Thank you Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book before publication.

**TRIGGER WARNING: SA

BUCKLE IN FOLKS: The hate train is leaving the station. I'll give this 1.5 stars because the writing wasn't atrocious, but the absurdity of the plot knocks it down to one star. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone unless you're a masochist.

THE PLOT
B**** I'm back - Lydia to her husband and his new wife after she's been tortured, r**ped, and just abused in general for 9 years in a remote cabin. But what does Lydia really want? Told from the POVs of Lydia and the new wife, Merritt, both wives are on their own mission and have secrets galore.

MY OPINION
NAHHHHHH BRUV!!!! WHAT DID I JUST READ??? I know this genre requires you to suspend your disbelief, but this was beyond suspension... If I wanted to enjoy this, I would have had to chuck all logic, reasoning, and critical thinking skills out the window.

I want to bill the author for the Botox I'll need to correct these new cringe wrinkles. I think my face is stuck in this stank expression. Halp.

I've never made so many notes on my Kindle; and they were all some variation of: BISH WHAT????? Lydia, Merritt, and bum ass Luca (the husband) were all competing in the Dumbass Olympics... And they all tied for first place.

I really can't go into details without spoiling the book, but it was just so absurd, I wanted to laugh. If anyone in this story had even the smallest smidgen of common sense, the whole plot would've been over in two seconds. Merritt could've seen Lydia and been like: "You came back here to make a point but no one other than us and some crystal-loving whacko knows you're alive? Say less. Let me get my gun." But nah, that would be too easy. Let's help the girl get back into society.

Also, I hated ALL of the characters. Usually, I don't really care if I can connect with a character, or how likeable they are. If they're annoying, it's usually for a reason. But these mans were all so uniquely annoying and despicable (even the "good person" or protagonist if you're fancy), I wanted them all to take a trip to the remote cabin and UFC fight it out until the death. I couldn't even feel sorry for Lydia, which is saying a lot given what she went through.

ANYWAYS. Like I said, the writing wasn't bad... I think. Honestly, I was too distracted by this Lifetime movie hot mess express storyline that I wasn't even paying attention to the writing quality. And if you've read my other reviews, you know that's saying a lot, because writing quality is usually my #1 point of contention.

If you enjoy these kind of ~~crazyyyyy~~ dramatic stories, then I think this is you. I prefer something truly SICK but plausible. This plot had too many holes (nay—Grand Canyon sized gaps) for me to enjoy.

PROS AND CONS

Pros: I finished it
Cons: Plot, characters, the fact I know this novel exists

Great book. I read it in 2 days. What a situation to be in. A missing wife returned after being thought dead for 10 years.. The new wife steps in to include her in Lucas new life. But all is not as it seems. This book is full of surprises. Lydia set out to solve all the mystery surroundings Luca and Merrits new life. I love this book, thank you so much for my copy.

Unmissing
Minka Kent, author

Love, love, love Ms. Kent's books. This particular story did not have all the twists and turns her books usually have until the very end. So, if you think you've gotten it all figured out, think again. Keep reading until the end, then, explosion begins to occur, and the end is there before you know. Personally, I wanted more and more. Gotta love the ending, though!

Lydia Coletto lost her life as she knew ten years ago. She was kidnapped and taken hostage just a short three months after her whirlwind romance and ultimately marriage to Luca Coletto. Her captor didn't kill her, but opted to torture, maim, sexually assault and starve her for nine years, before he finally decides to shoot her and leave her for dead.

Moving forward nine years, Lydia is determined to make her captor pay and take back her life, to finally begin living it. But first, she must find her husband. She returns to Bent Creek and finds he has remarried and has a family. Not only has he moved on, but he has built the restaurant business that they had looked forward to building together. He is living the high life with his new wife and family.

Lydia, emaciated, alone and without anyone to support her, finds a kindness in Delphine, a local merchant. Delphine, being a bit strange with her pseudoscientific crystal healing powers takes Lydia in and gives her shelter, along with a small cash allowance in exchange for small housekeeping tasks.

Upon discovering that Lydia is in fact very much alive, both Luca and his new wife, Merritt find themselves wanting to offer support to Lydia by way of helping her get back on her feet.

One thing everyone finds puzzling that meets Lydia is why she didn't report the abduction and torture to the authorities. Does she really expect to find her abductor? What does she plan on doing when she fines him? What if he decides to finish the job, if she fines him?

The end of the story explodes with a narrative so intense and taut, that you'll be glued to your seat until the last word.

I leave this review with a one-word question for the author, Children? I hope to see a sequel to this chilling tale. I highly recommend this novel.

I was gifted an advanced reader copy from Netgalley, the publisher and of course the author. I leave this review in exchange for the copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas&Mercer for the ARC!!

This book was a rollercoaster! I can’t say much without spoiling it, so just read it for yourself, you won’t be disappointed!

WOW!!! Unmissing by Minka Kent was phenomenal! I don't want to write too much because I don't want to give anything away!!! But this is a story where everyone is hiding something and you won't know what's coming at you next!!! Highly recommend!!!!

Unmissing - Minka Kent

Luca Colletto is happily married to wife Merritt, with one child and another on the way.
Ten years ago Luca's first wife Lydia disappeared, presumed dead, until she comes knocking on their door one night.

With alternating chapters told from Lydia and Merritt's perspective it delivers a unique dynamic. The characterisation is good, Lydia's story especially. It's consistently fast and very entertaining, a real achievement for a novel with just a few characters. There's plenty of tension and twists, though I'm still not sure about one of the big twists.

Definitely recommended and I'll definitely be reading more from this author.

Thanks to Netgalley and Thoma & Mercer

Merritt and Luca are living a pretty great life with a dream home, second baby on the way, and a supportive, healthy marriage. But things change with Lydia, Luca's first wife, shows up at their door one night. Lydia has been missing for nine years and was declared dead over 7 years ago, so her arrival is especially jarring. As the story unfolds on where Lydia has been and what she has gone through, we learn that everyone in this book has secrets.

I loved the setup of the story. There were a couple twists that seemed predictable, but one of the major twists was something I did not see coming. I loved the story telling here and that the short chapters were told from alternating points of view between Lydia and Merritt.

I often get frustrated by books that allude to big secrets but beat around the bush for chapters and chapters because in many cases it builds up the twist way too much. This book was not like that. The story moved at the perfect pace. We learned more and more about where Lydia was and everyone's secrets throughout the whole book which made it impossible to put down!

This is my second book by this author, and I will definitely pick up more!
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book!

Minka Kent, Unmissing, Thomas & Mercer, 2022.

Thank you, Net Galley, for this uncorrected proof in exchange for an honest review.

Once again Minka Kent has written a thriller with enough twists to keep readers engrossed and prepared to try a little bit of investigation of their own to work out the plot. Although I suspected one twist, the others were well hidden, and such suspicion is not necessarily justified. With their hidden motives and duplicitous behaviour, the characters are also reasonably complex. None makes it easy to identify wholeheartedly with their aims and behaviour, their motivation creates interest throughout the novel. As the main character ruminates, she is seen as a victim to be helped - but is the assistance she is offered really focussed on her needs, or based on the helpers’ own inadequate lives?

The characters’ motivations and behaviour also raise moral dilemmas and questions about the role of innocents in a scenario where revenge is a motive. Lydia has returned to her husband’s house after a nine-year absence, during which she was presumed dead. Merritt is Luca’s second wife, mother of one and pregnant. Luca and she own a range of upmarket restaurants and coffee shops, live in a grand house on the beautiful coast, but have financial worries. Delphine, in the business of mystical products and fortune telling, provides Lydia, homeless, poor, and without an easily proven identity with succour. Each character has a background story of needs, insecurities, and darkness. Most horrific is Lydia’s – but, determined to live the life she deserves, she has little sympathy for the people whose lives she will change to achieve her aim.

Minka Kemp’s latest novel again demonstrates her ability to plot without holes, to provide a satisfying ending without being too slick, and to produce characters whose motivations and behaviour are realistic within the terms of a thriller. This is a fast read, but with enough twists and interesting characters with which engage.

Merritt and Luca are living the good life in Oregon, with a young daughter and a baby on the way. Luca’s first wife disappeared ten years ago, and has suddenly returned. This book is a slow burn and a page turner! Recommended!

I have to say I am usually pretty good with predicting who the crazy character is...but I was not prepared for the plot twists in this story.

No one is who you think they are (Except maybe Delphine). Everyone has a secret. Everyone is pretending to be something they're not.

And you get so caught up in it that you forget who you're rooting for. I wanted Lydia to succeed, until I didn't. I wanted Merritt to succeed, until I didn't. Then I wanted Lydia to succeed again.

The back and forth of who could be trusted kept me invested and always guessing what would happen next. I devoured this and I think you'll all love it just as much as I did.

"Can we ever truly know everything about everyone?"

Merritt Coletto and her husband Luca are living a picture perfect life with their toddler daughter and baby boy on the way. That is, until Lydia, Luca's first wife who had gone missing during a hike a decade ago and was presumed dead, shows up on their doorstep with a story of escaping from the captivity of a monster who kidnapped and then tortured her mentally, physically and emotionally. Lydia claims she wants to get her life back, which would seem to jeopardize Luca's marriage to Merritt, but why is she really here? What does she actually want?

"You might think you have the upper hand in this situation, but it’s only because he’s letting you think that."

Minka Kent always keeps me on my toes, reading quickly through the twists and turns in her thrillers, and this is no exception. This is a story about power and control and manipulation with a focus on who can be trusted and what their motivations are. What does it mean for a person to be truly evil at their core? Darker than her past books, this one left me constantly guessing as to who the real villain was. With young children involved, the story even pulled at my heartstrings as I imagined the the future that was in store for them. The book is also a reflection on looking at the big picture rather than simply the details and believing there are still good people in the world willing to help, acting as guardian angels to guide us through life's difficult moments.

"This— whatever it is, whatever it isn’t, whatever it’s going to be— is bigger than me. I realize now . . . I can’t do this alone."

** 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 for NetGalley. **

Publication Date: February 15, 2022

** Special thanks to author Minka Kent and NetGalley for the chance to read and review the ARC of Unmissing. **

This was my first book by Minka Kent and it did not disappoint!

Merritt & Luca are a happily married couple, with a daughter and a baby on the way. Lucas wife went missing years earlier, but imagine their surprise when she turns up on their doorstep, but not for the reasons you would thing. I love a good female antagonist and Merritt was exactly that. Just when you think you have it figured out, there’s a twist. Alternating by the 2 women, this was well written, well thought out, and a page turner!

This is the second book I've read by Minka Kent. I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially the twists and turns that I did not see coming. I read this one in a day - I had to know how it turned out. Great story!

This was a middle of the road thriller for me…the pacing was good, although admittedly a little slow at times. I loved the dual POVs and present day narratives, as well as the overall prose.

That said, I didn’t really have that “just one more chapter” feeling, and the twists were fairly predictable. It didn’t scream thriller, but was still an enjoyable read overall.

“Hold your cards close, and no one can use your hand against you.”

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the gifted eARC!

4⭐️
A new US author to me with this psychological thriller.
Merritt Coletto and her husband Luca have a settled life until one day a woman turns up claiming to be his first wife Lydia who disappeared 10 years ago and is presumed dead.
Lydia meets up with Delphine who takes her under her wing. Surprising as she turns up with more red flags than a semaphore message. Delphine is an intuitive, so she must get positive vibes.
Merritt comes across as very superficial. A spoilt vacuous housewife who continues to spend money like water even though the businesses are in dire straits.
Lydia seems likeable, but it’s hard to know who is trustworthy. At one point one of the character’s personality traits did an abrupt 180 which felt a bit disjointed.

I like the novels premise. The story is told from both of the wives pov.
It starts slowly, but it held my interest. Then it picked up pace with more happening.
I enjoyed it, it’s an easy read.

Interesting but not really my cup of tea. Well written I just personally couldn’t get into the story. A perfect family in a perfect home. And then a knock on the front door - it’s your husbands ex wife. But she was kidnapped and murdered years ago, wasn’t she? And why is she coming to talk to you of all people and not the police? I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Oh. My. Gosh. Y’all. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times my hand flew over my mouth and I gasped in shock reading this book! I wish I could articulate how much I freaking loved Unmissing but there are just no words. It’s honestly one of the best books I’ve ever read. I’m racing to buy every single book Minka Kent has written!!! I loved every single jaw dropping twist this book threw at me! And I’m not even joking when I tell you that I spent half an hour in a corner reading the ending on my phone at a friend’s house while a big group of our friends gathered to socialize! I’ll leave you with this… READ. THIS. BOOK.

Unmissing introduced me to another new author and a very enjoyable psychological suspense novel coming from a different angle to most when Lydia Coletto comes back from the dead. Well, she was missing for a decade and long ago declared dead. But miraculously she escaped from the monster who kidnapped and consistently tortured her for those long ten years. And she’s turned up on the doorstep of her husband Luca. He’s now remarried, has a pregnant wife, child, and barring business stress, they are living the dream. Well, they were until Lydia turned up. While the new wife Merritt is more than uncomfortable with the turn of events, she reaches out to support Lydia, help her get back on her feet, keeping her close while trying to fathom why Lydia hasn’t yet gone to the police, and what she really wants with the Coletto family. Unmissing is quite the ride. Look out for some good twists and a race to the finish.

This was an easy book to coast right through and a decent thriller, but ended up being just okay for me. It grabbed my attention at the beginning but quickly leveled off and not much happened. Every chapter seemed to repeat the same thoughts and the story wasn’t progressing. I noticed that my Kindle said I was 60% of the way through the book when I felt like the book got interesting again. The twists didn’t really surprise me, but the ending was still good. If you’re looking for a thriller that’s a quick read, this might work for you.

4.5 stars

My first read by this author and I really enjoyed it.

The pacing was good and the story unfolded in a way that kept my interest and ultimately kept me guessing. I had an inkling of what might be going on but I wasn't quite right. Thrills me when the author fools me!! (fist pump!) When I was forced to put it down I was excited to pick up where I left off. The writing was straightforward and simplistic, which frankly I prefer for this type of story. I don't need flowery descriptions or internal manifestos, just give me the basics and let the story be what captivates me and the author did just that.

The characters were varied and portrayed in a manner that yielded their personalities yet also kept their motives secreted until the reader needed to know. My only qualm, I wish we knew exactly what happened to the "bad guy" but some things don't have to be spelled out, we just assume justice was served. Enjoyed it and will definitely read this author again!