My Child is Missing by Lisa Regan
Detective Josie Quinn #18

Dark, gritty, grim ~ Couldn't put it down!

What I liked:
* Josie: homicide detective, married, had a difficult childhood discussed in previous books, happily married to Noah, competent, professional, good at her job, someone I would like to call friend
* Noah: police lieutenant working with Josie and also her husband, loving, kind, supportive, bright, protective, patient, perfect for Josie
* The plot, pacing, setting, police procedural aspects of the story, and writing
* Wondering if Josie and Noah will start a family in the next book and if Josie goes on the retreat mentioned in this story she will find a way to lay some of her demons to rest
* The red herrings, twists and turns the way Josie and her team finally found out where the Woodsman originated and who it was
* The psychological elements from the death of friends and loved ones, dysfunctional families, and the Woodsman story on the community
* Wondering if some of the characters like Gretchen, Amber, and Luke will find partners in future books
* Knowing that there will be another book in the series

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about nature vs nurture and how it impacts the creation of good/evil people
* Knowing that the evil in this story is no doubt all too possible in real life

Did I Like this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars ( )

“My Child is Missing” is Lisa Regan’s 18th novel about her Detective Josie Quinn and I’ve almost universally enjoyed reading every single one of them. Sadly, not so with this latest instalment which steadily ran its course without any highlights nor any major letdowns…

Sure, these novels have always been somewhat formulaic: Josie used to drink too much because of her gruesome past (which gets mentioned in this novel every five pages…), fell in love with her colleague Noah (whom she shot at one point), adored her grandmother (who was shot at another point), found her long-lost identical twin sister (who is a famous TV journalist - but nobody ever noticed…), her best friend Misty, ex-stripper and final girlfriend of Josie’s ex-husband who died as part of the afore-mentioned gruesome past, and Misty’s son from said ex-husband, the entire murder of cops (seems like the most fitting collective noun for US cops these days) are a happy family - it’s complicated and yet these novels are usually thrilling and suspenseful to read.

Another nice touch to almost every other novel in this series used to be that someone from the extended team (be it a cop, a coroner, whomever) has a special role which lends the story authenticity and makes people much more relatable. Not so in this novel; unless - unlike me - you count the countless mentions of a certain deceased team member…

Be warned - spoilers ahead!

In this novel, though, everyone is still reeling from the death of their colleague Mettner, whose desk they’ve kept like it was the day he left - like a shrine to him. As if that wasn’t enough, they bemoan his absence on every second page. They keep reminding each other about the pearls of wisdom he used to utter…

»“Or he could break the case wide open,” Gretchen said.
It was exactly something Mett would have said.«

…. because, surely, no other cop would ever say a sentence like that!

A suspect is found in the first hours of the investigation (and, thus, very early in the book) and since Josie and friends almost exclusively concentrate on him, it becomes very clear, said suspect is at least a very important part of the cases of missing children that’s being investigated.

Knowing that, it was just a matter of reading along while our heroes interrogate people (like a nutcase pair of parents or teenager’s who blatantly lie despite knowing full well that they could help to solve multiple murders and to find a missing girl…), find proof and, ultimately, convict the perpetrator.

The almost-obligatory twist at the end was unconvincingly written towards, crudely done and I was so thoroughly disinterested at that point, I simply shrugged and read on.
And imagine my surprise when the book just ended at 85% - the remaining 15% were just advertising for and excerpts from Regan’s other novels. While that was no real loss in this case, it borders on cheating the customer.

Barely three out of five stars.

P. S.: »Did the hunt for [the Woodsman] have you desperately turning the pages and did you gasp out loud at the incredible twist?«

No, I just gasped due to disappointment. And I hate it when an author breaks the fourth wall.

P. P. S.: »A TOTALLY UNPUTDOWNABLE CRIME AND MYSTERY THRILLER PACKED WITH NAIL-BITING SUSPENSE«

To whomever writes such crap: I sincerely and honestly despise you.

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Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam ( )

Another installment in the Josie Quinn murder mystery series finds us back in Denton, Pennsylvania dealing with an even darker murder mystery than the last. Missing girls, a bogeyman named The Woodsman, a teenager acting up and out, maybe a serial killer and more death. Lisa Unger has once again crafted a great police procedural that is also a crime drama thriller. All of Unger's characters make an appearance that make this story an easy continuation. The interesting aspect of this installment is the premise that The Woodsman is a story but it constantly circles around when does “just a story” become reality?! When young girls disappear and their bodies are found is that “just a story”? Yeah, Lisa Regan has done it again.

A million thanks to Bookoutre and NetGalley for a copy. ( )

Every place has its legends…stories that are told over and over of some person/creature out to kidnap or harm people. In Denton, PA, the legend is of The Woodsman. Children disappear into the woods and never see their mothers again, taken by The Woodsman. Legend becomes reality when two sisters head into the woods and only one is found. It is up to Detective Josie Quinn and her team to solve the case. Still missing an integral part of the team, Mettner, who was killed in the last book of this series, Josie, Noah, Gretchen, and even the Chief exhaust themselves investigating.

This is number eighteen in the Josie Quinn series. It is one of my top must read series. This is yet another exciting, page turning read; I read it in one day because I did not want to put it down. Regan always grabs my attention and won’t let go. What I like best about these thrillers is that they are quite accurate and believable. I enjoy Josie. Despite all the travails she has met with in her life, she remains a strong, intelligent, though vulnerable, character. I also like all the repeating characters who surround her both in her personal and professional life.

This can work as a stand alone, but do yourself a favor and read at least some of the prior ones. There is a lot of history to Josie and the other players. Regan does a good job of trying to fill in the background stories, but it would be more satisfying to actually read those past histories.

If you like well written police procedurals/thrillers, and are not familiar with Lisa Regan’s writing, I highly recommend this series.I cannot wait for the next one.

Thanks to #netgalley and @bookoutre for the ARC. ( )