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DCI Clements #1
Both of You
Leigh Fletcher: happily married stepmom to two gorgeous boys goes missing on Monday. Her husband, Mark, says he knows nothing of her whereabouts. She went to work and just never came home. Their family is shattered.
Kai Janssen: married to wealthy Dutch businessman Daan and vanishes the same week. Kai left their luxurious penthouse and glamorous world without a backward glance. She seemingly evaporated into thin air. Daan is distraught.
Detective Clements knows that people disappear all the time—far too frequently. Most run away from things, some run toward, others are taken but find their way back. A sad few never return. These two women are from very different worlds. Their disappearances are unlikely to be connected. And yet, at a gut level, the detective believes they might be.
How could these women walk away from their families, husbands and homes willingly? Clements is determined to unearth the truth, no matter how shocking and devastating it may be.
#1 Sunday Times bestselling author Adele Parks returns with her most provocative, compelling book to date.
Kai Janssen: married to wealthy Dutch businessman Daan and vanishes the same week. Kai left their luxurious penthouse and glamorous world without a backward glance. She seemingly evaporated into thin air. Daan is distraught.
Detective Clements knows that people disappear all the time—far too frequently. Most run away from things, some run toward, others are taken but find their way back. A sad few never return. These two women are from very different worlds. Their disappearances are unlikely to be connected. And yet, at a gut level, the detective believes they might be.
How could these women walk away from their families, husbands and homes willingly? Clements is determined to unearth the truth, no matter how shocking and devastating it may be.
#1 Sunday Times bestselling author Adele Parks returns with her most provocative, compelling book to date.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 27, 2021
3918 people are currently reading
29155 people want to read
About the author
Adele Parks
57 books3,359 followersAdele Parks MBE is one of the most-loved and biggest-selling women's fiction writers in the UK. She has sold over 4 million books and her work has been translated into 30 different languages.
She has published 21 novels, all of which have been London Times bestsellers.
Adele has written 19 contemporary novels and 2 historical ones, Spare Brides and If You Go Away, which are set during and after WW1. Her latest novels, Both of You, Just My Luck, Lies Lies Lies, I Invited Her In, The Image of You and The Stranger in My Home are twisty, domestic noirs. Adele likes to scrutinize our concepts of family, our theories on love, parenting and fidelity.
During her career Adele has lived in Italy, Botswana and London. Now she lives happily in Surrey, UK with her husband, son and cat.
If you want to stay in touch you can find Adele on Twitter @AdeleParks, Instagram @Adele_Parks or Facebook @OfficialAdeleParks. You can sign up to her newsletter at eepurl.com/cI0l and there’s lots more info about Adele and her books on www.adeleparks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,152 reviews
January 2, 2024
Solid read, I liked it but didn't love it.
The beginning was kind of a slow build up, but at 37% there was a "wow" twist. Then it kind of went around in circles for a long time, finally ending in a very ambiguous open ended way that wasn't entirely believable, yet was predictable at the same time.
This story has one of my favorite catnip tropes: people missing without a trace. Two women disappear and their husbands report them missing. The police detective starts to work on these cases knowing that people disappear all the time, and the more she uncovers about the cases, it seems like these women might have walked away on their own accord. But did they?
In the end, I didn't have complete buy-in with the explanation for everything. Yet overall, there's still something compulsively readable about this book, so I'm glad I read it even though I didn't love it.
Spoilers to the plot, in case you forget:
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
The beginning was kind of a slow build up, but at 37% there was a "wow" twist. Then it kind of went around in circles for a long time, finally ending in a very ambiguous open ended way that wasn't entirely believable, yet was predictable at the same time.
This story has one of my favorite catnip tropes: people missing without a trace. Two women disappear and their husbands report them missing. The police detective starts to work on these cases knowing that people disappear all the time, and the more she uncovers about the cases, it seems like these women might have walked away on their own accord. But did they?
In the end, I didn't have complete buy-in with the explanation for everything. Yet overall, there's still something compulsively readable about this book, so I'm glad I read it even though I didn't love it.
Spoilers to the plot, in case you forget:
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
July 27, 2022
Let's just take a moment and process the fact the book really ended like that. There is a lot to unpack at that moment when you reach the end, then frantically keep swiping thinking there has to be more. I swiped so hard, it flew out of my library. I was guessing right up to the end. A great sign for a wonderful thriller! Recommend!
September 18, 2023
This is a very slow-burning thriller. The suspense doesn’t drive the plot, the characters and their psychology do. Sometimes this annoys me, I want to get to the action, feel my heart beat. But Adele Parks created some compelling characters, that I wanted to know more about. There was an underlying tension there for sure, but more subtle and I appreciated that. I also liked the detective’s POV. She was determined, intelligent and tough. She somehow empathized with the bigamist, although everyone else judged her. The twist was not unexpected for me, since I’ve wondered about everyone, but I was still pleasantly surprised by the motive and how it made sense based on the persons frame of mind.
April 4, 2021
Leigh Fletcher is married to Mark and has two children Seb and Oli. She disappears in the same week as Kai Janssen. Do the two cases connect? DC Clements investigates.
This is a gripping, easy to read thriller with the mystery deepening intriguingly as the storyline progresses. The family dynamics within the Fletcher household are well conveyed in particular the teenage angst of Oli. The characterisation is good though they aren’t all likeable by any means. There are parts of the plot where there is tension, there’s a feeling of terror and powerless confusion. There’s plenty of emotion flying around from loss to anger and jealousy and coldness. There are a few hot and steamy episodes too!! I like some of the twists, you do see some of them coming but others you certainly don’t and there are some very convincing red herrings chucked in for good measure!! Through DC Clements there are thought provoking issues raised such as the startling and shocking statistics for missing people in the UK, there’s the inclusion of domestic violence and a sexism slant via Clements boss. I like the ending and the fact that it isn’t all neatly tied up in a bow, it’s much more realistic and true to life.
Overall, an entertaining, well written and compelling thriller which I enjoyed.
With thanks to NetGalley and HQ for the arc in return for an honest review.
This is a gripping, easy to read thriller with the mystery deepening intriguingly as the storyline progresses. The family dynamics within the Fletcher household are well conveyed in particular the teenage angst of Oli. The characterisation is good though they aren’t all likeable by any means. There are parts of the plot where there is tension, there’s a feeling of terror and powerless confusion. There’s plenty of emotion flying around from loss to anger and jealousy and coldness. There are a few hot and steamy episodes too!! I like some of the twists, you do see some of them coming but others you certainly don’t and there are some very convincing red herrings chucked in for good measure!! Through DC Clements there are thought provoking issues raised such as the startling and shocking statistics for missing people in the UK, there’s the inclusion of domestic violence and a sexism slant via Clements boss. I like the ending and the fact that it isn’t all neatly tied up in a bow, it’s much more realistic and true to life.
Overall, an entertaining, well written and compelling thriller which I enjoyed.
With thanks to NetGalley and HQ for the arc in return for an honest review.
March 3, 2023
Two women…both mysteriously vanish. Do you believe in coincidences? Me either!
Leigh has the life she (mostly) dreamed of. After a whirlwind courtship she marries Mark, instantly becoming step-mom to his two young boys. But now years later the boys no longer need her as much. Can Leigh still be satisfied with her new life?
Kai has married a younger, wealthy man and living a life she never dreamed possible. But much like Leigh, she still wanting...more.
What happens if one day both women just POOF…disappear? Who, if anyone will come searching for them? Will their lives unravel, revealing secrets no one could imagine?!
This audio started a bit slowly, taking me quite a while to engage. I wish I could say it kept me on the edge of my seat, but nope. It just plugged along to an ending, that just didn’t work for me. (perhaps a bit too open-ended for my liking)🤷♀️
Hope it works better for you!
Leigh has the life she (mostly) dreamed of. After a whirlwind courtship she marries Mark, instantly becoming step-mom to his two young boys. But now years later the boys no longer need her as much. Can Leigh still be satisfied with her new life?
Kai has married a younger, wealthy man and living a life she never dreamed possible. But much like Leigh, she still wanting...more.
What happens if one day both women just POOF…disappear? Who, if anyone will come searching for them? Will their lives unravel, revealing secrets no one could imagine?!
This audio started a bit slowly, taking me quite a while to engage. I wish I could say it kept me on the edge of my seat, but nope. It just plugged along to an ending, that just didn’t work for me. (perhaps a bit too open-ended for my liking)🤷♀️
Hope it works better for you!
March 13, 2023
**Hybrid earhole/eyeball listen**
Writing: 3/5 | Plot: 3/5 | Ending: 4/5
SYNOPSIS
Two separate women with two very different lives go missing. What's happening!?
MY OPINION
I def agree with the multitude of reviews saying this is "meh" and that it doesn't evoke strong feelings either way. But at the same damn time... I'm surprised this book isn't rated better. How is this worse than The Soulmate or All the Dangerous Things? I find this has the same thriller level and straightforward plot, but it's less painfully written and less stupid. If you've read this book and the others I mentioned, please enlighten me on how this is a worse book. I found this 10000x more tolerable. I know my earholes tend to be more generous, but I dnfed The Soulmate with my eyes at 14% and hated it all the same with my ears. So wagwan???
Anyways. There is a brazy bombshell at 37% (albeit it's predictable, but I appreciate an author getting on with it earlier) and then you're just circling the drain before you finally get sucked down. The ending was satisfying; it didn't trend toward Scooby Doo nor the "catching up with a friend" vibe where everyone gets a happy ending all tied up with a sparkly bow. I found that with my eyeballs there was a lot of filler text, not quite All The Dangerous Things level of unnecessary similes, but she was really drawing it out at points. It was quite dark and gritty in some parts as well. Again, as I write this, I just don't understand how this did worse than other mainstream thrillers... Maybe it wasn't crazy enough???
There were some eye-roll inducing moments like grouping video games and fascism together as the same... ???? Also homegirl was in the wrong and it felt like the author was tryna do some extreme mental gymnastics to make this the patriarchy's fault even though it wasn't. And ya'll know I'm not out here rallying for men in books, but this wasn't the time to go for the jugular 😂
A middle of the road read but hey I knocked another one off my physical tbr pile sooo A WIN IS A WIN!!!!
Pros and Cons
Pros: idk just didn't bother me
Cons: lots of floofy writing, felt like the rah-rah-feminism was a bit forced at times like homegirl wasn't out here doing up bad stuff 😂
Writing: 3/5 | Plot: 3/5 | Ending: 4/5
SYNOPSIS
Two separate women with two very different lives go missing. What's happening!?
MY OPINION
I def agree with the multitude of reviews saying this is "meh" and that it doesn't evoke strong feelings either way. But at the same damn time... I'm surprised this book isn't rated better. How is this worse than The Soulmate or All the Dangerous Things? I find this has the same thriller level and straightforward plot, but it's less painfully written and less stupid. If you've read this book and the others I mentioned, please enlighten me on how this is a worse book. I found this 10000x more tolerable. I know my earholes tend to be more generous, but I dnfed The Soulmate with my eyes at 14% and hated it all the same with my ears. So wagwan???
Anyways. There is a brazy bombshell at 37% (albeit it's predictable, but I appreciate an author getting on with it earlier) and then you're just circling the drain before you finally get sucked down. The ending was satisfying; it didn't trend toward Scooby Doo nor the "catching up with a friend" vibe where everyone gets a happy ending all tied up with a sparkly bow. I found that with my eyeballs there was a lot of filler text, not quite All The Dangerous Things level of unnecessary similes, but she was really drawing it out at points. It was quite dark and gritty in some parts as well. Again, as I write this, I just don't understand how this did worse than other mainstream thrillers... Maybe it wasn't crazy enough???
There were some eye-roll inducing moments like grouping video games and fascism together as the same... ???? Also homegirl was in the wrong and it felt like the author was tryna do some extreme mental gymnastics to make this the patriarchy's fault even though it wasn't. And ya'll know I'm not out here rallying for men in books, but this wasn't the time to go for the jugular 😂
A middle of the road read but hey I knocked another one off my physical tbr pile sooo A WIN IS A WIN!!!!
Pros and Cons
Pros: idk just didn't bother me
Cons: lots of floofy writing, felt like the rah-rah-feminism was a bit forced at times like homegirl wasn't out here doing up bad stuff 😂
February 14, 2022
Leigh Fletcher is a married consultant and mother to two stepsons. She regularly works out of town beginning on Mondays, returning on Wednesdays. When she failed to come home at her regular time and could not be reached, her husband Mark contacts the police for help. Detective Clements starts her investigation and then learns of another woman, Kai Janssen, who’s gone missing, reported by her wealthy Dutch husband, Daan. Her instincts tell her two cases may be connected so she asks to investigate both. Both women seemed to have vanished inexplicably, without a trace.
Boy, this one took me around the bend and back! I came up with so many theories my head was spinning. The story is told from multiple points of view but the primary weight of the backstories and plots are delivered from Leigh and Kai. I found both women to be enigmatic and couldn’t always trust their reliability. Their husbands were also curious at times, making me vacillate between their innocence or guilt. It all combined to make for a compelling reading experience.
I listened to the book and was thrilled with the narrator! She managed so many speech patterns and accents I often though there was more than one performer. As for the mystery, I guessed most of it incorrectly but at least the culprit was someone I suspected. That ending…well, it left me speechless. Get ready for a journey you won’t want to interrupt and some clever twists. I couldn’t put the book down because I just had to know whodunit.
Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Harlequin Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Boy, this one took me around the bend and back! I came up with so many theories my head was spinning. The story is told from multiple points of view but the primary weight of the backstories and plots are delivered from Leigh and Kai. I found both women to be enigmatic and couldn’t always trust their reliability. Their husbands were also curious at times, making me vacillate between their innocence or guilt. It all combined to make for a compelling reading experience.
I listened to the book and was thrilled with the narrator! She managed so many speech patterns and accents I often though there was more than one performer. As for the mystery, I guessed most of it incorrectly but at least the culprit was someone I suspected. That ending…well, it left me speechless. Get ready for a journey you won’t want to interrupt and some clever twists. I couldn’t put the book down because I just had to know whodunit.
Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Harlequin Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
June 1, 2021
DO NOT MISS THIS ONE
June 18, 2021
2.75 Stars
This one had an interesting plot. And, okay, I wasn't crazy about the characters or some of the author's views but, all in all, it felt refreshing somehow and my interest never waned. Not even when I guessed the identity of the abductor. I still wanted to know how the author would wrap it up.
It was a solid 3.5 or 4-star read for me until that ending...
What a disappointment.
This one had an interesting plot. And, okay, I wasn't crazy about the characters or some of the author's views but, all in all, it felt refreshing somehow and my interest never waned. Not even when I guessed the identity of the abductor. I still wanted to know how the author would wrap it up.
It was a solid 3.5 or 4-star read for me until that ending...
What a disappointment.
February 3, 2022
Woman Last Seen by Adele Parks is a thriller novel. The story in Woman Last Seen is one that is told in a current timeline with a bit of flashing back to the past and also by changing the point of view between characters.
Leigh Fletcher travels a lot for her job keeping her away from her husband and two stepsons quite often. The night before this latest trip Leigh and her husband had a small disagreement so after Leigh had left and hadn’t checked in Mark had thought she was still angry. That is until she failed to return home.
Detective Clements is assigned to the case when Mark turns Leigh in as a missing person. Detective Clements thinks that there may be nothing and the wife has simply taken a break until Detective Clements gets another case assigned to her too. A wealthy businessman has also reported his wife, Kai Janssen, missing and the two cases seem to be very tightly tied together.
Woman Last Seen by Adele Parks was a little different to a lot of missing person novels by letting the reader have a point of view from the missing woman which gave a tense edge to the story. The novel also has a few twists and turns to make it stand out and keep a reader on the edge as the story unfolds. The ending was a tad over the top but quite honestly I completely enjoyed that it was and it felt to me like the perfect fit for an unusual missing person case. Definitely an author to watch out for in the future.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Leigh Fletcher travels a lot for her job keeping her away from her husband and two stepsons quite often. The night before this latest trip Leigh and her husband had a small disagreement so after Leigh had left and hadn’t checked in Mark had thought she was still angry. That is until she failed to return home.
Detective Clements is assigned to the case when Mark turns Leigh in as a missing person. Detective Clements thinks that there may be nothing and the wife has simply taken a break until Detective Clements gets another case assigned to her too. A wealthy businessman has also reported his wife, Kai Janssen, missing and the two cases seem to be very tightly tied together.
Woman Last Seen by Adele Parks was a little different to a lot of missing person novels by letting the reader have a point of view from the missing woman which gave a tense edge to the story. The novel also has a few twists and turns to make it stand out and keep a reader on the edge as the story unfolds. The ending was a tad over the top but quite honestly I completely enjoyed that it was and it felt to me like the perfect fit for an unusual missing person case. Definitely an author to watch out for in the future.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
December 15, 2021
A chore to get through. I should have stopped reading when I had it I figured it out a third of the way in. Mind numbing characters that I felt absolutely nothing but disgust for. I’ve unfortunately noticed a trend of books written including the pandemic are just shit.
May 25, 2021
First off this is impossible to say anything much about without giving it away ( I think ) so I wont be doing or even hinting at it what the book is about 😎
Adele Parks is the biz at writing stories, words reach and grab you and it all flows so brilliantly, so when it is not the best plot/probably even implausible you can forgive it as the writing keeps you fixed, without consideration of giving it up
Set as the Pandemic is starting I did like how it was just referenced and had no bearing on the story but was there, just as part of the life the characters are living, like we all have been doing
The characters are in the main irritating, again can’t say why as will give it away, I guessed the ‘baddy’ early on so no surprises there and once they are unearthed the book ends, abruptly
But I will say again the use of words, her ability to weave them together and talk to you and entice you with her writing prowess make all the minuses of this book acceptable and it it still for me
8/10
4 Stars
Or a short version would be
‘Not her best but the writing is still
ace’ 😁
Adele Parks is the biz at writing stories, words reach and grab you and it all flows so brilliantly, so when it is not the best plot/probably even implausible you can forgive it as the writing keeps you fixed, without consideration of giving it up
Set as the Pandemic is starting I did like how it was just referenced and had no bearing on the story but was there, just as part of the life the characters are living, like we all have been doing
The characters are in the main irritating, again can’t say why as will give it away, I guessed the ‘baddy’ early on so no surprises there and once they are unearthed the book ends, abruptly
But I will say again the use of words, her ability to weave them together and talk to you and entice you with her writing prowess make all the minuses of this book acceptable and it it still for me
8/10
4 Stars
Or a short version would be
‘Not her best but the writing is still
ace’ 😁
November 20, 2023
This was definitely a different twist on the usual domestic thriller, and I liked it, despite many flaws and a WTF? ending. If I had read any reviews here before I read the book, I would have been annoyed at how many gave away the twist. Use the 'hide spoilers' feature, people! On the other hand, it's almost impossible to talk about the book without spoilers, so the rest of my review will be hidden.
So here's the whole crazy plot, and some of my issues with it:
So here's the whole crazy plot, and some of my issues with it:
May 28, 2021
This twisty thriller was engrossing and I was keen to see how the story would conclude. With a range of narrative perspectives, it was interesting to see how the disappearances and their investigations unfold.
I found it really difficult to get into this book. It was a slow-burner, reminding me a little bit of a pressure cooker. About a third of the way through, a massive revelation was like the steam pinging out of the pressure cooker. After this point, I could not get enough of the story and Parks really had piqued my interest. However, I very quickly guessed the ending of the story and this definitely lessened my enjoyment of the novel.
The sudden and unexplained disappearance of two women is investigated by Clements. The narrative shifts between several characters, reflecting on their behaviours during the investigation, with also flashbacks to both women. These act as a way of allowing readers to understand their past and how they came into a relationship with their present partners. Initially I found it difficult to keep track of who was narrating and I think this was because I had not fully established myself in the story. Once the different individuals became clearer, I found this helped add to the clues of the disappearances.
The book is set against the backdrop of the pandemic. I found it interesting to reflect on how attitudes have changed in twelve months; in this story, London is watching Europe move into their first lockdown with the expectation this would also be experienced in the UK. Although it was not a major element to the story, I think it made the entire plot more believable and I was curious to see character behaviours change with the threat of the virus.
A pretty good thriller, I was disappointed how quickly I had deducted the plot. I can’t go into too much detail without revealing essential plot twists however, I was let-down by how long it took for me to be proven correct. Parks’ writing is compelling and twisty but I do think there were moments where the pace of the narrative slowed to become less interesting. Nonetheless, I was entertained and enjoyed watching the mystery unfold as two families try to ascertain why someone has disappeared.
With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I found it really difficult to get into this book. It was a slow-burner, reminding me a little bit of a pressure cooker. About a third of the way through, a massive revelation was like the steam pinging out of the pressure cooker. After this point, I could not get enough of the story and Parks really had piqued my interest. However, I very quickly guessed the ending of the story and this definitely lessened my enjoyment of the novel.
The sudden and unexplained disappearance of two women is investigated by Clements. The narrative shifts between several characters, reflecting on their behaviours during the investigation, with also flashbacks to both women. These act as a way of allowing readers to understand their past and how they came into a relationship with their present partners. Initially I found it difficult to keep track of who was narrating and I think this was because I had not fully established myself in the story. Once the different individuals became clearer, I found this helped add to the clues of the disappearances.
The book is set against the backdrop of the pandemic. I found it interesting to reflect on how attitudes have changed in twelve months; in this story, London is watching Europe move into their first lockdown with the expectation this would also be experienced in the UK. Although it was not a major element to the story, I think it made the entire plot more believable and I was curious to see character behaviours change with the threat of the virus.
A pretty good thriller, I was disappointed how quickly I had deducted the plot. I can’t go into too much detail without revealing essential plot twists however, I was let-down by how long it took for me to be proven correct. Parks’ writing is compelling and twisty but I do think there were moments where the pace of the narrative slowed to become less interesting. Nonetheless, I was entertained and enjoyed watching the mystery unfold as two families try to ascertain why someone has disappeared.
With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 6, 2021
Wow. I went into Both of You blind, and boy am I glad I did. I thought it was going to be another psychological thriller that I would anticipate the twists and turns…I was wrong. I needed to dig further, examine everything closer, be prepared to have my mind peeled apart. This story has the capability of encasing your heart in ice, its harrowing and captivating and pushes ice cold water through your veins. Be prepared for the author to give you a remarkably unique journey through your worst fears and leave you rocking in the corner by the closing of the final page.
Both of You investigates the disappearance of two women in the same week. Leigh Fletcher is a married woman with an average life but a demanding job. She’s step-mum to two teenage boys that she dotes on. She has more than an awkward relationship with her mother, there is a toxicity pulsing off her and you wonder just how Leigh copes with her comments and demands. We see just how her relationship with her husband Mark begins, the instant attraction, the love felt for the boys. It’s how I imagine a lot of marriages are…but what’s that I can see, a creeping shadow that isn’t quite revealing itself.
Kai Janssen. The polar opposite of Leigh. She is married to Daan, a Dutch businessman who wants for nothing. Money is no object, he lives a high-flying lifestyle, women have never been a problem, he can have anyone. He then meets Kai. An older woman that tests his resolve, his purpose. Their relationship is one of passion and spontaneity. She has caring responsibilities for her mother, but their relationship somehow works. When Kai goes missing, why does Daan’s perception of his wife not marry up?
Both of You consumed me, and I allowed it to swallow me whole. I wasn’t disappointed. It indulges all your nightmares, your fantasies, wraps them up and hand delivers it. Adele Parks is a master of investigating the human condition, in both real and ugly terms and still able to make the reader feel empathy but also pity. The trouble with being human is that we always want more, we want what we can’t have, ignoring the morality of it all.
DC Clements interviews the husbands that reported their wives missing. She’s suspicious of both husbands’ involvements. Is the narrative that its always the husband true? What clues are left behind? Is there something that they aren’t telling her? Connect the dots and the truth will come home to roost.
Both of You is a spectacular read. Adele Parks has done a sublime job of creating an fully immersive imagery and invoking real emotion from her readers.
Both of You investigates the disappearance of two women in the same week. Leigh Fletcher is a married woman with an average life but a demanding job. She’s step-mum to two teenage boys that she dotes on. She has more than an awkward relationship with her mother, there is a toxicity pulsing off her and you wonder just how Leigh copes with her comments and demands. We see just how her relationship with her husband Mark begins, the instant attraction, the love felt for the boys. It’s how I imagine a lot of marriages are…but what’s that I can see, a creeping shadow that isn’t quite revealing itself.
Kai Janssen. The polar opposite of Leigh. She is married to Daan, a Dutch businessman who wants for nothing. Money is no object, he lives a high-flying lifestyle, women have never been a problem, he can have anyone. He then meets Kai. An older woman that tests his resolve, his purpose. Their relationship is one of passion and spontaneity. She has caring responsibilities for her mother, but their relationship somehow works. When Kai goes missing, why does Daan’s perception of his wife not marry up?
Both of You consumed me, and I allowed it to swallow me whole. I wasn’t disappointed. It indulges all your nightmares, your fantasies, wraps them up and hand delivers it. Adele Parks is a master of investigating the human condition, in both real and ugly terms and still able to make the reader feel empathy but also pity. The trouble with being human is that we always want more, we want what we can’t have, ignoring the morality of it all.
DC Clements interviews the husbands that reported their wives missing. She’s suspicious of both husbands’ involvements. Is the narrative that its always the husband true? What clues are left behind? Is there something that they aren’t telling her? Connect the dots and the truth will come home to roost.
Both of You is a spectacular read. Adele Parks has done a sublime job of creating an fully immersive imagery and invoking real emotion from her readers.
February 8, 2022
Wickedly plotted and wonderfully suspenseful.
Two women…that live in completely different worlds.
Leigh married a widower with two small boys. She happily steps into the role of stepmother and falls in love with the children. They struggle like most families, but Leigh loves being a wife and mother.
Kai marries a handsome and very wealthy businessman. Neither wants children. She lives a glamorous life…filled with entertaining and other meaningless tasks.
Both women disappear around the same time. Could the disappearance of these two women, who are so different, be related?
I’ve only read one other book by Ms. Parks but found it very enjoyable, so I jumped at the chance to read this one. The cover is absolutely beautiful and grabbed my attention the first time I saw it. This domestic thriller has some awesome twists. Some I saw coming, but others were a complete surprise! I highly recommend it!
Sincere thanks to Netgalley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions are my own.
#womanlastseen #adeleparks #netgalley #justfinishedreading #bookstagrammer #harlequintradepublishing #mira #htpinfluencer #inexchangeforreview
Two women…that live in completely different worlds.
Leigh married a widower with two small boys. She happily steps into the role of stepmother and falls in love with the children. They struggle like most families, but Leigh loves being a wife and mother.
Kai marries a handsome and very wealthy businessman. Neither wants children. She lives a glamorous life…filled with entertaining and other meaningless tasks.
Both women disappear around the same time. Could the disappearance of these two women, who are so different, be related?
I’ve only read one other book by Ms. Parks but found it very enjoyable, so I jumped at the chance to read this one. The cover is absolutely beautiful and grabbed my attention the first time I saw it. This domestic thriller has some awesome twists. Some I saw coming, but others were a complete surprise! I highly recommend it!
Sincere thanks to Netgalley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions are my own.
#womanlastseen #adeleparks #netgalley #justfinishedreading #bookstagrammer #harlequintradepublishing #mira #htpinfluencer #inexchangeforreview
March 21, 2024
5/5 🌟
3/5 ❤️🩹
1/5 🥰
1/5 🌶️
5/5 🔎
3/5 😰A
2/5 🎭T
⚠️⛔️TRIGGERS:⛔️⚠️
Infidelity
Confinement
Death
Kidnapping
Torture
Excrement
Death of a Parent
Profanity
Infertility
Sexual Content
Adult Situations
Grief
Murder
Alcohol Use
Injury / Injury Detail
Pandemic
🗯️💬BOOK BLURB:💬🗯️
HAPPY. MARRIED. MISSING.
Leigh Fletcher: happily married stepmom to two gorgeous boys goes missing on Monday. Her husband, Mark, says he knows nothing of her whereabouts. She went to work and just never came home. Their family is shattered.
Kai Janssen: married to wealthy Dutch businessman Daan and vanishes the same week. Kai left their luxurious penthouse and glamorous world without a backward glance. She seemingly evaporated into thin air. Daan is distraught.
Detective Clements knows that people disappear all the time—far too frequently. Most run away from things, some run toward and others are taken but find their way back. A sad few never return. These two women are from very different worlds. Their disappearances are unlikely to be connected. And yet, at a gut level, the detective believes they might be.
How could these women walk away from their families, husbands and homes willingly? Clements is determined to unearth the truth, no matter how shocking and devastating it may be.
🌎📖OVERALL REVIEWS📖🌎
Courtesy of Storygraph
COMMUNITY REVIEWS
SUMMARY OF 732 REVIEWS
Moods
mysterious 90%
dark 67%
tense 63%
emotional 18%
challenging 13%
sad 11%
adventurous 7%
reflective 2%
hopeful 1%
Pace
medium 67%
fast 18%
slow 13%
Plot- or character-driven?
A mix: 48% | Character: 27% | Plot: 22% | N/A: 1%
Strong character development?
It's complicated: 42% | No: 29% | Yes: 27%
Loveable characters?
No: 64% | It's complicated: 27% | Yes: 5% | N/A: 2%
Diverse cast of characters?
No: 70% | Yes: 14% | It's complicated: 11% | N/A: 3%
Flaws of characters a main focus?
Yes: 88% | It's complicated: 10%
Average rating
3.53
🤔🧐🤯MY THOUGHTS:🤯🧐🤔
This one had me guessing till the end. I didn’t see it coming. I’m reading the sequel to this book now.
I really enjoyed this book. I love those plot twists. This is a first time author for me and Adele Parks delivered. Character building and world building was great. The story held my interest from start to finish.
RATING KEY:
🌟 Stars - based on the overall plot and theme or idea of the book
❤️🩹 Emotions - based on how emotional I got while reading
🥰 Romance - based on how well I got invested in the love story aspect
🌶️ Spice - based on how the sex scenes were portrayed and written as well as the number of sex scenes
🔎 Mystery - based on how well it kept me guessing who, how and why
😰 Scared/Anxious - based on how scared or anxious the book made me while reading
🎭 Comedy/Tragedy based on if I laughed or if there was a tragic event and how it affected me. I will mark the Masks with either a C or T to indicate Comedy or Tragedy
3/5 ❤️🩹
1/5 🥰
1/5 🌶️
5/5 🔎
3/5 😰A
2/5 🎭T
⚠️⛔️TRIGGERS:⛔️⚠️
Infidelity
Confinement
Death
Kidnapping
Torture
Excrement
Death of a Parent
Profanity
Infertility
Sexual Content
Adult Situations
Grief
Murder
Alcohol Use
Injury / Injury Detail
Pandemic
🗯️💬BOOK BLURB:💬🗯️
HAPPY. MARRIED. MISSING.
Leigh Fletcher: happily married stepmom to two gorgeous boys goes missing on Monday. Her husband, Mark, says he knows nothing of her whereabouts. She went to work and just never came home. Their family is shattered.
Kai Janssen: married to wealthy Dutch businessman Daan and vanishes the same week. Kai left their luxurious penthouse and glamorous world without a backward glance. She seemingly evaporated into thin air. Daan is distraught.
Detective Clements knows that people disappear all the time—far too frequently. Most run away from things, some run toward and others are taken but find their way back. A sad few never return. These two women are from very different worlds. Their disappearances are unlikely to be connected. And yet, at a gut level, the detective believes they might be.
How could these women walk away from their families, husbands and homes willingly? Clements is determined to unearth the truth, no matter how shocking and devastating it may be.
🌎📖OVERALL REVIEWS📖🌎
Courtesy of Storygraph
COMMUNITY REVIEWS
SUMMARY OF 732 REVIEWS
Moods
mysterious 90%
dark 67%
tense 63%
emotional 18%
challenging 13%
sad 11%
adventurous 7%
reflective 2%
hopeful 1%
Pace
medium 67%
fast 18%
slow 13%
Plot- or character-driven?
A mix: 48% | Character: 27% | Plot: 22% | N/A: 1%
Strong character development?
It's complicated: 42% | No: 29% | Yes: 27%
Loveable characters?
No: 64% | It's complicated: 27% | Yes: 5% | N/A: 2%
Diverse cast of characters?
No: 70% | Yes: 14% | It's complicated: 11% | N/A: 3%
Flaws of characters a main focus?
Yes: 88% | It's complicated: 10%
Average rating
3.53
🤔🧐🤯MY THOUGHTS:🤯🧐🤔
This one had me guessing till the end. I didn’t see it coming. I’m reading the sequel to this book now.
I really enjoyed this book. I love those plot twists. This is a first time author for me and Adele Parks delivered. Character building and world building was great. The story held my interest from start to finish.
RATING KEY:
🌟 Stars - based on the overall plot and theme or idea of the book
❤️🩹 Emotions - based on how emotional I got while reading
🥰 Romance - based on how well I got invested in the love story aspect
🌶️ Spice - based on how the sex scenes were portrayed and written as well as the number of sex scenes
🔎 Mystery - based on how well it kept me guessing who, how and why
😰 Scared/Anxious - based on how scared or anxious the book made me while reading
🎭 Comedy/Tragedy based on if I laughed or if there was a tragic event and how it affected me. I will mark the Masks with either a C or T to indicate Comedy or Tragedy
March 21, 2021
Adele Parks is one author that I have never got around to reading and I don’t really understand why. ‘Both of You’ is a genuine page turner and I read it very quickly as I wanted to know what was going to happen. Good characters, addictive plot and plenty of suspense. I did actually guess the ending but I didn’t see that a a negative thing.
The happily married mother and stepmother Leigh Fletcher goes missing leaving her two boys and husband Mark devastated. That same week a wealthy Dutch businessman Kai Janssen reports his wife has also gone missing. Both men are shell shocked.
DC Clements is investigating and is suspicious of two women living completely different lives going missing in the very same week. Are they connected, DC Clements suspects they maybe.
This was a very good thriller and I am already looking for the next Adele Parks book to read.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and HQ for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
The happily married mother and stepmother Leigh Fletcher goes missing leaving her two boys and husband Mark devastated. That same week a wealthy Dutch businessman Kai Janssen reports his wife has also gone missing. Both men are shell shocked.
DC Clements is investigating and is suspicious of two women living completely different lives going missing in the very same week. Are they connected, DC Clements suspects they maybe.
This was a very good thriller and I am already looking for the next Adele Parks book to read.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and HQ for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
September 2, 2021
Two happily married women go missing in one week.
Leigh is married to Mark and a stepmother to Mark's sons. Leigh left for work one morning and never returned home.
Kai Janssen is married to Daan, a wealthy Dutch businessman. Before Kai went missing, she lived in a luxurious penthouse and allegedly had a perfect life.
Both wives are from two very different worlds. Both husbands did not immediately report their wives missing.
Are these two disappearances connected?
Why did these women walk away from their families? And why did their husbands delay reporting their disappearances?
DC Clements is in charge of an investigation that has no shortage of red herrings and compelling twists and turns.
Overall, the author's character development was strong and the book's storyline was fast-paced and intriguing -- even though there was some repetitive text and the book's ending was abrupt.
When I first started the book, I was fearful that this book was going to be a knock-off of Mary Kubika's "Local Woman Missing" and, fortunately, this was not the case.
Although I correctly guessed the perpetrator early on, the author did a superb job of having me continually second-guess myself and revise my suspicions again and again.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrators did a superb job with the narration.
This was my second Adele Parks book and I look forward to listening to future titles by this author.
Leigh is married to Mark and a stepmother to Mark's sons. Leigh left for work one morning and never returned home.
Kai Janssen is married to Daan, a wealthy Dutch businessman. Before Kai went missing, she lived in a luxurious penthouse and allegedly had a perfect life.
Both wives are from two very different worlds. Both husbands did not immediately report their wives missing.
Are these two disappearances connected?
Why did these women walk away from their families? And why did their husbands delay reporting their disappearances?
DC Clements is in charge of an investigation that has no shortage of red herrings and compelling twists and turns.
Overall, the author's character development was strong and the book's storyline was fast-paced and intriguing -- even though there was some repetitive text and the book's ending was abrupt.
When I first started the book, I was fearful that this book was going to be a knock-off of Mary Kubika's "Local Woman Missing" and, fortunately, this was not the case.
Although I correctly guessed the perpetrator early on, the author did a superb job of having me continually second-guess myself and revise my suspicions again and again.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrators did a superb job with the narration.
This was my second Adele Parks book and I look forward to listening to future titles by this author.
June 29, 2022
This book was okay. Not great.
It did have me hooked from the beginning and it was a quick read. However, there are a lot of flaws with this one that hindered my enjoyment. The biggest being the main twist (really the only twist since the other one is predictable) happened in the first 25% of the book, which really killed the suspense. It also slowed the pace of the book down as the middle was mostly inner dialogue that became repetitive and tedious.
Also, there's some PC stuff in this book that turned me off pretty hardcore. Namely, the sexism. There's a lot of white male bashing as well as (not getting into specifics as to not spoil the plot) glorifying women for doing something any man would be condemned for. Double standard much!
Those things aside, I did like the ending. It was a bit predictable but I enjoyed the ride.
It's not the best books I've read this year, but it was satisfying and I'm glad I did read it.
It did have me hooked from the beginning and it was a quick read. However, there are a lot of flaws with this one that hindered my enjoyment. The biggest being the main twist (really the only twist since the other one is predictable) happened in the first 25% of the book, which really killed the suspense. It also slowed the pace of the book down as the middle was mostly inner dialogue that became repetitive and tedious.
Also, there's some PC stuff in this book that turned me off pretty hardcore. Namely, the sexism. There's a lot of white male bashing as well as (not getting into specifics as to not spoil the plot) glorifying women for doing something any man would be condemned for. Double standard much!
Those things aside, I did like the ending. It was a bit predictable but I enjoyed the ride.
It's not the best books I've read this year, but it was satisfying and I'm glad I did read it.
September 17, 2021
Predictable, Unremarkable, Mind-Numbing, and a Huge Disappointment.
Remember that one question in the exam that you have absolutely no idea about but still bullshit through in the hopes that the teacher would give you something for it?
That's 70% of the book for you.
Two women, vanish out of thin air and their husbands are left in this state of worry and confusion.
The book unravels further revealing some elements to the story that are supposed to be shocking to the reader, but it's easily predicted early on.
It is not a thriller. At best it is domestic fiction.
The elements that were actually thrilling were when you're able to predict what's going to happen next.
Other than that self-Eureka moment, there's nothing else that adds suspense to the story.
I do not recommend this book!
Remember that one question in the exam that you have absolutely no idea about but still bullshit through in the hopes that the teacher would give you something for it?
That's 70% of the book for you.
Two women, vanish out of thin air and their husbands are left in this state of worry and confusion.
The book unravels further revealing some elements to the story that are supposed to be shocking to the reader, but it's easily predicted early on.
It is not a thriller. At best it is domestic fiction.
The elements that were actually thrilling were when you're able to predict what's going to happen next.
Other than that self-Eureka moment, there's nothing else that adds suspense to the story.
I do not recommend this book!
February 4, 2022
Adele Parks’ new book Woman Last Seen is fast paced with an intriguingly different plot and incredible twists.
Without giving too much away it begins with two women who go missing.
Leigh Fletcher is a happily married wife and stepmother to two boys with her husband Mark. She travels weekly to her job as a consultant and returns mid-week to her family. Notoriously organized, even while being gone for half the week, she keeps the household running smoothly, prepares meals before she leaves and even has time to meet her best friend Fiona for tea weekly.
Kai Janssen loves her life! Married to a very wealthy Dutch businessman named Daan she does not want for anything. He adores her! Although she lives a very pampered life, she still splits her time taking care of her mother who is ill and lives in a care facility out of town. Usually, Kai and Daan talk at least once a day when she is away. But now Daan is unable to locate his wife. She has gone missing, and he is devastated.
Just as Police Detective Clements is called in to search for Leigh, although she believes Leigh either decided she needed a break from her family or wanted to upset her husband, the other call comes in about another missing woman, and that is Kai Janssen. Even though the women are so unalike, Detective Clements can’t seem to stop thinking the two cases are somehow connected.
But how could they be connected? Both women live in totally different areas. As the police begin to investigate, they start to think perhaps someone may have wanted to hurt the women. Why? Yes, as the saying goes if a wife goes missing, the husband is always the prime suspect, but in this case, they are the ones who called saying they were missing.
Where are Leigh and Kai? More importantly who took them and are they still alive?
And that, my friends are all the clues I am going to give you! You will just have to read the book for all the jaw-dropping, astounding turns the story takes!
Thank you #NetGalley #Mira #AdeleParks #WomanLastSeen for the advanced copy.
Without giving too much away it begins with two women who go missing.
Leigh Fletcher is a happily married wife and stepmother to two boys with her husband Mark. She travels weekly to her job as a consultant and returns mid-week to her family. Notoriously organized, even while being gone for half the week, she keeps the household running smoothly, prepares meals before she leaves and even has time to meet her best friend Fiona for tea weekly.
Kai Janssen loves her life! Married to a very wealthy Dutch businessman named Daan she does not want for anything. He adores her! Although she lives a very pampered life, she still splits her time taking care of her mother who is ill and lives in a care facility out of town. Usually, Kai and Daan talk at least once a day when she is away. But now Daan is unable to locate his wife. She has gone missing, and he is devastated.
Just as Police Detective Clements is called in to search for Leigh, although she believes Leigh either decided she needed a break from her family or wanted to upset her husband, the other call comes in about another missing woman, and that is Kai Janssen. Even though the women are so unalike, Detective Clements can’t seem to stop thinking the two cases are somehow connected.
But how could they be connected? Both women live in totally different areas. As the police begin to investigate, they start to think perhaps someone may have wanted to hurt the women. Why? Yes, as the saying goes if a wife goes missing, the husband is always the prime suspect, but in this case, they are the ones who called saying they were missing.
Where are Leigh and Kai? More importantly who took them and are they still alive?
And that, my friends are all the clues I am going to give you! You will just have to read the book for all the jaw-dropping, astounding turns the story takes!
Thank you #NetGalley #Mira #AdeleParks #WomanLastSeen for the advanced copy.
February 19, 2022
Leigh Fletcher and her friend Fiona have been friends for years and know everything about one another. They are at the park having a picnic when Leigh notices a little boy fall and hurt himself. She rushes to the aid of the dad, Mark and over time they become romantically involved and marry. She is step mum to two boys and loves the family dynamic. One day she goes missing. She works away from home part of the week and does not return when expected. Mark reports her missing and DC Clements gets involved with looking for her. At the same time a wealthy Dutch businessman, Daan Janssen, reports his wife missing. DC Clements visits both men and asks for photographs of their wives. Daan Janssen’s wife, Kai, is the same person as Leigh, Mark’s wife. Neither of them know about the other and both are completely broken hearted when they find out that Leigh/Kai has married both. Both men come from different worlds, Mark plodding along with his wife and children living an easy life and Daan having wealth and able to spoil Kai completely. Has she run away from the drama of trying to live two lives or is there more to the story?
March 5, 2022
This book got off to a slower start as we got to know the characters, but the twist came at a third of the way through, and then the pace really picked up. I guessed the culprit early on, but there were enough red herrings thrown in to keep me reevaluating my suspicions. I did find the ending a bit abrupt, yet still satisfying. This was my first book by this author, so I may check out some of her earlier works.
June 27, 2021
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
‘I belong to them both.
They both belong to me.’
Pry into a complex web of secrets, lies and shocking revelations in Both of You. This latest domestic drama from Adele Parks unveils a story littered with family conflicts, marital issues, betrayal and deceit. Both of You is a juicy domestic thriller that will have you hooked from page one until the parting word.
Both of You follows two happily married women and their shocking disappearances. The first, Leigh Fletcher, is a married woman with two stepchildren. When Leigh vanishes without a trace, her husband is extremely alarmed and broken. He has no idea where his wife may have gone. The second wife to disappear with no indication of her whereabouts is Kai Janssen, a woman happily married to her Dutch husband. Alarm bells ring when Kai leaves no clues as to her whereabouts. Kai’s husband is beside himself with worry, where could his wife be? When Detective Clements is assigned to the case, hope fades as this seasoned detective knows that the likelihood of finding these women alive is very slim. As DC Clements tries to draws on some connections and leads it appears that there may be a link between these two very different women. Can Clements discover the truth and locate these women?
Adele Parks is an author who needs no introduction. This British novelist has a whole host of varied fiction novels to her name and Both of You is her next blockbuster release. This latest read from Adele Parks is consuming, intriguing and addictive. I found it very hard to pull myself away from the clutches of Both of You, it was a seductive title.
I really liked the setup of this new novel from Adele Parks. The disappearance of two happily married women, who both vanish without a trace offered a great opening hook. I enjoyed being teased and pulled in different directions as I developed my own theories around these two seemingly unrelated cases. Through this multiple perspective narrative, we glean more about the choices made by the both missing women, along with the dogged detective assigned to the case. This provides an essential overview and balanced perspective range, which in turn assists this complicated story. I really enjoyed swapping between the different viewpoints and heads of the three key cast members. I think Parks did an excellent job of inhabiting the voices of each of her key leads, along with the support cast.
The tension is this novel is set to a very high volume, my ears were literally ringing and I squirmed around in my seat as the secrets, shocks, twists and reveals bubbled to the surface. Both of You is a book that made me think about public appearances, private worlds, marital issues and personal image. This is book that allows you to critically interrogate constructions of the self, family, marriage, desire, obsession and wants/needs. We travel down quite a dark tunnel at times, but Both of You is a rewarding domestic drama.
A sleek tale and a clear example of an upscale read in the domestic mystery field, Both of You is another champion story from Adele Parks.
*I wish to thank Harlequin Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
‘I belong to them both.
They both belong to me.’
Pry into a complex web of secrets, lies and shocking revelations in Both of You. This latest domestic drama from Adele Parks unveils a story littered with family conflicts, marital issues, betrayal and deceit. Both of You is a juicy domestic thriller that will have you hooked from page one until the parting word.
Both of You follows two happily married women and their shocking disappearances. The first, Leigh Fletcher, is a married woman with two stepchildren. When Leigh vanishes without a trace, her husband is extremely alarmed and broken. He has no idea where his wife may have gone. The second wife to disappear with no indication of her whereabouts is Kai Janssen, a woman happily married to her Dutch husband. Alarm bells ring when Kai leaves no clues as to her whereabouts. Kai’s husband is beside himself with worry, where could his wife be? When Detective Clements is assigned to the case, hope fades as this seasoned detective knows that the likelihood of finding these women alive is very slim. As DC Clements tries to draws on some connections and leads it appears that there may be a link between these two very different women. Can Clements discover the truth and locate these women?
Adele Parks is an author who needs no introduction. This British novelist has a whole host of varied fiction novels to her name and Both of You is her next blockbuster release. This latest read from Adele Parks is consuming, intriguing and addictive. I found it very hard to pull myself away from the clutches of Both of You, it was a seductive title.
I really liked the setup of this new novel from Adele Parks. The disappearance of two happily married women, who both vanish without a trace offered a great opening hook. I enjoyed being teased and pulled in different directions as I developed my own theories around these two seemingly unrelated cases. Through this multiple perspective narrative, we glean more about the choices made by the both missing women, along with the dogged detective assigned to the case. This provides an essential overview and balanced perspective range, which in turn assists this complicated story. I really enjoyed swapping between the different viewpoints and heads of the three key cast members. I think Parks did an excellent job of inhabiting the voices of each of her key leads, along with the support cast.
The tension is this novel is set to a very high volume, my ears were literally ringing and I squirmed around in my seat as the secrets, shocks, twists and reveals bubbled to the surface. Both of You is a book that made me think about public appearances, private worlds, marital issues and personal image. This is book that allows you to critically interrogate constructions of the self, family, marriage, desire, obsession and wants/needs. We travel down quite a dark tunnel at times, but Both of You is a rewarding domestic drama.
A sleek tale and a clear example of an upscale read in the domestic mystery field, Both of You is another champion story from Adele Parks.
*I wish to thank Harlequin Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
January 28, 2022
I do like it when a mystery surprises me, and WOMAN LAST SEEN by Adele Parks did that, although not in a manner I would have expected.
This is the story of missing women Leigh Fletcher and Kai Janssen. Their disappearance is a shock to their spouses and families, with no obvious clues where they might be hiding, assuming they are alive.
The narrative is told in multiple points of view. It also moves back and forth in time so we get a better understanding of characters’ reasoning. I did find the pacing a tad sluggish, and the ‘who’ wasn’t a huge surprise but this didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment, because there was something I enjoyed much more.
I have to be a little vague now to avoid giving spoilers . . . It’s the fallout from information discovered during the police investigation that I found most interesting. I felt Parks did a terrific job with the family dynamics in this book. What behaviours do people take on to play their designated role (wife, husband, parent, child) in their family? Who is keeping secrets? Who is keeping confidences? How does this impact individuals and the family unit when a member of the family disappears? And how do you adjust to the knowledge that you might not know those closest to you as much as you thought? Parks’ astute observations certainly provided food for thought.
This was my first Adele Parks books. I enjoyed reading it and will look out for more of her titles.
3.5 stars
Review copy courtesy of Netgalley and MIRA books.
This is the story of missing women Leigh Fletcher and Kai Janssen. Their disappearance is a shock to their spouses and families, with no obvious clues where they might be hiding, assuming they are alive.
The narrative is told in multiple points of view. It also moves back and forth in time so we get a better understanding of characters’ reasoning. I did find the pacing a tad sluggish, and the ‘who’ wasn’t a huge surprise but this didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment, because there was something I enjoyed much more.
I have to be a little vague now to avoid giving spoilers . . . It’s the fallout from information discovered during the police investigation that I found most interesting. I felt Parks did a terrific job with the family dynamics in this book. What behaviours do people take on to play their designated role (wife, husband, parent, child) in their family? Who is keeping secrets? Who is keeping confidences? How does this impact individuals and the family unit when a member of the family disappears? And how do you adjust to the knowledge that you might not know those closest to you as much as you thought? Parks’ astute observations certainly provided food for thought.
This was my first Adele Parks books. I enjoyed reading it and will look out for more of her titles.
3.5 stars
Review copy courtesy of Netgalley and MIRA books.
February 9, 2022
Two women are reported missing and the police must determine the connection between the two in order to solve their disappearance. I can't say too much without giving the plot away, but what I really liked about this is it's originality. It is not your typical thriller and certainly not your typical characters. The story had a quick, suspenseful flow and moved along nicely. I did figure out the twist very early on, so I wasn't surprised at all. I also felt that the ending was a bit abrupt. Still, a fast, entertaining read for thriller fans.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, MIRA and Adele Parks for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, MIRA and Adele Parks for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
February 2, 2022
Woman Last Seen follows the disappearances of Kai Janssen and Leigh Fletcher. Kai has been married to Daan a wealthy businessman for a few years and they have no kids. It is not uncommon for them to be away from each other for multiple days each week what with his demanding job and Kai visiting/tending to her ill mother. Leigh and Mark have been married for ten years and she is the stepmother to his two sons from a previous marriage. Both women are reported missing by their husbands around the same time and DC Celements is called in to investigate both cases. Do these women know one another? Both are keeping secrets, could their disappearances be related? Were the husbands involved?
The story is told from multiple POVs of Leigh, Kai, DC Clements, the husbands, and Leigh's best friend. The pacing is fast. I finished the book in a day. Why the 2 stars? I can't give too much away without spoiling the book but, the constant monologues from the missing women were exhausting and repetitive. Most of the characters were unlikeable to one extent or another. The book could have been much shorter. The ending.....open-ended, abrupt, and blah.
True rating: 2.5 stars.
The story is told from multiple POVs of Leigh, Kai, DC Clements, the husbands, and Leigh's best friend. The pacing is fast. I finished the book in a day. Why the 2 stars? I can't give too much away without spoiling the book but, the constant monologues from the missing women were exhausting and repetitive. Most of the characters were unlikeable to one extent or another. The book could have been much shorter. The ending.....open-ended, abrupt, and blah.
True rating: 2.5 stars.
September 2, 2021
I am very pleased for Adele Parks, that she was able to undertake a positive project and write a novel (of sorts) in lockdown. However, I do wish she had not inflicted this repetitive, mind numbingly boring and jaw dropping (but not in a good way) unbelievable tale on the rest of us, which has just served to add to the miseries of 2020/21.
Parks has not only gone off from her early promise, but each story she issues is more dire than the one before.
Parks has not only gone off from her early promise, but each story she issues is more dire than the one before.
March 18, 2022
What an intriguing plot with some great twists! The first 1/3 or so of the story felt a little slower for me to start mainly because there was a lot of story building that had to be done to describe the two missing women's seemingly very separate lives, but after that there was a pretty wickedly good twist that really kept me hooked for the rest of the story.
This one was fast-paced for the majority of the book and I really enjoyed seeing a troupe that is normally done by male characters carried out by women. It was a great twist on a relatively highly used plot that really bumped things up for me overall. While I did kind of guess what was happening for the last 10% or so, it did have a pretty satisfying ending.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing me with an ARC!
This one was fast-paced for the majority of the book and I really enjoyed seeing a troupe that is normally done by male characters carried out by women. It was a great twist on a relatively highly used plot that really bumped things up for me overall. While I did kind of guess what was happening for the last 10% or so, it did have a pretty satisfying ending.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing me with an ARC!
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