Title: The Night She Went Missing
Author: Kristen Bird
Genre: mystery/thriller
Rating: 4 out of 5

Emily, a popular but bookish prep school senior, goes missing after a night out with friends. She was last seen leaving a party with Alex, a football player with a dubious reputation. But no one is talking.

Now three mothers, Catherine, Leslie and Morgan, friends turned frenemies, have their lives turned upside down as they are forced to look to their own children—and each other’s—for answers to questions they don’t want to ask.

Each mother is sure she knows who is responsible, but they all have their own secrets to keep and reputations to protect. And the lies they tell themselves and each other may just have the potential to be lethal.

I really enjoyed the first half of this book. The second half…got a little bit far-fetched, but I was invested in the characters at that point, so I continued reading. I thought the close-knit, wealthy community if Galveston was portrayed well. I liked the younger characters the best. The adults were a bit too much for me. This is a solid debut novel, and I’d read more from this author.

Kristen Bird lives in Texas. The Night She Went Missing is her debut novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin/MIRA in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 2/11.)

The story begins when Emily’s family moves to the small Texas island where her family has lived for generations. Her grandmother has influence at the local school and owns the local newspaper. Her grandmother is also fiercely protective of her family and the island and will let no harm come to either.
The book is told from pre Emily disappearance and post Emily disappearance so you get little clues throughout the book. As the blurb stated, the story is about mothers and their daughters. What will a mother do to protect her daughter?
I was intrigued by this story. It was a little different than I thought based on the blurb but that’s ok. While reading the book you figure out dynamics between characters and ultimately “who donnit”. I loved this author’s writing style and can’t wait to read more from her!

The Night She Went Missing by Kristen Bird has high school senior, Emily disappearing after attending a party with her friends. Catherine, Emily’s mother, along with Morgan and Leslie (mothers of high school children) are frenemies but they need each other if they are going to learn what happened that fateful night. These women must protect their children as well as their reputations. Secrets and lies run rampant in this small Texas community. The Night She Went Missing is the debut novel of Kristen Bird. We get to follow the story as the three mothers set out to learn what happened to Emily. The story is told from multiple points-of-view which allows us to see what each woman including Emily is thinking and feeling. Some are more likeable than others. The first half of the book sets the stage for the incident while the second half is the search for the truth. I thought the latter part of the story moved faster plus there is more tension. You wonder what is the truth and what is a lie. I was drawn in by the synopsis of this book, but it failed to live up to it. The pacing was so slow. The point-of-view alternates between the three women and Emily. It can be hard to keep them all straight (especially since the women seem so much alike). I thought this would be more of a tense suspense that would have me on the edge of my seat (instead it put me to sleep). I found The Night She Went Missing to be predictable. The ending was a huge disappointment (talk about a letdown). I hope the author ups her game with her next novel. The Night She Went Missing is a dramatic tale governing grandmother, a musical mother, a lost teen, a superior school, rampant rumors, and protective parents.

2.5 stars, rounded up because the beginning was strong.
Started off strongly, I was quite invested. And then it got more and more unbelievable until I was shaking my head.

We know from the beginning that Emily is found, so that takes the suspense off the table. I went back and forth about whether I thought that was a wise choice, but it does work with the scope of the tale. It is told from the points of view of multiple people: Emily, reflecting back on what happened in her past that led her to the present, as she is rescued but lying in a hospital comatose. Other points of view: Catherine, Emily's mother, and Leslie and Morgan, mothers of students Emily goes to school with. As the story unfolds, there are secrets, lies, people covering up those secrets, and people in denial about the secrets.

As I said, the story starts off well. It deliberately lays out the story of a family who has moved from Oregon to Galveston as a result of a scandal. Emily is in her senior year of high school and is now attending a prestigious private school owned by her grandmother. She goes to a party one night and disappears. She disappears about midway through the book, and that's when things just start to go sideways.

People start to do bizarre (and I do mean bizarre, straight out of a really bad movie) things. The rationale for these things makes very little sense. When I think more about it, the more outlandish it seems. I was compelled to keep reading because I absolutely needed to know how things were going to wrap up.

If you like domestic drama with lots of people doing bad things and other people covering it up, then you might enjoy this one. It's a kind of soapy train wreck where you just can't look away even though you know you should.

I found the different mothers perspective confusing at first but once I got more into the story it grew easier to tell them apart. While I understand the author’s intentions with not sharing much about Emily (seeing as she was the new girl in town), I wish as a reader you could learn more about her as a character. Overall, I was drawn into the story and left wondering what was going to happen next when I set the book down and really enjoyed reading the book as a whole!

What’s it about (in a nutshell):

Because of a scandal, a couple moves their family of five from Oregon to Galveston, Texas. Months after moving, their teen daughter, Emily, goes missing for ten weeks. Strangers find her unconscious but alive; once she awakens, she has no memory of the events surrounding her disappearance.

What I Enjoyed:

I loved the story’s format. The plot’s timeline starts with what happened in Oregon and then moves on to life in Galveston, Texas–very chronological and easy to follow. But, from the beginning, there are brief interludes narrated by Emily that take place after strangers find her. This grabbed me from page 1 and kept the suspense high throughout the story, enough so that there was no putting it down. Usually, there is a lull at the beginning in domestic thrillers that can prolong reading, and that’s not the case with The Night She Went Missing, all because of Emily’s interludes.

The characters are hiding so many secrets. They don’t trust each other, and I didn’t trust any of them. Everyone was a suspect at different points in the story with a plausible case for why they might be behind the disappearance, and I ultimately bought into all of it being swept away by all the twists and turns. It’s the type of story where the journey is so fun; you don’t even need to figure out the end before you get to it.

I loved the location that the couple moved to-the husband’s hometown, where his mother is in charge of the local private school named for them. A small setting within a small town brings intriguing backstories with a history, which fits very well in a small southern town.

Characters:

The story, for me, is more of a plot-driven story, even though the narration focuses on three different mothers instrumental in the mystery. The characters are developed enough to understand them within the story’s parameters, but not so much that they are relatable or even sympathetic. They are all potential suspects, after all. And I gladly give up character development to keep up the suspense and the fast pace of the story.

What I Wish:

As I mentioned, the characters are not particularly well-developed, and I always love excellent character development. So, if I were to wish anything about this story, it would be that, especially with the whodunnit and why.

To Read or Not to Read:

If you like fast-paced thrillers told by fresh voices in the genre, The Night She Went Missing is just the book you are looking for.

TW: Rape, sexual assault

A tight-knit community in Texas is shaken up when young teen Emily Callahan goes missing after a night out friends and was last seen with Alex, a football player with a controversial reputation. Three mothers: Catherine, Morgan and Leslie put it on themselves to get to the bottom of this once and for all and discover the truth of Emily’s whereabouts. However, discovering the truth may be more than these mothers can handle as the façade of their perfect town and perfect children begins to crumble.

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This was a fast-paced story that read to me more a mystery than a thriller. The beginning started of strong with the drama between these mother’s unfolding and getting all their backgrounds to set the story. I could not put this one down because I just HAD to find out the answers: What happened to Emily? Who was involved? The author does a great job of setting up everyone as a suspect, there was not shortage to choose from that’s for sure. I really enjoyed Catherine and Morgan’s characters; you can see their instincts as mothers kick in right away as everything progresses. I do not want to say too much and spoil anything, but I will say the story lost me a little bit towards the ending when everything was being explained and some things did not really make sense to me. If you’re in the mood for a fast-paced mystery packed with domestic drama, then this is the read for you!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. This title will be released on February 8th, 2022.

Emily's been missing- but now she's back and she's......No spoilers from me but this tale of a high school student and her community is filled with some serious drama. Emily's family moved to Galveston from Oregon this year, her senior year. and she's a bit at sea. She's made friends, including with Alex but she's not really happy. SO what happened the night of the party? That's the question three moms must ask themselves. Her mother Catherine teams up, sort of, with Alex's mother Morgan. Then there's Leslie, mother of Anna, a friend of Emily who knows more than she should. And what about Roslyn, her grandmother? There are secrets and lies. This does sag a bit in the middle and the end is a tad out there but it kept me reading. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. A nice debut.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This is another book I feel is miscategorized as a Thriller. It’s a slow burn Mystery-Drama.

I did like the book, but it really drags in parts. And the amnesia/ dissociative state is my least favorite trope.

The author did do a great job with character development.
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A teenaged girl goes missing after a night out with friends.

They live on a small island off the coast of Texas, where everyone knows everyone. But… now, everyone is keeping secrets…

“The lies they tell can be deadly”

An intriguing and twisty domestic suspense about loyalty and deceit in a tight-knit Texas community where parents are known to behave badly and people are not always who they appear to be.

Galveston Island is a place with a lot of secrets. Catherine and her husband, Carter Callahan have moved home to be closer to his mother after the death of his father. At least that’s the story they tell.

The Callahan name is sacred here. Nothing goes on without their matriarchs approval or knowledge. Even the school is named for them.

Emily loved her old school. She hates this one. And when she finally does make a friend, Alex, a boy with his own demons, she begins receiving threatening notes.

Then Emily goes missing. Her clothes washed up on shore and no sign of her. Until the day of her funeral when she is found floating in the water with a life preserver on. Unconcious. Where has she been all this time? Every judgy mom in this book was awful. Even though they think they are protecting their children, they are actually harboring a rapist.

So the first half of the book I was intrigued. In the second half, I was frustrated. And the ending was not in the least believable.

NetGalley/February 8th, 2022 by MIRA

http://www.piratepatty.com

Wow, a wonderful story! I loved that it was told from multiple perspectives. The author's descriptions of Galveston Island made me feel like I was breathing in the salty air, exploring the beaches, and hearing the sounds of the waves. The mystery of what happened to Emily kept me breathlessly turning the pages. I was shocked by the answers that were revealed.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, Harlequin Trade Publishing and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.


Not your average thriller. Make sure you have time to read it all in one sitting.

Disclaimer: I was sent a free book and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

This book caught my attention through the description given. I immediately thought this book is going to be amazing.

I was right.

I was immediately pulled into this story. First, it takes place in a small town much like the one I grew up in so it was relatable to me. then add in characters that I identified with from high school. Throw in a mystery and boom I was unable to put this book down.

I really felt the author did a great job weaving this story. There were lots of twists and turns along the way. It kept me guessing which I loved.

The characters were complex and the story was one I felt could happen in real-time with how our world is in this moment.

Overall I enjoyed this book and read it in a meter of days I was so caught up in it.

What a wild ride! Lovers of Megan Miranda, Lisa Jewell, and Shari Lapena will love this thriller. Keeps you on your toes throughout the entire story.

A Texas town full of secrets.

This book is different that most "women's thrillers" in that it starts with the missing girl being washed ashore...and still being alive. This is where our story starts.

Carter and Catherine Callahan have just moved to Galveston, returning to Carter's hometown. They have three children, including Emily, a senior in high school. Catherine has damaged her own career and needed to leave her previous job. She makes friends with Morgan, another mother and frenemies with Leslie, her mother-in-law's right hand woman.

Emily goes missing after a night out with friends. She was last seen leaving a party with Alex, who is her only real friend and Morgan's son.

Each mother has to struggle with their own lies and truths as Emily is found and the truth of her disappearance comes to light.

There were some parts of this book that were a little far fetched, however, I did enjoy this overall...it just seemed to be straddling the line between VC Andrews and Lifetime movie and modern day thrillers. I wish it could have picked a lane.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity.

Galveston, TX has quite a history in and of itself and there is a family that has generations of history - the Callahan family. Catherine, recently had a mishap on her job that made for her and her family to move to her husband's hometown of Galveston and their children will attend the prep school that his grandfather founded. In the prologue their daughter is found unconscious, alive but not responding and we go back in time to find out why this family ended up here and to solve all the mysteries.

I absolutely loved this book. Told through many perspectives, the author gives the mothers and Emily each a moment to move the story forward through their points of view. I loved the twists and turns that this story took as the author is unfolding all the clues as to how Emily ended up in the water and all the secrets that are in this small town.

This book felt unique with the combination of mom drama with the adults having their own issues while at the same time the kids do as well. The combination of historical issues and Catherine's newness to the town and the people was fun to watch the interactions.

When I finished this book - I wanted more. Excited to see this was a debut and hope that there are more books to come.

This one had me hooked initially, I love stories about people behaving badly and hiding secrets etc so I had a good feeling going into it. I also enjoy multiple viewpoints and I especially liked Emily’s perspective as she narrates after she’s already been missing for months. I liked the angle of her being gone for so long yet no one has any idea where she’s been or who she’s been with. There were a ton of unanswered questions and the plot moved steadily forward and kept my interest at first, but unfortunately that interest waned. About halfway in things just started to feel sluggish and like they weren’t going anywhere, or at least anywhere interesting. It was dramatic but not in a fun way, it just seemed pretty silly. I started not really caring about what had happened to Emily in the past or what would happen to her later. I didn’t believe the ending, it just didn’t make a whole lot of sense in terms of motivation for where Emily had been and why. Overall this one fell flat for me despite a decent premise.

Thank you to NetGalley, and Mira Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a little different than my normal "thriller books", it was almost like Big Little Lies, but without the humor that the book had. That isn't a bad thing. I thought this book had a more serious tone to it and it worked. At least for the first act of the book.
A young girl goes missing and the moms of a small town are pretty sure they know who did it, but for each mom, they suspect a different person.
I do love me a good story where almost all the characters have something to hide.

I actually was pretty invested in the book!

New to me author but definitely won't be last. Thoroughly enjoyed this story. Thanks Netgalley and to the publisher for letting me read this advance copy.

Thank you Netgalley & Mira/HTP for an eARC of The Night She Went Missing by Kristen Bird!

I’m a sucker for a twisty domestic suspense novel filled with secrets and deceit. This book delivers, and I was intrigued from the very first chapter. Emily goes missing after a night out with friends - But none of her friends are talking. Who had she been spending time with in her new town? Did she have any enemies?

This book alternates between three mothers who can best be described as frenemies, as well as a twist that I won’t give up just yet. You’ll have to read this one to find out. While each mother is forced to look at their own children, the truth is shockingly revealed.

I did manage to guess the major twist in this one, but I read a LOT of thrillers! That being said, it was extremely well written and the ending left no questions unanswered. Great read that I’ll recommend to others.