Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

MNHQ

Find out what Mumsnetters thought of The Missing by C L Taylor

51 replies

SorchaMumsnet · 18/04/2016 10:54

You love your family. They make you feel safe. You trust them. Or do you…? When fifteen-year-old Billy Wilkinson goes missing in the middle of the night, his mother, Claire, blames herself. Claire is sure of two things – that Billy is still alive, and that her friends and family had nothing to do with his disappearance. A mother's instinct is never wrong. Or is it?

This month we’d like to introduce you to your new favourite psychological thriller author: CL Taylor. From the bestselling author of The Accident and The Lie, comes a highly anticipated new psychological thriller, The Missing. To find out more about Taylor you can read her Q&A.

The Missing tells the story of an ordinary woman doing her best to hold her family together in the face of her son’s disappearance. We gave away 50 copies of this dark family drama to Mumsnetters to read and share their thoughts about it on this discussion thread. Go to the giveaway page to find out more

You don't have to win a free copy to take part in the discussion. Anyone who has read The Missing can post their feedback on this thread. If you missed out on a free copy, you can always buy a paperback.

The feedback deadline has now ended.

This giveaway is sponsored by Avon, HarperCollins

Find out what Mumsnetters thought of The Missing by C L Taylor
OP posts:
Clawdy · 15/05/2016 22:53

My main problem with the book was that it was fairly obvious very early on about the identities of Jackdaw and Ice. And I found Jake's online attempt to track down a paedophile highly unlikely ; most young people would know exactly how stupid and dangerous that would be.

thriftymrs · 16/05/2016 13:34

It took me a few chapters to figure out who Jackdaw was and I got the identity of Ice completely wrong. The book was unputdownable and I thought it reached an unexpected conclusion. The author's description of Billy's parents' anguish, and mother's mental breakdown following his disappearance, was very realistic . Like other posters I kept changing my mind as the story unfolded as to who the killer was. It reminded me of the TV series Broadchurch in that way. Many thanks, Mumsnet, for the opportunity to read and enjoy this book.

Matilda2013 · 16/05/2016 17:33

Oh I thought ice was someone else too! Completely wrong!

SuperMumNot · 16/05/2016 17:51

I read one of this author's previous books and enjoyed it and this one was even better!

I loved the insight into what is essentially a dysfunctional family that is being further torn apart after the disappearance of the youngest son, Billy.

There were so many twists and turns and possible outcomes and most of the characters had something to hide which kept the story fresh.

I really enjoyed it!

chaplin1409 · 25/05/2016 11:06

This is the first book I have read by this author and I will be reading more. I really enjoyed the book I found it kept me on my toes. Through out the book I suspected each member of the family as being responsible. I felt the mothers breakdown was very realistic and possible. What a fantastic book full of twists and turns.

ahigney · 25/05/2016 17:16

Loved this book.Fast-paced and engaging.Great read and i will look for other books by this author.

SciFiFan · 27/05/2016 15:24

So,mice just finished this book and although the subject matter is a little upsetting, focusing as it does on a missing teenager, the read itself was very good.

She keeps you guessing right up until the end and as some others have said I think I suspected everyone a one point or another.

A gripping read and one I can thoroughly recommend.

lalamcbride · 29/05/2016 16:46

This book is easy to pick up and read. In terms of negatives. At the start it is a bit hard to understand why there are copies of online chats, and that does not become clear until near the end of the book. Secondly while I understand that the author was trying to show how harrowing the life changing event of a son going missing to be, I found the mother suffering episodes of dissociative amnesia a bit unrealistic. I also felt that the story seems to take about 350+ pages to develop and then the story ended very quickly in about three chapters. In terms of positives it is easy to read and understand what is happening. The characters are real to a modern family. The ending is not one you would expect. In conclusion I will not be running out to read more books by this author, but I certainly would not be telling people to avoid it either. Thank You for the opportunity to read this book

Sunflower22 · 01/06/2016 15:11

I did not quite like it that much - it was too scary for me.

vienetta · 01/06/2016 15:38

I have enjoyed this book so far it's the type of book you want to finish in one sitting. Not quite finished but I am hoping it will be the ending you want it to be

daisybeebee · 01/06/2016 16:09

Having previously read "The Accident " and "The Lie " I was eagerly looking forward to read this and it certainly did not disappoint.
As a mother I could immediately empathise with the parents and imagine how I would react if my child suddenly went missing. The family's pain is palpable and the author immediately draws you in to the mother's nightmare.
The structure of the book is superb and the plot has so many twists and turns that I found myself questioning everyone. Once I started to read I didn't want to put the book down which is testament to the author's ability to get inside your head.
Overall I would score the book 5/5 , compelling, heartbreaking and shocking in equal measure it is CL Taylor on top form.

allenton · 01/06/2016 16:59

I have read the book once, I picked it up, started reading and did not put it down until I had finished it! I am going to read it again in the next week or so and when I do I will give a more in depth review. I missed a lot of the clues due to my haste to reach the end. The ultimate who dunnit from an author I was not previously familiar with-that has now changed and I will actively seek her her books out.

Mythbirt · 01/06/2016 22:36

The story kept me reading as I couldn't work out how it would end, although I realised early on the boy was not the person his mother thought he was. I liked the narrative style and the brief inserts which broke this up. Not an author I'd read before so will lookout for other ones to compare with it.

Mrsmonkeymoo1 · 02/06/2016 07:40

I have read a few books by this author before so knew would be a good read - this is the perfect holiday book. Its not a hard read and also keeps you guessing right until the very end. I could identify with the mother throughout the story - that terrible sense of loss and fear when your child goes missing. I felt that the family breakdown was quite true to life and the characters were engaging. It's really your worst nightmare come true - your child going missing presumed dead but no sense of closure. I really enjoyed the read and will definitely keep an eye out for the authors next efforts.

Thanks for the opportunity to read and review.

RussellB · 02/06/2016 08:34

Really enjoyed it, a twisting psychological thriller that I thought was well written and gripping.

Mindfulofmuddle · 02/06/2016 09:48

Thank you for the book - I am really enjoying it so far.
The plot has twists and turns, constantly keeping you wondering if the news will be good or bad and who may have been involved with Billy's disappearance. The emotional turmoil of the family is written very well, and the story is fast paced and gripping.

loosechange · 02/06/2016 13:41

Thanks for this book. I haven't yet finished it. I'm finding it an interesting read, it's my first for this author. I'm finding it quite gritty, although not in a bad way.

lorka · 02/06/2016 14:32

Thank you for sending me The Missing. I've not finished it yet but so far I am enjoying it.

Tigerlily13 · 02/06/2016 18:24

Thanks for the freebie. Great book, grabbed me from the start. Believable characters which kept me guessing! Looking forward to more from this author.

triniposse · 03/06/2016 20:22

This is a book you don't want to put down once your reading it!! It sucks you straight in like quicksand!! Thoroughly enjoying it, a great read and easy read also. Can't wait to get to the end. Thanks for the enjoyment!!

amysmum18 · 06/06/2016 09:01

I've not read any other books by this author before, so I was looking forward to it. I've not read all of it yet (it takes me ages to finish a book!) but the plotline is very interesting and I'm really enjoying it. I'm keen to get further into it to see what happens next.

noideawhat · 06/06/2016 18:22

Really enjoying this...Unfortunately I haven't finished it yet as my 2 year old DD hid it from me for a couple of weeks! The book is set in my home town of Bristol & the author has really captured the place brilliantly. Looking forward to finishing & finding out what's actually happened...There have a few hints & I'm expecting some clever plot twists..

dannykapur · 06/06/2016 20:07

I read this book with reckless abandon and loved it. The topic is about every mothers nightmare and it was easy to empathise with the family and the hell that they were going through. This was a fast paced read which I read quickly. I found the areas about psychogenic fugues and amnesia quite interesting. I was a bit disturbed by the ending, but feel that this book could easilyhave a prequel! Overall a fantastic read!

DisneySenior · 07/06/2016 01:21

Absolutely loved this book, couldn't put it down and it was the same her other books - the accident and the lie. Very good stories, can't wait to read the next one

Effendi · 07/06/2016 16:40

Great book, finished it in two sittings. I'm exhausted today because I stayed up late last night to finish it.
Will look at the authors other books.

Swipe left for the next trending thread