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A review by savvyrosereads
Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Told in multiple perspectives and dual timelines spanning eleven years, Local Woman Missing is a thriller focusing on three shocking disappearances (and one shocking reappearance) in a small suburban community.
This was the September pick for my book club and was one I suggested, so I was super excited to read it. Overall, Local Woman Missing is a fun “popcorn thriller”—fast paced and easy to race through, and pretty engaging while you’re reading it. I definitely enjoyed myself almost the entire time I was reading, which is an accomplishment in itself!
That said, the more I really thought about this plot, the more it fell apart for me. One of the major reveals felt extremely obvious (for reasons I can’t share due to spoilers), and some other plot points either never got resolved to my satisfaction or just didn’t make sense. I also felt like the ending wrapped up *way* too quickly.
Still, if you want a solid, entertaining thriller and this one sounds fun, I’d say on balance it’s worth picking up!
Recommended if you like: domestic thrillers; missing persons thrillers; multiple POVs and timelines
CW: Sexism/misogyny; infidelity; death of parent; death/murder; pregnancy/medical trauma; confinement; child abuse; car accident; alcohol use; bullying, grief; discussions of domestic abuse.
Told in multiple perspectives and dual timelines spanning eleven years, Local Woman Missing is a thriller focusing on three shocking disappearances (and one shocking reappearance) in a small suburban community.
This was the September pick for my book club and was one I suggested, so I was super excited to read it. Overall, Local Woman Missing is a fun “popcorn thriller”—fast paced and easy to race through, and pretty engaging while you’re reading it. I definitely enjoyed myself almost the entire time I was reading, which is an accomplishment in itself!
That said, the more I really thought about this plot, the more it fell apart for me. One of the major reveals felt extremely obvious (for reasons I can’t share due to spoilers), and some other plot points either never got resolved to my satisfaction or just didn’t make sense. I also felt like the ending wrapped up *way* too quickly.
Still, if you want a solid, entertaining thriller and this one sounds fun, I’d say on balance it’s worth picking up!
Recommended if you like: domestic thrillers; missing persons thrillers; multiple POVs and timelines
CW: Sexism/misogyny; infidelity; death of parent; death/murder; pregnancy/medical trauma; confinement; child abuse; car accident; alcohol use; bullying, grief; discussions of domestic abuse.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Sexism, Misogyny, Car accident, Child abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, Confinement, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Violence, Alcohol, Bullying, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Blood, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse