This is the only book by Anita Waller I have read. Frankly, although the plot and nefarious characters are, in both cases, cleverly disguised until the very end, I found the sanguinary nature of the plot somewhat off-putting. I did appreciate the new head detective, Chris, and his team, characters who were well-developed and who kept the plot balanced.

Certainly the characters who created the "missing ones" were quite a surprise and at the same time, integral to the plot. They also seemed rather hyperbolic and certainly psychotic. The eventual revealing of the people who were kidnappers and murderers was a great surprise and showed Waller's skills in inventing interesting plot twists.

Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book.

The Missing Ones gave me nightmares while I was reading it. Anita Waller has written a mind-boggling, terrifying, spellbinding thriller.
It invited me in at the beginning, and I read it like a rubber-neck looking at a train wreck about to happen.
Only it might not be as it seems at the beginning.
It is a mind-twisted thriller.
#TheMissingOnes
#AnitaWaller
#Boldwood
#NetGalley

Ray Eke used to be a partner accountant in an accountancy business but after a lifetime of sending his days analysing numbers, he has a breakdown and leaves Accountancy far behind, his partner Mark to take over the business on his own. Ray takes up a job for the Council as a litter man, wandering the streets collecting what others discard. He lives with his mother who has shut up her house to move in and look after Ray and he thoroughly enjoys his major past time playing the piano, of which he is quite talented.

Ray is more than happy in his new role, that is until the day he finds a body. Lauren Pascoe has been missing for 3 years, and Ray instantly recognizes her. He makes a call to the local police, all who know him from seeing him on the streets working away. Soon another body is found, and the police have a major case in their hands.

The hunt is now on for the killer and as with all of Anita Waller’s books there are twists along the way leading that keep the reader thinking. I have to say the end came as a bit of a shock as I certainly did not pick it and was quite clever.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions expressed are my own.

It was def twisty and at times dark. I just knew i had found out the ending Quite early in the book. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

I quite enjoyed this book and found I wasn’t sure what to think about the main character in the beginning. Towards the middle I had a good idea what was going on and guessed all of the ending. Nevertheless it was a well written book and I think it will appeal to a lot of people. Four stars from me

I liked this one. The characters were very interesting, especially Ray who we are getting to know throughout the book, finding out about his breakdown that has led to him becoming a council litter picker and his enjoyment of it. He deals very calmly with finding a dead body. DI Chris Chandler is a great detective settling in with a new team and leading them in a very collaborative way. I did think Ray would be a good police assistant who could have featured in future books. His partner Mark was less likeable. I thought I had the mystery solved but I didn't have it right!
I hope DI Chandler appears in future books.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

Rounded up from 3.5

Just as one missing girl is found dead, another goes missing. Set in a UK village, police try to hurry to find the culprit before another death happens. But what if the kidnappings aren’t connected?

Look, we know I don’t love police procedural novels. This was slightly different as I loved the characters in this story and there were some twists in the end. I had my suspicions which ended up being fairly true in the end. There just weren’t enough suspects. But overall, it was an engaging read.

The Missing Ones by Anita Waller is such a chilling story as two girls go missing three years apart. The description of kidnap and incarceration by an unknown perpetrator and details of their torture is gruesome.
Detective Inspector Chris Chandler has only been at Sheffield Police Station for two days when Lauren Pascoe’s body is found by litter picker Ray Eke just across the road from the station. Lauren has been missing for three years. Within 24 hours another girl, Hannah Wrighton is reporting missing and there is a link to Lauren.
As Chris Chandler gets to know his team it soon becomes clear that Hannah is in mortal danger and it will be a race against time to save her. I was totally gripped and thought I had solved the case only to discover that there was a really gut wrenching twist. The interaction between the team and well drawn characters in this book make it a compelling read but it’s not for the faint hearted.

Ray Eke was a partner in an accountancy firm but had a breakdown and now works outside collecting rubbish. One day he finds the body of Lauren who has been missing for 3 years. What follows is a police investigation with many twists and turns.
The book was fast paced and well written although I did find parts of it quite difficult to read as it was quite gruesome.
The ending blew me away and was totally unexpected.
Thanks to NetGalley, Anita Waller and Boldwood Books for an advance copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Wow! Another amazing story from Anita Waller, it had me reading into the night as I just couldn’t put it down. A clever plot line and great characters, don’t miss this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review "The Missing Ones", the new suspense/mystery from Anita Waller.
Having read almost all of Ms. Waller's previous books, I jumped at the chance to read a new one, and I was not disappointed.
Three years ago, Ray Eke, a partner in a successful accounting firm, had a compete breakdown in front of one of his employees, and went away to recover. Just before this event was another event - the disappearance of Lauren Pascoe.
Three years on, Ray is putting his life back together: his mother left her home to move back in with him once he was released, and he's got a menial job; he's also beginning to show more interest in one of his previous loves, playing music and composing on the piano.
DI Chris Chandler has recently relocated and, fairly new to the job, is learning all about the strengths and weaknesses of his new team.
Then, on his litter-picking route, Ray Eke comes upon a body - which turns out to be that of the three-years missing Lauren. His daily route had taken him past the local police station, so it is to them that he reports his discovery, plunging DI Chandler and his team into a cold case - which quickly becomes a 'hot' case with the disappearance of another young woman in similar circumstances to Lauren's. The team really need to figure this one out, fearful that a serial killer may be operating on their patch.
There are a lot of twists and turns to this one, and Ms. Waller kept me guessing throughout. However, I must say that some of the vivid descriptions of what the women went through did make it a difficult read at times.
Recommended.

My first time reading a book by this author and I’ll be looking into more of her books! I loved the twist at the end- one you don’t see coming is what makes a great thriller in my opinion! Definitely a solid read.

What a brilliant book from this author, I have read all of them over the years since her 'Angel' days.

It was extremely well written with good characters and I think this is one of her best yet.

I was involved in the storyline from the very beginning until the last page, just couldn't stop reading.

Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for this great ARC which I have no hesitation in recommending.

Ray Eke was a successful accountant until he had a breakdown at work. He now works for the council picking litter. That is until he finds more than litter in the bushes on the side of the road. The body of a young woman is brutally mutilated. When another woman goes missing detectives try and work out are they linked cases as both women worked at Ray's old accountancy firm.
A good fast paced page turner.

Another brilliant crime thriller from Anita Waller. I really enjoy anything Anita writes and The Missing Ones is no exception. New DI Chris Chandler is finding his feet after moving to Sheffield when the mutilated and starved body of a young woman missing for three years is found by the roadside. Then another woman disappears........are they linked? Where does litter picker Ray Eke fit in? As always Anita manages to find an unusual angle to make her books different. This one kept me guessing right to the very end. A very clever very enjoyable read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Litter-picker Ray Eke finds the mutilated body of a woman who had been missing for 3 years. During the couse of the police investigation more women disappear. This is a gripping page-turner with some knockout twists. The descriptions of torture were quite dark and disturbing. The ending was particularly shocking. Overall this is a thrilling and compulsive read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this Advanced Reader’s Copy of The Missing Ones by Anita Waller due to be published May 16, 2025.

Ray Eke has always found peace in his job, collecting litter for the city council. Until the day he finds the brutalized, bloodless body of a girl on his round. He recognizes her immediately too. Lauren Pascoe went missing three years before. But, she was just found so she must have been kept for three years. Then, another girl goes missing. Can the detectives find out who is doing this?

Wow – I read this one in one day. It led to a wonderful and surprising ending after the detective team figured out how the two girls were related. Didn’t guess the ending at all – that’s what makes for a good thriller!

#NetGalley #AnitaWaller #BoldwoodBooks #TheMissingOnes

I love Anita’s writing and she draws you in right away. She has a real way of writing her characters so they feel real, we get right inside their heads and hear and feel what makes them tick. When Ray finds a body it’s just the beginning. This is another great read and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

A woman being found tortured of insanely sick ways. Who's done it? The body of Lauren was found by a litter-picker who had been helping searching for her about 3 years earlier when she disappeared.
Shortly after, another woman disappears. Is there a connection? DI Chris Chandler and his colleagues must work hard to find her. Find the kidnapper and murderer.
Then, the body of a naked and tortured Hannah is found. The time is of the essence. Who's the monster? Where does this torturing happen?

It's really thrilling, and I just wanted to keep reading. You get to be with the Major Crime Unit and follow their steps towards the answers.
I enjoyed it and will be reading more of Anita Waller books 📚 😀

This book was a fun fast read. Another hit from the author. Filled with a good mixture of mystery and suspense that kept the reader interested. This is a book which I would recommend to those who enjoy a good mystery read.