Set in the rural town of Cooley Ridge, this novel’s protagonist is Nicolette Farrell, a recently engaged counselor who takes a trip back to her hometown to help her brother sell their father’s house. From her brother Daniel’s standoffish demeanor, we get the sense that there are quite a few cobwebs and skeletons in the Farrell family’s closet. Daniel and Nicolette’s father lives in an assisted living facility where he is being treated for dementia. Nicolette worries that after being away for a decade, her father won’t remember her. This sets the backdrop of the mystery: Nic’s childhood friend went missing ten years ago, and another young woman goes missing soon after Nic returns home.
What I Liked About the Book
- Interesting storytelling: Most of the novel is told in reverse chronological order, beginning two weeks after Nic’s arrival. Each chapter is one day.
- Unreliable narrator: Nic is the storyteller, and from the beginning, I got the sense that she was hiding something.
- Flashbacks: Some of the chapters reveal tidbits of what happened the night Nic’s childhood friend goes missing. This was the storyline I was most interested in. What happened that night and why did it force Nic to leave?
- Family life: Nic has to balance her strenuous relationship with her brother while also trying to care for her ailing father. Personally, this reminded me of my grandmother and how she had dementia and lived in a home for a while. I could relate to Nic trying to get through to her dad and seeing glimpses of his former self.
What I Didn’t Like About the Book
- Confusing order of events: Although I thought the idea was unique, the reverse chronological storytelling made it hard for me to understand what happened when. I kept flipping back to previous chapters to try to figure out when Nic did certain things.
- The title: “All the Missing Girls” implies more than two girls went missing. In reality, the book is only referring to two. This was disappointing as I read the book thinking another person would go missing.
- Teen drama: In the flashback chapters, we learn that Nic’s childhood friend was not a good person. She toyed with her people’s emotions and seemed to be a narcissist. This made me not care as much about her mysterious disappearance even though I thought that storyline was more intriguing.
- Unlikable characters: Ultimately, I did not like any of the characters, including Nic. The only character I felt for was her ailing father. Each character felt like a trope and didn’t have much depth. Throughout the book, readers learn a bit about the Farrell family, but nothing that really justified their actions.
Overall, I think All the Missing Girls is worth reading. I gave this book 3 stars on Goodreads. It’s not my favorite book from Megan Miranda, but it had an intriguing plot that ultimately kept me entertained. Although the characters weren’t ones I cared for, I thought the plot was solid. Megan Miranda is quickly becoming one of my go-to authors. I’ve read four books of hers now including this novel, which was her debut into the adult fiction world. I think I enjoy her books because while they are mysteries, they aren’t so completely ridiculous and far-fetched to me. Other books I’ve read of hers are The Only Survivors, The Last House Guest, and The Last to Vanish. Unfortunately, I haven’t written reviews of these books. I’ve been slacking a bit on blog posts. But out of these books, so far, I’ve enjoyed The Last House Guest and The Last to Vanish most.
Are you also a fan of Megan Miranda? Let me know what you think of her books. And if you are a fan of mysteries and thrillers, let me know if you have suggestions on similar authors. As always, thanks for reading!
What Jas Reads 