Book Review: Missing, Presumed by Susie Steiner ✨
Genre: Mystery, crime fiction
Intro: At thirty-nine, Manon Bradshaw is a devoted and respected member of the Cambridgeshire police force, and though she loves her job, what she longs for is a personal life. Single and distant from her family, she wants a husband and children of her own. One night, after yet another disastrous Internet date, she turns on her police radio to help herself fall asleep—and receives an alert that sends her to a puzzling crime scene. Edith Hind—a beautiful graduate student at Cambridge University and daughter of the surgeon to the Royal Family—has been missing for nearly twenty-four hours. Her home offers few clues: a smattering of blood in the kitchen, her keys and phone left behind, the front door ajar but showing no signs of forced entry. Manon instantly knows that this case will be big—and that every second is crucial to finding Edith alive. The investigation starts with Edith’s loved ones: her attentive boyfriend, her reserved best friend, her patrician parents. As the search widens and press coverage reaches a frenzied pitch, secrets begin to emerge about Edith’s tangled love life and her erratic behavior leading up to her disappearance. With no clear leads, Manon summons every last bit of her skill and intuition to close the case, and what she discovers will have shocking consequences not just for Edith’s family but for Manon herself.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
My review: This book was a slow read for me. Parts of it were lulling and other parts had me turnint the page to see what was next. I just learned this is the 1st out of a 3 book series as of now. I liked the plot of the book, however, some of the characters were not enjoyable. Curious to see more by this author
After diving into 'Missing, Presumed' by Susie Steiner, I wanted to share a deeper dive into my reading experience. When I initially rated it ⭐️⭐️⭐️, it was a gut feeling, but thinking back, there's so much more to unpack. The cover art, as seen with its striking dark blue and yellow text, even boasts a '3.5/5 Rating' from others, and the 'ONE OF THE WALL STREET JOURNAL'S 10 BEST MYSTERIES OF THE YEAR' accolade certainly set my expectations high. One of the biggest things for me was the pacing. While the central mystery of Edith Hind’s disappearance was compelling, I found certain sections quite detailed, almost meticulously so, which sometimes made it a slow burn. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, especially if you love intricate character studies and police procedural details. However, there were moments where I wished for a bit more urgency, particularly early on. It felt like Susie Steiner was really taking her time to build the world around Manon Bradshaw, which, in hindsight, is probably great for a series. Speaking of characters, Manon herself is fantastic – flawed, relatable, and genuinely trying her best. But some of the secondary characters, particularly those within Edith’s affluent circle, were indeed a bit challenging. Their personal dramas occasionally overshadowed the main investigation for me, making it harder to connect with their plight. I appreciate complex characters, but sometimes they felt deliberately unlikable, which, while realistic, can make a reader's journey less enjoyable. Despite these points, the plot itself was genuinely intriguing. The way the clues unfolded, the multiple suspects, and the gradual revelations kept me guessing. I loved how the investigation peeled back layers of secrets, not just about Edith, but about the societal pressures and hidden lives of the people involved. It wasn’t a straightforward whodunit, which I appreciated. The twists, when they came, felt earned and impactful. Knowing this is the first book in a series starring Detective Manon Bradshaw makes me curious about Susie Steiner's other works. I learned there are two more books, 'Persons Unknown' and 'Then She Was Gone'. I'm definitely interested to see how Manon's character develops and how Steiner’s writing evolves. If you're a fan of character-driven crime fiction with a strong female lead and don't mind a slower, more reflective pace, 'Missing, Presumed' could be a great read for you. It truly felt like an honest exploration of a disappearance, complete with all its human complexities. And for those who pick up a physical copy, keep an eye out for that 'BONUS CHAPTER INCLUDED' – it might offer extra insights!