Missing: A Novel

by E a Jackson

1 pages, Audio CD

Published March 17, 2026

Reviews

[Cheryl Hanzidiakou · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ Missing is sooooo good! E.A. Jackson is a new to me author so I didn’t know what to expect, but I am pleasantly surprised. Great story development. Listened to the audiobook narrated by Nicola Walker who did an excellent job.

[Helga · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good solid British style detective story with a twist at the end. Not much character development, but lots of good police procedures, and slow coming together of evidence on a cold case. I read it hoping for a few hours distraction from real life, and it delivered.

[jeff popple · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a solid, unflashy, gripping police procedural that impresses with its grasp of investigative detail and the depth of its characters.

The story ranges across two time periods. The first, set in 1990s London, follows newly minted D.I Martha Allen as she investigates the disappearance of a baby, Bella, who has gone missing from the hotel room where her parents were staying. Bella would seem to have been taken through the room’s open window, which was left open because of the ongoing heatwave. Martha is assigned to the high-profile investigation and is determined to solve the case, fully aware that its outcome could define her career. As she and a colleague, Detective Constable Desbury, methodically pursue the various leads, hope begins to dwindle until a strange development. Thirty years later Martha, now a superintendent, is informed of the death of a woman associated with the original case, who has been missing for the entire period. Martha has never truly let go of the lingering questions surrounding Bella’s disappearance, and the death reignites her curiosity. Originally warned off pursuing the case all those years ago, Martha now begins to quietly re-investigate what really happened in 1990.

I have tried to keep the details of the plot vague, as much of the book’s pleasure comes from the gradual unveiling of surprises and the subtle shifts in the plot. It is not an exciting, violent, crime novel, but instead Jackson’s fine writing and clever plotting keeps the reader engaged as the book steadily moves its way to an unexpected conclusion. Some aspects of the final reveal are probably expected, but the final twist is a good one.

The story is well supported by its convincing police detail and the believable ebb and flow of the investigation with its gradual accretion of details and leads. Martha is a well crafted and interesting character, who grows and changes across the book, and is interesting to see the different paths that she and Desbury take over the years.

In addition to telling an interesting story, Missing also gently touches on a number of topical issues including addiction, poverty, domestic abuse, sexism in the workforce and the changing nature of policing. The movement between the two time periods also means that it becomes an interesting reflection on the lasting impact of hard choices and how the effects of personal decisions resonate down the years.

Missing may lack the flashy violence and contrived twists of some books, but it is one of the more enjoyable crime novels that I have read this year.

4.5 rounded up

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for my ARC. 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!

[Sue - Recos and Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I’m a bit conflicted about this one. There were moments that pulled me in and made me curious about how the mystery would resolve, but I struggled at times with the pacing. Sections felt drawn out, and I occasionally found myself wading through dense description that didn’t always seem to move the story forward.

I’d classify this more as a straight mystery than a thriller. While there’s a central question to be answered, it never quite delivered the sustained tension or urgency I associate with thrillers.

The setting is clearly well imagined, and the author puts care into painting the backdrop. For me, though, the level of detail sometimes overshadowed the plot rather than strengthening it. A solid premise, but the execution didn’t fully land in the way I’d hoped

I’d recommend this to readers who enjoy traditional, detail-rich mysteries and don’t mind a slower pace. If you like stories that take their time building atmosphere, layering in backstory, and carefully mapping out a setting, this will likely suit you.

This is a 3.5 rounded down to a 3

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars! This is a straight-up police procedural set in England featueing a cold case that has haunted a detective for thirty years. In this summer of 1990, London was experiencing a heat wave. When staying in a stifling hotel room, the parents of a an infant put the baby’s basket near an open window.When they woke up, the baby was missing. Hotel staff were interviewed, the neighborhood canvassed, every tiny lead followed. No luck. Then out of the blue, a beautiful young woman, Nell Beatty, carried a somewhat disheveled infant into the police station, claiming that she had found the child on a park bench.DI Martha Allen, lead investigator felt something was wrong, but she could not quite put her finger on it. And somehow in the confusion, Nell Beatty disappeared. The relieved parents identified the child as their missing Bella and that was that! Allen remained unconvinced. Time passed and though Allen has moved up through the ranks, this case has remained in the back of her mind.
A tightly plotted mystery with intelligent and realistic characters and twists and turns that I didn’t see coming!
Highly recommended!

[Aamira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a really engaging mystery, and while extremely well written, I would categorize this more as a crime drama than a thriller. The twist at the end wasn’t so much surprising to me as it was sad.

I really enjoyed tagging along with Allen as she methodically investigates the cold case kidnapping of baby Bella. While, the child was ultimately returned to her parents, the culprit of the kidnapping was never found and there were holes in the case that Allen didn’t have an answer for. She never really let go of the case, and when a key player turns up dead 30 years later, she can’t help but be dragged by in by the mystery.

Allen is a likable and complex character that I really found myself rooting for. I thought the pacing was perfect and enjoyed the journey into the past as she investigated the initial crime. The resolution is a bit far fetched, but still plausible enough to buy. If you like crime dramas, this isn’t one to miss.

[Caitlin Rydberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first half had me HOOKED. I was so invested in the Baby Bella disappearance and reappearance. Who was this woman who found her and why?

Then the second 40 percent lost me. I almost DNFed I really didn’t get into the death of Nell even though she was the one who found baby Bella. It felt very strange to be bringing her up again 30 years later.

I was ready to call it quits until the last 10 percent of the book. That wrapped everything together and had the best twist for a story like this.

Overall I would recommend this book for anyone who likes crime thrillers. The author goes into detail that isn’t always necessary. You just have to get through the details to get to the meat of the story.

Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read an advanced copy for my honest review.

[Danielle Bush · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is told in dual timelines. First we get the story of the missing baby, then we go to the present and get to see the DI using the murder of the woman who found the baby, to wrap up all the loose ends.
I think the story struggled a bit with pacing especially with the original case. There was a lot of description, especially with her personal life that I didn't really feel moved the story along, in fact I think it slowed it down.
I did prefer the present case, it felt like it moved at a good pace, and had some nice twists to keep me engaged. I especially didn't see the the twist at the end coming.

[mrsbookworm5 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Synopsis —-our baby is perfect. She sleeps through the night, even in this heat. You’ll keep her cool. Open the window. Anything she needs. Anything.
But when you wake up in the morning, Bella is gone.

Recently-promoted DI Martha Allen is furious. Her career hinges on this missing baby case, and her boss and the circling media both want a quick solve - but her key witness is lying.
Allen needs the truth. She’s not going to stop until she gets it. No matter how long it takes.

That detective is watching you.
What have you done? What happened to your baby?
#mythoughts This is a twisty police procedural packed with puzzle pieces that slowly fall into place. Martha Allen is a compelling sleuth detective, and the novel skilfully weaves her professional investigation with glimpses into her personal life. A missing baby and a later murder raise the chilling question: is there a connection? Absorbing and cleverly plotted, this is an enjoyable novel that will keep you hooked until the end. Published this March. @faberbooks

[Gladys · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book completely pulled me in and wouldn’t let go. The dual timelines are handled beautifully, and the lingering unease around the missing baby case stayed with me long after I put it down. DI Martha Allen is a compelling, very human protagonist; her doubt, guilt, and determination felt real and earned. The story is slow-burning but incredibly tense, with emotional depth that goes beyond a standard crime thriller. Smart, haunting, and deeply satisfying, especially if you love cold cases that refuse to stay buried.

[Jacqueline · Rating 3 out of 5]

The mystery of Baby Bella and how Allen worked with the family of the missing child to find the answers to the crime was well written. The characters were well-developed and the author carried things through timely. I did feel it was a bit drawn out near the last 1/3 of the book and things got carried too far in depth that wasn't needed however it's a good story for those interested in straight up crime mystery, not a suspense or thriller type of read.

[Kari Head · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read Missing.

I am usually very much into these types of books but this is the first one I just couldn’t get into. I feel like it was slow and overly descriptive of things that didn’t matter. I tried over and over, many times to finish the book but I finally decided it just wasn’t for me and DNF.

[Ann Peachman Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

A twisty-turny abduction spanning 30 years. Detective Inspector Martha Allen is trying to break through the ceiling of the “old boy’s club” in her precinct when a missing baby case comes her way. The case puzzles her because although the baby is returned, something about it seems off. Thirty years later she discovers what that is.

[Patricia Gulley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well written book. Good story. I have to admit to skimming along the first part as the blub says the baby is returned, but after that it was a good police procedural then jumped to 30 years later and the person who returned the baby is murdered. The twists and turns are surprising and the conclusion a bit sad. Highly recommended.

[Kimberly Tierney · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions:
This book is so overly descriptive of everything that it loses sight of the story. I couldn't find enough of the story to stay interested while sifting through the excessive description of everything.

[Debbie Carnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved this book, it is one of those that you do not want to put down . It is a wonderful story that keeps you on the edge of your seat