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The Night She Went Missing
"A great new voice in suspense...Perfect for fans of Big Little Lies who thrive on stories of deceit in the suburban world.”
—J. T. Ellison, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Her Dark Lies
"Pitch perfect suspense...The best debut I’ve read this year.” --Allison Brennan, New York Times bestselling author
An intriguing and twisty domestic suspense about loyalty and deceit in a tight-knit Texas community where parents are known to behave badly and people are not always who they appear to be.
Emily, a popular but bookish prep school senior, goes missing after a night out with friends. She was last seen leaving a party with Alex, a football player with a dubious reputation. But no one is talking.
Now three mothers, Catherine, Leslie and Morgan, friends turned frenemies, have their lives turned upside down as they are forced to look to their own children—and each other’s—for answers to questions they don’t want to ask.
Each mother is sure she knows who is responsible, but they all have their own secrets to keep and reputations to protect. And the lies they tell themselves and each other may just have the potential to be lethal in this riveting debut.
—J. T. Ellison, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Her Dark Lies
"Pitch perfect suspense...The best debut I’ve read this year.” --Allison Brennan, New York Times bestselling author
An intriguing and twisty domestic suspense about loyalty and deceit in a tight-knit Texas community where parents are known to behave badly and people are not always who they appear to be.
Emily, a popular but bookish prep school senior, goes missing after a night out with friends. She was last seen leaving a party with Alex, a football player with a dubious reputation. But no one is talking.
Now three mothers, Catherine, Leslie and Morgan, friends turned frenemies, have their lives turned upside down as they are forced to look to their own children—and each other’s—for answers to questions they don’t want to ask.
Each mother is sure she knows who is responsible, but they all have their own secrets to keep and reputations to protect. And the lies they tell themselves and each other may just have the potential to be lethal in this riveting debut.
352 pages, Paperback
First published February 8, 2022
257 people are currently reading
9296 people want to read
About the author
Kristen Bird
11 books297 followersKristen has lived coast to coast, but with her extended family in north Alabama, her roots run southern deep. She teaches high school English and writes in local coffee shops near her home outside of Houston. In her free time, she likes to visit parks with her three daughters, watch quirky films with her husband, and attempt to keep pace with her rescue lab-mixes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 408 reviews
January 12, 2022
An intriguing suspense story that quickly loses steam.
Emily is a high school senior who comes from a family well known in their Texas community. One night, she goes missing after having a movie night with friends.
Her mom, Catherine, understandably freaks out. She thinks she knows who might’ve put Emily in harm. Two other women in town have their suspicions too.
Are any of them right?
I don’t have a lot to say about this one. The synopsis pulled me in, and I enjoyed the first half. I could just imagine all of the wicked directions the story might’ve gone.
Unfortunately, the second half is bogged down with terrible dialogue (huge pet peeve of mine). On top of that, The plot points and characters became tedious and extremely unrealistic. Nothing shocked me, and the ending left a lot (and I mean a lot) to be desired. Honestly, I couldn’t have cared less what happened to Emily.
To sum it up, I wouldn’t recommend this one. I hope other readers have better success with it.
Thank you to Mira and NetGalley for a widget of the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 2/8/22.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
Emily is a high school senior who comes from a family well known in their Texas community. One night, she goes missing after having a movie night with friends.
Her mom, Catherine, understandably freaks out. She thinks she knows who might’ve put Emily in harm. Two other women in town have their suspicions too.
Are any of them right?
I don’t have a lot to say about this one. The synopsis pulled me in, and I enjoyed the first half. I could just imagine all of the wicked directions the story might’ve gone.
Unfortunately, the second half is bogged down with terrible dialogue (huge pet peeve of mine). On top of that, The plot points and characters became tedious and extremely unrealistic. Nothing shocked me, and the ending left a lot (and I mean a lot) to be desired. Honestly, I couldn’t have cared less what happened to Emily.
To sum it up, I wouldn’t recommend this one. I hope other readers have better success with it.
Thank you to Mira and NetGalley for a widget of the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 2/8/22.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
February 4, 2022
2.5 stars, rounded up because the beginning was strong.
Started off strongly, I was quite invested. And then it got more and more unbelievable until I was shaking my head.
We know from the beginning that Emily is found, so that takes the suspense off the table. I went back and forth about whether I thought that was a wise choice, but it does work with the scope of the tale. It is told from the points of view of multiple people: Emily, reflecting back on what happened in her past that led her to the present, as she is rescued but lying in a hospital comatose. Other points of view: Catherine, Emily's mother, and Leslie and Morgan, mothers of students Emily goes to school with. As the story unfolds, there are secrets, lies, people covering up those secrets, and people in denial about the secrets.
As I said, the story starts off well. It deliberately lays out the story of a family who has moved from Oregon to Galveston as a result of a scandal. Emily is in her senior year of high school and is now attending a prestigious private school owned by her grandmother. She goes to a party one night and disappears. She disappears about midway through the book, and that's when things just start to go sideways.
People start to do bizarre (and I do mean bizarre, straight out of a really bad movie) things. The rationale for these things makes very little sense. When I think more about it, the more outlandish it seems. I was compelled to keep reading because I absolutely needed to know how things were going to wrap up.
If you like domestic drama with lots of people doing bad things and other people covering it up, then you might enjoy this one. It's a kind of soapy train wreck where you just can't look away even though you know you should.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Started off strongly, I was quite invested. And then it got more and more unbelievable until I was shaking my head.
We know from the beginning that Emily is found, so that takes the suspense off the table. I went back and forth about whether I thought that was a wise choice, but it does work with the scope of the tale. It is told from the points of view of multiple people: Emily, reflecting back on what happened in her past that led her to the present, as she is rescued but lying in a hospital comatose. Other points of view: Catherine, Emily's mother, and Leslie and Morgan, mothers of students Emily goes to school with. As the story unfolds, there are secrets, lies, people covering up those secrets, and people in denial about the secrets.
As I said, the story starts off well. It deliberately lays out the story of a family who has moved from Oregon to Galveston as a result of a scandal. Emily is in her senior year of high school and is now attending a prestigious private school owned by her grandmother. She goes to a party one night and disappears. She disappears about midway through the book, and that's when things just start to go sideways.
People start to do bizarre (and I do mean bizarre, straight out of a really bad movie) things. The rationale for these things makes very little sense. When I think more about it, the more outlandish it seems. I was compelled to keep reading because I absolutely needed to know how things were going to wrap up.
If you like domestic drama with lots of people doing bad things and other people covering it up, then you might enjoy this one. It's a kind of soapy train wreck where you just can't look away even though you know you should.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
February 12, 2022
The Night She Went Missing by Kristen Bird is a domestic suspense novel. The story in The Night She Went Missing is one that is told from alternating through multiple points of view with there also being some flashing back to the past.
After Catherine is wrapped up in a scandal her husband convinces her the best thing for them would be to move from Oregon to Galveston closer to his mother. Unfortunately for the family it’s not long after arriving that their oldest daughter, Emily, goes missing. Emily had gone to a party one night and never returned home leading to three months of searching to find out just what happened that night.
The Night She Went Missing by Kristen Bird is the type of story that gives you an event that will happen later in the book right away and builds the story in the before that time and after. There is a lot of domestic drama going on mixed with the suspense of the when where and hows of the missing girl. I found that I was still engaged even knowing what was coming and even more so waiting for the after. A solid debut novel for Kristen Bird.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
After Catherine is wrapped up in a scandal her husband convinces her the best thing for them would be to move from Oregon to Galveston closer to his mother. Unfortunately for the family it’s not long after arriving that their oldest daughter, Emily, goes missing. Emily had gone to a party one night and never returned home leading to three months of searching to find out just what happened that night.
The Night She Went Missing by Kristen Bird is the type of story that gives you an event that will happen later in the book right away and builds the story in the before that time and after. There is a lot of domestic drama going on mixed with the suspense of the when where and hows of the missing girl. I found that I was still engaged even knowing what was coming and even more so waiting for the after. A solid debut novel for Kristen Bird.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
September 25, 2022
The Night She Went Missing by Kristen Bird was a total cover read for me and I couldn't be happier! First of all, the cover is fantastic and if you have a physical copy can we just talk about the great texture of the letters? I am weird like this and love anything that can make the cover of a book different. I also loved the tagline on the front, and I didn't need to see much more than that to know this was something I wanted to read. I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Megan Tusing and managed to listen to it all in one sitting because it is one of those stories you just cannot put down. I loved the mystery surrounding Emily's disappearance and there are a handful of viewpoints which also helps to keep things interesting. It did take me a minute to get all of the characters straight, but I was able to get a handle on them eventually after I got further into the book.
I do think that The Night She Went Missing would have benefited from a full cast for the audio, or at the very least a second narrator for Emily. Tusing is an excellent voice actor, and I loved her for this, but her voice wasn't really right for Emily's age, and it bugged me (probably more than it should have). However! I do still recommend the audiobook and I thought for having to do everything herself, Tusing did a great job with it. I am really impressed that this is Bird's debut novel and I thought it was a very addictive domestic suspense with the perfect air of mystery surrounding it. The twists managed to surprise me for the most part and it was a real page-turner which are two of my favorite things to have in a book. There was also a great touch of darkness to the story that wasn't overwhelming, but it is there. Overall, I was incredibly happy with The Night She Went Missing and I will definitely be reading whatever Bird writes next!
I received an advanced listening copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I do think that The Night She Went Missing would have benefited from a full cast for the audio, or at the very least a second narrator for Emily. Tusing is an excellent voice actor, and I loved her for this, but her voice wasn't really right for Emily's age, and it bugged me (probably more than it should have). However! I do still recommend the audiobook and I thought for having to do everything herself, Tusing did a great job with it. I am really impressed that this is Bird's debut novel and I thought it was a very addictive domestic suspense with the perfect air of mystery surrounding it. The twists managed to surprise me for the most part and it was a real page-turner which are two of my favorite things to have in a book. There was also a great touch of darkness to the story that wasn't overwhelming, but it is there. Overall, I was incredibly happy with The Night She Went Missing and I will definitely be reading whatever Bird writes next!
I received an advanced listening copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
April 8, 2022
Popular and brainy high school senior Emily mysteriously goes missing after a night out with her friends. The last time she was seen she was departing the party with Alex a football player with a shady reputation.
With no one talking, three mothers Morgan, Catherine, and Leslie put their differences aside to piece together what happened. Their lives are forever changed when they question their own children. Each thinks they know who is responsible and are hellbent on keeping their reputation intact. Each had their own secrets. What happen to Emily?
I listened to the audiobook and while the narrator was great I thought the book was just ok. It felt long and dragged out and the plot twists were underwhelming.
With no one talking, three mothers Morgan, Catherine, and Leslie put their differences aside to piece together what happened. Their lives are forever changed when they question their own children. Each thinks they know who is responsible and are hellbent on keeping their reputation intact. Each had their own secrets. What happen to Emily?
I listened to the audiobook and while the narrator was great I thought the book was just ok. It felt long and dragged out and the plot twists were underwhelming.
June 30, 2023
Definitely not one of my favorites. In fact I wanted to DNF it several times but I kept going even though it was agonizing.
We learn right up front Emily is found, there goes the suspense. Bunch of catty over the top rich women go at each other. Couldn’t connect with any of them. The story line was very basic and simply not for me. I wish I DNF it so that I didn’t waste so many days on it.
I hope you will have a much better time than me.
Enjoy!
We learn right up front Emily is found, there goes the suspense. Bunch of catty over the top rich women go at each other. Couldn’t connect with any of them. The story line was very basic and simply not for me. I wish I DNF it so that I didn’t waste so many days on it.
I hope you will have a much better time than me.
Enjoy!
April 23, 2022
I won this through a goodreads giveaway. Thank you Mira Books.
This is one you should try and finish in one sitting in a quiet place with no one around. I kept telling my friends that I was on a good part and would talk when I was done.
I liked the way how the characters were written and presented in this story.
Mostly, this thriller was a family drama and the dynamic that was played out was intriguing and it grabbed me from the first sentence.
Give this book a go and enjoy the ride.
This is one you should try and finish in one sitting in a quiet place with no one around. I kept telling my friends that I was on a good part and would talk when I was done.
I liked the way how the characters were written and presented in this story.
Mostly, this thriller was a family drama and the dynamic that was played out was intriguing and it grabbed me from the first sentence.
Give this book a go and enjoy the ride.
March 6, 2022
Favorite Quotes:
… they also looked literally hungry. They all had that fresh scrub of a facial and the sallow cheeks of the carb-less.
I think that’s everything, ladies. The truth as we know it. Now, we must decide how much to tell everyone else.
My Review:
This was cleverly written, maddeningly paced, shrewdly plotted, and brilliantly laced together with an original cast of characters who were fatally flawed and varying degrees of abhorrent, yet also compelling and authentic. I was loath to put my beloved Kindle down as I was itching to discover the culprit and unearth the chain of events. I developed, modified, morphed, and cast off multiple theories but was only partially correct in my conclusions – what guile! Kristen Bird is a sly and devious trickster and I was stunned when I noticed this was her debut publication. She is definitely one to watch and going on my list of favorites.
… they also looked literally hungry. They all had that fresh scrub of a facial and the sallow cheeks of the carb-less.
I think that’s everything, ladies. The truth as we know it. Now, we must decide how much to tell everyone else.
My Review:
This was cleverly written, maddeningly paced, shrewdly plotted, and brilliantly laced together with an original cast of characters who were fatally flawed and varying degrees of abhorrent, yet also compelling and authentic. I was loath to put my beloved Kindle down as I was itching to discover the culprit and unearth the chain of events. I developed, modified, morphed, and cast off multiple theories but was only partially correct in my conclusions – what guile! Kristen Bird is a sly and devious trickster and I was stunned when I noticed this was her debut publication. She is definitely one to watch and going on my list of favorites.
February 8, 2022
How is it possible that THE NIGHT SHE WENT MISSING by Kristen Bird is a debut novel? This story blew me away! Lies and secrets like nobody’s business! This was such a crazy ride! I was sitting there trying to figure out what was a lie and who was telling the truth!
Kristen Bird has a talent for creating gripping plot lines and a book that practically demands to be read in one sitting and THE NIGHT SHE WENT MISSING is no exception. I took my time with this amazing and mind blowing story as I wanted to make it last. Bird reels in her readers with quite a hook.
Kristen Bird starts by putting the reader on a crazy roller coaster ride of emotions! Emily is missing. She was last seen leaving a party with Alex, the boy with a player reputation. What started out as a night out with friends is left with everyone wondering, what happened to Emily? Three mothers in the community are forced to look at their children and ask the most difficult questions. Once Emily is found, her mother Catherine, works with Alex’s mother, Morgan, and another classmates mother, Leslie to try and piece it all together. What happened that night? You are going to have to read THE NIGHT SHE WENT MISSING to find out!
I was quickly caught up in the story-line and found it difficult to put down. This book just flew by! THE NIGHT SHE WENT MISSING was such a thrilling ride for me! THE NIGHT SHE WENT MISSING is a real page-turner. I couldn’t put it down until I knew what had happened. Fans of psychological mysteries will enjoy this one. This story is so well written, that even though it jumps back and forth between the present and the past, it is still easy to follow. THE NIGHT SHE WENT MISSING is a suspenseful tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final pages.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from MIRA through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Kristen Bird has a talent for creating gripping plot lines and a book that practically demands to be read in one sitting and THE NIGHT SHE WENT MISSING is no exception. I took my time with this amazing and mind blowing story as I wanted to make it last. Bird reels in her readers with quite a hook.
Kristen Bird starts by putting the reader on a crazy roller coaster ride of emotions! Emily is missing. She was last seen leaving a party with Alex, the boy with a player reputation. What started out as a night out with friends is left with everyone wondering, what happened to Emily? Three mothers in the community are forced to look at their children and ask the most difficult questions. Once Emily is found, her mother Catherine, works with Alex’s mother, Morgan, and another classmates mother, Leslie to try and piece it all together. What happened that night? You are going to have to read THE NIGHT SHE WENT MISSING to find out!
I was quickly caught up in the story-line and found it difficult to put down. This book just flew by! THE NIGHT SHE WENT MISSING was such a thrilling ride for me! THE NIGHT SHE WENT MISSING is a real page-turner. I couldn’t put it down until I knew what had happened. Fans of psychological mysteries will enjoy this one. This story is so well written, that even though it jumps back and forth between the present and the past, it is still easy to follow. THE NIGHT SHE WENT MISSING is a suspenseful tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final pages.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from MIRA through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
October 1, 2021
Talk about dark and twisted! The Night She Went Missing, is easily going to break the internet! Kristen Bird has a way of telling a story like no other. I can not wait to see what network will pick up this storyline!!!!
This is a story about loyalty and deceit . Not everything is what it seems. What was once considered a tight knit Texas town, is now being ripped right open and the parents are being exposed for all of their bad behavior .
Emily is missing. Emily was last seen leaving a party with Alex, the boy with a playboy reputation. What started out as a night out with friends is left with everyone wondering, what happened to Emily?
Morgan, Leslie, and Catherine used to be friends, now you cant quite describe them as such. Their lives have been completely turned upside down and now they must face one another to get the answers to their questions.
Everyone has secrets, and now they are about to be exposed.
This is a total nail biter and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time! I absolutely loved this story and I was sucked right in with the first chapter. This is a must read for all!!! Tune in February 8, 2022 to find out what happened to Emily!
This is a story about loyalty and deceit . Not everything is what it seems. What was once considered a tight knit Texas town, is now being ripped right open and the parents are being exposed for all of their bad behavior .
Emily is missing. Emily was last seen leaving a party with Alex, the boy with a playboy reputation. What started out as a night out with friends is left with everyone wondering, what happened to Emily?
Morgan, Leslie, and Catherine used to be friends, now you cant quite describe them as such. Their lives have been completely turned upside down and now they must face one another to get the answers to their questions.
Everyone has secrets, and now they are about to be exposed.
This is a total nail biter and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time! I absolutely loved this story and I was sucked right in with the first chapter. This is a must read for all!!! Tune in February 8, 2022 to find out what happened to Emily!
February 26, 2022
Honestly could have left Emily in the water. It was very hard to care about what happened to her when I wanted to shove her back off the dock myself.
Morgan, Queen, the only woman I didn’t want to yell at the entirety of this book.
Morgan, Queen, the only woman I didn’t want to yell at the entirety of this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2022
Emily and her family have returned to her father’s hometown. The community has been dominated by her grandmother, the larger-than-life Rosalyn Callahan, a several-generations matriarch of Galveston, Texas. Nothing good happens without her approval, and when things go wrong, she does her best to cover them up.
In true Callahan fashion, when Emily goes missing, Rosalyn keeps the news from getting out to the media. Of course, that doesn’t stop the gossip about Emily’s fate. Where is she? What happened to her? Is she okay? Emily’s mom is determined to get some answers.
THE NIGHT SHE WENT MISSING is told from multiple perspectives. The first chapter starts in the present before going back and forth in time to fill in the backstory. Although this narrative strategy makes it a bit difficult to keep up with what’s going on at any given time, it helps readers see and understand the action from each character’s point of view. It also sends them off into erroneous directions on a number of occasions. This adds to the suspense, especially when it comes to the ending, which I am sure will surprise you.
Kristen Bird’s writing is lively and easy to read, making her debut novel difficult to put down. Trust me, there are plenty of twists and turns along the way. The characters are well-developed and mostly believable, although they occasionally exhibit some bizarre behavior. The storyline is somewhat unusual with the way the events unfold, but it certainly makes for an intriguing premise and a fascinating tale.
Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin
In true Callahan fashion, when Emily goes missing, Rosalyn keeps the news from getting out to the media. Of course, that doesn’t stop the gossip about Emily’s fate. Where is she? What happened to her? Is she okay? Emily’s mom is determined to get some answers.
THE NIGHT SHE WENT MISSING is told from multiple perspectives. The first chapter starts in the present before going back and forth in time to fill in the backstory. Although this narrative strategy makes it a bit difficult to keep up with what’s going on at any given time, it helps readers see and understand the action from each character’s point of view. It also sends them off into erroneous directions on a number of occasions. This adds to the suspense, especially when it comes to the ending, which I am sure will surprise you.
Kristen Bird’s writing is lively and easy to read, making her debut novel difficult to put down. Trust me, there are plenty of twists and turns along the way. The characters are well-developed and mostly believable, although they occasionally exhibit some bizarre behavior. The storyline is somewhat unusual with the way the events unfold, but it certainly makes for an intriguing premise and a fascinating tale.
Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin
December 1, 2021
Emily is a popular and smart high school senior in a small, tight-knit community in Texas. After a night out with her friends, Emily suddenly goes missing. The last person who saw her was Alex, a high school football player with a questionable reputation. The problem is that no one is willing to talk about her disappearance so it remains a mystery. Three mothers in the community are forced to look at their children and ask the most difficult questions. Each mother has chosen a suspect, but each one is also spinning lies to protect themselves. Will the truth ever be revealed?
This was a very interesting domestic drama. Get ready for some big drama that stretches the limits of the genre. Some characters were definitely more likable than others, but we get some good insight into each one as the story is told in multiple points of view. If you are looking for high drama, you found it in THE NIGHT SHE WENT MISSING!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
This was a very interesting domestic drama. Get ready for some big drama that stretches the limits of the genre. Some characters were definitely more likable than others, but we get some good insight into each one as the story is told in multiple points of view. If you are looking for high drama, you found it in THE NIGHT SHE WENT MISSING!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
February 5, 2022
Fluffin' Bomb Dot Com! 😳😯🤯
Wow this story sure had it all with some major twists and unreal (even some slightly unbelievable) moments and turns. Even with some parts being a bit unbelievable or didn't flow great, I still enjoyed this novel. In a high end, wealthy community in Texas, trouble lurks. Emily, a high school prep senior goes missing after a night out and is eventually found and in a coma. She became close with a popular guy, Alex, last seen with him but no one is talking about it. Three mothers, Morgan, mom to Alex; Catherine, mom to Emily; and Leslie, mom to Anna, have their lives turned upside down and all turn on each other questioning themselves, their children and their friends. What would you do to protect your reputation, your family, your child, yourself? What really happened to Emily? I will say, that pretzel twist of an ending is one I did not see coming at all! Kept me on my toes big time.
Thank you to Edelweiss Plus & Harper Collins for this ARC.
Release date: February 8, 2022
I give this 3.5 / 5 snowflakes! ❄️
Wow this story sure had it all with some major twists and unreal (even some slightly unbelievable) moments and turns. Even with some parts being a bit unbelievable or didn't flow great, I still enjoyed this novel. In a high end, wealthy community in Texas, trouble lurks. Emily, a high school prep senior goes missing after a night out and is eventually found and in a coma. She became close with a popular guy, Alex, last seen with him but no one is talking about it. Three mothers, Morgan, mom to Alex; Catherine, mom to Emily; and Leslie, mom to Anna, have their lives turned upside down and all turn on each other questioning themselves, their children and their friends. What would you do to protect your reputation, your family, your child, yourself? What really happened to Emily? I will say, that pretzel twist of an ending is one I did not see coming at all! Kept me on my toes big time.
Thank you to Edelweiss Plus & Harper Collins for this ARC.
Release date: February 8, 2022
I give this 3.5 / 5 snowflakes! ❄️
February 17, 2022
Unfortunately this is a no from me. As a debut, I give it some leeway and I'm ALL about suspending reality because fiction is fiction and implausibility is expected... but wow. This book starts off really strong and I found myself instantly hooked and then I lost momentum with it about halfway in.
Ok, if these characters didn't make the decisions that they did, then it would probably have been less entertaining. As things went sideways and wonky I just laughed along with it all. I don't mind this most of the time but sometimes you need to pull the reins just a *teensy* bit.
I really do like Bird's writing style and I most definitely will pick up her sophomore novel and watch her talent grow. While this one may not have worked for me, I think she's an author to keep an eye on. I mean, I do love me some domestic suspense!
Ok, if these characters didn't make the decisions that they did, then it would probably have been less entertaining. As things went sideways and wonky I just laughed along with it all. I don't mind this most of the time but sometimes you need to pull the reins just a *teensy* bit.
I really do like Bird's writing style and I most definitely will pick up her sophomore novel and watch her talent grow. While this one may not have worked for me, I think she's an author to keep an eye on. I mean, I do love me some domestic suspense!
April 25, 2022
It was okay. A lot of rich people problems, but I found the characters fairly interesting. I wish there had been more descriptions of the Galveston setting.
January 20, 2022
This one had me hooked initially, I love stories about people behaving badly and hiding secrets etc so I had a good feeling going into it. I also enjoy multiple viewpoints and I especially liked Emily’s perspective as she narrates after she’s already been missing for months. I liked the angle of her being gone for so long yet no one has any idea where she’s been or who she’s been with. There were a ton of unanswered questions and the plot moved steadily forward and kept my interest at first, but unfortunately that interest waned. About halfway in things just started to feel sluggish and like they weren’t going anywhere, or at least anywhere interesting. It was dramatic but not in a fun way, it just seemed pretty silly. I started not really caring about what had happened to Emily in the past or what would happen to her later. I didn’t believe the ending, it just didn’t make a whole lot of sense in terms of motivation for where Emily had been and why. Overall this one fell flat for me despite a decent premise.
January 31, 2023
I really enjoyed the back and forth between the searchers and the foundling.
I managed to figure things out kinda early, but it was no less interesting seeing how everything played out. Really enjoyed this and will definitely be looking for more from Kristen Bird.
Adore finding a new author with a back list!
Much love to NetGalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing for my ARC.
I managed to figure things out kinda early, but it was no less interesting seeing how everything played out. Really enjoyed this and will definitely be looking for more from Kristen Bird.
Adore finding a new author with a back list!
Much love to NetGalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing for my ARC.
February 18, 2022
In the prologue to Kristen Bird's intense suspense novel The Night She Went Missing, Emily is found face up in the water of the harbor. Who is she and how did she get there?
Emily is the teenage daughter of Carter and Catherine, who recently moved from their home in Oregon to Carter's hometown, the island of Galveston, Texas. The family moved because Catherine did something scandalous and it was thought best to make a fresh start.
Carter's imperious mother Rosalyn is the grand dame of Galveston. She pretty much owns the island, no one, not even the sheriff, does anything without her permission. Rosalyn is thrilled to have her son back home, and she attempts to bring Catherine into Galveston society whether she wants it or not.
Emily is angry she had to leave all her friends and school behind because of her mother. Many of the students at her new school resent her, including Anna, the reigning Queen Bee at school. Anna's former boyfriend Alex, the star athlete, is attracted to Emily and they become friends.
Alex was accused a few years ago of sexually assaulting a female student, something he vehemently denied, and while he was cleared of the charges, there is still a cloud of suspicion surrounding him. When Emily disappears after a gathering where Alex was with her, once again people believe he was involved- even his mother Morgan has her doubts about him.
Much of the book takes place during the ten weeks that Emily was missing. Carter and Catherine are beside themselves, Emily's twin little sisters are distraught, and Rosalyn is determined to turn over every stone to find her granddaughter.
Emily's car was found by the gulf, with her keys and cell phone inside, but no sign of her. After an exhaustive search, the pervailing belief was that Emily drowned, but Catherine will not give up hope that Emily is alive.
We meet the people of this insular community- Anna's mother Leslie, who is Rosalyn's right-hand woman, always there to organize school functions and push her daughter to be number one. Alex's mother Morgan is divorced and her doubts about her son eat away at her. Robert Steele is the handsome, hardworking doctor who supports his widowed sister-in-law Leslie after his brother died, and he dates Morgan.
After Emily is found, the next step is to discover where she was all this time. Anyone who is a careful reader of suspense novels will probably be able to guess who is responsible for Emily's disappearance even though the author throws in some red herrings, but you may have to suspend disbelief for some of the other plot revelations.
I found Catherine's scandal back home an interesting twist, it's unusual to have such a big character flaw in a protagonist. Emily's ability to hold her faith as well as her belief in science shows a mature intellectual capability which is refreshing. The island community of Gavelston was also a unique setting, I can't remember reading a novel set there. Fans of J.T. Ellison will enjoy this one.
Thanks to Harlequin for putting me on Kristen Bird's tour.
Emily is the teenage daughter of Carter and Catherine, who recently moved from their home in Oregon to Carter's hometown, the island of Galveston, Texas. The family moved because Catherine did something scandalous and it was thought best to make a fresh start.
Carter's imperious mother Rosalyn is the grand dame of Galveston. She pretty much owns the island, no one, not even the sheriff, does anything without her permission. Rosalyn is thrilled to have her son back home, and she attempts to bring Catherine into Galveston society whether she wants it or not.
Emily is angry she had to leave all her friends and school behind because of her mother. Many of the students at her new school resent her, including Anna, the reigning Queen Bee at school. Anna's former boyfriend Alex, the star athlete, is attracted to Emily and they become friends.
Alex was accused a few years ago of sexually assaulting a female student, something he vehemently denied, and while he was cleared of the charges, there is still a cloud of suspicion surrounding him. When Emily disappears after a gathering where Alex was with her, once again people believe he was involved- even his mother Morgan has her doubts about him.
Much of the book takes place during the ten weeks that Emily was missing. Carter and Catherine are beside themselves, Emily's twin little sisters are distraught, and Rosalyn is determined to turn over every stone to find her granddaughter.
Emily's car was found by the gulf, with her keys and cell phone inside, but no sign of her. After an exhaustive search, the pervailing belief was that Emily drowned, but Catherine will not give up hope that Emily is alive.
We meet the people of this insular community- Anna's mother Leslie, who is Rosalyn's right-hand woman, always there to organize school functions and push her daughter to be number one. Alex's mother Morgan is divorced and her doubts about her son eat away at her. Robert Steele is the handsome, hardworking doctor who supports his widowed sister-in-law Leslie after his brother died, and he dates Morgan.
After Emily is found, the next step is to discover where she was all this time. Anyone who is a careful reader of suspense novels will probably be able to guess who is responsible for Emily's disappearance even though the author throws in some red herrings, but you may have to suspend disbelief for some of the other plot revelations.
I found Catherine's scandal back home an interesting twist, it's unusual to have such a big character flaw in a protagonist. Emily's ability to hold her faith as well as her belief in science shows a mature intellectual capability which is refreshing. The island community of Gavelston was also a unique setting, I can't remember reading a novel set there. Fans of J.T. Ellison will enjoy this one.
Thanks to Harlequin for putting me on Kristen Bird's tour.
March 8, 2022
A strong beginning to the book but quickly fizzled out. Wasn’t for me but others might find it better. I can’t recommend it.
January 14, 2022
I received an ARC of this book.
This is a mystery about a missing high school senior, her family, and the exclusive community she is a part of on Galveston Island. When Emily goes missing after a party one night no one knows what has happened to her, or who is responsible. Her mother is desperate to find her, her grandmother feels compelled to manage what could be a huge scandal, the mother of the boy suspected of being involved is worried about what her son is capable of, and the mother of Emily's biggest rival at school doesn't believe her daughter could have anything to do with the disappearance.
The book begins with Emily's "rescue," so the reader knows that at some point Emily will resurface and be okay. That takes away a bit of the urgency of the first part of the book, which leads up to Emily's disappearance and the search to find her, although the author does create an interesting story. Once Emily is found, towards the middle of the book, and the police and doctors are trying to figure out what exactly happened to her, I will admit that I figured out who was responsible very quickly. After that, everything kind of took on the quality of a Lifetime Movie or something. Everything was a bit over-exaggerated and melodramatic. From the rich and dignified matriarch of the island to the mom horribly preoccupied with appearances to the wide-eyed and innocent teenage girl, the characters and their actions really began to feel inorganic and heavy-handed. And I couldn't help but wonder how she could have stayed missing for as long as she did...in this day and age, when a young and pretty and rich girl goes missing, it would be all over the regional news, whether the girl's grandmother wanted media coverage or not. I was unsatisfied with the ending, as well.
This book showed promise and had interesting bones, but didn't quite deliver.
This is a mystery about a missing high school senior, her family, and the exclusive community she is a part of on Galveston Island. When Emily goes missing after a party one night no one knows what has happened to her, or who is responsible. Her mother is desperate to find her, her grandmother feels compelled to manage what could be a huge scandal, the mother of the boy suspected of being involved is worried about what her son is capable of, and the mother of Emily's biggest rival at school doesn't believe her daughter could have anything to do with the disappearance.
The book begins with Emily's "rescue," so the reader knows that at some point Emily will resurface and be okay. That takes away a bit of the urgency of the first part of the book, which leads up to Emily's disappearance and the search to find her, although the author does create an interesting story. Once Emily is found, towards the middle of the book, and the police and doctors are trying to figure out what exactly happened to her, I will admit that I figured out who was responsible very quickly. After that, everything kind of took on the quality of a Lifetime Movie or something. Everything was a bit over-exaggerated and melodramatic. From the rich and dignified matriarch of the island to the mom horribly preoccupied with appearances to the wide-eyed and innocent teenage girl, the characters and their actions really began to feel inorganic and heavy-handed. And I couldn't help but wonder how she could have stayed missing for as long as she did...in this day and age, when a young and pretty and rich girl goes missing, it would be all over the regional news, whether the girl's grandmother wanted media coverage or not. I was unsatisfied with the ending, as well.
This book showed promise and had interesting bones, but didn't quite deliver.
February 14, 2022
When Caroline Callahan has to move her family to Galveston after a workplace scandal, she's not really prepared for a domineering mother-in-law who practically runs the town, or that her daughter, a high school senior would go missing.
The story begins with setting up the secrets the women in the town are keeping. There's Morgan, who's husband has left her and Alex her son who is accused of rape. There's the widow Leslie, Rosalyn Callahan's right hand helper in all things social in the town, and her two sons who are shrouded in suspicion. And then there's Caroline carrying around a load of guilt, especially after making her daughter leave their Oregon home for a new place in her senior year.
The story is told from all four female points of view. At first I found this a bit confusing, but it worked to give just enough information to make this reader start lining up my own suspects in the disappearance of Emily. While I did think the first half of this book was a bit slow paced for me, things really take off after Emily's disappearance and I couldn't put this book down. There are plenty of suspects to choose from too!
Memory loss is a big theme in this story and Emily must take matters into her own hands to discover just what happened the night she went missing. I did like the inclusion of her point of view in this story.
This worked very nicely as a domestic suspense story for me. It really kept me guessing until the end, although I did suspect the perpetrators early on and I liked that about the story. It gives just enough of a hint of what might have happened and doesn't lay everything out until the end. I was surprised by some of the twists and revelations.
Overall, a very satisfying suspenseful story.
The story begins with setting up the secrets the women in the town are keeping. There's Morgan, who's husband has left her and Alex her son who is accused of rape. There's the widow Leslie, Rosalyn Callahan's right hand helper in all things social in the town, and her two sons who are shrouded in suspicion. And then there's Caroline carrying around a load of guilt, especially after making her daughter leave their Oregon home for a new place in her senior year.
The story is told from all four female points of view. At first I found this a bit confusing, but it worked to give just enough information to make this reader start lining up my own suspects in the disappearance of Emily. While I did think the first half of this book was a bit slow paced for me, things really take off after Emily's disappearance and I couldn't put this book down. There are plenty of suspects to choose from too!
Memory loss is a big theme in this story and Emily must take matters into her own hands to discover just what happened the night she went missing. I did like the inclusion of her point of view in this story.
This worked very nicely as a domestic suspense story for me. It really kept me guessing until the end, although I did suspect the perpetrators early on and I liked that about the story. It gives just enough of a hint of what might have happened and doesn't lay everything out until the end. I was surprised by some of the twists and revelations.
Overall, a very satisfying suspenseful story.
January 2, 2022
Book: The Night She Went Missing
Author: Kristen Bird
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars
I would like to thank the publisher, Mira Books, for sending me an ARC.
I must say that I went into this one with no expectations and I’m learning that this is the best way to go about thrillers. I don’t know about anyone else, but domestic thrillers can go either way for me. Luckily, thought this one worked. It gave me Pretty Little Liars vibes. We have a small and close nit small town with secrets and secrets that they would really prefer stay hidden. Some of these secrets are even worth killing for. That alone is enough to make me want to keep reading. Give me a small town with secrets and you will have me hooked.
It all starts out with Emily, who is a popular and smart girl, goes missing. Right away, everyone in town starts looking right at each other. We see families start to wonder if their dark pasts are going to come out and see the measures that they take to make sure these secrets stay hidden. What makes this whole thing a bit unusual is the fact that everything is pretty much told from the mothers’ points of view. Instead of hearing about the events that happened on that fateful from the ones who were actually there, we get it from their mothers’ point of view. I thought this was a nice touch. Instead of having just the kids’ point of view, we are told the entire story from their mothers and get to see how the mothers view their children. It really adds to the layers and depth of the story. Plus, it makes it very difficult to figure out exactly what happened.
The writing is pretty solid. I will say that there is work to be done, but overall, it’s pretty solid. I did find myself being completely pulled in by both the plot and the characters. In case you haven’t realized by this point, I really do like the small town setting. I think that Kristen nails this part of the story and gives us all the vibes we need. We have the school and everything in town is centred about the school. We have families who have been living in the town for a very long time and have since became almost the town rulers. They have a lot of say in what actually happens here. We have the outsiders, who really aren’t welcomed into the inner circle. We have the kids who are going places and the ones who are not. Anyone who attempts to upset this balance will suffer the consequences. All of this just manages to leap off the page and leave you wanting more.
I think that is what made me enjoy this one so much. It was the need and desire to know more about what was going on. In each chapter, you are given just enough to make you want to keep reading. Enough is also withheld to make you want to keep reading. This is why I really do enjoy thrillers. I want to feel that sense of not knowing what is coming and the desire to find out.
This book comes out on February 8, 2022.
Youtube: https://youtu.be/QJuJrThwFpg
Author: Kristen Bird
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars
I would like to thank the publisher, Mira Books, for sending me an ARC.
I must say that I went into this one with no expectations and I’m learning that this is the best way to go about thrillers. I don’t know about anyone else, but domestic thrillers can go either way for me. Luckily, thought this one worked. It gave me Pretty Little Liars vibes. We have a small and close nit small town with secrets and secrets that they would really prefer stay hidden. Some of these secrets are even worth killing for. That alone is enough to make me want to keep reading. Give me a small town with secrets and you will have me hooked.
It all starts out with Emily, who is a popular and smart girl, goes missing. Right away, everyone in town starts looking right at each other. We see families start to wonder if their dark pasts are going to come out and see the measures that they take to make sure these secrets stay hidden. What makes this whole thing a bit unusual is the fact that everything is pretty much told from the mothers’ points of view. Instead of hearing about the events that happened on that fateful from the ones who were actually there, we get it from their mothers’ point of view. I thought this was a nice touch. Instead of having just the kids’ point of view, we are told the entire story from their mothers and get to see how the mothers view their children. It really adds to the layers and depth of the story. Plus, it makes it very difficult to figure out exactly what happened.
The writing is pretty solid. I will say that there is work to be done, but overall, it’s pretty solid. I did find myself being completely pulled in by both the plot and the characters. In case you haven’t realized by this point, I really do like the small town setting. I think that Kristen nails this part of the story and gives us all the vibes we need. We have the school and everything in town is centred about the school. We have families who have been living in the town for a very long time and have since became almost the town rulers. They have a lot of say in what actually happens here. We have the outsiders, who really aren’t welcomed into the inner circle. We have the kids who are going places and the ones who are not. Anyone who attempts to upset this balance will suffer the consequences. All of this just manages to leap off the page and leave you wanting more.
I think that is what made me enjoy this one so much. It was the need and desire to know more about what was going on. In each chapter, you are given just enough to make you want to keep reading. Enough is also withheld to make you want to keep reading. This is why I really do enjoy thrillers. I want to feel that sense of not knowing what is coming and the desire to find out.
This book comes out on February 8, 2022.
Youtube: https://youtu.be/QJuJrThwFpg
April 2, 2022
The Night She Went Missing, the début thriller from Kristen Bird opens with a prologue related by Emily. She describes being found face-up in the Galveston harbour on a sunny morning. She conveys that she is unable to move or speak.
Catherine Rubisi is a composer and music educator. She committed an act of misconduct, resulting in her resignation from her university position. With her husband, Carter Callahan, a corporate lawyer, she has returned to Galveston from Oregon, along with their daughters, Emily, and young twins. Carter is the son of Rosalyn Callahan who runs Callahan Preparatory Academy, an exclusive school attended by the children of wealthy parents. Morgan Frasier, the divorced mother of Alex, has been dating Robert Steele. Alex was accused of sexually assaulting a female classmate three years earlier. The charges were eventually dismissed, but he still lives under a cloud of suspicion, and he is friendly with Emily. Morgan still wonders whether her son is capable of an act of rape. Leslie Steele continues to mourn her husband and Robert's brother who died a few years ago and she now suffers from anxiety attacks that started not long after his death. Leslie's daughter, Anna was the most popular girl at Callahan Preparatory, but Emily's arrival has threatened this achievement for her.
The story's timeline slowly reveals details about the characters' histories and their relationships with one other. The chapters containing Emily's narration credibly and deftly depict teenage angst about friendships and the quest for popularity. The author skillfully ramps up the book's dramatic tension as the reader ponders Emily's future. The story moves forward swiftly, with surprising plot twists and unexpected revelations. A fascinating aspect of the tale is the various ways in which the mothers, Catherine, Morgan, Leslie, and Rosalyn all react to Emily's disappearance. This story of secrets, conflicts, fear, scheming, morals, grudges and family values inspires readers to consider the lengths they might go to in similar circumstances. Very highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Headline via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
Catherine Rubisi is a composer and music educator. She committed an act of misconduct, resulting in her resignation from her university position. With her husband, Carter Callahan, a corporate lawyer, she has returned to Galveston from Oregon, along with their daughters, Emily, and young twins. Carter is the son of Rosalyn Callahan who runs Callahan Preparatory Academy, an exclusive school attended by the children of wealthy parents. Morgan Frasier, the divorced mother of Alex, has been dating Robert Steele. Alex was accused of sexually assaulting a female classmate three years earlier. The charges were eventually dismissed, but he still lives under a cloud of suspicion, and he is friendly with Emily. Morgan still wonders whether her son is capable of an act of rape. Leslie Steele continues to mourn her husband and Robert's brother who died a few years ago and she now suffers from anxiety attacks that started not long after his death. Leslie's daughter, Anna was the most popular girl at Callahan Preparatory, but Emily's arrival has threatened this achievement for her.
The story's timeline slowly reveals details about the characters' histories and their relationships with one other. The chapters containing Emily's narration credibly and deftly depict teenage angst about friendships and the quest for popularity. The author skillfully ramps up the book's dramatic tension as the reader ponders Emily's future. The story moves forward swiftly, with surprising plot twists and unexpected revelations. A fascinating aspect of the tale is the various ways in which the mothers, Catherine, Morgan, Leslie, and Rosalyn all react to Emily's disappearance. This story of secrets, conflicts, fear, scheming, morals, grudges and family values inspires readers to consider the lengths they might go to in similar circumstances. Very highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Headline via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
March 30, 2022
2.5. This stated off really strong and I was excited about it. But started to dislike it more as it went on. there was no suspense and i wasn’t invested in the characters. also had some trouble suspending my belief at some points. wouldn’t recommend
February 24, 2022
This is a fantastic debut novel by a new voice in suspense and domestic drama! Three families are bound together by the events in a small town, where everyone knows everyone else and where the matriarch of the town, Rosalyn Callahan, pull strings like she’s a puppeteer. Catherine, Morgan and Leslie were once friends, but their relationship has deteriorated so that they are barely speaking and then only when necessary. When Catherine’s teen daughter disappears one night after a party, Catherine pulls out all the stops to find Emily, including seeking the help of Morgan’s son Alex and Leslie’s daughter Anna. There is a lot of underlying tension between the families and a lot of suspicion about what happened to Emily. The tension builds nicely, with a quick-paced plot and a well done conclusion. There were a few loose ends that I would have liked more information about, so that is the reason for the four stars. There is tons of family drama and people with real psychological problems who are mingled in a very complex plot, with lots of characters and more than a few suspects. I enjoyed the setting and the way the families were all connected in some way. I also enjoyed getting to know Sawyer, Leslie’s estranged son and one of the few characters who seemed genuinely honest and concerned about Emily. The characterization was fleshed out well, even with the number of people involved in the drama. All in all, this was an extremely well-written novel that kept me reading and guessing until the end.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
July 5, 2022
This one intrigued me at the beginning but quickly lost steam as it became more and more outlandish and unbelievable. I also found the characters highly unlikeable and irrational. I grew up a Houstonian, visiting Galveston often…but even the familiar setting wasn’t enough to save this book.
2.5 stars rounded up
2.5 stars rounded up
July 27, 2024
3.5 stars. I really enjoyed this one. Very mysterious and suspenseful. An easy read for me.
June 29, 2022
This was okay, kind of all over the place with some unbelievable things happening. And by unbelievable I mean not believable. I do think this author has a lot of potential and I look forward to reading more by her. I do enjoy the southern set dramas.
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