What a great book about friendship, romance, tragedy, mystery and the people that try to save us all set in the wilderness.

This story is about two women and their friendship that started in college. There are positive and negative sides to any friendship and this one has them too, but they are overlooked for years. There is also a strong friendship between two characters that started as children when their families were neighbors. Both of these friendships form the core of the book. This is a book about trust and how important it is in any relationship and what happened when it is lost.

The author does an amazing job of providing detailed descriptions of wilderness survival, which makes this book stand out. The book is well written and flows between times in the lives of the main characters. There is an amazing love story that weaves its way through the book. The author does a great job of controlling the amount of information the reader is given about the characters. In fact, at first they all seem like great people. But as the story goes on, we get more and more information about what went wrong in the lives of each character.

I really enjoyed the combination of the romance, wilderness, mystery and friendship that made up this story.

I was a huge fan of Kimi Cunningham Grant’s 2021 release These Silent Woods. I loved the mixture of beautiful writing and a complex father/daughter relationship. I was so excited to see what The Nature of Disappearing gave us.

Once again, the debate about what should be considered a ‘Thriller’ has arisen. I love Thrillers, but I think slapping it on every mystery or book with some suspense does these books a disservice. Similar to These Silent Woods this is an atmospheric story in nature with a slow burn mystery plot. There, now you’re ready to read this book with correct expectations. I digress.

There were multiple things I really loved about this book. I was quickly invested into the story, and I think Grant is such a fabulous writer, especially when it comes to depicting nature. It’s not a very long book so it can be read quickly; but at 304 pages it was a slow burn plot wise.


Plotwise, I struggled. It wasn’t as put together as I would have liked, and there were quite a few things that felt forced. While Emlyn is described as a highly skilled/trained wilderness guide and highly intelligent, she makes a ton of dumb decisions, and I just couldn’t seem to connect at all with her. Her ex and current ‘love interest’ both felt like subplots trying to bully their way into relevance and it just didn’t work for me.

The Nature of Disappearing really failed to provide any suspense for me and didn’t feel fully flushed out. There were too many avenues trying to take center stage and closed with an ending that felt rushed and out there. If you’re looking for a well written story and are more interested in the atmosphere then this one is for you; but thriller lovers will be disappointed.

As an avid enjoyer of nature I loved the wooded atmosphere, hiking and fishing detailed in this book. I grew up creek playing and exploring a piece of my grandma’s land that is now an Illinois State Park, and have so many fun happy memories there :) Cunningham-Grant did an excellent job of bringing that setting to life on page. The disappearance and search kept me intrigued - - will they find her and the boyfriend, and if so in what condition. ⚠️Be warned that there is a grisly twist during the search regarding animals. I really disliked that and skimmed over it. I knew putting this motley crew of broken relationships together meant disaster in the end, I just didn’t know how. Well it definitely was a twisty one with my feelings all over the place at the final outcome concerning Janessa and Emlyn’s relationship, Bush and Tyler.. I mean can a leopard really change his spots. And then seeing Emlyn’s happily ever after come to fruition. 4 stars — Pub. 6/18/24

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I loved Kimi Cunningham Grant's 2021 release, These Silent Woods, so I couldn't wait to read The Nature of Disappearing. But while Grant's new novel shares some traits with her previous one -- complex characters, a past and present timeline, rich atmosphere and luminous prose -- I found The Nature of Disappearing to be a much less compelling book overall.

This book centers on Emlyn, who lives a simple and solitary life in the wilds of Idaho, working as a hunting and fishing guide. Three years ago, Emlyn's boyfriend Tyler abandoned her in the wilderness, upending the trajectory she thought her life would take. But when Tyler shows up with the news that Emlyn's former best friend, a rising social media star named Janessa, is missing, Emlyn reluctantly agrees to help Tyler track her through the wilderness. As Emlyn and Tyler follow Janessa's trail, Emlyn can't deny the chemistry that still exists between them, even as she struggles to resist the pull of their complicated past.

Despite an exciting turn of events in the last few chapters, The Nature of Disappearing is not a thriller. What it is, instead, is a melancholy and poignant character study about fraught relationships and complicated personal histories. The book feels modern in its plotting, but timeless in its themes. Grant's writing is nuanced and profound as she unflinchingly explores Emlyn's life experiences. The book has a strong sense of place, too, with vivid and lush descriptions of the Idaho wilderness that made me feel like I was on the trail with Emlyn and Tyler.

What I often struggle with in past and present timelines (and struggled with here) is that I am almost always much more invested in one timeline over the other. In The Nature of Disappearing, the timelines felt unbalanced. I wanted more about Emlyn's present-day life and the people in it; the past unfolded much too slowly, with not a lot of substance. And the thriller-like conclusion of the book felt unearned, and a bit of a let-down.

I think I was just hoping for a reading experience as special as These Silent Woods, and The Nature of Disappearing felt too normal in comparison. Thank you to Minotaur Books for the early reading opportunity.

Overall, I feel I did enjoy the book and the story. It had the nature vibes. I loved learning about the characters and their lives and mystery of it all. That’s what kept me reading. However personally I felt there wasn’t any thriller or suspense aspects. The story picks up at the end as you learn how it all comes together. But a little slower up till then.

Thank you Minotaur Books, Kimi Cunningham Grant for my #gifted copy of The Nature of Disappearing!

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐊𝐢𝐦𝐢 𝐂𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡𝐚𝐦 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟏𝟖, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

I read These Silent Woods and was so excited when I heard Kimi Cunningham Grant had a new book releasing this year. I’m happy to say this book definitely lived up to my expectations. This book was so atmospheric. I felt like I was there with the characters because of how descriptive the authors was and I just loved it. And the suspense! The suspense was so good! I loved the dual timelines and feel like it worked so well with this book and helped to build everything up so well. If you are a fan of slow burns, I think you should give this one a try. The author does such an amazing job of painting such an amazing picture and you will be hooked from the start!

🗻Dual Timeline
🗻Slow Burn
🗻Atmospheric
🗻Wilderness Setting

Posted on Goodreads on June 18, 2024: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around June 18, 2024: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on June 18, 2024
**-will post on designated date

I don't think it is possible to read one of Grant's books without being a sobbing mess at the end. this one is a literary work of art, truly. Emlyn was the main character, and what made me not be able to put this book down. part thriller, part drama. loved it

A good book, but nothing great. Definitely a slow burn but I liked the build up and had high hopes for the ending. The ending was alright but I guess I expected
more. I felt like nothing too crazy happened and then before I knew it, it was over.

I absolutely adored These Silent Woods, so I couldn’t pass up the chance to read this newest book early!

I love the relationship the author has with nature and the wilderness where her characters thrive. I think that’s a huge part of why I love her writing so much.

This story is full of suspense and intrigue. I really like how Emlyn and Janessa become friends and how part of their relationship is based on “saving” one another. Janessa is a really fun character! I loved reading about her.

I also enjoyed the Tyler/Emlyn backstory and how things went south as well as their wild adventure to find Janessa.

I also really liked Rev and Varden. There are really some great characters within these pages!

This was a fun read, though I felt it wrapped up a little too quickly. I wanted more!

Special thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. A journey into the wilderness that is laced with mystery with each step. Although, a little predictable I was into it the entire time.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kimi Cunningham Grant and St Martin’s Press for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved this one, it’s my first from Grant and I have to say that now I want to read her first one really badly. It was an amazing atmosphere or low level dread the entire way and the twists were epic. Definitely recommend.

The Nature of Disappearing by Kimi Cunningham Grant @kimicgrant

Out today!!!
Mystery/thriller
4✨

Thank you to @minotaur_books for my #gifted copy for honest review!

🌲Emlyn’s heart is the wilderness. It been her constant through life. I enjoyed how we are in the future, as Emlyn’s ex best friend Janessa has gone missing while on a vanlife adventure. Past memories starts spilling out as she works with an unlikely ally to find her friend. The suspense of being looking for a lost person and what happens if you do was so intense. This book really highlighted just how beautiful and dangerous the forest can be! It packed with dangers and that what will happen next feeling, I loved it!

The Nature of Disappearing is at once an ode to nature, a book about growth and self discovery, and a compelling mystery. I flew through the audiobook - finding more reasons to do yard work so that I could finish it in one listen. Emlyn is a flawed main character and the back and forth timelines provide the readers with a front row seat to witness her come into her own throughout the book. I read and adored "These Silent Woods" last year and if I have a complaint about this newest book it would be that I think it lacked a little bit of the depth that I so loved in TSW. This book moves more quickly and I missed some of the more introspective moments. That being said, they are still there, just fewer! I particularly connected with the character Rev, I love that in Kimi Cunningham Grant's books there is always an element relating to faith (without bashing you over the head with it). I got more out of the back half of this book as more of Emlyn's past was revealed and we got more of her backstory with Rev and Varden. The mystery was perhaps the weakest element for me, but overall I was drawn in by Grant's excellent writing and stunning descriptions of the natural world.


Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an audio ARC.

Emlyn is living a "new" life. She lives by herself in an airstream trailer and works as a hunting and fishing guide. Her only partner now is nature as she's moving on from a pretty dark past. We find out early in the book that her ex-boyfriend Tyler left her in the woods and she almost died. We eventually get the whole story of what transpired via flashbacks starting early in their relationship. In the present timeline, Tyler suddenly appears because Emlyn's their mutual friend Janessa has gone missing and Tyler is requesting help to find her. Emlyn and Janessa had a bit of a falling out and they don't talk like they used to but she's more than willing to drop everything to go track Janessa down. So the present timeline is Emlyn and Tyler on a journey in the wilderness trying to find Janessa, or find out what happened to her.

I was really intrigued by the plot at the beginning but it was such a slow-burn that it steadily lost my interest until maybe the last 20 percent of the book when the action really starts. I wish more of the book had remained in the present timeline with more excitement. I didn't really care much about their past and break-up or any of the drama. The best part of the book for me was the wilderness survival aspects. Overall it was an easy read but I do wish it had been a little more fast-paced.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing me a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

These Silent Woods captured me with it’s endearing father daughter duo, but completely knocked my socks off with it’s ending. It was so unexpected because I knew nothing about Kimi Cunningham Grant, had never read anything from her before. I just saw it on Kindle Unlimited and thought I’d be in for a decent secular suspense novel. By the end I was a weepy mess. Kimi’s books aren’t marketed as Christian, but it is clear where her faith lies.

Yes, I know this is a review for The Nature of Disappearing so I’ll move on…. But seriously read These Silent Woods.

This newest release, I unfortunately didn’t love as much as the previous, but it was still really enjoyable. It kept me wanting to turn the pages, which is key in any suspense novel. I was stressing out once things really started to pick up! The wilderness setting is also incredibly vivid. Kimi is an expert at painting a picture and placing her readers right where she wants them. I really did like Emlyn, our heroine, and all the flashback chapters that gave us an insight into her heart. But the best part was definitely the encouraging message that your wilderness is only temporary, and it’s working for your good.

A few things I didn’t care for:

Some of the decisions our heros made towards the end were… shall we say….. unwise. But SPOILER, it all worked out so I guess it’s fine.

It’s a huge pet peeve of mine when believer characters pursue a romantic relationship with a non-believer. I can understand having feelings for that person, but acting on those feelings is a no no. I was rooting so hard for terrible name guy and Emlyn, but I wanted to be assured of her faith first and that just didn’t happen.

I really do wish Kimi would just fully come over to the Christian fiction side. There are always faith elements in her stories, and she’s always just on the cusp of the gospel and the main character being transformed, but it’s always no cigar.

I will leave you with this quote:

”The thing you can’t forget is that the wilderness isn’t the destination. It’s not the final chapter. It might feel that way, it might seem like you’re so deep in it, you’ll never get out. But your story—it goes on.

Thanks so much to St. Martin’s Press for providing a e-copy for an honest review ^_^ All thoughts are my own.

This was such an immersive and atmospheric read.

Emlyn is a wilderness guide who has to team up with the man who ruined her life years ago when her estranged best friend goes missing.

I loved Emlyn's character and how it developed over time. We got a picture of her earlier on and how she grew to be a much stronger person while still maintaining her introverted personality.

This book has some mystery aspects, but you can't go in expecting a popcorn thriller. It was more about the unfolding of the story, revealing of the past, healing, forgiveness and moving on.

The author does a fantastic job portraying the significant other of someone who is suffering with a substance abuse problem. It was done tastefully, yet fairly accurately which I appreciated.

Overall, I thought this book was fantastic and highly recommend it.

A moment for the cover…the cover truly captures the beauty that is described in this book. Right from the start, you are immediately put into the most vivid and beautiful setting. I knew going in that it was going to be atmospheric but boy…it exceeded all my expectations. This book was an escape. Yes, it was a slow burn, but I enjoyed the suspense, the nature, the setting, the journey, the uphill battles that come with the territory of the great outdoors. I could feel all the challenges the main character faced while trying to uncover the truth. The twist was predictable in my opinion, leaving the ending somewhat anticlimactic but I also thought it didn’t take away from the story.

Overall, a great read! THESE SILENT WOODS still holds first place but I do recommend picking this one up! Especially if you want to immerse yourself in a wilderness suspense novel!

Do some people inspire loyalty and devotion, while others are easy to forget and leave?.

Emlyn works as a fishing guide in Heart, a small community (year round resident population: 78) near the Obsidians in Idaho, and firmly believes that philosophy to be true. Sadly, she counts herself in the latter category…she has been left behind by her father when she was in middle school, several years ago her best friend Janessa cut off ties and moved away, and finally the man she loved (a childhood friend of Janessa’s named Tyler) left her in a remote area where she came close to dying. She was rescued then by Varden, a Forest Service ranger, who brought her back to his cabin in Heart and with the help of the community’s healer and spiritual guide Rev provided Emlyn with a place to recover from her wounds and the betrayal which left her unsure if she wanted to go on. Now she enjoys making her living immersed in the beauty of her surroundings, inhabiting alone an Airstream trailer in whatever pocket of wilderness she can claim for a time. She has walled off her emotions to protect herself from future damage, with the exception of her friendships with Rev and Varden (the latter, she suspects, could lead to more, but she doesn’t think she is worthy of his love). Then she sees a brief news story on CNN….Janessa has gone missing in a remote are in Wisconsin, where she had travelled with her partner Bush to document their adventures on her #vanlife social media accounts. Emlyn and Janessa had only recently started to reestablish contact and discover if their friendship could be resuscitated, and in fact Janessa had called her a week earlier and said that she had something to tell Emlyn, but the call dropped before she could say what that something was. At the time, Emlyn thought nothing of it, but in the light of her apparent disappearance she fears that she has let down the one friend who time and again had saved Emlyn from dangerous situations. When Tyler appears out of the blue, convinced that Janessa is in real trouble and begging Emlyn to use her knowledge of tracking and survival to help him find her, Emlyn is torn between wanting to keep as far away from Tyler as possible and at the same time fearing that if she refuses to help Janessa will be the one to suffer. She turns to Rev for advice, who suggests that Emlyn may need to look into the matter for her own sake, to settle once and for all the unresolved anger, guilt, and pain which are holding her back from a full life. Has Emlyn grown strong enough to resist the pull of the bond she and Tyler still share? And will she regret heading back into the remote wilderness with only this man at her side, when once before he had put his own needs ahead of her survival?
This is my first time reading author Kimi Cunningham Grant, and I must say that I was more than impressed. There is a twisty thriller at the base of this book, but it is also an impassioned tribute to the wilderness which serves as the backdrop to the story as well as the quest of a young woman,left damaged and insecure by what she has endured at the hands of those who claimed to love her, to heal and reclaim her life. The characters, both major and minor, are wonderfully developed; I particularly enjoyed Emlyn’s passion for finding just the right single word to describe each person in her life….plucky, alluring, decent, captivating, radiant, even condescending. I have never been to Idaho, and while I do not think I will add it to my bucket list (I’m not much of a get-back-to-nature sort) I do feel that I have a better appreciation for the wonders it holds thanks to the world that was portrayed in the novel. As the story spools out, the reader learns more about Emlyn, her life before and after the confident, beautiful and wealthy Janessa entered it, and what caused a friendship that was near sisterhood to explode, as well as the ultimately destructive relationship between Emlyn and Tyler. Love guilt, the imbalances within relationships and the pull of the past are some of the threads that continue to bind these characters together, and it was a darkly beautiful tale to absorb. Readers of C. J. Box, Ana Reyes and Stacy Willingham should definitely grab a copy of The Nature of Disappearing Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for allowing me early access to this unexpectedly captivating thriller.

I enjoyed the uniqueness of this story, but had a hard time remaining fully interested in it. Right when it pulled me back in, it was over. Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy to review!

The Nature of Disappearing by Kimi Cunningham Grant is an emotional thriller that has more to do with trust than it does with guns or saving the world. Sometimes understanding the good and the bad, trusting the right people and learning to trust yourself is saving enough. In this case, Emlyn admits early on that she has abandonment issues. Who wouldn’t with her past.

I liked this fishing and hunting guide who has made a group of great friends after she had nearly died. I found the suspense in this story connected some to her missing friend, Janessa but mostly to finding out how she had arrived in this place of her life. The author reveals this slowly as the story unfolds.

A well written story that kept my interest, finding Emlyn, Janessa and the Rev to be unforgettable and like the way Emlyn learned finally to trust herself and the future.