I loved the Logan series from this author so I was looking forward to this one as the premise sounded good.. I am afraid it just did not hit the mark for me. Unrealistic in parts and the ending was a letdown.. I would definitely read the next one as I usually enjoy the novels. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

The enviably prolific JD Kirk goes off piste with this, a standalone thriller, in which Elizabeth's 9-year-old daughter Hollie disappears as if in to thin air at the end of a school Hallowe'en party. Distracted by the super-efficient Mable from the PTA, Elizabeth still doesn't think Hollie would have just run off on her own volition; but just as panic sets in and searches start, realisation also sets in that this could be something very much more than a missing child.

From the get-go, we're invited to ask what Elizabeth's past might be hiding, with nuggets dangled to tempt us further. In missing children scenario we're expected to rout for the desperate parent but while yes, she desperately wants to find Hollie, we soon sense there's so much more to this than meets the eye. A tight set of characters revolve around the key players, and it's good that this makes for a taut and fast-moving plot.

As with all JDKs books, there is no superfluous prose, the action is fast and the time-frame in which the story takes place makes for a very realistic pace. Of course, there are a couple of moments where the reader maybe has to suspend a little disbelief at some behaviours (after all, do any of us really know how we'd behave?) displayed by a couple of the players but honestly? This is just the sort of pacey thriller is recommended for anyone whose reading mojo needs a boost.

🎧Audio Book Review🎧

My Daughter Is Missing
JD Kirk

🌟🌟🌟🌟

Despite owning almost every single DCI Jack Logan book by this author, I have to (ashamedly) admit to this being only my second read!!
As soon as I spotted this on audio and the fact that it forms part of Kirk's standalone library - I jumped at the chance to read it!

It was obviously no surprise that I absolutely loved this and flew through it in just one day! - Spring cleaning day made so much more enjoyable!

When I spotted the title, I wondered what on earth could make this story unique - I've read so many missing children thrillers now, that I was sure that there'd be nothing I haven't seen yet!
Well, how wrong I was!

This was packed with so many twists that I really wasn't expecting.
I can't reveal anything plotwise - but I loved that I never really knew who to trust and where to look next.

I loved all the characters...but obviously, I initially felt so sorry for Elizabeth - with her daughter missing I couldn't imagine the strain she felt.... But why didn't she want to involve the police !?
This made me a little apprehensive - but there were so many other things to be looking at and the details unfolded gradually before everything finally pieces together coming to a thrilling conclusion.

This was a super tense read that had me glued to the pages.
I was immersed from start to finish and couldn't wait to find out what had really happened to poor Hollie.
Every time I made up my own theory, something else would come along to throw things wide open again.
So many potential suspects and so many revelations, each one with its own shock factor and an ending that left me reeling!

A brilliant read and I can't wait to get stuck into the rest of my JD stack soon!



💕Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my ARC copy - this is my honest review 💕

Sadly this book was not for me, despite enjoying all the authors other fantastic books.

It was boring, and I set it down many times, but I thought I would read it to the end. You can figure it out long before the end.

Although not my cup of tea, others may enjoy it.

Big fan of this series of books from JD KIrk which in the main I've found to be thoroughly entertaining and an easy read in a genre that is my favourite but in being completely honest this one missed the mark for me and wasn't up to the standard I've come to love.
I'm sure this will prove to be a temporary blip in terms of the quality of his books and I look forward to reading the next one very soon.
Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest and unbiased review.

3.5/5

This was not your typical missing child thriller, Elizabeth does not behave how a normal parent would when she realizes her daughter has vanished so it’s strange right from the start. She’s worried for sure, she just doesn’t tell anyone, including the police and it’s clear that she has secrets she’s willing to go to great lengths to hide. So I definitely judged her the whole time, she’s not a likable character but she was interesting for sure. The pacing here was on the fast side with short chapters and plenty of action. It did veer into some outlandish turns but some of the twists were solid so it all kind of balanced out for me in the end. If you want a thriller with a pretty fresh angle try this, I really haven’t read anything else exactly like it and I always appreciate that, I just wish it would’ve been a bit more grounded and not so silly.

Elizabeth has a secret, her daughter Hollie has disappeared, and you think you know what's going to happen. Not. This has an interesting twist that set sin when Elizabeth calls on her sister Sasha, a woman who won't stop at anything, to help her find Hollie. To be honest, Kirk does telegraphs some of what will happen but there's still a surprise. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A page turner that would make a good travel book.

This book grips you right from the beginning. The plotting is centred around a missing child and her mother's search to find her, whatever it takes. It is a fast paced and exhilerating read, filled with tension, suspense and a bucketful of drama! My only complaint is the ending which left me feeling I was missing something. Overall, a very enjoyable read which fans will love. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

I was trying to guess so much of main characters energy as soon as the book began. I was puzzled,unsure,full of tension as the answers and past were revealed. I didn't guess the big reveal, or if I did then it was right along side the plot so thst was great.
This is a thriller that needs you to read, and read, and then keep reading. You will have to know where this is going. And you'll need to know it now!

Ok I’m gonna need a minute
I loved it !!
Literally read it in one sitting
The ending blew my mind !!
I did guess right but literally right as Liz did which was fun
Loved the characters loved the twist loved the intensely was sitting on the edge of my seat
Loved it

3.5⭐️

I enjoyed this fast paced, twisty thriller from JD Kirk. Its very different to his DCI Logan series which i love because of the writing style and scottish comedy. This had a similar writing style but the voice and premise are very different.

I liked the fast paced nature of the book but did guess a few of the twists before they were revealed. I would say the main twist was done in a good way and did have me questioning myself and the narrator along the way as the plot was uncovered. The ending was left a little open which is something i didn’t like as i don’t feel satisfied that everything is tied up and explained.

Overall i had a fun time reading and would recommend it.

Thank you Bookouture and Netgalley for the eARC of this book.

3.75 stars! 🌟 Huge thanks to Bookouture for the ARC & Bookouture Audio for the ALC via NetGalley! 💌

From the very first page, this book grips you and doesn’t let go! Elizabeth’s daughter, Hollie, vanishes in broad daylight at a school Halloween party. One second she’s there, dressed in a big, bright butterfly costume, and the next—POOF—gone. Sounds like a parent's worst nightmare, right? But here’s where things get extra suspicious: when the school suggests calling the police, Elizabeth REFUSES. Like, full-on panic mode, "Nope, absolutely not, we do NOT call the cops" kind of reaction. 🚨👀

WHY, ELIZABETH?? WHAT are you hiding? WHO are you running from? And, most importantly, WHERE is Hollie?!?

This book had my brain doing cartwheels. The tension? SKY-HIGH. The twists? Unrelenting. And just when you think you’ve got it figured out? BAM. Another revelation hits like a freight train. Secrets, lies, and a whole lot of chaos—this book was SERVING.

Tropes:
✅ Missing Child
✅ Secretive Protagonist
✅ Family Drama
✅ Race Against Time
✅ Shocking Twists
✅ Distrust & Paranoia
✅ Unreliable Characters

🔥 THINGS I LOVED:

✧ Elizabeth and her sister, Sasha, working the case in completely different ways—total opposites, total entertainment.

✧ The super fast pace—no time to breathe, just pure thriller adrenaline.

✧ A few twists I genuinely didn’t see coming.

🤔 WHAT COULD’VE BEEN BETTER:

✧ The ending left me a bit confused—was it meant to be open-ended? Did I miss something? Either way, I wanted a bit more clarity.

✧ Some tropes felt a little overused, but the execution was still solid.

🎧 Audiobook thoughts:
Cathleen McCarron’s narration was fantastic—she really captured Elizabeth’s panic and made the whole thing even more intense. I’d 100% recommend the audio if you love a dramatic, immersive listen!

Final verdict? If you love twisty, edge-of-your-seat thrillers with secrets galore, this one’s for you! Just be prepared to second-guess EVERYTHING. 😵🔥

A mother’s secret ends in a shocking twist

Elizabeth is a mild meek mother working a school event, the annual Halloween disco, for the local PTA. Everything is going as irritatingly well until her daughter, 9-year-old Hollie, goes missing. She is frantic to find Hollie. How far will a mother go to save her child?

Elizabeth has secrets that prevent her from going to the police. Someone sends her a picture of Hollie. Who has her daughter? Is her creepy neighbour or her live-in partner involved? As all her leads dry up, she desperately calls on her scary sister Sasha. Sasha is just a little out of control and bad things start to happen.

Wow, this novel has more twists than a bag of popcorn twists. I love that JD Kirk kept me guessing right up to the end. It has spots of his trademark snarky humour but with a darker, sinister twist. You will never think of a PTA meeting without a shiver again. Very different than his DCI Logan series but a fantastic suspenseful read.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for a digital review copy.

Elizabeth is helping out at school by taking care of the refreshments table, while her daughter Hollie is in a fancy dress contest.
Her daughter is dressed as a butterfly, and when there is no sign of her and the end of the show, Elizabeth starts to panic.
It’s not too long before panic turns into fear and things start to get worse when the Head of the school suggests calling the police.
Elizabeth doesn’t want that, because she has a secret that can’t get out.
In a furious race against time she must rescue her daughter and stop her secret from being revealed, because if she doesn’t, both their lives will be destroyed and that can’t happen. Elizabeth will do anything to keep her secret. Even go as far as murder.
From the first page, this book flies out the traps and doesn’t stop until its dramatic ending.
J.D. Kirk is an author who knows how to keep the reader gripped throughout his books. He is one the best thriller writers around at the moment and shows no signs of stopping.
The particular story I found impossible to put down once I started it and it’s one I highly recommend.

Tense and twisty - you may guess some, but not all of what's going on. Surprises at every turn that will suck you in. Kirk does a great job with detail and strong characters and plot, and although a little different genre than usual, definitely a winner.

I have read all JD Kirks crime books, but this one just wasn't for me, it was unrealistic and far fetched. I didn't engage with the characters altho enjoyed the setting of the book.

Awesome book, lately few books have held my attention to keep me reading but this kept me wanting to know more. I had to know more about the missing little girl and the Mom is just such an interesting character. FANTASTIC read!!!

This is the first book I've read by this author and it's a pretty standard suspenseful thriller. It's not really breaking new ground. I figured out one of the "plot twists" fairly early on but it was an enjoyable read. I like reading books set in my home town. Overall, I'd recommend this book for anyone who wants something easy to read.

Elizabeth is manning the snacks table at her daughter’s school Halloween party when this book begins. She’s trying to ignore Mabel, the insufferable head of the PTA, and trying to forget the argument she and her daughter Hollie had before they left the house. When Hollie comes around, smiling at her and wearing the butterfly costume she made, all is well though. Until it isn’t…

Once the party is over, Hollie is nowhere to be found. Teachers help her search the building, but they come up with nothing. The odd thing is that the snacks table was right by the door - Hollie couldn’t have left the school without Elizabeth seeing her in her big and bright costume. When the head teacher says they should call the police, Elizabeth panics. She knows bringing the police into her life will only lead to problems, so she makes up a story about her partner, Clive, picking Hollie up early.

When Elizabeth gets home, Hollie isn’t there either, and Clive wants to know where she is. Elizabeth makes up a story about a sleepover, then begins her quest to find her daughter. If they don’t show up to school on Monday after her making a big deal of Hollie being missing, the school will definitely be suspicious and call the police. Elizabeth has 60 hours to find her child, or lose her forever.

This kind of plot has been written many times, with a child missing and/or someone with secrets who is unable to turn to the police about anything without risking being caught in their past lies. I figured out one of the twists before the halfway mark, but it was so obvious, I’m not 100% sure that it was a twist. The ending was a big surprise though; there were several things that could have happened to Hollie, but I didn’t see that one coming. Overall, this was an enjoyable page turner, despite the slightly tired plot. Four stars.

(Thank you to Bookouture, JD Kirk and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be published on April 16, 2025.)

This accomplised thriller is a wild romp that has you wrong-footed from page one and keeps you off balance right through the book.
Be warned – this is no ordinary ‘missing girl’ thriller, although that’s what the author skilfully suggests you’re reading from the outset.
But it’s unsettling from the start – because when nine-year-old Hollie goes missing from a school event, her mother is reluctant to call the police or even tell her partner.
And that’s when we know something isn’t quite right – but the truth remains tantalisingly out of reach until the end.
I liked that this book was a true psychological thriller, in that there is a major psychological element to the narrative which – without giving away spoilers – you begin to suspect fairly early on.
But Kirk skilfully manages to keep ramping up the tension and the suspense right up until the explosive end.
It’s one of those books that will have you thinking back over what you’ve read long after you’ve finished, questioning everything you thought you knew.
My only criticism would be that we never really got the chance to know the missing girl, Hollie, and so my sympathy for the ordeal she was being put through was curtailed.
Otherwise a great, fast-paced read with a brilliant whodunnit at its core.