What do you think?
Rate this book
Half Missing
Amber Brickman used to dream of unearthing ancient civilizations with her soulmate. But now she's the Assistant Fire Marshal, sifting through burn sites while the walls are still warm, looking for evidence of arson. It's the life she's pieced together after her fiancé was murdered just weeks before their wedding. Ashes are easier to sort out than broken hearts, and paperwork doesn't leave you lonely.
She's not asking for more, but she's about to get it when her mother sees a woman on the news who looks and sounds just like her. Her mother is convinced she's found Amber's twin, stolen at birth.
Amber wants nothing to do with this insanity, but the more she resists, the more her mother delves into the past, desperate for the truth no matter what the cost. The only way to find it may be to open up and risk everything -- her job, her heart -- but digging up her past will be trickier than any burnt-out building.
She's not asking for more, but she's about to get it when her mother sees a woman on the news who looks and sounds just like her. Her mother is convinced she's found Amber's twin, stolen at birth.
Amber wants nothing to do with this insanity, but the more she resists, the more her mother delves into the past, desperate for the truth no matter what the cost. The only way to find it may be to open up and risk everything -- her job, her heart -- but digging up her past will be trickier than any burnt-out building.
- GenresFictionContemporary
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 10, 2015
6 people are currently reading
474 people want to read
About the author
Jane Lebak
47 books392 followersJane Lebak writes about angels, smart women, and angels who have to put up with smart women. Her stories are a random assortment of genres, both fiction and nonfiction, long form and short form. Some of it is pretty weird. One editor told her, "You think so far outside the box, I'm not sure you know there is a box."
Boxes are for cereal. Fiction wants to be free.
Jane lives in the Swamp and spends her time either writing books or ejecting stink bugs from the house. She is pretty sure no one reads these author bios.
Boxes are for cereal. Fiction wants to be free.
Jane lives in the Swamp and spends her time either writing books or ejecting stink bugs from the house. She is pretty sure no one reads these author bios.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 4, 2016
Realistic, but also full of amazing tension and emotion. Half Missing not only answers the question "what if I had a missing twin?" but the mother's question "What if I had a second baby, but never knew about her?" Both the mother's and the daughter's stories are told, and both have a mix of emotions about the whole situation.
I really identified with the twin sister and her struggles. Lebak's writing is so honest, that it just pulls deep into your gut and reaches into you. I seriously felt very strongly about what was happening in the story. I had real life tears a few times too.
As with Lebak's other books, there's an element of humor. I always enjoy her sarcasm and sense of humor as well. Half Missing touches all the highlights, grief, joy, birth, suspense, romance, humor, and a little mystery. I highly suggest this book to anyone looking for a good immersive read.
I really identified with the twin sister and her struggles. Lebak's writing is so honest, that it just pulls deep into your gut and reaches into you. I seriously felt very strongly about what was happening in the story. I had real life tears a few times too.
As with Lebak's other books, there's an element of humor. I always enjoy her sarcasm and sense of humor as well. Half Missing touches all the highlights, grief, joy, birth, suspense, romance, humor, and a little mystery. I highly suggest this book to anyone looking for a good immersive read.
January 11, 2016
This was the first book I've read by this author and I can't wait to read more! The premise intrigued me--twins separated at birth with one raised by a different family, the biological mother the only one who insists she gave birth to two babies and not just one. The characterization was excellent, especially of the two mothers, and I loved the way the girls slowly connected with each other, overcoming their resistance and finally valuing each other as a twin sister. The author weaves in humor amidst the sorrow and grief and makes the community one I'd love to be a part of.
Thank you, Jane Lebak for a well-written, entertaining and informative book!
Thank you, Jane Lebak for a well-written, entertaining and informative book!
January 23, 2016
With believable characters caught in an awful situation in which the truth isn't going to set everyone free, Jane Lebak's novel Half Missing keeps the reader in suspense until the very end. The author is a fabulous storyteller whose attention to detail left me sympathizing with quite a few characters. This novel would make a great movie!
October 6, 2016
The book follows three women, mostly Amber. Amber is a fire inspector who's still dealing with a long dead fiance whose death was never properly dealt with by the police. Maureen, Amber's mom, and Katie, the supposed twin are the other two people it follows. Upon seeing a woman on the news, one that looks exactly like Amber, Maureen is reminded of a terrible birth experience in which she was anesthetized but remembers giving birth to two babies, but only ever brought one baby home: Amber. Now Amber has to reluctantly help her mother hunt down this woman to prove to her mother that she remembers things wrong, she was drugged after all.
I give the book four stars reluctantly. It's more in the high threes. I was opposed from the beginning of the premise that Amber is half missing because of a twin kidnapped at birth. Nope, even a twin is a full human being in their own right. Then there was Maureen. Every time the story followed her it was beyond annoying. It was all doctors are evil and all babies should be delivered at home. It felt like a PSA for home births and that's not really what the story was about. I almost stopped reading this book because of this, but fortunately as the book progressed it stopped focusing so much on her as Katie got introduced.
At about half way through the book, the story goes from me teetering between interested and hatred to super interesting and I can't put it down. I really would recommend this book, but with a warning that it doesn't have the strongest of starts.
I give the book four stars reluctantly. It's more in the high threes. I was opposed from the beginning of the premise that Amber is half missing because of a twin kidnapped at birth. Nope, even a twin is a full human being in their own right. Then there was Maureen. Every time the story followed her it was beyond annoying. It was all doctors are evil and all babies should be delivered at home. It felt like a PSA for home births and that's not really what the story was about. I almost stopped reading this book because of this, but fortunately as the book progressed it stopped focusing so much on her as Katie got introduced.
At about half way through the book, the story goes from me teetering between interested and hatred to super interesting and I can't put it down. I really would recommend this book, but with a warning that it doesn't have the strongest of starts.
March 19, 2016
Awesome!
This book ended way too soon. It was over before I was willing to let go of the pages. This book had me stuck between the pages and wouldn't let me go, then it was over while I am left wanting to go back to the beginning, to immerse myself in this amazing story again.
This book ended way too soon. It was over before I was willing to let go of the pages. This book had me stuck between the pages and wouldn't let me go, then it was over while I am left wanting to go back to the beginning, to immerse myself in this amazing story again.
July 21, 2016
Half Missing was an intriguing novel regarding a pair of twins being separated at birth.
The book itself had an incredible plot line - missing twins separated at birth and no one knew it happened. This plot line would have been more intriguing if there was more action, suspense or drama.
This book seemed to move at an incredibly slow pace, and then it did pick up and get moving, it got even slower right after. I really hoped this book would be good, since the plot sounded amazing, but it wasn't all I hoped for.
I would have loved if the author went more into either Amber's firefighter career and the drama revolving around her past, or furthering the drama of the separation of the twins. With a mixture of these together, it felt like both plot points were watered down.
Overall, I did enjoy this book but I found it slow, and that the plot could have had so much more to it.
Three out of five stars.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
The book itself had an incredible plot line - missing twins separated at birth and no one knew it happened. This plot line would have been more intriguing if there was more action, suspense or drama.
This book seemed to move at an incredibly slow pace, and then it did pick up and get moving, it got even slower right after. I really hoped this book would be good, since the plot sounded amazing, but it wasn't all I hoped for.
I would have loved if the author went more into either Amber's firefighter career and the drama revolving around her past, or furthering the drama of the separation of the twins. With a mixture of these together, it felt like both plot points were watered down.
Overall, I did enjoy this book but I found it slow, and that the plot could have had so much more to it.
Three out of five stars.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews