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A review by colleensreadingadventures
Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book was crazy good even the second time around but I do wish I had written my review up when I had first read it, when all my feelings were new and I didn’t know who dunnit. But even though I ultimately knew who the killer was it was still pretty good because there was a lot I forgot especially about the condition of poor little Delilah.
The book starts out 11 years prior with new mom Shelby Tebow gone missing after going for a “run”. Not long after in the same community, in fact just blocks from where Shelby went missing Meredith Dickey and her little girl Delilah go missing. Are they connected somehow or this just a horrible coincidence? The neighborhood is up in arms searching for the women and some answers. But unfortunately the case goes cold until 11 years later Delilah is miraculously recovered. But her return brings about truths that rocks the foundation of the whole community and begs the question does anyone truly know everything about the people they love?
The story is told in dual timelines alternating from 11 years prior to the present and through multiple POV’s. Mainly told in Meredith, Kate (Meredith and her husband Josh’s neighbor), and Leo’s (Meredith and Josh’s son also Delilah’s brother) perspective. Meredith drove me a little crazy because she was kind of a whiney victim to me (prior to her disappearance), but I did enjoy Kate and Leo’s narratives.
I really wasn’t sure if I was going to like Leo at first because he was not very sympathetic to Delilah when she came home. But I had to put myself in his shoes, he a teenager number one and probably ultra confused because his sister was now a completely different person than what he remembers and his life after his mom and sister disappeared was not an easy one. But he ended up being my favorite character in the end. MK did an excellent job at showing the deterioration of the Dickey family in the aftermath and how life changed for others around them.
Some people may think there is a lot of useless info thrown in that really didn’t go anywhere. I actually enjoyed all the extra info and tidbits, I loved how it added multiple suspects to the list that could’ve been responsible for both of the women’s disappearances. It also kept me guessing if they were related or coincidentally separate acts within the same time frame? MB kept me guessing with the red herrings and twists.
The only thing that bothered me was who ending being behind the whole thing, which I did not see coming. It was a bit unbelievable but still didn’t take away too much from my enjoyment. Oh and also Delilah which I can’t go into detail but there was some strings left untied. And speaking of Delilah there are trigger warnings to those who have a hard time with child abuse. It upset me and honestly I’m not that sensitive.
Local Woman Missing was my very first Mary Kubica read and because of how much I loved it I’m excited to try more by this incredible story teller!
The book starts out 11 years prior with new mom Shelby Tebow gone missing after going for a “run”. Not long after in the same community, in fact just blocks from where Shelby went missing Meredith Dickey and her little girl Delilah go missing. Are they connected somehow or this just a horrible coincidence? The neighborhood is up in arms searching for the women and some answers. But unfortunately the case goes cold until 11 years later Delilah is miraculously recovered. But her return brings about truths that rocks the foundation of the whole community and begs the question does anyone truly know everything about the people they love?
The story is told in dual timelines alternating from 11 years prior to the present and through multiple POV’s. Mainly told in Meredith, Kate (Meredith and her husband Josh’s neighbor), and Leo’s (Meredith and Josh’s son also Delilah’s brother) perspective. Meredith drove me a little crazy because she was kind of a whiney victim to me (prior to her disappearance), but I did enjoy Kate and Leo’s narratives.
I really wasn’t sure if I was going to like Leo at first because he was not very sympathetic to Delilah when she came home. But I had to put myself in his shoes, he a teenager number one and probably ultra confused because his sister was now a completely different person than what he remembers and his life after his mom and sister disappeared was not an easy one. But he ended up being my favorite character in the end. MK did an excellent job at showing the deterioration of the Dickey family in the aftermath and how life changed for others around them.
Some people may think there is a lot of useless info thrown in that really didn’t go anywhere. I actually enjoyed all the extra info and tidbits, I loved how it added multiple suspects to the list that could’ve been responsible for both of the women’s disappearances. It also kept me guessing if they were related or coincidentally separate acts within the same time frame? MB kept me guessing with the red herrings and twists.
The only thing that bothered me was who ending being behind the whole thing, which I did not see coming. It was a bit unbelievable but still didn’t take away too much from my enjoyment. Oh and also Delilah which I can’t go into detail but there was some strings left untied. And speaking of Delilah there are trigger warnings to those who have a hard time with child abuse. It upset me and honestly I’m not that sensitive.
Local Woman Missing was my very first Mary Kubica read and because of how much I loved it I’m excited to try more by this incredible story teller!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Infidelity, Suicide, and Abandonment
Minor: Bullying and Miscarriage