It’s already been described as a classic Nicci French and I have to say, it’s got all the authors’ hallmarks: relationship intrigue, a mystery, and people not saying what they mean or meaning what they say. Charlotte Salter does not turn up at her husband’s 50th birthday, much to her childrens’ unhappiness. Days pass and the mother of four still isn’t heard of, leaving the Salter children bereft and their father as unpleasant and unhelpful as ever. Decades later, the Salter children have forged new lives – for the most part – but must return to the village to see their now elderly infirm father before he moves into a care home. Their mother’s absence is still clearly felt, all the more so when a podcast about the situation looks like it’s going to bring what really happened to light. This reads like an epic read of one family and the impact that one person can have even when they’re not there. Brilliant.

I am always excited to see there is a new Nicci French novel coming out so I dove straight into this one when I was approved. I found the opening really slow going and difficult to get into to the point where I almost gave up...I appreciate that the scene for the later action needed to be set and characters introduced but it felt too drawn out. Once the story moved to the present I became fully invested and I raced through it so it's definitely worth persevering with.

4-5 stars rounded down

Thirty years ago in 1990 in an East Anglian village a party is being prepared in a barn which now looks beautiful. The 22nd December pre-Christmas bash is the 50th birthday party for Alec Salter but one person never makes it to the celebrations. This is the story of Charlotte Salter, the story of a mother of four, a lover of life and people, vibrant, colourful and much liked. Her four children wait and wonder where she’s got to as this is so out of character and as time ticks on 15 year old Etty (Elizabeth) becomes more and more concerned. Eventually she leaves the party and goes to a telephone box and dials 999. The novel is divided into three parts, Part One is 1990 and is principally told through the eyes of Etty. Part Two is set in 2022, where the story unexpectedly advances and Part Three is via the character of DI Maude O’Connor who is drafted into East Anglia from London to lead the investigation. Will Charlotte Salter ever be found? Only time will tell.

I’ve been reading the books of this dynamic writing duo for years as they rarely ever disappoint, and I do like the direction that their recent novels have taken. I think this character driven, domestic/mystery thriller is one I’ll remember because it’s written with such sympathy, compassion and understanding of the Salter siblings, whose portrayal is excellent. Right from the start the novel is also full of atmosphere with the East Anglian setting adding to this. The 1990 timeline reveals a dysfunctional household, chiefly because of the character of Alec, whose morose, angry, personality sets a terrible tone in the Salter household. The heartbreaking desperation of the siblings, especially young Etty makes you feel so sad and you empathise with their unfolding nightmare. Etty seems so alone, but what she does so well is to bring her mother to life and it’s clear that Charlotte is a much loved parent.

The writing in part one is very poignant and this contrasts so jarringly with the incompetent and misogynistic police investigation which beggars belief as they assume way too much. Part two is also tough to read as you witness how the loss of Charlotte has impacted and continued to impact on the siblings lives. Etty is a very different person now, she’s changed so dramatically because of it and it’s such a stark contrast to the Etty that you meet in part one. Part three is equally strong and that’s as much as anything down to the character of Maude who is an admirable, strong female lead. There are multiple twists especially in part three, it’s suspenseful as well as emotional and when you’ve view all three parts as a whole, the storytelling is complex and multilayered. I really like the short sharp chapters which delivers plenty of tension.

Overall, I think this is an ambitious novel and the talented pair have really pulled it off. I daresay years of writing together leads to a multitude of storytelling skills. It’s another winner for me.

A great cover too.


With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Simon and Schuster for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

I enjoyed the different perspectives in this book and how the plot came together as the time went on. I liked Etty as a character, but felt as though she could have been developed more throughout the storyline. Overall I'd probably recommend reading this book and author to others.

My first read by Nicci French, and I enjoyed it. Brought in on a murder case, Maud O’Conner is soon embroiled in the thirty year mystery disappearance of wife and mother, Charlotte Salter. Unravelling inept police work, Maud determines to solve the case. Filled with complex characters, this is an enjoyable mystery. 3.75/5

This book was the first foray into the writing of Nicci French for this reviewer, and it seems that I have a lot of fantastic storytelling to catch up on! Charlotte Salter, mother of four disappeared on the night of her husband’s birthday party, never to be seen or heard from again. Shortly afterwards another death rocks the close knit group of family and friends, then 30 years later, there is a murder in the same area. Are the deaths connected, and if so, how? The family of Charlotte Salter has never stopped looking for her, but it takes the skills of detective Maud to shake things up and bring about the closure everyone has been waiting for so long. This really is a cracking story, with believable characters, a plot with plenty of twists and turns, and a completely unexpected ending. Superb storytelling altogether.

Another hit from the excellent writing duo Nicci French who's books I can't get enough of.
This read builds and builds from the events of Christmas 1990 to the present day where this story full of secrets and lies comes to a brilliant ending which took me by surprise.
All characters were interesting but my favourite was Maud O'connor a strong likable character with her own demons who I think would be suitable for a new series of books HINT HINT.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster UK for the ARC.

I finished this book in a few days, having become completely gripped.
Etty becomes concerned when her mum doesn't arrive for the 50th birthday party she had planned for her husband. Days later, Charlotte hasn't returned and a further tragedy strikes close to home.
The first part follows the family as they try to find out where Charlotte has gone. Part 2 takes place 30 years later as a podcast aims to uncover the truth.
I particularly liked the characters of Etty and Maud and was completely engrossed in the story, having no idea who the guilty party was. Another great read from the writing duo, Nicci French.
Thanks to netgalley for this ARC.

This book starts off a bit too slowly and takes time to get into the story of the Salter kids who are looking for their mother. Charlotte goes missing on the day of their father's 50th birthday party and suspicion falls on him. Then a few days later there's a death in their small village. The story leaps forward 30 years, the Salter kids are grown and a new detective is sent to investigate the cold cases. It's a solid crime story with a focus on complicated family dynamics and relationships. The star of the book is the detective, Maud O’Connor, who steals every scene she is in. I do hope she gets another outing and even her own series. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This is a thriller and story of secrets. When Ettys Mum fails to turn up to her Dads 50th birthday and is never seen again, everyone seems to have a theory but the case has never been closed. Now 30 years later a pod cast is being made about the disappearance and murders in a quiet English village. With fresh eyes on the case in form of Maud a detective from London, I was left turning the pages to find out whether the buried secrets finally come to surface. I found the book engaging and enjoyed the suspense and writing style. I will be recommending.

Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter? Nicci French

Charlotte Salter fails to show up at her husbands 50th birthday and as her family start to worry what unravels is a chain of events that tear 2 families apart and create a mystery that take 30 years to solve.

Husband and wife duo Nicci French have been creating unputdownable thrillers for a long time now. Always filled with complex, layered characters and multifaceted stories. Charlotte Salter is no exception. I was thrilled to not work this out! I love a mystery that actually gets me! Thanks to #NetGalley for this one.

"Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter" is a twisty thriller giving multiple views of the disappearance of the titular character. The Salters are a rather dysfunctional family and their characters are exposed over the course of the narrative. Mostly we see events through the eyes of youngest child (and only girl) Etty, but the boys also feature strongly.

We also get a view of the action in the local police station as they attempt to piece together the events of Christmas 1990. When the action moves to the present day we are initially still in the dark about what happened to Lottie. Fear not though as all is revealed in the final chapters of this excellent, atmospheric novel.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book.

A slow burn, psychological thriller, which explores events surrounding Charlotte Salter, who goes missing on the day of her husband’s 50th birthday party in 1990 and the devastation left on her family and close friends.
30 years later the remaining family members are back in their childhood home to help move their father into a care home. At the same time, friends from childhood start a podcast to uncover details of their father's apparent suicide. A twisty tale told in 2 timelines (1990 and 30 years later) and multiple POVs which were easy to follow. Well written, this story is full of secrets, lies and self-preservation. The characters are interesting, well developed and richly drawn in this intriguing novel. Especially enjoyed Maud, Cassie and Etty.
The podcast for me added to the tension and atmosphere.
Overall this was well written and totally immersive. At times totally intriguing.
Very enjoyable. Recommended.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley UK for the ARC.

A slow burning, excellent thriller. Books by Nicci French are alway well thought through and carefully crafted. Thanks @netgalley for the early copy.

Absolutely brilliant book, plenty of twists and turns with great characters. I haven’t read a bad book from this pair. I would recommend this book to thriller lovers

This was a very enjoyable family saga/small town thriller. I liked the dual timelines and how the mystery was slowly revealed. Lots of unlikeable characters but no obvious candidates for murdering Charlotte Salter.
I felt this story was ultimately a sad one, poor Charlotte hasn't been able to see her children growing up and the children for almost 30 years don't know what happened to their mother. The inept and biased police investigation led to the case going cold and things don't get moving until a new squad are drafted in.
I would question the motive behind the original crime but that is just my opinion.

I always enjoy reading Nicci French books but after the Frieda Klein series, it's been a bit touch and go for me. However this latest one, "Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter?" sees the author duo back at their A game. It is a fresh to see the time difference brought about by a podcast and subsequent reopening of a cold case. Perhaps not a page turner and I wasn't suspecting every character but it was just the right pace and you really felt for the characters and the hole that their mother left in their lives.

This was one of my favourite books of the year! A pure masterpiece of mystery, when the past has a grip on the present affecting the lives of so many.

Thirty years ago Charlotte salter didn’t arrive to her husbands 50th birthday party, three decades on and she was never seen again. A few days after her disappearance in 1990 a family friend was found drowned in the river of their hometown. Now the two sons of the drowned man are back in the village doing a podcast to uncover truths they think were missed by a botched police case. But someone doesn’t want them finding out the long buried secrets.

Brilliant read, short chapters (my personal preference) believable characters and a story that will leave you blown away.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for my arc.

In 1990, Charlotte Salter sets off to walk to her husband's fiftieth birthday party, only to disappear without a trace. The police investigation isn't up to much, even when another crime takes place within days. But the effect on her four children - Niall, Paul, Ollie and fifteen year old Etty - is profound.

Thirty years later, the children gather to move their father, who now has dementia, into a care home. And it's not longer before another murder stirs up the past.

Although she isn't introduced till quite late in the story, I really liked Maud, the detective who arrives to take charge of the case from the (incompetent) local police. I'm not sure if she's appeared in a previous book, but she had the feel of a recurring character and it would be good to see her again.

There's a satisfying mystery to solve, but really, this story is about the devastating, lasting impact on her children of Charlotte's disappearance, though they all deal with it - or don't - in different ways.

A great read.

This is my first book from this author and it won't be my last. I enjoyed the style of writing and the characters were very well written. This is a tense mystery which I didn't want to put down.