Missing

by Erin Kinsley, Lucy Paterson (Narrator)

The emotional and gripping thriller from the bestselling author of FOUND
🎧Listening Length = 10 hours and 21 minutes

“Full of twists and turns to keep you guessing” (Heat): When Alice walks into the sea and vanishes, her daughters Lily and Marietta must confront the past to uncover the truth. Meanwhile, Detective Inspector Russell Fox is consumed by a decades-old cold case. As secrets unravel, their lives collide in catastrophic ways… “Brilliant, compelling, heart-wrenching writing” (Peter James).

One perfect summer day, mother of two Alice walks into the sea . . . and never comes back.

Her daughters - loyal but fragile Lily, and headstrong, long-absent Marietta - are forcibly reunited by her disappearance.

Meanwhile, with retirement looming, DI Fox investigates cold cases long since forgotten. And there's one obsession he won't let go: the tragic death of an infant twenty years before.

Can Lily and Marietta uncover what happened to their mother? Will Fox solve a mystery that has haunted him for decades? As their stories unexpectedly collide, long-buried secrets will change their lives in unimaginable ways.

A gripping and emotional new thriller perfect for fans of Cara Hunter, Heidi Perks, Claire Douglas and Linda Green.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Ebooks, Family Drama, Crime, Suspense

Audible Audio

First published July 22, 2021

Reviews

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

One perfect summers day, mother of two Alice walks into the sea and never comes back. Her daughters - loyal but fragile Lily, and headstrong, long-absent Marietta - are forcibly reunited by her disappearance. Meanwhile, with retirement looming, DI Fox investigates cold cases long since forgotten. And there's one case he won't let go: the tragic death of an infant twenty years ago.

The two storylines are told separately but then intricately woven together. The pace is a bit slow in this family drama that's filled with secrets and lies. Marietta and Lily have a complex relationship. The characters all has backstories in this well written book.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Headline and the author #ErinKinsley for my ARC of #Missing in exchange for an honest review.

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book but, not as much as her other one I’ve read. Although I agree with other reviews this would make a great tv series. It didn’t grab me as much as I found it a tad slow. Having said that I finished feeling happily satisfied with the ending. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

[Jazz Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blog Tour for Missing by Erin Kinsley
Thank you to #ErinKinsley #HeadlinePublishers for the opportunity to be part of the blog tour.

Praise to Erin Kinsley on a 3rd amazing book!!!
Marietta and Lily are brought together after being brought back together to search for their missing mother Alice. A case from DI Fox's pass has a chilling link to present day. But what's the link? Where is Alice? What is everyone hiding?

I really enjoyed reading this book its gripping and a page turner. Kinsley is a talent writer and as usual I was completely taken by this book. When I started reading I knew I would not put it down until I reached the very end.

The prose is done so well descriptive and chilling at times epically with the grusomenss of the crime I wanted to know what it all meant and yet I didn't all at the same time it was a strange feeling.

The sisters are interesting characters they haven't been together for years due to geography and we know Alice's disappearance is the only reason they reunited. But one of the sisters knows more than they are letting on and trying to work out what that was a task I felt quite inpatient about. The missing link is there so putting it all together becomes quite fun.

Would I recommend? Ofcourse I would Kinsley is a talent writer and their prior two books were gr8 and I recommend them all. This stand alone thriller truly captures the concept of psychological thrillers in a nutshell. I rate this book 5 stars.

[Renita D'Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haunting

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is something about Erin Kinsley’s writing that draws you in on the very first page, and gives you that wonderful feeling of being part of a story you won’t want to put down.
Missing opens with a woman walking out to sea…It is Alice, the mother of Marietta and Lily. She never returns and her daughters are left unravelling the pieces of her life trying to understand. Lily lives with her boyfriend, Connor; she met him when they were at school, they are settled and have a house but their happiness is blighted by miscarriages. Marietta has not seen her Mother in years, barely talked to her..She rushes back to Devon from Colombia, full of regret, guilt and grief. It is also the story of a cold case being investigated by DI Russell Fox; that of baby Michael whose remains were found in a field.
There are so many things I love about this book. The setting felt so real I found myself a part of it, walking along the sea front with Alice’s dog, peeping into the windows of the little shops and cafes, gazing out to sea. The characters - however small their part - are carefully fleshed out. DI Fox isn’t just a policeman, he lives on his own, has a daughter who forgets to call him, eats ready meals, has a brother in Spain who is drinking too much…doesn’t have the full respect of his team when really he deserves it.
The book is many things and to call it a thriller might miss those. The relationship between the sisters is at the heart and beautifully observed as they come to terms with their grief, the revelations of Alice’s history and their own personal troubles. There’s such a wonderful day to day domestic touch to the observation - the descriptions of teas prepared, wine imbibed, shopping completed, which adds layers to our understanding of the characters and what they are going through.
Kinsley touches on difficult subjects with the utmost sensitivity, deftly plotting to avoid any graphic details, and whilst the book deals with miscarriage, grief, the death of a baby, and suicide this is not a sad book. This is a story full of love, support, compassion, dedication, sunsets and walks with the dogs, and the sea. I cannot wait to read another Kinsley title.
With thanks to Netgalley and Headline for this wonderful read.

[Nicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This captivating thriller opens with a heart breaking chapter in which a woman walks into the sea and despite the valiant efforts of the coastguard tragically drowns. The story then continues from the duel perspectives of Alice's two adult daughter's Marietta and Lily as they are forcibly reunited by their mother's disappearance. Marietta's relationship with her mother had been estranged and she couldn't even remember when they had had any contact. Nevertheless, when the truth about their mother's death eventually emerges, the sister's are understandably shocked and upset but whilst Marietta is willing to accept the truth, Lilly refuses to believe that her beloved mother would leave her, let alone commit suicide. As the sister's dealt with their feelings of grief and in Marietta's case, guilt, little did they realise that their mother's death will only be the first of the shocking revelations that are heading their way. People have been harbouring secrets for a very long time and when the truth is finally revealed, the sister's lives will be changed forever.

Marietta was my favourite of the two sister's, I thought she was a fantastic, relatable character and I loved witnessing the bond that developed between her and Josie the dog. I was glad that the vast majority of the sister's story as told from her perspective because I really didn't like Lily for a variety of reasons.

throughout the book, we also followed DI Fox as he investigated a shocking twenty year old cold case. With retirement looming, he was determined to uncover the truth and get justice for the poor, defenceless, innocent victim. Cold cases are notoriously difficult to investigate but as he slowly began to uncover leads and long buried secrets, a shocking connection began to emerge between events from the past and Marietta and Lilly. I thought DI Fox was a really likeable individual and I would love to read more stories featuring his character.

Missing is a extremely well written, gripping thriller that books the reader in from the first page, keeps you guessing and has some unexpected twists, turns and revelations. The plot covers some relatable issues and the cast of characters were vivid, well rounded and realistic. I love this author's emotionally charged stories and Missing was no exception. Enthralling,addictive and very very highly recommended.

[bookishcharli · Rating 5 out of 5]

"As the party leaves the graveside, the section steps out from the shadows by the graveyard wall. Putting his shove to the loose earth, he begins the burying of Alice’s remains."

Thank you to @headlinebooks for asking me to be on the blog tour for this awesome book!

One perfect summer day, mother of two Alice walks into the sea . . . and never returns.
Her daughters - loyal but fragile Lily, and headstrong, long-absent Marietta - are forcibly reunited by her disappearance.
Meanwhile, with retirement looming, DI Fox investigates cold cases long since forgotten. And there's one obsession he won't let go: a tragic death twenty years before.
Can Lily and Marietta uncover what happened to their mother? Will Fox solve a mystery that has haunted him for decades? As their stories unexpectedly collide, long-buried secrets will change their lives in unimaginable ways.



I loved this book! It had a few different storylines all making up one central storyline and it all worked very smoothly. The plot was easy to follow and kept me engaged and hooked until the end, and there were plenty of twists and turns to keep you engaged but oh my gods that ending blew my mind! I didn’t see that coming AT ALL. What a confession.

I loved reading through how Mari and Lily’s relationship developed in this book, with one sister thinking their mum’s death was accidental and the other thinking it was a suicide. The sibling relationship is always such a complex one to write about as everyone experiences it so differently, and this was well represented in the book.



If you love a good thriller/crime book then this is definitely one for you! Grab a copy and let’s talk about it. I can’t recommend this enough.

TW: abuse and miscarriage (both have been very sensitively portrayed by the author).

[Sivvy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first 90% of this book was excellent: an understated but compelling plot, flawed but sympathetic characters, well-written and well-paced. The story, of two adult sisters losing their mother to suicide and how it may have been linked to an unsolved murder 20 years earlier, was gripping and thoughtful in its execution. But then . . . the ending. It was as though the author got bored or had a deadline to meet, as the guilty party just spontaneously decided to confess all in great detail, and it emerged that other characters had known the whole story all along and just . . . decided not to say anything? And the police just shrugging at this without a single mention of perverting the course of justice or similar? It was still thoroughly decent read but I couldn’t help but feel slightly cheated by the denouement after what had been a cracking domestic thriller up to that point.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this novel.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

didn’t love it but didn’t hate it, was just an overall decent crime book

lily really bugged me tho

[Carly Hardwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book but it didn’t completely blow me away, it’s one of those books that will be filed in the ‘decent but not particularly memorable’ category for me.

This book is described as a thriller but I think it’s more accurate to say it’s a domestic mystery/drama. The plot is a good one and is intricate but the story is quite slow-paced, so it took a while for events to fall into place. I liked the contrast between sisters Marietta and Lily, they have very different personalities and I think they both came across as strong characters. There are alternate chapters from D.I. Fox’s POV which I didn’t find particularly riveting and think the story would have been better without them and narrated solely from the perspectives of Marietta and Lily.

Missing was an okay read and there were parts I enjoyed but it won’t be one that I remember.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Headline for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know that this book is billed as a thriller, but, if I'm being honest, I think it would be wrong to classify the novel in such simplistic terms. It's far more than that. From what I have read of Erin Kinsley's work so far, they all are. Yes, there are elements of your thriller in play here - a death in dubious circumstances, dark secrets taken to the grave and a mystery which has plagued the conscience of one of Devon and Cornwall's finest for more than two decades - but beyond that, Missing is a study of grief, of family relationships and about the powerful emotion of guilt. From the very first chapter you can feel the undertone of melancholy, the dual sense of despair and resignation that fills Alice as she approaches her fate. In those few short pages, the emotional pull is strong and I found myself being not only intrigued but somewhat consumed by the story, keen to see what has driven Alice to such a decision.

The largest part of the story is given over to Marietta and Lily, Alice's two daughters, who not only have to deal with their mother's death but also to struggle with the acceptance that it may have come at her own hand. The two women are very different, and their relationship with Alice could not have been more different. The story explores not only the complexity of their relationship with each other and their mother, but the two very different ways in which grief manifests itself in their voice and their actions. Whilst Marietta seems the stronger of the two women, it is clear that a large part of her life has been about avoidance and her confidence masks a whole host of emotions that play out over the pages of the book. Lily, by contrast, is the more obviously emotional, with challenges and fears of her own which go well beyond the loss of their mother. The author has done a brilliant job of evoking that emotion on the page, but also in creating two characters who, in spite of their clear diversity, are obviously stronger together, and who I grew to like very quickly.

This book contains some difficult scenes, not dealt with in any gratuitous or graphic way, but it would take a hard heart to not be moved by what comes to pass, or what we are made aware of in terms of the case that Detective Inspector Russ Fox is investigating. It is a very heart wrenching case and one which doesn't seem to have any immediate link to Alice or the two daughters she leaves behind. But Erin Kinsley has done a brilliant job in weaving the two stories together, keeping key details back and drip feeding them at just the right moments, allowing me as the reader, to form my own opinions, my suspicions as it were, and to see them slowly realised on the page.

Setting is quite key in this book and from the churning sea where this story begins, to the remote farmland where many dark secrets have been concealed over the years, each location is described so clearly, so visually, that I could picture them quite clearly. Much like the tidal waters along the coast, the pacing, and emotional pull, ebbs and flows, and the sense of mystery grows the more we learn of the sisters and of the characters that appear on the periphery of both their lives and DI Fox's investigation. The reveal, when it comes, is both understated and dramatic at the same time, and yet, very fitting to the rest of the book.

This is a story steeped in sadness, a series of events which stemmed from one awful night and which came to inform the tragedy of the present day. And yet the author still manages to instill a feeling of hope, a sense of new beginnings and second chances, leaving us with a truly satisfying ending to another powerful and emotional story that held my attention from start to finish.

[Tracy Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Marietta Ansley answers a phone call from the other side of the world she has no idea how much her life is about to change. Their mother, Alice, is missing and Lily needs her sister to come home and help work out what's going on. The police have been in touch and she can’t do this alone; it's time for Marietta to step up to the plate but neither of them could ever imagine the secrets their mum has left for them to discover.

DI Russ Fox has only a short time left in the Devon and Cornwall police which, he's pretty sure, is why he now works in a portakabin looking into cold cases. One above all other has haunted him for over twenty-five years and he knows the clock is ticking on his chances of solving it. He is nothing if not determined however, and somehow he's sure that gradually he's getting just a little closer to finding the hidden clues which will point him in the right direction.

This is Erin Kinsley's third stand alone novel and is a heart wrenching look at the secrets we keep from those we love most and the damage they can do. The sisters, Lily and Marietta, like many siblings, are as different as chalk and cheese. One a home bod, happy to remain in the town of her birth with her childhood sweetheart for always; the other a globetrotter searching but never finding exactly what she left for in the first place. I liked them both instantly and know through personal experience the accuracy of the feelings expressed by the sister without a need to travel who, sometimes needed a bit of backup from the one who did.

DI Fox's case was devastating and as the storyline moved forward the required  cold and callous nature needed to commit such an act was explored and discovered to be as chilling as the crime itself. He on the other hand came across as a warm and thoughtful individual who still had every hope of finishing what he'd started.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. I thoroughly enjoyed this beautifully written book even with its tragic storyline which touched me deeply.

[Megan Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

One perfect summer day, mother of two Alice walks into the sea and never comes back. Her daughters - loyal but fragile Lily, and headstrong, long-absent Marietta - are forcibly reunited by her disappearance. Meanwhile, with retirement looming, DI Fox investigates cold cases long since forgotten. And there's one obsession he won't let go: a tragic death twenty years before. Can Lily and Marietta uncover what happened to their mother? Will Fox solve a mystery that has haunted him for decades? As their stories unexpectedly collide, long-buried secrets will change their lives in unimaginable ways.

Sadly I really struggled to read this. From the premise I thought it sounded intriguing but something was lost in translation as I found myself reading a dull, laborious read and it was such a struggle to get it finished. I hate saying that but it is true. As we read this, we follow Marietta and Lily as they struggle with their mother's passing and the uneasy truths they begin to unearth. We also have chapters following DI Fox as he fights to unravel a long-buried truth. If I am honest, I thought I would enjoy Fox's sections more but these were the areas I found the most uninteresting, they just lacked spark. Kinsley does draw this to a satisfactory conclusion which is always a plus for me.

For me, the enjoyment of this book came in the form of Marietta and Lily. They are two, strong women who take centre stage as they battle grief, their lives and the truth. I loved getting to know these sisters and learning about them was very enjoyable. They have an interesting relationship and I liked getting to see this and learning the reasons behind it. For me, these two sisters saved this from being a two star review and thank goodness they were included.

'Missing' was definitely missing something for me and that was a spark and shot of adrenaline. This read was too slow and it lost any impact it might have had but I have to give credit for the good characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for an advance copy.

[Kerry https://likeherdingcatsblog.wordpress.com Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Missing is a slow burn but compulsive read told through two separate stories that are bound together. It’s a mystery more than a thriller and heavily concentrates on the characters and events from the past. It’s like a slow but riveting journey to unravel the mystery.
Marietta and Lily are estranged sisters who are brought together after the death of their mother Alice. Alice seemingly walked into the sea one day and never came back, leaving no note or reasons behind to explain. The women come together in grief and determination to find out what really happened to Alice and why.
The other parallel story is that of DI Fox. He’s haunted by the case of a baby’s murder many years ago and cannot let it go. When new leads come up, he sets out to finally solve this case and put it to rest. The two stories begin separately but become cleverly entwined as narrative moves along.
The story telling is fascinating and so hard to put down and forget. I just had to know what had happened to Alice and what had actually happened to the baby so long ago and if there was a connection between the events. The detail in the narrative is intricate and sensitively dealt with.
The setting is vivid and richly described setting is so real. The sea, the thorough but subtle details completely transport the reader into the settings and pulled me in.
Each character is well developed and real, all perfectly flawed and with their own demons to deal with. All are likeable despite being very different and it was easy to become utterly invested in them.
This is such a detailed and exquisite novel. Not quite a thriller but not a cosy mystery – somewhere in between. Emotional and devastating in places but heart-warming to see the different supportive relationships within. It’s a hard book to describe and explain but even more difficult to put down and let go of. Very recommended.

[Denise Forrest · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Alice drowns, her daughters Lily and Mari are reconciled in order to solve the mystery of why their mother took her own life. Meanwhile, Detective Russell Fox is working a cold case regarding the death of an infant who became known locally as Baby Michael. It is obvious from the start of the book that Alice will somehow be involved in this case too. In this respect, I wouldn’t describe the book as a thriller. The pace is slow and steady but I enjoyed reading about the different characters and seeing how their relationships developed, especially sisters Lily and Mari who haven’t seen each other in years and don’t appear to have much in common anymore. A large part of the book is dedicated to how the sisters’ relationship develops, especially since one is sure their mother’s death was suicide and the other thinks it was accidental. Events take a more gripping turn once Fox makes the connection between his case and Alice’s suicide.

This is the kind of book I didn’t want to stop reading, but at the same time I didn’t want to read it too quickly as I was enjoying the story and didn’t want it to end. With the last 100 pages to go, I was gripped and didn’t want to put it down.

A confession neatly tidied up the case but I was disappointed as this seemed too easy a way to resolve the questions, which is why I only gave the book four stars rather than the five it was headed for before that. Despite that, I was so invested in the characters and the storyline that I think this was my favourite read of the summer.

Thanks to the publisher and @Emily_JP for supplying me with an advance copy.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Missing by Erin Kinsley is a marvellous contemporary crime novel that consumed me from the start.
As the book opened I immediately had questions – what had happened to a character to make her arrive at that point? As the story unfolded, I had more questions but they were all answered by the end.
A twenty five year old cold case is re-opened as a detective needs to find the answers to a terrible crime. As the action unfolds, the reader becomes more horrified – someone must know the truth of one fateful night. The miracles of modern science provide answers to some of the questions.
Family is important. Family are those who love us. Sometimes families hide deep secrets that are too much to face.
Houses are important. They become homes and hold memories and ties to those who have gone before. A home is not necessarily bricks and mortar. “Home is the people who love you.”
The innocents need to be protected. Characters do what they can in order to protect and ensure safety. Sometimes it is not enough.
A family unit drifted apart over the years. Things have gone unsaid. Characters live through regrets and guilt but they need to find a pathway through grief.
There are the difficult topics of abuse and miscarriage. Both are sensitively portrayed.
The plotline was complex and well thought out. Missing would translate perfectly into a Netflix series – any producers out there please take note.
Missing was a fabulous read.
I received a free copy from the publishers via Net Galley. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

[the_book_girls_1 Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

📖BOOK REVIEW📖⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

#missing by @erinkinsleyauthor

@headlinebooks @netgalley

⏩for synopsis

Another book I’ve throughly enjoyed from this author!

I’ll start by saying this book would definitely be classed a slow burn but by no means was it boring. As I’ve found with the author’s previous books, she has an amazing way of mixing the domestic and murder mystery/thriller genres together perfectly, making her books such a pleasure to read.

I loved the way the book was worked out using quite a domestic storyline but all the while dropping in hidden hints and clues throughout, which were constantly fuelling the mystery side of things. Furthermore, adding in sections of police investigation also broke up the book and kept me constantly intrigued.

I also really enjoyed all the characters, their back stories and settings the author used. I found just enough of everything was included, giving you enough to relate to and form a bond with but without getting bogged down with the details and boring.

Overall, great story and a great read - definitely recommend you look for this one once it’s been released!

(p.s I only didn’t give it 5⭐️ as I love the authors other book #found a tiny bit more!)

Released: 19th August

With thanks to author #erinkingsley, #headlinebooks and #netgalley for allowing us to read this one early!

-Emily @the_book_girls_1

[Gee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marietta receives a call from her sister Lily, their mother has died, drowned and Marietta has to return to the home town she left years ago. DI Russell Fox is fast coming to the end of his career, in the cold case unit and there is one case that haunts him, that of baby Michael, a child found murdered years ago, with no clues as to the murderer.

Everyone has secrets, some are just harder to keep than others. We all think we know everything about our parents, but we can’t really know all their secrets, and some are better kept than others. There are things parents do to try to keep their children safe, which, with hindsight was the wrong thing to do, This is a really well plotted and written story, the characters had interesting back stories, although at times I was frustrated with Lily. However, everyone deals with grief differently, especially when that death is unexpected. The ending was interesting and surprising,.which is always a good thing. A gripping read that also covered a range of topics really well.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Elite Group · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book felt more like an obligation to read.

Alice Ansley decides to swim out to sea and see how far she can get before drowning. The lifeboat in Selmouth is sent out to rescue her. But she dies on the way back to harbour. Her two daughters, Marietta and Lily are devastated by her death. Marietta has been away from home travelling around the world while Lily is married and has suffered terribly after several miscarriages.

DI Russell Fox is close to retirement and works on cold cases. He is determined to solve the brutal murder of a baby boy, who has never been identified after being burnt beyond recognition and left in a shallow grave.

I found the characters tedious. The girls’ reaction to their mother’s death was far too dramatized. Yes, of course, they were shocked by their mother’s death and were entitled to take it badly, but this bit of the storyline seemed to be played to the hilt. Lily was especially irritating.

I did enjoy the cold-case murder inquiry. Fox was appropriately named because he went after the killer with tenacity.

Rony

Elite Reviewing Group received a copy of the book to review.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cold case rips a family wide open. Marietta has been wandering the world, having had little contact with her mother or sister, when her younger sister calls her in a panic because their mother has died. Lily, who is married to her childhood sweetheart, and has suffered multiple miscarriages, is already staggering with the grief of their losses. Now her mother is lost to the sea. The cabin in which they grew up is falling apart. Their mother's dog is wasting away from grief and seems largely inconsolable.
So, why? And whom should they notify? Who is Baby Michael and who were his parents? More importantly, who killed the wee one?
For Fox, cold cases are a wind down to retirement but he has never been able to let the death of Baby Michael go. When he finally solves the case, what will the repercussions be? How will the girls be affected? Will the shock of what they learn break the sisters up further, or strengthen their bond?
The mother walked into the sea, knowing she would likely never see her daughters again, does she believe they will not suffer the consequences of her actions? Or does she not care what happens to them once she's gone?

[Angela DT · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dispite the heartbreaking story of Alice, a mother of two daughters who one day walks into the sea leaving them, it is a very good read.
Many years have passed and the two sisters Lily & Marietta are bought back together when DI Fox reopens the cold case of just what happened on that day.
He tries to solve the case as he nears retirement , and old resentments and secrets have to be revisited by Lily and her sister.
Erin Kinsley brings the story straight out of the pages, and it leaves you feeling breathless with tense emotions . I really enjoyed it.



but fragile Lily, and headstrong, long-absent Marietta - are forcibly reunited by her disappearance. Meanwhile, with retirement looming, DI Fox investigates cold cases long since forgotten. And there's one obsession he won't let go: a tragic death twenty years before. Can Lily and Marietta uncover what happened to their mother? Will Fox solve a mystery that has haunted him for decades? As their stories unexpectedly collide, long-buried secrets will change their lives in unimaginable ways.
Read it.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

One day Alice tidies her home, goes to the beach, neatly folds her things and walks into the surf meaning never to return. Her two adult daughters are left grieving, confusing and in disbelief. Did their mother take her own life? Why would she do such a thing? At the same time, an investigator nearing retirement opens a twenty-year old cold case dealing with the death of an infant only days old. Who took the baby's life and why would anyone do such a horrible thing.

For much of the book, author Erin Kinsley, expertly weaves a two-plot storyline dealing with two seemingly unconnected deaths. Is there any connection at all between the suicide of an aging mother and the grizzly remains of a baby found twenty-years early on an remote English farm?

This is a good mystery with a tight, twisting plot that takes the reader one discovery at a time toward its logical and believable conclusion. This book would make an excellent Netflix or PBS crime drama. I will be looking for other books by this author.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Alice walks into the sea she leaves behind her two daughters & her dog. When there is a verdict of suicide daughter Lily, who was very close to her mother is devastated & her sister Marietta, who had been wandering the world is racked with guilt at not being closer to her mother. When trying to organise a funeral & who they should tell they realise how little they knew Alice.

DI Fox is approaching retirement & is now assigned cold cases. One has troubled him for years- the death of a small baby found in a spinney with evidence that someone tried to burn them.

The reader knows these two must have a connection but it is a bit of a long drawn out process till we find out what. This was a bit of a slow read & I think I kept reading to make sure the dog was alright! However eventually the dots were joined. For me this was a 3.5* read- the dog got it raised to 4! Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this a slow read, but it was still enjoyable. To start with I did not really warm to Marietta, the Sister from Overseas, who loved to travel rather than stay put in one place. She had wanderlust. Then there was Lily, who seemed to be left to deal with everyone to deal with their Mother who had gone missing. It was then discovered that Alice (their Mother) had drowned. It appeared to be a suicide but no-one knew why she would have done this to herself.

The story then merges with a cold case that is being investigated by DI Fox. The story of an infant found murdered many years ago.

It was good how the author merged the two stories together. None of it was predictable, and it was good how the two cases were blended by the author.

This is a book full of secrets, lies, family drama and family relationships. Well thought out and complex, making it a good read.

[E Dod · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Erin Kinsley's others books and I was so excited to read Missing. I was not disappointed in the least. I did thoroughly enjoy her previous two novels slightly more but still Missing is a winner for me.

Another great read - the novel centres around two women who have drifted apart but come back together to try and solve their mother's suicide and also a policeman who is coming up to retirement and re-opens a case from many years ago that went unsolved. The story knits together amazing and beautifully done by Erin Kinsley.

I found myself staying up well past my bedtime to "just finish one more chapter" and managed to read this novel in record time - 2 days (which is good for me).

If you love a mystery/thriller then this is a great novel to read.

Thanks to Netgalley, Erin Kinsley and the publisher for a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

[MargCal · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ☆
Finished reading ... Missing / Erin Kinsley ... 02 January 2022
ISBN: 9781472280954 … 384 pp.

My third outing with Erin Kinsley took a slower pace than the previous two and the characters developed a bit too slowly to get you really hooked from the beginning. Also the collision of the two story lines is obvious pretty early on. This is barely a whodunit, the 'reveal' is almost an anti-climax. But that's OK, this is a different type of book.

As with the previous two books (Found and Innocent), the emphasis here is on the victims and, extending the character driven narrative, this time it also emphasises the feelings, reactions and character of the detective working a cold case.

Overall, a slow burner that gets there in the end. Probably more true to life than most other whodunits.
Another worthwhile read from Erin Kinsley.


Borrowed from my local library.

[George Stenger · Rating 4 out of 5]

A woman seems to have committed suicide in the water. She has two adult daughters. Lily is one of the daughters who had stayed close to her mother. Marietta the other daughter was estranged from her mother for years and has lived in many different countries. After their mother's death, Lily convinces Marietta to return home and they start to reconnect with each other.

At the same time, an older detective who has been put out to pasture until his retirement is in charge of cold cases. He starts investigating the case of Baby Michael, an infant who was found burned more than 20 years ago. The detective questions whether another recent death is related because it was the man who had found the dead baby years ago.

These two stories continue in parallel until about 65% of the book when there is concern that perhaps they are related. A very good story.

[Alison Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marietta returns home to her sister Lily following the tragic death of their mother. The sisters relationship is troubled and fraught with resentments. The cause of their mother’s death by drowning is unclear - Lily refuses to entertain the thought that it is anything other than an accident.
DI Fox is coming up to retirement and has been sidelined to cold cases. One particular case involves the murder of an infant and has troubled him for years that the death hasn’t been solved.
We are left guessing for some while as to what the link between the two scenarios is - but events are skilfully woven and capture your interest through till the end.
None of the characters are over the top which makes for a believable and captivating story.

[Bonnie Gleckler Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing story… I previously read. “Found” my Erin Kinsley and really appreciated it. Then I discovered this book… Not sure I would’ve picked it up and I not first read “Found”, but I’m sure glad that I did.
This is the story of a family… A partial family. The mother, and her two daughters. However, there is never a time in the writing of the story when the three are actually together.
From the beginning were left questioning, not what happened, but why it happened and why did it take so long to find out how and who was responsible. That’s the intrigue that kept me engaged in this reading.
The story in and of itself is engaging, and the outcome, though resolvable through the Red still comes as a surprise at the end.
Kudos to Erin Kinsley… A story well told!