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Nex – Die letzte Nacht
Kiss of a Ghost – Auf Mördersuche in Los Angeles
Eine kurze Berührung nur – und Lexi spürt, wie und wann jemand stirbt. Einige sagen, es sei eine Gabe. Doch für Lexi ist es ein Fluch. Von anderen Menschen hält sie sich fern, Freunde findet sie nur unter den anderen übernatürlich Begabten in Los Angeles. Eines Abends stößt Lexi aus Versehen mit Jane zusammen, der noch in derselben Nacht die Kehle durchgeschnitten werden wird. Ihren Tod kann Lexi nicht verhindern. Doch als Janes rachedurstiger Geist auftaucht, sagt sie zu, ihr zu helfen. Als dann auch noch weitere Menschen sterben, wird klar, dass der Mörder aus den eigenen Reihen der magischen Gemeinschaft stammen muss. Und ihn zu finden wird plötzlich überlebenswichtig.
Eine kurze Berührung nur – und Lexi spürt, wie und wann jemand stirbt. Einige sagen, es sei eine Gabe. Doch für Lexi ist es ein Fluch. Von anderen Menschen hält sie sich fern, Freunde findet sie nur unter den anderen übernatürlich Begabten in Los Angeles. Eines Abends stößt Lexi aus Versehen mit Jane zusammen, der noch in derselben Nacht die Kehle durchgeschnitten werden wird. Ihren Tod kann Lexi nicht verhindern. Doch als Janes rachedurstiger Geist auftaucht, sagt sie zu, ihr zu helfen. Als dann auch noch weitere Menschen sterben, wird klar, dass der Mörder aus den eigenen Reihen der magischen Gemeinschaft stammen muss. Und ihn zu finden wird plötzlich überlebenswichtig.
329 pages, Paperback
First published May 21, 2019
54 people are currently reading
6090 people want to read
About the author
Emma Berquist
2 books223 followersEmma Berquist grew up in Austin, TX and currently lives in New Zealand. She likes horror movies and dogs and dislikes brushing her hair and writing bios.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 220 reviews
August 22, 2019
i want a ghost girlfriend
July 9, 2019
i will personally beat down every f/f author's door if they continue this underdeveloped sapphic romance trend where they don't get together until the last fucking page
Want to read
December 13, 2018"Lexi will do anything to help Jane, to make up for the fact that she didn’t—couldn’t—save Jane’s life, and to keep this beautiful ghost of a girl by her side for as long as possible."
Me reading the synopsis: yep, yep, sounds good, yep, I'm intereste - WAIT A SECOND. IS THIS QUEER?!?!?!
Thank you so much to Greenwillow Books for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Me reading the synopsis: yep, yep, sounds good, yep, I'm intereste - WAIT A SECOND. IS THIS QUEER?!?!?!
Thank you so much to Greenwillow Books for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
October 14, 2019
Now I have feelings, book, how dare you.
4.5 stars.
I love ghost stories. It's not so much about wanting to believe in the paranormal or wanting to talk about what is after death; that's not what draws me in. It's that haunting stories are stories about isolation. There's something inherently detached from reality in this kind of paranormal. They are stories about the word's hidden pockets, the in-between spaces, for the lonely and the lost. They are about the weight isolation has on a person, and seeing Lexi's journey with that, seeing how what the story does with this theme, meant so much to me.
Lexi is a bitter and deeply pessimistic person. The first impression I had of this story, before I really got to know her and her circumstances, was that it really was a downer. And it's not. I'm not saying this just because there is humor - dark and sarcastic, often, but it is funny - but because whether something ends up being depressing is about what a story does with its premise, and this might be dark, but it's all but hopeless.
And, after all, how could Lexi not be the way she is? She can't touch people without seeing the time and the cause of their deaths, and she avoids (and is avoided by) people for that reason. Stories often understate how much loneliness can affect a person. What matters is that she is not static in this, and the way the book ends up dealing with all of this was both original and right for the story.
By the way, giving your haunted and isolated main character a power that can double as a metaphor for significant touch aversion, and showing how people often don't respect that kind of boundary, which only reinforces something that already is really isolating to deal with: great and painful content.
This is a story about an angry, isolated girl who can see death and the dead as she meets an angry, vengeful ghost of a murdered teenage girl (Jane), and their relationship was one of my favorite aspects of the book. In equal parts tender and raw, it's messy and tangled and somewhat unbalanced, and the main character absolutely do say terrible things to each other, think terrible things about each other, harm each other. And yet. There is a conversation in which Lexi says that she's not sure they're going to work, and she thinks that trying and not making it could only hurt her more, but here's the thing: I can see it working, and in the end, so does she. Because they finally talk about their feelings, and not wanting to deal with them was a big part of why their early interactions were toxic (so much that Lexi at one point thinks, paraphrasing, "I wish Jane would always be angry and vengeful instead of trying to make me think about my feelings"). The elephant-in-the-review I still haven't talked about, which clearly had a strong negative impact on their relationship while at the same time bringing them together, also had a resolution.
About the relationship, spoiler territory:
But let's talk about the aforementioned elephant, the reason I haven't given this f/f ghost story about all the themes I love, following two angry bi girls I also loved, a full five stars. And that elephant is the murder mystery, the thing this book wants you to deceive it is. It's not, really, even though the mystery drives a significant part of the tension. Get into this if you're interested in an introspective story about isolation; as a murder mystery, it's underwhelming. I did fall for one of the things the book threw at me, which I did appreciate, but this is the kind of book that doesn't give you enough elements to solve the mystery along with the characters, and that's always disappointing. Also, introducing this many (often irrelevant) male characters in the first chapters of a story meant that I kept confusing them, so that didn't help either.
Overall, this was a really compelling paranormal read and I really recommend it to everyone who needs more queer ghost stories in their lives.
4.5 stars.
I love ghost stories. It's not so much about wanting to believe in the paranormal or wanting to talk about what is after death; that's not what draws me in. It's that haunting stories are stories about isolation. There's something inherently detached from reality in this kind of paranormal. They are stories about the word's hidden pockets, the in-between spaces, for the lonely and the lost. They are about the weight isolation has on a person, and seeing Lexi's journey with that, seeing how what the story does with this theme, meant so much to me.
Lexi is a bitter and deeply pessimistic person. The first impression I had of this story, before I really got to know her and her circumstances, was that it really was a downer. And it's not. I'm not saying this just because there is humor - dark and sarcastic, often, but it is funny - but because whether something ends up being depressing is about what a story does with its premise, and this might be dark, but it's all but hopeless.
And, after all, how could Lexi not be the way she is? She can't touch people without seeing the time and the cause of their deaths, and she avoids (and is avoided by) people for that reason. Stories often understate how much loneliness can affect a person. What matters is that she is not static in this, and the way the book ends up dealing with all of this was both original and right for the story.
By the way, giving your haunted and isolated main character a power that can double as a metaphor for significant touch aversion, and showing how people often don't respect that kind of boundary, which only reinforces something that already is really isolating to deal with: great and painful content.
This is a story about an angry, isolated girl who can see death and the dead as she meets an angry, vengeful ghost of a murdered teenage girl (Jane), and their relationship was one of my favorite aspects of the book. In equal parts tender and raw, it's messy and tangled and somewhat unbalanced, and the main character absolutely do say terrible things to each other, think terrible things about each other, harm each other. And yet. There is a conversation in which Lexi says that she's not sure they're going to work, and she thinks that trying and not making it could only hurt her more, but here's the thing: I can see it working, and in the end, so does she. Because they finally talk about their feelings, and not wanting to deal with them was a big part of why their early interactions were toxic (so much that Lexi at one point thinks, paraphrasing, "I wish Jane would always be angry and vengeful instead of trying to make me think about my feelings"). The elephant-in-the-review I still haven't talked about, which clearly had a strong negative impact on their relationship while at the same time bringing them together, also had a resolution.
About the relationship, spoiler territory:
But let's talk about the aforementioned elephant, the reason I haven't given this f/f ghost story about all the themes I love, following two angry bi girls I also loved, a full five stars. And that elephant is the murder mystery, the thing this book wants you to deceive it is. It's not, really, even though the mystery drives a significant part of the tension. Get into this if you're interested in an introspective story about isolation; as a murder mystery, it's underwhelming. I did fall for one of the things the book threw at me, which I did appreciate, but this is the kind of book that doesn't give you enough elements to solve the mystery along with the characters, and that's always disappointing. Also, introducing this many (often irrelevant) male characters in the first chapters of a story meant that I kept confusing them, so that didn't help either.
Overall, this was a really compelling paranormal read and I really recommend it to everyone who needs more queer ghost stories in their lives.
August 14, 2019
Last year I read Berquist's debut novel, Devils Unto Dust, and ended up putting it on my favourites 2018 shelf. Missing, Presumed Dead is another complete hit for me. As was the case in Devils Unto Dust, Berquist puts her main character Lexi front and centre, her complicated interpersonal relationships, and the difficult interior life she struggles to get out from under. Lexi can not only see ghosts, she sees dead people walking all around her: every time she touches someone she sees the manner of their death.
Unbearably lonely, Lexi sinks to the edge and often below into depression, but her life starts to change when Lexi sees a young woman's violent death just hours before she knows that death will occur. There isn't anything Lexi can do to stop Jane's death, but when Jane reappears as a ghost, the two young women form a bond based on, among other things, a shared desire to find and stop the killer before he hurts someone else.
This is a quick read, but only because it doesn't take any detours, not because it is lacking in substance. I'm not usually one for mysteries, but Berquist's writing is so engaging that it draws you in and keeps you embedded in the story right from the outset. My only slight critique would be that the resolution at the end between Lexi and Jane felt a bit too easy, but that is a small point that did not at all detract from my enjoyment of the book as a whole.
Unbearably lonely, Lexi sinks to the edge and often below into depression, but her life starts to change when Lexi sees a young woman's violent death just hours before she knows that death will occur. There isn't anything Lexi can do to stop Jane's death, but when Jane reappears as a ghost, the two young women form a bond based on, among other things, a shared desire to find and stop the killer before he hurts someone else.
This is a quick read, but only because it doesn't take any detours, not because it is lacking in substance. I'm not usually one for mysteries, but Berquist's writing is so engaging that it draws you in and keeps you embedded in the story right from the outset. My only slight critique would be that the resolution at the end between Lexi and Jane felt a bit too easy, but that is a small point that did not at all detract from my enjoyment of the book as a whole.
May 28, 2019
Why aren't more people reading this ?!!!
I really liked a premise and as a fan of the TV shows ghost whisperer and medium I was intrigued but somehow on the fence cause I didn't want to read the same old story.
Luckily that didn't happen first of all Lexi's power has more to it than seeing ghosts, knowing how and when people are gonna die was a really nice addition and it gave her an excuse for being a jerk most of the book. She was lonely and in pain.
Again I don't want to give things away but I just love the world that is written and there is much more than ghosts.
I really liked a premise and as a fan of the TV shows ghost whisperer and medium I was intrigued but somehow on the fence cause I didn't want to read the same old story.
Luckily that didn't happen first of all Lexi's power has more to it than seeing ghosts, knowing how and when people are gonna die was a really nice addition and it gave her an excuse for being a jerk most of the book. She was lonely and in pain.
Again I don't want to give things away but I just love the world that is written and there is much more than ghosts.
June 18, 2019
Listen, this book is everything you could want from a gritty queer urban fantasy. Murder! Ghosts! Murdered gay ghosts who don't fall into the "bury your gays" trope because, you know ... they're not buried! Missing, Presumed Dead isn't my usual cup of tea, but Emma Berquist's debut, Devils Unto Dust, was so innovative that I had to check this one out and I'm so glad I did.
Even though the main character, Lexi, isn't exactly likable, I loved her. It is, after all, understandable why she's jaded and prickly: because she can see how people die with a touch, Lexi carries a lot of fear and trauma with her that masquerades as anger. She reminded me a lot of Kaz Brekker, actually, which I liked. Girls often aren't allowed to be antagonistic--too often it's construed as an undesirable trait, something to be fixed. Even though Lexi's character arc has her softening a bit and slowly letting people in, she's still secretive and grumpy and that's okay.
Lexi is eighteen, but she reads so much older; had I not known this was YA, I would definitely have assumed she's in her early thirties. Her character, her narrative voice, and her history sounds like it could have come out of an adult book. I feel as if this has the potential to be alienating to teens who read this book, and it was difficult for me to suspend my disbelief enough to remember that Lexi is still a teenager.
One thing I wasn't expecting to get out of this book was a murder mystery and ghost story wrapped into one. The mechanics of the ghosts in Missing, Presumed Dead are really quite unique; of all the living people in the novel, only Lexi can interact with them, but to her, they're as real as a living person would be. This works out very well when it comes to Jane, one of the few people she can touch without foreseeing death. Jane and Lexi had a great dynamic, full of tension and bickering and slow burn, which is exactly what I wanted from my romance, and their romance arc was so well-written.
The whole book has a very film noir tone to it as Lexi and Jane work together to solve the mystery of Jane's murder. I don't think the murder mystery was executed as well as it could have been. When I'm reading mystery, I don't want the culprit to come out of left field, and this book definitely gave me that feeling. I was invested in what was going on and loved all the investigation that Lexi and Jane did, but I felt like there was very little actual foreshadowing--what gives you the satisfaction of guessing whodunit. Or maybe that's the brain fog talking and it was there all along.
The magic system and setting is fairly typical of urban fantasy, but combined with the film noir tone it felt so much more vivid than most of the urban fantasy I've read. There's also a fun cast of side characters; the one who really stood out to me was Trevor, Lexi's ghost roommate and mentor to Jane. The world just feels so busy and active, and for the most part, Lexi chooses to shut herself out of it.
Missing, Presumed Dead is a really great reinvention of the urban fantasy/paranormal genre with a lovely queer romance and atmospheric setting. If you want a bit of a twist on the conventions of the genre, definitely check it out.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy!
BLOG | TWITTER
Even though the main character, Lexi, isn't exactly likable, I loved her. It is, after all, understandable why she's jaded and prickly: because she can see how people die with a touch, Lexi carries a lot of fear and trauma with her that masquerades as anger. She reminded me a lot of Kaz Brekker, actually, which I liked. Girls often aren't allowed to be antagonistic--too often it's construed as an undesirable trait, something to be fixed. Even though Lexi's character arc has her softening a bit and slowly letting people in, she's still secretive and grumpy and that's okay.
Lexi is eighteen, but she reads so much older; had I not known this was YA, I would definitely have assumed she's in her early thirties. Her character, her narrative voice, and her history sounds like it could have come out of an adult book. I feel as if this has the potential to be alienating to teens who read this book, and it was difficult for me to suspend my disbelief enough to remember that Lexi is still a teenager.
One thing I wasn't expecting to get out of this book was a murder mystery and ghost story wrapped into one. The mechanics of the ghosts in Missing, Presumed Dead are really quite unique; of all the living people in the novel, only Lexi can interact with them, but to her, they're as real as a living person would be. This works out very well when it comes to Jane, one of the few people she can touch without foreseeing death. Jane and Lexi had a great dynamic, full of tension and bickering and slow burn, which is exactly what I wanted from my romance, and their romance arc was so well-written.
The whole book has a very film noir tone to it as Lexi and Jane work together to solve the mystery of Jane's murder. I don't think the murder mystery was executed as well as it could have been. When I'm reading mystery, I don't want the culprit to come out of left field, and this book definitely gave me that feeling. I was invested in what was going on and loved all the investigation that Lexi and Jane did, but I felt like there was very little actual foreshadowing--what gives you the satisfaction of guessing whodunit. Or maybe that's the brain fog talking and it was there all along.
The magic system and setting is fairly typical of urban fantasy, but combined with the film noir tone it felt so much more vivid than most of the urban fantasy I've read. There's also a fun cast of side characters; the one who really stood out to me was Trevor, Lexi's ghost roommate and mentor to Jane. The world just feels so busy and active, and for the most part, Lexi chooses to shut herself out of it.
Missing, Presumed Dead is a really great reinvention of the urban fantasy/paranormal genre with a lovely queer romance and atmospheric setting. If you want a bit of a twist on the conventions of the genre, definitely check it out.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy!
BLOG | TWITTER
January 3, 2025
~ 4.5 rounded up ~
I flew through this book!! It was the equivalent of a rollar coaster - thrilling, fast paced, addictive. Lexi and Jane were both flawed and compelling. They made a lot of mistakes, had a lot of baggage, and were even unlikeable at times (often purposefully so, especially in Lexi’s case). But it set them apart from other YA main characters, and the author walked the line between sympathetic and cruel quite skillfully. Despite, or maybe because of their rough edges, I was rooting for Lexi and Jane as I watched their story unfold. I only wish we could have seen a deeper side to their budding relationship, but I still felt the chemistry between them. Another plus was the way the author wrote about ghosts, managing to make them classic and recognizable, but also entirely her own. A sapphic thriller like no other, guaranteed to pull you into a world of ghosts, magic, and grit.
I flew through this book!! It was the equivalent of a rollar coaster - thrilling, fast paced, addictive. Lexi and Jane were both flawed and compelling. They made a lot of mistakes, had a lot of baggage, and were even unlikeable at times (often purposefully so, especially in Lexi’s case). But it set them apart from other YA main characters, and the author walked the line between sympathetic and cruel quite skillfully. Despite, or maybe because of their rough edges, I was rooting for Lexi and Jane as I watched their story unfold. I only wish we could have seen a deeper side to their budding relationship, but I still felt the chemistry between them. Another plus was the way the author wrote about ghosts, managing to make them classic and recognizable, but also entirely her own. A sapphic thriller like no other, guaranteed to pull you into a world of ghosts, magic, and grit.
April 2, 2019
I adored Berquist's debut novel last year and was so excited to see that she was, once again, coming out with something completely new and different.
It didn't take me long to pick it up and dig right in. I loved the whole unique concept of this book. With a blend of the everyday with a supernatural spin that sets it apart from others in the genre.
A mystery filled with ghosts and magic and things that can go bump in the night. A very unexpected hint of romance and you combine it all into a story that was truly hard to put down.
And even though it wasn't at all what I had been expecting, I really did enjoy it, weird romance angle and all.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
It didn't take me long to pick it up and dig right in. I loved the whole unique concept of this book. With a blend of the everyday with a supernatural spin that sets it apart from others in the genre.
A mystery filled with ghosts and magic and things that can go bump in the night. A very unexpected hint of romance and you combine it all into a story that was truly hard to put down.
And even though it wasn't at all what I had been expecting, I really did enjoy it, weird romance angle and all.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
July 20, 2019
This story was immediately engaging with a main character whose horrible gift isolates her and leaves her deeply unhappy and lonely. A chance encounter with a young woman at the club where she works leaves Lexi drowning in guilt, as she saw the other woman murdered brutally.
When Jane, now a ghost, turns to Lexi for help, Lexi feels obligated to investigate, as a way to find who is targeting other young people, also with various "gifts".
Emma Berquist's story drew me in, and I empathized with Lexi, and kept hoping something positive would happen for her. I really enjoyed this mystery/ghosts/serial killer story, much the same way I totally enjoyed Berquist's fantastic story Devils Unto Dust.
When Jane, now a ghost, turns to Lexi for help, Lexi feels obligated to investigate, as a way to find who is targeting other young people, also with various "gifts".
Emma Berquist's story drew me in, and I empathized with Lexi, and kept hoping something positive would happen for her. I really enjoyed this mystery/ghosts/serial killer story, much the same way I totally enjoyed Berquist's fantastic story Devils Unto Dust.
October 16, 2023
Hat mir überraschend gut gefallen! Übernatürlicher Kriminalfall, indem die Protagonistin mal nicht die typische Heldin ist, sondern eher durch Zufall "reingezogen" wird, obwohl sie ihre Gabe ablehnt und schwer damit zu kämpfen hat. Düsteres Setting, düstere Themen, eingerahmt von einem tollen, mitreißende Schreibstil. Perfekte Lektüre für die "spooky-time"..
April 24, 2019
Missing, Presumed Dead was a very unique story. It's almost hard to compare it to something else, I think that it's probably going to appeal most to the Buffy and Supernatural crowd. Basically we have a queer paranormal/mystery that takes place in our everyday world.
This was my introduction to Emma Berquist's writing and I thought it was really unique and strong. The story starts with our main protagonist Lexi, who has a very powerful, if not inconvenient gift where she can see can see how and when other people will die when she touches them. It's not a gift Lexi is happy about, it was passed down from her Grandfather, and it's caused her to have very few friends or relationships - she's isolated herself as much as possibly. However, she has to work to live, so she uses her gift at a "club" downtown that is kind of a safety spot for people like her.
When Lexi is called into work, she accidentally bumps into a young woman, Jane, and sees that she is going to be murdered that night. Lexi freaks out and runs away, doing nothing to try and stop it but later feels a lot of guilt and goes looking to see if the ghost of the girl has hung back and sure enough.... It's hard to go into much detail here because it would only be even more confusing than I've already made it and it would give way too much away. Stuff gets really really weird from here on out there, but a good weird and lots of intrigue and mystery.
Some kind of random things that I really liked about this story is that it didn't go with all the traditional things we know about ghosts. Yes, some ghosts hung around because of unfinished business but some just hung around because they weren't ready yet or they were waiting for someone. They were also warm, instead of cold. So, when they came up to you, it was comforting rather than unpleasant. Also, even though at first ghosts walked around looking how they passed (which is pretty nasty if you died a horrible death), you could eventually glamour yourself however you wanted. You weren't stuck with it. I thought that was nice.
There is a small, queer romance that I did enjoy, even though I have a million and one questions about it but I'll keep my lips zipped up. I think this might be a bit of a polarizing read, it's quite different and I find that always puts people on the love it or hate it side of the fence. I personally thought it was fun and a really interesting take on a mystery story. I would 100% read Emma's work again.
This was my introduction to Emma Berquist's writing and I thought it was really unique and strong. The story starts with our main protagonist Lexi, who has a very powerful, if not inconvenient gift where she can see can see how and when other people will die when she touches them. It's not a gift Lexi is happy about, it was passed down from her Grandfather, and it's caused her to have very few friends or relationships - she's isolated herself as much as possibly. However, she has to work to live, so she uses her gift at a "club" downtown that is kind of a safety spot for people like her.
When Lexi is called into work, she accidentally bumps into a young woman, Jane, and sees that she is going to be murdered that night. Lexi freaks out and runs away, doing nothing to try and stop it but later feels a lot of guilt and goes looking to see if the ghost of the girl has hung back and sure enough.... It's hard to go into much detail here because it would only be even more confusing than I've already made it and it would give way too much away. Stuff gets really really weird from here on out there, but a good weird and lots of intrigue and mystery.
Some kind of random things that I really liked about this story is that it didn't go with all the traditional things we know about ghosts. Yes, some ghosts hung around because of unfinished business but some just hung around because they weren't ready yet or they were waiting for someone. They were also warm, instead of cold. So, when they came up to you, it was comforting rather than unpleasant. Also, even though at first ghosts walked around looking how they passed (which is pretty nasty if you died a horrible death), you could eventually glamour yourself however you wanted. You weren't stuck with it. I thought that was nice.
There is a small, queer romance that I did enjoy, even though I have a million and one questions about it but I'll keep my lips zipped up. I think this might be a bit of a polarizing read, it's quite different and I find that always puts people on the love it or hate it side of the fence. I personally thought it was fun and a really interesting take on a mystery story. I would 100% read Emma's work again.
May 22, 2019
this was so good omg
literally so much love to this book (Lexi is such an icon and angry at the world but I love her) it's also f/f sooo
literally so much love to this book (Lexi is such an icon and angry at the world but I love her) it's also f/f sooo
May 26, 2019
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight .
This was a pretty fun book! I was into it from start to finish, as it was quite thrilling! Let us talk about what I enjoyed!
•Lexi was a suprisingly compelling main character. At the start, she was so closed off that I wasn't sure I'd really form a connection to her, but wow I did. She is fabulous. I don't want to give anything away so I am going to keep this simple, but she learns and grows so much during the book, and you really can't help but feel compassion for her.
•Her support system is small (and sometimes dead) but mighty. She has a grandfather with the same ability to see people's deaths and okay I freaking love Deda! He's a grouchy old man that loves Lexi some kind of fierce and their relationship is everything. One of her coworkers (and I am not saying who!) is another character I have a huge soft spot for. And her ghost roommates? Yeah they're kind of awesome. And maybe Lexi ends up falling for one of these people. Just saying, it's a possibility ;)
•The concept as a whole is not only awesome, but well-executed. Like obviously this could veer into cheesy territory, but doesn't. Lexi has strategies for not touching people (physically and emotionally, let's be real) that make the story believable.
•The mystery itself, the "whodunit", is so fun! I loved it, I kept trying to guess who the villain was, and it was just really fun and compulsively readable.
The only minor qualm I had was that the ending was a wee bit underwhelming for me? Definitely not a dealbreaker or anything, and doesn't negate the good parts of the book, but worth mentioning.
Bottom Line: I'm just going to go ahead and say that if you read any of the "I see dead people" books, let it be this one!
This was a pretty fun book! I was into it from start to finish, as it was quite thrilling! Let us talk about what I enjoyed!
•Lexi was a suprisingly compelling main character. At the start, she was so closed off that I wasn't sure I'd really form a connection to her, but wow I did. She is fabulous. I don't want to give anything away so I am going to keep this simple, but she learns and grows so much during the book, and you really can't help but feel compassion for her.
•Her support system is small (and sometimes dead) but mighty. She has a grandfather with the same ability to see people's deaths and okay I freaking love Deda! He's a grouchy old man that loves Lexi some kind of fierce and their relationship is everything. One of her coworkers (and I am not saying who!) is another character I have a huge soft spot for. And her ghost roommates? Yeah they're kind of awesome. And maybe Lexi ends up falling for one of these people. Just saying, it's a possibility ;)
•The concept as a whole is not only awesome, but well-executed. Like obviously this could veer into cheesy territory, but doesn't. Lexi has strategies for not touching people (physically and emotionally, let's be real) that make the story believable.
•The mystery itself, the "whodunit", is so fun! I loved it, I kept trying to guess who the villain was, and it was just really fun and compulsively readable.
The only minor qualm I had was that the ending was a wee bit underwhelming for me? Definitely not a dealbreaker or anything, and doesn't negate the good parts of the book, but worth mentioning.
Bottom Line: I'm just going to go ahead and say that if you read any of the "I see dead people" books, let it be this one!
Read
July 20, 2019Here's a fun dilemma:
What rating do you give a book that contains literally everything you love--a complex bisexual female protagonist, a gritty paranormal mystery, exploration of mental health, ghost girls, f/f romance--and executes most of them very well, but then you come across three or four lines that make you go, "I'm sorry, what??" and put a damper on the whole thing?
Asking for a friend. (Hashtag-I-am-that-friend)
Okay, let's backtrack for a bit. Missing, Presumed Dead is like the queer YA version of Chuck Wendig's Miriam Black series, starring a girl who can tell the how's and when's of someone's death by touching them skin-to-skin. Except I'm not sure 'YA' is even the right label because many of the characters either feel older than their teenage years or are actually older; personally, I think it'd sit more comfortably as a New Adult.
As far as paranormal mysteries go, it's fairly typical of what you'd find in a lot of adult books: a club that doubles as a sanctuary for people with magical abilities (witches, psychics, etc), a sudden surge of missing and/or dead kids, and a ghost girl with no recollection of how she died. Thing is, though, we don't really find these kinds of stories in YA--especially ones tinted with shades of horror and noir--so this was a much-needed breath of fresh air for me. The mystery is engaging, the pacing is quick, the worldbuilding just vivid enough to hold your interest, and the protagonist is....well. The protagonist is messy and sharp all over and I was such a huge fan in the beginning.
Lexi is, to be blunt, miserable, and understandably so, considering how her abilities don't allow her to engage in physical affection and intimacy of any kind. Through Lexi's lens the story becomes a portrait of loneliness and depression, and I can't emphasize enough how much I adore stories that dive deep into the psychological baggage that comes with having supernatural powers.
Really, the only major issue I had was with the love interest Jane, who just isn't as interesting or well-developed as Lexi.
and this one:
It's perfectly normal to desire a connection with someone who understands first-hand the pain you're going through. I get it. I've been there. And that's what initially drives Lexi and Jane together. But you can't build a relationship on a foundation of mutual suffering. "I can fix your pain and you can fix mine" may sound sweet and romantic, but what it often ends up becoming is an echo chamber of hurt coupled with codependency.
And wanting someone to remain miserable and fucked-up, because that's how you feel most of the time, is selfish and unhealthy. I'm all for YA stories exploring unhealthy relationships or unhealthy mindsets regarding relationships, but I need them to address the fact that yes, this is, in fact, unhealthy and here's how we can move forward from that, which this book never does, and that sits so wrong with me.
And the crazy thing is that the core this issue can be fixed by just taking out those four lines.
So yeah. I'm conflicted. And frustrated. And I spent more time trying to figure out what rating to give the book than writing the damn review.
Which is why I'm giving it a big fat ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ in the end.
~
Review copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
What rating do you give a book that contains literally everything you love--a complex bisexual female protagonist, a gritty paranormal mystery, exploration of mental health, ghost girls, f/f romance--and executes most of them very well, but then you come across three or four lines that make you go, "I'm sorry, what??" and put a damper on the whole thing?
Asking for a friend. (Hashtag-I-am-that-friend)
Okay, let's backtrack for a bit. Missing, Presumed Dead is like the queer YA version of Chuck Wendig's Miriam Black series, starring a girl who can tell the how's and when's of someone's death by touching them skin-to-skin. Except I'm not sure 'YA' is even the right label because many of the characters either feel older than their teenage years or are actually older; personally, I think it'd sit more comfortably as a New Adult.
As far as paranormal mysteries go, it's fairly typical of what you'd find in a lot of adult books: a club that doubles as a sanctuary for people with magical abilities (witches, psychics, etc), a sudden surge of missing and/or dead kids, and a ghost girl with no recollection of how she died. Thing is, though, we don't really find these kinds of stories in YA--especially ones tinted with shades of horror and noir--so this was a much-needed breath of fresh air for me. The mystery is engaging, the pacing is quick, the worldbuilding just vivid enough to hold your interest, and the protagonist is....well. The protagonist is messy and sharp all over and I was such a huge fan in the beginning.
Lexi is, to be blunt, miserable, and understandably so, considering how her abilities don't allow her to engage in physical affection and intimacy of any kind. Through Lexi's lens the story becomes a portrait of loneliness and depression, and I can't emphasize enough how much I adore stories that dive deep into the psychological baggage that comes with having supernatural powers.
Really, the only major issue I had was with the love interest Jane, who just isn't as interesting or well-developed as Lexi.
And then I ran up against The Problem, which starts with this little passage:
"My Jane has never looked this carefree, this innocent. My Jane is angry and wild and a little cruel. I know which one I prefer."
and this one:
"I'd rather have her furious and bitter, I'd rather have her sad, anything but this scornful, spiteful ghost sneering at me across the seat."
It's perfectly normal to desire a connection with someone who understands first-hand the pain you're going through. I get it. I've been there. And that's what initially drives Lexi and Jane together. But you can't build a relationship on a foundation of mutual suffering. "I can fix your pain and you can fix mine" may sound sweet and romantic, but what it often ends up becoming is an echo chamber of hurt coupled with codependency.
And wanting someone to remain miserable and fucked-up, because that's how you feel most of the time, is selfish and unhealthy. I'm all for YA stories exploring unhealthy relationships or unhealthy mindsets regarding relationships, but I need them to address the fact that yes, this is, in fact, unhealthy and here's how we can move forward from that, which this book never does, and that sits so wrong with me.
And the crazy thing is that the core this issue can be fixed by just taking out those four lines.
So yeah. I'm conflicted. And frustrated. And I spent more time trying to figure out what rating to give the book than writing the damn review.
Which is why I'm giving it a big fat ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ in the end.
~
Review copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
April 25, 2019
**2.5 stars**
*I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss for a free and honest review. All thoughts are my own*
I was excited for this book since I love her debut novel but this was very disappointing. The MC feels very one dimensional and unlikeable. The mystery wasn't great either since they don't really do much to find answers. Also the romance didn't feel right. The MC even thinks that she would prefer her love interest cruel and sad like herself which didn't sit right with me. Review is now up on the blog!
https://metalphantasmreads.wordpress....
*I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss for a free and honest review. All thoughts are my own*
I was excited for this book since I love her debut novel but this was very disappointing. The MC feels very one dimensional and unlikeable. The mystery wasn't great either since they don't really do much to find answers. Also the romance didn't feel right. The MC even thinks that she would prefer her love interest cruel and sad like herself which didn't sit right with me. Review is now up on the blog!
https://metalphantasmreads.wordpress....
October 13, 2023
Auch eine schlechte Gabe, kann für etwas gutes verwendet werden
In dem Buch Nex – Die letzte Nacht von Emma Berquist, geht es um Lexi, welche durch eine kleine kurze Berührung schon weiß wann und wie jemand sterben wird. Deshalb hält sie sich so gut es geht von Menschen und deren Berührungen fern. Sie würde natürlich auch gerne diese Tode verhindern, aber das hat sie schonmal versucht und es ging schief. Als Lexi eines Abends im Club arbeitet streift sie Jane und erfährt so von ihrem grausamen Tod, der noch genau an diesem Abend stattfinden soll. Natürlich kann sie ihr nicht helfen, aber als sie dann später ihren rachedurstigen Geist wieder trifft, verspricht sie ihr, den Mörder von ihr zu finden. Gleichzeitig macht es ihr nichts aus Jane zu berühren und beide finden vielleicht etwas nachdem sie nicht gesucht haben, aber etwas das sie brauchen.
Meine Meinung:
Ich fand die Geschichte spannend geschrieben und flüssig zu lesen. Die Geschichte passt natürlich super in die dunkle Jahreszeit mit Geistern, Tod und der Jagd nach einem Mörder. An Lexis Art musste ich mich erst Mal gewöhnen, weil sie pessimistisch ist und sehr abweisend auch zu anderen Mitmenschen, höchstwahrscheinlich durch ihre Gabe. Ich fand alle Personen im Buch auf ihre Art interessant, Lexi, als auch ihren Großvater Deda und auch Jane, sowie ihre Arbeitskollegen im Club.
Auch das Cover passt ziemlich gut zum Inhalt der Geschichte, weil Lexi auch so ähnlich aussieht. Es vermittelt genau die Stimmung, die un der Geschichte herrscht und gibt einen guten Eindruck.
Fazit:
Auch wenn ich die Geschichte nicht nochmal lesen wollen würde, kann ich sie empfehlen. Eine super Geschichte für die dunkle Jahreszeit mit mit Geistern, Tod und der Jagd nach einem Mörder.
In dem Buch Nex – Die letzte Nacht von Emma Berquist, geht es um Lexi, welche durch eine kleine kurze Berührung schon weiß wann und wie jemand sterben wird. Deshalb hält sie sich so gut es geht von Menschen und deren Berührungen fern. Sie würde natürlich auch gerne diese Tode verhindern, aber das hat sie schonmal versucht und es ging schief. Als Lexi eines Abends im Club arbeitet streift sie Jane und erfährt so von ihrem grausamen Tod, der noch genau an diesem Abend stattfinden soll. Natürlich kann sie ihr nicht helfen, aber als sie dann später ihren rachedurstigen Geist wieder trifft, verspricht sie ihr, den Mörder von ihr zu finden. Gleichzeitig macht es ihr nichts aus Jane zu berühren und beide finden vielleicht etwas nachdem sie nicht gesucht haben, aber etwas das sie brauchen.
Meine Meinung:
Ich fand die Geschichte spannend geschrieben und flüssig zu lesen. Die Geschichte passt natürlich super in die dunkle Jahreszeit mit Geistern, Tod und der Jagd nach einem Mörder. An Lexis Art musste ich mich erst Mal gewöhnen, weil sie pessimistisch ist und sehr abweisend auch zu anderen Mitmenschen, höchstwahrscheinlich durch ihre Gabe. Ich fand alle Personen im Buch auf ihre Art interessant, Lexi, als auch ihren Großvater Deda und auch Jane, sowie ihre Arbeitskollegen im Club.
Auch das Cover passt ziemlich gut zum Inhalt der Geschichte, weil Lexi auch so ähnlich aussieht. Es vermittelt genau die Stimmung, die un der Geschichte herrscht und gibt einen guten Eindruck.
Fazit:
Auch wenn ich die Geschichte nicht nochmal lesen wollen würde, kann ich sie empfehlen. Eine super Geschichte für die dunkle Jahreszeit mit mit Geistern, Tod und der Jagd nach einem Mörder.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2019
(Disclaimer: I received this book from Edelweiss. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
I don't feel like enough people are excited about Missing, Presumed Dead. Not only does it star a girl who can see your death with a touch, but it's a story about human connection, and, did I mention she's queer? Missing, Presumed Dead succeeds on a variety of levels. If you're in the mood for a book that delivers action and mystery, check. If that isn't enough and you want some paranormal touches thrown in, welcome to Lexi's friends who happen to be ghosts. And if you are searching for a story about forgiveness, and how we can't let our fear control us, then you're in luck.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
I don't feel like enough people are excited about Missing, Presumed Dead. Not only does it star a girl who can see your death with a touch, but it's a story about human connection, and, did I mention she's queer? Missing, Presumed Dead succeeds on a variety of levels. If you're in the mood for a book that delivers action and mystery, check. If that isn't enough and you want some paranormal touches thrown in, welcome to Lexi's friends who happen to be ghosts. And if you are searching for a story about forgiveness, and how we can't let our fear control us, then you're in luck.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
February 18, 2020
*4.5 y’all really tripping. Why does this only have 3.8 something stars??? It’s so good
May 13, 2019
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Young Adult, Thriller, Suspense
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
Missing, Presumed Dead is the follow-up to author Emma Berquist's Devil Upon Dust. One could call this book a murder mystery with a paranormal twist. Protagonist Alexandra "Lexi" Ivanovich can see how a person is going to die just by touching them. She calls it a curse and for good reason. Doesn't really do much for relationships knowing the person you are with may end up dying. She's also been warned by her grandfather never to tell anyone what she is able to do.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Young Adult, Thriller, Suspense
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
Missing, Presumed Dead is the follow-up to author Emma Berquist's Devil Upon Dust. One could call this book a murder mystery with a paranormal twist. Protagonist Alexandra "Lexi" Ivanovich can see how a person is going to die just by touching them. She calls it a curse and for good reason. Doesn't really do much for relationships knowing the person you are with may end up dying. She's also been warned by her grandfather never to tell anyone what she is able to do.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
August 13, 2019
4 stars.
Missing, Presumed Dead follows Lexi, who, with just a touch, can sense how and when someone will die. Some think it’s a gift, but Lexi only sees it as a curse, one that keeps her alone and without any friends. However, all of that changes when Lexi sees the violent death of a woman named Jane outside a club. But Jane doesn’t go to the afterlife quietly, and her ghost remains behind, determined to find her murderer, and she needs Lexi’s help. In life, Jane was everything Lexi is not—outgoing, happy, and popular. But in death, all Jane wants is revenge. Lexi will do anything to help Jane, to make up for the fact that she didn’t—couldn’t—save Jane’s life, and to keep this beautiful ghost of a girl by her side for as long as she can.
This book isn’t something I’d normally pick up, or even really enjoy anymore, but Emma Berquist created such a unique, interesting world that I really ended up loving. Lexi is a great main character—she’s angry and a bit unlikeable, but it’s so easy to understand why once you learn about her life and her past. When it’s done right, I always enjoy reading about main characters who aren’t immediately likeable, ones that you grown and learn to love because they feel so real, and that’s how Lexi felt to me. I liked Jane a lot, too, and loved the dynamic she had with Lexi. It was the perfect amount of angst and tension, and I was absolutely living for it.
I also really liked Berquist’s world. It was incredibly interesting and atmospheric. I also really liked how we got to see how Lexi’s powers affected her mental health—that’s not a common thing to see, especially in YA, and I really appreciated it, because it makes so much sense for Lexi to feel overwhelmed and anxious. The only real complaint I can give this book is the mystery aspect, which I wasn’t a huge fan of. I did enjoy how it turned out, but I just didn’t really enjoy the build up to it or think it was really done all that well. As usual, it’s probably because I’ve read far too many mystery books, so if you’re less familiar with them, I think you might really like it. It just wasn’t for me.
Overall, I really did enjoy Missing, Presumed Dead. I loved Lexi and Jane, and their dynamic, and really liked the side characters, especially Trevor. I thought the world was unique and fun to read about. I haven’t been a huge fan of paranormal for quite a few years, but Berquist’s take on this genre rekindled my old love for it. I would definitely recommend this one!
representation ↠ bi main character, bi love interest, side lgbt and poc characters.
content warnings ↠ death, mentions of suicide, mental health, and traumatic deaths.
“Even without turning around, I can sense Jane behind me, feel the gravitational pull of her. I can’t escape it; she’s like my compass, like a lodestone. I always know where Jane is.”
Missing, Presumed Dead follows Lexi, who, with just a touch, can sense how and when someone will die. Some think it’s a gift, but Lexi only sees it as a curse, one that keeps her alone and without any friends. However, all of that changes when Lexi sees the violent death of a woman named Jane outside a club. But Jane doesn’t go to the afterlife quietly, and her ghost remains behind, determined to find her murderer, and she needs Lexi’s help. In life, Jane was everything Lexi is not—outgoing, happy, and popular. But in death, all Jane wants is revenge. Lexi will do anything to help Jane, to make up for the fact that she didn’t—couldn’t—save Jane’s life, and to keep this beautiful ghost of a girl by her side for as long as she can.
This book isn’t something I’d normally pick up, or even really enjoy anymore, but Emma Berquist created such a unique, interesting world that I really ended up loving. Lexi is a great main character—she’s angry and a bit unlikeable, but it’s so easy to understand why once you learn about her life and her past. When it’s done right, I always enjoy reading about main characters who aren’t immediately likeable, ones that you grown and learn to love because they feel so real, and that’s how Lexi felt to me. I liked Jane a lot, too, and loved the dynamic she had with Lexi. It was the perfect amount of angst and tension, and I was absolutely living for it.
I also really liked Berquist’s world. It was incredibly interesting and atmospheric. I also really liked how we got to see how Lexi’s powers affected her mental health—that’s not a common thing to see, especially in YA, and I really appreciated it, because it makes so much sense for Lexi to feel overwhelmed and anxious. The only real complaint I can give this book is the mystery aspect, which I wasn’t a huge fan of. I did enjoy how it turned out, but I just didn’t really enjoy the build up to it or think it was really done all that well. As usual, it’s probably because I’ve read far too many mystery books, so if you’re less familiar with them, I think you might really like it. It just wasn’t for me.
Overall, I really did enjoy Missing, Presumed Dead. I loved Lexi and Jane, and their dynamic, and really liked the side characters, especially Trevor. I thought the world was unique and fun to read about. I haven’t been a huge fan of paranormal for quite a few years, but Berquist’s take on this genre rekindled my old love for it. I would definitely recommend this one!
representation ↠ bi main character, bi love interest, side lgbt and poc characters.
content warnings ↠ death, mentions of suicide, mental health, and traumatic deaths.
May 25, 2019
Not sure if it's YA, but it's not bad however you'll call it.
Lexi can not only see the dead but also when people will die the moment they touch them. And that's why she avoids all kinds of contact. Having dropped out of school, she works for the same man her grandfather used to, protecting others with magical powers. While investigating disappearances, she finds the ghost of a girl the same age as her who's been murdered and no one knows it yet.
Even though this is the author's second novel, I still think there's room for improvement. It was easy to relate to Lexi but all the emotional journey felt superficial. I wish I could describe the feeling better, but in easy words, it was lacking something.
I think this only got worse when it came to romance. Lexi starts having feelings for Jane, the murdered girl, who happens to be the only person Lexi lets get close. The author is very good analyzing this, since for one Lexi never gets close to anyone and she's forced to with Jane; moreover, Jane is obviously lonely when no one else can see her. It's a good dilemma, are there feelings real? And yet, I never felt the romance. I really couldn't see the chemistry there.
This repeated and lesser levels with other relationships surrounding Lexi. In most of them, I only had the author's words for it, because I couldn't feel it. Yes, Lexi keeps everyone far, that's the fact. But at the same time, the book is trying to show the opposite, really—as much as she tried, there were still some who were there for her. Instead, I only got a list of names and occupations.
There were still great characters I wish I could see more of, like Trevor and Ilia and Nichole... as you can see, the characters themselves were nice.
As for the story, there is a mystery Lexi is trying to solve beyond a possible serial killer. Unfortunately, the plot twists weren't that big but the conclusion was okay enough.
And as I mentioned in the opening, is this really YA? Lexi is eighteen, so is Jane, but that's as far as it goes. All the setting is pretty much out of what I usually see in YA's, the theme—a murderer out there!—isn't very YA either. Above all, Lexi surely doesn't act her age. I don't think her being eighteen is enough to make the genre so I'm not classifying it as such here.
On the other hand, this opens way to a wider audience. There's some gore when describing the ghosts but it's not really bad. It's a nice story and the worldbuilding is fantastic. Not sure I would have gone through so much trouble for this plot, so kudos to Emma Berquist. It did make me feel like reading more in this universe, so of course I'd read more from her.
Recommended for those who like a quick read in the supernatural genre.
Honest review based on an ARC provided by Edelweiss. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.
Lexi can not only see the dead but also when people will die the moment they touch them. And that's why she avoids all kinds of contact. Having dropped out of school, she works for the same man her grandfather used to, protecting others with magical powers. While investigating disappearances, she finds the ghost of a girl the same age as her who's been murdered and no one knows it yet.
Even though this is the author's second novel, I still think there's room for improvement. It was easy to relate to Lexi but all the emotional journey felt superficial. I wish I could describe the feeling better, but in easy words, it was lacking something.
I think this only got worse when it came to romance. Lexi starts having feelings for Jane, the murdered girl, who happens to be the only person Lexi lets get close. The author is very good analyzing this, since for one Lexi never gets close to anyone and she's forced to with Jane; moreover, Jane is obviously lonely when no one else can see her. It's a good dilemma, are there feelings real? And yet, I never felt the romance. I really couldn't see the chemistry there.
This repeated and lesser levels with other relationships surrounding Lexi. In most of them, I only had the author's words for it, because I couldn't feel it. Yes, Lexi keeps everyone far, that's the fact. But at the same time, the book is trying to show the opposite, really—as much as she tried, there were still some who were there for her. Instead, I only got a list of names and occupations.
There were still great characters I wish I could see more of, like Trevor and Ilia and Nichole... as you can see, the characters themselves were nice.
As for the story, there is a mystery Lexi is trying to solve beyond a possible serial killer. Unfortunately, the plot twists weren't that big but the conclusion was okay enough.
And as I mentioned in the opening, is this really YA? Lexi is eighteen, so is Jane, but that's as far as it goes. All the setting is pretty much out of what I usually see in YA's, the theme—a murderer out there!—isn't very YA either. Above all, Lexi surely doesn't act her age. I don't think her being eighteen is enough to make the genre so I'm not classifying it as such here.
On the other hand, this opens way to a wider audience. There's some gore when describing the ghosts but it's not really bad. It's a nice story and the worldbuilding is fantastic. Not sure I would have gone through so much trouble for this plot, so kudos to Emma Berquist. It did make me feel like reading more in this universe, so of course I'd read more from her.
Recommended for those who like a quick read in the supernatural genre.
Honest review based on an ARC provided by Edelweiss. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.
June 23, 2019
There are some kinds of books that affect you differently. I feel sad too easily; it’s why I avoid heavy hitting books.
This book started out heavy. Heavy in a way that felt too real and too raw. It has a character that’s... angry and unhappy and unable to do anything about. She narrates in a way that’s too real and cuts deep, maybe with that intention, maybe because that’s how she’s learned to be. Either way, Lexi is a character that affected me and I loved it?
I thought I wouldn’t be able to finish this book because of that exact reason but once I started it again today, I was unable to stop. When the ball got rolling, it was impossible. Berquist has this way of writing that’s both addicting and raw at once. With characters that leap off the page and emotions that hit you despite your walls being up. It’s difficult to read your eyes away from the page.
What’s more, the whole murder mystery is so well done. Many times it’s so easy to piece together the pieces, find the killer, call it a day. We see plot twists coming from miles away and are bored by the resolution. Missing, Presumed Dead did not leave me holding my breath or anything like that but it wove together a well plotted and well paced story that explored expertly written character arcs and relationships. It pieces together finding the killer in a way that was both easy to follow and easy to enjoy. (I’ve read a lot of JLB and all of her books are so confusing!)
And I loved the progression over the course of the book. It’s subtle, with various other side characters throughout, and it made me love this book even more. And the romance was well done—it was lowkey and not so intense or explosive or anything. It was there but it wasn’t the main attraction and it worked brilliantly for the book.
Overall, if you’ve ever wanted to read a book like Anna Dress in Blood, but with an angry-at-the-world girl at the helm with another angry-because-she’s-dead girl leading our MC on a hunt for the killer, read this book! It’s criminal how little this was marketed.
This book started out heavy. Heavy in a way that felt too real and too raw. It has a character that’s... angry and unhappy and unable to do anything about. She narrates in a way that’s too real and cuts deep, maybe with that intention, maybe because that’s how she’s learned to be. Either way, Lexi is a character that affected me and I loved it?
I thought I wouldn’t be able to finish this book because of that exact reason but once I started it again today, I was unable to stop. When the ball got rolling, it was impossible. Berquist has this way of writing that’s both addicting and raw at once. With characters that leap off the page and emotions that hit you despite your walls being up. It’s difficult to read your eyes away from the page.
What’s more, the whole murder mystery is so well done. Many times it’s so easy to piece together the pieces, find the killer, call it a day. We see plot twists coming from miles away and are bored by the resolution. Missing, Presumed Dead did not leave me holding my breath or anything like that but it wove together a well plotted and well paced story that explored expertly written character arcs and relationships. It pieces together finding the killer in a way that was both easy to follow and easy to enjoy. (I’ve read a lot of JLB and all of her books are so confusing!)
And I loved the progression over the course of the book. It’s subtle, with various other side characters throughout, and it made me love this book even more. And the romance was well done—it was lowkey and not so intense or explosive or anything. It was there but it wasn’t the main attraction and it worked brilliantly for the book.
Overall, if you’ve ever wanted to read a book like Anna Dress in Blood, but with an angry-at-the-world girl at the helm with another angry-because-she’s-dead girl leading our MC on a hunt for the killer, read this book! It’s criminal how little this was marketed.
January 23, 2024
Das Cover finde ich sehr gut gestaltet und hat mich sofort dazu animiert, den Klappentext zu lesen. Dieser hat meine Neugier weiter entfachen können und ich habe die Geschichte gelesen.
Das Buch hat anfangs eine sehr bedrückende Atmosphäre und transportiert eine gewisse Melancholie, die durch die Äußerungen der Protagonistin noch verstärkt werden. Das hat mir stellenweise gut gefallen, da es zur Geschichte passt.
Blicke ich nun auf das Worldbuilding, wurde mir zu wenig erklärt. Es gibt Hexen, die mit verschiedenen magischen Fähigkeiten ausgestatten sind- aber wie sind diese organisiert und stellenweise machte es den Anschein, dass manche Personen ihre Fähigkeiten erst entdeckten. Da hätte ich mir mehr Erklärungen gewünscht. Außerdem wurde sehr viele Charaktere in der Geschichte vorgestellt und über manche hätte ich dann doch gern mehr erfahren.
Der Kriminalfall und die Liebesgeschichte waren okay, aber doch alles sehr oberflächlich angerissen, sodass ich die wachsenden Gefühle der beiden füreinander nicht spüren konnte. Ich war tatsächlich ziemlich überrascht und konnte es gar nicht nachvollziehen, als dann die erste Annäherung stattfand. Die Kernaussage der Liebesgeschichte habe ich verstanden und finde ich wichtig. Insgesamt hätte ich mir dennoch mehr Tiefe gewünscht.
Abschließend hat das Ende, nach meinem Gefühl, leider nicht zur Atmosphäre und Stimmung des Buches gepasst.
Allerdings ließ sich die Geschichte, trotz all meiner Kritikpunkte, flüssig lesen. Der bildliche Schreibstil hat dazu geführt, dass ich mir das Geschehen gut vorstellen konnte und somit habe ich es auch nicht bereut, dass Buch gelesen zu haben.
*von Netgalley zur Verfügung gestellt
Das Buch hat anfangs eine sehr bedrückende Atmosphäre und transportiert eine gewisse Melancholie, die durch die Äußerungen der Protagonistin noch verstärkt werden. Das hat mir stellenweise gut gefallen, da es zur Geschichte passt.
Blicke ich nun auf das Worldbuilding, wurde mir zu wenig erklärt. Es gibt Hexen, die mit verschiedenen magischen Fähigkeiten ausgestatten sind- aber wie sind diese organisiert und stellenweise machte es den Anschein, dass manche Personen ihre Fähigkeiten erst entdeckten. Da hätte ich mir mehr Erklärungen gewünscht. Außerdem wurde sehr viele Charaktere in der Geschichte vorgestellt und über manche hätte ich dann doch gern mehr erfahren.
Der Kriminalfall und die Liebesgeschichte waren okay, aber doch alles sehr oberflächlich angerissen, sodass ich die wachsenden Gefühle der beiden füreinander nicht spüren konnte. Ich war tatsächlich ziemlich überrascht und konnte es gar nicht nachvollziehen, als dann die erste Annäherung stattfand. Die Kernaussage der Liebesgeschichte habe ich verstanden und finde ich wichtig. Insgesamt hätte ich mir dennoch mehr Tiefe gewünscht.
Abschließend hat das Ende, nach meinem Gefühl, leider nicht zur Atmosphäre und Stimmung des Buches gepasst.
Allerdings ließ sich die Geschichte, trotz all meiner Kritikpunkte, flüssig lesen. Der bildliche Schreibstil hat dazu geführt, dass ich mir das Geschehen gut vorstellen konnte und somit habe ich es auch nicht bereut, dass Buch gelesen zu haben.
*von Netgalley zur Verfügung gestellt
April 17, 2021
4. 5⭐. I fairly enjoyed this sapphic paranormal mystery story about a girl who can see people's death bumping into a girl on day whom she knows will die that very night. The next day, the girl found herself being haunted by the ghost of the other girl who was killed.
This sounds like a pretty dark premise. But the sapphic relationship is so wholesome and mushy that it makes me so happy. Especially because it's happy ending despite being a ghost and a living person in love?? Like that's some good shit right there, I can't wipe the smile off my face.
The mystery aspect is quite well done too. The perpetrator plot twist did surprise me which is quite nice. Also the investigation is very nicely paced that it doesn't feel like it is rushed or confusing in any way.
This sounds like a pretty dark premise. But the sapphic relationship is so wholesome and mushy that it makes me so happy. Especially because it's happy ending despite being a ghost and a living person in love?? Like that's some good shit right there, I can't wipe the smile off my face.
The mystery aspect is quite well done too. The perpetrator plot twist did surprise me which is quite nice. Also the investigation is very nicely paced that it doesn't feel like it is rushed or confusing in any way.
December 14, 2019
why did it have to be like this JUST WHY
March 12, 2024
3.5 🌟
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March 18, 2025Ogolnie było ok, jak tak patrzę na cala akcje to w sumie nie mam żadnych mocnych odczuć. Nie podobały mi się tylko dziwne filozoficzne wstawki głównej bohaterki/autorki ale poza tym było oki
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