Very few times has a book ever made me emotional. This one had me tearing up more than once. The pacing of this book was absolutely perfect. Backstory and character development while the plot rolled along at just the right speed. Max and Charlie and David completely embody that quintessential need that all people have...to be seen, to be understood, to be loved. The author, Nathan Gibson, accurately captures the feeling and emotion of queer identity, the sense of found family and the idea that has become a battle cry for millions; we will not go quietly into the night. One aspect that i truly love is that Gibson did not end the book at the obvious point. Instead, the story continued, giving the reader a sense of closure that we all yearn for. The epilogue from David's POV, hinting at the next story, is just pure, delicious icing on the cake.

This book really surprised me and was not at all what I was expecting. There was a crime mystery that the story centered around, which I loved, but that was not what the story was really about. The message I got from the story was one of healing together after trauma, learning to move past our hurts and grow, surrounding ourselves with found family who will lift us up when the world may try to tear us down. This book had suspense, sadness, anger, pain, hope, and happiness. The ending left me wanting more and hopeful for a sequel in the future!

This wonderful book follows Charlie, who hires Max as a private detective, to help find his best friend, David, after he goes missing from a drag bar. There is then a cat and mouse game to find the person who took David before it’s too late.

The first thing that got me about this book was the sassy and cool vibes I got from the two main characters: Charlie and Max. I knew right away this book was my sort of thing when I saw the words “gritty queer mystery” and it did not disappoint!

Max and Dustin’s relationship really got me, I was crying as I read about their love growing and how they felt about each other, my goodness! And then for love to happen again for Max, after all he has been through? Oh my, what a story!! I loved every second!💛

(4.5 stars) If you love the vibe of a jaded, haunted private detective meeting a desperate, beautiful client under the neon glow of a drag bar, then Max and Charlie in The Missing Heart by Nathan Gibson will be your new faves. We follow Max, a PI still living in a nightmare after his husband was murdered, and Charlie, who is frantic because his best friend David has vanished. What starts as a missing persons case turns into a deadly trap set by a serial killer from Max's past. The suspense is real, the mystery is gripping, but the emotional journey? That’s what completely wrecked me! This book is so much more than just a crime mystery. It’s a beautiful message about healing together after trauma and surrounding yourself with a found family that lifts you up when the world tries to tear you down. The initial meeting between Max and Charlie was so memorable, and the pacing was absolutely perfect. It rolled along with just the right speed, giving us backstory and character development while the stakes kept climbing! The romance is a slow-burn that feels so earned because the killer literally targets happiness. Falling for each other meant putting everything on the line, and watching them find the courage to love again was just... everything. I do wish the book was a bit longer. The mystery felt a little straightforward at times, it could have had more of a deep dive into the psychological warfare. The slow burn could have also been a bit slower, or had more tension but that’s more of a personal preference. At the end of the day, I loved the closure we got! I’m a sucker for a book that makes me work for that happy ending. Give me all the trauma, all the near-misses, and all the shadows before we finally get to the light! make sure to pick this book up when it’s released, you’ll feel all the emotions: joy, sadness, anger, hope, and healing.

The Missing Heart opens with a gripping premise: a young man named David goes missing, and the only person who seems to truly care is his loyal friend, Charlie. The authorities barely scratch the surface, leaving Charlie desperate for answers. With the help of a compassionate employee at Denver’s Justice Center, he’s pointed toward a private detective—his last hope.

That detective is Max Evans. Max is a compelling and deeply flawed character—hungover, drowning in whiskey, and haunted by the brutal murder of his fiancé. Once a Denver police officer, he now runs a failing private investigation business, convinced he doesn’t deserve happiness and going through the motions of a life he’s barely living. When Charlie shows up, Max knows he should turn him away—but something about Charlie pushes him to take the case.

From there, the story takes off. As Max digs into David’s disappearance, he uncovers chilling connections to his fiancé Dustin’s murder. What follows is a series of twists that keep the tension high and the pages turning. The mystery is layered and engaging, but what really elevates the book is the emotional depth—Max’s struggle with PTSD, Charlie’s journey of self-discovery, and the bond that forms between them.

The supporting cast adds richness and moments of humor, especially the unforgettable “Diva.” Another standout element is the Z-Bar and its “found family”—a network of support, acceptance, and grounding that beautifully contrasts with the darkness of the central plot.

The author does an excellent job weaving together multiple storylines—David’s disappearance, Dustin’s murder, Max’s trauma, and Charlie’s personal growth—bringing them to satisfying conclusions. Just when everything seems resolved, the final chapter introduces a new twist that feels both connected and fresh. It’s a strong hook for what I hope will be a sequel, because these characters—and this world—deserve more time.

Highly recommended for fans of character-driven mysteries with emotional depth and unexpected turns.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advance copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving this honest, personal, and unbiased review.

Private eyes, missing persons, smoky bars, and secrets nobody wants uncovered. This genre had me in a chokehold growing up, and honestly, this book reminded me why I loved it so much. Adding in that this is the first detective thriller I’ve read with a gay investigator made it feel even more personal in a way I didn’t expect.

This book balanced trauma, PTSD, grief, suspense, and romance really well without losing those classic noir detective vibes but underneath the suspense this is really a story about grief, love, healing, and what happens when someone makes you want to live again after you’ve convinced yourself you’re done feeling anything at all.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advance copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving this honest, personal, and unbiased review.

The Missing Heart is a detective story that pulled me in with the well-developed characters, the gripping mystery to be solved, and the found family trope too. If you enjoy a good private detective story with flawed and lovable characters, I think you'll enjoy this one.

We meet Max, a former police officer turned private detective, who is struggling in the aftermath of losing his fiance. ,and Charlie, who is desperate to find out what has happened to his friend who has gone missing. When Charlie hires Max to investigate, they find themselves drawn together and the relationship that develops is really quite beautiful. The story revolves around heavy issues like PTSD and isolation but it handles them with care and grace. There is an underlying message throughout the book that highlights how important connection is to the human experience. The emotional slow burn romance was honest and really well-written.

Thank you to Nathan Gibson, JMS Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this story! All opinions are my own.