thegirlwiththebookonthecouch's review against another edition
5.0
All The Missing Girls by Megan Miranda surprised me not in how tightly written the suspense was, but with the depth of heart contained within the covers of such a masterful thriller. I knew going into it that it was going to be a page turner, and it did not disappoint, but while I love a well executed plot, in this genre, getting emotionally attached to the characters and finding a deep life truth to flesh out in the process is not commonly achieved. This book was a delicious blend of suspenseful plot and a look into the messy safety found with those who know you best.
Nicolette Farrell grew up in Cooley Ridge, North Carolina, and moved out and away from her small town upbringing the second she turned 18. Ten years later, she receives a note from her father "I saw the girl," and Nic is forced to return to Cooley Ridge to figure out what her senile father means, and to face the events that made her leave her hometown a decade earlier. Nic, her brother Daniel, Tyler, her boyfriend, Corinne, and Corinne's boyfriend Jackson were a tight knit group for years. But one night, Corinne broke away from the group at the fair, walked out the gates and never returned. Cooley Ridge was upturned in the investigation, with everyone as a suspect, but the police could never find any evidence to point to anyone for the crime, and Corinne's body was never found. The investigation fizzled out and everyone moved on with their lives but now, sitting in a nursing home, Nic's father keeps talking about seeing that girl, and Nic and Daniel don't know what to make of it.
Just as Nic returns home, another girl vanishes without a trace, and old secrets from before get pushed to the surface. The story flashes forward to 15 days after the second girl's disappearance, and is then told backwards, suspensefully revealing detail by detail what has really been happening in Cooley Ridge. Along the way, Miranda masterfully creates characters that you latch onto emotionally, and examines the importance and power of those who know our deepest, darkest secrets and still love us profoundly. You won't be able to put All The Missing Girls down, and you won't want to leave Nic and Cooley Ridge by the end.
Nicolette Farrell grew up in Cooley Ridge, North Carolina, and moved out and away from her small town upbringing the second she turned 18. Ten years later, she receives a note from her father "I saw the girl," and Nic is forced to return to Cooley Ridge to figure out what her senile father means, and to face the events that made her leave her hometown a decade earlier. Nic, her brother Daniel, Tyler, her boyfriend, Corinne, and Corinne's boyfriend Jackson were a tight knit group for years. But one night, Corinne broke away from the group at the fair, walked out the gates and never returned. Cooley Ridge was upturned in the investigation, with everyone as a suspect, but the police could never find any evidence to point to anyone for the crime, and Corinne's body was never found. The investigation fizzled out and everyone moved on with their lives but now, sitting in a nursing home, Nic's father keeps talking about seeing that girl, and Nic and Daniel don't know what to make of it.
Just as Nic returns home, another girl vanishes without a trace, and old secrets from before get pushed to the surface. The story flashes forward to 15 days after the second girl's disappearance, and is then told backwards, suspensefully revealing detail by detail what has really been happening in Cooley Ridge. Along the way, Miranda masterfully creates characters that you latch onto emotionally, and examines the importance and power of those who know our deepest, darkest secrets and still love us profoundly. You won't be able to put All The Missing Girls down, and you won't want to leave Nic and Cooley Ridge by the end.
ariiiiready2read916's review against another edition
1.0
This book was written backwards.
It infuriated me
It infuriated me
beccavivian's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
jackiesreadingjourney's review against another edition
3.0
The reverse format of the story telling was interesting but I was constantly worried that I missed some important details. I also found the climax to be unexceptional and the characters to be lack luster. I really had to push myself to finish this book but I still think it was a decent read.
magsr6's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
lisabooksit's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this read. While many disliked the backward concept, I found it unique and refreshing from reading a lot of thrillers. I liked the intrigue of why did Nic have that then find out the next chapter - 'the day before' the answer.
jsthrillingreads's review against another edition
3.0
I found this one a bit harder to follow than the first two I have read/ listened to by MM. I listened to this book and really was not impressed all that much. There were some twists but definitely not as good as I’d expected
jdye6529's review against another edition
3.0
The storyline itself was intriguing. Though I wouldn’t really say it unfolded backwards. Yes the days are marked backwards but the details you find out each day, those flow in a forward progression. Pretty much all the characters were just unlikeable people. Though I did not expect the ending results so that was a plus. Not bad, not great. It sometimes dragged on in unnecessary ways.
mmayhan's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ca_yoongs's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.0