I really liked this book but felt at first that the characters, especially Michael Hart was very difficult to understand. It is not until later in the book that readers get to see his depth and what drives him. There are other characters that really stand out to me, so the characters and their journey are what pushed this from a four star to a five star review. Well thought out plot and suspense...pacing was also good. There were plenty of plot twists and bumps to keep me reading too late at night (which is always a good sign that I am enjoying the book.)

Thank you to NetGalley, author D.J. Palmer, and St. Martin's Press for this digital copy for me to read and enjoy. As always, my reviews are voluntary and my opinions are my own.

4.5 Stars

This was a rollercoaster ride from the first page, and I couldn’t put it down! Michael and his family are vacationing in NYC. Michel goes out to get pizza and when he returns his wife and two children are missing.

This was such a good one! It was fast paced and full of suspense. The best part was you think you know what’s going on and who not to trust, and then you’re blindsided and you’re completely wrong. I went into this book with zero expectations and it turned out to be a great thriller! I highly recommend.

A huge thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

While on vacation, Michael Hart returns to the hotel room to find his wife, Natalie, and their children gone. Michael and Natalie have had some problems in their marriage recently, and Natalie’s insomnia hasn’t helped things. Even so, Michael assumes his family has been abducted, and enlists the help of the NYPD. When they look into the situation, it appears Natalie has fled with the children, but why?

This book started off with a bang! Michael arriving back at their hotel after getting pizza and finding his family gone was a great way to get me invested in the story. I did feel the pace slowed down a bit especially once Natalie is on the run. It felt repetitive to me at times, and I was excited once the pace picked up again and the twists began to happen.

Told in dual timelines with both Michael and Natalie’s present day perspectives as well as Natalie’s point of view leading up to the disappearance, I found both narrators unreliable. Throwing in Natalie’s insomnia didn’t help with knowing who or what to trust.

The ending of the book was full of twists and was really fast paced. I had an idea that one of the characters was involved, but not in the way the author took the story. The secrets and lies thrown into the story definitely held my interest and made me need to figure out exactly what was happening.

Read this book if you like cat and mouse chase type thrillers with lots of twists and red herrings thrown in. Thank you to the author, D.J. Palmer, NetGalley, and St. Martin’s Press for advanced copies in exchange for my honest review.

A husband goes in pursuit of his missing wife in this domestic thriller.

When Natalie Hart and her two children leave the hotel room they've reserved for a family vacation in New York, husband Michael goes full on super detective to find them. Why did Natalie escape and what is Michael hiding. Lots of secrets and lies in this crazy drama.

Told in alternating points of view between Natalie and Michael, there's a lot to unpack. First of all, Natalie has been trying to deal with crippling insomnia and the lack of sleep has impaired her thinking to the point that she's apparently having hallucinations and memory problems. I did not think either of those was contagious, but in his storytelling, Michael also seems to have some issues. Neither is reliable as a narrator, and I found that I didn't care for either of the pair. In fact, none of the characters in the book are likeable and the reader has no clue of who has done what to whom. The tale of Michael chasing Natalie across the USA with an NYPD detective in cahoots was a bit of a hard buy in and somewhat ludicrous. A great deal of suspension of disbelief was required.

I found this more irritating than exciting and between Natalie being almost delusional and the reader led to think that Michael is gaslighting her (is this in all the books now) the story just becomes one long slog as I raced to the conclusion to finally get some sort of truth. Even then, the last couple of chapters bordered on complete ridiculousness. I guess if people were open and honest all the time, we'd have no domestic thrillers dealing with husbands and wives. Basically this was a long, drawn out ride with an ending that fell short of my expectations. So 2.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-book ARC to read and review.

Clever, twisty, and well written!

My Wife is Missing is an intricate, perfectly paced thriller that takes us into the life of Michael Hart, a husband and father of two who finds his life turned upside down when he returns from picking up a pizza for dinner only to find his wife and children missing from the hotel and only his son’s beloved bear left behind as evidence that they were ever even there.

The writing is smooth and fluid. The characters are astute, devious, and committed. And the plot unravels briskly into a sinister tale full of twists, turns, manipulation, deception, desperation, jealousy, red herrings, familial drama, marital strife, tragedy, and murder.

Overall, My Wife is Missing is an intricate, crafty, addictive read by Palmer that captivated, satisfied, and highly entertained me and was a good reminder that things are never quite what they seem, and behind closed doors nobody really knows what happens.

I always enjoy D.J. Palmer books, and My Wife Is Missing is no exception.
Michael finds his wife Natalie has goon missing, along with the two children. We’re they kidnapped? Or did they leave willingly?
Michael and the police really want to know what happened, but maybe Michael has reasons to hope they don’t reappear?

I thought this one was a little long, but I enjoyed the cat and mouse chase and unreliable narrators during this domestic suspense.

A family vacation that is plotted for another reason unknown to the husband, the wife disappearing with their two children, and twists you won't see coming. This is my new favorite book from D. J. Palmer. The story is so intense you will have trouble putting it down. Buckle in because you are in for a ride!

For me, this is a hard book to review. It’s a domestic thriller with an extremely convoluted plot.

The wife thinks the husband is unfaithful. Consequently, wife has insomnia. Husband tries to convince wife that she is delusional because of insomnia. This triggers a series of events which get darker as the story goes along.

This is my second novel by DJ Palmer. This man is an expert at weaving a complicated plot. As in the other book, The
Perfect Daughter, there are many twists and turns. I can never figure out whether to root for the husband or the wife. Every time I decide that it is a predictable plot, it turns out to be not so.

All through the book, there are innuendos of something terrible, which sometimes are hard to pick up. When I thought I recognized one, I turned it around in my mind and decided against it. It’s as if the author is playing with the reader's mind. Well played!

And, add into the mix an unreliable narrator, though it is in the third person. Who does the reader believe? I guess you have to go right to the end of the book to find out!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an Advance Readers Copy of this book.

**4.5-stars**

On the first day of their NYC-vacation, Michael and Natalie Hart split up for what is expected to be a brief period of time. While Michael runs out to pick up take-out pizza for the family, Natalie stays back at the hotel with their two children, Addie and Bryce, to get settled in.

When he returns, Michael spots Bryce's teddy bear just outside the door to their room. That's certainly strange as the young boy is beyond attached to the stuffed toy. Entering the room, Michael is surprised his family isn't there. Surprise turns to confusion when he notices the only bag in the room is his own. Where is his family?

Michael raises the alarm to hotel staff and then the police. As he is unable to reach Natalie by phone and has no other explanation, Michael fears they've been kidnapped. After viewing hotel camera footage though, it appears Natalie left quite willing, of her own volition; just her and the kids. Michael is so confused, why would she do this?

These opening scenes set the tone for the entire novel. It's intense and fast paced. Through alternating perspectives, as well as past and present timelines, the full depth of Michael and Natalie's relationship is revealed. It's clear that the couple were having problems prior to their ill-fated trip to NYC. Natalie doesn't trust her husband at all and Michael, well, he has his issues.

Due to stress and struggles within their relationship, Natalie has been suffering severe insomnia. Michael uses that fact against her, claiming she is not in her right mind. Frankly, it's not entirely clear if she is or not. I love an unreliable narrator and I would say that Natalie falls into that category. In spite of her insomnia though, it's really through Natalie's perspective that the truth of this story begins to be revealed.

I really enjoyed my time reading My Wife is Missing. Palmer has a signature over-the-top style. His books are always a wild ride, never failing to keep me engaged.

I loved how quickly this one kicked off and it really never let up. Towards the end I was flying through, I had to know what the conclusion was going to be. It turned into this sort of intense cat and mouse scenario, although at times it was hard to determine who was the cat and who was the mouse.

I have read all of Palmer's novels, in order, as they've been released and in my opinion each one has been stronger than the last. We love to see that sort of upward trajectory with an author's work. He always keeps me guessing, that's for sure. I can't wait to see what sort of insanity he throws at us next!!

Thank you so much to the publisher, St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. I appreciate it so much!!

My wife is missing is a fast paced psychological thriller I couldn't put down. I kept needing one more chapter and just when I thought I had it all figured out the story gets more twisted. Natalie and Michael are on a vacation with their children when Natalie and the kids come up missing. In a rushed daze to find his family Michael has to face his past.

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this digital arc. All opinions are my own.

I finished this book a few days ago and had to sit on it before writing a review. For starters, it was fantastic! The perfect mix of lies, betrayal, paranoia, and suspense. I was on the edge of my seat until the very end! But I didn’t feel I could put into words why this perfect mix worked so well for this story without giving away too much, so I’ll do my best to keep the important details under wraps.

The book begins with Michael taking a trip to NYC with his wife Natalie and their two children, but we only get Michael’s POV initially and soon discover that his wife and children are missing from their hotel room. After viewing security footage, it appears that she left willingly and in a hurry with their kids. But why? The story then progresses with scenes from the past and present, and the reader gets more insight into their marriage problems and Natalie’s struggle with insomnia, which could very well been a source of delusions. But the real question in all of this is: who is telling the truth?

Overall, I thought this was a page-turning suspenseful read and the ending caught me completely off guard. Highly recommend!

*I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4710364079

My Wife is Missing by DJ. Palmer was one of the best thrillers I have read this year.

A family vacation falls apart after Natalie, the insomniac, and her 2 kids disappear while her husband, Michael, goes out to get the pizza. (I am keeping this a simple synopsis because writing anything else will give away spoilers.)

What I loved:
🧸 This fast, paced thriller had me wanting to finish it in one sitting!
🧸The twists and turns were so unpredictable!
🧸 I loved the character development. I was 100% team Natalie during this entire book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫(4.75)/5

This may have been my first DJ Palmer book, but it won’t be my last.

This is my third book by this author and I think it’s my favourite. Michael and his family arrive in NYC for a vacation. When Michael returns to the hotel after picking up pizza he discovers his family is missing. He initially believes they have been kidnapped. Natalie, his wife, is suffering from severe insomnia and because of this she is having trouble making decisions and knowing what is factual. It turns out Natalie is on the run from Michael. Is there a valid reason for this? This is a great story with many twists and turns. The book is told by Natalie and Michael in alternating chapters and gives the back story of their lives as well as the present story. Overall this is a twisty wild ride and I loved it. If you are looking for a great suspense story this is it!!

Natalie has terrible insomnia as she starts to question her spouse, Michael and thinks about all the problems in her marriage. Things get so bad that she needs to plan an escape to protect their two children. Not only has Michael had an affair but he killed one of her co-workers! She has to get away and get somewhere safe so she can finally call the police safely. As Michael tries to find his wife, as reluctant as he is, he accepts the help of a policeman to track down his wife and his children. This was an intriguing audiobook with an ending that surprised and delighted me because of course, I knew exactly what happended. This is my favorite so far by D.J. Palmer. May 2022 Pub Date

The king of domestic thrillers is back with another page-turner of a story. If you love the unreliable narrator trope then this is the book for you as My Wife is Missing has not one but two unreliable narrators. Truly, you don't know who is fully telling the truth or is just telling their version of the truth.

Natalie and Michael Hart, along with their two young children, take a family vacation to New York City. Michael went out to pick up pizza for dinner and when he returns to the hotel room his wife and children are gone. All that is left behind is his son's favorite teddy bear.

From this opening, we are sent on a story that twists this way and then turns that way as we get glimpses of what happened before Natalie's disappearance and the present search.

We know upfront that Natalie isn't going to be a reliable narrator as she is suffering from severe insomnia which has gotten to the point of hallucinations. A fact that Michael stresses in a play for sympathy and support in getting his wife back.

This story is like an old painting being restored. Each chapter strips away a little of the reader's impressions revealing a bit more of the truth. The pacing of the story is perfect. We are given just enough time to solidify our own ideas about why Natalie ran to feel the shock when another piece of the puzzle is revealed.

I loved this book. The characters are great. While I sided more with Natalie, I did feel for Michael at times. He is as much of a puzzle as is why Natalie disappeared. I did not want to put the book down and the audiobook would make a great listen for a long road trip.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Sunday, May 15 - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2022/05/two-terrific-thrillers-to-move-to-top.html

I just recently finished “My Wife is Missing” by D.J. Palmer and I loved it! It definitely gave me “Gone Girl” vibes but with a twist! 🧸

This book is definitely a page turner and keeps you on the edge of your seat as the story unfolds and the chase starts! I feel like I guessed some of the twists early on, but because of how the story is written your heart is still racing the entire time and it was a hard one to put down!

Thank you so much D.J. Palmer and St. Martins Press for my advanced copy!

🥳Pub Day: May 10/2022

Who here likes rollercoasters? Because My Wife is Missing is a wild ride! ⁣
⁣⁣
⁣Picture this- a young family is on vacation in NYC. The husband heads down the block for carry out and when he returns to the hotel- his family is completely gone without a trace. Horrified, he immediately worries they have been kidnapped, but it soon becomes obvious that the wife left willingly. Fissures soon appear in the facade of this picture family and you’ll have no idea who to believe. ⁣
⁣⁣
⁣This book takes off from the opening lines. I was captivated and needed to know where Natalie was heading and what Michael’s secrets were. Unfortunately about a third of the way through, the storyline became repetitive. You were still on a rollercoaster, but it appeared to be stuck on the same hill over and over. ⁣
⁣⁣
⁣It was a struggle to finish this one… and then boom- the ended felt very anticlimactic and ridiculous. That’s all I can say. It was silly. ⁣
⁣⁣
⁣Overall, this one was just fine. Three stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⁣
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⁣Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of My Wife is Missing. This book is available on May 10, 2022. #Netgalley

WOW! This author never misses and this is another spectacular work. Even when I thought I knew something, there was just enough doubt to make me unsure. And though I suspected a couple people, I couldn't figure out what their motive would be.

The characters are vivid, the story is deliciously convoluted, and there's plenty of action right up to the final pages. One of the best mysteries I've read in awhile!

4.5 rounded to 5 for Goodreads
"Today I got us all packed and ready to go."
"I'm grateful for the truth."
"I wish I'd done this sooner."

What started out as a family vacation, turned out to be a nightmare when Michael finds his wife, Natalie and his two kids, Addie and Bryce are missing. However, the security footage shows not only Natalie willingly leaving the hotel, but quickly. The police want to know why- Michael may have an idea, but he's not about to share the secrets of his past. Natalie found something out about Micheal and she will stop at nothing to protect herself and her kids- but is he really dangerous? or is her insomnia causing her to be overly paranoid and jump to conclusions? Will Micheal find her before it's too late?

Dang this book is insane!!! This is my first DJ Palmer book and will definitely not be my last. This book was told in alternating POV between Michael and Natalie- also dual timeline from before and after she disappeared. I loved how unreliable they both are !!! Michael has a secret and he seems shady and nervous, and Natalie is paranoid and with her insomnia exaggerates everything-- so who are you to believe?? Is Michael really dangerous, or is it all in Natalie's head. And I really loved the extra heat with the cop being in play... he really added pressure on both ends and it was fun !! The ending was sooo good, I had no idea what was coming and it really shocked me !! Read this if you love domestic thrillers, unreliable narrators, multiple POV and dual timelines.

"Look at what you've done, learn from it and change for the better... I don't think you're a bad guy Mike, I think you did a bad thing. But marriage is complicated and it really takes two people to make it work, otherwise... bad things happen. The thing about guilt is, Mike, no matter how fast you go, you can't outrun it."

Thank you St. Martin's Press, Netgalley, and DJ Palmer for this ARC !!!