my favorite US authors, Mary Alice Monroe. Having read many of her books, she is known for her intimate portrayals of women's lives, and an active environmentalist; she draws themes for her novels from nature and the parallels with human nature—drawing attention to various endangered species and the human connection to the natural world.
Judith D. Collins Must Read Books
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