The Missing

by Fleur McDonald

A landscape to die for ... The next compelling mystery set in the wild outback town of Kalgoorlie, from the bestselling author of The Prospect
'This land is millions of years old and has held secrets that we are able to uncover to this very day, yet the same land seems to have swallowed Max without a trace.'

In the middle of Missing Persons Week, teenager Max Galbraith disappears after a party at the two-up ring on the outskirts of Kalgoorlie. With hundred-year-old mine shafts hidden in the area, no one can sure whether he got lost while under the influence of drugs or if something more sinister has happened.

Lily Carter, a talkshow radio host, receives information about Brendan Cook, another Kalgoorlie teenager who disappeared in similar circumstances the year before. But the police didn't launch a full-scale search for Brendan. Why not?

Enter Detective Angie Sullivan, new to Kalgoorlie and yet to understand how the town works. With no clear links between the two cases, and Lily accusing the police of incompetence, the town is tipped into uproar. What secrets are hiding out there in the bush? And can Angie discover them before any more kids go missing?

Praise for The Prospect:

'Superb writing and storytelling' The Australian

Praise for Fleur

'McDonald brings all her passion for the land to her rural suspense' Australian Women's Weekly

'Fleur McDonald is a master of the rural suspense novel, her characters and storyline crackle with authenticity' Family Circle

Genres: Crime, Mystery

Audible Audio

Published October 28, 2025

About the author

After growing up on a farm near Orroroo in South Australia, Fleur McDonald’s first job was jillarooing in the outback. She has been involved in agriculture all her life, including helping manage a 8000-acre station for twenty years. Today Fleur and her energetic kelpie, Jack, live in Esperance, Western Australia,

Fleur is the author of 23 bestselling novels and two children's books.

Fleur chats about her daily writing life on her blog http://fleurmcdonald.com,
Facebook - Fleur McDonald Author
Instagram @fleurmcdonald
Tiktok @fleurmcdonaldauthor

Reviews

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fleur McDonald has taken me back to Kalgoorlie for another action packed mystery, it is missing person’s week and a new radio announcer, Lily Carter has arrived in town and given the Kalgoorlie Police station a blast for their lack of looking into a young teenager, Brendan Cook who went missing last year, also new to town is Detective Angie Sullivan when she hears this she is determined to find answers and then another young teenager Max Galbraith goes missing is there a link? Angie is going to leave no stone unturned in her search for answers.

Angie gets a search underway but with old mine shafts anything could have happened questioning Max’s friends uncovers a few leads but they don’t get any further, then another teenage goes missing a friend of Max’s Bree and Angie pushes more there are a lot of people to question, and then a phone call gives them their biggest lead and from here on in danger abounds on a property further out with help from an old war veteran will they rescue Max and Bree and get the answers they need and will they get the perpetrator?

This had me turning the pages to find out everything, fabulous characters I really like Angie and Lily and Smurf was wonderful of course catching up with Jack and finding out how things are with Zara after the last book was good and I enjoyed getting to know Angie and a bit of her personal life, I am hoping that Angie will be in the next book and Jack too,

This is a fast paced, action packed crime, mystery that I would highly recommend to any reader who loves a good story that keeps you thinking.

[Marit · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second of Fleur McDonald’s books to be set in Kalgoorlie and surroundings and featuring some of the characters from “The Prospect”. This is just as an enthralling rural police procedural centring around missing teenagers, their family dynamics and painstaking policing. The dramatic landscape plays an important role as does the community who lives in these harsh conditions. Contemporary issues including child fostering, online scams and the trauma of war play a pivotal role. A highly trained dog is crucial to the story. A compelling read, albeit with coarse language.

[Natalie M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant!

Book Two in the series and what a writer. Despite the blurb sounding fairly familiar- missing teen, family drama, but in an outback Australian town…there really is nothing generic about this read.

Excellent flow, loved the characters and really great curve balls.

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though The Prospect launched Fiona McDonald’s new rural crime fiction series set in Kalgoorlie, it is The Missing that completes the author’s transition away from her popular Dave Burrows series.

The Missing introduces Detective Angie Sullivan, new to the outback town and eager for the opportunity to bolster her goal of promotion. She’s already having a rough morning though when a local radio host, Lily Carter, accuses the Kalgoorlie police department of failing to properly investigate the disappearance of a 16 year old foster kid almost a year ago. Angie is furious with the public ambush and intends to follow up, but she’s distracted when another child is reported missing. Max Galbraith, also 16, hasn’t been home for twenty four hours. Last seen on the outskirts of town before wandering away from a drug fuelled party, Angie expects he’ll be found quickly, even if he’s taken a tumble into one of the many abandoned mineshafts that litter the area. But when no trace of Max is found, a closer look will uncover a shocking secret that links the two boys.

The third person narrative in The Missing shifts between the perspectives of Angie, Lily, Detective Jack Higgins (whom readers might recognise from the Dave Burrows series or The Prospect) Max, the missing boy, and Smurf, a grizzled Vietnam War vet. This allows McDonald to provide insight both the personal lives of her characters and their connection to the case. I quickly grew to like Angie who is a self-assured, focused detective, and I think it’s possible that she will become the lead in this new (as yet unnamed) series, even if Jack, who is present but not front and centre in The Missing, remains in Kalgoorlie. Lily is not too dissimilar to Angie, though she has a somewhat haughty manner, and both women are in the midst of a relationship breakdown. Smurf, who lives with his dog in a hut in the middle of nowhere, meanwhile gives the story a burst of strong outback Australia colour.

I appreciated the insight into the characters but I was gripped by the turns in the case and its climactic ending. The story unfolds at a fast pace and McDonald makes good use of red herrings to both move the investigation forward and sustain the tension in the plot. She does provide enough clues for the reader to guess at Max’s fate, even if only in hindsight.

I’m a little familiar with the town of Kalgoorlie having grown up in Western Australia and I think McDonald describes the region with authenticity. It’s hot, remote and a bit wild thanks to its roots in an itinerant population of miners and tourists. A six hour drive inland from the nearest city, it’s surrounded by vast areas of nothing but scrubland and red sand.

With The Missing I think McDonald’s desire to rebrand herself as a crime writer has been eminently successful. This is a dynamic and compelling read that should satisfy old fans and new readers alike, and I’m looking forward to The Witness in early 2026.

[Angela Pirotta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great fast paced story of Kalgoorlie crime story
Very enjoyable

[Craig and Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big thanks to Harper Collins for sending us a copy to read and review.
Voice Of The Outback and popular rural crime fiction author Fleur McDonald releases her newest book with her new publisher, The Missing.
A loosely linked follow up to the previous book, set in the same town of Kalgoorlie, some familiar faces and a new detective.
Teenager Max Galbraith goes missing after a party at a forbidden place.
New Detective in the town is Angie Sullivan and getting straight into an investigation is top of her list.
Lily Carter, the latest talk show radio host is using her voice to bring attention to missing persons on her show, even though it may ruffle some people’s feathers.
Working together may help each other but can the mystery be solved before it’s too late…..
An action packed small town fiction tale with plenty of suspense and mystery.
Fleur is rebranding herself in the world of Aussie crime books and it’s been quite a success, I’ve enjoyed both the new stories.
This one has the country and crime feels, an interesting cast, the isolation setting, remote living and a strong sense of community.
Look forward to the next book…..

[Janelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

An outback mystery set mostly in Kalgoorlie about missing teenagers. Fleur McDonald always writes strong characters with a plot that keeps you interested.

[Kimberley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I sure do enjoy some Aussie crime fiction xo

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5
AUDIOBOOK

Unfortunately, I think I would have enjoyed this book more had I physically read it!

[EmG ReadsDaily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the Kalgoorlie setting, the varying perspectives and the unsettling mystery.

This one had me hooked from the prologue right through to the climactic ending.

4.5 stars (rounded up)

[Janene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the rugged goldfields of Kalgoorlie during Missing Persons Week, The Missing opens with the disappearance of teenager Max Galbraith after a party on the outskirts of town. With abandoned mine shafts and harsh bushland stretching for miles, it’s a setting where danger feels ever-present and the possibilities of what happened to Max are chilling.

The tension deepens when similarities emerge between Max’s disappearance and that of Brendan Cook, another local teen who went missing a year earlier. Radio host Lily Carter begins asking uncomfortable questions, pushing for answers, while newcomer Detective Angie Sullivan finds herself confronting Kalgoorlie’s secrets, loyalties and complex community dynamics.

Fleur McDonald has truly cemented herself as a rural crime writer. While I still personally prefer her earlier rural fiction, I really appreciate the work, research and passion she pours into this genre. Her knowledge of rural Australia shines through—the landscape, the isolation and the small-town tensions are all beautifully and vividly described.

Even though rural crime isn’t my usual genre, I find Fleur’s novels a refreshing change of pace between lighter reads. The Missing is well-written, engaging and perfectly crafted, with a strong sense of place that pulls you in.
⭐ 4 stars

[Denise Apps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put this book down

[Elizabeth Aspinall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book would have to be one of the best if not the best. Its easy to read and the story keeps you wanting to keep reading. The story got a bit tense in the end so couldn't put the book down until I'd finished it.

[ANDREA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was a great read very fast passing to the end . I have always enjoyed Fleur McDonalds books ,the missing did not disappoint . Love Jack in this book . Smurf and Assassin were a bonus .

[Anna Hayes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I came across Fleur McDonald when I read Out In Nowhere last year, a tight, outback crime novel that explored the politics of rural living and the urban-rural divide in a more personal way. As a result, The Missing, was of interest to me given that I enjoyed that.
This novel introduces us to a different set of characters and is the second book of a series, though there is enough information here for you not to really miss anything as a result of not reading that.
Detective Angie Sullivan and radio host Lily Carter are both new to Kalgoorlie and about to clash in a rather public way. Meanwhile, a teenager has disappeared under suspicious circumstances while the spotlight is shone on historic missing person cases, particularly those in the foster care system and, out in the bush, a man named Smurf wrestles with his demons and the desire to simply be left alone.
There are a number of other secondary characters as well, most notably Jack who was first introduced in the previous novel.
There is plenty of colour in the novel and we are guided through Angie’s investigation, as well as seemingly unconnected ones that link up well in the end.
The Missing makes for compelling reading but I felt like the story played out too predictably. We didn’t see the kind of red herring plot twists that are expected of a crime novel. Where the novel works better is as a kind of character study, particularly of Angie and Lily, who are facing massive upheavals in their lives.
Their struggles are explored, although Lily’s is a more rounded story. Perhaps the most interesting character is Smurf, the off-grid war veteran with a well-trained dog and a swag in the bush, who gets pulled into the overall mystery – itself revealed through the eyes of the missing boy.
All in all, I thought this was a more disjointed read than Out In Nowhere with not an awful lot to theorise over. Nonetheless, it is an easy read and does a good job on depicting small, rural town life.
Thanks to HarperCollins, via NetGalley, for an eARC of this novel, in exchange for an honest review.

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fleur McDonald is a confident and experienced writer, and this new series will draw in both old fans and new readers. Strong, interesting characters and a believable and tense plot will both engage readers till the last page.

This is the second in a new series (ie, not one featuring McDonald’s long running character, Dave Burrows). It can be read as a stand alone, plot wise, but you’ll get more out of the characters if you have read the first in the series.

This is quite a straightforward plot and investigation, but the stakes are high. Teenagers are at risk; Angie is trying to establish both her reputation and a working relationship with her new colleagues; and the police in general don’t want the shock jock to paint them badly. Readers will get invested quickly in both the teenagers’ fate and Angie’s problems.

Because of course Angie also has some personal problems to sort out. What fictional detective has an uncomplicated life?

I really liked Angie. She’s an empathetic character, competent but not infallible, caring but aware of her professional limits. I suspect she’ll become just as popular as Dave Burrows was – a character McDonald can explore for years. Certainly, this novel doesn’t resolve all of her personal problems, and a lot of readers will look forward to finding out more in another novel – I certainly will.

The atmosphere of the novel overall is tense, with a high stakes problem to solve. It’s also a vivid depiction of some of the challenges of more remote communities. I found the investigation interesting and the resolution believable and quite compelling.

Highly recommended for readers who like stories with a strong sense of place, strong and credible plots, and characters they’ll want to see more of.

You may also be interested in my reviews of other novels by Fleur McDonald:
https://otherdreamsotherlives.home.bl...
https://otherdreamsotherlives.home.bl...

If you enjoyed this review, please visit www.otherdreamsotherlives.home.blog to read more.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teenager Max Galbraith disappears after a party at the well known two-up ring on the outskirts of Kalgoorlie. It is Missing Persons Week and when Lily Carter the local talkshow radio host receives information that a further teenager, Brendan Cook, disappeared in the previous year, she questions why the Police didn't launch a full-scale for him at the time.

Hundred-year-old mine shafts are littered and hidden around Kalgoorlie so the search for both Max and Brendan is difficult and dangerous.

Detective Angie Sullivan is new to the area and is yet to understand how a town like Kalgoorlie works. Though there are no clear links between the two missing teenagers, the possibility of drug use comes into question. The bush has secrets it is not always willing to reveal. The bush is also the home of some who are not comfortable with living in a town but prefer to live a life of solitude.

With Police competence in question, Detectives Angie Sullivan and Jack Higgins work against time to locate the missing teens before any more go missing.

Fleur McDonald is a favourite Author for me and I look forward to every new book. Though Dave Burrows featured in many of her past books, he is now enjoying retirement. I am delighted to see Jack Higgins in both these Kalgoorlie stories and very much hope that Jack will stay with us for future adventures. Kalgoorlie is a place that I visited some years ago and, like most mining towns, the history of the place is interesting and compelling. As is this story...scary in a number of ways but not really surprising when we consider the challenges life presents to most people, particularly the young.

Thank you Fleur, I did love this story and look forward to the next book that I have just discovered will be released early in 2026.

[Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. Having the familiar character of Jack from the previous book was great, but bringing in new main characters of police detective Angie and radio host Lily was wonderful. But how great is a book when there is a character with the name Smurf and a dog called Assassin, just that made you realise there was going to be some interesting twists and turns. Throw in some missing teenagers and the town of Kalgoorlie and this book was great!
I love how the detective elements of Fleur’s books are a huge influence of the story, but we also get the side stories of their lives away from being a detective which helps build the book ready for a next story in the series.

[Cookie1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Several years ago a fostered teenager, Brendon Cook, disappeared from Kalgoorlie. It appears to his foster mother that it was never fully investigated. She reveals this to Lily, a new radio announcer in the town. Lily takes it up during missing persons week with a new police officer in the town. Angie.
Then Max disappears, the son of a respected town businessman. Max is a bit of a loner, only interested in computers. He and a friend Bree, plan to leave town. Max’s disappearance is given to Angie to investigate.
As you read on and meet, Smurf, a Vietnam vet with PTSD, and his dog, Assassin, the story becomes very intriguing.
An excellent read.

[Emma B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teenager Brendan has been missing for a year, so why aren't the police looking for him? Then Max and Bree, also teenagers, go missing from the same small Kalgoorlie town. Related or coincidence? Now Angie and the team are on the hunt, but will it be too late?

My first Fleur McDonald book, and I really enjoyed it. Loved the Australian elements to the book. Found myself hooked almost instantly and very easy to get lost in the story.

[Julia Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Missing

Another great mystery in the outback town of
Kalgoorlie. The writer has you following leads and keeps you wondering 🤔 how is this going to end a great read. A snapshot of life in the town, along with an insight into the foster and policing system. A mystery thriller well worth reading

[Lisa Abbott · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really enjoying it and looking forward to seeing how everything came together and how the characters evolved. Unfortunately, it felt like it ended very quickly, and I was left with the sense that the characters didn’t fully develop and the ending was rushed. Overall, I felt disappointed by the conclusion.

[Naomi Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book did not go the way I was expecting, which either makes me dumb (because looking back I understand all the lead ins) or Fleur smart for not letting on what I was supposed to be connecting in an obvious way.

I enjoyed this story. I listened to the book, but I think I would have enjoyed the experience more if I had read it instead. Just as an FYI.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was overall an enjoyable read. I really liked that it was set in outback/country Australia instead of a big city like many authors prefer. I liked the fact that it had Australian vocabulary and sayings/phrases.

It was evenly paced and the ending was satisfying. I also liked that the action was towards the end as it allowed for the story to unfold naturally.

[Jackie Chambers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again this book crabs you from first page.

This author doesn’t disappoint with her books and they leave in hanging for next one, plus little of something from one before, and so Australian you can relate. Look forward to next one.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good solid and entertaining crime novel set in Australia. Loved the female lead and the character building in addition to the direct plot line. Thank you to the author. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

[Karleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, my kind of genre and writing style. Detective Australian rural thriller/mystery/drama. I think if you enjoy Chris Hammer you’d enjoy Fleur McDonald. Looking forward to meeting the author tomorrow night!

[Lyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book, read it virtually in one sitting. Liked the female characters and the way the story unfolded, and of course, a great setting. I particularly liked the backstory behind the characters, which gave motivation as to why they did what they did.

[Robyn Coyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this mystery by Fleur McDonald. She writes such compelling stories. You just want to keep reading. I do love the change of pace from my usual reads, but Fleur certainly gives me that change in her books also. Looking forward to the next one in April 2026.

[Penny O'shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well crafted crime story set in Kalgoorlie, this is the second in a series. I also loved The Prospect and can’t wait for the next instalment. Great characters, a good plot, a few twists and enough action to keep you thoroughly engaged.