What do you think?
Rate this book
Three Days Missing
When a child goes missing, two mothers' lives collide in a shocking way in this suspenseful novel from the bestselling author of The Marriage Lie.
It's every parent's worst nightmare: the call that comes in the middle of the night. When Kat Jenkins awakens to the police on her doorstep, her greatest fear is realized. Her nine-year-old son, Ethan, is missing—vanished from the cabin where he'd been on an overnight class trip. Shocked and distraught, Kat rushes to the campground, but she's too late; the authorities have returned from their search empty-handed after losing Ethan's trail in the mountain forest.
Another mother from the school, Stef Huntington, seems like she has it all: money, prominence in the community, a popular son and a loving husband. She hardly knows Kat, except for the vicious gossip that swirls around Kat's traumatic past. But as the police investigation unfolds, Ethan's disappearance has earth-shattering consequences for Stef, as her path crosses with Kat. As the two mothers race against the clock, their desperate search for answers reveals how the greatest dangers lie behind the everyday smiles of those they trust the most.
It's every parent's worst nightmare: the call that comes in the middle of the night. When Kat Jenkins awakens to the police on her doorstep, her greatest fear is realized. Her nine-year-old son, Ethan, is missing—vanished from the cabin where he'd been on an overnight class trip. Shocked and distraught, Kat rushes to the campground, but she's too late; the authorities have returned from their search empty-handed after losing Ethan's trail in the mountain forest.
Another mother from the school, Stef Huntington, seems like she has it all: money, prominence in the community, a popular son and a loving husband. She hardly knows Kat, except for the vicious gossip that swirls around Kat's traumatic past. But as the police investigation unfolds, Ethan's disappearance has earth-shattering consequences for Stef, as her path crosses with Kat. As the two mothers race against the clock, their desperate search for answers reveals how the greatest dangers lie behind the everyday smiles of those they trust the most.
Audiobook
First published June 26, 2018
2438 people are currently reading
14140 people want to read
About the author
Kimberly Belle
20 books5,157 followersKimberly Belle is the USA Today and internationally bestselling author with over one million copies sold worldwide, with titles including The Paris Widow, The Marriage Lie, a Goodreads Choice Awards semifinalist for Best Mystery & Thriller, and the co-authored #1 Audible Original, Young Rich Widows. Kimberly’s novels have been optioned for film and television and selected by LibraryReads and Amazon & Apple Books Editors as Best Books of the Month, and the International Thriller Writers as nominee for best book of the year. She divides her time between Atlanta and Amsterdam.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,422 reviews
July 4, 2018
My reviews can also be seen at: https://deesradreadsandreviews.wordpr...
4.5 Stars!!
Kat Jenkins is separated from her husband, Andrew. It's now just her and her son, Ethan. Her divorce is taking a long time due to Andrew’s constant demands. There’s also a restraining order in place after a vicious incident. Kat doesn’t care about the material things, Andrew can have it all, she just wants her son.
Ethan’s class is going on a camping trip. At first, Ethan was excited, but now that they are on their way to meet his class, he is hesitant. Kat was worried about Ethan going away overnight but was reassured by his teacher that everything would be fine. Kat’s not worried about his physical safety but how he’ll handle his peers. Ethan is extremely intelligent but has trouble socially and there have been previous incidents of bullying.
They get to the meeting spot and she sends Ethan off with a wave….
“We’ll take good care of him, I promise”
Just three hours later Kat wishes she had never let Ethan get on that bus.
When Kat is awakened that evening by someone pounding on her door she automatically assumes it must be her ex-husband. But it’s not Andrew, it’s the police. And what they tell her is one of her worst nightmares come true.
Ethan is missing.
Where is Ethan? Did he wander off and get lost or hurt? Or could someone have taken him?
Across town, Stephanie Huntington, wife to Mayor Sam Huntington hears about the missing boy. Ethan is in her son, Sammy’s second-grade class. They are on the same camping trip. When she hears what has happened she wants to drive up to the camp to pick up her son. But she tells herself he’s fine. Then she gets a call that changes everything.
Who was on the other end of that phone call? What did they say that has Stephanie racing to the camp?
The story is told from both Kat and Stephanie’s perspective. Two very different perspectives that I thought were very well-written. Though I liked one woman more than the other, I was still rooting for both of them.
The two stories come together very well. I thought this was a great read. The suspense and tension are full on right up until the very end. A few things may have pushed the boundaries of belief but I was so interested in the story that it didn’t really bother me. And I thought the ending was fantastic!
“ Three Days Missing ” is my first read from Kimberly Belle. This was a well-written and intriguing domestic suspense novel. I hope I don’t have to wait long to read more from this author.
I'd like to thank Park Row Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
4.5 Stars!!
Kat Jenkins is separated from her husband, Andrew. It's now just her and her son, Ethan. Her divorce is taking a long time due to Andrew’s constant demands. There’s also a restraining order in place after a vicious incident. Kat doesn’t care about the material things, Andrew can have it all, she just wants her son.
Ethan’s class is going on a camping trip. At first, Ethan was excited, but now that they are on their way to meet his class, he is hesitant. Kat was worried about Ethan going away overnight but was reassured by his teacher that everything would be fine. Kat’s not worried about his physical safety but how he’ll handle his peers. Ethan is extremely intelligent but has trouble socially and there have been previous incidents of bullying.
They get to the meeting spot and she sends Ethan off with a wave….
“We’ll take good care of him, I promise”
Just three hours later Kat wishes she had never let Ethan get on that bus.
When Kat is awakened that evening by someone pounding on her door she automatically assumes it must be her ex-husband. But it’s not Andrew, it’s the police. And what they tell her is one of her worst nightmares come true.
Ethan is missing.
Where is Ethan? Did he wander off and get lost or hurt? Or could someone have taken him?
Across town, Stephanie Huntington, wife to Mayor Sam Huntington hears about the missing boy. Ethan is in her son, Sammy’s second-grade class. They are on the same camping trip. When she hears what has happened she wants to drive up to the camp to pick up her son. But she tells herself he’s fine. Then she gets a call that changes everything.
Who was on the other end of that phone call? What did they say that has Stephanie racing to the camp?
The story is told from both Kat and Stephanie’s perspective. Two very different perspectives that I thought were very well-written. Though I liked one woman more than the other, I was still rooting for both of them.
The two stories come together very well. I thought this was a great read. The suspense and tension are full on right up until the very end. A few things may have pushed the boundaries of belief but I was so interested in the story that it didn’t really bother me. And I thought the ending was fantastic!
“ Three Days Missing ” is my first read from Kimberly Belle. This was a well-written and intriguing domestic suspense novel. I hope I don’t have to wait long to read more from this author.
I'd like to thank Park Row Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
September 29, 2022
With one last wave, Miss Emma nudges Ethan toward the rumbling bus. Hours from now, it will be this very moment I keep returning to, replaying the images over and over and over in my mind, not the part where my son disappears behind the smoky glass, but the part where an icy chill creeping up my spine almost makes me stop him.
Goodbye reading slump and hello Kimberly Belle! I knew she was good, but darn it if she didn't just rock my world with this one. I thoroughly enjoyed The Marriage Lie previously, so I was aware going in that Ms. Belle likes her endings to slap you in the face, but this one was on an entirely new level that has revived my love of domestic thrillers. I can't tell you how burned out I've felt reading the same "psychological thriller with a twist you'll never see coming" many times over during the past year, but this one doesn't fall into that category y'all; in fact, the quotes and promo here have been very understated, and while I want to scream from the roof tops all about how much I loved this book, I also don't want to do the damage of over-hyping in the very same way that many books have been ruined for me before. Suffice it to say, if you love twisty thrillers with can't-put-it-down writing, you need this one.
Every mother lives with this secret terror... It wheezes with hot, sour breath in our ears our most primal fear-that some sort of harm will come to our babies...Not us, we tell ourselves. Not our children. It's how we survive the danger that the worst could happen, by shoving our terrors to the dustiest, most forgotten corners of our mind.
As parents, we'd be lying if we said we hadn't experienced brief flashes of terror when it comes to the safety of our children. Living in a world where social media and the news has made it impossible to not tune into every breach of terror, big and small, makes it difficult to raise our children in the same way that was done so even 25 years ago. This was an underlying thought I had while powering through this story; how would I handle such a crisis? Would I be able to stay strong for my family if one of my children went missing? My brain can't quite fathom how I would react, and mostly I've just wondered how I would go on with life, simply existing, if the worst case scenario happened to us. The beauty of this novel is that you don't necessarily have to be a parent to feel the fear that Kat Jenkins experiences from the very beginning of the story.
But sometimes, when the house is quiet and everyone is asleep, we allow ourselves to wonder. What would I do? How would I respond?
I won't say much about the plot, because this was a brilliant case of a novel being both character AND plot driven, but the entire story was breathtaking from beginning to end. I sincerely could not turn the pages quickly enough. Perfect for the beach, a road trip, or just staying up late at night knowing you'll be bleary eyed and satisfied when you wake in the morning, Three Days Missing is the book you need this summer. Pre-order from your local/online bookstore, place a hold at your library, do whatever it takes to get your hands on this one people. Highly recommended!
* I received a copy for review from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Goodbye reading slump and hello Kimberly Belle! I knew she was good, but darn it if she didn't just rock my world with this one. I thoroughly enjoyed The Marriage Lie previously, so I was aware going in that Ms. Belle likes her endings to slap you in the face, but this one was on an entirely new level that has revived my love of domestic thrillers. I can't tell you how burned out I've felt reading the same "psychological thriller with a twist you'll never see coming" many times over during the past year, but this one doesn't fall into that category y'all; in fact, the quotes and promo here have been very understated, and while I want to scream from the roof tops all about how much I loved this book, I also don't want to do the damage of over-hyping in the very same way that many books have been ruined for me before. Suffice it to say, if you love twisty thrillers with can't-put-it-down writing, you need this one.
Every mother lives with this secret terror... It wheezes with hot, sour breath in our ears our most primal fear-that some sort of harm will come to our babies...Not us, we tell ourselves. Not our children. It's how we survive the danger that the worst could happen, by shoving our terrors to the dustiest, most forgotten corners of our mind.
As parents, we'd be lying if we said we hadn't experienced brief flashes of terror when it comes to the safety of our children. Living in a world where social media and the news has made it impossible to not tune into every breach of terror, big and small, makes it difficult to raise our children in the same way that was done so even 25 years ago. This was an underlying thought I had while powering through this story; how would I handle such a crisis? Would I be able to stay strong for my family if one of my children went missing? My brain can't quite fathom how I would react, and mostly I've just wondered how I would go on with life, simply existing, if the worst case scenario happened to us. The beauty of this novel is that you don't necessarily have to be a parent to feel the fear that Kat Jenkins experiences from the very beginning of the story.
But sometimes, when the house is quiet and everyone is asleep, we allow ourselves to wonder. What would I do? How would I respond?
I won't say much about the plot, because this was a brilliant case of a novel being both character AND plot driven, but the entire story was breathtaking from beginning to end. I sincerely could not turn the pages quickly enough. Perfect for the beach, a road trip, or just staying up late at night knowing you'll be bleary eyed and satisfied when you wake in the morning, Three Days Missing is the book you need this summer. Pre-order from your local/online bookstore, place a hold at your library, do whatever it takes to get your hands on this one people. Highly recommended!
* I received a copy for review from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
July 10, 2018
Ethan goes on a camping trip with his classmates and they stay at a YMCA summer camp facility. Ethan's Mom, Kat Jenkin's, is nervous and and uptight about it and asks the teacher why she is taking a boatload of second graders on an overnight
trip. Miss Erma assures her that they do it every year and there is one chaperone for every five students and it's perfectly safe.
Ethan has an I.Q of 158 and is a genius. He has been at Cambridge for two years and has never brought any friends home, he doesn't have any play dates or any sleepovers. Ethan is right years old and looks like he is six.
His Mom received a phone call and the voice on the other end asks her if her son Ethan Maddox is with her. She replied that her son is away in a camping trip. Then the person who calls her tells her that her son is missing from Camp Crosby. The teacher did a head count around 2:30 am and found Ethan missing. After searching the area and not finding him they called the authorities at 3:02 am. The Lumpkin County sheriff 's office arrived and initiated an organized search of the camp and didn t have any luck finding him. They think he might be lost in the woods and he is afraid of the dark. Well trained search and rescue dogs werent able to catch his scent. Ethan has vanished without a trace. Ethan's Mom is divorced and had a terrible relationship with Andrew, Ethan 's father. He drank too much and was under a lot of stress and took it out on her and Ethan.
Another mother, Steph Huntington, from the school,seems like she has it all: money, a popular son and a loving husband. She hardly knows Kat. But as the police investigation upholds, Ethans disappearance will have earth-shattering consequences in Steph's own life- and the paths of these two mother's are about to cross in ways noone could have anticipated.
This story is every parents nightmare. It is not dark or graphic and I think it's a book for everyone, not just thriller fans. This is a fast paced read but it is a slow burner in the beginning but it then turns out to be a page turner. I really loved this book. I also was not able to guess what happened to Ethan and was shocked when I found out.
I didn't find this to be predictable at all.
I did have some disbelief in apart of the story, but other than that it was great.
I thought that the author did a great job on her characters. I really thought that I got to know them. I liked reading about Kay's and Steph's point of views, and that was when I felt like it got really suspenseful. I loved Ethan and my heart went out to him and Sammy's character shocked me.
This was a Traveling Sister read and I enjoyed reading this and discussing it and we are still discussing it.
I want to thank Edelweiss, Park Row/Harlequin and Kimberly Belle for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Available Now!
trip. Miss Erma assures her that they do it every year and there is one chaperone for every five students and it's perfectly safe.
Ethan has an I.Q of 158 and is a genius. He has been at Cambridge for two years and has never brought any friends home, he doesn't have any play dates or any sleepovers. Ethan is right years old and looks like he is six.
His Mom received a phone call and the voice on the other end asks her if her son Ethan Maddox is with her. She replied that her son is away in a camping trip. Then the person who calls her tells her that her son is missing from Camp Crosby. The teacher did a head count around 2:30 am and found Ethan missing. After searching the area and not finding him they called the authorities at 3:02 am. The Lumpkin County sheriff 's office arrived and initiated an organized search of the camp and didn t have any luck finding him. They think he might be lost in the woods and he is afraid of the dark. Well trained search and rescue dogs werent able to catch his scent. Ethan has vanished without a trace. Ethan's Mom is divorced and had a terrible relationship with Andrew, Ethan 's father. He drank too much and was under a lot of stress and took it out on her and Ethan.
Another mother, Steph Huntington, from the school,seems like she has it all: money, a popular son and a loving husband. She hardly knows Kat. But as the police investigation upholds, Ethans disappearance will have earth-shattering consequences in Steph's own life- and the paths of these two mother's are about to cross in ways noone could have anticipated.
This story is every parents nightmare. It is not dark or graphic and I think it's a book for everyone, not just thriller fans. This is a fast paced read but it is a slow burner in the beginning but it then turns out to be a page turner. I really loved this book. I also was not able to guess what happened to Ethan and was shocked when I found out.
I didn't find this to be predictable at all.
I did have some disbelief in apart of the story, but other than that it was great.
I thought that the author did a great job on her characters. I really thought that I got to know them. I liked reading about Kay's and Steph's point of views, and that was when I felt like it got really suspenseful. I loved Ethan and my heart went out to him and Sammy's character shocked me.
This was a Traveling Sister read and I enjoyed reading this and discussing it and we are still discussing it.
I want to thank Edelweiss, Park Row/Harlequin and Kimberly Belle for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Available Now!
December 18, 2018
Didn't live up to the hype
Three Days Missing is a psychological thriller about the kidnapping of an eight-year-old boy. While this isn’t a bad read, I found it to be a bit predictable and anti-climatic.
When 8-year-old Ethan goes missing on a school camping trip, his mother Kat frantically awaits for him to be found. The longer he is missing, the higher the chances are he will not return alive. At the same time, the mayor’s wife, Stef, makes a startling discovery about her own son, Sam. While Sam and Ethan couldn’t be more different, the events on the camping trip tie them together in a very dangerous way.
The narrative alternates between Kat and Stef. I wanted more of Kat and less of Stef. Both of their characters were lacking, as they were too full of cliches, but I did find Kat’s to be more sincere and interesting. Stef’s character was supposed to defy cliches, but I didn’t see that happening. She fell flat and was a bit wooden. Ethan’s chapter at the end also came too late. Perhaps, if he had been mixed into the narrative vs. just having one final chapter from his perspective, things could have been more intriguing.
This book was fast-paced and suspenseful but it felt rushed and incomplete. I had high expectations going in, which might have hindered my reading experience. Three Days Missing was good for a mindless read, but as a whole, it didn’t make a lasting impression.
Three Days Missing is a psychological thriller about the kidnapping of an eight-year-old boy. While this isn’t a bad read, I found it to be a bit predictable and anti-climatic.
When 8-year-old Ethan goes missing on a school camping trip, his mother Kat frantically awaits for him to be found. The longer he is missing, the higher the chances are he will not return alive. At the same time, the mayor’s wife, Stef, makes a startling discovery about her own son, Sam. While Sam and Ethan couldn’t be more different, the events on the camping trip tie them together in a very dangerous way.
The narrative alternates between Kat and Stef. I wanted more of Kat and less of Stef. Both of their characters were lacking, as they were too full of cliches, but I did find Kat’s to be more sincere and interesting. Stef’s character was supposed to defy cliches, but I didn’t see that happening. She fell flat and was a bit wooden. Ethan’s chapter at the end also came too late. Perhaps, if he had been mixed into the narrative vs. just having one final chapter from his perspective, things could have been more intriguing.
This book was fast-paced and suspenseful but it felt rushed and incomplete. I had high expectations going in, which might have hindered my reading experience. Three Days Missing was good for a mindless read, but as a whole, it didn’t make a lasting impression.
June 26, 2018
This book is published now!!!
A fast-paced thriller that will have you turning the pages to find out what happened during those three days missing!!!
Kimberly Belle sure has a way with writing females in their relationships, as mothers, and as independent women. I first read Belle’s work in The Marriage Lie (which if you haven’t read, I highly recommend), and I was so excited that my second read by her delighted me so much! This one is a page-turner. Whether you’re a mother yourself, a woman, or even just a supporter of women and mothers, you’ll have a hard time not feeling the tension as a child goes missing. You’ll want to get to the end and hope that it turns out ok!
About the Book
Kat Jenkins is fresh out of a destructive marriage—one ending in a restraining order. Kat is grateful for the marriage nonetheless, because it gave her Ethan, her son. Ethan is a certified genius, but Kat worries about his difficulty making friends. Particularly at his very expensive, very exclusive private school, Cambridge Academy. The school was her ex Andrew’s idea. Status is important to Andrew, and Kat knows that Ethan will get many opportunities at a school like Cambridge Academy, even if she can barely cover her half of tuition.
Stef Huntington has it all—she’s the wife of the mayor of Atlanta, she has more money than she knows what to do with, she has an adorable son Sammy attending Cambridge Academy, and she has the adoration of the other mother’s at the school. But everything is not as perfect for Stef as it seems. Her husband is almost never home, she gave up her own career aspirations for his, and she is worried about Sammy’s behavior at school towards another boy.
When the students at Cambridge Academy go on a 3-day overnight trip to the mines, their parents get a moment to relax. Until the police come knocking on Kat’s door, that is. Ethan has gone missing, and the heavy rain is making tracking his movements difficult. And then Stef gets a call…
Two mothers with nothing in common face every parent’s worst nightmare, and may be the only ones who can help one another!
Reflection
I love the way Kimberly Belle writes about situations where the main character is thrust into a crisis with very little information. I could feel the emotion of both Kat and Stef. But neither were remotely weak characters. To the contrary, these are women that in a different life would be friends, if it weren’t for the status and social circles thrust upon Stef without her interest in them.
When I was reading about what they were going through, I felt tense and nervous along with them. I think many mothers know that moment when they realize their children don’t tell them everything. Kids may do this out of love, or out of fear, or out of shame. But as a mother, wondering what else your child may have kept from you that led to this situation would be terrifying! It would make you wonder if you were causing them to act this way through your own actions.
This book is a page-turner, and really had no slow or dull moments. Regardless of whether it was Kat’s or Stef’s experiences, we had the time marker to show how many hours since the disappearance we were. And the ending was so satisfying and twisty!!! The last 30% were hard to put down!
Thank you to Harlequin and to Kimberly Belle for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Blog
A fast-paced thriller that will have you turning the pages to find out what happened during those three days missing!!!
Kimberly Belle sure has a way with writing females in their relationships, as mothers, and as independent women. I first read Belle’s work in The Marriage Lie (which if you haven’t read, I highly recommend), and I was so excited that my second read by her delighted me so much! This one is a page-turner. Whether you’re a mother yourself, a woman, or even just a supporter of women and mothers, you’ll have a hard time not feeling the tension as a child goes missing. You’ll want to get to the end and hope that it turns out ok!
About the Book
Kat Jenkins is fresh out of a destructive marriage—one ending in a restraining order. Kat is grateful for the marriage nonetheless, because it gave her Ethan, her son. Ethan is a certified genius, but Kat worries about his difficulty making friends. Particularly at his very expensive, very exclusive private school, Cambridge Academy. The school was her ex Andrew’s idea. Status is important to Andrew, and Kat knows that Ethan will get many opportunities at a school like Cambridge Academy, even if she can barely cover her half of tuition.
Stef Huntington has it all—she’s the wife of the mayor of Atlanta, she has more money than she knows what to do with, she has an adorable son Sammy attending Cambridge Academy, and she has the adoration of the other mother’s at the school. But everything is not as perfect for Stef as it seems. Her husband is almost never home, she gave up her own career aspirations for his, and she is worried about Sammy’s behavior at school towards another boy.
When the students at Cambridge Academy go on a 3-day overnight trip to the mines, their parents get a moment to relax. Until the police come knocking on Kat’s door, that is. Ethan has gone missing, and the heavy rain is making tracking his movements difficult. And then Stef gets a call…
Two mothers with nothing in common face every parent’s worst nightmare, and may be the only ones who can help one another!
Reflection
I love the way Kimberly Belle writes about situations where the main character is thrust into a crisis with very little information. I could feel the emotion of both Kat and Stef. But neither were remotely weak characters. To the contrary, these are women that in a different life would be friends, if it weren’t for the status and social circles thrust upon Stef without her interest in them.
When I was reading about what they were going through, I felt tense and nervous along with them. I think many mothers know that moment when they realize their children don’t tell them everything. Kids may do this out of love, or out of fear, or out of shame. But as a mother, wondering what else your child may have kept from you that led to this situation would be terrifying! It would make you wonder if you were causing them to act this way through your own actions.
This book is a page-turner, and really had no slow or dull moments. Regardless of whether it was Kat’s or Stef’s experiences, we had the time marker to show how many hours since the disappearance we were. And the ending was so satisfying and twisty!!! The last 30% were hard to put down!
Thank you to Harlequin and to Kimberly Belle for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Blog
July 3, 2018
A school-sponsored camping trip. Great fun! Fresh air, outdoor activities. Nine year olds away from home for the first time. And uh-oh, limited supervision from chaperones! Potential for big trouble? You bet.
Told from alternating POVs from 2 of the mothers.
Kat is newly divorced. Her son Ethan is brilliant, extremely advanced for his age. But socially he has a hard time fitting in. No real friends from school, and constantly bullied.
Stef, is the Mayors wife. A life of luxury and privilege. Her son Sammy is the polar opposite of poor Ethan. He’s one of the popular kids in his class and golden boy gets everything he asks for.
Two families raising their nine year old boys. Both so different in every way.
Though I enjoyed this book, I had it figured out rather early. I would have loved a little more tension...something a bit more challenging. After reading so many thrillers, maybe my bar is just set a bit too high. (But that’s just me!).
This was the first book I’ve read by Kimberly Belle, though I do have her previous book The Marriage Lie Sitting on my shelf waiting for me.
Thank you to Goodreads giveaways and Park Row Books for my copy to read and review.
Told from alternating POVs from 2 of the mothers.
Kat is newly divorced. Her son Ethan is brilliant, extremely advanced for his age. But socially he has a hard time fitting in. No real friends from school, and constantly bullied.
Stef, is the Mayors wife. A life of luxury and privilege. Her son Sammy is the polar opposite of poor Ethan. He’s one of the popular kids in his class and golden boy gets everything he asks for.
Two families raising their nine year old boys. Both so different in every way.
Though I enjoyed this book, I had it figured out rather early. I would have loved a little more tension...something a bit more challenging. After reading so many thrillers, maybe my bar is just set a bit too high. (But that’s just me!).
This was the first book I’ve read by Kimberly Belle, though I do have her previous book The Marriage Lie Sitting on my shelf waiting for me.
Thank you to Goodreads giveaways and Park Row Books for my copy to read and review.
December 26, 2018
Three Days Missing by Kimberly Belle is a 2018 Park Row publication.
Divorced from her abusive husband and raising her gifted son alone, Kat is excited, but a little worried for her son, Ethan, when he heads off for a camping trip with his classmates. However, the last thing she ever expected was to learn Ethan had been reported missing.
Meanwhile, Stef, the mother of one of Ethan’s classmates, gets pulled into the investigation when she receives a disturbing call related to Ethan’s disappearance. Using money, social standing, and her husband’s power as a politician, she works very hard to protect her husband’s reputation at all costs, even if it means hindering the hunt for Ethan.
The story is told through the alternating perspectives of Kat and Stef as each deal with serious concerns, but Kat is the person with the most at stake. Ironically, it is Stef the author chose to put the most emphasis on. I’m not an author, so I can’t say why she chose this approach, but for me, it was very frustrating. I felt the mother of the missing child might have been given equal time and space in the story.
The initial setup was fine, and the pacing was brisk. I was engaged in the story, despite my frustration with Stef’s dominant narrative. The conclusion is chilling, in its way and did leave me feeling unsettled.
However, I think the message was murky, tepid, and uneven. Kat’s wishy- washy attitude confused me and I wish the author had made a much bolder statement about bullying and how those bullies often mature into full blown abusers. The attitude of both women in this story, is how and why the chain of abuse, instead of being broken, only becomes a longer and stronger chain. People see the signs and do nothing, are victimized, yet continue to protect and even enable abusers by giving them an out.
This book looks to be well received, putting me in the minority on this one. However, the rapid, highly unlikely conclusion, coupled with the diluted, mixed messages derailed the story, for me.
3 stars
Divorced from her abusive husband and raising her gifted son alone, Kat is excited, but a little worried for her son, Ethan, when he heads off for a camping trip with his classmates. However, the last thing she ever expected was to learn Ethan had been reported missing.
Meanwhile, Stef, the mother of one of Ethan’s classmates, gets pulled into the investigation when she receives a disturbing call related to Ethan’s disappearance. Using money, social standing, and her husband’s power as a politician, she works very hard to protect her husband’s reputation at all costs, even if it means hindering the hunt for Ethan.
The story is told through the alternating perspectives of Kat and Stef as each deal with serious concerns, but Kat is the person with the most at stake. Ironically, it is Stef the author chose to put the most emphasis on. I’m not an author, so I can’t say why she chose this approach, but for me, it was very frustrating. I felt the mother of the missing child might have been given equal time and space in the story.
The initial setup was fine, and the pacing was brisk. I was engaged in the story, despite my frustration with Stef’s dominant narrative. The conclusion is chilling, in its way and did leave me feeling unsettled.
However, I think the message was murky, tepid, and uneven. Kat’s wishy- washy attitude confused me and I wish the author had made a much bolder statement about bullying and how those bullies often mature into full blown abusers. The attitude of both women in this story, is how and why the chain of abuse, instead of being broken, only becomes a longer and stronger chain. People see the signs and do nothing, are victimized, yet continue to protect and even enable abusers by giving them an out.
This book looks to be well received, putting me in the minority on this one. However, the rapid, highly unlikely conclusion, coupled with the diluted, mixed messages derailed the story, for me.
3 stars
June 26, 2018
5 “ratcheting-up the suspense” stars to Three Days Missing! 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
Sometimes you know that you are going to click with a thriller from the first chapter, and that was the case with Three Days Missing. I have read two other books by Kimberly Belle, and I was especially impressed with The Ones We Trust. It had tight suspense with a Scandal-type feel, and I gobbled it up. Well, the same thing happened with Three Days Missing; I breezed right through the easy-to-read narrative with ratcheting-up suspense.
In Three Days Missing, we have narratives from two moms who have sent their young children on a school-sponsored camping trip. The first mom is Kat Jenkins, and her son Ethan is nine-years-old, bright, and quirky. Kat did not want to let Ethan go on the trip. She’s a nervous mom anyway, and Ethan is bullied without friends in his class, so she was worried about how he would manage socially at the camp. Also important to note is that Kat has been going through a bitter divorce from Ethan’s father. The police knock on her door (this scene was so original, so relatable and dramatic, I could imagine it happening to me or one of my friends), and Kat is told that her son is missing from the camp. She is rushed to the site where the investigation has ensued.
The other narrator is Stef Huntington; mom of Sammy, wife of Sam, the mayor of Atlanta. Stef lives the posh life, very much the opposite of Kat, and through hearing from Stef, the tension builds and builds in the story.
Hour by hour there is a race against the clock to find Ethan, while hearing from both of these strong female characters, determined moms that they are. While I did guess one of the twists, there was no way I could guess the biggest one; it was too intricate and well-done.
Overall, Three Days Missing is an exceptionally suspenseful novel filled with likable and relatable characters. To be certain, there have been other “missing children” storylines; however, Three Days Missing is an inventive contribution, and Belle’s taut writing makes this just the type of suspense I enjoy reading.
Thank you to Harlequin/Park Row for the copy. Three Days Missing will be published on June 26, 2018.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
Sometimes you know that you are going to click with a thriller from the first chapter, and that was the case with Three Days Missing. I have read two other books by Kimberly Belle, and I was especially impressed with The Ones We Trust. It had tight suspense with a Scandal-type feel, and I gobbled it up. Well, the same thing happened with Three Days Missing; I breezed right through the easy-to-read narrative with ratcheting-up suspense.
In Three Days Missing, we have narratives from two moms who have sent their young children on a school-sponsored camping trip. The first mom is Kat Jenkins, and her son Ethan is nine-years-old, bright, and quirky. Kat did not want to let Ethan go on the trip. She’s a nervous mom anyway, and Ethan is bullied without friends in his class, so she was worried about how he would manage socially at the camp. Also important to note is that Kat has been going through a bitter divorce from Ethan’s father. The police knock on her door (this scene was so original, so relatable and dramatic, I could imagine it happening to me or one of my friends), and Kat is told that her son is missing from the camp. She is rushed to the site where the investigation has ensued.
The other narrator is Stef Huntington; mom of Sammy, wife of Sam, the mayor of Atlanta. Stef lives the posh life, very much the opposite of Kat, and through hearing from Stef, the tension builds and builds in the story.
Hour by hour there is a race against the clock to find Ethan, while hearing from both of these strong female characters, determined moms that they are. While I did guess one of the twists, there was no way I could guess the biggest one; it was too intricate and well-done.
Overall, Three Days Missing is an exceptionally suspenseful novel filled with likable and relatable characters. To be certain, there have been other “missing children” storylines; however, Three Days Missing is an inventive contribution, and Belle’s taut writing makes this just the type of suspense I enjoy reading.
Thank you to Harlequin/Park Row for the copy. Three Days Missing will be published on June 26, 2018.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
July 3, 2018
4.5 Page Turning Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5
WOWZA!!! Could not get through this book quick enough! If you are a parent I’d strongly encourage you not to read this if your children are away at summer camp or even at a friends for a sleepover... you will want to make sure they’re sleeping soundly in their own bed or within ear shot... this book is about every parents worst nightmare... that phone call in the middle of the night to let you know your child is MISSING... Kimberly Belle almost did too good of a job making you feel the intense terror, the stress, the hope, and the loss, that these mothers did in this book... as a mother sometimes it was a bit excruciating and almost too real... I found myself reminding myself that this is just a book, and thank goodness!
Kat is a newly single mom and the mother of brilliant nine-year-old Ethan... Kat is a conscientious mother and a little hesitant to send her nine-year-old off to a sleepover field trip with his class especially because, Ethan has a hard time fitting in.... at first I was thinking this was a little young to go off on a sleepover field trip, but all my kids went to science camp in the fifth grade when they were around 10 years old.... Lucky for them I had not read this book right before that! Kat was tremendously relatable, just a good mom trying to give her child a good life filled with all kinds of opportunity.... i’m guessing every mom who reads this book will put themselves in her position *shutter*
Not only do we get the perspective of Kat in the book but we also get the perspective of Steph...Steph is the mother of Sam one of Ethan‘s classmates.... these two mothers stories intertwined... and even though they appear very different on the outside, they are both fierce mothers on the inside.... going to stay vague on the connection between these two ladies, because I don’t want to ruin anything, but I found both of their points of view extremely compelling....
This was a fast-paced perfectly plotted book... filled with all the twists, and turns, and reveals, you’d want from a psychological thriller..... did not see who was the bad guy coming and I really did not see that final twist! My only slight minor complaint is some things Ethan did seemed a little advanced for a nine-year-old, even a brilliant nine-year-old, but this is fiction...
Strongly recommend this to all my psychological thriller loving friends, this is one that will keep you turning the pages and up late into the night!
*** many thanks to Harlequin for my copy of this book ***
WOWZA!!! Could not get through this book quick enough! If you are a parent I’d strongly encourage you not to read this if your children are away at summer camp or even at a friends for a sleepover... you will want to make sure they’re sleeping soundly in their own bed or within ear shot... this book is about every parents worst nightmare... that phone call in the middle of the night to let you know your child is MISSING... Kimberly Belle almost did too good of a job making you feel the intense terror, the stress, the hope, and the loss, that these mothers did in this book... as a mother sometimes it was a bit excruciating and almost too real... I found myself reminding myself that this is just a book, and thank goodness!
Kat is a newly single mom and the mother of brilliant nine-year-old Ethan... Kat is a conscientious mother and a little hesitant to send her nine-year-old off to a sleepover field trip with his class especially because, Ethan has a hard time fitting in.... at first I was thinking this was a little young to go off on a sleepover field trip, but all my kids went to science camp in the fifth grade when they were around 10 years old.... Lucky for them I had not read this book right before that! Kat was tremendously relatable, just a good mom trying to give her child a good life filled with all kinds of opportunity.... i’m guessing every mom who reads this book will put themselves in her position *shutter*
Not only do we get the perspective of Kat in the book but we also get the perspective of Steph...Steph is the mother of Sam one of Ethan‘s classmates.... these two mothers stories intertwined... and even though they appear very different on the outside, they are both fierce mothers on the inside.... going to stay vague on the connection between these two ladies, because I don’t want to ruin anything, but I found both of their points of view extremely compelling....
This was a fast-paced perfectly plotted book... filled with all the twists, and turns, and reveals, you’d want from a psychological thriller..... did not see who was the bad guy coming and I really did not see that final twist! My only slight minor complaint is some things Ethan did seemed a little advanced for a nine-year-old, even a brilliant nine-year-old, but this is fiction...
Strongly recommend this to all my psychological thriller loving friends, this is one that will keep you turning the pages and up late into the night!
*** many thanks to Harlequin for my copy of this book ***
July 21, 2018
THREE DAYS MISSING by KIMBERLY BELLE is a gripping, suspenseful, and a fast-paced domestic thriller novel about a nine-year-old boy named Ethan who goes missing on a school field trip. That alone makes this book so scary and disturbing to read about (with no disturbing scenes though) and is something that no parent should ever have to experience in their lifetime.
I was totally intrigued and immersed in this storyline and had me flipping those pages as fast as I could desperately searching for answers of what happened and transpired in those three missing days.
Although, I figured out some of this story quite early on it didn’t take away any of the suspense or tension that I felt for this story or the characters. I especially enjoyed and loved Ethan’s character!
KIMBERLY BELLE delivers a well-written and tension filled story here that is both character and plot driven. The story was told from two different perspectives that of Kat (Ethan’s Mom) and Stephanie (the mother of another nine-year-old boy in Ethan’s class). I really enjoyed the perspective and individual stories from both of these mothers and really had me rooting for a positive outcome for both of them.
Both stories came together so nicely and was very satisfying to make this another entertaining, quick, easy and enjoyable read! Would recommend!
This was a Traveling Sisters Group Read.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Harlequin, and Kimberly Belle for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review.
Review written and posted on our themed book blog Two Sisters Lost In A Coulee Reading.
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com
Coulee: a term applied rather loosely to different landforms, all of which refer to a kind of valley.
I was totally intrigued and immersed in this storyline and had me flipping those pages as fast as I could desperately searching for answers of what happened and transpired in those three missing days.
Although, I figured out some of this story quite early on it didn’t take away any of the suspense or tension that I felt for this story or the characters. I especially enjoyed and loved Ethan’s character!
KIMBERLY BELLE delivers a well-written and tension filled story here that is both character and plot driven. The story was told from two different perspectives that of Kat (Ethan’s Mom) and Stephanie (the mother of another nine-year-old boy in Ethan’s class). I really enjoyed the perspective and individual stories from both of these mothers and really had me rooting for a positive outcome for both of them.
Both stories came together so nicely and was very satisfying to make this another entertaining, quick, easy and enjoyable read! Would recommend!
This was a Traveling Sisters Group Read.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Harlequin, and Kimberly Belle for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review.
Review written and posted on our themed book blog Two Sisters Lost In A Coulee Reading.
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com
Coulee: a term applied rather loosely to different landforms, all of which refer to a kind of valley.
July 20, 2018
Against her better judgement, Kat, allows eight year old Ethan to attend an overnight trip to a gold mine, with his class. She even buys him the new sleeping bag he wanted, though going through x contentious divorce, it was something she could little afford. Ethan is a very bright child, but being somewhat socially awkward he is bullied at school. His wanting to go seemed a positive step to Kat, but it is a decision she will come to regret, when the next morning Ethan goes missing.
I really enjoyed this, it was suspenseful, and I liked how the tension increased with each new revelation. Also liked that the two female leads were both portrayed as strong women, from opposite ends of the socioeconomic scale. Both were mothers who loved their sons, and that helped bridge the divided. Also shows the negative effects of bullying, both on the bully and the bullied.
I did guess part of this rather early, not that it was easy to discern, but rather a lucky guess. The ending though predictable in one way, was also chilling in another. Is it possible to identify at such a young age who will become a sociopath or psychopath?
ARC from Netgalley.
I really enjoyed this, it was suspenseful, and I liked how the tension increased with each new revelation. Also liked that the two female leads were both portrayed as strong women, from opposite ends of the socioeconomic scale. Both were mothers who loved their sons, and that helped bridge the divided. Also shows the negative effects of bullying, both on the bully and the bullied.
I did guess part of this rather early, not that it was easy to discern, but rather a lucky guess. The ending though predictable in one way, was also chilling in another. Is it possible to identify at such a young age who will become a sociopath or psychopath?
ARC from Netgalley.
July 12, 2018
5 Stars!
Thanks to Park Row Books for sending me a copy of this book!
If I'm as smart as everyone says, then why are there some things I'll never understand?
Holy Guacamole! This book came into my life at exactly the time I needed it. This is the thriller I've been looking for! It's not necessarily the thriller that I sat there and said WHAT to but it definitely is the thriller I couldn't put down and NEEDED to know what happened. I stayed up reading late last night and picked it up immediately during my lunch break to finish today.
Ethan is an eight year old boy who is a super genius - as in a very high IQ + he has a photographic memory. His parents are divorced - his Dad abused his mom and they live a not so glamorous life. Sam is the mayor of Atlanta and is married to Stefanie. They have an eight year old named Sammy. They live the good life. The one thing these boys have in common? They go to the same school which costs $$$. Ethan is bullied by Sammy for being too smart.
There's an overnight class trip coming up and Ethan and Sammy both attend. One night a fire is set outside their cabin. When the adults finally get it under control they do a headcount and someone is missing.....Ethan. Kat (Ethan's Mom) gets a phone call and she rushes to the campground. From there we start the three day search to find the missing boy. Simultaneously this disappearance of Ethan starts to unravel secrets from Sam and Stef's past family history. But the real quick is where is Ethan and who would have taken him??
This book had me turning the pages so fast I didn't even realize I had gotten to page 200 until I looked up. It kept me engrossed the entire time and that is something I love about thrillers. Something I also loved was that I never guessed what the twist was or who took him. I had my theories but this one I didn't figure out.
Another question this book brought up was can we always trust people closest to us? There is a staggering statistic that only a small percentage of abducted children are by people they don't know. So that means the majority of the time it's someone we do know - family, friend, teacher, neighbor, etc. I feel like the world sometimes gives family members a break (except maybe parents) when it comes to child abductions. This book made me think about that. Especially if you're in business with a family member...
If you want a page turner and a book you can't put down, definitely pick this book up. I will be a Kimberly Belle fan for life!
Thanks to Park Row Books for sending me a copy of this book!
If I'm as smart as everyone says, then why are there some things I'll never understand?
Holy Guacamole! This book came into my life at exactly the time I needed it. This is the thriller I've been looking for! It's not necessarily the thriller that I sat there and said WHAT to but it definitely is the thriller I couldn't put down and NEEDED to know what happened. I stayed up reading late last night and picked it up immediately during my lunch break to finish today.
Ethan is an eight year old boy who is a super genius - as in a very high IQ + he has a photographic memory. His parents are divorced - his Dad abused his mom and they live a not so glamorous life. Sam is the mayor of Atlanta and is married to Stefanie. They have an eight year old named Sammy. They live the good life. The one thing these boys have in common? They go to the same school which costs $$$. Ethan is bullied by Sammy for being too smart.
There's an overnight class trip coming up and Ethan and Sammy both attend. One night a fire is set outside their cabin. When the adults finally get it under control they do a headcount and someone is missing.....Ethan. Kat (Ethan's Mom) gets a phone call and she rushes to the campground. From there we start the three day search to find the missing boy. Simultaneously this disappearance of Ethan starts to unravel secrets from Sam and Stef's past family history. But the real quick is where is Ethan and who would have taken him??
This book had me turning the pages so fast I didn't even realize I had gotten to page 200 until I looked up. It kept me engrossed the entire time and that is something I love about thrillers. Something I also loved was that I never guessed what the twist was or who took him. I had my theories but this one I didn't figure out.
Another question this book brought up was can we always trust people closest to us? There is a staggering statistic that only a small percentage of abducted children are by people they don't know. So that means the majority of the time it's someone we do know - family, friend, teacher, neighbor, etc. I feel like the world sometimes gives family members a break (except maybe parents) when it comes to child abductions. This book made me think about that. Especially if you're in business with a family member...
If you want a page turner and a book you can't put down, definitely pick this book up. I will be a Kimberly Belle fan for life!
July 22, 2018
3.5 stars. This was a quick and suspenseful read that kept my curiosity piqued throughout.
This book revolves around every parents’ worst nightmare. Kat Jenkins wakes up in the middle of the night to over twenty missed phone calls and the police knocking on her door. They inform her that her eight-year-old son, Ethan, has disappeared from the campground where he and his classmates were staying. Told from the perspective of Kat and a fellow classmates’ mother, the chapters switch between the narrators. I felt for these mothers and enjoyed what each of their perspectives brought to the story.
The suspense gripped me quickly from the first chapter. The novel had me guessing throughout, however, the intensity of the suspense and thrill started to slightly fizzle out around the halfway mark. I was still intrigued to find out how it would all end, but the story lost some of its spark for me. Additionally, toward the end of the book, there were a few situations that seemed implausible which took away from my enjoyment.
Overall, I enjoyed this quick, easy and entertaining book and would recommend it to thriller and suspense fans. This was a Traveling Sister read which lead to some terrific discussion. To find this review, along with the other Traveling Sister reviews, please visit Norma and Brenda’s fabulous blog at:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/2...
A big thank you to NetGalley, HARLEQUIN and Kimberly Belle for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Three Days Missing is available now!!
This book revolves around every parents’ worst nightmare. Kat Jenkins wakes up in the middle of the night to over twenty missed phone calls and the police knocking on her door. They inform her that her eight-year-old son, Ethan, has disappeared from the campground where he and his classmates were staying. Told from the perspective of Kat and a fellow classmates’ mother, the chapters switch between the narrators. I felt for these mothers and enjoyed what each of their perspectives brought to the story.
The suspense gripped me quickly from the first chapter. The novel had me guessing throughout, however, the intensity of the suspense and thrill started to slightly fizzle out around the halfway mark. I was still intrigued to find out how it would all end, but the story lost some of its spark for me. Additionally, toward the end of the book, there were a few situations that seemed implausible which took away from my enjoyment.
Overall, I enjoyed this quick, easy and entertaining book and would recommend it to thriller and suspense fans. This was a Traveling Sister read which lead to some terrific discussion. To find this review, along with the other Traveling Sister reviews, please visit Norma and Brenda’s fabulous blog at:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/2...
A big thank you to NetGalley, HARLEQUIN and Kimberly Belle for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Three Days Missing is available now!!
June 4, 2019
4 Stars.
A Captivating and Harrowing Mystery / Suspense!
Eight Year-Old Ethan Jenkins goes missing from an overnight camping trip. Single mother, Kat Jenkins is beside herself, having no idea what to do or who to turn to especially once questions abound as to whether Ethan ran off or was taken. Could Kat’s ex-husband Andrew be involved?
Stef Huntington is the Mayor’s Wife. Her son, Sammy is also in Ethan’s class. When Stef hears about Ethan, all she wants is to go get Sammy. When she gets a call about him, panic ensues.
Both Kat and Stef are very different, yet they have one common denominator: their love for their children.
How far would you go if your child was taken? Desperate times call for desperate measures.
“Three Days Missing” by Kimberly Belle is a compelling mystery filled with tension, suspense and sheer terror. I listened to the audiobook and felt the narrators did a great job keeping me enthralled. This is my second novel by Ms. Belle. She is quickly becoming a favorite of mine and I can’t wait to read “The Marriage Lie” next.
Thanks Hoopla!
Published on Goodreads on 6.2.19.
A Captivating and Harrowing Mystery / Suspense!
Eight Year-Old Ethan Jenkins goes missing from an overnight camping trip. Single mother, Kat Jenkins is beside herself, having no idea what to do or who to turn to especially once questions abound as to whether Ethan ran off or was taken. Could Kat’s ex-husband Andrew be involved?
Stef Huntington is the Mayor’s Wife. Her son, Sammy is also in Ethan’s class. When Stef hears about Ethan, all she wants is to go get Sammy. When she gets a call about him, panic ensues.
Both Kat and Stef are very different, yet they have one common denominator: their love for their children.
How far would you go if your child was taken? Desperate times call for desperate measures.
“Three Days Missing” by Kimberly Belle is a compelling mystery filled with tension, suspense and sheer terror. I listened to the audiobook and felt the narrators did a great job keeping me enthralled. This is my second novel by Ms. Belle. She is quickly becoming a favorite of mine and I can’t wait to read “The Marriage Lie” next.
Thanks Hoopla!
Published on Goodreads on 6.2.19.
June 22, 2020
Kimberly Belle does a great job here setting the tension and the anxiety with sending your child off to camp. The tension soars when Ethan goes missing and Kat along with us all are left with questions as to how a child can go missing from camp. We soon learn more is involved here with another mother and her son becomes involved in the mystery of Ethan disappearing.
Three Day Missing is an entertaining and suspenseful thriller that takes us on a fast-paced, clock ticking race through the coulee to find where Ethan is.
Kimberly Belle creates two strong mothers here with Kat and Stephanie who live very different lives from each other yet similar in many ways as Mothers. We found both interesting and our hearts went out to each as they struggled with finding the truth to Ethan’s disappearance.
And that ending things got a little chilly in the Coulee after finishing this story and some of us were feeling a little uneasy with that well-done ending.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Harlequin, and Kimberly Belle for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book.
More of my reviews and Q & A with Kimberly Belle can be found on the Traveling Sisters blog
https://travelingsistersbookreviews.com
Three Day Missing is an entertaining and suspenseful thriller that takes us on a fast-paced, clock ticking race through the coulee to find where Ethan is.
Kimberly Belle creates two strong mothers here with Kat and Stephanie who live very different lives from each other yet similar in many ways as Mothers. We found both interesting and our hearts went out to each as they struggled with finding the truth to Ethan’s disappearance.
And that ending things got a little chilly in the Coulee after finishing this story and some of us were feeling a little uneasy with that well-done ending.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Harlequin, and Kimberly Belle for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book.
More of my reviews and Q & A with Kimberly Belle can be found on the Traveling Sisters blog
https://travelingsistersbookreviews.com
April 30, 2024
This was a very enjoyable read. Likable characters, suspensful story, no extreme violence and no crazy twists that come out of nowhere. The resolution is a bit predictable, but there were a couple things that surprised me along the way. I really liked the ending.
The two narrators were good, especially the one reading Kat's POV, but the production could have been better.
The two narrators were good, especially the one reading Kat's POV, but the production could have been better.
July 27, 2018
Three Days Missing is an extremely faced paced, well executed mystery. This is the story of two boys, two mothers and the people who surround their lives in the peripheral.
Ethan goes missing from an in overnight camping trip that his class has taken. First glance would lead the reader to suspect his father who, while claiming to love Ethan, is an abuser. We are told this repeatedly - Andrew is an abuser.
However, soon we discover that Ethan was not the target of the abduction but, rather, the Mayor's son. "Sammy" is also abuser, a child, but a bully who has been tormenting Ethan
Kimberly Belle has written a very exciting book. Once I began reading it, I simply could not stop. I absolutely loved the book - until I didn't. First, I suspect that you - like me - will figure out who is behind the kidnapping. The fact that I did so early on in the book took away from the excitement of the read. Second, I adored this book all the way until the final chapters. Kat, Ethan's mother, is so incredibly concerned about her child yet she has no issues with him spending time with the man who abused her. Not once in this book does she ever come to the realization that the man who physically and verbally abused her would do the same to her son. Who, in their right mind, "co-parents" with an abuser!?
Belle, in interviews, said that she wanted to convey two messages: one about the travesty of abuse, the other about the dangers of bullying. There is a vast difference between telling a story about abuse and bullying, and actually sending a real, truthful message about these issues. In the end, for Kat, neither of these issues were important enough for her to deal with. She excused the bully and continued to make excuses for the abuser. Or, maybe that is the point of the book. Women never learn and bullies get elected President of the US. While this book is skillfully written if you merely are looking for a quick easy to read mystery with little to no substance, I wish I could have my evening back.
Ethan goes missing from an in overnight camping trip that his class has taken. First glance would lead the reader to suspect his father who, while claiming to love Ethan, is an abuser. We are told this repeatedly - Andrew is an abuser.
However, soon we discover that Ethan was not the target of the abduction but, rather, the Mayor's son. "Sammy" is also abuser, a child, but a bully who has been tormenting Ethan
Kimberly Belle has written a very exciting book. Once I began reading it, I simply could not stop. I absolutely loved the book - until I didn't. First, I suspect that you - like me - will figure out who is behind the kidnapping. The fact that I did so early on in the book took away from the excitement of the read. Second, I adored this book all the way until the final chapters. Kat, Ethan's mother, is so incredibly concerned about her child yet she has no issues with him spending time with the man who abused her. Not once in this book does she ever come to the realization that the man who physically and verbally abused her would do the same to her son. Who, in their right mind, "co-parents" with an abuser!?
Belle, in interviews, said that she wanted to convey two messages: one about the travesty of abuse, the other about the dangers of bullying. There is a vast difference between telling a story about abuse and bullying, and actually sending a real, truthful message about these issues. In the end, for Kat, neither of these issues were important enough for her to deal with. She excused the bully and continued to make excuses for the abuser. Or, maybe that is the point of the book. Women never learn and bullies get elected President of the US. While this book is skillfully written if you merely are looking for a quick easy to read mystery with little to no substance, I wish I could have my evening back.
July 11, 2018
Three Days Missing is the story of every mother's worst nightmare. Getting the knock on the door telling you that your child is missing.
Kat is currently going through a messy divorce from an abusive, wealthy husband. Meanwhile she can barely afford to get by much less afford half the tuition for their son Ethan to go to private school. When an overnight class trip comes up Kat hopes this will be an opportunity for Ethan to make some friends. He's a brilliant, precocious boy that get's picked on by some of the other children.
Then we have Stef who is the beautiful wealthy wife of the mayor. Her son Sammy attends the same school as Ethan and has also gone on the same camping trip.
Kat wakes up one morning to a knock on the door. It seems Ethan vanished in the middle of the night. The race is on to find Ethan before it's too late.
We have alternating chapters between both woman telling two different sides to the same story.
There is no lack of missing children fiction and this one sits firmly in the middle for me. It's not poorly written it just didn't have the tension I require in these types of stories. I never cared about anyone. Kat I should of cared about. My heart should of broke for her but it never did. Then the reason as to who and why fell completely flat for me. I am in the minority with this one so I still encourage you to pick this one up especially if alternating chapters and stories of missing children are your thing.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Harper Collins for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Kat is currently going through a messy divorce from an abusive, wealthy husband. Meanwhile she can barely afford to get by much less afford half the tuition for their son Ethan to go to private school. When an overnight class trip comes up Kat hopes this will be an opportunity for Ethan to make some friends. He's a brilliant, precocious boy that get's picked on by some of the other children.
Then we have Stef who is the beautiful wealthy wife of the mayor. Her son Sammy attends the same school as Ethan and has also gone on the same camping trip.
Kat wakes up one morning to a knock on the door. It seems Ethan vanished in the middle of the night. The race is on to find Ethan before it's too late.
We have alternating chapters between both woman telling two different sides to the same story.
There is no lack of missing children fiction and this one sits firmly in the middle for me. It's not poorly written it just didn't have the tension I require in these types of stories. I never cared about anyone. Kat I should of cared about. My heart should of broke for her but it never did. Then the reason as to who and why fell completely flat for me. I am in the minority with this one so I still encourage you to pick this one up especially if alternating chapters and stories of missing children are your thing.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Harper Collins for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
June 26, 2018
Two women, two different life styles, two children the same age, and then one disappears.
Ethan went missing from a school event held overnight at a camp in a wooded part of Georgia.
Ethan was a bullied child and Sammy was a coddled, spoiled child who was the bully. Funny thing is that they resembled each other. The question was if Sammy was the target instead of Ethan.
The search reached far and wide, and the only clue was a trail of clues left by Ethan and a phone call from the kidnapper.
THREE DAYS MISSING moved at as frantic a pace as the search. Ms. Belle left us hanging at the end of each chapter with a clue that wasn't revealed until another chapter.
As the search reached the forty-one hour mark, a school meeting was organized, and parents started telling what their children remembered.
Could the children's revelations be the big break through?
Did one of the children know more than they were telling?
Could Kat and Stef become friends after this even though their children were not friends?
Could they really share the grief of a missing child?
But...most importantly can Stef help with finding Ethan or will she have problems of her own that need to be taken care of?
If you like mysteries that have unexpected twists and turns, THREE DAYS MISSING will need to go in your stack of to-be-read books.
THREE DAYS MISSING pulls you in and keeps you guessing along with the characters.
You won’t want to stop reading because of the subject matter and because of the way the book is set up. 5/5
This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher and NetGalley in return for an honest review.
August 25, 2018
You would think sending your child on a YMCA camp would be safe but Kat Jenkins life is turned upside down when her son Ethan goes Missing, she was nervous & uneasy about sending him she is also on the verge of getting a divorce from her husband Andrew who is a control freak & has an AVO put on him after a violent incident his temper is sporadic.
Detective Brent Mackintosh of Atlanta P.D is brought in to solve the case they make their way to to Dahlonega 50 miles away, she calls Lucas who is her friend works in construction, but since the housing crash is a jack of all trades & is also an ex marine, together they will stop at nothing to find Kats loved son she is so distraught that at times she cannot see reality, sometimes her mother instincts takes over & would scratch who ever has her son eyes out.
She comes from a undesirable area Tucker where undesirables regularly haunt the area the houses are rundown & raggedy. We also find out more about Kats ex husband who is having business problems assets & money.
Meanwhile Stef has a lovely home a son Sam & is married to Sam who is the mayor is a good man but lives in his own world even on his rare day off is married to his work Josh his chief of staff is his confidant. then the plot takes a strange twist when Stef's son Sammy goes missing IS IT BY THE SAME PREDATOR OR IS IT PURE COINICIDENCE!!
Mackintosh asks Kat about any medical he has & remembers he is allergic to peanuts this takes the case to another level it was a real page turner & one I couldn't put down if you haven't read this yet then do it wont disappoint.
Detective Brent Mackintosh of Atlanta P.D is brought in to solve the case they make their way to to Dahlonega 50 miles away, she calls Lucas who is her friend works in construction, but since the housing crash is a jack of all trades & is also an ex marine, together they will stop at nothing to find Kats loved son she is so distraught that at times she cannot see reality, sometimes her mother instincts takes over & would scratch who ever has her son eyes out.
She comes from a undesirable area Tucker where undesirables regularly haunt the area the houses are rundown & raggedy. We also find out more about Kats ex husband who is having business problems assets & money.
Meanwhile Stef has a lovely home a son Sam & is married to Sam who is the mayor is a good man but lives in his own world even on his rare day off is married to his work Josh his chief of staff is his confidant. then the plot takes a strange twist when Stef's son Sammy goes missing IS IT BY THE SAME PREDATOR OR IS IT PURE COINICIDENCE!!
Mackintosh asks Kat about any medical he has & remembers he is allergic to peanuts this takes the case to another level it was a real page turner & one I couldn't put down if you haven't read this yet then do it wont disappoint.
March 10, 2019
3.5 stars
With a tagline that states that it was just an ordinary camping trip, how in the world could I resist? In this case, Three Days Missing is a parent's worst nightmare and involves the disappearance of an eight year old child. Once I started, I just knew that I wouldn't be able to put it down until I found the answers to all my questions.
The novel is through the eyes of Kat, the missing child's mother and Stephanie, the mother of a classmate and the wife of the mayor. I was so wrapped up in Kat's trauma that I wasn't completely convinced of the importance of Stephanie 's role until well into the story.
Fast paced read that kept me interested from beginning to end.
With a tagline that states that it was just an ordinary camping trip, how in the world could I resist? In this case, Three Days Missing is a parent's worst nightmare and involves the disappearance of an eight year old child. Once I started, I just knew that I wouldn't be able to put it down until I found the answers to all my questions.
The novel is through the eyes of Kat, the missing child's mother and Stephanie, the mother of a classmate and the wife of the mayor. I was so wrapped up in Kat's trauma that I wasn't completely convinced of the importance of Stephanie 's role until well into the story.
Fast paced read that kept me interested from beginning to end.
May 24, 2019
3.5 stars rounded up
Kat Jenkins and Stef Huntington have little in common except that their sons are in the same class at school.
Kat is going through an ugly divorce and has a restraining order against her soon to be ex husband.
Stef is married to the Mayor.
But their lives will intersect when Kat’s 9 year old son Ethan vanishes from the campground where his class went on an overnight field trip.
The story unfolds over the three days that Ethan is missing, told from the alternating perspectives of both Kat and Stef.
I was surprised when I learned WHY Ethan went missing but guessed WHO was involved pretty early on, so I did not enjoy this book as much as “The Marriage Lie”.
Nor did I feel the tension I expected to feel while reading about a missing 9 year old boy. But, I am not a mother, and many readers who are, DID feel this tension, so perhaps it was just me.
I guess that is why I am writing this review feeling like this book while NOT bad, was just OKAY for me. 🤔
My favorite chapter was the last one- Ethan’s.
Kat Jenkins and Stef Huntington have little in common except that their sons are in the same class at school.
Kat is going through an ugly divorce and has a restraining order against her soon to be ex husband.
Stef is married to the Mayor.
But their lives will intersect when Kat’s 9 year old son Ethan vanishes from the campground where his class went on an overnight field trip.
The story unfolds over the three days that Ethan is missing, told from the alternating perspectives of both Kat and Stef.
I was surprised when I learned WHY Ethan went missing but guessed WHO was involved pretty early on, so I did not enjoy this book as much as “The Marriage Lie”.
Nor did I feel the tension I expected to feel while reading about a missing 9 year old boy. But, I am not a mother, and many readers who are, DID feel this tension, so perhaps it was just me.
I guess that is why I am writing this review feeling like this book while NOT bad, was just OKAY for me. 🤔
My favorite chapter was the last one- Ethan’s.
September 21, 2019
2.5 stars
This was a bit of a miss for me. Normally the story of a missing child would easily hold my interest, but after awhile I found myself bored. The suspense just wasn't there in my opinion and it didn't help that one of the main characters fell flat.
Kat Jenkins is devastated when she receives news from the police her nine-year-old son, Ethan, has gone missing during an overnight class trip. She rushes to the campground and while it appears everything possible is being done to find him, so far it's like he vanished into thin air. Stef Huntington is married to a politician and is the mother of one of Ethan's classmates. The story will alternate between Kat and Stef as each hopes Ethan will be found safe and sound.
In my opinion the title and the format of the book were mistakes as it weakened the suspense elements of the story. With a title like Three Days Missing, it's pretty obvious there is no way the child will be found until at least the 3 day mark. So the timeline label at the beginning of each chapter, was just a reminder of that fact. With a missing person plot, most authors will stretch out the story so that isn't anything new. However, I felt like a neon sign was flashing at the start of each chapter basically saying nothing important will happen until we get to 3 days. I felt like I missed out on that suspense type feeling.
Stef was a dud of a character which is a shame because half of the story revolves around her. She might serve a purpose in advancing the plot, but I just was not feeling her character at all.
The story might have been saved for me if it had a great ending. Unfortunately, it's not hard to see early on which direction the story is headed. I kept hoping the author was laying it on a bit thick as a red herring but no, she kept it simple and predictable.
A disappointing read for me, but that seems to be the minority opinion as most readers enjoyed the book. As always, take my opinions with a grain of salt.
This was a bit of a miss for me. Normally the story of a missing child would easily hold my interest, but after awhile I found myself bored. The suspense just wasn't there in my opinion and it didn't help that one of the main characters fell flat.
Kat Jenkins is devastated when she receives news from the police her nine-year-old son, Ethan, has gone missing during an overnight class trip. She rushes to the campground and while it appears everything possible is being done to find him, so far it's like he vanished into thin air. Stef Huntington is married to a politician and is the mother of one of Ethan's classmates. The story will alternate between Kat and Stef as each hopes Ethan will be found safe and sound.
In my opinion the title and the format of the book were mistakes as it weakened the suspense elements of the story. With a title like Three Days Missing, it's pretty obvious there is no way the child will be found until at least the 3 day mark. So the timeline label at the beginning of each chapter, was just a reminder of that fact. With a missing person plot, most authors will stretch out the story so that isn't anything new. However, I felt like a neon sign was flashing at the start of each chapter basically saying nothing important will happen until we get to 3 days. I felt like I missed out on that suspense type feeling.
Stef was a dud of a character which is a shame because half of the story revolves around her. She might serve a purpose in advancing the plot, but I just was not feeling her character at all.
The story might have been saved for me if it had a great ending. Unfortunately, it's not hard to see early on which direction the story is headed. I kept hoping the author was laying it on a bit thick as a red herring but no, she kept it simple and predictable.
A disappointing read for me, but that seems to be the minority opinion as most readers enjoyed the book. As always, take my opinions with a grain of salt.
June 20, 2018
Well that was one hell of a ride, talk about a desperate race to the finish line and I’m talking about myself tearing through the pages of this one, I was so eager to find out what happened to little Ethan! Belle writes about everyday, average people thrust into terrifying situations in such a relatable, yet exciting manner that you can’t help getting sucked into her books within just a few pages.
This is told alternately from Kat’s point of view as she searches for her missing son Ethan and then Stef who is married to the mayor and who’s son Sammy was Ethan’s classmate. Kat’s fear and anguish was tangible, Belle’s writing was so fantastic that it became a living, breathing thing that consumed me almost as much as it consumed Kat herself. I kept thinking, this woman could be me, how horrifying to not know where your child is after you’ve trusted his teacher and school to keep him safe on a field trip, it was scary to put it mildly. Besides the well crafted characters you have this highly tense atmosphere coupled with some gut punching twists that left me reeling, I couldn’t ask for more.
The ending of The Marriage Lie is one of my all time favorites and this one was excellent as well, it was executed to perfection and left me completely satisfied and impressed. Missing children premises are nothing new but Belle managed to put a fresh spin on the idea and managed to make me excited about a plot that’s been done before because she puts her unique stamp on it.
Three Days Missing in three words: Exhilarating, Pacey and Twisty.
This is told alternately from Kat’s point of view as she searches for her missing son Ethan and then Stef who is married to the mayor and who’s son Sammy was Ethan’s classmate. Kat’s fear and anguish was tangible, Belle’s writing was so fantastic that it became a living, breathing thing that consumed me almost as much as it consumed Kat herself. I kept thinking, this woman could be me, how horrifying to not know where your child is after you’ve trusted his teacher and school to keep him safe on a field trip, it was scary to put it mildly. Besides the well crafted characters you have this highly tense atmosphere coupled with some gut punching twists that left me reeling, I couldn’t ask for more.
The ending of The Marriage Lie is one of my all time favorites and this one was excellent as well, it was executed to perfection and left me completely satisfied and impressed. Missing children premises are nothing new but Belle managed to put a fresh spin on the idea and managed to make me excited about a plot that’s been done before because she puts her unique stamp on it.
Three Days Missing in three words: Exhilarating, Pacey and Twisty.
May 17, 2018
Can I be officially voted president of the Kimberly Belle Thriller fan club? I'm totally obsessed with her books, which are not only guaranteed to suck you in and take you on the ride of your life, but give you the added bonus of characters who are complex and immensely relatable (or believably up to no good). You do not want to miss this fast-paced, utterly compelling, gut-shot of a book!
June 29, 2018
Many thanks to Harlequin Books and Park Row for providing my free copy of THREE DAYS MISSING by Kimberly Belle - all opinions are my own.
This is one heck of a page-turner!! I read it in one sitting because there is literally never a dull moment! We follow two strong, female characters, Kat Jenkins and Stef Huntington, with nothing in common except their two sons are in the same class at Cambridge Academy. Kat is recently out of an abusive marriage, living paycheck to paycheck, and can barely afford her son, Ethan’s tuition. Stef is wealthy and married to the mayor of Atlanta, but he is never around for their son, Sammy. Cambridge Academy takes the students on a three day overnight camping trip, so what happens next? Well...Kat gets a visit from the police stating her son has gone missing and then Stef enters the same nightmare.
We alternate between Kat and Stef’s perspectives. This is equally a plot driven and character driven novel which is what makes it so masterfully done! Kat and Stef are both fantastic characters and I could not flip through these pages fast enough to find out what happened to Ethan. The writing is vivid and descriptive which makes these characters very real. Belle’s latest is a refreshing take on thrillers involving missing children and even the domestic thriller genre in general. And not to mention, Belle is the queen of jaw-dropping endings! THREE DAYS MISSING is compulsive, emotional, fast-paced, and twisty! I cannot recommend this one enough! Buy this book!
This is one heck of a page-turner!! I read it in one sitting because there is literally never a dull moment! We follow two strong, female characters, Kat Jenkins and Stef Huntington, with nothing in common except their two sons are in the same class at Cambridge Academy. Kat is recently out of an abusive marriage, living paycheck to paycheck, and can barely afford her son, Ethan’s tuition. Stef is wealthy and married to the mayor of Atlanta, but he is never around for their son, Sammy. Cambridge Academy takes the students on a three day overnight camping trip, so what happens next? Well...Kat gets a visit from the police stating her son has gone missing and then Stef enters the same nightmare.
We alternate between Kat and Stef’s perspectives. This is equally a plot driven and character driven novel which is what makes it so masterfully done! Kat and Stef are both fantastic characters and I could not flip through these pages fast enough to find out what happened to Ethan. The writing is vivid and descriptive which makes these characters very real. Belle’s latest is a refreshing take on thrillers involving missing children and even the domestic thriller genre in general. And not to mention, Belle is the queen of jaw-dropping endings! THREE DAYS MISSING is compulsive, emotional, fast-paced, and twisty! I cannot recommend this one enough! Buy this book!
November 29, 2019
This is the 3rd novel I have read by Kimberly Belle and I have loved them all. Her stories are unique and riveting!
It's every parents worst nightmare to have the police arrive on your doorstep telling you your child has disappeared. This happens to Kat Jenkins when her 9 yr old son Ethan is missing from the cabin where he'd been on a overnight class trip. Ethan's disappearance has earth-shattering consequences for Steph, another mother from the school. Both mothers lives collide in a shocking way as they desperately search for answers.
I was totally captivated by this fast-paced domestic thriller!
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin/Park Row for a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
It's every parents worst nightmare to have the police arrive on your doorstep telling you your child has disappeared. This happens to Kat Jenkins when her 9 yr old son Ethan is missing from the cabin where he'd been on a overnight class trip. Ethan's disappearance has earth-shattering consequences for Steph, another mother from the school. Both mothers lives collide in a shocking way as they desperately search for answers.
I was totally captivated by this fast-paced domestic thriller!
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin/Park Row for a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
March 19, 2019
Idk why, but this was so hard for me to get through!! I picked this up in audio format and put it down two separate times before finally finishing it today! I guess I just knew this would end a particular way, and it did, so I kind of felt like everything in the middle was just filler and things didn't really pick up until about 80% in, for me anyway. I will say the writing was good, and I haven't read a plot similar to this one in a long time. It just lacked some excitement for me. Definitely would recommend The Marriage Lie over this one. No worries though, I'm still a big fan of Belle and CANNOT WAIT for her next novel to come out!!
February 25, 2025
Story 4 stars**
Audio 4.25 stars**
Narrators vanessa Johansson
Sarah Naughton
Audio 4.25 stars**
Narrators vanessa Johansson
Sarah Naughton
June 24, 2018
Looking for a fast paced and compulsive read that will have you turning the pages so fast you'll get papercuts? Well look no further. This one draws you in from page one and does not let up! Kat and Stef are two completely opposite women in their social network. Stef is the mayor's wife, rich, successful and in a happy marriage. Kat is trying to get divorced from her horrible ex, living paycheck to paycheck and her perpetual state is frazzled. The one thing they truly have in common? Their sons, who are in the same class.
Let me applaud Belle by making these two women extremely strong and fierce within their own right. I absolutely loved them both. I find it rare these days to find a woman in Stef's situation not be entitled, snobbish and just out right annoying, so it was nice to see her as compassionate and using her "power" for good.
We all know kids can be mean. Kids definitely don't watch what they say most of the time, can be bullies and are typically we give them the "kids will be kids" kind of brush off. I don't find adults to be much different most of the time and I love how this storyline shows depths in both situations. I certainly felt a lot of empathy for Kat. While I'm not a mother myself, I felt myself tearing up at certain scenes due to her frustration. Kat, I HEAR YOU, WOMAN!
I don't want to say too much for fear of spoiling anything. This was brilliantly written and I admit I like this leaps above The Marriage Lie. I'm not certain how I feel about that last chapter though... I wasn't quite sure if it was necessary but I did kind of do a half smile after I turned that last page. Either way, I give this a full five stars for the compulsive nature of the read. I do love it when a book just pulls me right in!
Thank you to Park Row Books for this copy :D
Let me applaud Belle by making these two women extremely strong and fierce within their own right. I absolutely loved them both. I find it rare these days to find a woman in Stef's situation not be entitled, snobbish and just out right annoying, so it was nice to see her as compassionate and using her "power" for good.
We all know kids can be mean. Kids definitely don't watch what they say most of the time, can be bullies and are typically we give them the "kids will be kids" kind of brush off. I don't find adults to be much different most of the time and I love how this storyline shows depths in both situations. I certainly felt a lot of empathy for Kat. While I'm not a mother myself, I felt myself tearing up at certain scenes due to her frustration. Kat, I HEAR YOU, WOMAN!
I don't want to say too much for fear of spoiling anything. This was brilliantly written and I admit I like this leaps above The Marriage Lie. I'm not certain how I feel about that last chapter though... I wasn't quite sure if it was necessary but I did kind of do a half smile after I turned that last page. Either way, I give this a full five stars for the compulsive nature of the read. I do love it when a book just pulls me right in!
Thank you to Park Row Books for this copy :D
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,422 reviews