This is a DNF for me at 50%. I am SO BORED, this book is very slow moving. I just don't like this author's style of writing and switching POV's. I know that everyone states that the second half gets better but I'm just not invested in this story enough to continue.

PROS: Interesting premise

CONS:
*Slow pace

*Too many characters

*Repetition -- oh my gosh, so much repetition of what is in Julia's mind. they also keep asking each other "are you okay", not sure why that was repeated so many times but it irritated me.

*I did not like the main protagonist at all - couldn't connect with some of the things that she did and could think of other ways she could have handled this.

All in all I guess I was just not the right audience for this book!

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley.

*Since I DNF this book I will not post on purchasing sites. Thank You

Olivia is just another missing person. Or is she? Julia the detective has let’s just say her hands dirty herself as she investigates. Then she is caught up in it when she gets abducted and told to gram someone for Olivia’s murder….. or else Julia’s daughters dirty deed will come to light. Yikes! This one is so good and it kept me guessing all the way!

This was pretty good but not my favorite read of the year. It was entertaining and such but it took me a minute to get through

Thank you Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the advanced copy of this publication.

Gillian once again authors a gem. This one keeps you coming back for more with more turns than switchbacks on a mountain road.

I will not spoil it for others but this one is a read it thru to the end type of book.

Enjoy!

Many twists and turns in this one, and nothing is as it seems. Olivia seemingly disappears into thin air…seen on CCTV going in, but never coming out. But Julia, the detective searching for Olivia, has even bigger problems…and her family’s safety depends on her NOT solving this mystery.

If it’s okay with all of you I’m just going to start calling Gillian McAllister’s books, “Thriller Games of Truth with Consequences: The Ethical Dilemma Edition”. I’m not saying that to be insulting in any way, shape, or form. It’s simply that both of the books I’ve read of hers (Wrong Place, Wrong Time and now Just Another Missing Person) were both largely domestic thrillers revolving around mothers who faced huge ethical dilemmas involving their child and the cost of telling the truth would have major consequences for both them and their child. So the idea behind the whole book is, “How do I save my child? Should they be saved? If I do this, should I try to save myself too, or should I pay the price for the crime my child committed?”.

In Wrong Place, Wrong Time, the plot largely centered on a mom and her son. In Just Another Missing Person, however, we’ve got more than one parent facing an ethical dilemma and potential consequences for unlawful behavior in the name of either protecting or avenging their child. Heck, we’ve got ethical dilemmas just about everywhere we turn. Guess what? I’m here for it. I was so into this book I didn’t want to come out. I lost track of time.

This is one of those rare thrillers that actually managed to shock the heck out of me. The first turn actually caused me to shout, “What the f*ck?”

There were a few more surprises after that (not going to say how many), but they were all actual surprises and they were all welcome ones. At no time did I feel like McAllister had just shoehorned a turn in just so she could screw with us readers to pad the book. Every time we needed to change direction it was obvious why we had to and it ended up making sense. This book was thoughtfully, carefully, strategically constructed. I loved Wrong Place, Wrong Time, but I think I love Just Another Missing Person more simply because it has this vibe surrounding all the characters that says, “You all f*cked around and found out”. And they did. They all found out the cost of turning your back on the ethics of your profession or your place in someone’s life. And then there’s that murky, blurry, shadowy place: what’s the ethics when the love and need to protect your child runs right into the ethics of your profession? What then?

I can’t recommend it enough. It’s a book not to be missed.

I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: 5 Star Review/Crime Fiction/Crime Thriller/Domestic Thriller/Kidnapping/Murder Thriller/Mystery/Suspense Mystery/Suspense Thriller/Thriller

**Review as posted to my Instagram today***

𝗠𝗨𝗦𝗧-𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗬

Thank you #partner @williammorrowbooks for the #gifted copy.

𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻
𝗕𝘆 𝗚𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝗰𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿
𝗣𝘂𝗯: 𝟴/𝟭/𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 (𝗨𝗦)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

📖 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁: When Detective Julia Day is notified of the disappearance of a young woman named Olivia, she expects a typical missing person case. But when Julia is accosted by a masked man related to the case, she soon realizes that Olivia is far from Just Another Missing Person. The man threatens to expose Julia's deepest, darkest, most life-changing secret... unless she frames someone for the murder. Julia is torn between her strict ethical code and her fierce protectiveness of her family. She must race against the clock to piece this together before she's crossed a line she can't uncross.

💭 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: I read McAllister's debut Wrong Place, Wrong Time earlier this year and it blew me away! That book set the bar very high, so I was anxious to see if she could wow me a second time.... Well friends, Gillian McAllister did it again! 🙌🏼 I'm officially WOWED!

Just Another Missing Person is a perfectly-paced police procedural with an abundance of heart. It's intelligent, gripping, intricately woven, emotional, twisty, and I LOVED IT.

I also love the way this author includes mother/child relationships in her novels. It adds so much depth and really pulls me into the story and makes me care about and relate to her characters.

I will be shouting from the rooftops about this one for a long time. 🎉

📌 Note: What's funny about this glowing review is that I actually struggled with this book in the beginning. Thankfully I was able to recognize that it was a *me* issue. It was the wrong time (wrong place, ha 😆) for me. Life was busy and stressful, and I was distracted. A thriller this intricate requires you to be all-in. I'm so grateful I waited until I could be all-in. 🥰

This was not great for me. For the life of me, I cannot understand some of the narrative choices that were made in writing this story. The main POV is written in third person limited, of our protagonist Julia, which works perfectly. However, there are two more POVs that are both written in second person (i.e. “you”) and are each directed at a different character who we really don’t even know. If that explanation sounds confusing, that’s because in execution it really is. Yikes, it was a convoluted mess to try to decipher.

The story itself really wasn’t any saving grace for it either. I didn’t care much about anyone. The plot was meh. It was just kind of bland and boring. There were a few scenes that pulled me along, but for the most part I was having to force myself to read it. It was actually going to put me in a reading slump. I DNF’d this at 250 pages - which is just wild to give up after getting so far. That alone should tell you everything you need to know about my experience. I just couldn’t do it anymore and I did not care at all how it ended.

From my blog: Always With a Book

Gillian McAllister is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I loved her last book, Wrong Place Wrong Time and I think I might have loved this new one even more and that’s saying something as that last book was so clever and unique, I wasn’t sure anything could beat it!

I loved how suspenseful and twisty this police procedural was. It went in a direction I was totally not expecting and kept me on my toes the entire time. This is definitely a case of nothing is what it seems, and I found that once I started reading it, I could not put it down. This one needs your full attention so as to not miss anything…the little clues start coming hard and fast early on and it’s easy to miss something if you aren’t paying attention.

I could not read this book fast enough, especially as I got past the halfway point. After that, I literally inhaled the book, not stopping until I finished it. The twists just kept coming all the way up until the very end and I loved it! This is the type of book that you finish reading and you want to go back and start reading it all over again because it’s just that good!

This book asks the question, “How far would you go for those you love?” The issue of morality comes up a few times and it’s hard not to put yourself in some of the characters’ shoes throughout the book as a result. I loved that we get such full backstories on all the main characters, allowing us to really understand what it was that they were struggling with. It made their situations feel more real and relatable rather than being given just a surface level explanation.

I loved this book and will be recommending to anyone I know that loves a good thriller! If you like books that keep you guessing until the very end, this one is for you!

Thanks to William Morrow for the copy of this book!

Gillian McAllister is such a fantastic writer - I never see her twists coming! I love the fast pace, multiple POVs, and domestic suspense elements. I’m not usually a police procedural fan, but she does it so well that I end up loving her books!

This book was soooo intense in that it kept me turning the pages far into the night. How do you look for someone that isn’t really someone or doesn’t want to be found? What are you willing to risk to do it?

I have read a previous Gillian McAllister book before and really enjoyed it. However, this one didn’t work for me. I got 20 percent through the novel and decided to put it down. I wasn’t clicking with the characters and overall plot. The writing in this one one was also throwing me off for some reason. I just couldn’t get into it and I’m so bummed about it! Maybe I’ll give it a go again at a later date

Weaving together multiple povs, Just Another Missing Person tells the story of Detective Julia trying to investigate what happened to 22 year old Olivia who seemed to disappear after entering a dead end alley. But during the investigation, Julia has to make a difficult decision frame an innocent man for Olivia’s disappearance or have her secret exposed that would ruin her family.
I will say that this book in the beginning was a little slow and confusing with the multiple povs. But once it started to pick up and puzzle pieces fit into place, I got hooked and couldn’t set it down. The twists and turns kept me hooked and guessing until the end. Thanks NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Hooked. From the second I started reading I had to know what happened to Olivia. It’s every parents worst nightmare so have your child go missing and they will do whatever it takes to get them back.
Part of the storyline was confusing at the time but in retrospect it makes sense now. I don’t want to say too much and ruin anything though.
Usually with a thriller, the storyline really picks up by then end and you can’t put the book down. This one was constantly picking up. There was so many wild twists and turns. This was an excellent book that I will probably be reading again.

I loved this book! Was on the slower side in the beginning but then second half definitely hooked me!! The twists.

This was a good thriller. Took me a bit to connect with the story as it was on slower side, but the second half was solid. It had some good twists, and was more suspenseful. It was clever and well written. 22 yr old Olivia goes missing after entering an alley and never coming back out. Detective Julia is put on the case. She ends up finding out that her and her daughter are connected to this kidnapper. He knows secrets she's been hiding and is blackmailing her that he will expose her if she doesn't frame a man for Olivia's murder.

I was definitely all in once I got to about the halfway point. The twists started coming and they were good. I'd definitely recommend this one, especially for people who enjoy a procedural book. Those can be a hit or miss for me, but I'm happy this one turned out enjoyable.

Out now.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own. My review will be posted on Instagram, Bookbub,, Goodreads and Amazon once it publishes..

This book took me on an enthralling journey filled with suspense and gripping twists that left me on the edge of my seat.

From the very beginning, I was captivated by the author's skillful storytelling and attention to detail, making every moment in the plot matter.

The way time played a vital role in the narrative added an extra layer of complexity to the story, intensifying the mystery surrounding the characters' lives.

Beyond the thrilling plot, what impressed me the most was the book's exploration of profound themes. It delved into thought-provoking subjects that lingered in my mind long after I finished reading.

I found myself completely absorbed in the book, eagerly turning the pages to uncover the dark secrets and emotions that unfolded throughout the story.

This book stands out as one of the most compelling reads in the thriller genre, offering both an adrenaline-pumping experience and a deep intellectual journey.

If you're seeking a captivating and thought-provoking thriller, I wholeheartedly recommend immersing yourself in this gripping narrative. Prepare for an unforgettable reading experience that will keep you enthralled until the very end.

Just Another Missing Person was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and Gillian McAllister delivered. Her previous book, Wrong Place Wrong Time was a favorite and dare I say, this may even be better. Easily a 5 ⭐️ read.

Just Another Missing Person by Gillian McAllister

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Gillian McAllisters writing has something about it that keeps me so invested in the story. I could not put her new release down.

Detective Julia Day does her job by the book. But when 22 year old Olivia was caught on CCTV going into a dead end alley and then never coming back out, Julia Day is stumped. Nothing is adding up, and Julia finds herself no longer being able to do her job by the book because she is being blackmailed to plant evidence and arrest someone she had no intention of questioning or arresting.

This story has so many twists and turns. I had to occasionally stop reading to think about all the things I know, and line up the evidence in my mind only to be completely wrong in the end. I loved this book through the whole experience, and I definitely recommend!

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and penguin random house publishing for an advanced copy of this book!

DCI Julia Day has a hard time leaving police work as police work and separating it from her family life. When her daughter experiences a life altering altercation, she immediately finds her mom mode. She thinks no one knows about what happened. She is wrong. When she is blackmailed, she must decide if she will continue to protect her daughter or join the ranks of corrupt cops. How far will you go to protect those you love?

This is my second Mcallister book and I enjoyed it just as much as the first. The story is woven together beautifully and no detail is overlooked. This definitely won’t be my last book by her!