This book actually surprised me, which is uncommon. There are so many thrillers on the market now, that it’s hard to find something new. This kept me guessing!

4.5/5

Oh Mary Kubica, you have done it again and completely blown me away with Local Woman Missing! I was gripped right away from the beginning of this crazy book full of secrets, lies, and more secrets. There are a few different character viewpoints as well as different time periods and while it was nonlinear, I didn't find myself confused or lost with either. My friend and I listened to the audiobook together and I loved that there was a different narrator for each viewpoint. The narrators are Brittany Pressley, Jennifer Jill Araya, Gary Tiedemann & Jesse Vilinsky, and I enjoyed every single one of them. I was excited to see Pressley included in the cast since she's one of my favs, but I would be remiss not to mention everyone did an excellent job with their characters. I highly recommend the audio since it did a great job of keeping me engaged and made the book even better thanks to being able to match voices with characters. Especially voices that actually FIT their characters, which doesn't always happen.

Kubica is one of my favorite authors I love the way she does a plot twist. There was so much that I never saw coming, and while ok it probably isn't believable, it sure was twisty and wild. I was fully consumed by every single one of the viewpoints, although my favorites were probably Meredith and Kate. It was interesting getting the POV of a doula and that is something I haven't read before. There are some awful things that happen in Local Woman Missing, and more than one thing that made me angry to read about. It was a little emotional, more than a little thrilling, and very suspenseful the entire time. I honestly think this is going to take the top spot as my favorite novel from Kubica, and the format of 11 years before and 'now' really made this a nail-biter for me. You won't believe how everything is going to end and these characters are really something.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Years ago, a woman went missing. Soon after, another woman and her young daughter went missing. When a teenage girl appears, it seems the missing girl has escaped her captors. Finally, the answers to what happened years earlier will be revealed.

Local Woman Missing is told using multiple points of view and shifting timelines. There are four points of view – the missing girl, her mother, her brother, and a neighbor. With different viewpoints and timelines, the flow of the story was not as smooth as I like. Still, I liked reading the different viewpoints.

An intriguing mystery. Local Woman Missing has some twists and turns to keep the reader interested. Though not the most believable, it was definitely an entertaining thriller.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica is a great thriller.
The story is unexpected. and riveting.
I really enjoyed the characters and the twists and turns.

Thanks Netgalley for a copy of Local Woman Missing. Wonderfully twisty. Just when you think you know where the story is going it takes a crazy turn.

This was a solid thriller that kept me guessing throughout. I was not a fan of the authors last book The Others Mrs but this was wildly different. It was dark and atmospheric and I really enjoyed going along for the ride.

Kubica is one of my favorite authors and this book was no different than her other ones, AMAZING. She writes the best twists and the best mysteries. Give this one all the stars.

Local Woman Missing just shot to the top of my list of all time favorite Mary Kubica stories. Kubica masterfully navigates two separate time periods to weave together the stories of missing persons, and the effects of these actions on all the parties involved. This novel grabbed my full attention on page one and had me riveted through so many plot twists straight through to the shocking ending.

This book simply grabbed me, sucked me in, and wouldn't turn loose until the end! The thrill elements in this fabulously written story are perfectly presented. The different points of view from the neighbors that we read are integral in instilling the sense of mystery in this incredible plot. If you enjoy twists, turns and surprises (who doesn't?), you cannot pass this one up!

Local Woman Missing is a unique thriller that kept me guessing until the end. I like books that are wild and dramatic but still not too far-fetched or just plain dumb, and this fit the bill. It is told from multiple points of views of different close neighbors, as well as a girl who finds herself held captive in a basement for years. One of the neighbors suddenly goes missing with her daughter, but only the daughter is found. So what happened to the mom? This was a fast-paced and entertaining book and perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell.

So good! I couldn't figure it out at all, which is my favorite kind of twist. The story moves along quickly moving between past and present and different perspectives. I've enjoyed Mary Kubica's other novels but this is my favorite!
Thank you for the preview ebook Netgalley!

Kubica never fails delivering an eerie novel full of twists and surprises!!
This novel was no different. I loved how she drew me in and how she kept me invested. Didn’t want to put it down!!

Kubica weaves present and past together in this chilling domestic suspense tale. A must read for fans of JT Ellison and Joshilyn Jackson. This one will keep you up long into the night.

I've been a fan of Mary Kubica ever since I picked up Pretty Baby in 2015. Her books always take me on a wild ride. Local Woman Missing is her best one yet!

I have been calling this one a "heart-pounder," and for a good reason. My heart was literally pounding the entire time. I was so nervous for the characters, especially Meredith. I felt like I was on a wild goose chase to find the answers, with a lot of game changers along the way. Mary's great use of description and dialogue moved the story along at a quick pace. The plot and all the characters were interesting throughout. I especially liked Leo's narration style with how he was talking to Delilah the whole time.

This thriller was very hard to put down and I was worried about what would happen when I had to step away for a bit. I highly recommend adding it to your TBR right away!

Movie casting ideas:
Kate: Meredith Hagner
Bea: Karla Souza
Meredith: Caterina Scorsone
Josh: Ben Feldman
Leo: Jaeden Martell
Shelby: Courtney Eaton
Dr. Feingold: Jason Isaacs
Cassandra: Reagan Pasternak

Delilah and her mother went missing eleven years ago. Now, Delilah is back, but the mystery of what happened to them has never really been solved.

Eleven years ago, Delilah was just six and her younger brother Leo was four. Meredith was working as both a doula and a yoga instructor. And given that her clients could go into labor at any time, it wasn't unusual for her to be working odd hours.

But on the last day they were seen, she kept Delilah home sick with a fever. She dropped her son at the babysitter's. And that was it. No check in with her husband to say she'd been called to a birth. No messages about where they might have gone. She was later found dead, ruled a suicide. No one knew where Delilah had gone.

As it turns out, Meredith had been keeping secrets. Like the threatening messages she'd started to receive just a few months before her disappearance. And the malpractice suit against a local OB that she'd be testifying in.

And then there's Shelby Tebow, the other woman who went missing not long before Meredith. As it turns out, she was one of Meredith's clients. She was also the one suing her doctor. But how are the two cases connected? Or are they even connected at all?

Mary Kubica is one of the reigning rulers of thriller and suspense these days and it's easy to see why. Local Woman Missing is compulsively readable, with twists and turns where you'd least expect them!

What's really interesting about the narrative is that Delilah herself seems to be our main character when we begin. But that's not the case at all. She gets one POV chapter and the rest of the story alternates between Meredith, in the months leading up to her disappearance; Kate, a neighbor, both present day and eleven years ago; and Leo, in the days after Delilah's return.

The choice of narrators is interesting and the pacing is great. It makes for a tense read, though, waiting to learn the how and why of what happened all those years ago instead of getting Delilah's story first hand.

And I promise, you won't see the end coming!

As a fan of Mary Kubica I knew going into this book that I would have to prepare for a rollercoaster ride of breathtaking plot twists. Well...was I ever right! This thriller was packed with heart-pounding twits that Mary Kubica made me feel like I was right there with the characters. What I loved about this book was that with each time a twist was introduced, I was led to believe somebody else in the story was guilty. The fact is, this author intricately wove in so many different possibilities, motives, and suspicions that it kept me turning pages to find out who was possibly at the bottom of all the crazy happenings! Who killed Meredith? Where is her daughter? After 11 years, will Josh ever get answers about the days or moments leading up to his wife and daughters fate? The chapters in this book were told from alternate POV's and flashed back to 11 years ago and forward to the present. with each chapter, the story cleverly came together revealing exactly what happened to Delilah and to Meredith. There are characters in this story harbored secrets that will shock readers and the unexpected events leading up to their fate will leave your jaw hanging open in awe. Highly recommend this story!

Years ago, Shelby disappeared one night while she was on a run. Then, Meredith and her daughter, Delilah disappear. Shelby's husband is convicted of her murder. Josh and his son, Leo, miss Meredith and Delilah for eleven years. Then, Delilah shows up. Where has she been? Who abducted her? The book goes back and forth between present day and eleven years ago when the disappearances happened, which is one of my least favorite tropes in writing. I hate having to keep up with a timeline. Blah, blah, blah. Unreliable female narrator. Blah, blah, blah. The ending was completely manipulative. Another one to toss against the wall.

One of Kubica's better ones! Two women who live in the same neighborhood go missing along one of the women's young daughter. Told chapter by chapter in present tense and past tense (11 years ago) by all characters involved; husbands, wives, lovers, son, neighbors etc. Very "Desperate Housewives " vibe.

I feel like the last bookstagrammer to read this book, but it was phenomenal! I loved it!! I'm always a fan of domestic thrillers especially with suburban families and dark secrets.

Local Woman Missing is a propulsive thriller, once I started I was hooked. The writing was excellent, character development was impressive, especially with multiple POVs.

Don't miss out on this binge-worthy book, the plot will reel you right in!!

@marykubica can do no wrong!! I've read all of her books and she never fails to impress!!

Thank you to @acericolalife and @parkrowbooks for the giveaway win!! Also thank Netgalley for my digital copy to review!

I have a very embarrassing confession to make. I have been reading for (covers mouth and mumbles) years and this is the first book I have read by Ms. Kubica. Sad for me that I now realize that I have been missing out on an author of exceptional writing.

This story grabbed me from the start and would not let go. I felt that I was there! The suspense sped throughout the book and I had to hold on. I did not even bother to try and figure out who the suspect was because I was turning the pages as fast as I could and devouring every word. The characters felt like I knew each and every one of them. The writing extraordinary!!!

A white knuckle read that was difficult to put down. Totally engrossing!! A captivating tale, that when I did turn the last page, I knew that this is a book that will stay with me for quite a while. A shocking ending!!

Ms. Kubica is now on my "authors to read" list. I definitely will be checking out her previous books!!!!!

Posted to GR: 7/14/21 Will post to blog 07/20/21