Missing Child

by Patricia MacDonald

Meet Caitlin.

Devoted wife

Adoring stepmom

Liar?

One phone call will shatter her picture-perfect new life.

She dropped him off at school that morning. But now she gets a call — he’s not there. Caitlin’s six-year-old stepson Geordie is missing . . .

A seamless blend of high domestic suspense with a shattering final twist.

Perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn, T.M. Logan, B.A. Paris, Liane Moriarty, Claire Dyer, Sam Carrington, Celeste Ng.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Family

237 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Librarians note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Patricia MacDonald is the author of several psychological suspense novels set in small towns. MacDonald grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut and has a master's degree from Boston College. Before writing her own novels she was a book editor and was once an editor for a soap opera magazine in New York. She is married to writer Art Bourgeau. They live in Cape May, New Jersey and have one daughter.

Her first novel, The Unforgiven, published in 1981, received an Edgar Award nomination from the Mystery Writers of America. Secret Admirer (1995) won the literary prize at the 1997 Deauville Film Festival in France, where MacDonald is consistently a number one bestseller. She’s also been awarded the prize for literature at the International Forum of Cinema and Literature in Monaco.

Reviews

[ReadAlongWithSue recovering from a stroke★⋆. ࿐࿔ · Rating 5 out of 5]

First book I have read by this author, came recommeded to me by an online friend.
This won't be the last one I read of hers either, what a thrilling read.

I don't do spoilers, so I am just going to say that I thought I had it all worked out, but nope, the twists and turns in this book leave you gasping, I really love a book that you can't wait to pick up again as soon as you get the time to read.

[Charybdis · Rating 1 out of 5]

Here's the author plotting this novel:
So let's have a bad guy who's not really bad, but misguided. He's been abused by his dad, but doesn't remember and then he notices his dad paying attention to his 6-year-old nephew and suddenly he remembers. He's upset and the next day decides to kidnap his nephew to keep him safe and ship him off to another country. The kid's parents are frantic and the police are investigating him, but he won't tell because of some reason (Note To Self: perhaps I need to think about this some more). When it does come out, people will forgive him more easily because he couldn't help himself, being abused and misguided and all. And he saved the kid from being abused by his granddad! Wow, aren't I good at plotting? Let's get started writing. Later: Done! Forgot about the Note To Self but it isn't really an essential plot point, is it? I don't think the readers will notice or care.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have not read anything by this author before and while this book held my attention I didn't feel as if I really knew the characters in depth. However I did not expect the ending but I did feel it was a bit rushed.

[Margaret · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was readable but the secret the heroine is keeping is deeply implausible and the denouement is ridiculous. When I investigate a murder or similarly huge crime I definitely won't tell the police or a friend whodunnit and why before confronting my suspect. No, I shall immediately run off without telling anyone where I'm going to accuse the baddie alone; especially if he or she is twice my size and works in manual labour or owns a gun shop. And I'll be sure to have such a tense confrontation in an enclosed space full of tools and potential weapons where they can get between me and the door. Because what could possibly go wrong?

[Kristle Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast paced “whodunnit” mystery about a missing child and all of the secrets that unfold afterwards. I loved the unexpected twists! The writing was very simple, in a good way. A very easy, palatable book that kept me guessing all the way through.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy smokes! This was unputdownable. 4.5 stars ✨ So many twists that I was turning pages faster than I could read to see what would happen next. Ha! This was a first read for me of Patricia MacDonald’s and definitely won’t be my last!

[Trudy Pomerantz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I could finish this audiobook as I was cleaning the house - hence the 2 star rather than 1-star rating. The conversations seemed forced, the main protagonist insane, and the action impossible. In other words, I could not suspend my disbelief. Was the reviewer at the Publishers Weekly reading the same book as I?

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A boy goes missing - what happened? This story weaves through many layers, with untold secrets revealing themselves along the way. Just when you think you've got it figured out, the author is there with another twist. When all is said and done, this thriller is definitely worth a read! 7 out of 10.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read. I finished it quickly. Not super “thriller” more of who did it mystery with with high stakes. I liked the characters. Many different family members made for an interesting mystery. I would never have guested it and it was different than other books. Good short read

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could almost give it 4 stars but there were too many things drawn out and too many rushed events. Still, a page turner/swiper!

[Gin And Book Reviews · Rating 2 out of 5]

Missing Child by Patricia Macdonald is about husband and wife Noah & Caitlin, and his son Geordie, his child from his first marriage to Emily who was killed in an accident a few years before.

The morning after Gerodie’s birthday party, where all the extended family are introduced, Caitlin drops Geordie off at school and rushes in behind him to see a school project he’d been working on. Except Caitlin doesn’t see him again. Geordie doesn’t register for class, and by the end of the day he’s officially a missing child.

Caitlin is distraught, obviously.

In chapters that follow Caitlin is running around pointing fingers and throwing accusations at people without any proof. Noah blames her and essentially their marriage breaks down and she’s forced to leave the family home, where she’s free to play detective until her hearts content.

A lot of Caitlin’s actions are head scratching, as is the police involvement. There were a lot of possible suspects unquestioned. Cell tower origins were left unchecked, instead the detective chose to concentrate on finding out who bought a burner phone in a city that was hundreds of miles away from the actual crime. Family secrets that were meant to shock, left me shaking my head and the reason for Geordie’s disappearance seemed way over the top and completely unavoidable.

I felt the last quarter of the book was rushed and I struggled to warm to Caitlin. Noah’s character lacked depth and could’ve had more story time since this was about HIS biological missing son, instead the author focused more on the step-mom. I didn’t love this book, but I didn’t hate it either, it was an okay one time read.

[Maureen McDermott · Rating 2 out of 5]

By the end of the first or second chapter, the number of personal losses is between 4 of the characters is 6. Both of Caitlin's parents' deaths didn't seem necessary. One could have been in assisted living. Likewise, I didn't see Naomi's husband dying as integral. Enrolling Travis in the Scouts didn't rely on him not having a father. The extraneous deaths cast a shadow from early on in the book.

Referring to herself as mom and Travis as her son didn't bode well for me. I understand that Travis' mother is gone, but him calling her "Mom" in his sleepy state doesn't change two years of not being seen as his mom. It just seemed like Caitlin wanted to fade out Emily's existence.

As for the twist ending, it was something akin to "and it was all a dream" for me. It seemed like the author was in a hurry to wrap things up. Don't get me wrong. She writes well, but I'd have changed a few things.

[Maggie61 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd probably give this one a 3 1/2 but wouldn't bump it up to a 4.

I have been a fan of Patricia MacDonalds since her first books came out. This one was not my favourite of hers, but still an enjoyable read. I did find the whole scenario of Caitlyn's brother James being responsible for her husband's first wife's death a little unbelievable. I can't believe anyone with a conscience would be able to go day to day living with that secret and not be eaten up with guilt for not revealing what she knew.

The whole remainder of the plot into Geordie's disappearance was good, but I thought Dan's whole thought process was a little off. Why would he just not tell everyone about his father after he realized it instead of the decision he made? Not sure post traumatic stress disorder would cover that one. Seems like a pretty simple solution.

An okay quick read, but not her best.

[Angie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beaucoup de choses tellement invraisemblables dans ce bouquin. On se demande même à quoi sert la police. Et le français était tellement mauvais que ça n'a pas aidé j'avoue. Je me demande vraiment si ça a été relu...
- "se présenta sucentryement" : pardon ?
- bizarre de parler d'un "camion d'enlèvement" dans un livre qui parle justement de kidnapping (dépanneuse, trop compliqué sans doute ?)
- "il branlait le chef d'un air revêche" : j'ai dû relire plusieurs fois (branler DU chef, please)

[Peggy Sinden]

Wow, can't believe I finished this book in one night. Every time I thought I had come to the end it veared off in an another direction with the kidnapper unnamed all the way to the very end. Patricia MacDonald knows how to hold your attention and then some.

[BxerMom · Rating 2 out of 5]

loved the story line but it was really rushed at the end and for me that spoiled it.

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lively plot driven story. I dived in and didn't come up for air until the novel's end.

[Mika · Rating 1 out of 5]

mediocre writing style at best. cheap cliches galore ( i can't stress that enough!!!!!). first and last book by this author I'll ever read.

[Pamela Pavkov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Missing Child is a very intense psychological thriller mystery written by Patricia MacDonald. I was really drawn into this story from the beginning. With every page I turned I could feel the fear and sadness build. A child has gone missing from his elementary school and fingers are pointing in so many directions. When the little boys stepmother starts putting the pieces together she is shocked at what she uncovers. There is a jaw dropping conclusion to this story. The characters were absolutely amazing even the one you will learn to hate. This story shows how family will protect family no matter the cost.

I was not given a complimentary copy of this book to read and review. I was not approached to post a favorable response and all opinions are my own. I have rated this story with five stars for meeting my expectations of a wonderful mystery that I can highly recommend to others.

[Sarah Stuart · Rating 1 out of 5]

Caitlin is established as "a worthy heroine"; she works placing disadvantaged students in college. She has a troublesome young brother who is her responsibility since their parents died. (A convenient "coincidence".) The author makes the boy too unpleasant for me to care about him going missing.

Actually, I have no idea if he does; Caitlin is suddenly married, presumably to a man who is divorced, or maybe his wife also "conveniently" died? He has a son and it can't be Caitlin's since only two years have passed and he is an immature six. Maybe he is going missing?

I have no idea. The "unputdownable" book lost what little interest I had and I stopped reading.

[Christine South · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
This book was a bit of a slow burner & it was worth sticking with. I had guessed part of the reason for the abduction but didn’t guess everything but the truth about the accident & the shocking family secret that came out & the events at the end made this book worthwhile to read.

[Nina Masri · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I enjoyed this book, I predicted the “shocking twist” at the end. Which is always disappointing to me. Some plot twists were fairly obvious. Others were a bit more hidden but ultimately I predicted a lot of the ending, which is why it got 4 stars instead of 5. Overall though, good book.

[Dreamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unputdownable, read in a day. Free with Prime.

[Kimmy Goldman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book! It really picked up halfway thru and I didn’t see anything coming! Awesome read!!

[Darlene Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

So Riveting!

I could not stop reading this! I read this in one sitting. This book is one you cannot put down. So many twists and turns.

[Dorel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the 1st book I read by Patricia Macdonald. The Prologue had my interest, but as I kept reading I lost interest.

[Brenda McCollum · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story had potential but I felt like it was written for a 5th grade reading level, which made it difficult for me to engage.

[Sasha Austin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was interesting and had a good plot. I certainly didn't see the ending coming but something about it just felt "off". I didn't really connect with any of the characters.

[Tammy Witthaus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok book but voice on audible was too monotone for me!

[Stacey Groome · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literally finished in a day! Started and finished it today… excellent, page turner, family drama, a few surprises, very good!!! 5 stars!