It is always the husband, am I right? Well, not so fast, as this time we have a missing mother Shelby, who goes out for an evening run and never returns. Would she desert her newborn baby and husband? This is a low crime neighborhood and after all, if she didn't just run away from her life, who else besides the husband could have made her vanish.
Weeks pass, when another husband reports his wife and daughter missing. Six-year-old Deliliah and Meridith Dickey don't come home, and her husband Tom and their young son Leo are left alone. If it is the husband, what is his motive and why didn't Leo disappear too?
The story is told from Meredith, Deliliah, Leo, and their neighbor Kate's POV. Told in the then and the now, we learn of the circumstances that lead to these shocking events. Meredith has been hiding many things from Tom, but were they the reason she is gone? Kate is devastated by Tom and Leo's loss and uncovers a connection between Shelby and Meridith. Maybe we need to look beyond the husbands as someone else had ample reason to want to silence these women.
Full of potential suspects and red herrings, ultimately, all of my suspicions were 100% incorrect. I am not sure how I feel about the ending. The reasons for the disappearances were quite sad in my opinion, and I couldn't quite get my head around what this person(s) had done. That being said, while trying terribly hard to avoid spoilers and yet not be totally vague, I flew through this book. All the puzzle pieces come together slowly but surely, and the first chapter really grabbed my attention.

This story had me hooked from the beginning. There were a lot of differing timelines and characters so in the beginning, it was hard to follow but as the story progressed it was easy to follow.

This was the first novel by Mary that I’ve read and it did not disappoint. The story unfolds with main character Meredith and daughter Delilah coming up missing and another woman was missing in the days just prior to their disappearance. What transpires through the book is sometimes predictable but then a quick left turn in the narrative leaves you guessing.

I found myself carving out time to read this so that I could find out what happened. In the end, this story is one that you will be hooked and wanting to find out what happens.

Special thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC of this novel through NetGalley. All comments are my own.

Great mystery! Weaving well developed characters into a web of lies, betrayal and deceit is what this author does best!

The book moves quickly leading you through so many possibilities - so many ways that could account for the missing people (not just one!).
Thoroughly enjoyable - fast read that will leave you thinking for some time how the most heartless can hide in plain sight!

In LOCAL WOMAN MISSING, Mary Kubica has written one of the most suspenseful opening salvos in recent memory, taking the child-in-danger trope to new highs. While the local woman gets the title, it was Delilah who had me on the edge of my seat.. The story kept me guessing all the way through.

Plot twists abound! Features many strong female characters fighting for life. When a local woman goes missing, the entire neighborhood is affected. Secrets. Lies. A page turner!

Intriguing. This well-written book gripped my attention and did not let go. The characters were well fleshed out and the twists kept me guessing. I'm looking forward to reading more books by Mary Kubica.

I found this book interesting, and was engaged throughout, but the ending ruined it for me. When the truth came out, there was just too much that wasn't believable. The book was well-written and I'm sure that lots of people won't have an issue with the ending...but for me, it just didn't work.

I really enjoy this author's writing style. It flows nicely and makes the story interesting. I did not see the end coming and was surprised by the whodunit. I look forward to her next book!

Okay-this book deals with some pretty heavy stuff. It contains graphic scenes- some include children and abuse. I enjoy this book for the most part. It was easy to get into but it's told from three different POVs and at times I had to go back and check who I was reading. It also jumps from different places in time which was confusing at times. However I enjoyed this story, it was good mystery with a good conclusion. I didn't know what was going to happen which was great. I enjoyed the big cast of characters once I got used to the POV switches. Overall, this is a good mystery that will keep you guessing till the end!

Eleven years ago Shelby disappeared, just after giving birth to her daughter. 6 weeks later, Meredith and her 6 year old daughter Delilah also go missing.

Suddenly, Delilah turns up, having scavenged her way through the darkness to find help and come home, 11 years later.

This novel was <i>on fire</i>. I read it in one sitting and the last few chapters were twisty and crazy in only a way that Kubica can pull off.

Great read. I think this is my favorite of all Mary Kubica’s books so far. I was a little hesitant at the start because it was going back and forth between times and characters, but it was well worth it in the end and I cannot wait until this hits the shelves!!!!

Compelling, suspenseful, and full of wild characters, Local Woman Missing is a must read!

I will read anything and everything Mary Kubica writes! In her latest release, Local Woman Missing, Meredith and her young daughter Delilah go missing just blocks from their home. Just before they went missing another woman in their neighborhood, Shelby, also went missing.

Eleven years later, Delilah reappears out of the blue and is reunited with her family. Delilah's return comes with more questions than answers, though.

One thing I loved about this book was the alternating points of view because the way the author wrote them brought so much suspense to the story. I thought the pacing of the book was great, even if it did make me stay up way too late reading!

The characters! Mary Kubica writes such great characters. Something that I think often lacks in thrillers is character development, but in Local Woman Missing, the characters had so much depth and intrigue. I never knew who to trust, who to root for, or even who I liked! But that's something I enjoy in thrillers, it keeps me on my toes!

Overall, an amazing, suspenseful read with twists that feel like they jump right off the page!

A thriller looks at the disappearance of a child and a woman, through the eyes of a sibling, neighbors and friends and even a kidnapped child.

Years ago, a woman named Shelby who had just had a baby went missing. Then just blocks away, Meredith and her daughter, Delilah, disappear. Friends and neighbors, including Kate, wonder what truly happened to Meredith. 11 years later, Delilah reemerges, the victim of a kidnapping. While her younger brother Leo tries to come to terms with who she is now and even questions if that truly is his sister, every question seems to be answered. But have they been really?

The author switches time periods and POVs between Leo, Meredith and Kate, which can be a bit confusing at times. The ending is truly unexpected and will definitely surprise readers! Thriller fans will enjoy the many twists in this story.

I have long been a fan of Mary Kubica. She usually writes a gripping, page turner, edge of your seat type thriller and she stayed true to her style with her latest book. Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

The story is centered around two crimes that occur close together in a small town outside of Chicago. In the first crime, a local woman goes out for a late night jog and never returns home. Shortly thereafter, a mother and her 6 year old daughter go missing as well. Law enforcement as well as the townspeople believe the two,crimes to be related but nothing can be proven and the two crimes go unsolved for 11 years. The author introduces us to not only the victims of the crimes but to the people most affected by these crimes. Her chapters go back and forth between the time of the actual crime and 11 years after the crime ( the present). I will admit that this was a bit confusing in the beginning of the book as I was trying to figure out who was who and what year it was, but a third of the way into the book things settled down and it was much easier to follow.

This was an absolute page turner for me! I could not put this book down and read it in record time! There was even one point in the story where I didn’t want to turn the page because I was afraid of what was going to happen next. Mary Kubica is the queen of unseen twists and turns in her storyline and I can honestly say I did not see this twist coming! Unfortunately, the end of the story was too far fetched and not realistic enough for me so I can only give this book 4 stars. That being said, I would still recommend everyone to put this on their TBR list!

LOCAL WOMAN MISSING is a novel about a missing child and two women from the same community that go missing approximately ten days apart. Right away, you want to know who is responsible for this, or is it possibly two attackers with completely different motives? Are the two women connected? If so, why are they missing? If not, where is the child?

Seriously, I’ve been a big fan of Mary Kubica since her debut, THE GOOD GIRL, was published in July 2014. That was a damn good book. Loved it. Mary Kubica has the amazing ability to take a happy, peaceful community and turn it into a terrifying deadly nightmare. In this novel, the neighbourhood is suddenly a place where women are afraid to go for a run alone, to leave their kids with a sitter or neighbours, to stop by a bar for a drink, or even to get a medical exam to see if they are pregnant. Friends, family, and neighbours are scrutinized for what they witnessed or at least what they thought they witnessed. Accusations of extra-marital affairs are happening in almost every household. The trust between spouses is weak and almost broken. Lies are spewed throughout, and secrets are kept right up until the explosive ending.

I’m happy that I don’t live in this community. However, this story makes you wonder if it is possible this could happen in real life, with people you know quite well. This novel was an excellent read for me. Two things near the end stretched my belief a bit thin (and the author never really explains), but my imagination can fill in the blanks with several different scenarios, so all is good. I honestly think that LOCAL WOMAN MISSING might be the best Kubica novel yet!

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Park Row Books for allowing me to read an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

My rating is 5 out of 5 stars… because I love reading books that are full of suspense and keep you guessing about who the killer might be, books that talk about how scary motherhood really is, books that inspire and educate me (like using birthing doulas and the medical side of giving birth), books that explore relationships between married couples; books that dip into the mindset and point-of-view of children, books that delve into the evil minds of random ordinary people, and books that make me stay up until 2 AM reading until I finish the book. This book nailed all of that.

This book’s neighborhood based suspense reminded me of Truly, Madly, Guilty by Liane Moriarty. I enjoyed the suspenseful, fast pace and multiple perspectives (neighbor, wife, son) of this read. At first, this book feels like an incredibly tangled web of perspectives, timelines, and locations. Everything eventually syncs together and becomes a cohesive novel. I will say, throughout the entire book I felt like there was just too much going on; sometimes less is more when it comes to suspense! The ending was a good twist and definitely interesting. Overall an enjoyable read!

Told in dual timelines and multiple POV’s this book had me flipping the pages fast to unravel this mystery.
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Local woman Shelby goes missing after a jog. Soon after Meredith and her six year old daughter Delilah go missing as well. With two local women and a young girl missing the town is on edge, but with little clues the case goes cold.
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Eleven years later Delilah returns home unraveling shocking secrets that will haunt this close knit town. I could not get to the ending fast enough.
Everything culminates in a fever pitch that I did not see coming with a highly satisfying ending.
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Kubica is queen of the domestic thriller and this absolutely does not disappoint!
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This book is available May 18th
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Thank you to #NetGalley and #ParkRowBooks for an arc in exchange for an honest review

The first portion of the novel absolutely hooked me! I had to find out what happened next. The book alternated between past and present with a few different POVs, some I enjoyed more than others. In particular I liked the POV of the brother. One of my favorite novels by Mary Kubica, it did not disappoint!

I have reviewed this book for New York Journal of Books where it will be posted the evening prior to the release date.

"Local Woman Missing" by Mary Kubica
Park Row
May 18, 2921
10-0778389448
352 pages
Psychological Thriller


Meredith Dickey and her husband Josh reside in a suburb of Chicago. A great place to live, it is family-oriented and considered one of the safest towns around. Meredith, mom to six-year-old Delilah, and four-year-old Leo teaches yoga part-time and works as a doula, meaning her work hours are crazy. Often, she must rush to the hospital for a client in labor. If Josh is not home to watch the children, she drops them at Charlotte's, the neighborhood sitter who provides childcare for several neighbors. When Charlotte isn't available, Bea and Kate, who live next door, love watching the kids.

One of Meredith's clients, Shelby Tebow, whom she assisted in a long and tedious delivery turns up missing not long after her daughter is born. In a rush, the physician involved used forceps to deliver the infant causing damage, and Shelby and her husband, Jason decide to sue him. Meredith and one of her colleagues present at the time of the birth offer to back her up as witnesses.

Suddenly, Shelby goes missing. She is known to jog at night, but one night she doesn't return home. What could have happened to her? Though she and Jason haven't been getting along, it is inconceivable he would have harmed her, especially with a new baby. Did the doctor play a part in her disappearance believing a lawsuit would ruin his career?

Meanwhile, Meredith's friend, Cassandra begins to snub her. She invites her to her house and confronts her after learning Meredith was once her husband Marty's college lover. She presumes they are still together, mainly because he never mentioned Meredith and he had a history, and Meredith never told Josh. Meredith states their affair was years ago, and they have nothing to hide; she and Marty felt it best to leave the past behind. This raises more suspicion in Cassandra's mind, and she commands Meredith tell Josh, or she will inform him they are still meeting secretly.

Distressed by Cassandra's threats Meredith plans a romantic dinner at a fancy restaurant to tell him about her involvement with Marty. But as they are about to place their orders, Bea arrives with Kate to celebrate Bea's 30th birthday. Josh invites them to join them, spoiling Meredith's chances for a private conversation. Drinks are passed around and when it gets late, Kate is ready to go, but Meredith and Bea want to stay longer. Both Kate and Josh need to rise early for work in the morning, so Meredith and Bea remain to enjoy their time out. Bea drives home and in their inebriated state, she has an accident, causing a terrifying event. Because they are drunk, Bea begs Meredith to keep the mishap a secret. Though there is not much damage to her car, Meredith insists they call the police. After a heated discussion, Bea advises her they will end up in jail which stops her short.

Not long after Shelby goes missing, Meredith and Delilah vanish. The community is in an uproar. Is there a serial killer around or did they take off on their own? This is highly unlikely for they are a happy family without problems.

Eleven years pass since Meredith and Delilah's disappearance. Meredith's car was discovered soon after her disappearance at a seedy hotel where she allegedly committed suicide. But where was Delilah? Did someone kidnap her?

This frightening tale commences with Delilah held captive and kept in a dark and dreary basement. She is dirty, barely fed, and never sees the sunshine. Her horrific account starts like this:

"I hear footsteps. They move across the ceiling above my head. My eyes follow the sound, but there ain't nothing to see 'cause it's just footsteps. They don't matter none, though, because the sound of them alone is enough to make my heart race, my legs shake, to make something inside my neck thump like a heartbeat."

Imagine the plight of this child, now a teenager, held hostage for so many years. The description of her terror is palpable as she wastes away in a moldy basement.

In addition to this chilling event, consider how Delilah's father and brother feel. They lost their wife and mother as well as daughter and sister. It is almost incomprehensible to conceive the pain this family endures.

Each chapter is told in different voices as well as including a lot of backstories. It would seem baffling to switch between the past and the present, but this is so beautifully written it is easy to comprehend. Filled with secrets and bombshells, every segment proves more harrowing as events take place to make this a chilling tale. The characters are well fleshed-out and distinctive and the plot is so in-depth the reader becomes enmeshed in the story.

I have read a few books by this author so was excited to have the opportunity to read this thriller. It kept me reading into the night and while there are some character groups to keep straight, as the plot unfolded that became easier as well.

Missing people and a 'hostage' make for some really tense passages, but I found that I enjoyed the way the plot unfolded. Be warned, this may not be a book for everyone as there is some abuse and hard murder details.