Three Days Missing seems to be a standard kidnapped child thriller; then, readers discover that the wrong child was taken and the suspense amps up a bit. My heart raced as if I was in the woods searching for the missing boy.
Chapters alternate between two mothers--Kat whose son Ethan was kidnapped while on a class trip and Stef, the wife of Atlanta's mayor Sam Huntington and mother to Sammy. Kat's chapters share not only her heartache as the search continues for Ethan but also the raw emotion connected to her soon-to-be ex-husband. The sharp contrast between the two mothers is especially evident in the chapter's from Stef's point of view.
Revenge and forgiveness add an interesting layer to this suspenseful novel that will make every mother's heart race with unexpected twists and a timeline constantly reminding readers just how long Ethan has been missing.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I became a huge Kimberly Belle fan after reading, 'The Marriage Lie", and I was super excited to receive an advance copy through NetGalley from Harlequin in exchange for my honest review.
After reading A Marriage Lie, I had high hopes for this one being another exciting thriller. It did not disappoint! This novel tugged on my heart strings, and actually made me lose a bit of sleep at night thinking of how I would feel in Kat's shoes. A missing child is every parent's worse nightmare, especially when they're under the care of a school you trust. This story is told in the perspective of two women with two young boys in the same class. While these two lives were barely ever coexisting, the way they begin to intertwine in this story is gripping, and you will find you have no idea who to trust.

5 “ratcheting-up the suspense” stars to Three Days Missing!

Sometimes you know that you are going to click with a thriller from the first chapter, and that was the case with Three Days Missing. I have read two other books by Kimberly Belle, and I was especially impressed with The Ones We Trust. It had tight suspense with a Scandal-type feel, and I gobbled it up. Well, the same thing happened with Three Days Missing; I breezed right through the easy-to-read narrative with ratcheting-up suspense.

In Three Days Missing, we have narratives from two moms who have sent their young children on a school-sponsored camping trip. The first mom is Kat Jenkins, and her son Ethan is nine-years-old, bright, and quirky. Kat did not want to let Ethan go on the trip. She’s a nervous mom anyway, and Ethan is bullied without friends in his class, so she was worried about how he would manage socially at the camp. Also important to note is that Kat has been going through a bitter divorce from Ethan’s father. The police knock on her door (this scene was so original, so relatable and dramatic, I could imagine it happening to me or one of my friends), and Kat is told that her son is missing from the camp. She is rushed to the site where the investigation has ensued.

The other narrator is Stef Huntington; mom of Sammy, wife of Sam, the mayor of Atlanta. Stef lives the posh life, very much the opposite of Kat, and through hearing from Stef, the tension builds and builds in the story.

Hour by hour there is a race against the clock to find Ethan, while hearing from both of these strong female characters, determined moms that they are. While I did guess one of the twists, there was no way I could guess the biggest one; it was too intricate and well-done.

Overall, Three Days Missing is an exceptionally suspenseful novel filled with likable and relatable characters. To be certain, there have been other “missing children” storylines; however, Three Days Missing is an inventive contribution, and Belle’s taut writing makes this just the type of suspense I enjoy reading.

Thank you to Harlequin/Park Row for the copy.

Katherine (Kat) Jenkins is urging her 8-year-old son, Ethan, to get dressed and ready for school so she can get to work. Kat has been separated from her husband, Andrew, for 6 months. He is dragging out the divorce by demanding more and more things. Kat even has a restraining order against Andrew because he beat her up. Kat lives in Atlanta in a small house and has to struggle to make ends meet. Andrew, on the other hand, lives in a huge home and has lots of money.

Ethan is a very intelligent boy with a genius IQ of 158, but is socially awkward. The other students tend to ignore him and some even bully him. He attends a very elite school that his wealthy father pays for. Today, his second grade teacher, Miss Emma, is taking the class on an overnight trip to Dahlonega, an early gold rush town north of Atlanta. She says they do the trip every year, taking lots of teachers and chaperones for the students and they will stay in a YMCA camp facility. Ethan doesn’t seem happy about the trip but won’t tell his Mom why. She can’t help but have misgivings about the trip either. But, he perks up when she shows him the sleeping bag she bought him and the old family heirloom compass he can use on the trip.

Late that night, Kat is awakened by the police saying that Ethan is missing from the camp. In a panic, she knows she must get to the camp as soon as possible to try and find Ethan. The police detective who came to her door, offers to drive her to the camp. She also calls her friend, Lucas, who happens to be an ex-Marine trained in search and rescue. When they arrive at the camp, it appears that Ethan may have been taken by someone. Could it be Andrew?

Stefanie (Stef) is married to Sam Huntington, who is the mayor of Atlanta. They have a son, Sammy, who is one of the students in Ethan’s class. The mayor is working closely with the police to find the best way to help. They have a huge home with lots of security. When it turns out that Sammy had been sleeping in Ethan’s sleeping bag, this causes more confusion in the search and it becomes a bigger undertaking that means they must all start from scratch. Now, it appears that Sammy was the one meant to be taken and not Ethan. The boys are similar in appearance. So, Kat and Stef both are terrified for their sons. Will Ethan be found safe? Why was he taken in the first place and by whom?

I found this to be a terrific thriller that kept me turning pages. I know readers will like it. Kimberley Belle is a great author.

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

I have been a fan of Kimberly Belle since her debut (see covers at end of post). Three Days Missing is her 4th novel and I loved it, read it in less then 3 days.

It’s every parents worst nightmare, especially when your child is in the care of those you trust. But when your fears are realized and it happens, you are pitted with total helplessness of not being able to fix it. This fast paced book is told from the POV of 2 women, women from different walks of life and how the story’s mesh is very interesting. It is one of those ‘just one more chapter’ books. Never a dull moment with twists and turns I didn’t see coming.

One of the things I love about Kimberly Belle’s books is that the story truly doesn’t end till the very last page, this one was perfect (yet again).

Three Days Missing has many layers, it’s more than a missing child, but I really can’t say what exactly and spoil the ride for someone else. Suffice to say, read this one, I highly recommend.

My thanks to Park Row for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for honest review.

Loved, loved, loved!! A parents worst nightmare ... Could not put this down! Highly recommend. This is the first book I've read b this author and I will definitely be reading more by her.

Thank you #netgalley and #harlequin #parkrow for the eARC.

We were hooked on Kimberly Belle books after we read "The Marriage Lie" (which was amazing)! So when "Three Days Missing" became available, we jumped on the opportunity to read it before publication day!!!
So, wow! This was a fast paced story chock full of complex characters and crazy plot twists. Whenever we read stories involving missing children, our heart rate increases and we sweat through the pages to see how it ends.
We loved how Kimberly Belle creates a situation that any parent can relate to... an overnight field trip and a seemingly caring teacher. What can go wrong?
Well, as the story unravels you'll begin to understand who has Ethan, why, and what needs to be done to get him back! Trust no one, don't bother guessing, and DON'T underestimate any character! Lovers of thrillers will love the suspense and pace of this excellent book!

I received an arc copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review of it. This book was amazing and I could not put it down. Eight year old Ethan goes missing for three days. Who took him from the camp site on an overnight school trip?

We were hooked on Kimberly Belle books after we read “The Marriage Lie” (which was amazing)! So when “Three Days Missing” became available, we jumped on the opportunity to read it before publication day!!!
So, wow! This was a fast paced story chock full of complex characters and crazy plot twists. Whenever we read stories involving missing children, our heart rate increases and we sweat through the pages to see how it ends.
We loved how Kimberly Belle creates a situation that any parent can relate to… an overnight field trip and a seemingly caring teacher. What can go wrong?
Well, as the story unravels you’ll begin to understand who has Ethan, why, and what needs to be done to get him back! Trust no one, don’t bother guessing, and DON’T underestimate any character! Lovers of thrillers will love the suspense and pace of this excellent book!
5⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thanks to Netgalley, Harlequin, and Kimberly Belle for this ARC. Once I read “The Marriage Lie”, I knew I was hooked on this author. Reading “Three Days Missing”, I knew I was in for another treat. I was not disappointed. Once I I had all the stories and characters, I thought I had all the answers. Not quite. I love how this author keeps you guessing yourself throughout the whole book, and when the story is done, you say to yourself, “ why didn’t I see that coming ?” This book is a good one for a book club discussion. Loved it ! This is an honest review.

This was such a thrilling ride...

Three Days Missing alternates between the POVs of Kat and Stef. In the very first chapter we are introduced to Kat and her world-shaking realization that her son has gone missing from his overnight school field trip. Not long after, we are introduced to Stef, who also has a son on the field trip. When Stef receives a phone call that ultimately intertwines her own life into that of Kat's, things begin to get a little mysterious.

The twists and turns in this book are well-paced and woven into the plot throughout the duration of reading. I suspected anyone and everyone of Ethan's disappearance, and while I wasn't entirely shocked by the conclusion, it was a strong, solid finish that left me very much satisfied. The characters were all very likable and the plot was incredibly fast-paced (taking place over a three day span of time).

If this sounds like a novel you would be interested in--I urge you to go pre-order (or regular order if past publication date) now! It's being released immediately as a paperback, so the preorder for PB or Kindle are both super affordable and it's absolutely worth it. I couldn't put this one down.


Trigger Warnings: Child Abduction, Domestic Abuse


Thank you to Kimberly Belle and Park Row for providing me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

This book is an edge-of-your seat, can't turn the pages fast enough, thrill a minute, masterpiece! It details a mother's anguish when her son is kidnapped during a class camping trip. There are many twists in this story and the motive for the kidnapping is not at all what it seems. Fans of Shari LaPena, Kate Moretti, and Nicole Baart will love this book!

I'm not a mother, I don't work with children ... but all the same I couldn't put this book down. There was a rush as I read it - a rush to get to the end, to figure out who was the kidnapper and what their motive was. This book was written extremely well. The bully, Sammy, was really a jerk, but the final chapter, narrated by Ethan, was really incredible. Thanks, Netgalley, for this arc.

This novel was the first book I have read by Kimberly Belle!
Thank yo7 Netgalley for introducing me to an author that might have passed me by. Great read. Right from the first page.....hooked!
Give it a go....you won’t be disappointed!

A fast-paced thriller that will have you turning the pages to find out what happened during those three days missing!!!

Kimberly Belle sure has a way with writing females in their relationships, as mothers, and as independent women. I first read Belle’s work in The Marriage Lie (which if you haven’t read, I highly recommend), and I was so excited that my second read by her delighted me so much! This one is a page-turner. Whether you’re a mother yourself, a woman, or even just a supporter of women and mothers, you’ll have a hard time not feeling the tension as a child goes missing. You’ll want to get to the end and hope that it turns out ok!

About the Book

Kat Jenkins is fresh out of a destructive marriage—one ending in a restraining order. Kat is grateful for the marriage nonetheless, because it gave her Ethan, her son. Ethan is a certified genius, but Kat worries about his difficulty making friends. Particularly at his very expensive, very exclusive private school, Cambridge Academy. The school was her ex Andrew’s idea. Status is important to Andrew, and Kat knows that Ethan will get many opportunities at a school like Cambridge Academy, even if she can barely cover her half of tuition.

Stef Huntington has it all—she’s the wife of the mayor of Atlanta, she has more money than she knows what to do with, she has an adorable son Sammy attending Cambridge Academy, and she has the adoration of the other mother’s at the school. But everything is not as perfect for Stef as it seems. Her husband is almost never home, she gave up her own career aspirations for his, and she is worried about Sammy’s behavior at school towards another boy.

When the students at Cambridge Academy go on a 3-day overnight trip to the mines, their parents get a moment to relax. Until the police come knocking on Kat’s door, that is. Ethan has gone missing, and the heavy rain is making tracking his movements difficult. And then Stef gets a call…

Two mothers with nothing in common face every parent’s worst nightmare, and may be the only ones who can help one another!

Reflection

I love the way Kimberly Belle writes about situations where the main character is thrust into a crisis with very little information. I could feel the emotion of both Kat and Stef. But neither were remotely weak characters. To the contrary, these are women that in a different life would be friends, if it weren’t for the status and social circles thrust upon Stef without her interest in them.

When I was reading about what they were going through, I felt tense and nervous along with them. I think many mothers know that moment when they realize their children don’t tell them everything. Kids may do this out of love, or out of fear, or out of shame. But as a mother, wondering what else your child may have kept from you that led to this situation would be terrifying! It would make you wonder if you were causing them to act this way through your own actions.

This book is a page-turner, and really had no slow or dull moments. Regardless of whether it was Kat’s or Stef’s experiences, we had the time marker to show how many hours since the disappearance we were. And the ending was so satisfying and twisty!!! The last 30% were hard to put down!

Thank you to Harlequin and to Kimberly Belle for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Harlequin and Netgalley for letting me preview this book!
Another excellent page turner from Kimberly Belle Wow it did not disappoint! Love a book that grips you from the very first page. Every Mother’s nightmare come true when a Mother’s son is taken from an overnight school trip. From two women’s POV This is a story about mistaken identity. This book also discusses divorce, domestic violence, and bullying. As in another of Kimberly Belle’s book The Marriage lie those last few pages are always the best!

I really enjoyed this book. It is a stand alone novel that is really makes you think. It has lot of emotion and lots of twists and turns

Oh my, you need to read this book. This grips you from the start, and never lets up. Wasn't sure if I really wanted to read this book, but boy in glad I did. Great book!
Thanks to author,publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free,it had no bearing on the rating i gave it.

A mother's nightmare comes true when her son goes missing during an overnight school trip. It soon becomes clear that not only was he not the intended target, but many people are hiding secrets that would help uncover who took Ethan and why. I immediately connected with the characters in the book, and was hooked to keep reading and find out the truth. A final uncovering in the final pages was not expected! Highly recommended! My copy of this book was provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

A special thanks to Harlequin and Netgalley for letting me preview this title prior to its publication date. It’s every mother’s nightmare when a child goes missing. In this case the child is on a school overnight trip. Two different mothers race up to the wilderness site to make sure their sons are okay. One is and one is missing. Belle tightens the tension early on in this page-turning thriller. I love her writing. Another Goodreads reviewer proclaimed herself the Kimberly Belle fan club president. I want to be VP. She knows plotting, pacing and cliff hanging as well if not better than most thriller writers. At the end of this book she said the hardest thing she had to do was mesh the stories of the two mothers together. Even though she said it was difficult, she did deftly and seamlessly. I can’t wait for her next book.