Local Woman Missing: A Novel of Domestic Suspense – A Twisted Psychological Thriller About a Small Town’s Darkest Secrets

Loved this book so much! I couldn’t put it down. I definitely didn’t see that coming. One of the best thrillers I have read.

When a small-town doula and her six-year-old daughter go missing, the local community organizes search parties. Meredith’s husband, Josh, is frantic with worry. The neighbors, a couple named Kate and Bea, who often socialized with Meredith and Josh, pitch in to help however they can. Little Leo, Meredith’s and Josh’s toddler son, doesn’t understand where his mommy and big sister went. Adding to the anxiety everyone is feeling, is the knowledge that another woman from the immediate area went missing just weeks before. This other woman turns out to be a client of Meredith’s, whom she helped during a difficult birth. Meredith’s car is spotted at a rundown motel. Police on the investigation find Meredith’s body in one of the motel rooms. Her death was an apparent suicide. She leaves a note to Josh saying he’ll never find Delilah. Meanwhile, miles away, a small girl is kept in a basement. Her abductors torment her by denying her enough water, food, medical care, and even sunlight. The girl’s only consolation is she is trapped with another child, a boy named Gus. After years of abuse, the kids plot an escape. The girl’s emergence from captivity is a catalyst for events that make an unknown killer very nervous. This novel is a complex mystery involving five point-of-view characters, subplots, red herrings, and twists and including a dual timeline in the past and present. I thought the author, Mary Kubica did a masterful job in building suspense. Unfortunately, not all the twists in the plot are believable. I can’t be more specific without revealing spoilers. For the first three-fourths of the book, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough and was willing to suspend disbelief. The ending, however, was a let-down because several new plot wrinkles were added at the very last minute, which made me feel unfairly tricked. My rating is a 3.5 because I enjoyed most of the book. Overall, this is a fast summer read that does keep you guessing, even if your guesses turn out wrong.

THIS BOOK was fabuloso. plot twist . you shall read peeps .

Local Woman Missing was a solid, suspenseful read that kept me intrigued from the very beginning. The pacing was strong, and there were several clever twists that kept the story moving and added an eerie edge. While I enjoyed the overall plot, one of the major reveals didn’t hit as hard for me—it felt a little underwhelming, especially given how much I liked the character involved. That said, the emotional complexity of the story still made the ending impactful. Overall, it’s an engaging thriller with plenty of tension and surprises. Definitely worth a read for fans of twisty, character-driven mysteries.

Wow—this book was a wild ride! It was packed with twists and turns, and I truly did not see the ending coming at all. I was both surprised and shocked, which made the whole experience even more satisfying. I stayed entertained throughout the entire book. While the storyline did get confusing at times, the use of different narrators really helped keep everything straight in my head. The multiple perspectives added depth and made the audiobook especially engaging. Overall, Local Woman Missing was a very interesting and suspenseful read that kept me hooked from start to finish. I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves twisty thrillers.

A well paced book that kept me intrigued the whole book. This book makes me want to read more in this genre.

I did not see the ending coming!! I am pleasantly surprised by it! It’s not often I can’t guess to some degree what would happen! It keeps you interested from beginning to end! I’m glad I read this one! And it’s my first read of the year :)

Purchased this book because of book club groups on Facebook recommending it. My 4 star rating is based on price, condition of the book, and delivery, which were all good; it was brand new and on time. I read the overview and thought, what the heck, I'll give it a go. I burned thru the book in about 3 days. It's an easy read, but it kept going and going...and going. Lots of back and forth storytelling between present time and years before. It could have been done in 125 pages and I felt like someone owed me my 3 days of life back for the time I spent reading this over-hyped book, so I'm doing the only thing I can and taking away a star. I wanted there to be more to the end, as it felt rushed. I won't spoil it, as I know many appreciate this author, but I ended up donating it to my local thrift store.

3 🌟🤔 I think I'm an outlier once again but I didn't find it fascinating or mind-blowing at all. It was very slow until the last 10 pages and there aren't plot twists either. I couldn't feel sad or worried about the missing "people" but maybe the only character who I felt some kind of connection was Kate 😬 I don't know, I don't really think is that worthy tbh.

amazing book. you think you know whats gonna happen, you think you know it, but you are wrong. thats what i loved about it.

Es ok pero me prefire mi Sketchers

Er hangt een stuk karton aan de cover en de hoek is beschadigd

Local Woman Missing is one of the most gripping thrillers I’ve read in a long time. Mary Kubica absolutely nails the eerie atmosphere, the emotional depth, and the jaw-dropping twists that make this genre so addictive. The story kicks off with the disappearance of a woman and her young daughter in a quiet suburban neighborhood—and things spiral from there. Kubica masterfully weaves multiple timelines and perspectives, slowly revealing how these disappearances are connected. Every chapter adds a new layer of suspense, and just when you think you’ve figured it out, she flips the script. What sets this book apart is how emotionally invested you become in the characters. The alternating POVs—from a guilt-ridden mother to a traumatized girl who resurfaces years later—are rich with tension and raw emotion. It’s not just a mystery; it’s a story about trauma, resilience, and the lengths people will go to protect those they love. I couldn’t stop turning the pages. The plot is smart and complex without ever being confusing, and the ending is incredibly satisfying—unexpected, but it makes perfect sense once it clicks. If you’re a fan of Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train, or The Couple Next Door, this needs to be your next read. It’s haunting, addictive, and impossible to forget. Highly recommend for any thriller lover!