Missing Ruth

by Bennett Crossley

Set against the sudden division of Berlin, Missing Ruth is a satirical and allegorical novel of love, loss, and the search for meaning in a fractured world. When the Wall rises overnight, lives are split apart. Families are separated, along with two researchers. Dreams are halted by barbed wire.

Through the eyes of a narrator torn between duty, survival, and the haunting absence of Ruth, the story unfolds as both historical reflection and biting satire, weaving together the cautionary echoes of fairytales with the absurdities of life.

This is not only about borders of concrete and wire, it is about the invisible walls of greed, bitterness, fear, and disbelief. At its heart, Missing Ruth is a meditation on the 'magic' that sustains love, hope, and the belief that our lives are more than survival.

By turns dark, ironic, and lyrical, the novel blends realism with satire and the timeless lessons of fairytales. Missing Ruth is a warning and a do not let the magic die.

181 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 9, 2025

About the author

Bennett has been crafting literary works for more than two decades, drawing inspiration from his extensive travels and diverse cultures. Born and raised in England, he spent time living on the South Pacific island of Tonga and now makes his home at the foothills of the Eagle Mountains in the Czech Republic.

Reviews

[dianas_books_cars_coffee · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up

I've been friends with Bennett since I started my Bookstagram journey, and when he reached out to me to read an ARC of his new book, I was more than delighted to, and I'm SO glad that I did!

P has recently resigned from his position and has since been recruited by "The Institution." He relocates to Berlin, where he collaborates with R. They conduct research together and develop romantic feelings for each other. However, overnight, the wall is constructed, leading to their separation. There are no apparent solutions, and their employer is unable to intervene. Their only means of communication becomes writing letters. However, they must continue their research into fairytales and share their findings. They can only hold onto the hope of being reunited one day.

This book is told in seven parts and it's short, coming in at around 200 pages but it definitely packs a punch. It was an interesting read that had me captivated. I loved the blend of historical fiction, romance, and even a little magical realism. The relationship between P & R was heartfelt and their separation because of the wall was heartbreaking. Their correspondence with letters was endearing. I also loved the incorporation of the fairy tales. This was a truly remarkable, unique read that I very much enjoyed and would highly recommend🩷

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, thank you to Bennett Crossley for asking me to read this book pre-publication. My review is intended to be spoiler free and to express my reading experience.

This books is unlike anything I’ve read before. The satirical writing style/ narration of the main character, coupled with the mystery woven through, make for an incredibly fun and interesting read. Set on a backdrop of post-war Berlin, this book has more going on than meets the eye. This story is touching on multiple genres as, through the eyes of the MC, we see romance, fairytales, mystery, history, and more. The reader is taken on an exploration of an unusual profession and the implications of all not being quite as it seems. There is a lot to unpick and a lot to interpret at times, which occasionally left me a little confused (the confusion is probably a me thing but is the only reason for the drop in the half star); yet I loved trying to seek the answers!

I really recommend giving this a read, it’s so unique and got me thinking and questioning things I thought I knew before, particularly about fairytales. The research that has gone into this is clearly extensive, which is incredibly appreciated from a readers perspective!

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Missing Ruth grabbed my attention with its setting in the post war division of Berlin. It’s an important period of history, and I can remember well the fall of the Berlin Wall. The relevance of this division is a feature of my early understanding of Europe. As an American child it all seemed so surreal - almost a sinister twist on my favorite fictional walls sequestering the Secret Garden from the rest of the world.

Told through letters between two lovers trapped on opposite sides of the wall, Missing Ruth is its own twisted fairytale, laced with magical realism and a dark edge. The MC’s story is a shedding of oneself, the hazy impermanence of identity, the strong control of a power not quite malign, but not quite kindly either, where nothing is what it seems, and one character seems to be losing his grip on reality. I sank deep into this storybook full of traditional fairytale retelling, the Grimm kind, not the cutesy kind with pixie dust.

This book was entertaining but also made me slow down and think. It’s captivating , emotional, and you won’t want to miss it!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited about this book. Reading the blurb it sounded like something right up my alley. It has all of my favourite things combined into one. It’s historical, there’s romance and mystery. Who doesn’t love that? On top of that, there’s magic. I mean common it can only be great.

I actually really enjoyed it. The first half was the best in my opinion. The second half was good too but honestly it kind of confused me a bit. I wish we could’ve gotten to know more about our characters before being thrown into the plot but I can see also see the point in not knowing.

It reminded me of Divine Rivals because of the letters, I was absolutely obsessed with that book when reading it earlier this year.

The child in me really appreciated the Disney aspect of this story as well.

Some of it felt like a fever dream. It’s a book that really makes you think.

I did really, really like the way the story was told and written. It has some great quotes and I’ve underlined quite a lot. I enjoy stories that are told to the reader as if the character is talking to you and that’s what this was.

After reading a crime series back to back I definitely needed something different and this delivered.

I was going to give this four stars - only because of the fact that I was confused during that one little part. But the stories and message at the end?? How it all came together… Wow. I am amazed. I just know I will continue to think about this book for a very long time. It’s one of those stories that speaks directly to your soul.
I’ll be 40 something with children on my own and I will look back to this story and think
“I’m gonna read my children another fairytale tonight” I cannot and will not be giving this book anything other than a five star rating.

This is why literature is so important and this is why I write. To share my own but also to experience such amazing stories.

I would absolutely recommend this book. This altered my brain chemistry in such a wonderful way. I could honestly cry.

Thank you so much to the author for reaching out to me with an arc copy in exchange for an honest review.

[julia gulia 👻🖤⚡️🙃 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Missing Ruth uses a unique narration structure. Moving from first person, to a passing-notes journal, to a ‘more historically accurate’ retelling of our childhood fairy tales (think more Grimm than Disney)… this book is the perfect marriage of historical fiction, thriller, romance and of course, fairy-tale.

P has traded his gun (and from what I can tell, hitman identity) for a position at a mysterious Institute that recruits him just as he enters retirement. Partnered with the immediately intoxicating R, they’re tasked with researching the origins of the same fairytales you may have read as a kid.

As they dig deeper into the archives of Snow White and Hansel and Gretel, P realizes his initial infatuation for R has become feelings that go beyond the lines of colleague and tip-toe along those of the ‘’fairy tale lover’s kind.

But just as you think it’s time in their tale for P to come in riding on his white horse, The Berlin Wall is thrown up overnight. Separated without a chance to get to one another, P and R are only able to communicate through a journal the Institute promises to pass between them.

As P begins a slow descent into madness, we start to wonder if his insanity is a simple side effect of the stress off the wall… or is it possible R has cast a wicked spell he never saw coming? 

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly loved this book. It was such a refreshing change from what I usually read, but it still had the perfect mix of romance and mystery to keep me hooked from start to finish. This was such a special, emotional story that completely pulled me in.

The book follows P, who moves to Berlin after joining The Institution, where he meets R, his research partner. The two work side by side and slowly start to fall for each other. But then, overnight, the wall goes up and they’re suddenly torn apart. Their only way to stay connected is through letters, and I swear my heart hurt reading them. You can feel their love, their hope, and their heartbreak in every word.

The way fairy tales were woven throughout the story was such a beautiful touch. It made everything feel dreamlike and tragic at the same time. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for something heartfelt and unique. I can’t wait to read more from Bennett in the future.

[Jayne K. (Fyrefli Fictionary) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two special agents of a secret institution research the origins of fairytales, presumably looking for magic, in the midst of the construction of the Berlin wall. It’s a tale of love, loss, separation, and disillusionment as lives become intertwined in unexpected ways.

What a ride! This book is an exercise in uncovering clues and reading between the lines as one character is pulled from one hard life to another by a singular enigmatic character. The jarring changes in the way the characters communicate with us keep readers on our toes as we parse clues and look for connections between times and places. And interesting look at how stories echo beyond the time they were conceived.

[Jen Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far out of my comfort zone I can’t see it! With that being said, I read it in a day! The story of P and R sucks you in. Then the wall divides them and all you read are the letters send back and forth. Weeks become months and then years, it all circles back to hope, belief and fairytales. Don’t let the magic die hit my heart and tears flowed from my eyes.
If you’re looking for a unique read that taps into the magic and tragedy of life…this is for you!

Go read it now!

[Emma Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The narrative of Missing Ruth kicks off with what appears to be a frustratingly relatable scenario: an employee attempting to hand in his notice to a boss who absolutely refuses to let him go. This early sense of mundane professional conflict is quickly and effectively undermined by the narrator’s crucial, upfront admission of their own unreliability. It’s a masterful move, because when the narrator begins to reveal the dark truth of their past—a life steeped in specialised, high-stakes operational work—the shared information feels shockingly honest. 
This dynamic immediately ratchets up the tension, creating palpable suspense and uncertainty. Even without knowing the full plan, the very act of trying to leave this “job” feels incredibly dangerous, forcing the reader to question not just the protagonist’s motives, but the true nature of the organisation he is trying to escape.



As P begins his new life, he lands at a mysterious entity known only as “The Institute.” Crucially, the narrative never fully solidifies what The Institute is or what its ultimate goals are. While local opinion suggests they are doing genuinely good work in Berlin, and P’s current collaboration with his new partner, R, seems professionally purposeful, the atmosphere remains deeply ambiguous. This lack of certainty is perhaps the book’s most compelling structural feature; it perfectly mirrors P’s own admission of being an unreliable narrator.
Beyond the high-wire tension of his past work, the book’s second quarter unfolds into a subtle but compelling journey of self-discovery for P. Having moved from a job that rigidly defined his entire identity, he now finds himself in a new environment at The Institute where he feels obligated to wear a mask of professional normalcy. 
Ironically, this forced limitation and his continuous, close proximity to R—a relationship you’ll find instantly absorbing—becomes the very mechanism by which he starts discovering his own individual truths. The narrative cleverly uses P’s lack of freedom and his new, complex relationship to explore who he is beneath the professional façades, suggesting that sometimes, the greatest revelations about ourselves happen when we’re trapped in circumstances of someone else’s making. It adds unexpected emotional depth to an already gripping thriller.



Any lingering hope that The Institute represented a benign or protective force is shattered when the political environment in Germany shifts. Despite their supposed benevolence, the organization reveals its true nature as a calculating, self-interested entity. The moment circumstances require discretion, P and R are immediately and unceremoniously separated, left without institutional support. This sequence masterfully exposes the harsh reality of their world: loyalty is conditional, and in the face of shifting political winds, even organizations painted as ‘good’ will prioritize their own survival over the well-being of their agents. It’s a moment that significantly raises the stakes, forcing P and R to rely only on themselves in a suddenly hostile landscape.
Part three of the story introduces a fascinating thematic shift, moving deeper into the world of fairy tales and fantastical elements than ever before. For characters facing growing uncertainty, this world of magic feels less like an escape and more like a necessary distraction. The author brilliantly uses the allure of folklore to highlight the poignant emotional distance and increasing tension separating R and P, suggesting that their shared imaginative work is all they have left to hold onto amidst external pressures.



The sustained change in format—reading the ongoing correspondence between R and P—becomes an intense window into P’s deteriorating psychological state. While the letters were initially charming, they quickly reveal the heavy toll of loneliness and forced separation. The author uses P’s writing style to signal this decline. His messages aren’t consistent; they oscillate dramatically between moments of poetic clarity—where his mind is sharply focused on his fantastical work—and passages that are increasingly rambling and disjointed.
This stylistic variation keeps the reader unsettlingly off-balance. It’s never clear exactly what the mounting political and personal changes have done to him, but the evidence is written right there on the page. We, as readers, transition from simply observing a separation to feeling a genuine sense of anxiety about P’s overall mental well-being, raising the emotional stakes of the entire narrative. The letters aren’t just communicating ideas; they are charting a quiet, emotional collapse.
The story takes its boldest leap when the narrative abruptly returns to P’s first-person perspective. By this point, the distance and psychological strain hinted at in the letters have fully manifested, and the reader is plunged into a deeply unreliable viewpoint.



The line between P’s work on fairy tales, his traumatic memories, and his current reality completely dissolves. We witness disconcerting examples of hallucinations and confused logic, making P an unsettling guide for the story.
This fusion of the fantastical with the personal makes everything more difficult to understand. As P spirals, he mentions a vague, desperate plan, but his true motivations are obscured by his fractured mind. The reader must continuously sift through layers of myth and memory to discern what is actually happening. This narrative choice brilliantly heightens the tension, forcing the reader to question not just the plot, but the very nature of truth in the novel.
Parts Five and Six, hit with a distinctive, unsettling force. Having spent so much time immersed in P’s unstable mind, the author executes a final, brilliant structural shift that raises more questions than it answers. These parts deliberately blur the line between reality and the magical-fantasy narrative that P had been consumed by. The clarity readers craved is replaced by mystery, leaving you profoundly unsure of what was physically real and what was a symptom of P’s descent. This deliberate ambiguity is a testament to the novel’s complex themes.



Adding to this, the introduction of a new, crucial character’s perspective late in the game is both clear and immediately compelling. This new voice provides the minimum amount of information required—a kind of final, mysterious tally of consequences. This shift is highly effective, transforming the novel from a personal psychological drama into a larger, unresolved puzzle about the nature of history and truth.
Favourite characters: 
P: the fascinating, conflicted core of the story. Introduced as an unreliable narrator, his motives are immediately suspect, yet his honesty about his own past—a life of specialised (and dangerous) work done not for pay, but for the need to feel useful—is instantly compelling. Though he is determined to carve out a quiet, civilian lifestyle, P’s professional curiosity is his fatal flaw. The moment his former boss offers him an enigmatic referral, P, “like many-a-cat” becomes curious and is pulled back toward the shadows. He’s a character caught between a desire for normalcy and the intense pull of a life he was clearly built for, making his inevitable return to high stakes feel both tragic and completely necessary.



A knowledgeable and fascinating figure: they play a key role in P’s journey at the Institute. She is presented as a wise, older woman who provides essential guidance and assistance to P in his work on folklore and memory. Her relationship with the protagonist is vital, and her presence adds a distinctive layer of historical wisdom to the narrative.
Favourite quotes:
“Fairytales can be dark, but they were always a good escape for me. They can be dark but life is darker”
“It should be clear to all. Fairytales do not tell you a story of once upon a time and they all lived happily after, they are a warning, to those who look beyond the words, for those who read between the lines.”
How it ends:
The conclusion of Missing Ruth is less an “ending” and more a profound thematic coda. Instead of offering a neat wrap-up to the personal drama of P and R, the narrative shifts focus entirely to the legacy of their research.



Through the eyes of a new narrator, the book shares the astonishing depth of the fairy tales and lore that P and R investigated. We discover that the magic within these ancient stories is far larger, and often far darker, than readers might expect, completely subverting familiar narratives like those from the Brothers Grimm.
Ultimately, the book leaves us with a powerful, echoing message: the magic should never truly die. This idea—that certain stories and powerful forces persist beyond the lifespan of any individual—serves as a poignant, beautiful commentary on the unexplained loss of P and R. Their tale itself becomes a final, mysterious piece of folklore, cementing the idea that while the researchers may be gone, the powerful, dangerous magic they chased endures. It’s an unforgettable, haunting way to conclude a story about memory, madness, and myth.
Favourite part:
One of the most compelling aspects of this novel is its masterful refusal to be pinned down to a single genre. While the narrative is propelled by the immediate high stakes of a political thriller and a compelling mystery, it consistently broadens its scope to include deeply personal elements. The story gracefully navigates between global intrigue, intimate romantic tension, magical fantasy and profound moments of self-discovery. This successful blend ensures the pacing remains dynamic and unpredictable, making every chapter feel fresh as the focus shifts fluidly between the grand, dangerous mission and the complex emotional lives of the characters involved.



Rating out of 5:
The 5-star rating is earned by the novel’s sheer ambition and flawless execution of its complex structure. Missing Ruthis a masterclass in controlled narrative ambiguity, delivering a story that is at once a high-stakes political thriller, an intimate psychological drama, and a deeply resonant magical-fantasy mystery. 
The novel’s greatest strength is its ability to make the reader complicit in P’s psychological decline, culminating in a brilliant blurring of reality and myth. It handles challenging themes—loyalty, political upheaval, and mental fragility—with incredible grace, leading to a haunting, unforgettable conclusion that elevates the protagonists and their work into their own piece of enduring folklore. This is a genuinely compelling, un-put-downable read that will stay with you long after the final page.

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

“If you lose the belief, the magic of life, you lose the purpose of living.”

Missing Ruth is such a unique, obscure story that keeps you reading between the lines until the very end!

Told through 7 parts, the reader is taken on a unique journey while exploring themes of finding magic in the mundane and ripples across time.

We follow P as he leaves one cryptic job and is quickly recruited into “The Institute” to work alongside R as they deep dive into researching the origins of various fairytales - what word of mouth stories were passed down before the Grimm versions published?

While working closely together, P and R develop romantic feelings for each other but are abruptly separated when the Berlin Wall is constructed overnight.

Due to these unforeseen circumstances and the inability to collaborate in person, their research notebook becomes their only form of communication while continuing their work. With no end to the separation in sight, P must continue exploring a lead on his own.

“Some people search for love, others search for knowledge, but sometimes they get consumed by their desires, and in the end, they stumble into a web of madness.”

[Becca Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writing of this book is crisp, cinematic, and deeply immersive. It’s not just about what happens in the book—it’s about what loss does to the people left behind. A compelling, beautifully told story.