Having read lots of Gillian’s books before, I was pleased to be accepted to read this one. I can only say that I was not disappointed as it followed in her previous stories of being well written with great and likeable characters. DCI Julie Day was placed in a very difficult situation, which is really what holds everything together, when she is searching for Olivia. The problem began when she realised that things were not quite right about the evidence and needed to come to terms with things not appearing as they should. There were a lot of characters which did take some time to get the feel of them but this did not stop the pleasure from reading this exciting book.
I did not see the end coming and felt sorrow for so many of the characters who formed a very complex situation. It was a great ride and I had sympathy for both Art and Genevive who were battling their own issues as well as seeing Julie suffering but not knowing really why.
Highly recommend this deep mystery thriller to all who like these genres.

Hmm - I'm in two minds about this book. On one hand it is a compelling thriller and I enjoyed reading it; on the other hand, I found it difficult to accept the premise on which it is based. I don't want to give anything away but surely a murder requires intention; without mens rea it would be manslaughter. Also there is the self-defence issue, which I think was not given full regard.

However, putting that aside this is a novel full of twists and turns - certainly one of the best surprises I've come across in a while. I did find it a little confusing - which I think is partly because I was reading on Kindle. If I'd been reading a real book I would have been able to flick back and forwards more easily to see exactly how I had fallen into the trap. (It's a good trap and cleverly done.)

I finished it with a slight sense of unease - it seemed rushed at the end and there was no build up to what Price, the informer, eventually did. In fact, things were going a different way. OK - another twist maybe, but not one that satisfied.

So, yes, it's a very clever book and all the usual things expected from Gillian McAllister are in place - characterisation, background, suspense - but for me it didn't quite gel. Still well worth a read though.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 disappointing stars. I found this to be quite a slow book with no likeable characters.

Also there were a lot of characters and other than Julia, you don’t really get to know any of the others before you are moving onto another chapter about someone else so it’s easy to lose track of who is who.

The ‘twist’ was unlikely and had no real substance to it so fell a bit flat for me.

If you’ve read any of Gillian McAllister’s books before you’ll know how twisty, turny they can be. This one is no different.
DCI Julia Day lives and breathes her job sometimes to the detriment of her husband Art and her daughter Genevieve, but make no mistake, she’ll do anything for her family too. When a young girl, Olivia, goes missing, CCTV shows her go. Into a dead end alleyway but never come out. But there is only one way in and one way out, she can’t have disappeared into thin air………can she? The case is assigned to Julia but before long she is threatened by a masked man in her car, who knows the secret Julia has been hiding to protect her daughter and if she doesn’t plant some DNA marked evidence leading to the arrest of a young man, this masked man will tell Julia’s secret.

Julia must decide which she values most, her family or her integrity as a police officer.

I must confess that about 25% into this book, I went back to the beginning and started again and read it more slowly and carefully as I felt like I was totally confused as to who was who. This is one of these books that I would prefer to read in an actual book rather than on my kindle as it’s much easier to jump back on an actual book than a Kindle.

It’s a well written book with likeable characters however, it was just a bit too far fetched for me. I don’t mind a bit of poetic licence, it’s fiction after all but when I find myself saying, ‘As if!’ time after time, it’s entering the realms of ‘too much’ for me.

However, it’s a clever plot and I did not see the twists coming at all and I think many will love it.

My thanks as always go to the author, the publisher and to NetGalley for an advanced e.reader copy of this book. The review is, however, 100% my own honest opinion.

A thoroughly enjoyable read with a twist you just won't see coming.

Julia Day is a dedicated police officer determined to find missing people. When Olivia disappears down an alley and doesn't reappear, Julia is determined to find out what happened to her. Well, that is until she is threatened and told to plant evidence which would implicate an innocent man. Why would she do this? Well, it becomes clear that this person knows Julia's darkest secret which he will reveal if Julia doesn't follow his instructions.

What follows is a breathtaking ride as Julia tries to find both Olivia, and a way to avoid undermining her position

Many thanks to NetGalley,Michael Joseph Penguin Random House and Gillian McAllister for my ARC of 'Just Another Missing Person' in return for an honest review.

I have read all of this author's previous novels and thoroughly enjoy her plotting and writing style so was delighted to receive this copy.

DCI Day loves her job, her husband might say she loves it too much. Her latest case is the disappearance of a young woman, Olivia. Olivia walked into a deadens alley and did not come out according to the CCTV footage.

Julia and her daughter, Genevieve, are hiding a secret. Last Spring Genevieve did something, and Julia had to compromise herself and her ethics, to protect her. Now somebody else has this knowledge, and is using this as leverage for their own purposes.

An exciting read in parts but not as exceptional as previous novels.

Recommended

I became a huge fan of Gillian's books after reading Anything I Do Say a few years ago. Contrary to popular opinion Wrong Time, Wrong Place wasn't my favourite (although I did think it was very good). This, too was brilliant. What I've now learnt with this author is you have to take the books slowly. Don't try and rush through or your mind will be blown early on! I am also going to make sure in future I read physical copies as the twist are so big I always want to go back and look at bits again which I find much easier with a book rather than a kindle.

#JustAnotherMissingPerson #NetGalley
An ok read.
OLIVIA.
22 years old.
Last seen on CCTV, entering a dead-end alley.
And not coming back out again.
Missing for one day and counting Julia is the detective heading up the case. She knows what to expect. A desperate family, a ticking clock, and long hours away from her husband and daughter. But Julia has no idea how close to home it's going to get. Because there's a man out there. And his weapon isn't a gun, or a knife: it's a secret. Her worst one. He tells her that her family's safety depends on one thing: Julia must NOT find out what happened to Olivia - and must frame somebody else for her murder . What would you do?
It was lengthy and after a certain point of time I really didn't want to know what's going on.
Although it's a one time read for her readers.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Michael Joseph UK for giving me an advance copy.

Having thoroughly enjoyed Wrong Place Wrong Time, I was keen to read Gillian McAllister's next novel - and it didn't disappoint. I was gripped all the way through and that's all I want from this type of book!

My main critique was that it was a tad convoluted, though I get that was necessary for the big plot twist. The switches between multiple perspectives definitely had me going "eh???" at times, but I'd say it was worth it in the end.

Julia has a dilemma. Protect her daughter or risk her career. Or is she being played by the person holding the case in front of her nose like a carrot? Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book.

Found it a bit slow to start but once i got into it i enjoyed it. Great ending, good style of writing

‘Just Another Missing Person’ by Gilly McAllister is an intriguing mystery surrounding Olivia, a missing young woman. Dedicated detective Julia, leads the investigation into Olivia’s disappearance. Last seen on CCTV footage entering a dead-end alley but disappeared off the face of the earth. Julia is up against it to solve the mystery in a race against time to find Olivia alive. There is an interesting twist when Julia discovers a disturbing secret that directly affects her own family’s safety.

The book is well written and a fairly quick read but although I found it an interesting read it failed to fully captivate me in the way this author normally does. I enjoyed the character of Julia, a determined and dedicated detective. But felt a little underwhelmed by some of the supporting characters.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Michael Joseph for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

22 year old Olivia was caught on CCTV entering an alleyway one dark night, but she never came out again - now here’s the thing, the alleyway was a complete dead end, no through way, just a massive brick wall- it’s as if she disappeared into thin air!

DCI Julia Day heads up the investigation team into this puzzling case, but if she thinks things are tough and unfathomable now, they’re about to become an absolute nightmare for her!

The author takes us on a journey - a very complex journey, and one where you won’t have a clue where it’s taking you next, because nothing here is black or white, but be assured this is a thriller with many twists and turns (as one has come to expect from Ms McAllister) and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!

When a young woman is reported missing, in a case that echoes a similar missing persons case from a year before, DCI Julia Day is assigned case. She knows what to expect. A desperate family, a ticking clock, and long hours away from her husband and daughter. But Julia has no idea how close to home it's going to get.

Because there's a man out there. And his weapon isn't a gun, or a knife: it's a secret. Her worst one. He tells her that her family's safety depends on one thing: Julia must NOT find out what happened to Olivia - and must frame somebody else for her murder . . .

I thoroughly enjoyed Just Another Missing Person, which is ingeniously structured to allow for a breathtaking reveal halfway through, and another huge twist (or two) at the end. Although I had semi-guessed some of the final twists, it didn’t at all spoil the enjoyment.

A superlative thriller-meets-police procedural; highly recommended.

Absolutely brilliant story cannot rate this enough. The main character is amazing, the story is so we'll written and I loved every page. Highly recommended xx

Just Another Missing Person is the brand new shiny novel from Gillian McAllister. Gillian is the author of one of my favourite reads from last year, Wrong Place Wrong Time, so I was eager to dive in.

DCI Day loves her job, her husband might say she loves it too much. Her latest case is the disappearance of a young woman, Olivia. Her mind is still occupied by the unsolved disappearance of Sadie, another young woman, last year. DCI Day is very aware that her personal life is distracting her from her work, her change in behaviour is being noticed by her colleagues; but she is unable to stop.

Julia and her daughter Genevieve are hiding a secret. Last Spring Genevieve did something, and Julia had to compromise herself and her ethics, to protect her only child. Now somebody else has this knowledge, and is using this as leverage for their own purposes.

The book raises an ageless question. What lengths would a parent go to, to protect their child? Someone who is, quite literally, a part of them.
Julia and Emma are mothers, Lewis is a father. All are fiercely protecting their young adult children; in different ways, due to wildly different motivations. Each of these parents feel alone, isolated within their situation, and their single-minded determination to do whatever it takes. But, is it possible for all of these parents to get their way? Are their objectives are mutually exclusive?

The link between this, and WPWT, for me, is parenthood. The agonies and dilemmas that parents face, as their children grow away from them, going out into the world. We, as parents, have to sit back, watch them make their mistakes, hopefully learning from those mistakes. While hoping with every ounce of our being, that they will be ok. This is a theme that Gillian writes incredibly well. Their situations feel real, their anguish visceral and tangible. The writing brings out so much empathy in me.
Thankfully I have not been in the position that these parents find themselves, and I pray I never will.

I fell for the misdirection, didn’t see the twist, I assumed. I didn’t see the real picture until the author presented it to me. At this point I stopped reading, and re-evaluated everything I had read, before carrying on reading; more intrigued than I was previously.

The tension builds from a slower paced start, through this well plotted and gripping read. If you like a thriller, with a lot of heart, and you haven’t read anything from this author yet, then you should rectify that pretty darn soon.

I have become quite a fan Gillian McAllister, she has a habit of changing the narrative 180 degrees, with her well thought plot twists. I love how she draws me in, making me feel so deeply. The characters are complex and flawed, very human, very like you and I. Their decisions and actions are not ours, but who’s to say what we would do in their shoes.

I love the final paragraph in the acknowledgements, so very lovely. Gillian, I do hope you have been allowed a little sleep, I remember how hard those nights of sleep deprivation were. Just Another Missing Person is anything but just another book, about a missing person. It’s a 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book.

I’ve read and loved all of Gillian McAllister’s previous books my favourite being How to disappear.

Another face paced edge of your seat thriller, full of secrets and twists, well written.

Another fabulous story from this author. I didn’t want to put it down, it was just so compelling. There are twists and turns all the way through and you just never know what’s coming.
The author built in bits from the past which intensified the suspense of what was true and what was not and how it would all turn out.
The reveal was done at just the right pace - slowly unravelling parts of the story’s history, to bring it all together and I just loved the very clever twist at the end. No spoilers! You have to read this book. It’s just excellent, as are all of her books. Can’t wait for the next one.

Wow! I loved Wrong Place Wrong Time so I had huge expectations for this book and Gilly didn’t disappoint. I couldn’t put it down- well plotted, well paced, great twists & turns.

A twisty clever book from @gillianmauthor who never fails to deliver. A seemingly impossible missing person case, a parent who will do anything to protect their child and a plot twist that would be a huge spoiler ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Thank you @netgalley for the review copy!