Merritt Coletto seems to have the perfect life - she's married to Luca, a successful restaurant entrepreneur, a gorgeous home by the sea, and she's pregnant with their second child. That all comes crashing down with a late-night knock on her door....it's a woman claiming to be Lydia, Luca's long missing and presumed dead first wife. Her unsettling re-entry fractures and upends Luca and Merritt's seemingly perfect lives. How can she just be....unmissing?

I thoroughly enjoyed this juicy twisty tale. I was fascinsted by how Kent made me love, hate, trust and distrust every character as the layers of their lives peeled away and their unsavory secrets were revealed. I didn't know who to trust or who to believe and I loved it. This would be a great read for fans of The Last Mrs. Parrish or My Lovely Wife. Great twisty domestic thriller!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for extending the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest review.

This book was a miss for me. I don't expect thrillers to be realistic, necessarily, but the level of suspension of disbelief and absence of logic required with this plotline was more than I could handle.

I finished reading Unmissing a couple days ago. I liked the idea of the plot line, it was complex. But I feel like the characters were too undeveloped and inconsistent for the plot to come together the way it should have.

It was a slow burn at first, where you're trying to figure out why the characters are each doing what they are. Then all of a sudden, everything happens at once and you're left with your head spinning at HOW any of it could have happened anyway.

This book read like a lifetime movie plays out. So for that, I'd only recommend this book to those who love Lifetime movies.

I'd give it 2.5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
"Unmissing" by Minka Kent was diabolical, it was a crazy thrill ride & I was so invested in it that I couldn't wait to find out what the heck was going on.
This was the 1st book that I read by Ms. Kent & going through my TBR list of books, I happily discovered that I also have a copy of Ms. Kent's book, "The Stillwater Girls", that I can't wait to read next.

Merritt Coletto and her husband, Luca, have a perfect life until one night, Lydia, Luca's first wife, who had supposedly died years earlier, shows up at their doorstep telling a story of her abduction.
Unmissing is dark, suspenseful… and very clever! This extraordinary thriller takes the reader on an emotional roller coaster of suspense and mystery.
With a brilliant plot and multidimensional characters, some of whom are more twisted than others, Unmissing is a fast-paced, well-written novel that I had a hard time putting down.

When what you think you know happened according to the words on the page is not really what happened. A page turning thriller loaded with secrets that are slowly revealed as the story unfolds. This is the fifth book I’ve read by Minka Kent and the writing makes me keep turning the page every time. Her stories lead you in one direction and then end up going somewhere else. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review an advance copy of this book.

This book pulled me in from the beginning! It’s such a fast paced psychological thriller with dual POVs. You read from both Merritt and Lydia’s side and I got the sense that BOTH ladies were possible unreliable narrators and had deeper secrets than initially presented. This kept me turning the pages wanting to find out more. Which of the two wives was lying? Who had darker secrets? How was Luca able to move on and build a life of wealth so easily, seemingly out of nothing? I also loved getting lost in the setting of this twisted little seaside town in the PNW. This is a book that you will want to finish in one sitting. If you liked Verity, I feel pretty confident saying you will love this book too!

Good psychological thriller set in the Pacific Northwest😲

A number of good twists as a woman comes back from her presumed death and the remarried husband and wife have to deal with it.

The pace is great, the prose is pretty spare with just the right amount of description to build the scenes without overdoing the details. I did not want to stop reading. Are the characters likable? Not so much, but loving them was not necessary to enjoy the plot.

Not my first Minka Kent thriller and it won't be the last!

Thanks to publisher Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

What would you do if your perfect husband's first wife shows up and threatens the life you've made for yourselves?

Merritt is enjoying housewife life when her husband's first wife comes back out of the blue despite having been declared legally dead years prior. But Lydia, the first wife, doesn't want Merritt's life or her husband, just revenge. Still, nothing is as it seems as the two women tread carefully around each other as their shared husband squirms.

I loved almost everything about this book. Like Kent's other books the characters are believable and real, and the alternating perspectives make it difficult to put down. While the first twist (about halfway through) was pretty obvious from the start, the second (about 75% through) wasn't. From that point on I couldn't put the book down until I finished.

The only thing I disliked about the book was the end of it. While it was exciting and thrilling ot read, it seemed a little too crazy to keep with the rest of the book.

4.25 STARS

Synopsis: Luca Coletto has a good life: a coastal home, a lucrative business, and a growing family. His life wasn't always so perfect - 10 years ago, his first wife went for a hike and never returned home. After a year of searching for the young Lydia Coletto, she was officially declared dead. After years of being held hostage and tortured, Lydia finally escapes. When she goes to find her husband, she is greeted by his beautiful new wife, and the life that should have been hers.

This was my first book by Minka Kent, and it won't be my last! I thought this story was very well written - it was fast paced, interesting, and kept me on the edge of my seat. This story was told from alternating points of view - 1) Lydia - the first wife who was kidnapped, tortured, and robbed of a normal life and 2) Merritt - the second wife who has built a nice life with Luca. Usually with alternating views, I find myself liking one side of the story a lot better than the other, but not in this case - I really enjoyed both of the perspectives in this book.

If you're looking for a quick (252 pages!), suspenseful read, I would definitely recommend this book!

You can find my review on Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4511531844

You can also be on the lookout for my review on my instagram page @mollyreadsthrillers

Merritt and her husband Luca own a chain of restaurants. They have a daughter and a new baby on the way. But their dream life is about to be disrupted when Luca's presumed dead ex-wife knocks on their door.
What happened to her all those years ago? Does she want her husband back, or is her plan more sinister?

I love Minka Kent's books, so my expectations for her new book were high. I'm happy to report that I wasn't disappointed. This was a fast-paced, gripping, and intriguing page-turner with a jaw-dropping twist. What more is there to want?

This was pretty crazy, twisted with extreme situations and unreliable narrator. I really liked the characters I can not Say they are three dimensional but they are interesting and you understand why they act that way. Fast paced and easy read if you have read one book from this author you will know what to expect. I liked the ending.

Minka Kent is back! Lydia went out for a hike ten years ago, and was kidnapped, tortured, and declared dead after a search failed to uncover her body or any clues to her whereabouts.
Her former husband Luca, is living a new luxurious life with his wife Merritt, their daughter, and a baby on the way, all while managing multiple restaurants. In Lydia's eyes, they are living the life that she was meant to live with Luca. She is determined to get what she is owed, and gets some surprises that she didn't see coming before it is all over.
There are a couple of plot gaps, that would be spoilers if I listed them, but overall still a good story that I enjoyed reading.
#ARC #NETGALLEY

Twists, twists and more twists! I did NOT see that coming. Was at the edge of my seat reading this one and finished it in record time so I could see how it played out. Fantastic read!

Plot: Merritt Coletto and her husband Luca Coletto live a lavish life in the PNW with their ocean video mansion and chain of restaurants. But when Luca’s former wife, Lydia, who was declared dead, appears at their doorstep, it threatens the cushy secure life they are accustomed to. Who kidnapped Lydia nine years ago and what does Lydia want with her former husband now that she has escaped? I thought I knew the plot twist, but oh boy. This was a fun series of twists and turns at the end. Though I am still confused by why Lydia knocks on the door in the first place…

Characters: There is a slow reveal to each of the characters. Each of the chapters brings new information to the table including the feelings of each of the women. Each character was so incredibly distinct. The final resolution truly showcases each character’s essence.

Setting: Living in the PNW now I feel like I basically know this town where our story takes place without having been there. It’s the classic former hideaway where young families now flock to which creates a beautiful mix of people that is absolutely perfect for this series of events.

Conflict/Resolution: Minka Kent beautifully leads you on to believe one thing and then pulls the proverbial rug out from under you. If you think you know where the story is headed, trust me, you don’t.

Writing: Very easy to read this quickly. There is a great balance of plot, description and character motivations/feelings. Each chapter concludes on a punchy final sentence, and oftentimes a cliffhanger that leaves you wanting to continue reading.

Overall/Other notes: Trigger warning of abuse/assault and captivity. I received a copy from Thomas and Mercer via NetGalley.

My first thought was, "you're back from the (presumed) dead and you don't go to the police?". But as Lydia begins to lay out her revenge plan for the husband who abandoned the search for her 9 years ago, her motivation becomes clear, if not rational. Then she meets her husband's new wife, Merritt, heavily pregnant and seemingly oblivious but kind. It's just enough kindness to make Lydia begin to rethink her actions....and enough to put her in peril.

Was the story outlandish? Yes! Was I able to just lean into the plot and enjoy the narrative - BIG YES! This was so fast paced that I was actually hoping it would continue on for a few more chapters - but it ended right where it needed to!

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this fun read!

Despite boasting highly implausible plot twists, Minka Kent’s “Unmissing” does take the reader on quite an intriguing, captivating ride! I was easily drawn into this fast-paced suspense thriller right out of the gate, and it did hold my attention all the way through till the very end. It definitely has a dark and sinister undertone, but that just adds to the prevailing mystery surrounding the disappearance and re-emergence years later of a young wife now presumed to be dead. I found “Unmissing” to be a quick page-turner and a crazy, twisted, little ride!

This is probably one of my favorite Minka Kent books! I received an ARC and stayed up until 3am because I needed to know the conclusion to this book. There are so many twists and turns in the Luca, Lydia and Merritt story that it keeps the reader guessing. What you think you know changes drastically and effectively where you go "wait what?" Without spoilers, the characters and story give a great look into the darkness people can carry. Would absolutely recommend this!!

“The future isn’t carved in stone- it isn’t even written in pencil on the back of a napkin.”

Merrit has a perfect life. She and her husband have a beautiful daughter and a son on the way. They’ve got houses and fancy vehicles and several businesses. She and Luca are so in love that he’d almost forgotten his first wife entirely.
Until she showed up on their doorstep.

Lydia was supposed to have died 10 years ago when she went missing in what appeared to be a tragic hiking accident. They even have the death certificate to prove it.

Minka Kent is my queen of Lifetime movies in book form, and Unmissing was no different. Every time she releases a new book I want to be first in line to devour the insane drama. These books will never go down as classic literature, but they sure are fun when you want some drama, twists, and suspense.
Unmissing is no different. It’s not the best of Kent’s books- that title belongs to Stillwater Girls. But, it’s also not the worst. It was just kind of meh for me. The saving grace for me was the sweet Delphine, a saint if there ever was one.

So does it turn me off from future Minka Kent books? Never.
Do I want this to be a Lifetime movie? Hell yes, as always.

*Thank you Netgalley for keeping me in advance copies of Minka Kent

3.5/5 rounded down for Goodreads. (Get on adding those half stars Goodreads.)

Completely implausible but entertaining. Merritt is happily married to Luca when his first wife Lydia appears at their door. Turns out that when she disappeared all those years ago, she was really being held in a cabin in the woods by a bad guy. She's emaciated, she's more than a little off, and no one goes to the police (seriously?). This is told by Luca, Merritt, and Lydia, all of whom have secrets that Kents parcels out slowly. It gets even crazier when Lydia sets her sights on getting the life with Luca she was meant to have- or thought she would have. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A fast read.