As I started this psychological thriller, I found the prologue to need work- I didn't follow it. I am so glad I persisted to read on though because wow!! A good 4 star read, with a memorable ending.

Josie is a single mum to her 8 year old daughter, Ivy. Although it's been 25 years, she's still very much (and understandably) battling with the loss of her brother who then, at the age of 8, was murdered. The murderer is released on parole and within a week Josie's daughter, Ivy, goes missing. Could it be a repeat of what happened to her brother all those years ago, or just a coincidence?

This book jumps in timelines and POVs and does it so well. I'd definitely recommend it. It has good bits of drama and unpredictable twists throughout.

There were very few errors for an advance copy. My only complaints are firstly the prologue didn't grab my attention or make sense at times and secondly when the page on the ebook isn't formatted properly. For these reasons and because it wasn't very fast paced, I have given it 4 stars rounded up from 3.5.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for providing an advance copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

For comment on Goodreads, I am R.Jane.

I’ve only read one or two other books from this author. They were ok but I wasn’t blown away. I felt let down by this one. I felt this started well but got lost along the way. Also the story didn’t grip me.

Missing tells a relentless story of a young girl gone missing and the fallout. There is only one suspect but lots of twists and turns along the way. There is also a bombshell you won't see coming! Kim Slater has another hit on her hands!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

This literally gave me chills! I just loved it. I've read a lot of KL Slaters books and this one definitely doesn't disappoint. It's a thriller but it's also so much more than that! It would easily satisfy a much wider audience than just us thriller fans. The premise really caught my eye and I was just sucked in fron the start. I loved that the narrative isn't just set in current day and it jumps back in time to give a better understanding and some more depth. I did guess the twist before the big reveal but I don't think that took anything away from how kuchen I enjoyed it

Ohhh my goodness this was the best Slater book yet! I can not get enough of her. Will definitely recommend

I've read a few books by KL Slater before and each one is a roller coaster of a journey. Mrs. Slater can take any story and put such a twist on it that it almost leaves you gasping for air at the end of the book. Her stories are packed with emotion and drama and each page leaves the reader in a whirlwind of character drama and intense thrilling plots. I love all of her books because she is able
to take such imaginative situations and really show them off in their best light. She is a very amazing writer and I can never get enough of her work. I was so glad to be able to read this book. This is one that will leave you talking and if Mrs. Slater isn't a favourite writer of yours before this then she will be for sure after. This book is all about our main character Josie. When she was younger her younger brother gets murdered by a young boy named Samuel and he gets convicted to thirty years behind bars. That is great news, however fast forward twenty-five years later and now Samuel is getting out early on good behaviour. Josie is terrified that he will seek revenge on her and her family so she is always watching every corner. When just a few days after Samuel gets released Josie's daughter goes missing. Josie is convinced that Samuel has something to do with this and she is determined to stop at nothing to prove him guilty and to get her little girl back. While the plot of kidnapping has been done a lot before I found that KL Slater was able to put such a different spin on it more focusing on what our character was thinking that is really made you look at it with fresh eyes. I loved everything about this book. One thing that I thought was really different about this book was it not only focused on the above characters but it also focused on Maggie (Samuels' mother) and it showed how a mother's love can be blinded but it also brought a few good things to an otherwise deplorable character. Great read and I can't wait to see what else this author comes out with. There we so many twists and turns in this book right when I thought things were being explained I was thrown a complete curveball to really keep me guessing. I loved this book it really kept me on my toes through the whole story, I never wanted it to end but I couldn't put it down because I had to know what was going to happen. This is one book that you won't want to miss out on and it will be top of your recommendation lists for a long time.

I am a fan of K L Slaters novels as they always have a good plot and this book didn't disappoint. It tells the story of Josie, whose 8 year old daughter Ivy has gone missing and she is convinced that it was Samuel who has taken her. Samuel being the man who 25 years ago murdered Josie's 8 year old brother Jimmy and had only just been released from prison. All points to Samuel as being the one to have taken Ivy.
But gradually lots of dark secrets come to the surface and hidden truths are revealed and the suspect list begins to lengthen, or at least it did for me. It could have been Samuels mother Maggie, who has been basically stalking Josie and her daughter for decades or Josie's ex husband Terry's dodgy gambling debts could be to blame. Or even Fiona, the childminder and Josie's friend, where Ivy was taken from, as if from nowhere. So there were times I thought it was predictable and then something else would happen and I'd be thinking it was someone else.

I enjoyed the parts going back in time to Josie's childhood and gradually up to the day Jimmy died.
The reason I didn't give the book full stars is because by the time I was three quarters through, I had pretty much guessed the rest of it, including the big twist and so it wasn't a shock at all. It was good though and a pretty excellent plot twist, that I'm sure many unsuspecting readers will love.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Samuel Barlow was jailed for the murder of eight year old Jimmy Bennett back in 1993. Twenty five years later and Samuel has now been released.

Jimmy’s older sister, Josie, is trying to establish her cafe and is spending a lot of her time there, leaving her eight year old daughter, Ivy, in the care of her friend, a childminder.

When Ivy disappears, Josie immediately knows it is Samuel who has taken her and calls the police. Will Ivy come back home alive?

This story was so different to the usual missing books out there. There were some jaw dropping twists and turns in the story. Often I thought I’d worked it all out and I was way off the mark! Samuel’s character was extremely intimidating and I felt for Josie knowing he was out and on the local streets again. I found the story to be chilling and believable.

“It was 9.6 miles. A fifty-minute bus trip. A twenty-minute cab ride. I always knew exactly how far I was from my past, and it was never far enough.”

I have loved Kim Slater's books since I discovered her with "Blink" many moons ago and have devoured every one of them since (this is my 12th!!)...so I still have a few that I have not yet read but I have to remedy that as soon as I possibly can. Because there is always room for another Kim Slater thriller. So imagine my excitement at the prospect of a new thriller in the midst that I devoured MISSING in a few short hours despite propping my eyes open with matchsticks in the wee hours. Because I knew I would not be disappointed. And I wasn't.

14th April 1993 is a date that Josie Bennett will never forget. It was the day her entire world changed...the day her beloved 8 year old brother Jimmy went missing and later found dead. Her neighbour, 19 year old Samuel Barlow, was sentenced to 30 years for his murder. And Josie's world fell apart. Her mother never wanted her when Jimmy was alive, she wanted her even less after his death.

And so Josie vowed that when she grew up she would move as far away as she possibly could from where she grew up; where Samuel's mother Maggie Barlow still lived; and where the memories of a past she has tried to escape remain. But life is what happens when we're busy making other plans, in the words of John Lennon, and Josie met and fell in love with Terry and had little Ivy just a year after their wedding. And they settled in a village not far enough away from Josie's past...and there she stayed. Even after her marriage fell apart and she had to make a life for her and Ivy, starting from scratch.

Now twenty-six years after Jimmy's death, Josie hears a disturbing rumour which is later confirmed when the police call to inform her that Samuel Barlow has been granted early parole and will be released in a few short days time. Once again Josie's world spirals. This can't be happening. He was meant to serve thirty years, not twenty five. Now she must do everything within her power to protect her daughter Ivy from the man who destroyed her family's life.

Then one afternoon, Ivy disappears from their friend's backyard. And Josie knows without a doubt who is responsible. For Ivy is exactly the same age as Jimmy was when he died...and Samuel was jealous of anyone gaining Josie's attention that wasn't him. He was obsessed with her. What would he do to her little girl?

The police are called and while they are skeptical of Barlow's involvement, they do admit that it is a little too coincidental that Ivy disappears without a trace from a secure backyard just days after Barlow's release from prison. Josie is distraught as she demands to know what they are doing to find her daughter. Have they brought in Barlow? Have they questioned him? What could he have done to her little girl?

That evening, a tentative knock on her window reveals a face from the past Josie never thought she would see again. Maggie Barlow. And although she wanted to tell her to go away, Maggie offered her a chance to help her find Ivy. One one condition - she could tell no one...not even the police.

But nothing...NOTHING...could prepare Josie for the secrets she is about to learn.

Missing children stories are so popular in psychological and domestic thrillers today and I admit to them being one of my favourite tropes. But Kim Slater puts her own unique twist to it that makes for such a compelling read that will keep you turning pages long into the night. I found myself promising "just one more chapter"...when some 70% of the book already read I finally turned out the light to savour the outcome the next day.

While it seems clear to Josie who has taken Ivy, I found Samuel to be a little too obvious...especially for a Slater thriller. I knew there had to be a twist around there somewhere remaining undetected whilst all the attention was on Barlow. So I did some detecting of my own. With so little to go on, I began to look for...well...indiscrepancies...nuances...a teeny tiny clue that may reveal what is really going on and what happened to Ivy. Because it is obvious that there has to be something else at play.

And then come the twists. While I had begun to figure out a couple, there is one that blew me away that I never saw coming in a million years. Well, two actually. The first reveal...that threw me for a six. Then the last one...just WOW! Despite being able to unravel the intricate twists laid out for us, Kim still has the ability to shock. Even me.

Told from four main perspectives - Josie, Samuel, Maggie and the Nottinghamshire Police - MISSING unfolds in the present and the past beginning from 1985 through to 1993 when Jimmy Bennett was found dead in a meat freezer in an abandoned industrial estate. Little by little, piece by piece, we are drip-fed enough to reveal exactly just the right amount of information in an intricate and timely manner. And it's given to us in such a way that we cannot drag ourselves away from this addictive read...not until we have turned that final page.

MISSING is an exceptionally thrilling tale from start to finish, no matter how unlikeable some of the characters may be. You just have to know how it all turns out...and find out why? I myself didn't warm to Josie. Not sure why but although I would want to do anything to find my child, I would also trust the police to know what they are doing. Why, then, does she feel that she can knows better? I actually felt sorry for Maggie Barlow. She was in an impossible position with defending her son or to set him on the straight and narrow. Mothers always think they know better when in some cases they really don't. And then to be blamed for what her son was convicted of as if that had some reflection on her, as his mother. But Samuel was most definitely a case of - nature or nurture? Pauline was a horrible excuse for a mother. I cannot say any more than that without revealing major spoilers but her behaviour was appalling. She did not deserve to be a mother. And DI Price...it seems she's appeared in a previous Slater thriller (and yes, her name is familiar) but for the life of me I can't remember from which one...Either way, I enjoyed her's and Brewster's input.

As for Josie...will she be forever known as the murdered boy's sister? Or the mother of the missing girl? Or both? It seems that no matter how far Josie runs (which in this case wasn't too far at all) she could not escape her past...until facing up the truth of what happened before moving on with the future.

Overall, MISSING is a compelling, addictive and engrossing read that will have you turning the pages for "just one more chapter" until the very end. It's Slater at her best and I loved every minute of it! A thoroughly enjoyable read that had me on the edge of my seat throughout. Definitely recommended!

I would like to thank #KLSlater, #NetGalley and ,b>#Bookouture,/b> for an ARC of #Missing in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

K.L. Slater is the reason I started reading thrillers, so was excited when I was given an early copy. Another great book! Samuel is released from prison after killing Jimmy when he was little. He is now after Jimmy's sister Josie. Josie's daughter goes missing and right away Samuel is the prime suspect. Until certain events take place and certain secrets come to light. I did figure out part of the ending though with some of the flashback scenes. Can't wait for her next book!

Another brilliant read from this author from start to finish I was gripped.
If you like a great thriller filled with secrets and lies and twists and turns then this book is for you.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.

K.L. Slater is one of my favorite authors, so I was thrilled to get a chance to review this book! "Missing" is told in multiple timelines, starting in 1993 when 8-year-old, Jimmy, is locked in a refrigerator and killed. Samuel Barlow is convicted of the crime and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Jimmy's sister, Josie, has understandably never gotten over losing her brother, and has been running from her past for her entire life. Now, a single mom, to 8-year-old Ivy, Josie is distraught to find out Samuel is being released from prison. Her fears prove correct when Ivy goes missing shortly after Samuel's release. What has happened to Ivy?

This story is told from three perspectives, Josie's, Samuel’s and Maggie's, who is Samuel's mom. The strength of the novel to me, was how chilling Samuel is as a character. He is written very well. While I loved the beginning of the novel, it lost me a bit along the way. The ending seemed to come out of nowhere, which while it was fun to be surprised, I wanted a bit more. If I sound a bit harsh in this review it is only because K.L. Slater has set such a high bar in the other books she has written. She is one of my go-to authors, and I highly recommend reading, "Missing!"

Another gem from K. L. Slater.

When an eight year old goes missing, events from 25 years years ago start unfolding. Another 8 year old had gone missing years ago and the people around are the same. Only one person knows the whole truth but has waited for too long to tell it, putting lives at risk.

A fast paced thriller but somethings can be guesses. The story is, as always, told in an engaging way.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC

Missing by K.L. Slater. Pub Date: May 19, 2022. Rating: 3 stars. A story told in dual timelines, this psychological thriller has many twists and turns that help to propel the story. Josie's daughter Ivy goes missing around the same time Samuel is released from prison. Samuel was in prison due to being convicted for trapping Josie's brother in a factory and subsequently dies. This novel has many layers of history and packs a punch to the finish. Some of the chapters flip back in time to add detail to the story and help with insights to the situation at hand. Overall, a solid psychological thriller! Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Missing was my first book by K.L. Slater but it definitely won't be my last. Missing is an absolutely gripping thriller that will keep your heart rate elevated throughout. What's the thing almost all of us fear the most? That someone we love will be taken and missing or that they are gone for good. That's what Missing is about and it takes the reader on quite the scary journey! I thought I had the mystery solved but I was wrong as the story takes twists and turns throughout. Slater weaves such a great story that I found myself looking for time to read during a busy few days and thinking about the book when I wasn't able to read. That's when you know you're reading a great book!

The main character, Josie, is a mom of a 7 year old girl and is recently divorced. She owns her own business, a bakery in town, and works very hard to keep the business growing. Her ex-husband is lax with his visitation of their daughter, Ivy, due to his gambling addiction. When Josie was a teenager, her younger brother Jimmy went missing and was found dead.a few days later. Jimmy was the same age that Ivy is now. The murder was charged to Josie's neighbor, Samuel Barlow. Samuel served 25 years in prison for the murder and was released 5 years shy of his 30 year term.

When the people in town start gossiping of Samuel's coming release, Josie doesn't know about it yet. She finds out about his release from her best friend, Fiona. She calls the police and finds out it's true. He will be released at the end of the week. The first week that Samuel is released, Josie's daughter Ivy goes missing from her best friend's yard. Josie comes to pick her up after leaving work and she's not there. Ivy's best friend had gone in the house to get a water gun, and when she came back Ivy was gone. No one saw anything or anyone. The search begins for Ivy and you won't be able to put this book down!

If you haven't already done so, do yourself a favor and pre-order this book! If you love a good thriller this is the book for you! I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an early edition of this book.

Shadows from the past - secrets - betrayals - twists at every turn! A solid mystery that will keep you turning pages through the night - and surprise you all the way to the last page. A winner!

Could not put this down once I had started, plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing. Definitely worth reading

Another great book from K L Slater. The twists and turns kept me gripped right from start to finish.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture. I am leaving this review voluntarily. This thriller will ensnare you in a tight grip until the satisfying conclusion. There were more twists and turns in this book than a roller coaster ride! Wow! Josie did not have an easy childhood. She misses her brother, Jimmy, everyday, and she is determined to be a better mother than her mother ever was for her. Now she finds out the man who killed her brother and haunts her dreams is getting out of prison. She is fearful of repercussions from him. She arrives at her babysitter's house to find the babysitter fretful because Josie's daughter is missing. She immediately suspects Samuel Barlow. Josie is not shy about sharing her suspicions about Samuel Barlow with whoever will listen to her. After a frantic search, her doorbell rings and Samuel's mother, Maggie, is waiting at the door. Josie is suspicious, with good reason, since she lied about her son's whereabouts when Maggie's brother died many years ago. After that point it is non-stop twists and turns. You will think you have everything figured out, and then you will go down another rabbit hole! The ending was a complete shock to my system! I was sitting there in complete surprise with a wide open mouth! If you like a good thriller with lots of twists, you need look no further!

3.5 rounded down

I’m usually really intrigued and invested when I start a KL Slater book but I’m disappointed with this one.

The story is told in several timelines starting in 1993 when eight year old Jimmy Bennett is deliberately trapped and subsequently dies inside a disused factory for which Samuel Barlow is convicted. Twenty five years on Samuel is due for release on parole, a huge cause of concern to Jimmy’s sister Josie, a cafe owner and single mum to eight year old Ivy. Maggie, Samuel’s mother is similarly concerned partly because he is now a prison hardened but more than capable of playing games and he was obsessed with with Josie when growing up. Will Josie and Maggie‘s concerns prove to be justified?

I think the start of this is good as is the premise which looks at the impact of one person on several lives especially when prison is thrown into the mix. There are several perspectives and Samuels is good, he is chilling, manipulative and makes your flesh crawl. Maggies is also interesting and via her we certainly get some intriguing and revealing plot twists which help to make sense of a lot.

However, a lot of the novel is from Josie‘s point of view and I can’t get to grips with her and in all honesty she drives me mad! There’s a lot of overexplaining and biscuit baking which gets in the way of the plot and there is repetition between the different points of view which isn’t required either. It starts well and gets a bit lost along the way, it should’ve been riveting reading but it loses its power. The leaping about in time doesn’t help either nor do the reveals at the end which you could describe as creative but I find them unconvincing.

I’ve always been a fan of KL Slater but this is not my favourite book of hers. Sorry!

With thanks to NetGalley especially to Bookouture for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.