Title: Just Another Missing Person
Author: Gillian McAllister
Publisher: Michael Joseph
Synopsis:
22-year-old Olivia has been missing for one day…and counting. She was last seen on CCTV, entering a dead-end alley. And not coming back out again.
Julia, the detective heading up the search for Olivia, thinks she knows what to expect. A desperate family, a ticking clock, and long hours away from her husband and daughter. But she has no idea just how close to home this case is going to get.
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.
If you find her, you will lose everything. What would you do?
My review:
Just Another Missing Person is yet another captivating thriller from one of my favourite authors. Gillian McAllister knocked it out of the park with Wrong Place, Wrong Time and this is another belter!
The protagonist, Julia, is a strong and relatable character, but her life takes a dark turn when a well-guarded secret puts her in a morally challenging position, threatening her career, family – everything! The narrative is mainly told from Julia’s perspective so I really felt like I related to her and could empathise with her situation, but we also get some chapters from other people involved in the case which adds extra depth to the plot. I found myself deeply invested in Julia’s journey, including her complex relationship with her husband, Art, and her daughter. It’s not just the central case she’s investigating that draws readers in, but the intricate dynamics of her personal life that kept me engrossed.
The story is so intriguing and tightly plotted, with plenty of suspense and a skilful way of making the reader consider what they would do in the same situation. The book blurs the boundaries of what is ethical. I loved the twists which I did not see coming at all!
Gillian McAllister is an author whose back catalogue I now want to read everything from (I’ve read a lot of her books already and there’s a few more to discover) as well as everything she releases in the future too! Her books have some of the best twists I’ve read and Just Another Missing Person is no exception!
My rating: 5/5
Many thanks to the publisher, Michael Joseph, for providing a copy of this book on which I chose to write an honest review.