**Pick this up if you like:** Mystery with a touch of suspense, rich atmospheric settings, and character-driven narratives.

**The Nature of Disappearing** by Kimi Cunningham Grant is a beautifully crafted novel that pulls you into the wilds of Idaho, where Emlyn lives a solitary life, avoiding the past and the people she left behind. But when her ex, Tyler, reappears with news that her former best friend Janessa is missing, Emlyn is drawn back into a world she’d tried to escape. Janessa’s new life as a social media star in the vanlife community has taken a dark turn, and it’s up to Emlyn, with her unique skills and deep knowledge of the wilderness, to find her before it’s too late.

Kimi Cunningham Grant has a unique gift for storytelling. Her prose is lush and evocative, transporting readers into the heart of the wild, where the beauty and danger of the natural world mirror the complexity of human emotions. The narrative seamlessly weaves between past and present, gradually revealing the layers of Emlyn’s history and the pain she carries.

What makes this novel truly stand out is how it transcends genre boundaries. While it has the suspenseful elements of a mystery, it’s also a deeply moving exploration of friendship, trust, and forgiveness. The characters are richly developed, their choices realistic and relatable, drawing you into their world with ease. The dialogue is sharp and authentic, and the pacing, though deliberate, is perfectly suited to the unfolding of the story’s intricate layers.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its setting. Grant’s depiction of the Idaho wilderness is so vivid and immersive that you feel as though you’re trekking through the woods alongside the characters. Yet, she does this without overwhelming the reader with overly descriptive language—it’s a masterful balance that few authors can achieve.

While some readers might expect a fast-paced thriller and find themselves disappointed by the novel’s slower, more reflective pace, that’s not what this book is meant to be. It’s a story that lingers, one that stays with you long after you’ve turned the final page. The themes of redemption and the power of nature to heal are deeply woven into the fabric of the story, making it much more than a simple mystery.

In summary, **The Nature of Disappearing** is a compelling, genre-bending novel that will resonate with readers who appreciate nuanced characters, atmospheric settings, and stories that explore the depths of human relationships. It’s a novel to savor, one that will keep you reading late into the night and leave you thinking long after you’re done. Highly recommended for those who enjoy their mysteries with a side of emotional depth and stunning natural landscapes.

such a great thriller. liked this one alot. the audio was done nicely and kept me interested from beginning to end. Put this one on your list.

I was able to get an advanced copy of this book and while I did it enjoy parts of it, it was not my favorite. The writing was ok, but it seemed a little far fetched. I think the idea for the story was there, but it didn't develop as much as I would have enjoyed. The narration was very good and I did keep coming back to it because I wanted to see how it ended.
Overall, it was a good story, it just was not as developed as I would have liked.

Buckle up and prepare for a wild ride.
I loved These Silent Woods and had high expectations for this one, it didn’t disappoint. Grant writes the best atmospheric novels, it takes you right into the wilderness and keeps you at the edge of your seat.
Suspenseful, gripping and captivating!

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this complimentary audiobook.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 by Kimi Cunningham Grant released June 18, 2024.

When Emlyn learns that her teenage best friend, Jenessa has disappeared in the wilderness, she contacts her old beau Tyler to try to locate Jenessa. I found this listening experience very disappointing. Although decently written, there's very little I actually liked about this book. It's told through dual timelines, and much of the book is about the boring angst filled teen relationship between Jenessa and Emlyn. Five years later, Emlyn and Tyler do their best to locate Jenessa and her current boyfriend, Bush, but so little of the book is actually spent in the current search--told in present tense to no real effect--that any suspense or sense of immediacy is lost. Despite an excellent narration by Emily Pike Stewart, I can only recommend this book to readers between 18 and 25.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and to Macmillan Audio for the copies to review.

This one hit very close to home for me and I was certainly not expecting that. Grant captured Emlyn and her relationship with an addict so well, it took me back to when I was there in it, the ‘oh I’ll just brb’ and hours later they aren’t back, and you know the worst is true. Listening via audio made this even more real, and although I had some anxiety while reading this one, it was so incredibly well done. This moves from current day to the past, where we learn a little more about what happened back then and how it connects to present day. The suspense slowly builds until the end and then I could not listen fast enough to get to the ending. I definitely recommend this one, just keep in mind the addiction trigger warnings mentioned above.

The Nature of Disappearing features Emlyn, a woman who lives on her own and is a wilderness guide. Three years ago, her long time boyfriend Tyler left her alone in the wilderness, and after she was found, she settled in the isolated area where her rescuers, an older spiritual woman and a young, exceedingly quiet man named Vardan are her neighbors. She unexpectedly gets a call from Tyler saying Janessa,, Emlyn's best friend from college and Tyler's childhood friend has disappeared. Off they go, prepared for deep wilderness trekking, to hunt for their friend, an uneasy duo.

This book runs on multiple timelines, allowing us to understand the women in particular, how such dissimilar temperaments and backgrounds meshed deeply and how Emlyn's getting involved with Tyler affected their friendship in a problematic way. I personally loved the descriptions of the experience of people who are able to traverse dangerous and tricky ground anywhere, to be prepared for the wrong animals that come along and to track a human being. For others, that might feel slow. Not to me.

This is, ultimately a thriller, with some very scary people, some very scary encounters, some precautions that don't work and... the wilderness where no one is nearby to help out and your resourcefulness and ability to decide who to trust determines whether you will life or die. I think the characters and the tension built when they are together or apart as they try to comprehend how people they have known a long time are going to behave were amazing. Definitely recommend.

This book was fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat. I enjoyed the ending and will recommend to library patrons.

Kimi Grant is the queen of blending the vivid wilderness with mystery and intrigue.

Told in dual timelines, this story follows Emlyn as she confronts her difficult past when her former boyfriend asks her to help in the search for Janessa, her once closest friend.

While Grant’s previous novel, These Silent Woods (a fave), focused on the themes of family, here we had more of a coming of age story. This was like a character study of Emlyn and how her past relationships/friendships shaped her life into adulthood. I was engrossed in the mystery of Janessa’s disappearance, but I found myself lacking a connection with the main characters and their outcomes.

The highlight for me here was the atmospheric feel of the woods and Grant’s beautiful prose. The audio was also well done. I can’t wait to see what comes next!

⭐️ 4/5

I read Kimi Cunningham Grant's previous book, These Silent Woods, a few months ago and loved it. So I was excited to read this, her next book, and I loved it almost as much. Some of the elements of "Woods" are still there - lots of time spent away from "civilization", out in the woods. And there's a backstory that's told in multiple flashbacks. It's a different type of survival story, though, and it's a good one. We learn over the course of the story why Emlyn, who's always been a bit of a loner at heart, has chosen to live a solitary life as a wilderness guide. I enjoyed the unfolding of her story, seeing friends & relationships come into her life and then fall apart, then come back into her life for purposes she doesn't entirely trust. And I loved the descriptions of the natural settings where so much of the story took place. I'm not sure I'd call this one a thriller - but mystery/suspense, absolutely. Just don't expect a thriller from start to finish. I mostly listened to the audiobook - Emily Pike Stewart's narration was excellent, and held my attention to the point that I found myself surprised to find that I was almost at the end of the book when suddenly, there I was at 90%.
Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for providing copies for an unbiased review.

I've read several books from Kimi Cunningham Grant and she continues to be an author who is an instant "must read" for me! While some might consider this a "slow burn," I enjoy a story that isn't rushed and takes time to fully develop the characters, sharing their thoughts and feelings, while consistently moving the plot along. This was a four star read for me and I highly recommend it for those who like the author and for those who enjoy thrillers.

Emlyn and Janessa meet in college and become friends. Janessa is outgoing and bossy, while Emlyn is quieter. Emlyn starts dating Tyler, Janessa's best friend from childhood, but Janessa tries to warn her from dating him. Despite the warning, Emlyn dates Tyler. A few months after dating however, Tyler does something unforgiveable to Emlyn. With time, Emlyn heals and moves on, but Tyler comes back into her life, asking her to help find Janessa, who has disappeared during a social media vlogging trip. Emlyn starts to realize that things aren’t quite what they seem with both Tyler and Janessa.

I absolutely love audiobooks because narrators do such an amazing job of bringing life into the characters allowing me to better connect with the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kimi Cunningham Grant, and the publishers for the opportunity to read/listen this in exchange for a review.

Sigh. As many other readers have said, I was also a big fan of Kimi Cunningham Grant's last novel These Silent Woods and was really excited to get to The Nature of Disappearing. For me, it was a really slow burn and while it had my attention initially, it lost my interest as the book went on. Had I been reading the book instead of listening to the audio, I likely would have skimmed to the finish. Cunningham excels at world-building and that was my favorite part of the book in this case. It was very atmospheric, and she did a beautiful job of bringing the wilderness aspect to life.

The audiobook narrator Emily Pike Stewart did an excellent job, and as stated previously was what kept me going. I am very glad I listened to the audio and got to hear her be the voice of these characters. I didn't find anyone particularly likable, and honestly, I found myself not really caring what was going to happen. The climax was wild and left me wondering how we got there, which probably means I zoned out while I was listening at times. Many people loved this book, so please take my review with a grain of salt! Even though The Nature of Disappearing was a bit of a miss for me, I still love this author and will continue to read her.

After reading These Silent Woods, I became a big fan and was so excited to read this one! Grant has such a knack for the way that she writes survival thrillers. They’re incredibly atmospheric, with vivid and mesmerizing descriptions of the wilderness that make you feel transported and fully immersed. The unique settings that she creates truly help define the story.

While certainly a slow burn, I enjoyed the scenic adventure and enjoyed the strong characterization. They felt genuine while being intriguingly flawed.

I liked how the past was revealed gradually as we flipped between the two timelines and was consistently eager to learn more about what happened and lead to the current predicament.

Although this one did have a bit of an emotional element to it, it didn’t seem to resonate with me as much as her previous story. Still beautifully written and worth checking out!

Tyler leaves Emlyn out in the woods to die. Garden and Rev save her and she decides to stay and leave her past behind her.

Just as she is getting over her past and what Tyler did to her. Tyler comes walking into her life again to let her know that Janessa is in trouble and they need to find her.

Tyler and Emlyn track Janessa down and her and her “boyfriend” are just fine. But little does Emlyn know that Tyler has not changed and her life is in danger yet again.


Wish they would have expanded on Emlyn and Varden. How did their life turn out. Did they fall in love or is Emlyn to damaged to love anyone else because she trusted Tyler twice that almost killed her.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

Pretty engrossing read for the most part, some moments were on the slower side at times but still interesting. I wasn't in love with the ending but it was still good. The narrator did a good job.

The Nature of Disappearing by Kimi Cunningham Grant
Narrated by Emily Pike Stewart
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers
Published: June 18, 2024

The Nature of Disappearing is a standalone thriller by Kimi Cunningham Grant. Wow! This was intense! This is the first book I’ve read by the author and I’m sure it won’t be the last!

I found this book to be captivating. I loved seeing how the story unraveled. The characters were interesting and I thought the story was so intriguing. I was on edge most of this book!

I loved the narration by Emily Pike Stewart. I thought she really brought this book to life!


I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

3.5 rounded down

Emlyn lives a simple life as a fishing and hunting guide living in a trailer in Idaho, but is forced to reckon with her past when her ex-boyfriend shows up asking for her help finding her ex-best friend. She is hesitant as she hasn’t spoken to her former friend in years and would prefer not to think about the trauma her ex-bf left her with when he abandoned her in the woods three years ago. She agrees to go on the trip out of fear and concern for her friend.

This novel was well written and tackled a few of morally nuanced situations. I did find myself bored for the majority of the story, however, and did not care too much for any of the characters. I liked how the author wrapped the story up and felt the main character’s arc was completed.

I enjoyed the audiobook narrator and would recommend to readers seeking a slowly paced light mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for access to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

Best second book I've ever read. Thoroughly enjoyable. At first, I thought this was going to be a redemption love story, and it was, but not in the direction I thought it was going to go. Incredibly well written, well paced, and engaging. Loved the main character and the development of her relationship between her best friend. Her growth throughout the book was relatable and aspirational. The setting makes me want to do a big hike.

Hiding out after a traumatic event almost kills her Emlyn enters back into the world to help find her estranged and missing best friend. Is she truly in danger or just needing some downtime? Emlyn has to team up with the man who left her in the woods to die in order to find out.

I found this one quiet but it still held my attention.

What worked for me:
- a good main character who was damaged but had worked hard to heal
- mostly good side characters, loved her friendship with Janessa
- a sweet love interest
- a fairly fast-paced plot that moved along at a reasonable speed.
- an interesting story line that was something I hadn't read before
- the connection to the outdoors and hiking

What didn't work for me:
- nothing

4.5 stars rounded up.