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The Missing Hours
_____________________________'Prepare to have your mind well and truly twisted' - Heat A woman disappears One moment, Selena Cole is in the playground with her children and the next, she has vanished without a trace. A woman returns Twenty hours later, Selena is found safe and well, but with no memory of where she has been. What took place in those missing hours, and are they linked to the discovery of a nearby murder? ‘Is it a forgetting or a deception?’
402 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 25, 2016
263 people are currently reading
8090 people want to read
About the author
Emma Kavanagh
14 books321 followersEmma Kavanagh was born and raised in South Wales. After graduating with a PhD in Psychology from Cardiff University, she spent many years working as a police and military psychologist, training firearms officers, command staff and military personnel throughout the UK and Europe. Now she is lucky enough to be able to write for a living. She lives in South Wales with her husband, young sons, and a dog named Dobby.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 392 reviews
April 25, 2016
THE MISSING HOURS by Emma Kavanagh is a mystery novel dealing with a missing mother, Dr. Selena Cole, a widow and mother of two young girls, who disappears in a playground, leaving her daughters, 3-year-old Tara and seven-year-old Heather-ALONE! She just vanished in thin air!
“The little one, Tara was on the swing. Mother was pushing her. Heather the seven-year-old, had gone down to the stream. When the girl came back, her mother was gone, sister was alone.”
I have to admit, in the beginning of the book, I had a little bit of trouble making sense of what was happening. I had to make sense of the characters and their stories. But at 10% into the book, it soon all starts to come together.
Then Selena reappears with no memory of her disappearance or of what happened in the last twenty four hours. At the same time a body is found murdered. Did she have something to do with the murder? Two detectives DC Leah Mackay and D.S Finn Hale who are brother and sister work the cases.
Selena Cole and her late husband Ed ran a kidnap and Ransom company called Cole Associates, a successful consultancy business together. When they were in Brazil, at a business conference, there was a terrorist attack and Ed Cole was killed, and Selena survived. This company operates world-wide and trains companies in crisis management to deal with protecting their employees. If someone is kidnapped, Selena, a psychologist and her husband Ed with military background are sent to the scene.
This story is told from multiple points of views…and it works well and allows the reader to get a full disclosure of what was going on at the time, and try to piece everything together. The story was combined with chapters from the company case files from around the word. This made for interesting reading but more, for fleshing-out the characters.
What took place in those missing hours? Is there a connection to the recent discovery of a nearby murder?
The author has done an amazing job of providing a well woven believable plot, credible characters, and twists and turns throughout to totally grip her audience and not let go till the end. And what a brilliant ending! This book was well researched.
One of the best books I have read in 2016! I highly recommend it.
My thanks to the author, Random House UK, Cornerstone and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Missing Hours.
“The little one, Tara was on the swing. Mother was pushing her. Heather the seven-year-old, had gone down to the stream. When the girl came back, her mother was gone, sister was alone.”
I have to admit, in the beginning of the book, I had a little bit of trouble making sense of what was happening. I had to make sense of the characters and their stories. But at 10% into the book, it soon all starts to come together.
Then Selena reappears with no memory of her disappearance or of what happened in the last twenty four hours. At the same time a body is found murdered. Did she have something to do with the murder? Two detectives DC Leah Mackay and D.S Finn Hale who are brother and sister work the cases.
Selena Cole and her late husband Ed ran a kidnap and Ransom company called Cole Associates, a successful consultancy business together. When they were in Brazil, at a business conference, there was a terrorist attack and Ed Cole was killed, and Selena survived. This company operates world-wide and trains companies in crisis management to deal with protecting their employees. If someone is kidnapped, Selena, a psychologist and her husband Ed with military background are sent to the scene.
This story is told from multiple points of views…and it works well and allows the reader to get a full disclosure of what was going on at the time, and try to piece everything together. The story was combined with chapters from the company case files from around the word. This made for interesting reading but more, for fleshing-out the characters.
What took place in those missing hours? Is there a connection to the recent discovery of a nearby murder?
The author has done an amazing job of providing a well woven believable plot, credible characters, and twists and turns throughout to totally grip her audience and not let go till the end. And what a brilliant ending! This book was well researched.
One of the best books I have read in 2016! I highly recommend it.
My thanks to the author, Random House UK, Cornerstone and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Missing Hours.
February 21, 2018
The Missing Hours by Emma Kavanagh is a thriller read that is told from multiple points of view throughout the story. There is also bit of reports, mails etc between the chapters that pertain to what is going on in the story at any given time.
The book starts off with a little girl at a playground who has wandered off from her mother and younger sibling but when she returns her mother is nowhere to be found. This opens up an investigation introducing one of the detectives in the story.
Now after a reader starts learning of the missing woman another case comes up when the body of a murdered lawyer is found and there’s a second investigation started. Detective Constable Leah Mackay and her brother, Detective Sergeant Finn Hale have each been given one of the cases and as they delve into them there starts to be clues that maybe these aren’t separate events.
The general idea of this story sounds like one that would have grabbed me right from the opening and have the pages flying by but that simply wasn’t the case with this book. It wasn’t a bad read but it never really gripped me and hooked me into the story. It’s really an incredibly slow paced read which is always a struggle for me but I think having all the extra reports and things between chapters slowed it even more leaving me struggling to finish. In the end this one just wasn’t my style leaving me to rate it at 2.5 stars but I’m sure others out there will love it more than I did.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
The book starts off with a little girl at a playground who has wandered off from her mother and younger sibling but when she returns her mother is nowhere to be found. This opens up an investigation introducing one of the detectives in the story.
Now after a reader starts learning of the missing woman another case comes up when the body of a murdered lawyer is found and there’s a second investigation started. Detective Constable Leah Mackay and her brother, Detective Sergeant Finn Hale have each been given one of the cases and as they delve into them there starts to be clues that maybe these aren’t separate events.
The general idea of this story sounds like one that would have grabbed me right from the opening and have the pages flying by but that simply wasn’t the case with this book. It wasn’t a bad read but it never really gripped me and hooked me into the story. It’s really an incredibly slow paced read which is always a struggle for me but I think having all the extra reports and things between chapters slowed it even more leaving me struggling to finish. In the end this one just wasn’t my style leaving me to rate it at 2.5 stars but I’m sure others out there will love it more than I did.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
November 11, 2017
I think the book started off really good with the older daughter Heather discovering her little sister Tara all alone and their mom has vanished. It was a thrilling and brilliant way to capture the reader's attention. What happened to Selena, did she just leave the children or was she taken? DC Leah Mackay is assigned the case and she has to deal with the little girl and Selena's sisters-in-law. Meanwhile, her brother DS Finn Hale is investigating the murder of a lawyer and it turns out that it's a very small world since the man killed had connections to Selena Cole and her family.
I was a bit confused in the beginning. Had a hard time figure out if the police was a woman or man, but then I realized that I had glanced over the name that stood after the chapter title and that actually something I had a tendency all through the book to do and since this book has a first-person perspective was that a bit of a problem now and then. But, since it mostly shifted between Leah and Finn wasn't it so hard to figure out who was in charge. However, I must admit that I was not that fond of the first person perspective, it just didn't work well for me while I read the book. It disturbed my reading and I have a feeling that I would have enjoyed it better if it had been written without the first person perspective.
The story I think was the best in the beginning when everything was a big mystery. When Selena was missing and the period when she was found and Leah had to figure out if she was lying or not. I liked the connections between the cases and the conclusions. But, I was never really engrossed with the story, despite its interesting and unusual story. As I wrote before the first person perspective is probably one of the big reasons for the book failing to grab my interest. Also, I can't say that either Finn or Leah really grabbed my interested either. I was perplexed that two siblings could work on the same police team. But, it's perhaps a married couple that is more a big no-no. Anyway, I just didn't find either of the main characters life that interesting to read about. Or their life, I should say Leah life since it was more about Leah and her troubled married life. In many ways, it felt like Leah was more the main character than Finn. And, neither one of them managed to make an impression on me.
So, it was an OK book, nothing that rocked my little boat, but not necessarily a bad book. It felt a bit different and I liked the interluding chapters with case files from Selena and Ed's "kidnap and ransom" cases. Why anyone wants to travel to South America is beyond me. It's like asking to be kidnapped!
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!
I was a bit confused in the beginning. Had a hard time figure out if the police was a woman or man, but then I realized that I had glanced over the name that stood after the chapter title and that actually something I had a tendency all through the book to do and since this book has a first-person perspective was that a bit of a problem now and then. But, since it mostly shifted between Leah and Finn wasn't it so hard to figure out who was in charge. However, I must admit that I was not that fond of the first person perspective, it just didn't work well for me while I read the book. It disturbed my reading and I have a feeling that I would have enjoyed it better if it had been written without the first person perspective.
The story I think was the best in the beginning when everything was a big mystery. When Selena was missing and the period when she was found and Leah had to figure out if she was lying or not. I liked the connections between the cases and the conclusions. But, I was never really engrossed with the story, despite its interesting and unusual story. As I wrote before the first person perspective is probably one of the big reasons for the book failing to grab my interest. Also, I can't say that either Finn or Leah really grabbed my interested either. I was perplexed that two siblings could work on the same police team. But, it's perhaps a married couple that is more a big no-no. Anyway, I just didn't find either of the main characters life that interesting to read about. Or their life, I should say Leah life since it was more about Leah and her troubled married life. In many ways, it felt like Leah was more the main character than Finn. And, neither one of them managed to make an impression on me.
So, it was an OK book, nothing that rocked my little boat, but not necessarily a bad book. It felt a bit different and I liked the interluding chapters with case files from Selena and Ed's "kidnap and ransom" cases. Why anyone wants to travel to South America is beyond me. It's like asking to be kidnapped!
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!
September 6, 2016
Its not my week this week. Yet another author I love and get so engrossed in her stories and I had a hard job keeping up. I thought it was my painkillers affecting my brain being whoozy until I read a few other peoples reviews.
It took me half the book to really grow into this one. It was worth it in the end, but boy oh boy I had to plough. There were so many things in this material that really waffled on and didn't really need to be there.
THIS AUTHOR IS A FANTASTIC author, I look forward to each of her books, but whether she rushed this one or had a deadline to meet, who knows, but something shows that something wasn't up to speed.
I have given it 4 stars and the reason for this is, I stayed with it. If it were someone else, they may have given up and missed the best bits towards the end, but, because I read to review I feel that its my 'duty' [if you like] to finish a book.
That doesn't mean I won't look out for her next one.
Thanks to Random House UK, Cornerstone via Net Galley for my copy [sorry I am late with my review]
March 14, 2016
So when an author you’ve admired from their very first book hits the sweet spot in the writing and storytelling stakes it is a real moment of reading joy, such as has just happened with Emma Kavanagh and “The Missing Hours”. I was a huge fan of the previous two novels but this was a pretty much one sitting completely immersed practically inhaled read that actually I’ve just put down. And had to write about straight away.
I could just leave it at that but I like to talk so I won’t.
The Missing Hours is told from multiple points of view, has some fascinating characters (I can’t even pick one particularly to rave about so just assume they are all pretty perfect) a fascinating background (that of Kidnap and Ransom) a really engaging and well plotted mystery story (No I really had no idea so this author joins the ranks of the “Got Liz with a twist” brigade) and is beautifully written throughout.
Loved the brother/sister police duo, the Cole family were highly intriguing – Emma Kavanagh has the magic touch when it comes to character study – in “The Missing Hours” you have that tenfold, probably why I had no idea as to the outcome. I was too busy being caught up in the lives of these people, and ok I guess I DID have a bit of a soft spot for Beck, but the entire cast were utterly alluring. Always a rocking good read when you actually care.
It is gripping, for me especially with relation to the little side pieces which I won’t say too much about to avoid spoilers, but I rattled through it in true grasshopper on acid fashion until the final pages. With a perfectly placed atmospheric ending that just put the icing right on top of the already delicious cake, The Missing Hours comes highly recommended from me.
Yes it does.
I could just leave it at that but I like to talk so I won’t.
The Missing Hours is told from multiple points of view, has some fascinating characters (I can’t even pick one particularly to rave about so just assume they are all pretty perfect) a fascinating background (that of Kidnap and Ransom) a really engaging and well plotted mystery story (No I really had no idea so this author joins the ranks of the “Got Liz with a twist” brigade) and is beautifully written throughout.
Loved the brother/sister police duo, the Cole family were highly intriguing – Emma Kavanagh has the magic touch when it comes to character study – in “The Missing Hours” you have that tenfold, probably why I had no idea as to the outcome. I was too busy being caught up in the lives of these people, and ok I guess I DID have a bit of a soft spot for Beck, but the entire cast were utterly alluring. Always a rocking good read when you actually care.
It is gripping, for me especially with relation to the little side pieces which I won’t say too much about to avoid spoilers, but I rattled through it in true grasshopper on acid fashion until the final pages. With a perfectly placed atmospheric ending that just put the icing right on top of the already delicious cake, The Missing Hours comes highly recommended from me.
Yes it does.
September 5, 2016
The Missing Hours was my first Emma Kavanagh read, and I’m not entirely sure what I think. For me, it was a case of up and down. I never really got into the story as much as I’d hoped to, yet at the same time I found it to be a decent read.
The story is made up of two mysteries: a missing person who returns quickly and a murder. From the get-go it is obvious that the two crimes are related in some way, yet you are not sure how. Whilst I love interconnected crimes, I prefer it when it is less obvious that one event is so directly related to another. It meant I was constantly looking for the how, when I prefer the sudden heart stopping moment of a revelation.
Despite the obvious link between the two, it was fun to see how the crime unfolded. Following two police officers, the focus flickers from the one mystery to the other. Between these chapters, we’re also given information pertaining to the lives of some of the characters, seeing aspects of their job, leaving us with more questions about what was going on.
Whilst it was a lot of fun to watch these things come together, I found it exceptionally difficult to get into. I’m not entirely sure why this was, but it took me much longer to reach the point of enjoyment than it usually does. Partly, I think this is because of the speed. For me, things were rather slow. Moreover, whilst there was a mystery to uncover there wasn’t much by the way of action. Things happened, but nothing stopped the heart.
Overall, it was an okay read yet I wasn’t crazy about it.
As a final note, I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this.
The story is made up of two mysteries: a missing person who returns quickly and a murder. From the get-go it is obvious that the two crimes are related in some way, yet you are not sure how. Whilst I love interconnected crimes, I prefer it when it is less obvious that one event is so directly related to another. It meant I was constantly looking for the how, when I prefer the sudden heart stopping moment of a revelation.
Despite the obvious link between the two, it was fun to see how the crime unfolded. Following two police officers, the focus flickers from the one mystery to the other. Between these chapters, we’re also given information pertaining to the lives of some of the characters, seeing aspects of their job, leaving us with more questions about what was going on.
Whilst it was a lot of fun to watch these things come together, I found it exceptionally difficult to get into. I’m not entirely sure why this was, but it took me much longer to reach the point of enjoyment than it usually does. Partly, I think this is because of the speed. For me, things were rather slow. Moreover, whilst there was a mystery to uncover there wasn’t much by the way of action. Things happened, but nothing stopped the heart.
Overall, it was an okay read yet I wasn’t crazy about it.
As a final note, I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this.
April 17, 2016
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Emma Kavanagh, UK Random House, and Century for providing me with a copy of this book, which allows me to provide you with this review.
Kavanagh offers an interesting perspective in this mystery novel, pulling the reader in from the opening vignette. After the mysterious disappearance of Selena Cole from a park while out with her young daughters, the case is assigned to DC Leah Mackay, still working out the wrinkles of the position and processing some personal issues of her own. The more DC Mackay digs, the more confusing things become, as there are no clues or leads. Once DC Mackay learns that Cole and her recently deceased husband ran a 'Kidnap and Ransom' business, finding themselves jet-setting all over the world to handle highly controversial cases in dangerous domains, sinister potential motives surrounding retribution begin circulating. While Cole remains missing, the body of a solicitor surfaces, leaving authorities to wonder if there could be a connection. Assigning DS Finn Hale to the murder, the narrative advances as he tries to get a handle on what's taken place and who might be on the list of prime suspects. With relationship issues central to the murder, Hale seeks to put the pieces together and solve the case before things unravel. Kavanagh spins an added layer to the story by revealing that Hale and Mackay are siblings, working together but independently on these cases. The deeper the story progresses (complete with case summaries from the Cole company's various files), the stronger the possibility that the murder and disappearance might be related, with an employee whose life touches into the spheres of both victims. When Selena Cole does return, as mysteriously as she left, she remembers nothing about her time away, or what may have happened. DC Mackay seeks to bridge these missing hours, as questions about retribution for a past kidnapping begin to surface, with DS Hale close-by to connect the dots. Kavanagh leaves the reader to discover even more mysteries while positing how it all ties in together in a story that has more twists than a kidnapping retrieval attempt. An interesting tale, complete with curious personal background drama, sure to leave readers demanding more from this author.
This being my first experience with Kavanagh's work, I can only judge her abilities based on this book. With short chapters and characters that offer a little of themselves away from their roles in the larger narrative, the reader is able to understand the complexities of those who appear on the written page, without getting too wrapped up in the backstory. In addition to the narrative at hand, use of 'case file' documents helps to flesh-out the story and builds on the development of the rationale behind the Selena Cole disappearance. I would venture to say that Kavanagh's novel would fall short without these more detailed glimpses into the Kidnap and Ransom background. Kavanagh is able to weave a productive story and keep the reader wondering as the chapters continue, without getting mired down in technical explanations. She succeeds in selling the story and the genre, as well as her vast abilities.
Kudos, Madam Kavanagh for allowing me access to this wonderful story. I am intrigued in your writing style and can see myself looking for more in the months to come.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Kavanagh offers an interesting perspective in this mystery novel, pulling the reader in from the opening vignette. After the mysterious disappearance of Selena Cole from a park while out with her young daughters, the case is assigned to DC Leah Mackay, still working out the wrinkles of the position and processing some personal issues of her own. The more DC Mackay digs, the more confusing things become, as there are no clues or leads. Once DC Mackay learns that Cole and her recently deceased husband ran a 'Kidnap and Ransom' business, finding themselves jet-setting all over the world to handle highly controversial cases in dangerous domains, sinister potential motives surrounding retribution begin circulating. While Cole remains missing, the body of a solicitor surfaces, leaving authorities to wonder if there could be a connection. Assigning DS Finn Hale to the murder, the narrative advances as he tries to get a handle on what's taken place and who might be on the list of prime suspects. With relationship issues central to the murder, Hale seeks to put the pieces together and solve the case before things unravel. Kavanagh spins an added layer to the story by revealing that Hale and Mackay are siblings, working together but independently on these cases. The deeper the story progresses (complete with case summaries from the Cole company's various files), the stronger the possibility that the murder and disappearance might be related, with an employee whose life touches into the spheres of both victims. When Selena Cole does return, as mysteriously as she left, she remembers nothing about her time away, or what may have happened. DC Mackay seeks to bridge these missing hours, as questions about retribution for a past kidnapping begin to surface, with DS Hale close-by to connect the dots. Kavanagh leaves the reader to discover even more mysteries while positing how it all ties in together in a story that has more twists than a kidnapping retrieval attempt. An interesting tale, complete with curious personal background drama, sure to leave readers demanding more from this author.
This being my first experience with Kavanagh's work, I can only judge her abilities based on this book. With short chapters and characters that offer a little of themselves away from their roles in the larger narrative, the reader is able to understand the complexities of those who appear on the written page, without getting too wrapped up in the backstory. In addition to the narrative at hand, use of 'case file' documents helps to flesh-out the story and builds on the development of the rationale behind the Selena Cole disappearance. I would venture to say that Kavanagh's novel would fall short without these more detailed glimpses into the Kidnap and Ransom background. Kavanagh is able to weave a productive story and keep the reader wondering as the chapters continue, without getting mired down in technical explanations. She succeeds in selling the story and the genre, as well as her vast abilities.
Kudos, Madam Kavanagh for allowing me access to this wonderful story. I am intrigued in your writing style and can see myself looking for more in the months to come.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
February 14, 2018
“We rarely know the people around us, only what they show us of themselves.”
When Dr. Selena Cole mysteriously vanishes from a playground leaving her daughters stranded, DC Leah Mackay takes the case but struggles to find any clues to help solve it. Twenty hours later, Selena is found alive but has no memory of where she was or how she got back home.
That same day, Leah’s brother, DS Finley Hale, is assigned the murder case of an associate who has been dumped unceremoniously on a mountain lane. Finn, too, finds any clues hard to come by.
What follows is a procedural whodunit with ping-ponging points of view between the brother and sister detectives who learn that more than one of the suspects in each case have crisscrossing ties to each other.
What at first appears to be just a creepy missing-persons case ends up dragging us into the shadowy world of kidnapping for ransom with each character becoming a suspect in crimes that are as much of a mystery as the perpetrators.
Kavanagh does a great job of revealing the truth in bite-sized morsels as we read along – totally caught up in the secrets of each person we meet. However, at times it was hard to follow the characters’ awkward trains of thought as they shifted from past to present and back again in the same unbroken paragraph.
I enjoyed this book and did not find it predictable or overly familiar. The ending felt a bit unsatisfyingly abrupt, but it did not take away from my overall appreciation of this well-written crime fiction novel.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
*Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.*
When Dr. Selena Cole mysteriously vanishes from a playground leaving her daughters stranded, DC Leah Mackay takes the case but struggles to find any clues to help solve it. Twenty hours later, Selena is found alive but has no memory of where she was or how she got back home.
That same day, Leah’s brother, DS Finley Hale, is assigned the murder case of an associate who has been dumped unceremoniously on a mountain lane. Finn, too, finds any clues hard to come by.
What follows is a procedural whodunit with ping-ponging points of view between the brother and sister detectives who learn that more than one of the suspects in each case have crisscrossing ties to each other.
What at first appears to be just a creepy missing-persons case ends up dragging us into the shadowy world of kidnapping for ransom with each character becoming a suspect in crimes that are as much of a mystery as the perpetrators.
Kavanagh does a great job of revealing the truth in bite-sized morsels as we read along – totally caught up in the secrets of each person we meet. However, at times it was hard to follow the characters’ awkward trains of thought as they shifted from past to present and back again in the same unbroken paragraph.
I enjoyed this book and did not find it predictable or overly familiar. The ending felt a bit unsatisfyingly abrupt, but it did not take away from my overall appreciation of this well-written crime fiction novel.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
*Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.*
May 12, 2016
I've read all of Emma Kavanagh's books so was intrigued to read this one too.
The book starts off really well and hooked me in pretty much straightaway. Selena Cole, a doctor, is on a playground near her home with her children playing. One moment all is well and the children are playing happily. Next it cuts to the mother going missing and then turning up again a few hours later with no idea what had happened in those missing hours. What plays out is a slow fed unfolding of a series of events leading up to those 'missing hours'.
Again, we're treated to Ms Kavanagh's terrific writing style, her ability to get to the core of her characters and capture the emotion played out with each passing scene. What I found really engaging was the exploration of the kidnapping and ransom scene that's very much a big part of the book. I knew nothing of this world so it was a fascinating insight into the unknown and was clear that this topic had been well researched and interwoven well into the overall storyline.
For me, however, this particular book didn't quite live up to the love I had for the first book, Falling. Whilst the story is really compelling in the beginning, it fell slighly short for me during the middle section, to then pick up interest levels in the last third.
If you're a fan of Ms Kavanagh's previous works, I don't think you'd be disappointed here. All the magic of emotional and character captivating storytelling is here and is worth your time for that. Thanks to all those involved for my ARC. Much appreciated.
The book starts off really well and hooked me in pretty much straightaway. Selena Cole, a doctor, is on a playground near her home with her children playing. One moment all is well and the children are playing happily. Next it cuts to the mother going missing and then turning up again a few hours later with no idea what had happened in those missing hours. What plays out is a slow fed unfolding of a series of events leading up to those 'missing hours'.
Again, we're treated to Ms Kavanagh's terrific writing style, her ability to get to the core of her characters and capture the emotion played out with each passing scene. What I found really engaging was the exploration of the kidnapping and ransom scene that's very much a big part of the book. I knew nothing of this world so it was a fascinating insight into the unknown and was clear that this topic had been well researched and interwoven well into the overall storyline.
For me, however, this particular book didn't quite live up to the love I had for the first book, Falling. Whilst the story is really compelling in the beginning, it fell slighly short for me during the middle section, to then pick up interest levels in the last third.
If you're a fan of Ms Kavanagh's previous works, I don't think you'd be disappointed here. All the magic of emotional and character captivating storytelling is here and is worth your time for that. Thanks to all those involved for my ARC. Much appreciated.
August 20, 2023
I found the start of this book interesting and atmospheric. It uses Selena's elder daughter's voice to tell about her feelings when she finds Mummy is missing. After that the voices are adult and usually the two police involved in the cases that are the focus for this story. While Mummy has vanished she is found less than 24 hours later but with no knowledge of what has happened to her in that time. In the same time frame a body is found - is there any connection between these events? The two police primarily involved are actually brother and sister. Leah is dealing with Selena's disappearance and Finn (her brother) is dealing with the suspected murder of the local solicitor. In the main chapters alternate between the two police involved however, interspersed in the main narrative, are various case files and information on the "Kidnap & Ransom" company that Selena and other members of her family run.
My views on this book are a little mixed in some ways. While I found the quality of the writing generally good I felt that it was a little over descriptive in the early stages of the book. For me this made it feel a little slow and maybe not the pace I would expect from a taught thriller. The detectives, particularly Leah, have some what complex personal lives. I found these aspects well written but equally something of a distraction from the main story at times. The characters generally did not feel very fleshed out and the brother and sister in the police felt a little unconvincing (& police like) sometimes.
Allowing that I did think that the main story was a good one. It was a nicely twisted tale too. By the 50% mark I really did find myself more and more drawn in to the story. The twists (only a few of which I got in advance!) and the pace made it hard to put down. I would certainly read another book by Emma Kavanagh.
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
My views on this book are a little mixed in some ways. While I found the quality of the writing generally good I felt that it was a little over descriptive in the early stages of the book. For me this made it feel a little slow and maybe not the pace I would expect from a taught thriller. The detectives, particularly Leah, have some what complex personal lives. I found these aspects well written but equally something of a distraction from the main story at times. The characters generally did not feel very fleshed out and the brother and sister in the police felt a little unconvincing (& police like) sometimes.
Allowing that I did think that the main story was a good one. It was a nicely twisted tale too. By the 50% mark I really did find myself more and more drawn in to the story. The twists (only a few of which I got in advance!) and the pace made it hard to put down. I would certainly read another book by Emma Kavanagh.
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
April 24, 2017
Loved this book. So many twists. Fast paced, tense, with every page revealing surprises.
March 25, 2016
My thanks to Random House UK, Cornerstone for the opportunity to read and review The Missing Hours by Emma Kavanagh
Dr Selena Cole goes missing one day from the playground she is in with her two young children. Twenty four hours later Selena reappears with no memory of her disappearance or of what happened in those twenty four hours.
This was an interesting mystery and not the type that I was expecting. The mystery is told from multiple viewpoints and this worked very well. The characters were interesting, both those from the police department and those connected with the Cole company (Kidnap and Ransom). The police investigators were a brother and sister however I'm not sure it was necessary to have a sibling link. Each character would have worked well in their own right without having to be related. While Leah's character was well developed, I would have liked to see more development with Finns character. I felt I didn't get to know him as much as I wanted to. The story was interspersed with chapters from case files of the Cole company of kidnap and ransom scenarios in various countries around the world and I loved these chapters. I enjoyed this book and while I felt at times it was a slow burner in parts for a mystery, it was worth the wait as I loved the ending and unexpected twist. Overall, a good solid interesting read from an unusual perspective.
Dr Selena Cole goes missing one day from the playground she is in with her two young children. Twenty four hours later Selena reappears with no memory of her disappearance or of what happened in those twenty four hours.
This was an interesting mystery and not the type that I was expecting. The mystery is told from multiple viewpoints and this worked very well. The characters were interesting, both those from the police department and those connected with the Cole company (Kidnap and Ransom). The police investigators were a brother and sister however I'm not sure it was necessary to have a sibling link. Each character would have worked well in their own right without having to be related. While Leah's character was well developed, I would have liked to see more development with Finns character. I felt I didn't get to know him as much as I wanted to. The story was interspersed with chapters from case files of the Cole company of kidnap and ransom scenarios in various countries around the world and I loved these chapters. I enjoyed this book and while I felt at times it was a slow burner in parts for a mystery, it was worth the wait as I loved the ending and unexpected twist. Overall, a good solid interesting read from an unusual perspective.
February 4, 2018
One minute Selena Cole is at the park with her daughters, the next she is gone. A neighbour finds the girls and takes them home before calling the police. Not too far away a body is discovered by the side of the road. For a town where nothing really happens this is a lot for one day.
20 hours later Selena returns home but claims to have no memory of where she has been. The body is identified... could there be a connection?
This was a page turner that I read in 2 sittings this weekend. I loved the brother and sister police team that refuse to give up. I didn't trust many of the characters... and the ending was a really a surprise. This was my first book by Emma Kavanagh and I will be seeking out more.
Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for a copy of this book to read and enjoy in exchange for my honest opinions
20 hours later Selena returns home but claims to have no memory of where she has been. The body is identified... could there be a connection?
This was a page turner that I read in 2 sittings this weekend. I loved the brother and sister police team that refuse to give up. I didn't trust many of the characters... and the ending was a really a surprise. This was my first book by Emma Kavanagh and I will be seeking out more.
Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for a copy of this book to read and enjoy in exchange for my honest opinions
July 10, 2018
This book was not for me. It reminded me of the TV show "Ransom". Several chapters in the beginning of the book start with a hostage/ransom situation where a team goes in to negotiate with the kidnappers. It was too confusing with all the different characters.
July 11, 2016
Gripping, Breathtaking, Complex, Fascinating & Believable! An Excellent Read! I Loved It
April 26, 2016
Brilliant!
My View:
Unique. Compelling. Surprising.
This book has just so much going for it! A wonderfully engaging character driven narrative, multiple points of views adding depth and perspectives to the narrative and to the main characters. What great characters there were! Everyone had something to offer or something they were holding back, some little piece of themselves and the mystery they didn’t want to let go of or share that when revealed kept changing the direction of the plot or the way you thought it was all going to work out. Each reveal just added more complexity to the mystery. Who was telling the truth? So many lies, half-truths or omissions.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable and mesmerising read. Unique – in so many ways; brother and sister police officers working two cases in the same precinct, the company the missing woman works for again is unusual – I haven’t come across this in crime fiction before though know of its existence in the work place (but I bet there will be more of this type of scenario in future reads), no spoilers here. And the twists – relationships that will surprise, nothing is as it seems on the surface; family pictures on the mantle shelf displaying a version of the truth, a moment in time… a display….real or not? You work it out.
My View:
Unique. Compelling. Surprising.
This book has just so much going for it! A wonderfully engaging character driven narrative, multiple points of views adding depth and perspectives to the narrative and to the main characters. What great characters there were! Everyone had something to offer or something they were holding back, some little piece of themselves and the mystery they didn’t want to let go of or share that when revealed kept changing the direction of the plot or the way you thought it was all going to work out. Each reveal just added more complexity to the mystery. Who was telling the truth? So many lies, half-truths or omissions.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable and mesmerising read. Unique – in so many ways; brother and sister police officers working two cases in the same precinct, the company the missing woman works for again is unusual – I haven’t come across this in crime fiction before though know of its existence in the work place (but I bet there will be more of this type of scenario in future reads), no spoilers here. And the twists – relationships that will surprise, nothing is as it seems on the surface; family pictures on the mantle shelf displaying a version of the truth, a moment in time… a display….real or not? You work it out.
March 8, 2016
This is a cracking thriller written from the POV of various characters. It is also unusual in that it features a brother and sister police officers working on separate cases discovering there are connections between the cases. They have a great relationship with each other.
Psychologist Selena goes missing after taking her girls to a playground. Having lost her husband recently she is not in a good place. She returns a few hours later appearing to be suffering from amnesia. But is she? The police are suspicious. On the same day, a man's body is discovered. Are the two events connected? The tale is full of twists and turns. There is an interesting look at the whole business of kidnapping and negotiating which Selena and her husband were involved in.
This is a great atmospheric and suspenseful story. It is wonderfully constructed by the author and you really want to know what is going on. I have discovered another author which I love. Many thanks to Random House, Cornerstone, the publishers for a copy of the book via netgalley.
Psychologist Selena goes missing after taking her girls to a playground. Having lost her husband recently she is not in a good place. She returns a few hours later appearing to be suffering from amnesia. But is she? The police are suspicious. On the same day, a man's body is discovered. Are the two events connected? The tale is full of twists and turns. There is an interesting look at the whole business of kidnapping and negotiating which Selena and her husband were involved in.
This is a great atmospheric and suspenseful story. It is wonderfully constructed by the author and you really want to know what is going on. I have discovered another author which I love. Many thanks to Random House, Cornerstone, the publishers for a copy of the book via netgalley.
January 18, 2016
This was one of those books that I got to the end of and thought 'WHERE ARE THE REST OF THE PAGES?!' I honestly thought there was a misprint or something. The ending was just SO abrupt and didn't answer the thousand and one questions I still had. I have to admit I am one of those people who likes a nicely sewn up ending that leaves nothing to the imagination which is probably why I was so distraught by lack of tidy ending in this one! Up until the end it was all going particularly well with great pace and plenty of twists. I managed to read the first eighty or so percent in one sitting so this book definitely ticks the 'readable' and 'compelling' boxes.
If you are the kind of reader who can cope with a lot of ambiguity at the end then you will love this book. If you're like me and need a nice, long, descriptive ending answering all those questions you have lurking then I'd say perhaps take this book with a little more caution and don't get yourself too caught up on the minutia like I did!
If you are the kind of reader who can cope with a lot of ambiguity at the end then you will love this book. If you're like me and need a nice, long, descriptive ending answering all those questions you have lurking then I'd say perhaps take this book with a little more caution and don't get yourself too caught up on the minutia like I did!
April 30, 2016
This is a 2.5 rating for me.
The first thing that drew me to this book was the eye-catching cover. When I read the blurb I thought it sounded fantastic. A mother vanishes, leaving her kids in a playground on their own. What would make a mother leave her kids? I was eager to find out and the story itself was interesting enough. However I felt there was too much information I didn’t need to know, and this stopped the flow of the story. It has got a 2.5 rating as the ending was a surprise. Despite this not being my cup of tea, I will still read Hidden and other books written by Emma.
The first thing that drew me to this book was the eye-catching cover. When I read the blurb I thought it sounded fantastic. A mother vanishes, leaving her kids in a playground on their own. What would make a mother leave her kids? I was eager to find out and the story itself was interesting enough. However I felt there was too much information I didn’t need to know, and this stopped the flow of the story. It has got a 2.5 rating as the ending was a surprise. Despite this not being my cup of tea, I will still read Hidden and other books written by Emma.
July 30, 2018
I was pretty impressed. I knew absolutely nothing about the intense world of Kidnapping and Ransom and this book had some fascinating details. I know it's all a hush-hush industry, but this book would make a really intense movie! I liked the characters and the way that things unfolded, the secrets were surprising and continued throughout the novel.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own
Read
February 21, 2018"You do not go looking for kidnap and ransom. It comes looking for you."
Incredibly tense police procedural and complicated mystery involving a woman's disappearance and a man's murder -- that just may be connected.
Dr. Selena Cole vanishes from the playground near her house, just leaving behind her young daughters. When she reappears over 20 hours later, she can't remember anything of the missing hours. Or is she lying?
Defense solicitor Dominic Newell is found dead on the side of a mountain road. He was respected and well-liked. Who killed him and why?
Sister and brother Detective Constable Leah Mackay and Detective Sergeant Finn Hale of Endleby -- on the border of England and Wales -- work in the Criminal Investigation Department of a small police force there. Leah is on the Cole case and newly promoted Finn is working the Newell homicide. As the investigation proceeds, it appears that the cases are somehow related, but they have a long and circuitous road of leads and suspects to follow. In addition, it was fascinating to read about the murky world of kidnap and ransom crimes and the secrecy surrounding the efforts of those private security companies that seek to rescue the hostages.
I enjoyed the characters and the depth portrayed by the author as they come to life before the reader's eyes. Told in alternating points of view, mainly from Leah and Finn, the different aspects of the crimes become three dimensional. Great storytelling and prose with excellent detail and description. The narrative tackles a lot of complex issues that are very timely considering what is going on in the world today. Loved the ending.
I really enjoyed this novel and will definitely look for more by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the e-book ARC to read and review.
Incredibly tense police procedural and complicated mystery involving a woman's disappearance and a man's murder -- that just may be connected.
Dr. Selena Cole vanishes from the playground near her house, just leaving behind her young daughters. When she reappears over 20 hours later, she can't remember anything of the missing hours. Or is she lying?
Defense solicitor Dominic Newell is found dead on the side of a mountain road. He was respected and well-liked. Who killed him and why?
Sister and brother Detective Constable Leah Mackay and Detective Sergeant Finn Hale of Endleby -- on the border of England and Wales -- work in the Criminal Investigation Department of a small police force there. Leah is on the Cole case and newly promoted Finn is working the Newell homicide. As the investigation proceeds, it appears that the cases are somehow related, but they have a long and circuitous road of leads and suspects to follow. In addition, it was fascinating to read about the murky world of kidnap and ransom crimes and the secrecy surrounding the efforts of those private security companies that seek to rescue the hostages.
I enjoyed the characters and the depth portrayed by the author as they come to life before the reader's eyes. Told in alternating points of view, mainly from Leah and Finn, the different aspects of the crimes become three dimensional. Great storytelling and prose with excellent detail and description. The narrative tackles a lot of complex issues that are very timely considering what is going on in the world today. Loved the ending.
I really enjoyed this novel and will definitely look for more by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the e-book ARC to read and review.
December 29, 2021
This is an excellent, suspenseful fictional book (that doesn't neglect key family relationships) written by an insider in K&R (kidnap and ransom) field.
The main setting is in the UK, between England and Wales, but the (fictional but likely real-based) cases are from around the world, particularly Central and South America.
The action rotates between a brother-sister investigative team and the mysteries surrounding K&R pro Selena Cole and the death of Dominic Newell.
Kavanaugh has carefully constructed all the major and minor characters--not a hint of cardboard.
Highly, highly recommended.
The main setting is in the UK, between England and Wales, but the (fictional but likely real-based) cases are from around the world, particularly Central and South America.
The action rotates between a brother-sister investigative team and the mysteries surrounding K&R pro Selena Cole and the death of Dominic Newell.
Kavanaugh has carefully constructed all the major and minor characters--not a hint of cardboard.
Highly, highly recommended.
March 2, 2018
I expected a tense, suspenseful story, but what I got instead was more of a drama-filled police procedural. It all had a bit of a soap opera feel, actually.
The opening scene is written from seven-year-old Heather's perspective, as she realizes her mother is missing. This short scene sets up what feels like a powerful story to come.
Heather doesn't have another narrating part in the story, at least not that I remember. Most of the narration alternates between the brother and sister cops, both written in first person. I didn't much like either character. Leah is wrapped up in personal drama. She may or may not still love her husband, and she feels inadequate as a mother. We spend a lot of time in her head as she wallows in these issues, but we don't see much interaction with her husband and I don't think there were any scenes with her children. Finn, Leah's brother, is newly promoted. He also feels inadequate, though his worries are with his job performance. He pretends to have it all together but constantly worries that he can't take the pressure. Honestly, these two characters were largely interchangeable.
Toward the end of the book, a few other characters are given short narrating parts, all in third person. Interspersed through the entire book we also have short pieces that are either excerpts from published articles or documents from Selena's business files. Eventually we find that most of these pertain in some way to the outcome of the story. All of this, for me, gave the story a jumbled feel. I thought the shared documents slowed the pace and felt impersonal.
The plot begins with two cases that initially seem unrelated, though Leah's intuition tells her otherwise. I found Selena's situation intriguing, and I was mostly invested in learning more about that case. Her character was the only thing that kept me reading. I could easily have done without all the pity party nonsense from the two cops.
In the end, the twists didn't surprise me, perhaps because everything unfolded so slowly, with many hints along the way. For me, the story would have been far more compelling had Selena's narration been more of a focus, with less wallowing in inadequacy from the cops.
As a side note, I received an advance copy from the publisher via Amazon Vine. I didn't realize that this is a re-release with a different publisher. That made no difference in my review. I'm just pointing it out for readers who might notice reviews for this book from a couple of years ago. I don't know if there are any changes, significant or otherwise, in this second release.
The opening scene is written from seven-year-old Heather's perspective, as she realizes her mother is missing. This short scene sets up what feels like a powerful story to come.
Heather doesn't have another narrating part in the story, at least not that I remember. Most of the narration alternates between the brother and sister cops, both written in first person. I didn't much like either character. Leah is wrapped up in personal drama. She may or may not still love her husband, and she feels inadequate as a mother. We spend a lot of time in her head as she wallows in these issues, but we don't see much interaction with her husband and I don't think there were any scenes with her children. Finn, Leah's brother, is newly promoted. He also feels inadequate, though his worries are with his job performance. He pretends to have it all together but constantly worries that he can't take the pressure. Honestly, these two characters were largely interchangeable.
Toward the end of the book, a few other characters are given short narrating parts, all in third person. Interspersed through the entire book we also have short pieces that are either excerpts from published articles or documents from Selena's business files. Eventually we find that most of these pertain in some way to the outcome of the story. All of this, for me, gave the story a jumbled feel. I thought the shared documents slowed the pace and felt impersonal.
The plot begins with two cases that initially seem unrelated, though Leah's intuition tells her otherwise. I found Selena's situation intriguing, and I was mostly invested in learning more about that case. Her character was the only thing that kept me reading. I could easily have done without all the pity party nonsense from the two cops.
In the end, the twists didn't surprise me, perhaps because everything unfolded so slowly, with many hints along the way. For me, the story would have been far more compelling had Selena's narration been more of a focus, with less wallowing in inadequacy from the cops.
As a side note, I received an advance copy from the publisher via Amazon Vine. I didn't realize that this is a re-release with a different publisher. That made no difference in my review. I'm just pointing it out for readers who might notice reviews for this book from a couple of years ago. I don't know if there are any changes, significant or otherwise, in this second release.
April 24, 2016
Dr Selena Cole goes missing from the playground she was in with her children.
Twenty four hours later she returns with no memory of what has occurred in the missing hours.
This has a gripping storyline with believable characters of which I found hard to put down.
I would like to thank Net Galley, Random House uk Cornerstone and the author Emma Kavanagh for my ARC in exchange for an honest review
Twenty four hours later she returns with no memory of what has occurred in the missing hours.
This has a gripping storyline with believable characters of which I found hard to put down.
I would like to thank Net Galley, Random House uk Cornerstone and the author Emma Kavanagh for my ARC in exchange for an honest review
May 13, 2019
I couldn't put this book down. It was cleverly written, and left just enough hooks at the right places to want to keep going. I enjoyed the many twists in the story and the book kept me guessing for most of the time.
July 11, 2016
Gripping, Fascinating, Engaging, Unique, Tense & Intriguing! A Fantastic Read! I Loved It!
April 24, 2016
5 shiny stars.
This book is a fine example how you can create unique, compelling characters and a breathtaking edge of your seat story, do something different and not get lost in it.
I can't say much because I don't want to spoil anything but there are some points and aspects I want to highlight.
First of all, this book is mostly told in the first person with multiple narrators. I confess I found it a bit overwhelming at first but as the narrative progressed it didn't stand in the way or bothered me at all because every character, every voice is unique. And every point of view - past or present - adds a little piece to the puzzle.
The story is, like I mentioned, present in the present with chapters focusing on past events. They all serve their purpose, they add to the story, be it by helping understand the characters, be it to understand the world they live in and their mindset.
This book was impossible to put down. I had the urge to know what's going on, to find the next piece, to figure out things. It is brilliant and it is a fresh take on the detective novel genre.
I highly recommend to anyone who loves a good thriller.
I'd like to thank NetGalley, Random House UK and Cornerstone, and author Emma Cavanagh for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.
I can't wait to read more of Emma Cavanagh's work. This introduction to her was fantastic.
September 29, 2018
I have read one other book by this author, called Falling, and I very much enjoyed it, and I was looking forward to reading her latest novel.
This is a detective procedural novel, have not read one of these in months, and so it was a great change of pace for me. This book also had chapter titles, that was a nice change too!
This story followed a brother and sister , both detectives, in the solving of a missing woman and another case involving a murdered man. This was really well done in how the cases intertwined, and also, explained quite a bit of how the ransom system works, told through case files. Super intriguing!!
There were quite a few characters to keep track of, but it did not become confusing, it just kept you guessing.
I would like it for the author to hopefully write another book with the 2 main detectives, they had humor and great chemistry as siblings.
This book was such a pleasurable read, I highly enjoyed and recommend.
4+ Stars
This is a detective procedural novel, have not read one of these in months, and so it was a great change of pace for me. This book also had chapter titles, that was a nice change too!
This story followed a brother and sister , both detectives, in the solving of a missing woman and another case involving a murdered man. This was really well done in how the cases intertwined, and also, explained quite a bit of how the ransom system works, told through case files. Super intriguing!!
There were quite a few characters to keep track of, but it did not become confusing, it just kept you guessing.
I would like it for the author to hopefully write another book with the 2 main detectives, they had humor and great chemistry as siblings.
This book was such a pleasurable read, I highly enjoyed and recommend.
4+ Stars
July 15, 2016
Reviewed on www.snazzybooks.com
The Missing Hours tells the story of missing person Selena Cole from various points of view, as detectives and her family try to work out what happened to her in the ‘missing hours’ when she disappeared.
It soon becomes unclear whether Selena disappeared off her own accord or whether there were darker forces at place, and the Police’s investigations dig deeper into the murky world of hostage negotiations, which I found really interesting to read about! Though the reports on past cases may seem a little repetitive to some after a while, I found the subject fascinating and would have happily read more about, as it’s not something I ever really thought much about or considered being a skilled and necessary job - and yet is so evidently is!
I found the characters interesting to read about (though D.S Finn did nget on my nerves a bit, I'm not sure why exactly!) and they seemed quite well developed and convincing. There are elements of relationships, family drama and plenty of mystery which kept me wanting to read on.
The narrative does switch around a bit and we learn information from both before the event and during as the novel continues, which I always like – though it can be confusing at times until you get to grips with who everyone is and how they’re connected to each other (or even if they are connected – and working out the connections is sometimes half the fun!)
I think this is a really well-crafted novel with a really interesting subject matter. I would recommend it as a gripping thriller for this summer!
* Many thanks to Penguin Random House for providing a copy of this novel in return for an honest review *
The Missing Hours tells the story of missing person Selena Cole from various points of view, as detectives and her family try to work out what happened to her in the ‘missing hours’ when she disappeared.
It soon becomes unclear whether Selena disappeared off her own accord or whether there were darker forces at place, and the Police’s investigations dig deeper into the murky world of hostage negotiations, which I found really interesting to read about! Though the reports on past cases may seem a little repetitive to some after a while, I found the subject fascinating and would have happily read more about, as it’s not something I ever really thought much about or considered being a skilled and necessary job - and yet is so evidently is!
I found the characters interesting to read about (though D.S Finn did nget on my nerves a bit, I'm not sure why exactly!) and they seemed quite well developed and convincing. There are elements of relationships, family drama and plenty of mystery which kept me wanting to read on.
The narrative does switch around a bit and we learn information from both before the event and during as the novel continues, which I always like – though it can be confusing at times until you get to grips with who everyone is and how they’re connected to each other (or even if they are connected – and working out the connections is sometimes half the fun!)
I think this is a really well-crafted novel with a really interesting subject matter. I would recommend it as a gripping thriller for this summer!
* Many thanks to Penguin Random House for providing a copy of this novel in return for an honest review *
May 1, 2016
Review is also on Elephant Book Review Blog
The Missing Hours – Emma Kavanagh
Kindle Edition
Cost: Netgallery
Publisher: Century
Release date: 21/04/16
The Blurb
A woman disappears
One moment, Selena Cole is in the playground with her children and the next, she has vanished without a trace.
A woman returns
Twenty hours later, Selena is found safe and well, but with no memory of where she has been.
What took place in those missing hours, and are they linked to the discovery of a nearby murder?
‘Is it a forgetting or a deception?’
My thoughts
Its not very often that something new comes along but with The Missing Hours, Emma Kavanagh has written a delightful story with an interesting storyline and unique lead characters. Dc Leah Mackay and DS Finn Hale are siblings as well as work mates and despite my original misgivings it really does work. The storyline is unlike anything I have read and the research that went into must have been immense. It is written from multiple view points, interspersed with reports from the Cole group. Again I had my misgivings but again they proved to be unfounded. I really enjoyed the book the only reason I didn’t give 5 stars was because I thought the ending seemed a little rushed. Having said that the ending was a surprise to me and not one that I had even entertained.
The Missing Hours – Emma Kavanagh
Kindle Edition
Cost: Netgallery
Publisher: Century
Release date: 21/04/16
The Blurb
A woman disappears
One moment, Selena Cole is in the playground with her children and the next, she has vanished without a trace.
A woman returns
Twenty hours later, Selena is found safe and well, but with no memory of where she has been.
What took place in those missing hours, and are they linked to the discovery of a nearby murder?
‘Is it a forgetting or a deception?’
My thoughts
Its not very often that something new comes along but with The Missing Hours, Emma Kavanagh has written a delightful story with an interesting storyline and unique lead characters. Dc Leah Mackay and DS Finn Hale are siblings as well as work mates and despite my original misgivings it really does work. The storyline is unlike anything I have read and the research that went into must have been immense. It is written from multiple view points, interspersed with reports from the Cole group. Again I had my misgivings but again they proved to be unfounded. I really enjoyed the book the only reason I didn’t give 5 stars was because I thought the ending seemed a little rushed. Having said that the ending was a surprise to me and not one that I had even entertained.
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