It's always hard to not set your expectations high when you start a new book by an author you've previously loved. I do think that sets a precedence that's hard to shake, so you expect the new book to be fantastic like the previous and possibly expect it to be more when you wouldn't necessarily think that otherwise. So, needless to say, I expected a lot from this book and was quite a bit let down. However - I tried to set that aside and I realized I did enjoy this book quite a book, I just didn't LOVE it like the last.

This book is very atmospheric, as expected, but it had more of a love story twisted through it as well. Both between the characters and a love story with nature and becoming one with it to explore and keep safe while doing so. It was beautifully written and definitely an excellent read, but I felt it dragged quite a bit in places. I think for this one, audio is the way to go because you can let yourself get lost in it without having to specifically read every word.

I enjoyed this one a lot! I don’t always love when a story is told in two different timelines, but the way she separated them by chapters made it easy to follow. The story flowed well and made this a quick read.

Emlyn ends up on a dangerous search through the wilderness with her ex when her estranged best friend goes missing on a trip with her boyfriend. Once they find her, they realize she wasn’t lost at all but it was part of a scheme to expose her boyfriend for drug smuggling. I caught onto the “who” pretty early, but the “why” was a surprise. I liked that the ex ended up being bad afterall because for a while, I was worried Emlyn would go back to him instead of the new (much better) guy.

**ARC review. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read it early.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

I wasnt able to read and review this one before the publish date but now that I have I gave it 5 stars.

Another book with someone lost in the wilderness! I have an irrational fear of getting lost in the wilderness, and so this book hooked me in quickly due to the personal connection I felt to the premise.

I think Grant is a talented writer and enjoyed These Silent Woods, but this one was a bit lackluster for me. I didn’t get a good sense of character development, nor did I find anyone particularly likable. It was definitely a slow burn, which I struggle to stay engaged with.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Love Kimi Cunningham Grant's writing, having read her previous books. Her characters are always well-drawn, and her writing is lyrical and thoughtfully rendered. This has suspense, wilderness survival, buried secrets unearthed, and plenty of heart. Recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the digital read copy in exchange for my honest review.

I found Kimi Cunningham Grant through NetGalley when I received These Silent Woods. I then looked for Fallen Mountains and enjoyed that one as well. While I finished and enjoyed The Nature of Disappearing, it felt a little more love story/drama that the mystery suspense vibe I thought it would have. The #vanlife and disappearance of a friend gave me the sense that it would be similar to Gabby Petito's story or at least inspired by it with hopefully a better ending. I found myself skimming a bit by two thirds through. I will still follow Ms. Grant and read her books since I loved the other 2, but I just can't rate it as high since it fell a little flat for me.

This was a good thriller! This book felt really slow for my taste with not a lot going on for more than half of the book. I did enjoy the action that happened towards the end and how the book ended! I also couldn’t really connect with the characters. Overall it was an enjoyable thriller that I recommend trying!

Although the audio on this book was very well done, the story was a bit of a let down. I LOVED Grant's last novel so I waas a bit disappointed at the slow and lack of storyline. I really wasn't that invested in the outcome.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this advanced reader's edition. Unfortunately, I will not be able to give it the time required to write a thorough review and will be unable to read it for this purpose.

The Nature of Disappearing was beautifully atmospheric. I enjoyed the storyline, even if it did get a little convoluted at times. It felt like slipping on rocks before catching myself. I had to concentrate more than I am able to with a 5 year old and a 2 year old. But that is a fault of my own. This book definitely gave me wanderlust - ha. If you’ve read this, you’ll get it. Overall, I liked this one.

Kimi Cunningham Grant is quickly becoming one of my favorites. Her books are always atmospheric/ melancholic and gives off major winter vibes. Absolutely loved this new one by her. Thank you NetGalley for the arc! Five stars!

For my friends who enjoy atmospheric slow-burn wilderness stories.

THE NATURE OF DISAPPEARING by Kimi Cunningham Grant

Thanks, @stmartinspress, for the advanced review copy via #NetGalley. (Available now)

Emlyn is a 28-year-old hunting/fishing guide who lives a small, deliberately quiet life and is evidently recovering from trauma. When her ex-boyfriend Tyler asks for help finding their mutual friend (and Emlyn’s former best friend), Janessa, they head into the Idaho wilderness…alone…to track her down.

There was much to love here: the strong sense of place, the survival skills, and Grant’s lovely writing. Unfortunately, this was a slow-burn story, with an emphasis on slow. I couldn’t identify with any of the characters and was, therefore, not invested in their stories.

That said, I loved Grant’s previous book (THESE SILENT WOODS) so much that I will immediately snatch up her next one.

What a fantastic read! Slow-burning but deeply emotional, this book is a fantastic exploration of relationships and addiction, and how well we truly know our friends. I loved every bit of it, and the ending was just fantastic.

Highly recommend.

Huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

The novel masterfully intertwines suspense, personal redemption, and the raw beauty of the Idaho wilderness.

The story follows Emlyn, a wilderness guide who has distanced herself from her past, including her best friend Janessa and ex-boyfriend Tyler. When Janessa goes missing, Emlyn is compelled to confront her history and team up with Tyler to find her. Their search through the vast, untamed landscapes is both a physical and emotional journey, revealing secrets and testing their resilience.

The author'’s portrayal of the wilderness is vivid and immersive, making the setting a character in its own right. The narrative delves deep into themes of trust, betrayal, and the complexities of human relationships, all while maintaining a gripping pace that kept me eagerly turning pages.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Kimi Cunningham Grant is back with another suspenseful read. I was hooked immediately from the premise of the book because I love wilderness settings mixed with a little mystery, and this one had a ton of mystery. While I am not an influencer by any means, the influencer characters seemed to come to life in the story - people doing seemingly crazy things for fame and cash. No spoilers here, but if you're a fan of Alex Michelades' latest, you'll enjoy this one.

I loved this story for the mystery, the jump in timeline from past to present and back, the complex characters, and the subtle twists woven in. But what I absolutely loved the most was the author's writing style. She paints a picture of the wilderness they have to travel through and brings the characters to life in your mind. And since the mystery is only told in bits and pieces, you can never tell who to trust. This is my first book by this author but I plan to read more!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I only just read These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant earlier this year, while These Silent Woods came highly recommended from a lot of bookish friends, I personally liked The Nature of Disappearing a bit better.

The Nature of Disappearing is a bit more intense and faster-paced than These Silent Woods imo, however my biggest issue with the book was that FMC worked as a outdoor guide and the friends involved in the incident are outdoors influencers but there are so many amateur mistakes and unreasonable decisions made throughout the book that I didn't really find the story believable?

Emlyn spends her time as a hunting and fishing guide in the woods of Idaho. She prefers to keep her past behind her, but she’s also incredibly closed off because of how she’s been treated by those she’s loved and trusted. I loved reading this book, and if you’re outdoorsy, I think you’ll also appreciate the role that the woods plays in this mystery. This is for sure a slow burn, but it’s not incredibly long, so in all you get to the tense parts of it pretty quickly. If you’ve read this authors’ prior work These Silent Woods, I think you’ll also really enjoy this one.

I liked this book. The story kept my interest the entire time (my mind never wandered). The characters were well written and I cared about what happened to them in the wilderness.