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

I quite enjoyed this book and found I wasn’t sure what to think about the main character in the beginning. Towards the middle I had a good idea what was going on and guessed all of the ending. Nevertheless it was a well written book and I think it will appeal to a lot of people. Four stars from me

I liked this one. The characters were very interesting, especially Ray who we are getting to know throughout the book, finding out about his breakdown that has led to him becoming a council litter picker and his enjoyment of it. He deals very calmly with finding a dead body. DI Chris Chandler is a great detective settling in with a new team and leading them in a very collaborative way. I did think Ray would be a good police assistant who could have featured in future books. His partner Mark was less likeable. I thought I had the mystery solved but I didn't have it right!
I hope DI Chandler appears in future books.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

Rounded up from 3.5

Just as one missing girl is found dead, another goes missing. Set in a UK village, police try to hurry to find the culprit before another death happens. But what if the kidnappings aren’t connected?

Look, we know I don’t love police procedural novels. This was slightly different as I loved the characters in this story and there were some twists in the end. I had my suspicions which ended up being fairly true in the end. There just weren’t enough suspects. But overall, it was an engaging read.

The Missing Ones by Anita Waller is such a chilling story as two girls go missing three years apart. The description of kidnap and incarceration by an unknown perpetrator and details of their torture is gruesome.
Detective Inspector Chris Chandler has only been at Sheffield Police Station for two days when Lauren Pascoe’s body is found by litter picker Ray Eke just across the road from the station. Lauren has been missing for three years. Within 24 hours another girl, Hannah Wrighton is reporting missing and there is a link to Lauren.
As Chris Chandler gets to know his team it soon becomes clear that Hannah is in mortal danger and it will be a race against time to save her. I was totally gripped and thought I had solved the case only to discover that there was a really gut wrenching twist. The interaction between the team and well drawn characters in this book make it a compelling read but it’s not for the faint hearted.

Ray Eke was a partner in an accountancy firm but had a breakdown and now works outside collecting rubbish. One day he finds the body of Lauren who has been missing for 3 years. What follows is a police investigation with many twists and turns.
The book was fast paced and well written although I did find parts of it quite difficult to read as it was quite gruesome.
The ending blew me away and was totally unexpected.
Thanks to NetGalley, Anita Waller and Boldwood Books for an advance copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Wow! Another amazing story from Anita Waller, it had me reading into the night as I just couldn’t put it down. A clever plot line and great characters, don’t miss this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review "The Missing Ones", the new suspense/mystery from Anita Waller.
Having read almost all of Ms. Waller's previous books, I jumped at the chance to read a new one, and I was not disappointed.
Three years ago, Ray Eke, a partner in a successful accounting firm, had a compete breakdown in front of one of his employees, and went away to recover. Just before this event was another event - the disappearance of Lauren Pascoe.
Three years on, Ray is putting his life back together: his mother left her home to move back in with him once he was released, and he's got a menial job; he's also beginning to show more interest in one of his previous loves, playing music and composing on the piano.
DI Chris Chandler has recently relocated and, fairly new to the job, is learning all about the strengths and weaknesses of his new team.
Then, on his litter-picking route, Ray Eke comes upon a body - which turns out to be that of the three-years missing Lauren. His daily route had taken him past the local police station, so it is to them that he reports his discovery, plunging DI Chandler and his team into a cold case - which quickly becomes a 'hot' case with the disappearance of another young woman in similar circumstances to Lauren's. The team really need to figure this one out, fearful that a serial killer may be operating on their patch.
There are a lot of twists and turns to this one, and Ms. Waller kept me guessing throughout. However, I must say that some of the vivid descriptions of what the women went through did make it a difficult read at times.
Recommended.

My first time reading a book by this author and I’ll be looking into more of her books! I loved the twist at the end- one you don’t see coming is what makes a great thriller in my opinion! Definitely a solid read.