Could not put this one down. From beginning to the very end I was captivated by the story. A story that was flowy and easy to understand.

This book takes everything you love about a classic, suspenseful, mystery read and absolutely takes it to the next level. It’s tense and edgy, but it’s also filled with so much depth, hope and inspiration. If you love books that cross genres, this is the book for you.. mystery, romance, woman’s fiction and coming of age, it has it all and they were done WELL.

And the setting!! You can tell this author spends a lot of time in nature and she has a deep understanding of it. Her writing paints a vivid and lifelike picture of not only the beauty of the wilderness, but the power and vastness of it too. I can’t say enough good things about this author’s ability to set a scene, and I felt the same way when reading These Silent Woods.

Lastly, the characters. Wow. This author has a way of adding so many layers and so much depth to her characters. They feel real and palpable, and the character development for Emlyn was phenomenal. While she wasn’t perfect, you couldn’t help but root for her, and it only made her feel more authentic and relatable.

I will absolutely be recommending this book, and I can't wait to see what this author writes in the future!

Emlyn works as a guide and lives in an Airstream camper in the Idaho wilderness. One day after fishing with a client on the river, she sees a story on CNN about an influencer who has gone missing and recognizes her oldest friend Janessa. In order to discover what happened to her Emlyn must team up with Tyler, her first love who abandoned her in the woods to die 3 years ago, and once again follow him into the forest.
This book takes place both in the present and in flashbacks of Emlyn’s life showing how her relationships with Janessa and Tyler evolved and how she ended up halfway across the country from where she grew up. The forest is full of not only natural dangers, but human ones as well. The journey is both a literal physical one through the woods and also an emotional one and Emlyn will need to discover an inner strength and resilience in order to survive.
#NetGalley. #TheNatureofDisappearing

Many thanks to Kimi Cunningham Grant, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of The Nature of Disappearing. I couldn’t wait to read this book, as I loved These Silent Woods, and I was excited about a missing-person mystery set in Idaho. I was captivated by this book until around 2/3 of the way through, when things took a turn. No spoilers, but let’s just say that I found the explanation/resolution completely unbelievable on many levels. Even setting that aside, this novel just didn’t reasonate with me in the way that These Silent Woods did. Still, I will look forward to Grant’s next book.

Kimi Cunningham Grant's latest THE NATURE OF DISAPPEARING is set in the wilderness and will enamor readers who particularly enjoy outdoor settings. The author's most recent backlist THESE SILENT WOODS focused on a father/daughter relationship, and this novel features a somewhat estranged friendship dynamic.

Emlyn is a wilderness and flyfishing guide in Idaho working with Vander. She has led a mostly loner lifestyle and has problems relating to others, particularly her clients that she works with as a guide. She met her good friend Janessa in college, and Janessa was the stronger personality. Emlyn was taken under Janessa's wing. When Emlyn became attracted to Janessa's good guy friend Tyler, things between Emlyn and Janessa started to deteriorate because Janessa didn't want Emlyn to date Tyler. When Emlyn and Tyler proceeded to date, the friendship fractured and they lost connection.

It's several years later, and Janessa has disappeared along with her boyfriend Bush while they were exploring the national parks by camper van. Emlyn and Tyler are no longer dating, but they reconnect when Tyler gets concerned about Janessa's disappearance and needs assistance. Then they try to find missing Janessa and Bush. This novel has some threads that very much remind me of last year's HAVE YOU SEEN HER by Catherine McKenzie. I did end up enjoying this one a bit more than that one.

This novel is told in dual rotating timelines - 1) the current timeline as Emlyn and Tyler are trying to find Janessa and Bush and 2) the past timeline that follows Emlyn meeting Janessa and then Tyler and the evolution of the friendship with Janessa and the relationship with Tyler.

PROS
* Outdoor wilderness setting and strong nature writing
* Resiliency of character Emlyn
* More plot-driven than her last novel THESE SILENT WOODS

CONS
* Could have more suspense/tension
* Characters at arm's length

IMPORTANT TO KNOW
* Focuses on new adult friendship dynamics

While I didn't fall in love with this book like I did with the same author's THESE SILENT WOODS, I did find it very enjoyable and loved the setting and ambiance of the novel. If you have read Catherine McKenzie's HAVE YOU SEEN HER, then you might not want to read this one or at least give some time in between the two.

It was the book I never knew I needed so bad in my life until it popped up on my feed …

I am a sucker for anything Kimi Cunningham Grant. I mean let’s be real, I think we all are .

I read These Silent Woods a bit ago and it still haunts me . That book threw my world off kilter and had me sleeping with the light on for months . I loved it ! That’s the exact books I love to read ! I want my world shaken up, I want to be scared! Make me check under the bed before hopping in!

So, when I saw this pic pop up on my feed I nearly I fell over . I neeeeeded this book and there was no way I could wait until June.

So I begged. I pleaded. I hit the request button and prayed.

Well Lordy, Lordy and Hallelujah!!!! My bookish prayers were answered.

Oh heyyy cutie, come to mama!!!!

This book sure does deliver! Every expectation I set was exceeded. Gosh dang it, I sure do love Kimi Cunningham Grant!

Before I slip up and spoil the big twist, check out this teaser:

The Nature of Disappearing

In this captivating novel of suspense from the USA Today bestselling author of These Silent Woods, a wilderness guide must team up with the man who ruined her life years ago when the friend who introduced them goes missing.

Emlyn doesn't let herself think about the past.

How she and her best friend, Janessa, barely speak anymore. How Tyler, the love of her life, left her half dead on the side of the road three years ago.

Her new life is simple and safe. She lives alone in her Airstream trailer and works as a fishing and hunting guide in scenic Idaho. Her closest friends are the community's makeshift reverend and a handsome Forest Service ranger who took her in at her lowest.

But when Tyler shows up with the news that Janessa is missing, Emlyn is propelled back into the world she worked so hard to forget. Janessa has become a social media star, documenting her #vanlife adventures with her rugged boyfriend. She hasn't posted lately, though, and when Emlyn realizes the most recent photo doesn't match up with its caption, she reluctantly joins Tyler to find her old friend. As the two trace Janessa's path through miles of wild country, Emlyn can't deny the chemistry still crackling between them. But the deeper they press into the wilderness, the more she begins to suspect that a darker truth lies in the woods―and that Janessa isn't the only one in danger.

Poignant, suspenseful, and unforgettable, Kimi Cunningham Grant's THE NATURE OF DISAPPEARING explores what it takes to start over―and the cost of letting the past pull you back in.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to receive an ARC for this incredible novel. I read "These Silent Wood" (Grant's most recent book) in 24 hours and this newest one was also finished in a day. This was an incredible book that I would recommend to anyone.

Grant's description of her characters is phenomenal and they truly come to life as I read. Emlyn is quiet, reserved, and lives mostly in her past. Janessa is outgoing and often bossy. Tyler is charming and appears kind.

The story focuses on the relationships between these three while also delving into the past to show how these characters evolved into their present state. Emlyn and Tyler set out to find Janessa after they are unable to reach her for over a week. The trip does not go according to plan and ultimately tests the bond these three share.

I do not have any background in the outdoors and was not initially sure if I would enjoy this book. However, Grant's writing kept me hooked and now I want to go outside and enjoy nature more.

I read an ARC of this book and unfortunately it just doesn't do it for me. The plot seemed unbelievable, I couldn't connect with the characters. Also, there was a substantial plot line involving finding God/Religion that is just not my thing. I wish I'd known about it going in. I did like the setting and some of the writing style, but overall, this book was not for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy.

It really pained me to only give this one three stars, especially after loving These Silent Woods. I think Grant is a very thorough writer. I definitely learned a lot about fly fishing and tracking and hiking. I liked her descriptions of all the places. I felt like I was there, in the woods, with them. The story of Janessa, Emlyn and Tyler was entertaining, until it wasn't. I hated their character development and wanted so much more for the three of them. The ending was really hard to believe, especially Janessa. She just all of a sudden became some secret agent ready to take down a kingpin? I wanted it to make sense. I wanted to like it, but it just fell so incredibly flat for me. It could have gone so many other ways and I wish it would have.

3 star

If you decide to read this one because you loved These Silent Woods, (my favorite suspense last year), you are going to be disappointed.

Janessa and her #vanlife partner go missing and her old friend Emlyn, with whom there was rife, is sought after by her ex boyfriend/Janessa’s childhood friend, with whom also there was rife, to try to locate Janessa.

I had a hard time contending the insecure Emlyn of the past with the now wizened survivalist, fisher, tracker Emlyn. The characters in general felt immature - perhaps because the past timeline is very prevalent and things that happened then largely play into the current timeline. I read this a few weeks ago and really only remember about Janessa that she was the prettier one with rich parents and made the decisions in her and Emlyn’s friendship. Unfortunately, the ending didn’t wow me enough to bump it to a four star.

I would recommend this for people who have not already fallen in love with the in depth character development from These Silent Woods and for those who like:
🎣 fishing
🏞️ a pretty Idaho setting
⏱️ alternating timelines for a quick read.

Thank you @minotaur_books for the eARC.

#netgalley to be published 6/18/2024
#aapiheritagemonth
#thriller

This is my 2nd book by KCG. When I saw there was a new book coming out by her I grabbed it without even looking at the blurb. Once again there is something mysterious going on but you don't know what or why. This book is more of a thriller type than "These Silent Woods". KCG is definitely an auto-buy for me!

I love the 2 timelines. And the yearly countdown for the backhistory one. It helps you put Emlyn's life choices into prospective. I have to assume that this author grew up hiking in the woods. Her descriptions make it so easy for me to picture the type of environment they are in. I am also a hiker. Not extreme, but I love the woods. I probably would have died out there both occasions in the book. Hahaha.

So this FMC was Emlyn. And I was concurrently listening another book with FMC Emmeline. 🤦 I kept thinking really? What happened to Emily? LOL. And I had to keep track of which one was in which book. It was almost jarring when I got back to this book and I saw Emlyn instead of Emmeline. It took my brain a little bit to shift gears. This was obviously NOT any fault of either of the authors. Just bad timing on my part. SMH.

#thenatureofdisappearing
#kimicunninghamgrant @kimicgrant
#stmartinspress #minotourbooks
#thriller
#bookstagram #bookreview #bookrecommendation #booknerdsbookreview

Special thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a chance to read The Nature of Disappearing in advance. This book is expected to publish on June 18, 2024.

Emlyn’s previous best friend (are they still bffs?) has disappeared. She’s not responding to calls, texts, or anything. And now Tyler, Emlyn’s ex-boyfriend and Janessa’s current business partner, is worried. He believes Emlyn to have the key skills to finding her, so she reluctantly teams up with him to trek through the wilderness of Idaho. But can they find her before it’s too late?

Kimi C. Grant knows how to write such a strong sense of place. I really felt like I was in the backwoods of Idaho even though I’ve never been there. She has a beautiful way with words that makes you gobble them up (seriously, I read this book in less than 36 hours which is quite a feat for a mom of two). However, I could not get behind these characters or the plot! Emlyn made several decisions that seemed very out of type for her personality, which is a major pet peeve of mine. Then, the surprising twist at the end fell really flat. All in all, I was disappointed in how this story played out, but I still loved all the nature elements involved. Instead, I’d recommend her previous novel, THESE SILENT WOODS, if you want something equally atmospheric with a strong nature presence.

I may be in the minority, but I haven't read These Silent Woods yet!

This was my very first book from this author and I am absolutely captivated.

This is a thriller but the scariest part is how realistic it feels. The twists and turns aren't out of left field, they feel very natural, as though they could happen to anyone.

A harrowing tale of friendship, survival, and learning to love again, this book goes beyond the horrible things people will do to each other and seeks to answer the question: can we ever really start over?

I absolutely loved this author’s last book, so when I saw she had another coming out I was super excited. And this book did not disappoint!! Five stars!

This is a story centered around three people:
Emlyn, the main character
Janessa, her bestie since college
Tyler, Janessa’s friend since childhood

Most of this story takes place in Idaho in the wilderness, and like with ‘These Silent Woods,’ the book has an element of surviving in nature to it that I’ve only experienced in Kristin Hannah’s ‘The Great Alone. To me this is not just a big compliment but also a unique plot aspect in novels that I’ve had a hard time finding in quite the same way.

Instead of spending too much time recapping the publisher’s blurb about the book, I’ll get right on to what makes this book a great read for me:

(1) they feel cross genre. There is regular old good fictional storytelling but elements of other genres - mystery/suspense, romance, coming of age. This cross genre feeling was also the case with These Silent Woods.

(2) without it being too sweeping or overdone, the author creates imagery of the outdoors. You know how some writers put a lot of emphasis on setting the scene so you actively recognize you’re reading something intended to paint a picture? That’s fine ofc but only one way of doing it. In this book, I had a vivid scene drawn in my head for me the entire time, but never actively noticed the author was writing so descriptively. This is hard to do (I think, or it would be more common) so I wanted to highlight it!

(3) realistic and interesting dialogue, no character choices that left me going “yeah that wouldn’t happen irl”, and a building anticipation and intrigue that will definitely make you keep reading late into the night past your usual bedtime.

Long story short this book was excellent and I am excited recommend it to my friends.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance review copy of this book and provide an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review

This was the first novel I’ve read by Kimi. I would rate this book 3.5-3.75 ⭐️ but decided to round up since it’s closer to 4 for me than 3 stars.

I went in blind and overall I enjoyed the book and would recommend it.
At the end I was left feeling underwhelmed and just meh about the final reveal and events. I wanted more thrills, more suspense, more action!!

I’m going to read more books by this author though! I have heard great things about her writing and I did enjoy the religious connections throughout this book.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Publish date : June 18, 2024

Add it to your TBR list! 🍄

I’ve enjoyed Kimi’s other books so I was excited for this one but I felt bored. I feel so bad but I had no interest in it. Except the last 15-20% of the book. Sometimes extreme descriptions in books takes away what is happening in the plot because it feels as if details are the only thing that matters.

My thanks to St. Martin's Press, Kimi Cunningham Grant and Netgalley.
Straight up, I'll just admit that it actually pains me to write this review.
Ms. Cunningham Grant is a freaking rock star when she writes. Not just her stories, but the people she writes about. She's always been a trusted read.
This? I honestly don't know what the hell this story was. "I truly have a cuss word or more."
Ms. Grant has skipped through all the love, respect and life that she's always managed to inject into her characters.
Turns out that she missed all that with the story too.
I'll be honest and tell you that I don't know what the frick was going on with this book, but it really, stunk!
I'm amazed that Ms. Grant wrote it, but everyone's allowed a stinker. I figure 1 book out of 4 is allowed to suck. This was the suck!
Moving on?

Emlyn doesn’t let herself think about the past.

How she and her best friend, Janessa, barely speak anymore. How Tyler, the man she thought was the love of her life, left her freezing and half-dead on the side of the road three years ago.

Her new life is simple and safe. She works as a fishing and hunting guide, spending her days in Idaho’s endless woods and scenic rivers. She lives alone in her Airstream trailer, her closest friends a handsome and kind Forest Service ranger and the community’s makeshift reverend, who took her in at her lowest.

But when Tyler shows up with the news that Janessa is missing, Emlyn is propelled back into the world she worked so hard to forget. Janessa, it turns out, has become a social media star, documenting her #vanlife adventures with her rugged survivalist boyfriend. But she hasn’t posted lately, and when she does, it’s from a completely different location than where her caption claims to be. In spite of their fractured history, Emlyn knows she might be the only one with the knowledge and tracking skills to save her friend, so she reluctantly teams up with Tyler. As the two trace Janessa’s path through miles of wild country, Emlyn can’t deny there’s still chemistry crackling between them. But the deeper they press into the wilderness, the more she begins to suspect that a darker truth lies in the woods―and that Janessa isn’t the only one in danger.

I was so disappointed in this one. It was so slow. I was bored to tears! There wasn't any action until about 80% and that was too late for me. I also didn't have any connection to the characters, which is a reason why I didn't enjoy it. It didn't feel like a thriller. When I am reading a thriller I am always looking for the thrill and I never found it. It didn't thrill me at all. It felt like there really wasn't a plot for me.

The author is a very talented writer. I did love the author's descriptive writing of the wilderness and animals in the woods. I also loved how she described the nature and the woods. I love everything to do with the woods and a forest. I love to go hiking, camping and to find a beautiful scenery with streams and waterfalls and enjoy the beautiful scenery around me while I read a book. This book is very atmospheric. I love how she describes everything in this book. This book was a comfort read.

I want to thank St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

I had a hard time getting into this book, since I wondered why Emlyn, the main character for most of the book, would be friends with either Janessa or Tyler. Reading about camping in the wilderness, and the descriptions of the land and wildlife was to me the most enjoyable parts of the book. I thought Emlyn was the most sympathetic character.

Emlyn is a hiking guide who lives in an Airstream trailer in the national forest where she makes a living leading hikes. The other two main characters,Tyler and Janessa, had once been Emlyn's best friends, and both had betrayed her. Tyler has disappeared while on a hike - after leaving an enigmatic message - and Emlyn and Janessa hike into the wilderness to try to find him. The book has some suspenseful and scary parts.

I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher St. Martin's Books/Minotaur Books, and voluntarily read and reviewed it.

After reading These Silent woods I knew I needed to read everything by this author! This book wasn’t as suspenseful, but the back story is better developed and more realistic. I really enjoy how well the setting is incorporated into the story and the pacing is fantastic. I couldn’t put it down. I’m not a fan of the religious elements, but they’re easy enough to ignore. I look forward to reading more from this author.