Missing in Wales by Jenny O’Brien

Crime Thriller

Publication Date: 20th July 2019

Synopsis: Missing in Wales, the first in an exciting new Welsh-set crime series by Jenny O’Brien. The next in series, Stabbed in Wales, will be available soon.

Alys is fine – don’t try to find us.

Izzy Grant is haunted by the abduction of her newborn daughter five-years ago. When a postcard arrives from her missing partner, the man she believes is responsible, saying they’re fine and asking her not to try to find them, she knows she can’t give up hoping. Then she sees a face from her past. Grace Madden. Just where did she disappear to all those years ago? And is  there a connection between her disappearance and that of her child?

DC Gabriella Darin, recently transferred from Swansea, is brash, bolshie and dedicated. Something doesn’t fit with the case and she’s determined to find out just what happened all those years ago.

4 Stars: 

Missing in Wales is a mystery with a suspenseful storyline. Baby Alys and her father Charlie went out the shops one day and did not return. The party line was that Charlie took her and was living elsewhere. The police gave up the search and Izzy had to move on with her life. Fast forward five years and things start to happen. Izzy glimpses her friend Grace who also disappeared at the same time as Charlie and Alys, a postcard is delivered that tells Izzy that Alys is fine, but she needs to leave them alone to keep her safe and the Detective who was on the case five years earlier, DI Rhys Walker, is back on the case again. When DS Gaby Darin joins their team, she has her own insights that speed up the investigation.

This was a well plotted and paced police procedural. There is a lot of leg work, interviews and digging through old case file material to determine where to go with this case. Izzy is a heartbreaking character. She has tried to move on with her life, but will never stop hoping that she will find Alys. She doesn’t have much of a life, does not trust men and just wants to be left alone to manage her business she developed after the disappearance. DS Gaby Darin is a smart and savvy copper with great instincts, but as in many other police stories, is treated poorly because of her gender. She does a great job biting her tongue on many occasions. As the story unfolds there were several twists that I did not see coming and few red herrings along the way. The more the police and Izzy found out, the more danger Izzy seemed to be in. The final plot twist was totally unexpected, but reflecting back on the story, there were clues. I am hoping that we will see more of DS Gaby Darin in future book. Not only is this the first book I have read by Jenny O’Brien, but it is the first book I have read set in Wales. I liked the setting, the cliffs, the rain and the isolated areas. It gave the story that gloomy vibe. I will watch for more books by Jenny O’Brien. I received this book from Rachel’s Random Resources upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.

Purchase Links: Amazon UK  Amazon US

The Stepsister, Jenny O’Brien’s first thriller, will be free worldwide from  22 to 26th July, 

Jenny O'BrienJenny O’Brien was abandoned in Dublin at the tender age of 17 by her parents when they decided to move to Wales. It was only on the completion of her studies that she was finally able to join them.
She’s an avid reader and book blogger in addition to being a RoNA book judge.

She writes for both children and adults with a new book coming out every six months or so.
In her spare time she can be found frowning at her wonky cakes and even wonkier breads. You’ll be pleased to note she won’t be entering Bake-Off. She’s also an all-year-round sea swimmer.

Jenny currently resides on the island of Guernsey with her husband, children and cats. She works as a nurse and writes in her spare time.

​Social Media Links

Blog – https://jennyobrienwriter.wordpress.com

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