Loved this book. I honestly couldn't put it down. I love short chapters, books about missing people and kept me guessing the whole way through. I will definitely be looking at her backlist.

An innocent council worker is out doing his job of litter picking. He comes across the body of a woman and lets the police know. This sets off the book to a roller coaster ride that you don't expect to leave soon! Book was very well written, and I enjoyed each and every twist and turn!

I have read previous books by Anita Waller so was really looking forward to sinking my teeth into this one. It had a really promising start and the crime was a lot darker than the previous books I’ve read. The details of the deaths are quite graphic so be wary if you’re easily triggered or have a sensitive disposition. But as the book progressed I found myself wanting to pick up the book less rather than devour it as quickly as possible.

It’s well written with a major twists you won’t see coming, and the characters are interesting that thankfully have a light nature to contrast with the darkness of the crime. Sadly though I didn’t enjoy it as much of her other works.

Yes yes, yes! I loved every second of this. The plot was so original, I had nk idea where it was going. The writing flowed well and made it one of those one more chapter books and the characters were actually really likeable so I wanted to know them more. Absolutely loved it

Ray Eke was an accountant until one day he had an almighty breakdown at his office and was hospitalized. Eventually allowed home into his mother’s care, he started to make a recovery after nine months and now this quiet gentle man has found peace working as a litter picker for the council. No more stress and numbers in his life, just his garden and piano. Peaceful, at least, until on his rounds he stumbles across the dead body of a young woman who simply vanished on her way home from work three years ago. He recognises her as Lauren Pascoe from the posters and searches at the time. Newly transferred DI Chris Chandler is also a quiet, methodical and introspective man who has hit the ground running with this case, especially when it is shown Lauren had been brutally treated for nearly three years and only died a matter of hours before she was discovered. So where has she been all this time and what sort of monster was involved in her abduction, incarceration, torture and finally death? Chris and his team are soon wading through all the reports from three years ago when the chilling news comes through – another young woman has disappeared from an accountancy firm and they have to consider the dreadful possibility that the killer has replaced Lauren with a new pet. Can they unravel the baffling clues to work out what befell Lauren and will it lead them to the missing Hannah before it is too late?
I loved all the team, especially Chris and Frank, and I would really like to read more stories featuring these detectives. This author always produces instantly likeable characters who gel together so well with some great conversations, warmth and humour. I also loved Janet and Philip and very savvy pensioner Marjorie! Despite the wit and great relationships within the team, this is a dark and sometimes gruesome story, impeccably told and completely engrossing which had me suspecting all manner of people and constantly changing my mind as the twists and shocking surprises flew from the pages right up to a killer ending that I just didn’t see coming but which all made perfect sense. I defy anyone to put this gripping book down once they start reading it!

When an apparently harmless council worker discovers the brutalised body of a woman, he is not initially considered a suspect.

But after he is unexpectedly linked to another case, things change. And Ray Eke finds himself in the most bizarre situation...

This is an entertaining story well told, with some satisfying twists. Definitely worth checking out if you enjoy thrillers, it gets 3.5 stars.

Just finished the Missing Ones by Anita Waller. So suspenseful and had me guessing every step of the way! I love reading books based in the UK. Guessing until the very last page! If you’re a fan of Harlan Coben,James Patterson or Freida McFadden it’s a definite recommend!

The Missing One by Anita Waller had me doubting myself. I did NOT see THAT coming. Read this bookon your next day off, because once you start you will not want to put it down. My mind is still blown. I can't believe that happened.

Great good with a great ending I was engrossed from start to finish.quite eye watering in parts so you need a strong stomach.

Good plot with many twists

The book is what I would call a mixed bag, some of it I enjoyed the setting, the atmosphere, the main characters and the detail, other parts I was not so taken with as I felt it dragged and the ending left a lot of unanswered questions in terms of motive.

Ray Eke is out doing his job of litter picking. It is something that brings him peace and comfort. Some time ago, he had been in business with his best friend, Matt. They owned and ran Eke, Griffiths and Company, an accountancy firm. One day, Ray suffered a complete breakdown and was hospitalized for some time. It appears he was just over working with numbers. Thus, his new job is better for him and he very happy. Matt is taking over the company but they remain good friends. Ray’s mother, Ziggy, lives with him and helps to care for him.

One day as Ray is picking up trash, he comes across the body of a woman he recognizes. It is Lauren Pascoe who went missing 3 years ago. He contacts the police who immediately seal off the area.

DI Chris Chandler has just become a new boss in his police department and his crew instantly likes and admires him. He and the group immediately begin investigating this crime. However, at the same time, another young woman Hannah Wrightson has gone missing and they have two huge problems to solve.

This story had me on the edge of my seat. I can’t imagine the horrors these two women faced and so wanted the perpetrator to be caught. I really liked the camaraderie of DI Chandler and his team. They worked so well together. While I thought I knew who was going to be caught, I was so wrong. Do read this book. It’s great!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I always love a crime thriller and soon found myself immersed in the characters and crime. I can’t help but try to uncover what happened and was constantly suspicious of characters and their motives. I did correctly predict who did it, but this didn’t take away any of my enjoyment. The reveal was well presented with an additional twist at the end which was chilling.

The plot was fast paced, the urgency was definitely present and at times scenes were graphic and gory! I also enjoyed the multi pov throughout. I would really recommend this thriller and can’t wait to read more books by the author.

A huge thank you to Boldwood Books for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Missing Ones by Anita Waller was another excellent psychological thriller. Every book I have read by Anita has been a first class read and this book was no different The Missing ones grabs you from the beginning and the very end which was superb.

I received a free advanced copy of this to read and give my unbiased review, thanks to NetGalley.

I’d never heard of Anita Waller before, so this is my first book of hers to read. I’ll admit that while reading it a lot felt “off” - just felt like a new writer, not enough research/experience with the topic/roles, and felt dragged out until right at then end where it feels rushed and lacking. With that aside though, the storyline itself had me intrigued.

Very early on I was like, oh it’s totally “Z”; and when the author started to lay down the hints towards “Z” way later on, I was like yep, nailed it! And off and on I did have a bit of a suspicion that it was “R” - but stayed focussed on “Z”. So I assure you, I didn’t see that true twist reveal coming at all.

What. A. Spectacularly. Awesome. Crime. Thiller. This. One. Was.
They don’t come better than this one.
And the ending – it has it all, it feels like everything is both breaking inside you, and coming together at the same time. Weird, I know.
And now, I’m off to look for other books by the author. I hear there are several others that are great also.

An absolutely superb crime thriller!

Ray Eke walked away from his accountants job when he had a breakdown; he is now very happy with his life as he collects litter on a daily basis. His mother moved in with him to look after both him and the house, and it's all working so well that she hasn't gone back to her own home yet. Upset returns to Ray's life when he finds a dead body while picking up litter; a young woman who went missing three years previously - but the body is newly dead. The police team investigating are well aware that it couldn't be Ray involved in the murder as he's such a gentle soul. Then another girl disappears and the investigation suddenly becomes more serious and much more urgent . . .

I've read a few of Anita Waller's novels and this one shocked and surprised me - easily her best yet. Simply superb from beginning to end and earning all five sparkling stars and my very highest recommendation. One not to be missed!

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley.

The Missing Ones by Anita Waller is a twisty and nail biting mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Ray Eke used to be an accountant in a firm, but after years of stress and crunching numbers he has had enough. After a breakdown, Ray leaves the business far behind, now spending his days working for the Council picking up garbage left behind in the streets. Everyone knows Ray as a friendly and hardworking, helpful guy. But when one day while he is picking up trash, Ray makes an unsettling discovery. He finds the body of Lauren Pascoe, a woman who has been missing for 3 years. It's obvious Lauren has been held prisoner somewhere, but where has she been, and who did this to her? Ray is cleared right away, there's no way he would be capable of something that brutal. But soon, another girl goes missing, and she has a connection to Ray. Is Ray truly the harmless garbage man everyone sees, or is he a monster hiding behind a mask?

I really enjoyed this book! I do think it would classify as a mystery or police procedural rather than a thriller though. The premise is tense and well written and I really enjoyed the atmospheric setting. This book does have some gruesome and dark moments so just be prepared. The pacing was steady and the way that Waller writes makes following along easy. I did guess the ending but I still loved the journey to get there! Overall a tense and dark mystery that I would recommend to fans of Claire Douglas and Lisa Jewell!

Thank you to NetGalley, Anita Waller, and Boldwood Books for this ARC!! Publication date was May 16th 2025.

This is not my first book by Anita Waller, and I was engaged from the very beginning. I appreciated the characters, the storyline, and the vivid setting. While the read was enjoyable overall, I found certain aspects of the investigation particularly intriguing, and the chemistry among the team added a delightful touch. Their entertaining banter brought a lot of charm to the narrative.

However, I felt that the ending was somewhat abrupt, and it would have been helpful to have more clarity regarding the motivations behind the attacks.

I want to thank Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this book, and I'm looking forward to seeing how Waller continues to evolve as a writer in her future works.

This was a fantastic read, and a perfect psychological thriller that I would recommend to any thriller fans! I’ve read a lot of books about serial kidnappings and serial killers, but this plot was definitely unique in it’s own way and I throughly enjoyed this story from start to finish!

A lot of thrillers are pretty predictable in terms of plot twists, but this one most definitely wasn’t predictable, and the twists in this book made me gasp out loud, which is rare as I usually guess plot twists early on! I adored everything about this book. The writing was brilliant and the story was so cleverly written, and all the characters were interesting to read about.

This was in a way kind of a police procedural, as we follow the detective team as they hunt to find the killer, and I loved the dynamic of all the team. I would absolutely love it if this turned into a police procedural series, following the team solving more crimes! I’m not sure if that’s on the cards, but I hope so!

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This story started well and I was engaged with the story. However, It was much more graphic and gruesome than I was expecting.
I found the story to be slow in parts with unnecessary details. Lots of story filler that was not relevant and did not add any depth to the story.
I had guessed some of the ending. I didn’t find the ending realistic. The ending felt very rushed. After a slow build it seemed anticlimactic and left way too many unanswered questions.