After reading These Silent Woods a couple years ago by Kimi Cunningham Grant, I knew I was IN and would enjoy reading more by her. This book lived up to my expectation. I would consider this read to be a slow build, but I believe the pay-off was worth sticking with it til the end. I love this author's writing style and will continue to pick up her books.

After reading the authors prior book, These Silent Woods, I was very excited to receive this book. I wanted to love it just as much as I loved her prior book. Unfortunately, this one just didn't work for me in quite the same way and I'm not too sure why. I still greatly enjoyed it. It was a 4 star read for me. Some of the elements that I loved from the other book were also present in this book. There were similar themes and pacing, with the suspense slowly building.

But while I greatly enjoyed, I didn't love it like These Silent Woods. The best I can come down to is that the characters in this didn't pull me in the same way in this book. I also think that while the pacing in this felt similar to what I remember from her other book, the ending had a lot going on that could have been spread out a bit more from the book.

At the end of the day, while I enjoyed this, it wasn't quite to the level of the hype I had in my head. Regardless, I would still recommend it to those who enjoy slow burn thrillers.

These Silent Woods was one of my favorite reads of 2022 and I was extremely excited when I was approved for the ARC of The Nature of Disappearing. Unfortunately, I was a bit disappointed in this one.

Pros:
Kimi Cunningham Grant has a way of describing scenery that makes you feel like you are there. I loved the backwoods Idaho setting.

The wilderness survival aspects of the book were interesting.

I liked the past and present timelines to learn the backstories of the MC.

Cons:

The book was boring at times because it felted liked it dragged on. It was terribly slow paced and not overly exciting.

I did not hate this book, but I did not love it either. It was just ok.

I love the author and look forward to reading more by her in the future.

Excited for this follow up novel from These Silent Woods. This one didn’t quite hit the same notes, with a bit of a strange story and relationships and it not quite generating the same notes of tense/stress for the reader.

A journey through the wilderness, with beautiful prose. I loved the descriptions of nature but the story kind of fell flat.

I really enjoyed The Nature of Disappearing. I connected with the main character and could understand her reasons for being the way she is. I think the portrayal of addiction was pretty accurate, as well. It added another emotional layer to the story and kept me invested in the characters.

This was a good read. The timeline jumps back and forth replaying Emlyn's childhood, college years, post college and current time. It's a bit of a slow burn. The setting was fantastic. I loved the scene and feeling like I was there in the woods.

It did kind of drive me nuts not knowing what the catalyst was that caused the deterioration of the relationship between Tyler, Emlyn and Janessa. I wanted to know more about Rev and Varden, but maybe there will be subsequent books about that.

I really enjoyed the mind twist that the author had going with wanting us to like Tyler and forgive him, yet wanting to see her move on from him. I also had mixed feelings about Janessa and how involved she was in Emlyn's life.

I liked the twists and turns and I think the book wrapped up nicely. Overall, I enjoyed the book and I will absolutely read more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

I really enjoyed the author's first book and was hoping this one would be just as good! Unfortunately it wasn't. The actual story was good, but there were some pacing problems. 3 stars

The Nature of Disappearing has an incredibly vivid and immersive atmosphere, with its wilderness setting beautifully described, making you feel like you're truly there in the wild. The alternating timelines work well to gradually unravel the mystery, and the character development for Emlyn, Tyler, and Janessa is strong, giving readers enough emotional investment in their journeys.

However, the book suffers from pacing issues, feeling like an incredibly slow burn—sometimes too slow. The lack of suspense throughout most of the novel, coupled with a rushed ending, left me feeling underwhelmed. The payoff, while it did come, wasn’t as intense or satisfying as I’d hoped, especially after such a drawn-out buildup.

Another wonderful book combining nature with intrigue, mystery, deception, and love. A timely book for our time with the impact of addiction on not just current choices, but our future. Grant is a powerful author and this authors books will always have a spot on my TBR.

"The Nature of Disappearing" by Kimi Cunningham Grant is a captivating psychological thriller that masterfully blends elements of suspense, mystery, and emotional depth. Set to be published on June 18, 2024, this novel follows Emlyn, a wilderness guide in Idaho who has carefully constructed a solitary life after a traumatic betrayal three years ago.

Grant's writing is evocative and atmospheric, bringing the stark beauty of the Idaho wilderness to life while delving deep into the emotional landscapes of her characters. The author's background as a poet shines through in her lyrical descriptions, making the setting feel like a character in itself.

The story's premise is intriguing: Emlyn's carefully built world is disrupted when her ex-boyfriend Tyler reappears with news that their former friend Janessa, a social media star documenting her #vanlife adventures, has gone missing. Reluctantly, Emlyn agrees to help search for Janessa, forcing her to confront her past and the unresolved feelings between her and Tyler.

Character development is a strong point in this novel. Emlyn is a complex and relatable protagonist, her struggles with trust and vulnerability adding depth to her character. The supporting cast, particularly Tyler and Janessa, are well-crafted and contribute to the richness of the narrative.

The plot is a slow-burn thriller, with mounting tension as Emlyn unravels the secrets of her past and the mystery surrounding Janessa's disappearance. Grant skillfully weaves together past and present timelines, creating a layered mystery that keeps readers engaged throughout.

While some readers found certain plot elements familiar within the genre, Grant's fresh take and skillful storytelling elevate "The Nature of Disappearing" above typical thriller fare. The novel explores themes of trauma, healing, and the complexities of friendship and love, adding emotional weight to the suspenseful narrative.

In conclusion, "The Nature of Disappearing" is a compelling and atmospheric thriller that showcases Kimi Cunningham Grant's talent for crafting intricate mysteries with well-developed characters. Fans of psychological suspense and beautifully written prose will find much to enjoy in this novel.

4.5 - Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press & Minotaur Books for the complimentary copy of this book!

I remember two years ago when I read These Silent Woods, I was immediately immersed into Kimi's writing and the story she created. This one was no exception. I am a little overdued reading this and boy was I kicking myself that I had not read it sooner.

The book is told from the present timeline but also through multiple past timelines. The past timelines showed the start of the relationship between Emlyn and Janessa as well as with Tyler. These played an important with knowing their history and how it correlates to what is happening in the current.

Emlyn learns that an old friend Janessa has not updated her whereabouts to her friend Tyler and Tyler becomes worried that something has happened on her travels. Emlyn and Tyler are not on the best of terms due to what happend years prior but Emlyn wants to help find her former friend to ensure she is okay.

"You're different."
"I sure hope so."

One thing that Kimi is great at between the two books that I've read, is how she describes nature and the environment that the characters are around. It really made me miss hiking! Now their skills were much more advanced than I'll ever be. I love the detail that Kimi put in through Tyler and Emlyn's excursion trying to find Janessa.

The romance reader side of me was rooting for Emlyn and Tyler throughout the book. But I understand why it wouldn't work and I was satisfied in the end in that regards (not spoiling!).

The ending was a little lackluster but overall this was a great read! I was invested the whole time and it kept me guessing most of the time.

I highly recommend this book if you love an outdoor setting, dual timelines, and looking for something a little suspenseful!

This was - slow, but once it picked up it wasn’t easy to put down. Emalyn seemed super naive for her preferred job choice. Tyler, Janessa, and Bush treated her as such.

Really enjoyed this one. The relationships dynamics were interesting and her outdoor knowledge was interesting. Liked how things turned out but would have loved to get more of Ellen and Varden

After feeling underwhelmed by Kimi Cunningham Grant's first book, I was hopeful that this novel would be more my cup of tea. While intriguing, I unfortunately found this to be too slow in terms of pacing and I wouldn't describe this as a thriller, more literary fiction with suspenseful elements - just like I described Grant's prior novel. This was by no means a "bad" book. I just have discovered that this author isn't for me - which is okay! I know many fellow readers who would love this and I highly recommend it to them!

This book was a pleasant surprise.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, as it was a quick read and a good time.

This was my first book by this author, and unfortunately, it didn’t live up to my expectations. I had difficulty getting into the story, and the mystery didn’t capture my interest. It took a direction I didn’t enjoy, and by the end, it felt flat and underwhelming. I really wanted to like it, but it ended up being just a mediocre read for me.

On the positive side, the setting and atmosphere were well-crafted. The forest backdrop really added to the immersion and kept me curious about where the story would go. I also appreciated the use of past and present timelines, which helped reveal more about the characters and their history.

This story felt very character-driven, but unfortunately, I couldn’t connect with any of them. Weeks later, I find myself forgetting much of the plot. There also wasn’t enough tension, suspense, or conflict to keep me engaged; I was often bored. It’s definitely a slow burn, and it took a while to pick up any real momentum.

Despite my experience with this book, I’m still curious about this author’s other works. I’ve heard great things about her books, so I plan to give her another try.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. These are my own thoughts and opinions.

🏔🌲Book Review:
Title: The Nature of Disappearing
Author: Kimi Cunningham Grant
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/4 stars

Tyler, Tyler, Tyler.....get your priorities straight, man. 😖

Emlyn receives a voicemail message from her estranged, once best friend, Janessa, that states, "There's something i need to tell you...." and then the call drops. A week later, Emyln's ex-boyfriend, Tyler, reappears in her life, reporting that Janessa is missing. Tyler and Janessa have been best friends since childhood, so when he and Emlyn started a relationship, it definitely caused waves with Janessa, who believed Emlyn should steer clear.

Starting their own search for Janessa, going off off clues from Janessa's last posts on social media, they head out into the vast wilderness in Idaho. Will they find Janessa, and what were the circumstances of her disappearance? Will Tyler and Emlyn be able to salvage the remains of their prior rocky relationship, or will Emlyn see the truth to what destroyed them in the first place. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books by this author.

Published: June 18th, 2024

Thank you, @netgalley and @stmartinspress, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I love a good nature thriller! The friendships in this one lacked some substance, and the twist was predictable. I still enjoyed the book and will read more by this author. Thankful for the ARC!

The Nature of Disappearing was a good book that kept me entertained, however, it lacked the suspense that I was looking for. The beginning of this book was slow but it did pick up about halfway through. I had high expectations, based on my love of These Silent Woods, but this one fell a little flat.