I love it when I read a book from a new-to-me author, and then discover there is a whole back catalogue just waiting for me.

The Missing Ones had me hooked from the first page. As much as I love crime fiction, there were some scenes that had me feeling extremely ill (brutal descriptions of torture), that I wasn’t expecting. Despite this, it was a great read, with a lot of twists I didn’t expect. And an ending I hadn’t seen coming.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for sending me an advance copy.

4 stars

This is one of those books that grab you instantly and doesn't let you go until the book is finished, and even then it leaves you wanting more.
After a serious mental breakdown Ray Eke now has a stress free job picking up litter in his area of Sheffield. Initially I thought he was a bit if a simpleton after his breakdown but he is far from that. On his rounds one day he discovers the body of a woman that has been missing for three years. This turns out to be a challenging first case for DI Chris Chandler who is new to the area. It quickly becomes even more challenging when another young female disappears. It is apparent that the first body had been tortured during her captivity.
There are many twists and turns throughout this book, right up to the final pages. A definite must read! I hope that this book can lead to a series as the team lead by Chandler have the potential to be a successful investigative team.

How does Anita Waller do it? She is so prolific and always consistent. Furthermore, she doesn't feel the need to rely on the tropes that are all too common in crime fiction. Her cops are generally nice people who get on with each other and have each other's backs. The plot here is full of twists and turns, endlessly involving and ultimately immensely satisfying.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my copy of The Missing Ones by Anita Waller.
So clever, so twisty, whenever I think you can't surprise me again, you do so Anita. Another cracking book.
I knew the ending by halfway through OR did I.
Great read.

This book is really a great read it keeps you guessing right till the end . I thought I had made out the killer but I was wrong . Some good twists well worth a read .

Ray Eke is a bachelor, and a partner in a successful accountancy business, with his colleague, Mark. One day, he has a severe mental health crisis in the office and realises that he can’t cope with the stress of his job any more. His mum closes up her own house nearby and moves in with Ray to look after him. He then finds a job that he really enjoys – litter picking for the local council.

One day, while he’s out picking up litter, he comes across the dead body of a young woman. He realises that it’s Lauren, who went missing from the area three years ago. She couldn’t have been in that spot very long otherwise she would’ve been noticed, so it seems that she’s been abducted and kept somewhere.

The local police are on the case but, before long, another young woman goes missing. Ray knows who this woman is because she was working in his office, but the police know that Ray can’t be involved as he’s a kind, gentle soul.

The book info says, “The twists in this novel are guaranteed to leave readers with their jaws on the floor. Just when you think you know who the killer is, you’ll have your mind blown!” It’s true, I was certain that I knew who the perpetrator was until just a few pages before the end, when there was a massive twist!

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

In some respects, ‘The Missing Ones’ brought to mind the DCI Ryan series by L J Ross. Like her, Anita Waller emphasises the collegiate approach to solving crime and brings the team of detectives to life as likeable individuals. I would certainly be keen to read any future books the author might write involving the same investigative team.
‘The Missing Ones’ is also a quick and easy read. The plot is fast paced and held my attention throughout. The investigation is pretty dark with the police on the hunt for a killer who incarcerates and tortures their victims. I had my suspicions as to who the murderer might be, but certainly didn’t anticipate the big reveal in the final chapter. If you enjoy police procedurals with well drawn characters and plenty of excitement, then ‘The Missing Ones’ fits the bill.

⭐⭐⭐⭐½ — 4.5 Stars!

Get ready for a dark, chilling rollercoaster because The Missing Ones is the kind of thriller that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go until the final, jaw-dropping twist. This is psychological suspense at its finest — gritty, emotional, and full of the kind of shocking turns that make you question everyone. Ray Eke is such a brilliantly written character — soft-spoken, kind, and deeply human — which makes it all the more devastating when suspicion starts creeping toward him. The contrast between his quiet life as a street cleaner and the brutal horror of what he discovers adds layers of tension that keep you flipping pages late into the night.

What makes this book stand out is how expertly it plays with your assumptions. Just when you feel sure you’ve figured out the “who” and “why,” the story swerves into territory you never saw coming. Every reveal lands like a gut punch, but it’s the emotional depth beneath the suspense — Ray’s past, his mental health struggles, the fragility of trust — that makes this thriller linger in your mind long after you’ve finished.

The Missing Ones is the first book I’ve read by Anita Waller, and now I absolutely have to read everything she’s written. I was completely hooked from the very first page—the pacing, the twists, and the emotional depth kept me turning pages late into the night.

The Major Crime Unit was a standout element for me. I loved the dynamics between the team members, their professionalism, and the way they handled such a harrowing case with heart and determination. I would love to read more books featuring this unit—fingers crossed this becomes a full series, because I’m already invested!

If you're looking for a compelling crime thriller with strong characters and a storyline that grips you from start to finish, The Missing Ones is it. Anita Waller is now firmly on my must-read list.

In "The Missing Ones," the narrative commences with Ray Eke, a former accountant who transitions to a litter picker following a mental health crisis. His existence takes a distressing turn when he uncovers the remains of Lauren Pascoe, a young woman who has been missing for three years. After the discovery of Lauren, another body of a young woman is subsequently discovered, seemingly suffering the same atrocities that Lauren did. The narrative focuses extensively on the characters of Detective Chandler and that of the litter “picker upper”, Ray Eke. It was interesting to see their character development. The novel started out quickly with the discovery of the body, but then I felt that it slowed in the middle, but then picked up again. I was continuing to be engaged however, as I was taken along on the journey with the detectives as they navigated the twists and turns of the case, and the leads they were following. The plot was intricately constructed, with unexpected revelations, and depictions of horrific acts. I was shocked at the ending- which is a good characteristic of any good psychological thriller. I have not read another novel by Ms. Waller, but this one was a wonderful introduction- which will motivate me to read more by her. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my review.

My first book by the author and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was quite graphic and gruesome in parts but the chararcters were well defined. I raced through the book as I felt really engaged with an unusual plot. Definitely an author I will be following and read her prior writings. Thanks to Net Galley for an ARC

How, just HOW have I not read anything by this author before?

A few pages into this book I was vaguely thinking 'oh this is ok' and then out of nowhere it changed to 'oh I can't put this down' and I HAD to keep reading to find out what would happen to the poor girl.

When the brutalised body of a girl who went missing 3 years ago is discovered by a local litter picker, the realisation that she's been kept somewhere alive for the whole time is a horrifying one. The pathologist soon reports back with the gruesome injuries she's suffered during the 3 years and there is no comfort to be had, no one can tell themselves 'at least she didn't suffer' because it rapidly becomes very obvious that she really, really did.

The police team were exceptionally engaging - loved them - which is so rare for a brand new team, usually they take time to bed in and feel familiar but I loved DI Chris Chandler and this team from very early on.

There was a huge amount of well paced tension, a sense of urgency and peril throughout that made me keep reading, and keep reading, and keep reading!

Another 5* read from Anita Waller. I have read most books by this author, and her style of writing is so creative that as a reader, you are hooked straight in.

I this book we meet Ray a former account who is now working for the council collecting litter since his breakdown. One morning, he finds the body of Lauren Pascoe, who has been missing for 3 years. When another woman goes missing, who also has a connection to Ray, the police wonder why and how he's connected to the women.

I was immediately drawn into this book. The storyline was very well written, and I especially liked the characters in this book. I was quietly confident I knew who the killer was. However, the curve ball came, and I was left shocked, and I found myself re reading the book in my head, wondering how I missed it.

What a book! At times I really thought I couldn't read further as the story was unfolding some gruesome discoveries but so glad I kept reading!! I came to my own conclusion eventually but found I was only partly correct! This author is so good at pulling the reader into the storyline and keeping them exactly where she wants them to be.
Having never read any books by this author, I will be certainly looking for others to read. Brilliant tale, very well written which keeps the momentum for the whole book! Loved it!!
Many thanx to NetGalley, the author and publishers for allowing me to read and review this book

Ive enjoyed all 9f this author's works I've read. The Missing Ones is firmly up there with my favourites. A gripping crime thriller .The body of a young girl is found, but this young girl had disappeared 3 years earlier. A new DI arrives n Sheffield and heads the investiagation. There are some great characters in the investigation team which I'd love to read again. I'm still stunned by the finale and cannot stop thinkng about this book several days after I've finished it.

Firstly I would like to thank netgalley and Boldwood books and the brilliant author Anita waller for an early copy of her book to read.

Another fantastic read from Anita Waller.I was hooked from the start.a brilliant crime read. Ray Eke had a breakdown he could no longer continue with his job,he decides to become a litter picker for the council. One day he discovered a body of Lauren Pascoe who went missing three years ago.DI Chris Chandler new to the team investigates the murder.Then another victim is taken will she be found in time? I was fully engrossed with this read I'm hoping there is a book two as enjoyed the new police team.looking forward to reading her next book...

This book will be reviewed on goodreads and Amazon.

This is the only book by Anita Waller I have read. Frankly, although the plot and nefarious characters are, in both cases, cleverly disguised until the very end, I found the sanguinary nature of the plot somewhat off-putting. I did appreciate the new head detective, Chris, and his team, characters who were well-developed and who kept the plot balanced.

Certainly the characters who created the "missing ones" were quite a surprise and at the same time, integral to the plot. They also seemed rather hyperbolic and certainly psychotic. The eventual revealing of the people who were kidnappers and murderers was a great surprise and showed Waller's skills in inventing interesting plot twists.

Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book.

The Missing Ones gave me nightmares while I was reading it. Anita Waller has written a mind-boggling, terrifying, spellbinding thriller.
It invited me in at the beginning, and I read it like a rubber-neck looking at a train wreck about to happen.
Only it might not be as it seems at the beginning.
It is a mind-twisted thriller.
#TheMissingOnes
#AnitaWaller
#Boldwood
#NetGalley

Ray Eke used to be a partner accountant in an accountancy business but after a lifetime of sending his days analysing numbers, he has a breakdown and leaves Accountancy far behind, his partner Mark to take over the business on his own. Ray takes up a job for the Council as a litter man, wandering the streets collecting what others discard. He lives with his mother who has shut up her house to move in and look after Ray and he thoroughly enjoys his major past time playing the piano, of which he is quite talented.

Ray is more than happy in his new role, that is until the day he finds a body. Lauren Pascoe has been missing for 3 years, and Ray instantly recognizes her. He makes a call to the local police, all who know him from seeing him on the streets working away. Soon another body is found, and the police have a major case in their hands.

The hunt is now on for the killer and as with all of Anita Waller’s books there are twists along the way leading that keep the reader thinking. I have to say the end came as a bit of a shock as I certainly did not pick it and was quite clever.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions expressed are my own.

It was def twisty and at times dark. I just knew i had found out the ending Quite early in the book. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion