The Missing: A Thriller

Chris Mooney

Jul 2007 · Sold by Simon and Schuster

About this ebook

A razor-sharp thriller from the Edgar Award–nominated author who "blurs the lines between dreams and nightmares" (Abilene Reporter-News, TX).

Darby McCormack was in high school when she first encountered the killer: someone murdered a woman in the woods where Darby and her two best friends were partying. His race to silence the witnesses was sure-footed and violent—but somehow Darby survived.

Twenty-five years later, Darby is a crime-scene investigator for the Boston Police Department, and a chilling case—a woman’s late-night abduction—has her uncovering strange leads to missing women, past and present. As forensic clues lead her closer to a psychopath called the Traveler, Darby must finally resolve the nightmare of her past and come face-to-face with a killer who is determined to keep the missing—and the horrors they endured at his hands—from ever coming to light.

Ratings and reviews

This is a fast paced thriller, with many interesting characters. The major problem with the book is it is a theme that has been done before (Kiss the Girls by Patterson is one that comes straight to mind). Still and all with its short chapters, twists and turns and super creepy villain it is a well done serial killer thriller. I did figure out some of the plot twists but because I cared for the main character that wasn’t a problem at all. The ending doesn’t quite tie everything up into a neat little bow, and I liked that also! While hanging out in the woods near their home, three teenage girls witness a murder. In their haste to escape a backpack is left behind, and soon the killer is on the trail of the witnesses, determined to leave none of them alive. Only one of the girls escapes his wrath, and we flash forward twenty years later, where Darby McCormack is now a CSI for the Boston PD. While investigating a missing girl case Darby finds a woman hiding beneath the porch of the victim's house. Soon it becomes clear to Darby that this case is leading her back to her own past encounter with a murderer. Despite some predictable plot lines the character of Darby was so well written and I was so invested in her that I had to continue on until the end to see if she gets the bad guy. I would love to see another book featuring the intrepid Darby McCormick, and her partner Coop, I think there may be a romance in there, though that wouldn’t be necessary for me to enjoy another outing with Mr. Mooney.

at the end was my favorite part it was so intense and I would love to read it again

About the author

Chris Mooney is the critically acclaimed author of Deviant Ways, World Without End, and Remembering Sarah, which was nominated for the Barry Award and the Edgar Award for Best Novel. He lives in Boston with his wife and son.