“The absence of a no should never mean yes.”
Local woman missing by Mary Kubica I just completed reading this book and have some thoughts. This novel follows the mysterious disappearances of two women and a young girl from the same neighborhood. The story is told from several perspectives and takes place over two timelines: the present day and 11 years ago.
Local Woman Missing Book is masterfully crafted with jaw-dropping twists as told by readers, while others find themselves questioning the hype. As we delve into this book review, we’ll explore the intricate synopsis, the character development, and the summary of the local woman missing. See our Homepage for additional information on our literary adventure.
Local Woman Missing Summary
Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica is a story about a woman who’s gone missing—except the twist is that multiple women, including a child, have gone missing. Shelby Tebow is the first to go missing, but not long after, Meredith Dickey and her six-year-old daughter Delilah disappear from the same neighborhood. The police aren’t able to find out anything about these disappearances, so the case goes cold. But 11 years later, Delilah Dickey is found alive and is able to return home.
Local Woman Missing book gives us multiple points of view, but don’t worry, it’s easy to follow. We see things through Kate’s eyes—she’s married to Bea—and they live in the same neighborhood as Meredith, who has her own perspective. Meredith is married to Josh, and sometimes we also hear from their son, Leo. Their kidnapped daughter, Delilah, shares her side too, flipping between past and present. But as I said, it all fits together smoothly.
The book opens with Delilah’s harrowing kidnapping experience—the dark basement, the lack of food, and no light. It was truly heartbreaking. I was listening to this while sitting on the porch on a sunny and beautiful day, and I felt so down.
Local Woman Missing Review
Local Woman Missing, I enjoyed reading this thriller book and also listened to the audio version, which was really good. When you listen to the audio versions, there are a few that I think are worth mentioning because they have completely altered my reading experience of the book.
Moving on to my general thoughts and complaints about the book, I’d say overall, I enjoyed it. I ended up giving it a 4.5-star rating, which is fairly good by my standards. Going in, I had no prior knowledge about the book, so I was pleasantly surprised by how intrigued I became right from the start. The prologue and the first chapter, which were from Delilah’s point of view, immediately captured my interest, pulling me into the story. It set up a promising foundation that kept me engaged, even though there were a few areas where I felt the book could have done more.
I did find the number of points of view in Local Woman Missing a bit overwhelming at times. It’s probably just a personal preference, but I tend to enjoy following one or two characters at most. When there are too many, I sometimes lose interest or become more invested in certain characters over others. I was primarily interested in Delilah and Leo, while Meredith and Shelby didn’t capture my attention as much.
Kate’s chapters, in particular, felt tedious. I often skimmed through them because her relevance to the story felt unclear. While the book had plenty of twists and surprises from beginning to end, it didn’t fully keep me engaged. I never quite knew what was coming, but it wasn’t enough to hold my attention consistently. Overall, my Local Woman Missing review reflects a mix of strong points and areas where the story could have been more gripping.
what is Local Woman Missing About?
“Local Woman Missing” by Mary Kubica is a thriller about a series of disappearances in a small town. Two women, Shelby and Meredith, along with Meredith’s young daughter Delilah, vanish without a trace. The story unfolds across two timelines, exploring the initial disappearances and the aftermath 11 years later when Delilah mysteriously returns, unraveling shocking secrets and unexpected twists.
Local Woman Missing Characters
Shelby Tebow: The first woman to go missing. She was apparently cheating on her husband, who was also cheating on her. Shelby was hit by a car while going to meet her lover.
Meredith Dickey: The second woman to go missing. She’s a self-employed doula who was working with Shelby. Meredith is married to John and is the mother of Delilah and Leo.
Delilah Dickey: Meredith’s six-year-old daughter who goes missing along with her mother. She returns 11 years later, though there’s a twist regarding her identity.
Leo Dickey: Meredith and John’s son. He was around 4 years old when his mother and sister disappeared. We follow his perspective as a teenager in the present timeline.
John Dickey: Meredith’s husband and father to Delilah and Leo.
Kate: An outside observer who provides one of the main perspectives. She’s married to Bea and is friends with the missing women’s families.
Bea: Kate’s wife. She plays a significant role in the story, though her true nature is revealed later.
Carly: A girl who was kidnapped by copycat kidnappers and brainwashed to believe she was Delilah.
Cassandra: A woman who was sending threatening messages to Meredith over a past infidelity.
Gus: A boy Delilah (Carly) believes was with her during her captivity, but who turns out to be a figment of her imagination.
Books Like Local Woman Missing
- “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn: A twisty psychological thriller about a missing woman, featuring unreliable narrators and shocking revelations.
- “The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides: A suspenseful mystery centered around a woman who goes mute after allegedly murdering her husband, with unexpected plot twists.
- “Behind Closed Doors” by B.A. Paris: A chilling domestic thriller about a seemingly perfect couple hiding dark secrets, exploring themes of deception and psychological manipulation.
- “The Wife Between Us” by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen: A mind-bending thriller with multiple perspectives and timelines, unraveling the complex relationship between a man, his ex-wife, and his new fiancée.
- “The Couple Next Door” by Shari Lapena: A taut suspense novel about a couple whose baby goes missing during a dinner party, filled with twists, secrets, and shifting suspicions.
Author: Mary Kubica
Date Published: May 18, 2021
Pages: 356 pages, Paperback
Goodreads Rating: 4.1/5
Conclusion
Mary Kubica’s “Local Woman Missing” is a masterfully crafted thriller that keeps readers guessing until the very end. With its intricate plot, multiple timelines, and well-developed characters, the novel offers a fresh take on the missing persons trope. While some plot twists may strain credulity, Kubica’s skillful storytelling and the book’s emotional depth more than compensate. This page-turner showcases why Kubica is a rising star in the thriller genre, delivering a satisfying and suspenseful read that will linger in readers’ minds long after the final page.
Reader Reactions from Goodreads
Local Woman Missing Ending
SPOILER WARNING: The following contains major plot revelations about the ending of “Local Woman Missing”
- The ending of “Local Woman Missing” delivers several shocking twists:
- The returned “Delilah” is actually a different girl named Carly, kidnapped by copycats and brainwashed to believe she was Delilah.
- The real Delilah was hidden in Bea’s attic studio for 11 years.
- Bea, Kate’s wife, is revealed as the true villain. She accidentally hit and killed Shelby while driving drunk with Meredith.
- Bea murdered Meredith to cover up their involvement in Shelby’s death, and kidnapped Delilah who witnessed the murder.
- The story concludes with Bea’s arrest and the real Delilah’s return home.
I’m John Stauffer, a Harvard professor and book lover. Here at John Stauffer Books, I share my thoughts on the books I read through honest reviews and recommendations. I cover everything from well-known classics to lesser-known works that deserve more attention.
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