Local Woman Missing: A Novel of Domestic Suspense

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The one person who may have all the answers is the daughter Delilah, suddenly reappearing eleven years later. So where has she been all this time? Can she, will she, answer the looming question regarding what happened to she and her mother? Based on this novel, I would consider reading another book by this author in the future (though I’ll probably wait to see if early reviewers think the ending is solid). My one critique would be the ending felt like it didn’t fit with the “amazing-ness” of the rest of the book. The ending seemed unrealistic, yet I was able to roll with it because the writing was so addictive and well done. Overall, an extremely entertaining and suspenseful novel that I highly recommend! In this thrilling and carefully plotted domestic mystery, this community and these families must unravel the secrets of the chilling events from many years ago ...

The story is told from multiple perspectives across multiple time periods. The story is dictated from Meredith’s point of view in the lead-up to her death, Meredith’s neighbor Kate shortly after the disappearance occurs, and Meredith’s son Leo in the present day. This nonlinear style of writing made it a bit difficult to mentally timeline what happened when. Additionally, Leo’s perspective didn’t add much – if anything – to the story. There are plenty of secrets in this neighborhood, and plenty of suspects to choose from, and Mary Kubica uses them expertly to misdirect us. Meredith and her daughter Delilah have mysteriously vanished. And it isn’t the first time someone went missing in this particular neighborhood. Shelby made that list after disappearing without a trace. It would certainly seem the two cases could be linked.If the story sounds like your standard thriller fare, it’s because it is. Local Woman Missing does nothing new. DNF - The writing style is not for me. The sentence structure is so simple, yet the content is overly dramatic and irrelevantly descriptive. And it doesn’t matter that the characters’ actions are frustratingly illogical. Or that the story often veers into eye-rolling ridiculousness. Or that much of what happens in the novel is utterly unbelievable.

There is a lot going on in this book with all of the characters dealing with the fallout and investigation into the multiple missing persons as well as a lot of personal and interpersonal dramas that may or may not have played a part in those disappearances. Kubica manages all these storylines and plotlines deftly, somehow bringing it all together into a cohesive story that feels well-paced and with a narrative that flows smoothly. The story did fall short towards the end. The reveal and resolution just don't go well with the feel of the rest of the story. It seems so different compared to all that leads up to the end of the book. I did leave the story wanting to stay with some of the characters, I cared about them, despite somewhat clunky parts of the book. This was a very enjoyable read and it's going to say with me for a long time. The ending. As with most of the Mary Kubica books I’ve read, the conclusion is a bit of a WTF (well that fizzled). Let’s hope you have very high ceilings, cuz you’re going to need to suspend disbelief.

My sincerest appreciation to Mary Kubica, Park Row, and Edelweiss+ for the Advance Review Copy. All opinions included herein are my own.

A few weeks later Meredith, a doula, yoga instructor, mother of two beautiful children: Delilah (6) and Leo (3) happily married with Josh, vanishes into thin air along with her daughter Delilah. Warning that there are some deeply disturbing scenes involving children, especially at the start. Though the scenario is extremely upsetting and creepy, it was written in such a way that I simply couldn’t put it down. I was completely consumed by this book. I know there was one scene definitely not intended to be funny that had me laughing out loud. It involved a car and something it hit!!! twice!!! BUT, the physician who performs an autopsy on a victim is a complete moron to miss obvious signs that it didn't happen the way he said it did. A CHILD could have seen what he missed.This is an engrossing thriller, told from multiple POVs and alternating timelines. Despite some difficult content, author Mary Kubica kept me intrigued and on my toes as I tried to piece together the plot. The characters are richly portrayed with many emotions and perspectives.