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Boy, 9, Missing
It should have been just a quiet evening with friends. But Francis lost his brother that night in what was ruled a tragic accident. He's tried to move on in the last twenty-three years, even though his father certainly hasn't. Indeed, his father still blames the lone witness, Sam, the nine-year-old son of friends. Perhaps if Sam would have just said something, anything, about what happened that night, but Sam still seems unable-or unwilling-to utter a word about the accident. And now, twenty-three years later, Sam's own nine-year-old son has disappeared.
329 pages, Paperback
First published September 20, 2016
77 people are currently reading
2103 people want to read
About the author
Nic Joseph
4 books69 followersNic Joseph is fascinated by the very good reasons that make people do very bad things. She writes thrillers and suspense novels from her home in Chicago. As a trained journalist, Nic has written about everything from health care and business to aerospace and IT. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s in communications, both from Northwestern University.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 215 reviews
November 20, 2016
4.5 stars for Boy, 9 Missing by Nic joseph, a book I literally could not put down.
23 years ago Francis Scroll's 9 year old brother is found dead, floating face down in his parents bath tub. Only one person, Sam, a distinctly odd and lonely boy who is visiting the Scroll home with his parents, could possibly know what happened - and he isn't talking. Lucas' death is ruled a tragic accident and life moves on.
Or does it? How do you get past something like this? Lives shatter, suspicions niggle, marriages break up.
Then the whole incident is brought back into the public spotlight when Sam's 9 year old son is abducted, supposedly by Alex Scroll, Francis' and Lucas' father.
This is a stunning debut thriller for the author, one that had me suspecting everyone, including the narrator. Boy, 9, Missing is breath-taking, suspenseful and full of twists and turns.
I wait with bated breath for Nic Joseph's next offering. He is an author to watch.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing a digital ARC of Boy, 9, Missing for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
23 years ago Francis Scroll's 9 year old brother is found dead, floating face down in his parents bath tub. Only one person, Sam, a distinctly odd and lonely boy who is visiting the Scroll home with his parents, could possibly know what happened - and he isn't talking. Lucas' death is ruled a tragic accident and life moves on.
Or does it? How do you get past something like this? Lives shatter, suspicions niggle, marriages break up.
Then the whole incident is brought back into the public spotlight when Sam's 9 year old son is abducted, supposedly by Alex Scroll, Francis' and Lucas' father.
This is a stunning debut thriller for the author, one that had me suspecting everyone, including the narrator. Boy, 9, Missing is breath-taking, suspenseful and full of twists and turns.
I wait with bated breath for Nic Joseph's next offering. He is an author to watch.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing a digital ARC of Boy, 9, Missing for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
September 12, 2016
This was a book I could not put down. A child dead and a family who has never recovered from the loss. While two groups of parents are visiting the discovery one of their son’s in the bathtub dead and the son of the parents will not speak of how the child died. Now many years later, parents divorced and estranged from the surviving son, who returns to his hometown after a name change. Sam Farr the child who found Francis’ brother now has his own child missing and it seems as if his father may be involved. The life Francis has built for himself may come crashing down but can he help locate Sam’s boy before tragedy strikes another family. Surprise ending just when I thought I had it all figured out. I would like to thank the Publisher and Net Galley for the chance to read this ARC.
September 10, 2016
Boy, 9, Missing by Nic Joseph is a 2016 Sourcebooks Landmark publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Reading through a few reviews of this book on Goodreads convinced me I should give it a try, and once more my GR friends steered me in the right direction.
This is a riveting psychological thriller, very atmospheric, and taut with suspense.
Twenty odd years ago, Francis’ brother died in a bizarre bathtub drowning, while his parents were hosting a dinner party.
Nine year old Sam had come to the dinner party with his parents, and was apparently the last person to see Lucas alive. Immediately, Sam is scrutinized because he was covered in water when he announced to the adults that something bad had happened.
For years, Francis witnessed his parent’s futile attempts to bring Sam to justice for the murder of their son. But, eventually the case was closed, drawing the conclusion it was a sad and tragic accident.
Now, Sam’s own nine year old son has gone missing, prompting his wife to ask Francis for help, convinced that his father, Alex, has her son. Frantic with worry for his father and for the missing child, Francis combs the city looking for clues to their whereabouts, while dealing with the arrival of his stoic teenage daughter, who has no idea what is going on.
Along the way, Francis discovers a world of dark secrets and lies that have lain dormant all these years, as he faces a truth too shocking to be believed, when his past and present suffer a head on collision. Will Francis survive? Will the truth set them free or are some things better left unsaid?
I was impressed with this debut thriller, practically reading the entire book all at once. The author did a pretty good job with the pacing, most of the time, expertly dropping clues and red herrings in just the right places at just the right time, building the suspense to a fever pitch.
However, there are a few occasions when the momentum is impeded by the secondary threads and Francis’ personal issues. The story was almost too busy sometimes, but eventually got back on point.
Other than that, this is a tense psychological thriller, I think most fans of the genre will enjoy. For a debut novel this one is pretty solid, so I’m going to keep my eye on this author. The talent is there, so hopefully, there will be more of his books coming our way.
4 stars
Reading through a few reviews of this book on Goodreads convinced me I should give it a try, and once more my GR friends steered me in the right direction.
This is a riveting psychological thriller, very atmospheric, and taut with suspense.
Twenty odd years ago, Francis’ brother died in a bizarre bathtub drowning, while his parents were hosting a dinner party.
Nine year old Sam had come to the dinner party with his parents, and was apparently the last person to see Lucas alive. Immediately, Sam is scrutinized because he was covered in water when he announced to the adults that something bad had happened.
For years, Francis witnessed his parent’s futile attempts to bring Sam to justice for the murder of their son. But, eventually the case was closed, drawing the conclusion it was a sad and tragic accident.
Now, Sam’s own nine year old son has gone missing, prompting his wife to ask Francis for help, convinced that his father, Alex, has her son. Frantic with worry for his father and for the missing child, Francis combs the city looking for clues to their whereabouts, while dealing with the arrival of his stoic teenage daughter, who has no idea what is going on.
Along the way, Francis discovers a world of dark secrets and lies that have lain dormant all these years, as he faces a truth too shocking to be believed, when his past and present suffer a head on collision. Will Francis survive? Will the truth set them free or are some things better left unsaid?
I was impressed with this debut thriller, practically reading the entire book all at once. The author did a pretty good job with the pacing, most of the time, expertly dropping clues and red herrings in just the right places at just the right time, building the suspense to a fever pitch.
However, there are a few occasions when the momentum is impeded by the secondary threads and Francis’ personal issues. The story was almost too busy sometimes, but eventually got back on point.
Other than that, this is a tense psychological thriller, I think most fans of the genre will enjoy. For a debut novel this one is pretty solid, so I’m going to keep my eye on this author. The talent is there, so hopefully, there will be more of his books coming our way.
4 stars
September 29, 2016
After events that happen in our past,do we get better or are we broken forever.
During a dinner party 23 years ago Francis`s nine year old brother died in what was ruled as a tragic accident.Francis has tried to move on but his father Alex still blames the lone witness Sam,the son of the other family who were at the dinner party.Sam was a lonely,quiet boy who has never said a word about what happened that night.Now Sam`s nine year old son Matthew has gone missing and all the evidence points to Alex being behind his disappearance.Has Alex really held a grudge for all these years or is something more sinister going on?.
The story is told almost completely by Francis as he desperately searches for his missing father,hoping on one hand that he has taken Matthew while on the other hand hoping that someone else has the child.Francis does not have a very good relationship with either of his parents so it's hard to work out if he is worried more about his dad or Matthew.Maybe he feels guilty about his brothers death and thinks that if he can find Matthew it will help him overcome some of his guilt?.Francis is a complex but very likeable character who has a lot of fears and phobias that have controlled his life for a long time.
Interspersed throughout the story are chapters from a manuscript for a book called The Sam Farr Story which is being written by a character called Kira.These chapters explain what happened on that terrible night and are told from Sam`s point of view so essentially they are parts of a book inside a book.I liked this idea,it made a change from the before and after chapter headings that are used in a lot of thrillers these days.
This is an action packed mystery,it's a story about revenge and justice.It's very intriguing and keeps the reader guessing from beginning to end.It's a very well written debut book and I look forward to reading more books by this author.
Many thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for an arc of this book via netgalley.
During a dinner party 23 years ago Francis`s nine year old brother died in what was ruled as a tragic accident.Francis has tried to move on but his father Alex still blames the lone witness Sam,the son of the other family who were at the dinner party.Sam was a lonely,quiet boy who has never said a word about what happened that night.Now Sam`s nine year old son Matthew has gone missing and all the evidence points to Alex being behind his disappearance.Has Alex really held a grudge for all these years or is something more sinister going on?.
The story is told almost completely by Francis as he desperately searches for his missing father,hoping on one hand that he has taken Matthew while on the other hand hoping that someone else has the child.Francis does not have a very good relationship with either of his parents so it's hard to work out if he is worried more about his dad or Matthew.Maybe he feels guilty about his brothers death and thinks that if he can find Matthew it will help him overcome some of his guilt?.Francis is a complex but very likeable character who has a lot of fears and phobias that have controlled his life for a long time.
Interspersed throughout the story are chapters from a manuscript for a book called The Sam Farr Story which is being written by a character called Kira.These chapters explain what happened on that terrible night and are told from Sam`s point of view so essentially they are parts of a book inside a book.I liked this idea,it made a change from the before and after chapter headings that are used in a lot of thrillers these days.
This is an action packed mystery,it's a story about revenge and justice.It's very intriguing and keeps the reader guessing from beginning to end.It's a very well written debut book and I look forward to reading more books by this author.
Many thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for an arc of this book via netgalley.
August 12, 2016
23 years ago a small dinner party was being held in a Chicago suburb. Francis Scroll's 9 year old brother was found face down floating in his parents bathtub.His friend Sam is the only one who knows the truth. Lucas's death was ruled as a tragic accident.
Francis now has had to confront his past when Sam's own 9 year old son goes missing. All the evidence points to Francis's father as the prime suspect.
Francis tries to unearth the truth about what happened the night his brother died. Had his father kidnapped Sam's son or is there more to this than expected.
A well written novel with lots of twists and turns that will keep you guessing but still suspense you at the end.
I would like to thank Net Galley, Sourcebooks Landmark and the author Nic Joseph for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Francis now has had to confront his past when Sam's own 9 year old son goes missing. All the evidence points to Francis's father as the prime suspect.
Francis tries to unearth the truth about what happened the night his brother died. Had his father kidnapped Sam's son or is there more to this than expected.
A well written novel with lots of twists and turns that will keep you guessing but still suspense you at the end.
I would like to thank Net Galley, Sourcebooks Landmark and the author Nic Joseph for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 27, 2016
"Boy, 9, Missing" is a riveting and suspenseful mystery by Chicago journalist Nic Joseph. Educated at Northwestern University, Joseph has a bachelors degree in journalism and a masters in communication. Joseph enjoys writing about the dark side of human behavior-- when good people do bad things.
Francis Scroll was a young teen on December 3, 1992 when his 9 year old brother Lucas drowned under suspicious circumstances in his parents upstairs bathroom while entertaining friends. Sam Farr, also a young boy was the only witness to the drowning and had gone mute. Sam had been bullied by other kids: he was (perhaps) in special education/rode the short bus to school. Kate and Alex Scroll hired the best attorneys to get Sam to talk, yet he would never utter a word about what he saw on that terrible night. Francis immediately became impaired with claustrophobia and severe anxiety and would remain in therapy for years, eventually he changed his last name to "Clarke" hoping to distance himself further from the tragedy.
Twenty years later.. Francis, recently divorced returned to work as a reporter for the Lansing News, when he heard shattering glass as someone was breaking into his apartment with a loaded gun. He learned that Matthew Farr aged 9 had been kidnapped after his father Sam had been followed for several weeks by Alex Scroll. Alex, over the years had become obsessed with finding out details over what happened to Lucas, and studied and researched psychological recovered memory theories through a hospital clinic. Meanwhile, Sam and his wife Miranda met with ghostwriter (Kira) K.L. Jones to tell his side of the story, this element adds a unique twist to the story, as Jones handed pages of her manuscript for Francis to read, providing additional clues to Matthew's disappearance. Francis would trace his estranged parents relationship, talk to a teacher and principal at Matthew's school, and wonder why Sam Farr was keeping such a low profile, and publically avoiding discussion of his sons disappearance, which was unfolding on local news stations.
This is a busy story, as Francis races against the clock to find Matthew Farr! It was very odd the way Francis kept reverting back and forth between his names, he was still struggling with stress/ anxiety issues, his daughter Amy arrived from out of state to live with him. Many of the characters had deep psychological problems, nor could they be ruled out as suspects in Matthew's mysterious abduction. Readers will definitely want to follow this gifted young writer. Love this striking book cover! With thanks to the Seattle Public Library.
Francis Scroll was a young teen on December 3, 1992 when his 9 year old brother Lucas drowned under suspicious circumstances in his parents upstairs bathroom while entertaining friends. Sam Farr, also a young boy was the only witness to the drowning and had gone mute. Sam had been bullied by other kids: he was (perhaps) in special education/rode the short bus to school. Kate and Alex Scroll hired the best attorneys to get Sam to talk, yet he would never utter a word about what he saw on that terrible night. Francis immediately became impaired with claustrophobia and severe anxiety and would remain in therapy for years, eventually he changed his last name to "Clarke" hoping to distance himself further from the tragedy.
Twenty years later.. Francis, recently divorced returned to work as a reporter for the Lansing News, when he heard shattering glass as someone was breaking into his apartment with a loaded gun. He learned that Matthew Farr aged 9 had been kidnapped after his father Sam had been followed for several weeks by Alex Scroll. Alex, over the years had become obsessed with finding out details over what happened to Lucas, and studied and researched psychological recovered memory theories through a hospital clinic. Meanwhile, Sam and his wife Miranda met with ghostwriter (Kira) K.L. Jones to tell his side of the story, this element adds a unique twist to the story, as Jones handed pages of her manuscript for Francis to read, providing additional clues to Matthew's disappearance. Francis would trace his estranged parents relationship, talk to a teacher and principal at Matthew's school, and wonder why Sam Farr was keeping such a low profile, and publically avoiding discussion of his sons disappearance, which was unfolding on local news stations.
This is a busy story, as Francis races against the clock to find Matthew Farr! It was very odd the way Francis kept reverting back and forth between his names, he was still struggling with stress/ anxiety issues, his daughter Amy arrived from out of state to live with him. Many of the characters had deep psychological problems, nor could they be ruled out as suspects in Matthew's mysterious abduction. Readers will definitely want to follow this gifted young writer. Love this striking book cover! With thanks to the Seattle Public Library.
September 20, 2016
A special thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Great cover!
BOY 9 MISSING, establishes Nic Joseph as important key young novelist and storyteller, with her emotional domestic suspense debut!
A powerful, haunting tale of family, enduring love, and destructive secrets. A deeply moving examination of parenthood, and the dangers that are always lurking in the shadows. The author grabs you immediately with the first sentence.
“A brother drowns in a bathtub that was less than one foot longer than he was tall.”
An ordinary family trapped in a heart-wrenching crisis.
Who is guilty and who is innocent?
BOY 9 MISSING A human drama that pulls on larger themes of life and what it means to be a family. Exploring the family seams and fissures, between childhood and adulthood. Love and loss. Darkness and light. Exceptionally moving. An unrelentingly suspenseful thriller.
A mother pregnant at the time with Lucas when they originally bought the house. His mom wanted the tub. Lucas was small for his age. Francis was thirteen years old and his little brother, Lucas was nine at the time of his death. Drowned in this very tub. How did this happen?
During a dinner party twenty some years earlier, in Lansing, Illinois. Two families. A puppet show. This is when Francis’ claustrophobia and panic attacks started. Lives were changed after this one tragic night. Alex, the father had always blamed Sam.
Sam Farr was a year older than Lucas—a quiet, anxious kid. The son of Francis parent’s church friends, Brian and Elizabeth. Since the moment he ran downstairs his face was blanched with terror, and his clothing drenched and clinging to his small frame. He had not said a single word. What happened in the bathroom?
What if Sam had said something that night? A boy struggling with a hidden secret his entire life.
The parents went to court. At war with a ten-year-old boy. Was there something inside the mind of Sam—vindictive, troubling, disgusting, and terrifying?
All his parents wanted was an admission of guilt, or even a denial. A plea for forgiveness.
Nothing. It never happened. Not in twenty-three years, a single word to a single soul what happened that night upstairs in Francis’s parent’s bathroom.
That awful night. A monster. The parents lost the case. An accident. Everyone is left with the fallout. The guilt. A tragedy experienced by two families.
When nothing is as is appears.
By the time Francis started seeing therapists, he was Francis Clarke. He had to escape the media for his own sanity. From claustrophobia, to ceasing to ride trains and elevators. Dirt phobias. It started after Lucas. Alex, the father turned into a drunk. A family torn apart. Francis is now working for the paper, a reporter. Divorced. A child. A daughter.
Now, years later, Sam’s nine-year-old son Matthew has gone missing. Sam’s wife Miranda is coming after his father through him. They have gone to the police and no one is doing anything. They think for sure Alex has their child. Revenge.
He went missing three days earlier. Alex had apparently been following and stalking them for weeks.
Told by Francis, he moves back to the Chicago area and is tracked down by Sam’s parents. The Lansing Police Department would probably do anything to protect his father, if Sam Farr was involved.
Francis had not seen Sam since the day his trial ended. He still looked the same except older and thicker in the middle. Could the man (Alex, his own father) who had it in for this family have kidnapped their boy? Has he really carried a grudge all these years- Revenge?
Francis meets Kira who is doing some research about Sam and his family. Sam and Miranda has hired her to ghostwrite a book. Sam’s memoir. To tell Sam’s story once and for all. The Sam Farr Story. Francis wants to help, get to the bottom of this mystery. He is desperate to right a wrong. Kira is interested in his thoughts and the accusations against his father. Francis wants Matthew found. He also wants to find his father.
Readers get a glimpse of the mysterious night (with parts of the book, written by Kira -in red) as the events of the past unravel. A book within a book. Francis is trying to do the right thing, but doesn’t really know why. He wants to make up for the fact he was not there in the past.
What is the real truth? Francis has to solve the mystery. Where were his parents that night? What really happened. An angry father. This is one heck of a thriller (could see a movie here) based on the novel.
The mystery is suspenseful, chilling, and heart pounding -- pulling you into this dark web of secrets and lies. A son caught in the middle and drowning himself, pulled under by the tug of love, regret, and guilt. Readers will be anxious to solve the complex mystery of these two families and the deception which lies between them.
An evocative novel of redemption and forgiveness, with two families poised to implode. An older son left behind trying to put the pieces together, even in his own life with his own daughter, Amy.
“You’re only two things after a divorce. You’re better, or you’re broken. And if you’re broken, you just haven’t gotten better yet.”
Part intimate family drama, equal parts a gripping page-turner, and an exploration of the profound power of the truths we’re scared to face. There is much more going on here than a boy drowning, and a missing boy years later.
Action-packed, a wrenching look, at what happens to the families and everyone connected by these two events. And as their lives become more intertwined, each is pushed to the breaking point, with shattering, unforeseeable consequences.
I was up until 4 am and could not put this one down until the final heartfelt conclusion. Joseph is definitely an author to follow!
For fans of deeper richer family sagas, such as T. Greenwood, Carla Buckley, Heather Gudenkauf, Diane Chamberlain, and Sophie Littlefield. Some of my favorites.
Wow, this is the third book in a row, I have read about family secrets involving a child. Makes you wonder really what happens with all of the missing children and unsolved murder cases in our world today. So many times it is a cover-up, and may not be discovered until many years later.
An ideal choice for book clubs and further discussions. An extensive reading group guide included and a Conversation with the Author. I wish more authors would include these two critical elements at the end of their books. Well done! Can’t wait to see what’s next.
JDCMustReadBooks
BOY 9 MISSING, establishes Nic Joseph as important key young novelist and storyteller, with her emotional domestic suspense debut!
A powerful, haunting tale of family, enduring love, and destructive secrets. A deeply moving examination of parenthood, and the dangers that are always lurking in the shadows. The author grabs you immediately with the first sentence.
“A brother drowns in a bathtub that was less than one foot longer than he was tall.”
An ordinary family trapped in a heart-wrenching crisis.
Who is guilty and who is innocent?
BOY 9 MISSING A human drama that pulls on larger themes of life and what it means to be a family. Exploring the family seams and fissures, between childhood and adulthood. Love and loss. Darkness and light. Exceptionally moving. An unrelentingly suspenseful thriller.
A mother pregnant at the time with Lucas when they originally bought the house. His mom wanted the tub. Lucas was small for his age. Francis was thirteen years old and his little brother, Lucas was nine at the time of his death. Drowned in this very tub. How did this happen?
During a dinner party twenty some years earlier, in Lansing, Illinois. Two families. A puppet show. This is when Francis’ claustrophobia and panic attacks started. Lives were changed after this one tragic night. Alex, the father had always blamed Sam.
Sam Farr was a year older than Lucas—a quiet, anxious kid. The son of Francis parent’s church friends, Brian and Elizabeth. Since the moment he ran downstairs his face was blanched with terror, and his clothing drenched and clinging to his small frame. He had not said a single word. What happened in the bathroom?
What if Sam had said something that night? A boy struggling with a hidden secret his entire life.
The parents went to court. At war with a ten-year-old boy. Was there something inside the mind of Sam—vindictive, troubling, disgusting, and terrifying?
All his parents wanted was an admission of guilt, or even a denial. A plea for forgiveness.
Nothing. It never happened. Not in twenty-three years, a single word to a single soul what happened that night upstairs in Francis’s parent’s bathroom.
That awful night. A monster. The parents lost the case. An accident. Everyone is left with the fallout. The guilt. A tragedy experienced by two families.
When nothing is as is appears.
By the time Francis started seeing therapists, he was Francis Clarke. He had to escape the media for his own sanity. From claustrophobia, to ceasing to ride trains and elevators. Dirt phobias. It started after Lucas. Alex, the father turned into a drunk. A family torn apart. Francis is now working for the paper, a reporter. Divorced. A child. A daughter.
Now, years later, Sam’s nine-year-old son Matthew has gone missing. Sam’s wife Miranda is coming after his father through him. They have gone to the police and no one is doing anything. They think for sure Alex has their child. Revenge.
He went missing three days earlier. Alex had apparently been following and stalking them for weeks.
Told by Francis, he moves back to the Chicago area and is tracked down by Sam’s parents. The Lansing Police Department would probably do anything to protect his father, if Sam Farr was involved.
Francis had not seen Sam since the day his trial ended. He still looked the same except older and thicker in the middle. Could the man (Alex, his own father) who had it in for this family have kidnapped their boy? Has he really carried a grudge all these years- Revenge?
Francis meets Kira who is doing some research about Sam and his family. Sam and Miranda has hired her to ghostwrite a book. Sam’s memoir. To tell Sam’s story once and for all. The Sam Farr Story. Francis wants to help, get to the bottom of this mystery. He is desperate to right a wrong. Kira is interested in his thoughts and the accusations against his father. Francis wants Matthew found. He also wants to find his father.
Readers get a glimpse of the mysterious night (with parts of the book, written by Kira -in red) as the events of the past unravel. A book within a book. Francis is trying to do the right thing, but doesn’t really know why. He wants to make up for the fact he was not there in the past.
What is the real truth? Francis has to solve the mystery. Where were his parents that night? What really happened. An angry father. This is one heck of a thriller (could see a movie here) based on the novel.
The mystery is suspenseful, chilling, and heart pounding -- pulling you into this dark web of secrets and lies. A son caught in the middle and drowning himself, pulled under by the tug of love, regret, and guilt. Readers will be anxious to solve the complex mystery of these two families and the deception which lies between them.
An evocative novel of redemption and forgiveness, with two families poised to implode. An older son left behind trying to put the pieces together, even in his own life with his own daughter, Amy.
“You’re only two things after a divorce. You’re better, or you’re broken. And if you’re broken, you just haven’t gotten better yet.”
Part intimate family drama, equal parts a gripping page-turner, and an exploration of the profound power of the truths we’re scared to face. There is much more going on here than a boy drowning, and a missing boy years later.
Action-packed, a wrenching look, at what happens to the families and everyone connected by these two events. And as their lives become more intertwined, each is pushed to the breaking point, with shattering, unforeseeable consequences.
I was up until 4 am and could not put this one down until the final heartfelt conclusion. Joseph is definitely an author to follow!
For fans of deeper richer family sagas, such as T. Greenwood, Carla Buckley, Heather Gudenkauf, Diane Chamberlain, and Sophie Littlefield. Some of my favorites.
Wow, this is the third book in a row, I have read about family secrets involving a child. Makes you wonder really what happens with all of the missing children and unsolved murder cases in our world today. So many times it is a cover-up, and may not be discovered until many years later.
An ideal choice for book clubs and further discussions. An extensive reading group guide included and a Conversation with the Author. I wish more authors would include these two critical elements at the end of their books. Well done! Can’t wait to see what’s next.
JDCMustReadBooks
December 4, 2016
Solid 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. The book cover and title alone were enough to entice me to read this one, then the positive GR reviews encouraged me to move it to the top of my stack. I'm glad I did.
November 16, 2016
Good plot, clunky writing.
September 3, 2016
Boy, 9, Missing by Nic Joseph Boy, 9, Missing by Nic Joseph is a stunning debut and a first class thriller. I didn't care for the cover but still wanted to read it. I'm glad I did. It kept me guessing so I gave it four stars.
Twenty three years have passed since Francis' brother drowned in what was ruled a tragic accident. His parents divorced and his father Alex has continued to blame a child, Sam Farr who was the 'only' witness to what happened.
Francis developed behaviors that inhibited him from being in closed spaces, like elevators. He takes the stairs.
This hauntingly poignant story is told via Francis' point of view and a journalist writing "The Sam Farr Story."
I received a complimentary copy from Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley. That did not change my opinion for this review.
Link to purchase: https://www.amazon.com/Boy-9-Missing-...
This book is still in pre-order status so I could not leave a review on Amazon.
Twenty three years have passed since Francis' brother drowned in what was ruled a tragic accident. His parents divorced and his father Alex has continued to blame a child, Sam Farr who was the 'only' witness to what happened.
Francis developed behaviors that inhibited him from being in closed spaces, like elevators. He takes the stairs.
This hauntingly poignant story is told via Francis' point of view and a journalist writing "The Sam Farr Story."
I received a complimentary copy from Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley. That did not change my opinion for this review.
Link to purchase: https://www.amazon.com/Boy-9-Missing-...
This book is still in pre-order status so I could not leave a review on Amazon.
September 30, 2016
Again, could have been a good plot but many issues do simply not work. Very little thought was given to the reality aspect of many issues. Cannot be compared to Defending Jacob which was an outstanding book. Nic please next attempt do work out the plot and finer details beforehand, don't make up as you go.
September 13, 2016
A decent debut book for the author. All the main characters in the book could have done the crime, so it was interesting to watch things play out. 3.5 stars.
November 7, 2017
3.5 STARS
Very few thrillers leave me holding my breath, but Nic Joseph kept made my heart thump every step of the way.
If you had been living apart from your teenage daughter for a few years after divorce, wouldn’t you meet her at the airport with open arms. Alex is one of the most neglectful fathers you’ll read. At every opportunity he fails Amy, whether telling the truth or being present for her. Sure, he’s traumatized from losing his brother 23 years ago, but come on, that’s not an excuse. Lucas died under mysterious circumstances, his ten-year-old friend Sam was tried and found not guilty of his murder. Now Sam’s son is missing and Francis’s father, a suspect, can’t be found. Francis (neglects Amy in order to) investigates and bizarre twists and turns culmination in a breathtaking conclusion.
Francis is so flawed, but deep down we wants to do the right thing for the missing boy, to the detriment of his relationship with Amy. I couldn’t help but root for him, Sam, and young Matthew.
Joseph’s flawless writing makes BOY, 9, MISSING unputdownable. I was disappointed in the psychologist subplot because it didn’t feel well-researched and believable.
BOY, 9, MISSING will grab hold of your heart and keep you guessing.
Very few thrillers leave me holding my breath, but Nic Joseph kept made my heart thump every step of the way.
If you had been living apart from your teenage daughter for a few years after divorce, wouldn’t you meet her at the airport with open arms. Alex is one of the most neglectful fathers you’ll read. At every opportunity he fails Amy, whether telling the truth or being present for her. Sure, he’s traumatized from losing his brother 23 years ago, but come on, that’s not an excuse. Lucas died under mysterious circumstances, his ten-year-old friend Sam was tried and found not guilty of his murder. Now Sam’s son is missing and Francis’s father, a suspect, can’t be found. Francis (neglects Amy in order to) investigates and bizarre twists and turns culmination in a breathtaking conclusion.
Francis is so flawed, but deep down we wants to do the right thing for the missing boy, to the detriment of his relationship with Amy. I couldn’t help but root for him, Sam, and young Matthew.
Joseph’s flawless writing makes BOY, 9, MISSING unputdownable. I was disappointed in the psychologist subplot because it didn’t feel well-researched and believable.
BOY, 9, MISSING will grab hold of your heart and keep you guessing.
September 1, 2016
Boy, 9, Missing is simply fantastic! So accomplished that you won't believe this is a debut novel! Don't miss it!
Read more content (full review + original author guest post) on The Serial Reader Blog.
*This book was kindly sent to me via NetGalley by Sourcebooks Landmark*
Read more content (full review + original author guest post) on The Serial Reader Blog.
*This book was kindly sent to me via NetGalley by Sourcebooks Landmark*
February 21, 2025
This book definitely keeps you wanting to read more! Chapter length is great to pick up throughout the day.
I personally felt that I had a good idea of one of the mysteries early on that ended up being correct, but the other one I was surprised about!
They could have done more with the side relationships as they felt like an afterthought throughout the book and at the end so it lacked the emotional attachment. No true relationship or character development.
My biggest complaint is actually the cover page to the book. It might just be because I’m a mom but I found it really discomforting to see essentially a dead little boy staring back at me every time I closed the book so I ended up covering it up.
I personally felt that I had a good idea of one of the mysteries early on that ended up being correct, but the other one I was surprised about!
They could have done more with the side relationships as they felt like an afterthought throughout the book and at the end so it lacked the emotional attachment. No true relationship or character development.
My biggest complaint is actually the cover page to the book. It might just be because I’m a mom but I found it really discomforting to see essentially a dead little boy staring back at me every time I closed the book so I ended up covering it up.
June 14, 2016
I was hooked by the title and cover of this book and the blurb confirmed it as a must read and I wasn't disappointed. I found that switching between Francis' point of view and 'The Sam Farr Story' was a really effective way of covering the range of events and I never lost the thread of the story at all. There is a lot going on and plenty of twists to keep the reader engaged. I felt that the characters came across as very real, as did the relationships between them, and they are certainly not without their flaws. It was gripping throughout and then I reached a point where I couldn't put it down until I had finished it despite it making me late for a meeting. Great book, really well written and strongly recommended.
I received a free copy of Boy, 9, Missing in return for an honest review and my thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for that.
I received a free copy of Boy, 9, Missing in return for an honest review and my thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for that.
September 11, 2016
An ordinary dinner party; two families get together- but by the end of the night nothing is ever ordinary again. Francis was an awkward teenager that night when his brother Lucas, died. He left the area but now he's come back to find his father has disappeared along with the son of the boy who was the last to see Lucas alive.
This book explores the way silence can eat its way through relationships every bit as much as angry words. I was frequently very irritated with Francis but in the end I had to admire his tenacity.The narrative builds up slowly to a good finale.
Thanks to Netgalley for giving me the chance to read and review this book.
This book explores the way silence can eat its way through relationships every bit as much as angry words. I was frequently very irritated with Francis but in the end I had to admire his tenacity.The narrative builds up slowly to a good finale.
Thanks to Netgalley for giving me the chance to read and review this book.
March 19, 2017
I should start out but saying that I did enjoy reading this book, the idea behind it caught my attention and kept me reading throughout. But several times throughout the book I set it down in disbelief, the characters reactions to situations were consistently hard to believe. All I kept thinking was, there is no way that is how a person in this situation would truly react. The characters did not have a lot of depth and just sort of went from one situation to the next without any real connection to the other characters or events that were taking place. Just made it hard to believe that the main character was real, and made it hard to empathize with his circumstances.
October 24, 2016
"Boy, 9, Missing" - the first fiction book in the original (English) I've read since school. Thrilling! Several times deeply touched my heart.
The most important theme or main idea for me is the following quote - "You're supposed to make your child feel like you want them. No matter what. Even if you're tired, or you're stressed, or you have a fucking photo shoot, or you move across the world, or you haven't gotten a full night's sleep. You do whatever you can to make them feel like the only thing you want in the world is to be by their side, even if you can't".
The most important theme or main idea for me is the following quote - "You're supposed to make your child feel like you want them. No matter what. Even if you're tired, or you're stressed, or you have a fucking photo shoot, or you move across the world, or you haven't gotten a full night's sleep. You do whatever you can to make them feel like the only thing you want in the world is to be by their side, even if you can't".
February 6, 2017
Boy 9, Missing is everything I dislike in a book. Every possible cliche is used, both in dialogue and plot. Is it readable? Yes absolutely. But the actions of all of the characters and simply not believable.
June 14, 2016
My favorite book hands down! Amazing! I don't have the words to describe this book except that you should read it now!!!!!
October 4, 2016
A book with a lot of potential but just didn't keep my interest
November 27, 2017
Too many boring extraneous details that took away from the suspense of the main plot.
November 5, 2016
1.5 stars. I feel like this book could have been 100 pages shorter and not lost anything. Also, somewhat predictable.
October 2, 2017
2.5 rounded up.
This story was good but not great. There were so many subplots that led nowhere and were frankly dumb. The characters were not really believable and not well portrayed at all. Francis's issues with his daughter Amy add nothing to the plot. The subplot about the school principal was absurd: if teachers suspected her of something, they were mandated by law to report her to authorities. The story of the therapist and her "experiments" bordered on malpractice. Francis' "investigation" was also a bit absurd. Why did he think he could find the missing child when the police couldn't.
Although the story moved along at a fast pace, so much of it strained credibility that I read it with eyes rolling at times. The author took an interesting premise and then didn't know how to handle it. Too bad. In other hands this could have been a better book. Although there were some unforeseen twists at the end, they just were not worth the journey to get there.
I would say don't bother with this book. There are much better ones out there.
This story was good but not great. There were so many subplots that led nowhere and were frankly dumb. The characters were not really believable and not well portrayed at all. Francis's issues with his daughter Amy add nothing to the plot. The subplot about the school principal was absurd: if teachers suspected her of something, they were mandated by law to report her to authorities. The story of the therapist and her "experiments" bordered on malpractice. Francis' "investigation" was also a bit absurd. Why did he think he could find the missing child when the police couldn't.
Although the story moved along at a fast pace, so much of it strained credibility that I read it with eyes rolling at times. The author took an interesting premise and then didn't know how to handle it. Too bad. In other hands this could have been a better book. Although there were some unforeseen twists at the end, they just were not worth the journey to get there.
I would say don't bother with this book. There are much better ones out there.
April 8, 2017
This thriller kept me reading, but I found myself annoyed at times at the sheer number of coincidences in the plot. One reviewer wrote "Every one of your guesses about what happens next will be wrong." That's not always praise. Sometimes, when a previous unknown character pops up at an unexpected moment or someone conveniently overhears a conversation, it's not unexpected but straining of credulity. This book had a few too many of those for my taste, along with lots of driivng back and forth to various venues. Still, the big reveal was a surprise, and I did keep reading to the end. I also liked the protagonist/narrator, a thirty-something-year-old man still ensnared by the mystery of exactly how his younger brother died 23 years earlier.
June 4, 2018
This book starts strong. The first chapter pulled me deep into the story. Twenty years ago, Lucas, age 9 was found dead and floating face down in his parents bathtub.
The only "witness" a strange boy Sam has refused to speak about what he may have seen. And in doing so becomes the prime suspect in what may have been a murder, or may have been an accident.
Now Sam's own son, Matthew, is missing and presumed kidnapped.
An exceptional first novel by Joseph.
A page turner from start to finish.
The only "witness" a strange boy Sam has refused to speak about what he may have seen. And in doing so becomes the prime suspect in what may have been a murder, or may have been an accident.
Now Sam's own son, Matthew, is missing and presumed kidnapped.
An exceptional first novel by Joseph.
A page turner from start to finish.
January 17, 2018
This is one of those books that keeps you interested. You just didn't know where the story was headed and you had to find out. It had my favorite ending for a mystery. . . one that takes you completely by surprise. I wish, however, that the author had developed relationships a bit more. All the characters were just that, characters, without much substance and support for the main character. All in all, though, it was a good book.
December 17, 2017
This book was just as good as The last day of Emily Lindsey! I loved it!! I will read everything by this author! Definitely one of my top favorite authors!!
**highly recommend!!**
**top author**
*great plot, LOTS of suspense and unexpected events!!
**highly recommend!!**
**top author**
*great plot, LOTS of suspense and unexpected events!!
June 27, 2020
I just finished this book and I loved it! I read it pretty fast, usually reading 100 pages or more at a time, I couldn’t put it down!! I would definitely recommend this and I’ll look for more from this author. There were several mysteries going on at once and leaves you walkways wondering what will happen next, wanting you turn just a few more pages, shocking you as the story unfolds!!!
❤️❤️❤️
❤️❤️❤️
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