Just Another Missing Person by Gillian McAllister

 

What is the last book you read that you couldn’t put down?  I started Just Another Missing Person last Saturday and had it finished up by Sunday.  It was the type of book that I stayed up too late to read as I really wanted to see what happened.

A case of a missing woman from the previous year has haunted Detective Julia Day as she was not able to solve the case.  Her marriage and home life deteriorated during this time.  When a twenty-two-year-old woman, Olivia goes missing, Julia is on the case immediately.  Her disappearance does not make sense, but Julia also realizes that there are many similarities to the disappearance a year ago.  She soon finds that her own family secret is wrapped into Olivia’s disappearance, and she must NOT solve the case to keep her family safe.  Can she go against her own ethics?  What about Olivia’s family?  Where is Olivia?

My thoughts:

·       This story was told through three points of view: Julia, the kidnapped woman’s father Lewis, and Emma, a mother who worries that her son may be involved in the disappearances.

·       The characters were very well developed and real. I could understand their motivations and felt like I was in their minds.

·       I liked the focus on motherhood / fatherhood.  How far would you go to protect your children? If your child does something terrible, do you protect them or protect others from them?  Julia, Lewis, and Emma are all motivated by their children in their actions.

·       This book had a moment in the middle where I was like, what the heck just happened? I had to reread what I had just read.  I love a book that can throw me off like that.  I couldn’t put the book down from that point until the end.

·       I enjoyed the mystery and how all the strands come together for a great ending.

·       Just Another Missing Person was well written and intriguing.

Overall, Just Another Missing Person is a great thriller and my favorite read from July.  I could not put this book down!

Book Source:  Giveaway copy from William Morrow Books. Thank-you!  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.