TW: This book deals with trauma to children and themes of suicide.

Some books are like a fireworks show. They explode immediately, showering the reader with multicolored characters and subplots. They are two to three day reads, keeping readers up at night chasing the “one more chapter” that ends at 3 am. Other books are more like a Roman candle - shooting light up in the sky with revelations periodically, giving the reader time to digest plot points. Then there’s the slow burn with one big payoff. And finally, the sparkler - an instantaneous flame that fizzles out after you write your name in lights a few times.

Unfortunately, Hidden Pieces started out as the former but ended as the latter. I started reading late at night in a dark room. I blinked, and then noticed I had finished a quarter of the book, and created a page of notes. (I like to take notes as I’m reading. One of them was that this book needed to be in physical form - something that doesn’t happen often.)

Jax Turner is a sheriff in sleepy Misty Pines. HIs ex-wife Abby is an FBI agent. Since the death of their daughter Lulu, he hasn’t been the same. He’s reached the end of his rope and is about to end his life when he gets a call - a young girl has been kidnapped. Her mother and father (also divorced) are falling apart. The father has just gotten his second divorce (amicably) from a prominent psychiatrist who herself was the victim of a kidnapping 25 years ago. In that kidnapping, she escaped but her sister didn’t. And suddenly the two cases overlap, with Jax trying to solve both simultaneously.

This is my first work from this author. The book certainly drew me in immediately. The only time the crime itself is described is in the first few pages of the book. Everything else is revealed in due time. I felt like I was on a roller coaster, almost unsure of the actual protagonist. Allison? Jax? Elena?

Then came the ending. There is no way to dress this up - the ending simply didn’t work for me. At all. And the more I reflected on the book, the more I discussed the book, the more it fell apart. I did form attachments to the characters, but once I hit the ending I felt as if it was a sandcastle overtaken by the sea. It almost felt disrespectful.
I had invested so much time in these cases and to have them “solved” in this manner just seemed implausible at best.

There is however a certain cinematic feel to the novel. I can see it being adapted as a series. I think that given a bit more time and space this could have been so much more. As an initial book in a series, it does partially succeed. The characters are full of life, and there is a small town feel. I hope the future books in this series can course-correct where this one has strayed.

Missing Pieces?

I was hooked into first part of the book because of an intriguing plot about missing teen Allison and a down and out Sheriff. While I normally don't read disappearing child plot lines, I was invested quickly - in addition to several scenarios and possiblilites stirring my imagination.

While I had high expectations based on the front half, this turned into a miss for me. Plot holes and a disproportionate amount of damaged characters brought my attention away from the mystery at hand.

Thank you to Marilyn and Jayme for reading and sharing their thoughts with me.

I appreciate the opportunity to read this and want to thank Mary Keliikoa, Level Best Books, and NetGalley for my advance reader electronic copy.

Hidden Pieces by Mary Keliikoa

Sheriff Jax Turner is so committed to killing himself that his gun is already in his mouth. But wait! His radio squawks the code for a missing child. His biggest work related regret was that he failed a missing child twenty five years ago so the suicide is paused while he takes this one last call.

Misty Pines is a small town and we proceed to meet what seems like half that town, plus visitors, plus farm workers, plus people who live elsewhere. It was really hard to keep track of all the characters and we even have to keep track of people we don't meet but are just discussed.

I did like Jax and I can understand his depression due to losing his child to cancer, five years ago. But I wish we didn't have to be in on what felt like all his running thoughts. I wish his thinking process could have been portrayed in different, more concise manner. Then there is another character that we spend a lot of time with and being in her head was worse.

As the second half of the book spills its guts and lets us into what is going on, I didn't believe it for a minute. Just because we are told things happened a certain way doesn't make them believable to me. So that let the air out of the story for me and I didn't care to try harder to fill the plot holes.

Thank you to Level Best Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

When offered an advance reader’s copy of the new Misty Pines mystery series, by Shamus Award finalist and Lefty, Agatha and Anthony nominated author, Mary Keliikoa, my answer was “Yes, Please!”

But, unfortunately, this book was a mixed bag for me…

Sheriff Jax Turner is literally about to pull the trigger on his life. Notes have been written to his ex wife and former partner explaining why he can’t go on. The gun is in his mouth when his radio suddenly crackled to life..

“Sheriff Turner, we have a code Ten-Fifty-Four. Urgent. Response Needed.” Lost Child or Runaway.”

In Misty Pines? The place that should have been a fresh start for him? A town where everybody knew everyone, which means that he knows this kid??

“On my way”

The author writes intriguing, characters who get under your skin, and for the first half, I was riveted. Although I did have to jot down notes to remind myself of how each character connected to the others in this small town, I enjoyed the complexity.

It was nice to see a step-mom, Elena still care about Allison, ( the missing girl) who was in her life for eight years, during the time she was married to Daniel, despite their eventual divorce.

Although “missing teens” is a common trope, there were plenty of interesting, credible suspects to investigate initially, but just past 50%, I began to suspect one person in particular.

I was half right.

But, getting it half right isn’t what brought my rating down.

The second twist is one that when used, I NEVER care for. And, once the author began to flesh out this second revelation-the story lost its appeal for me.

I was VERY disappointed in the direction it took, and was hoping for something else.

And, there are plot holes.

How was a certain person NEVER recognized? And, how could we only be given a theory for the “damning evidence” and not something more definitive??

I can’t say more without giving anything away, but for me, the denouement is EVERYTHING!

If the ending is strong-it can raise my rating significantly, BUT it’s weak-it brings my rating down.
2.5 ⭐️

Available October 25, 2022.

Thank You to Level Best books for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC copy.

I absolutely loved the blending of the current case with an old case, breaking open old wounds and revealing long-hidden secrets.

And the deep dive into trauma-related mental illness with a twist was unexpected and perfect for the story.

I found myself rooting for the sheriff, wounded in his own right, hoping he'd find his way through the darkness.

With all the twists and turns, you'll be guessing long into the night.

I am sure how this book ended up on my TBR, I think someone emailed me regarding this one, but I am not able to trace any communication about it. Therefore, I would like to start by apologising for not giving credit, where credit is due. I am new to this author and this is my first encounter with her work. When reaching for Hidden Pieces you can expect a slow burning mystery that will keep you curious. I found myself easing through this book savouring each moment.
This is the start of a new series set in a small town featuring a sheriff that finds himself about to give up on life. The author did a wonderful job with her characters adding a balanced mix of mystery and intrigue. I look forward to reading more about Sherriff Jax Turner and will keep an eye out for the next book.
Sheriff Jax Turner’s life has taken an unexpected turn and he finds himself contemplating ending it all. Until he receives a call about a missing teenager. Determined to bring the girl home alive, Turner puts his inner demons aside, hoping that this case will end differently. With little to go on, and everyone holding back, Sheriff Jax finds himself running in circles trying to find the hidden pieces of the puzzle that will explain what happened to the missing schoolgirl.
I loved how I lost myself in this slow burning mystery. The story had a laid back, small-town feel even while time was running out. The story did not feel rushed at any time.
Sheriff Jax Turner is a brilliant character. He lost his daughter to cancer and allowed his grief to get the better of him which led to his wife leaving him. At the start of the book, the man had no will to live and he was ready to end his life. A phone call reporting a missing schoolgirl brings him back to himself and gives him the drive he needs to pull himself together. Putting his desire to bring the girl home alive ahead of his own demons, you are given a front-row seat to see how he comes back to life. The author did a great job in creating this man and I look forward to reading more about him in the future.
This book is well worth adding to your TBR if you are looking for a relaxed, intriguing mystery read that will keep you curious. The final reveal is a little unexpected, even when you have your suspicions about who did it.

Wow! This book had my mind swirling in circles in the best possible way. I love this book! Everything about it was excellent. There are so many moving pieces/characters/backgrounds in this novel so at first you may seem confused at who is who, but after a few chapters it catches up to you. I felt connected to so many characters in this story. When I tell you I was invested; I was invested! Just as I thought I had figured everything out, I didn't. Mary did such a great job with this novel, it is everything good in a crime/mystery/thriller story we all need. The twists and turns, the characters, the setting; all of it was superb.

If you enjoy crime, thrillers, mysteries, whodunit novels... then this book is for you!

Thank you Mary Keliikoa for allowing me to love this book before it is published on 10/25/22.

This was one heck of a ride. Thank you so much for letting me read this ARC. This was a good start to the spooky season. This will deff be going onto my shelf.

From the publisher: Sheriff Jax Turner is staring down the barrel of his broken past. On the brink of ending it all, he feels like a failure following his daughter’s tragic passing and his subsequent divorce. But when a schoolgirl vanishes and her backpack is found in a sex offender’s backseat, the weary lawman drags himself into action and vows to nail one last sociopath. Can the jaded sheriff take down the culprit in time to bring the young girl home alive?

Hidden Pieces is the first book in a new mystery series. It makes the most of its Pacific Northwest setting. A lot of characters are introduced, as it is clearly laying the groundwork for future books in the series. It will need trigger warnings for some readers; it opens with Sheriff Jax Turner about to kill himself on a misty beach. Five years after the death of his child to cancer and a year after his divorce, he is in the depths of depression and feels unable to continue. He is saved when his police radio crackles to life and he learns that a teenaged girl has been abducted. He is determined not to fail her. He can always return to kill himself after she is found.

The police work and the character backstories are engrossing. It seemed to me that the author did her research on police procedures, clinical and forensic psychology, and the presence of buried munitions from World War II on the west coast. An FBI agent also makes an appearance, although her role in the case is minimal. Some characters felt pretty stock, like the defensive hot shot politician protecting his athlete son, but I had no trouble staying involved in the story.

There is some trickery with plot points from the author that I eventually caught on to, and characters keep secrets to advance the narrative. In addition, there are two big twists at the end. I would have liked the book better if the author had stuck to one. Still, I enjoyed Hidden Pieces enough and am interested in the characters enough to read a book two, if one is written.

I read an advance reader copy of Hidden Pieces from Netgalley. Hidden Pieces is scheduled to be published in late October 2022, and the Galesburg Public Library will own it in print and digital.

Excellent novel … excellent writing … excellent story. Sheriff Jax Turner is portrayed brilliantly ... you can 'feel' the loss and pain he carries as well as his commitment and dedication to the small town of Misty Pines. Highly recommended read to all thriller readers … you will not be disappointed. Eagerly awaiting the next in the series. A novel more than worthy of five stars.

This was a great first read from this author. I had never heard of this author before this and I grabbed it because it’s seemed like a nice easy read and I loved this book. I will be reading more of this author and hope this series continues on.

This is a really well written mystery drama. Sheriff Jax Turner is a small town sheriff battling his own tragic past and this has taken him from being the focussed detective, to someone struggling to feel useful. This all changes when a young girl (Allison) goes missing from a bus stop.

The grief and emotional turmoil experienced by Jax permeates the story and only adds to the suspense and tension especially when an old case that haunts him appears to cross into this one.

There are various possible scenarios regarding the disappearance and as the chapters unfold suspicion moves between various characters.

The drama intensifies as Jax and his team question various townspeople as well as family living further afield. I was hooked from the first page and was so desperate to find out what happened to Allison that I pretty much read in one sitting.

There are some frustrations, particularly when characters do or say something that makes no sense and at times I was shouting at them! There are also a few too many red herrings, but, overall it’s a really, really good absorbing read. Definitely recommend and I look forward to discovering more about Jax as well as Trudy - one of his team.

Thanks to NetGalley and Level Best books for the opportunity to preview and congratulations to the author.

Dazzlingly clever, twisting and constantly surprising. An unputdownable rollercoaster of a read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sheriff Jax Turner, consumed by guilt. loss and grief is pulled out of his suicidal depression to lead the investigation of a missing teenage girl. Sheriff Turner's investigation reveals possible links to a case he worked decades earlier and leads him through a roller coaster of twists, surprises, and a host of authentically developed characters. I see a series coming and plan to be in line for the second installment. Hidden Pieces hooked me from the start and wouldn't let go till the final page. An Intelligent thrill ride with a strong psychological aspect that portrayed child abuse, loss and PTSD realistically. Thanks to Netgalley, publisher and author for this strong debut novel with I'm sure, many to follow.

The story of a missing girl is a perfect blend of complex characters, plot twists, and great psychological suspense..


Will keep you guessing. Great read!

Small town Oregon Sheriff Jax Turner is so depressed over losing his young daughter to cancer and his wife to divorce that he is moments away from committing suicide. He's saved when news comes of a teenager who has disappeared. Jax has to get it together in order to save her, The reader is kept guessing through the emergence of two plausible suspects, and while the twists at the end aren't totally surprising, they are sufficiently creepy enough. I enjoyed Keliikoa's realistic portrayal of police investigations and legal issues, along with the down-but-not-out hero, and look forward to the second installment in the series.

The story takes place in a small coastal town in Oregon. A young teenage girl, Allison, goes missing from her school bus stop. This is similar to an unsolved case from many years before. Could they be connected? This is a good story and a good police procedural. Recommended.

Great suspenseful mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Sheriff Jax is drowning in his own problems when a teenager goes missing. He must put his own problems aside and be the Sheriff he should be. Plenty of people, suspects, and back stories to make a tight knit mystery. Looking forward to the next story.

The premise for the book was a good one, it did it’s job and intrigued me.
The story itself was well written, the characters themselves were maybe a little basic, but even so, they worked within the book.
Whilst reading it, it felt familiar, but I think it’s just because I read quite a lot in this genre.
I would recommend this book, it’s a quick way read and it all comes together nicely at the end.
Thank you to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for my arc.
All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own. 3.5/5 stars

YES! Another outstanding thriller for the win. Excellent writing and the storyline was amazing. The main character really make you feel as if you were apart of the novel! Excellent!