NetGalley Buddy Readers discussion

Two women haunted by their sisters' unsolved disappearances band together in this captivating mystery from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of All Good People Here and host of the #1 true crime podcast Crime Junkie.

Nicole “Nic” Monroe is in a rut. At twenty-four, she lives alone in a dinky apartment in her hometown of Mishawaka, Indiana, she’s just gotten a DWI, and she works the same dead-end job she’s been working since high school, a job she only has because her boss is a family friend and feels sorry for her. Everyone has felt sorry for her for the last seven years—since the day her older sister, Kasey, vanished without a trace.

On the night Kasey went missing, her car was found over a hundred miles from home. The driver’s door was open and her purse was untouched in the seat next to it. The only real clue in her disappearance was Jules Connor, another young woman from the same area who disappeared in the same way, two weeks earlier. But with so little for the police to go on, both their cases eventually went cold.

Nic wants nothing more than to move on—from her sister’s disappearance and the state it’s left her in. But then one day, Jules’s sister, Jenna Connor, walks into her life and offers Nic something she hasn’t felt in a long hope. What follows is a gripping tale of two sisters who will do anything to find their missing halves, even if it means destroying everything they’ve ever known.

This one sounds good. I hope you enjoy it.

Yes, I think this one sounds so good too. 🤞🏼🤞🏼 we love it

I also have this one, when are you thinking of starting?

We are thinking Monday, 5/12
we'd love you to join in!

Sounds perfect. I'm read Fredrick Backman's My Friends at the moment but will be finished that at the weekend and ready to start on Monday

Started this one this morning (I'm in the UK so there may be some time difference issues in Buddy Reading this).

Just finished chapter 7 (16%)

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I immediately like Nic. Yeah, she has her issues but her relationship with Kasey was clearly so strong (given their childhood) that it's understandable it has affected her so much.

One thing which I wasn't sure about was the fact she is only now just meeting Jenna. I would have thought given the circumstances of their sisters' disappearance that they would have looked to have met before now?

Keen to progress with this after work and look forward to seeing how it pans out. Surely they can't still be alive?

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Yep, you're 5 or 6 hours ahead of me on the East Coast. It's 8:45am here and I'm just starting it.

Lol 😆 hopefully we'll overlap our reading in a way that still works!

lol and I'm west coast so it's about 10:45 am here!

I'm catching up from being gone this weekend and updating all my books but I hope to start soon!

Up to chapter 12/29% and I only have one thing to say....

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Is Brad dodgy? I am not getting good vibes off him

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Chapter 24/54%

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I knew Brad was dodgy but I didn't foresee the affair with Kasey. It's too early in the book for the main suspect to be identified as of yet so I am thinking Brad is a creep but probably not our main man (or woman)

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I tried, but didn't get this one, but I love this author's podcast CRIME JUNKIES, which explores true crime stories.

I did read her debut novel and it was good, but not fantastic, so I am looking forward to see what you think of this one.

I'm in the middle of Ch 11 (27%) and (view spoiler)[I'm getting major fishy vibes from Brad, the family friend and Nic's boss. (hide spoiler)]

And re: your 16% spoiler, Kevin, (view spoiler)[I agree, it's odd that Nic and Jenna haven't met yet but I guess there's a bit of an age gap since Jules is Jenna's younger sister and Kasey is Nic's older sister. And the two missing were the same age. So I'm maybe not so weird that they hadn't connected previously, just knew about each other. (hide spoiler)]

I'll have to check out the podcast, Vicki. I don't really listen to podcasts because it takes away from my audiobook time, but it sounds like this one might be interesting.

I have this book in my Audible wishlist and I'm waiting to see what you all think of it. :)

Ditto, Kristie! I always get asked if I listen to podcasts and I say no, I listen to audiobooks! I can't track podcasts on Goodreads! 😂

Now up to chapter 38 (85%)

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Definitely didn't make any sense for Jenna to go cold on the hunt but my heart breaks for the reasons why. The bond between her and Nic is really strong and they both definitely need each other. We seem to have our 'who' already but not sure if there is another twist to come.

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sorry I'm so behind!! I've been reading but not getting very far.I've had a massive headache that I'll hopefully get some relief from today! I hope to post soon!

No worries Trisha, hope you feel better soon

through 11 chapters

and YES!!! (view spoiler)[ why was he so dodgy about the name Sean McLean? Does he know something she doesn't?
or does he not want her looking into her sister at all?

and I'm so sad - I can't even imagine feeling like her sister was hiding things from her and now she has to question everything now that her sister is missing

I like Jenna and seeing the difference in the way the 2 are coping - one getting very detailed into trying to "solve" it and the other trying to self medicate and going off the rails at bit. I think they are both really realistic

and we don't think the sisters are still alive right? (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "through 11 chapters [spoilers removed]..."

(view spoiler)[No, I definitely don't think either one is still alive. (hide spoiler)]

through Ch 24

(view spoiler)[ ooooh man. I worry that it's actually Sandy - his wife. The girls would have gone to help her or left voluntarily (at least at first) with a woman. . .especially an older woman.

Are the bodies buried at the beach house? that's just awful to even think

but then how does Brad tie to Jules? Did he also have an affair with her? that seems like a stretch. did she see something she shouldn't have?

I remember how awkward Sandy was when Brad had Nic in the office late at night - I wonder if she checks on him often.

but now Jenna's not answering her phone and didn't show up?? NOOOOO!!! Ugh, I really hope she's okay!! (hide spoiler)]

through Chapter 37

wow, so many things revealed in those chapters. we're almost done!
(view spoiler)[ and yes, heartbreaking

I was shocked to learn Kasey asked for money but you have to wonder why. What was she thinking? what was she going to do?

and yes, Jenna. Her lies to hide things from Nic. But is Nic really hoping to help her kill McSleezy? Yikes. She definitely should have chatted with Jenna first and not just broke into the house. She was protecting her but maybe for the best.

and ugh. Jules being raped by that gross guy. heartbreaking that she didn't tell anyone. I don't blame Jenna for her blind rage but there has to be more, right? Is it just all tied back to McSleezy raping and hurting women?

There has to be more, right? (hide spoiler)]

and done

WOW (view spoiler)[ that was not at all what I thought happened!!

When Jenna was yelling at Kasey, I really thought she'd done it and was ready to confess

but to find out it was Nic. WOW. So Nic killed both sisters - how terrible. and Kasey just helped her cover it up

I wonder if the new detective will drop it again when nothing comes from McSleezy and if Nic is really capable of pulling off being rational. And maybe stay sober. (hide spoiler)]

can't wait to see what you guys think!

Holy cow, Trisha, talk about powering through wow!!

And done

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You could have given me 100 attempts to guess how that was going to turn out and I would never have guessed that ending!

The whole story is so tragic, I loved Nic and Jenna's friendship and in another life they would have been best friends. To see Nic take the action she felt she had to take and kill Jenna just broke me.

And that final scene with Jenna and Jules buried in the same place, reunited in some way in death was just...I don't have the words.

I wonder how Nic would cope now she has the knowledge and guilt over both deaths. Given her struggles it would be easy to see her disintegrate into her addiction but the hope of being with Kasey again would maybe pull her through.

Will anyone even miss Jenna? Thats what makes me sad the most.

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Whew! I'm gonna finish up The Maid's Secret tonight and finish The Missing Half tomorrow. I just finished Ch 19 (42%) and the bombshell of (view spoiler)[Brad and Kasey having an affair 🤢 (hide spoiler)] and can't ant wait to read more.

Stayed up and finished last night. Whoaaaa! (view spoiler)[I also did not see that coming. And I don't know how to feel! Do I hate Nic and Kasey for murdering and accomplicing (not a word, I know lol) two people?! Yeah I kinda do lol. Because Kasey doing what she did didn't lead to Nic having a good life! How effed up was this?! And Jenna won't even be missed because her mom is an awful person anyway. How devastating that Nic the murderer will be the only one to miss Jenna. I think adding in the rape for literally one second was dumb. Yeah, the author wanted us to think even more than Steve was the murderer but it was really unnecessary. There was enough tragedy already. (hide spoiler)] I did think I was reading a Stacy Willingham novel what with the alcoholic, messy MC lol. All said, I'm glad Banksy got adopted. 👍🏻

oh that's a good point (view spoiler)[ what was the point of adding in the rape? It didn't give more reasons for her car to be broken down. and McSleezy's harassment was enough reason for her personality to be low and off for the week or 2 leading up to her disappearing. . . (hide spoiler)]

and I agree (view spoiler)[ lol I love your word "accomplicing"
I agree. I didn't end the book liking them or what they did, for sure. (hide spoiler)]

Kevin wrote: "And done

You could have given me 100 attempts to guess how that was going to turn out and I would never have guessed that ending

Right? So good and such a twist
(view spoiler)[ and Ugh! the fact no on would miss Jenna - except the ones that killed her. her mom might for a moment.
but yeah, that's so heartbreaking and so sad (hide spoiler)]

Ok...I'll have to get this one!

Me too!

oooh this audiobook just came in from the library today!

Nice, Shruti! My library doesn't have it.