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The Missing
An urban legend becomes all too real for a teen who takes a shortcut through the woods.
Still struggling with grief over the death of her mom, Jess looks for comfort in the wrong places ... and the wrong boys. Determined to get to a party where she can numb her feelings and forget about her problems for a few hours, Jess makes a decision that quickly goes very wrong. In this dark retelling, loosely based on Beauty and the Beast, Jess is in danger of becoming one of the girls in her suburban area who've gone missing and are never heard from again.
Still struggling with grief over the death of her mom, Jess looks for comfort in the wrong places ... and the wrong boys. Determined to get to a party where she can numb her feelings and forget about her problems for a few hours, Jess makes a decision that quickly goes very wrong. In this dark retelling, loosely based on Beauty and the Beast, Jess is in danger of becoming one of the girls in her suburban area who've gone missing and are never heard from again.
41 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 12, 2020
4 people want to read
About the author
Kristi Helvig
15 books220 followersKristi Helvig is a Ph.D. clinical psychologist turned sci-fi/fantasy author. She muses about Star Trek, space monkeys, and other assorted topics on her blog. Kristi resides in sunny Colorado with her hubby, two kiddos, and behaviorally-challenged dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 21, 2024
The Missing is definitely a page turner!! This is a Beauty and the Beast retelling with a suspense thriller twist. Very suspenseful!! I highly recommend this short story!
April 18, 2020
ONE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY!!!
Rock solid! Kristi delivers all the magic and heat while she throws down this heart pounding rollercoaster wonder that's as riveting as it is captivating. One thrilling storyline and gripping plot with all the twists and turns you're not sure which way to run. Wrestling a multitude of trials, plot twists and explosive emotions while balancing on a razors edge. A churning vortex of vexing circumstances and troubling events leads to drama, intrigue, danger and suspense that blows this baby wide open. The chemistry is intense, sizzling and palpable. The characters are authentic and realistic with depth and qualities that blend and flow. The scenes are so vividly detailed it gives the illusion you were right there with them instead of on the sidelines. Fantastic job Kristi, thanks for sharing this bad boy with us.
Rock solid! Kristi delivers all the magic and heat while she throws down this heart pounding rollercoaster wonder that's as riveting as it is captivating. One thrilling storyline and gripping plot with all the twists and turns you're not sure which way to run. Wrestling a multitude of trials, plot twists and explosive emotions while balancing on a razors edge. A churning vortex of vexing circumstances and troubling events leads to drama, intrigue, danger and suspense that blows this baby wide open. The chemistry is intense, sizzling and palpable. The characters are authentic and realistic with depth and qualities that blend and flow. The scenes are so vividly detailed it gives the illusion you were right there with them instead of on the sidelines. Fantastic job Kristi, thanks for sharing this bad boy with us.
April 22, 2020
I have to admit, I've always been a sucker for beauty and the beast stories. There's something so exquisitely glorious about the tale of a beast who is actually kind, and a beauty who's reflect her soul. This is the first time I have read a ghost story retelling of it though.
I really enjoyed The Missing. The setting, the plot, the characters... I liked how Jess - the protagonist - was actually kind of selfish, and that the Beast was.... Well, that'll be a spoiler, wouldn't it? It's a refreshing change. My favourite section was the song, the lyrics so darkly poignant.
Warning: I received an ARC in exchange for my HONEST opinion
I really enjoyed The Missing. The setting, the plot, the characters... I liked how Jess - the protagonist - was actually kind of selfish, and that the Beast was.... Well, that'll be a spoiler, wouldn't it? It's a refreshing change. My favourite section was the song, the lyrics so darkly poignant.
Warning: I received an ARC in exchange for my HONEST opinion
July 11, 2020
A definite page turner.
I dissolved this story in one day. The author has Beauty and the Beast in mind which I found those same qualities, but I kept thinking of Hansel and Gretel. This was a very twisty tale and enjoyed reading it. The main character was intriguing and the development of the story was nicely entwined. I felt the emotions all around for the missing and the main character. I gave it 4.5 stars because some of the error in grammar threw me out of the story a few times.
I dissolved this story in one day. The author has Beauty and the Beast in mind which I found those same qualities, but I kept thinking of Hansel and Gretel. This was a very twisty tale and enjoyed reading it. The main character was intriguing and the development of the story was nicely entwined. I felt the emotions all around for the missing and the main character. I gave it 4.5 stars because some of the error in grammar threw me out of the story a few times.
April 19, 2020
The Missing by Kristi Helvig will scare you enough to never walk alone through the woods... if you ever thought that was a good idea, anyway! This short story is truly full of creep factor, and it has a great backstory. I love it, but I don't necessarily recommend reading it right before bed. Might want to have a different plan for that!
I received this book as a gift and have offered my honest opinion above.
I received this book as a gift and have offered my honest opinion above.
April 18, 2020
The Missing by Kristi Helvig is a subtle re-imaging of Beauty and The Beast. It is a fast read that grabs you from the first page and does not let go until the final word. This is not a story to be read late at night as it is scary and will creep you out. Looking forward to reading more by this author. Received an ARC and this is my voluntary and honest review.
April 18, 2020
this short story is AMAZING, i loved it.
once i started reading it i couldn’t stop, i’ve read a lot of retellings about fairy tales but this one is by far my favourite.
Full of suspense and mystery, the writing style is amazing, and the author knows how to make you wish you were inside the story.
if you’re into mystery and scary stories this one is for you!
once i started reading it i couldn’t stop, i’ve read a lot of retellings about fairy tales but this one is by far my favourite.
Full of suspense and mystery, the writing style is amazing, and the author knows how to make you wish you were inside the story.
if you’re into mystery and scary stories this one is for you!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews