3.5 stars rounded to 4. I loved the last book I read by this author but this one was just ok for me. It has a decent premise and the switching back and forth between past and present kept me interested to find out what was going on. I did like that this mystery/thriller didn’t have much profanity or explicit sex scenes. As I write this review, find myself thinking more highly of it overall. I think my expectations just got the best of me in this case and maybe it just wasn’t the right timing.

Kimi Cunningham Grant is has become an auto-buy for me. I loved the mystery set in the mountains, and will be recommending this to others.

I’m going to say 3 rn but might change my mind once I think on it more.
I was so glad I went into this blind because the beginning had me so intrigued! It went in a different direction than I was expecting. And loved that it was based in Idaho. I am not an outdoors girly but I still liked reading about the hiking/camping/fishing. I love this authors writing style but I did want more or maybe expected more suspense??
After how I felt finishing These Silent Woods, I expected something that was going to really tear my heart out but it just didn’t get there for me. There was suspense but the ending fell flat for me. I wanted more of a twist or gut punch than what happened but idkkkk… I guess I understand what the author was trying to do with the ending.
Anyway, yes worth the read!!!

There was so much I loved about this book - I loved the main character, loved the dual timelines, even loved Janessa despite her many many flaws. And the setting really couldve been a second main character with how fully fleshed out and complex and well described it was.

Her books always stay with me and leave me feeling sad but also hopeful and inspired and beautiful.

Overall, a 5 star read from me.

Thank you for the ARC, it was my pleasure to read and review!

I couldn't be more excited to get my hands on Kimi Cunningham Grant's next novel after our 5-star experience with her last book, These Silent Woods.

This new thriller sits perfectly in the romantic suspense space, pulling the reader into a slow-burn mystery in the first half with estranged friends brought together through an unexpected wilderness excursion.

Janessa and Emlyn once referred to themselves as bosom buddies growing up. Emlyn's mother struggles with depressive spells that leave her daughter caring for herself and financially unable to indulge in a lot of things that her peers can. Her new friend Janessa offers Emlyn friendship and stability in a world where she doesn't have access to those things.

Let's be clear that the transaction isn't one-sided, though, because Emlyn is both indebted and in obligation, in many ways, to do whatever Janessa wants because of the help she offers her. Her role is to fawn and go along with whatever Janessa wants, and she's always been happy to oblige.

All is well until Janessa's next-door neighbor and other best friend, Tyler, falls head-over-heels for Emlyn, and Janessa requests that the two not be engaged in a relationship. Emlyn doesn't understand her friend's request, but the attraction between them is unstoppable, and when Janessa discovers that they have resumed this relationship in secret, their friendship slowly dissolves.

Later, we find out that the relationship between Emlyn and Tyler also has ended through a dual timeline that can become confusingly intertwined as they merge into one story.

That's why it is a surprise when Emlyn, now working as a wilderness guide, receives an unexpected visit from Tyler, sharing that he believes Janessa may be in danger in the woods of Idaho. He needs someone of her caliber and skills to find her.

Janessa is a travel influencer with her partner and has suddenly vanished somewhere in the woods and has they uncover chilling clues, they worry that her partner may not be all that he seems.

Through these shifting timelines, we discover why these three friends are estranged and how she views her role in these friendships dissolving. She also must navigate the reemerging feelings she has for Tyler and the haunting reason for the dissolution of their relationship, to which I will be vague.

Grant expertly crafts an atmospheric and suspenseful first half, immersing readers in the lush landscapes of Idaho while untangling the mysteries surrounding the trio's fractured relationship.

However, as the story progresses, the plot veers into far-fetched territory, wrapping up quickly with a lot of telling instead of showing for the reader. Additionally, the infusion of religious undertones, while not problematic for me, did detract from the overall narrative flow as they started to overwhelm the plot as Grant pulled in religious parallels for this journey.

This novel will tick the right boxes, though, for readers who want to explore Idaho through a new lens and for fans of authors like Nicole Baart, who weave heartfelt messages into the threads of their thrillers for readers to uncover.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Beautiful descriptions of the scenery brought this book alive. I really enjoy a book that immerses my mind in the setting.
The relationship between the three main characters, Emlyn, Janessa, and Tyler, is complicated. Tyler reaches out to Emlyn after abandoning her years earlier. Their mutual friend, Janessa has gone missing. Emlyn is hesitant to trust after their past, but her concern for Janessa wins out.
The book has two timelines, Emlyn’s history with Janessa and Tyler which is essential to understand the present timeline.
I really liked the characterization of the three main characters, they become real on the pages.

This is the second book I’ve read by Kimi Cunningham Grant. Both are very unique stories.
In this story we follow Emlyn, Janessa and Tyler. We learn the history between the three friends after Janessa goes missing, and Emlyn and Tyler have to work together to find her.
I loved the wilderness atmosphere, and the suspense throughout the story. It kept me on the edge of my seat until the very last page.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this story.

Thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur Books and the author for this digital ARC.

I will say that I was immediately turned off by the God references at the beginning of this book. I shave always struggled with the concept of organized religion, and I didn't feel like I had signed up for any of that based on the description. But, despite the fact that there was a character nicknamed 'Reverend' who made reference to God a few times, overall they weren't too heavy handed or preachy. The concept of trust and faith were introduced as a way of telling the reader that this would be a book about letting things unfold as they may. And overall it made sense to include that. I can definitely agree, letting go a little and trusting in the process of life is a message we could all stand to be reminded of.

I read and enjoyed one of Cunningham-Grant's other books--These Silent Woods--so I was looking forward to another book rich in lush imagery with a heavy dose of 'man vs nature.' And I was not disappointed.

As somebody who worked as a white water rafting and sea kayak guide, I find it difficult to find books that deal with the topic of wilderness survival (or just being in the back country) in a realistic and engaging way, but this one got it right. I loved that everyone involved in the story had extensive experience with being in the wilderness. There's nothing worse than reading a story about somebody who is supposed to know what they're doing, and they are doing literally everything wrong. You would think that everybody knowing their way around the back country would make the stakes feel lower, but it was actually the opposite. Because the reader knows how skilled all the characters are, we also know how frightening of a situation they are in.

I also appreciated the direction that this story went in the end. It was sightly unexpected, but again it was realistic and satisfying. This is a difficult book to talk about without giving things away, so I will say that there were a couple of plot twists that were slightly out of left field to me, but I understand the need to add those kinds of details to appease the short attention spans we all have today.

The writing was quippy and never felt overly fraught. The characters were easily distinguishable, albeit a little subdued at time. But I very much appreciated some solid 'girl power' moments in this one, and I am always here for strong female characters and friendships.

I brought this book with me on vacation and it was the perfect read for lounging in a hammock, next to a cenote.

I was excited about this one but i was not engaged with the timeline jumping around and the pick me mentality at the beginning.
It was an okay read but her first book was much better

I love Kimi’s writing style. This is the second book by her that I’ve read and the way she can describe things that makes you perfectly visualize them is amazing. She does all of this with a perfect balance, because I am sure we have all read books where we are screaming, “get to the point already!!!” Not with her, she has this ability to make you picture everything, without boring you. I keep debating if I wanted to give this 4 stars or 5. The only reason I consider 4 is because I want MORE, I want more than what I got from the ending, but, the ending was good and left you hopeful. So I decided that had more to do with me than the book, I’m the kind of person who always wants more lol. So I decided on 5 stars! I could not put this down, I swear I could have a read it in a day if I weren’t a stay at home mom of 2. It was such a beautiful book with some really good twists in it!!! Towards the end my jaw dropped at one of the twists! I definitely recommend this book, it leaves you feeling happy and hopeful.

A good thrilling read, that was fast paced and definitely kept me turning the pages. While I found it a bit predictable at first, it did surprise me in the end. I did have to suspend belief a little bit, but all in all a great thriller.

I enjoyed it a lot.

Emlyn has tried to ignore her past, most of of all, her ex-boyfriend who left her for dead. She is trying to settle into a new life when he comes back and asks for her help to find their mutual friend, Janessa. Janessa has gone off the grid and they are worried that she might be in danger.

I truly enjoy Grant’s writing. She has a beautiful way of describing the setting to make it so easy to visualize. Being that I’m not a girl who ventures into the wilderness ever, I feel that I can actually see what’s going on by the way she writes it. You could tell that so much research went into writing this book which I truly appreciate.

The main character, Emlyn, is hard on herself and holds herself back, which make her so relatable. I really loved watching the evolution of her character. I also love her quirk of assigning a single word to every person she meets. The story is told from her POV with some present day and some past day timelines.

All of the characters were well written, just like Grant’s previous book. I really enjoyed Varden and Rev and wish we had a little more from them in the story. I can’t wait for Grant’s next books!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy of this book!

Emlyn is working as a wilderness guide doing what she loves, spending her days in nature. She loves being a fishing and hunting guide. It's a simple life that she loves. When approached by her former boyfriend, Tyler, who left her high and dry, Emlyn must overlook their past to help him find her estranged best friend, Janessa. Their missing friend is a social media star who posts about her #vanlife adventures. When she doesn't post, those in her life become alarmed.

I had very high hopes for this book. I loved These Silent Woods and Fallen Mountains, I thought I would love this book as well. Sadly, I found it to be extremely slow. I struggle with slow burns and my attention waivered while reading this book. I did not feel a connection with the characters which normally doesn't bother me, but it did in this book.


What I did enjoy was the descriptions of nature and the atmospheric feel of the book. I also appreciated how the author showed Emlyn who is an outdoor/wilderness expert making errors in judgement/mistakes. I felt the character did this as she was letting her emotions and past pain get in the way.

This book is told through two timelines giving readers insight into the past, relationship issues, etc.

I really wanted to love this one, but we can't love them all. I will still be on the lookout for new books by Kimi Cunningham Grant. I enjoy her writing and vivid descriptions. Be sure to read her author’s note at the end. It was interesting and insightful.

Others have enjoyed this book more than I did, so please read their reviews as well.

Well written and atmospheric.

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Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Great story for anyone who loves the outdoors. I however, became annoyed with the time changes and almost wish they atrted older then move forward in time.

This story pulls you in right from the start and coaxes you into a feeling of uncertainty when Emlyn's best friend Janessa has gone missing and the only one that can help is her ex boyfriend Tyler, who left her for dead several years ago. Has Tyler changed? Can she trust him? Will they find Janessa dead or alive or at all?

The author does a wonderful job of setting each scene and really making you feel like you are right there with these characters. There is a definite sense of foreboding as the story progresses and you don't know what is going to happen.

This was a very engaging read that will have you biting your fingernails until the end. I think fans of of authors like Charlotte McConaghy or Peter Heller will really enjoy this book as to me it gave a similar feeling in terms of mystery and backdrop.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and Kimi Cunningham Grant for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A new and exciting thriller! Thanks to Netgalley for the early peak at this one! Emlyn lives in Idaho and falls in love with her best friends childhood neighbor. He loves the outdoors and does a lot of fishing and hiking. Emlyn loves it too but on one of their outings, things go terribly wrong. Coming in June, The Nature of Disappearing by Kim Cunningham Grant is a 4 star read.

I really enjoyed The Nature of Disappearing! I loved the blend of romance, friendship, and suspense combined with the picturesque Idaho wilderness backdrop. It was a gripping tale that explores the complexities of starting new while unraveling the ties of your past. Thank you to NetGalley, Kimi Cunningham Grant, and St. Martin's Press for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC.

Trust takes years to build, seconds to break and destroy, and forever to repair.

Emlyn and Janessa met in college and formed a strong bond of friendship. Janessa was always in rescue mode and came to Emlyn's side when the party got rowdy or the obnoxious guys leaned in too close. They had an almost sixth sense relationship.

But times change and so do the people within it. Janessa became an online influencer with her van-life blog. She and her nature loving boyfriend, Bush, took to the forests and highways reporting in every day about their new experiences. When Janessa drops out of sight for days on end, Emlyn knows something is wrong. Very wrong.

Then Tyler, her ol' flame, shows up at her door unexpectantly. He's getting the same vibe about Janessa. He and Janessa have known each other since they were kids. But there's bad blood now between Emlyn and Tyler. He did something to Emlyn in the past that was unforgivable. Emlyn has to move past the past since Janessa's safety is at the forefront now. They pack up and head for the last place that Janessa was suppose to be. And what exactly will they find?

Kimi Cunningham Grant lifts the veil on Emlyn's own past. She's now living in Idaho at a lodge as a fly fishing guide. And she's good at it. We'll meet Ruth also known as the Rev, an elderly woman with supersonic energy and Varden, a member of the Idaho Forest Service. Emlyn owes a great deal to both of them. But her allegiance is to the missing Janessa. Emlyn is a pro at tracking, but will her emotions get in the way?

The Nature of Disappearing is a solid read. But mind the fact that you'll not be liking all these characters. It's the circumstances and the strong element of trust that weaves its way throughout this one. Just how many times can a person look the other way and hope for the best? And at the core of this one is the stern reality that not everyone in our loop of friendship has our best interest in mind.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Minotaur Books (St. Martin's Press) and to Kimi Cunningham Grant for the opportunity.

This is my first book by Kimi Cunningham Grant and I can definitely say I will look for more from her.
2 friends who meet by chance and become inseparable. That is until a guy comes in the picture. A story that is very believable. A story about addiction and how far someone will come to hide the whole truth. No matter who it will hurt.
But honestly in the end I did not see the twist coming. And it blew me away. It did have its slow parts but all in all it was a good story.
I would definitely recommend this to someone who likes the outdoors and a good twist.
Thank you NetGalley for my advance copy

Another five star read from Ms Kimi C Grant! I loved her book These Silent Woods so I knew I wanted to read The Nature of disappearing as soon as I could. I will start by saying these are two very different books with very different stories and different meanings or things the author wants you to take away after reading. Both are similar in the setting of being deep in the woods which makes it a very atmospherically great read, I got in the mood to go hiking after reading this book. I also really like the twists were laid out throughout the book and that although not necessarily a "happy" ending you feel content with how the book ends.