The Night She Went Missing: A Novel

The Night She Went Missing by Kristen Bird has high school senior, Emily disappearing after attending a party with her friends. Catherine, Emily’s mother, along with Morgan and Leslie (mothers of high school children) are frenemies but they need each other if they are going to learn what happened that fateful night. These women must protect their children as well as their reputations. Secrets and lies run rampant in this small Texas community. The Night She Went Missing is the debut novel of Kristen Bird. We get to follow the story as the three mothers set out to learn what happened to Emily. The story is told from multiple points-of-view which allows us to see what each woman including Emily is thinking and feeling. Some are more likeable than others. The first half of the book sets the stage for the incident while the second half is the search for the truth. I thought the latter part of the story moved faster plus there is more tension. You wonder what is the truth and what is a lie. I was drawn in by the synopsis of this book, but it failed to live up to it. The pacing was so slow. The point-of-view alternates between the three women and Emily. It can be hard to keep them all straight (especially since the women seem so much alike). I thought this would be more of a tense suspense that would have me on the edge of my seat (instead it put me to sleep). I found The Night She Went Missing to be predictable. The ending was a huge disappointment (talk about a letdown). I hope the author ups her game with her next novel. The Night She Went Missing is a dramatic tale governing grandmother, a musical mother, a lost teen, a superior school, rampant rumors, and protective parents.

This was cleverly written, maddeningly paced, shrewdly plotted, and brilliantly laced together with an original cast of characters who were fatally flawed and varying degrees of abhorrent, yet also compelling and authentic. I was loath to put my beloved Kindle down as I was itching to discover the culprit and unearth the chain of events. I developed, modified, morphed, and cast off multiple theories but was only partially correct in my conclusions – what guile! Kristen Bird is a sly and devious trickster and I was stunned when I noticed this was her debut publication. She is definitely one to watch and going on my list of favorites.