I went into this book blind and finished it in 14 hours. It has been a while since I have been so enthralled in a storyline!

Grant created such a strong setting with this novel. One of the things that I appreciate so much in a book is a setting that is key to the story and as well developed as its characters, and we definitely have that here. Her heroine is fascinating and complex, the backstory unfolding through flashbacks alternating with the current timeline.

Heartache, love, friendships, insecurity, identity, relationships - so much is explored while weaving a slight mystery/thriller storyline in the midst as Emlyn teams up with her ex-boyfriend to search the Idaho wilderness for their missing mutual friend. I loved seeing how realistic and complicated the relationships in this story were, Emlyn’s struggle to heal, all while the anxiety of their safety in the wilderness loomed overhead.

My only wish was for an epilogue; the ending, while not unsatisfying, could have been a bit richer.

Also, no sex or swearing which is always refreshing and welcome in a book. This gets my recommendation for sure!

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley.

As the novel begins, we meet twenty-eight-year-old Emlyn, who makes a living as a hunting and fishing guide in Idaho. She lives a simple life, keeping busy with her work and living alone in her Airstream. Her closest companions are Varden, a Forest Service Ranger and the makeshift reverend “Rev” who took her in after a particularly traumatic episode in her life.

Emlyn is forced to confront a painful episode from her past when her former boyfriend Tyler asks for her help to find Janessa, a #vanlife social media star who was once Emlyn’s closest friend and who has gone missing with her boyfriend, both of whom work with Tyler, while on their latest trip. Her relationship with Tyler had ended three years ago when he had abandoned her, leaving her freezing and fighting for her life, on the side of the road. Janessa had once been Emlyn’s closest friend, but their friendship became strained after Emlyn embarked on a relationship with Tyler, who was Janessa’s childhood friend. Emlyn, unable to reach Janessa, also identifies discrepancies in her most recent social media post. Concerned for Janessa’s well-being, Emlyn agrees to help Tyler and the narrative follows them as they navigate the wilderness in search of their missing friend.

I really enjoyed These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant and was eager to read The Nature of Disappearing. I loved the atmospheric setting and the vivid descriptions that transport you to the Idaho wilderness along with the main characters. The narrative is presented from Emlyn’s perspective and moves between past and present timelines – the past timelines detailing Emlyn’s past, her friendship with Janessa and her relationship with Tyler. Though I could sympathize with Emlyn, I can’t say that she was a particularly interesting character. I wish we had gotten to know more about Rev and Varden. I should mention that the plot focuses on personal relationships and the complicated history between the main characters more than the mystery behind Janessa’s disappearance. The plot progresses slowly and only in the final quarter of the novel is the mystery addressed and even then, I found the “twists” and revelations a tad underwhelming (with more telling than showing) after the long-drawn build-up.

Overall, while I didn’t dislike the novel, it wasn’t the gripping suspenseful read that I’d expected. However, many have enjoyed this more and I would request you to read the other reviews before making a decision about reading this one.

I paired my reading with the audiobook narrated by Emily Pike Stewart, which made for an engaging immersion reading experience.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for the digital review copy and Macmillan Audio for the ALC via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Kimi Cunningham Grant's books usually take place in the wild where you can smell, hear, and see the sights she so vividly describes.

This book is set in the Idaho wilderness where Emlyn is a nature guide for a living. Her good friend, Janessa, is a travel influencer with her partner, Bush, living out of a van and posting about their journey on Instagram #vanlife. However, Janessa is reported missing by a close friend, Tyler, when she suddenly drops off the map and misses a post at her next planned location. Emlyn takes off to find Janessa and Bush with Tyler, who happens to be her ex boyfriend that left her stranded in the wilderness 3 years ago.

There was a sense of foreboding throughout and the author's descriptions of what it's like living in and traveling through nature are the highlights of the book. The flashbacks between Tyler, Emlyn, and Janessa grew more intense as the book went on and I loved how the mystery unfolded by the end. Can't wait to see where Kimi Cunningham Grant takes us next!!

Thank you NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

IMO this was good, but not as exciting as I had hoped for. That being said, this is a great low stakes entry level thriller. Nothing too crazy.

I liked the faith elements, but I wished for a character redemption that I never got.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and netgalley for sending me a complimentary digital copy of this book in advance. All the opinions in this review are my own.

This was my first time reading a book by this author and I came into it with high expectations since I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews for “These Silent Woods.” I am happy to report that this book exceeded my high expectations. It’s for everything I want and love in a good thriller: suspense that had me clenching my seat, captivating characters, heart-wrenching poignancy and an eerie setting. The writing was so immersive and beautiful—really well done. I’m a huge fan of this author’s writing style. I’ll definitely be checking out previous and future works of this author! Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I wanted to like this book much more than I did. The jargon affiliated with outdoorsman activities like hiking, fishing, foraging, etc. were alienating for me because I’m not particularly into that field. If you area and into a mystery, this is probably for you. I was able to read this in three sittings but only one of them was entertaining. I wish the villain’s motives were more appropriate and enthralling. Instead, they were closely held together, revealed in a rushed way, and overall uninspiring. Three stars because it’s merely acceptable.

I love Kimi Cunningham Grant! N=My favorite is These Silent Woods. I was super happy to receive this one!
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⁣This an intriguing read that takes you way into the woods(literally). The character development is great and they are relatable. It really is a story of a deep connection between friends. ⁣
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It was a great suspenseful & atmospheric read and I highly recommend it.
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⁣Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for an ARC of The Nature of Disappearing.

A suspenseful and mysterious thriller set deep in the wilderness where nature's danger and beauty contribute to the story's overall feel and add to the plotting. I wouldn't say this one is fast-paced or a slow burn, but it lies somewhere in the middle where you're intrigued and invested. The dual timeline added so much to the characters. I especially liked the main character Emlyn with the issues she overcomes from her past and her somewhat complicated relationship with her best friend Janessa.

Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for my early e-arc copy.

Kimi Cunningham Grant has such a talent for nature writing. This is my second book from her and she really makes it feel like you are submerged into the environments that she can create. This book mostly takes place in the Idaho Wilderness, being raised in Idaho really had me feeling like this was even more personal.

I do not think that the book was very interesting from a mystery standpoint, however I will probably always pick up her books solely for the fact that she can make me feel so immersed in her nature descriptions.

I would give this a 4/5 stars, but I can see that if I didn't love the nature aspects as much as I do, it would be closer to a 3 for me.

📚: The Nature of Disappearing by Kimi Cunningham Grant
⭐️: 3.5/5 (rounding down on #goodreads)

The gist: Emlyn is pulled back into her past when her ex, Tyler, calls with the news that their former best friend, Janessa has gone missing. An influencer posting #vanlife content in the wilderness with her partner, she’s gone silent on social media, worrying those that know her past and present. As they trek through the endless woods in Idaho, secrets come out where no one is safe.

The good: Kimi Cunningham Grant does atmospheric writing so well. I could feel the setting, the woods, the wildlife, the tingle up my spine that something wasn’t right.

The eh: This is hard, because I loved These Silent Woods so much, but this read by the end missed the mark. The ending felt predictable and thrown together. The pacing throughout the book was timed so well, and then the last handful of chapters was just a reveal dump that felt off stylistically from the rest of the read. (Also, an added subplot thrown in at the end felt out of place.)

Thanks to @stmartinspress via @netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Nature of Disappearing is out this Tuesday, 6/18.

This one fell a little flat and disjointed for me. I didn’t love the main character and thought the impetus for her conclusions were a little scattered. I did love the lush writing of Idaho-the strong sense of place was great. I didn’t love the ending and felt I couldn’t connect to any of the characters, though.

I adored Kimi Cunningham Grant’s 2021 book- These Silent Woods and was lucky to get a copy of her fourth novel- The Nature of Disappearing. When her best friend disappears, a wilderness guide must team up with her ex, the man who ruined her life, in order to find her! ⁣
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⁣This is a quiet, atmospheric and intriguing read that takes you deep into the woods. The characters are imperfect but relatable. I appreciated that it’s ultimately a tale about friendship, but wish the end would have been a little more believable. ⁣
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⁣Ultimately I really enjoyed it and felt like I’d been on a little camping trip where I didn’t have to sleep in the rocks! Four stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⁣
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⁣Thank you to @netgalley and St Martin’s Press for an ARC of The Nature of Disappearing. It publishes tomorrow- June 19, 2024!

I was excited to get The Nature of Disappearing from NetGalley. The author's previous book, These Silent Woods, was so buzzy. (For the record, I had some issues These Silent Woods but I did find it to be quite memorable.) Therefore, I went into reading The Nature of Disappearing with high hopes.

Ultimately, the book didn't quite land for me. I give it 3.5 stars.

First, the good: I loved the setting. The backdrop nature's landscape was more interesting than almost anything else happening in the book. Kind of gave me Cheryl Strayed "Wild" vibes. I also really liked Varden's character and in the final 15% or so, the relationship that he and Emlyn forged had me more invested than I had been for the previous 85% of the book. Emlyn also had some redeeming qualities...she's smarter and stronger than she gives herself credit for!

What didn't work as well for me were the other 2 main characters in the book (Tyler and Janelle). I was genuinely not invested in either of their storylines. I wanted Emlyn to cut her ties with both of them and move on with her life, but she kept getting sucked back into Tyler's orbit. Since the majority of the book is Tyler and Emlyn traipsing around the woods searching for Janelle, that means I was not invested in a lot of the storyline.

Overall, this book is fine. Nothing super objectionable. I think if you like Peter Heller's books or if you are a die-hard fan of the author, you should still give this book a try.

To the publisher: I do really like the cover of this book. Well-done to whoever did the cover art! I am such an avid reader that one of my self-imposed rules is that I don't buy hard copies of books anymore that have unappealing covers. Well, this one would be one I would consider purchasing because the cover is nice!

Thank you to NetGalley, St Martin's Press Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for #gifting me a digital and audio ARC by Kimi Cunningham Grant. All opinions are my own.

College friends Emlyn and Janessa may have drifted apart, but that doesn't deter Emlyn from searching for her missing friend out in the wilderness with her ex, Tyler. When Janessa goes ghost on social media, missing several of her regularly scheduled van-life travel posts, Emlyn and Tyler, also Janessa's childhood best friend, investigate her latest post. Noticing that Janessa's post isn't truly where she claims to be, they go on the hunt for Janessa.

My thoughts:
This gave me serious Gabby Petito vibes! It was chilling and intriguing.
I was HOOKED from the start! I loved reading and listening to this fast read!
Very SURPRISING ending that I did not see coming!

As always this authors atmospheric writing style shines. Her attention to detail and description of the wildness is beautiful and impressive. The story itself is a slow read. I feel like this would be better described as suspense / drama vs. thriller. I didn’t really connect with the characters and overall there was something missing that I needed to keep me engaged. I may not have finished if it weren’t for the audiobook. As slow as the story was in the beginning the audio helped me through. I’d recommend this book to those who are looking for something light but suspenseful and definitely to lovers of the outdoors.

I was able to read this book as an ARC thanks to Netgally. I went into this story blind, without even reading the description in depth before starting! The story follows Emlyn as she attempts to work through the trauma of her past with her new life in the present. It is a slow read, but I truly appreciated the intense details added in along the way. I wouldn’t describe this as a thriller, but I was still intrigued to figure out what was the truth and who was lying. I recommend this one to all who love the outdoors and can relate to working through an old love while finding yourself.

The Nature of Disappearing is the perfect answer to the viral social media question posed to women... alone in the woods would you rather encounter a man or a bear? Regardless, we must be prepared to encounter both and to save ourselves. We must train. We must study. We must be equipped to use violence. Bust, mist of all, we need to use our brains.

A wilderness survival adventure, a thriller, a reflection on friendship, and even a splash of bittersweet romance, The Nature of Disappearing has a little bit of a lot woven into its pages. Definitely check this one out if you like strong women who thrive in the outdoors!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Emlyn works in the Idaho wilderness as a guide for people who want to hunt and fish. When her ex-boyfriend Tyler shows up and asks for her help finding old friend Janessa, Emlyn is reluctant to get involved at first.

Emlyn and Tyler have some significant history, and their relationship did not end well. Spending time with him is not what Emlyn wants to do. Similarly, Janessa and Emlyn haven’t spoken for a long time. But when Emlyn hears that Janessa is likely missing in the wilderness, she realizes she may be the only one who could find her old friend.

We follow Emlyn and Tyler on their hunt for information, learning about Tyler and Emlyn’s backstory as we go.

The writing in the book is wonderful, and the author does an amazing job of describing the wilderness and the beauty of the nature all around Emlyn. I like the way she brings her characters to life too.

However, the plot didn’t really grab me, and after a while I really wondered what we were all doing wandering in the woods. I loved “These silent woods” and was hopeful for a similar feel from this book, but it just fell a little flat.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest book by Kimi Cunningham Grant, with the audio perfectly narrated by Emily Pike Stewart. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Emlyn and Janessa met in college and formed a tight bond. But time changes things and their relationship changed as well. They were partially estranged but trying to reconnect. Janessa is now an online influencer, blogging about her adventures with her boyfriend, Bush and Emlyn is working as a fishing guide in Idaho. When Emlyn's ex, Tyler, shows up and shares her concern that neither has heard from Janessa, they pack up and try to find her.

I loved this author's previous book, These Silent Woods, and the wilderness definitely is another character in this book as well. Be sure to read the author's note on the meaning of that word as well. This was less of a thriller and more of a character study on relationships, trust, second chances. The story goes back in forth in time as we learn the backstories of the characters and how it influences their behavior and relationships in the present. A good read and will be anxious for her next book!

Very atmospheric story about a girl who goes into the woods with her ex to try to find her best friend who appears to have gone missing. I enjoyed it! It felt a little slow at times, not a lot happening until the end, but I appreciated Kimi’s knowledge of nature and taking on the wilderness.