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<b><I>But, truth is, I always found the most dangerous animal of all - that’s gotta be the two-legged kind. </b></I>

The Nature of Disappearing follows Emlyn and as she teams up with her ex-boyfriend Tyler (who abandoned her in the woods years earlier, almost freezing to death) as they search for their friend, Janessa. Janessa is a #vanlife influencer who they believe is in the woods in danger.

I absolutely adored Kimi Cunningham Grants last book These Silent Woods so this one had huge shoes to fill - and it filled them! I ate this book up and couldn’t go to sleep without finishing it.

The way Kimi Cunningham Grant sucks you into the wilderness setting is unmatched. You feel like you’re on the journey with the main characters observing from above. Her writing is so beautiful and immersive.

My one slight criticism would be that the ending wrapped up too quickly and left me wanting a little more (which was also the case for me in These Silent Woods).

Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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I absolutely adored These Silent Woods and was so excited to get this novel. While I t huh ink it’s a good book it just didn’t hit the same way as her previous book. Three characters, while interesting, didn’t feel fleshed out enough for me and I never quite felt bought in on each of their stories. The mystery parts felt a bit convoluted and strained. I really really wish I liked this more but I still will read whatever this writer puts out next.
3.5 stars

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Emlyn is at her best in the wild—she has rarely been as much at peace with people than she is out in the wilderness. Her friend Janessa was an exception, but that relationship is over; her boyfriend Tyler was another exception, but that too is over. At least—those relationships were over until Tyler reaches out, asking for help. Janessa is missing...and Emlyn is his best bet to find her again.

This is something of a slow burn of a book, sliding between the here-and-now of Emlyn and Tyler's hunt for Janessa and the years beforehand—before Janessa took Emlyn under her wing, before Emlyn and Tyler found each other, before it all fell apart. Parts of the mystery are hinted at for the reader to guess before Emlyn does, but there are a lot of ways the story could turn out, which is satisfying; I guessed at some of it, especially as the story went on, but several other outcomes would have been realistic too.

The characters are satisfying, and there's something about Janessa and Emlyn's friendship that I think will resonate with a lot of readers—loving each other fiercely but Emlyn feeling that she's always in Janessa's shadow. (Their relationship is *way* more interesting than Emlyn's more predictable route with Tyler.) In places I'd have liked more from Janessa, who pretty much does everything with a bang but whom we of course only understand from Emlyn's perspective.

I'll leave it there because the details of the relationships are best unfolded with the pages of the book—but this was a satisfying read.

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.

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I finished this book in a day. I literally couldn't put it down. I felt like the story flowed so easily between past and present so that the reader could understand what happened in the past that fueled present situations. Such an easy thriller read!

Emlyn and Janessa meet in college and strike up a friendship, Janessa the domineering outgoing one and Emlyn the quieter one. Emlyn starts dating Tyler, Janessa's best friend from childhood but it doesn't sit well with Janessa. After months of dating Tyler does something horrible to Emlyn. Finally getting over him and moving on he stumbles back into her life to ask Emlyn to help find Janessa who has disappeared. However, Emlyn starts to realize things aren't quite as they seem.

This story was written so well with great character development. While Janessa was a little overbearing she ended up being someone that Emlyn truly could depend on. Varden should Emlyn how it should feel to be cared for and Rev accepted Emlyn wholeheartedly. Emlyn triumphed in the end and it was a great read!

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press Minotaur books and Kimi Cunningham Grant for allowing me to review this ARC!

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Overall I really enjoyed this read and it kept me engaged and wanting to learn more about each character.

My only complaint is my small disappointment in the ending; I hoped it would have been a little more thrilling and less rushed.

Overall, I enjoy the author’s writing both here and in These Silent Woods, I will continue reading more!

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I stated January of 2023 reading These Silent Woods and fell in love with Kimi Grants writing. Was so excited for an ARC of The Nature of Disappearing and starting it January 2024, and I was not let down one bit. I loved every moment and thought of Emlyn. Emlyn’s word? Strength. Highly recommend this read!

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This book was a page turner from beginning to end. Reminded me of the Gabi Petino (spelling) case in the beginning and I was hesitant however it definitely created its own way and storyline. Two girls find their way to eachother and become best friends. However as with any friendship there’s usually an imbalance. It’s watching this imbalance play out that gives us the storyline. Definitely was action packed towards the end with some twists I didn’t see coming. Would highly recommend. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

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Couldn't get into this one as much as I hoped it would be impressive. I think it had all the makings of a book I'd love, but for some reason, it wasn't the outcome. The cover is gorgeous though! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

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I couldn't wait to read this as I loved the author's previous novel. Initially, I'll admit I was a bit disappointed as I felt like this was going to be a rip-off of the true crime Gabby Petito story - but stick with it if you're distracted by the initial similarities in your mind. Trust me. This one has a slow build that gradually reveals bits and pieces of the characters' pasts, leading you to a satisfying conclusion. A few twists along the way, some that are predictable and some that completely surprised me. Overall, highly recommend to fans of thrillers and/or the author's previous book.

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Three estranged friends. Emlyn, Janessa and Tyler.
Now with one missing in the wilderness, the other two need to put their differences aside to find their friend before it’s too late.

I was hoping for a five-star. I tried to will it into being. But no matter how much I wanted to love this book I just couldn’t get there. When I pick up a book I want to feel a part of it…not just read the pages.

I need a connection to the characters and /or the storyline. Both were lacking for me. A complete disconnect… as though I was standing on the outside looking in. I didn’t feel any of the tension or suspense the author was trying to convey.

I absolutely loved her previous book, These Silent Woods so I’m not giving up. I’ll definitely be trying another from this author in the future.

There are plenty of positive five-star reviews for this book, so be sure to take a look at those! I’m very much an outlier!🏝️

A buddy read with Susanne

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press

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Kimi has a way of writing enticing characters and stories with a background against nature. I loved In These Silent Woods and this book was just as enjoyable.

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Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced ecopy of The Nature of Disappearing by Kimi Cunningham Grant.

After Grant's These Silent Woods (which I loved), I was eagerly anticipating her next book. The Nature of Disappearing did not disappoint! Another slow-burn nature suspense hit the spot. Compelling characters, great storyline, and enough twists to keep you guessing.

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It is no secret that I admire Kimi Cunningham Grant's ability to draw her readers into her stories and hold us, enthralled, to the very last page. <u>The Nature of Disappearing</u> held me equally captive.

I grew to care about brave, multi-faceted Emlyn Anthony: her sense of abandonment and lack of self-worth, her love of nature and her self-reliance, and her courage to start over - again and again - each time happiness evaded her yearning grasp. This passage says so much about Emlyn:

"When I was eleven, my dad got me a dictionary, and then, a few months later, he left.... For a long time, I read it..... And I do this thing. I choose a word for people.... one word that can really summarize a person."

These lines made me sigh deeply. Emlyn was trying to make sense of her world, attempting to label the people in her life. Some of those labels would prove to be woefully false, as she would learn to her cost.

Kimi Cunningham Grant catapulted herself onto my "top ten favourite writers of all time" list with her novel, <u>These Silent Woods.</u> Her descriptions of wild woodlands and mountainous terrain are mesmerizing. You lose all sense of time and place as you fall into the slow cadence of her storytelling.

I didn't want this story to end - I never do with any of her books! She builds atmosphere and and draws you right into the wilderness with her carefully chosen words. I love losing all sense of myself while I am reading her books, and this book was no exception.

Emlyn's life changed when she met her BFF - the effervescent, irrepressible Janessa, in college.

"<i>Friend.</i> ... In fact "friend" was almost too flimsy a word. They'd been more. Confidantes, allies, sisters.
And then they'd been less."

As always with Gran'ts novels, there is a mystery to be solved and the characters are plunged into dire straits that seem impossible to overcome. I was on the edge of my seat right up until the end.

I don't want to give too much of this story away, so I will just say that this was yet another spellbinding read from Kimi Cunningham Grant. Highly, highly recommended! 5 out of 5 well written stars!

My thanks to Kimi Cunningham Grant, her publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC of this equally heartrending and heartwarming novel. Loved every page of it!

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Most perfect book to start the New Year off! Available 6/18/24 and you will not regret preordering!!

This book had it all, romance, danger and set in Idaho! Kimi has a way of making you love her characters, flaws and all.

My sincere thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this much anticipated book.

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I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Emlyn is a naturalist and fishing guide who has a troubled family past. She carries her traumas into adulthood where they interfere with relationships and her confidence in herself.

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Well, brace yourself for an enthralling journey into the heart of the wilderness, where the surroundings breathe life into an intense atmosphere, making nature the villain of the tale. "The Nature of Disappearing" grips you with its survival instincts theme, setting the stage for mysterious and intriguing reading. I can honestly say that this follows in the footsteps of the author's previous spine-tingling book, "These Silent Woods," as it shares a similar atmospheric setting. However, I must admit, I favored the previous book a tad more.

"The Nature of Disappearing" boasts strengths such as realistic characterizations that mirror both the flaws and engaging aspects of the characters, evoking a strong sense of connection with the reader. Emlyn, the main character, akin to a modern Joan of Arc in the wilderness, is a capable survivor portraying toughness and resilience. Yet, we also witness her vulnerable side, leading her to questionable decisions as she grapples with mixed emotions and blurred judgments.

Distinguishing itself from the previous book, this one places emphasis on the central love story between Emlyn and Tyler, whose betrayal casts a shadow over the mystery of Jenessa's disappearance. The narrative deftly weaves between timelines, creating a complex interplay that, at times, might leave readers a bit dizzy. The broken love story significantly influences Emlyn's present decisions.

The concept of being stranded in the wilderness to unravel the mystery of her estranged friend is a captivating plotline. However, the final revelations and twists, while not eye-rolling, felt a bit flat, lacking the earth-shattering complexity one might expect. Surprisingly, the romantic elements took charge of the conclusion.

Despite occasional abrupt transitions between timelines, I found pleasure in the characterizations, the intricate portrayal of a broken love story, the exploration of devoted friendship, the scrutiny of dysfunctional relationship patterns, and the enthralling mystery—though it could use a bit more refinement. The author's vast knowledge and detailed descriptions of wilderness survival remain standout features, prompting me to round up my rating from 3.5 to 4 stars. It is undeniably well-written and makes for a swift, engaging read. Anything crafted by Kimi Cunningham Grant is worth delving into without second thoughts.

A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for generously providing me with the digital reviewer copy of this gripping novel in exchange for my honest opinions.

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I don’t recall reading a book by this author before though I’ve seen one or two, I think. This was a great read. No weird, out-of-place, twistiness, just solid suspense that pulls you in with a really relatable protagonist. I love a book you can easily follow & picture, too, as it was super descriptive with the precise outdoor/ nature narrative. Five solid stars for a book that pulls you in from the beginning, only asking that you get comfortable with a blanket, maybe a glass of wine & a long holiday afternoon/ evening. Was a one day read for me😊

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As someone who is not outdoorsy, I really appreciated the wilderness aspect of this book. However, like someone else pointed out, Emlyn is supposed to be smart and nature knowledgeable but then seems to make not great decisions. Also, without adding any spoilers, I thought this was going in a different direction and then when I found out what this was actually about it was a bit of a letdown.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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The Nature of Disappearing follows Emlyn as she searches to find her friend in the wilderness.

This book captivated me right from the start. Even with all the wilderness lingo and religious references, I was drawn to the slow burn mystery much like These Silent Woods. I love how Grant built up the present storyline by including chapters from the past, which helped us learn more about Emlyn and the friend she was seeking to find. However, the ending sadly did not pay off for me as much as I hoped. I feel like we were left with some big unanswered questions about many of the side plots.

Read if you like:
-Slow burn mystery
-Dual timeline
-Hiking/ outdoorsy activities
-Idaho wilderness setting

Thank you SMP for the ARC! Pub 6/18

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I squealed when I got this book in my email because I loved These Silent Woods so much. I was instantly hooked with this one as well and loved the wilderness aspect of her books (even though I am not outdoorsy at all!) I liked the two separate story lines going on of past and present as well as the love stories. I wasn’t expecting the plot to go as it did but I was still fully into it. She is becoming an auto read author for me!!

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