“That’s not to say I didn’t think about you. I thought about you a lot when you were gone, though all I ever knew was the absence of you.” ― Mary Kubica
Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica is a fast-paced thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end. The story begins with a woman who disappears during her morning jog. Soon after, a mother and her young daughter also go missing. Years later, one of them suddenly returns—and nothing about her story adds up.
The book jumps between past and present, slowly showing dark secrets hiding in a quiet neighborhood. With short chapters, different points of view, and a huge twist, this book is hard to put down. It’s emotional, suspenseful, and full of surprises. If you enjoy thrillers about missing people, family drama, and hidden truths, you’ll probably like this one.
In this post, I’ll break down the plot, share my review (with a spoiler warning), and show what other readers think—plus give you some similar books to check out.
Plot Summary
Local Woman Missing starts with a woman named Shelby who vanishes during a morning jog. Not long after, another woman named Meredith and her young daughter Delilah also go missing. These events shake up a quiet neighborhood, and everyone has questions but no answers.
The story is told from different points of view and moves between past and present. This makes the mystery more layered as you slowly figure out what really happened. You get to know the characters well, especially Meredith, Shelby, and Delilah, and how their lives are all tied together.
As the chapters go on, you start to learn secrets from the past that change everything. The suspense keeps building until one major twist turns the whole story upside down. It’s the kind of book where you think you know what’s going on—but you really don’t.
My Review
I thought Local Woman Missing was a really gripping read. From the first chapter, I was hooked and wanted to know what happened to everyone. The story was emotional too, especially the parts about Delilah.
It felt real and strong at times. The different points of view worked well, and I liked how each character brought a different piece of the puzzle. It kept things interesting and added more to the mystery.
What I liked most was the twist—it was unexpected and totally changed how I saw the story. The short chapters also helped move things along quickly, which made it easy to keep reading.
What I didn’t love was that some characters felt a bit flat, especially in the beginning. The timeline got a little confusing at first, but it made sense by the end.
Spoiler Warning: Stop here if you haven’t read the book!
The big twist—that Delilah had been held captive and finally escaped—completely flipped the story. It made earlier parts feel even darker and more emotional. The final chapters were intense and heartbreaking. Finding out who was behind everything changed how I saw some characters and added a new layer to the whole book.
Ratings and Reviews from Readers
“That’s not to say I didn’t think about you. I thought about you a lot when you were gone, though all I ever knew was the absence of you.” ― Mary Kubica
Local Woman Missing has an average rating of 4.13 out of 5, based on over 620,000 ratings and 51,000 reviews.
Reviews
One reader mentioned, “Mary Kubica uses [the suspects] expertly to misdirect us. Her natural, engaging writing style has been hooking me in from page one.”
Another reviewer noted, “There are plenty of secrets in this neighborhood, and plenty of suspects to choose from.”
A customer review stated, “Mary Kubica’s ‘Local Woman Missing’ is a suspenseful thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end.”
Another reviewer commented, “The story unfolds in a small, seemingly peaceful community that’s rocked by the disappearance of two women.”
What Makes Local Woman Missing Unique?
Local Woman Missing stands out because it tells the story through two different timelines and several character points of view. This makes the story feel deep and layered, helping readers see things from different angles.
The book also focuses a lot on the emotions of motherhood and the pain caused by trauma. These emotional parts help make the suspense feel more real and powerful, as readers get to understand what the characters are going through on a personal level.
One of the best parts of the book is the big twist that comes later in the story. It’s surprising and not what most readers expect. This twist keeps the story exciting and makes you want to keep reading to find out more.
What Authors Have to Say About the Book
Local Woman Missing has received praise from several well-known authors:
1. Riley Sager, New York Times bestselling author of Home Before Dark, says:
“Dark and twisty, with all the white-knuckle tension and jaw-dropping surprises readers have come to expect from Mary Kubica.”
2. Joshilyn Jackson, New York Times bestselling author of Never Have I Ever, shares:
“I’m shamelessly addicted to Mary Kubica’s juicy, unpredictable reads…Local Woman Missing is a propulsive journey through a winding maze of secrets, leading to a jaw-dropping twist that I never saw coming. Loved every minute.”
3. Kimberly McCreight, author of Reconstructing Amelia and A Good Marriage, writes:
“Complex, richly atmospheric and thoroughly riveting, Local Woman Missing is a thoughtful look at how even the most innocuous secrets between happy couples and beloved friends in tightly knit neighborhoods can sometimes turn so unexpectedly and terrifyingly deadly.”
Is Reading Local Woman Missing Worth It?
One line that really captures the mood of the book is: “People don’t just disappear without a trace…” It sets the tone for a mystery that’s both emotional and full of suspense.
If you like thrillers that move quickly and keep you guessing, you’ll probably enjoy Local Woman Missing. The short chapters, different points of view, and back-and-forth timeline make it exciting and easy to get into. There’s also real emotional meaning—especially around family, trust, and survival.
That said, some readers found the beginning a little confusing, and a few of the character arcs could’ve used more detail. But once the story picks up, it really pulls you in.
If you like psychological thrillers, multiple POV stories, or domestic thrillers with emotional layers, this book is definitely worth a try. It’s a page-turner with a strong twist.
Similar Books If You Enjoyed Local Woman Missing
- The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave
- The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena
- The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
- Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell
- Before She Knew Him by Peter Swanson
