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A review by tessa_talks_books
The Night She Went Missing by Kristen Bird
5.0
What’s it about (in a nutshell):
Because of a scandal, a couple moves their family of five from Oregon to Galveston, Texas. Months after moving, their teen daughter, Emily, goes missing for ten weeks. Strangers find her unconscious but alive; once she awakens, she has no memory of the events surrounding her disappearance.
What I Enjoyed:
I loved the story’s format. The plot’s timeline starts with what happened in Oregon and then moves on to life in Galveston, Texas–very chronological and easy to follow. But, from the beginning, there are brief interludes narrated by Emily that take place after strangers find her. This grabbed me from page 1 and kept the suspense high throughout the story, enough so that there was no putting it down. Usually, there is a lull at the beginning in domestic thrillers that can prolong reading, and that’s not the case with The Night She Went Missing, all because of Emily’s interludes.
The characters are hiding so many secrets. They don’t trust each other, and I didn’t trust any of them. Everyone was a suspect at different points in the story with a plausible case for why they might be behind the disappearance, and I ultimately bought into all of it being swept away by all the twists and turns. It’s the type of story where the journey is so fun; you don’t even need to figure out the end before you get to it.
I loved the location that the couple moved to-the husband’s hometown, where his mother is in charge of the local private school named for them. A small setting within a small town brings intriguing backstories with a history, which fits very well in a small southern town.
Characters:
The story, for me, is more of a plot-driven story, even though the narration focuses on three different mothers instrumental in the mystery. The characters are developed enough to understand them within the story’s parameters, but not so much that they are relatable or even sympathetic. They are all potential suspects, after all. And I gladly give up character development to keep up the suspense and the fast pace of the story.
What I Wish:
As I mentioned, the characters are not particularly well-developed, and I always love excellent character development. So, if I were to wish anything about this story, it would be that, especially with the whodunnit and why.
To Read or Not to Read:
If you like fast-paced thrillers told by fresh voices in the genre, The Night She Went Missing is just the book you are looking for.
Because of a scandal, a couple moves their family of five from Oregon to Galveston, Texas. Months after moving, their teen daughter, Emily, goes missing for ten weeks. Strangers find her unconscious but alive; once she awakens, she has no memory of the events surrounding her disappearance.
What I Enjoyed:
I loved the story’s format. The plot’s timeline starts with what happened in Oregon and then moves on to life in Galveston, Texas–very chronological and easy to follow. But, from the beginning, there are brief interludes narrated by Emily that take place after strangers find her. This grabbed me from page 1 and kept the suspense high throughout the story, enough so that there was no putting it down. Usually, there is a lull at the beginning in domestic thrillers that can prolong reading, and that’s not the case with The Night She Went Missing, all because of Emily’s interludes.
The characters are hiding so many secrets. They don’t trust each other, and I didn’t trust any of them. Everyone was a suspect at different points in the story with a plausible case for why they might be behind the disappearance, and I ultimately bought into all of it being swept away by all the twists and turns. It’s the type of story where the journey is so fun; you don’t even need to figure out the end before you get to it.
I loved the location that the couple moved to-the husband’s hometown, where his mother is in charge of the local private school named for them. A small setting within a small town brings intriguing backstories with a history, which fits very well in a small southern town.
Characters:
The story, for me, is more of a plot-driven story, even though the narration focuses on three different mothers instrumental in the mystery. The characters are developed enough to understand them within the story’s parameters, but not so much that they are relatable or even sympathetic. They are all potential suspects, after all. And I gladly give up character development to keep up the suspense and the fast pace of the story.
What I Wish:
As I mentioned, the characters are not particularly well-developed, and I always love excellent character development. So, if I were to wish anything about this story, it would be that, especially with the whodunnit and why.
To Read or Not to Read:
If you like fast-paced thrillers told by fresh voices in the genre, The Night She Went Missing is just the book you are looking for.