Just Another Missing Person by Gillian McAllister is a captivating story of a missing girl and the police investigation into her disappearance. This is not however like anything you have read before!! It is full of surprises, twists and discoveries that took me by surprise.

McAllister has exceeded her last book, in my mind which was very well plotted.

DCI Julia is slightly distracted as she investigates Olivia Johnson's disappearance just a year after another girl Sadie who was never found.

Julia is highly respected and works the case in spite of her ongoing challenges at home; she uses her best detectives and snitches to try to find out what happened to the missing girl.

This is a powerful and original story that I really enjoyed reading.

I read and loved this author’s previous book, Wrong Place Wrong Time, and so I jumped at the chance to request Just Another Missing Person when it was put up on Netgalley. Gillian McAllister clearly has a talent for plotting and introducing mind bending twists.

Because I didn’t bother to read the synopsis for this one before jumping into it (out of excitement!), I didn’t really know what to expect. I wasn’t sure if it would have similar speculative elements to Wrong Place Wrong Time or if it would just be a flat out thriller. Just Another Missing Person is the latter, but that didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book.

Just Another Missing Person has a very slow start. It took me about 50% of the book to start caring about any of the characters because it just dragged. Admittedly, once the twists start happening the novel picks up and heads in several different directions, and so I flew through the last half of the book. It’s just such a shame that it took me forever to get into it in the first place, because I was so excited for it!

I think reading Just Another Missing Person will be a whole new experience upon a reread. There are definitely things that you can pick out from the first 50% that lead up to the twists in the latter half of the book, and I think it would be very interesting to go back and reread now that I know the twists. I’m going to have to wait for the paperback release for that!

I always seem to enjoy the way McAllister tackles family relationships, particularly marriage and mother-child relationships. I was a bit shocked when I read the acknowledgements and found that she doesn’t have children herself yet, because the way she handles these relationships seems to speak to her own experiences. Maybe she’s just very empathetic!

Overall, I really enjoyed Just Another Missing Person. Particularly the last half and all the juicy plot twists and drama. It’s not as strong of a plot as Wrong Place Wrong Time but I found this one to be very clever and I was in awe of the twists in some places.

I found this book a bit slow to get in to, but once I'd got all the characters in my head, it really took off at a pace. A twist that I didn't see coming, or even guess at. Clever stuff. I might even read this book again, even knowing who and why, it would still be interesting to understand the how it evolved.

AMAZING!! Each time I read a book by Gillian, I am in absolute awe of her writing. Like, how on earth does she do it! Every part is just done so well, the characters, setting, plot and the twists!! The twist in this was SO good. I couldn't read it fast enough and its one of those books that I could easily read again, which I very rarely do. Just brilliant.

Rating - 4.5 stars rounded off to 5

A convolution that will send your mind spinning! 🤯

Thanks NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for the ARC!

I definitely enjoyed this more than McAllister’s recent smashing hit #WrongPlaceWrongTime!

Highly recommend to go in blind. The lesser you know, the better! Trying my best to review without giving away much.

But if you must know a teeny bit - 22 year old Olivia is missing and was last found entering a dead alleyway. Julia, the lead detective will leave no stone unturned in her quest to find her. But at what cost?

At the outset, this book is just that – a police procedural about ‘yet’ another missing person intertwined with the lives of the detective involved and the family of the victims. Alas! It is anything but that! How I wish it were that simple as we get deeper!

I suggest you follow two thumb rules for this book –

👉 Believe nothing
👉 Question everything

However, despite your best efforts with these two, McAllister is sure to shock you with relentless high voltage twists, when you least expect or think about it, with very little recovery time in between.

A master at plot construction, McAllister delivers an intricately layered, sharp and meticulously planned thriller - leaving no room for loopholes or untied loose ends. “Water-tight” is the right word!

By midway Olivia’s disappearance turns into something unimaginable for Julia and in my view the portrayal of her impossible situation and moral dilemma was very realistic and gentle.

Soon, your theory and speculation addled brain will get exhausted, unable to process the fast paced turn of events, grappling with the pieces of the puzzle, trying and failing to put them together. To say that it is nputdownable, is an understatement after this point!

Do you need to suspend disbelief and reconsider the feasibility of circumstances at times ? Yes. But that in no way deters the overall riveting, exhilarating experience!

The ending is sure make your jaws hit the ground, finally revealing what feels like a 1000 piece jigsaw! 😱😳

Calling all thriller/crime fiction lovers! Run, don’t walk towards this book.

Having loved the author's previous books and especially Wrong Place Wrong Time I felt that nothing could surpass the latter and for me, this proved true as I did struggle with this one. The first half was a slow burn and it took me a while to get into the story. Thankfully the latter part of the book was much better with its various twists, turns and surprises. I did get confused at times when reading the different characters' POV's and had to keep backtracking to see where they fitted in which made it harder work than it needed to be. Nevertheless, I consider this to be a very cleverly written book with plenty to keep the reader engaged. I may just not have been in the right headspace to fully enjoy the book at this time but I will definitely return to it in the future as I do think it is deserving of the time needed to fully enjoy it. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

it starts off really well but have to say i got a bit fed up with how incorruptible the officer was and then how she has to plant evidence so her daughter isnt arrested for an incident she covered up...

have to say its not my favourite book from this author

a slow start with a missing girl

B O O K R E V I E W 📚

This review will be posted on www.instagram.com/kayleyisreading in August 🖤

R E V I E W:

Things I loved about this one:

✅ a TWIST about 55% through, that changes everything you've read
✅ a satisfying ending
✅ slightly flawed cast of characters, all of whom make some morally grey choices
✅ interesting depictions of what lengths people may go to for family

I am a HUGE Gillian Mcallister fan, having loved all of her back catalogue, particularly her Police/legal procedurals thrillers. This one would fit that category but fell a bit flat for me in places 🤦🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️. Don't get me wrong, it's a good read but not my favourite.

It was a slow burn for the first half, and I was confused, ALOT. That second half however was 👌🏻and it really picked up for me from that half way twist. I really enjoyed the premise too, and how two missing cases later link together.

That characters are well thought out and have their own distinguishable POVs, all with different versions of love and morally grey decisions, which I really enjoyed!

I'd recommend this to fans of slow burn, police procedural stories 👮🏻‍♀️

R A T I N G

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Gillian McAllister has done it again. A slow burner at the beginning building to a crescendo then going out with a bang and twist that I did not see coming . Skilfully told through various voices keeping you on your toes to follow the storyline

Just Another Missing Person is twisty, gripping and completely unputdownable. It didn't let up from start to finish and I highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

This book has so many twists! Julia Day is investigating the disappearance of a young woman, Olivia, who walks into a dead end alley and is never seen again. But some other things just don't add up. And Julia is struggling at home.
I found the middle quite difficult to follow and keep interested in. And then a new chapter reveals a twist in the tale that made me want to finish the book in one sitting. Clever.

I am a bit conflicted on this one.
There were some excellent twists and the police procedural element is well done but overall it just felt unnecessarily convoluted.
I found myself having to go back and check several times whose point of view I was reading and the pacing was a little uneven throughout.

It’s a decent read but it frustrated me at times mainly in that it was an excellent premise but it the execution wasn’t sharp enough for me. I really enjoyed several of this authors previous novels, this one lacked the spark they had. Good overall but could have been great.

Gillian McAllister’s last book, Wrong Place Wrong Time was an exceptionally well plotted and written story. This book, Just Another missing Person doesn’t quite reach the same level, although the plot itself is engrossing, with plenty of unexpected twists. Unfortunately the writing meanders somewhat, and with the story being told by several different voices, it’s not always easy to to tell whose point of view you are reading. This, coupled with what can only be called padding, made the book a bit of a slog for this reviewer. It has many redeeming features including convincing characterisation, descriptions of place and believable relationships, but it could have been more succinct, which would have made it a more compelling and absorbing read.

I am one of the many who loved Gillian McAllister’s Wrong Time, Wrong Place, so was really keen to read her next offering.
Olivia has gone missing and Julia is the detective heading up the case but Julia has a secret and the only way her secret is safe is if she frames somebody else for the murder.
This an absolute page turner and a truly explosive read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for early access to what I feel will be one of the best sellers of the year!

I adore Gillian McAllister, and can (almost) always rely on her for a gripping page-turner!
This book was no exception!
I really enjoyed this!!

I love that McAllister's books start off about one thing, and then due to the massive twists and turns they end up going down so many other avenues. The plot/synopsis on the blurb is only the beginning!!!
I'm not going to be revealing any of the plot here, as I don't want to spoil it - but you are in for a treat with this book!!

Talk about being put through the wringer! In her latest thriller, McAllister offers an explosive read…and one which keeps the twists coming until the bitter end. If you’re new to this author, you’re in for a treat, and if she’s already a favourite then you’re in safe hands.
In this time where CCTV footage is everywhere and people meticulously document their lives via social media, it shouldn’t be hard to find traces of a person. When 22 year old Olivia Johnson is reported missing by her flatmates nobody really thinks she won’t be found. However, though she is seen walking into an alleyway there is no other trace of her.
DCI Julia Kane is called to investigate and she quickly finds herself perplexed by the case. Unfortunately, and for reasons you will find out during the book, this case is closely linked to DCI Kane and she is under pressure to try and ensure nobody finds out what really happened.
With growing concern about the case Kane finds herself turning to increasingly unorthodox measures. At every stage we can understand her course of action and the ethical dilemmas presented during the course of the narrative force us to examine just how far we’d go to protect those we love.
Huge thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this before publication.

Gillian McAllister is the master of the unexpected twist, and this book was no exception. She doesn’t just engage the reader, she grabs them tightly and doesn’t let them go until the story is finished. This book is full of so many twists, turns and misdirects but at the same time she delves deep into her characters, bringing them to life. A brilliant read.

Another great book from Gillian McAllister.
You know when a book is good when you finish it you carry the characters with you for a few days wondering how they are getting on. This was such a good plot. The question what wouldn't you do to protect your child?
A detective that is forced to do something against her principals to protect her daughter and a man that is forced to make her do it because he wants answers about his missing daughter.
Loved it!
Thank you to Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House, Netgalley and Gillian McAllister for an ARC in return for an honest review

4.5 stars

I have to admit to being slightly nervous going into this one as this authors last book - Wrong Place, Wrong Time - absolutley blew my mind, so this one had a lot to live up to!

In Just Another Missing Person we follow DCI Julia Day as she starts on a new missing persons case. A 22 year old woman, Olivia Johnson, was last seen walking up a dead-end alley but not coming back out. Complex enough as this case is anyway, when it takes a personal turn, Julia's professional ethics are going to be pushed to their limit as she finds out just how much she will do to protect what has taken her years to build.

This is a slow-burn read to begin with. Really setting the scene, introducing all the players and building up nicely. We are following three different perspectives, so getting a very well-rounded view of all aspects. Then... well, let's just say buckle up for the second half as it certainly ramps up the tensions and complexities of the case, making it a very compelling read!

Highly recommended if you like a bit of a head-scratching police procedural!

This is one of my favourite reads this year. I wasn’t sure how I’d get on with it as I generally have an issue with people doing what I consider to be the ‘wrong’ thing albeit done for the ‘right’ reason. Gillian McAllister managed to sweep me along and I really enjoyed what turned out to be a rather twisty ride. I have read her previous books so I had fairly high expectations and this definitely met them. The characters are great and the plot is very clever. What more could you want? A twist you say. You got it!