Preview - Just Another Missing Girl by Gillian McAllister

Just Another Missing Person

Gillian McAllister

Copyright 2023

377 pages

Here we have a missing girl. Shocking, I know — the title was so subtle. But this isn’t your run‑of‑the‑mill missing‑girl situation. No, no. This is the kind where she strolls into a dead‑end alley and then… simply does not stroll back out. Vanishes. Poof. Gone.

Did she teleport? Slip into a parallel universe? Get abducted by aliens who were running behind schedule? I had questions. I still have questions. Naturally, I kept reading.

Our main character is Detective Julia, who is basically the human embodiment of “I follow the rules even when the rules are annoying.” She dots every I, crosses every T, and probably alphabetizes her spice rack by emotional resonance. The only thing haunting her is that one time she didn’t follow the rules — and wow does that come back to bite her directly on the ass.

And then, as if Julia didn’t have enough going on, we’re going to force her to frame some random dude for murder? Really? Of all the people in the world to coerce, Mr. Criminal Man chooses the detective who actually cares about doing things correctly. Pick someone else! Leave Julia alone! I’m already stressed on her behalf.

Julia’s home life is a whole subplot of its own: a husband who could not handle her devotion to detectiving (honestly, his loss), and Genevieve — her daughter, her ride‑or‑die, her “sure, I’ll stay up late so we can hang out after your shift” buddy. A mother/daughter duo with emotional range and late‑night snacks. I love them.

The deeper I got, the tanglier this story became. Like, “I need a conspiracy board and several colors of string” tangly. And while I would love to spoil the chaos for you, I won’t. You deserve the full experience.

If this one grips even half as hard as Wrong Place, Wrong Time (also by Gillian McAllister), then buckle up — you’re in for a treat.