Member Reviews

Starts out with a bang and keeps you all tight and twisted to the bitter end! Nothing is as it seems and is very cleverly constructed to keep you guessing. Another great read from Mr. Palmer!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC!

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An exciting, thrilling, twisty read. I couldn't put the book down! It has a great ending you never see coming.

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Well, this book was fan-freaking-tastic! I loved the high-level action and energy right from the beginning! It’s got some twists, some secrets and some great storytelling!

Told through the alternating perspectives of a husband and a wife, we start the story with the husband’s discovery that his wife and two children are missing from their hotel room. We follow him as he works with the hotel and police to discover that it looks like his wife left voluntarily. He partners with one officer to help find her. From his wife’s perspective, we jump between present-day and the past to unravel a web of stories that create an un-put-downable read!

I found Natalie to be an amazing main character. I loved her perspective, and her experiences. As she goes through her story, I found myself rooting for her more and more! I would highly recommend this one for readers that enjoy domestic thrillers with some high-speed action!

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This is my third book by DJ Palmer and each of them has kept me riveted. My Wife Is Missing is probably my favorite of his, so far. I thought the back and forth between husband and wife's POVs worked well in moving the story along. The only criticism I had is the wife's constant paranoia. To me, that happened so early and so often that it started to drag my enjoyment level down a bit after the fifth or sixth or seventh or eighth time she stated how dangerous her husband is. Going so far as to plan out getting sole custody of the children without ever having had a conversation about her suspicions. Other than that, it was a fun, tension-filled thriller that kept me enthralled its entire length. I love it when I think I have solved the big mystery early on and yet am still surprised by the reveal or the path being way different than I anticipated.

Its funny that I honestly didn't like one of the marital partners and I MOSTLY did like the other. I have no idea if that was intentional by the author. Regardless of who I liked or didn't, the whole story wrapped up in a satisfactory way for me. DJ Palmer is batting 100 with this reader. Can't wait for his next!

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My Wife is Missing is the latest by one of my favorite author's D.J.Palmer. Told in two timelines- before Natalie went missing and after she went missing. Palmer likes to keep his readers guessing and we aren't sure what to believe about Michael's past or if Natalie is being paranoid due to her insomnia. I liked that the story kept me guessing and once the story took off - it barely let up at all. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

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Talk about a dysfunctional marriage! Michael and Natalie aren’t on the same page in the slightest. Natalie is suffering from insomnia, and Michael is using it as an excuse to cheat on her with one of her coworkers.

The POV alternates between Michael and Natalie. Clearly one of these narrators is unreliable, but the reader can’t tell if it’s Natalie’s insomnia driving her crazy or Michael gaslighting her. I was hooked right away by the premise, and couldn’t wait to figure out who the liar was.

The beginning and end were well-paced, but the middle dragged a little bit. I think maybe one less misdirection from Natalie would’ve been the sweet spot. The author also talked about Natalie’s insomnia constantly, and I think some show-don’t-tell could have been implemented here.

I was very satisfied by the big reveal. The ending made the journey worth it! I will say that a few threads were tied up a little too simply (a few things were unrealistic), but I liked where the author took the story in the end.

I have read three out of DJ Palmer’s four books and enjoyed them all. I would say My Wife Is Missing ranks second after The New Husband, and I will certainly be looking out for others by him in the future!

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I have been so fortunate to read all of D. J. Palmer’s books as an early reviewer. Palmer is one of those authors that is going to be around for a long time because his stories have that page-turning, need-to-know quality that suspense readers love.

My Wife is Missing is no exception. From page one, the main character is plunged into a situation that makes the reader feel desperate and saddened.

Of course, the story unfolds slowly and the main character, as well as the reader, learns much more and that’s when it becomes more insidious and crazy.

I loved the multiple points of view and how we never really can trust any of the characters due to several underlying circumstances.

I did guess correctly on one murder suspect, but was way off on two other big things!

This was a fun read!

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Absolutely phenomenal book. So many twists toy can't see coming a total nail bitter of a roast coaster read. The Plot was so well crafted with pulse pounding action you can't help but be emersed in this book and trying to figure out what is going on

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Honestly, I was quite bored by this. It's a stereotypical domestic thriller about (you guessed it) a missing wife with an unreliable narrator. it is a super slow burn... as in nothing happens until about 50% through and the ending was not enough to make up for the first half. Tried to be like "Gone Girl" but did not succeed.

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Decent twists in the end but took forever to get there.

This book starts off with a bang. Michael returns to the New York City hotel after getting a pizza for his family after a long day of travel. Things have been difficult lately because his wife Natalie has intense insomnia and rarely sleeps, leading to many other issues. They have decided to take their two young children, Addie and Bryce, on a vacation to get away. When he arrives at the hotel, Natalie and the kids, along with all of their belongings are gone. Michael is sure they have been abducted, but the more that he and the authorities look into the situation, it appears that Natalie has taken the kids and run. Why would she do this? There are hidden secrets from all angles, who is telling the truth?

We flash back and forth between the past and present, and learn about the different things each of them are hiding. My main problems with this book have to do with its length and the unlikable characters. We never know until nearly the end if Michael is actually guilty of everything Natalie thinks or if she is just sleep deprived and paranoid--or if it's somewhere in between. That actually would have been ok had there been something in between to bolster the story rather than endless speculation and paranoia, but the storyline just circles and circles for a long time before actually going anywhere.

The chasing and chasing gets SO old, Natalie on the run is just tedious and got very boring to listen to/read after a while. At a certain point I just honestly didn't care whether or not Michael had cheated, because Natalie was so whiny and annoying (and I hate hate hate cheating in books so this is a big deal for me to not care!) Michael wasn't a saint of a character either, but he didn't bother me as much as Natalie.

Overall, when the twists are revealed, I did figure out one of them ahead of time, but they were still decent. This isn't my favorite book by this author, but it wasn't terrible either. I listened to this partially as an audiobook and Karissa Vacker did a good job with her narration. It wasn't nearly as whispery as some of the more recent books I've listened to her narrate.

If you're looking for a thriller and can handle unlikable characters and a bunch of repetition, this one does have some redeeming qualities in the end.

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My Wife is Missing is a twisty (and twisted!) new read from DJ Palmer, author of thrillers extraordinaire. This one had me turning pages at warp speed to figure out what exactly had happened to make a seemingly happy wife run away in terror from her husband. Five stars!

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This book hooked me from the very beginning! I knew that nothing was going to be as it seemed but I had NO idea what was coming! When Michael can't find his wife and kids on their vacation, his world starts spinning out of control. Did she run away? Was she taken? Or worse?

I loved how easy this book was to read/listen to as a I did some of each. The pacing was great and I never found myself bored or wanting it to be over (rare for me with thrillers). The last 25% or so of the book was just twist after twist after twist!

I enjoyed most of the twists but some of them were a little over the top for me. Overall, I'd definitely recommend this one as a quick and fun read to satisfy your thriller fix!

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press for the chance to read this book prior to release. This will be available for purchase on 5/10.

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Finding the Truth

This book has more twists and turns than a winding country road. Just when you think you have it figured out..you don't. Do we really know someone..a good friend..a loved one? What secrets are kept and what lies are told?

This book is exciting and suspenseful throughout the book. You start reading and you won't be able to put it down. It moves at a fast pace from the start and keeps you wondering until the end and then it really throws you a twist.

A family vacation, a missing family and a man determined to find them no matter what. Michael goes for pizza and returns to an empty hotel room with everything gone, his family and all their luggage. Then the search begins. The hotel footage shows Natalie leaving with the children. Why would she leave him and where did she go? Does she know his darkest secret?

Natalie, plans the escape from her husband. She has found out a horrible secret he has kept from her and is now frightened of him. She is running away to keep her children safe. What is really the truth? Is Michael really guilty or is it her imagination brought on by her insomnia?

The story is told from Natalie and from Michael's viewpoints, and Natalie goes back and forth from before she left to present time. It is very easy to follow.

I enjoyed reading this suspenseful escape and I would recommend it.

Thanks to J.D. Palmer for writing a great mystery, to St. Martin's Press for publishing it and to NetGalley for making it available to me to read and review. All thoughts and comments in the review are my own.

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My Wife Is Missing is a very suspenseful read. A couple with 2 kids goes on vacation to NY and everything gets turned upside down. The husband returns from picking up pizza to find his wife and kids have vanished. Their luggage is also gone, but the son's favorite teddy bear is laying in the hall by the hotel room door.

The wife is suffering from severe insomnia and hasn't been herself. The husband is worried that she's not thinking clearly or that they've all been kidnapped.

As the story unfolds and you find out details leading up to the disappearance you won't be able to stop reading this book. I had to know what happened and why. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and Palmer's writing style. I'd like to thank Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for giving me an advanced copy of this gripping book! (less)

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Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced e-copy of this book.

This is a psychological family thriller. I love these books and I enjoy D.J. Palmer as an author.

Michael and Natalie Hart are having some marital issues. They have two children and both work full time. Michael has a convoluted past, one that he tried to erase and it seems to be coming back to haunt him. While he tries to keep secrets, his wife is conveniently dealing with severe insomnia. This fact is repeated quite often throughout the book so she becomes a very unreliable narrator of sorts. The book is written from both Michael and Natalie's perspectives, so that is nice, but makes it hard to really like Natalie because her insomnia makes her behave oddly.
This book does take the reader on quite a twisty ride. In my opinion everyone acts suspicious. That is a good way to throw the reader off of what is really happening. So while I figured out who didn't do it, I was shocked by some of the twists this book took. I will say it w as a long read, but it went by fast.

I didn't like the repetitive part of some things, like the insomnia for one. Some of it just seemed a little far fetched for me. However, I still enjoyed it and would recommend it to others.

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Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

PUBLICATION DAY: May 10, 2022

Natalie is missing, along with her children Addie and Bryce. Her husband Michael is frantic with worry, he knows she’s been having trouble sleeping, but what could possibly have prompted her to leave? Michael cooperates with the police, doing his best to find her…but has he been honest about everything? Or is there something in his past that he’s been hiding at all costs? And what caused Natalie to run?

PROS and CONS:
It’s not you…it’s me. I just don’t care for books where the narrator is frustratingly unreliable…and Natalie, with her much described case of sleep deprivation, is a difficult heroine to get on board with. Having said that, there are lots of twists and turns and an ending that is very satisfactory.

READ IT?
Plenty of psychological thriller fans will love this one!!

4 Stars

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Michael Hart returns back to his hotel room with take out, only to find his wife Natalie and his children, Addison and Bryce, missing. At first he thinks they are just exploring the hotel, then discovers their luggage is gone. His son's teddy is found and Michael worries they have been kidnapped. We learn that Natalie had planned to leave Michael for sometime, but why?? Told in alternating chapters before she disappeared and present day, we get a look at Natalie and Michael's point of view.

This was one of those books that once you start, you have a hard time putting down. I was highly invested right from the beginning and when you get to the reason why Natalie left, you will be surprised! This was definitely a page turner for me and I would highly recommend MY WIFE IS MISSING.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.

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Thank you for the opportunity to read this book but I dnf’d at 25% .

Neither the writing, characters, or plot were for me.

Since I did not finish the book, I will not be reviewing it on social media

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I love fast paced books and My Wife Is Missing by D.J. Palmer is just that!!

Natalie and Michaels marriage is in trouble. Natalie suffers from insomnia and the affects from having little to no sleep for weeks on end is starting to take its toll on her and her marriage. Sex is non existent and Natalie is positive that Michael has had an affair. Natalie decides they all need a vacation and off to New York they go. She sends Michael out for pizza and when he returns Natalie and the kids are gone. The only thing he finds is Bryce's teddy bear.

Michael initially thinks his wife and kids have been kidnapped and eventually calls the police. The police show him the video tape of his wife and kids willingly leaving on their own. So Michael has to face the facts that his wife has left him. But why has she left? Is it the affair she is certain that he has had or is it something more??

What follows is a roller coaster ride with all of its ups and downs and twists and turns. Yes, it can be a little annoying being told so many times that Natalie has insomnia, but I think that you are supposed to be annoyed...just like Natalie is annoyed that no one believes her, that she is delusional. I think the author wanted you to feel what Natalie is feeling!

I will say I figured out most of the book pretty early... I knew the who but not the why or the how, so it was pretty exciting to watch this book unfold! So exciting that I finished this book in a day! 4⭐

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and D.J. Palmer for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

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Ughh. This was not it. I'm probably being generous with three stars to be honest.

I really had high expectations going in based on the 5 star reviews, but it quickly became apparent that it was not going to be one for me. I was bored. There was no edge of the seat, nail biting, turning the page quickly moments. It was long, drawn out and repetitive. The main character has insomnia making her an unreliable source. That doesn't always bother me, but it did this time. It was focused on so much throughout the book.

The book felt very predictable while reading. Also, various scenarios felt too farfetched to be believeable for me. I will say, however, the huge plot twist at the end was not predictable and I wasn't expecting it to the end the way it did. I would have liked more plot twists throughout the book to keep my interest though.

**Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an advanced copy of this book and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion. I am posting this review to my Goodreads account immediately and will post it to my Amazon & Instagram accounts upon publication.

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