The Missing Half is the sophomore novel from Ashley Flowers. I enjoyed her first one and was looking forward to this one. Thank you to @netgalley and @randomhousepublishing for this #gifted copy.

The story starts with Nic, she's 24 and her life is pretty much a mess. She lives in a ratty apartment, works a dead end job she's had since high school and recently got a DWI. Her life pretty much fell apart 7 years ago when her sister, Kasey, disappeared without a trace. Her car was found about 100 miles away with her purse untouched inside. The only real clue is another missing girl from the same time, Jules. Out of the blue one day, Jules sister, Jenna shows up. She wants them to team up to see if they can finally solve the mystery of both of their sisters' disappearances. What follows is a pretty wild ride with some definite surprises that I didn't see coming. These two are willing to do whatever it takes to get to the truth. I was very surprised by the ending, but I do think you have to suspend a bit of disbelief with it. But overall, a fun mystery that really takes off and doesn't let up until the end.

Releases today, May 6, 2025. Perfect for a Summer read. I look forward to whatever this author puts out next!

Thank you so much for my advanced readers copy for an honest review ! I am so grateful. Solid five stars. Phenomenal! I enjoyed. Well that was one CRAZY, TWISTED, ride with an ending I didn’t see coming! Flowers once again captivated from the first page to the very last! This fast paced mystery had it all! The sisterly bound had me jealous and wishing I had family that cared for one another!! The writing was superior!! I would definitely recommend this book and her other as well! Bravo 👏🏻 well done! LOVED!!

I loved this book! "The Missing Half" is a bingeworthy and gripping thriller. I've had "All Good People Here" on my TBR forever, so I was really excited to get this ARC. I dropped everything I was doing to read it, and it did not disappoint. I was in desperate need of a good thriller, and this definitely fit the bill. The story moves quickly with its intriguing characters, short chapters, and clever plot. The twists were well-executed, and I did not see them coming. I'll admit that I'm not quite sure how to feel about the ending, but my jaw is still on the floor. This was such a quick and easy read that I binged it in a few sittings. I was so lost in the story that I couldn't believe it when it was already over. Such a great thriller, and I can't wait to read more from Ashley Flowers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Nic’s life is a mess, she never got over her sister Kasey’s disappearance - she has a DUI, still works at a dead end job and is basically estranged from her now divorced parents. With no real clues to help find Kasey, the police clung to the fact that another girl, Jules, disappeared the week before (and Jules’ case was basically ignored until Kasey was connected to it). Now years later Jules’ sister, Jenna comes to Nic asking for the two of them to team up in order to solve their sisters’ disappearances. Through their investigation Nic uncovers secrets about Kasey and the summer she disappeared - can the two connect their cases, catch the killer and will they will be able to deal with what they find out about their sisters, their families and each other.

Since I really enjoyed the last book by Flowers, All Good People Here, I was very excited for this one and it did not disappoint. I did not predict the twists or turns and really enjoyed how the story slowly unfolded. Even with all of Nic’s terrible decisioning, I never really got that frustrated with her character; and I liked the dynamic of the two sleuths. The story included the concept of sellability of the victim - how some crime stories are picked up and everywhere while others languish because the victim isn’t the right race, religion or even just attractive enough. As usual, the narrator Saskia Maarleveld was amazing; I listened to a lot of this one because I was getting over the flu and reading wasn’t working for me.

4.25 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Bantam for the ARC to review

I enjoyed 'All good people here' by Ashley Flowers so I was excited when I was granted an ARC of 'The Missing Half' and I was not disappointed. The book had a lot of twists and turns, just when you think you figured it out, you haven't. The book was hard to put down.... I needed to know who took the girls!!! I can't say I honestly liked the main characters and usually that is a big deal breaker for me, but Ashley Flowers has a way of writing that it didn't bother me as much, I think because I was so into the mystery of the missing girls. No spoilers, so I can't go into more details than the summary the book gave. I am looking forward to her next book.

This was an engrossing mystery thriller packed full of emotional turmoil. Nic and Jenna join forces to investigate the 7 year old disappearance of their sisters. Acting as amateur sleuths, they face challenges at every turn, even with each other.
Both characters, particularly Nic, have been struggling with the challenges of life in the absence of their sisters. During their investigation, they quickly develop a friendship, finding support in each other.
I read through this book in just a few hours and the ending took me completely by surprise! WOW‼️
Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity to read this complimentary advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Suspense readers will love this book. Two sisters, each have a missing sister set out to find out what happened to them after seven years of waiting for the case to be solved. This hard to put down book will have readers eagerly anticipating the truth. The ending was truly a shock. Highly recommended!

The Missing Half is a fast-paced, twisty read that kept me engaged from the start. I definitely didn’t see the big twists coming- which I appreciated. That said, some of the plot points felt a bit farfetched and required a suspension of disbelief. Still, it was an entertaining ride and a solid pick if you're in the mood for a quick, gripping thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the eARC.

Everyone in this book felt so selfish. I thought I had the plot figured out twice and didn’t, actually I didnt see the first twist at all. Then here comes the second and…. Well. Idk. It was just over then. The ending was far too rushed for me. And left me with too many questions.

It was a fast read, binge worthy for sure. Just needed something more.

I love mysteries and thrillers. This book was a little bit of both! It kept me guessing and wanting to know more about the characters and their stories together. Great read! I'll be looking for more from this author!

Ashley Flowers and Alex Keister really know how to pack a punch when it comes to weaving a thrilling mystery. I did not expect the way this played out and I really appreciated that the plot kept me guessing. As a 31 year old Millennial, I can recall 2012 like it was yesterday and it had me putting myself in the shoes of our main character Nic as well as her older sister, Kasey.

I did find myself growing frustrated with Nic and her stupid, rash decisions, but in the end I was rooting for her. If you enjoyed All Good People Here, you'll enjoy The Missing Half just as much!

GOODNESS GRACIOUS Ashley Flowers is a wizard! This was fantastic, enthralling and all consuming. I could not set this down - I loved the sister element and cannot wait for more from Ms. Flowers.

Kasey Monroe disappeared 7 years ago, leaving her sister, Nicole (Nic), rudderless and broken. Kasey's car was found, without her, spotless with nothing stolen. Jenna Connor lost her sister, Jules, the same way. She approaches Nic to see if they can start their own investigation into what really happened to their sisters. But they may not like the answers they find.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Bantam for this digital e-arc.*

Thanks to #NetGalley and #RandomHousePublishingGroupBallantine for the book #TheMissingHalf by #AshleyFlowers. Nicole’s sister, Kasey had been missing for seven years. No sign of her and no leads as to what happened. Nic is trying to get her life back on track after her sister and best friend is gone but things aren’t that easy. She now has a DWI and barely holding it together. Jenna, whose sister, Jules, is also missing and is said to be somehow tied to Kasey’s case. Bow, Nic and Jules will stop at nothing as they team up together to try and solve their sisters cases. Can they find out what happened or will they be the next victims?

Two young ladies collaborate to find their missing sisters
The cases have gone cold so they run into many obstacles in their search for information. Which gives way to many red herrings for readers.
There is resolution for both , in the most unexpected way.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random house for this opportunity.

Goodness! I needed a drink after this book ended, I. could. not. believe. it. Ashley Flowers is one of my new favorite authors. Thanks for the twists and turns I could not see coming.

Hey, Crime Junkies. Here’s a new thriller that will give you whiplash from the twists and turns. Whoa. I’m up in the air about this one and I’ll tell you as much as I can without giving anything away. (And if you’re like me and want to know NOTHING, turn away now. I won’t give anything away except my own impressions.) I enjoyed everything about this until I didn’t anymore. The story was well-written and I was sucked in from the very get-go. The suspense builds throughout the story and I was convinced I’d figured it all out several times. The questions and loose ends make it fast-paced and you won’t want to put it down. But the end gave me the ick. I can’t stop thinking about it, but just because I haaaaated the direction that it went. This is one of those books, though, that you’ll get to the end and think WHAT?! How did I miss that??? Then you’ll want to re-read it to see if you missed clues somehow. It will keep you on your toes and keep you guessing until the last page, so if you like that, you’ll enjoy this one. If you’ve read it, let me know your own thoughts on the ending!

Wow. The Missing Half is a sharp, emotionally charged mystery that blends true crime obsession with deeply relatable, morally grey characters. When Nic Monroe—stuck in her small-town life and still haunted by her sister’s unsolved disappearance—meets Jenna, whose own sister vanished under nearly identical circumstances, the story kicks into high gear.

What follows kept me guessing as to where it was going, as the two women dig into the past that no one else seems to want to touch. The pacing is tight, the atmosphere claustrophobic, and the emotions real. You can feel the weight of years lost to silence and trauma as Nic and Jenna realize that to find the truth, they’ll have to risk everything—including what they think they know about the people closest to them.

I absolutely devoured this bingeable, emotionally heavy read. The ending wasn't exactly satisfying, but it did put me on my ass. Loved every second.

Thank you to Random House Group (Ballantine) and PRH Audio for the review copies.
Ashley Flowers returns with The Missing Half, a suspenseful, character-driven slow burn that’s equal parts psychological drama and true crime homage—something Flowers, as a podcasting powerhouse, knows how to deliver. With themes of missing persons and sisterhood at its core, the novel unpacks the raw, prolonged grief that comes with unresolved loss, layering it with complex, carefully timed plot twists that feel earned rather than engineered.

The pacing leans into slow burn territory, but it pays off with an emotionally resonant and twist-rich narrative. Flowers skillfully blends grief, memory, and mystery into a well-crafted plot that rewards patient readers and audiobook listeners alike. A compelling follow-up to All Good People Here, this novel highlights Flowers’ voice in the suspense genre!

Read if you enjoy:
✔️ Slow burn suspense
✔️ Stories about sisters and missing persons
✔️ Emotionally complex, character-focused thrillers
✔️ Twists that deepen the story
✔️ True crime podcast vibes in fiction form

This book immediately drew me in and didn’t let go until I found out who the killer was! Full of mystery and secrets, if you enjoy psychological thrillers, you’ll enjoy this! This is the first book I’ve read by this author, but I hope it won’t be the last!