Having read and enjoyed Susie Steiner’s debut novel Homecoming, I was excited to read her second, Missing, Presumed, and the first in a new crime series introducing police detective Manon Bradshaw.

I defy anyone not to completely fall for Manon Bradshaw. She’s brilliant. It’s such a shame she’s not real. Although she certainly feels real enough on the pages of Missing, Presumed. She’s frank and ballsy, brusque but vulnerable, clumsy yet perceptive. She finds it hard to leave her job behind at the end of a shift and falls asleep to the police radio on low volume. She’s refreshingly independent while also putting herself out there on a string of disastrous Internet dates; she wants some kind of social life leading to a home life but in the meantime doesn’t see why she needs to contemplate living like a nun.

Just as she does with Manon Bradshaw’s character, Susie Steiner builds a credible team around her, peopled not by stereotypes but those who are more like flawed and realistic human beings. One of the joys of this book is seeing the way that this team of officers is built up, where its strengths and potential weaknesses lie, and it’s a bit of a blow to discover that Manon’s plans might soon see her moving on to a new force. I’d got to know this one, and would be upset not to have at least some of them in any sequel.

While Manon Bradshaw’s team comes together, the family at the centre of their investigation is falling apart after Edith Hind, the daughter, goes missing. It’s fascinating seeing how each family member behaves under the pressure of their daughter’s disappearance and what that might mean for her but also to them, in terms of loss and exposure to public and press scrutiny. You sense there are secrets here waiting to be unearthed which might be more damaging than anything Edith is caught up in.

As it turns out, there’s an interesting range of current issues dealt with in Missing, Presumed, giving the novel real pertinence and an authentic contemporary feel. And we get to see the police in their public roles and during what little private lives they have during a time-sensitive investigation, which is one of my favourite aspects of the novel and one which I hope Susie Steiner continues through any subsequent novels in the proposed series. We see them out in the field and back at the station, juggling the pressures of the clock ticking on the case, budgets, manpower, long hours and tiredness and few leads or unhelpful witnesses. But we also see them when they are trying to gain a degree of normality in their lives and have a relationship, a family or, as in Manon’s case, start down that path. And this is what rounds out Missing, Presumed and makes it such an interesting first outing for Manon Bradshaw in this series. This is a promising start to a great literary crime series with a difference and I can’t wait to read what comes next.

This book kept me reading and one of the best crime novels I have read... cant wait to read the others in the series

I loved this book. The start felt really original and made me want to read on. It was a crime thriller but had so much more to it. I was interested in all the back stories and really liked the protagonist DC Manon Bradshaw, she had many flaws and felt real. In fact the author is brilliant at the way in which she gives all the characters depth and clarity.
I did guess elements of the novel but the end was a complete surprise to me.
I feel that there is more of Manon's world to be explored and would love to read about Manon and another case.

There are so many authors writing crime fiction now that I wondered if this would actually have anything new to bring to the table. However, I was pleasantly surprised. It was a slow burner, which some may not like, but I liked that all loose end were tied up by the end so you weren't left wondering. The characters were realistic and I look forward to seeing how the author develops the main character further in book 2..

I read this novel a while ago, but had overlooked leaving a review.

An excellent story and one that will stay imprinted on my mind for some time to come. A well written novel and is what I call a crime story at it's best. I do hope to read more by this author.

I thought Missing, Presumed was a decent read. I liked the blurb but the book didn’t quite reach it’s potential. I thought the writing was very good, Steiner know how to tell a story. The description really brought things to life. Dialogue can be hard to pull off in a book and I’ve read a few where it’s flat and clunky – Steiner nails it in this book. I also felt the police procedural aspects came off well. Two aspects fell short for me. I didn’t feel like I engaged with the characters as well as I’d hoped. The thought DS Bradshaw was well written but the other characters lacked something. I also didn’t like that some crime elements were pushed aside to focus on DS Bradshaw. I did enjoy Missed, Presumed though and it got much better towards the end. Missing, Presumed is worth a read and I’d recommend it.

A police procedural about a missing woman that shows promise, but has too many POVS and not enough focus on the crime itself to be convincing.

I wanted to like this book but I just couldn't. I would get bored of the book very soon and it just wasn't for me. However, my friend bought one and she said that she really enjoyed it.

Missing, Presumed was an okay read. I struggled to get into it to start with but perseverance paid off.
Great story that portrays police work at the same time telly a great story.

This is a crime novel with an irritating lead who grows on you as the book goes on. It is definitely worth sticking with as we come to realise why DS Manon Bradshaw is so dedicated to her job. Because her private life and family life is a mess. At least it gives her plenty of time to investigate a missing young woman. There's no ransom note and no body but there are connections and friends in high places. Manon doesn't want to just focus on the people with connections and this makes her endearing. I enjoyed the story and the book was a bit different from formulaic crime novels. Recommended if you like 'real' people with flaws and bad habits who nevertheless care about their job.

This is a pretty good book, not the best I’ve read, but pretty good. There are some great characters, especially the lead protagonist DS Manon Bradshaw with whom I felt able to connect with. The writing flowed well making it easy to read. The story kept my interest throughout and I felt the police investigation aspect was quite believable.

This is the first in a series of books featuring DS Bradshaw, I am tempted to read more.

Thanks go to the publisher, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for my copy in return for an unbiased review.

Love this author - the subject matter although gritty was also emotional and held my interest. I have recommended the book to a work colleagues whose niece has some food issues. Her family share the angst experienced by this family group in trying to support yet manage this situation.

I was looking forward to reading this book but I did find it very slow at the start, with a lot of character detail which didn't grip me as much as I hoped it would. Having said that it did pick up in the latter section of the book.

Overall a good book with a good story but a little slow-paced and over-descriptive for me.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

I was very much looking forward to reading this book as it sounded right up my street.

The story is of Edith Hind, the daughter of Lord and Lady Hind who goes missing one night. We follow the investigation through the eyes of DS Manon Bradshaw of MIT. Manon is a single woman looking for her Mr right and struggling to get the work/life balance right.

We also read chapters from the point of view of Miriam Hind; Edith's mother as she struggles to come to terms with the fact that her daughter is most likely dead.

Overall I was disappointed with this book. I found it to be unnecessarily 'padded' out with detailed descriptions and almost had to force myself to continue reading. I found Manon's personal life more interesting than the main story line. However, the characters were well rounded and believable.

As I don't want to spoil the ending, I will just say that I found the ending infuriating and unbelievable.

This book is certainly not a thriller. Overall it took a long time for anything to really 'happen' and when it did, I wouldn't say it was worth the wait.

Brilliantly drawn characters and a well thought-out plot. I warmed to Manon, the main character, finding her to be flawed, but likeable. I enjoyed the different perspectives, particularly Manon's and Davy's - the police characters - and thought this brought another dimension to the usual run-of-the-mill police procedurals. The only criticism is that I felt it was wrapped up a bit too neatly for my liking. But, overall a good, easy read and well written.

I liked the idea of this but I found the way the story telling bounced from character to character very confusing. I lost interest as I couldn't get a feel for the characters as the perspective changed so frequently amongst so many, but persevered until the end.
I was disappointed with the ending and (without spoilers) still don't see why all the effort was made to do it really. I didn't feel satisfied with it.

What starts out as a typical police drama book quickly proves to be so much more. A great read about a missing girl with plenty twists just as you think you have it worked out. Well worth the read.

First of all I would like to thank Harper Collins UK, Netgalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Since this book got a fair bit of attention in the media I was very eager to find out what the buzz was all about.
In hindsight I guess that I had the wrong expectations from this book.
Somehow I got the idea that I would dive into a fast paced, edge of your seat mystery.
Soon enough I discovered that it’s not that kind of read.
Although the story does revolve around the mysterious disappearance of a young female student it also describes, in great detail, the life of 39 year old D.I. Manon Bradshaw and her colleagues at the Cambridgeshire police force.
Chapters are alternately narrated by those closely connected to missing Edith Hind and by the members of the police force who are working to solve the case.
Main character Manon Bradshaw lives for the job. Not only because she’s dedicated but also because she doesn’t have a family to go home to.
She hates being lonely and insecure and is hugely disappointed in the way her life turned out.
Craving intimacy she takes up internet dating but ends up feeling more miserable after each date.
Meanwhile colleagues Davey and Harriet are dealing with their own challenges both privately and professionally.
Although it was nice getting to know the members on the police squad I was more interested to find out what happened to Edith. Since a serious lack of leads the police had very little to go by. Consequently there was no real tension or suspense. A blooming romance about halfway through the book was a nice surprise but soon after my attention started slipping
Since I wanted to know the ending I pulled through.
However the way the mystery unfolded in the last few chapters seemed very far-fetched to me.
All in all I can’t say that this is a bad book I just wouldn’t recommend it if you are looking for a gripping read because then you might end up disappointed. If you like reading about the everyday trials and tribulations of those being part of a police force and enjoy reading series you will probably take pleasure in reading this book and the D.I. Manon Bradshaw sequels that are likely to be published.

"Missing, Presumed," follows DS Manon as she investigates the disappearance of PHD student Edith Hind and is told from a variety of perspectives including Manon’s partner Davy, Edith’s mother Miriam, Edith’s best friend Helena, and Manon. The main problem I had with this novel is that it is quite slow paced and not as suspenseful as a thriller. However, as the novel progressed I came to realise that this is not really a psychological thriller but more a work of literary fiction with a side of mystery.

Hmmmmm I have mixed feelings on this book, I was slightly bored throughout really as I thought the pace wasn't too great. It's compared to gone girl though in my opinion it's not even close (sorry)...my friend has also read it and loved it and so maybe it's just me. I thought personally that it needed more ooompf!