Cover Image: Reported Missing

Reported Missing

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This has an interesting premise that could have/should have been gripping but which sadly didn't follow through on its promise. Rebecca starts off strong as she deals with grief, the suspicion of her friends and family, and her need to find out what happened to both her husband and Kayleigh. I was with her till about halfway through when suddenly things seemed to slow down. There are any number of novels in the wife-trying-to-solve-mystery-of-husband genre and it could be that I've just read too many of them. Thanks to net galley for the ARC.

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Rebecca Pendle is depressed but it is very understandable because 4 months ago she had a lovely house, a job, an husband and money in the bank but now she lives in a caravan, hanging by a thread with her job, a missing husband and escalating debt! To top it all off though on the same day as her husband disappeared so did a 14 year old girl from the small seaside town where they lived. Neither of them had been seen since. What a difference a day can make. Just one day and none of it was her fault, she was just collateral damage left behind in the whole scheme of things.
This is such a hard hitting and powerful story about Rebecca, the kicking post for a town that didn’t have any answers to where her husband Chris and the young girl Kayleigh were. Had he abducted her or worse? Were they even connected to each other? I mean surely the wife knew something was going on. All the normal assumptions that people that haven’t got a clue make.  Rebecca was constantly tortured mentally and physically by a gang of teenagers, friends of the missing girl and shunned by a town that should have known better. The whole story is very heart breaking in so many ways.
There is no escape for her, she is determined to be there if or when he comes home and also for her mother in the care home in the town suffering from dementia.  There are some very touching moments that even with her mum being in such a state she could still find comfort and protection just by being near to her. Rebecca battles with bouts of hiding away and throwing herself into some rather dodgy situations in order to find out the truth. Some of which she wishes she could undo and never know. As the story progresses the pace quickens along with the tension.
I really enjoyed this story that high lighted the innocent victims by association of a suspected crime, looked at from different angles including the police investigation.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, this is my honest and unbiased review.

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would describe Reported missing is a mystery thriller. We have a missing man ( Chris Pendle) and a missing teenage girl ( Kayleigh) - both have gone missing on the same day and the question of whether their disappearances are linked hangs heavy in the air especially for Chris's wife Rebecca who has been left behind not only to figure out if it's just a coincidence but also to face the gossip, the whispers and the smear/ bullying campaigns that she has been subjected to. Local gossip and rumors having already decided it's more than a coincidence and that her husband is a peodophile or child kidnapper. It seems no one in this sleepy, coastal town has ever heard of the term innocent until proven guilty! Rebecca begins with an unshakable belief that her husband is innocent but as we move through the book and as links are founds and the connection between the two missing people grows, we see Rebecca's desperation and confusion escalate as she begins to question the trust between her and her husband. Did she ever really know him? This is the story of a normal wife pushed to breaking point as she lives in a self imposed exile while she desperately seeks to uncover the truth.

It's a very well written novel with a tight plot and strong storyline but it's a slow reveal, a slow almost claustrophobic look inside the life and thoughts of the wife left behind. If you like cliff hangers and adrenaline fueled thrillers that rock you to the core then this might not be your bag but I personally believe a slow burner isn't a bad thing and being character rather rather than action driven can offer just as enjoyable and satisfying read if you don't compare but take it on its own merit. This story gave an incredible insight into the mind of the main character and as someone fascinated by people's psychology I really appreciated this. This is almost more about the mental breakdown of Rebecca than about a crime and it makes for fascinating reading.

Sarah creates a brilliant tension and the tone of the book is melancholy and slightly morose which suited the plot perfectly, proving she is skilled at creating the setting and atmosphere.

Rebecca the main protagonist is struggling, desperate to find out what happened to her husband. She is now holed up in a caravan, drinking heavily and running out of money. Still in their home town she finds herself a pariah who is cold shouldered and snubbed. I felt her loneliness and isolation and thought what an unenviable apportion she had found herself in.The scenes where she is subjected to physical attacks by groups of unpleasant teenagers left me cringing, at their cruel was and I felt for her in that respect. She cut a lonely, unhappy figure whose whole life had fallen apart and I couldn't imagine how it would feel left wondering if your husband really was the man you thought he was. However despite her circumstances I really struggled to like her as a person. I found her attitude towards her dementia suffering mother to be selfish and unsympathetic and I didn't warm to her her complaining or self centeredness. But despite not liking her I appreciated that this made her a more believable character, humans are multi faceted and never perfect, so Rebecca was human and therefore a very well depicted character. I am sure most of us would'nt behave perfectly under the stressful circumstances.

The whole book is written through Rebecca's eyes and if I'm honest I was somewhat disappointed that we didn't get some alternative narrative from either Chris or the missing teenager. This would have made for more depth and mystery to the story, I felt this would have made the read a much stronger and intriguing one with the potential for some real insights and clues, whereas at times this singular perspective became a little laborious. Flitting between the two would have mixed it up and bit and could have added some cliff hangers at the end of each persons chapter- leaving us guessing. Although as the story was told I was still separate to find out what had happened? If the disappearances were linked and if so how Chris was involved. Had he kidnapped Kayleigh? Had they fallen in love and eloped? Had he murdered her and run away? This was still enough for me to keep turning the pages long after I should have switched off my kindle!

I really enjoyed Sarah's style of writing and found her to be a talented story teller, all in all an impressive debut and o look forward to reading more from her on the future.

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The premise of Reported Missing has a ripped from the headlines feeling; a woman's husband goes missing, coincidentally a young girl goes missing as well. Of course, those in the media, law enforcement, and even the general public are drawing connections and assigning blame. The wife cannot reconcile the husband's character with the possibilities that keep being conceived. The pacing of the book was slow in the last third for me. Sarah Wray weaves a really good tale, lots of twists and turns. I, along with the wife, changed my mind several times throughout. If you like a book that doesn't reveal too much too soon, this would be a good choice. The only thing I had trouble with was the characterization of the wife; at times her actions didn't seem to fit the picture I had formed in my mind, and it was hard for me to accept some of her thinking and reactions. It did however make it easier for me to to accept the wife's confidence in her character portrait of her husband and her inability to conceive his actions.
Overall, I would be happy to recommend this novel, and I would definitely read more from Sarah Wray.

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'Reported Missing' gave me the heebie jeebies, I'm not gonna lie! Two people missing, both at the same time. The only difference is; one is an adult, the other is a fourteen year old girl. Heart in mouth moment, anyone? Did Chris abduct the teenager? We wouldn't be human if we didn't think the worst, and that includes situations like these. I assumed the worst. For me, two people going missing at exactly the same time, a male and a teenager, I felt sick. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of readers think along the same lines, not at all.

'Reported Missing' is a bit of a slow starter; there's a lot of setting the scene, getting to know the characters, whilst slowly building the level of intensity. Sarah Wray has been extremely clever with her organisation of the storyline as she also incorporated multiple dead ends, red herrings, as well as quite a few head funk type situations. If you like storylines like that, then you'll really enjoy 'Reported Missing'. Whilst I do enjoy the head funk type novels, sometimes the slow pace irked me a little bit as I couldn't sink my teeth into the storyline. Information was delivered throughout the storyline in dribs and drabs - ideal to keep you engrossed in the storyline, although not so good if you're an impatient reader who just wants to find out the 'whodunnit' and the gritty parts of the investigation.

I was engrossed. I was also impatient. So all in all, my opinion of the overall novel is pretty mixed as sometimes I felt that the slow pace worked well with the plot, and other times I felt like it was hindering the storyline a tad. Either way, 'Reported Missing' was able to get multiple reactions from me, it was able to keep me hanging, as well as eager to reach the conclusion. Can't really complain at that really, can I?

Thanks Bookouture.

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I really enjoyed the fact that the start of the book takes place after the disappearances I thought that this was a great way to plunge the reader into Rebecca's personal nightmare. Along with trying to piece together the clues to find out what happened to her husband. It was awful to see the effects on Rebecca and how she was treated in the aftermath of the events.

I have to admit it is a slow burner of a story so if you like a thriller that hits the ground running you may feel disappointed. However I quite liked that the story was more centralised around the characters namely Rebecca. I also couldn't resist the mystery of what had actually happened to Chris and Kayleigh. Due to the pace of the story I felt like I got to know Rebecca better as you follow her struggle to comprehend what everyone is saying about her husband. She is completely in the dark and you can feel the pressure and tension that she is under. Rebecca is a compelling character and there were plenty of occasions where I just felt so sorry for her situation. Then on the other hand she could go into something without necessarily thinking things through but I guess she is just so determined to prove everyone wrong in their assumptions about her husband.

The question remains is her husband innocent or is he guilty?

The story is an intriguing one especially as it shows the repercussions for loved ones after any disappearance. I found myself quickly working my way through Reported Missing as I just had to know the truth and to find out if Rebecca would ever find out for herself. It was great that I couldn't see where the plot would go next it isn't as if there were twists and turns galore but I felt just as in the dark as Rebecca was.

Tense and intriguing!

With thanks to Bookouture & Netgalley for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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Oooooooh! I love when a debut novel just wraps its icy hooks around you and chills you to the core! That is exactly what Sarah Wray’s Reported Missing did to me – I am only sorry I waited so long to pick this beauty up!

Set in the seaside town of Shawmouth, the reader is instantly faced with sadness, fear, loss, misplaced guilt, mistrust, hope, terror & torment, a search for the truth that has you questioning everything you thought you knew.

Told in the first person POV, this story had me breathless – there was an intensity in the plot that just kept me wanting to know more. This is not a fast-paced read, it can’t be- it shouldn’t be- because the reader is taken on a journey with the main character in her search for answers. I was hooked from the start and immediately knew that I, like Becca, had unanswered questions that I needed to find the truth to as well! What I learned shocked me and made this book memorable!

Characterisation was a strength in this novel and something that really pulls me into a book. There were a lot of characters to keep this storyline tight and unwavering. Becca (Rebecca) Pendle is the main character – we are told the story through her eyes. Becca is broken; tormented by those in her small hometown, she questions everything she once believed to be true. It was almost tragic and I really felt for her. We feel her thoughts, emotions and actions as if we are right there with her. Becca had a determination and courage that made me urge her to succeed in her search for the truth.

I loved her friend Jeannie. Wanting to help her friend but also wanting to encourage her to face the fact that sometimes the truth hurts – even when we can never be sure of what that truth is. Paige and Kat were another two that dominated (in a good way) this story. I was constantly torn between feeling sorry for them – two young girls whose friend has gone missing on the one hand but also Paige being a right gobby cow! I actually wanted to smack her a few times!

Becca’s husband is a mystery. As the story develops, we learn bits and pieces about him – but if I am honest, I think I would have liked to have known more! What makes a man leave his wife, no calls….no note…and on the same day a 14 year old girl goes missing! And Kayleigh…where does she fit into all of this? What is her story? Like Becca, I was going crazy trying to figure it all out! This novel really brought to the forefront that sometimes we tarnish people as guilty and expect them to prove their innocence!

Do I recommend this book? Hell Yeah, I do! This was a well crafted read and I was amazed it was a debut novel! It has an intensity to it, beautifully written and something that is totally believable! If you like atmospheric reads, with mystery, suspense, allure and a twist that will surprise you – this book is definitely one you will want to add to your TBR!

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Rebecca’s world is rocked when her husband goes missing on the exact day a fourteen-year-old girl cannot be found. Coincidence? Rebecca desperately would like to think so. As the police begin an investigation and as the people she knows begins to turn against her, Rebecca digs into her husband’s world to try and find the truth. Did Rebecca truly know the man she loved?

Reported Missing, the newest Bookouture thriller by Sarah Wray, had an amazing premise. A husband going missing at the same time as a young girl; I was catapulted right into the story and instantly began to come up with several of my own theories. I love when a book does that! This one sort of reminded me of Gone Without A Trace by Mary Tourjussen; it had a similar vibe.

Rebecca was a very likeable character. Wray brilliantly captures Rebecca’s desperation as she pleads with police and her shame as her friends and family turn against her. I went back and forth with my feelings about her; I pitied her, I felt sad for her. Wray knows how to pull on her reader’s emotions.

Although I loved the central character and the general premise, I found this one had incredibly slow pacing. I found this one to be more of a slow burning read without many twists or turns. In fact, this one is pretty straightforward. Not a whole heck of a lot happens outside of the “did he or didn’t he” sort of storyline. This absolutely works, but I was hoping for a little bit more.

Overall, I feel like this is a well-written read would appeal to fans of slower moving thrillers where the characters are central.

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This book is just too much of a slow starter for me, it was a bit of a chore getting through it. You got little snippets of a twist then it didnt kick in until well over half way through. The character understandably is in a depressive state after her husband leaving but it honestly got boring. She drinks, gets tormented by local kids, her best friend trys to help her is the recurring theme throughout. You didnt even really find out where her husband went to in the end. There are just too many decent thrillers on the market for this to compete.

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This is Rebecca’s heartrending story of wifely loyalty and the conviction that her husband Chris could never have abducted or harmed 14-year-old Kayleigh Jackson who has disappeared. The evidence certainly points to him though; both he and Kayleigh disappeared on the same day, lived in the same town and some other witness evidence points to the fact that he may be guilty.
Rebecca decides to carry out her own investigations and unwittingly takes a very dangerous path that could lead her into grave danger. Her friends slowly drift away, unable to talk and reason with her, just one friend remaining supportive and loyal. She moves to a secret location in an attempt to remain anonymous and avoid confrontation. She is desperate to uncover the truth and is hoping against hope that she will be able to prove her husband’s innocence and that life will then go on as it was always meant to be. She is at her wits end and is not looking after herself properly, her health both physical and mental becoming a worry.
Very gradually she sinks lower and lower. The shady company she seeks out in her search for the truth looks more and more threatening but she cannot keep away. Her instinct tells her to continue her search even though her body is weary and she is unwell. Public opinion escalates in hatred for her and her husband and she feels unwelcome and conspicuous wherever she goes. Then she discovers that Chris has been keeping secrets and telling lies to her. She can scarcely believe what she knows must be true. She is at her lowest ever, feeling excluded, paranoid, threatened and weary. Still she continues on her mission.
“Reported Missing” is Sarah Wray’s promising debut novel. It is well written with lots of interesting and diverse characters, some of them real lowlifes. I felt great sympathy for Rebecca because she was innocent of any crimes yet was vilified. Her life was turned upside down yet she still believed in her husband and devoted herself to proving his innocence. The novel started very slowly and for the first third of the novel I wondered whether to keep reading on, but gradually the pace picked up and the story intrigued me enough to keep reading on. The story was quite cleverly plotted and tense but the twist at the end was improbable and there were some loose ends that I would have liked neatly tied up and explained. I would like to thank NetGalley and publisher Bookouture for my copy of this novel, sent to me in return for an honest review. I would certainly read a second novel by this author.

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Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for a copy of the eARC in exchange for a fair review.

Rebecca is a hot mess because four months ago her husband went missing and the same day he disappeared so did Kayleigh Jackson. Since that happened everyone has linked the two together and she knows unable to face all the attacks. She has abandoned her house in favor of living in the caravan, and her drinking is out of control.

Rebecca struggles to come to terms with the man she thought she knew and all the allegations against him. Not long after he went missing she found out he lost his job, and he wiped out all of their money. Everyone acts as if she is just as bad as him, she has lost nearly everything, but in moments of sobriety, she decides that she needs to know what happened.

I am not sure how I felt through this book, and I can't say too much without spoilers, but on the one hand, I felt it was horrible how everyone treated her, and I could see that the doubts were eating her alive. She wasn't always likable, but the situation was definitely realistic.


I can't say I didn't see the end coming I suspected it heavily but I wasn't actually positive until I read it. Overall a quick gripping read from a totally different perspective than normal.

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The premise of Reported Missing totally drew me in, imagine your spouse goes missing on the exact same day that a teenaged girl does. The media jumps to the obvious conclusion that Rebecca’s husband was involved in Kayleigh’s disappearance, and at first glance, it’s easy to see why. But things aren’t always as they seem and Wray takes the reader on a complicated path full of secrets and misdirection.

The pacing of this book starts out slow, which I know can be frustrating for some people, but it worked well for me here. The slow and steady pacing made the book more thought provoking and the second half did speed up a bit. This is very character driven, the author spends a lot of time showing how Rebecca’s life has changed since Chris vanished. She is such a mess and it was simultaneously heartbreaking and fascinating watching her unravel. Her out of control paranoia and fear caused me to experience the same feelings which is always a good sign to me!

Reported Missing was a different type of thriller, it was smart and well thought out and it didn’t rely on crazy, far fetched plot twists though it did have some surprises. It had solid writing, an interesting premise and an unexpected ending, overall an engrossing read.

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What happens when your husband goes missing the dame day a young teenage girl disappears? Rebecca is going to find out and it’s going to be a very unpleasant experience. Nobody believes Rebecca’s husband is innocent and after a while she starts to doubt him herself. When she starts to unravel the mystery around the 14 year old missing girl, she endangers not only herself but two more young girls. When her husbands name is cleared, Rebecca still doesn’t know for sure what happened to him. But every thing she finds out about his life, things he kept hidden from her, makes her understand that he might never come back. I liked the book, it shows very clearly, that it’s easy to assume the worst of people you now. Why wasn’t there anybody helping Rebecca, trying to make things a little bit easier for her. Even if it was hinted what really happened to Chris, it was some sort of open end. And I don’t like open endings. So, this and the somewhat slow pace made it difficult for me to give more then three stars, even if it was an interesting read. I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture!

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A very dark slow burner of a story. A missing teenager and a husband who goes missing on the same day. Assumptions made and the brunt of the horror is Chris's wife left alone. I found the book slow but definitely wanted to finish to find out what had happened. I really admire the writing skills of Sarah Wray to set the scene. It was so dark and eery and you could imagine the neglected, out of season seaside town that Starbucks hasn't found yet! A quicker pace at the end with a good conclusion.

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An interesting premise that didn't completely work for me but still kept my attention. I found it to be a little too slow-moving for my liking. It's a debut for the author, and I do think the writing is solid, just lacking the action I expected from reading the synopsis. I'm looking forward to seeing what else she comes up with. It's as much about Rebecca's breakdown as it is about her missing husband.

Rebecca's husband is gone. He's been missing for months with no signs of life or evidence as to where he's gone. She's wrecked... unable to stay in their house, not working, drinking way too much. She spends most of her time in the caravan she's renting, sleeping or drinking. Occasionally she goes to a bar called Barnacles, which I thought was a fitting name considering how utterly stuck in life she is.

She still has a friend on her side, but that's about it. The town is against her. You see, her husband disappeared on the very same day a teenage girl went missing. Disappearances around there just aren't that common, and everyone thinks they're linked. The missing girl is only fourteen years old. Everyone thinks Chris has either run off with her or kidnapped her, making him a pedophile. Rebecca's place is vandalized and she's followed and threatened. She starts to get strange phone calls where no one speaks, just breathes. Is it Chris?

She never suspected her husband might have liked little girls, and never thought he would run away from her and their home. Ostracized by the town, questioned by the police and even questioning herself, she's sunk into a deep depression. Will she ever be able to find out the truth and claw herself out?

I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Bookouture, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.

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Rebecca (Becky) Pendle’s husband, Chris Harding, disappeared on the same day, July 17, that Kayleigh Jackson, age 14, went missing. Neither of them has been found. People believe that he abducted her.

Now, several months later, Becky is a nervous wreck. She found she can no longer stay in their home as the press is always hounding her. So, she rents a caravan near the beach. She spends her days sleeping too much, drinking too much, and wandering around looking for Chris. Her mother is in a nursing home as she has dementia. Her father has passed away. Her in-laws live some distance away and are beside themselves about the allegations against Chris. She has made friends with a woman who owns a bar and who tries to encourage her to eat. Becky’s good friend tries to help her too. But, Becky is in a world of her own and just moves from day to day.

Many people recognize her and start to harass her about Chris and call him a pedophile. A lot of these people are teenagers who were friends of Kayleigh’s. Becky tries to talk to them to try to find out what could have happened because she believes her husband could never be capable of abducting her. The police are also continuing to question her. Her money is running low and when she checks further, she realizes that Chris took almost all of their money when he left. She also learned that he had been fired from his job shortly before he left and had pretended to Becky that he was going to work each day. Slowly, her belief in her husband starts to fade.

They story continues at a fairly slow pace as bit by bit we learn more about Kayleigh and about Chris. Could it be true?

This is a good book that certainly keeps the reader’s interest all the way up to the conclusion. I cannot give away much more due to spoilers. I will say that as this is the author’s debut novel, she will certainly be one to watch in the future.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

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I absolutely loved the concept of this book and couldn’t wait to dive in! I thought the story was a real slow burner and consisted of Rebecca moping around, drinking in her caravan and isolating herself from those who cared and wanted to help her. I really pitied Rebecca, the treatment and abuse she received from something her husband was being accused of was dreadful, I wouldn’t wish that on anybody! It was a shame how she had so much faith in Chris not to have done anything and after hearing what everybody was saying about him, she even started to question and doubt him herself.

The mystery of what had happened to Chris and Kayleigh and whether their disappearances were connected really compelled me to continue reading this book! I truly didn’t know what to believe the whole time reading, I was so suspicious of the school girls and the men from the takeaway but the biggest for me was, of course, Chris!

It’s amazing to see how vile and calculating young school girls can be and how their mistreating of a fully grown adult didn’t faze them at all. I really loved how this book was written however I think for a few chapters to have been in the perspective of other characters would have been rather interesting, especially Chris!! Because I wanted to know what was going on with him soooo badly – where the hell was he and what had he done?!

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There are two ways to be fooled, one is to believe what isn't true, other is to refuse to believe what is true
The book starts with these beautiful lines, which immediately made me feel I am in for a thrilling ride, with mysteries untold and secrets unsaid.
Rebecca's husband, Chris is missing since the past four months, 112days and so is a teenager Kayleigh from the town of Shawmouth. Both disappeared on the same day, at the same time... Together??
The dirty insinuations by the people and the police investigation in that direction, the shock of her husband running away with a girl not even fifteen, caused Rebecca to have a nervous breakdown and she spent the first month in a daze, under medication, in bed. To escape the violence against her, she moves out of her house, rents a caravan and slowly after four months, starts her own investigation. Her search for the truth leads to shady localities, unsavoury characters, nasty school kids and the dark underbelly of the town.
Sarah Wray has written the book in good English, with minimum swear words. There are unexpected happenings leading to shocking endings. Her flow of the story is a little different than what a normal psychological thriller ought to be.
There are sporadic moments in the book which are sensitive, Rebecca's visits to her mother who is at a care facility, her persistence inspite of opposition, her belief in her husband, her intentions are appreciated. Rebecca's investigative methods are different but they lead to results at the end of the book, barring a few details which are not explained.
There are few niggles I have to mention here
If the author's intention was for me to get irritated, yes she succeeded. If she wanted me to read the book real fast, without enjoying, yes she succeeded...
Rebecca just drinks and drinks and drinks and then wonders why she gets irritated fast and why her reactions are slow.. I just have one thing to say to that.. duh
Just keeping a watch on a shady pizza place and needling school girls and then, coming back to drink is not investigation.
A thirty five year old woman, getting bullied by a bunch of fourteen year old school kids and then hiding in her caravan is not investigation... Grow a backbone, woman...
I wonder what genre this book aims for, its just blehhh. In 60% of the book, Rebecca has gone nowhere. She manages to irritate all her friends, become paranoid, lose her job, owe a huge credit card debt (her husband has a gambling debt), and yet have money to DRINK.
Can I emphasize on drink more????
How is this a psychological thriller, it just ended up killing my thrill psyche and I couldn't read this book fast enough for all the wrong reasons.
I agree that what happened to Rebecca was horrible, she was collateral damage in a deed which had nothing to do with her and anyone in her position would lose hope and drink but this is fiction not a true incident book. There has got to be a strength in the main character. Pulling herself out of a difficult situation and turning her life around, thereby clearing her husband's name would have made this book a better reading.
If the author Sarah Wray has wanted to show the rising of the Phoenix, with the main character, then she has not done it, at least not with this book. This psychological thriller does not thrill only kills my brain cells.

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Another Bookouture thriller release. REPORTED MISSING by Sarah Wray was one that had my interest after reading the description. Two disappearances - a man and a teenage girl - are they connected? Was she kidnapped? I always love these kinds of thrillers, they usually have a more life like feel.

A few months ago, Rebecca's husband, Chris, disappeared. At the same time 13 year old Kayleigh also disappeared. Talk about an incredible coincidence? Well, the police and the small town don't seem to think so. As more parallels between Chris and Kayleigh are discovered, Rebecca is determined to uncover the truth.

This had a solid story and plot line to it. Sarah Wray has a great writing style and I really enjoyed it - a great debut That being said, I felt like the story really dragged in parts. It is a very character driven novel - so there's a lot of focus on Rebecca. Don't get me wrong, that's not a bad thing, just not what I was expecting from a thriller.

I loved the writing and the plot, if the pace was a little faster then I would have enjoyed it a lot more!

I give this one 3.5/5 stars!

Big thanks to Bookouture for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

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There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true. - Søren Kierkegaard

Up front let me tell you that you'd better be in the right mood to read this book. It's a bit longer than normal and is, for the most part, downright dreary and depressing. The writing is excellent thus the four star rating but I felt like going on a bender after finishing this book and I haven't drank since 1981.

Rebecca Pendle and Chris Harding are married. They left the bustling lifestyle of London two years ago to move to the very small town of Shawmouth, England to be near to Rebecca's mother who has dementia. Rebecca thought everything was just fine in their marriage but woke up four months ago and her husband has gone missing. That is bad enough but a 14 year-old girl disappears at the same time and rumors start immediately. Rebecca doesn't want to believe Chris could be involved but as time passes she drinks more and more and is less sure of his innocence.

I didn't like Rebecca's character but who knows how one would act in the same situation. There was really only one character I did like in the whole story - the owner of the little bar Rebecca goes to that also owns the caravan (trailer) park Rebecca moved into.

So if you're in the mood to be depressed, this one will get you there quickly. I'd like to read another book by this author one of these days (this is her first novel) that is on the lighter side because she really is a talented writer.

I received this book from Bookouture through Net Galley in exchange for my unbiased review.

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