Find out what Mumsnetters thought of Missing, Presumed by Susie Steiner

I don't usually go for Detective Fiction and I found the first few chapters of this book a bit difficult to get into but started to really enjoy it after that. I thought that the characterization was good and Manon's flaws were interesting. I liked the way that the book was written in separate chapters for each character and the author had obviously done her research on police procedures. I had no idea 'whodunnit' until the end. This was a good 'Holiday read' for me and i'll probably look for the author again.

Easy to read, I enjoyed this book. It has you gripped right to the end. None of the characters are particularly likeable though so there is a bit of a sense of 'I don't really care that much what happens to any of these characters'. Particularly as the main police officer turns out to be desperately needy and it's hard to feel any empathy for her.

I was v lucky and won a copy, I'm only just starting it, but I like how it's going.
When you start to read a book and you know it's a keeper, you almost breathe a sigh of relief, and allow a little smile, instantly that's how the start of this goes.
Like the "missing" person, wondering what the hell shes been up to, and like the cut of the detective, slight cliche, but then again, I'm choosing to read a detective story, and that's kind of been done before too and that's not stopped me.
Thankyou mumsnet. Chuffed to bits.

Oops! Forgot I had it, started it last night & already 60 pages in. Really enjoying it. I enjoy a good technical police procedural & this seems to fit the bill. I like Manon, seems a fair few others don't. The author doesn't just concentrate on the main character & her background, we are givdn a good insight into all the characters making them well rounded and more interesting than usual extras in books. I am an audio book girl usually and my other half was stunned that I had found something to make me pick up a 'real' book again. Will definitely continue with it! Thank you kindly...

Really enjoying this book, just a few pages left to finish, its keeping me hanging on in there . Characters are believable and relatable, great storyline, cannot wait to get to the conclusion of the story now!

I am LOVING this book.
I've not quite finished it so haven't read any earlier comments yet as I don't want to spoil the end. I'll come back again when it's finished.

I'd never heard of the author before but will definitely be keeping an eye out for her next book. The characters in it would merit a return and a new crime to solve.

I like her style of writing. It may not be a 'literary' book, but it is well written and nothing jars which often my main complaint with some new authors. Chapters flow from one to the next. Each chapter end keeps you wanting to read on but equally isn't too contrived.
The characters are not just believable and are also likeable. A bug-bear of mine is that so many fictional detectives are drunks/loners (and male). Manon is human and it's not too difficult to see her as your best friend.
I'll be back with more comments about the plot later.

I'm about half way through the book.

I found it a little hard to get into, but this may be because we are doing renovations, have a toddler and work gets in the way.

I rather like the modern twist with Internet dating, this to me shows that the book is more aimed at a younger generation.

I'm enjoying the story and very much looking forward to finding out what happens.

I'd rate it 4/5 at the moment.

Thanks mumsnet for the book!

I liked the idea of the story and how it was detailed by different players within the tale but unfortunately, I could not warn to the central character at all and this had a detrimental effect on my enjoyment of the book. I suspect she was supposed to be portrayed as a strong but unhappy character but she just came over as bitter and unlikeable with too much focus placed on her; I felt some of the other characters could have been developed further for the betterment of the back story and others were superfluous to the tale.

I haven't finished the book but wanted to post something on here. What struck me from the start was the insightful way the author writes about the characters, builds up the layers and I think makes them feel very real. The way they relate to each other feels real, I took to them all immediately and this rarely happens. Many things they have thought about ring so true to life and this element has really helped me get hooked!
I love the pace of the book and the storyline is clever and well thought out.
Thanks for the copy, would definitely recommend

Thanks again mumsnet

Really well writtenbook. Excellent characterisation, made the book more than just a crime drama/fast paced whodunnit, as lent depth to the story. Might have made it a bit slower paced, but definitely enjoyed the read.

I warmed to Manon near the end of the book. She genuinely seemed like a lovely person. I felt the book got into the action nearly straight away and I liked how the chapters alternated from the viewpoint of the different characters. A riveting read which had me guessing till the end.

I'm about 3/4 of the way through this book but I'm kind of struggling to get through it. Im just not being gripped by it and it's a bit slow and does plod on as others have said. Now it's half term I'll have a hard time to find the time to read it for a while and I'm not being sucked in to read it in every spare moment like to her crime novels I've read

Thanks for this book mumsnet

Really enjoyed this book and was up all hours near the end reading this. I didn't warm to Manon at first but by the end I loved her and found parts of the book really funny! Looking forward to reading more manon in the next book.

I enjoyed this book it was an easy read which was good although it did 'plod along' a little - I liked how it was written from different perspectives. A good Holiday Read. Thanks for the chance to read it.

Have started the book but finding it difficult to get into! Am intrigued to read more however and see where it goes

Received my free copy last week, thanks! I'm about halfway through, and finding it a slow burn. Hoping that it stays to pick up some pace soon. I found the first few pages very difficult to read; like previous posters have mentioned I found that the descriptions of everything seemed to be a tad overboard, and felt forced. Having said that, I feel like I'm settling in to the writing style, and am interested to find out what happens, but it's definitely not one of those books which I'm just unable to put down as I need to find out what happens next.

I'm a bit behind with reading it but am enjoying it so far, will update when I'm finished

Hello

I am about half way through the book and it's ok but not really gripping me. I read a lot of crime novels so do usually really enjoy this kind of book but at the moment I'm
not sure i'd pick up another one by the same author. Maybe it picks up in the second half. I'll report back

Thanks for the copy Mumsnet. I am about half way through this book and am currently enjoying it as the story seems to be gaining momentum. However it took me a while to read the first few chapters as they weren't particularly interesting or page turning. The main character is not very likeable in my opinion but the story seems quite gritty and realistic.

I received the book and I really enjoy reading it - the story is very interesting and I like the way it is written.

Got a free copy in the mumsnet giveaway and saved it until I had a week away and a little free time. I only tend to get the time to read books when I'm on holiday so hoped that this one would be worth the wait.
It was an easy read, nothing too complicated and the plot was easy to follow. I didn't feel very invested in the main character, something about her wasn't wholly likeable but she could have been written in this way, character flaws?
The pace was about right for me and I finished the book in a couple of sittings.
I don't think I would have paid full price for a hard back version of the book but I wouldn't have begrudged paying for paper back copy.
I've left the book in the book swap corner where we were staying on holiday and hope somebody else enjoys it.

Really enjoyed the book, the characters were interesting and the story fast paced. I found a few elements of the plot a little far fetched at the end, but would recommend it none the less.

Thank you for my copy.
I haven't got very far yet, but I am enjoying it. I like books which are constructed in a similar way - with different chapters written from different characters' perspectives. I am not a great fan of gritty crime novels with male protagonists and grisly murders, I prefer novels that focus more on the internal thoughts and feelings of the characters, and Missing, Presumed is certainly that kind of book.

I dived in as soon as I got this book. It looked so tempting and I just could'nt put it down. It was funny in places and gripping. Loved the way it was written, placing you with each character, helped keep you in the story. I shan't spoil it for others but it is a great book and a great end. Thank you Mumsnet.