In general, I much prefer books with fewer well-developed characters than books with more characters that can be counted. The characters in this book are so well-developed and relatable that you become fully invested in their journeys. Julia, the dedicated detective, has her world turned upside down as she searches for the missing Olivia. Her relentless pursuit of the truth and the dilemmas she faces add layers of complexity to the narrative. Then there's Lewis, the father on a desperate mission to find his daughter, tugging at your heartstrings with his unwavering love and determination. And Emma, the fiercely protective single mom, whose struggles and suspicions add an extra layer of tension to the story.

Just Another Missing Person | Gillian McAllister - NetGalley Just Another Missing Person | Gillian McAllister - NetGalley

Here’s what I do understand. Without going into spoiler territory, let’s just say that Just Another Missing Person wraps up so nicely, so conveniently, that it might as well have been a half-hour sitcom. As I got towards the end, well, at least something has to not work out for someone. Yet, it is all so perfect that it is saccharine. I wish I could say more, but spoilers and all. Plus, some plot lines and characters ended up never getting a real payoff. Blek. But what sets Gillian McAllister's books apart is her unique descriptions, the banter between characters, and the emphasis she places on the importance of family, especially motherhood, in each of her stories. That. Twist. You will gasp out loud and question everything you've read so far... with Just Another Missing Person, Gillian McAllister has secured her crown as the queen of the mind-bending plot twist. HOLLY SEDDON Because the criminal at the heart of the disappearance has something she never expected. His weapon isn’t a gun, or a knife: it’s a secret. Her worst one. And her family's safety depends on one thing: Julia must NOT find out what happened to Olivia - and must frame somebody else for her murder.Amazing!!! I could not stop listening. I love it when a book is that good. I was working while listening and my kindle battery almost died ( audible for kindle ) I couldn’t believe it! I had been listening for 5 hours straight!! This is a DNF for me at 50%. I am SO BORED, this book is very slow moving. I just don't like this author's style of writing and switching POV's. I know that everyone states that the second half gets better but I'm just not invested in this story enough to continue. The chapters are told from 3 POV’s: Julia, Emma and Lewis. I won’t say who they are because that would be a spoiler. As the tension builds, the three paths braid together, and it all starts to make sense. Told from multiple POVs in different timelines, I frequently found myself in a state of constant confusion.

Just Another Missing Person by Gillian McAllister Just Another Missing Person by Gillian McAllister

And that ending! Oh, what a masterpiece! The cleverly woven threads of the plot culminated in a stunning revelation that left me in awe of McAllister's narrative brilliance. It was a satisfying conclusion that tied all the loose ends together and left me with a sense of fulfillment and admiration for the author's storytelling skills. DCI Julia Day is investigating the mystery surrounding missing person Olivia who goes down an alley and never comes out - there are lots of questions surrounding her disappearance. An unsolved missing person case from a year prior also plagues DCI Day's mind.As the synopsis indicates, there’s someone who doesn’t want Olivia found, and the reason was fascinating. I really enjoyed the twist in this one, which was inventive and also made complete sense. When 22 year old Olivia vanishes following an appearance on a CCTV entering a dead end alley, her case is turned over to senior detective in charge of missing persons, Julia, who is dealing with her own familial issues. When the missing person’s case turns personal, Julia is forced to chose between her career and her family.

Just Another Missing Person – HarperCollins Just Another Missing Person – HarperCollins

One element that stood out, apart from her obvious gift of writing the twistiest twists, is the way McAllister writes her characters. So often, what makes a good thriller is feeling as though the reader can see themselves in the shoes of those characters involved, McAllister executes this with perfection. I can very easily see myself in any one of the characters at the heart of the story. This helped me to feel connected on an emotional level throughout. And made those twists hit extra hard (which is always a plus). A gasp-inducing twist we wager you won't see coming, a whip-smart, fast-paced plot, this crime thriller will leave you breathless Sunday Post After loving Gillian McCallister’s previous book, 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦, 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦, I knew I needed to get my hands on her newest, and ASAP. It. Did. Not. Disappoint. With jaw dropping twists, multilayered plot lines, and a really interesting mother/daughter bond that helps to fuel the intensity throughout, this book was loads of thriller fun and incredibly hard to put down.A thriller with depth! These are fully developed characters with the exception of our villain, and although all of the story lines didn’t come together in the end, I enjoyed this too much to care!

Just Another Missing Person - Penguin Books Australia Just Another Missing Person - Penguin Books Australia

My only minor critique-the characters inner thoughts were often repeated three times in a row. It would make more sense if that were a personality quirk of one character-but they definitely would not all share that trait! This clever and endlessly surprising thriller is laced with a smart look at family and motherhood and cements Gillian McAllister as a major talent in the world of suspense and a master of creating ethical dilemmas that show just how murky the distinction between right and wrong can be. Just Another Missing Person By Gillian Mcallister- Review Disclaimer A big thank you to Ariele Fredman, NetGalley, and William Morrow for sharing this AMAZING book's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts. This was a buddy read with Mary Beth! Be sure to watch for her terrific review to see if this was also a four ⭐️ read for her!The plot revolves around Olivia, a 22-year-old who disappeared without a trace, leaving behind many inconsistencies that rub Julia, the detective, the wrong way. During the investigation, she encounters a mysterious man who seems familiar, and soon she finds herself facing a difficult decision: to corrupt evidence to protect her family or risk losing her daughter forever by exposing the truth. And what if this case is connected to her past demons, the other missing women cases she still couldn't solve, all leading to her own destiny? This is my second read by the author, I loved Wrong Place, Wrong Time, so I knew I would like this one too. The story makes the reader ask themselves, how far would you go to protect someone you love?