Wow, If I Go Missing by Leslie Wolfe is quite a psychological thriller. It kept me on the edge of my seat from the beginning to the end. The plot twists were well written and there were several "wow, I didn't see that coming" moments throughout the story. Readers who enjoy crime stories will enjoy this story that is full of lies, betrayal, and revenge. I certainly will be looking for more books by this author. I was given a copy of the book through NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are my own.

“If I Go Missing” is fascinating, and engrossing, and grabs your attention from the very first page. The protagonist vividly displays her fears, hinting to the readers that something is amiss. As the story unfolds, her anxiety becomes more apparent before her sudden disappearance. Wolfe’s writing style stirs up the readers’ emotions by creating vivid mental images. This book masterfully conveys the lengths one would go to protect their family amidst secrets and lies. The suspense is maintained throughout, culminating in a climax that is both satisfying and unforeseen. This book is a must-read for lovers of character-driven thrillers. I highly recommend it!

Thank you to Bookouture, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

This psychological thriller left me wondering till the very end. I really enjoyed reading it. The narrative centers on Alana, a lady whose high school sweetheart and his wife move in next door, bringing a horrible secret from her past back to haunt her.

Alana,, advocates for the 'If I Go Missing' binder, a creative collection of personal facts that aids police in overcoming legal difficulties during potential abductions. But when two people close to Alana, including a student, go missing, everything she stands for is called into question

There are many twists and turns in this fast-paced book. The characters—especially Alana, who is flawed but likable—are realistic and well-developed. Throughout the entire book, the author does a fantastic job of building suspense and tension and delving into the topic of keeping secrets from the people we love the most, exposing the motives, feelings, and consequences involved in such behavior.

I suggest you give this book a try if you're searching for an engrossing, compelling psychological thriller with an incredible twist. You're not going to be let down.

I really enjoyed this book. I couldn't stop turning the pages because of the compelling plot. Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy.

Leslie Wolfe returns following The Surgeon with her latest highly impressive and much talked about psychological crime thriller IF I GO MISSING —A true crime junkie's paradise, a must-read if you have followed all the TikTok rave #InCaseIGoMissing and the viral binders you can buy to store your secrets in the event you go missing! I loved this!

If you're reading this, I've gone missing.

This opening will have you hooked. A plan. A binder. Tidbits that form a person's existence. From photos, bank accounts, social media, usernames and passwords, fingerprints, and DNA. Twenty-nine years of personal history told in photos—Inside information—bread crumbs left by the binder's owner.

How does one know the critical information needed to solve a disappearance? This person is afraid for their life, and the binder is meant to be found by the person who will find them. When the truth is wrapped in a lie, it is shielded from the light of day in ways no one can see.

This person must be different and unique. To choose to fight crime, not just be entertained by it in fiction and the news media—someone with an unrelenting passion for improving people's lives at the worst moments of their existence. You were meant for this. Only YOU can find me.

The binder has been hidden from others. This person is strong, resilient, and can endure. They will not give up without a fight. Flip through the pages and find the answers. It is in your power to save me. No one else can.

Two years earlier, we met Alana Blake. She is a teacher in Half Moon Bay, California. Alana is a fourth-grade teacher and married to Daniel. She is nervous about having a baby and fertility treatments. The fear takes her down a winding path of lies from high school.

Chloe was her best friend. All the guys loved her. A master manipulator. Then Chloe steals Ray, Chloe's boyfriend. Alana is forced to leave home and make the most difficult decision of her life. ow, then years later, Chloe and Ray married each other, and now living next door to Alana.

There are multiple mysteries, with Alana sitting in her car watching student Taylor. Is Ray still in love with her? Will Daniel stay with Alana if he finds out about the lies? Does Alana love Roy or Daniel?

Multi-layered and complex, Chloe moves next door to Alana, her old high school friend, Chloe, and her husband Ray (Alana's ex). Then, people close to Alana go missing. Can Alana get to the bottom of this mystery? Who can she trust?

Why would a picture of a dead girl from North Carolina be in Chloe's binder? Ray moved to Half Moon Bay from NC, but she does not see the connection. Another student killed Heather, so she does not think Chloe set foot in NC. Chattanooga, Tennessee, before NC. What was Stella's game? Deaths, Olivia Robinson, and Nikki?

Why didn't Chloe tell Ray about the binder? How did Chloe know she would be the one who found it? Is this just a game to set her up?

A TRUTH WRAPPED IN A LIE.

Put your detective hat on. You will not be able to put this one down! It is told in first person by Alana, an unreliable narrator. You will be sifting to find the truth among the lies and plenty of MIND GAMES. Who is the monster and the murderer? Is Alana a pawn in a sociopath's mind game? Will Alana lose it all?

I enjoyed Wolfe's previous book, The Surgeon, and was delighted to receive a digital advanced reading copy of IF I GO MISSING. This is for fans of Jeneva Rose and Robyn Harding. Ideal for those who enjoy reading and watching true crime books, podcasts, and true crime junkies.

This reminds me of years ago when I was a bank manager, and we had to put in secret files our daily routines and information if the bank was robbed or there was a hostage situation. My son is now a bank manager; the same thing holds and my other son works for judges, so there is always a possible threat.

IF I GO MISSING is fast-paced, twisty, and well-plotted. It will keep you turning the pages into the wee hours of the morning. From lies, deceit, and secrets to uncover. Flip through the pages to find the answers. Yes, it does have the Gillian Flynn & Freida McFadden creepy vibe.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for sharing this fantastic digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I am looking forward to listening to the audiobook narrated by Stacey Glemboski.

Blog Review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4.5 Stars (rounded to 5)
Pub Date: Jan 2, 2024
Jan 2024 Must Read Books
Jan Newsletter

I read almost all books written by Ms. Wolfe and I enjoyed reading If I Go Missing. First of all, the book gives a great idea for those with children and teenagers, a binder to be used in the case they might go missing seems to be quite useful. The story is entertaining, it has a slow start but after a while it becomes faster-paced and leads the reader to make assumptions that will not be true in the end. The whole story lead me to think that nothing is as it seems.
I thank Ms. Wolfe, her publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

One lie turns into another lie and then another one. The web of deceit gets larger and larger until it snaps. Lies, errors of omission and betrayal of the worse kind are the centerpiece of this story. True crime junkies will be sucked into this story from the beginning chapter.

It all begins with a binder known as If I Go Missing. Alana is a school teacher who saw firsthand how important the first 48 hours were for a missing person. She comes up with the idea of this binder which assists law enforcement in the event someone is missing providing essential information that would ordinarily require a warrant. The idea is actually brilliant, but a little bit morbid, in my opinion.

The four main characters are Alana and her husband, Daniel, Chloe and her husband, Ray. Ray, Chloe and Alana have a history together from high school. You can feel the seething tension between them from the moment Ray and Chloe end up moving in next door to Alana and Daniel. There were characters I loved, and some I despised for varying reasons. Hate and jealousy are strong motives to go down the wrong path for some. I do not want to share too much because it will ruin the story for other readers. Suffice it to say the shocks and aftershocks kept coming. Leslie Wolfe has mastered the craft of addictive storytelling and shocking twists. You will be misdirected constantly as you try to solve this puzzle. Mind games are the name of the game for a book I would categorize as a psychological thriller in its finest form.

I saw some realities that are definitely true in today's society even though this was a fictional book. It was emotionally intense, and I could not stop reading.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Wow, just wow! Misdirection and twists snuck up on me when I was least expecting them. The book was well written and the storyline was intriguing. I felt like I knew the characters for years. I found myself holding my breath waiting for the next gotcha. Psychological suspense at its best. I can’t recommend this book highly enough!

I received an arc of this book and voluntarily provided a review.

This story tells of lies that happened between two girls years ago. But someone else knows what happened and wants to bring it to light. When one of them goes missing, it is up to the other one to be able to figure out what happened to her. This will not be easy to do, and she will have to remember how things were when they were kids to help find answers. But will she be able to figure it out in time to not only save herself but her childhood friend? I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.

If I Go Missing by Leslie Wolfe is a well written thriller that is totally worth the read.
This is a wonderfully paced, nail-biting read with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end. The plot was intriguing, and the writing made it impossible to put down.
A story which is full of lies, deceit and mistrust, and I really enjoyed trying to work out exactly was going on here.
I loved it! It's so well written, with sharply observed characters and the kind of fast-paced, twisty plot that keeps you turning the pages.

Thank You NetGalley and Bookouture for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

If I Go Missing is certainly a page turner!
The pacing of the story was perfect.
The twists and turns were perfect.
All in all…..a solid read from author Leslie Wolfe.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

If I Go Missing is told in the point of view of Alana and doesn’t bounce between past or present. However, the way it is written, you are easily transported into the past when Alana reminisces. I enjoyed the fast paced story and short chapters although I must say I ended up thinking “just one more” to the point where it didn’t matter how short they were!

The story starts with a letter: If you’re reading this, the I have gone missing. The letter goes on to explain that the contents enclosed are meant to help the reader get to know them, so they can be found. As the story continues we are thrown into the life of Alana Blake—a fourth grade teacher with seemingly normal everyday problems. That is until an old friend of hers moves in next door. Before she knows it Alana is lying to everyone around her, including her husband and the police, as people in her life start to go missing, one by one. Alana is barely holding it together as she tries to piece together why this is happening while also keeping her secrets hidden.

Now I’ve read a lot of interesting hooks but I have to say this one was damn good! Gripping and just the right amount of drama—I found myself reading it multiple times throughout the my reading journey looking for clues after learning more. My interest was piqued at the very beginning and I couldn’t seem l stop thinking about the characters and their motives even when I wasn’t reading. I tried to force myself to stop because I didn’t want to finish too quickly but that didn’t happen and oh boy that ending was mind-bending! I feel like I have to read it all over again…

A topsy turvy tale of deceit, broken hearts, and obsessive love.
I thought Daniel was the true victim because of all the lies Alana tells him.
The whole binder thing emanated the creepiest vibes. I figured out part of the mystery as it pertained to Taylor.
I thought Detective Fernandez was a jerk and Ray a lech.
I had to keep reading to see where all of it led and the ending was good.

I loved The Surgeon, so when I saw this I hit request. This one fell a little flat for me. It seemed like the storylines were a little confusing to keep track of, but I did enjoy reading it, if only to find out how it all played out for Alana and her secrets. Thank you for the chance to read this early.

Wow that’s a page turner .
I loved this book. It wasn’t who I thought it was either. Such a good read you won’t regret picking this up.
I loved the characters and the way it played out. This is so well written.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

A clever mystery where a schoolteacher past returns (in numerous ways and in many guises) to disturb her career, her marriage and her peace of mind.

Many twists and turns as new secrets come to light. Will her marriage survive the numerous deceptions (and sins of ommission she committed during their relationship)? But a copy and find out (well worth the price of admission into a relatively chaotic world (fun place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there).

A solid psychological thriller and whodunit.

This was an amazing book. I highly recommend it to everyone. Great characters and a great plot. I will be looking for more books by this author. The book is superbly written. Lots of twists, turns and shocking turns of events

The past comes back to haunt Alana. Her high school sweetheart and his wife move next door. Alana lies to her husband to hit her secrets. She hides the fact she had a child she gave up for adoption she had with her new neighbor. Lies, murder and kidnapping with a number of twists. A novel with a story line that was hard to put down.

This was an interesting read. It highlights the importance of having a document containing all of your access details incase of an emergency, heaven forbid it occurs like it does in this thrilling read.

'If I Gone Missing' is a gripping thriller that ensnares readers from the start. With heart-pounding suspense and unforeseen turns, this mind-blowing narrative keeps you on the edge of your seat. From the riveting twist at the end to the jaw-dropping revelations, the story is an exhilarating and addictive journey that compels you to read in one sitting. Be prepared for a sleepless night, as this page-turner lives up to the hype, leaving readers eagerly anticipating the next unexpected shoe to drop.

I think maybe, possibly, having a binder with all your passwords and personal information in case you go missing - is a massive security risk. Like what is some jerk steals it? Lanaa
But that's not even the story so don't worry about that. I work in a school so the school moments stressed me out. Those were too real. Alana is a fourth grade teacher and her husband runs a diner. Somehow this afford them a home in an exclusive cul-de-sac. In my area that makes you top tier poor.
They are so well off they can afford fertility treatments too!
Meanwhile, the houser next door goes up for sale and two people from Alana's past move in. She wants to bang the husband so that's awkward for everyone. Alana also has an issue with people in her life just going missing.
Also she isn't at all honest with her husband.
I spill all tea to mine.
Anyway, it gets pretty messy and it was a fun read.