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Missing Persons: A Novel of Suspense
Missing Persons is Jack Olsen’s novel of suspense and horror, combining the shock and tension of A Stranger Is Watching with the gritty realism of The Blue Knight – a story of terror and loss and love that unlocks the nightmares lurking behind the façades of ordinary lives.
Could it happen to you? Severn Gamble’s wife walks into the Justice Building of a major Northwestern city to pick up some typing-and never comes out. (“Margot?”) No one has seen her. (“Margot!”) She has disappeared. (“Margot!”) And the nightmare begins.
Gamble starts to hunt for her, joined by two police officers, Johnny Boon, case-hardened, cynical, and with a wife who's just walked out on him; and Tally Wickham, young, pretty, smartass, and as compatible with Boon as oil and water. Together and separately, the three of them undertake a search for Margot Gamble, a search that soon becomes obsessional, as others begin disappearing too, beginning with a child…
And ending no one knows where. “God, please God, let her be alive. And God… let her not be in pain...”
Never faltering, thick with vivid characterization and building to one of the most terrifying climaxes in years, Missing Persons is a masterpiece of suspense, a novel to read and remember and dream about…on dark nights.
Could it happen to you? Severn Gamble’s wife walks into the Justice Building of a major Northwestern city to pick up some typing-and never comes out. (“Margot?”) No one has seen her. (“Margot!”) She has disappeared. (“Margot!”) And the nightmare begins.
Gamble starts to hunt for her, joined by two police officers, Johnny Boon, case-hardened, cynical, and with a wife who's just walked out on him; and Tally Wickham, young, pretty, smartass, and as compatible with Boon as oil and water. Together and separately, the three of them undertake a search for Margot Gamble, a search that soon becomes obsessional, as others begin disappearing too, beginning with a child…
And ending no one knows where. “God, please God, let her be alive. And God… let her not be in pain...”
Never faltering, thick with vivid characterization and building to one of the most terrifying climaxes in years, Missing Persons is a masterpiece of suspense, a novel to read and remember and dream about…on dark nights.
- GenresTrue Crime
183 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1981
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34 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 23, 2016
Audiobook review:
Missing persons is a very captivating mystery/suspense/thriller with very vivid descriptions of everything happening. I was thrilled to the bone by this exellent writing style and superb narration.
We follow Severn Gamble who's desperately searching for his missing wife and in his search we go into his mind with all the negative feelings of fear and anger. At the same time - and despite his fear - he never gives up.
We also follow detective Johnny Boon - very cynical and not very likeable - who doesn't take the missing persons cases seriously. Boon is in for a very mindbreaking journey when he suspects his own wife is missing as well and hasn't just left him for the fourth time. We follow Tally - a female detective who's investigating the case of a missing child and all three of them seems to look in different directions.
The plot is well developed and also spiced with some humor. I found the characters to be so well developed that I didn't question anything in the end. They all have a story, that gets revealed along the way and there are many twists and turns to this story. I'll defenitely want to listen to more from Jack Olsen.
The narrator Becket Royce was lively, entertaining and the same time very calm in her narration. It felt like this was a natural story for her to narrate and she did it very authentic. Becket was great with different voices and accents and she captures the humor of the characters in a wonderful way. She's a new favorite!
*This book was gifted to me in exchange for an honest review.
Missing persons is a very captivating mystery/suspense/thriller with very vivid descriptions of everything happening. I was thrilled to the bone by this exellent writing style and superb narration.
We follow Severn Gamble who's desperately searching for his missing wife and in his search we go into his mind with all the negative feelings of fear and anger. At the same time - and despite his fear - he never gives up.
We also follow detective Johnny Boon - very cynical and not very likeable - who doesn't take the missing persons cases seriously. Boon is in for a very mindbreaking journey when he suspects his own wife is missing as well and hasn't just left him for the fourth time. We follow Tally - a female detective who's investigating the case of a missing child and all three of them seems to look in different directions.
The plot is well developed and also spiced with some humor. I found the characters to be so well developed that I didn't question anything in the end. They all have a story, that gets revealed along the way and there are many twists and turns to this story. I'll defenitely want to listen to more from Jack Olsen.
The narrator Becket Royce was lively, entertaining and the same time very calm in her narration. It felt like this was a natural story for her to narrate and she did it very authentic. Becket was great with different voices and accents and she captures the humor of the characters in a wonderful way. She's a new favorite!
*This book was gifted to me in exchange for an honest review.
June 20, 2019
Very good story.
Severn Gamble's wife disappears in minutes; then a boy with Down Syndrome is missing;
the wife of police officer Johnny Boon is no where to be found; a judge disappears while taking a five minute break. What they all have in common is that they all disappeared in the Justice Building. No one has a clue what happened to any of them.
Severn Gamble's wife disappears in minutes; then a boy with Down Syndrome is missing;
the wife of police officer Johnny Boon is no where to be found; a judge disappears while taking a five minute break. What they all have in common is that they all disappeared in the Justice Building. No one has a clue what happened to any of them.
January 8, 2016
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~ I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
This mystery/suspense audiobook could also be considered as historical fiction since it is set in 1980. However, since the print version of this audiobook was actually released in 1981, I guess it was originally considered Contemporary Fiction.
Severn Gamble's wife Margot had an errand to run while the couple were on their way to celebrate Margot's 27th birthday. She needed to pick up a package at police headquarters.
Severn stays in the car while Margot runs in to grab the package, but she never comes out.
A mentally handicapped twelve year old is also missing, but no one seems to care. Everyone assumes he has run away.
But, rookie cop Tally Wickham isn't so sure. She is assigned to partner with veteran detective, John Boone who has a massive chip on his shoulder.
Together they must unravel a mystery that gets stranger by the day.
This audiobook is particularly interesting because it was written in the early 80s. During that era the police cared very little about missing persons, even children. In fact, missing persons did not even have its own division, it was considered part of the homicide division. In today's world a missing child would set off an immediate reaction. In the 80s there was no such thing as an Amber Alert.
Some of the vernacular used in this book might throw readers off a bit. Detective John Boone refers to murderers as "fools". That is not a term I have ever heard used in that way before. According to John Boone, "The worst fools come camouflaged in ordinariness."
The character development was very well done and listeners learned enough about Tally, Boone and Severn to care about them.
I enjoyed this audiobook and the narration was exceptional. The pacing and pitch were 'spot-on' and the story never seemed to lag. I rate the narration as 5 out of 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I rate this audiobook overall as 4 out of 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
To read more of my reviews visit http://AmiesBookReviews.wordpress.com
~ I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
This mystery/suspense audiobook could also be considered as historical fiction since it is set in 1980. However, since the print version of this audiobook was actually released in 1981, I guess it was originally considered Contemporary Fiction.
Severn Gamble's wife Margot had an errand to run while the couple were on their way to celebrate Margot's 27th birthday. She needed to pick up a package at police headquarters.
Severn stays in the car while Margot runs in to grab the package, but she never comes out.
A mentally handicapped twelve year old is also missing, but no one seems to care. Everyone assumes he has run away.
But, rookie cop Tally Wickham isn't so sure. She is assigned to partner with veteran detective, John Boone who has a massive chip on his shoulder.
Together they must unravel a mystery that gets stranger by the day.
This audiobook is particularly interesting because it was written in the early 80s. During that era the police cared very little about missing persons, even children. In fact, missing persons did not even have its own division, it was considered part of the homicide division. In today's world a missing child would set off an immediate reaction. In the 80s there was no such thing as an Amber Alert.
Some of the vernacular used in this book might throw readers off a bit. Detective John Boone refers to murderers as "fools". That is not a term I have ever heard used in that way before. According to John Boone, "The worst fools come camouflaged in ordinariness."
The character development was very well done and listeners learned enough about Tally, Boone and Severn to care about them.
I enjoyed this audiobook and the narration was exceptional. The pacing and pitch were 'spot-on' and the story never seemed to lag. I rate the narration as 5 out of 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I rate this audiobook overall as 4 out of 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
To read more of my reviews visit http://AmiesBookReviews.wordpress.com
August 21, 2016
"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Blast."
***THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAINS SPOILERS***
I really got drawn into this book, the mystery kept me guessing for a while before I figured how and where Severn's wife had disappeared. Top performance in the narration, that helps a lot into enjoying an already good book. The perseverance (obsession) of Severn to find his wife progressed in just the right intensity without going over the top unbelievable. The author had me convinced that I was smart when I figured "wrongly" that the cops had abducted Severn's wife. Boone and Tally were my favourite characters though, and their banter, although slightly stereotyped, was entertaining. I recommend this one to any mystery fans out there.
***THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAINS SPOILERS***
I really got drawn into this book, the mystery kept me guessing for a while before I figured how and where Severn's wife had disappeared. Top performance in the narration, that helps a lot into enjoying an already good book. The perseverance (obsession) of Severn to find his wife progressed in just the right intensity without going over the top unbelievable. The author had me convinced that I was smart when I figured "wrongly" that the cops had abducted Severn's wife. Boone and Tally were my favourite characters though, and their banter, although slightly stereotyped, was entertaining. I recommend this one to any mystery fans out there.
October 17, 2015
** I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review **
When Margot goes missing from the Justice building on her birthday her husband is bound and determined to find her! The Cops are NO help and he has no one to turn too! Well she is not the only one that is missing and people start to vanish one by one in or around this building! Tali and Boon are partnered up to investigate these disappearances and one of the missing happens to be Boons estranged wife, but he keeps that secret...will they find these people in time, and will they live to tell about it???
Good story and excellently narrated!!
Thank You Audiobookblast(dot)com
When Margot goes missing from the Justice building on her birthday her husband is bound and determined to find her! The Cops are NO help and he has no one to turn too! Well she is not the only one that is missing and people start to vanish one by one in or around this building! Tali and Boon are partnered up to investigate these disappearances and one of the missing happens to be Boons estranged wife, but he keeps that secret...will they find these people in time, and will they live to tell about it???
Good story and excellently narrated!!
Thank You Audiobookblast(dot)com
January 22, 2016
This is a rather strange book. There's nothing I can point to specifically to explain my reaction, but I just couldn't get into the story. I didn't really
like any of the characters or care what happened to them. In truth, they weren't well developed or very believable.
Becket Royce performed satisfactorily, although a male narrator might have been somewhat more appropriate for this story. The story seems forced, as though
the author put minimal effort into it. I can't recommend this book, nor can I recommend against it.
NOTE: I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for this unbiased review.
like any of the characters or care what happened to them. In truth, they weren't well developed or very believable.
Becket Royce performed satisfactorily, although a male narrator might have been somewhat more appropriate for this story. The story seems forced, as though
the author put minimal effort into it. I can't recommend this book, nor can I recommend against it.
NOTE: I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for this unbiased review.
July 31, 2015
this audiobook stars of calmly with a disapearing wife and then the plot thickens and slowly gets more and more intriguing ending with suspence .
You sympathise with the frustration of the characters whilst the police are doing nothing to help them, and understanding their need to interven.
Another good book by this team -Author Jack Olsen, and narrator Becket Royce for me this did not quite live up to my expectations (neither story or narration) after listening to their Audiobook "Have you seen my son" which was totally brilliant .
You sympathise with the frustration of the characters whilst the police are doing nothing to help them, and understanding their need to interven.
Another good book by this team -Author Jack Olsen, and narrator Becket Royce for me this did not quite live up to my expectations (neither story or narration) after listening to their Audiobook "Have you seen my son" which was totally brilliant .
August 11, 2016
“This audiobook was given by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom.”
This is the second book I've listened to by this writer and narrator team. If you like a good suspenseful mystery with a a bit of horror and even a spark of romance. It's a chilling thought that a person could go missing at the justice building. Action abounds as a few people work to solve the crimes. It held me spellbound until the very end.
The narration was well done.The characters were well portrayed.WOW!! Great range of emotions and voices.
This is the second book I've listened to by this writer and narrator team. If you like a good suspenseful mystery with a a bit of horror and even a spark of romance. It's a chilling thought that a person could go missing at the justice building. Action abounds as a few people work to solve the crimes. It held me spellbound until the very end.
The narration was well done.The characters were well portrayed.WOW!! Great range of emotions and voices.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews