Missing

by E.A. Jackson

In this unputdownable crime thriller for fans of Tana French, a detective returns to a thirty-year-old case—an infamous disappearance in London—that has haunted her entire career and now may jeopardize her future.

In August 1990, London is suffering through an unprecedented heatwave when baby Bella Carpenter is snatched through the open window of her hotel room. Detective Inspector Martha Allen is assigned the high-profile case and, knowing that it could make or break her career, is determined to find Bella.

When a young woman named Nell Beatty walks into the police station with a baby who appears to be Bella, and whom Nell claims she found on a bench, it seems that the mystery is solved. Her family, the police, and the press are overjoyed at her return. But DI Allen isn’t convinced, something about Nell’s story doesn’t ring true. As much as she wants to continue, however, now that the baby is safe, she’s ordered to close the investigation.

Thirty years later, Nell Beatty is found dead. Now a superintendent, Allen has never really gotten over her doubts about the Carpenter case and can’t resist doing a little digging on her own time, eager to find out what happened to Nell, and her involvement in the baby’s disappearance all those years ago. But will her efforts uncover something darker than she could have ever imagined? And what is she risking as she tries once and for all to reveal the truth?

Genres: Mystery

304 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication March 17, 2026

Reviews

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book I went into with very few expectations - it was an unfamiliar author and a storyline of a missing child so it all felt quite routine. However, I have to say, it was thoroughly enjoyable and I would definitely recommend it.

The synopsis on Netgalley doesn't give much away however the Goodreads synopsis tells a little bit more. I would actually recommend going into this one a little blind as I think the blurb on Goodreads actually gives too much away.

Ultimately, the book centres on the disappearance of baby Bella and the subsequent investigation from DI Martha Allen. Determined to find Bella, Martha will stop at nothing to make sure she is returned safely and despite the eventual outcome of the disappearance, Martha feels there is a lot more to the story than originally thought. The book is told over two time periods with the first part of the book telling the story of Bella's disappearance and the investigation however when a key person in the original investigation turns up dead 30 years later, Martha is keen to find out the real truth behind the disappearance once and for all.

This was a really impressive novel which deals not only with Bella's disappearance but many other issues including addiction, poverty, domestic abuse etc. but at its heart it is, for me, about the devotion of DI Allen as she seeks the truth over what really happened to baby Bella. Despite the case apparently being 'solved', her dogged determination to bring the real facts to life was really impressive (although not her superiors or those who would rather the truth stay hidden).

Thanks to Netgalley and Faber and Faber Ltd for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This is tagged on Netgalley as Book 1 of the DI Allen series so looking forward to seeing what comes next.

[𝘪𝘷 ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ 🧸 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

that last chapter threw me for a LOOP!!!

[Cristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

Missing was an enjoyable read. Maybe not one of my all-time favourites, but definitely a solid and satisfying thriller. The story begins with the disappearance of baby Bella and follows Detective Allen as she tries to unravel the mystery. The narrative is cleverly split into two timelines: one set at the time of Bella’s disappearance, and the other thirty years later, when old secrets start to resurface.

I really enjoyed the way the author built the atmosphere. That constant sense of uncertainty and quiet tension kept me intrigued. The characters felt grounded and believable, especially Detective Allen, whose determination adds a strong emotional layer to the investigation.

That said, there were moments when the story felt like it was slowing down a bit, with some parts not moving the plot forward as much as I hoped. Still, the final chapters made up for it completely. The ending was intense and genuinely shocking, tying the two timelines together in a way that caught me off guard.

Missing is a well-crafted, emotional mystery about loss, truth, and how the past never really stays buried. It’s a story that builds slowly but ends with a powerful punch. A rewarding read for fans of thoughtful, character-driven thrillers.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was provided an advanced copy of this book by NetGalley and Atria in return for an honest review.

This book is written in two parts. Part one consists of the kidnapping of baby Bella from her home in London. Just a few days later, a woman finds Bella and returns her to a local police station.Although everyone should be happy and relieved, there are a lot of questions. At this point, the reader is introduced to DI Martha Allen, and the web of intrigue is further woven.

Part two of the book takes place 30 years later in present-day London. The good Samaritan returning Bella has been killed and Allen revives the case that has puzzled here all these years. DI Allen finally resolves the mystery of the death, and the web untangles itself for the reader. I must confess I never saw it coming!

I had a hard time getting through big parts of this book; it dragged. Too much time was spent with character introspection and atmosphere descriptions that were unnecessary, while more attention to character development would have been appreciated.

It's a good book, just not great. 3 stars.

[Ana Moniz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was grateful to receive an advance copy of Missing by E.A. Jackson before its official release, and I appreciate the opportunity to read it early. Jackson’s storytelling has a compelling pulse, and the premise of this novel is strong—built around quiet tension, emotional undercurrents, and the unsettling awareness that something is deeply wrong beneath the surface.

What Missing does well is atmosphere. Jackson creates a sense of unease that grows chapter by chapter, and the setting often feels like its own character. There’s a steady push to uncover what’s really happening, which kept me engaged even when the pacing wavered.

The characters are interesting, though not always fully realized. Some motivations could have been explored more deeply, and a few emotional beats feel abrupt rather than earned. The middle section also drags slightly, as if the narrative is holding its breath for too long before moving forward.

Still, the final act delivers solid tension and a satisfying enough payoff. The book sits comfortably in the “good but not unforgettable” category—rewarding in moments, uneven in others. Readers who enjoy slow-burn mysteries with a moody tone will likely find enough here to appreciate.

Overall, Missing is a decent read with flashes of excellence, even if it doesn’t quite reach its full potential. A three-star experience: worthwhile, atmospheric, and intriguing, but not completely polished.

[Pamela Viti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Missing by EA Jackson

Thank you NetGalley for the arc

This is a clever little book.

A couple Tom and Vivienne and their new baby Bella go to London for a little break. Bella is perfect, the dream baby and Tom and Vivienne are besotted with her.

The weather is very warm and the hotel room has no air conditioning, they feed the baby and put her down for the night with the window open. When they wake in the morning, Bella is missing.

The policewoman on the case is Martha Allen and she knows the main suspect is lying, but can she prove it?

I loved this book, spanning over thirty years with a strong female character doing everything she can to solve the mystery of the missing baby.

[Suesyn Zellmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A baby was kidnapped in London and returned unharmed to the local police station a few days later. A miraculous and joyful occasion, right? But DI Martha Allen isn’t buying it. Nothing about the situation feels right to her, even though everyone tells her to let it go, that the impossible sometimes does happen. But it continues to plague her for decades, until thirty years later, there’s an update. The woman who ‘found’ the baby and brought her in was herself found murdered. And once again, Martha is drawn into the Baby Bella case. And this time, she’s not going to let it go.

The first part of the story is told in the past during the original investigation, while the second is in the present. Misogyny in the police force unsurprisingly features in both time frames. But the friendship between Martha and Manley, a lower-ranking officer on her team, is a bright spot, and their interactions in the present timeframe especially make you thankful for those associates who go the extra mile and remain loyal.

The ending is unexpected to the plot, but maybe not to the readers. Because you know that there had to be some kind of explanation for all the ‘off’ behavior that Martha picked up on, and really, with the whole situation in general. While reading, I was like, ‘There better be a good explanation for the weirdness of it all.’ And there was, so I was satisfied in that regard, but I’m not sure if other readers will appreciate it or think it too much of a reach. When they say truth is stranger than fiction, they mean it, so I’m sure similar situations have occurred. And I can’t deny that I was deeply engaged in the story and determined to understand what was going on. I’ll definitely be keeping this author on my radar.

[Kristina P (ARC Reviewer) · Rating 2 out of 5]

PUBLISH DATE: March 17, 2026

I really wanted to like this one because the premise sounded so interesting, it made me think of the Lindberg baby in the beginning (as referenced later in the story). It centers on a decades old disappearance in London that has haunted a detective throughout her career. Years later, new developments force her to confront lingering doubts and reopen questions she was never able to put to rest.

Unfortunately, this book just didn't work for me. The pacing felt very slow, and the writing was quite wordy, which made it hard for me to stay engaged. I never felt fully hooked, and a lot of the reading felt like I was pushing through rather than being pulled into the story. While the idea behind the plot is intriguing, the execution felt weighted down by too much detail and not enough momentum.

I can see how readers who enjoy slow burn crime novels with a heavy focus on internal reflection and atmosphere might appreciate this more than I did. For me, though, it lacked tension and forward movement, and I struggled to stay invested.

Overall, an interesting concept that just didn't hold my attention the way I had hoped.

I give this book ⭐️⭐️

BOOK TITLE: Missing
AUTHOR: E.A. Jackson
PUBLISHER: Atria Books
FORMAT: e-book
PAGES: 288
I received a complimentary digital ARC [Advanced Reader copy] of this book via NetGalley. Thank you to Atria Books and the author for the opportunity to read and review this title prior to publication. As always, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Missing by E A Jackson is a stunning crime thriller with twists and turns right up to its last pages.

London, 1990. Detective Inspector Martha Allen receives a phone call that a baby has been abducted from a hotel in Pimlico where her parents had taken her while they took a short holiday. Martha is feeling the need to establish her credentials in a male-dominated police force and is determined to solve this case. When the baby is handed in to a police station, after days of intensive investigations by Martha and her team, and it doesn’t seem possible that they can trace the person who handed her in, Martha is ordered to close the case; however, she knows there is something not quite right about the whole thing and never gives up wondering about what might be the truth behind the baby’s disappearance and miraculous return. Then, thirty years later, something happens that makes Martha decide to try again, albeit on her own time, to get to the bottom of the Baby Bella story.

E A Jackson is a brilliant writer as she painstakingly presents everyone Martha encounters and all the situations she gets into. I loved the way the book was different in so many ways from traditional crime thrillers; I loved all the character studies, and Martha’s way of coping with how her personal life had turned out differently to what she had expected. Highly recommended!

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Missing is a taut, elegantly written thriller that explores the primal terror of loss and the quiet fury of a woman determined to uncover the truth. E. A. Jackson’s debut introduces DI Martha Allen with striking clarity—a detective whose sharp mind is matched only by her emotional depth.

When baby Bella vanishes in the night, the heat of summer becomes a pressure cooker for grief, suspicion, and secrets. Jackson’s prose is spare yet evocative, capturing the ache of a mother’s silence and the relentless churn of a case that refuses to resolve cleanly. Allen is a compelling lead—newly promoted, under scrutiny, and unwilling to let lies stand in the way of justice. Her voice is crisp, her instincts razor-sharp, and her empathy a quiet force beneath the procedural grit.

This is a story that lingers in the shadows of domestic life, asking what we owe to truth—and what we’re willing to risk to protect it. With its layered characters and simmering tension, Missing marks the beginning of a series with real emotional heft.

Perfect for readers who crave psychological thrillers with heart, and detectives who feel as real as the people we pass on the street.

With thanks to E A Jackson, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thirty years after the disappearance of baby Bella, top policewoman Martha Allen is reminded of that old case when she learns that the young woman who found the baby on a bench all these years ago, has herself been found murdered on a bench in a public park. Martha had always thought there were too many loose ends around the case - this fresh news galvanises her to once more search for the truth.
As we're taken back to the past and the developing nightmare of the missing Bella, then into the present again, a really intriguing story emerges.
I liked everything about this story. Martha Allen is an excellent lead character, very sympathetic and believable with her own sad story to reveal as the narrative progresses.
The mystery of what really happened to baby Bella holds the reader's interest throughout the book, as all the elements of the case begin to come together.
It was interesting, too, to see how old-fashioned police work and dogged determination can uncover things you'd think would be lost in time. It helps explain how cold cases can be solved decades later.
A realty good crime story - and one that, despite its sad theme of a missing, possibly murdered baby, I really enjoyed.

[Roroblu'sMum · Rating 4 out of 5]

4* Works absolutely perfectly because of the 90s setting.

I hadn't read the blurb fully, or hadn't paid enough attention and didn't realise that the tale is mostly set in the 90s. It did irritate a bit but my bad for not checking, and boy did it turn into a decent read.

It's skillfully done, blending present, past, then present, then past, and it has human aspects as well as police procedural ones. We get to learn about the now-DS, her then-DC, how chauvinistic policing was back in the 90s, and the tale was very believable. Not at first, but the author dovetailed really well and the icing on the cake came for several people, one of whom wasn't alive at the end of the tale, but whose life had found purpose and happiness. Not all cake recipients were aware of the icing and I suspect that if a DNA test gets done - a likelihood - there will be questions and more icing. And recriminations, too. I liked that the now-DS's instincts were so strong and good and that despite it being 30 years on before she solved the case, she got there. I liked, too, reading about her Jamaican then-DC's life and success outside of the Met.

ARC courtesy of Faber and Faber Limited and NetGalley, for my reading pleasure.

[Ridgerunner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A missing person case set in the 1990’s and the present are the two timelines in the book. Back then a missing baby case is very high profile and proves very taxing for DI Martha Allen who is trying to show she can stand comparison with the men in the very male dominated force of that time and also cope with being pregnant at the same time. The case seems to be solved but Allen is not convinced but is told to stop investigating by her superiors. Has she reasonable grounds for her doubts or has she become too obsessed with this case.
In the present time a vital witness in the missing baby case is found murdered and Allen’s interest is seriously awakened.
I like the way throughout the book the issue of obsession/gut instinct/ facing the facts is considered and reviewed at different times. Thrillers often settle for a very black and white denouement at the end of the book while here it is not so clear cut and all the better for that. I liked the final revelation in the book. There were two events about midaway through the book that I thought were very unrealistic and not explained and although annoyed me at the time did not take away from my overall enjoyment of it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Faber and Faber Ltd for the ARC

[Pgchuis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

4.5* rounded up.

Martha is the DI in charge of the investigation (in 1990) of missing baby Bella Carpenter. Bella is apparently found days later on a park bench by a woman called Nell, and brought to the police station. However, Nell disappears and is found to have told lies about her contact information, and Martha is convinced the baby produced by Nell is not Bella and that Bella's father is somehow involved. However, the Carpenters are adamant that this is indeed Bella, and Martha is ordered to let things go. Then in 2020 Nell is found murdered and Martha gets to the bottom of things by investigation Nell's life.

I found this engrossing and beautifully linear. The scene is set in 2020, then we go back to the whole 1990 narrative and then return to 2020. None of that infuriating switching back and forth all the time. I liked Martha and found the story engrossing throughout, although I am deducting half a star for the entirely bonkers element of the plot Martha eventually uncovers. I would be keen to read more by this author.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

When a baby is perceived missing in London, DI Martha Allen is assigned the high-profile case and races against the clock to find baby Bella. After days of searching and no good leads, a young women named Nelly Beatty enters the police station claiming she has been found, but disappears without a trace before they could interview her. While the general consensus is excited for the reunited Carpenter family, Martha Allen suspects otherwise.
Being told to ignore the red flags, Martha Allen stops looking for Nelly until her old partner lets her know that Nelly had been murdered. Knowing things never seemed right, Martha Allen doesn't stop until she discovers the truth about what happened to baby Bella 30 years ago.

Slow start and didn't quite get hooked into the book until around the 40-50% mark. From there it seemed to speed up. Short, quick chapters were easy to read through. Predictable but still had a good story line. Was a good read but not something I would recommend to read unless thrillers are their main genre.

Thank you NetGalley, E.A. Jackson, and Atria Books for allowing me to read this ARC.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! I literally just finished the book and may need a moment. What a ride. Buy this book. Read this book. Re-read this book. Tell your friends about this book.

But then, you may be asking, “Why not 5 stars?” Fair question. I blame the publishers. If you have read the blurb for this book, you know about the first 55.8% of the book. I’m a numbers guy, so, yeah, I checked.

Listen, you will still want to read every word. But what an odd thing to do. I’ve read books where the blurb is almost word for word in the first few chapters. But over half the book? Still, read the first half because of the brilliant procedural that it is.

The last 44.2% is an investigation, but of a completely different type. To me, that was part of the brilliance of the book. The first half is a gut-wrenching pace trying to find a missing child. The second part of the book is more of a slow-paced procedural. Both parts are equally good.

So, once again, read this book and tell your friends. This book is so well done.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Alyce Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, E.A. Jackson, and the publisher Atria Books for the eARC.

Superintedent Martha Allen is pushing paper, wasting time till she has to leave for a colleague's funeral. The phone rings bringing a voice and a case from the past. A body has been found belonging to a woman Martha once wanted to interview in relation to a baby snatching case 30 years ago. The baby had been missing for a few days when this woman walked into the station with the baby claiming she found her on a park bench. Right then the grieving parents walked in. Happy reunion. Admidst the chaos, the woman who found the baby dispearred. Martha felt something was wrong with the whole scenario. Martha had only been a DI for a few months, and with the baby returned, her superiors shut down any further investigation. With foul play suspected in the death of this woman, maybe Martha will get her answers now.

A fantastic book. I enjoyed the plot and how skillfully the author jumped between present day and that time 30 years ago. 5 out of 5 stars.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a fantastic story. Gripping and thrilling. You follow the step by step investigative actions and hold your breath to see if this yields any results. Meanwhile, suspicions start emerging and then they are thwarted, which refocuses the investigation. You are looking over the investigations shoulder while sharing her worries. Can they find the baby in time to save her?!

As each stage of the story unfolds, personal relationships get intertwined with the missing baby bringing a tense feeling to the investigator who has her suspicions but is held back by superiors who think they know better. A murder many years later offers an opportunity for Martha to conclude unfinished business. Her diligent approach brings a conclusion which is totally unexpected.
Realistic, fast paced and unable to put it down. An enthralling read.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC and to E.A. Jackson for her introduction.

[ThatReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery is, by far, my favourite genre, both in literature and on TV. So, when a new book pops up, I tend to get all hot and bothered wanting to read it. Missing, by E. A. Jackson had me at the blurb. I mean, a missing baby that is returned to the parents, and an inspector who isn't quite sold on that story? I was in. And the truth is, I really really loved this book! The way the story evolved, the mystery surrounding that missing baby, the truth behind it, and then that closure, it was so well done. I felt as one with Allen in that hunger, that NEED to know what had happened, and I could barely put down the book until I reached the final chapter. Which, I must say, was superb - I was laughing at myself for not having considered that possibility and loving that the author kept it from the reader until the very last bit - I kind of felt like I had one up on Allen and knew something she didn't!

[Hannelore Cheney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC.
This debut novel by E.A. Jackson (a transplated American in England) is amazing, what a great read, it's my favorite book of the year!
Set in 2 timelines, the 1980's and the present, it features the murder of a woman who found and dropped off a kidnapped, missing baby, disappearing right after, not to be heard of again till now, with the finding of her body.
DI Allen, who investigated the missing baby case in the '80's, never believed the case was solved and never forgot about it. Now Superintendent Allen, she is determined to finally find the truth behind this case. Her dogged determination culminates in a stunning ending when the truth finally comes out.
Highly recommended ... I loved it!

[Kim Melbourne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this first book in the DI Martha Allen series and really look forward to reading more in the series.

This book is told over a 30 year time span with DI Allen focusing strongly throughout. Not only do we learn a lot about her personal life and values, but her strong and persistent desire to solve the disappearance of a baby from a hotel room many years ago. Not content with the outcome when the baby is reunited with her parents, she further unofficially relooks into the case following the suspicious death of a woman found in the park....the same woman who found the missing baby previously.

This book had some absolutly jaw dropping twists towards the end. Definetly a book with the wow factor- highly recommend

[Lovetoread2023 · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read this is! The tension builds right from the start, pulling you into a story full of secrets buried for thirty years. Detective Inspector Martha Allen is a determined and engaging lead, driven by her need to uncover the truth no matter how painful it may be. The two timelines are woven together brilliantly, leading to a gripping and truly shocking conclusion—especially in those final few pages that I really didn’t expect I’m so pleased to hear this is the first in a series, as I really liked Martha and can’t wait to see more of her. A perfect read for fans of psychological thrillers—tense, twisty, and impossible to put down!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It was a story of two halves. When a woman is found dead, it takes the detective back 30 years, to the time she first met the woman. The first half of the book looks at that case, and how it was resolved at the time.

We then move forward to the new case, looking at the life of the dead woman, and reconsidering the original case from 30 years ago. There are plenty of twists and turns in both parts of the story, and it kept me thinking. Even once I thought we had it all sorted, there was that final twist at the end.

This was an entertaining read and I’d love to catch up with other books by this author.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

[Linda Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Senior police officer Martha Allen is called in to investigate the case of a baby being abducted through the open window of a London hotel. The parents are distraught but Martha suspects that she is being lied to. When a young woman returns the baby, saying she found her on a bench and then disappears without trace, it seems the case is closed. But Martha has never been convinced, and when, years later, a murder could be connected, she begins to investigate. This is a real page turner that will keep you guessing to the end.
Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.

[Karen McGrath · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read that this was about a baby going missing I thought it would be similar to many of the novels written about this topic. However, I was wrong. The novel is set in two parts, the first being when the baby goes missing and then is ‘found’, but the detective, Martha Allen, has her doubts about what has happened, but has no proof. Thirty years later one of the characters is found dead and Allen begins to follow clues to find out exactly what had happened to the missing baby.
There are lots of twists and turns which keep the reader guessing until the very end. I’m looking forward to reading this author’s next book.

[Thebooktrail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well the standard missing baby trope has well been placed on another level! There's so much more to this case than meets the eye and that kept me reading. The author has a good way of taking you along for the ride, dropping hints and then pulling the rug from under you. Good tension and investigation. Although the novel dipped a bit from time to time, the ending was more than worth it. It did feel overly long however and a shorter novel would have packed more of a punch. Locations are good but not central to the plot.

[Frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher, the author and netGalley for an arc of 'Missing' written by E.A. Jackson. I enjoyed this well written book centring around baby Bella's disappearance from a London hotel in August 1990. Thirty years later D I Martha Allen is brought back into the investigation when a woman involved in the case is found murdered. An enthralling, fast paced read and a good start to what will hopefully become a series.

[Sally 📚 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Missing drew me in quickly and I wanted to read it quickly and find out how it ended. I liked the character of Martha Allen, and enjoyed how the investigation unfolded. I felt the ending unfolded naturally and appreciated that overall it really felt realistic. I would recommend this book to all mystery/thriller enjoyers!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this Advanced Reader Copy e-book. This title will be released March 2026.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first part of the book is spent on a case for which we already know the end. It is hard to keep reading when because of that. The second part of the book is significantly better, but it still moves at a slow pace. The ending feels forced, as an easy way out, that does not match the expected behaviours of the characters.

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written police procedural with an interesting plot. Whilst it seems the crime is solved the DI Martha Allen is not entirely satisfied with the outcome. Thirty years later some more facts come to light and Allen is determined that she will now get to the bottom of the mystery.
An enjoyable read

I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley in return for an honest review.