The Missing Hours

AHHH. I loooove Emma Kavanagh books! I just discovered her last year and I'm so hooked. She never disappoints me and her newest, "The Missing Hours" is no different. Kept me guessing all the way through, and FYI- my guess was wrong. Which I'm glad. I thought this was a tremendous page turner. Five stars and two thumbs way up.

ARC received from: Netgalley
Rating: 5*

One-Sentence Summary: An exciting police thriller set in the UK
Review: Emma Kavanagh was one of my favourite discoveries from 2015 and I was excited to get my paws on her 2016 release The Missing Hours - it certainly didn't disappoint.

One of the charms of the book is the fact that it is told from multiple POVs, including the use of "case-files" and the timeframe jumps around. The two main characters are brother and sister police officers who start out working two different cases, one missing persons and one murder, but soon realise that their crimes are linked. They are both likeable characters and I enjoyed being in their head and watching Leah juggle her work and personal life. I would actually love to see them star in Kavanagh's next book, but I know she seems to be fond of the standalone over the series.

As to the whodunnit element, there were enough twists and turns to keep the reader on their toes and the book ends with a satisfactory conclusion.

Another 5* read from an up-and-coming British crime writer. I only hope we don't have to wait another year for her next release.

Originally posted @ Love's A State Of Mind

WOW and WOW again,if I could I would give this book at least twenty stars.It is a really really interesting and intriguing book.
Selena Cole is at the park with her two young children when she mysteriously disappears only to reappear hours later with no memory of what happened to her while she was missing.On the same day the body of a man is found.Is there a connection between Selena`s disappearance and the body?.Has Selena really got amnesia as she claims or is she lying to cover up her involvement in a crime.
The story grips you from the first word and doesn't let go until the last.There is plenty of twists along the way and the two mysteries are both interesting unlike in some books where you can find one part more interesting than the other and find yourself skipping pages.
The characters are well thought out and realistic,I especially liked the two cops Finn and Leah who were brother and sister and worked really well together,
I hope that they will feature in other books by Emma Kavanagh There's is quite a bit of information about kidnap and ransom including some fictional files about kidnaps that are interesting and thought provoking.
The story is not fast paced or action packed but it does keep you guessing and the ending is both satisfying and realistic.I can honestly say that I enjoyed this book just as much as,if not more than Emma Kavanagh`s first book Falling.

Selena Cole a perfectly rational woman disappears for twenty hours. She leaves two very little children in a playground and disappears. She reappears none the worse for wear with no idea what happened to her during those hours.

A lawyer is found murdered with a stab wound to his neck on a lonely road. His car is missing and there are no clues as to who could have done this.

Fast forward to our investigative team who very early on clue on to the fact that the two are somehow connected. Selena claims to only know who the murdered lawyer is but his office turns up detailed literature on the Cole business of ransom and rescue. Selena and her late husband who died in a a bomb blast were the founders of a very successful highly risky business. Selena has now roped in her brother in law and sister as she finds herself too traumatized to take part in this delicate work.

Told in alternate stages of both investigations, the detail of police work and the fact that you can miss a vital clue which seems so insignificant in the greater part of things was very well told. Characterization of each person was also very well done.

An author I will be looking for in the future

Thank You to netgalley & the publishers for the opportunity to read & review this novel.
. It tells the story newly widowed mum, Selina Cole, who goes missing for several hours and returns claiming to have no memory of her missing hours.
Over the course of the novel it becomes clear what happened to Selina & how her disappearance ties in with the discovery of a man's body.
This is an interesting plot with some well developed characters and the two cases are tied together very neatly..
After reading the story, I felt the urge to google "Devil's Breath" (which is referred to in the story) & I was absolutely staggered to find out that it is a real thing! Wow!
In summary, a great story with a few real surprises along the way.

This was a really interesting novel. Set in the rather unfamiliar world of kidnap and ransom the story unfolded through a variety of voices including the detectives and those who worked for Cole Associates. There are also police reports, and case files as well as articles written by Selina explaining the origins of the business. I think this is a really good way to tell a story, especially one with so many twists and turns in it.

The characters in the book are all well written and believable. The detectives are given enough background that you care about them, yet not so much that it takes away from the actual investigations. Too often with new characters the majority of the novel is spent introducing them ready for the creation of a new series, whereas this didn’t have that feel (although I think the detectives would make a great series) This was a quick read that I read over the course of a couple of days. I really enjoyed the story and despite being a few unanswered questions at the end it was an excellent novel that I’d highly recommend.

Fantastic book full of twists and turns that keep you reading late into the night to find out what happened. Lots of really well drawn characters. It's not my first Emma Kavanagh book and it won't be my last.

This is a fantastic book that kept me awake all night.i found the story line great yet chilling it's a fast paced book that keeps you on the tips of your toes and on the edge of your seat it keeps you guessing the whole way through. I loved it thank you for giving me the opportunity to read and review your amazing book.

I normally don't like first person writing but this book managed to overcome this. Interesting characters, good story that kept me wanting to read!

I have only just discovered author Emma Kavanagh and am halfway through the audio-version of her previous novel “Missing” (which is great), so was thrilled to receive this preview copy of her latest novel from the publisher.

Psychologist Selena Cole and her husband have established a successful but unusual business together – negotiating ransom with kidnappers in an effort to free hostages. After her husband is tragically killed in a bomb blast during their last business trip, Selena is forced to take a step back from the business and concentrate on bringing up her two small daughters as a sole parent, still reeling from her loss. One afternoon, whilst taking the girls to the playground, Selena disappears without a trace. Considering her recent personal tragedy, police hold grave fears for her safety. When she appears 20 hours later unharmed but without recollection of the time she was “missing”, everyone is relieved and happy to close the case – everyone except DC Leah Mackay, who suspects that there may be something sinister underlying Selena’s “disappearance”. Something which may be connected to her former job as negotiator. Something which may even tie her to the murder of a lawyer who was found stabbed the same day Selena went missing. Leah just can’t let it rest ....

I loved the unusual background of this novel, especially the case histories of kidnap and ransom which are inserted into the storyline in the form of reports and add an intriguing element to this police procedural. Kavanagh has obviously done her research on the subject matter, and I found myself eagerly looking up various snippets of information that intrigued me, especially related to the drug “Devil’s Breath” – scary stuff! Whilst storylines with multiple POV’s can sometimes be disjointed or confusing, they worked well for me in this story, adding to the mystery and providing interesting background information. In the end, all stories come together in a surprising conclusion which perhaps did not answer all my questions but threw in a surprise element I had not considered.

All in all a satisfying and intriguing read – and the discovery of an author I hope to read a lot more from in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to review an advanced copy of The Missing Hours by Emma Kavanagh. The first thing that comes to mind after reading this book is wow, I have never had so many different theories of where the plot was going and I've never been wrong about it so many times. This author is the master of the red herring and surprise twists and turns. This book is about the disappearance of Selena Cole and also a murder that she might be connected to.

There was so much depth to this novel that I found it mesmerising. The murky world of Kidnap and Ransom, that I have to admit I didn't realise was actually still a thing, is explored and investigated. The snapshots we get of different cases of kidnap and ransom were chilling and terrifying. They added a real sense of intrigue to the book and made it stand out from other crime novels.

The characters in this novel were also really interesting. I loved that we got to see the inner turmoil of the two detectives Leah and Finn, it was also really nice that they were brother and sister, I loved that connection between them. This book is as much about solving a murder as it is about the characters. The problems that Leah has at home were the most interesting to me (being a woman and all). The way that she deals with her guilt at leaving her children and other issues, all whilst being a detective was brilliant. Both Leah and Finn have an internal monologue with themselves about the investigation and it was compelling to me. I wonder if this is what real life detectives are thinking when they are investigating. All in all I found the detectives very realistic and they made this book for me. I also liked that the setting was somewhere I knew for a change.

Like I said at the start of this review, throughout the book I was convinced I knew what was happening and then something else would be revealed and then I thought 'ahh okay so it's that then', but no, I was wrong every time. The ending was nothing I could have conceived and I was thoroughly impressed with this author's writing skills. The Missing Hours is released on 21st April and is available to pre-order. It is really worth a read as it keeps you guessing until the very last page.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would definitely read more by Emma Kavanagh. I won't describe the story, but it was a real page turner and kept me guessing right up to the last chapter.
I would certainly recommend this as a great read.

The Missing Hours by Emma Kavangh is the first book I have read by this Author, definately will not be the last. Two young children and a missing mother. This book leads the reader into Police Procedures and how difficult it is to unravel the facts into finding what has happened. I enjoyed reading as I found it was a page turner.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House UK Cornerstone Century for a review copy.

This is the story of Selena Cole, who goes missing, leaving her two young children in the play park near their home. The book is mainly written in the first person, narrated by a number of characters - the police detectives leading the case, Selena herself, Orla and Seth who work with Selena and even Fae, the solicitor's administrator/secretary. However the story also includes a number of case files from the 'kidnap and ransom' business that Selena used to run with her husband. The mystery of Selena's disappearance and return is gradually unpicked, alongside the seemingly unconnected murder of a local solicitor.

Reading this book is a bit like immersing yourself in a very good 'whodunnit' but I was wrong with every guess. The quote on the cover says 'finding her was only the beginning' and that sums up the book exactly! As a reader, you are thrown into the story very quickly. There are twists and turns and lots of characters and details, but it is not difficult to keep up. Even the case files, which seem initially to be only there to give insight to Selena's previous work, turn out to have a much greater relevance in the end. I loved it and will definitely read other books by this author.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing the review copy of this novel.

It took me a little while to really get to grips with this book but ,my goodness , once I was hooked, I just couldn't stop reading it. Totally enthralling and so fascinating and terrifying to read about the world of kidnap and ransom. I enjoyed the amount of detail in the case histories and realise the terrific amount of hard work that has gone into the research to write this book. Congratulations on a real,thriller and thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity of reading it.

This book had plenty action from the first chapter. A good plot and great characters. It kept me engrossed to the last page and left me wanting more. I would recommend the author to lovers of mysteries.

Interesting, gripping and well written. An enjoyable read, I will definitely look out for future books by Emma Kavanagh

Brilliant

This story is told from multiple points of views.

Selena Cole goes missing for a few hours but when she turns up again she says she can not remember what happened in that time at the same time a body is found murdered is she connected to it.
Two detectives Leah and Finn who are brother and sister work the cases.
Selena and her husband run a kidnap and Ransom company called Cole Associates we get to read all the ase notes about the business in the story interesting stuff.
What a hard story to review so much going on you think one thing then something else happens then its no that's not right. The ending was superb.
A must read novel can nor rave about it enough.

Thank you Netgalley the Author and publisher for a chance to read this book.

I really enjoyed this book. Did everything for me that a thriller should. I had no idea how it was going to end - never came near guessing which is such a bonus. Loved the characters - and thought the relationship between the brother and sister police officers was great. Incredibly interesting background story regarding kidnap & ransom issues complete with 'case files' which was facsinating. A really great 5 star read.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

This has been my first delve into Emma Kavanaugh and it won't be my last. Left me Gasping and rooting for the Charaters throughout. A brilliant read.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of The Missing Hours, a semi police procedural set in rural Herefordshire. I have not read Ms Kavanagh's work before and whilst I suspected from the blurb that it might be a domestic noir which I normally avoid (middle class angst really doesn't interest me) I was intrigued enough to give it a go and I'm glad I did as it is a compulsive read.
Selena Cole, a recent widow, disappears from a playground leaving her 2 daughters aged 3 and 7 alone. DC Leah Mackay is called in to investigate but with no clues and the murder of a local solicitor, Dominic Newell, she is pulled off the disappearance to work the murder with her brother, DS Finn Hale and then Selena reappears with no memory of where she's been or what happened. Leah instinctively knows that the cases are connected but the how and why are beyond her.
The Missing Hours had me gripped from start to finish with a strong narrative and the judicious use of information and disinformation to keep you hooked. Strangely, it has a format which normally annoys and frustrates me but in this case works really well and whetted my appetite for more. The narrative is told mostly in the first person with the alternating viewpoints of Leah and Finn, interspersed with case files from Selena's kidnap and rescue consultancy. I'm not sure that the case files add much to the investigation but they are really interesting and introduced me to a whole new, decidedly murky world. The alternating first person narrative is really well done as you get a much closer look at both Finn and Leah, their doubts, aspirations and personal lives.
I'm not sure how realistic the plot premise is (to say more would be to give away some of the twists) but I don't think that matters as it is a very good read with an original slant and interesting characters which kept me reading as soon as I had any free time. I have no hesitation in recommending The Missing Hours as a good read.

This is a cracking thriller written from the POV of various characters. It is also unusual in that features a brother and sister police officers working on separate cases discovering there are connections between the cases. They have a great relationship with each other.

Psychologist Selena goes missing after taking her girls to a playground. Having lost her husband recently she is not in a good place. She returns a few hours later appearing to be suffering from amnesia. But is she? The police are suspicious. One the same day, a man's body is discovered. Are the two events connected? The tale is full of twists and turns. There is an interesting look at the whole business of kidnapping and negotiating which Selena and her husband were involved in.

This is a great atmospheric and suspenseful story. It is wonderfully constructed by the author and you really want to know what is going on. I have discovered another author which I love. Many thanks to Random House, Cornerstone, the publishers for a copy of the book via netgalley.

I must admit this novel has left me quite shaken - although fiction it feels so abominably authentic. The case files were shocking and it makes me reel in shock that people can be so savage and greedy. I have never heard of K&G companies - Kidnap and Ransom so learning how they operate was a learning curve for me. There were so many sub themes that fascinated me too like police and detective procedural's, betrayal, loss, infidelity and homosexuality as well as the reality of Afghanistan and the aftermath with PTSD. That takes on a new insight and meaning for me now. We hear about such things but I have never felt it so brought home to me as it was in this book. The research done to create this haunting novel must have been colossal. For instance I can't imagine being in Afghanistan in the nerve wracking position of being unable to drop my guard for an extended period in case I was shot or coping with a kidnap. An explosive ending and not in the least predictable. Thank you for letting me read it.

So when an author you’ve admired from their very first book hits the sweet spot in the writing and storytelling stakes it is a real moment of reading joy, such as has just happened with Emma Kavanagh and “The Missing Hours”. I was a huge fan of the previous two novels but this was a pretty much one sitting completely immersed practically inhaled read that actually I’ve just put down. And had to write about straight away.

I could just leave it at that but I like to talk so I won’t.

The Missing Hours is told from multiple points of view, has some fascinating characters (I can’t even pick one particularly to rave about so just assume they are all pretty perfect) a fascinating background (that of Kidnap and Ransom) a really engaging and well plotted mystery story (No I really had no idea so this author joins the ranks of the “Got Liz with a twist” brigade) and is beautifully written throughout.

Loved the brother/sister police duo, the Cole family were highly intriguing – Emma Kavanagh has the magic touch when it comes to character study – in “The Missing Hours” you have that tenfold, probably why I had no idea as to the outcome. I was too busy being caught up in the lives of these people, and ok I guess I DID have a bit of a soft spot for Beck, but the entire cast were utterly alluring. Always a rocking good read when you actually care.

It is gripping, for me especially with relation to the little side pieces which I won’t say too much about to avoid spoilers, but I rattled through it in true grasshopper on acid fashion until the final pages. With a perfectly placed atmospheric ending that just put the icing right on top of the already delicious cake, The Missing Hours comes highly recommended from me.

Yes it does.

Review as posted on Goodreads:
I really like this novel, it builds a sense of pace and tension. I have never come across a piece of fiction which is built around 'kidnap and ransom'. This adds an interesting twist to this murder mystery.

Emma Kavanagh creates a strong cast of characters in this story. The clever use of old case files embedded within the murder investigation helps to keep the reader guessing.

When it came the denouement certainly surprised me!

I will certainly look out for other titles by this author.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, Random House, Cornerstone for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Really enjoyed this book. Recently widowed mum of two Selena Cole is at the park with her two young children when she disappears. Hours later she reappears with no memory of where she has been or what she has done. The same day a man is found brutally murdered. Brother and sister detectives, investigating both the disappearance and the murder find the cases converging and start to wonder if there is a connection. Has Selena got amnesia or is she an accomplished liar?

There are lots of interesting characters and they all seem to have secrets. It’s a really good read with interesting characters and lots of twists – this book kept me interested till the last page.

This was really unexpected!!!!

Dr Selena Cole goes missing, after less than 24 hours she is back.
Where did she go? What happened to her?? Is it real she doesn't remember anything or she is just lying?

Well, this book was very interesting and captivating.
The story is told from the point of view of different characters, with a collection of Dr Cole's cases, and as the story went on, i found myself in a very unexpected world.
It is not what i imagined, it was much better.

I really enjoyed the book and the last 100 pages were even more captivating and i just couldn't put the book down. I highly recommend it to my friends.

I received this book to review through Netgallery.
I was immediately hooked and stayed up till the early hours to try and find out what had happened .
I would highly recommend this book and will definitely look for more books by this author.

This is the first full novel I read by Emma Kavanagh, although I still have a hard copy of Falling for some time now waiting for me to read in my library. I can tell you already that my desire to read it has risen exponentially after reading The Missing Hours. This was a wonderful, tautly plotted novel for which I have a lot of admiration. There was nothing that I did not like about the book. We are plunged into the exiting world of K&R (kidnap & ransom) which is already a fascinating focal point to start out with and which I never gave much thought before reading about it in this novel. This whole unknown reality is completed even more with several ‘case files’ of the Cole Group, shared as memos or reports to us, throughout the novel.

Selena Cole works for The Cole Company in her capacity as psychologist, her husband Ed was special forces, and then there is her sister-in-law Orla and her husband Seth who joined this boutique company a few years later. If some employee is taken hostage in some far-flung location, the insurance companies turn to The Cole Group to remedy the situation, negotiating a ransom that is satisfactory to both sides. But since her husband died, Selena has taken a small step back from the day-to-day business and one day Selena is in the park with her two girls when she goes missing. The same day a man is found murdered. Finn and Leah, brother and sister, Detective Sergeant and Detective Constable respectively, have these cases on their hands. Selena reappears hours later with no recollection where she was or what happened, case closed for Leah. But Leah cannot fully concentrate on the other case, and before long she just knows that something must tie her missing persons case to the death of the solicitor. A theory that seemed to be backed up by little clues tying them closer and closer together.

The author did a good job raising suspicion about several people throughout this novel, each with some sort of credible motive for the murder, but not so much so for the kidnapping. The two cases are cleverly entwined and kept me guessing to no end, only to be unravelled in the end by Leah and Finn working together. I loved the brother-sister working together thing and it is really the first time I see an author using this in a novel. A quite clever literary advantage because these main characters really know each other through and through and their spiel of understanding each other is quite enjoyable. It’s only in the end that we really get the picture how all of this fits together but this did not frustrate me at all because there is enough happening and to be discovered before it all comes together. I did have my suspicions about some of it although I did not know how or why exactly and I hit the right spot with only my gut feeling to lead me. This was an excellent police procedure with a very clever plotline which kept me engaged from start to finish.