A compelling dual timeline, second chance romance with a wilderness rescue focus that sees two former flames teaming up to help search for their mutual friend who has gone missing. I thought this was great on audio, interesting and suspenseful and great on audio narrated by Emily Pike Stewart. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

I loved These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant so I was ecstatic to be approved by @netgalley to receive an advance copy of her new book, The Nature of Disappearing, available tomorrow!

Quick Summary:
Emlyn, a wilderness guide teams up with her ex-boyfriend (Tyler) to track down their mutual friend (Janessa) who has gone missing while enjoying #vanlife with her partner.

Things I liked:
🥾The premise is unique and interesting.
🥾Dual timelines.
🥾Teaming up with an ex to find a missing friend. (Oh the emotions! Will they rekindle? Why did they relationship end? Can Emlyn forgive Tyler?)
🥾Vivid descriptions of the nature setting in Idaho.
🥾More than once the story heads in a direction that readers aren’t likely to expect.

When I wrote a post about These Silent Woods, I shared that I thought categorizing it as a thriller was incorrect. This holds true for The Nature of Disappearing. Readers expecting a typical thriller are likely to be disappointed and think it’s too slow. They’ll probably comment that there isn’t enough action or “thrill.” If a reader appreciates a slow burn mystery with suspense and lyrical writing, I think they’ll enjoy this. The “thrill” and excitement take place about 80% into the book because the first portion of the book sets up the background of characters and the plot. Without giving anything away, there were some things that I thought could have been foreshadowed more and one thing that could have been foreshadowed less. (I’m hard to please, I know).

Following a five-star book like These Silent Woods is a big feat. While The Nature of Disappearing isn’t at the same level, I liked it and will continue to pick up whatever this author writes. Potential unpopular opinion: I think this book would be incredible as a mini-series. I wish I had the money to fund it!

Thank you to Netgalley for the copy! I’m looking forward to reading how people respond to this book.I hope it finds the right audience.

Emlyn is finally living her life in the now. A challenge following her accident from years before. As a hunting and fishing guide she now gets to spend her days doing what she loves in the wilderness where she feels at home. however, this was not always the case, and she had to work hard to forget the past, including her best friend and then boyfriend. So when there is a news article that shows them both, she is surprised for them to both come back into her life.

Although this was an enjoyable and interesting book, I felt it lacked a little bit of depth in the character development to make it great. This was by no means a bad book, and again I did enjoy it, but there was just something missing for it to really stick with me. I listened to the audiobook and found that the narration and production quality was of high quality and enjoyable to listen. For anyone appreciating the outdoors, and looking for a mystery/thriller, they should check out this book and let me know if I'm crazy or if they agree!

Kimi Cunningham Grant knows how to write a thriller set in the outdoors! I love the way she incorporates outdoor survival skills into her books, and how she develops strong female characters. Emlyn was a well developed character, and I loved seeing her overcome her past traumas in the present day. I thought the plot was very engaging, and the pacing was solid. I was invested in the story the whole time, and I kept guessing as to what would happen next. Definitely check this one out!

Thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of the audio book.

I enjoyed the narrator for this book. The story was good and had me intrigued throughout.

absolutely loved this audiobook and narration after reading the printed copy!!! executed very well and kept me entertained

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!

I listened to this book and really enjoyed the audio and the narrator. Kimi Cunningham Grant created such an atmospheric story that I was eager to find out what happened while also feeling really unsettled.

Emlyn has a lot of history with her best friend Janessa and her ex-boyfriend Tyler. One day Tyler pops back in to Emlyn's life to say that Janessa is missing, and Emlyn and him take off to search for them.

Emlyn is an endearing character and I felt invested in everything turning out good for her. I could see why she was close to Janessa and Tyler, despite them being unlikeable characters.

The book alternates between present day and flashbacks, and the flashbacks really establish the relationships between all the characters while slowly revealing what has happened between them. I love books that pull that off, and this one did.

I thought the parts about addiction were also very well done.

This was my first book by the author but I will definitely be checking out more by her!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

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 burn. 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. 4 stars for the audiobook.

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.

I listened to the audio book, and I think the narrator did an excellent job with the whole atmosphere. There were a few timeline transitions that were a bit confusing to a listener, but I don’t think the narrator was at fault in any of that.

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. I also enjoyed having both the audio and digital and felt the narration was perfect. A good read and will be anxious for her next book!

This book started off strong with an interesting storyline! I was drawn in with the main characters story. The story’s climax was not very moving. I was wanting more suspense and action. I have read other books by this author and have stayed up all night to finish other books… this one left me just feeling disappointed.

This book was a page turner from beginning to end. Reminded me of the Gabi Petino (spelling) case in the beginning and I was hesitant however it definitely created its own way and storyline. Two girls find their way to eachother and become best friends. However as with any friendship there’s usually an imbalance. It’s watching this imbalance play out that gives us the storyline. Definitely was action packed towards the end with some twists I didn’t see coming. Would highly recommend. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Narrator Emily Pike Stewart really made this one for me - a fun introduction to a new-to-me audiobook narrator!

I was drawn in by the narration and premise: a wilderness guide spots her longtime friend on CNN and realizes she's missing. And I was engaged while reading.

But the plot of The Nature of Disappearing wasn't a winner for me personally. I finished the book feeling like it'd have been a stronger novel had author Kimi Cunningham Grant leaned further into the romantic storyline. To be sure, YMMV, and I'll still be interested in whatever she writes next.

Many thanks to my partners @minotaur_books and @macmillan.audio for the #free gifted copies of this book.

Vivid. Engaging. Suspenseful.

One thing is for sure: I am a devotee of Cunningham’s writing. Beautiful prose. Vibrant details. A moody yet appealing backdrop. Yes, yes, and yes!

Here’s the thing: I am not a camper. I have little to no survival skills. I do, however, appreciate the beauty of getting lost in nature and love hiking in the forest. But even then, I stick to the beaten paths and never stay overnight.

But Grant paints such a vivid picture of life in the woods... it makes me long to be amongst the animals and trees, almost convinced I could flourish there (even overnight?!). It’s apparent she has a deep, abiding love for the beauty and challenges of nature in the way she breathed life into this atmospheric backdrop. And I’ll happily head into the wilderness with her every single time she offers.

This read captivated me from the start. Somehow, I opened the book and immediately found myself 60% in! The storyline brimmed with suspense and kept me on my toes forming new theories until the truth was revealed.

I appreciate a well done nonlinear timeline, and Grant excels at piecing the puzzle together to give a fullness to the pacing and plot.

The twist took me by surprise. Even with all my theories, the storyline took a turn I didn’t expect. And truth be told, I longed for more from that last scene. Still, the fullness of the book satisfied.

Themes of resilience and overcoming run throughout the book. Grant excels at showcasing the complexities of human nature. At its heart, this book is about moving from brokenness to acceptance and allowing yourself to be loved, and I think the messaging will find resonance with many.

While These Silent Woods remains my favorite read by Grant (found on my ALL TIME favorite reads shelf in my library), this book showcases her ability to craft stories I want to read. I highly recommend throwing out any TSW’s expectations and embracing this new storyline and its focus on growth and friendship.

🎧 Bronson Pinchot BRILLIANTLY narrated Grant’s last book, and in the beginning, I was a tad disappointed to see he wasn’t narrating this one. BUT. He could not have embodied Emlyn the way Emily Pike Stewart did. (Apparently the publishers do know best! 😆) Emily’s narration truly made me feel as though I was in the moment with Emlyn as the story progressed.

3.5 stars*

as was the case with These Silent Woods, this book was very well written. the author did an excellent job getting the reader in the main character, Emlyn's head and establishing her internal conflicts. i also really enjoyed the setting of this book; this is the second book i've read set in this part of the Idaho wilderness, and i loved how Emlyn's journey through the wilderness mirrored her internal journey. tacking on an extra half star for the quality of the writing and characterization, because not only did the author write the characters well, but she also wrote the complexities of female friendships and first loves well.

now for what i didn't care for: i didn't love the direction the story took. i've seen other reviewers describe it as anti-climactic, and i have to agree with that. once we get all of the answers, they feel contrived and even a little dumb, if i'm being honest. i also zoned out a bit when we got to some of the camping/hiking parts. going into this one i knew not to expect a fast-paced thriller but more of a slow-burn thriller, but even then i got bored at some points, although not so often that i wanted to give up on the book. i was still interested in the outcomes of the story since there was always something left to find out until the end.

the audiobook was narrated very well by Emily Pike Stewart and i would recommend it!

overall, i think this book had potential, and i wanted to love it, but didn't. i would recommend this book if you like:
- slower thrillers
- books set in the wilderness
- complex female friendships
- characters with internal conflicts

The Nature of Disappearing is out June 18, 2024. thank you to Minotaur Books and Netgalley for an ARC of this ebook and Macmillan Audio 2024 Influencer program for a copy of this audiobook!

Good but not great, I adored her first one though. I needed more tension and depth. This one wasn’t as emotional as her first either. I enjoyed enough to finish but not sure I’d recommend. I enjoyed the audio!

I enjoyed the detailed description of the surroundings. The author did a great job in transporting me as a reader into the setting. It’s a slow burn, so at times I lost interest. The pace does pick up towards the end, leaving us with a satisfying ending. #MacAudio2024

This book was awesome!

When I first started it, I wasn’t sure, but the minute Tyler came into the story with the suspense of finding their friend, I was hooked.

This is a story with everything in it. Well, it’s absolutely heavy on the thrill, mystery and a few heavy topics. There is a dash of romance and young love in there too.

The dynamic between all of these characters was written flawlessly. I truly and wholeheartedly enjoyed it and listen to it via MacMillan audio and thought they did a phenomenal job. I would recommend this book to everybody.

THIS AUDIO MADE ME LOVE THE BOOK! Seriously so good! True crime lovers are going to adore this!! It reminded me of the GAbby Petito story. It was a slow start but then sucked me in.