1.5 stars

Seven years ago Kasey Monroe of Mishawaka, Indiana vanished over a hundred miles away from her home. Her car was found with the door open and her purse was on the passenger seat, money still inside. Jules Connor, another young woman, went missing in the same way two weeks before Kasey. The police assumed the crimes were related but never found any other information.

Kasey’s younger sister, Nic, 24, still lives there. She’s just gotten a DWI so she has no license at the moment and a court date is looming. She’s working a dead end job she only has because her dad is friends with the owner. One day Jules’s sister Jenna appears in Mishawaka and offers Nick some hope and the two try to find out what happened to their sisters.

Oh, wow. This was an OK book, nothing special. But then I came to the line that made me really dislike it. Readers will either read it and think, “nice twist” or their eyes will roll so hard that one of them will fall out. I’m holding one of my eyeballs up to the screen right now. Sad.

3.5 stars, rounded up

This was a twisty quick-read thriller, and while I liked the premise and enjoyed the story, I found the characters a little hard to connect to. It was a little predictable at times and required a good amount of suspension of disbelief, but still a decently fun ride!

After reading Ashley’s first book I was very skeptical to read this one because that freshman book was so bad….but she mostly redeemed herself.
I definitely think this one for her Crime Junkie listeners as it gives us a premise of a cold case and the two remaining sisters who are still looking for answers.

Nic Monroe whose sister Kasey went missing seven years ago is a mess and a half. She has a DWI, a crap job and really is just an overall screw up. One night Jenna Connor, whose sister Jules disappeared two weeks before Kasey uses the fight and reliance she’s built up and approaches Nic to try and figure out more clues as it’s believed the disappearances of the sisters are connected. They dive head first into the case and discover new clues and shocking revelations that put them closer to the truth.

The book was just under 300 pages so it read fast. The overall plot was really investing to me as well but some parts did drag just ever so slightly.

The twists in this book were really good and unexpected.

The thing I think Ashely and her co writers do all the ti is fumble the bag at the ending. While it was better than the first one.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Bantam books for this ARC.

Ashley Flowers writes directly to her Crime Junkie fans in her second fiction novel, The Missing Half. Appropriate in length for the depth of the story, this thriller gives readers just under 300 pages to learn about a seven-year-old cold case and follow it from start to finish. We follow the remaining siblings of two missing girls as they desperately cling to the mystery their sisters have left behind.
Certain plot points and word choices felt unnecessary, as if the writer was working to meet a word count. My biggest complaint is that, at many times throughout the novel, the narrator refers to the ages of herself and her sister, saying, "when I was five or six, and she was eight or nine," or "when I was three of four, and she was six or seven." There is no need to list off four ages all at once. Of course, if you are about five, your sister, who we have established is two years older than you, will be two years older than you. Additionally, many flourishing paragraphs were written back to back with stilted sentences, giving the impression that the styles of our coauthors did not necessarily flow.
While The Missing Half is not groundbreaking, it is certainly entertaining. An easy page-turner with cliff-hanging chapters is impossible to write off as formulaic because it will be perfect for its intended audience. Wrapped up with a twisted bow at the end, cozy thriller girlies will enjoy.

Kept me on the edge of my seat the entire book. Every time I thought I knew the direction this was going I turned out to be wrong. I have a very good knack of predicting the outcomes of mysteries and I am happy to say this book was very unpredictable. which I greatly enjoyed. Pretty dark book over all but I liked it and could not stop reading.

I shared my review on good reads, I will be posting a TikTok review as well soon. I absolutely loved this book. I was captivated the whole time.

I, like many people, primarily know Ashley Flowers from her podcasts. I haven't yet read All Good People Here, so I went into The Missing Half not entirely sure what to expect from the quality, writing style, etc. Was it a perfect thriller? No, not necessarily. Did I fly through it in a day and have an enjoyable time doing so? Yes.

The Missing Half follows Nic seven years after her sister Kasey's disappearance. Just days before Kasey disappeared, another young woman named Jules went missing in the same area. When Jules's older sister, Jenna, suggests that she and Nic team up to try to solve their sisters' cold cases, Nic is initially skeptical, unsure if she truly trusts Jenna or wants to delve back into the full breadth of emotions associated with the most difficult time of her life. She's eventually persuaded, however, and the two women work together to uncover new secrets and new suspects.

Nic was the type of main character I wanted to root for but also wanted to smack upside the head. She made poor choices, and while it wasn't exactly difficult to understand how she had ended up on the path she was on, it was frustrating to watch her self-sabotage. Like Nic, I didn't immediately trust Jenna, but I came around and found myself caring for her and enjoying the older sister energy she displayed toward Nic. I'm sure some of that was because I'm an older sister myself and could relate to Jenna in a lot of ways.

Throughout the book, there were several twists and reveals that I liked and didn't always anticipate in advance, but I found the final reveal at the end of the story a tad disappointing. I wouldn't say I outright disliked it, but it did feel somewhat predictable to me, and the delivery lacked the punch I wanted it to have. I love when a twist really knocks the air out of me, and this one didn't quite accomplish that.

Overall, I think this was a solid thriller and one I would recommend to others. It's a fast, compelling read with a strong focus on family dynamics, especially with respect to relationships between sisters. It's not life-changing, but it'll get the job done.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Great read. I really was not expecting the twist at the end. This book had the right amount of balance between suspense and mystery to keep you interested and wanting more. I read it in one day, couldn't put it down . Thank you for sharing this ARC looking forward to more.

‘Two women haunted by their sisters’ unsolved disappearances band together in this captivating mystery from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of All Good People Here and host of the #1 true crime podcast Crime Junkie.’

Sadly, for me, suspension of disbelief couldn't even begin to come into play here, what with all the heavy convolution and outright implausibility. The beginning started off so intriguing, but by the second half, the grip was completely, wholly lost on me. This wild sort of jacked-up blender effect, how this story scattered into absolutely every direction possible, I mean....ooof. It was just grossly over done imo.

Sorry.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam for this arc in exchange for review. I am always grateful.

Pub date: 5.6.2025.

Nic Monroe's life has fallen apart. Her sister, Kasey disappeared seven years ago without a trace. Most in the town assume she's dead at a serial killer's hand. Kasey is one of the two missing girls. Jules Connor vanished before Kasey with no clues left behind. Nic has taken that pain and let it eat her. She got a DWI, works a minimum wage job, and scrapes by. When Jenna Connor, Jules' sister, approaches her to reevaluate the case, Nic falls headfirst back into the investigation that led her down this awful path. Two sisters searching for the ones they lost all those years ago. When their paths diverge, who will finally know the truth.

Ashley Flowers is a true crime pro. She takes a very realistic approach to the messy world of disappearances. Nic is a struggling characters who still suffers from her grief, while Jenna appears to have grown from the experience. That's the reality of crime. It effects each person differently. Ashley writes story that are very much real life yet captivating and plot driven. Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book.

While it was a riveting story, it was too dark for my preference. I wasn’t a huge fan of the two main characters, and their relationship seemed pretty weird. I was mostly surprised by the twists, so that was well done, but in the end, it just wasn’t my cup of tea. There was also far too much profanity and generally immoral behavior for this to be a book I could recommend.

I love Ashley Flowers as a podcast host but I’m still getting into her novels. I wasn’t blown away after her first novel but I really enjoyed this one! Highly recommend this novel.

TL;DR: Flowers definitely knows how to write a devastatingly dark ending, but I struggled a lot with her sophomore effort here. I just wasn't invested in either of these sister stories, and didn't really care what happened to any of the characters. But oh man, does that ending re-contextualize the main character. Still interested to see what's next from Flowers.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

First of all, thank you NetGalley and the author for giving me early access in exchange for a review. I really did enjoy this book at the beginning and did not expect the plot twist. However, after that point, it just got kind of lackluster for me. It was still fun to read and would still recommend it. I really enjoyed the first book I read by Ashley Flowers and love her podcast so I will read anything she puts out.

“The Missing Half” is a gripping thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The story is full of unexpected twists and turns. What truly stood out was the unpredictable ending—one that I definitely did not see coming! Flowers does an excellent job of building tension, creating complex characters, and keeping the suspense high throughout. Highly recommend for anyone who loves a fast-paced, mind-bending mystery.

I listen to the Crime Junkie podcast, so I just knew I would like this book! Ashley is evolving as a print author and I believe she will continue to do well!

This story did not end up where I thought it would, with several twists and turns along the way. I thought I had it figured out, but I definitely did not! I could not have predicted the ending at all!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam, and of course Ashley Flowers, for allowing me to read this as an ARC!

As someone from Mishawaka, I was very excited to read the connections to the town. We are a smaller community, so reading a book that takes place here was awesome. The first 75% of the book had me on my toes. The ending wasn't what I was expecting and was a tad far-fetched. But overall I give it a 4/5 :)

The Missing Half by Ashley Flowers is a compelling, high-stakes thriller that had me hooked from the very first chapter. One of the aspects I truly enjoyed was the sheer tenacity of the main character, Nic. Her determination to uncover the truth behind her sister’s murder is both admirable and emotionally charged. From the start, you can feel the weight of her loss, and this drive to find justice for her sister propels the entire story forward.

Nic isn’t just a typical protagonist; she’s flawed, complex, and refuses to let obstacles stop her—whether it’s dealing with personal pain or facing off against powerful people who want to keep the truth hidden. Her resilience in the face of danger and uncertainty made her incredibly relatable and easy to root for.

The pacing of the book kept me on edge. Just when I thought I could predict where the plot was heading, there was a twist or revelation that made me rethink everything. The way the story unfolds, with deep family secrets and dark revelations, keeps you second-guessing who can really be trusted, making it a constant thrill to read.

The emotional stakes are just as high as the suspense. Nic’s journey isn’t just about solving the case; it’s about uncovering painful truths about her family and the people she loves. That emotional depth, paired with the fast-paced plot and complex characters, made The Missing Half a standout read for me.

In the end, The Missing Half is a riveting thriller, and the tenacity of Nic is what made it truly unforgettable. It’s a perfect blend of mystery, emotional intensity, and suspense. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a gripping, character-driven mystery!

I loved this book! It had my attention from the very beginning and I finished it within one setting! Just as I thought I had it figured out, there was another twist. I did not expect the ending!

Ashley Flowers’s sophomore book is full of twists and turns and what in the world type of moments. It’s suspenseful, intriguing, and captivating. I couldn’t stop reading, because I needed to know!!! I am still processing and don’t know how I feel about the main character. You love her, you’re wary of her, you relate to her and then you’re left thinking what would I do in her shoes. Excellent work by Ashley Flowers. Love her works of fiction, as much as I love her true stories podcast. Highly recommend