Thank you Minotaur Books, #partner for the advanced copy of The Nature of Disappearing in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Published: June 18, 2024
Summary:
In this captivating novel of suspense, a wilderness guide must team up with the man who ruined her life years ago when the friend who introduced them goes missing.
Emlyn doesn’t let herself think about the past.
How she and her best friend, Janessa, barely speak anymore. How Tyler, the man she thought was the love of her life, left her freezing and half-dead on the side of the road three years ago.
Her new life is simple and safe. She works as a fishing and hunting guide, spending her days in Idaho’s endless woods and scenic rivers. She lives alone in her Airstream trailer, her closest friends a handsome and kind Forest Service ranger and the community’s makeshift reverend, who took her in at her lowest.
But when Tyler shows up with the news that Janessa is missing, Emlyn is propelled back into the world she worked so hard to forget. Janessa, it turns out, has become a social media star, documenting her #vanlife adventures with her rugged survivalist boyfriend. But she hasn’t posted lately, and when she does, it’s from a completely different location than where her caption claims to be. In spite of their fractured history, Emlyn knows she might be the only one with the knowledge and tracking skills to save her friend, so she reluctantly teams up with Tyler. As the two trace Janessa’s path through miles of wild country, Emlyn can’t deny there’s still chemistry crackling between them. But the deeper they press into the wilderness, the more she begins to suspect that a darker truth lies in the woods―and that Janessa isn’t the only one in danger.
Poignant, suspenseful, and unforgettable, THE NATURE OF DISAPPEARING explores what it takes to start over―and the cost of letting the past pull you back in.
My thoughts:
I absolutely loved Kimi Cunningham Grant’s debut novel, These Silent Woods, so I was thrilled to get my hands on her sophomore novel and let me just say…it did not disappoint! She has such a unique voice that just captivates me from start to finish with her novels and I find I cannot stop thinking about her books once I finish them.
From the moment I started this one, I just knew it was going to be one of those books I would not be able to put down, and I didn’t. I read this one in one sitting! I was totally captivated not only by the story but also by the characters. I was so invested in what was happening with them. I loved the way the multiple timelines allow us to slowly get to know the characters, revealing crucial information at just the right time.
I loved how atmospheric and suspenseful this story was. The slow-burn pace works so well here, as each chapter brims with just the right amount of tension and suspense. At times, I got Gabby Petito vibes from the story, though I loved that the story went in a totally different direction.
This story is very much character-driven and I loved that. But what I loved even more is how strong the sense of place is. The woods, or wilderness, is once again a main character in this book, much like they were in These Silents Woods. It’s unforgiving and adds a sense of darkness to the story but also signifies loneliness with is vastness.
While I am late in sharing this review, I do promise it is a book I continue to recommend. It’s writing is so beautiful and vivid and I am excited to see what comes next from this author – I will absolutely be picking it up to read!
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