Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica

Hey, it’s Diego.

I finished reading Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica this week.

And I’m here to tell you all about it.

Let me give you my spoiler-free unbiased review.

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Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica Review

Local Woman Missing takes us to a peaceful suburb near Chicago, where the disappearance of a woman sends shockwaves through the tight-knit community. Not long after, another local woman and her young daughter vanish without a trace. The town is thrown into chaos, and neighbors start to wonder if these cases are connected.

This book squarely fits into the Domestic Thriller genre, with most of the action unfolding within the neighborhood's familiar settings.

I found the writing to be simple and fast-paced, which should have made it an engaging read. For me, it was all but. I found the copy to be overly dramatized and pessimistic which although it was great for thrills, would leave me with a feeling of dread after each reading session. I had to consume some other lighthearted media right after or I wouldn’t be able to go to sleep.

The story kicks off with a gripping start but then settles into a slow burn as it delves deeper into the characters' lives. The story is told from multiple points of view right from the start, including the missing girl, her missing mum, her brother, and a neighbor. This multi-perspective approach kept me guessing and added depth to the plot. To add to this, the narrative jumps between multiple timelines—flashing back 11 years—which adds layers to the mystery without becoming confusing.

I did find some plot threads to be redundant in retrospect. There were times were the book would hint at something and then drop it and never mention it again. It happened enough times that it became noticeable. They were kept to increase the tension and provide red herrings to the mystery.

I found the characters to be pretty passive. “Plot happened to them” instead of their decisions affecting the plot. It’s great if you consider yourself a spectator looking into how a handful of people handle a terrible situation. But I would have preferred them to take charge more often.

Although there are characters involved in relationships (in and out of marriage) there’s no romance or spicy content here. The book contains explicit language though. Some characters are prone to drop f-bombs.

One of the main characters we follow is engaged in a lesbian relationship. I like to see inclusiveness like this in the books I read, but I know it may be a turn-off for some readers.

I should also warn that the book doesn't shy away from graphic violence. Some scenes are intense and might not be for the faint of heart. I particularly had a hard time getting through Chapter 1.

So, what about the ending? (No spoilers obviously)

Unfortunately for me, Local Woman Missing’s payoff at the end fell flat in that regard. After the ending, we spent a very brief moment with the characters in a very short denouement where I felt that a few plot points were underdeveloped, leaving me with some lingering questions.

Overall, I can’t say I enjoyed Local Woman Missing. The writing I thought was good and provocative, but it was overly dramatic and too much of a downer.

Similar Books to Local Woman Missing

• Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

That’s all for this week.

See you next time.

— Diego Dunne

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