Eleven years ago, women starting disappearing in a small community. Some of these women turned up dead, and others just completely disappeared. The case went cold leaving families and a community wrecked in unimaginable ways. Then one of the missing girls returns. Case solved. Not quite? Eleven years later, there are still more questions than answers, and then finally the case puts all the major players on a collision course to a shocking conclusion. Some secrets just don’t stay buried, no matter how hard you try.

I loved this book! The twists and turns were so well done, many of which I didn’t see coming. This thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat, and every time you think you have something figured out, think again. It took a little bit to get a feel for all the characters in the story, because quite a few of them had very similar names. However, it didn’t take long to become invested in the book, especially since the story started fast and didn’t slow down for the entire 300+ pages of the novel.

All of the characters were complicated. None of them were truly perfect, but their flaws made for a perfect, twisty story. It did bother me that some of the storylines didn’t have a true conclusion or weren’t completely fleshed out, but it didn’t take away from the heart of the story. In addition, the book wrapped up extremely quickly. Almost too quickly. It was satisfying, but seemed to come out of nowhere, and the entire plot was wrapped up in a few pages. I like my conclusions a little more drawn out, but this is a personal preference.

I haven’t read any of Mary Kubica’s other works, but I will definitely be coming back for more! Local Woman Missing is a book full of suspense and thrill that will keep readers on their toes from first page to last page. Highly recommend. 4.5 stars.

I received a free digital ARC from NetGalley and Harlequin in exchange for an honest review.

Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica has a lot going on and I loved every second of it. Shelby, A local woman goes missing and then, shortly after Meredith and her 6-year-old daughter, Delilah goes missing, too. Are the two connected? When Delilah returns eleven years later, she has no memories of what happened in the interim, she was kept in a dark basement for all this time and is lucky to be alive. So, just what happened?

What a tangled web of lies and deception Kubica has woven. The neighborhood in which the women go missing have a lot of secrets, past hurts and it seems that more than one person has a motive to wish these women gone but who? While there’s a lot of characters and timelines to keep track of, it didn’t deter from my enjoyment of this chilling tale of bad choices made worse. As usual, Kubica has written a complex and twisty tale that drew me in with compelling characters and a well-plotted storyline. Just when I thought I had a handle on what was going on, some new development would occur, surprising or shocking me all over again.

As with all of her books, I highly recommend this suspenseful story that is strong in character and plot. My thanks to Park Row books for gifting me a copy for review.

Mary Kubica, you have done it again! In quite possibly Kubica's best, we are introduced to a small suburban community riddled with tragedy - two women have disappeared under similar circumstances, but are they connected? In dual timelines set 11 years apart, as well as with multiple narrators, Local Woman Missing will have you guessing until the last page - and if you're anything like me, your jaw may drop a bit at that time!

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of Local Woman Missing.

Meredith is devoted wife and mother while keeping crazy hours as a midwife and yoga teacher she is trying to keep her family happy and together. One day when her oldest daughter stays home sick from school both of them mysteriously disappear. Years later her husband and son are still looking for Delilah even after Meredith's body is found, but what happened to them. Then one day Delilah escapes.

I am a huge fan of Mary Kubica, she expertly intertwines psychological thrillers with strong characters and twisty plots. They story is told from multiple characters perspectives both before and after the disappearances. One of the most striking pov is Deliah's younger brother and how he deals with her return and how her disappearance effected his family. This is another winner for domestic thrillers and Kubica fans.

LOCAL WOMAN MISSING by Mary Kubica is a fantastic thriller!! I couldn’t put this book down and read most of it in one day! In this novel Shelby goes missing and then her neighbour, Meredith and Meredith’s daughter Delilah, vanish too. 11 years later remarkably Delilah returns and it’s a wild ride to find out what happened. The point of view would switch between several characters and the timeline would alternate between 11 years ago and now which really kept me on the edge of my seat. There were several surprising parts in this book and I’d definitely recommend this one to any thriller lover! This is my first read by Kubica and I’m so excited to read her other books now!
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Thank you to Park Row Books via NetGalley for my advance review copy!

Thank you to NetGalley for an e-ARC of "Local Woman Missing" by Mary Kubica.
This adult suspense thriller was a page-turner from the beginning. Two missing women, a missing child, and many unanswered questions make up the pretext of the book. Add to that, a child locked in a dark basement, held in isolation for years. Deliah and her community's back and forth storylines make for a fast-paced story that keeps the reader engaged. Plot twists add to the suspense leaving the reader searching for answers.

This was such a rollercoaster! It grabbed my attention right away and revealed just enough to keep me coming back for more.
I really enjoyed the multiple characters pov and tension building.
My only complaint is the coroners glaring oversight which we learn about near the end. It almost ruined it for me.

Could not put this down! Intense and fast paced thriller about a missing woman and then another...never saw what was coming and the author did it fantastically

I always love Mary Kubica books and this one did not disappoint. It is told from multiple points of view and flips from present day to 11 years prior when Shelby, a new mother, goes jogging and never returns. Her Doula, Meredith and her 6 year-old daughter, Delilah, also disappear a short while later. There are lots of twist and turns in this book and once you start, plan on not getting anything done until you have finished it. I really enjoyed this page turner that hooked me from the first pages. There are a number of characters but it is not confusing at all.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin for the ARC of this very exciting book that kept me up reading well into the night in exchange for an honest review.

Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica
I have read all of Mary Kubica's books and they have been hit or miss for me but I enjoyed this one! This had me guessing throughout, a few good red herrings thrown in, and didn't see the big twist coming! This is told from multiple POVs and I loved the sense of urgency after each POV chapter. I still have a few questions after, but there are some logistical things that didn't fully add up that you just have to suspend reality for.

This book publishes May 1, thank you to @parkrowbooks for my advanced copy!

✨ The Title/Cover Draw:
I have read a few Mary Kubia before and was interested in reading more since I was on the fence about them. Thank you to @Netgalley for allowing me to read this in advance of publication.
💜 What I liked:
The story bounces from first Shelby to Delilah, then Meredith, Leo, and Kate. Some are told in the both past and present. But you are never confused as to what is going on at what point. This was an intense book and at times I felt truly creeped out!
😱 What I didn’t like:
My one complaint is that there were a few parts that dragged, but it was so minor. I read through this thing so fast!
💁‍♀️ The Characters:
Shelby goes missing, and then Meredith and her daughter Delilah. Meredith’s husband Josh, son Leo, and neighbors Kate and Bea are helping search.
🚦 The Ending:
LOTS OF COOL TWISTS!!!!
💭 Consider if you like
Peter Swanson or Riley Sager thrillers.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Received from Netgalley.

4.5/5 stars

Local Woman Missing is the definition of a binge read. You quickly are pulled in after the first two chapters and once you start unraveling the crazy story, you can't stop. Mary Kubica fans are going to LOVE this twisty-turvy wild thriller. The ending was a little too convenient and wrapped up for me but a lot of reviewers for thrillers hate when endings are left loose, so this book is for them!

We start the book seeing the disappearance of Shelby Tebow from her POV, what led up to her disappearance? Shortly after Delilah and her mom Meredith go missing, what is happening to the women in this Chicago suburb? One day Delilah reappears and the secrets long hidden away start slowly coming to light in just the right pace.

We follow multiple POVs including Meredith herself before Shelby goes missing. Kate, Meredith and Shelby's neighbor, after they go missing. And Leo, Delilah's sister, in present day after her return. Don't be overwhelmed with the number of characters, it gets easy to follow along with I promise! Leo was my favorite POV and one not really written about often. How does the surviving sibling move on with their life? Can they cope with a sibling coming back after being stolen for 11 years? His chapters really bring a unique look to this thrillers plot.

Local Woman Missing makes us reflect on how far we'd go to preserve the life we have. What secrets would you keep and what lies would you tell to keep your life exactly as it is now? How far would you go to protect the ones you love from the truth? I read this book in 2 sittings, unable to focus on anything else until I figured out where the story was taking me. I guessed the ending incorrectly and very much enjoyed the reveal of what really happened to these three women.

Trust me when I say overall, you need to get this book if you are looking for your next thriller read!

Thank you NetGalley, Park Row, and Mary Kubica for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions. Expected publication date is May 18th, 2021.

Really enjoyed the twists and turns of this mystery. Going back and forth in time, slowly revealing what happened, kept me glued to the book. My only negative was that I had a little trouble keeping track of characters in the beginning.

11 years ago and a married woman is cheating on her husband. She will sometimes leave home late at night saying she is going for a jog, and then meet up with her mysterious man. 

Jump ahead to the present - Delilah hears footsteps above her head and voices talking above her. Delilah is keep in a small, dark room with a boy names Gus. A room that is in the basement. They often play games they make up to pass the time in this dark room. They are being held captive, but who has kidnapped the and why? What could they possibly want?

Without giving too much away there is so much mystery and suspense going on in this novel and I absolutely LOVED it. I found myself hooked on the pages trying to guess what was going on, and why these people were all missing. Would they ever find their way back home? Will the person(s) responsible even be caught?

A fabulous novel that I recommend.

It’s been eleven years since Delilah disappeared without a trace and a lot has changed. Her little brother, Leo\, is being raised by their father, Tom, who is a single parent in the home they all lived in happily as a whole family a lifetime before. It’s such a strange concept, that someone you have longed to see again comes home and all of sudden, everything changes and you wonder if maybe you don’t want them back after all.

Kubica paints a vivid story of the family’s life before Meredith and Delilah went missing. We meet neighbors who were once best friends and even babysitters in a pinch, and Tom and Meredith were very love, albeit busy young parents trying to keep their relationship strong through those tough years with littles. If only that was their biggest problem.

Because there’s a lot more going on here than what meets the eye – which is almost always the case. Secrets are kept, lies are told. And then, it’s too late.

Kubica is a master at writing engrossing domestic thrillers. On one hand, the story is shocking, but on the other, it could be something that happened to your neighbors, or a family down the street. And that’s what makes it truly messed up (in the best possible way). Special thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin for an advanced e-galley in exchange for my honest review. Local Woman Missing comes out May 18.

Mystery/Thriller/Suspense. OMG! I didn't see that comin'! Shifts from past to present as readers explore a suburban neighborhood focused on past murders of beloved women and a missing young daughter of one of the women. How did this happen and who will be killed next!? Kate, Meredith, Leo, and Delilah narrate an on-the-edge-of-your-seat thriller designed to keep readers engaged and looking over their shoulder in the dark. Lovely and Twisted!

I have been a fan of Mary Kubica since GOOD GIRL and this book did not disappoint. Like all of Mary Kubica's books this is a complicated and intense story where all the small details are important.

Told from different points in time, from the perspectives of three different groups of characters, the story takes place in the quintessential, safe small town. The first to disappear is new mother Shelby Tebrow out on a late night run while her husband stays with their new infant daughter. All signs point to the husband until Meredith Dickey and her 6 year old daughter, Delilah go missing. Now residents begin to question just how safe their little town might be. Are the disappearances connected?

Mary Kubica and LOCAL WOMAN MISSING delivers an intriguing, compelling, and exciting story. With so many twists and turns the story will keep the reader guessing until the very end.

Mary Kubica does it again. Local Woman Missing will have you on the edge of your seat dying to know what is going to happen next. Must Read

content warnings: child abuse, brief mention of self-harm, murder, malpractice (more info: male doctor ignoring a female patient's needs during a birth, using his hands on her non-consensually, performing a dangerous procedure on her without full disclosure of the risks; graphic depictions of a pap smear and pelvic exam, male doctor being unnecessarily rough and dismissive towards a female patient.)

It's a shame when a novel loses all the stars it's built up right at the very end. But then you think about it and honestly those stars you gave it weren't based off the story but the fact that you spent a fevered 4 hours reading it. For me this novel is a veeeeery tentative 3 stars.

Aaaanyway! LOCAL WOMAN MISSING was good, but it wasn't. The novel is about a young woman that's gone missing after going out for a run, and a little girl that goes missing a week later. The missing girl shows up 11 years later and sets in motion a series of events that nobody could have predicted.

The plot was interesting and I liked the duelling timelines TO START, though that is something I usually don't love... And by the end I didn't like it. Shocking. I found myself doing math during it to try and figure out what the heck was happening! The thing about the duelling timelines is that they work until they don't. Once you get to the climax, the duelling timelines stop working. I know what happened, there's no point in going back anymore. I knew more than the main characters! Usually in thrillers I like when I am slowly finding things out with the MC's, you know.

The other thing about duelling timelines is that it creates a sort of tension that isn't there in the actual meat of the story, so when I got to The Scene when the event happens and I was just like... that's it? We find out what happens to Shelby and instead of being like oh wow!, I was half super nonchalant about it and half pissed. The following decisions the characters made were incredibly stupid, to be frank, and looking back there was absolutely not one single hint about it. A good thriller gives you a little nudge in that direction, and this one didn't. It was almost like Kubica wanted a shock value surprise instead of a story that made sense. On top of the decisions those characters made, the tie up at the end.............. like, what? I'm not saying it's impossible to have done what [redacted] did for 11 years, but can we get more than two pages about it?!

This next paragraph is full of spoilers (sometimes the mobile app shows spoilers without the hyperlink so just warning you!!! SPOILER!!!!!!!!!!:::: How on EARTH would an autopsy get a cause of death so wrong? In both cases! A murder ruled a suicide, which was very obviously a murder. The murderer wasn't standing in the proper position to even make it look like a suicide, come on. AND the autopsy would have shown that the head wound happened well PRIOR to death hours earlier, instead of what they said "hit her head on the way down after stabbing herself". I understand it's a crazy thriller book, but at least get some real medical research in here, my god. NOT TO MENTION the other death. They didn't know cause of death but they still put someone in jail for it? On what evidence? Some bloody clothes??????? This wasn't a police thriller, I get that. We had absolutely no POVs from a detective, and that's fine, but we still need some sort of real-life possibilities. Speaking of detectives, as an aside, the part where it comes out that the detective lied about the identity of the girl.... just for a bad plot twist! Terrible lmao. SPOILERS OVER.

Anyway. We spent so much time going over birthing techniques and affairs, that the ending didn't have time to be a full, fleshed out story. I felt like it was stolen from me. I also didn't like a single character except Delilah and Leo. And Carly. Who were all children!!! Why did every single adult suck so much? Why did I fever read this novel while simultaneously rolling my eyes over it constantly? We'll never know!

Most reviewers loved this book, so I'm definitely in the minority. But some reviewers said some of Kubica's other books are better, so I might look into them! Hopefully they're a little less all over the place than this one.

Finally, an amazing thriller! This is my 29th book of the year and my first five star review. One of the reasons I love thrillers is that I can always finish them, but then usually something ends up being disappointing. Not in this one... I absolutely devoured this book. All of my questions were answered, I did not predict the ending or twists, and the multiple narrators and timelines kept it interesting and suspenseful. Definitely check this one out when it is published on May 4!