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The Missing
A missing girl. A loving mother who never gave up. A betrayed wife who doesn’t know who to trust.
Teenager Edie Hudson was nobody’s little darling, which made vanishing all too easy. Two decades later, she’s been forgotten by everyone except her mother, Samantha.
And the person who knows what happened to her.
Samantha has had a long time to remember, and to regret. Having seen how little her daughter mattered to the community in the months following her disappearance, she wonders if Edie was lost before she was even gone. Or was it guilt, not indifference, that made the locals turn a blind eye? When she meets Frances, she at last starts to hope for answers.
Because Frances is obsessed with the mystery too, after finding a photo of her husband with the girl who disappeared.
What really happened all those years ago? And just how dangerous could it be to find out?
Teenager Edie Hudson was nobody’s little darling, which made vanishing all too easy. Two decades later, she’s been forgotten by everyone except her mother, Samantha.
And the person who knows what happened to her.
Samantha has had a long time to remember, and to regret. Having seen how little her daughter mattered to the community in the months following her disappearance, she wonders if Edie was lost before she was even gone. Or was it guilt, not indifference, that made the locals turn a blind eye? When she meets Frances, she at last starts to hope for answers.
Because Frances is obsessed with the mystery too, after finding a photo of her husband with the girl who disappeared.
What really happened all those years ago? And just how dangerous could it be to find out?
301 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 9, 2020
885 people are currently reading
4736 people want to read
About the author
Daisy Pearce
7 books586 followersDaisy Pearce was born in Cornwall and grew up on a smallholding surrounded by hippies. She read Stephen King’s 'Cujo' and The Hamlyn Book of Horror far too young and has been fascinated with the macabre ever since.
She began writing short stories as a teenager and after spells living in London and Brighton Daisy had her first short story ‘The Black Prince’ published in One Eye Grey magazine. Another short story, ‘The Brook Witch’, was performed on stage at the Small Story Cabaret in Lewes in 2016. She has also written articles about mental health online. In 2015, The Silence won a bursary with The Literary Consultancy, and later that year Daisy also won the Chindi Authors Competition with her short story ‘Worm Food’. Her second novel was longlisted for the Mslexia Novel Award.
Daisy currently works in the library at the University of Sussex, where she shelves books and listens to podcasts on true crime and folklore.
She began writing short stories as a teenager and after spells living in London and Brighton Daisy had her first short story ‘The Black Prince’ published in One Eye Grey magazine. Another short story, ‘The Brook Witch’, was performed on stage at the Small Story Cabaret in Lewes in 2016. She has also written articles about mental health online. In 2015, The Silence won a bursary with The Literary Consultancy, and later that year Daisy also won the Chindi Authors Competition with her short story ‘Worm Food’. Her second novel was longlisted for the Mslexia Novel Award.
Daisy currently works in the library at the University of Sussex, where she shelves books and listens to podcasts on true crime and folklore.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews
May 22, 2020
I received an advanced copy of this book from Net Galley and the publisher in return for an honest review. The release date for this book is 9 Jun 2020
This book just was not for me. From the beginning I just could not get into the story - it felt very flat and forced. It didn’t hold my attention and the characters were all pretty unlikable. There weren’t any real big surprises and the ending was pretty ho-hum. I really enjoy a good mystery/thriller but this one just didn’t pass muster.
This book just was not for me. From the beginning I just could not get into the story - it felt very flat and forced. It didn’t hold my attention and the characters were all pretty unlikable. There weren’t any real big surprises and the ending was pretty ho-hum. I really enjoy a good mystery/thriller but this one just didn’t pass muster.
January 22, 2021
The Missing by Daisy Pearce is a classic where she gone/whodunit thriller about a young terror of teenage girl who's missing, a single mother trying to find her and some dark turns and truths along the way and an ending you didn't see coming.
It's definitely a page turner which is going to keep you guessing 📖
It's definitely a page turner which is going to keep you guessing 📖
June 27, 2020
Edie Hudson was 15 when she went missing. She never made it to school that day and she's never been seen or heard from since. Her mother, Samantha, has lived with grief on a daily basis for 18 years.
Frances is married to William ... has been for 2 years. It's been a good union until recently. He's become quiet ... money is missing from their accounts ... and why does he have a picture of a very young woman on his computer .... holding a very expensive purse that he obviously paid for since he left the receipt out in the open.
And then she finds a picture of a much younger William with the missing girl.
Frances becomes obsessed with the missing girl and meeting with Edie's mother doesn't answer all the questions she has. The two women begin a journey looking for Samantha's daughter.
What really happened all those years ago? And just how dangerous could it be to find out?Someone knows exactly what happened and will do anything to keep it hidden ... anything at all.
Well written, it kept me intrigued from start to finish. The plot is a good one with plenty of characters ... potential suspects. I found it to be a quick read and I couldn't wait to get to the amazing, surprising ending.
Many thanks to the author / Amazon Publishing UK / Netgalley for the digital copy of this domestic thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
June 6, 2020
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
Fifteen year old Edie Hudson disappears without trace. It's now twenty years later and Samantha (Edie's mother) still does not know what happened to her daughter. Frances is interested in what happened to Edie. She discovers that her husband, William knew Edie. The two women accidentally meet and join forces to try and find out what happened to Edie.
The story is told from Samantha and Frances's perspectives. There seemed to be quite a lot of backstory at the beginning of the book but the more you read the more you understand why this was necessary. The story flip between then and now. I liked the friendship that developed between the two women. The ending was a surprise. There's some good twists to keep your interest.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Amazon Publishing Uk and the author Daisy Pearce for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Fifteen year old Edie Hudson disappears without trace. It's now twenty years later and Samantha (Edie's mother) still does not know what happened to her daughter. Frances is interested in what happened to Edie. She discovers that her husband, William knew Edie. The two women accidentally meet and join forces to try and find out what happened to Edie.
The story is told from Samantha and Frances's perspectives. There seemed to be quite a lot of backstory at the beginning of the book but the more you read the more you understand why this was necessary. The story flip between then and now. I liked the friendship that developed between the two women. The ending was a surprise. There's some good twists to keep your interest.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Amazon Publishing Uk and the author Daisy Pearce for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 20, 2020
This was a bit hard for me to get into I'm afraid I wasn't keen on it. It was a story about a missing child that was never solved. Dealt with the mother who never got over it and the town that forgot all about them. A twist at the end.
June 12, 2021
Very long, drawn out, dry and boring. Did not finish.
April 27, 2020
I loved this thriller! I was immediately hooked within the first few pages. This book is chalk full of subtle red herrings which will keep you guessing from the very start.
The chapters flip between Samantha and Frances, which I enjoyed as slowly their story lines start to meld together and more pieces of the mystery become clear. The mother character Samantha, is so relatable and you could feel her extreme emotional pain throughout this story. Highly recommend for those in need/want of a good thriller.
Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for a chance to review this arc in exchange for an honest review.
The chapters flip between Samantha and Frances, which I enjoyed as slowly their story lines start to meld together and more pieces of the mystery become clear. The mother character Samantha, is so relatable and you could feel her extreme emotional pain throughout this story. Highly recommend for those in need/want of a good thriller.
Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for a chance to review this arc in exchange for an honest review.
August 24, 2020
*Won in a goodreads giveaway.
This is a mystery involving two first person points of view: All present day Frances, wife of William, and Samantha, follows both a past and present timelines, mother of a missing teen daughter, Edie.
This book has 2 solid things going for it. The writing is beautiful. Pearce knows how to use descriptive writing, and it ebbs and flows at just the right time throughout the story. The ending is satisfying. Neither of those things solve the plot problems, but it does keep the book interesting all the way through - one of the better goodreads giveaway books I've read. And before you ask "what plot problems", let me present 2 questions. 1. If you discover your husband is potentially having an affair with some significant evidence, what would you do? 2. If you discover your husband once knew a girl who went missing, what would you do? It isn't that I think the plot is bad, but I think that the way you answer those questions will directly determine whether or not you buy into this plot. I would not answer those questions the same way our main character Frances does, and it made her actions throughout feel unlikely and untrue. I have the same feelings with who ends up being the bad guys and their choices.
Overall, I liked it. The great use of language to tell the story will have me reading more Daisy Pearce.
This is a mystery involving two first person points of view: All present day Frances, wife of William, and Samantha, follows both a past and present timelines, mother of a missing teen daughter, Edie.
This book has 2 solid things going for it. The writing is beautiful. Pearce knows how to use descriptive writing, and it ebbs and flows at just the right time throughout the story. The ending is satisfying. Neither of those things solve the plot problems, but it does keep the book interesting all the way through - one of the better goodreads giveaway books I've read. And before you ask "what plot problems", let me present 2 questions. 1. If you discover your husband is potentially having an affair with some significant evidence, what would you do? 2. If you discover your husband once knew a girl who went missing, what would you do? It isn't that I think the plot is bad, but I think that the way you answer those questions will directly determine whether or not you buy into this plot. I would not answer those questions the same way our main character Frances does, and it made her actions throughout feel unlikely and untrue. I have the same feelings with who ends up being the bad guys and their choices.
Overall, I liked it. The great use of language to tell the story will have me reading more Daisy Pearce.
June 6, 2020
3.5 starw rounded up to 4
Fifteen year old Edie Hudson disappears without trace. It's now twenty years later and Samantha (Edie's mother) still does not know what happened to her daughter. Frances is interested in what happened to Edie. She discovered that her husband, William knew Edie. Thrntwomwomen accidentally meet and join forces to try and find out what happened to Edie.
The story is told from Samantha and Frances's perspectives. There seemed to be quite a lot of backstory at the beginning of the book but the more you read the more you understand why this was necessary. The story flips between then and now. I liked the friendship that developed between the two women. The ending was a surprise. There's some good twists to keep you interested.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and the author Daisy Pearce for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Fifteen year old Edie Hudson disappears without trace. It's now twenty years later and Samantha (Edie's mother) still does not know what happened to her daughter. Frances is interested in what happened to Edie. She discovered that her husband, William knew Edie. Thrntwomwomen accidentally meet and join forces to try and find out what happened to Edie.
The story is told from Samantha and Frances's perspectives. There seemed to be quite a lot of backstory at the beginning of the book but the more you read the more you understand why this was necessary. The story flips between then and now. I liked the friendship that developed between the two women. The ending was a surprise. There's some good twists to keep you interested.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and the author Daisy Pearce for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 3, 2021
A missing girl. A loving mother who never gave up. A betrayed wife who doesn’t know who to trust.
Fifteen year old Edie Hudson disappeared 18 years ago without a trace. She never made it to school one day and has never been seen or heard from since. Her mother Samantha still lives with grief on a daily basis of losing her only child and wondering what became of her.
Frances has been married to William Thorn for two years but as Frances approaches 33, she is aware of her biological clock ticking and yearns to fill their lives with children. The box room upstairs is where she envisions the cot, the toybox and her nursing her baby whilst the morning sun beams through the window. But alas, that room has become William's home office and where he stores his files and keeps his computer. Recently, Frances has become suspicious of William's behaviour. Money they have saved together for their "baby fund" has gone missing from their account and he appears to be more withdrawn. And then Frances discovers a USB stick taped to the back of his computer. On it are some very revealing photos of a very young woman, in her underwear and clutching an expensive purse William paid for. Is he having an affair?
Then his mother has a fall and he and Frances make the three hour drive to the Sussex Downs to be with her. But his mother's memory appears affected and she gets names and people muddled up. The doctors assure them this is normal after a fall resulting in a head injury and she should regain her normal memory soon. But she doesn't...instead she starts to make some wild noises that don't appear to make a great deal of sense. William's younger brother Alex brings in some old photographs to help kickstart her memory...
...and that's when Frances discovers a photo of a much younger William with the missing girl. Frances then becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to Edie Hudson as she and Samantha begin to search for answers.
What really happened 18 years ago? The answer is, I didn't much care by this point. Edie was a selfish horrible girl who I didn't much care for and really wasn't invested in finding out what happened to her. All her mother Samantha to do was drone on and on monologuing about life with and without Edie. Frances' story was far more engaging but the chapters were far too long, everything far too descriptive and far too wordy that I just gave up. I ended up skipping to the final chapters to find out what happened and honestly...while it was surprising, I still didn't much care. Edie was hateful. A mean girl who treated her mother like crap. There was something seriously wrong with that girl, a borderline personality disorder maybe.
Told from both Samantha and Frances' perspectives, I was not intrigued in the slightest, but rather I was bored. From start to...well, where I finished. I was disappointed as the premise sounded so promising but the delivery just failed.
I would like to thank #DaisyPearce, #NetGalley and #AmazonPublishingUK for an ARC of #TheMissing in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Fifteen year old Edie Hudson disappeared 18 years ago without a trace. She never made it to school one day and has never been seen or heard from since. Her mother Samantha still lives with grief on a daily basis of losing her only child and wondering what became of her.
Frances has been married to William Thorn for two years but as Frances approaches 33, she is aware of her biological clock ticking and yearns to fill their lives with children. The box room upstairs is where she envisions the cot, the toybox and her nursing her baby whilst the morning sun beams through the window. But alas, that room has become William's home office and where he stores his files and keeps his computer. Recently, Frances has become suspicious of William's behaviour. Money they have saved together for their "baby fund" has gone missing from their account and he appears to be more withdrawn. And then Frances discovers a USB stick taped to the back of his computer. On it are some very revealing photos of a very young woman, in her underwear and clutching an expensive purse William paid for. Is he having an affair?
Then his mother has a fall and he and Frances make the three hour drive to the Sussex Downs to be with her. But his mother's memory appears affected and she gets names and people muddled up. The doctors assure them this is normal after a fall resulting in a head injury and she should regain her normal memory soon. But she doesn't...instead she starts to make some wild noises that don't appear to make a great deal of sense. William's younger brother Alex brings in some old photographs to help kickstart her memory...
...and that's when Frances discovers a photo of a much younger William with the missing girl. Frances then becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to Edie Hudson as she and Samantha begin to search for answers.
What really happened 18 years ago? The answer is, I didn't much care by this point. Edie was a selfish horrible girl who I didn't much care for and really wasn't invested in finding out what happened to her. All her mother Samantha to do was drone on and on monologuing about life with and without Edie. Frances' story was far more engaging but the chapters were far too long, everything far too descriptive and far too wordy that I just gave up. I ended up skipping to the final chapters to find out what happened and honestly...while it was surprising, I still didn't much care. Edie was hateful. A mean girl who treated her mother like crap. There was something seriously wrong with that girl, a borderline personality disorder maybe.
Told from both Samantha and Frances' perspectives, I was not intrigued in the slightest, but rather I was bored. From start to...well, where I finished. I was disappointed as the premise sounded so promising but the delivery just failed.
I would like to thank #DaisyPearce, #NetGalley and #AmazonPublishingUK for an ARC of #TheMissing in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
May 27, 2020
Thank You to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for this ARC!!
Teenager Edie Hudson was nobody’s little darling, which made vanishing all too easy. Two decades later, she’s been forgotten by everyone except her mother, Samantha. When she meets Frances, she at last starts to hope for answers.
Because Frances is obsessed with the mystery too, after finding a photo of her husband with the girl who disappeared.
What really happened all those years ago? And just how dangerous could it be to find out?
Initially I found the book too dense but since premise of this book really intrigued me I went on reading. I just couldn't rest until I knew what really happened to Edie. The book gets better half way through since by then the author provides us with many suspicious characters and a sense of creepiness with witchcraft!!
While the ending did not have a wow factor, it was still surprising.
Teenager Edie Hudson was nobody’s little darling, which made vanishing all too easy. Two decades later, she’s been forgotten by everyone except her mother, Samantha. When she meets Frances, she at last starts to hope for answers.
Because Frances is obsessed with the mystery too, after finding a photo of her husband with the girl who disappeared.
What really happened all those years ago? And just how dangerous could it be to find out?
Initially I found the book too dense but since premise of this book really intrigued me I went on reading. I just couldn't rest until I knew what really happened to Edie. The book gets better half way through since by then the author provides us with many suspicious characters and a sense of creepiness with witchcraft!!
While the ending did not have a wow factor, it was still surprising.
June 10, 2020
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
This book is about a teenage girl (Edie) who goes missing and the search for what has happened to her.
The main protagonist's are Edies mother Samantha and Edies (then) boyfriend Williams wife - Frances.
Samantha has never given up hope of finding her daughter again and Frances becomes fascinated in the mystery of what happened to Edie when she comes to stay in the village with her husbands mother.
This book pulled me in a few different directions - did she run away, was she abducted, is she alive or dead? I couldn't stop reading to find out what had happened to troubled Edie.
This book is about a teenage girl (Edie) who goes missing and the search for what has happened to her.
The main protagonist's are Edies mother Samantha and Edies (then) boyfriend Williams wife - Frances.
Samantha has never given up hope of finding her daughter again and Frances becomes fascinated in the mystery of what happened to Edie when she comes to stay in the village with her husbands mother.
This book pulled me in a few different directions - did she run away, was she abducted, is she alive or dead? I couldn't stop reading to find out what had happened to troubled Edie.
May 2, 2020
The Missing by Daisy Pearce is a fast-paced, engrossing thriller that will have you questioning everything you think you know until the very end.
Fifteen year old Edie Hudson has always had a somewhat problematic relationship with her mother, Samantha. When she goes missing from their small community, the case seems to be quickly forgotten by everyone but Samantha. Twenty years on a local woman, Frances, also has an interest in the case, and it is a personal one. She has discovered a photograph of her husband with the long missing girl. Alternating between 'then' and 'now', and between the perspectives of the two women, Edie's disappearance becomes an all-consuming obsession for Frances, a wife who is seeking answers, and her involvement provides hope for Samantha, a mother who has been plagued by guilt for far too long.
This is a twisty tale that will sweep you up in a compelling and unpredictable journey. You will be racing to find out what happened to Edie Hudson so many years ago.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for this ARC.
Fifteen year old Edie Hudson has always had a somewhat problematic relationship with her mother, Samantha. When she goes missing from their small community, the case seems to be quickly forgotten by everyone but Samantha. Twenty years on a local woman, Frances, also has an interest in the case, and it is a personal one. She has discovered a photograph of her husband with the long missing girl. Alternating between 'then' and 'now', and between the perspectives of the two women, Edie's disappearance becomes an all-consuming obsession for Frances, a wife who is seeking answers, and her involvement provides hope for Samantha, a mother who has been plagued by guilt for far too long.
This is a twisty tale that will sweep you up in a compelling and unpredictable journey. You will be racing to find out what happened to Edie Hudson so many years ago.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for this ARC.
December 12, 2020
Edie Hudson was only 15 when she went missing. She never made back to her or home, never been heard or seen by someone and never been found. For the past 18 years Edie's mother Samantha had been grieving over her and still wandering to find any clue or answer regarding her girl.
On the other hand Frances 2yrs of married life with her husband William had been great going until now as she suspects he is being more quiet, trying to hide something from her & all of a sudden high amount of money is missing from their account.
She finds a picture of very young woman on his computer who is holding a very expensive purse, the exact price amount of the purse had been missing recently from their account. Further she finds a picture of very young version of William with a girl who'd been missing since years.
Frances becomes obsessed with the missing girl. Suddenly one day William gets a call that his mother had slipped down the stairs is very badly hurt. They both had to travel to Williams hometown to give a visit to his mother.
And the miracle happens on day that by accident she mets Samantha but that doesn't completely answers both of their questions.
Now both women together go on the final journey of finding all the answers. What happened all those years ago? Someone knows all the answer and will try his/her best to keep it hidden.
There was very mixed review for this book but it was kind of good for me. Except for the fact that many times story was very slow.
Thanks @netgalley for e-arc
On the other hand Frances 2yrs of married life with her husband William had been great going until now as she suspects he is being more quiet, trying to hide something from her & all of a sudden high amount of money is missing from their account.
She finds a picture of very young woman on his computer who is holding a very expensive purse, the exact price amount of the purse had been missing recently from their account. Further she finds a picture of very young version of William with a girl who'd been missing since years.
Frances becomes obsessed with the missing girl. Suddenly one day William gets a call that his mother had slipped down the stairs is very badly hurt. They both had to travel to Williams hometown to give a visit to his mother.
And the miracle happens on day that by accident she mets Samantha but that doesn't completely answers both of their questions.
Now both women together go on the final journey of finding all the answers. What happened all those years ago? Someone knows all the answer and will try his/her best to keep it hidden.
There was very mixed review for this book but it was kind of good for me. Except for the fact that many times story was very slow.
Thanks @netgalley for e-arc
May 13, 2020
With thanks to Netgalley and Amazon for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.
Divorced mother of one Samantha Hudson struggled to get on with her troubled teenage daughter Edie After a violent row with her mother. Edie mysteriously disappeared in a cemetery. Despite a police investigation Edie was never seen again.
Twenty years later therapist Frances Thorn found a picture of Edie and her husband William as teenagers. She became intrigued when William's brother begged her not to tell William she had seen the picture. Frances tracked down a school friend of Edie who mentioned that William was Edie`s ex boyfriend. She then described the night Edie vanished in the cemetery.
When Samantha found out Frances was asking about Edie she was initially suspicious. However she was soon won over when she discovered Frances was now married to William.
The plot were beautifully descriptive and I could imagine myself in that dark graveyard. The story was told from Samantha twenty years earlier and Samantha and Frances in the present.
The plot was a slow burner with a hint of menace at times. Although I enjoyed the story it left me with unanswered questions which annoyed me. For instance I don't want to reveal any spoilers but it was never revealed how Frances turned her life around and became a therapist.
I think this was a promising debut book and I look forward to reading more from Daisy Pearce in the future.
Divorced mother of one Samantha Hudson struggled to get on with her troubled teenage daughter Edie After a violent row with her mother. Edie mysteriously disappeared in a cemetery. Despite a police investigation Edie was never seen again.
Twenty years later therapist Frances Thorn found a picture of Edie and her husband William as teenagers. She became intrigued when William's brother begged her not to tell William she had seen the picture. Frances tracked down a school friend of Edie who mentioned that William was Edie`s ex boyfriend. She then described the night Edie vanished in the cemetery.
When Samantha found out Frances was asking about Edie she was initially suspicious. However she was soon won over when she discovered Frances was now married to William.
The plot were beautifully descriptive and I could imagine myself in that dark graveyard. The story was told from Samantha twenty years earlier and Samantha and Frances in the present.
The plot was a slow burner with a hint of menace at times. Although I enjoyed the story it left me with unanswered questions which annoyed me. For instance I don't want to reveal any spoilers but it was never revealed how Frances turned her life around and became a therapist.
I think this was a promising debut book and I look forward to reading more from Daisy Pearce in the future.
November 29, 2020
A missing child and nobody but her mother cared. Twenty years later, the mother met Francis who was interested in knowing about the missing child as she found her husband's pic with the child.
That started the mystery going. My first book by this author, the going was slow. There was a sense of darkness with an eerie atmosphere, but the book didn't read like a fast thriller.
Overall, it was interesting as I too wanted to know what happened to the missing child.
That started the mystery going. My first book by this author, the going was slow. There was a sense of darkness with an eerie atmosphere, but the book didn't read like a fast thriller.
Overall, it was interesting as I too wanted to know what happened to the missing child.
April 19, 2020
Sadly, I wasn't super impressed with this book. I thought it had great potential, but in the end I was left feeling highly underwhelmed. The writing was fine, however, the characters were so unlikable. Not unlikeable in that way where you still love them and kind of question yourself for doing so. They were just boring and flat. The story really fell short for me too. It just wasn't blowing me away at any point. This one wasn't for me.
June 9, 2020
Along with my love of the Investigation Discovery show, Disappeared, I am instantly drawn to any synopsis like this one - the mystery of a missing young woman. Edie, at fifteen, was a handful, raised along by her young single mother, Samantha. Though Samantha readily admits she's hardly a model mother, she loved her daughter, Her story comes in then and now segments, alongside Frances; story of an imperfect marriage. As their stories converge, they are drawn to one another.
The plot progresses a little too slowly, and while it's easy to feel sympathy for both women, I never really felt connected to either one. The book relies too heavily on telling rather than showing and this only further slows the pace. I will say, the very end of the book does pick up the speed quite a bit and the plot does hold surprises, but they never really felt like the foundation was really there because the side characters are not very deeply developed. Still, the premise of Edie's disappearance drove me to continue on and though it wasn't the gripping read that I wanted it to be, but I never hated it either.
The plot progresses a little too slowly, and while it's easy to feel sympathy for both women, I never really felt connected to either one. The book relies too heavily on telling rather than showing and this only further slows the pace. I will say, the very end of the book does pick up the speed quite a bit and the plot does hold surprises, but they never really felt like the foundation was really there because the side characters are not very deeply developed. Still, the premise of Edie's disappearance drove me to continue on and though it wasn't the gripping read that I wanted it to be, but I never hated it either.
May 21, 2020
Wow! It’s going to take me a while to recover from this book - in a really, really good way!!
This story was packed with a punch and a half! I devoured it and was thinking about the story even when I didn’t have the book in my hands... and when that happens, YOU KNOW IT’S GOOD! There were so many characters involved - suspicious, crazy, and vengeful ones, and twists and turns at every chapter.
The Missing is about a rebellious 15-year-old girl named Elizabeth (Edie), who leaves home one day and never returns. Her mom, Samantha, stops at nothing, even decades later after she goes missing, to figure out what happened to her. Is she dead? Is she missing? Is she living in another town with a new family?
Meanwhile, Francis, the wife of a man that supposedly has a connection to Edie is introduced.
When Francis and Samantha accidentally meet, the two stories collide, turning it into a whirlwind of psychological craziness!
Some of the characters in the story were not likable and that’s what made me like them more. I had a genuine hate for some of them but that was the whole point in my opinion!
It was a gripping page turner that was suspenseful and fast-paced. This was my first novel written by Daisy Pearce and it definitely won’t be my last!
If you like psychological thrillers, go get this book on pre-order ASAP!
This story was packed with a punch and a half! I devoured it and was thinking about the story even when I didn’t have the book in my hands... and when that happens, YOU KNOW IT’S GOOD! There were so many characters involved - suspicious, crazy, and vengeful ones, and twists and turns at every chapter.
The Missing is about a rebellious 15-year-old girl named Elizabeth (Edie), who leaves home one day and never returns. Her mom, Samantha, stops at nothing, even decades later after she goes missing, to figure out what happened to her. Is she dead? Is she missing? Is she living in another town with a new family?
Meanwhile, Francis, the wife of a man that supposedly has a connection to Edie is introduced.
When Francis and Samantha accidentally meet, the two stories collide, turning it into a whirlwind of psychological craziness!
Some of the characters in the story were not likable and that’s what made me like them more. I had a genuine hate for some of them but that was the whole point in my opinion!
It was a gripping page turner that was suspenseful and fast-paced. This was my first novel written by Daisy Pearce and it definitely won’t be my last!
If you like psychological thrillers, go get this book on pre-order ASAP!
May 28, 2020
The Missing centres around Samantha, whose daughter Edie went missing two decades earlier. The papers said 15 year old Edie was “no angel”, it made her disappearance all to easy to ignore. When a chance encounter with Frances occurs Samantha’s hope is reignited in finding her daughter.
Frances is also compelled to find answers too, after finding a photo of her husband with the girl who went missing.
I was totally engrossed by this. I was berating myself for not being able to stay up all night to get through it in one sitting. The characters were flawed and it made them that much more real. I felt like I was right there with them, feeling their desperation for the truth. I had so many theories going through this, none of them right. The pacing was perfect, the plot unfurled beautifully and all the little details enriched the writing. This was my first Daisy Pearce book and it most certainly won’t be my last.
The Missing is available from the 9th June.
Thank you Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for my copy to review!
Frances is also compelled to find answers too, after finding a photo of her husband with the girl who went missing.
I was totally engrossed by this. I was berating myself for not being able to stay up all night to get through it in one sitting. The characters were flawed and it made them that much more real. I felt like I was right there with them, feeling their desperation for the truth. I had so many theories going through this, none of them right. The pacing was perfect, the plot unfurled beautifully and all the little details enriched the writing. This was my first Daisy Pearce book and it most certainly won’t be my last.
The Missing is available from the 9th June.
Thank you Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for my copy to review!
July 20, 2020
3.5 stars
This story was definitely a ride. I read it in one sitting because it captivated me from the beginning and there’s so much happening here that I needed to see how and where everything goes and unfolds.
I had my suspicions about the actual ending but I am still surprised to read it because I honestly didn’t expect that.
While it was a fast paced read, it was also predictable in many parts of the story for me hence the lower star review.
Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.
This story was definitely a ride. I read it in one sitting because it captivated me from the beginning and there’s so much happening here that I needed to see how and where everything goes and unfolds.
I had my suspicions about the actual ending but I am still surprised to read it because I honestly didn’t expect that.
While it was a fast paced read, it was also predictable in many parts of the story for me hence the lower star review.
Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.
April 24, 2020
This book was received for free via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Missing is a novel about three women - one, a young woman that went missing. The second, a mother that never stopped looking for her. The third, a woman facing marital problems who inexplicably finds herself tied to this mystery. One questions remains at the forefront throughout this work - what really happened to Edie Hudson?
I really enjoyed this book! The mystery definitely kept me hooked, and I found the narrative style really easy to get into. Told in first person, it's easy to feel sucked into the characters point of view. The writing style as well I found to be beautiful, as I'm definitely a fan of a more flowery style of writing!
I can see people as finding the start of the novel very slow, as much of it is building up your understanding of the characters and their circumstances. A lot of attention is given to Samantha, Edie's mother, and her emotional state throughout the events of the novel. While I understand that her state of mind is hugely important throughout the novel, I do find that parts of it suffered with pacing due to it.
The characters were interesting, although I wish Frances had had a bit more of that same care given to her. Her motivations were understandable on surface level, but her character just felt a lot lighter in comparison to Samantha. Beyond the two main characters, and one character which I won't get into due to spoilers, many of the side characters feel one dimensional. As there isn't a huge focus on those characters, I find that it doesn't detract from the story much.
Overall, I found the book to be a really enjoyable read, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is interested in the mystery/thriller genre. After reading this book, I'm definitely interested in checking out the other novel she has to offer, and I'm looking forward to seeing what the author does in the future!
The Missing is a novel about three women - one, a young woman that went missing. The second, a mother that never stopped looking for her. The third, a woman facing marital problems who inexplicably finds herself tied to this mystery. One questions remains at the forefront throughout this work - what really happened to Edie Hudson?
I really enjoyed this book! The mystery definitely kept me hooked, and I found the narrative style really easy to get into. Told in first person, it's easy to feel sucked into the characters point of view. The writing style as well I found to be beautiful, as I'm definitely a fan of a more flowery style of writing!
I can see people as finding the start of the novel very slow, as much of it is building up your understanding of the characters and their circumstances. A lot of attention is given to Samantha, Edie's mother, and her emotional state throughout the events of the novel. While I understand that her state of mind is hugely important throughout the novel, I do find that parts of it suffered with pacing due to it.
The characters were interesting, although I wish Frances had had a bit more of that same care given to her. Her motivations were understandable on surface level, but her character just felt a lot lighter in comparison to Samantha. Beyond the two main characters, and one character which I won't get into due to spoilers, many of the side characters feel one dimensional. As there isn't a huge focus on those characters, I find that it doesn't detract from the story much.
Overall, I found the book to be a really enjoyable read, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is interested in the mystery/thriller genre. After reading this book, I'm definitely interested in checking out the other novel she has to offer, and I'm looking forward to seeing what the author does in the future!
July 7, 2020
“among the rubble, a single plant can grow” 😍😍 This quote alone bumped what would have been 3 stars up to 4!
April 27, 2020
The Missing is a story told in alternating perspectives by two women who’s lives are unknowingly intertwined. Samantha tells her story then and now, when her daughter went missing and 20 years later as she continues to search for answers. Frances lets her curiosity get the better of her when she finds out about a missing girl from her husbands past. In her search for answers, she encounters Samantha and the two become an unlikely pair. The final 1/3 of the book is filled with shocking twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
June 6, 2020
Marriages aren't always what they seem and neither are people. Who can you really trust? Who should you really trust?
This book is told from two points of view: Frances, who seems to have a deeply troubled past and is married to William who "rescued" her although might be having an affair now, and Samantha, whose 15-year-old deeply troubled daughter vanished without a trace 20 years earlier. Frances and William are in his hometown because his mother, who lives with his closeted brother, has a severe fall, and while there, Frances discovers that William was dating Edie when she disappeared. Can Frances help Samantha finally get some answers after all these years of purgatory?
I really liked the friendship that develops between Frances and Samantha. It's nice to see a friendship between two women that isn't torn apart because of a relationship with a man or because of jealousy. I also really liked that there was just enough backstory for us to understand the motives of most of the characters even if we lack full explanations.
This was definitely a quick, fun read to start off the summer, although maybe not as heart-pumping suspenseful as it could have been for a thriller. I would have liked a bit more teasing out the whodunnit, since most (but not all) was easily guessed very early on.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of the arc. It has not influenced my opinion.
This book is told from two points of view: Frances, who seems to have a deeply troubled past and is married to William who "rescued" her although might be having an affair now, and Samantha, whose 15-year-old deeply troubled daughter vanished without a trace 20 years earlier. Frances and William are in his hometown because his mother, who lives with his closeted brother, has a severe fall, and while there, Frances discovers that William was dating Edie when she disappeared. Can Frances help Samantha finally get some answers after all these years of purgatory?
I really liked the friendship that develops between Frances and Samantha. It's nice to see a friendship between two women that isn't torn apart because of a relationship with a man or because of jealousy. I also really liked that there was just enough backstory for us to understand the motives of most of the characters even if we lack full explanations.
This was definitely a quick, fun read to start off the summer, although maybe not as heart-pumping suspenseful as it could have been for a thriller. I would have liked a bit more teasing out the whodunnit, since most (but not all) was easily guessed very early on.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of the arc. It has not influenced my opinion.
July 6, 2020
Kind thanks to @netgalley and @amazonpublishing for the arc🥰
This was a novel outside of my usual genre pickings but I’m glad that I requested it. The premise intrigued me and once I started reading, it hooked me right in.
Edie Hudson, 15 years old and quite the tear away, goes missing. Her mother, Samantha, a single parent, knows Edie isn’t a perfect child but refuses to give up on her as the media and police slowly but surely, relax their search for Edie.
Frances Thorn, has also had her fair share of a wild life. However, now married to William, she has left that life behind and becomes suspicious after seeing a picture of William and Edie together as teenagers, shortly before Edie goes missing. Why has William never mentioned Edie before and what does he know about her disappearance?
‘The Missing’ is a good psychological thriller that gets under your skin. It’s chapters are short and snappy and the characters are all somewhat suspicious so you’re never quite sure who is guilty of what. I did predict the culprit somewhat but I wouldn’t let that put you off. It’s intense, packed filled to the brim with suspense and hard to leave down. This would be a good easy read if you’re on holidays and not looking for anything too taxing.
This was a novel outside of my usual genre pickings but I’m glad that I requested it. The premise intrigued me and once I started reading, it hooked me right in.
Edie Hudson, 15 years old and quite the tear away, goes missing. Her mother, Samantha, a single parent, knows Edie isn’t a perfect child but refuses to give up on her as the media and police slowly but surely, relax their search for Edie.
Frances Thorn, has also had her fair share of a wild life. However, now married to William, she has left that life behind and becomes suspicious after seeing a picture of William and Edie together as teenagers, shortly before Edie goes missing. Why has William never mentioned Edie before and what does he know about her disappearance?
‘The Missing’ is a good psychological thriller that gets under your skin. It’s chapters are short and snappy and the characters are all somewhat suspicious so you’re never quite sure who is guilty of what. I did predict the culprit somewhat but I wouldn’t let that put you off. It’s intense, packed filled to the brim with suspense and hard to leave down. This would be a good easy read if you’re on holidays and not looking for anything too taxing.
August 24, 2020
Riveting Mystery
This book was fascinating. I can't give any spoilers away because this book has so many twists and turns. William is such a complex character, as well as his wife Frances. They are bored in their marriage and he might be cheating. Frances is a force though and she will not leave any stone unturned in her quest to find out if he is. And then she uses that same determination to find out the truth behind a missing teenager from 20 years ago. Along with help from the girls grieving Mother. It was very well done. I couldn't put the book down once I started it. And the ending was so anticlimactic I was disappointed. I wanted more. I wanted closure. But it was too fast and then it ended abruptly with a couple of unanswered loose ends. So I did take one star away for that. I definitely will read this author again.
This book was fascinating. I can't give any spoilers away because this book has so many twists and turns. William is such a complex character, as well as his wife Frances. They are bored in their marriage and he might be cheating. Frances is a force though and she will not leave any stone unturned in her quest to find out if he is. And then she uses that same determination to find out the truth behind a missing teenager from 20 years ago. Along with help from the girls grieving Mother. It was very well done. I couldn't put the book down once I started it. And the ending was so anticlimactic I was disappointed. I wanted more. I wanted closure. But it was too fast and then it ended abruptly with a couple of unanswered loose ends. So I did take one star away for that. I definitely will read this author again.
May 13, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an Advanced Release Copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The Missing started off really well with such a well written, heartbreaking description of a mother's experience following the disappearance of her daughter. Alongside this, there is an equally well written story of a marriage in trouble due to the apparent misdeeds of the husband.
Unfortunately, it then hit a wall and I struggled to finish it. The parallel stories never fully developed and things were left unfinished. I was left with this weird confused feeling at the end. Overall though, I found it a decently rounded drama / thriller but not an absolute must-read.
The Missing started off really well with such a well written, heartbreaking description of a mother's experience following the disappearance of her daughter. Alongside this, there is an equally well written story of a marriage in trouble due to the apparent misdeeds of the husband.
Unfortunately, it then hit a wall and I struggled to finish it. The parallel stories never fully developed and things were left unfinished. I was left with this weird confused feeling at the end. Overall though, I found it a decently rounded drama / thriller but not an absolute must-read.
June 16, 2020
I loved Daisy Pearce's first book 'The Silence' so I was eager to get my hands on her second novel which didn't dissapoint. I was hooked from the first chapter and stayed up way too late with my nose in the book. I found myself thinking of the characters when I wasn't reading, pulling me back for more.
The story revolves around 15 year old Edie who went missing almost 20 years ago. With a gripping plot and well developed characters the story flows really well. It has surprising twists that will keep you guessing, and a strong ending. The real star of this book though is the beautiful writing style. It's a real page turner which I highly recommend.
Will definitely be keeping an eye out for more of Pearce's work in the future.
The story revolves around 15 year old Edie who went missing almost 20 years ago. With a gripping plot and well developed characters the story flows really well. It has surprising twists that will keep you guessing, and a strong ending. The real star of this book though is the beautiful writing style. It's a real page turner which I highly recommend.
Will definitely be keeping an eye out for more of Pearce's work in the future.
May 24, 2020
The Missing by Daisy Pearce is one I will not forget for a very long time. It's the type of novel that stays with you and provokes you to pick up another Daisy Pearce book. I had never read one of her novels, but after reading this, I became a forever fan. I felt that I was actually there with Samantha Hudson as she searched for her missing daughter. The characters were all flawed, which made them so relatable. I felt like the skeletons in their closets made them real. The twist at the end shocked me and I stayed up way too late to finish. This novel is definitely one I would recommend to any thriller/mystery lover.
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