Title: Missing
Author: Savannah Brown
Publication: December 5, 2023
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Genre: YA Fiction
Pages: 368
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SYNOPSIS: (From Goodreads)
When promising young singer Roxy Raines vanishes from the tiny resort of Sandown, the island locals refuse to speak about it to anyone they deem outsiders, instead proclaiming Roxy a teenage runaway.
Thirty years later, seventeen-year-old Mona Perry comes to the island resolute in her search for the real reason behind Roxy’s disappearance. Armed with a suitcase and a microphone, Mona only has one hot summer to get to the bottom of Roxy’s story and record it all for her podcast and fans.
But as Mona gets drawn deeper into the strange, isolated community, it becomes clear that nothing is as it seems—least of all Mona’s own past and the disappearance of someone close to her.
REVIEW:
**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
Missing was my kind of story from the moment I read the synopsis. A teen or young adult trying to solve a crime that grown adults couldn’t solve? Sign me up! I expected a lot of bad choices, suspense, and a dramatic ending and Savannah Brown delivered.
The story follows Mona as she is drawn into the disappearance of a singer from decades before named Roxy on an island known for tourist season, but where locals are not overtly welcoming to those digging into their lives. Mona is that girl who goes in with the best intentions but completely messes up almost every step along the way. I liked how Brown made sure to work that into the side characters, with each one basically telling her she was out of line many times.
My biggest issue is that, as per usual to me, so many problems could have been avoided if the main character had asked for help or not made some crazy, off-the-wall decision. Mona was definitely this person and made a lot of terrible choices. This got frustrating to me after she did it over and over. I understood it was to make a suspensful story, but still frustrating.
With all that being said, Brown had me actually shocked at the end because I did not see that ending coming at all. I do not want to spoil it, but I would be surprised if you figure it out before the reveal. This book may have gotten a three, but I appreciate a really good surprise ending. I read so much mystery that I tend to figure it out earlier, so this was a pleasant surprise! I’ll definitely be checking out more from Savannah Brown!
