Amazing read! This author really knows how to grasp the reader and keep them engaged throughout! Can’t wait to see what’s next!!

There is nothing better than a suspenseful story that happens in the middle of nowhere, with no service or easy escape! When Emlyn agrees to help her ex-boyfriend find her estranged best friend, she may be walking into more than she signed up for. Is this simply a case of two people that wanted to take a break for a while or is something more sinister occurring?

The deep back stories that lead to the "now" of this story and how the author interweaved the timelines was perfect for the story and how it unfolds. As an outdoor enthusiast I really enjoyed all of the hiking and camping tidbits that came through the story as well. The mystery and suspense of this story is great, it is the characters that make the story really come to life.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It isn't a smack you in the face reveal, but there is some great suspense and the characters and their stories are amazing. What makes this a great book is all of the backstories and the friendships; I personally loved that it seemed completely feasible rather than being a fantastical mystery. If you love realistic and emotional mysteries, then this is a great book for you. I know I will be telling my fellow readers to read this one!

3 promising stars that didn’t shine

From the publisher: “In this captivating novel of suspense, a wilderness guide must team up with the man who ruined her life years ago when the friend who introduced them goes missing. Emlyn doesn’t let herself think about the past.”

The writing and pacing are very good in Cunningham Grant’s mystery, The Nature of Disappearing. Unfortunately, I thought the characters were average – not intriguing or confident. No pizzazz. The romance is typical and a bit sappy. I really disliked Emlyn’s one-word character summaries – pathetic, manipulative, etc. I appreciate authors who can write nuanced characters who are not all good or all evil.

Emlyn has a friend, Janessa. “Janessa plans everything, and Emlyn is happy to go along.” Not exciting for the main protagonist.

In the Author’s Note, Cunningham Grant writes that she “wanted to craft a story that ultimately left readers- especially readers who might be in a wilderness of their own – feeling uplifted. I did not feel the uplift because of the lackluster characters. “Emlyn thumbs through her dictionary and finds the word ’pathetic.’ ‘Pitiful, particularly though tragedy or weakness.’ She knows this word. The definition fits her, she realizes.” I understand trying to show why the character has no self-esteem and confidence, (abandonment issues), but it is hard to be encouraged by a character who has no life of her own.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting read. At times the story felt like it was going slow and other times it picked up. It goes back and forth between the past to present day and how the main characters Emlyn and Tyler’s relationship came to be and Emlyn needing to find her friend Janessa.

The Nature of Disappearing is a character driven mystery-thriller that alternates between past and present timelines. The story held my interest, especially since I was eager to find out what happened to the protagonist's friend. The story felt a lot like it was inspired by the Gabby Petito case.

*Spoiler* Some parts of the story didn't make sense to me, particularly when the characters saved the very person who was trying to kill them—what was that about? The frequent shifts to the past slowed down the pacing a bit. That said, I thought the ending was fitting for the story.

I would recommend this book to mystery fans.

3.5⭐️

I was very excited to receive an ARC of this book as I loved These Silent Woods. Unfortunately the magic that was in These Silent Woods was not present in The Nature of Disappearance. While there were some similarities- both had great wilderness settings and both included a back and forth timeline, I just didn’t love anything about The Nature of Disappearance. At the heart of it, this is a mystery story but with characters with thin backstories I just didn’t care about where the missing friend was. I also found the past timeline to be rather boring and would have preferred to stay in the present mystery. All in all, I just wasn’t impressed with this novel but I will continue to read from this author because These Silent Woods was so good.

This book took me a minute to get into, but I was quickly immersed in the story. The dual timeline telling the story of Emlynn and events that led up to where she is in her life now, plus the search for Janessa balanced out well.

The setting is very atmospheric, and you know some kind of twist is going to happen but not sure when. I wasn't very surprised by it, though, and I felt the ending was a bit rushed. I would have liked more after everything was sorted out with Tyler and Bush, such as more about Emlynn and Verdan.

I think this was well written and the suspense of not knowing what Tyler and Emlynn would find kept me wanting to keep reading.

I will definitely read more from this author!

Really enjoyed this. The twists were interesting and well placed, the characters had very well developed backstories. I enjoyed the relationships, the survival aspects, and the environmental buildup. I can't wait to see what else this author publishes.

"The Nature of Disappearing" was such a page-turner and I, a notoriously slow reader, finished it quickly. Complex relationships, lies, crime, all in the stunning setting of the Idaho back country will keep fans of Claire Kells turning pages.

Emlyn is a river guide in Idaho, leading a quiet and fairly insular life when we meet her. There are thoughts of the past, where an un-named event sent her life careening out of control and brought her to this place. This comfortable existence is disturbed when she hears from her old love Tyler that their friend Janessa is missing. Emlyn had sworn to have nothing to do with Tyler again, after he left her to die in the wilderness three years ago. But the loss off her friendship with Janessa has haunted her and she cannot resist the call to help find her. But Emlyn will find that not everything is as it seems.

Before writing this review, I read several in Goodreads. Normally I fall in line with the majority of reviewers but with this book, I felt that in general they were really harsh. I do agree this book was a slow burn. i was probably a quarter of a way in before I became fully engaged, and yes, there were parts that really drug for me. But from that point onwards, I was all in. The story became un-put-downable.

As others have said, the descriptions of the Idaho back country are gorgeous and make me wish I was younger and could disappear to the back of beyond to experience all this. I did a brief search on the author's bio and didn't see anything to indicate she had special experience in the wilderness, but her descriptions ring with authenticity. I've always hated fishing, but the description here made it seem like such a thing of beauty, I may have to give it another try. And at around the same time I started to become invested in the story I realized something, this woman can write.! Picture a tile wall. One workman tiles the space and it is functional and the job is done. But another uses the tiles to create beautiful patterns and a mix of colors. So do I see this story. The story could have been told in a "he said" "she said" manner and would have still been interesting, but each of the author's choice of words, each descriptive phrase, seem like tiny jewels scattered throughout the story to make it more beautiful.

There are also some interesting themes here. Emlyn has some deep-seeded insecurities, and they have made her vulnerable in life, seeking affirmation that she is a worthwhile person. But this has caused her to misjudge people, and maybe be too forgiving of them. This story shows Emlyn's journey to becoming a person who learns to value herself.

A thematic device I enjoyed in the story: Emlyn would have a word to describe people. Her word for her friend Janessa is "alluring", and she always feels like second choice when she is around her friend, until she met Tyler who chose her, once upon a time. Emlyn's word for herself: forgettable. I enjoyed seeing Emlyn grow as a person and I thought the author handled this transition gracefully.

The beginning of this book was probably a three star, but the vast majority became a five star. I should settle on four, but I can't resist beautiful writing like this. It's a five star for me!

Thank you to NetGalley, Kim Cunningham Grant, and St Martin's Press for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The main character of this novel, Ellen, is a wilderness guide in Idaho who has worked to rebuild her life after some difficult events three years before. Then she sees on the news that her onetime best friend Janessa, who is now a camper van life influencer, is missing - and then Emlyn’s ex-boyfriend Tyler shows up asking for Emlyn to help him find Janessa. Their present day search is interspersed with flashbacks which show us how Emlyn ended up where she is now, and the good and bad of her relationships with both Janessa and Tyler.

I loved Kimi Cunningham Grant’s book These Silent Woods, so I went into this one pretty much blind. It shares with that one wonderful descriptions of nature and survival, but I’d say this one has a little bit more of mystery/thriller vibes. But I’d say it’s still at heart a character novel, a well done one.

“But the truth is, I always found the most dangerous animal of all … that’s got to be the two-legged kind.”

What an incredible story! The Nature of Disappearing has so much depth. First it explores the steps we take to disappear from society, conflict, and even our own lives. How we work to make ourselves invisible in order to survive, and yet how some people are able to still see us and help us see ourselves.

Next, it dives into the throngs of addiction, not only the damage it can cause to those afflicted directly, but also the impact on those connected to the one suffering.

Lastly, it shows us how we can fail to see things when blinded by love or adoration.

This is a slow burn, character-driven story that takes a while to get going, but once it does, you cannot put it down. The mystery unravels gradually through a dual timeline but key elements are revealed at just the right pace. And, the strength and devotion of true friends shows through even when mistakes could cause the friendship to fall away. It’s the perfect blend of mystery and self-reflection.

I must admit I maybe didn’t love it quite as much as These Silent Woods, but it is a close second. Grant doesn’t cower from hard topics and infuses them with loving and endearing moments. Everyone that ever had a falling out with a good friend or has been blinded by love should read this book! As the author says, when you are lost or lonely in the wilderness it is not the final chapter. Your story will go on. This book shows us that!

QUOTES -
“There is a strange, marvelous liberty in seeing a person for who they really are.”

I know that whenever I am in the mood for a good wilderness survival story, I can count on Kimi Cunningham Grant. Her atmospheric novels set against the backdrop of the wonderous and wild are the perfect escape from ordinary life, allowing the reader to take a daring walk on the wild side without ever leaving the comfort and safety of home.

Her latest novel, The Nature of Disappearing, takes us on a journey with Emlyn, a fishing guide who sets off into the wilds of the West with her ex-boyfriend Tyler to look for her friend-turned-influencer Janessa, who has gone missing amidst her quest to document her adventures of traveling the country and living out of a camper van.

Admittedly, this set-up does sound a bit like the tragic Gabby Petito saga, which is in fact one of the reasons why I picked it up, and while there are similarities, it is not the same story. So much more of this tale is focused on Emlyn and how she came to be the person she is in life through her cause and effect relationships with both Tyler and Janessa. As Emlyn journeys further into the wilderness, we explore her formerly toxic relationship with Tyler, and learn how Emlyn has always felt less than living in Janessa's shadow.

While The Nature of Disappearing doesn't quite deliver that electric spark that made Grant's previous novel, These Silent Woods so captivating, it is still an emotionally charged story fraught with peril. Kimi Cunningham Grant displays beauty in her writing, capturing the vital essence of both Mother Nature and human nature, and presenting it to readers in an intimate, thoughtful way.

I really enjoyed the scenic atmosphere of this book. I loved Emlyn, the main character, who was independent, careful and easy to like. I liked the timeline shifts as well as the mystery and how it all turned out. It was a bit slow at times, but it did keep my interest throughout.

I really wanted to fall in love with "The Nature of Disappearing" by Kimi Cunningham Grant, but in the end, it was just okay. The synopsis hooked me in, promising a story full of intrigue and mystery. But as I went through, I found my interest waning more often than not. While I did finish the book, there were moments where I unintentionally tuned out, and I didn't feel compelled to backtrack.

That said, the book isn't without its merits. There are definitely sections that are beautifully written and genuinely captivating. I particularly enjoyed the scenic setting and the shifts in time, which really helped to illustrate the evolution of the characters' relationships—from their beginnings to the present day.

Even though it didn't completely grab me, I can't deny that Kimi Cunningham Grant has a talent for crafting a well-written story. I'm still interested in exploring more of her work, hoping the next one will resonate with me a bit more. For anyone who enjoys a slower-paced mystery, this book might be just the right fit.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this advanced reader's copy in exchange for a thoughtful and honest review.

This book was okay. I liked it, but I just couldn't love it.

The story centers around Emlyn, who lives a quiet life as a hunting and fishing guide in Idaho. She left behind a troubled past, including a broken friendship with Janessa and a relationship gone wrong with Tyler. Everything shifts when Tyler reappears with news that Janessa has gone missing. Emlyn realizes that she might be the only one that can find her, so together Tyler and Janessa set out in the wildness to do that.

I struggled with the pace, and honestly some of the content/storyline. The story was set up so well, and was super intriguing, but as we delved deeper into the story I found some of the things that were happening to the main character to be something that wouldn't happen in real life. For the example, the character was an avid nature guide, and while she was lost in the woods, I thought that there were times that she could have gotten out (due to her expertise).;Things like that didn't make sense.

Additionally, the characters weren't people I felt like I could really connect with. They were just...lacking.

One positive of the book, that I really did love was the atmosphere and the wilderness setting. It made me want to run to Idaho.

Emlyn plays things safe. She works as a fishing and hunting guide in Idaho, and while she may not enjoy the clients, she is good at what she does. She's at home in the wilderness, though she knows only too well how things can go south quickly.

When her former boyfriend Tyler shows up, asking for her help, Emlyn is forced to face feelings and thoughts she's left in the past. Left behind, like Tyler left her behind in the wilderness three years ago. Can she trust Tyler again enough to join him in looking for her friend Janessa? And is Janessa even missing in the first place?

The authorities aren't so sure she's missing. Employed by Tyler to cover their social media, Janessa missed a check in and scheduled post, but that's not enough cause for alarm. Emlyn is wavering, and then Janessa makes a post only a few days later. Only, Emlyn recognizes the lake in the picture. And it's not in Wyoming, like Janessa claims to be. Scrolling through old posts, Emlyn sees comments from a stalker they had issues with, including a few other comments that unsettle her. Mixed with the lake picture, Emlyn is concerned that something is truly wrong, and she has a good place to start looking.

Told from the past and present, the past takes us from Emlyn first meeting Janessa, and eventually Tyler, to their relationship and how it ended. Mixed with the search for her friend now, Emlyn lacks confidence in her ability to read people, and can only hope her experience in the wilderness can keep her from making the same mistakes.

I wavered on this one, but after letting it sit with me for a while, it does deserve a full four star rating, and I think it's definitely one that you should give a chance! It's a fairly quick read, and I do love Emlyn's habit of assigning people a word, a byproduct of her reading the dictionary as a young child.

3.5⭐️ - I feel like it took a while to get into the meat of this one. I loved the atmosphere and my interest picked up on all the parts put and in the wilderness. I also really liked how everything was resolved.

This took me months to force myself to finish. I loved her previous book These Silent Woods but this one was a miss for me. The first 80% of the book was just flashbacks. We’re almost done with it before anything finally happens, and when it does, it was lackluster. This just wasn’t a good thriller and the romance part was awful too.

I enjoyed this one but not as much as These Silent Woods. The time line changes were as smooth as they needed to be but overall I liked this one!