What do you think?
Rate this book
My Wife Is Missing
When a woman disappears with her two children, one husband will do anything to find them--even confront the secrets of his own past--in D. J. Palmer's My Wife Is Missing, a twisty thriller from the author of The New Husband...
384 pages, Hardcover
First published May 10, 2022
300 people are currently reading
32203 people want to read
About the author
D.J. Palmer
6 books1,585 followersPseudonym for author Daniel Palmer
D.J. PALMER is the author of numerous critically acclaimed suspense novels, including Delirious and Desperate. After receiving his master’s degree from Boston University, he spent a decade as an e-commerce pioneer before turning his attention to writing. He lives in New Hampshire where he is at work on his next novel.
Librarians note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
D.J. PALMER is the author of numerous critically acclaimed suspense novels, including Delirious and Desperate. After receiving his master’s degree from Boston University, he spent a decade as an e-commerce pioneer before turning his attention to writing. He lives in New Hampshire where he is at work on his next novel.
Librarians note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,809 reviews
May 9, 2022
My Wife Is Missing by D.J. Palmer
Entertaining, twisty, and convoluted but sometimes convoluted can be fun. Natalie and Michael Hart are having marriage difficulties. Natalie has been under stress at work while managing two children and a household. Michael is pretty good at helping out at home but he's very unhappy with Natalie's coldness towards him. Now he's been spending a lot of time at the gym, losing weight, bulking up, and paying attention to his fashion choices when he never cared about such things before.
Natalie has insomnia and it's affecting all areas of her life. She's experiencing hallucinations, falling asleep at work, and even when she does get some sleep, the sleep makes her groggy and her insomnia side effects worse. She is sure Michael is having an affair and lying about it. Her meds aren't working and Michael's deceptiveness are adding to Natalie's misery.
Natalie suggests a trip for the family and Michael jumps on the idea. He's feeling guilt about what he's done and wants to save their marriage. But once at the hotel they will be staying at, when he comes back with food for the family, his wife and kids are gone. It's road trip time for Michael and a detective who muscles into his life. Michael has big secrets in his past and he's pretty sure the detective is on to some of them. But he also wants to find his wife and kids and the detective can open doors and get information that Michael can't get on his own.
Natalie is scared of Michael because she has found out his secrets. Still, she knows that her insomnia has filled her with paranoia and she has trouble discerning real danger from imagined danger. Present day is interspersed with past events for both Natalie and Michael. Who can really be trusted to tell the truth? Will Natalie know the truth even if it slaps her in the face? Nonstop confusion with a heavy sense of dread kept me turning the page.
Publication: May 10th 2022
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.
Entertaining, twisty, and convoluted but sometimes convoluted can be fun. Natalie and Michael Hart are having marriage difficulties. Natalie has been under stress at work while managing two children and a household. Michael is pretty good at helping out at home but he's very unhappy with Natalie's coldness towards him. Now he's been spending a lot of time at the gym, losing weight, bulking up, and paying attention to his fashion choices when he never cared about such things before.
Natalie has insomnia and it's affecting all areas of her life. She's experiencing hallucinations, falling asleep at work, and even when she does get some sleep, the sleep makes her groggy and her insomnia side effects worse. She is sure Michael is having an affair and lying about it. Her meds aren't working and Michael's deceptiveness are adding to Natalie's misery.
Natalie suggests a trip for the family and Michael jumps on the idea. He's feeling guilt about what he's done and wants to save their marriage. But once at the hotel they will be staying at, when he comes back with food for the family, his wife and kids are gone. It's road trip time for Michael and a detective who muscles into his life. Michael has big secrets in his past and he's pretty sure the detective is on to some of them. But he also wants to find his wife and kids and the detective can open doors and get information that Michael can't get on his own.
Natalie is scared of Michael because she has found out his secrets. Still, she knows that her insomnia has filled her with paranoia and she has trouble discerning real danger from imagined danger. Present day is interspersed with past events for both Natalie and Michael. Who can really be trusted to tell the truth? Will Natalie know the truth even if it slaps her in the face? Nonstop confusion with a heavy sense of dread kept me turning the page.
Publication: May 10th 2022
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.
July 19, 2022
I decided to directly give five stars to each D. J. Palmer’s book and add a note telling my review is about to come before I start to read it! Because I keep giving five stars for his last works and this one may deserve 5.5 because of extra nerve bending, nail bitingly high tension development which made me scream! Even though it brought back my panic attacks, it was truly worth it!
The heart throbbing, action packed plot line of the book hits you so hard from the first chapter. It starts so impactful, so fast, you are literally drawn into mysterious family drama! On their family vacation to Big Apple, Michael is still worried about the well being of his wife Natalie who lately suffers from insomnia. Her new sleeping ( correction: not sleeping) habits push her to the edge. Michael thinks she cannot differentiate between dream and reality. But now they push the reset button: their trip to New York with two kids can heal their estranged relationship.
Michael leaves his family to take out pizza. When he returns back to the room, he thinks he’s at the wrong place. His family is gone. Their baggages are gone. Nobody knows where they are. When the police gets involved Michael sees the security footage. He cannot believe in his eyes. Because nobody kidnaps or forcedly takes his family. They just ride on a car and move away! Why? The police officers ask him if there’s a reason for his wife to leave him. Well there might be!Michael, you sneaky, naughty boy! What the hell you’ve done!
When we move backwards to learn more about their past from Natalie’s POV, we realize Natalie is suspicious because of her husband’s new gym habit. She thinks he’s cheating on him. She bumps into a crying new coworker at the firm. Her name is Audrey Aller. She offers to help Audrey’s work related problem in exchange to use her seduce her husband. What? Really!
Do you want to know what happened! I have to say there are so many twists you cannot see them coming. This book is total roller coaster. The characters can fool you. The unexpected revelations can shock you. And its heart throbbing definitely hooks you!
Well, I love this author’s books so much. And honestly this is his best work! I truly highly absolutely recommend it!
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
The heart throbbing, action packed plot line of the book hits you so hard from the first chapter. It starts so impactful, so fast, you are literally drawn into mysterious family drama! On their family vacation to Big Apple, Michael is still worried about the well being of his wife Natalie who lately suffers from insomnia. Her new sleeping ( correction: not sleeping) habits push her to the edge. Michael thinks she cannot differentiate between dream and reality. But now they push the reset button: their trip to New York with two kids can heal their estranged relationship.
Michael leaves his family to take out pizza. When he returns back to the room, he thinks he’s at the wrong place. His family is gone. Their baggages are gone. Nobody knows where they are. When the police gets involved Michael sees the security footage. He cannot believe in his eyes. Because nobody kidnaps or forcedly takes his family. They just ride on a car and move away! Why? The police officers ask him if there’s a reason for his wife to leave him. Well there might be!Michael, you sneaky, naughty boy! What the hell you’ve done!
When we move backwards to learn more about their past from Natalie’s POV, we realize Natalie is suspicious because of her husband’s new gym habit. She thinks he’s cheating on him. She bumps into a crying new coworker at the firm. Her name is Audrey Aller. She offers to help Audrey’s work related problem in exchange to use her seduce her husband. What? Really!
Do you want to know what happened! I have to say there are so many twists you cannot see them coming. This book is total roller coaster. The characters can fool you. The unexpected revelations can shock you. And its heart throbbing definitely hooks you!
Well, I love this author’s books so much. And honestly this is his best work! I truly highly absolutely recommend it!
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
April 8, 2022
Outlier alert!🙋🏻♀️
2.5*
Don’t you sometimes wonder if you just read the same book as everyone else? Like maybe you’re in some parallel universe? You notice all the glowing reviews, all the high praise but you just couldn’t connect from page one. Well this is definitely one of those times!
Natalie has horrible insomnia, eventually starting to effect all aspects of her life. She’s now at the point of wondering whether she’s being gas-lighted by her husband, or is she truly delusional?
What she is certain of is that she must escape before it’s too late. (I’m sorry, but this made little sense to me even after all was said and done at the end).
This book was much too long and really didn’t take hold until the final 25%. I struggled for the better part of two weeks to finish, only to be thoroughly disappointed by the ending. Really!? Seriously!? After all of that…over 400 pages!? Nope, that’s just not going to cut it for me.
I’ve read multiple books by this author and I have to say this was by far my least favorite. But…. everyone else absolutely loved it! This is just one (unpopular) opinion. Happy reading.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press.
2.5*
Don’t you sometimes wonder if you just read the same book as everyone else? Like maybe you’re in some parallel universe? You notice all the glowing reviews, all the high praise but you just couldn’t connect from page one. Well this is definitely one of those times!
Natalie has horrible insomnia, eventually starting to effect all aspects of her life. She’s now at the point of wondering whether she’s being gas-lighted by her husband, or is she truly delusional?
What she is certain of is that she must escape before it’s too late. (I’m sorry, but this made little sense to me even after all was said and done at the end).
This book was much too long and really didn’t take hold until the final 25%. I struggled for the better part of two weeks to finish, only to be thoroughly disappointed by the ending. Really!? Seriously!? After all of that…over 400 pages!? Nope, that’s just not going to cut it for me.
I’ve read multiple books by this author and I have to say this was by far my least favorite. But…. everyone else absolutely loved it! This is just one (unpopular) opinion. Happy reading.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press.
May 11, 2022
***HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY***
I had read “The Perfect Daughter” and really enjoyed it so I was excited to read D.J. Palmer’s new thriller!!
This line has been used so many times but this really was A ROLLER COASTER OF A RIDE!!
Natalie and Michael Hart have two children, Addie and Bryce. Natalie has been an insomniac for months now and nothing seems to help. She seems to have tried everything and yet never gets more than a few hours of sleep at night. Their marriage is on the rocks for many reasons, Natalie has not been herself with her sleeping disorder. She has been suffering from tremors, visions and memory problems.
Lately she has had many reasons to question Nate’s fidelity. Michael has joined a gym and she feels as though instead of trying to help her, he spends his time escaping to the gym. Is there more going on at the gym than exercising?? Is he using the gym as an escape to meet a lover??
They have been going to a marriage counselor and one of the things that is suggested is that they plan a trip alone together, without the kids, to try to reconnect. But Natalie has other ideas, she wants to bring the kids to New York city and introduce them to all of the wonders there, Times Square, museums, the avenues of shopping, etc etc.
Michael goes along with the plan and after a 4 ½ hour drive they have arrived at the hotel. They are all exhausted and the kids are complaining about being hungry. Rather than order room service Natalie suggests that Nate go the short distance to a pizza place and get their dinner himself.
When he returns to the hotel room he is BLOWN AWAY!!! His family is missing and Bryce’s teddy bear has been left behind, something he NEVER IS WITHOUT!!!
NOW ARE YOU READY FOR A RIDE – With a thriller there is so little that can be said without ruining your read.
There are a lot of characters in this book and they have more secrets and lies than I thought possible.
What follows is a chase to find Natalie and the children. She has planned well and even though Michael has a member of the police force traveling with him, they have come up against some clever misdirection on Natalie’s part.
There were a lot of twists and past secrets that come to light that kept me turning the pages rapidly. There are several characters that have deeply buried secrets, twenty years in fact, that will come to light. Numerous red herrings still left me confused as to the final outcome.
I hope this is enough of an introduction to get you excited to read this novel. THE ENDING WAS DEFINITELY NOT WHAT I WAS EXPECTING!!!
This would have been a 5* except it was hard to believe that this could take place. But who knows to what lengths a mother will go to protect her children!!
I can recommend this novel to those who love a fast paced thriller with lots of twists to keep you guessing.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, through Edelweiss.
I had read “The Perfect Daughter” and really enjoyed it so I was excited to read D.J. Palmer’s new thriller!!
This line has been used so many times but this really was A ROLLER COASTER OF A RIDE!!
Natalie and Michael Hart have two children, Addie and Bryce. Natalie has been an insomniac for months now and nothing seems to help. She seems to have tried everything and yet never gets more than a few hours of sleep at night. Their marriage is on the rocks for many reasons, Natalie has not been herself with her sleeping disorder. She has been suffering from tremors, visions and memory problems.
Lately she has had many reasons to question Nate’s fidelity. Michael has joined a gym and she feels as though instead of trying to help her, he spends his time escaping to the gym. Is there more going on at the gym than exercising?? Is he using the gym as an escape to meet a lover??
They have been going to a marriage counselor and one of the things that is suggested is that they plan a trip alone together, without the kids, to try to reconnect. But Natalie has other ideas, she wants to bring the kids to New York city and introduce them to all of the wonders there, Times Square, museums, the avenues of shopping, etc etc.
Michael goes along with the plan and after a 4 ½ hour drive they have arrived at the hotel. They are all exhausted and the kids are complaining about being hungry. Rather than order room service Natalie suggests that Nate go the short distance to a pizza place and get their dinner himself.
When he returns to the hotel room he is BLOWN AWAY!!! His family is missing and Bryce’s teddy bear has been left behind, something he NEVER IS WITHOUT!!!
NOW ARE YOU READY FOR A RIDE – With a thriller there is so little that can be said without ruining your read.
There are a lot of characters in this book and they have more secrets and lies than I thought possible.
What follows is a chase to find Natalie and the children. She has planned well and even though Michael has a member of the police force traveling with him, they have come up against some clever misdirection on Natalie’s part.
There were a lot of twists and past secrets that come to light that kept me turning the pages rapidly. There are several characters that have deeply buried secrets, twenty years in fact, that will come to light. Numerous red herrings still left me confused as to the final outcome.
I hope this is enough of an introduction to get you excited to read this novel. THE ENDING WAS DEFINITELY NOT WHAT I WAS EXPECTING!!!
This would have been a 5* except it was hard to believe that this could take place. But who knows to what lengths a mother will go to protect her children!!
I can recommend this novel to those who love a fast paced thriller with lots of twists to keep you guessing.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, through Edelweiss.
September 6, 2025
WOW ... One of The Best Thrillers I Have Read in a Very Long Time
This is a Psychological Thriller. The beginning of this book pulled me into it so fast, and It kept me wanting to read it. This book has one of the best endings that I have read in a long time, and I really did not see it coming. This book takes you on one wild crazy ride that I enjoyed so much. The characters were developed slowly throughout this book which really worked for this storyline/plot. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.
This is a Psychological Thriller. The beginning of this book pulled me into it so fast, and It kept me wanting to read it. This book has one of the best endings that I have read in a long time, and I really did not see it coming. This book takes you on one wild crazy ride that I enjoyed so much. The characters were developed slowly throughout this book which really worked for this storyline/plot. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.
July 20, 2023
The devil again, perched upon his shoulder. He knew. The past was something Michael carried with him, even when he forgot it was there. His mind flashed on an image sourced from memory, one of blood and gruesome cuts to a body, of eyes open wide but seeing nothing. It wasn’t over. It would never be over.Michael and Natalie are at a Times Square hotel with their kids, a short vacay from their life in Boston. When Nat had suggested it, Michael jumped at the chance. Healing was needed, not just for Natalie’s too-persistent insomnia, but for their marriage. She had been sure Michael was having an affair, despite his persistent denials. He is hoping she is ready to try patching things up. She sends him out for pizza for the family at a local emporium, but when he returns the family has vanished like a Manhattan parking spot. He does what one might do, but the detectives show him hotel video of Natalie and the kids making tracks. No alien abduction this time. His wife has done a runner. The question is why?
D.J. Palmer – image from Amazon
The book follows two characters Michael, as he tries to figure out what is going on, and Natalie in two timelines, before leaving and after, on the run. So three threads to keep straight. Not a challenge.
Secrets abound. Michael has a large one from his past. Natalie has put together a theory, which reflects poorly on Michael and informs her desire to flee. And then there is the murder to consider.
Palmer give us plenty of fodder to munch on. What is that scar on Michael’s arm? Was it really from a bicycle accident when he was a kid? Why does Michael have no family other than Natalie and their kids? Whose long hair was it that Natalie found on his clothes one night? But the Michael we see seems a pretty decent, if flawed, guy, eager to get his family back, and Natalie has some issues. Her insomnia has become severe and persistent. Has her grip on reality suffered from this? Has she become paranoid?
We see in the looks back how Natalie came to think what she thinks. We do not get a lot from Michael’s history side until near the end.
The supporting cast is fun. A detective who is looking into the recent killing attaches himself to Michael when he goes looking for his family. We presume his intentions are less than benign, as he keeps ramping up his questioning. But Michael really wants to find his wife, and the access a detective has to otherwise unavailable resources makes it worth putting up with the guy being fixated on him as Suspect Zero. Natalie has a bff at work. A company investigator from her work spices things up briefly, and a young attractive sort at Natalie’s job passes on through for a while, is exposed to Natalie’s fears, and steps way back.
The tension builds and builds, as we keep hoping to find answers, but when we get them they arrive with a fresh set of questions. The pace sustains at frenetic, and there are severe twists aplenty, which make sense and are satisfying, however jolting.
I was not all that smitten with the leads here. Michael should not have been so secretive with Natalie about his past. And he should have been much more honest about other things as well. Natalie is ragged, which makes her concerns at least somewhat suspect. She may be right or she may be wrong, but it is a bit tough to get fully on board for her. It is possible she is suffering from paranoia., but just because you’re paranoid, that does not mean that they are not really out to get you.
This is only my second book by this author. One thing I preferred about The Perfect Daughter is that there is informational payload in that one about an unusual medical condition. My Wife is Missing is straight up thriller/mystery, payload-free as far as I could tell. It works fine as that, but I do prefer novels that add in some extra, educational material to give them a bit more heft.
This is a perfect beach read. It sustains a page-flipping pace while offering the sorts of twists and turns that make it a fun journey, without demanding too much deep thought. You may go missing for the few hours it will take to read My Wife is Missing, but we know that you are sure to be found.
He couldn’t be in any picture that risked going viral, and certainly couldn’t tell his in-laws why.
Review posted – May 20, 2022
Publication dates
----------Hardcover - May 10, 2022
----------Trade paperback - July 18, 2023
I received an ARE of My Wife is Missing from St. Martin’s Press in return for a fair review, and sticking around. Thanks, folks, and thanks to NetGalley for facilitating.
This review has been cross-posted on my site, Coot’s Reviews. Stop by and say Hi!
=============================EXTRA STUFF
Links to the author’s personal, other personal, Twitter, Instagram and FB pages
My review of Palmer’s 2021 novel, The Perfect Daughter
Items of Interest from the author
-----Soundcloud - audio excerpt - read by Karissa Vacker – 3:48
========================UNRELATED
When I tried updating this review I received a message: “Your review contains blocked content. Please edit your review and try again.” there was no indication of what content, which was ok yesterday, is no longer ok today. so, I took it all a paragraph at a time, removing then putting back until something became clear.
So, it appears that GR objects to my links to other social media sites in a set of clickable icons
FB and Flickr seem ok
Twitter not so much so, here is me at Twitter
https://
twitter.com/
WillByrnesCoot
Not sure if this is a one-off anomaly or a systemic change. Guess time will tell.
July 22, 2023
**Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and D.J. Palmer for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 5.10!**
A pretty solid and twisty thriller...IF you can get past the heavy-handedness and IF a hefty dose of repetition doesn't lull you to sleep!
Natalie and her husband Michael have taken kids Addie and Bryce to NYC for a quick trip. When Michael returns to their hotel from a pizza and salad run, however, his wife---AND kids---are nowhere to be found. Obviously, Michael panics and turns to the authorities to help suss out their location. As a policeman aids Michael in his search, we begin to find out a bit more about Natalie...namely, that she's been suffering from insomnia for a LONG time, to the point of paranoid delusions, and this has caused some significant bumps in their relationship as of late. Natalie's constant state of sleep deprivation hasn't shielded her from some unpleasant realities...such as Michael's sudden long hours at the gym, coupled with a lack of action in their bedroom. Her suspicions have led her to take this opportunity to run...but will Michael be able to catch her? And has been Michael been keeping ANOTHER secret, one more dark and dastardly than Natalie even knew? Will either of these two make it home safe and sound....or at least, safe from one another?
After the long slog that was The Perfect Daughter (I STILL remember how frustrated I felt trying to get through that book...talk about a week that felt like a year!) I was a bit hesitant about picking up another Palmer book, but I was so hoping I'd feel as satisfied as I did after The New Husband, my first introduction to his work...and I am grateful to say I enjoyed this book! While simple enjoyment might not seem like an accomplishment, feeling satisfied with this read renewed my faith in this author and confirmed that I want to keep reading his work.
The pacing was fairly steady, with just enough unanswered questions and movement from Natalie as the chase commenced to keep me interested. There is a "Before She Disappeared" timeline, but it wasn't confusing (thankfully) and helped fill in the blanks as to what Natalie's motivations were and why she felt compelled to leave. I had been clued in that an unreliable narrator was at play, so I did jump back forth several times as to whether said narrator was Michael or Natalie. I also always enjoy Palmer's characters: authentic without being boring, and usually not TOO over the top.
The areas where this book lacked however, were some of the devices Palmer chose to use...namely Natalie's insomnia as the driving force behind all of her decisions and the one thing that always undermines her credibility. As some other reviewers have previously pointed out, her insomnia is mentioned A LOT, almost ad nauseum. Yes, we know, she doesn't sleep. (This may make me especially salty since I have an infant and also haven't had a full night of restful sleep in over a year....but I digress.) It was hard to feel the gravity of how insomnia affected Natalie because Palmer did more telling than showing, and since his novels are generally third person, it was hard to climb in Natalie's head and really FEEL that discombobulated feeling.
While I did figure a couple of twists out (at least partially) there were a couple interesting banks here and there that I didn't predict and that was enough to keep the narrative lively for me. There is a section at around 75% that drags for a bit, but the ending picks up again and has one nice fake-out moment before the last loose ends are tied. While the plot itself didn't feel the most fresh or unique I'd ever read, it was just entertaining and steady enough to keep me turning pages and keep me invested. Perhaps I just was so relieved to not take a week to finish this one or the fact that I was coming off a read I did NOT enjoy elevated this in my mind...it's hard to say. Either way, I'm glad I was able to stay awake long enough to finish this one...and I'd best be off to go catch some shut eye! 😴
4 stars
Now in paperback!
A pretty solid and twisty thriller...IF you can get past the heavy-handedness and IF a hefty dose of repetition doesn't lull you to sleep!
Natalie and her husband Michael have taken kids Addie and Bryce to NYC for a quick trip. When Michael returns to their hotel from a pizza and salad run, however, his wife---AND kids---are nowhere to be found. Obviously, Michael panics and turns to the authorities to help suss out their location. As a policeman aids Michael in his search, we begin to find out a bit more about Natalie...namely, that she's been suffering from insomnia for a LONG time, to the point of paranoid delusions, and this has caused some significant bumps in their relationship as of late. Natalie's constant state of sleep deprivation hasn't shielded her from some unpleasant realities...such as Michael's sudden long hours at the gym, coupled with a lack of action in their bedroom. Her suspicions have led her to take this opportunity to run...but will Michael be able to catch her? And has been Michael been keeping ANOTHER secret, one more dark and dastardly than Natalie even knew? Will either of these two make it home safe and sound....or at least, safe from one another?
After the long slog that was The Perfect Daughter (I STILL remember how frustrated I felt trying to get through that book...talk about a week that felt like a year!) I was a bit hesitant about picking up another Palmer book, but I was so hoping I'd feel as satisfied as I did after The New Husband, my first introduction to his work...and I am grateful to say I enjoyed this book! While simple enjoyment might not seem like an accomplishment, feeling satisfied with this read renewed my faith in this author and confirmed that I want to keep reading his work.
The pacing was fairly steady, with just enough unanswered questions and movement from Natalie as the chase commenced to keep me interested. There is a "Before She Disappeared" timeline, but it wasn't confusing (thankfully) and helped fill in the blanks as to what Natalie's motivations were and why she felt compelled to leave. I had been clued in that an unreliable narrator was at play, so I did jump back forth several times as to whether said narrator was Michael or Natalie. I also always enjoy Palmer's characters: authentic without being boring, and usually not TOO over the top.
The areas where this book lacked however, were some of the devices Palmer chose to use...namely Natalie's insomnia as the driving force behind all of her decisions and the one thing that always undermines her credibility. As some other reviewers have previously pointed out, her insomnia is mentioned A LOT, almost ad nauseum. Yes, we know, she doesn't sleep. (This may make me especially salty since I have an infant and also haven't had a full night of restful sleep in over a year....but I digress.) It was hard to feel the gravity of how insomnia affected Natalie because Palmer did more telling than showing, and since his novels are generally third person, it was hard to climb in Natalie's head and really FEEL that discombobulated feeling.
While I did figure a couple of twists out (at least partially) there were a couple interesting banks here and there that I didn't predict and that was enough to keep the narrative lively for me. There is a section at around 75% that drags for a bit, but the ending picks up again and has one nice fake-out moment before the last loose ends are tied. While the plot itself didn't feel the most fresh or unique I'd ever read, it was just entertaining and steady enough to keep me turning pages and keep me invested. Perhaps I just was so relieved to not take a week to finish this one or the fact that I was coming off a read I did NOT enjoy elevated this in my mind...it's hard to say. Either way, I'm glad I was able to stay awake long enough to finish this one...and I'd best be off to go catch some shut eye! 😴
4 stars
Now in paperback!
April 11, 2022
3.5 STARS
This was my first book by D.J. Palmer.
Michael and Natalie's marriage is on the rocks and he is desperate to fix it. They take their two young kids and check into a hotel for a little vacation time in New York. Michael goes out to pick up dinner and when he returns the hotel room is empty. Natalie and the children are gone.
The beginning had me hooked, but about a third of the way, things got pretty repetitive. Natalie suffers from insomnia, I get it already. This was repeated time after time. She has insomnia. She is confused, forgetful, panicky, paranoid and has hallucinations. She has insomnia!!!! Got it?
Michael also has his issues. No wonder Natalie can't sleep. They were both acting all sorts of slippery. I'm not sure I liked either one of them. Some of their escapades made me laugh, but may not have meant to be funny (if you know what I mean). Someone needs an intervention (me at this point)!
I did overall enjoy it, but it needed to be shorter. There was also so much going on , the chase lasted too long and made my head swim. I would like to try the author again, but I'll choose something around 300 pages.
Thanks to NG and the publisher for my arc/ OUT May 10, 2022
This was my first book by D.J. Palmer.
Michael and Natalie's marriage is on the rocks and he is desperate to fix it. They take their two young kids and check into a hotel for a little vacation time in New York. Michael goes out to pick up dinner and when he returns the hotel room is empty. Natalie and the children are gone.
The beginning had me hooked, but about a third of the way, things got pretty repetitive. Natalie suffers from insomnia, I get it already. This was repeated time after time. She has insomnia. She is confused, forgetful, panicky, paranoid and has hallucinations. She has insomnia!!!! Got it?
Michael also has his issues. No wonder Natalie can't sleep. They were both acting all sorts of slippery. I'm not sure I liked either one of them. Some of their escapades made me laugh, but may not have meant to be funny (if you know what I mean). Someone needs an intervention (me at this point)!
I did overall enjoy it, but it needed to be shorter. There was also so much going on , the chase lasted too long and made my head swim. I would like to try the author again, but I'll choose something around 300 pages.
Thanks to NG and the publisher for my arc/ OUT May 10, 2022
June 27, 2022
Book: [they] struggle to make sense of it all.
Me: You can say that again!
Oh my, my second unreliable "insomnia" MC in a row. I probably should stay away from it for a while so I don't get burnout.
I found My Wife is Missing to be captivating, fast paced, and very entertaining. The story held my interest throughout. This is a wild ride with so many twists and turns in the last two hours. I guessed half of it correct, but towards the ending, I was constantly doubting myself. The audio performed by Karissa Vacker was amazing! This could have gone downhill with the wrong narrator, I can see myself annoyed by Natalie (the missing wife) otherwise.
Me: You can say that again!
Oh my, my second unreliable "insomnia" MC in a row. I probably should stay away from it for a while so I don't get burnout.
I found My Wife is Missing to be captivating, fast paced, and very entertaining. The story held my interest throughout. This is a wild ride with so many twists and turns in the last two hours. I guessed half of it correct, but towards the ending, I was constantly doubting myself. The audio performed by Karissa Vacker was amazing! This could have gone downhill with the wrong narrator, I can see myself annoyed by Natalie (the missing wife) otherwise.
April 25, 2022
Decent twists in the end but took forever to get there.
This book starts off with a bang. Michael returns to the New York City hotel after getting a pizza for his family after a long day of travel. Things have been difficult lately because his wife Natalie has intense insomnia and rarely sleeps, leading to many other issues. They have decided to take their two young children, Addie and Bryce, on a vacation to get away. When he arrives at the hotel, Natalie and the kids, along with all of their belongings are gone. Michael is sure they have been abducted, but the more that he and the authorities look into the situation, it appears that Natalie has taken the kids and run. Why would she do this? There are hidden secrets from all angles, who is telling the truth?
We flash back and forth between the past and present, and learn about the different things each of them are hiding. My main problems with this book have to do with its length and the unlikable characters. We never know until nearly the end if Michael is actually guilty of everything Natalie thinks or if she is just sleep deprived and paranoid--or if it's somewhere in between. That actually would have been ok had there been something in between to bolster the story rather than endless speculation and paranoia, but the storyline just circles and circles for a long time before actually going anywhere.
The chasing and chasing gets SO old, Natalie on the run is just tedious and got very boring to listen to/read after a while. At a certain point I just honestly didn't care whether or not Michael had cheated, because Natalie was so whiny and annoying (and I hate hate hate cheating in books so this is a big deal for me to not care!) Michael wasn't a saint of a character either, but he didn't bother me as much as Natalie.
Overall, when the twists are revealed, I did figure out one of them ahead of time, but they were still decent. This isn't my favorite book by this author, but it wasn't terrible either. I listened to this partially as an audiobook and Karissa Vacker did a good job with her narration. It wasn't nearly as whispery as some of the more recent books I've listened to her narrate.
If you're looking for a thriller and can handle unlikable characters and a bunch of repetition, this one does have some redeeming qualities in the end.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
This book starts off with a bang. Michael returns to the New York City hotel after getting a pizza for his family after a long day of travel. Things have been difficult lately because his wife Natalie has intense insomnia and rarely sleeps, leading to many other issues. They have decided to take their two young children, Addie and Bryce, on a vacation to get away. When he arrives at the hotel, Natalie and the kids, along with all of their belongings are gone. Michael is sure they have been abducted, but the more that he and the authorities look into the situation, it appears that Natalie has taken the kids and run. Why would she do this? There are hidden secrets from all angles, who is telling the truth?
We flash back and forth between the past and present, and learn about the different things each of them are hiding. My main problems with this book have to do with its length and the unlikable characters. We never know until nearly the end if Michael is actually guilty of everything Natalie thinks or if she is just sleep deprived and paranoid--or if it's somewhere in between. That actually would have been ok had there been something in between to bolster the story rather than endless speculation and paranoia, but the storyline just circles and circles for a long time before actually going anywhere.
The chasing and chasing gets SO old, Natalie on the run is just tedious and got very boring to listen to/read after a while. At a certain point I just honestly didn't care whether or not Michael had cheated, because Natalie was so whiny and annoying (and I hate hate hate cheating in books so this is a big deal for me to not care!) Michael wasn't a saint of a character either, but he didn't bother me as much as Natalie.
Overall, when the twists are revealed, I did figure out one of them ahead of time, but they were still decent. This isn't my favorite book by this author, but it wasn't terrible either. I listened to this partially as an audiobook and Karissa Vacker did a good job with her narration. It wasn't nearly as whispery as some of the more recent books I've listened to her narrate.
If you're looking for a thriller and can handle unlikable characters and a bunch of repetition, this one does have some redeeming qualities in the end.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
April 17, 2022
RTC. I'm being a little more generous that I would ordinarily with this one. It's a little below average for this category- but, while it's not the best, it's not the worst, either. So, a middle of the road rating for this one. Full review at a later date.
March 29, 2022
I've read and enjoyed all of D.J Palmer's novels. I think this one may be my favorite.
An exciting read that took me only a few hours to get through. I didn't want to put it down once I started reading.
A gripping and intense read!!
An exciting read that took me only a few hours to get through. I didn't want to put it down once I started reading.
A gripping and intense read!!
January 21, 2024
**4.5-stars**
On the first day of their NYC-vacation, Michael and Natalie Hart split up for what is expected to be a brief period of time.
While Michael runs out to pick up take-out pizza for the family, Natalie stays back at the hotel with their two children, Addie and Bryce, to get settled in.
When he returns, Michael spots Bryce's teddy bear just outside the door to their room. That's certainly strange as the young boy is beyond attached to the stuffed toy.
Entering the room, Michael is surprised his family isn't there. Surprise turns to confusion when he notices the only bag in the room is his own. Where is his family?
Michael raises the alarm to hotel staff and then the police. As he is unable to reach Natalie by phone and has no other explanation, Michael fears they've been kidnapped.
After viewing hotel camera footage though, it appears Natalie left quite willing, of her own volition; just her and the kids. Michael is so confused, why would she do this?
These opening scenes set the tone for the entire novel. It's intense and fast paced. Through alternating perspectives, as well as past and present timelines, the full depth of Michael and Natalie's relationship is revealed.
It's clear that the couple were having problems prior to their ill-fated trip to NYC. Natalie doesn't trust her husband at all and Michael, well, he has his issues.
Due to stress and struggles within their relationship, Natalie has been suffering severe insomnia. Michael uses that fact against her, claiming she is not in her right mind. Frankly, it's not entirely clear if she is or not.
I love an unreliable narrator and I would say that Natalie falls into that category. In spite of her insomnia though, it's really through Natalie's perspective that the truth of this story begins to be revealed.
I really enjoyed my time reading My Wife is Missing. Palmer has a signature over-the-top style. His books are always a wild ride, never failing to keep me engaged.
I loved how quickly this one kicked off and it really never let up. Towards the end I was flying through, I had to know what the conclusion was going to be. It turned into this sort of intense cat and mouse scenario, although at times it was hard to determine who was the cat and who was the mouse.
I have read all of Palmer's novels, in order, as they've been released and in my opinion each one has been stronger than the last. We love to see that sort of upward trajectory with an author's work.
He always keeps me guessing, that's for sure. I can't wait to see what sort of insanity he throws at us next!!
Thank you so much to the publisher, St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. I appreciate it so much!!
On the first day of their NYC-vacation, Michael and Natalie Hart split up for what is expected to be a brief period of time.
While Michael runs out to pick up take-out pizza for the family, Natalie stays back at the hotel with their two children, Addie and Bryce, to get settled in.
When he returns, Michael spots Bryce's teddy bear just outside the door to their room. That's certainly strange as the young boy is beyond attached to the stuffed toy.
Entering the room, Michael is surprised his family isn't there. Surprise turns to confusion when he notices the only bag in the room is his own. Where is his family?
Michael raises the alarm to hotel staff and then the police. As he is unable to reach Natalie by phone and has no other explanation, Michael fears they've been kidnapped.
After viewing hotel camera footage though, it appears Natalie left quite willing, of her own volition; just her and the kids. Michael is so confused, why would she do this?
These opening scenes set the tone for the entire novel. It's intense and fast paced. Through alternating perspectives, as well as past and present timelines, the full depth of Michael and Natalie's relationship is revealed.
It's clear that the couple were having problems prior to their ill-fated trip to NYC. Natalie doesn't trust her husband at all and Michael, well, he has his issues.
Due to stress and struggles within their relationship, Natalie has been suffering severe insomnia. Michael uses that fact against her, claiming she is not in her right mind. Frankly, it's not entirely clear if she is or not.
I love an unreliable narrator and I would say that Natalie falls into that category. In spite of her insomnia though, it's really through Natalie's perspective that the truth of this story begins to be revealed.
I really enjoyed my time reading My Wife is Missing. Palmer has a signature over-the-top style. His books are always a wild ride, never failing to keep me engaged.
I loved how quickly this one kicked off and it really never let up. Towards the end I was flying through, I had to know what the conclusion was going to be. It turned into this sort of intense cat and mouse scenario, although at times it was hard to determine who was the cat and who was the mouse.
I have read all of Palmer's novels, in order, as they've been released and in my opinion each one has been stronger than the last. We love to see that sort of upward trajectory with an author's work.
He always keeps me guessing, that's for sure. I can't wait to see what sort of insanity he throws at us next!!
Thank you so much to the publisher, St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. I appreciate it so much!!
December 15, 2021
Well, that was an eventful ride!! It started as a four star until I was deep into all the lies, exhilarating twists and past secrets that trickle slowly onto the page. This marriage is already on the rocks as Natalie suffers incurable insomnia that has lasted months leaving her drained, foggy and hallucinating. Her husband, Michael, is less than perfect with his impatience and strained companionship. He worries about her ability to care for their two small children, but he goes to workout at the gym instead. She receives anonymous messages about his obvious behavior and infidelity.
Natalie books them all a much needed NYC vacation and break from both of their jobs. Upon arrival, Michael goes out to pick up pizzas when he returns his family and their luggage are gone. He thinks the worst and assumes they've been kidnapped. With the help of the police and camera footage, it appears she has left on her own freewill. This is when you need to hang on for an eventful ride on the road and some captivating help from friends. On this journey, you will find out all about Michael's dark secrets going back to a time even he has blocked out.
Is he dangerous to everyone he encounters? You will be cheering for her as he follows her trail with an unlikely road companion. Sadly, you will also learn why she hasn't been sleeping. No doubt this will make you feel all the emotions. When you get to those twists, you will wonder who to believe.
I loved The Perfect Daughter, but you really did it on this one, DJ Palmer.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-galley in exchange for my honest review.
Natalie books them all a much needed NYC vacation and break from both of their jobs. Upon arrival, Michael goes out to pick up pizzas when he returns his family and their luggage are gone. He thinks the worst and assumes they've been kidnapped. With the help of the police and camera footage, it appears she has left on her own freewill. This is when you need to hang on for an eventful ride on the road and some captivating help from friends. On this journey, you will find out all about Michael's dark secrets going back to a time even he has blocked out.
Is he dangerous to everyone he encounters? You will be cheering for her as he follows her trail with an unlikely road companion. Sadly, you will also learn why she hasn't been sleeping. No doubt this will make you feel all the emotions. When you get to those twists, you will wonder who to believe.
I loved The Perfect Daughter, but you really did it on this one, DJ Palmer.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-galley in exchange for my honest review.
dnf
April 23, 2022DNF @ 25%
Nope, not for me. I didn’t care for the writing, the plot, or the characters.
Nope, not for me. I didn’t care for the writing, the plot, or the characters.
June 8, 2022
3 Things…
What went well? A FEW INTERESTING TWISTS
What am I grateful for? THAT THIS BOOK IS OVER!
What is something I wish I had done differently? LISTENED TO MY GUT ON THIS ONE!
I am always intrigued by the plots of D.J. Palmer’s thrillers, but have been underwhelmed by all of them. Somehow, that didn’t stop me from listening to his latest thriller, My Wife Is Missing. The audiobook is narrated by Karissa Vacker, who does a terrific job.
How well do you know your husband?
Natalie has been suffering from terrible insomnia when she starts to suspect that her husband, Michael is having an affair. As she starts digging into his past, she learns all of his buried secrets. On a long awaited trip to New York, Natalie vanishes from their hotel room with their two young children.
Michael is determined to find his family at all costs.
This domestic suspense thriller immediately grabbed my interest, but after an hour or two of a ridiculous plot, I realized that this book was not going to win me over. Somehow, I made it to the end, as I am determined to meet my reading goal. Unfortunately, I never became invested in any of these characters and couldn’t wait for this to to be over.
There are a few decent twists at the end that slightly raised my rating, but this was by far my least favorite of Palmer’s books.
2.5/5 stars rounded down
What went well? A FEW INTERESTING TWISTS
What am I grateful for? THAT THIS BOOK IS OVER!
What is something I wish I had done differently? LISTENED TO MY GUT ON THIS ONE!
I am always intrigued by the plots of D.J. Palmer’s thrillers, but have been underwhelmed by all of them. Somehow, that didn’t stop me from listening to his latest thriller, My Wife Is Missing. The audiobook is narrated by Karissa Vacker, who does a terrific job.
How well do you know your husband?
Natalie has been suffering from terrible insomnia when she starts to suspect that her husband, Michael is having an affair. As she starts digging into his past, she learns all of his buried secrets. On a long awaited trip to New York, Natalie vanishes from their hotel room with their two young children.
Michael is determined to find his family at all costs.
This domestic suspense thriller immediately grabbed my interest, but after an hour or two of a ridiculous plot, I realized that this book was not going to win me over. Somehow, I made it to the end, as I am determined to meet my reading goal. Unfortunately, I never became invested in any of these characters and couldn’t wait for this to to be over.
There are a few decent twists at the end that slightly raised my rating, but this was by far my least favorite of Palmer’s books.
2.5/5 stars rounded down
January 30, 2022
Anxiety seems to come from the need to control not only the present, but the future. Our circumstances can change in a heartbeat......
Michael Hart steps out of the elevator in an upscale New York City hotel. With soggy pizza box in hand, he nearly trips over a very familiar teddy bear left randomly on the carpeted floor. He scoops it up as he recognizes the bear as belonging to his six year old son, Bryce. When he unlocks their hotel room door, he's greeted only by silence. Michael knows everyone was starving when he left to pick up the pizza. When his wife doesn't answer his onslaught of texts and calls, Michael knows something is amiss. His is the only luggage left in the room.
D.J. Palmer has wound this one tight. He's set the stage for an action-packed novel that leans in and makes solid eye contact from the first pages. Palmer will present a very typical family spread thin by work, school, and the usual demands of life. But something is seeping in from the outside world that will have a profound impact on Michael, Natalie his wife, and the children Addie and Bryce.
Let's revisit a little tech here. The hotel security cameras capture Natalie and the children leaving the hotel in a waiting Uber. Exactly where is Natalie and the children going.....without Michael? Yup. It's those plans again. Sometimes we're included and sometimes we're not. But what happened to that Spring Break getaway for the entire family in the Big Apple?
Michael Hart informs the authorities about his missing family. And the chase begins. Cat and mouse and mouse and cat. Who is pursuing whom? And who is the bearer of deep, dark secrets here that will burst the dam when they reach the surface?
The pendulum will swing back and forth as Palmer reveals more and more about what makes Michael and Natalie tick. The spark in their relationship has been dimming for some time now. Each is being pulled in a different direction. One trying to cover their tracks and the other trying to uncover the covering. My Wife Is Missing is a top drawer mystery/psychological thriller that plays its cards close to the chest. I had an issue with the wrap-up of the ending. Sometimes it's just a bit harder to get all those 52 cards back in the box. But it's certainly one to place on the very top of your TBR pile. A worthy read.....really plan on it.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to St. Martin's Press and to D.J. Palmer for the opportunity.
Michael Hart steps out of the elevator in an upscale New York City hotel. With soggy pizza box in hand, he nearly trips over a very familiar teddy bear left randomly on the carpeted floor. He scoops it up as he recognizes the bear as belonging to his six year old son, Bryce. When he unlocks their hotel room door, he's greeted only by silence. Michael knows everyone was starving when he left to pick up the pizza. When his wife doesn't answer his onslaught of texts and calls, Michael knows something is amiss. His is the only luggage left in the room.
D.J. Palmer has wound this one tight. He's set the stage for an action-packed novel that leans in and makes solid eye contact from the first pages. Palmer will present a very typical family spread thin by work, school, and the usual demands of life. But something is seeping in from the outside world that will have a profound impact on Michael, Natalie his wife, and the children Addie and Bryce.
Let's revisit a little tech here. The hotel security cameras capture Natalie and the children leaving the hotel in a waiting Uber. Exactly where is Natalie and the children going.....without Michael? Yup. It's those plans again. Sometimes we're included and sometimes we're not. But what happened to that Spring Break getaway for the entire family in the Big Apple?
Michael Hart informs the authorities about his missing family. And the chase begins. Cat and mouse and mouse and cat. Who is pursuing whom? And who is the bearer of deep, dark secrets here that will burst the dam when they reach the surface?
The pendulum will swing back and forth as Palmer reveals more and more about what makes Michael and Natalie tick. The spark in their relationship has been dimming for some time now. Each is being pulled in a different direction. One trying to cover their tracks and the other trying to uncover the covering. My Wife Is Missing is a top drawer mystery/psychological thriller that plays its cards close to the chest. I had an issue with the wrap-up of the ending. Sometimes it's just a bit harder to get all those 52 cards back in the box. But it's certainly one to place on the very top of your TBR pile. A worthy read.....really plan on it.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to St. Martin's Press and to D.J. Palmer for the opportunity.
April 24, 2022
I wish to thank Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read the early electronic copy of this book, to be published May 01. This was an intriguing psychological thriller and domestic drama. Its combatants are a married couple, Natalie and Michael Hart, whose marriage is deeply troubled. Natalie is stressed at work and in caring for their two young children. She has insomnia to the extent of paranoia, blackouts, and hallucinations. She has become forgetful, delusional, and often misjudged people's expressions and intentions. She is overcome with exhaustion.
I felt I should sympathize with Natalie because of her confused mental/emotional state, but I found her unlikeable and annoying. She made many reckless decisions based on some delusional beliefs. Her behaviour was stressful for the children. Michael seemed to be supportive and patient but was frustrated with her coldness towards him and accusing him of having an affair, which he insisted was unfounded. We have hints that he hides a dark secret that he wishes never to be disclosed.
Natalie fears that Matthew is having an affair with someone from her office and is convinced she knows who it is. She has a supportive and sympathetic office friend who tends to confirm Natalie's fantasies. Aiming to confront her, Natalie goes to the woman's apartment. She discovers the woman she believed was Matthew's lover lying in a pool of blood. She thinks she has been murdered by her unfaithful husband but also fears that she may be blamed for the woman's death.
In a panic, she is now afraid that Matthew plans to kill herself and their children. Natalie has carefully planned to escape with her children before Matthew can carry out murdering his family. The family goes on a trip to NYC and check-in at a hotel overlooking Times Square. She sends him out for pizza, and when he returns, he is shocked to find she has taken her luggage and fled with the children. He pleads with the police for help but is told there is little they can do.
Michael begins a lengthy search for his wife and children. A police officer accompanies him on a long cross-country trip. Natalie has made remarkable efforts to cover her tracks. The policeman drops some subtle references to Matthew's past, causing him to fear that he is being set up to be blamed for the woman's murder. When they eventually track Natalie down, Michael seems delighted that his family is safe.
Later, when back home, there is an arrest, serious injuries, and another death. It was incredible that Natalie, who was always exhausted and delusional, suddenly became more rational and gained the energy to become a vicious fighter.
I had a mixed reaction to the book. The plot was compelling, but I thought it convoluted, implausible, and repetitious. It was, at times, a tedious read.
I would have preferred a shorter book and more relatable characters. The central relationship was left unresolved. I continued with the story since I was invested in what would happen. I never guessed the final twist. The identity of the murderer made sense, but the conclusion seemed somewhat contrived.
I felt I should sympathize with Natalie because of her confused mental/emotional state, but I found her unlikeable and annoying. She made many reckless decisions based on some delusional beliefs. Her behaviour was stressful for the children. Michael seemed to be supportive and patient but was frustrated with her coldness towards him and accusing him of having an affair, which he insisted was unfounded. We have hints that he hides a dark secret that he wishes never to be disclosed.
Natalie fears that Matthew is having an affair with someone from her office and is convinced she knows who it is. She has a supportive and sympathetic office friend who tends to confirm Natalie's fantasies. Aiming to confront her, Natalie goes to the woman's apartment. She discovers the woman she believed was Matthew's lover lying in a pool of blood. She thinks she has been murdered by her unfaithful husband but also fears that she may be blamed for the woman's death.
In a panic, she is now afraid that Matthew plans to kill herself and their children. Natalie has carefully planned to escape with her children before Matthew can carry out murdering his family. The family goes on a trip to NYC and check-in at a hotel overlooking Times Square. She sends him out for pizza, and when he returns, he is shocked to find she has taken her luggage and fled with the children. He pleads with the police for help but is told there is little they can do.
Michael begins a lengthy search for his wife and children. A police officer accompanies him on a long cross-country trip. Natalie has made remarkable efforts to cover her tracks. The policeman drops some subtle references to Matthew's past, causing him to fear that he is being set up to be blamed for the woman's murder. When they eventually track Natalie down, Michael seems delighted that his family is safe.
Later, when back home, there is an arrest, serious injuries, and another death. It was incredible that Natalie, who was always exhausted and delusional, suddenly became more rational and gained the energy to become a vicious fighter.
I had a mixed reaction to the book. The plot was compelling, but I thought it convoluted, implausible, and repetitious. It was, at times, a tedious read.
I would have preferred a shorter book and more relatable characters. The central relationship was left unresolved. I continued with the story since I was invested in what would happen. I never guessed the final twist. The identity of the murderer made sense, but the conclusion seemed somewhat contrived.
May 9, 2022
My Wife Is Missing by D.J. Palmer is one of those books that combines family drama with psychological thriller. The novel starts with Michael returning with dinner to the family hotel room in New York City, only to find his wife and two young children have disappeared, leaving behind nothing but a cherished teddy bear. Telling you what happens after that would be impossible due to a plot that has so many subplots that you must read this book for yourself. My Wife Is Missing will take you on a thoroughly unpredictable ride. Each chapter brings something new. Just when the reader thinks they are beginning to figure things out, off on another tangent the story goes. D.J. Palmer has a winner here: the plot is original and challenging, the characters are interesting and sometimes deceiving. I have immensely enjoyed this novel and would not hesitate to read many more books from this author. If you like your books to surprise and excite you, pick this one up. You will be glad you did. Highly recommended. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 5, 2022
I am a D.J. Palmer fan. Each new book from his pen has a unique hook. This one starts off with a bang. A man returns to his family's hotel room overlooking Times Square with pizza. His family is gone. Only Teddy remains, abandoned in the hallway. There are some unique elements in the plot that kept me engaged. Keeping this short to avoid spoilers. Basically not a 5-star read this time due to the plot meandering a bit. Seemed to flounder a bit. And the bow was tied up neatly, but with strands that were on the weak side. Not my favorite from this author, but still an entertaining read.
Thank you to St. Martins and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to St. Martins and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
April 30, 2022
Insomnia. A Family Vacation. Secrets. Missing.
Natalie and Michael Hart had a perfect marriage once upon a time. But now, Natalie suffers from Insomnia and Michael has his secrets. There is a wedge between them, and they decide to go away together. But Natalie decides that a family vacation like the perfect time for them to reconnect. That is until Michael goes out to get food and comes back to their hotel, to find his wife and children missing.
Naturally he is worried and begins to look for them...
There is a lot going on in this book. Of course, I couldn't help but think, 'Seriously, what cop goes on a road trip with you?' Why would you allow this? Even if you have secrets, come on! So, be ready to throw some things out the window such as believability and just go with it.
Even though there were some things that I thought would never happen, I enjoyed this one. I overlooked somethings and chalked this book up as a guilty pleasure. There are quite a few twists and turns along the way. The book jumps around a little and it kept me on my toes. I had my theories and felt I had things figured out and I was wrong! I liked not knowing who I could trust or what was going to happen next.
I had both the book and the audio book and was able to go back and forth between the two. I enjoyed the narrator and thought she did a fantastic job with the voices. So much so that I preferred the audiobook over the kindle version.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Natalie and Michael Hart had a perfect marriage once upon a time. But now, Natalie suffers from Insomnia and Michael has his secrets. There is a wedge between them, and they decide to go away together. But Natalie decides that a family vacation like the perfect time for them to reconnect. That is until Michael goes out to get food and comes back to their hotel, to find his wife and children missing.
Naturally he is worried and begins to look for them...
There is a lot going on in this book. Of course, I couldn't help but think, 'Seriously, what cop goes on a road trip with you?' Why would you allow this? Even if you have secrets, come on! So, be ready to throw some things out the window such as believability and just go with it.
Even though there were some things that I thought would never happen, I enjoyed this one. I overlooked somethings and chalked this book up as a guilty pleasure. There are quite a few twists and turns along the way. The book jumps around a little and it kept me on my toes. I had my theories and felt I had things figured out and I was wrong! I liked not knowing who I could trust or what was going to happen next.
I had both the book and the audio book and was able to go back and forth between the two. I enjoyed the narrator and thought she did a fantastic job with the voices. So much so that I preferred the audiobook over the kindle version.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
March 16, 2022
I'm 50/50 with the last two Palmer books I've read, so I wasn't sure how this one would be. From the blurb it sounds like the premise of a hundred other domestic thrillers, but I must say, this one has good bones with crazy twist and turns!
Michael, Natalie, and their two children are on a family getaway in New York City. Their family photo taken outside their hotel shows a happy family, but Natalie is suffering from debilitating insomnia and is sure that Michael is having an affair. Michael is questioning Natalie’s sanity and feels hopeless in their failing marriage. Michael goes out to get a pizza for dinner and when he gets back, he discovers Natalie and the kids gone, leaving behind only a beloved teddy bear. After the disappearance it is a whirlwind ride, told through dual POVs of Michael and Natalie, to find the truth. A crazy roller coaster ride of secrets, lies, and shocking truths ensues that keeps you guessing until the last page.
I loved that this book was suspenseful from page one and never lost my interest. I can't say that I loved either Michael or Natalie's characters - I think the fact that they were both unreliable narrators played into that; but at the same time, it made their stories more complex and difficult to decipher their truth. The ending was also not predictable in the least bit - it was not at all what I expected and was really the book's strong suit. As is my general beef with a lot of thrillers, I did think the epilogue was unnecessary and detracted a bit from the overall ending, but that was minor.
Overall, this is definitely one to add to your summer TBR list! 4 stars.
Michael, Natalie, and their two children are on a family getaway in New York City. Their family photo taken outside their hotel shows a happy family, but Natalie is suffering from debilitating insomnia and is sure that Michael is having an affair. Michael is questioning Natalie’s sanity and feels hopeless in their failing marriage. Michael goes out to get a pizza for dinner and when he gets back, he discovers Natalie and the kids gone, leaving behind only a beloved teddy bear. After the disappearance it is a whirlwind ride, told through dual POVs of Michael and Natalie, to find the truth. A crazy roller coaster ride of secrets, lies, and shocking truths ensues that keeps you guessing until the last page.
I loved that this book was suspenseful from page one and never lost my interest. I can't say that I loved either Michael or Natalie's characters - I think the fact that they were both unreliable narrators played into that; but at the same time, it made their stories more complex and difficult to decipher their truth. The ending was also not predictable in the least bit - it was not at all what I expected and was really the book's strong suit. As is my general beef with a lot of thrillers, I did think the epilogue was unnecessary and detracted a bit from the overall ending, but that was minor.
Overall, this is definitely one to add to your summer TBR list! 4 stars.
April 20, 2022
2.5 stars
This was a sort of middling story. The premise was interesting but the story seemed to be drawn out. (400 pages long) The premise is a wife with insomnia leaves her husband after finding out he had an affair.(at least she thinks so). Natalie, the wife, is definitely not a character I felt much for as I do believe taking your children from their father without telling him you were leaving is both cruel and unfeeling. I could not wrap my arms around the fact that Natalie pretends to go on vacation in NYC with Michael and the children and then runs away. Why didn't she just leave from home? It made little sense to me. A lot gets blamed on Natalie's inability to sleep. It's the baseline for their failing marriage. She withholds sex and any kind of touching from her husband. She always is reading something into what her husband Michael said.
Michael has some adverse traits as well. For one, he carries around a big secret and as he pals up with a police lieutenant (somewhat unwillingly which was strange really as they wind out of state where the lieutenant had no jurisdiction?) to try and find Nicole and his family, little bits and pieces come out about Michael. Then the big whopper is revealed.
Then there was Audrey, the supposed paramour of Michael's who is found murdered by Natalie and Nat was sure that her murder was caused by Michael.
Natalie finds solace at her friend's farm in the Midwest and makes some disturbing finds while at the farm. There are many ominous happenings which you are not sure if Natalie is actually hearing or is she hallucinating as she has done in the past. Her mind is exhausted and much is because of the lack of sleep. Definitely Natalie was losing it.
Was her state of mind, the culmination of the insomnia or was there something to her thoughts and musings that confirms her mistrust of Michael?
This story moved along slowly and as I mentioned my dislike of the main character probably colored my view.
Definitely recommended to those who enjoy a character who portrays so much need, she becomes annoying. 🤷♀️
There are many others who enjoyed this story so please do check out their reviews
Thank you to D.J. Palmer, St Martin's Press, and NetGalley for a copy of this book, due out May 10, 2022
I read on my kindle 60% of the book and listened to the rest courtesy of Macmillan Audio.
This was a sort of middling story. The premise was interesting but the story seemed to be drawn out. (400 pages long) The premise is a wife with insomnia leaves her husband after finding out he had an affair.(at least she thinks so). Natalie, the wife, is definitely not a character I felt much for as I do believe taking your children from their father without telling him you were leaving is both cruel and unfeeling. I could not wrap my arms around the fact that Natalie pretends to go on vacation in NYC with Michael and the children and then runs away. Why didn't she just leave from home? It made little sense to me. A lot gets blamed on Natalie's inability to sleep. It's the baseline for their failing marriage. She withholds sex and any kind of touching from her husband. She always is reading something into what her husband Michael said.
Michael has some adverse traits as well. For one, he carries around a big secret and as he pals up with a police lieutenant (somewhat unwillingly which was strange really as they wind out of state where the lieutenant had no jurisdiction?) to try and find Nicole and his family, little bits and pieces come out about Michael. Then the big whopper is revealed.
Then there was Audrey, the supposed paramour of Michael's who is found murdered by Natalie and Nat was sure that her murder was caused by Michael.
Natalie finds solace at her friend's farm in the Midwest and makes some disturbing finds while at the farm. There are many ominous happenings which you are not sure if Natalie is actually hearing or is she hallucinating as she has done in the past. Her mind is exhausted and much is because of the lack of sleep. Definitely Natalie was losing it.
Was her state of mind, the culmination of the insomnia or was there something to her thoughts and musings that confirms her mistrust of Michael?
This story moved along slowly and as I mentioned my dislike of the main character probably colored my view.
Definitely recommended to those who enjoy a character who portrays so much need, she becomes annoying. 🤷♀️
There are many others who enjoyed this story so please do check out their reviews
Thank you to D.J. Palmer, St Martin's Press, and NetGalley for a copy of this book, due out May 10, 2022
I read on my kindle 60% of the book and listened to the rest courtesy of Macmillan Audio.
April 23, 2023
4.5⭐
Featuring ~ dual 3rd person POV, dual timeline, secrets
I've read many, many domestic thrillers with husband and wife shenanigans, so I figured it'd be the same ole song and dance, but that was not the case at all. I got sucked in from the beginning and I was engaged until the crazy ending.
Michael, Natalie and their 2 kids go on vacation together and while Michael is out getting pizza, Natalie and the kids disappear.
Natalie has been suffering from insomnia and seems unstable at times. She has been suspicious of Michael's activities for a while when she befriends, Audrey. Is Audrey somehow linked to Michael or is she hallucinating again?
As Michael begins his search for his family he starts to worry that an old secret might be revealed.
Told in Natalie and Michael's perspective ~ we go back and forth between the present and to before Natalie disappeared ~ this way really keeps you on the edge of your seat with little tidbits dropping along the way.
I am always thrilled when there are some twistaroos and secrets I don't see coming and there are plenty.
Narration:
Karissa Vacker ~ 11 hours 8 minutes ~ she did such an excellent job narrating that I am not even mad there wasn't a male narrator for the male parts. She really showed perfect emotion when needed.
Overall, this was an action packed thrilling ride that kept me engaged throughout. I have read this author's work before and I would certainly do so again.
*Thanks to Macmillan Audio USA, DJ Palmer and NetGalley for the audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me here ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
Featuring ~ dual 3rd person POV, dual timeline, secrets
I've read many, many domestic thrillers with husband and wife shenanigans, so I figured it'd be the same ole song and dance, but that was not the case at all. I got sucked in from the beginning and I was engaged until the crazy ending.
Michael, Natalie and their 2 kids go on vacation together and while Michael is out getting pizza, Natalie and the kids disappear.
Natalie has been suffering from insomnia and seems unstable at times. She has been suspicious of Michael's activities for a while when she befriends, Audrey. Is Audrey somehow linked to Michael or is she hallucinating again?
As Michael begins his search for his family he starts to worry that an old secret might be revealed.
Told in Natalie and Michael's perspective ~ we go back and forth between the present and to before Natalie disappeared ~ this way really keeps you on the edge of your seat with little tidbits dropping along the way.
I am always thrilled when there are some twistaroos and secrets I don't see coming and there are plenty.
Narration:
Karissa Vacker ~ 11 hours 8 minutes ~ she did such an excellent job narrating that I am not even mad there wasn't a male narrator for the male parts. She really showed perfect emotion when needed.
Overall, this was an action packed thrilling ride that kept me engaged throughout. I have read this author's work before and I would certainly do so again.
*Thanks to Macmillan Audio USA, DJ Palmer and NetGalley for the audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me here ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
May 4, 2022
"My Wife is Missing" was a total "miss" for me.
Once upon a time, I used to be a huge fan of author Daniel Palmer, now writing as D.J. Palmer.
"Desperate" was and still is my favorite Daniel Palmer book.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
After reading "Desperate" in 2014, I was desperate to read all future Daniel Palmer books and, therefore, when I selected "My Wife is Missing", my expectations were sky-high.
Not only was I a huge fan of the author, I almost always enjoy "wife goes missing" psychological thrillers.
Unfortunately, "My Wife is Missing" was not a "wife goes missing" book that I enjoyed.
To the author's credit, the book had a strong opening chapter. A husband and wife travel to NYC with their two children and the wife disappears with their children when the husband exits the hotel room to pick up pizza for dinner.
After that, this preposterous book completely fell apart.
The book was disjointed with multiple plot holes. In addition, the book's ending was absolutely, positively off-the-wall. (To avoid spoilers, no specifics are being cited).
Also, the book was waaay too long. I listened to the 11-hour audiobook that easily could have been a 6-hour book, and I am being kind.
The audiobook was read by Karissa Vacker, one of my favorite narrators. Listening to Karissa Vacker's narration was probably why I was able to stay awake and finish the book.
Even though Karissa Vacker did an outstanding job with the narration, the book would have benefited from multiple narrators since it was told from multiple POVs.
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
2 stars rounded up.
Once upon a time, I used to be a huge fan of author Daniel Palmer, now writing as D.J. Palmer.
"Desperate" was and still is my favorite Daniel Palmer book.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
After reading "Desperate" in 2014, I was desperate to read all future Daniel Palmer books and, therefore, when I selected "My Wife is Missing", my expectations were sky-high.
Not only was I a huge fan of the author, I almost always enjoy "wife goes missing" psychological thrillers.
Unfortunately, "My Wife is Missing" was not a "wife goes missing" book that I enjoyed.
To the author's credit, the book had a strong opening chapter. A husband and wife travel to NYC with their two children and the wife disappears with their children when the husband exits the hotel room to pick up pizza for dinner.
After that, this preposterous book completely fell apart.
The book was disjointed with multiple plot holes. In addition, the book's ending was absolutely, positively off-the-wall. (To avoid spoilers, no specifics are being cited).
Also, the book was waaay too long. I listened to the 11-hour audiobook that easily could have been a 6-hour book, and I am being kind.
The audiobook was read by Karissa Vacker, one of my favorite narrators. Listening to Karissa Vacker's narration was probably why I was able to stay awake and finish the book.
Even though Karissa Vacker did an outstanding job with the narration, the book would have benefited from multiple narrators since it was told from multiple POVs.
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
2 stars rounded up.
February 27, 2022
Michael thinks the trip to New York will do his marriage to Natalie some good. She hasn’t been herself for the last several months as she’s been gripped by terrible insomnia that nothing seems to help—neither homeopathic or prescribed medicines are helping, and she seems to have lost all affection for her husband. But on their first night at a swanky hotel, he returns with pizza to find his wife and two children’s belongings gone, he first thinks they must have been kidnapped, because why on earth we she agree to this trip if what she in fact wanted to leave him?
This is fun enough, but I didn’t love it. You know that Michael is hiding something, but it can’t be exactly what Natalie thinks because then there would be no novel. I didn’t see the exact ending coming, but I also wasn’t shocked, which, in this kind of novel, I wanted to be.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel, which RELEASES MAY 10, 2022.
This is fun enough, but I didn’t love it. You know that Michael is hiding something, but it can’t be exactly what Natalie thinks because then there would be no novel. I didn’t see the exact ending coming, but I also wasn’t shocked, which, in this kind of novel, I wanted to be.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel, which RELEASES MAY 10, 2022.
May 11, 2022
Read if you like:
✫Domestic suspense
✫Psychological thrillers
✫Dual POV
✫Cat and Mouse thrillers
4.5★ Rounded down for Goodreads
Summary: When his wife and kids vanish on a family trip to New York, Michael Hart is distraught, fearing they have been kidnapped or worse. When the police are called in, they determine that Natalie left of her own volition.
As Michael investigates to get to the bottom of where they have gone and why, his long held secrets threaten to come to the surface, especially once he begins to rely on a suspiciously helpful detective with ties to his past. And as Natalie tries to vanish with their kids, her insomnia makes her unable to determine fact from fiction, with particularly detrimental consequences.
Thoughts: This book was a rollercoaster of twists from start to finish centered around a great game of cat and mouse. I was hooked from page one and did not want to put it down until I had all the answers. I had no idea who the good guy was, nor the bad, which is ultimately my favorite kind of thriller.
Palmer’s character development was excellent, particularly for a thriller where characters usually takes a backseat to the plot line. I connected with Natalie, with all of her insecurities and all of her physical and emotional manifestations of sleep deprivation, while also connecting with Michael, yet another morally grey individual I wasn’t sure whether to root for or despise.
The pace of this book was also excellent. Unlike some books I have read recently that save all of the reveals for the ending, Palmer does a great job of spreading out his revelations throughout the book, and then quickly turning everything on its head. I think this is the main reason this book became impossible to put down.
What prevented it from being five stars was that the ending felt a bit too contrived for me. Otherwise, I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who loves thrillers.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
✫Domestic suspense
✫Psychological thrillers
✫Dual POV
✫Cat and Mouse thrillers
4.5★ Rounded down for Goodreads
Summary: When his wife and kids vanish on a family trip to New York, Michael Hart is distraught, fearing they have been kidnapped or worse. When the police are called in, they determine that Natalie left of her own volition.
As Michael investigates to get to the bottom of where they have gone and why, his long held secrets threaten to come to the surface, especially once he begins to rely on a suspiciously helpful detective with ties to his past. And as Natalie tries to vanish with their kids, her insomnia makes her unable to determine fact from fiction, with particularly detrimental consequences.
Thoughts: This book was a rollercoaster of twists from start to finish centered around a great game of cat and mouse. I was hooked from page one and did not want to put it down until I had all the answers. I had no idea who the good guy was, nor the bad, which is ultimately my favorite kind of thriller.
Palmer’s character development was excellent, particularly for a thriller where characters usually takes a backseat to the plot line. I connected with Natalie, with all of her insecurities and all of her physical and emotional manifestations of sleep deprivation, while also connecting with Michael, yet another morally grey individual I wasn’t sure whether to root for or despise.
The pace of this book was also excellent. Unlike some books I have read recently that save all of the reveals for the ending, Palmer does a great job of spreading out his revelations throughout the book, and then quickly turning everything on its head. I think this is the main reason this book became impossible to put down.
What prevented it from being five stars was that the ending felt a bit too contrived for me. Otherwise, I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who loves thrillers.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
May 7, 2022
Michael and Natalie Hart and their two children have just arrived in New York for a long overdue family vacation. When Michael goes out that same evening to get pizzas and beverages for his family he arrives back at the hotel room and finds his son's beloved stuffed animal in the hallway outside their room and senses something wrong because Bryce and his Teddy are glued together day and night. Michael panics when he find his family missing and he calls the police immediately because he can only think that they've been kidnapped. The police downplay Michael's concerns and tell him all the signs lead to that his wife has left him and want to know why Natalie would abruptly leave him from a vacation without a note or any sign that something was wrong so of course they are looking at Michael as the bad guy. Natalie has been suffering severe insomnia for months now to the point of experiencing delusions and irrational thinking at times but Michael still never thought she was that unstable but he is very worried because he has been keeping some very dark secrets and even though he feels that Natalie couldn't know everything that he has hidden from her he realizes he must find her right away before any harm can come to their precious children.
This was an enjoyable and entertaining book. The chapters would flick back and forth from Natalie to Michael in their present and past so the reader was able to get a good view of both characters and their personalities. There was a lot of tension and mystery involved and several other characters will play major roles in their stories for better or worse. The author did a great job keeping my attention throughout the book so I look forward to reading more books by D.J. Palmer who is a terrific storyteller. Now when you read this story don't expect complete realism or you will be disappointed, just accept the book for what it is and you will have a good time (imo). The parts I didn't care for was there seemed to be a lot of repetition of thoughts throughout the story and I found that made it a little tedious at times. Also, their daughter had asthma and it was bad enough that Natalie worried incessantly about it yet she was ill prepared for handling bad attacks which seemed to happen frequently at the drop of a hat. So, as the mother of a child who has always had asthma, I couldn't believe that Natalie didn't own a nebulizer machine (especially in this day and age herself) since that can ward off many, many hospital visits which can be traumatic to the child experiencing this sometimes life and death illness. Also when a child has asthma as severe as Addy had in the book then she would have been on other daily medications as well and it seemed Natalie only had the regular inhalers available. So these parts involving asthma really bothered me since I was personally and unfortunately experienced with this chronic illness. With that being said, if a reader is not experienced with with ins and outs of this condition then this will not affect the story in any way. The book has many twists after the halfway point and it was hard to put it down until it finally reached an unexpected ending. I definitely recommend this book to any domestic/thriller lover who wants t read something a little different.
I want to thank the publisher " St.Martin's Press" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given this entertaining book a rating of 3 UNUSUAL AND SURPRISING 🌟🌟🌟 STARS!!
Title: My Wife Is Missing
Author: D.J Palmer
Pubisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: May 10, 2022
This was an enjoyable and entertaining book. The chapters would flick back and forth from Natalie to Michael in their present and past so the reader was able to get a good view of both characters and their personalities. There was a lot of tension and mystery involved and several other characters will play major roles in their stories for better or worse. The author did a great job keeping my attention throughout the book so I look forward to reading more books by D.J. Palmer who is a terrific storyteller. Now when you read this story don't expect complete realism or you will be disappointed, just accept the book for what it is and you will have a good time (imo). The parts I didn't care for was there seemed to be a lot of repetition of thoughts throughout the story and I found that made it a little tedious at times. Also, their daughter had asthma and it was bad enough that Natalie worried incessantly about it yet she was ill prepared for handling bad attacks which seemed to happen frequently at the drop of a hat. So, as the mother of a child who has always had asthma, I couldn't believe that Natalie didn't own a nebulizer machine (especially in this day and age herself) since that can ward off many, many hospital visits which can be traumatic to the child experiencing this sometimes life and death illness. Also when a child has asthma as severe as Addy had in the book then she would have been on other daily medications as well and it seemed Natalie only had the regular inhalers available. So these parts involving asthma really bothered me since I was personally and unfortunately experienced with this chronic illness. With that being said, if a reader is not experienced with with ins and outs of this condition then this will not affect the story in any way. The book has many twists after the halfway point and it was hard to put it down until it finally reached an unexpected ending. I definitely recommend this book to any domestic/thriller lover who wants t read something a little different.
I want to thank the publisher " St.Martin's Press" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given this entertaining book a rating of 3 UNUSUAL AND SURPRISING 🌟🌟🌟 STARS!!
Title: My Wife Is Missing
Author: D.J Palmer
Pubisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: May 10, 2022
May 10, 2022
4 fast-paced stars - now available
This one kept me on my toes, and I read it quickly! It opens in a dramatic fashion when a father returns to the hotel room with pizza dinner for his family vacation in NYC to discover they are gone! What has happened, are they kidnapped, who has them?
We go back and forth between the husband and wife and get the clues very slowly as the timeframe shifts back and forth as well. There are several plots happening and I wasn’t able to put all the pieces together.
We go chasing after the mom and kids, knowing that the mom Natalie is suffering from the effects of insomnia. Is she overreacting, seeing things that aren’t there? Or is she right to be fleeing the situation?
They are lots of secrets and characters in this one and I felt that both main characters were unreliable narrators! There were some major twists at the end of this one (maybe too many?) but I enjoyed this thrill ride!
This made for an excellent buddy read with Marilyn and Mary Beth.
My thanks to St. Martin's for the early copy of this one to read and honestly review.
This one kept me on my toes, and I read it quickly! It opens in a dramatic fashion when a father returns to the hotel room with pizza dinner for his family vacation in NYC to discover they are gone! What has happened, are they kidnapped, who has them?
We go back and forth between the husband and wife and get the clues very slowly as the timeframe shifts back and forth as well. There are several plots happening and I wasn’t able to put all the pieces together.
We go chasing after the mom and kids, knowing that the mom Natalie is suffering from the effects of insomnia. Is she overreacting, seeing things that aren’t there? Or is she right to be fleeing the situation?
They are lots of secrets and characters in this one and I felt that both main characters were unreliable narrators! There were some major twists at the end of this one (maybe too many?) but I enjoyed this thrill ride!
This made for an excellent buddy read with Marilyn and Mary Beth.
My thanks to St. Martin's for the early copy of this one to read and honestly review.
November 16, 2021
What a rollercoaster ride!
Michael, his wife Natalie, and their two children embark on a much needed getaway to New York City. With their marriage on the rocks, Michael was thrilled to have the opportunity to spend time with his family. Natalie suffers from severe insomnia and he thought the vacation would do her good. Michael runs out to pick up a pizza. Upon his return he discovers that his wife, children and all their belongings are gone. He is left alone in their hotel room thinking the worst. What ensues is a thrilling cat and mouse game. Told in alternating chapters Natalie has good reason to be on the run from her husband.
As you fall further down the rabbit hole secrets are exposed that set in motion a series of jaw dropping revelations that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
I enjoyed reading this book very much! Multiple times over the course of reading this book I was sure I solved the mystery, only to be proved wrong by the incredible plot twists. This is one I’ll still be thinking about long after turning the final page.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc.
Michael, his wife Natalie, and their two children embark on a much needed getaway to New York City. With their marriage on the rocks, Michael was thrilled to have the opportunity to spend time with his family. Natalie suffers from severe insomnia and he thought the vacation would do her good. Michael runs out to pick up a pizza. Upon his return he discovers that his wife, children and all their belongings are gone. He is left alone in their hotel room thinking the worst. What ensues is a thrilling cat and mouse game. Told in alternating chapters Natalie has good reason to be on the run from her husband.
As you fall further down the rabbit hole secrets are exposed that set in motion a series of jaw dropping revelations that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
I enjoyed reading this book very much! Multiple times over the course of reading this book I was sure I solved the mystery, only to be proved wrong by the incredible plot twists. This is one I’ll still be thinking about long after turning the final page.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,809 reviews