This is a dark, gripping and totally addictive psychological thriller, with a twisted plot! I loved the writing style, coupled with the excellent characterisation, which hooked me from the start. There are some pretty gruesome descriptions, not to mention the clever twist at the end, which made it a difficult read. The ending left me a bit disappointed but overall, a very good thriller. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

2.75 stars rounded up - my first by Anita Waller, and this started out as a seemingly decent read when a litter picker worker finds a woman’s body… however I think a few things stopped this being a more enjoyable 4 star read for me sadly.

Firstly, the pacing was off. It dragged far too long on them investigating, and the policing didn’t quite ring true - you don’t just pop by the house of the man who found the body, for a chat because you like them. And surely you can’t just borrow a traffic beat cop and then magically make them a permanent member of the team with one simple form?

Secondly, the language just felt a little - I’m not quite sure how to describe it, but slightly trying too hard for me. It didn’t read as smoothly or as naturally, and almost felt like a debut book as a result. Added to which, was the dialogue feeling a bit stilted. The whole team seemed a bit to jolly happy perfect together all chums here, and not natural - I’ve never worked anywhere where there hasn’t been some friction or grumbles…

Thirdly, whodunnit. Lots of signposting here, and then at the end it all wraps up with a solution and then another and another… but without any explanation why. After a slow story, you at least want the satisfaction of knowing why… which we don’t get here.

I’d hoped to like this one, and I am happy that the majority of reviews do seem to give it 4 or 5 stars. I have seen a few others agree with me though, which is sometimes reassuring!

I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.

Rating: 1.0/5

"The Missing Ones" is my first experience of Anita Waller's work and, if this is typical of her writing style, then I suspect it will also be my last.

The story opens in a reasonably encouraging fashion - but it is all downhill from that point. You might generously describe the author's style as simplistic or, if you are feeling less kindly inclined, you may prefer to brand it as quite juvenile and reminiscent of the kind of stuff produced by Enid Blyton, but with some more adult content.

The dialogue is stilted and unnatural. The narrative contains so much padding that it is clearly only there to make up the writer's required word count. I appreciate that authors require dramatic licence at times, but the plot is inane and the police procedural elements bear little or no resemblance to real life. One to avoid.

As ever, I would still like to convey my thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review. It is a pity I was not in a position to pass more favourable comment on this occasion.

I want to stress before writing the rest of this review that I did really enjoy reading this book. It was gripping, tense and quite disturbing. I was absolutely hooked, a proper page turner.

That being said, it was slightly predictable, and I had pretty much guessed the ending about a third of the way into the book. There is also a lot of unnecessary description in parts, like a whole page talking about how a character could only have 1 coffee otherwise she'd need a wee, and parts with just so much detail it took away from the story.

Whilst I had those criticisms, it was still a really good psychological thriller. I felt connected to some of the characters and actually felt sad at some of the twists (trying not to give it away!). A great plot, disturbing scenes and some great twists, although somewhat predictable.

The plot of The Missing Ones was good. The writing, however, was a little choppy to me. It didn’t keep my attention as well as I hoped it would. Definitely worth reading, jsut not my favorite.

Rather graphic and dark, but a book with some interesting yet terrifying cases. I always enjoy this author's writing and The Missing Ones didn't disappoint.

I enjoyed meeting a new police team, and hoping this will become a series.

The Missing Ones
by Anita Waller
Pub Date: May 16 2025

The Missing Ones is an utterly gripping psychological thriller which features the search for a brutal killer. It was nonstop reading from the first page until the last on this fast-paced thriller, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough! Full of twists and turns that leave you suspecting everyone as the killer! A jaw dropping ending for sure!

Synopsis: Ray Eke has always found peace in his job, collecting litter for the city council. Until the day he finds the brutalized, bloodless body of a girl on his round. He recognizes her immediately too. Lauren Pascoe went missing three years before. It’s also clear she hasn’t been lying on the roadside verge all this time. Someone’s clearly been holding her prisoner. Keeping her as their very special toy. The police know it couldn’t have been Ray, whose gentle heart is obvious to all. But then another girl is taken. And she’s someone who Ray had a connection to, back in his previous job as an accountant, before his breakdown…

Many thanks to #TheMissingOnes #NetGalley and #BoldwoodBooks for providing me an E-ARC of this fantastic thriller!

The premise of this book was better than the reality. Poorly scripted, underdeveloped characters with a lot of repetition and a lack lustre finish.

I struggled to maintain pace of reading and interest in this book. Mostly down to its delivery and writing style which i found to be a bit clunky and not focused enough to build any tension. The repetition of certain statements was an odd thing. The statements themselves didn’t have much relevance to the storyline and yet the author chose to draw attention to them.

The characters within the task force were central to the whole plot and yet Nina of them felt believable or relatable. I struggled a lot with the new DI that came across as the opposite in most parts. Peppered throughout are mentions of his children and previous position but it felt like a tick in the box rather than something that led you to having a greater understanding of character.

Thanks to NetGalley for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review. I think in this case the reviews were better than the reality.

This pulled me in from the start. It is a fast paced disturbing thriller which is at times quite graphic. I read a lot of dark works so to make me pause for breath takes some doing, this managed it.

The characters are well defined and I agree with other reviews, I could see this becoming a series with no problem at all as there is lots of room for development.

I gave this 4 as a review score, mainly because the ending felt a little rushed after the time taken with the plot as a whole. I also would have liked a little more delving into motive.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC which was very much appreciated.

This was sooooo good! I received a copy of this book through net galley in exchange for a review.

This was a fast paced page turner, I didn’t want to put down! There were twists I didn’t see coming.

The only disappointment with this book, there was no explanation of motive, maybe there will be another book?

I have already bought another book by this author.

I didn’t want to put this down and was totally hooked from the very first page. After Ray Eke comes home from having treatment for a breakdown he opts for the quiet life and is a litter picker for the local council. Then one day he finds the bloodied body of Lauren Pascoe who went missing three years previously. From the outset it is obvious that she had been kept alive until just before her body was found, the police are struggling to find her killer and then another girl is reported missing……….
This has short to the point chapters, a great cast of characters, has twists, turns and at keeps you guessing right until the end! Although at times it was quite graphic in my opinion it was in keeping with the storyline. An absolutely brilliant read that I very highly recommend. Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC

This was a book of hidden secrets.
Ray has had a breakdown and his mam moved in to help him out. Whilst he’s starting to feel better he’s started a new job, collecting rubbish on a route he sticks to every day. One day he comes across a body and the story goes from there.
Cleverly twisted & built from one layer & up. Guess away who is guilty and then get a surprise when all is revealed.
Very good read.

This book had me guessing until the end.

I loved the writing style how it was 3rd person but with little insights from each character, I also enjoyed the layouts how it didn’t divide each person into each chapter and instead mixed it all in, it made it feel more realistic.

The plot was amazing, I honestly had no idea who did it even the ending had me shocked, I hadn’t put that possibility together.

I could 100% see this being a tv series

A quick and easy read that I finished in one sitting. It had a good amount of twists that kept me guessing and was full of suspense and tension.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.. Ray is an accountant who snaps one day and has a nervous breakdown. He decides that Accounting is no longer for him and he takes a job picking up garbage for the Town. Not because he needs the money but because he needs to keep himself busy and his mom, Ziggy moves in with him to help him out.

One day while he is picking up garbage, he comes across a body and as soon as he sees her he realises it is the girl that has been missing for several years. He immediately calls the police and this thriller begins.....how many more girls will turn up murdered and what is the connection of Ray to any of these women, if any. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by this Author.....Enjoy!!!

A great book quick and easy to read with a great twist at the end.
Don't miss the chance to read a great book.

Almost creepy in it's unsettling crimes and seemingly banal witnesses. Solid team and taut investigation keep things moving to solve two horrific murders - and you really won't guess the end, you might have a hint, but nope, the twist is real, no cheating!

Obsessed with The Missing Ones by Anita Waller! From the first page, this crime thriller is a total grabber with its fast pace and insane twists. The moment Lauren Pascoe's body turns up after three years missing, you're in for a dark ride. The Major Crime Unit in this book? Seriously good. Their teamwork, how professional they are, and how much they care about this awful case makes them so easy to root for. DI Chris Chandler and his team feel like old friends instantly. The suspense builds perfectly, keeping you on edge the whole time – I was up way past my bedtime turning pages. Waller is a master at unfolding this mystery, and the pacing is spot on. The writing puts you right there, with these eerie and sharp descriptions that add to the mood. Some things in this book completely blindsided me, and other parts I figured out, which made it so engaging. If you need a crime thriller with awesome characters and a story that won't let go, The Missing Ones is it. I'm already hoping for more from this Major Crime Unit – completely invested.

Thank you net galley for this arc. i absolutely love this book.. the like the flow, the twist in this story was so good,didn"t see that coming. although the description of what the women delt with was hard to read. but a very good police procedural.

First, thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC!

This was a solid, chilling thriller with a murdered young woman and a killer on the lose.

I'm not reading police thrillers a lot usually, but the blurb drew me in, and I really liked the main character, Ray who wants nothing but a peaceful life, but then ended up finding a dead body. What a poor soul, really.

All the twists and turns kept me entertained, and my jaw was on the floor more than once while I've read this book in one sitting. 4.5 stars from me and indeed recommended!