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The Missing Season
Not yet published
Expected 26 Jan 27A teenage girl’s disappearance during a winter storm draws an obsessed deputy and a devastated mother into a small town’s twisted secrets.
In a Lake Tahoe resort town during ski season, seventeen-year-old honor student Madison Murphy vanishes from her home during a blizzard. It’s Deputy Isabel March’s first big case, and she already has eyes on a suspect—Madison’s boyfriend, Liam, a troubled young man with a criminal past. Madison’s mother, Beth, believes he’s innocent. She knows best.
As desperate hours turn into days, Isabel’s pursuit to prove Liam’s guilt becomes an obsession. A real heartbreaker, he’s too smooth, his alibi is too pat, and he’s potentially the most dangerous person in Madison’s life. Beth is working with a mother’s intuition. That leads to her own investigation to find her daughter before the case goes as cold as the wind.
Isabel and Beth don’t realize that this beautiful town has its share of ugly secrets. Someone is watching, waiting, and playing a twisted game. In a winter season this brutal, it’s only going to get worse. And neither woman sees it coming.
In a Lake Tahoe resort town during ski season, seventeen-year-old honor student Madison Murphy vanishes from her home during a blizzard. It’s Deputy Isabel March’s first big case, and she already has eyes on a suspect—Madison’s boyfriend, Liam, a troubled young man with a criminal past. Madison’s mother, Beth, believes he’s innocent. She knows best.
As desperate hours turn into days, Isabel’s pursuit to prove Liam’s guilt becomes an obsession. A real heartbreaker, he’s too smooth, his alibi is too pat, and he’s potentially the most dangerous person in Madison’s life. Beth is working with a mother’s intuition. That leads to her own investigation to find her daughter before the case goes as cold as the wind.
Isabel and Beth don’t realize that this beautiful town has its share of ugly secrets. Someone is watching, waiting, and playing a twisted game. In a winter season this brutal, it’s only going to get worse. And neither woman sees it coming.
- GenresSuspense
Kindle Edition
Expected publication January 26, 2027
About the author
Jennifer Lynn Alvarez
13 books531 followersJennifer Lynn Alvarez is an award-winning novelist, writing books for adults, teens, and children. THE MISSING SEASON is her adult debut. Her pacy, cinematic stories have been translated across the globe and optioned for television. LIES LIKE WILDFIRE is her award-winning thriller, inspired by the 2017 Tubbs Fire in Sonoma County and based on personal experience. She earned her degree in English Literature from UC Berkeley and volunteers for SCBWI. Jennifer currently lives in the Nashville area with her husband and a cat with a misspelled name. Find her at jenniferlynnalvarez.com, Facebook, and Instagram.
Praise for LIES LIKE WILDFIRE
"Consider this a must-have thriller." School Library Journal
"Five Fiery Stars for this bingeable, edge-of-your-seat, twisty thriller." NATASHA PRESTON, New York Times bestselling author of The Lake
"Twisty and fast-paced and visceral. I couldn't put this one down." KATIE COTUGNO, New York Timesbestselling author of 99 Days
"A twisty, fast-paced thriller about accountability, guilt, jealousy, and survival." Kirkus
Praise for The Guardian Herd Series
“Chock-full of adventure and twists, making it difficult to put down.” School Library Journal
“Filled with fantastical action, and rich with description. A well-paced and engrossing story. Alvarez has created a series that will be beloved by readers.” Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
"Alvarez's world is lush with description and atmosphere, and her premise has much to offer." Publishers Weekly
"The clever resolution will get kids psyched for more tales from the Guardian Herd." Booklist
"This epic adventure is richly developed. Compelling." Kirkus Reviews
“From page one, Jennifer Lynn Alvarez weaves an epic tale of a doomed black Pegasus foal named Star, whose race against time will lift the reader on the wings of destiny and danger, magic and hope. It’s a world I did not want to leave, and neither will you.” (Peter Lerangis, New York Times bestselling author in the 39 Clues series and of the Seven Wonders series)
Praise for LIES LIKE WILDFIRE
"Consider this a must-have thriller." School Library Journal
"Five Fiery Stars for this bingeable, edge-of-your-seat, twisty thriller." NATASHA PRESTON, New York Times bestselling author of The Lake
"Twisty and fast-paced and visceral. I couldn't put this one down." KATIE COTUGNO, New York Timesbestselling author of 99 Days
"A twisty, fast-paced thriller about accountability, guilt, jealousy, and survival." Kirkus
Praise for The Guardian Herd Series
“Chock-full of adventure and twists, making it difficult to put down.” School Library Journal
“Filled with fantastical action, and rich with description. A well-paced and engrossing story. Alvarez has created a series that will be beloved by readers.” Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
"Alvarez's world is lush with description and atmosphere, and her premise has much to offer." Publishers Weekly
"The clever resolution will get kids psyched for more tales from the Guardian Herd." Booklist
"This epic adventure is richly developed. Compelling." Kirkus Reviews
“From page one, Jennifer Lynn Alvarez weaves an epic tale of a doomed black Pegasus foal named Star, whose race against time will lift the reader on the wings of destiny and danger, magic and hope. It’s a world I did not want to leave, and neither will you.” (Peter Lerangis, New York Times bestselling author in the 39 Clues series and of the Seven Wonders series)
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed The Missing Season by Jennifer Alvarez. She writes a lot of YA stories. This had a group of young people in it, but you mainly follow a female Deputy who is eager to prove herself. It takes place in a ski town. Perfect read when you want to psyche your mind into wanting to be winter already, or will be perfect under a blanket during winter. My favorite stories are murder mysteries with law enforcement chasing down the killer. This rates up there in one that has legit knowledge of law enforcement, also the inner workings of the heir archy, especially for females. I lived it, I should know.
This comes out Jan 26, 2027 so add it to your winter reads!
5 stars!!
This comes out Jan 26, 2027 so add it to your winter reads!
5 stars!!
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June 5, 2026One of my Thomas & Mercer crime fiction edits, publishing in January, 2027!
https://www.editsbykristi.com/the-mis...
https://www.editsbykristi.com/the-mis...
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an advance review copy (ARC) of this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
The Missing Season was slow to start, and I admit, it didn't quite latch my interest right away. But there was something that held my attention and made me want to keep reading, and by the 30% mark, I was hooked. I stayed up entirely too late reading, trying desperately to put the pieces together and solve the puzzle. Alvarez successfully managed to keep me guessing for a while, but nearer the end, it was beginning to become obvious who the true culprit was, so unfortunately, I wasn't shocked or blown away. Sickened and disgusted, yes - but then, that is also the mark of an excellent piece of writing, to so closely emulate a scenario that, too often, happens in our real world.
I would also say that the ending is satisfying, which is the highest praise I can give a thriller. The loose ends are tied up, we are treated to a very sentimental epilogue, and I've come out of this experience with that rush of a feeling that comes after finishing a truly good book. While I myself am not typically keen on thrillers, I think readers who do enjoy a cat-and-mouse story will definitely want to pick up The Missing Season when it hits shelves in January. I myself might even be tempted to read more of Alvarez's work in the future.
The Missing Season was slow to start, and I admit, it didn't quite latch my interest right away. But there was something that held my attention and made me want to keep reading, and by the 30% mark, I was hooked. I stayed up entirely too late reading, trying desperately to put the pieces together and solve the puzzle. Alvarez successfully managed to keep me guessing for a while, but nearer the end, it was beginning to become obvious who the true culprit was, so unfortunately, I wasn't shocked or blown away. Sickened and disgusted, yes - but then, that is also the mark of an excellent piece of writing, to so closely emulate a scenario that, too often, happens in our real world.
I would also say that the ending is satisfying, which is the highest praise I can give a thriller. The loose ends are tied up, we are treated to a very sentimental epilogue, and I've come out of this experience with that rush of a feeling that comes after finishing a truly good book. While I myself am not typically keen on thrillers, I think readers who do enjoy a cat-and-mouse story will definitely want to pick up The Missing Season when it hits shelves in January. I myself might even be tempted to read more of Alvarez's work in the future.
September 5, 2026
The Missing Season revolves around a bright 17-year-old student who goes missing, and her mother, Beth, and police officer Isabel March as they try to uncover what happened to her.
The book is really well written; it keeps the suspense going and is definitely a page-turner. Every character feels just distant enough to remain suspicious, while the story itself is easy to follow. I would have given it four stars if I hadn't guessed who was behind it halfway through the book. That particular character felt unusual enough that I immediately became suspicious of them.
That said, I think with some slight editing, the reveal could have been hidden until the final 10% of the book. I would definitely read more from this author in the future. All in all, a fun and exciting ride!
The book is really well written; it keeps the suspense going and is definitely a page-turner. Every character feels just distant enough to remain suspicious, while the story itself is easy to follow. I would have given it four stars if I hadn't guessed who was behind it halfway through the book. That particular character felt unusual enough that I immediately became suspicious of them.
That said, I think with some slight editing, the reveal could have been hidden until the final 10% of the book. I would definitely read more from this author in the future. All in all, a fun and exciting ride!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5/5
As someone who has been to Lake Tahoe dozens of times, this felt like a very perfect mystery for me to read.
I was definitely entertained and intrigued by these missing teenagers throughout the entire book, but I did want more from the ending. I found the conclusion/reveal to be quite sudden and almost lackluster when compared to all of the built-up tension.
These characters all had several things going on and there was so much to be suspicious about. I really like that in a mystery or thriller.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
As someone who has been to Lake Tahoe dozens of times, this felt like a very perfect mystery for me to read.
I was definitely entertained and intrigued by these missing teenagers throughout the entire book, but I did want more from the ending. I found the conclusion/reveal to be quite sudden and almost lackluster when compared to all of the built-up tension.
These characters all had several things going on and there was so much to be suspicious about. I really like that in a mystery or thriller.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wow! This book blew my expectations out of the water. A little slow to start (but not slow enough to stop), but once this took off, it took OFF! I was hooked! I loved the twists and turns. Truly never knowing which direction it was going because the foundation was laid for so many possibilities. The pace was great once I realized why we needed to know everything we learned at the beginning. The detail was awesome; not too much but not too little. A great intro to this author and I can’t wait to read her other books!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was lucky to read an advanced copy and this is one that's hard to put down! The setting is very cool (literally!) being a ski town, but it's definitely the edge-of-your seat, can't-wait-to-find-out what happens that the author does so well. A must-read, especially if you're snuggled up by a fire in the winter!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Fast moving mystery about a missing teenage girl, told in three voices her mother, the rookie detective and her boyfriend. the book reads as Young Adult even though it isn't, but that is fine for my students. It is somewhat predictable but not overly melodramatic as sometimes the genre can be.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I enjoyed this author and the book. The writing is crisp and I was invested in finding out what happened to Maddie, and though I figured out the culprit, I still enjoyed the ride. The last 30% felt rushed, the pacing seemed off from the first 2/3, but overall a good read!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews