Another book has left an indelible emotional scar on my soul, shaking me to the core with its profoundly sad, brutally honest, and heart-wrenching narrative about families torn asunder by the mysterious disappearance of their loved ones.

The story unfolds in a tranquil village in East Anglia, where a woman went missing thirty years ago, forever altering the lives of two families. It all started on a midwinter evening, near Christmas, in a barn on the village's outskirts. People had gathered to celebrate Alec Saltzer's 50th birthday, including his four children: three sons and a daughter, the youngest of the siblings. However, one person failed to arrive, and from that moment, life took a dark and irreversible turn in the otherwise unremarkable village. Her vanishing marked the beginning of a series of tragic events that haunted the lives of both families for over three decades.

This is the story of a remarkable woman. She was a wife, a mother, and a confidante. Described with adjectives like radiant, vital, generous, and optimistic, she was a woman with an insatiable appetite for life. Her loves included food, red wine, long hot baths, dancing, jigsaw puzzles, gossip, weepy films, nice clothes, crumpets, marmalade, chance encounters, peonies, sweet peas, candles, mangy dogs, and lost causes. She cherished life, adored people, and, above all, loved her four children.

Her name was Charlotte Salter. Her disappearance, lasting for three decades, left behind four grief-stricken children unable to move on. Her husband, already grappling with a problematic marriage, became the prime suspect due to a lack of evidence and his influential connections that helped him escape conviction. The case took a sinister turn with the apparent suicide of a close family friend, Duncan Ackerley, found drowned in the river. Law enforcement, seeking closure, linked Charlotte Salter's disappearance and Duncan Ackerley's presumed suicide to a tumultuous extramarital relationship, portraying the incidents as a lovers' quarrel that culminated in Charlotte's demise and Duncan's remorseful suicide.

The Salter children struggled to heal, as their mother's body was never found, slowly extinguishing their hope of her return. Evidences discovered included new clothes Charlotte had bought for her daughter Etty, the only child who stayed in the family home, while her brothers pursued their own paths. A letter addressed to Charlotte, hinting at a job interview in London, raised questions about her sudden departure. These findings suggested that Charlotte hadn't walked away from her family without taking her daughter with her and hadn't taken her own life, despite the items found near the riverside. Despite these discrepancies, her case appeared to be hastily closed, denying anyone the closure they desperately needed.

As we fast forward 30 years, the Salter children, now middle-aged adults, reunite in their family home to clear it before relocating their ailing father, who suffers from dementia, to a care facility. Etty, once vibrant and full of life, has become emotionally distant and now works as a formidable attorney. She instructs her two brothers, Niall and Ollie, to handle their father's care and business, respectively. However, when Etty discovers that the Ackerley brothers are producing a true crime podcast about their mother's disappearance and their father's death, she can't help but be drawn into the investigation. Morgan Ackerley, a popular television personality, is determined to clear his father's name by conducting interviews with townspeople to tie up loose ends.

Their investigation uncovers a Pandora's box of intertwined lives, leading to yet another tragic event. Thirty years later, an outsider detective arrives in their town, bringing the potential for closure and answers that have eluded both families for decades. Could she examine the overlooked evidence with fresh eyes and objectivity, shedding light on the motives of those involved?

The heartrending conclusion left me utterly speechless. Etty/Elizabeth, both young and middle-aged, emerged as one of my favorite characters, while Maud and Cassie, the inspectors who made a late appearance, stole the scenes they were in. I hope that the author duo brings these remarkable characters to life in their future works. Although Charlotte Salter doesn't make an appearance in our reading journey, her presence is palpable, casting a long shadow over each chapter, evoking genuine sadness and profound grief in her struggling children, who refuse to let her memory fade.

Of course, I wholeheartedly award this book a well-deserved five stars and highly recommend it. I eagerly anticipate reading more collaborations from Nicci Gerard and Sean French in the near future.

A special thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with this incredible digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

"Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter?" by Nicci French is a gripping and atmospheric thriller that unfolds over two timelines, unraveling the tragic events of the past and their enduring impact on the present.

The story begins in 1990 when Charlotte Salter goes missing on the day of her husband Alec's fiftieth birthday party. As the village of Glensted gathers for the celebration, it takes hours before anyone realizes Charlotte's absence. The mystery deepens when her coat is found by the river, sparking fears of her fate. The narrative brilliantly captures the mounting tension and anxiety experienced by Charlotte's family, particularly their teenage daughter Etty, as they grapple with her disappearance.

Fast forward thirty years, and Morgan Ackerley, son of the Salters' neighbor Duncan Ackerley, has returned to Glensted to create a podcast about the unsolved cases of his father and Charlotte. The arrival of the Ackerleys and their podcast reopens old wounds, unleashes long-held secrets, and brings Detective Inspector Maud O'Connor to the scene.

The novel masterfully weaves together these two timelines, creating a suspenseful and intricately layered narrative. It delves into the characters' psyches, exploring the impact of trauma, loss, and suspicion on their lives. The storytelling is filled with twists and turns that keep readers guessing and engaged throughout.

Nicci French crafts an atmospheric setting, effectively depicting the eerie and chilling ambiance of a small English village. The book delves into themes of betrayal, family secrets, and the enduring consequences of hidden truths. The character development, especially for Etty and Maud, is compelling, as their resilience and determination shine through.

"Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter?" is a skillful blend of psychological thriller and mystery, with a narrative that's as much about the characters as it is about the mysteries surrounding Charlotte's disappearance. It's a compelling page-turner that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the final revelation.

Has anyone Seen Charlotte Salter is a fast paced thriller.

It begins in the past when a mother does not show up for her husband's birthday. As in NEVER shows up and the family has to learn to live with the disappearance that was never solved. A murder at the time is investigated for a link but none is found.

In the present another body has been found and with this investigation the mother's case is re-opened.

The beginning of the book is a bit slow but the payoff is well worth it. The characters are flushed out and French's writing is terrific as usual.

When Elly is fifteen her mother, expected at her husband's fiftieth birthday party, never shows up, and for years her fate is unknown. Shortly after her disappearance, the father of a family who lives nearby is found drowned, his glasses left on a bridge, as if he laid them there just before jumping to his death. The local police, who aren't used to murder investigations and just want to put it to rest, decide he must have murdered Elly's mother and then committed suicide. But there's only one body . . .

Years later, the sons of the dead man return to the East Anglia town to make a podcast about the mysteries, which makes the children of both families, who came to adulthood traumatized by the past, reexamine everything, It's not until the podcast takes off that the Met takes notice and dispatches a skilled detective to take a fresh look - and stir up long-buried feelings.

I thoroughly enjoyed this character-driven, atmospheric novel about the long shadow cast by a woman's unsolved disappearance on those left behind, the individual effect it has on her family, and the vivid characters who come along to sort through the detritus of the past and finally find answers.

I read that Nicci French has written 25 books...so this is #25 for me! Per usual, the rich characters and relationships are as important as the mystery itself. The families of the decades old crime and the lead detective are fully developed. Definitely not an ending I saw coming! Impatiently waiting for #26!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

The amazing duo who created the beloved Dublin Murder squad books, hits the ball out of the park again, writing what is arguably the best book since their beloved series.

Charlotte, the matriarch of her family, goes missing, which, not wanting to give anything away, so that you can experience the delightful tension that had me rushing to complete this novel in one (very lengthy) sitting, triggers additional crimes and cover-ups, as well as clever misdirection.

That is the most O am willing to say, other than, if you are a mystery fan who hadn't yet read Nicci French, you need to pick up a copy of this novel, and if you have previously read Nicci French novels, personally, I think this book is the duos best since the murder squad series.
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Until next time, for mystery and police procedural fans, please don't miss this hauntingly beautiful novel.