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Missing
In a little village in Lombardy, it's a cold November morning when Ami, steps out of her house to go to school... and never comes back. As soon as her father raises the alarm, a frantic search begins. The investigation is led by Police Commissioner Sensi. His men immediately find a trail to follow, but it soon proves to lead nowhere. Three months later, Police Commissioner Sensi decides to visit Dr Claps, an old friend and a renowned criminologist, who guesses from his first few words the real reason for the visit. It's not just about Ami; she's not the only little girl to have disappeared.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2016
134 people are currently reading
314 people want to read
About the author
Monty Marsden
5 books10 followersMonty Marsden, a Tuscan by birth, grew up in Milan, where he studied medicine and still works. He lives in the province of Bergamo, with his wife and four children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
October 27, 2016
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Monty Marsden, and Aria for providing me with a copy of this book, which allows me to provide you with this review.
Marsden uses his debut novel to stir up chills in the reader while also developing a gripping murder mystery, unique for some of its characters and twists. After a young girl goes missing on her way to school outside Milan, what begins as a missing persons case for the local police soon turns national. Police Commissioner Sensi agrees to use all the resources that he can spare and Italy watches as news slowly trickles in, but all leads soon dry up. Part of the small Senegalese community, the Demba Family hold out hope that their young Aminata (Ami) will return home safely. Sensi approaches a former colleague who has done work with the police, criminal psychiatrist Mr. Claps, who suffered significantly at the hands of a serial murderer and was almost a victim. Plagued with the after-effects of aphasia due to blood loss, Claps has a jilted means of communication, but his ideas are as sharp as ever. He begins investigating as best he can, liaising with the police as often as possible. When a body emerges, that of Ami, Claps focusses on some of the minutiae, only to discover that this is not the killer's first victim. A number of young girls have gone missing from African families across Italy. Their bodies have been discovered over the past number of years, though decomposition has made identification problematic and thereby delayed any concrete news to those who wait and pray. All the while, Elisa Cellini is in therapy to help deal with debilitating schizophrenia, which has made her uncommunicative for the past number of years, a period that aligns with her twin sister's disappearance. Claps draws some strong parallels and determines not only that Denise Cellini may be part of the larger serial killing spree, but that Elisa has many answers locked away inside her. As the killer continues to feel the urge to find more victims and Ami's father, Elaji will not rest until his daughter's killer is punished, the story turns from a mystery into a manhunt, which adds to an already dramatic storyline. Can the killer be caught or will young girls be forever in harm's way? Marsden does a wonderful job of luring the reader into the story and holding their attention until the bitter end. Highly recommended for those who love a crime thriller.
This is a great debut novel that has been able to cross the threshold as it is translated from its original Italian. Marsden creates an interesting cross-section of characters, all of whom fit together perfectly, though they are varied enough not to be easily forgotten. Of particular note, the characters of Claps and Elaji prove to be unique in their presentation and force the reader to think outside the box as they synthesise the role these two men play in the larger plot. The story itself, a serial murder spree, is not unique, though some of the nuances within the mystery are not common enough that I can pull their use from other novel with ease. I enjoyed how fast-paced things were throughout the story, though there were moments when I wanted to rush Mardsen through his narrative and dialogue to reach the conclusion (out of excitement, not boredom). While the story does take on many scenes and plot lines, if I had to offer a criticism, it would be that the opening part of the novel, and less so later on, the various plots develop in too jagged a fashion. By this I mean that Marsden does not complete a vignette to develop a plot, but chooses to tease with a few paragraphs, moves to another segment, and then comes back, all within the same chapter. To create a better flow and lessen the mental gear shifting that I found myself doing, he ought to have developed a few of those segments into a single vignette (by that I mean the portion of writing between asterisks) and then move on. There are no real cliffhangers within these segments that are lost by following my proposed idea and it will likely keep from irritating the reader too much. That being said, there are time in the latter portion of the book when the momentum builds with these quick changes, especially when events are happening simultaneously. With a debut novel, one can expect the author is still getting a handle on things and the editor is also trying to shape the story without taking away the author's personal flavoured approach to the delivery. Overall, this is a stunning opening novel and one can hope that Marsden will create more in this vein, as I will surely read them and recommend these sorts of pieces to anyone who will listen.
Kudos, Mr. Marsden for a powerful first thriller. Please take the constructive criticisms and keep writing, as I am sure you will develop a following if your novels flow as easily in languages other than English and Italian.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Marsden uses his debut novel to stir up chills in the reader while also developing a gripping murder mystery, unique for some of its characters and twists. After a young girl goes missing on her way to school outside Milan, what begins as a missing persons case for the local police soon turns national. Police Commissioner Sensi agrees to use all the resources that he can spare and Italy watches as news slowly trickles in, but all leads soon dry up. Part of the small Senegalese community, the Demba Family hold out hope that their young Aminata (Ami) will return home safely. Sensi approaches a former colleague who has done work with the police, criminal psychiatrist Mr. Claps, who suffered significantly at the hands of a serial murderer and was almost a victim. Plagued with the after-effects of aphasia due to blood loss, Claps has a jilted means of communication, but his ideas are as sharp as ever. He begins investigating as best he can, liaising with the police as often as possible. When a body emerges, that of Ami, Claps focusses on some of the minutiae, only to discover that this is not the killer's first victim. A number of young girls have gone missing from African families across Italy. Their bodies have been discovered over the past number of years, though decomposition has made identification problematic and thereby delayed any concrete news to those who wait and pray. All the while, Elisa Cellini is in therapy to help deal with debilitating schizophrenia, which has made her uncommunicative for the past number of years, a period that aligns with her twin sister's disappearance. Claps draws some strong parallels and determines not only that Denise Cellini may be part of the larger serial killing spree, but that Elisa has many answers locked away inside her. As the killer continues to feel the urge to find more victims and Ami's father, Elaji will not rest until his daughter's killer is punished, the story turns from a mystery into a manhunt, which adds to an already dramatic storyline. Can the killer be caught or will young girls be forever in harm's way? Marsden does a wonderful job of luring the reader into the story and holding their attention until the bitter end. Highly recommended for those who love a crime thriller.
This is a great debut novel that has been able to cross the threshold as it is translated from its original Italian. Marsden creates an interesting cross-section of characters, all of whom fit together perfectly, though they are varied enough not to be easily forgotten. Of particular note, the characters of Claps and Elaji prove to be unique in their presentation and force the reader to think outside the box as they synthesise the role these two men play in the larger plot. The story itself, a serial murder spree, is not unique, though some of the nuances within the mystery are not common enough that I can pull their use from other novel with ease. I enjoyed how fast-paced things were throughout the story, though there were moments when I wanted to rush Mardsen through his narrative and dialogue to reach the conclusion (out of excitement, not boredom). While the story does take on many scenes and plot lines, if I had to offer a criticism, it would be that the opening part of the novel, and less so later on, the various plots develop in too jagged a fashion. By this I mean that Marsden does not complete a vignette to develop a plot, but chooses to tease with a few paragraphs, moves to another segment, and then comes back, all within the same chapter. To create a better flow and lessen the mental gear shifting that I found myself doing, he ought to have developed a few of those segments into a single vignette (by that I mean the portion of writing between asterisks) and then move on. There are no real cliffhangers within these segments that are lost by following my proposed idea and it will likely keep from irritating the reader too much. That being said, there are time in the latter portion of the book when the momentum builds with these quick changes, especially when events are happening simultaneously. With a debut novel, one can expect the author is still getting a handle on things and the editor is also trying to shape the story without taking away the author's personal flavoured approach to the delivery. Overall, this is a stunning opening novel and one can hope that Marsden will create more in this vein, as I will surely read them and recommend these sorts of pieces to anyone who will listen.
Kudos, Mr. Marsden for a powerful first thriller. Please take the constructive criticisms and keep writing, as I am sure you will develop a following if your novels flow as easily in languages other than English and Italian.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
December 3, 2023
"Missing", Monty Marsden’s debut novel, is a serial killer thriller set in a bleak, chilly Milan and towns around Siena, Italy. Ami is a schoolgirl who sets out for school one morning and is never seen alive again. Tragic enough, but several months into Police Commissioner Sensi’s investigation into her disappearance, an old friend and renowned criminologist, Dr. Claps, is brought in to assist. He believes that Ami’s death may be the last of a string of child serial killings. Claps discovers that all the missing girls were of similar age and ethnicity to Ami and the body of each one had its pinky finger missing. Marsden covers the investigation from three perspectives: the police investigation itself, their profiler, Claps, who suffers from aplasia caused by a previous investigation and Ami’s refugee father who seeks revenge and is attempting to pursue the killer through his own contacts. There are plenty of red herrings and twists and turns long the way to keep the reader engrossed. And a major surprise at the end.
Monty Marsden hasn’t fallen into the trap made by so many writers of murder mysteries of just slavishly (and painstakingly) following the police investigation. That can have some readers becoming comatose through boredom. His device of covering the investigation from three perspectives adds colour and variety to the story. Dr. Claps, with his aplasia and background, is a story in himself and Ami’s father is another three-dimensional character whose understandable outrage has the pages he inhabits simmering. Tackling paedophilia is no mean feat, even for a well-established author but Marsden in this, his first novel, does it skilfully and delicately. This book was written in Italian but nothing seems to have been lost in translation. It is also refreshing to read a story of this nature set in Italy. The plot is tight, the dialogue believable and the twists and turns will keep readers on their toes. A delightful denouement caps off this gripping thriller.
Monty Marsden hasn’t fallen into the trap made by so many writers of murder mysteries of just slavishly (and painstakingly) following the police investigation. That can have some readers becoming comatose through boredom. His device of covering the investigation from three perspectives adds colour and variety to the story. Dr. Claps, with his aplasia and background, is a story in himself and Ami’s father is another three-dimensional character whose understandable outrage has the pages he inhabits simmering. Tackling paedophilia is no mean feat, even for a well-established author but Marsden in this, his first novel, does it skilfully and delicately. This book was written in Italian but nothing seems to have been lost in translation. It is also refreshing to read a story of this nature set in Italy. The plot is tight, the dialogue believable and the twists and turns will keep readers on their toes. A delightful denouement caps off this gripping thriller.
November 22, 2016
This is the authors debut novel.
The search for a missing child reveals she is not the only missing child. Ami steps out her house to go to school but does not return. Her father raises the alarm and a frantic search begins.
The investigation is led by Police Commissioner Sensi. They quickly find a trail but it leads to nowhere. Three months pass and Police Commissioner Sensi visits Dr Claps, an old friend and criminologist.
A well written debut novel.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Aria and the author Monty Marsden for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The search for a missing child reveals she is not the only missing child. Ami steps out her house to go to school but does not return. Her father raises the alarm and a frantic search begins.
The investigation is led by Police Commissioner Sensi. They quickly find a trail but it leads to nowhere. Three months pass and Police Commissioner Sensi visits Dr Claps, an old friend and criminologist.
A well written debut novel.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Aria and the author Monty Marsden for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 29, 2016
Let me first say that this novel has been translated into English.
The reason I point this out is because I found it difficult personally to keep my interest going.
I think the Police investigations were rather slow and at times the plot had me yawning. I don't wish to sound horrible when I say that. There has been some outstanding debut novels over the past 2 years that have been outstanding. For me, although the prognosis of the story held some fabulous characters and the plot, it just lagged and lagged until 3/4 of the way through.
I struggled with this one keeping my attention.
Thank you to Aria via Net Galley for my copy
The reason I point this out is because I found it difficult personally to keep my interest going.
I think the Police investigations were rather slow and at times the plot had me yawning. I don't wish to sound horrible when I say that. There has been some outstanding debut novels over the past 2 years that have been outstanding. For me, although the prognosis of the story held some fabulous characters and the plot, it just lagged and lagged until 3/4 of the way through.
I struggled with this one keeping my attention.
Thank you to Aria via Net Galley for my copy
November 1, 2016
This is a entertaining thriller packed with multiple red herrings and plenty of twists that keep the reader guessing right to the very end.
On a cold November morning in Tuscany 14 year old Ami leaves her home to go to school and vanishes without a trace.Her frantic father Elaji contacts the police who immediately begin a search to find the missing girl.Three months later after turning up no clues to where Ami has gone police commissioner Sensi contacts his old friend and retired criminologist Dr Claps who immediately realises that Ami is not the first young girl who has completely disappeared.
The story is told from the POV of a number of characters including Sensi,Claps,Elaji and also the killer who really is very sick and twisted.The author has chosen to split some of the chapters into paragraphs that involve differant characters in differant locations and move the story back and forth between segments.This method of writing ramps up the suspense and excitement especially in the latter part of the story when a number of events are happening in the same time frame,I didn't think that it slowed the story down but other readers might find it frustrating.The characters are all well thought out and believable from Elaji`s very understandable feelings of anger and grief over his missing daughter to Clap`s struggles with his speech problems which were the result of a injury that he sustained during a confrontation with someone during an earlier investigation that he assisted Sensi with.I loved the relashionship between Sensi and Claps,they were very good friends who had a lot of respect for each other and even though they disagreed about certain things during the investigation they didn't let it get in the way of their friendship.
I'm not sure because of events that are mentioned during the story if this is actually the first book in the series or wether it is just the first one that has been translated into English, it doesn't really matter because the story works fine as a stand alone.I really enjoyed reading this book and hope that i will have the opportunity to read more Claps and Sensi thrillers in the future.
Many thanks the publishers Aria for a arc of this book via netgalley in exchange for a honest review
On a cold November morning in Tuscany 14 year old Ami leaves her home to go to school and vanishes without a trace.Her frantic father Elaji contacts the police who immediately begin a search to find the missing girl.Three months later after turning up no clues to where Ami has gone police commissioner Sensi contacts his old friend and retired criminologist Dr Claps who immediately realises that Ami is not the first young girl who has completely disappeared.
The story is told from the POV of a number of characters including Sensi,Claps,Elaji and also the killer who really is very sick and twisted.The author has chosen to split some of the chapters into paragraphs that involve differant characters in differant locations and move the story back and forth between segments.This method of writing ramps up the suspense and excitement especially in the latter part of the story when a number of events are happening in the same time frame,I didn't think that it slowed the story down but other readers might find it frustrating.The characters are all well thought out and believable from Elaji`s very understandable feelings of anger and grief over his missing daughter to Clap`s struggles with his speech problems which were the result of a injury that he sustained during a confrontation with someone during an earlier investigation that he assisted Sensi with.I loved the relashionship between Sensi and Claps,they were very good friends who had a lot of respect for each other and even though they disagreed about certain things during the investigation they didn't let it get in the way of their friendship.
I'm not sure because of events that are mentioned during the story if this is actually the first book in the series or wether it is just the first one that has been translated into English, it doesn't really matter because the story works fine as a stand alone.I really enjoyed reading this book and hope that i will have the opportunity to read more Claps and Sensi thrillers in the future.
Many thanks the publishers Aria for a arc of this book via netgalley in exchange for a honest review
October 24, 2016
I enjoyed this book set in Italy it's a police procedural crime thriller and centres around the disappearance of a young Senegal girl who vanishes on her way to school. It soon becomes apparent that she isn't going to come home and also that she isn't the first to fall victim to a killer who must be caught before he strikes again. Thank you for the ARC.
February 13, 2017
Finished reading: February 1st 2017
“Patience is like a tree - the roots are bitter, but the fruits are most sweet.”
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Aria in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
February 6, 2017
I had to call it a day at 29% into this one. It was sooooooo confusing and didn't seem to keep up with its own continuity. I must have read back a few paragraphs over half a dozen times yet they still didn't tie up with what came later !!
I also didn't believe sniffer dogs wouldn't find a body that had only lain a day buried whatever the method/materials used...those animals are just amazing in their work.
The continuity carnage-we learn the following-"The first time was three years ago, then the remains of two children were found last year". We also have a current case so to my way of thinking that's four ?? Then we learn where the oldest and most recent cases were found, no others, then we only hear how 2 died, no more. There were four...I counted and reread, counted and reread...definitely 4 !! Then soomeone mentions that perhaps there were more than three victims....yes, there were bloody 4.....drove me nuts plus it left me having no idea whatsoever which particular cases they were discussing at any one time because of the discrepancy. THEN a police investigator demanded to see the bones of one case to offer her opinion yet she'd been there when they were discovered !!!
We lost speechmarks, we had something presented as somethng and lost the apostrophe on Magistrates Court (which was correct a few pages before). So not at all bad for errors.
And I enjoyed this analogy-..."the rain was hitting the surface so hard it looked as though it was boiling" in relation to a river. I could picture the scene in my head and knew just what he meant. A great description. I liked the cover too but I can't be doing with being this baffled. Such a shame as it held such promise....
I also didn't believe sniffer dogs wouldn't find a body that had only lain a day buried whatever the method/materials used...those animals are just amazing in their work.
The continuity carnage-we learn the following-"The first time was three years ago, then the remains of two children were found last year". We also have a current case so to my way of thinking that's four ?? Then we learn where the oldest and most recent cases were found, no others, then we only hear how 2 died, no more. There were four...I counted and reread, counted and reread...definitely 4 !! Then soomeone mentions that perhaps there were more than three victims....yes, there were bloody 4.....drove me nuts plus it left me having no idea whatsoever which particular cases they were discussing at any one time because of the discrepancy. THEN a police investigator demanded to see the bones of one case to offer her opinion yet she'd been there when they were discovered !!!
We lost speechmarks, we had something presented as somethng and lost the apostrophe on Magistrates Court (which was correct a few pages before). So not at all bad for errors.
And I enjoyed this analogy-..."the rain was hitting the surface so hard it looked as though it was boiling" in relation to a river. I could picture the scene in my head and knew just what he meant. A great description. I liked the cover too but I can't be doing with being this baffled. Such a shame as it held such promise....
March 1, 2017
I received this arc from Netgalley.
A good suspenseful read. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it.
A good suspenseful read. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it.
July 31, 2019
*3 Stars*
Copy kindly received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was in two minds of whether to rate this as a 2 star or a 3 star, but ultimately I chose 3 because I was quite invested in the story by the end. I'm not sure if its because this book was translated into English, but at times it does seem a little disjointed from how I think it's supposed to be.
We get a varying number of POV's in this, which at first left me wondering what on earth was going on. I figured that I would eventually discover the reasoning behind this, because in a lot of crime novels they do have varying POV's at times.
In the end it does all tie together, which I was glad to see. For me the main character that I was concerned with, was Claps. He's the one that I liked the most, even though I didn't really connect with any of the characters. The mystery of the missing girls, and how many there actually were really had my intrigued once things got going, and I was surprised at some of the outcomes at the end. Some things I was able to pick who the culprit was, but others not so much, so it was a bit of mix of both there at the end for me.
Not the best crime novel I've ever read, but it wasn't terrible either.
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Copy kindly received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was in two minds of whether to rate this as a 2 star or a 3 star, but ultimately I chose 3 because I was quite invested in the story by the end. I'm not sure if its because this book was translated into English, but at times it does seem a little disjointed from how I think it's supposed to be.
We get a varying number of POV's in this, which at first left me wondering what on earth was going on. I figured that I would eventually discover the reasoning behind this, because in a lot of crime novels they do have varying POV's at times.
In the end it does all tie together, which I was glad to see. For me the main character that I was concerned with, was Claps. He's the one that I liked the most, even though I didn't really connect with any of the characters. The mystery of the missing girls, and how many there actually were really had my intrigued once things got going, and I was surprised at some of the outcomes at the end. Some things I was able to pick who the culprit was, but others not so much, so it was a bit of mix of both there at the end for me.
Not the best crime novel I've ever read, but it wasn't terrible either.
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January 22, 2017
At first: Thank you to NetGalley and Aria for the copy I received
Then: It's actually 3,5* I'd like to give :)
Missing is a thriller written by Monty Marsden. It came out late last year in December, and it is the author's debut.. It focuses on the disappearance and murder of underage girls, and the task to find their killer.
CONTENTS
The story starts off with an introduction, that tell us what happened to our main character, Claps, former psychiatrist and specialist in profiles of violent criminals. He was injured by a knife and lost his ability to speak. Since he is the narrator of this part, it becomes obvious that he just can't form his thoughts, rather than being unable to think straight.
The book also gives a definition of this state like in a dictionary.
We then jump back 100 days, and hear the story of Ami, a girl of senegalese origin that disappeared, until we are reunited with Claps who joins the investigation. Soon it becomes clear, that Ami is not the only little girl that was taken, and the search for the killer begins.
SOMETHING OVERALL
The book jumped between different points of view. At first we get to know something about our main character, Claps, and the police officer Sensi. But soon there are also parts written from the pov. of the killer, a psychiatrist, the girl that disappeared, and even her father. Most of the first part of the book, however, focuses on Sensi's investigation.
WRITING STYLE
The writing style was not bad, although something bothered me. Since the english version is in fact a translation this could be the reason, because it just felt...strange sometimes. There are expressions like "half twelve" that we have in German, but I never read them in any english book. This gives the impression the writer, or in this case, the translator was not a native speaker. The book does not have any big issues, otherwise, like spelling or grammar mistakes, it just did not feel genuinely english to me.
The beginning of the book was a little confusing. To me it was not always clear who was speaking and who was who, especially in the first 20 pages. Fortunately this chaged, and I had no problems following what was going on after that.
CHARCTERS
Claps as our main character ist very likeable. He is determined to help in finding the killer, although struggling with aphasia. I liked this quite a lot- it's something I'd never read about before.
Elaji, the father of Ami is also quite present. At some point of the story he decides to hunt down the killer of his daughter. At first he cooperates with Claps, but soon he acts entirely on his own. Personally, I think his senegalese origin and culture were described very well, but I hated the way he wouldn't talk to Claps and hide certain bits of information.
Professor Trevis, whose role becomes only clear as the story progresses (he treats the sister of a girl, who is involved), was not someone I liked at the beginning. But as I was past the middle of the book I slowly started to like him, now he's one of my favourites beside Claps.
OPINION
I liked the way the story was told very much. It gives a realistic account of how long it takes to solve a case, other than most thrillers, where everything happens in a few days time. I also love books where I get a few insights in the killers pov. It adds to the thrill.
I saw the end coming only in parts. I got one part right very early into the story, but I did not foresee the final plot twist, which is pleasing.
Also, while I think the author may have still a bit to learn, it's his first novel after all, there are some parts, (the one where the killer wants to kidnap another little girl and the pov changes constantly- I won't tell if he succeeds) that were especially brilliant.
Overall I can say, that I liked this book. The story is very good, and after the first 20-30 pages I had adjusted to the style of writing. I also have a soft spot for Claps. The fact that he has problems with his speech may be annoying while you read, but it's also something I've never read about before. I'm also a huge fan of books, where there is not only the police, but also some external (psychological) expert involved.
This means I can recommend this book to lovers of good crime fiction/thrillers. I enjoyed the story, as well as the characters, and I would without hesitation read a sequel.
Then: It's actually 3,5* I'd like to give :)
Missing is a thriller written by Monty Marsden. It came out late last year in December, and it is the author's debut.. It focuses on the disappearance and murder of underage girls, and the task to find their killer.
CONTENTS
The story starts off with an introduction, that tell us what happened to our main character, Claps, former psychiatrist and specialist in profiles of violent criminals. He was injured by a knife and lost his ability to speak. Since he is the narrator of this part, it becomes obvious that he just can't form his thoughts, rather than being unable to think straight.
The book also gives a definition of this state like in a dictionary.
We then jump back 100 days, and hear the story of Ami, a girl of senegalese origin that disappeared, until we are reunited with Claps who joins the investigation. Soon it becomes clear, that Ami is not the only little girl that was taken, and the search for the killer begins.
SOMETHING OVERALL
The book jumped between different points of view. At first we get to know something about our main character, Claps, and the police officer Sensi. But soon there are also parts written from the pov. of the killer, a psychiatrist, the girl that disappeared, and even her father. Most of the first part of the book, however, focuses on Sensi's investigation.
WRITING STYLE
The writing style was not bad, although something bothered me. Since the english version is in fact a translation this could be the reason, because it just felt...strange sometimes. There are expressions like "half twelve" that we have in German, but I never read them in any english book. This gives the impression the writer, or in this case, the translator was not a native speaker. The book does not have any big issues, otherwise, like spelling or grammar mistakes, it just did not feel genuinely english to me.
The beginning of the book was a little confusing. To me it was not always clear who was speaking and who was who, especially in the first 20 pages. Fortunately this chaged, and I had no problems following what was going on after that.
CHARCTERS
Claps as our main character ist very likeable. He is determined to help in finding the killer, although struggling with aphasia. I liked this quite a lot- it's something I'd never read about before.
Elaji, the father of Ami is also quite present. At some point of the story he decides to hunt down the killer of his daughter. At first he cooperates with Claps, but soon he acts entirely on his own. Personally, I think his senegalese origin and culture were described very well, but I hated the way he wouldn't talk to Claps and hide certain bits of information.
Professor Trevis, whose role becomes only clear as the story progresses (he treats the sister of a girl, who is involved), was not someone I liked at the beginning. But as I was past the middle of the book I slowly started to like him, now he's one of my favourites beside Claps.
OPINION
I liked the way the story was told very much. It gives a realistic account of how long it takes to solve a case, other than most thrillers, where everything happens in a few days time. I also love books where I get a few insights in the killers pov. It adds to the thrill.
I saw the end coming only in parts. I got one part right very early into the story, but I did not foresee the final plot twist, which is pleasing.
Also, while I think the author may have still a bit to learn, it's his first novel after all, there are some parts, (the one where the killer wants to kidnap another little girl and the pov changes constantly- I won't tell if he succeeds) that were especially brilliant.
Overall I can say, that I liked this book. The story is very good, and after the first 20-30 pages I had adjusted to the style of writing. I also have a soft spot for Claps. The fact that he has problems with his speech may be annoying while you read, but it's also something I've never read about before. I'm also a huge fan of books, where there is not only the police, but also some external (psychological) expert involved.
This means I can recommend this book to lovers of good crime fiction/thrillers. I enjoyed the story, as well as the characters, and I would without hesitation read a sequel.
November 6, 2016
Missing by Monty Marsden
Translated by Marco Cordorelli
This crime thriller has a freshness to it. It is about a serial killer, which is not new at all, but I think because it takes place in Italy and is a translation, that makes it unique. It is a multifaceted plot with many interesting characters. On a cold November morning Ami leaves her house to catch the school bus and never makes it to the bus. CCTV recordings show her last ten minutes on her way to catch the bus, which she misses by a couple of minutes. Her father Elaji reports her missing to police commissioner Sensi who raises all of the alarms and makes it an international manhunt.
Three months later Sensi goes to visit an old colleague named Dr. Clap who is a retired criminologist. Dr. Clap was injured by major blood loss in a previous investigation that had cut off oxygen to his brain. This results in a physical disability called aphasia which slows down his speech but he is still very clever. The serial killer has targeted African girls who are young and Dr. Clap comes out of retirement to help Sensi with the investigation. They are both very well developed characters who don't always agree but work well together.
An interesting angle of this thriller is that of the Cellini family. They add their own element of mystery into the story. Denise Cellini who was white and doesn't fit the pattern of victims is missing. Her sister Elisa is a schizophrenic who holds the key to what happened to her sister. Elisa is working with a psychologist who is trying to help her communicate by drawing pictures. Dr. Clap knows that Elisa is somehow involved in the serial killings. There are plenty of red herrings and twists and turns throughout this story.
As Sensi and Dr Clap are hunting this serial killer, so is Ami's father Elaji. Elaji is asking questions and is angry and wants to catch the killer and kill him himself. Sensi, Dr. Clap, Elaji and the psychologist that is treating Elisa all tell the story from their points of view. There are no easy answers and false leads to keep you guessing until the collision course of a conclusion.
I really loved all of these characters and how they interacted with each other. Again I think the fact that it takes place in Italy and that it is a translation is what makes it so unique. I hope that Marty Marsden writes more books with police commissioner Sensi and Dr. Clap. This was a little choppy in places due to its translation but as for originality I would recommend this to all of those who enjoy a thriller and mystery. Five Stars.
Thank you to Net Galley, Monty Marsden and the publisher for providing me with my digital copy for a fair and honest review,
Translated by Marco Cordorelli
This crime thriller has a freshness to it. It is about a serial killer, which is not new at all, but I think because it takes place in Italy and is a translation, that makes it unique. It is a multifaceted plot with many interesting characters. On a cold November morning Ami leaves her house to catch the school bus and never makes it to the bus. CCTV recordings show her last ten minutes on her way to catch the bus, which she misses by a couple of minutes. Her father Elaji reports her missing to police commissioner Sensi who raises all of the alarms and makes it an international manhunt.
Three months later Sensi goes to visit an old colleague named Dr. Clap who is a retired criminologist. Dr. Clap was injured by major blood loss in a previous investigation that had cut off oxygen to his brain. This results in a physical disability called aphasia which slows down his speech but he is still very clever. The serial killer has targeted African girls who are young and Dr. Clap comes out of retirement to help Sensi with the investigation. They are both very well developed characters who don't always agree but work well together.
An interesting angle of this thriller is that of the Cellini family. They add their own element of mystery into the story. Denise Cellini who was white and doesn't fit the pattern of victims is missing. Her sister Elisa is a schizophrenic who holds the key to what happened to her sister. Elisa is working with a psychologist who is trying to help her communicate by drawing pictures. Dr. Clap knows that Elisa is somehow involved in the serial killings. There are plenty of red herrings and twists and turns throughout this story.
As Sensi and Dr Clap are hunting this serial killer, so is Ami's father Elaji. Elaji is asking questions and is angry and wants to catch the killer and kill him himself. Sensi, Dr. Clap, Elaji and the psychologist that is treating Elisa all tell the story from their points of view. There are no easy answers and false leads to keep you guessing until the collision course of a conclusion.
I really loved all of these characters and how they interacted with each other. Again I think the fact that it takes place in Italy and that it is a translation is what makes it so unique. I hope that Marty Marsden writes more books with police commissioner Sensi and Dr. Clap. This was a little choppy in places due to its translation but as for originality I would recommend this to all of those who enjoy a thriller and mystery. Five Stars.
Thank you to Net Galley, Monty Marsden and the publisher for providing me with my digital copy for a fair and honest review,
October 20, 2016
I would like to thank Netgalley and Aria for an advance copy of Missing, a police procedural set in Lombardy and Tuscany.
Ami Demba, a 14 year old Italian girl of Senegalese descent goes missing on her way to school. The police realise almost immediately that she hasn't disappeared voluntarily and exhaust all avenues to find her and the predator who took her. The novel opens three months into the search when Commissioner Sensi meets with Doctor Claps, a former profiler who had to retire through ill health after being stabbed by a killer in a previous case, and discusses the case with him. It reawakens Claps' interest in police work so then the novel recaps the investigation so far and moves into the present, concentrating on Claps' efforts to find what he now believes to be a serial killer.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It is, mostly, linear and logical with several red herrings and seems to me to be very realistic in the police's professional approach to investigation. It held my attention with various twists and turns and I read it in one sitting. The novel has several points of view which give the reader a broader perspective. It starts with Sensi but from an investigative point of view he is replaced by Claps once he gets involved, Ami's dad, Elaji, psychologist Trevis and the killer. I don't normally like hearing from the killer as I'm not interested in his (it's normally a he) problems but I liked it here as it concentrates more on his hunt than his thoughts.
I also liked the characterisation. The interaction between Sensi and Claps seems very natural for old colleagues and friends. Claps is an attractive protagonist with his desire to catch the bad guys in spite of his physical disabilities, how realistic it is I'm not sure. Elaji is also well drawn in his sense of impotence and burning need to avenge his daughter.
I would have given this novel 5 stars for its good plot and characterisation but I feel the translation is a bit clunky in parts so 4.5. Despite this I have no hesitation in recommending Missing as a good read.
Ami Demba, a 14 year old Italian girl of Senegalese descent goes missing on her way to school. The police realise almost immediately that she hasn't disappeared voluntarily and exhaust all avenues to find her and the predator who took her. The novel opens three months into the search when Commissioner Sensi meets with Doctor Claps, a former profiler who had to retire through ill health after being stabbed by a killer in a previous case, and discusses the case with him. It reawakens Claps' interest in police work so then the novel recaps the investigation so far and moves into the present, concentrating on Claps' efforts to find what he now believes to be a serial killer.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It is, mostly, linear and logical with several red herrings and seems to me to be very realistic in the police's professional approach to investigation. It held my attention with various twists and turns and I read it in one sitting. The novel has several points of view which give the reader a broader perspective. It starts with Sensi but from an investigative point of view he is replaced by Claps once he gets involved, Ami's dad, Elaji, psychologist Trevis and the killer. I don't normally like hearing from the killer as I'm not interested in his (it's normally a he) problems but I liked it here as it concentrates more on his hunt than his thoughts.
I also liked the characterisation. The interaction between Sensi and Claps seems very natural for old colleagues and friends. Claps is an attractive protagonist with his desire to catch the bad guys in spite of his physical disabilities, how realistic it is I'm not sure. Elaji is also well drawn in his sense of impotence and burning need to avenge his daughter.
I would have given this novel 5 stars for its good plot and characterisation but I feel the translation is a bit clunky in parts so 4.5. Despite this I have no hesitation in recommending Missing as a good read.
October 26, 2016
Missing
This intriguing and gripping book is set in a little village called Lombardy.
A cold November morning a father reports his little girl Ami as missing. After getting a call from the school to say that she never turned up. When the father tells the police it is a race against time to find her before anything horrific happens.
The books is already well into its investigation when we arrived smack bag in the middle of the drama.
Commissioner Sensi needs help solving this case and turns to a former profiler Dr Claps to help.
Will they find Ami in time? Well you will need to read the book to find out.
A gripping page turn from beginning to end. It is told in the POV of Claps, Sensi and the kidnapper which I found intriguing as I'm not sure I've read a book from their point of view before.
If you like crime/thriller/suspense books then this is definitely for you.
Thank you to NetGalley, author Monty Marsden and publisher Aria for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
This intriguing and gripping book is set in a little village called Lombardy.
A cold November morning a father reports his little girl Ami as missing. After getting a call from the school to say that she never turned up. When the father tells the police it is a race against time to find her before anything horrific happens.
The books is already well into its investigation when we arrived smack bag in the middle of the drama.
Commissioner Sensi needs help solving this case and turns to a former profiler Dr Claps to help.
Will they find Ami in time? Well you will need to read the book to find out.
A gripping page turn from beginning to end. It is told in the POV of Claps, Sensi and the kidnapper which I found intriguing as I'm not sure I've read a book from their point of view before.
If you like crime/thriller/suspense books then this is definitely for you.
Thank you to NetGalley, author Monty Marsden and publisher Aria for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 8, 2017
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. I wouldn't call this book a thriller but it was a very well written mystery. A serial killer who abducts and kills children is on the loose and the killings go back many years. While I found the story to be a bit slow in parts, I really enjoyed following the police investigation and was quite impressed in the end. A good debut!
July 17, 2017
Loved it
January 8, 2017
In Lombardy Elaji Demba’s 14-year-old daughter, Ami, disappears after leaving for school and later is found dead. Police Commissioner Sensi can make no headway in the case and reaches out to a former colleague, Dr. Claps, for assistance. Claps suffered from aphasia after a knife cut his femoral artery during a former case. He has slowly regained his ability to speak, but it is labored and at times difficult. As the investigation progresses, Sensi and Claps discover Ami may not be the killer’s only victim and it becomes a race to stop another girl from losing her life.
Missing by Monty Marsden is a good debut novel. In fact, in saying that I think it’s also one of its failings. At times it reads like the second in a series. There are allusions to a former case, e.g. how Claps lost his memory and his ability to speak, that raise a lot of questions and I can only hope they will be explained in future books. I also wish there were a little more background description. I think it would have been richer for it. Like Claps is a man of few words, Missing is a novel of few words. That said, I liked the story and I hope it’s not the last. There is much to say for the characters and I want to see them develop.
Missing by Monty Marsden is a good debut novel. In fact, in saying that I think it’s also one of its failings. At times it reads like the second in a series. There are allusions to a former case, e.g. how Claps lost his memory and his ability to speak, that raise a lot of questions and I can only hope they will be explained in future books. I also wish there were a little more background description. I think it would have been richer for it. Like Claps is a man of few words, Missing is a novel of few words. That said, I liked the story and I hope it’s not the last. There is much to say for the characters and I want to see them develop.
July 2, 2017
I have mixed feelings about this book. I found the novel to be slow-paced and it wasn’t until about three quarters of the way through that it began to pick up. This book was translated from its original language, so I think that may be part of the reason I had a hard time following along at times. However, I did like the plot and found the ending to be unexpected!
**Thank you to NetGalley, Aria, and Monty Marsden for the opportunity to read Missing. It was my pleasure to write an honest review.**
**Thank you to NetGalley, Aria, and Monty Marsden for the opportunity to read Missing. It was my pleasure to write an honest review.**
November 16, 2016
A great thriller, plenty twists, good characters and a good plot. It kept me reading and guessing to the end. It is set in Italy and is about a young girl from Senegal who vanishes on the way to school. Starts off quite slow but soon becomes fast paced.as the hunt continues for the killer. Perhaps lost a little bit in the translation but I would recommend it to lovers of thrillers. Thank you Net Galley for my copy.
August 7, 2018
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in return for my honest review.
This was the first book I have read by this author and I then purchased the second book with these characters, right after finishing it. I really liked Dr Claps and Police Officer Sensi, it was a great police procedural book, which lately seems to be my favorite genre. A young Senegal girl goes missing on her way to school and the case quickly goes cold, until Dr Claps comes into the picture and discovers, Ami is not the only girl to have gone missing. This book is told in several voices, including our killer, who is sick and twisted, but overall, it is the story of Claps and Sensi that are most intriguing. I really enjoyed the pace of this book and the twists and turn while they try to capture a killer before more children go missing. These are great characters! Cannot wait to read the next book.
This was the first book I have read by this author and I then purchased the second book with these characters, right after finishing it. I really liked Dr Claps and Police Officer Sensi, it was a great police procedural book, which lately seems to be my favorite genre. A young Senegal girl goes missing on her way to school and the case quickly goes cold, until Dr Claps comes into the picture and discovers, Ami is not the only girl to have gone missing. This book is told in several voices, including our killer, who is sick and twisted, but overall, it is the story of Claps and Sensi that are most intriguing. I really enjoyed the pace of this book and the twists and turn while they try to capture a killer before more children go missing. These are great characters! Cannot wait to read the next book.
October 8, 2023
This is a rather short book. I opted to read it because I figured it would be face paced, especially given the subject matter.
I enjoy a good crime read, true or fictional. I struggled to get into this book - At first I thought I would find it hard to read because of the subject matter but instead it was a slow read. It wasn't gripping. It seemed to get sloppy or sluggish along the way, with two storylines that meet up eventually.
The ending had an added twist that wasn't predictable, but unsatisfying because it was far fetched based on what we knew about the character(s).
I dislike quick wrap ups, and this book was essentially that.
I enjoy a good crime read, true or fictional. I struggled to get into this book - At first I thought I would find it hard to read because of the subject matter but instead it was a slow read. It wasn't gripping. It seemed to get sloppy or sluggish along the way, with two storylines that meet up eventually.
The ending had an added twist that wasn't predictable, but unsatisfying because it was far fetched based on what we knew about the character(s).
I dislike quick wrap ups, and this book was essentially that.
February 4, 2017
The story takes place near Milan, where a 14 year old girl of Senegalese descent vanishes one morning on her way to catch the bus to school. The investigation into her disappearance uncovers the unreported kidnappings of other young girls of African descent, and with the discovery of their mutilated remains, the hunt is on for a paedophile and serial killer.
This is a gripping crime novel, with lots of red herrings sprinkled throughout. I thoroughly recommend it and look forward to reading more from Monty Marsden.
This is a gripping crime novel, with lots of red herrings sprinkled throughout. I thoroughly recommend it and look forward to reading more from Monty Marsden.
October 10, 2024
A serial killer thriller. Someone is taking young girls and killing them in the area around Siena in Italy. Ami leaves home one day to get the bus to school but she never arrives. Her body is found months later, but she is missing the little finger from her left hand. Chief Commissioner Sensi is in charge of the investigation and eventually calls in his friend criminologist Dr Claps to assist as other young girls have also gone missing in the region.
May 11, 2017
Didn't care for.
I could not get in to this book. When I can't get into a book by reading it I try listening to it. This was not the book for me.
I could not get in to this book. When I can't get into a book by reading it I try listening to it. This was not the book for me.
June 9, 2017
twists and turns galore. kept me gripped and definitely delayed any other activity today!
August 23, 2017
Such a page turner! I recommend it- it'll keep you on your toes, flipping every page!
August 27, 2017
1.5 stars.
Started off well but I lost interest half way through. There is no need for the swearing and it has a 'first novel' feel to it. Not sure if it is or not.
Started off well but I lost interest half way through. There is no need for the swearing and it has a 'first novel' feel to it. Not sure if it is or not.
August 12, 2018
If you love a good thriller, you will enjoy this book as it is filled with suspense. It is well written with a few twists along the way. Would definitely recommend.
March 18, 2017
A most enjoyable read it kept you hooked from page to page, right through to the end one or two twist and turns to keep you hooked,
shall look forward to reading the next book...
Thanks Netgalley
shall look forward to reading the next book...
Thanks Netgalley
March 1, 2017
My thanks to NetGalley and Aria for an ARC of “Missing” by Monty Marsden, in exchange for an honest review.
The daughter of an immigrant disappears from a small Italian town, and after a frantic search by the authorities and the townspeople, her body is later found. She is not the first immigrant daughter to go missing, but the first to come from a family in the country legally. The other families have been too fearful to contact the authorities about their missing daughters, which is what the killer was counting on; but now that they are aware of his existence, the hunt is on to find him before he kidnaps another.
This is a debut novel by the author, and it has a great premise, but perhaps due to the translation from Italian to English, I found the pacing slow and dialogue less than gripping, and had it not been a novel I agreed to read in exchange for a review, I likely would not have finished it. So I continued, and thankfully, about halfway through, the story finally began to pick up a little bit. It has some unexpected turns, and the author does a great job of including several possible suspects, so that the real culprit revealed at the end is still a surprise. He also provides glimpses into Dr. Trevis’ and Mr. Claps’ pasts that are intriguing enough to warrant their own novels, if the author was so inclined. I believe this is a good first effort by the author, and the quality will only improve with more experience. 2.5 stars
The daughter of an immigrant disappears from a small Italian town, and after a frantic search by the authorities and the townspeople, her body is later found. She is not the first immigrant daughter to go missing, but the first to come from a family in the country legally. The other families have been too fearful to contact the authorities about their missing daughters, which is what the killer was counting on; but now that they are aware of his existence, the hunt is on to find him before he kidnaps another.
This is a debut novel by the author, and it has a great premise, but perhaps due to the translation from Italian to English, I found the pacing slow and dialogue less than gripping, and had it not been a novel I agreed to read in exchange for a review, I likely would not have finished it. So I continued, and thankfully, about halfway through, the story finally began to pick up a little bit. It has some unexpected turns, and the author does a great job of including several possible suspects, so that the real culprit revealed at the end is still a surprise. He also provides glimpses into Dr. Trevis’ and Mr. Claps’ pasts that are intriguing enough to warrant their own novels, if the author was so inclined. I believe this is a good first effort by the author, and the quality will only improve with more experience. 2.5 stars
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