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The Missing Half
Two women haunted by their sisters' unsolved disappearances band together in this captivating mystery from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of All Good People Here and host of the #1 true crime podcast Crime Junkie.
Nicole “Nic” Monroe is in a rut. At twenty-four, she lives alone in a dinky apartment in her hometown of Mishawaka, Indiana, she’s just gotten a DWI, and she works the same dead-end job she’s been working since high school, a job she only has because her boss is a family friend and feels sorry for her. Everyone has felt sorry for her for the last seven years—since the day her older sister, Kasey, vanished without a trace.
On the night Kasey went missing, her car was found over a hundred miles from home. The driver’s door was open and her purse was untouched in the seat next to it. The only real clue in her disappearance was Jules Connor, another young woman from the same area who disappeared in the same way, two weeks earlier. But with so little for the police to go on, both their cases eventually went cold.
Nic wants nothing more than to move on—from her sister’s disappearance and the state it’s left her in. But then one day, Jules’s sister, Jenna Connor, walks into her life and offers Nic something she hasn’t felt in a long hope. What follows is a gripping tale of two sisters who will do anything to find their missing halves, even if it means destroying everything they’ve ever known.
Nicole “Nic” Monroe is in a rut. At twenty-four, she lives alone in a dinky apartment in her hometown of Mishawaka, Indiana, she’s just gotten a DWI, and she works the same dead-end job she’s been working since high school, a job she only has because her boss is a family friend and feels sorry for her. Everyone has felt sorry for her for the last seven years—since the day her older sister, Kasey, vanished without a trace.
On the night Kasey went missing, her car was found over a hundred miles from home. The driver’s door was open and her purse was untouched in the seat next to it. The only real clue in her disappearance was Jules Connor, another young woman from the same area who disappeared in the same way, two weeks earlier. But with so little for the police to go on, both their cases eventually went cold.
Nic wants nothing more than to move on—from her sister’s disappearance and the state it’s left her in. But then one day, Jules’s sister, Jenna Connor, walks into her life and offers Nic something she hasn’t felt in a long hope. What follows is a gripping tale of two sisters who will do anything to find their missing halves, even if it means destroying everything they’ve ever known.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published May 6, 2025
5448 people are currently reading
143308 people want to read
About the author
Ashley Flowers
2 books6,996 followersAshley Flowers is the author of #1 New York Times bestseller All Good People Here, a fictional crime thriller that debuted in August 2022. Her second mystery novel, The Missing Half, will be released on May 6, 2025, and is now available for preorder.
In addition to being an author, Ashley is the #1 Female Podcaster in the U.S. and the host of Crime Junkie, the #1 podcast among women. She is also the Founder of audiochuck, a media company best known for Crime Junkie – the #1 show on Apple Podcasts. Under her leadership, audiochuck has produced over 20 shows and gained more than 2.5 billion downloads. Ashley also hosts and produces other popular shows like The Deck, The Deck Investigates, and Crime Junkie AF on SiriusXM, bringing captivating stories to listeners everywhere.
Ashley is also the Founder of Season of Justice, a nonprofit that has donated over $1.5 million to help more than 200 cold cases using DNA testing and other investigative tools.
She lives in Indiana with her husband, daughter, and their dog Chuck, who inspired the name of her company.
In addition to being an author, Ashley is the #1 Female Podcaster in the U.S. and the host of Crime Junkie, the #1 podcast among women. She is also the Founder of audiochuck, a media company best known for Crime Junkie – the #1 show on Apple Podcasts. Under her leadership, audiochuck has produced over 20 shows and gained more than 2.5 billion downloads. Ashley also hosts and produces other popular shows like The Deck, The Deck Investigates, and Crime Junkie AF on SiriusXM, bringing captivating stories to listeners everywhere.
Ashley is also the Founder of Season of Justice, a nonprofit that has donated over $1.5 million to help more than 200 cold cases using DNA testing and other investigative tools.
She lives in Indiana with her husband, daughter, and their dog Chuck, who inspired the name of her company.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 7,675 reviews
August 27, 2025
Oh my goodness! You need a drink after reading the last chapters of this book! My blood runs cold! I didn't see some twists coming, and I still feel flabbergasted, sad, and numb all at once! It feels like broken glass tearing through your skin! This is one of those books that will stay with you forever, and each time you remember how everything concludes, you oscillate between crying aloud and sighing heavily. It truly broke my heart! I think I'll need at least three days to gather myself or start reading anything new after the effects of this story slowly dissipate.
If you're tough enough to embrace darkness and raw sadness, read this meaningful sisterhood saga. It's one of the most thought-provoking stories I've read lately, and I'm certain it's one of the best women's fiction meets dark thriller/mystery novels of 2025!
The main story revolves around two women with one common thread: both of their sisters were taken two weeks apart in 2012. Their bodies were never found, but their families are already broken, having said goodbye without closure.
Nicole "Nic" Monroe hit rock bottom at age 24. Losing her sister was like losing her best friend, real mother, guardian, and anchor to survival! Their alcoholic mother left the house, and their father lives in denial, refusing to discuss the tragedy or support Nic. After getting a DWI, Nic starts community service at a shelter, attending AA meetings, and working as a waitress at Funland, her family friends' business, for eight years. She hasn't progressed in life, still living in a dinky apartment in her hometown of Mishawaka, numbing her pain with alcohol. She didn't go to college, make friends, or look for better jobs. She's locked herself in a purgatory that prevents her from moving on, stuck at the moment her sister vanished, leaving only her car and purse behind. Losing Kasey feels like losing a limb. Deep in her gut, she knows somebody took her sister and she'll never return!
When Jenna Connor, sister of another missing girl Jules who disappeared two weeks before Kasey, appears at Nic's workplace with a clue connecting the two cases, Nic can't resist listening – even though it might drag her into dangerous circumstances while investigating both Mishawaka girls' disappearances.
As they team up, secrets from Nic's inner circle begin to surface, and she realizes Jenna might be the only person she can fully trust when everyone else has left her to spiral. Learning the truth might open a can of worms, and Nic will discover that sometimes ignorance is bliss, though it's time for her to confront harsh realities instead of numbing herself. What she doesn't know is that truth comes with a hefty price she may barely handle!
Overall: This is great literature – heart-wrenching, extremely emotional, shocking, well-executed mystery with layered, perfectly developed characterization made me love this book so much! I couldn't recommend it more! I liked it even better than "All Good People Here"!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine-Bantam for sharing this well-executed thriller's digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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If you're tough enough to embrace darkness and raw sadness, read this meaningful sisterhood saga. It's one of the most thought-provoking stories I've read lately, and I'm certain it's one of the best women's fiction meets dark thriller/mystery novels of 2025!
The main story revolves around two women with one common thread: both of their sisters were taken two weeks apart in 2012. Their bodies were never found, but their families are already broken, having said goodbye without closure.
Nicole "Nic" Monroe hit rock bottom at age 24. Losing her sister was like losing her best friend, real mother, guardian, and anchor to survival! Their alcoholic mother left the house, and their father lives in denial, refusing to discuss the tragedy or support Nic. After getting a DWI, Nic starts community service at a shelter, attending AA meetings, and working as a waitress at Funland, her family friends' business, for eight years. She hasn't progressed in life, still living in a dinky apartment in her hometown of Mishawaka, numbing her pain with alcohol. She didn't go to college, make friends, or look for better jobs. She's locked herself in a purgatory that prevents her from moving on, stuck at the moment her sister vanished, leaving only her car and purse behind. Losing Kasey feels like losing a limb. Deep in her gut, she knows somebody took her sister and she'll never return!
When Jenna Connor, sister of another missing girl Jules who disappeared two weeks before Kasey, appears at Nic's workplace with a clue connecting the two cases, Nic can't resist listening – even though it might drag her into dangerous circumstances while investigating both Mishawaka girls' disappearances.
As they team up, secrets from Nic's inner circle begin to surface, and she realizes Jenna might be the only person she can fully trust when everyone else has left her to spiral. Learning the truth might open a can of worms, and Nic will discover that sometimes ignorance is bliss, though it's time for her to confront harsh realities instead of numbing herself. What she doesn't know is that truth comes with a hefty price she may barely handle!
Overall: This is great literature – heart-wrenching, extremely emotional, shocking, well-executed mystery with layered, perfectly developed characterization made me love this book so much! I couldn't recommend it more! I liked it even better than "All Good People Here"!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine-Bantam for sharing this well-executed thriller's digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
May 6, 2025
The last 15% of this book killed it for me. No spoilers here, but really? That's how it ends?!
June 10, 2025
I’m one of the few people who really enjoyed Ashley Flower’s first book, “All Good People Here”. So when I saw this newest release I was jumping for joy, and couldn’t wait to read this. Now, I did like this book too, but I’m not going to lie- I still liked “All Good People Here” better. 🤫
Nicole (Nic) Monroe is down on her luck, and still working at her teenage job at Funland, when a stranger shows up one night to speak with her. This stranger is Jenna Connor. Both Jenna and Nic have sisters who disappeared in 2012, without a trace it seems. It is now 2019, and there is still no word on their sisters.
Together, Nic and Jenna decide to do their own detective work and find their sisters. Through their work, we get a deeper look into each of their lives (especially Nic’s), and the people who were involved with their sisters. While some parts of this story seemed a bit slow moving, once it started going- my adrenaline was pumping!!
There were some twists in this book that I did not see coming at all, especially the ending. With that being said, I did find the ending a bit implausible, and I think that’s what took my rating down a bit. All in all, still a fun, fast-paced read that I would recommend.
(3.5 stars)
Nicole (Nic) Monroe is down on her luck, and still working at her teenage job at Funland, when a stranger shows up one night to speak with her. This stranger is Jenna Connor. Both Jenna and Nic have sisters who disappeared in 2012, without a trace it seems. It is now 2019, and there is still no word on their sisters.
Together, Nic and Jenna decide to do their own detective work and find their sisters. Through their work, we get a deeper look into each of their lives (especially Nic’s), and the people who were involved with their sisters. While some parts of this story seemed a bit slow moving, once it started going- my adrenaline was pumping!!
There were some twists in this book that I did not see coming at all, especially the ending. With that being said, I did find the ending a bit implausible, and I think that’s what took my rating down a bit. All in all, still a fun, fast-paced read that I would recommend.
(3.5 stars)
May 31, 2025
Hypnotic, addictive, and thoroughly twisted, The Missing Half took my expectations and ran them down before then reversing and repeating the maneuver. Not in a bad way, of course. No, quite the opposite, in fact, as Ms. Flowers delivered a plot that felt both perfectly crafted and beyond realistic. From the root-for-able amateur sleuths to the unguessable conclusion, there was no end to the winning attributes in this stunning slam dunk. And when I say unguessable, I truly mean it. As inevitable as it was tragic, the climax and conclusion had me reading at speed thanks to a poignant revelation that hit me hard as could be. After all, this dynamite plot came together with utter, devastating precision.
Thanks to a ratcheting pace, finely layered characters, and a wealth of long-buried secrets, once I was hooked by this book, there was no chance of me putting it down. So much so, in fact, that I started and finished it in one single sitting. I mean, how could I have stepped away from a plot that delivered an IV drip of revelations that was buttressed by several jaw-dropping reveals? Even before any of that, though, the broken personas and serious themes meant a novel not only primed with nonstop suspense but rounded out with stunning depth to its pages. Exploring addiction, grief, and the lengths one will go to for family, this book is sure to resonate with all who dive into its riveting story.
All said and done, this gripping tale of psychological suspense had everything I could want. Sprinkled with deftly obscured clues and convincing red herrings as well as a complex plot, low-key cliffhangers, and a nuanced first half, I quickly got pulled into the story despite its initial slow burn. Once I hit that first shocking twist, though, all bets were off as the pace picked up speed. What really got me, however, was how well-written and fluid the storyline was. Thanks to edge-of-your-seat tension that never relented and a masterful character arc for the protagonist, I am now 100% smitten with this new-to-me author. So if you’re looking for a sharp, clever novel, grab this one now. After all, it was an out-and-out home run. Rating of 5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Nicole “Nic” Monroe is in a rut. At twenty-four, she lives alone in a dinky apartment in her hometown of Mishawaka, Indiana, she’s just gotten a DWI, and she works the same dead-end job she’s been working since high school, a job she only has because her boss is a family friend and feels sorry for her. Everyone has felt sorry for her for the last seven years—since the day her older sister, Kasey, vanished without a trace.
On the night Kasey went missing, her car was found over a hundred miles from home. The driver’s door was open and her purse was untouched in the seat next to it. The only real clue in her disappearance was Jules Connor, another young woman from the same area who disappeared in the same way, two weeks earlier. But with so little for the police to go on, both cases eventually went cold.
Nic wants nothing more than to move on from her sister’s disappearance and the state it’s left her in. But then one day, Jules’s sister, Jenna Connor, walks into Nic’s life and offers her something she hasn’t felt in a long time: hope. What follows is a gripping tale of two sisters who will do anything to find their missing halves, even if it means destroying everything they’ve ever known.
Thank you to Ashley Flowers and Random House—Bantam for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: May 6, 2025
Content warning: missing persons, alcohol abuse, infidelity, violence, drunk driving, cancer
Thanks to a ratcheting pace, finely layered characters, and a wealth of long-buried secrets, once I was hooked by this book, there was no chance of me putting it down. So much so, in fact, that I started and finished it in one single sitting. I mean, how could I have stepped away from a plot that delivered an IV drip of revelations that was buttressed by several jaw-dropping reveals? Even before any of that, though, the broken personas and serious themes meant a novel not only primed with nonstop suspense but rounded out with stunning depth to its pages. Exploring addiction, grief, and the lengths one will go to for family, this book is sure to resonate with all who dive into its riveting story.
All said and done, this gripping tale of psychological suspense had everything I could want. Sprinkled with deftly obscured clues and convincing red herrings as well as a complex plot, low-key cliffhangers, and a nuanced first half, I quickly got pulled into the story despite its initial slow burn. Once I hit that first shocking twist, though, all bets were off as the pace picked up speed. What really got me, however, was how well-written and fluid the storyline was. Thanks to edge-of-your-seat tension that never relented and a masterful character arc for the protagonist, I am now 100% smitten with this new-to-me author. So if you’re looking for a sharp, clever novel, grab this one now. After all, it was an out-and-out home run. Rating of 5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Nicole “Nic” Monroe is in a rut. At twenty-four, she lives alone in a dinky apartment in her hometown of Mishawaka, Indiana, she’s just gotten a DWI, and she works the same dead-end job she’s been working since high school, a job she only has because her boss is a family friend and feels sorry for her. Everyone has felt sorry for her for the last seven years—since the day her older sister, Kasey, vanished without a trace.
On the night Kasey went missing, her car was found over a hundred miles from home. The driver’s door was open and her purse was untouched in the seat next to it. The only real clue in her disappearance was Jules Connor, another young woman from the same area who disappeared in the same way, two weeks earlier. But with so little for the police to go on, both cases eventually went cold.
Nic wants nothing more than to move on from her sister’s disappearance and the state it’s left her in. But then one day, Jules’s sister, Jenna Connor, walks into Nic’s life and offers her something she hasn’t felt in a long time: hope. What follows is a gripping tale of two sisters who will do anything to find their missing halves, even if it means destroying everything they’ve ever known.
Thank you to Ashley Flowers and Random House—Bantam for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: May 6, 2025
Content warning: missing persons, alcohol abuse, infidelity, violence, drunk driving, cancer
March 22, 2025
What did I just read? I was so excited for this book and in the end, beyond disappointed. The “plot twist” made 0 sense to me, there was a whole bunch of nothing going on and for such an elaborate attempt at a reveal in the end, it was wrapped up quickly and beyond unbelievable. I understand I’m reading fiction but please, make it make sense. Most of the characters in this book were completely vial, and there were so many crimes committed with 0 consequences. I’m upset.
February 9, 2025
I could not put this one down. Two girls disappear within a couple weeks of each other and years later their 2 sisters team up to decide to finally figure out what happened to them.
I did not expect the ending at all. I suspected tons of different scenarios throughout the book, but what really happened surprised me. I think this book was very well written. It was very exciting and I really enjoyed it.
Surprise endings can sometimes be cheesy or feel rushed and forced. This one was done beautifully and I felt like this exact story could be something that happened in real life.
Thank you to netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
I did not expect the ending at all. I suspected tons of different scenarios throughout the book, but what really happened surprised me. I think this book was very well written. It was very exciting and I really enjoyed it.
Surprise endings can sometimes be cheesy or feel rushed and forced. This one was done beautifully and I felt like this exact story could be something that happened in real life.
Thank you to netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 16, 2025
I was reluctant to read this one because I had a difficult experience with her debut novel, “All Good People Here.” But I was willing to give myself and this author another chance. To be honest, my experience was better with this one, BUT…
What happens when 2 women go missing from the same area within 2 weeks of each other? In this instance, it becomes a cold case that haunts both surviving sisters of each known victim.
After 7 years, Jenna, who lost her sister, Jules, contacts Nic, who lost her sister Kasey, and asks her to participate with her in an investigation into their missing family members. Jenna believes she has some leads into their disappearance.
What will they discover? And, what will they do when they find out the truth?
With this book, when all seems clear, nothing is truly as it seems. With short, fast-paced and cliffhanging chapters and questionable characters (both unlikable with an unreliable narrator), this twisty suspenseful, page-turning mystery will have readers guessing up to the last page. The most important questions being…
As readers, will your guess be right? And, will the ending feel believable? Or satisfying?
So, what about the BUT I alluded to in my opening paragraph? Yes, this book had everything that most readers would expect from their mysteries, as I described above. But for me, the lead up to the ending and actual finale seemed contrived. I had a hard time wrapping my head around it. As if the author felt this final twist was going to give her a Wow moment.
Could this climax revelation, with all its predilections and tragedies provide readers with a believable or satisfying ending? I am left grappling with this question. I realize the ending may be what connected readers most to this book, but for me, I think it did the opposite.
I think I will pass on any more books from this author. I haven’t had successful outcomes with my reading experiences with her books. Still, please read other reviews, as there are higher stars out there for this one, than mine.
What happens when 2 women go missing from the same area within 2 weeks of each other? In this instance, it becomes a cold case that haunts both surviving sisters of each known victim.
After 7 years, Jenna, who lost her sister, Jules, contacts Nic, who lost her sister Kasey, and asks her to participate with her in an investigation into their missing family members. Jenna believes she has some leads into their disappearance.
What will they discover? And, what will they do when they find out the truth?
With this book, when all seems clear, nothing is truly as it seems. With short, fast-paced and cliffhanging chapters and questionable characters (both unlikable with an unreliable narrator), this twisty suspenseful, page-turning mystery will have readers guessing up to the last page. The most important questions being…
As readers, will your guess be right? And, will the ending feel believable? Or satisfying?
So, what about the BUT I alluded to in my opening paragraph? Yes, this book had everything that most readers would expect from their mysteries, as I described above. But for me, the lead up to the ending and actual finale seemed contrived. I had a hard time wrapping my head around it. As if the author felt this final twist was going to give her a Wow moment.
Could this climax revelation, with all its predilections and tragedies provide readers with a believable or satisfying ending? I am left grappling with this question. I realize the ending may be what connected readers most to this book, but for me, I think it did the opposite.
I think I will pass on any more books from this author. I haven’t had successful outcomes with my reading experiences with her books. Still, please read other reviews, as there are higher stars out there for this one, than mine.
May 29, 2025
This fabulous novel really moved me. The main character became so real, her suffering became mine. What an unexpected gift to be completely immersed in a captivating story that tugged hard at my heartstrings. The writing was beautiful and the plot haunting. A brilliant book that I’ll never forget.
April 19, 2025
"Two branches of the same tree,
Two pieces of a soul.
Where one sister goes, the other will be
For she is but half of the whole."
Kasey and Nic and Jenna and Jules. Two sets of sisters.
Two nights, two weeks apart in 2012, two sets of sisters' lives will forever be changed when 2 sisters go missing just towns away from each other. Nic and Jenna are left wondering what could've happened when their sisters just seem to have disappeared. Jules was first to go missing in a little town a bit outside of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and her car was pulled off onto the side of the road with everything in it. Unfortunately for Jenna and her family, the shell town didn't have a lot of resources, so they just chalk it up to "she must've left." It doesn't seem to go much better for Nic and her family when Kasey goes missing. Even though they had the Grand Rapids police department and knowing the Jules disappeared under almost identical circumstances, they're all left with unanswered questions. Their families are just left in a daze that they never fully come out of. Two families in shambles. Fast forward to the present, Nic's life is still a blur as she's fresh off a dui and no license working at a job given to her by a family friend when Jenna confeonts her with me info about their missing sisters. They decided that if no one is going to look further into their cases, they'll need to be the ones to give their families the closure that's needed.
The Missing Half was really good. Every time that I thought I figured out what was happening, I would be yet again surprised. Turn after turn... this book had me on the edge of my seat. All The Good People Here was a good book but slow in some parts. This book seemed to start and just continue to pick up. I read it in one sitting. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC!!
Two pieces of a soul.
Where one sister goes, the other will be
For she is but half of the whole."
Kasey and Nic and Jenna and Jules. Two sets of sisters.
Two nights, two weeks apart in 2012, two sets of sisters' lives will forever be changed when 2 sisters go missing just towns away from each other. Nic and Jenna are left wondering what could've happened when their sisters just seem to have disappeared. Jules was first to go missing in a little town a bit outside of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and her car was pulled off onto the side of the road with everything in it. Unfortunately for Jenna and her family, the shell town didn't have a lot of resources, so they just chalk it up to "she must've left." It doesn't seem to go much better for Nic and her family when Kasey goes missing. Even though they had the Grand Rapids police department and knowing the Jules disappeared under almost identical circumstances, they're all left with unanswered questions. Their families are just left in a daze that they never fully come out of. Two families in shambles. Fast forward to the present, Nic's life is still a blur as she's fresh off a dui and no license working at a job given to her by a family friend when Jenna confeonts her with me info about their missing sisters. They decided that if no one is going to look further into their cases, they'll need to be the ones to give their families the closure that's needed.
The Missing Half was really good. Every time that I thought I figured out what was happening, I would be yet again surprised. Turn after turn... this book had me on the edge of my seat. All The Good People Here was a good book but slow in some parts. This book seemed to start and just continue to pick up. I read it in one sitting. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC!!
April 17, 2025
3.5 stars rounded down to 3 for GR
🎧 highly recommend the audiobook—it’s narrated by the fantastic and super talented Saskia Maarleveld which is arguably the only reason i read/listened to this book as i did not love this author’s debut novel (it felt like the JonBenet Ramsey case). Saskia kept me listening for sure! not confident i would have enjoyed as much if i read the physical copy.
this is a psychological thriller and a bit of a slow burn. it’s kind of a true crime / solve the mystery trope of a girl whose sister went missing 7 years ago and there’s still so much unknown.
the 7 year gap could have been 3-5 years to be a bit stronger. would have been much more believable for all the characters to remember tiny details about a random day in august if you ask me…
not too much to say here tbh. was it good? yes, good enough to keep listening and see how it resolved. but the ending… that’s what makes or breaks a thriller! it was too abrupt and unrealistic for my thriller taste.
i was actually left with more questions than answers… like: how would that even work? what happened w her parents & Brad? why did it have to end like that with Jenna? and more.
this is a quick one and easy enough to binge (esp on audio—thanks PRH!!) but not sure i’ll read a third from this author.
TLDR; better thrillers out there but a quick binge / good on audio!
🎧 highly recommend the audiobook—it’s narrated by the fantastic and super talented Saskia Maarleveld which is arguably the only reason i read/listened to this book as i did not love this author’s debut novel (it felt like the JonBenet Ramsey case). Saskia kept me listening for sure! not confident i would have enjoyed as much if i read the physical copy.
this is a psychological thriller and a bit of a slow burn. it’s kind of a true crime / solve the mystery trope of a girl whose sister went missing 7 years ago and there’s still so much unknown.
the 7 year gap could have been 3-5 years to be a bit stronger. would have been much more believable for all the characters to remember tiny details about a random day in august if you ask me…
not too much to say here tbh. was it good? yes, good enough to keep listening and see how it resolved. but the ending… that’s what makes or breaks a thriller! it was too abrupt and unrealistic for my thriller taste.
i was actually left with more questions than answers… like: how would that even work? what happened w her parents & Brad? why did it have to end like that with Jenna? and more.
this is a quick one and easy enough to binge (esp on audio—thanks PRH!!) but not sure i’ll read a third from this author.
TLDR; better thrillers out there but a quick binge / good on audio!
May 30, 2025
THIS SCRATCHED MY THRILLER ITCH WONDERFULLY
In The Missing Half we have Nic. Nic is working at the same dead-end job, has a DWI and still trying to deal with the unresolved disappearance of her sister Kasey. One night on her way home she is stopped by a women named Jenna whose sister also disappeared two weeks before Kasey did and has still not been found. The two women come together to try and uncover the mystery and get justice.
WOWZERS I have been looking for a thriller book to hit me right in my feels and deliver all the components to make a great thriller read and The Missing Half certainly delivered. Our two main female leads Nic and Jenna were great to follow. They are not perfect. They have their flaws like every human being, and it was easy to root for them.
Ms. Flowers did a great job keeping me engaged and wanting to speed through the book to try and get to the crux of the mystery. Fantastic trope of including suspicious characters and making you side eye others.
The TWIST… EXCUSE MEEEEEEEEE!? I legit was GAAAAAGED! I loved it! Now the ending I can’t speak to much on but let’s just say I am on the fence on how to feel about it! It will definitely spur on a difference in opinions for readers. You will either love it or hate it.
⋆｡°✩WHAT I LIKED⋆｡°✩
➽ Short chapters
➽ The strong female leads
➽ Fast paced
➽ Suspenseful
➽ Very engaging
➽ The twist
⋆｡°✩WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE⋆｡°✩
➽ The ending (partially)
I didn’t read the authors first book as there was a lot of controversy on it being a copycat copy of a real-life unresolved case, which is very well known and so I didn’t feel compelled to read it. But this book read original, and I am excited to see what she writes next.
4.5 ⭐
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⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
Continuing my 2025 anticipated reads!
Very intrigued and excited about this one!
I hope it meets my expectations!
💚💛💚
In The Missing Half we have Nic. Nic is working at the same dead-end job, has a DWI and still trying to deal with the unresolved disappearance of her sister Kasey. One night on her way home she is stopped by a women named Jenna whose sister also disappeared two weeks before Kasey did and has still not been found. The two women come together to try and uncover the mystery and get justice.
WOWZERS I have been looking for a thriller book to hit me right in my feels and deliver all the components to make a great thriller read and The Missing Half certainly delivered. Our two main female leads Nic and Jenna were great to follow. They are not perfect. They have their flaws like every human being, and it was easy to root for them.
Ms. Flowers did a great job keeping me engaged and wanting to speed through the book to try and get to the crux of the mystery. Fantastic trope of including suspicious characters and making you side eye others.
The TWIST… EXCUSE MEEEEEEEEE!? I legit was GAAAAAGED! I loved it! Now the ending I can’t speak to much on but let’s just say I am on the fence on how to feel about it! It will definitely spur on a difference in opinions for readers. You will either love it or hate it.
⋆｡°✩WHAT I LIKED⋆｡°✩
➽ Short chapters
➽ The strong female leads
➽ Fast paced
➽ Suspenseful
➽ Very engaging
➽ The twist
⋆｡°✩WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE⋆｡°✩
➽ The ending (partially)
I didn’t read the authors first book as there was a lot of controversy on it being a copycat copy of a real-life unresolved case, which is very well known and so I didn’t feel compelled to read it. But this book read original, and I am excited to see what she writes next.
4.5 ⭐
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⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
Continuing my 2025 anticipated reads!
Very intrigued and excited about this one!
I hope it meets my expectations!
💚💛💚
July 7, 2025
7 years ago, Nicole’s (Nic) older sister Kasey went missing. Now Nic is stuck in a dead-end job with a father who refuses to acknowledge his own pain, let alone Nic’s. Kasey’s disappearance has left her family an emotional mess, unable to move on with their lives.
Then Jenna, the sister of a girl who went missing 2 weeks before Kasey, shows up at Nic’s work. Jenna is convinced the two missing cases are connected. Both cases have gone cold, but Nic & Jenna team up to do some amateur sleuthing on their own.
What follows is a slow burn as they discover the truth behind their sisters’ disappearances. Nothing is as it seems, and there are red herrings and twists to keep things interesting, culminating in an ending I did not see coming!
I’ve been a fan of the author’s podcast, Crime Junkies, from the beginning. She knows from her research that anything can and does happen. I love that her work in true crime influences her fiction. I wasn’t a huge fan of her first book, but my reading buddy, Marialyce, and I felt this one was a winner.
* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
Then Jenna, the sister of a girl who went missing 2 weeks before Kasey, shows up at Nic’s work. Jenna is convinced the two missing cases are connected. Both cases have gone cold, but Nic & Jenna team up to do some amateur sleuthing on their own.
What follows is a slow burn as they discover the truth behind their sisters’ disappearances. Nothing is as it seems, and there are red herrings and twists to keep things interesting, culminating in an ending I did not see coming!
I’ve been a fan of the author’s podcast, Crime Junkies, from the beginning. She knows from her research that anything can and does happen. I love that her work in true crime influences her fiction. I wasn’t a huge fan of her first book, but my reading buddy, Marialyce, and I felt this one was a winner.
* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
June 30, 2025
I enjoyed this author's debut and was looking forward to her next work. I also want to mention that the cover gives off a creepy vibe that really pulls you in, well done on that! However, this book didn’t meet all of my expectations.
Nic is a mess. Her life hasn’t panned out as she hoped; she has a dead-end job, a recent DWI, and struggles with lasting relationships. This turmoil is tied to her older sister’s disappearance seven years ago, a case that remains unsolved. The similarities to another disappearance have even raised concerns about a possible serial killer.
Jenna, who has never fully recovered from her sister's disappearance, confronts Nic one night after work with a proposition: they should work together to solve both cases. As they delve deeper, they start jumping to serious conclusions without any concrete evidence. I was hoping a podcaster or someone with expertise in researching cold cases would join them, as they clearly needed help.
What really disappointed me was the twist; it felt like a major letdown. I listened to this novel and found myself fast-forwarding through the last third because I couldn’t take any more of Nic's constant lamenting about how everyone was out to get her. By the time the big reveal came, I felt the same as her final line (IYKYK) which perfectly summed up the disappointment I felt by the end.
Nic is a mess. Her life hasn’t panned out as she hoped; she has a dead-end job, a recent DWI, and struggles with lasting relationships. This turmoil is tied to her older sister’s disappearance seven years ago, a case that remains unsolved. The similarities to another disappearance have even raised concerns about a possible serial killer.
Jenna, who has never fully recovered from her sister's disappearance, confronts Nic one night after work with a proposition: they should work together to solve both cases. As they delve deeper, they start jumping to serious conclusions without any concrete evidence. I was hoping a podcaster or someone with expertise in researching cold cases would join them, as they clearly needed help.
What really disappointed me was the twist; it felt like a major letdown. I listened to this novel and found myself fast-forwarding through the last third because I couldn’t take any more of Nic's constant lamenting about how everyone was out to get her. By the time the big reveal came, I felt the same as her final line (IYKYK) which perfectly summed up the disappointment I felt by the end.
June 26, 2025
The final twist of this book ruined it for me. Easy read but it just didn't make sense IMO
May 2, 2025
100% - Done!! And Ooops..I hadn’t intended to devour that one like I did, but here we are. A solid thriller from a solid thriller writer. Full review to come.
40% - Pretty solid thriller so far. Easy to binge.
Thank you PRH Audio and Libro.fm for the advanced copies.
40% - Pretty solid thriller so far. Easy to binge.
Thank you PRH Audio and Libro.fm for the advanced copies.
April 18, 2025
Fantastic in audio!
This one is twisty and emotional. Great writing and development.
This one is twisty and emotional. Great writing and development.
June 15, 2025
"Two women haunted by their sisters' unsolved disappearances band together in this captivating mystery."
Both Nicole Monroe and Jenna Connor had sisters mysteriously disappeared from their cars never to return. Both have been presumed dead. Seven years after Kasey's disappearance, Julian approaches Nicole with a proposal to team up and solve their sisters' murders that the police have declared a cold case.
What follows is a propulsive page-turner that is not only a mystery but an exploration of grief and sisterhood. This one raced to chilling and shocking conclusion. I was totally entertained by this one, and it checked all the boxes for a thriller. ✅️
Both Nicole Monroe and Jenna Connor had sisters mysteriously disappeared from their cars never to return. Both have been presumed dead. Seven years after Kasey's disappearance, Julian approaches Nicole with a proposal to team up and solve their sisters' murders that the police have declared a cold case.
What follows is a propulsive page-turner that is not only a mystery but an exploration of grief and sisterhood. This one raced to chilling and shocking conclusion. I was totally entertained by this one, and it checked all the boxes for a thriller. ✅️
April 17, 2025
Everybody's been waiting for Ashley Flowers' new book, THE MISSING HALF, after wowing readers with her debut, All Good People Here. Honestly, I didn't love her debut, but the twisted ending enticed me to continue with reading her books, so I knew I wanted to prioritize this new release.
THE MISSING HALF is a compelling psychological suspense novel about two women—Nic Monroe and Jenna Connor—bonded by the unsolved disappearances of their sisters. A decade later, new evidence resurfaces, forcing them to confront old trauma and uncover long-buried truths. The story balances emotional depth with a steadily building mystery, exploring themes of grief, addiction, and resilience.
Though the pacing starts slow, it quickly ramps up into anti-slow burn territory, which is always a WIN for me. While the ending wasn't my favorite this time around, the book becomes increasingly hard to put down. I'm not sure if this book was a winner for me specifically because I ventured the audiobook route (thank you @prhaudio for the gifted ALC), but I really enjoyed the narration! With layered characters, thoughtful writing, and unexpected twists, this novel is a strong, emotionally resonant read—perfect for getting out of a reading slump.
THE MISSING HALF is a compelling psychological suspense novel about two women—Nic Monroe and Jenna Connor—bonded by the unsolved disappearances of their sisters. A decade later, new evidence resurfaces, forcing them to confront old trauma and uncover long-buried truths. The story balances emotional depth with a steadily building mystery, exploring themes of grief, addiction, and resilience.
Though the pacing starts slow, it quickly ramps up into anti-slow burn territory, which is always a WIN for me. While the ending wasn't my favorite this time around, the book becomes increasingly hard to put down. I'm not sure if this book was a winner for me specifically because I ventured the audiobook route (thank you @prhaudio for the gifted ALC), but I really enjoyed the narration! With layered characters, thoughtful writing, and unexpected twists, this novel is a strong, emotionally resonant read—perfect for getting out of a reading slump.
May 24, 2025
Wow!! I loved this book!! Thank you @randomhouse for the free book!! 🥰 It’s a hot 🔥 year for books!!
Pub day is tomorrow!! 5/6/25🥳🥳
Your sister is missing… well it’s been seven years…. It seems like yesterday but you have all but given up hope for answers. Until… you meet Jenna. Her sister is missing too. Almost the same scenario.. in fact it’s thought that the same person took them both. 😳
Holy twists!! I couldn’t put this book down!! I binged it in a day. I especially loved Nicole aka Nic. This girl has literally been to hell and back. I was absolutely floored by the things she unearthed. 😬😳🤯 SO many twists… so many secrets… maybe 🤔 her sister Kasey didn’t tell her EVERYTHING. 😬🤫
This was such a strong plot… atmospheric… a super fast read. Short chapters.. our favorite 🤩😉 257 pages🤩 Buckle up babes as this packs a punch!! 👏👏
Now I must read All Good People Here!! 😍
Pub day is tomorrow!! 5/6/25🥳🥳
Your sister is missing… well it’s been seven years…. It seems like yesterday but you have all but given up hope for answers. Until… you meet Jenna. Her sister is missing too. Almost the same scenario.. in fact it’s thought that the same person took them both. 😳
Holy twists!! I couldn’t put this book down!! I binged it in a day. I especially loved Nicole aka Nic. This girl has literally been to hell and back. I was absolutely floored by the things she unearthed. 😬😳🤯 SO many twists… so many secrets… maybe 🤔 her sister Kasey didn’t tell her EVERYTHING. 😬🤫
This was such a strong plot… atmospheric… a super fast read. Short chapters.. our favorite 🤩😉 257 pages🤩 Buckle up babes as this packs a punch!! 👏👏
Now I must read All Good People Here!! 😍
May 20, 2025
Ugh. This started out so good—I was completely loving the chapters and, well, one of the characters! But then it got out of hand and sort of spiraled into an abysmal, convoluted mess.
I hate this! To be betrayed like this. Haha. That twist didn’t floor me at all—it actually pissed me off! Like, what? After all that? I had a feeling the author would go down this road, but the outcome? So unfair. The injustice depicted in this book is absolutely maddening.
And the characters? All of them are crazy. Well, maybe two aren’t (in my opinion), but the rest can go shit themselves.
Sadly, a total letdown for me.
I hate this! To be betrayed like this. Haha. That twist didn’t floor me at all—it actually pissed me off! Like, what? After all that? I had a feeling the author would go down this road, but the outcome? So unfair. The injustice depicted in this book is absolutely maddening.
And the characters? All of them are crazy. Well, maybe two aren’t (in my opinion), but the rest can go shit themselves.
Sadly, a total letdown for me.
July 13, 2025
Fast-paced, suspenseful, gripping—I couldn’t put it down.
Literally read it in one sitting, which I haven’t done in forever. I just had to know how this was going to play out. And it was worth it; this story was filled with twists and turns, and I loved it.
I also really enjoyed reading from Nic’s POV. She really pulled at my heartstrings because she struggled so much with everything that happened, but it fit the story perfectly.
And then the last few chapters?! What a wild ride..
___
I wanted to start this now and then finish it on the weekend because work 🫠 But the pacing is perfect and now I can’t put it down 🤭🤸♀️
Literally read it in one sitting, which I haven’t done in forever. I just had to know how this was going to play out. And it was worth it; this story was filled with twists and turns, and I loved it.
I also really enjoyed reading from Nic’s POV. She really pulled at my heartstrings because she struggled so much with everything that happened, but it fit the story perfectly.
And then the last few chapters?! What a wild ride..
___
I wanted to start this now and then finish it on the weekend because work 🫠 But the pacing is perfect and now I can’t put it down 🤭🤸♀️
February 3, 2025
ARC for review. To be published May 6, 2025.
1.5 stars
Seven years ago Kasey Monroe of Mishawaka, Indiana vanished over a hundred miles away from her home. Her car was found with the door open and her purse was on the passenger seat, money still inside. Jules Connor, another young woman, went missing in the same way two weeks before Kasey. The police assumed the crimes were related but never found any other information.
Kasey’s younger sister, Nic, 24, still lives there. She’s just gotten a DWI so she has no license at the moment and a court date is looming. She’s working a dead end job she only has because her dad is friends with the owner. One day Jules’s sister Jenna appears in Mishawaka and offers Nick some hope and the two try to find out what happened to their sisters.
Oh, wow. This was an OK book, nothing special. But then I came to the line that made me really dislike it. Readers will either read it and think, “nice twist” or their eyes will roll so hard that one of them will fall out. I’m holding one of my eyeballs up to the screen right now. Sad.
1.5 stars
Seven years ago Kasey Monroe of Mishawaka, Indiana vanished over a hundred miles away from her home. Her car was found with the door open and her purse was on the passenger seat, money still inside. Jules Connor, another young woman, went missing in the same way two weeks before Kasey. The police assumed the crimes were related but never found any other information.
Kasey’s younger sister, Nic, 24, still lives there. She’s just gotten a DWI so she has no license at the moment and a court date is looming. She’s working a dead end job she only has because her dad is friends with the owner. One day Jules’s sister Jenna appears in Mishawaka and offers Nick some hope and the two try to find out what happened to their sisters.
Oh, wow. This was an OK book, nothing special. But then I came to the line that made me really dislike it. Readers will either read it and think, “nice twist” or their eyes will roll so hard that one of them will fall out. I’m holding one of my eyeballs up to the screen right now. Sad.
May 4, 2025
When a psychological thriller rushes to end, to give us a closing to what we have invested six hours or so caring about the propagandist, the victim, the victims friends, families and lovers…this is probably my biggest pet peeve. WELL NO WORRIES HERE! Ashley Flowers slides easily into her ending explanation along with an incredibly huge twist. She took just the right amount of time to wind up her story.
This storyline was so much different than her premier novel All Good People Here. That novel had so many twists and turns then turns and twists! This I felt likened itself to two strangers coming together to solve their sisters disappearances morphing themselves into amateur private Invesigators. But not in a slapstick sort of way. It felt deeper, darker and more sophisticated than that. It took its time telling the background of the two young women who had disappeared quite some time before. The two protagonists often bumped heads while trying to agree on how to go about their investigation. I likened it to two rough grades of sandpaper rubbing against each other. They were determined to solve a mystery it seemed no one other than the two of them had an interest in.
Strong character devIopment is something I always appreciate in a book. The author did an incredible job especially with the lead protagonist Nic. She allowed us to see what ugliness is left behind when you loose a loved one just disappearing and perhaps imagining they experienced a brutal end.
This should have nothing to do with my review but I spent my first 25 years in South Bend, Indiana also known as a blending of several towns called Michiana. So it was exciting that the novel was set in Michiana. I recognized road names and a few landmarks in the book. I understand the author still lives in South Bend.
If you appreciate a thriller with strong character development,
protagonist banter including a rough relationship and a very twisted ending I recommend reading The Missing Half.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bantam Books and Ashley Flowers for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
This storyline was so much different than her premier novel All Good People Here. That novel had so many twists and turns then turns and twists! This I felt likened itself to two strangers coming together to solve their sisters disappearances morphing themselves into amateur private Invesigators. But not in a slapstick sort of way. It felt deeper, darker and more sophisticated than that. It took its time telling the background of the two young women who had disappeared quite some time before. The two protagonists often bumped heads while trying to agree on how to go about their investigation. I likened it to two rough grades of sandpaper rubbing against each other. They were determined to solve a mystery it seemed no one other than the two of them had an interest in.
Strong character devIopment is something I always appreciate in a book. The author did an incredible job especially with the lead protagonist Nic. She allowed us to see what ugliness is left behind when you loose a loved one just disappearing and perhaps imagining they experienced a brutal end.
This should have nothing to do with my review but I spent my first 25 years in South Bend, Indiana also known as a blending of several towns called Michiana. So it was exciting that the novel was set in Michiana. I recognized road names and a few landmarks in the book. I understand the author still lives in South Bend.
If you appreciate a thriller with strong character development,
protagonist banter including a rough relationship and a very twisted ending I recommend reading The Missing Half.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bantam Books and Ashley Flowers for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
April 15, 2025
The first thing potential readers should know about this book is that it has two INSANE twists. I think I said “woah… holy sh*t” a few times after reading the first one and the second nearly made my head explode. So, if you like twisty thrillers… YOU WILL WANT THIS BOOK. The lead up was a little slow. Not bad by any means but I didn’t find the majority of the novel to be too tense or suspenseful. However, the slow burn was worth it to get to those twists! There’s a bunch of breadcrumbs sprinkled throughout the novel too, but you won’t realize it until the end. It was really clever!
Overall, I really liked this one. While I prefer her debut, I still had a fun time with this one. It’s a slow burn thriller that will leave your head spinning!
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall, I really liked this one. While I prefer her debut, I still had a fun time with this one. It’s a slow burn thriller that will leave your head spinning!
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
May 7, 2025
Pulled a power-skim to finish this — kinda underwhelmed, if I’m honest.
In places the writing was engaging, but for the most part the pacing was a bit clunky and, as a result, it was difficult to buy into the “reveals”.
For the right person this might be a fun, easy read!
In places the writing was engaging, but for the most part the pacing was a bit clunky and, as a result, it was difficult to buy into the “reveals”.
For the right person this might be a fun, easy read!
May 17, 2025
‘Two women haunted by their sisters’ unsolved disappearances band together in this captivating mystery from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of All Good People Here and host of the #1 true crime podcast Crime Junkie.’
Sadly, for me, suspension of disbelief couldn't even begin to come into play here, what with all the heavy convolution and outright implausibility. The beginning started off so intriguing, but by the second half, the grip was completely, wholly lost on me. This wild sort of jacked-up blender effect, how the story scattered into absolutely every direction possible, I mean....ooof. It was just grossly overdone imo.
Sorry.
Big thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam for this arc in exchange for review. I am always grateful.
Pub date: 5.6.2025.
Sadly, for me, suspension of disbelief couldn't even begin to come into play here, what with all the heavy convolution and outright implausibility. The beginning started off so intriguing, but by the second half, the grip was completely, wholly lost on me. This wild sort of jacked-up blender effect, how the story scattered into absolutely every direction possible, I mean....ooof. It was just grossly overdone imo.
Sorry.
Big thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam for this arc in exchange for review. I am always grateful.
Pub date: 5.6.2025.
June 22, 2025
Meh. Point is, I liked the story, the whole mystery and the investigation are very engaging and it’s a page turner, but the end doesn’t really work, it has some elements that are too unrealistic, even with the suspension of disbelief, I kept thinking “really? …”; also it’s kind of frustrating. Still, it wasn’t to the level of “I hated it with a passion and am pissed”; not sure if it’s because it wasn’t that bad or maybe I’m just chill today.
So, pity about the ending, still 3 stars because the journey kept me hooked.
So, pity about the ending, still 3 stars because the journey kept me hooked.
Read
July 2, 2025Read for a Mystery & Thriller reading vlog: https://youtu.be/OIWhZQtiAbw
Written review to come!
Written review to come!
June 3, 2025
oh ashley flowers you have a fan in me because GIRL WHATTTT THIS BOOK WAS PHENOMENAL! the two plot twists!!? oh girl you got meee
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