**NetGalley Review: The Nature of Disappearing by Kimi Cunningham Grant**

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

"The Nature of Disappearing" by Kimi Cunningham Grant is a beautifully written and haunting novel that delves deep into the themes of loss, identity, and the enduring power of nature. Grant's prose is lyrical and evocative, painting vivid pictures that draw you into the world she has created.

The story centers around a gripping mystery that unravels at a perfectly measured pace, keeping you engaged and invested in the characters' journeys. The protagonist's struggles and growth are portrayed with emotional depth, making them relatable and compelling.

While there were moments where the narrative felt a bit slow, the overall experience was immersive and thought-provoking. The intricate plot twists and the well-developed characters more than made up for any minor pacing issues.

If you enjoy novels that blend mystery with rich, descriptive writing and complex characters, "The Nature of Disappearing" is a great pick. A solid 4/5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Grants last book and was really excited to read this one. It was also good. The settings always really deliver and you can feel immersed in the books. I liked the character of Emlyn. I was a little unsatisfied with the way everything played out, but I still liked the book

I loved These Silent Woods so when I seen this one I just had to read it too. Unfortunately this one didn't pull me in like woods did. It was disjointed and was more like a romance than a mystery. If she writes another I will read it as well.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a bit behind on my ARC’s but working diligently to get caught up. I really liked the whole concept of this story! The characters are complex and well written and the setting is perfect. It jumps from the present to the past and back constantly, which can get a little confusing, but it was handled in a way where I could always ascertain when it was. There were some twists at the end that caught me off guard, which I love. If you’re into psychological thrillers and mysteries, check this book out!

4.5 stars

Kimi Cunningham Grant is a master of atmospheric wilderness survival writing and I am certain after reading These Silent Woods and now The Nature of Disappearing that I will immediately read anything she puts out into the world.

Emlyn has built a safe and quiet life in the mountains of Idaho where she is a wilderness guide. She lives in a camper van, enjoys her quiet life, and has a few close local friends. One morning, Emlyn sees a news report claiming that her best friend Janessa is missing. Emlyn and Janessa met in college and became friends right away. A few years ago they had a falling out over a guy and now are just starting to patch things up. Janessa called Emlyn recently, with something important to say, but the call dropped and by the time Emlyn got where there was service, she wasn't able to reach Janessa again. Now, with Janessa missing, Emlyn can't help but wonder where her friend is, what happened to her, and what that last message might have been about. Now Emlyn's ex-boyfriend Tyler has shown up asking for her help as a tracking expert to find Janessa. But Emlyn doesn't know if she can trust Tyler, a drug addict who left her for dead on the side of a snowy road a few years ago. As Emlyn and Tyler enter the wilderness, can she trust him not to let her down again?

I actually think I liked this book more than Ms. Grant's first novel. I enjoyed the mystery and the bit of romance sprinkled in. But I am absolutely captivated by the way Ms. Grant describes the outdoors - making the reader feel as though they're right in the middle of the rugged mountain. Some may say that this book is slow - but I devoured it quickly. I enjoyed the dual timeline, both told from Emlyn's POV - one in the present as they search for Janessa and the other in the past as we learn how Emlyn met with Janessa and Tyler and what happened to Emlyn that fateful night.

I beg you, please go pick up one of Kimi Cunningham Grant's books and get lost in the beautiful storytelling and character development.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

my first from this author. I always love thrillers that are based in the wilderness or deal with wilderness guides since I'm from Alaska. Very good read

I really enjoyed this book! The writing is great and kept
me captivated the whole time. I liked that it was a missing person story, but also a tale of love, friendship and finding yourself. I really liked Emlyn and was rooting for her. I also liked the setting and the wilderness and survival aspects as that’s something I haven’t read about before. I also liked the dual timelines to get to know Emlyn and her relationships with Janessa and Tyler. While this may not be a book that sticks with me forever, I throughly enjoyed reading it!

I was a HUGE fan of These Silent Woods by KCG, but this book didn’t quite hook me in the same way. At 50% in, I think the obstacle for me was a very circular feeling plot where the same few pages of content were recycled over and over without much teal movement. I still look forward to more from her, but this was a miss for me.

I found the concept of this book far more intriguing than its execution. It took quite a while to "get going"—the story didn't truly pick up until after the halfway mark. Although I expected a plot twist, the specifics surprised me, which is a positive aspect. There were several points where I contemplated not finishing, but my curiosity about "what is actually going on" compelled me to continue. Despite the slow start, the buildup ultimately delivered, making the twist all the more rewarding. However, I do wish the pacing had been more consistent throughout.

The Nature of Disappearing was a propulsive book, but something just fell flat for me. I wanted to keep reading but ultimately felt like the climax of the book wasn’t worth the time and build up. I really enjoyed the feeling that I was out hiking in the wilderness, but there were just too many loose ends and storylines that weren’t fully explained or resolved for me to rate it higher than 3 stars.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this digital ARC.

I really enjoyed this book! The only reason I knocked off a star was for pacing issues. The beginning was very slow but then the ending felt rushed.

I was hooked from the beginning of the story. I was a little frustrated with some of the decisions that Emlyn made but I enjoyed the twists and turns of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC.

I loved These Silent Woods and was so excited to be approved for an ARC of The Nature of Disappearing. This novel felt picturesque to me I felt like the descriptions were so vivid. This was a slow burn and I don't always do well with that. The characters were okay for me, but they really didn't grab me as much as I wished they would. Was a beautiful read, but not my favorite.

A first for me by this author although I guess this is her fourth book. Nail biting adventure story (with probably more romance than is like) but quick read.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Wow. I’m so disappointed.

These Silent Woods is one of my favorite books. This felt like it was written by a completely different person.

These characters were so surface level and incredibly hard to root for or take seriously. Honestly, the only part I enjoyed was the scenery. And the “twist”… don’t get me started.

2.5-3

I really enjoyed this book! It had me wondering what direction it was going to go and I was shocked at the twist at the end but it wasn't too far fetched either, which I enjoyed. Being out in the wilderness is no joke, and I truly felt like I was right there in the midst of it all, with the way that the author explained it all. I would highly recommend it this book if you like mysteries or suspense!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was a huge fan of the authors previous book, These Silent Woods, so was eager to try this one too. The storyline started out promising, with one friend missing deep in the wilderness, but I really had a hard time feeling connected to the book. Definitely more of a slow burn thriller.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC, all opinions are my own.

"you can never really know a person." He wrings the water from his hat, gives it a shake. The droplets dance across the stream. "You know what they want you to know."

This was a stunning novel, set in the rugged and rural area of Idaho - an area our main character, Emlyn has mixed emotions with. On one hand, she knows it well and her job is to take others out fishing and exploring and to experience amazing things while being safe in the rugged forest. On the other hand, she knows how quickly that terrain can get the better of a person.

As Emlyn is just getting her life back on track, she's contacted out of the blue by an ex-boyfriend. Emlyn and this ex's mutual friend - Emlyn's previous best friend - has gone missing. This ex is begging her to help him find her.

I was immediately drawn into the story. This author has an amazing ability to have very moving stories. The author is amazing at getting you to know characters very quickly and seamlessly and that draw really keeps you invested. There were a few times I shook my head but the ending really does bring those points together and help you to understand. I was completely wrapped up in this one and I loved it! This is my first story from this author and I will definitely go find more!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Emlyn has suffered trauma in her life, and she prefers to not think about her past. She had a best friend that she doesn't speak to anymore and an ex who left her for dead on the side of the road. She is currently living a quiet and simple life. That is until her ex, Tyler, shows up and tells her that her former best friend, Janessa, is missing. Emlyn is thrust back into a life that she tried to leave in the past. We are taken on her journey with Tyler to look for Janessa.

I love Grant's descriptive writing. The way she set up the scenes and what was going on made me feel as though I was actually in their world. I also felt that the main characters were well developed. There were twists and turns that I was pleasantly surprised by. However, I was bored throughout this book. I felt as though not enough happened to truly pull me in. I did want to know what happened to Janessa and I curiously listened until the end to find out. Yet, I found myself slightly bored and there was lots of lull in the story.

3.5/5 stars.

I definitely recommend giving this book a try for yourself. It just might be your next 5 star read!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my hon

Some may call this a slow burn, but it drew me right in. Kimi Cunningham Grant’s The Nature of Disappearing is rich with character development and atmospheric settings. A wilderness guide is searching for a friend who went missing, but she may not be able to escape her past in this suspenseful mystery.

It is a credit to the author that in a relatively short amount of pages, I felt like I knew the main character Emlyn quite well. With tidbits from her backstory, watching her interact with those in the present, and seeing her learn about her missing friend, I was able to understand Emlyn at a deeper level than is typical. Cunningham Grant has a talent for drawing complex and realistic characters that is evident in this book.

The story revolves around the disappearance of Emlyn’s friend Janessa. Emlyn reflects on meeting Janessa in her Carhart jacket and carrying a can of bear spray to ward off drunks at the bar, but Janessa was just as comfortable with styled hair and flawless make up the next day in their university class. From the very first time Janessa was introduced, the reader finds themselves as fascinated by her as Emlyn did.

Without knowing the details, the reader also learns that Emlyn went through a pretty significant break up before we meet her in the present as a wilderness guide. It seems evident that this relationship had a strong and negative impact on Emlyn. She lives in mostly solitude now, and there was something fragile about her that the reader picks up on right away.

Emlyn learns that Janessa went missing initially by chance. She’s wracked with guilt that a call with Janessa dropped last week and she never found out what Janessa needed from her. The two never reconnected and now she’s missing. Was the call related? Janessa’s disappearance also brings her ex back into her orbit, as he asks Emlyn to help him find Janessa.

Having seen glimpses of the trauma Emlyn seems to carry from her previous relationship, I was fascinated to meet Tyler—the ex-boyfriend. A love story broken by betrayal, I wanted to know what would happen. Would this be a story of fated lovers brought back together through a common quest, or one of a woman realizing that he was never the man she thought he was. Or maybe even something else! I won’t spoil it, getting to see their story unfold and learning more about the past was one of the more intriguing parts of the plot.

Janessa remained at the center for me, though we only see her in the past through Emlyn’s memories. The two have drifted apart from what was once a close friendship. Now, Janessa is a popular social media figure, documenting her van life adventures with her boyfriend. But it seems that her latest post is in a different place than the caption implies, and Emlyn may be the only person suited to find Janessa based on those clues.

The falling out between Emlyn and Janessa is related to her break up with Tyler, and it also brought Emlyn to her current position working as a wilderness guide. A forest ranger named Varden helped Emlyn, and brought her to the wilderness company owned by an elderly woman named Rev. Now, this is the place Emlyn thinks of as home.

This isn’t a soapy type of influencer book as others who explored a similar concept over the last few years have been. More than anything, it’s a book about relationships, trust, and what happens when those are broken. Is it irreparable? I found the story atmospheric and the characters and their relationships compelling.

I did the audiobook for The Nature of Disappearing which is narrated by Emily Pike Stewart. Its so important for a narrator to be a match for the story and character they are portraying, and Emily Pike Stewart was a great choice for Emlyn. This book is rich with detail and elegant writing, as well as the complex character of Emlyn as our narrator. Audiobook listeners will enjoy it!

Thank you to Minotaur Books for my copy. Opinions are my own.