An enjoyable and original concept around a missing person who disappears into thin air and doesn’t quite add up.
I loved the contemporary feel to the investigation including social media, altered footage and the glimpses of the criminal underworld that we saw along the way. Without giving too much away the plot and it’s twists and turns are clever and kept my interest well as did the very human element and dilemmas surrounding how far would you go to protect your own child if it would compromise your morals, beliefs and professional ethics. Decent read, would recommend.

Gillian McAllister is a really interesting writer, and in this 8th book, we yet again see her deliver her signature twists - a couple of them major - with a side dish of delicious red herrings.


Olivia is a 22-year-old last seen entering a dead end alley - from which she never emerged. DCI Julia Day is still struggling with the memory of an unsolved missing persons case, and she's determined that Olivia will not disappear in the same way that the other young woman, Sadie, did.

At that time, Olivia was distracted by personal problems involving the mugging of her daughter, Genevieve, and the fallout from that incident.

Speaking of which, one of the highlights of this book is the relationship between mother and daughter, and the chemistry between the two of them.

Now, Julia will have to choose between a lifelong commitment to doing the right thing as a Police Officer, and putting her role as a mother who wants to protect her child first.

What will she do? Because the criminal behind Olivia's disappearance has made it very clear that he knows Julia's darkest secret - and he will not hesitate to use it if she fails to back off with respect to the investigation into Olivia vanishing...

"Often in policing - and this is what makes Julia addicted to it - there really is one single moment that cracks open and entire case. A chance piece of information, a coincidence that feels a little to unlikely, a 'hang on' moment when leafing through tedious paperwork. It sometimes stops Julia in her tracks when she considers how many of these eureka moments might have passed her by, but she can't think like this, not tonight, when it's happened once again: thank God it's happened."

In present day Portishead, Just Another Missing Person focuses on the parents of missing young people and the suspects involved. With multiple narratives, McAllister slowly provides context for her three protagonists: DCI Julia Day, colleague Jonathan ("Julia's favourite detective") and daughter Genevieve; father Lewis missing daughter Olivia; and mother Emma and son Matthew, suspected of being involved in Olivia's disappearance. Julia's marriage to Art is in tatters following his affair, Lewis is obsessed with finding who is responsible for his daughter's disappearance and Emma is desperate to protect Matthew from unfounded allegations. However, this context is shifting sands, as clues are dropped that make the reader question what they think they know about the characters and the plot.

Character-driven, for me McAllister' novels are literary crime thrillers, head and shoulders above most in the genre for their combination of realism and delusion. It took me a little while to invest in the characters, but once I did I was all in, rooting for Julia, in spite of her complexities. Containing twists that shock, the author has another hit on her hands. Intricate and enthralling, nuanced and well-written, the author explores relationships and how far a parent will go to protect their child.

I love this author because she is one of the very very few who can still flummox me with twists and turns. This one did that so cleverly that at one point my jaw did hit the floor.

But a twisty psychological thriller, goodness knows, is not all about surprises, those twisty elements have to stand up to scrutiny within the hindsight of the reader and in this case they do..the clues are there all along.

You also need characters you relate to and can understand, root for, worry for and sometimes the opposite of all those things. You need excellent writing with depth of feeling and genuine addictive quality but most of all you need a cracking good story that takes you away from the world while reading it

All of the above. That is why this is a 5* read and not another girl book. Those of you who rolled your eyes through the girl phenomenon will know exactly what I mean.

Kudos. Highly Recommended.

I must admit that I found this very slow at the start and didn’t enjoy the multiple POVs. However, after the twist in the middle of the book, it becomes addictive. Not the author’s best, but I enjoyed the story.

Contrary to the title of this book, and to the expectations of the investigating Officers, DCI Julia Day and her Sergeant, Jonathan, this is anything but just about a missing person. On the surface, this should be, for Julia, a relatively routine investigation into the disappearance of Olivia, a twenty two year old woman who has been reported missing by her housemates. But where is the fun in that right? And this is a Gillian McAllister book, an author who isn't exactly known for serving up 'routine' cases for the police, or readers, to follow. Once again she did not disappoint. This is a far more nuanced and complex tale, one which took a few unexpected turns and that had me completely blindsided as to the real goings on within the case. I really rather enjoyed it.

There are many layers to this book, but the story really is driven by the many characters at the centre of the investigation. Firstly there is Julia Day - wife, mother, Police Officer - and someone with rather a large, and damning, skeleton in her closet. I liked Julia, was drawn to her character very quickly, and could see in her that protective mother's instinct, not just towards her own daughter, but to the missing young woman she is searching for. Her life is complicated, very complicated as we slowly come to learn, and this leaves her in a very vulnerable position. But how far can she be pushed and how far from her duty will she go in order to protect everything she has? That's one of the many questions we are faced with and that Julia is forced to confront through the course of the book.

Alongside her we have two very different Sergeants. Jonathan is her go to guy, someone Julia has utmost respect for and trust in. Poole on the other hand is the direct opposite of Jonathan, someone who rubs people up the wrong way from the off. The author has built the characters perfectly, the differences adding light and shade to the story. Then there are those supporting characters, the ones around whom the rest of the story is built and from whose perspective we pick up some of the action, Emma and Lewis. Both are parents. Both, like Julia, would do almost anything for their child. Their torment, guilt and conflicting emotions can really be felt throughout the book, their voices unique and yet their stories strangely similar. Two sides of the same coin, as it were.

This is, largely, a story of family and a parent's unwavering, basic instinct to protect their children at all costs. But all of that masks a far darker story, malign forces driven by greed who lurk in the background and proving to be the real root cause of most of the danger in this book. The latter part of the novel, after a slower start in which characters, mystery and motives are established, sees a real building of the tension and the pace. I really tore through the second half of the book, with all its shocking revelations and a few unexpected moments of real jeopardy in which is seems the game is well and truly up. The ending ? Perhaps a little abrupt to an extent, but ultimately leading to a satisfying conclusion where all loose threads are well and truly pulled tight. Fans of the author are sure to enjoy this one.

Just read it! You won't be disappointed. I can list off how its got an original plot, twists and turns, we'll written and unique characters, drama, betrayal, suspense, tension, mystery...... its just an amazing book and this is the level that other thriller books aspire to get to! I was sucked in from the start, it's written in such a fresh way that i was utterly captivated and couldn't put it down. The plot was always moving forward and was complex written. Half the time I was a bit confused about what was going on but it all soon fell into place and half the fun was the not knowing and then piecing it all together. Absolutely brilliant

My only criticism however is the part that read "years ago, where the Scottish police didn’t check them (the industrial bins) in a case not unlike this one, with catastrophic results. They contained an unconscious drunken lad, who was taken to a landfill. Discovered two days too late". Which is a bit of a trigger for a lot of Scots who do in fact know the case well. The man was in England. The bin was collected long before the police knew he was missing. That's never been proven, its just a theory as hes never been seen again. It was English police who messed up, although the poor lad was Scottish but he was based in England. And I know it's a fiction book but if you're going to reference actual real life tragedies then id just say its best to be respectful enough to be accurate

Like so many I was a huge fan of Wrong Place, Wrong Time so was very much looking forward to Just Another Missing Person.

The question is can Gillian McAllister do it again?

For me the answer is a resounding YES. I absolutely do not want to give away any spoilers - I definitely recommend you go in blind to this one - but as anyone who has read GA will know there are twists aplenty and one in particular that made me sit up and think ‘what the fudge?!’

As ever her portrayal of relationship dynamics is spot on and this is another tightly plotted, well paced and excellent read.

Huge thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph for my proof copy

I didn’t find this book as gripping as Gillian’s other books. It’s a great plot but sometimes it felt a bit longwinded and I felt I didn’t care about the characters.

This is a very complex and entertaining thriller which has family at the very heart of it all. DCI Julia Day is a dedicated police officer who has a strong bond with her only daughter.

Julia is tasked with finding a missing girl. Olivia was seen on cctv entering an alleyway but never seen again. There is no other way out.

Julia’s own family life has become complex. Estranged from her husband after his infidelity they continue to live together but share little, especially what happened to Julia and daughter Genevieve one fateful night.

Well written and very thought provoking. What would you do for your child?

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Another great book by this author! It had a good storyline, the characters were believable, each trying to do what they thought was the right thing but are all damaged in their own ways.

I liked the way the plot came together slowly, some parts unexpected and others not, I had worked out who the bad guy was just before the reveal so I wasn’t surprised by it.

I enjoyed reading this one and highly recommend it if you enjoy a twisty thriller.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Well it certainly is a twisty, turny thriller. It took a while to get going and for me to understand how the characters fitted together, perhaps I am slow on the uptake! The twists are certainly unexpected and it is a different approach to the usual police hunt for a missing person.
I did enjoy it to the extent that when I have been waking up before the alarm goes off I have been pleased to find I had some extra reading time with the book.

This was so good! A really good twisty thriller/police procedural by one of my favourite authors.
The book is told from Julia’s point of view, but also from two other characters called Lewis and Emma. I really liked Julia and loved her enthusiasm for her job as a DCI. I wasn’t too sure about Emma and Lewis, but warmed to them as the book progressed.
I loved the twists in this book they were really clever and unexpected, and took the story in a different direction than I thought it was going to go in. I love the way Gillian McAllister portrays relationships in her books, especially family dynamics, which was a core part of this story. It kept me thinking, what would I do if I was in Julia’s situation?
It’s best if you go into this one blind, as you’ll enjoy the twists and turns so much more if you don’t know anything about it.
Highly recommended if you enjoy thrillers or police procedurals.

I always look forward to reading a book from this author and I have read most of her work and she never disappoints.
DCI Julia Day is assigned to a case of a missing woman who goes into an alley way but never comes out. The police search the area but find no clues to wear the woman names Olivia has gone.
At the same time, DCI Julie day is blackmailed into planting false evidence at the crime scene so a innocent person takes the fall. She has been blackmailed for what she did in similar case a year ago that also involved her daughter.
So, Julia Day is leading the investigation when the missing woman turns up alive.
Thank you, Penguin Michael Joseph for a copy of Gillian McAllister’s latest offering Just another missing person. This is another intriguing story from the author and did enjoy the first half of this story. But if felt overwhelmed with all the characters in this, which lead me to not fully investing in the story that I normally would. 3.5 stars from me.

I think Gillian McAllister goes from strength to strength
Fantastic writing
Greatly plotted and a massive bag of twists
If you want an holiday read this is a must

Thank you netgalley, Gillian McAllister and Random House

I’ve read a lot of books by Gillian McAllister, and I really love the fact that she still manages to surprise and shock with twists and new takes on crime thrillers that really make a refreshing change to the genre. Wrong Place, Wrong Time was one of my Kindig Gems of the Year for 2022 so I was excited to read her next book.

Just Another Missing Person is a great standalone thriller featuring a new Detective; Julia. Julia feels well rounded and interesting - she loves her job, sometimes at the detriment to her family life, she has a daughter she loves and a past secret which she will do anything to ensure does not come out. She feels realistic and gritty without becoming too much of a stereotype. There are quite a few other characters throughout the case – friends and family of the victim, police offices and experts but it is easy to keep track of them throughout. The book also jumps perspective between 3 main characters, who all have their distinctive voice. Although they all feel like 3 different plots at the beginning, they become interwoven with each other quickly. One of these perspectives is also in the second person, which keeps it separate from the others.

I don’t want to delve too much into the twist as I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but it’s such a clever idea and really well done. The cards are also shown at around 65% which leaves plenty of time to continue the story without making the twist the main focus.

Just Another Missing Person is a great twist which stands out in a saturated genre – another fantastic addition to Gillian McAllister’s repertoire which really makes her a must-read author in my eyes. Thank you to NetGalley & Penguin Random House – Michael Joseph for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I always love Gillian. McAllister books so was looking forward to this one.

I did enjoy it however found it really slow to get going and it took me a while to read.

Once I got into it I enjoyed it.

Just Another Missing Person by Gillian McAllister is a gripping thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The story revolves around Detective Julia, who is assigned the case of Olivia, a 22-year-old girl who mysteriously vanished after entering a dead-end alley.

As Julia delves deeper into the investigation, she realizes that this case hits closer to home than she ever imagined. A mysterious man with a dark secret threatens Julia, warning her not to uncover the truth about Olivia's disappearance. To protect her own family, Julia must frame someone else for the murder and refrain from discovering what really happened to Olivia.

McAllister expertly weaves a tale of suspense, drawing readers into Julia's high-stakes race against time. The tension builds steadily as Julia navigates the complexities of the case while balancing her personal life. The author's writing is sharp and engaging, immersing readers in the psychological turmoil faced by Julia as she battles her own worst fears.

Just Another Missing Person is a captivating thriller that explores themes of secrets, manipulation, and the lengths one will go to protect their loved ones. With its well-drawn characters, intricate plot twists, and a relentless pace, this novel will leave readers guessing until the final pages.

Another brilliant, brave, exciting, mind-blowing twist-a-thon from Gillian McAllister! I would read anything by this author without even checking the synopsis because I know it'll be excellent, and JAMP was no exception.

4.5 stars.
I love reading books by this author, each and every one has a completely different hook and this has to be one of my favourites.
It’s all about family and about trust, how far would you go to protect the people you love and can you trust them?
The main protagonist Julia isn’t that complicated, she loves her work and her family but then a series of bad decisions change everything.
Some great characters and the plot is a masterpiece of twists and turns!