I'm a sucker for these sorts of books, so I'm not sure why it took me so long to get to it.

I really liked Winter. She's tough and smart and hard working. She has a crap home life, but doesn't let it rule her. I loved being in her head, seeing how she deals with everything that happens. There are some other interesting characters, but I don't want to spoil it.

Plot wise, I was captivated from the start. This book is filled with twists and creepiness and it's all topped with a delicious layer of tension. Every time I thought I had things figured out, something would be revealed. In my mind, everyone was a suspect.

The only bad thing I have to say is that there are several scenes with feral dogs and Winter needed to fight and stab the dogs to get away. I could almost forgive one scene, but not as many as I read.

Overall, it was intriguing with small bits of humor and sweetness. I'm sure I'll still be thinking about this later.

**Huge thanks to Crown BFYR for providing the arc free of charge**

***4.5 Out Of 5 Stars***

Winter just wants to get good grades, stay out of her alcoholic father's reach, work for the town doctor, and get as far away from her small town as possible once she finished senior year. But when she finds a shoe in the woods, she knows she needs to find the owner of the shoe. And when she does, she didn't expect to have to save the boy's life. Between the wild dog chasing her, to the mysterious follower, danger is all around. Winter has stumbled into the middle of something that may cost her her life.

OMG, this book was so freaking suspenseful! I thought I would start the book and read a chapter or two before bed, but next thing I knew, it was hours later and I was half way through, totally caught up in the story and on the edge of my seat from the tension. I had no idea what would happen next and I was so wrapped up in the story. Armstrong writes amazing characters who are so real that you can't help but root for them and most importantly, empathize. This was the perfect suspense filled mystery.

Jude reminds me a lot of Derek from the Summoning series by Armstrong, and I mean that in the best way possible because I lurv Derek. Jude is this strong silent type, who is not capable of nonsense, only the truth and is aware of darkness that he potentially has but does everything possible to make sure he does not hurt those around him. ​Once he accepts you into his trust, he will do whatever is necessary to make sure you are safe. I felt warm fuzzies for him for the first time when he interfered in the fight between Winter and her father, using his logic and calm to get her out of a dangerous situation. Actually now that I think about it, the entire Jude-Winter-Lennon dynamic feels like the Summoning, with both boys interested in Winter, one charismatic and fun, the other serious and feels undeserving. I like the dynamic, so no complaints from me, just a random observation.

The reason I only gave the book 4.5 stars instead of the normal 5 stars that I give everything Kelley Armstrong writes is because the ending felt a little rushed and a little too easy. The book was like a 300 hundred page lead up, full of suspense, heart stopping danger, unexpected twists and creepiness, but then the ending happened. I felt a little let down, like this amount of tension and edge of the seat commitment by me should have had a little more to the ending. No, this does not make this a bad book, and as my 4.5 stars indicates I liked the book a LOT, I just wanted a little bit more. Keep in mind, the ending was good, this is a standalone story with no loose ends, and it was a great read, I am just a needy reader.

I will read anything Ms. Armstrong writes, as everyone knows at this point, and this was a really engaging teen mystery, with a dash of romance sprinkled in (yes, only a dash, most of the book was dark and eerie, with murder and potential death as the topics). I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a thriller/mystery to keep you up all night.

I received this title in return for my honest review.
For more bookish news, visit my blog at http://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

I'm not sure why, but I just couldn't get into this. I wasn't invested in the story or the characters even though I was half way through. I didn't find it creepy either so I called it quits. It just wasn't for me.

I rarely read YA books that don't have a paranormal or dystopian type of story-line. But there are certain authors that I will read almost any book they write, no matter what genre, and Kelley Armstrong is one of those. This book is a perfect example of why she is on my YA author automatic read list. The story read just like I was sitting on the edge of my seat watching a suspense movie at the theater. It had so many twists and turns, and while I had a tiny inkling of who or what might be behind all of these threatening events, Armstrong still made it so that I really was guessing up until that final climactic scene at the end. All of the characters were so complex, and while you felt like you really got to know them, the whole story was used to unravel just who they really were. And I like that in a YA book, as that is how it really is for teenagers, not knowing just yet who they are.

Winter is a character that you root for right away. She's a bit of an underdog in the small town, she comes from a trailer park, and lives alone with her father, who is verbally and emotionally abusive, if not also physically abusive at times. Her sister took off after high school, and Winter hasn't heard from her since. We are given small peeks into what the reasons for her sister leaving have to do with Winter, and the blanks are filled in all the way up until the end, again, keeping you reading and very involved with the story. Then there is Lennon, the boy she finds in a tree near her cabin in the woods. He's a charmer, and you can't help but like him. When he disappears though, it causes Winter even more distress, since his showing up also led her to believe that her best friend was in trouble. And then in comes Jude, Lennon's slightly older brother. He's different, not a charmer, but there's still something about him that you can't help but like. With Jude comes a whole new set of suspects and scenarios for Winter to wade through in order to try to help her best friend, her new friend Lennon, and possibly past teens who disappeared after high school.

There really wasn't anything that I didn't like about this book. It kept me reading, to the point that after lunch breaks I did not want to stop reading to go back to work. It kept me guessing, not having completely figured it all out until the big reveal scene at the end, and even that had a twist in it. Once again Armstrong has blown me away with a great story. She'll continue to stay high on my list of must-read YA authors.

A story like Kelley Armstrong's latest novel, Missing, is exactly why I love to read. For a few hours, it allowed me to forget about the world as I was completely caught up in Winter's despair and her search for answers. Winter is a take-no-prisoners girl who knows what she wants and understands how the world operates. She is not a dreamer but a doer; while she has a horrible home life that forces her to take refuge in the woods, it is impossible to pity her because she does not want nor expect pity. Her matter-of-fact approach to life is refreshing in its lack of angst and emotional turbulence.

Winter is not out to save the world, but she does demand a world in which the rules are clear even if unfair. She also is fiercely loyal to those who are able to get past the barriers she has in place to protect her mind and heart. In fact, Winter may not be pitiable, but it is easy to sympathize with her. She is tough because that is the only way she can survive her father and the extremely poor, extremely small town she so desperately wants to flee. She has few friends and even fewer people upon whom she can rely. The fact that she is loyal to someone about whom she knows practically nothing makes sense when one realizes just how rare it is for her to find someone who believes in her and who makes her feel safe. Again, she is not someone to pity, but there are plenty of teens and adults who are just as lonely and alone and for whom a simple, genuine conversation means more than anything.

This is not a typical young adult novel in which the kids have to do everything because there is a noticeable absence of adults in their world. In fact, there are plenty of adult figures in Winter's life, and they fall along the spectrum of helpful to infuriatingly dismissive just as they do in real life. There are reliable adult figures in her life who help her and provide her with a safe refuge, just as there are adult characters who see her as nothing more than a troublemaker upsetting the status quo. In spite of the presence of these adults, Winter never attempts to uncover answers on her own without first seeking the help of the proper authorities. She contacts all the right people and makes all of the right decisions we teach our children when it comes to authority figures. The presence of adults makes Missing a refreshing break from the typical YA novel.

The story itself is intriguing. After Winter finds Lennon in the trees and drags him to safety, the story takes off and never lets up in its intensity. What she uncovers is sinister, but it is also creative in that it forces readers to acknowledge the disparity of the wealth gap and the innate disadvantages built into the system for those without adequate means. Winter's world is not Lennon's world, and her shock at just how different they are echoes the reader's shock. It would be easy to dismiss this disparity as purely fictional, but there is no doubt that communities like Reeve's End do exist and that for many people, hunting is not just a hobby but a means of survival.

As far as young adult novels go, Missing is a breath of fresh air. Not only does the story revolve around a fiercely independent character who knows when to ask for help, it is ground in reality. There are no fantasy elements to draw a reader's attention away from the poverty levels of Reeve's End. There is no love triangle to distract readers from the fact that Winter does not know how to wear a dress because she has never owned one. It is these little details, brutal in their meaning, that gives the story weight and prevents it from being just another flighty YA story but rather one which is entirely, chillingly plausible.

Missing was… not at all what I was expecting.

Yes, it was a suspense thriller, but for most of the book, I found myself wondering if there was going to be a paranormal twist. It was extremely odd in most places. And when Winter kept remembering the same phrases out of different mouths—well, I really thought there was something MORE happening than just human evil.

As good as the premise was, though, I really struggled at times. It was just long. Or at least felt so. And, Jude and Lennon … I trusted neither. That’s terrible, but they were such oddballs and I couldn’t understand how Winter was willing to trust them considering how they appeared so suddenly. Especially with their background! But again, the pacing is somewhat messy. Moments of intensity and then absolutely nothing for so long. It actually got to the point where I didn’t even get freaked out when something happened. Because the crazy never showed himself. I guess it didn’t feel real. I was thinking maybe Winter was behind it all.

Oh! The romance was a no for me, as well. It just felt too contrived. Again, with the reality of not knowing these guys, I found it hard to believe that someone who prided themselves on being smart could be so stupid.

As for the ending, that was lackluster, too. I didn’t really “get” the explanation. The who and why still didn’t make me think anything brilliant had taken place. It was almost a letdown after so much waiting.

Overall, it was an okay read for me. It’s definitely going to be hit or miss for people, depending on how you like your thrillers.

Winter is looking forward to the day she will be able to leave Reeve’s End, become a doctor and never return. Her sister did it and her best friend has already done it. The town is full of abandoned mines and not much else. Of course, she will miss the solitude of the woods; it has been where she could escape her own troubles. During one of her trips into the woods she finds Lennon bleeding and left for dead. Soon after, Lennon disappears and Winter is left questioning if all the missing really left on their own accord.

Missing is a stand-alone thriller that will grab readers with the first pages and not let go. The mystery of all the people who leave this town is developed slowly as Winter makes the connections and readers will try and stay a step or two ahead of the characters. Armstrong has stepped away from her usual fantasy genre and this book is a wonderful example of her varied talents. I recommend Missing to every reader who wants a good mystery or thriller and doesn’t want a cliff hanger at the end.

MISSING, by Kelley Armstrong, Crown Books for Young Readers, April 18, 2017, Hardcover, $17.99 (young adult)

Reeve’s End is a dead end. Everyone knows it. And everyone who can leaves it. Winter Crane is next. At least that’s her plan. As soon as she graduates, she’ll be gone — just like her best friend and her sister.

But dreaming of a life away from Reeve’s End doesn’t mean Winter won’t miss it. Well… she won’t miss the trailer she lives in, or her father’s drunken beatings, but she will miss the woods, her job helping the one local doctor and her shack where she takes refuge.

Winter is all but counting down the days when she finds a boy bleeding, left for dead in a tree. Winter is able to save Lennon, but then he disappears. And it turns out her best friend is missing, too. Suddenly Winter is thinking about her sister, and how she hasn’t heard from her in a long time, too.

When Lennon’s brother, Jude, appears and starts asking questions, Winter becomes convinced more is going on than she originally thought. She doesn’t know or trust Jude, but she doesn’t have a choice. The clock is ticking.

Missing is the first novel by Kelley Armstrong that I’ve read. She’s a New York Times Bestselling author, and has written 21 fantasy novels, three middle-grade fantasies and three crime novels. Missing falls into the crime/mystery category, and after reading it, I’m not surprised she’s so successful.

Missing is full of suspense. The pacing is fast and full of tension. And the plot has more twists and turns than a windy road. That said, the end didn’t come as a complete surprise, and some of the twists seemed like a stretch at best. Despite that, I found myself glued to Missing.

Kelley’s main characters are compelling — flawed, frayed and intelligent. Winter is so perfectly suited for her setting that the appearance of Lennon and, later, Jude feels jarring. This contrast immediately sets the tone and helps move the action forward.

Reading Missing is like watching one of the better Lifetime movies — whether you like it or not, once you’ve started, you’re in it for the long haul.

© 2017, Cracking the Cover. All rights reserved.

I wasn't incredibly taken with the book and have enjoyed Armstrong's other books more in the past than this one. It took me forever to finish it and wasn't particularly memorable because of this.

I honestly forgot how much I loved Kelley Armstrong's writing. Before I transitioned over to young adult books I was big on the whole Stephen king, crime/mystery/thriller adult books and paranormal romance. The first book I ever read by Kelley was a mass market copy of a bunch of short stories for her werewolf series. I didn't know what they went to. I just read them then I had to go looking for the actual series and I was in love. After I switched over to YA I picked up a book from her here and there but I never read them. After reading Missing, I am regretting not reading them and wondering how I forgot that I loved her work.

So, onto the review. How exactly do you write a spoiler free for a mystery suspense book? The best part about these kinds of books is that you aren't supposed to know what is going on. You are supposed to be lead down a trail of confusion and unanswered questions. Why else would a mystery book exist if that wasn't the end result?

We have three main characters. Winter Crane is the narrator. Then Lennon is thrown into the picture and after that, Lennon is replaced by his brother, Jude. So we don't really have any points where we have all 3 characters but they each have very pivotal parts in this book.

Winter lives with her 'dad' in a rundown trailer. Her father won't be winning any "Best Parent" awards. She would rather sleep in the woods, surrounded by feral dogs, than sleep in the trailer with her father. She is med school bound and trying to get out of this shitty town they landed in after her mother died. The town her sister ran away and left Winter in. The town where a lot of people seem to want to get out of and things just don't seem right. But the town suddenly starts to get a little more interesting.

Enter Lennon. Winter saves him from the feral dogs that drove him up a tree. He isn't from the area but he had met a friend of Winter's at a concert a while back and had come to visit her. Then it turns out he isn't exactly the best at telling the truth. And that leads us to meeting out next character...

Jude! He is Lennon's "Irish twin" brother. Meaning they are only ten months apart. Once Jude is involved with the mystery that is going on, everything starts to get messy and fast paced. We find out exactly who Jude and Lennon's family IS and that leads us to some very interesting plot twists and wrong guesses as to who the bad guy really is.

I couldn't help but love Jude. He was smart and a great fighter and was just a really good guy. I did have some weariness though, with how Lennon was. I was worried Jude would be the same. The book actually made you believe one thing or another about the brothers.

The great mystery in the book is a missing person/murder situation and Winter and Jude are trying to find out what is really going on. That leads then through a lot of scary and strange situations. I was actually starting to the think the book had some paranormal elements to it because of a few parts, that's how creepy it got. But in the end everything was figured out and I was pretty okay with the ending. I do want to know what happened with Edie and her family. What happened with the killer. And what happened with Jude and Lennon's "parents" and how the mother came to be in the situation she ended up in.

Ahhh this book was just so fricken good. Go read it. I cannot explain anything else in this review without some spoilers but seriously go read it!

In the end, I really LOVED this book. It was a very complex mystery and it was creepy as hell. I am a horror movie queen. Always have been since I was seven or eight. So nothing really scares me anymore but there were parts of this book that had me putting it down and listening to make sure my house was safe. I also don't think reading the book in four or five hours during the dead of the night helped me. I really recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good creepy mystery. Since I read this book as an eARC from NetGalley, I think I will purchase the hardback after it comes out so I can reread it. And I am NOT someone who rereads books often.

Overall, I gave the book 5/5 stars.

Disclaimer: I received an e-ARC of this book. I chose to review it and this in no way impacts my opinion of it.

When I saw Missing up on Netgalley for review, I hit request unbelievably fast. I never honestly thought I stood a chance of being accepted for it but when I did, I was ecstatic. Kelley Armstrong is my absolute favourite author, so it is a dream come true to receive a review copy of one of her books.

When I started reading this novel, I was instantly hooked. Missing was creepy and mysterious and everything I could have hoped for in a thriller novel. Reading this novel before bed made me paranoid that someone was going to try and kidnap me while I took my puppy outside at 12am and it was wonderful.

I loved that this thriller was more stalking and creepy then in your face scary. This novel will make you believe that there is someone right around the corner, watching, always watching, but you can never see or find them.

I thought this novel was a complete masterpiece and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes mystery or thriller novels. It will definitely not let you down.

Here in the Northern Midwest the weather is warming up, the sun has finally come out from the clouds it’s been hiding behind, flowers are blooming and it seems as though summer may actually be just around the corner. I had my doubts there for a while. And of course, thoughts of summer immediately turn my mind to finding some good vacation reads. Missing by Kelley Armstrong is one I would definitely recommend throwing into the beach bag.

In a shack in a forest in Kentucky, Winter Crane dreams her dreams and works hard to overcome her hardscrabble existence. In her refuge, she can avoid the father who beats her in the mobile home they share. Here, she can hunt for game when she can’t afford food. Most importantly, in this quiet spot she can study and learn; a good scholarship is her best bet for getting out of this town. And that’s what everyone wants – her sister, her best friend, and the other kids she goes to school with. They all leave shortly after graduation and few come back, even for visits. Many don’t even call or write.

Then she finds the shoe. A single Air Jordan so expensive no one in her impoverished community could possibly afford it. When the barking starts she knows that whoever owns that sneaker is in a whole lot of trouble, for the feral dogs that scavenge these woods are far more lethal than a pack of wolves.

She finds him in a tree: too low to the ground to evade the dogs forever and passed out and in imminent danger of falling. Staying downwind of the pack, she’s able to climb up and stabilize him and by waiting the beasts out she gets both of them away from the sticky situation. Once safe, she builds a stretcher and takes him back to the cabin. Some painkillers and a bit of rest get him back on his feet. However, Winter experiences plenty of anxiety as she moves him from the shack to the somewhat safer location of the family mobile home. Throughout their walk it is clear that whatever – or whoever – caused the handsome young man to be in the tree is stalking them back into town. Winter is relieved when he disappears from her father’s trailer in the morning, leaving a note saying he’ll deal with ‘the issue’, whatever it may be, and a wad of cash in lieu of thanks. She thinks that’s the end of it but of course, it’s only the beginning.

In the short time they had been together, the boy had mentioned that he knew Winter’s best friend, a young woman who left town to study fashion design in a city many miles away. When Winter tries to contact the girl, she’s AWOL. Mysterious boy with weird injuries in the woods and a missing pal has her questioning what she thought was truth: What if nobody left at all? What if they’re all missing?

As Winter begins to look into the actual fate of recent high school graduates, she gets some surprises along the way: A drunk driver who has hidden a horrific crime for years. The reason behind her father’s rage. And Jude Bishop, the handsome, enigmatic brother of the boy in the woods. Together they will uncover old secrets and make some new and deadly enemies.

Well drawn characters, an intriguing mystery and solid pacing had me happily turning the pages the whole time I was reading this novel. Ms. Armstrong is an experienced wordsmith and one whom I think writes a YA novel that is easily as interesting to adults as it is to teens. She avoids trying to have her characters be trendy or hip and relies instead on them being likable and somewhat relatable. Perhaps you aren’t as smart as Winter or talented as Jude but they come across as people you could meet in your everyday life nevertheless.

I like the way the suspense is handled as well; creepy but not completely terrifying, and with no effort to get into the villain’s head. Too many books get bogged down by giving us evil’s side of the story. In this case, we aren’t meant to understand their point of view, just condemn what they’ve done and move on.

That said, few books are perfect and in this case the flaw I couldn’t overlook was the strain on my suspension of disbelief. I accepted a teenage girl who could hunt, trap, outwit feral dogs and still be on target for med-school. I could believe in a teen boy who was an expert in hand to hand combat and on track to be a great concert pianist. But as the book progressed and the situation became more desperate while they became more awesome, I began to roll my eyes a bit. However, the story is strong enough, the characters endearing enough that it in no way ruins the book; just removes it from DIK territory.

Missing is probably as good a mystery summer beach read as you’re going to find. Not so engrossing that you can’t put it down when it’s time to do something different but completely engaging once you pick it back up. The sensuality level means that everyone on the trip can read it, from your pre-teen to your grandma. It won’t keep you up all night in terror but it will have you reading into the wee hours of the morning. Seriously, this is the book I would throw in my luggage and share with the family as we lounge by the water.

This was seriously creepy. Small towns, dark forests, and a psychopath playing twisted games. The only reason this didn't get a higher rating was because the "reveals" of the mystery were some serious DEUS EX MACHINA.

I'd forgotten just how easy to read Armstrong's books are. Her narrative just flows and it's easy to intend to read one chapter between other tasks and then find yourself, half a book later, having done nothing you'd intended to do that day. I fell into Winter's story immediately and breezed through the book in two sittings.

What I actually liked most about Missing was - surprisingly - its social criticism. Through Winter, who lives in a small town trailer park and often goes hungry, and Lennon and Jude (LOL yeah), who are the adopted sons of billionaires, the author explores class divides and prejudices. Interactions between the characters offer consideration of class, wealth and privilege, and Winter also criticizes the idea of Southern "chivalry".

Additionally, it is very atmospheric. Armstrong uses the isolated small-town Kentucky setting to create a sense of foreboding. She shows their suspicion of outsiders, and the way in which they're always watching their fellow residents. It's hard not to start wondering about the truth - if those who left Reeve's End were just regular kids escaping the confines of their small town life, or if something happened to them. If that's why they never came back.

All that being said, and though I don't regret having read this, I was really disappointed with the way the mystery resolved. A character came flying in from nowhere to offer convenient answers that were... anticlimactic.

Everything I have read by Armstrong so far has been a page turner. This latest book did not disappoint! There was twists and turns I wasn't expecting and a few times when I wanted to yell at a character or two.

This was a great read, I had a hard time putting it down and read it in less than a week.

Creepy, chilling, and all sorts of sinister, Missing is the kind of mystery that hits hard because of just how possible the situation is.

This mystery is a challenge. There are so many clues that lead you in several directions. The reader, just like Winter, doesn’t know who to trust and what’s more, there are hints that suggest Winter is not psychologically sound or an entirely reliable narrator. I loved that the possibilities were endless and kept me guessing throughout, up until the very end.

There are some seriously nightmare-inducing scenes. Some material may be triggering for readers, especially when it comes to animal abuse/mutilation. The adrenaline is high. Every snap of a twig, every laugh in the dark, every moment that makes you doubt, it’s a rush that will leave you breathless with anticipation. I could not put it down.

In Reeve’s End the poverty is so profound that people can’t afford food and hunting is a necessary means of survival for some. The story begins with the main character setting traps, hunting for her dinner, resting in her personal shack in the woods. As the world building picked up, it was a huge revelation. Reeve’s End is one sketchy and messed up place. The cops are a joke. They arrest people on whim, they dismiss actual tips, and are full of prejudice that prevents them from doing real police work. And the sexism. Wow. There are several pointed comments about a woman’s position in society, victim blaming, and intelligence as something snobby and indecent. Sometimes the rage was pretty strong and the frustration that no one would listen to Winter and Jude, it’s enough to put anyone on edge.

Winter and Jude. Steamy. Profound. Beautiful. The way they confide in each other. They see beneath the surface and fronts they put on for outsiders and they’re so cautious. Winter recognizes Jude has deep resentment, issues, and has put up a wall because she has the same feelings within herself. Their relationship isn’t angsty or particularly sexual like a lot of YA lately, it builds and grows and is rooted in understanding and compassion.

While there were tidbits and clues throughout, I don’t think there were enough of them. The ending is so twisted that there’s really no way to see it coming and there wasn’t enough given to the reader to make a guess until a chapter or two before the reveal.

Who doesn’t love a good villain in a book?

I love Kelley Armstrong’s supernatural books, so when I spotted this new mystery by her I knew I had to read it. The story is about this town in Kentucky where teens are going missing and as it goes on you unravel the mystery of what is actually going on. Even though there were some parts I liked, I didn’t really like the main character Winter. I’m not really sure what it is about her but I just didn’t click with her. The mystery part was awesome and kept me guessing, but I was kinda bored with the other parts. But the suspense was on point and everything intertwines together beautifully!

Anyway, Winter lives with her father who is an alcoholic but she hides out in a cabin in the woods. Rather creepy but it is a relatively safe place for her. She tries to spend a lot of time working, and she wants to eventually leave the town to go to medical school. One day while in the cabin, she hears the wild dogs and ends up coming across Lennon who is trying to find Edie his friend. Of course it is a small world and Winter is friends with Edie as well. Lennon ends up disappearing though and then enters Jude – he is on the hunt for his brother. Winter and Jude team up to find his brother and her sister while a little insta love ensues. The insta love actually worked for me because it seemed real as opposed to how it usually ends up you know? And although I didn’t care too much of Winter, Jude was the best!

This story definitely had some crazy and intense parts but I think this is perfect if your in the mood for a simple mystery that will keep you on your toes. It wasn’t perfect by all means but I still really loved the suspense and the complexity of it! I love books that keep me guessing.

Missing is a fast-paced YA thriller that quickly hooked me on the story.

Winter Crane lives in a small, poor Appalachian town. Her father is an abusive drunk, so she spends a lot of time living by herself in an abandoned shack in the woods, hunting and trapping to supplement her food supplies. One night she finds an injured boy named Lennon in the woods. Although he is a stranger to Winter, he apparently knows her best friend, Edie, and Lennon tells her that Edie has been abducted as she was traveling home from school to visit her family. Winter is unsure whether to believe him, but it’s clear that something is going on when somebody begins terrorizing the two teenagers. Then Lennon disappears, just before his brother Jude shows up looking for him. At first unwilling and then unable to convince the local sheriff to help, Jude and Winter join forces to figure out what happened to Lennon and Edie and who is continuing to threaten Winter.

My favorite thing about this novel was Winter herself. She’s a very strong person who takes care of herself as best she can since there isn’t really anyone else she can rely on. She’s also got skills that most teenagers these days don’t, like being able to use a bow and arrows to hunt. At the same time, though, Armstrong doesn’t make Winter an unrealistically kickass character, something that happens a little too often in YA novels. Winter may have a switchblade, but she’s not a trained fighter. When she gets terrorized by the killer, she fights back as best she can, but like an ordinary person would.

The action rockets along, which helps the reader overlook some of the less realistic elements. (Seriously, how does the killer always find Winter all the time to mess with her? It’s like he’s got her lojacked.) When Jude shows up, he and Winter make a good team after an unpromising start, and of course their shared danger heightens their emotional connection. (Yes, there’s romance in the book, too.)

One word of caution—if you are an animal lover, particularly a dog lover, this might not be the book for you. Winter kills a deer for food, and the death isn’t completely sanitized for the reader. There’s also a pack of feral dogs that gets decimated in the course of the story. Winter has to fight them off with her knife, and several of them are brutally slain by the killer as he terrorizes Winter. These aren’t cute, cuddly dogs, but what happens to them is still pretty cruel.

That caveat aside, I’d recommend this book for fans of Kelley Armstrong or anyone who enjoys a good YA thriller.

An eARC of this novel was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Known for her supernatural Otherworld and Cainsville series this is a different proposition from Kelley Armstrong. This standalone thriller is aimed at Young Adults but is enjoyable for adults too.

Winter Crane lives in a small town in the middle of nowhere, Reeves End. Her sister Cam has already left town - like most of the teenagers her age - and has left Winter in a trailer park home with their near alcoholic father. She is smart and has her heart set on university and medical school. Winter works tirelessly tutoring other students, working part time at the local doctor's practice and hunting in the woods to put food on their table.

While in the woods checking her snares and traps she finds the body of a badly beaten boy being tormented by feral dogs. Dragging the injured boy back to her shack she tends him back to health. Lennon had been searching for a girl that he'd met at a concert last year. Edie had phoned him and needed his help and was now missing. Winter's friend Edie.

Even though I knew that this wasn't a supernatural book I kept second guessing myself. Everytime Armstrong references "humans" I was metaphorically punching the air as if to say "Yes - I told you so!" As the feral dogs continue to play a large part in the story I was convinced it was going all "Bitten" and that the feral dogs would turn out to actually be the missing teenagers.

Missing is a real breath of fresh air. Armstrong has created a smart and sassy leading lady who isn't afraid to go after what she wants or to protect those that she loves. I was completely engrossed in the story and didn't see the ending coming at all.

Supplied by Net Galley and Random House Children's in exchange for an honest review.

UK Publication Date: Apr 18 2017. 384 pages.

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Missing is set in Reeve's End, a small town where kid's are leaving as soon as they can. No one really take's this as strange, that is until Winter finds an injured boy in the woods who say's her childhood friend is missing. When he disappears as well, Winter, with the help of the mysterious boy's brother, has to fight for her life and find out what's happening.

Missing is full of intrigue, mystery and plot twists. The big overall question is who really is the villain? Have we met them? Is it obvious? As a complete page turner, I was reading long into the night trying to answer my questions. The plot is unpredictable and surprised me to the very end.

As with most YA books there is an underlying romance, although it's not too in your face. Armstrong has wrote it as a very natural connection between characters rather than an instant love. This works a lot better than a lot of books. I hate having a romance subplot which completely overshadows the main story.

The main issues I had with this book was the 'useless adults' and 'useless cops' tropes. Although, I can see why it's needed for the story, I really disliked how Reeve's End sheriffs dept didn't take any of the reports seriously. I'm not sure if this really happens in small towns in America? But in my experience, no adult is going to be that dumb, especially if they're in charge of protecting the town. But this is a very small concern, and a common trope in books, the rest of the book was great.
There's definitely a creepy 'in the woods' vibe from Missing. I've heard of Armstrong's other books, which made me question if it was going to be a bit paranormal. But fortunately, it was solely a realistic thriller. As my first ever Kelley Armstrong book, Missing has left a good impression. From what I've heard she's an amazing author, so I'll definitely be getting my hands of some of her other books.