"missing" by lisa harris

I often wonder if it's wise to jump into a book series midway through. In Missing, book two of the Nikki Boyd Files, author Lisa Harris does a great job of getting new readers like me up to speed—I jumped right in with no problem and quickly found myself swept into the mystery.

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Nikki Boyd isn't usually called in on homicides; her forte is missing persons. But when a case with two murdered and two missing pops up on a quiet suburban street, she's ready to start the investigation and find missing homeowners Mac and Lucy Hudson. When the first clues lead her to the boat of her friend Tyler Grant--and another dead body--Nikki must untangle what ties Tyler to the Hudsons. The clues pull her into a deadly maze of counterfeit drugs and a killer who will stop at nothing to silence anyone who threatens his business--including Nikki.

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Missing opens at full speed with Nikki Boyd and her partner Jack arriving at a murder scene, and the action doesn't let up until the final page.

Each chapter begins with a timestamp, allowing the reader to grasp just how quickly-paced the novel is. Everything takes place over a matter of a couple days, yet I didn't feel as if things moved too quickly to keep up.

Though I did not read the first book in the Nikki Boyd files, which I presume introduces Nikki's search for her missing sister, as well as her budding relationship with her friend Tyler, I never felt like I was missing any vital information. Author Lisa Harris filled in new readers like me without really slowing down the action. The only aspect of the recap that did seem a but clunky was the continual reminder that Nikki had fallen in love with Tyler. I assume that's something she realized in the first book, but it was repeated so many times throughout Missing that I wanted to exclaim, "OK, I get it already!"

The romance in Missing is very light, as most of it is one-sided as Nikki wrestles with her feelings for Tyler. For a novel that moves this quickly, that felt realistic. However, there's also enough progression in the romance to satisfy those who want their suspense to include a little romance.

The plot itself is an ever-twisting thrill ride that kept me guessing. Though Nikki was able to wrap up this particular case by the end of the novel, the overarching mystery of what happened to her sister remains, and I look forward to the progress she will make towards finding her sister's abductor in Pursued, which will release next spring. 4 stars.

Read an excerpt.
Buy the book.
Buy Vendetta, book one in the series. (It's on sale for a limited time.)
Read my review of Harris's Hidden Agenda (4 stars).

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Lisa Harris is a bestselling author, a Christy Award winner, and the winner of the Best Inspirational Suspense Novel for 2011 from Romantic Times. She is the author of nearly thirty books, including the Southern Crimes series and Vendetta, winner of the Romantic Times Best Inspirational Suspense Novel for 2015. Harris and her family have spent twelve years living as missionaries in southern Africa. Learn more at www.lisaharriswrites.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell through the Revell Reads program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."