A compelling read, “The Three Beths” is set in suburban Austin, Texas.

Mariah Dunning was a sympathetic protagonist. After her mother’s disappearance, and her father’s reputation in cinders, she moves back in with him. The police have never determined exactly what happened to her Mom, so Mariah has put her own life on hold to do just that. Her father was blamed, but Mariah knows in her heart that he could have never harmed his wife.

After feeling sure that she saw her mother in a shopping mall, Mariah’s life takes a turn for the bizarre. With the help of a podcaster friend, she discovers that three separate women, all named Beth, are missing from the Austin area.

Mariah learns of connections between the women and in so doing becomes attracted to the husband of one of the ‘Beths’, a wealthy software developer.

The novel was written with skill, using short chapters that compelled the reader to rapidly turn the pages. The father/daughter relationship was strong, yet the author cleverly cast some suspicion on the father’s involvement. Other characters had hidden agendas that Mariah’s amateur investigations eventually reveal.

To be brutally honest, there were not that many likeable characters in this novel with the exception of Mariah. And, at times, Mariah’s behaviour was borderline unstable.

This was a twisty thriller that held my interest. Some of the ‘twists’ were predictable while others surprised me. If you like reading about characters who search for justice in their lives, then I feel certain you will enjoy “The Three Beths”.

Mariah Dunning's mother vanished over a year ago and she has searched endlessly to find her and bring her home safely. When she thought all clues had come up short she meets a a guy who is into unsolved crimes and sends her down a path she could have never predicted. Could her mother's disappearance have something to do with the disappearance of another Beth?

I always love a book where the person hunting down the clues is an amateur. I appreciate their innocence of following a clue that ends in a dead end and then when the case finally breaks open it is overwhelmingly exciting. I like these types of mysteries because I feel as though I am on the same playing field as the main character, they don't have any extra detective skills that I do not!

I loved how the clues weaved you in and out of Austin and Houston. There almost seemed to be multiple questions and mysteries to be solved at the same time. I liked how some of the clues ended up solving the main mystery and then some did not, but there were still a clue worth keeping in your pocket.

This was my first Jeff Abbott read although I own a few so I will definitely have to pick up the others quickly because I just truly enjoyed the writing.

Why hasn’t Jeff Abbott been on my reading radar before? I am his newest fan.

I don’t know how you could read the synopsis and not be intrigued. The premise is completely original, and the way this is written is exceptionally engaging.

Mariah Dunning’s mother disappeared without a trace, which is completely out of character for her. Mariah’s father shoulders the blame, though he proclaims his innocence. Their lives are abruptly altered because the community is distrustful and wants nothing to do with Mariah and her father.

There is an opening scene where Mariah spots someone looking like her mother in the mall. What a thrill ride, which lands Mariah at the police station.

Mariah is friends with a crime blogger, and he has pieced together that two other women in the area are missing- both named Beth; making that three women named Beth who are missing. Mariah feels strongly that it is not a coincidence and sets her sights on pinpointing the connection between the women.

The Three Beths is a compelling, twisty, turny adventurous thriller. The pacing is on point, and the writing is so easy to read that once the plots gets moving, it is incredibly difficult to put the book down! The police are focused on Mariah’s dad, and Mariah is focusing hard on the possible connection between the women. Where does the truth lie?

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for the invitation to read this book. All opinions are my own.

A very suspenseful psychological thriller dealing with the disappearance of Mariah's mother, Beth. There were lots of twists and turns in the story, and the action and thrill never let go.

If you enjoy standalone thriller with disappearance being a major theme in the book, you'll want to pick up The Three Bets.

Full review at https://mysterysequels.com/book-review-three-beths-jeff-abbott.html