Literary Leftover Book Review: Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica

A thriller novel that you will continue to think about for months. Author Mary Kubica provides the reader with twist after twist. Missing people, murder, secrets, and broken families. Author Mary Kubica is a master at weaving storylines all while leading and misleading the reader.

This is the first Mary Kubica novel I’ve read, but it won’t be the last! Ms. Kubica’s work reads fast and lulls the reader into a false sense of security and then pulls the rug out from under you with shocking twists

Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica

Literary Leftovers are book reviews and recommendations that do not contain recipes, but are books that I highly recommend.

Local Woman Missing

by Mary Kubica

Book Review

Outline and Tone:

Set in suburban Chicago, IL, the area is plagued with several mysteries. Yes, a local woman goes missing, but so does another woman and her daughter. The novel jumps back and forth from present day and 11 years earlier. Even before Meredith goes missing, she is tormented by mysterious texts. The novel has so many mysteries that the reader may think they can’t be connected. So are they?

Josh (husband and dad) is struggling to keep things together for himself and his son Leo. That is when the novel takes its first turn. The missing daughter is found. How was she taken? Where has she been? What happened to her mom? You would think these questions could be answered in a straightforward manner, but you would be wrong.

Author Mary Kubica is a master at weaving storylines all while leading and misleading the reader.

The Best Quote:

“I thought about you a lot when you were gone, though all I ever knew was the absence of you. I knew I was supposed to have a big sister, but didn’t. I knew that compared to you, I was second-tier.”

Point of View: Mary Kubica

Third person through different characters. One great character is Leo, the son of one of the missing women. The book does have an asynchronous timeline.

The author:

Mary Kubica has an impressive collection of novels. Her novels have been on USA Today and the New York Times best seller lists. Both this novel and her novel The Good Girl were Indie Next pick books. She is a former high school history teacher and in true teacher style, her website contains group discussion questions for each of her novels. These questions are listed on her Book Clubs page, but be warned, the questions contain spoilers! These discussion questions help to make Mary Kubica’s books excellent choices for your local book clubs. Ms. Kubica is active on Facebook where she is currently featuring her newest novel She’s Not Sorry. She also posts on Instagram and less frequently on X. I am excited to pick up her latest book since Loca Woman Missing was a 5-star book!

What is not to like?:

I loved the whole book! I can’t wait to pick up another Kubica novel.

The verdict:

A fantastic thriller with roller coaster-esque twists and spins. I may have found a new favorite author.

Book Statistics

Local Woman Missing

by Mary Kubica

Rating: 5/5 Stars
Genres: Mystery, Thrill
Setting: ‘Suburban Chicago, IL
Pages: 378 pages
Format: Hardcover, Kindle, Paperback, Audio Book
Get Your Copy at: Amazon
Published by: Harlequin (November 2, 2021)
Information Sources: Amazon, Goodreads, and Author’s website

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