Unmissing is a mystery/thriller set in Oregon. It is a quick read that kept my attention. This is my 7th book by this author.

This book alternates between two female 1st person POVs (Merritt and Lydia).

I went into this book completely blind. And I actually enjoyed finding out how these two women's stories connected.

None of the characters were overly likeable, which is a bit odd. But the characters were definitely interesting.

This was a fun thriller that was full of good twists. It is a page turner that will keep you guessing for most of the book!

3.5 stars!
This thriller hit the shelves yesterday! Merritt and her husband Luca are the definition of the American dream with a successful (?) restaurant chain, multiple homes and a perfect child with another on the way. When Luca’s first wife, Lydia, reappears out of nowhere after being missing for 10 years, their world is turned upside down. Lydia tells a story of being held captive by a horrible man, but refuses to go to the police. Merritt becomes determined to find out the truth about Lydia once and for all as she enmeshes herself in their lives.

The first half of Kent’s novel draaaaaaaaaagged for me. Merritt was so boring and most of the chapters were from her POV. Then all of a sudden, the most subtle twist ever was woven in that had me going back and re-reading, going WHAT!? There were multiple surprises that came after that first twist that were so nonchalant it made it even more startling. I loved the writing style, just wish the start had hooked me a bit more!

The Unmissing is my second Minka Kent book and I love her writing. I need to read the rest of her backlist books as I find them highly enjoyable.

In The Unmissing we meet Merritt and Luca Coletto and they seem to have everything going for them, but when the past comes knocking it changes everything. Luca's first wife, Lydia was presumed to be dead, but she shows up on the Coletto's doorstep ten years after going missing. She tells them that she was kidnapped and tortured, but was finally able to escape. The couple decides to help Lydia get back on her feet, but Merritt senses something is just a little off with Lydia and her story. But as it turns out, Lydia might not be the only one with secrets.

This book grabbed my attention right away and I finished it in just about 24 hours. The twists were good. I was able to sus a lot of them out, but Kent threw in a few that surprised me. I really liked the story being told in two point-of-views, so we get more insight into our two leading ladies. Minka Kent is definitely one I will continue to seek out and I look forward to reading more from her. 4.5 stars!

If you check reviews you may find them divided on this story. But you can mark me down as a big fan of Minka Kent’s writing. Unmissing was definitely suspenseful! I was never quite sure where the story was heading so I had to keep reading. I needed to know more.

*****
Short Description
Merritt Coletto and her husband, Luca, have the life they dreamed of: a coastal home, a promising future, and a growing family. That dream ends with a late-night knock on the door.

Weak, broken, and emaciated, it’s Luca’s first wife, Lydia. Missing for ten years, presumed dead, and very much alive,
*****
I was so hooked that I finished the book at 1 a.m. There wasn’t a moment that it became stagnant and slow. The chapters were told alternatingly by the two wives. And though the story took place in a small-town setting, it wasn’t capitalized on, since there weren’t many characters or descriptions of the town.

My Concerns
If you can suspend disbelief and aren’t too nitpicky on details, you will love the suspense this page-turner has to offer.

I wonder if the book had been slightly longer if the characters might have felt a bit more developed.

Final Thoughts
Minka Kent can really pack a story into 251 pages. This is the first time I’ve read any of her books, but I will be keeping tabs on her from now on.

If you can suspend disbelief and go with the flow, I highly recommend this. And here’s a great deal to note:

Kindle Unlimited
You can read and listen to Unmissing for free if you belong to Kindle Unlimited. Can’t beat that, can you?

My thanks to @netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with this ARC.

Going back and forth about how to rate this one.

There are a couple of good twists, but honestly I saw them coming for the most part. I think I'm in a thriller saturation zone where it takes a lot to surprise me. Or it also could be that I didn't have any character to root for, they are all awful. If I would have had someone to get behind (who didn't do dumb things that they didn't thoroughly think through) I think that would have made the book better.

The premise is great--Lydia shows up on her husband's doorstep after being missing for ten years and declared dead. Her husband Luca has moved on and is now married to Merritt and they have a two year old daughter and a baby on the way. Where has Lydia been all this time, and what does she want with Luca and Merritt?

The execution, while fast-paced and kept me interested throughout, is where this book fell a bit short for me. There are so many things that just absolutely could not have happened, and require a lot of suspension of disbelief. Sometimes I'm able to do that, but in this case I just couldn't wrap my mind around some of it, especially the ending events. listened to the audiobook and the dual narrators for Lydia and Merritt were great and really gave them vivid personalities, it is a wonderful way to experience this book.

If you're able to just ride out the story and take it wherever it goes, the drama and rapid pacing should keep you invested.

Despite the fact that I have quite a few of Minka Kent's books on my TBR, this is the first book I've read by her. And let me tell ya, I'm rushing to dig into some of her other books.

"The Unmissing" is about a woman who reappears after missing for ten years, and life as she knew it is no longer.

Short, fast-paced, suspenseful chapters kept me turning pages and wanting more. There was one twist I did not see coming, and when you read as many thrillers as I do, that's quite the gift.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.

I received this book from the publisher through Netgalley for review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
A twisty little thriller perfect for a dark and windy evening by the fire.

I've read a few books by minka Kent. I loved most of them but unfortunately this was not one of them. I found it predictable. I guess the ending half way through. I forced myself to finish it thinking th3 ending was going to be great but not real twisted at the end. I give it 3 stars

I'm going to start by saying that thriller is my favourite genre of books but I've got to the stage where I think that I've read that many that I'm just not surprised by any that I read anymore; however this book definitely changed that.

It starts off a bit slow and at the start Lydia irritated me by the way she treated Merritt but that was soon turned on its head. When the twists came, particularly the second one, I was literally gobsmacked. I had thought about what transpired to be the case but then thought I was just clutching at straws trying to guess. The ending seemed a wee bit rushed compared to the pacing of the rest of the book but it was fine I guess. This was the first I had read by this author but I'm intrigued to read something else.

*Thanks to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Minka Kent for the copy of this book. All views are my own.*

Without giving too much away this is a very good psychological thriller with many twists and turns. Just when you think you know what's happening a curve ball comes your way and throws you back off the scent.
It's hard to imagine how you'd react when your husbands first wife appears on your doorstep asking to see him, especially even you know she's been missing for a decade and declared dead for nine. But this is the scenario facing Merritt, and its not helped by her husband Luca's reaction to the situation. I advise you to read the book to find out more.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Thomas and Mercer publishers and Minka Kent for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. I am under no obligation to leave my review

What would you do if someone that had been missing for ten years showed up at your door? This book has some great twists and even a complete u-turn! Unmissing had me from the first page and didn't let go. If you are looking for a thrill ride, grab this book and buckle up!

4.5 stars- What a trip this was! So many twists and turns! Hard to guess what the ending was.. I only wish the epilogue would have been a little more in the future, not 2 weeks later. Definitely recommend!

"I was simply missing, and now I'm unmissing." WOW! Nothing and no one in "#Umissing" is what it/they seem. Very well done and many surprises I did NOT see coming. Breezed through in two days! While one or two plot points seem contrived, by the end, it all makes sense. Can't wait to check out the #MinkaKent back catalog. Highly recommend.

P. S. Thanks to #NetGalley for the ARC.

3.5 stars. Very well written - a joy to read and I sped through it. However the story felt very predictable, even the second twist of who was behind everything. I’d definitely look for this author again but hope for more originality next time.

This was my first read by Minka Kent but certainly not my last! Unmissing is a quick, easy read and I still enjoyed it even though I guessed the twist early on.

Wow, I did not expect the twist in this story.
Lydia a newlywed happily married to Luca has a tragedy strike within 3 months of their marriage.

It’s difficult giving a review without spoilers but I’ll say this the story is so intriguing and full of suspense. When the unexpected happens the whirlwind in your mind just starts turning.

Merritt and Luca Coletto seem to have the perfect life. They have several successful businesses, a nice house, nice cars, and a growing family. From the outside looking in, their life seems like a fairytale. However, when Luca’s ex-wife, Lydia, shows up at their doorstep we find out that things aren’t always what them seem.

The story is told from the alternating perspectives of Merritt and Lydia. Chapter by chapter we learn about Lydia’s ten years of torture and her will to survive. Meanwhile, Merritt and Luca have their own problems that are coming to the surface. The twists and turns of this book and the ending, just wow. It’s hard to get into details without spoiling the twists. It is a must-read book! This was my first Minka Kelly book and it certainly won’t be my last.

Unmissing was a good read; a wife back from the dead….what does she want from her husband, now remarried with a child and one on the way? The story is not as simple as it seems and the twist is one you will not see coming.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.

A woman presumed dead shows up ten years later. Her husband has remarried and has a family. He and his ex-wife decide that it is the right thing to do to help the first wife out. But a game is being played and it isn't clear who is the cat and who is the mouse.

A lot of books claim to be thrillers but Unmissing definitely lives up to the title as it kept me riveted. It had twists and turns that I didn't see coming and I just kept repeating "wow' under my breath. Alternating between the voices of the first wife, Lydia and the second wife, Merritt, I loved the dark tone that this story took. This will no doubt be a book that will make the book club circuit.


Publication Date 15/02/22
Goodreads review published 21/02/22
#Unmissing #NetGalley.

All I can say about this book is "Wow". The story grabbed my attention from the start and never let go. The twists were jaw dropping. Minka Kent just keeps getting better and better with every book.