I had read a few of D.J. Palmer's novels and enjoyed them, so I listened to the audiobook for My Wife is Missing via my local library. I enjoyed the twists, turns, and uncertainty quite a bit. Chapters alternate with past and present events, and it was quite a ride. The ending took me by surprise, which is always fun.

This one had me hooked from the start and had me guessing til the end. Twists and turns I didn’t see coming. Thanks to NetGalley for the privilege to read and review this book.

I have read all of his books so this one was a must read, at first I thought it’s just not grabbing my attention like his other ones did but what a total surprise ending-never saw it coming at all !!! This one has family drama, lots of lies, good friends and horrible friends. So many things I really liked about this book, D J Palmer definetly knows how to write great stories. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!! #MYWIFEISMISSING

Reading Between the Wines book review #36/135 for 2022:
Rating: 3 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book 📱 🎧: My Wife is Missing
Author: D.J. Palmer
Genre: General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers
Available now!

Sipping thoughts: When insomnia not only takes your restful nights but also your peace could be quick blurb for this book. Natalie cannot shake the feeling that her husband, Michael, is a danger to her and her kids so she takes them and run. My favorite part was the cat and mouse game Natalie played with Michael. I could not determine if Michael really was a bad guy or of Natalie was just driven crazy by her sleep-deprived mind. The reveal of what happened in a whole new mystery created within the mystery of why Natalie ran left a little to be desired in my opinion. I like the method in which Palmer writes as it always has me wanting more. I cannot wait on the next book release.

Cheers and thank you to @StMartinsPress and @NetGalley for an advanced copy of @MyWifeIsMissing.

#MyWifeIsMissing #DJPalmer #StMartinsPress #NetGalley #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers #GeneralFictionAdult

Michael Hart is happy to be taking a vacation to New York with his family, it's A Mich needed get away. When he returns from picking up supper on the first night and finds his family missing he is terrified something bad has happened to them. After searching Michael soon learns that his wife might have taken the children and left on her own. He doesn't understand why and wants answers, the police do as well. Michael has a past that he doesn't want to tell the police about and wants to keep.it just there in the past but what if it has something to do with why his wife left? Follow along and see if Michael can find his family and come to terms with a past he would much rather not remember. This was an intriguing read with a ton of twists and turns!

My Wife Is Missing by D.J. Palmer is a high velocity, page turning thriller you don’t want to miss. Natalie and Michael are struggling in their marriage. They decide a quick family vacation with their children, Addie and Bryce, to New York City may be just what they need to reconnect. But that is where everything changes. Their family vacation quickly turns into a nightmare when Michael returns to the hotel with pizza and finds his wife and children are gone, and his son Bryce’s teddy bear on the floor in the hallway…which he is never without. Michael becomes frantic, his family is missing, he knows something sinister has happened, they were kidnapped. But as Michael and the police start to investigate, they soon realize. Natalie has left willingly, and has taken the children with her. Now it is a race against time to find them. Why did Natalie run? The police are trying to figure out what would make Natalie leave, and the person with those answers are Michael. But Michael can’t say what it was in his past that Natalie may have uncovered. To make matters worse, Natalie suffers from insomnia, which only exacerbates her inability to decipher the truth vs. what are delusions.

As the story unfolds, Michaels secrets are exposed, and are worse than what Natalie ever imagined. This all began with Natalie thinking Michael is having an affair, but she quickly realizes there is something much bigger from his past, and there is nothing she wouldn’t do to keep her children safe, even if it is from their own father.

I really enjoyed this novel. It is fast paced, well developed and has many surprises. I sometimes found myself getting slightly confused when the chapters switched to “Before she Disappeared”, there was some repetition that I found boring, but there was still a need to find out what these big secrets were. There was a lot of discussion about Natalie’s insomnia, but I didn’t feel it was the driving force of Natalie’s running away, but I could have missed the point of it somehow. The ending will blow your mind, I admit I completely missed the mark on this one. I thought I had it all figured out, but it was just a few pieces of the puzzle, so I certainly appreciated the surprise ending.

I would like to thank Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and D.J. Palmer for an advanced reader copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. I have to admit, I am a huge fan of D.J. Palmer, I have read every one of his books, and enjoyed all of them. He is definitely a solid, consistent author.

"The devil again, perched upon his shoulder. He knew. The past was something Michael carried with him, even when he forgot it was there. His mind flashed on an image sourced from memory, one of blood and gruesome cuts to a body, of eyes open wide but seeing nothing. It wasn’t over. It would never be over."

Michael and Natalie are at a Times Square hotel with their kids, a short vacay from their life in Boston. When Nat had suggested it, Michael jumped at the chance. Healing was needed, not just for Natalie’s too-persistent insomnia, but for their marriage. She had been sure Michael was having an affair, despite his persistent denials. He is hoping she is ready to try patching things up. She sends him out for pizza for the family at a local emporium, but when he returns the family has vanished like a Manhattan parking spot. He does what one might do, but the detectives show him hotel video of Natalie and the kids making tracks. No alien abduction this time. His wife has done a runner. The question is why?

The book follows two characters Michael, as he tries to figure out what is going on, and Natalie in two timelines, before leaving and after, on the run. So three threads to keep straight. Not a challenge.

Secrets abound. Michael has a large one from his past. Natalie has put together a theory, which reflects poorly on Michael and informs her desire to flee. And then there is the murder to consider.

Palmer give us plenty of fodder to munch on. What is that scar on Michael’s arm? Was it really from a bicycle accident when he was a kid? Why does Michael have no family other than Natalie and their kids? Whose long hair was it that Natalie found on his clothes one night? But the Michael we see seems a pretty decent, if flawed, guy, eager to get his family back, and Natalie has some issues. Her insomnia has become severe and persistent. Has her grip on reality suffered from this? Has she become paranoid?

We see in the looks back how Natalie came to think what she thinks. We do not get a lot from Michael’s history side until near the end.

The supporting cast is fun. A detective who is looking into the recent killing attaches himself to Michael when he goes looking for his family. We presume his intentions are less than benign, as he keeps ramping up his questioning. But Michael really wants to find his wife, and the access a detective has to otherwise unavailable resources makes it worth putting up with the guy being fixated on him as Suspect Zero. Natalie has a bff at work. A company investigator from her work spices things up briefly, and a young attractive sort at Natalie’s job passes on through for a while, is exposed to Natalie’s fears, and steps way back.

The tension builds and builds, as we keep hoping to find answers, but when we get them they arrive with a fresh set of questions. The pace sustains at frenetic, and there are severe twists aplenty, which make sense and are satisfying, however jolting.

I was not all that smitten with the leads here. Michael should not have been so secretive with Natalie about his past. And he should have been much more honest about other things as well. Natalie is ragged, which makes her concerns at least somewhat suspect. She may be right or she may be wrong, but it is a bit tough to get fully on board for her. It is possible she is suffering from paranoia., but just because you’re paranoid, that does not mean that they are not really out to get you.

This is only my second book by this author. One thing I preferred about The Perfect Daughter is that there is informational payload in that one about an unusual medical condition. My Wife is Missing is straight up thriller/mystery, payload-free as far as I could tell. It works fine as that, but I do prefer novels that add in some extra, educational material to give them a bit more heft.

This is a perfect beach read. It sustains a page-flipping pace while offering the sorts of twists and turns that make it a fun journey, without demanding to much deep thought. You may go missing for the few hours it will take to read My Wife is Missing, but we know that you are sure to be found.

"He couldn’t be in any picture that risked going viral, and certainly couldn’t tell his in-laws why."

Review posted – May 20, 2022

Publication date – May 10, 2022

I received an ARE of My Wife is Missing from St. Martin’s Press in return for a fair review, and sticking around. Thanks, folks, and thanks to NetGalley for facilitating.

My Wife Is Missing by DJ Palmer is this author’s newest release and.. OMG. I am floored. Again. Every other book that I’ve read by this author has been an easy five star read for me but this book? It was insane.

My Wife Is Missing is one of those books that keeps you up through the night trying to finish it, that makes you anxious when you’re away from it because you just need to KNOW. This book had me reading at work when I really should have been helping my co workers, it had me trying to read in the car (I was a passenger I’m not that crazy) even though reading in a moving car makes me car sick & I could not let it go until the very last scary movie gasping moment.

From beginning to end this book had one surprise in store for its readers after another and while I could describe the surprises it contains, I can’t recommend it enough that you go blindly into this book & discover all the plainly insane things like I did.

#FirstLine ~ As Michael Hart rounded the corner to his hotel room, he saw a small, lifeless shape lying on the floor of the hallway.

This book met all my expectations and beyond. I had heard so much hype on this book, so I was nervous to read it, afraid I would be disappointed. I was not disappointed, I was blown away! It was so good. It had so many twist and turns. It was so well written and perfectly paced. I was engaged and I had a hard time putting it down. If you love thrillers, this may become a new favorite! A MUST READ!!!

If you are a fan of twisty psychological drama this is a must read. Palmer draws out the reveals so just about the time you think you’ve gotten it figured out he pulls another twist. Don’t start reading late at night or you too will have insomnia.

I always find D.J. Palmer's books entertaining and that's precisely what My Wife is Missing was. All of the twists completely surprised me and there was one in particular that REALLY wowed me. The story is told from the perspectives of Michael during/after Natalie goes missing, Natalie before she went missing, and Natalie in the present-day after she runs with the kids. I loved this since it kept me on my toes and helped tie the story together as the reader slowly finds out just why Natalie is on the run. I really liked Natalie as a character, but I didn't really find anyone else very likable including Michael. This is a medium-length book, but it has really short chapters and I felt like I was done with it in no time.

I highly recommend listening to the audiobook as Karissa Vacker narrates it and I loved her narration. I would have enjoyed a male narrator for Michael's POV, but as it was Vacker really nailed the whole thing, and she is great to listen to. I found her to be very fitting for Natalie's character, and she did a pretty great child's voice when she had to. My Wife is Missing has an unreliable narrator feel to it, and Palmer did a really great job of throwing suspicion around. There is also a scene towards the end that felt like something straight out of an action movie, and just like the twists, totally surprised me with its tension. Suspend some disbelief and you should really enjoy this thriller!

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

Natalie and Michael Hart and children Addie and Bryce take a mini vacation to New York City for two reasons - to work on their failing marriage and to show the kids the sites. It's a trip that should heal a broken family . .. or so Michael thought. When he returns from picking up pizza for his family, he finds their hotel room empty with his son's beloved teddy bear laying on the floor. His family is gone lock, stock and baggage. When security cameras show his wife fleeing with his children, his search begins.

My Wife Is Missing is a complex thriller told through the dual points of view of Natalie and Michael - two highly unreliable narrators. Readers quickly learn that Natalie suffers debilitating insomnia leaving Michael questioning her sanity, while Michel has some dark, buried secrets that he'll do anything to protect. Needless to say, communication is non-existent between the couple, leaving them both worrying and contemplating different possibilities. What does Natalie suspect that has her fleeing with her children? Is Michael having an affair or is something more sinister happening? Is Natalie having a breakdown or is she also burying secrets? Michael follows her trail with an unexpected ally, hoping to find answers.

This is another solid thriller from author D. J. Palmer. Alternating past/present scenes from both Natalie and Michael allow readers to partially figure out what brought them to this point. The plot is quite twisted and convoluted with enough red herrings to keep readers guessing which kept me turning the pages. While the action moves steadily, the story tends to falter somewhat in the middle mostly from overly repetitive speculations and scenes about Natalie's insomnia which is understandable as it's the driving force behind the story serving to fuel the dilemma of who to believe. I'm happy to say the pace picks up again and readers will need to buckle up to avoid whiplash on the chaotic rocket ride to a surprise ending.

I'm a fan of this author, and while My Wife Is Missing isn't my favorite of his work, I'm happy to say it's worth the read and one I can highly recommend to fans of suspense and thrillers.

My Wife is Missing is a thriller with a great mystery. Once I started listening this one, I didn't stop. When the book opens, Natalie and Michael Hart have arrived in New York with their two children, Addie and Bryce. When Michael leaves to get pizza, Natalie and the children disappear. Michael is frantic, but no one wants to help as it appears she left of her own accord. The rest of the story has Natalie trying to get away, and we learn why. A police officer teams up with Michael to find her and the children. It is quite the chase, as well as a mystery as to what is true, and what is Michael's secret.

Natalie is one smart cookie. She has planned her escape well and is pretty good at anticipating when to make a change. She doesn't trust people with her plans, not even her parents, which almost derails everything. D.J. Palmer does a great job doling out information at just the right pace. It was like peeling an onion as we find out enough to lead us in one direction and then the next layer had me thinking something totally different. This was a crazy ride with so many twists and turns. And that ending blew me away! I am not going to say anything else as you have to read this one yourself. I definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy a good thriller with a mystery thrown in.

Sometimes the pacing in a book can make or a break a book for me and sadly it broke this one for me. The pacing was so different between the POVs that I found it difficult to settle in and enjoy the book.

Additionally, at only 100 pages in, there were already some repetitive things including Natalie's insomnia and that Michael has a secret. I don't know about other readers, but I don't need reminded of those things constantly.

I also agree with some reviews from those that finished that at only 100 pages in that this was going to be too long of a book.

Loved it! I was hooked from beginning to end and although I did see some of ithe twists coming, I didn’t see that epilogue coming! This author has definitely become an auto read for me. If you like domestic drama/suspense then pick this book up.

Ok hello wild ride. So many twists and turns. I never knew who was the crazy one in this story. Well Done DJ Palmer. I did not figure this one out.

While I enjoy a good red herring, I feel like the unreliable female is way overplayed. But in this case, we couldn't tell if the wife was unreliable or the hubby. Perhaps he is gaslighting, perhaps she is having the insomnia cause delusions. Who knows? We don't find out until the end, and I don't give spoilers!!

Fast paced 4 stars from me. I have read others and enjoyed them as well.

When Mike’s wife, Natalie, disappears with his two children, he is devastated, terrified, and….busted? While he is frantically trying to find his family, he also can’t help but notice his nagging inner voice reminding him that Natalie may have had very good reasons to leave him. But how many of his secrets has she uncovered? And just how much guilt really lies with Mike? As Palmer takes us through the twists and turns of this new thriller, you may find yourself wondering if anyone actually knows what’s really going on. Natalie’s insomnia doesn’t make her the most reliable of narrators and Mike, well, there’s lots of reasons we don’t want to take his word for much of anything….

DJ Palmer is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. He’s always one step ahead of me and I can never figure out his twists. There was only one thing in this book that I was sure of throughout. The rest of it was just full of surprises, but in typical DJ Palmer fashion, the surprises made perfect sense. He ties up loose ends so well. Excellently done, as always.

This book just came out on May 10, and I strongly encourage you to grab a copy!

Thanks to DJ Palmer, St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for this ARC in return for my honest review.

Put on your seatbelt and prepare for a wild ride with plenty of twists and turns that will have you
you are gasping for breath. Natalie and Michael have been married for a while. They work together. They are the parents of two school-aged children. They take a family trip to New York City. It is on this trip that Natalie and her children disappear. When Michael returns to the hotel after getting the pizza, he discovers his wife and children missing. This story moves from the present to the past. As the story unfolds, information about Natalie and Michael is revealed. Natalie and her children travel away from Michael, while Michael authorities to help him find His missing family. Michael and a police officer work together to try and discover why his family disappeared.

Natalie and her children are on the run, and as the story is told, the pieces of Natale and Michael’s lives are revealed. Eventually, the pieces come together, and the reader learns horrifying reasons Natalie ran.

This is a heart-pounding cat and mouse story. I could not turn the pages fast enough. This book is a satisfying thriller.

What a twisty, suspenseful story!
So.Much.Going.On!
So.Many.Secrets!
I’m still reeling from the plot and trying to decide how I feel about it.
Main characters are Natalie and her husband Michael. Honestly they both pretty much got on my nerves with some of the decisions they kept making. Who is the guilty party? Is it paranoia on both sides? Every time I thought I had it figured out….I went back to saying “WHAT THE HECK?”
The story is told from Natalie and Michael’s viewpoint…..which are so different from each other’s views that you wonder who is the person in the wrong??????
Sooooo many questions! And, they don’t get answered until the end of the book. So keep on reading! Definitely a suspense thriller you should pick up!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

“I wish I’d done this sooner.”

I’m betting you have questions now, right? You should, and you should grab this book immediately. All your questions will be answered, assuming you’re asking the right ones.

This one opens with panic. Michael and his family are vacationing in New York. When he returns to their hotel, he notices his son’s toy lying ominously abandoned in the hallway. That’s not all that’s amiss. His wife and his two children are missing. Is it possible that they were kidnapped? Or is the fact that their luggage is also missing a sign that his wife has left him? Was this all planned from the moment she started to plan the trip? After all, at dinner the night before, his wife uttered those troubling words: “I wish I’d done this sooner.”

Michael’s panic at finding his family gone soon morphs into unadulterated desperation as he races to find an explanation, but could he also have secrets that he desperately hopes his wife has not discovered?

As always, D.J. Palmer is on fire. He is truly a master of the domestic suspense novel. He creates authentic characters who behave in very organic ways as they traverse through extremely precarious situations. His pacing in every novel is exceptional, and that has never been more true than in this one.

I challenge you to pick this up, read ten pages, and try to put it down. You’ll fail. This book is impossible to pause. You’ll keep turning each explosive page until you’re gasping for air in its finale. It’s phenomenal!

Enjoy.