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The Missing Wife
There’s a cost to keeping secrets…
Everyone knows about the fight between Kathleen Walsh and her sister on the night she disappeared. For six months, no one has heard from Kathleen. Not her bullying husband, not her teenage son, and not her devastated sister Siobhan.
But then Kathleen’s purse is found by a walker high up on the rocky Irish cliffs. The only thing inside is a torn scrap of paper with the words ‘HELP ME’.
For Siobhan, it’s a chance to find her sister and fix the mistake she made six months ago. But not everyone in the tight-knit community welcomes Siobhan’s interest in the disappearance, and after a tense exchange with Kathleen’s old colleagues, Siobhan starts receiving chilling threats. She won’t stop the search, but has she made a terrible mistake?
When Siobhan’s daughter goes missing, she realises the lengths someone will go to hide the truth. Now they’re going to learn how far she’ll go to save her family…
A twisty and gripping page-turner from a USA Today and #1 Kindle bestselling author. The Missing Wife is the perfect read for fans of The Couple Next Door and The Wife Between Us.
Everyone knows about the fight between Kathleen Walsh and her sister on the night she disappeared. For six months, no one has heard from Kathleen. Not her bullying husband, not her teenage son, and not her devastated sister Siobhan.
But then Kathleen’s purse is found by a walker high up on the rocky Irish cliffs. The only thing inside is a torn scrap of paper with the words ‘HELP ME’.
For Siobhan, it’s a chance to find her sister and fix the mistake she made six months ago. But not everyone in the tight-knit community welcomes Siobhan’s interest in the disappearance, and after a tense exchange with Kathleen’s old colleagues, Siobhan starts receiving chilling threats. She won’t stop the search, but has she made a terrible mistake?
When Siobhan’s daughter goes missing, she realises the lengths someone will go to hide the truth. Now they’re going to learn how far she’ll go to save her family…
A twisty and gripping page-turner from a USA Today and #1 Kindle bestselling author. The Missing Wife is the perfect read for fans of The Couple Next Door and The Wife Between Us.
354 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 16, 2024
351 people are currently reading
374 people want to read
About the author
Sue Fortin
15 books594 followersWriting historical fiction as Suzanne Fortin and mystery/suspense as Sue Fortin.
Suzanne writes historical fiction, predominantly dual timeline and set in France. Her books feature courageous women in extraordinary circumstances with love and family at the heart of all the stories.
Suzanne was a bookworm as a child and this naturally progressed to wanting to write her own stories. It wasn’t until she was on maternity leave with her fourth child, that she thought it was now or never and finally managed to write a complete novel. Having joined the Romantic Novelists’ Association under their New Writers’ Scheme, writing then as Sue Fortin, she sent her manuscript off for a critique.
After another year of working on the novel, Suzanne self-published United States of Love – a contemporary romance. This was then picked up by a traditional publisher, HarperCollins and under their imprint HarperImpulse (now One More Chapter) this book was republished. Writing as Sue Fortin, another seven books in the romantic suspense genre were published with HarperCollins.
More recently, Sue has moved to writing historical fiction and publishes under the name of Suzanne Fortin, with her debut in this genre, The Forgotten Life of Arthur Pettinger released in early 2021 with Head of Zeus imprint, Aria Fiction.
A self-confessed Francophile, Suzanne has a home in the Morbihan region of France and visits as often as she can with her husband and family. The region has been a huge inspiration for Suzanne’s books and is often the backdrop to her writing.
Suzanne writes historical fiction, predominantly dual timeline and set in France. Her books feature courageous women in extraordinary circumstances with love and family at the heart of all the stories.
Suzanne was a bookworm as a child and this naturally progressed to wanting to write her own stories. It wasn’t until she was on maternity leave with her fourth child, that she thought it was now or never and finally managed to write a complete novel. Having joined the Romantic Novelists’ Association under their New Writers’ Scheme, writing then as Sue Fortin, she sent her manuscript off for a critique.
After another year of working on the novel, Suzanne self-published United States of Love – a contemporary romance. This was then picked up by a traditional publisher, HarperCollins and under their imprint HarperImpulse (now One More Chapter) this book was republished. Writing as Sue Fortin, another seven books in the romantic suspense genre were published with HarperCollins.
More recently, Sue has moved to writing historical fiction and publishes under the name of Suzanne Fortin, with her debut in this genre, The Forgotten Life of Arthur Pettinger released in early 2021 with Head of Zeus imprint, Aria Fiction.
A self-confessed Francophile, Suzanne has a home in the Morbihan region of France and visits as often as she can with her husband and family. The region has been a huge inspiration for Suzanne’s books and is often the backdrop to her writing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
February 12, 2024
When Siobhan Martin of Brighton in England received a call from Ireland to say her missing sister's handbag had been found, Siobhan and her fifteen year old daughter, Freya, immediately flew to their home town of Dingle. Kathleen Walsh, sister to Siobhan and Corin, had vanished, leaving her marriage and eighteen year old son Kian behind. Siobhan had argued with Kathleen just days before she disappeared, so she was filled with guilt. Also she and husband Danny were having a break, mainly to do with her focus on Kathleen. Such a mess, but Siobhan was desperate for answers.
Not many people in Dingle were happy to see Siobhan and it wasn't long before threats were aimed at her, plus graffiti and smashed windows. What were these people trying to cover up? As Siobhan came closer to the answers she sought, she knew not to trust anyone in the area. But it was when Freya was kidnapped and Danny rushed across to Ireland that things turned on their head. Would they rescue Freya before it was too late? And would they ever find Kathleen, or was it too late for her?
The Missing Wife was a tense and gritty thriller by Sue Fortin where most people had dark secrets. One thing that did bother me was the mix of past and present tense throughout the story, but other than that, I really enjoyed it. Recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Not many people in Dingle were happy to see Siobhan and it wasn't long before threats were aimed at her, plus graffiti and smashed windows. What were these people trying to cover up? As Siobhan came closer to the answers she sought, she knew not to trust anyone in the area. But it was when Freya was kidnapped and Danny rushed across to Ireland that things turned on their head. Would they rescue Freya before it was too late? And would they ever find Kathleen, or was it too late for her?
The Missing Wife was a tense and gritty thriller by Sue Fortin where most people had dark secrets. One thing that did bother me was the mix of past and present tense throughout the story, but other than that, I really enjoyed it. Recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
January 18, 2024
No. Please make me forget about this book.
Thank you Netgalley and Storm Publishing but it was a complete drag reading this book. I couldn't get into the story and the main character was totally unlikeable. It was a pain trying to finish this at all.
And the missing wife? The reason behind her disappearance? The big reveal? That's it? No thanks.
I've read better books with similar plot. This one annoyed the shit out of me. Seriously.
Thank you Netgalley and Storm Publishing but it was a complete drag reading this book. I couldn't get into the story and the main character was totally unlikeable. It was a pain trying to finish this at all.
And the missing wife? The reason behind her disappearance? The big reveal? That's it? No thanks.
I've read better books with similar plot. This one annoyed the shit out of me. Seriously.
February 28, 2024
Will have you on the edge of your seat' I loved this page turning read from Sue Fortin. When Kathleen goes missing, her sister Siobhan is about the only one who still wants to find out what happened to her. This is a story of family, friendship, sisterhood, community with a tense undercurrent throughout. I was up late into the night desperate to find out the family secrets and the clues to get to the bottom of this mystery! Perfect pacing and characters that really came to life. 5 stars from me!
February 11, 2024
~ arc provided by the publisher ~
I really don't want to be dreadful but I just couldn't with this book, with the writing and with the characters. I just finished this book to write this review tbh and I'll be honest and say that I skipped some chapters (and I didn't lost anything btw).
My biggest complain is the writing and the dialogues, how many times can the author write "feck/ feckud/ fecking" I just wanted to throw my e-reader into the wall anythime I saw that word.
The premiss is good but it was done 100 times already and in any part I was interested with what had happen to the "missing wife".
At the end I was just glad it was over.
I really don't want to be dreadful but I just couldn't with this book, with the writing and with the characters. I just finished this book to write this review tbh and I'll be honest and say that I skipped some chapters (and I didn't lost anything btw).
My biggest complain is the writing and the dialogues, how many times can the author write "feck/ feckud/ fecking" I just wanted to throw my e-reader into the wall anythime I saw that word.
The premiss is good but it was done 100 times already and in any part I was interested with what had happen to the "missing wife".
At the end I was just glad it was over.
February 19, 2024
I was very interested in reading this book from the synopsis, however, I found the book to be boring and predictable. I contemplated not finishing, but I did finish, and the ending really wasn’t anything different than what I thought was going to happen and that was disappointing.
January 28, 2024
I am sad to say I dnfed this book at 57%. . It Just was not a book for me
Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion
Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion
January 10, 2024
I loved this story line. It kept me on my toes. I really liked how there wasn’t a lot of fluff between dialogue. A lot of times it just switched between one statement to another, besides saying “John said” at the end of each quotation. It flowed nicely too. I couldn’t put it down and my heart even raced in a few parts. I liked that it was in another accent too. I learned a lot of new Irish terminology. I recommend this and I am glad I got an ARC from NetGalley.
February 25, 2024
Three sisters. A public fight. A sister goes missing.
These three plot points equal the start to a great thriller. The Missing Wife is a novel about three sisters, Siobhan, Kathleen, and Corin. Kathleen, the eldest, goes missing after a public spat with her sisters. While sisters fight, the fact she goes missing soon after topped with Siobhan not answering Kathleen’s call after the big fight, sets the stage for all eyes to be on the remaining siblings.
When Siobhan, currently living in England, gets a call saying someone found Kathleen’s purse with a note to call Siobhan, it instantly raises panic. What’s even odder is the location it is found. Siobhan quickly makes plans to head home to Ireland to see what this all means. She is met with dirty looks, mean retorts, and many other inhumane acts, but this just makes her more determined.
There is a lot of intrigue and layers to this story. Kathleen’s story is complex. She has a heart of compassion and a desire to helped troubled youth, but has she put herself in danger to help her community? And the family dynamic only adds it. Kathleen’s husband isn’t the good man everyone thinks he is. Siobhan’s marriage is falling apart with the secrets she’s keeping after her sister disappears. And what about the siblings awful parents? Definitely a page turner!
These three plot points equal the start to a great thriller. The Missing Wife is a novel about three sisters, Siobhan, Kathleen, and Corin. Kathleen, the eldest, goes missing after a public spat with her sisters. While sisters fight, the fact she goes missing soon after topped with Siobhan not answering Kathleen’s call after the big fight, sets the stage for all eyes to be on the remaining siblings.
When Siobhan, currently living in England, gets a call saying someone found Kathleen’s purse with a note to call Siobhan, it instantly raises panic. What’s even odder is the location it is found. Siobhan quickly makes plans to head home to Ireland to see what this all means. She is met with dirty looks, mean retorts, and many other inhumane acts, but this just makes her more determined.
There is a lot of intrigue and layers to this story. Kathleen’s story is complex. She has a heart of compassion and a desire to helped troubled youth, but has she put herself in danger to help her community? And the family dynamic only adds it. Kathleen’s husband isn’t the good man everyone thinks he is. Siobhan’s marriage is falling apart with the secrets she’s keeping after her sister disappears. And what about the siblings awful parents? Definitely a page turner!
January 13, 2024
The Missing Wife is a domestic psychological thriller set in Ireland. Our main character, Siobhan returns to Dingle, her hometown after the disappearance of her sister 6 months prior. However, that causes a bit of a fuss with the people of Dingle that are wondering why she started to care about her sister after so long.
As we follow the story, we discovered many hidden secrets, and we disturb the peace of the secrets owners that don’t want them to come to life. Between the twists and the flashbacks of the story we can feel the suspense and the atmosphere is well created.
I felt like the beginning was a bit slow but the tension throughout the book compensated that. I really liked to see the family drama and the twists, and there were moments when I though my heart couldn’t take it anymore. So, I highly recommended it specially in these cold rainy days were we can feel the tension while having a cup of tea to try and control the anxiety to find out the end of our story.
Thank you, Storm Publishing and NetGalley, for approving me to read this arc and write this review.
As we follow the story, we discovered many hidden secrets, and we disturb the peace of the secrets owners that don’t want them to come to life. Between the twists and the flashbacks of the story we can feel the suspense and the atmosphere is well created.
I felt like the beginning was a bit slow but the tension throughout the book compensated that. I really liked to see the family drama and the twists, and there were moments when I though my heart couldn’t take it anymore. So, I highly recommended it specially in these cold rainy days were we can feel the tension while having a cup of tea to try and control the anxiety to find out the end of our story.
Thank you, Storm Publishing and NetGalley, for approving me to read this arc and write this review.
January 11, 2024
A big thank you to NetGalley, Storm publishing and Sue Fortin for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC! Thank you 🙏🏼
This was such a great and quick read! I love thrillers and that’s one thing I love about them. They pull you into the story and leave you dying to know what happens next. This one is no different!
The book takes place in Ireland which was a really nice touch that I enjoyed. They are trying to figure out what happened to one of the Regan sisters, Kathleen after she’s gone missing. There’s twists, turns and drama to push you through the book. I recommend this book for a nice and easy read.
This was such a great and quick read! I love thrillers and that’s one thing I love about them. They pull you into the story and leave you dying to know what happens next. This one is no different!
The book takes place in Ireland which was a really nice touch that I enjoyed. They are trying to figure out what happened to one of the Regan sisters, Kathleen after she’s gone missing. There’s twists, turns and drama to push you through the book. I recommend this book for a nice and easy read.
February 11, 2024
Did you read that book?
The Missing Wife
By Sue Fortin
Plot: Kathleen Walsh is missing and no one seems to care, except her sisters. Kathleen has been missing for six month, all leads have gone dry, everyone has stopped looking. But when Kathleen’s purse is found with a note inside that says ‘HELP ME”, her sister, Siobhan, brings the search back together. However, people in their town don’t want their secrets to get out and it seems that Kathleen is somehow wrapped up in all of it! When Siobhan’s daughter goes missing, she realizes the lengths that someone will go to keep their secrets hidden.
Review: Wow! This book is a winner! I hadn’t read anything by Sue Fortin before, but I will be now! Sue writes with a direct and straight to the point style, which I love. Her book read like that of legends Ruth Ware and Mary Kubica. The character of Siobhan represents all of us if someone we loved went missing. The struggle to keep your cool, stay level headed, but also push hard enough to get answers!
The “town is against you” undertone held you in suspense, wondering who she could really trust.
I just love the overall story line and felt like I spent most chapters flying through the pages saying “just one more page!”. My only “negative” would be that some of the text I needed to read again and do a little research because of the European connections. If you are looking for a solid mystery with a few twists and a dramatic end, this is the book for you! Wonderful job Sue Fortin! “
Schoolgirl Missing” and “The Dead Wife” are next on my TBR list of Sue Fortin books!
#bookstagram #bookworm #bookish #ilovebooks #readerforlife #reading #bedtimereading #bookstagrammer #booknerd #thrillerbooks #booklover #goodreads #beautifulbooks #reader #newbook #bookreview #popularbook #review
The Missing Wife
By Sue Fortin
Plot: Kathleen Walsh is missing and no one seems to care, except her sisters. Kathleen has been missing for six month, all leads have gone dry, everyone has stopped looking. But when Kathleen’s purse is found with a note inside that says ‘HELP ME”, her sister, Siobhan, brings the search back together. However, people in their town don’t want their secrets to get out and it seems that Kathleen is somehow wrapped up in all of it! When Siobhan’s daughter goes missing, she realizes the lengths that someone will go to keep their secrets hidden.
Review: Wow! This book is a winner! I hadn’t read anything by Sue Fortin before, but I will be now! Sue writes with a direct and straight to the point style, which I love. Her book read like that of legends Ruth Ware and Mary Kubica. The character of Siobhan represents all of us if someone we loved went missing. The struggle to keep your cool, stay level headed, but also push hard enough to get answers!
The “town is against you” undertone held you in suspense, wondering who she could really trust.
I just love the overall story line and felt like I spent most chapters flying through the pages saying “just one more page!”. My only “negative” would be that some of the text I needed to read again and do a little research because of the European connections. If you are looking for a solid mystery with a few twists and a dramatic end, this is the book for you! Wonderful job Sue Fortin! “
Schoolgirl Missing” and “The Dead Wife” are next on my TBR list of Sue Fortin books!
#bookstagram #bookworm #bookish #ilovebooks #readerforlife #reading #bedtimereading #bookstagrammer #booknerd #thrillerbooks #booklover #goodreads #beautifulbooks #reader #newbook #bookreview #popularbook #review
February 6, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this advanced readers copy!
This is my first review, as well as my first read from Sue Fortin! I am giving it a 3.5 star review.
Little bit of a slow burn, but the flashback chapters keep you motivated. I enjoy the true details of the story related to the setting and characters.
The style reminded me a little bit of Shari Lapena or BA Paris.
There was one review mentioning about words used that were difficult to decipher. That’s the Irish. I’m glad the author kept the authentic names and spellings. I wouldn’t let that affect your review if yourself having the same thought.
This is my first review, as well as my first read from Sue Fortin! I am giving it a 3.5 star review.
Little bit of a slow burn, but the flashback chapters keep you motivated. I enjoy the true details of the story related to the setting and characters.
The style reminded me a little bit of Shari Lapena or BA Paris.
There was one review mentioning about words used that were difficult to decipher. That’s the Irish. I’m glad the author kept the authentic names and spellings. I wouldn’t let that affect your review if yourself having the same thought.
January 30, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for letting me read this book!
This was my first Sue Fortin book, and I have to say I can't wait to read more!
I love thriller books and books that just keep me on my feet! This book was everything! Really enjoyed, the ending was very unexpected for me, but nevertheless really good! If you want a good thriller, I would definitely recommend this book!
This was my first Sue Fortin book, and I have to say I can't wait to read more!
I love thriller books and books that just keep me on my feet! This book was everything! Really enjoyed, the ending was very unexpected for me, but nevertheless really good! If you want a good thriller, I would definitely recommend this book!
February 13, 2024
This book was interesting to say the least. A lot of characters to keep track of. The book felt like it dragged on up until the last 50 pages. I didn't think there was a "big" twist or anything that made this book amazing and that I couldn't put it down unfortunately
Thank you NetGallery and Storm Publishing for an arc of this book!
Thank you NetGallery and Storm Publishing for an arc of this book!
February 13, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read in exchange for my honest review.
This was a bit of a miss for me. I am not really a fan of the slow, extremely mysterious, and little to no information given kind of thrillers. I wanted to be on the edge of my seat but instead I felt like I was on the edge of the plot for most of the read. The first half of the book you don’t really learn anything and then what you do learn just doesn’t seem fitting to what’s going on in the book. When it finally comes out as to what’s been going on it feels a bit dramatic, the actions that were taken to protect this secret. The whole thing just seemed so over the top. There was no twist and turns. No big reveal. Just a slow story that unraveled bit by bit into an underwhelming ending.
This was a bit of a miss for me. I am not really a fan of the slow, extremely mysterious, and little to no information given kind of thrillers. I wanted to be on the edge of my seat but instead I felt like I was on the edge of the plot for most of the read. The first half of the book you don’t really learn anything and then what you do learn just doesn’t seem fitting to what’s going on in the book. When it finally comes out as to what’s been going on it feels a bit dramatic, the actions that were taken to protect this secret. The whole thing just seemed so over the top. There was no twist and turns. No big reveal. Just a slow story that unraveled bit by bit into an underwhelming ending.
February 17, 2024
Thanks to #NetGalley and #StormPublishingfoe the book #TheMissingWife by #SueFortin. This book is full of emotion, manipulation and abuse. It is a wild roller coaster ride and I enjoyed every minute of it.
January 14, 2024
I so love this authors books always an addictive and twisty read. Kathleen Corin and Siobhan are sisters. Siobhan lives in Brighton with her husband and daughter. Her two sisters still live in her hometown in Ireland. but Kathleen went missing leaving her husband and son. But one day Siobhan gets a call someone has found her sisters purse, so she takes her daughter with her to Ireland.so Sobhan decides to investigate why her sister is missing. but someone will do anything to stop her a very fast paced read. I so recommend.
March 2, 2024
I did not enjoy this book . It dragged too much and I was not invested in any of the characters or the plot. I had pretty much guessed the outcome half way through, though was not sure about the perpetrator. After the first 40% I skim read a lot of the book up until the last couple of chapters, without missing very much.
Siobhan was irritating when investigating the disappearance of her sister, the location of Dingle in Kerry came across of very non-descript where everyone knew everyones business, except seemingly about the abuse of vunerable girls by an older pillar of society. So I'm afraid this book wasn't for me
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC
Siobhan was irritating when investigating the disappearance of her sister, the location of Dingle in Kerry came across of very non-descript where everyone knew everyones business, except seemingly about the abuse of vunerable girls by an older pillar of society. So I'm afraid this book wasn't for me
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC
February 16, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
This book is about a missing wife who is also a sister and mother. This story slowly unravels many secrets and lies. While Kathleen’s sister is trying to find her she has trouble knowing who she can trust. With threats of danger to herself and her daughter, she still doesn’t give up. I feel like the author did a great job at showing the personalities and traits of the characters. I enjoyed this book.
Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for this eArc for my honest review.
This book is about a missing wife who is also a sister and mother. This story slowly unravels many secrets and lies. While Kathleen’s sister is trying to find her she has trouble knowing who she can trust. With threats of danger to herself and her daughter, she still doesn’t give up. I feel like the author did a great job at showing the personalities and traits of the characters. I enjoyed this book.
Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for this eArc for my honest review.
August 31, 2024
Lately, I've found myself drawn to books set in Ireland, which seems like quite a coincidence. If you're not a fan of slow-burning thrillers, this book might not be your cup of tea. However, if you stick with it through about 70% of the story, you'll notice the pacing starts to pick up. I found the characters crafted by @sue_fortin_author to be particularly engaging, with some of them eliciting strong emotional reactions from me. The story unfolds in a close-knit small town where familiarity among residents is the norm. Personally, I found reading this book to be a rewarding experience. When delving into this type of slow-paced thriller, I expect all the questions raised at the beginning to be satisfactorily answered by the end, and in this regard, the conclusion of this book did not disappoint.
January 26, 2024
Official Review Of The Missing Wife by Sue Fortin
Book Title:The Missing Wife
Author:Sue Fortin
Published by Storm Publishing
Reviewed by Rutendo Chitondwe
Sue Fortin immediately plunges us into the heart of the action, where we see Siobhan Martin ‘looking through the hazy window of time’,recounting the vague events prior to her elder sister Kathleen Walsh’s disappearance.A belated birthday ceremony at the pub,escalated into a heated confrontation,an apparent ignored distress call ensues leading to a six-month missing person unresolved case.Then a purse surfaces out of nowhere.?These seemingly incoherent details are enough to arouse excitement for Sue Fortin’s “The Missing Wife.”
Kathleen Walsh,a seemingly morally upright woman with her house in order,married to a rich and well connected husband,blessed with a young handsome son.What more could she ask for?One could say she decided to count her blessings and give back,hence helped at ‘The Hub’,a local centre for troubled teens.However ‘The Hub’ seems to be more than what actually meets the eye as it becomes ‘the hub’ or the center of Kathleen’s disappearance.I am instantly reminded of Lindsey Lamar’s ‘A LIST OF LIARS’in the novel You’ve been summoned as the author familiarizes the audience with a couple of suspicious characters that seem to be withholding information that could help with solving Kathleen's disappearance,one of them being Sergeant Roy Ahern,the lead investigator in the case and an old friend of Kathleen’s father as well as a family friend displayed a rather strange lack of interest in the investigation.He was rather too hasty to shrug off the purse brought in by Siobhan as hogwash.
Sue Fortin is no doubt a great author,however I feel though she gave the audience a compelling domestic suspense she botched the title of the book.‘The Missing Wife’ is not a suitable title for the novel as the storyline revolves more around Siobhan and her unmasking the hidden secrets that lurk around her sister’s disappearance,and the strain it puts on her daughter and married life.’The Missing Wife’ would’ve made sense as the title if John was the one investigating his wife’s disappearance even if he were to be unmasked as the culprit in the end.The title would’ve also been justified if Kathleen was investigating her own disappearance somehow.‘The Missing Sister’ sounds a bit more accurate and justifies how Siobhan becomes the protagonist.This minor fault does not,however alter the book as a great read as it kept me enthralled through and through with the twists and reveals.
The author voices against child grooming/prostitution, and raise awareness that it is in fact happening right under our noses.We can see in the story,none of Kathleen’s family members were aware that she was groomed at the age of fifteen which later led her into an abusive marriage with John.Sue aims to help bring families closer together so that parents are at least aware of the problems that their children are facing and not give pedophiles are chance to weigh in and prey on emotionally vulnerable children from broken and dysfunctional homes.
Furthermore,she speaks against domestic violence and shuns the abuse of Christian doctrines used to mask and condone it.She highlights this through the character John who used to hit Kathleen and justified his actions with a bible verse and somehow portray himself as ‘holier than thou.’
Lastly,Sue shuns the abuse of power and office as it deters justice and erodes the justice system.If the entire justice system is eroded then each individual will end up taking the law into his or her hands.She highlights this through the characters Aisling Denvers and Sergeant Roy Ahern.Aisling Denvers happily covered up her husbands sex escapades in order to keep a spotless political image,she didn’t hesitate to rope in the sergeant to flawlessly cover up her husband’s crimes thus leading to several young girls losing their freedom,innocence and bright futures.
The Missing Wife was a good read and I recommend it to readers who aren’t sensitive to cuss words,domestic violence,child abuse and religious criticism,preferably readers starting from 16 and most certainly isn’t a children’s book!
The story was well-knit,I spotted no grammatical errors and was edited flawlessly.I rate it a 3 out five stars.
Book Title:The Missing Wife
Author:Sue Fortin
Published by Storm Publishing
Reviewed by Rutendo Chitondwe
Sue Fortin immediately plunges us into the heart of the action, where we see Siobhan Martin ‘looking through the hazy window of time’,recounting the vague events prior to her elder sister Kathleen Walsh’s disappearance.A belated birthday ceremony at the pub,escalated into a heated confrontation,an apparent ignored distress call ensues leading to a six-month missing person unresolved case.Then a purse surfaces out of nowhere.?These seemingly incoherent details are enough to arouse excitement for Sue Fortin’s “The Missing Wife.”
Kathleen Walsh,a seemingly morally upright woman with her house in order,married to a rich and well connected husband,blessed with a young handsome son.What more could she ask for?One could say she decided to count her blessings and give back,hence helped at ‘The Hub’,a local centre for troubled teens.However ‘The Hub’ seems to be more than what actually meets the eye as it becomes ‘the hub’ or the center of Kathleen’s disappearance.I am instantly reminded of Lindsey Lamar’s ‘A LIST OF LIARS’in the novel You’ve been summoned as the author familiarizes the audience with a couple of suspicious characters that seem to be withholding information that could help with solving Kathleen's disappearance,one of them being Sergeant Roy Ahern,the lead investigator in the case and an old friend of Kathleen’s father as well as a family friend displayed a rather strange lack of interest in the investigation.He was rather too hasty to shrug off the purse brought in by Siobhan as hogwash.
Sue Fortin is no doubt a great author,however I feel though she gave the audience a compelling domestic suspense she botched the title of the book.‘The Missing Wife’ is not a suitable title for the novel as the storyline revolves more around Siobhan and her unmasking the hidden secrets that lurk around her sister’s disappearance,and the strain it puts on her daughter and married life.’The Missing Wife’ would’ve made sense as the title if John was the one investigating his wife’s disappearance even if he were to be unmasked as the culprit in the end.The title would’ve also been justified if Kathleen was investigating her own disappearance somehow.‘The Missing Sister’ sounds a bit more accurate and justifies how Siobhan becomes the protagonist.This minor fault does not,however alter the book as a great read as it kept me enthralled through and through with the twists and reveals.
The author voices against child grooming/prostitution, and raise awareness that it is in fact happening right under our noses.We can see in the story,none of Kathleen’s family members were aware that she was groomed at the age of fifteen which later led her into an abusive marriage with John.Sue aims to help bring families closer together so that parents are at least aware of the problems that their children are facing and not give pedophiles are chance to weigh in and prey on emotionally vulnerable children from broken and dysfunctional homes.
Furthermore,she speaks against domestic violence and shuns the abuse of Christian doctrines used to mask and condone it.She highlights this through the character John who used to hit Kathleen and justified his actions with a bible verse and somehow portray himself as ‘holier than thou.’
Lastly,Sue shuns the abuse of power and office as it deters justice and erodes the justice system.If the entire justice system is eroded then each individual will end up taking the law into his or her hands.She highlights this through the characters Aisling Denvers and Sergeant Roy Ahern.Aisling Denvers happily covered up her husbands sex escapades in order to keep a spotless political image,she didn’t hesitate to rope in the sergeant to flawlessly cover up her husband’s crimes thus leading to several young girls losing their freedom,innocence and bright futures.
The Missing Wife was a good read and I recommend it to readers who aren’t sensitive to cuss words,domestic violence,child abuse and religious criticism,preferably readers starting from 16 and most certainly isn’t a children’s book!
The story was well-knit,I spotted no grammatical errors and was edited flawlessly.I rate it a 3 out five stars.
March 2, 2024
As you can understand from its title, this novel is about a missing wife. Our narrator is mainly Siobhan in most parts. But who is Siobhan? The sister of the missing wife.
The "missing wife", Kathleen Walsh, is Siobhan's older sister who lives in Ireland. After a rowdy night with her sisters, Kathleen suddenly disappeared six months ago. The idea that the married woman, a mother of one, had left her husband for someone else became more and more settled in everyone's minds, so the search efforts ended in a short time without any results.
And this 6 months affects Siobhan as well; Siobhan's marriage, who took a break from journalism by taking unpaid leave after Kathleen, was also having hard times, especially after her husband left home. Now she's a woman who lives with her 15-year-old daughter named Freya. Untill...
Six months after Kathleen's loss, Siobhan, living in Brighton, receives a phone call. The phone informs that Kathleen's wallet has been found. Siobhan, who has no idea about the identity of the caller, becomes curious when she hears her name and surname with her phone number written inside the wallet. Why would Kathleen's prospective wallet have her name on it? Siobhan gives the address of her other sister living in Ireland to deliver the wallet, and then takes her daughter with her and returns to Ireland, where her family lives and Kathleen used to live before. She has a plan in mind; if she finds out what happened to Kathleen, she will be able to put her marriage back together and get back to work.
The events are more than just a case of a missing wife, they touch upon an organization where multiple crimes are intertwined. What are these events, what is the secret in Kathleen's past, is her disappearance a murder or is she hiding somewhere? To find the answers to all of these, Siobhan must confront both her own life and Kathleen's past. For this reason, she sets out; she begins to examine the institution where her missing sister works and her marriage and husband.
Although it is a small community, Siobhan also touches upon the network of secrets, mysteries, confusion and interests in this small community to understand what happened to her sister. Thus, she slowly brings herself and her loved ones closer to danger.
Features I liked in the novel: It consists of easy-to-read, non-boring chapters, and although there is no single narrator, it does not distract attention between chapters. However, towards the end, while the pace accelerated, there were sections that felt a little long for no reason. For a mystery story, the fiction manages to make the reader curious. It doesn't have a very different, unique plot or a very complex plot. However, it is the kind of novel that you will want to sit down and read at once without putting it down. Therefore, I recommend it for those who love crime/mystery.
Thanks to to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for ARC.
ig: karelervesayfalar
The "missing wife", Kathleen Walsh, is Siobhan's older sister who lives in Ireland. After a rowdy night with her sisters, Kathleen suddenly disappeared six months ago. The idea that the married woman, a mother of one, had left her husband for someone else became more and more settled in everyone's minds, so the search efforts ended in a short time without any results.
And this 6 months affects Siobhan as well; Siobhan's marriage, who took a break from journalism by taking unpaid leave after Kathleen, was also having hard times, especially after her husband left home. Now she's a woman who lives with her 15-year-old daughter named Freya. Untill...
Six months after Kathleen's loss, Siobhan, living in Brighton, receives a phone call. The phone informs that Kathleen's wallet has been found. Siobhan, who has no idea about the identity of the caller, becomes curious when she hears her name and surname with her phone number written inside the wallet. Why would Kathleen's prospective wallet have her name on it? Siobhan gives the address of her other sister living in Ireland to deliver the wallet, and then takes her daughter with her and returns to Ireland, where her family lives and Kathleen used to live before. She has a plan in mind; if she finds out what happened to Kathleen, she will be able to put her marriage back together and get back to work.
The events are more than just a case of a missing wife, they touch upon an organization where multiple crimes are intertwined. What are these events, what is the secret in Kathleen's past, is her disappearance a murder or is she hiding somewhere? To find the answers to all of these, Siobhan must confront both her own life and Kathleen's past. For this reason, she sets out; she begins to examine the institution where her missing sister works and her marriage and husband.
Although it is a small community, Siobhan also touches upon the network of secrets, mysteries, confusion and interests in this small community to understand what happened to her sister. Thus, she slowly brings herself and her loved ones closer to danger.
Features I liked in the novel: It consists of easy-to-read, non-boring chapters, and although there is no single narrator, it does not distract attention between chapters. However, towards the end, while the pace accelerated, there were sections that felt a little long for no reason. For a mystery story, the fiction manages to make the reader curious. It doesn't have a very different, unique plot or a very complex plot. However, it is the kind of novel that you will want to sit down and read at once without putting it down. Therefore, I recommend it for those who love crime/mystery.
Thanks to to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for ARC.
ig: karelervesayfalar
January 9, 2024
𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐬!
I thoroughly enjoyed being swept away to a little village on the 𝒘𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝑰𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅 and becoming an armchair detective in order to uncover what really happened to the oldest Regan sister.
As often happens with siblings, a disagreement occurred when the Regan sisters were out celebrating Kathleen Walsh’s fortieth birthday. Sadly, that was the last time anyone saw her. She simply disappeared 6 months ago, leaving behind an embittered husband and a confused twenty-year-old son.
Siobhan (pronounced shiv-awn) Martin and her 15-year-old daughter, Freya, head to Dingle in the south of Ireland to meet up with the two other Regan siblings in hopes of finding out what really happened that night at the pub. Siobhan feels guilty that she didn’t return her sister Kathleen’s call the night she went missing and her guilt is consuming her. She can’t rest until she finds out more. When she arrives at Corin Foley’s (her youngest sister) house, she discovers that someone has left Kathleen’s purse in Corin’s mailbox. Not only is it the purse Kathleen was given as a gift the night of the disagreement, but it’s also empty of any bank cards or money. All it contains is a bus and train ticket and a shocking note, hidden in a pocket.
It’s a bumpy ride to uncover what really happened that night and Fortin has a wonderful way of engaging readers in this truly immersive southern Ireland experience. Although the 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰𝘀, Fortin also references grooming victims and kidnapping. It is a great novel about what people will do to keep a secret hidden while others are frantically trying to uncover it.
Will Kathleen be found? You’ll have to read for yourself!
I was gifted this copy by Storm Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
I thoroughly enjoyed being swept away to a little village on the 𝒘𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝑰𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅 and becoming an armchair detective in order to uncover what really happened to the oldest Regan sister.
As often happens with siblings, a disagreement occurred when the Regan sisters were out celebrating Kathleen Walsh’s fortieth birthday. Sadly, that was the last time anyone saw her. She simply disappeared 6 months ago, leaving behind an embittered husband and a confused twenty-year-old son.
Siobhan (pronounced shiv-awn) Martin and her 15-year-old daughter, Freya, head to Dingle in the south of Ireland to meet up with the two other Regan siblings in hopes of finding out what really happened that night at the pub. Siobhan feels guilty that she didn’t return her sister Kathleen’s call the night she went missing and her guilt is consuming her. She can’t rest until she finds out more. When she arrives at Corin Foley’s (her youngest sister) house, she discovers that someone has left Kathleen’s purse in Corin’s mailbox. Not only is it the purse Kathleen was given as a gift the night of the disagreement, but it’s also empty of any bank cards or money. All it contains is a bus and train ticket and a shocking note, hidden in a pocket.
It’s a bumpy ride to uncover what really happened that night and Fortin has a wonderful way of engaging readers in this truly immersive southern Ireland experience. Although the 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰𝘀, Fortin also references grooming victims and kidnapping. It is a great novel about what people will do to keep a secret hidden while others are frantically trying to uncover it.
Will Kathleen be found? You’ll have to read for yourself!
I was gifted this copy by Storm Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
February 14, 2024
Siobhan has built a new life for herself living in Brighton since her sister Kathleen went missing, until one day Siobhan gets a phone call saying her sisters purse has been found with a note inside saying help me and Siobhan’s number inside. With this new piece of evidence coming to light Siobhan heads back over to Ireland to play detective and hopefully relaunch her career as a journalist by solving her sisters case.
When Siobhan arrives in Ireland with her daughter Freya it is clear that the local residents do not want her here digging up the past. Threats are made towards Siobhan and her daughter warning her to back off, however Siobhan is determined to get to the bottom of things and won’t back down.
Things go from bad to worse for Siobhan when her daughter Freya is reported missing from a local house party she is attending with her cousin Kian, when Siobhan realises who’s party Freya has attended she realises her daughter could be in terrible danger. It’s time for Siobhan to turn her focus onto her missing daughter and leave her past in the past.
I really enjoyed the missing wife, after reading some other reviews I was a little worried this book wouldn’t be my cup of tea but as they say don’t judge a book by its cover, I forced myself to go into it with an open mind and found I really enjoyed it.
The missing wife was pact full of secrets, twist, lies and truths were revealed. At times it was a little slow on pace and I did find I could read a page without reading every word on that page there were bits of detail I didn’t necessarily think were needed, but all the same I still enjoyed it, I particularly enjoyed the last few chapters and I’ll be looking out for more books by Sue Fortin in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for this review.
When Siobhan arrives in Ireland with her daughter Freya it is clear that the local residents do not want her here digging up the past. Threats are made towards Siobhan and her daughter warning her to back off, however Siobhan is determined to get to the bottom of things and won’t back down.
Things go from bad to worse for Siobhan when her daughter Freya is reported missing from a local house party she is attending with her cousin Kian, when Siobhan realises who’s party Freya has attended she realises her daughter could be in terrible danger. It’s time for Siobhan to turn her focus onto her missing daughter and leave her past in the past.
I really enjoyed the missing wife, after reading some other reviews I was a little worried this book wouldn’t be my cup of tea but as they say don’t judge a book by its cover, I forced myself to go into it with an open mind and found I really enjoyed it.
The missing wife was pact full of secrets, twist, lies and truths were revealed. At times it was a little slow on pace and I did find I could read a page without reading every word on that page there were bits of detail I didn’t necessarily think were needed, but all the same I still enjoyed it, I particularly enjoyed the last few chapters and I’ll be looking out for more books by Sue Fortin in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for this review.
February 28, 2024
I just finished reading "The Missing Wife", by Sue Fortin. Thanks to NetGalley, Sue Fortin and Storm Publishing for giving me an advancec copy in return for an honest review. This novel can best be describes as a family mystery or mystery thriller. It is about three sisters who grow up in Ireland. One day the oldest sister Kathleen goes missing, and noone knows why. The middle sister receives a mysterious phonecall one day and rushes back to her hometown to thry and find out what happened to her sister, and stumbles upon a suspicious set of events that she and her daughter get caught up in. Throughout the book, we find our Kathleens big secret, why she left and what happened to her.
The way the author goes back and forth between present and past makes the story interesting because we slowly find our clues to what happened to Kathleen, while at the same time we find out the reason why she left... and is missing. The story contains interesting suprises but remains focused on providing the answers to the questions about where Kathleen is.
I liked the family dynamic between the three sisters and the parents. I liked how the story make the bad guys (and girls) layers so that the readers kind of felt sorry for some of them. I liked the main character and her resolve to find her sister.
I really liked the setting of the novel, and how it made me feel like I was actually in Ireland, by writing how some words were pronounced in Ireland. I liked that there was a back story that made sense to the outcome of the story.
Now the backstory...I think I was expecting it to be a bit more juicy. I don't know. I was a little underwhelmed by it all. But that didn't take away from the fact that I enjoyed learning about Kathleen as Siobhan her sister did. It was well paced, entertaining, and had a satisfying ending.
Happy Reading
The way the author goes back and forth between present and past makes the story interesting because we slowly find our clues to what happened to Kathleen, while at the same time we find out the reason why she left... and is missing. The story contains interesting suprises but remains focused on providing the answers to the questions about where Kathleen is.
I liked the family dynamic between the three sisters and the parents. I liked how the story make the bad guys (and girls) layers so that the readers kind of felt sorry for some of them. I liked the main character and her resolve to find her sister.
I really liked the setting of the novel, and how it made me feel like I was actually in Ireland, by writing how some words were pronounced in Ireland. I liked that there was a back story that made sense to the outcome of the story.
Now the backstory...I think I was expecting it to be a bit more juicy. I don't know. I was a little underwhelmed by it all. But that didn't take away from the fact that I enjoyed learning about Kathleen as Siobhan her sister did. It was well paced, entertaining, and had a satisfying ending.
Happy Reading
August 20, 2024
The Missing Wife is a gripping read by Sue Fortin with an intense mystery, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. We meet Siobhan who is returning to her hometown in Ireland, following her sister, Kathleen’s disappearance six months ago. No one has heard from Kathleen since, and Siobhan is heartbroken, even more so, because the last time she saw her, they argued. But when Siobhan returns to her home, she finds she is met with animosity from the locals, and it is clear that no one, not even her own family want her back. But Siobhan is desperate to find out what happened to her sister and where she is now. This is especially, after the discovery of Kathleen’s purse, six months after her disappearance, with a note inside saying help me.
I was desperate to know why Siobhan’s sister had disappeared and why so many people in the town, where she grew up, hated her. The animosity towards Siobhan comes through so strongly in Sue Fortin’s writing. I could really feel the anger on the page; this is what makes the storyline so intriguing and gripping. It is also clear to see how upset this makes Siobhan; these are people who should love her no matter what, but they make their feelings towards her very clear to see.
I thought it was really intriguing how Sue Fortin also explored Siobhan’s relationship with her teenage daughter, Freya, especially as Siobhan tries to unravel the mystery of what happened to her sister. There is strain in Siobhan’s relationship with Freya, and it was really interesting to see how Sue Fortin pushed this as the plot of the novel developed. This part of the book really deepens and darkens the novel. I really liked Siobhan and I felt for her, especially when the locals were nasty to her. It is clear to see that she is a kind and caring person, so this made me really want to know what caused the argument between her and Kathleen.
As the story progresses, Sue Fortin also takes us back in time, to the days leading up to Kathleen’s disappearance, and we can begin to understand what might’ve happened her as Sue Fortin gradually begins to the reveal the truth. This part of the story really kept me on my toes, and I was desperate to find out how everything would unfold, and what uncovering the truth would mean for Siobhan and her family.
I really enjoyed The Missing Wife. It is a dark, gripping page turner that kept me hooked right the way through, and I felt I really connected to the characters as I was reading. I will definitely be reading more of Sue Fortin’s books in the future.
I was desperate to know why Siobhan’s sister had disappeared and why so many people in the town, where she grew up, hated her. The animosity towards Siobhan comes through so strongly in Sue Fortin’s writing. I could really feel the anger on the page; this is what makes the storyline so intriguing and gripping. It is also clear to see how upset this makes Siobhan; these are people who should love her no matter what, but they make their feelings towards her very clear to see.
I thought it was really intriguing how Sue Fortin also explored Siobhan’s relationship with her teenage daughter, Freya, especially as Siobhan tries to unravel the mystery of what happened to her sister. There is strain in Siobhan’s relationship with Freya, and it was really interesting to see how Sue Fortin pushed this as the plot of the novel developed. This part of the book really deepens and darkens the novel. I really liked Siobhan and I felt for her, especially when the locals were nasty to her. It is clear to see that she is a kind and caring person, so this made me really want to know what caused the argument between her and Kathleen.
As the story progresses, Sue Fortin also takes us back in time, to the days leading up to Kathleen’s disappearance, and we can begin to understand what might’ve happened her as Sue Fortin gradually begins to the reveal the truth. This part of the story really kept me on my toes, and I was desperate to find out how everything would unfold, and what uncovering the truth would mean for Siobhan and her family.
I really enjoyed The Missing Wife. It is a dark, gripping page turner that kept me hooked right the way through, and I felt I really connected to the characters as I was reading. I will definitely be reading more of Sue Fortin’s books in the future.
April 24, 2024
“The Missing Wife” by Sue Fortin is a gripping thriller that will leave you on edge until the final pages. This emotionally intense page turner is about the unbreakable bond between sisters, and the length at which one will go to uncover the truth.
The story revolves around two siblings - Kathleen and Siobhan Walsh. When Kathleen mysteriously disappears one evening following a confrontation with Siobhan, her calculating spouse and brooding adolescent son are left to cope with the aftermath. However, Siobhan is convinced her sister is alive and that there's deeper significance to her absence.
As Siobhan delves further into her sister's life, she quickly realizes that perilous secrets lurk beneath the surface. As threats against Siobhan intensify and her own daughter goes missing, the tension escalates. Siobhan finds herself in a desperate race against time to unearth the truth and safeguard her family.
With a riveting storyline brimming with ingenious plot twists and turns, the author crafts an irresistible narrative that will captivate and hold you spellbound. Richly developed characters introduce intricate emotional dimensions, lending the narrative remarkable depth. "The Missing Wife" explores the intricate, multilayered bonds between siblings and the extremes one will go to safeguard their loved ones and integrity. This novel is a must-read for enthusiasts of mystery and psychological thrillers!
I’m grateful to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and Sue Fortin for the Advanced Reader Copy.
The story revolves around two siblings - Kathleen and Siobhan Walsh. When Kathleen mysteriously disappears one evening following a confrontation with Siobhan, her calculating spouse and brooding adolescent son are left to cope with the aftermath. However, Siobhan is convinced her sister is alive and that there's deeper significance to her absence.
As Siobhan delves further into her sister's life, she quickly realizes that perilous secrets lurk beneath the surface. As threats against Siobhan intensify and her own daughter goes missing, the tension escalates. Siobhan finds herself in a desperate race against time to unearth the truth and safeguard her family.
With a riveting storyline brimming with ingenious plot twists and turns, the author crafts an irresistible narrative that will captivate and hold you spellbound. Richly developed characters introduce intricate emotional dimensions, lending the narrative remarkable depth. "The Missing Wife" explores the intricate, multilayered bonds between siblings and the extremes one will go to safeguard their loved ones and integrity. This novel is a must-read for enthusiasts of mystery and psychological thrillers!
I’m grateful to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and Sue Fortin for the Advanced Reader Copy.
February 17, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Missing Wife by Sue Fortin is a thriller set on the west coast of Ireland about Siobhan whose sister Kathleen Walsh went missing 6 months ago after the purse Kathleen had at the time was found.
The Missing Wife, is one of those novels which by just reading the synopsis has all the pieces to make a thriller which as a reader would be an enjoyable one to read however it does not live up to the expectations.
The reason for this is quite difficult to put a finger on, for example the basis of the story with an individual going back home to find out a family secret is usually in my wheelhouse.
Added to this we have the main character Siobhan, a middle aged woman whose marriage is on the brink of breaking down because of Kathleen’s disappearance.
In addition the story had a number of twists and turns throughout which should keep any thriller reader engaged but this was not the case, which in hindsight seemed to be that Sue Fortin with her writing allowed the reader to become involved with the characters and their jeopardy.
I do not mean that the action scenes were poor, there was some tension and it did feel like the characters were at risk. The problem was that while the premise for The Missing Wife was a good one Sue Fortin the writer was unable to write engaging enough characters.
Having said that if you want a competent thriller the The Missing wife is for you.
The Missing Wife by Sue Fortin is a thriller set on the west coast of Ireland about Siobhan whose sister Kathleen Walsh went missing 6 months ago after the purse Kathleen had at the time was found.
The Missing Wife, is one of those novels which by just reading the synopsis has all the pieces to make a thriller which as a reader would be an enjoyable one to read however it does not live up to the expectations.
The reason for this is quite difficult to put a finger on, for example the basis of the story with an individual going back home to find out a family secret is usually in my wheelhouse.
Added to this we have the main character Siobhan, a middle aged woman whose marriage is on the brink of breaking down because of Kathleen’s disappearance.
In addition the story had a number of twists and turns throughout which should keep any thriller reader engaged but this was not the case, which in hindsight seemed to be that Sue Fortin with her writing allowed the reader to become involved with the characters and their jeopardy.
I do not mean that the action scenes were poor, there was some tension and it did feel like the characters were at risk. The problem was that while the premise for The Missing Wife was a good one Sue Fortin the writer was unable to write engaging enough characters.
Having said that if you want a competent thriller the The Missing wife is for you.
Read
January 17, 2024Siobhan's sister went missing six months ago. Now a new clue has come to light bringing Siobhan back to her hometown. Can she solve the mystery? You'll have to read The Missing Wife by Sue Fortin to find out - it's due out February 16, 2024.
I have never read this author before and have resolved to try new authors this year, so I was glad to get into this novel. The writing is good, and the story moves along at a good pace for the most part. I was invested in the plot and eager to find out if the sister would be found. It is more of a detective type story than a thriller, though. The details of why Kathleen is missing were revealed fairly quickly, and it is clear who is responsible. There are no major twists or surprises, but rather it is a fight to piece the clues together in order to convict those who have committed some pretty serious crimes. The ending fell a little flat for me personally, but I did like that she tied up the loose ends. I will definitely check out future releases from this author.
If you enjoy piecing clues together and are fine with no major twists or turns, this is a good book to try. The novel does include references to grooming children, sex trafficking, child/spousal abuse, and kidnapping, so those sensitive to those topics may want to skip this one.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the advanced copy.
I have never read this author before and have resolved to try new authors this year, so I was glad to get into this novel. The writing is good, and the story moves along at a good pace for the most part. I was invested in the plot and eager to find out if the sister would be found. It is more of a detective type story than a thriller, though. The details of why Kathleen is missing were revealed fairly quickly, and it is clear who is responsible. There are no major twists or surprises, but rather it is a fight to piece the clues together in order to convict those who have committed some pretty serious crimes. The ending fell a little flat for me personally, but I did like that she tied up the loose ends. I will definitely check out future releases from this author.
If you enjoy piecing clues together and are fine with no major twists or turns, this is a good book to try. The novel does include references to grooming children, sex trafficking, child/spousal abuse, and kidnapping, so those sensitive to those topics may want to skip this one.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the advanced copy.
January 17, 2024
Siobhan Martin’s sister, Kathleen, has been missing for months. After receiving a call that could provide a clue to what happened to her Siobhan decides to return home to Dingle to pursue the truth. While Kathleen’s disappearance is the driving mystery of the story, Siobhan’s return to her hometown stirs up old secrets and unexpected twists.
The story was slow in a few spots, but overall it kept me interested and made me want to keep reading. There’s a nice cast of characters and I found myself invested in all of their stories. There was also a lot of town drama and family angst and it was hard to know who to trust at any given moment. Some of the surprises/twists weren’t super shocking, but toward the end of the book there was a twist relating to Kathleen’s storyline that did take me by surprise.
The title The Missing Wife is also a bit of a misnomer. Yes, Kathleen is John’s wife and she’s missing, but I thought the overall focus of the story was more about the sisters. Not just Siobhan’s search for Kathleen but also the relationship and dynamics between the two and their younger sister, Corin. It was a book about family and the ties that bind us and how far we’re willing to go for the ones we love.
This was an enjoyable three star read for me. Thanks NetGally and Storm Publishing for this advanced copy.
The story was slow in a few spots, but overall it kept me interested and made me want to keep reading. There’s a nice cast of characters and I found myself invested in all of their stories. There was also a lot of town drama and family angst and it was hard to know who to trust at any given moment. Some of the surprises/twists weren’t super shocking, but toward the end of the book there was a twist relating to Kathleen’s storyline that did take me by surprise.
The title The Missing Wife is also a bit of a misnomer. Yes, Kathleen is John’s wife and she’s missing, but I thought the overall focus of the story was more about the sisters. Not just Siobhan’s search for Kathleen but also the relationship and dynamics between the two and their younger sister, Corin. It was a book about family and the ties that bind us and how far we’re willing to go for the ones we love.
This was an enjoyable three star read for me. Thanks NetGally and Storm Publishing for this advanced copy.
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