Title: The Missing Hours
Author: Emma Kavanagh
Publisher: Random House UK, Cornerstone
Read: February 2016
Expected publication: 21 April 2016
Synopsis (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?’
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?’
My thoughts:
I have only just discovered author Emma Kavanagh and am
halfway through the audio-version of her previous novel “Hidden” (which is
great), so was thrilled to receive this preview copy of her latest novel from
the publisher.
Psychologist Selena Cole and her husband have established a
successful but unusual business together – negotiating ransom with kidnappers in
an effort to free hostages. After her husband is tragically killed in a bomb
blast during their last business trip, Selena is forced to take a step back
from the business and concentrate on bringing up her two small daughters as a
sole parent, still reeling from her loss. One afternoon, whilst taking the
girls to the playground, Selena disappears without a trace. Considering her
recent personal tragedy, police hold grave fears for her safety. When she
appears 20 hours later unharmed but
without recollection of the time she was “missing”, everyone is relieved and
happy to close the case – everyone except DC Leah Mackay, who suspects that
there may be something sinister underlying Selena’s “disappearance”. Something
which may be connected to her former job as negotiator. Something which may even
tie her to the murder of a lawyer who was found stabbed the same day Selena
went missing. Leah just can’t let it rest ....
I loved the unusual background of this novel, especially the
case histories of kidnap and ransom which are inserted into the storyline in
the form of reports and add an intriguing element to this police procedural.
Kavanagh has obviously done her research on the subject matter, and I found
myself eagerly looking up various snippets of information that intrigued me,
especially related to the drug “Devil’s Breath” – scary stuff! Whilst
storylines with multiple POV’s can sometimes be disjointed or confusing, they
worked well for me in this story, adding to the mystery and providing
interesting background information. In the end, all stories come together in a
surprising conclusion which perhaps did not answer all my questions but threw
in a surprise element I had not considered.
All in all a satisfying and intriguing read – and the discovery
of an author I hope to read a lot more from in future.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free electronic copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free electronic copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
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