The Night She Disappeared

 After a long—indeliberate—break from reading, I got around to savoring Kevin O’Brien’s *The Night She Disappeared* and I tell you, it was a terrific read. Not at the first few pages anyway, those seemed to drag and I almost made the decision to put it aside especially considering it’s bulky nature. I wouldn’t want to be reading a 734 page book that would drift me to sleep each time I made an attempt at reading it. Since this year rolled in, I think this is the first book I’ve read that’s made me feel confined, stalked, made me feel so deeply and also had me almost in tears when I realized there were no more pages to flip. The story had come to a satisfactory end yet I couldn’t get over it. I wanted to be introduced to the characters anew. I love a book that takes me on a wild emotional journey alongside the characters. A book where I make predictions and bet my left foot on them but get surprised with a twist that leaves me too stunned to speak or one that has me gasping for breath. Having to come across good books every now and then should really pass as a blessing. That said, I’ve added this one to my brain’s list of a few good reads whose plot wouldn’t fog out of my memory when I come across its title in the future. **I don’t think I’m down for too many backstories so I’ll just cut to the chase.** Anna Malone, a Seattle local TV reporter gets entangled in a web of a murder case after the sudden disappearance of Courtney Knoll, a deaf, best selling author and wife to Dr. Russell Knoll who Anna happened to be secretly screwing. Anna and Dr. Russ were the last people seen with Courtney on the same night she disappeared therefore, the spotlight turned to them, shaking their careers as a vast number of people speculated that either Russ had murdered Courtney for his mistress or they had both planned and carried out the murder so as to get her out of their way since she was the only barrier to their relationship being let in the fan. **** I absolutely adore slow-burn thrillers. Ones that take time to build suspense, and suddenly throws you off balance at its climax with a shocking twist.  ^{[img](https://pixabay.com/photos/forest-fog-woods-trees-mystical-3394066/)} O’Brien builds his characters very well. They’re all well developed. Although the book portrayed Courtney as a manipulator and an idea thief, I found her character very interesting. I wish she hadn’t been murdered too soon. I would have loved more drama and probably torture from her after finding out her high profile husband was screwing the local news reporter. Anna, on the other hand, the central character, struck me as revolting. I never rooted for her except toward the ending after she had carried enough weight of the accusations against her. But somehow I wished she was incarcerated for Courtney’s murder. As for Russ, I think the description of his charm worked on me too and I just couldn’t pass a judgement on him. ^{Don’t gimme that look} I can’t scream it enough but if you’re into crime thrillers then you should check this one out. Overlook the number of pages and just get on with it. Rating? 4.5/5.