Review: The Missing Hours

First of all, I’d like to apologize for not posting in so long. Between work and some family health problems, I had 4 books but couldn’t find the time or the heart to write their reviews. Here’s hoping that things will get better from now on.

Thank you for your patience.

Title: The Missing Hours | Author: Emma Kavanagh | Publication year: 2016

Genre: thriller, mystery | Rating: 5 stars

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Summary (from GoodReads):

A woman disappears

One moment, Selena Cole is in the playground with her children and the next, she has vanished without a trace.

A woman returns

Twenty hours later, Selena is found safe and well, but with no memory of where she has been.

What took place in those missing hours, and are they linked to the discovery of a nearby murder?

‘Is it a forgetting or a deception?’

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Review:

5 shiny stars.

This book is a fine example how you can create unique, compelling characters and a breathtaking edge of your seat story, do something different and not get lost in it.

I can’t say much because I don’t want to spoil anything but there are some points and aspects I want to highlight.

First of all, this book is mostly told in the first person with multiple narrators. I confess I found it a bit overwhelming at first but as the narrative progressed it didn’t stand in the way or bothered me at all because every character, every voice is unique. And every point of view – past or present – adds a little piece to the puzzle.

The story is, like I mentioned, present in the present with chapters focusing on past events. They all serve their purpose, they add to the story, be it by helping understand the characters, be it to understand the world they live in and their mindset.

This book was impossible to put down. I had the urge to know what’s going on, to find the next piece, to figure out things. It is brilliant and it is a fresh take on the detective novel genre.

I highly recommend to anyone who loves a good thriller.

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I’d like to thank NetGalley, Random House UK and Cornerstone, and author Emma Cavanagh for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.

I can’t wait to read more of Emma Cavanagh’s work. This introduction to her was fantastic.