I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Emlyn is a naturalist and fishing guide who has a troubled family past. She carries her traumas into adulthood where they interfere with relationships and her confidence in herself.

Well, brace yourself for an enthralling journey into the heart of the wilderness, where the surroundings breathe life into an intense atmosphere, making nature the villain of the tale. "The Nature of Disappearing" grips you with its survival instincts theme, setting the stage for mysterious and intriguing reading. I can honestly say that this follows in the footsteps of the author's previous spine-tingling book, "These Silent Woods," as it shares a similar atmospheric setting. However, I must admit, I favored the previous book a tad more.

"The Nature of Disappearing" boasts strengths such as realistic characterizations that mirror both the flaws and engaging aspects of the characters, evoking a strong sense of connection with the reader. Emlyn, the main character, akin to a modern Joan of Arc in the wilderness, is a capable survivor portraying toughness and resilience. Yet, we also witness her vulnerable side, leading her to questionable decisions as she grapples with mixed emotions and blurred judgments.

Distinguishing itself from the previous book, this one places emphasis on the central love story between Emlyn and Tyler, whose betrayal casts a shadow over the mystery of Jenessa's disappearance. The narrative deftly weaves between timelines, creating a complex interplay that, at times, might leave readers a bit dizzy. The broken love story significantly influences Emlyn's present decisions.

The concept of being stranded in the wilderness to unravel the mystery of her estranged friend is a captivating plotline. However, the final revelations and twists, while not eye-rolling, felt a bit flat, lacking the earth-shattering complexity one might expect. Surprisingly, the romantic elements took charge of the conclusion.

Despite occasional abrupt transitions between timelines, I found pleasure in the characterizations, the intricate portrayal of a broken love story, the exploration of devoted friendship, the scrutiny of dysfunctional relationship patterns, and the enthralling mystery—though it could use a bit more refinement. The author's vast knowledge and detailed descriptions of wilderness survival remain standout features, prompting me to round up my rating from 3.5 to 4 stars. It is undeniably well-written and makes for a swift, engaging read. Anything crafted by Kimi Cunningham Grant is worth delving into without second thoughts.

A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for generously providing me with the digital reviewer copy of this gripping novel in exchange for my honest opinions.

I don’t recall reading a book by this author before though I’ve seen one or two, I think. This was a great read. No weird, out-of-place, twistiness, just solid suspense that pulls you in with a really relatable protagonist. I love a book you can easily follow & picture, too, as it was super descriptive with the precise outdoor/ nature narrative. Five solid stars for a book that pulls you in from the beginning, only asking that you get comfortable with a blanket, maybe a glass of wine & a long holiday afternoon/ evening. Was a one day read for me😊

As someone who is not outdoorsy, I really appreciated the wilderness aspect of this book. However, like someone else pointed out, Emlyn is supposed to be smart and nature knowledgeable but then seems to make not great decisions. Also, without adding any spoilers, I thought this was going in a different direction and then when I found out what this was actually about it was a bit of a letdown.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Nature of Disappearing follows Emlyn as she searches to find her friend in the wilderness.

This book captivated me right from the start. Even with all the wilderness lingo and religious references, I was drawn to the slow burn mystery much like These Silent Woods. I love how Grant built up the present storyline by including chapters from the past, which helped us learn more about Emlyn and the friend she was seeking to find. However, the ending sadly did not pay off for me as much as I hoped. I feel like we were left with some big unanswered questions about many of the side plots.

Read if you like:
-Slow burn mystery
-Dual timeline
-Hiking/ outdoorsy activities
-Idaho wilderness setting

Thank you SMP for the ARC! Pub 6/18

I squealed when I got this book in my email because I loved These Silent Woods so much. I was instantly hooked with this one as well and loved the wilderness aspect of her books (even though I am not outdoorsy at all!) I liked the two separate story lines going on of past and present as well as the love stories. I wasn’t expecting the plot to go as it did but I was still fully into it. She is becoming an auto read author for me!!

In the Nature of Disappearing we are bouncing between two timelines. One is in the last between 7-3 years ago. And the main storyline is in the present where Em is trying to help her ex boyfriend find her missing friend Janessa.

I really loved the present timeline story. I loved the descriptions of nature and I keep turning the pages to find out what the was happening.

I did not enjoy the past storylines as much. I did appreciate some aspects of learning how this cast of characters met. But I felt like the past storyline was a little too long at times.

Overall though I really enjoyed the book and the ending was great

Dual timeline + mystery / suspense drama + hiking & mountains!

Emlyn must team up with her ex-boyfriend when their friend goes missing in the Idaho wilderness.

The past comes back to haunt her and she has to figure out how to process the past & stay present as they search for their friend. Especially as she begins to suspect something much darker is happening than just her friend disappearing.

Read if you love…
- dual timeline
- mountains
- hiking & backpacking
- mystery & suspense

I loved These Silent Woods, so I was so stoked to receive an ARC of this one! I binged through it in one sitting because I had to know what happened!

I loved the suspense of not being able to trust anyone because you know something darker is happening and every character presents their best self to the reader. I loved the dual timeline in that we got to learn Emlyn and her ex’s past.

I looooved the middle of nowhere mountain Idaho setting, the hiking & backpacking, and survival skills!

Definitely recommend if you need a quick mystery / suspense binge read!

Thank you to St Martins Press & Minotaur Reading for this ARC!

Location: Idaho
Pub day: June 18, 2024
Content: drug addiction; injury/detail; death of an animal, detailed

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur for an ARC of this novel. I really enjoyed this book. For some reason I am a sucker for thrillers that take place in the wilderness. This book was no different. I enjoyed the suspense, adventure, and feeling of danger throughout the book. I found myself rooting for the main character the whole time. The only thing that would make it a teeny bit better would have been a bit more finality at the end. I’d totally be up for a sequel continuing on the story of the two at the end 😍 4.5⭐️s rounded up!

I loved this cover and when I got the opportunity for an ARC I jumped at it. So thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and Kimi Cunningham Grant for the opportunity. I will also say I loved her earlier book, These Silent Woods a lot. Both These Silent Woods and this book all deal with the "wilderness." And I loved that aspect of the woods b/c it is a place that not everyone gets to see, visit or really ever know in depth. Both her books were very much about survival in the woods and I'd love to see more of that in books.

The first chapter immediately grabbed my attention. A fishing guide, Emlyn, is at a restaurant with her client when she sees a news brief of a couple missing. She thinks it may be her old friend from college, but isn't sure as she had just briefly glanced at the tv. Well instantly I wanted to know more and a book that grabs my attention right away is one that is finished quickly.

Emlyn is drawn into the great wilderness to search for her friend - and that's all I'm going to say - no spoilers here. But this book is suspenseful and so interesting and I hope you like it as much as I did.

✨Ｂｏｏｋ Ｒｅｖｉｅｗ✨

The Nature of Disappearing 📚 by Kimi Cunningham Grant

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Thank you a million to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this ##advancedreaderscopy. This book has a publication date of 6/18/2024.

I remember loving These Silent Woods and was so excited to see Grant was releasing a new book. I devoured this book in less than 4 days, and it was one of my favorite reads of 2023.

Emlyn and Tyler's friends are missing in the wilderness and suspect something seems off with their disappearance. A book about friendships, relationships, and believing in yourself.

Grant's style of writing is captivating from the beginning. All of the characters are authentic, real, and likeable. This book follows a group of people who are into everything wilderness related: hiking, camping, adventures, etc. so I particularly loved the outdoorsy aspect. The plot twists were enjoyable and unpredictable, and I struggled to put it down throughout.

Definitely recommend when this book is published next summer!
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#justread #bookstack #booklovers #alwaysreading #readersofinstagram #bookreview #instareads #goodreads #bookworm #bookaddict #readersofig #bookreviewer #bookaddict #bookstagram

When I saw this title I was so excited because I loved These Silent Woods. This was a much slower burn but still a solid novel that I really enjoyed. Grant writes so beautifully about nature and her characters always stay with me for a long time. There are some unexpected twists and I read through it in a day. I look forward to everything she writes.

The Nature of Disappearing by Kimi Cunningham Grant.
This author has a way of writing very poetically. Some of her words really play with your heart. She tells a real good story.
Emlyn starts a new life as a wilderness guide after a near death experience when her then boyfriend, Tyler leaves her in the woods. Tyler has battled drug issues for a long time and this time finally propels Emlyn to let him go. Emlyn is in a much better place now but eventually Tyler reappears at her door asking for help to find their missing friend, in the woods… Emlyn is drawn. But there is so much more involved in this story.

Kimi Cunningham Grant is brilliant in every way. I love the subtlety in her writing. And her detailed descriptions of nature make you feel like you can reach out and touch the scenery she creates.
The Nature of Disappearing absolutely did not disappoint. The pace was different from These Silent Woods, but I enjoyed that. Her character building was incredible and her main character was so real and relatable.
Emlyn meets Janessa when she saves her from two guys at a bar, and the two are inseparable after. That’s how this gorgeous thriller begins, and what happens a long the way will have you burning through pages.
I devoured this book in less then 24 hours. It’s beautifully written and Grant stays so true to her writing.
Read.this.book.

Thank you NetGalley and St.Martins press for the ARC.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

Emlyn is asked by her ex Tyler to help him track down a mutual friend of theirs, Janessa. Janessa has been living in a camper in various remote parks in the US with a boyfriend and posting about it on social media to drum up interest in a business she and Tyler are setting up. The narrative also goes back in time to describe how Emlyn and Janessa met and how Emlyn's relationship with Tyler ended.

I found this well-written but slow at times. The author is clearly well-informed about wilderness hiking and outdoorsy things in general and I learnt a lot. There were references to religious belief, but these were done with a light touch and focussed on hope.

Emlyn is a damaged young woman who has turned much of her experiences into a profession. She is doing her best to recover from a broken heart and has virtually cut herself off from people she knew. When she hears from the one person who she cares most for in the world she hesitates to answer.

Tyler was the love of her life and he seems to have moved on. He has come to her however because their mutual best friend is missing. Can Emlyn put the past behind her and work with Tyler? Where is their best friend? Is she in danger.?

Cunningham Grant does an excellent job of pacing with portions of flashbacks slowly filling us in.
Her writing is so excellent, you cannot help but be pulled into the story!
#Stmartins #minitour #thenatureofdisappearing #kimicunninghamgrant

I was so excited to read The Nature of Disappearing because of the intriguing plot and the glowing reviews for Kimi Cunningham Grant's writing. And while I loved the beautiful descriptions of Idaho, the story didn't grab me. Maybe it was too much of a slow burn, but I struggled to stay engaged. I'm sure this book will be a stronger fit with many other readers.

Kimi, you’ve done it again.

Something about These Silent Woods has sat deep inside my bones since I first read it, so I had hope this one would do the same - and it has.

(Major, major TWs for substance abuse and addiction, and the guilt and anger and despair that comes with knowing and loving an addict.)

I could smell the dust and dirt and smoke, feel the oppressive haze of wildfires and the way that lack of sunshine feels so heavy and close. But I also could feel the way the blue sky appearing again seems to rise and settle in the base of your throat. The way that we can be so close to toppling over the edge into old heartbreaks because the person who makes them is so beautiful.

Emlyn is strong because she recognizes that weakness in herself. Because she sees it and takes another step. Her relationships are fraught and tenuous until she finds one that expects nothing of her but for her to keep moving. And from that - a healthy, earnest, kind friendship - she is able to create others, and also to mend some from her past.

The fact that in spite of everything, Janessa and Emlyn not only are always watching out for each other but know on an almost molecular level that the other will do the same, even if they doubt themselves - speaks volumes. Above all, this is about that specific kind of love, and finding hope.

After reading These Silent Woods and loving it, I just had to read this! Grant's writing is captivating and atmospheric, and she has an immense talent for stirring up your emotions and breaking your heart with her words. This story was different than I expected, but I'm not at all disappointed. It focused more on Emlyn and her journey from past to present than it did on the mystery of Janessa's disappearance. I didn't care too much for the mystery reveal, but the backstory was so riveting that I didn't care. After reading the author's note, I think that she should have stuck with the title, Wilderness. It seems more fitting now that I have finished the story. To me, it's more profound and thought provoking, in a physical and metaphorical sense. I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read whatever Grant writes next. I would definitely recommend!

Thank you to the author, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for granting me early digital access in exchange for my honest review!

I was so excited to see Kimi Cunningham Grant had a new book out. I requested it immediately. Her last book left a lasting impression on me and I think this one will do the same. Her lyrical writing is perfect and really helps in moving the book at a lovely pace. Can't recommend this one enough!