Nicole “Nic” Monroe is in a rut. At twenty-four, she lives alone in a dinky apartment in her hometown of Mishawaka, Indiana, she’s just gotten a DWI, and she works the same dead-end job she’s been working since high school, a job she only has because her boss is a family friend and feels sorry for her. Everyone has felt sorry for her for the last seven years—since the day her older sister, Kasey, vanished without a trace.
On the night Kasey went missing, her car was found over a hundred miles from home. The driver’s door was open and her purse was untouched in the seat next to it. The only real clue in her disappearance was Jules Connor, another young woman from the same area who disappeared in the same way, two weeks earlier. But with so little for the police to go on, both cases eventually went cold.
Nic wants nothing more than to move on from her sister’s disappearance and the state it’s left her in. But then one day, Jules’s sister, Jenna Connor, walks into Nic’s life and offers her something she hasn’t felt in a long time: hope. What follows is a gripping tale of two sisters who will do anything to find their missing halves, even if it means destroying everything they’ve ever known.
The Missing Half is a gripping psychological thriller that intertwines missing persons’ mystery with sisterhood bonds. Set in the small town of Mishawaka, Indiana, the novel follows Nicole Monroe, whose life has been forever altered since her sister Kasey vanished under mysterious circumstances 7 years ago. When Jenna, the sister of another missing woman, approaches Nicole with the belief that their sisters’ cases are connected, the two embark on a quest for answers that unearths long-buried secrets and presents surprising suspects.
The characters in this book are flawed, complex, and all harbor secrets—readers should trust no one and read between the lines! Nicole’s life has completely gone off track—she’s still working at her teenage job, is still struggling with grief over her sister, and has developed an alcohol addiction to numb her pain. Her family has also completely fallen apart—her mother took off after her sister’s death, and her father lives in complete denial. The few scenes where Nicole interacts with her father are uncomfortable and difficult to read. When Jenna comes into her life, she’s very untrusting and hesitant to work with her—especially after being used by the media, who tried to tarnish her sister’s image. After working together for a few weeks, the two women form a very strong, sisterly-like bond. The dialogue where they express their pain and anger and recount memories of their lost sisters is authentically raw and emotionally intense—get some tissues ready if these types of scenes trigger you!
The “deadbeat” small-town setting adds a claustrophobic feel to the narrative and further enhances Nicole’s paranoia and the overall suspense. The story has a slow-burn start, as readers get acquainted with grief-stricken Nicole and learn the backstory of her sister’s disappearance and her family’s demise. From there, the story has good pacing, with many chapters ending in mini-cliffhangers that will cause readers to keep furiously turning pages. The story also has several clever detours in the second half, followed by a shocking climax, true to the author’s writing style! The ending feels a bit rushed and far-fetched, so prepare to suspend your disbelief for optimum enjoyment—and although some readers may feel unsatisfied with the abrupt ending, it will definitely garner discussion!
Overall, The Missing Half is a compelling and emotional novel that will appeal to a wide range of readers. It can be safely stated that Ashley Flowers’ transition from true crime podcasting to fiction writing has proven very successful—after the immense success of her debut, “All Good People Here,” she has delivered another gripping, unputdownable thriller that will have people talking. Seasoned thriller readers may find some of the twists predictable, but the intriguing narrative, compelling subplots, clever detours, and thought-provoking ending make this one still very enjoyable! Anyone who’s looking for their next bingeable thriller should add this book to their immediate TBR!
Narrator Performace
The audiobook of The Missing Half is an unstoppable listen narrated by the incredibly talented Saskia Maarleveld! From the very first chapter, Maarleveld creates a suspenseful and atmospheric narrative, bringing protagonist Nicole Monroe vividly to life with all her paranoia, emotional instability, and anxious inner dialogue—you’ll be on the edge of your seat, guessing what’s coming next the entire time! The dialogue between Nicole and Jenna is a major highlight of the audiobook. Maarleveld narrates their interactions with high emotional intensity as they discuss their missing sisters and their need to solve the mystery, and listeners will be hanging on to every word!
From Nicole’s angry outbursts to suspicious characters to her uncomfortable conversations with her father to her heartfelt dialogue with Jenna, Maarleveld delivers ALL of the emotions and makes Nicole a fascinating character that readers will root for! With the jaw-dropping conclusion, brought to full effect by Maarleveld’s top-notch suspenseful performance, readers will be left speechless—and wanting to immediately discuss the ending with others!
Maarleveld also provides distinct voices for the great variety of side characters, including authentic voices for the dubious male characters—it all adds up to a very atmospheric and suspenseful listening experience that feels like a multicast audiobook!
Overall, the author’s brilliant writing, coupled with Maarleveld’s outstanding narration, will have listeners glued to their headsets. Readers who enjoy multi-layered plots, well-portrayed unhinged female characters, and intricate dual timeline storytelling will love this audiobook!
Narrator Performace
The audiobook of The Missing Half is an unstoppable listen narrated by the incredibly talented Saskia Maarleveld! From the very first chapter, Maarleveld creates a suspenseful and atmospheric narrative, bringing protagonist Nicole Monroe vividly to life with all her paranoia, emotional instability, and anxious inner dialogue—you’ll be on the edge of your seat, guessing what’s coming next the entire time! The dialogue between Nicole and Jenna is a major highlight of the audiobook. Maarleveld narrates their interactions with high emotional intensity as they discuss their missing sisters and their need to solve the mystery, and listeners will be hanging on to every word!
From Nicole’s angry outbursts to suspicious characters to her uncomfortable conversations with her father to her heartfelt dialogue with Jenna, Maarleveld delivers ALL of the emotions and makes Nicole a fascinating character that readers will root for! With the jaw-dropping conclusion, brought to full effect by Maarleveld’s top-notch suspenseful performance, readers will be left speechless—and wanting to immediately discuss the ending with others!
Maarleveld also provides distinct voices for the great variety of side characters, including authentic voices for the dubious male characters—it all adds up to a very atmospheric and suspenseful listening experience that feels like a multicast audiobook!
Overall, the author’s brilliant writing, coupled with Maarleveld’s outstanding narration, will have listeners glued to their headsets. Readers who enjoy multi-layered plots, well-portrayed unhinged female characters, and intricate dual timeline storytelling will love this audiobook!
The audiobook of The Missing Half is an unstoppable listen narrated by the incredibly talented Saskia Maarleveld! From the very first chapter, Maarleveld creates a suspenseful and atmospheric narrative, bringing protagonist Nicole Monroe vividly to life with all her paranoia, emotional instability, and anxious inner dialogue—you’ll be on the edge of your seat, guessing what’s coming next the entire time! The dialogue between Nicole and Jenna is a major highlight of the audiobook. Maarleveld narrates their interactions with high emotional intensity as they discuss their missing sisters and their need to solve the mystery, and listeners will be hanging on to every word!
From Nicole’s angry outbursts to suspicious characters to her uncomfortable conversations with her father to her heartfelt dialogue with Jenna, Maarleveld delivers ALL of the emotions and makes Nicole a fascinating character that readers will root for! With the jaw-dropping conclusion, brought to full effect by Maarleveld’s top-notch suspenseful performance, readers will be left speechless—and wanting to immediately discuss the ending with others!
Maarleveld also provides distinct voices for the great variety of side characters, including authentic voices for the dubious male characters—it all adds up to a very atmospheric and suspenseful listening experience that feels like a multicast audiobook!
Overall, the author’s brilliant writing, coupled with Maarleveld’s outstanding narration, will have listeners glued to their headsets. Readers who enjoy multi-layered plots, well-portrayed unhinged female characters, and intricate dual timeline storytelling will love this audiobook!
