I first became aware of author Barbara Copperthwaite when I read and enjoyed Flowers for the Dead (read my review here). I just finished her latest novel, The Girl on the Missing Poster, and let me tell you-this was the first book in awhile that I actually sacrificed sleep for. I stayed up last night far past my bedtime just so I could see how it would all wrap up. Before getting too invested in this review, however, readers should know this novel includes descriptions of violence against women (rape) and animal abuse.
Stella is one of a pair. Her identical twin sister disappeared without a trace decades ago and Stella has never given up on getting the answers she so desperately needs to move on with her life. Every year on the anniversary of her sister's disappearance, she plasters the town with missing posters hoping someone might finally remember something that could reveal what happened on that rainy night. When Stella is approached by Netflix to make a crime docuseries about her sister, she instantly agrees, hoping the extra exposure will lead to a big break in her sister's case. All does not go as planned, however, as the TV show stirs up a lot of questions and old feelings by those who knew Stella and her sister. There are the usual suspects, including the boyfriends of both women at the time and even Stella herself. The break she's looking for finally comes in the form of an email sent from the supposed killer himself. Stella finds herself playing a deadly game with a madman in an effort to finally understand what happened to her other half all those years ago. How far is she willing to go to learn the truth?
Honestly, I loved the format of this novel. The chapters alternated between Stella and the documentary episode transcripts. Being a fan of the true crime series that Netflix has been churning out lately (just finished The Night Stalker, actually!), I was immediately drawn into the setup. My biggest- and really only- complaint is the novel's pacing. It was a slow build and then the climax hit and everything got wrapped up too quickly. I barely had time to even process what was happening. It was still a great ending, one I felt was pretty original for the genre, but I wish the author would have slowed it down a bit so I could appreciate it properly. Perhaps if the Mary storyline was edited out or reduced a bit, things would have flowed a little better. Either way, it's still an edge-of-your-seat thriller that you won't regret reading!
My Rating: ★★★★☆
*Thanks to the author, Bookouture, and Netgalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!
At the time of this review, this title will be available to purchase on February 23rd, 2021.
