Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Publication
London : The Borough Press, 2016.
Description
Fiction. Literature. Mystery. HTML:A New York Times Book Review Editors�?? Choice �?� A page-turning mystery that brings to life a complex and strong-willed detective assigned to a high-risk missing persons case NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR �?� NAMED ONE OF THE 10 BEST MYSTERIES OF THE YEAR BY THE WALL STREET JOURNAL �??An extraordinarily assured police procedural in the tradition of Ruth Rendell and Elizabeth George.�?��??Joseph Finder, author of The Fixer �??Surprise-filled . . . one of the most ambitious police procedurals of the year. Detective Bradshaw�??s biting wit is a bonus.�?��??The Wall Street Journal �??Missing, Presumed has future BBC miniseries written all over it.�?��??Redbook �??A highly charismatic and engaging story.�?��??Kirkus Reviews (starred review) �??This combination of police procedural and an unfolding family drama that continuously twists and turns will work well for fans of Kate Atkinson and Tana French.�?��??Booklist At thirty-nine, Manon Bradshaw is a devoted and respected member of the Cambridgeshire police force, and though she loves her job, what she longs for is a personal life. Single and distant from her family, she wants a husband and children of her own. One night, after yet another disastrous Internet date, she turns on her police radio to help herself fall asleep�??and receives an alert that sends her to a puzzling crime scene. Edith Hind�??a beautiful graduate student at Cambridge University and daughter of the surgeon to the Royal Family�??has been missing for nearly twenty-four hours. Her home offers few clues: a smattering of blood in the kitchen, her keys and phone left behind, the front door ajar but showing no signs of forced entry. Manon instantly knows that this case will be big�??and that every second is crucial to finding Edith alive. The investigation starts with Edith�??s loved ones: her attentive boyfriend, her reserved best friend, her patrician parents. As the search widens and press coverage reaches a frenzied pitch, secrets begin to emerge about Edith�??s tangled love life and her erratic behavior leading up to her disappearance. With no clear leads, Manon summons every last bit of her skill and intuition to close the case, and what she discovers will have shocking consequences not just for Edith�??s family but for Manon herself. Suspenseful and keenly observed, Missing, Presumed is a brilliantly twisting novel of how we seek connection, grant forgiveness, and reveal the truth about who we are. Praise for Missing, Presumed �??Smart, stylish . . . Manon is portrayed with an irresistible blend of sympathy and snark. By the time she hits bottom, professionally and privately, we�??re entirely caught up in her story.�?��??The New York Times Book Review �??Nuanced suspense that�??s perfect for Kate Atkinson fans.�?��??People �??Drenched in character and setting, with pinpoint detail that breathes life and color into every sentence.�?��??The News & Observer �??You might come to Missing, Presumed for the police procedural; you�??ll stay for the layered, authentic characters that Steiner brings to life.�?��??Bethanne Patrick, NPR �??Where [Susie] Steiner excels is in the depth and clari… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member karieh
This was an absolutely engrossing book. Although it centers around the extremely mysterious disappearance of a young woman, he story does not turn out to be the most interesting one. My copy of the book compares this to the books of Kate Atkinson – and I can see why. In Atkinson’s Jackson
In “Missing, Presumed” – the detective is Manon Bradshaw. She is a very complex character – one I, as the reader, wanted to not only learn about but sometimes shake and/or protect from her own life. As she investigates the disappearance of Edith Hind, and tries to learn about her life and what might have happened to her, the reader is introduced to what will hopefully be the main character of a long series of books.
The action and events move swiftly along and are well-laid out. Halfway through, I had given up hope that there would be any resolution to the case, but was OK with that because I was enjoying the detectives so much. Their lives and their world is far different from Edith’s (her father is a physician to royalty) and the contrasts between the two are very interesting. When Manon and Davy, her partner, meet Edith’s brother Rollo for an interview – this becomes very clear and is one of many moments of humor in the book.
“Suburban, he thinks, putting his finger on it. He feels suburban next to this tall, tanned chap. Perhaps it’s the hair. Davy’s just sort of sits there, on his head – it’d be pushing it to call it a “style” – whereas Rollo Hind has a natty quaff, up from the parting, a bit rockabilly, a bit mod; dead sharp. Or the bright blue eyes sparkling out from his face, a golden shimmer at the temples. Rollo Hind seems all Hollywood, while he and Manon, their complexions the color of canteen mash, are rocking the fifteen-hour-shift look.”
“Missing, Presumed” was an excellent mystery, an engrossing story and an excellent way for me to spend some time off. I hope to see more in this series from author Susie Steiner.
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Brodie novels – he, the detective, almost always proves to be more interesting than whatever case he is working on. That case tends to be a vehicle to advance his storyline. I love that series (and her books in general) – and so I can see why this novel was a good fit for me.In “Missing, Presumed” – the detective is Manon Bradshaw. She is a very complex character – one I, as the reader, wanted to not only learn about but sometimes shake and/or protect from her own life. As she investigates the disappearance of Edith Hind, and tries to learn about her life and what might have happened to her, the reader is introduced to what will hopefully be the main character of a long series of books.
The action and events move swiftly along and are well-laid out. Halfway through, I had given up hope that there would be any resolution to the case, but was OK with that because I was enjoying the detectives so much. Their lives and their world is far different from Edith’s (her father is a physician to royalty) and the contrasts between the two are very interesting. When Manon and Davy, her partner, meet Edith’s brother Rollo for an interview – this becomes very clear and is one of many moments of humor in the book.
“Suburban, he thinks, putting his finger on it. He feels suburban next to this tall, tanned chap. Perhaps it’s the hair. Davy’s just sort of sits there, on his head – it’d be pushing it to call it a “style” – whereas Rollo Hind has a natty quaff, up from the parting, a bit rockabilly, a bit mod; dead sharp. Or the bright blue eyes sparkling out from his face, a golden shimmer at the temples. Rollo Hind seems all Hollywood, while he and Manon, their complexions the color of canteen mash, are rocking the fifteen-hour-shift look.”
“Missing, Presumed” was an excellent mystery, an engrossing story and an excellent way for me to spend some time off. I hope to see more in this series from author Susie Steiner.
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LibraryThing member corinnealyssa
This is unfortunately probably a harsher review than this book deserves, but it is definitely not anywhere near the same league as the works of Kate Atkinson and Tana French, as claimed by the marketing. Both of those authors are known for wonderful, penetrating characters, deep thoughtful thematic
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explorations, and brilliant atmospheric tension. This is a bog-standard mystery, and not a particularly clever or thoughtful one. And the ending is a bit frustrating from a feminist perspective. All in all, wasn't for me. Show Less
LibraryThing member BrandieC
I may be a ratings snob. I primarily read literary fiction, so when I want to cleanse my reading palate, I want to turn to something lighter, something less intellectually demanding. In practice, that means I turn to genre fiction: mystery, thriller, fantasy, science fiction (hold the romance,
Susie Steiner's Missing, Presumed explodes that preconception. Is it a mystery? Yes. Did I tear through it to find out what happened to Edith, Miriam's missing daughter? Yes. But nothing about Steiner's story can be described as cardboard or cookie-cutter. Alternating primarily between Miriam's point of view and that of lead investigator Detective Sergeant Manon Bradshaw, Steiner gives the reader two deeply drawn and relatable characters. Manon, with her Internet dating and police scanner sleep aid, is as lonely as Henning Mankell's Kurt Wallender but without the unending bleakness, and I hope Steiner's plan is to build a series around her and Detective Constable Davy Walker. (On the other hand, Ms. Steiner, I've had enough of DI Harriet Harper until she buys some bras that fit, so she doesn't have to pull up the strap every 40 pages.)
Where Steiner really shines, though, is in her depiction of Miriam. Usually the distraught mother in missing children tales is either a prop trotted out for the occasional public appeal or a lackadaisical, if not outright neglectful, woman who practically "deserves" to have her child taken. Miriam, however, is a loving parent struggling to deal with the evidence that she really didn't know her daughter at all:
"Any confidence Miriam ever had in herself as a mother has been eroded, and what is that confidence built on anyway, she thinks now - the luck of one's children? The DNA lottery? If they're bright and successful, you congratulate yourself. If they fall by the wayside, the world judges you. These days, she could be told anything at all about Edith and she'd be forced to accommodate it, because she knows nothing."
As the mother of two daughters, I can say that Steiner has perfectly captured that ever-tottering seesaw between self-congratulation and self-flagellation.
Steiner is no dunce when it comes to plotting, either. While I identified the villain fairly early on, the motivation came as a complete surprise. With Missing, Presumed, the reader is in the assured hands of an exciting new mystery novelist.
I received a free copy of Missing, Presumed from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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please). By this, I don't mean to say that there are no stimulating, thought-provoking, challenging works and authors in these genres, far from it; many of the best books I have ever read fall into these categories. But when it comes time to rate them on a scale of 1 to 5 stars, most genre books don't seem to be playing on the same field as lit fic: seen one murder mystery, seen them all, right?Susie Steiner's Missing, Presumed explodes that preconception. Is it a mystery? Yes. Did I tear through it to find out what happened to Edith, Miriam's missing daughter? Yes. But nothing about Steiner's story can be described as cardboard or cookie-cutter. Alternating primarily between Miriam's point of view and that of lead investigator Detective Sergeant Manon Bradshaw, Steiner gives the reader two deeply drawn and relatable characters. Manon, with her Internet dating and police scanner sleep aid, is as lonely as Henning Mankell's Kurt Wallender but without the unending bleakness, and I hope Steiner's plan is to build a series around her and Detective Constable Davy Walker. (On the other hand, Ms. Steiner, I've had enough of DI Harriet Harper until she buys some bras that fit, so she doesn't have to pull up the strap every 40 pages.)
Where Steiner really shines, though, is in her depiction of Miriam. Usually the distraught mother in missing children tales is either a prop trotted out for the occasional public appeal or a lackadaisical, if not outright neglectful, woman who practically "deserves" to have her child taken. Miriam, however, is a loving parent struggling to deal with the evidence that she really didn't know her daughter at all:
"Any confidence Miriam ever had in herself as a mother has been eroded, and what is that confidence built on anyway, she thinks now - the luck of one's children? The DNA lottery? If they're bright and successful, you congratulate yourself. If they fall by the wayside, the world judges you. These days, she could be told anything at all about Edith and she'd be forced to accommodate it, because she knows nothing."
As the mother of two daughters, I can say that Steiner has perfectly captured that ever-tottering seesaw between self-congratulation and self-flagellation.
Steiner is no dunce when it comes to plotting, either. While I identified the villain fairly early on, the motivation came as a complete surprise. With Missing, Presumed, the reader is in the assured hands of an exciting new mystery novelist.
I received a free copy of Missing, Presumed from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member Laura400
Pretty good, and easily recommendable as a lighter read, that's still well-written. I agree with the other reviews, however, that the mystery is predictable and the book drags a bit at times. The device of having a number of narrators didn't work well for me, especially when she changed from
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alternating narrators to repeating the same narrator. It didn't help that all of the female narrators, including the two main characters, were self-involved, brooding and hard to like on a personal level. Show Less
LibraryThing member Carol420
Missing Presumed by Susie Steiner
DS Manon series Book #1
From The Book:
At thirty-nine, Manon Bradshaw is a devoted and respected member of the Cambridgeshire police force, and though she loves her job, what she longs for is a personal life. Single and distant from her family, she wants a husband and
Edith Hind—a beautiful graduate student at Cambridge University and daughter of the surgeon to the Royal Family—has been missing for nearly twenty-four hours. Her home offers few clues: a smattering of blood in the kitchen, her keys and phone left behind, the front door ajar but showing no signs of forced entry. Manon instantly knows that this case will be big—and that every second is crucial to finding Edith alive.
The investigation starts with Edith’s loved ones: her attentive boyfriend, her reserved best friend, her patrician parents. As the search widens and press coverage reaches a frenzied pitch, secrets begin to emerge about Edith’s tangled love life and her erratic behavior leading up to her disappearance. With no clear leads, Manon summons every last bit of her skill and intuition to close the case, and what she discovers will have shocking consequences not just for Edith’s family but for Manon herself.
My Thoughts:
I can't really say that I liked this book or that i will continue the series...although I do like to give both a fair chance. Maybe because it's a first book in a new series for her but I found the book to drag from the very start. I didn't care about her love life...at least not two full chapters of who she was taking to bed and why. I guess it boils down to that the book is full of characters that I couldn't care about and were mostly totally unlikable.
DS Manon series Book #1
From The Book:
At thirty-nine, Manon Bradshaw is a devoted and respected member of the Cambridgeshire police force, and though she loves her job, what she longs for is a personal life. Single and distant from her family, she wants a husband and
Show More
children of her own. One night, after yet another disastrous Internet date, she turns on her police radio to help herself fall asleep—and receives an alert that sends her to a puzzling crime scene.Edith Hind—a beautiful graduate student at Cambridge University and daughter of the surgeon to the Royal Family—has been missing for nearly twenty-four hours. Her home offers few clues: a smattering of blood in the kitchen, her keys and phone left behind, the front door ajar but showing no signs of forced entry. Manon instantly knows that this case will be big—and that every second is crucial to finding Edith alive.
The investigation starts with Edith’s loved ones: her attentive boyfriend, her reserved best friend, her patrician parents. As the search widens and press coverage reaches a frenzied pitch, secrets begin to emerge about Edith’s tangled love life and her erratic behavior leading up to her disappearance. With no clear leads, Manon summons every last bit of her skill and intuition to close the case, and what she discovers will have shocking consequences not just for Edith’s family but for Manon herself.
My Thoughts:
I can't really say that I liked this book or that i will continue the series...although I do like to give both a fair chance. Maybe because it's a first book in a new series for her but I found the book to drag from the very start. I didn't care about her love life...at least not two full chapters of who she was taking to bed and why. I guess it boils down to that the book is full of characters that I couldn't care about and were mostly totally unlikable.
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LibraryThing member SandyMarshall
I received "Missing, Presumed" through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program. I quite enjoyed reading this book, and thought the characters were well written and developed. The book is very "British" so I saw some of the characters as favorite BBC stars. I was a tiny bit disappointed in the
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resolution. I would love to read more books starring Manon and Davy. Show Less
LibraryThing member alohaboy
The book is a character driven police procedural taking place in a small town just outside Cambridge, England. The story revolves around a missing twenty-four year old woman who happens to be the daughter of the physician to the royal family and has friends in high places. The local police are
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quick to organize search parties, interview known friends and family, and plead to the public to come forward with information on the missing woman. Each chapter is viewed from the eyes and inner voice of the principal characters in the book--the lead detective, her partner, the woman's mother, the missing woman's best friend, her boyfriend, etc. The book has a slow pace as we see the story and personal lives of the characters in piecemeal. Unfortunately, most of the characters are self-absorbed, and not particularly interesting. As we plod through their problems over a period of weeks--and the Christmas holidays--we eventually get around to the crux of the story--where is is the missing woman and who is responsible for her disappearance. While I suppose some will be shocked by the outcome, I was among the "who cares" crew as the author threw in too many curveballs simply to make her story end the way it did. I didn't dislike the story but I didn't find it one of my more engaging books I've read this year. Show Less
LibraryThing member bytheseabchcmbr
What a wonderful book, I enjoyed it very much. The chapters were laid out very nice, you could follow each person and understand how they tied together. I thought that the suspense was great the whole way through, and that it kept you interested to see where we go. For people that like twists there
Steiner wrote in a very reader friendly way, not to much, and not to few, words, chapters, and characters. Very pleasant reading, I will be looking for more from her.
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quite a few of them right up until the end.Steiner wrote in a very reader friendly way, not to much, and not to few, words, chapters, and characters. Very pleasant reading, I will be looking for more from her.
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LibraryThing member caitemaire
I admit it...I am a sucker for police procedurals set in England. OK, any mystery set in England. Why does murder and mayhem seem nicer with an English accent? Well, they are talking in my head..
Detective Manon Bradshaw is a winner! Book wise at least. In real life she has a lot of issues, not
It all get a bit bogged down in the middle but comes to a surprising and interesting end, with poor Manon getting some well deserved career and personal success. A great character, an interesting, enjoyable book.
Detective Manon Bradshaw is a winner! Book wise at least. In real life she has a lot of issues, not
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least of which is her inability to fine love, or even like, and her resulting loneliness. But at least she has her career. But that is not going so well, as the high profile Missing Person case she is on is running into dead end after dead end. It all get a bit bogged down in the middle but comes to a surprising and interesting end, with poor Manon getting some well deserved career and personal success. A great character, an interesting, enjoyable book.
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LibraryThing member nbmars
This is a British police procedural that, like many such books that come out of Britain, are more about the investigators than the crime itself. Manon Bradshaw, 39, is a detective sergeant with the Major Incident Team in the Cambridgeshire Police. She is single and looking for love in all the wrong
The pace is slow (but thus seems more true-to-life); this is by no means a “thriller.” Alternate perspectives play out in the chapters although Manon’s is the main voice. The twists in the ending were not an entire surprise, but in these books, the process is what matters. In that respect, the author did well in maintaining my interest with a good balance of mixing very realistic characters with common elements of both the humor and pathos of work and dating relationships.
Evaluation: While I wouldn’t race out to the store to buy a second in the series, I would welcome it if there were another, and look forward to reading it.
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places, i.e., on anonymous internet dating services. But this activity does provide the comic relief for the more serious aspects of the story, which concern a missing 24-year-old young woman, Edith Hind. Edith is the daughter of very well-connected parents which makes the job of the police more pressured than usual.The pace is slow (but thus seems more true-to-life); this is by no means a “thriller.” Alternate perspectives play out in the chapters although Manon’s is the main voice. The twists in the ending were not an entire surprise, but in these books, the process is what matters. In that respect, the author did well in maintaining my interest with a good balance of mixing very realistic characters with common elements of both the humor and pathos of work and dating relationships.
Evaluation: While I wouldn’t race out to the store to buy a second in the series, I would welcome it if there were another, and look forward to reading it.
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LibraryThing member AnneWK
One of the blurbs on the back cover says that this novel "hits the sweet spot between literary and crime fiction." I agree. Steiner takes care to make the characters real and multi-faceted. DI Manon Bradshaw leads the way: at 39 she has dedicated herself to her police work with little time for
This particular crime involves a woman who goes missing after a party; we know that she arrived home safely (or we believe that's true), but no one can figure out what happened to her after that. Her parents are well connected politically and socially and that adds a difficult element for the police as they investigate.
There are moments of sadness (discussion of what might happen to children in the system) and comedy (when one of the missing woman's friends goes on about the purity of growing kale). There is a great deal more to this book than most crime novels.
The conclusion is a little out of left field and too neatly packaged. But all in all, an enjoyable read.
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anything else in her life and now worries that something is missing.. Her colleagues are each given full personalities, too, so that they stand out as individuals I wanted to follow.. This particular crime involves a woman who goes missing after a party; we know that she arrived home safely (or we believe that's true), but no one can figure out what happened to her after that. Her parents are well connected politically and socially and that adds a difficult element for the police as they investigate.
There are moments of sadness (discussion of what might happen to children in the system) and comedy (when one of the missing woman's friends goes on about the purity of growing kale). There is a great deal more to this book than most crime novels.
The conclusion is a little out of left field and too neatly packaged. But all in all, an enjoyable read.
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LibraryThing member KarenM13
I received Missing, Presumed by Susie Steiner in the mail to review and it looked interesting so I started it right away. The book focuses on a missing person case after a beautiful, highly educated 24 year old woman disappears from her home leaving splatters of blood behind but very few clues to
As I got further in, I found myself hoping that the author wouldn't tie things up because I want there to be a whole series about DS Manon Bradshaw. Initially I thought the story was being told from too many different characters point of views from chapter to chapter, but the author always brings it back to Manon and ties it all together well.
Overall I thought it was a great detective novel and couldn't put it down until I found out what happened. I would maybe compare it to the series of crime novels by Camilla Lackberg, which I love. I would happily read more from this author in the future!
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what happened. Whether you choose to assume it's the attractive boyfriend, the upper crust parents, or one of her varied assortment of friends, the author keeps you constantly guessing and changing your mind.As I got further in, I found myself hoping that the author wouldn't tie things up because I want there to be a whole series about DS Manon Bradshaw. Initially I thought the story was being told from too many different characters point of views from chapter to chapter, but the author always brings it back to Manon and ties it all together well.
Overall I thought it was a great detective novel and couldn't put it down until I found out what happened. I would maybe compare it to the series of crime novels by Camilla Lackberg, which I love. I would happily read more from this author in the future!
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LibraryThing member librarian1204
A very well written mystery story set in Cambridge. A police procedural told from various viewpoints by different characters.
Edith's disappearance from the home she shares with fellow grad student Will sparks a huge investigation. The investigating officer , Manon, is 39 and really wanting and
As the investigation progresses everyone involved is subjected to pressures and some deep soul searching. Great characterization. I want to read more from this author.
Read as an ARC from NetGalley
Edith's disappearance from the home she shares with fellow grad student Will sparks a huge investigation. The investigating officer , Manon, is 39 and really wanting and
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needing to find a man, to share her life.As the investigation progresses everyone involved is subjected to pressures and some deep soul searching. Great characterization. I want to read more from this author.
Read as an ARC from NetGalley
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LibraryThing member EdGoldberg
Edith Hind is missing. There is blood in her apartment and according to Will Carter, her boyfriend, the apartment door was open when he came home. Based on the evidence, the Cambridgeshire police deem it a ‘high risk misper’. Detective Sergeant Manon Bradshaw is on the case along with Detective
MissingPresumed
Everyone knows that the first 72 hours after a crime or abduction are the most critical. Unfortunately, there is little in the way of new evidence as the hours, days and weeks progress. The police are stumped.
When a young man, Taylor Dent, is found murdered and his time of death coincides with Edie’s disappearance, Manon has the feeling that the two incidents are related. However, it’s a stretch…virtually impossible to link the two.
Susie Steiner has scripted an immensely enjoyable, mystifying mystery that is fast paced, thoughtful and well written. Missing, Presumed is a good police procedural with an equal amount of pavement pounding, forensics, hunches and team updates.
The cast of characters is totally believable, each having his/her own crosses to bear. Steiner skillfully addresses Manon’s ‘unattached at age 39’ trauma and her exploits in online dating. In some ways she reminds me of a younger version of divorced Detective Inspector Hazel Micallef in Inger Ash Wolfe’s Canadian mysteries. The fact that these detectives are ‘human’ gives the story a sense of reality.
I wouldn’t be upset if a follow up to Missing, Presumed is published one of these days. I’d like to follow this group of policemen and women for a while and watch them change and adapt.
If you’re in the mood for something a little different, Missing, Presumed is worthwhile.
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Inspector Harriet Harper, and Detective Constables Davy Walker, Kim Delaney, Nigel Williams, Colin Brierly and newbie Stuart.MissingPresumed
Everyone knows that the first 72 hours after a crime or abduction are the most critical. Unfortunately, there is little in the way of new evidence as the hours, days and weeks progress. The police are stumped.
When a young man, Taylor Dent, is found murdered and his time of death coincides with Edie’s disappearance, Manon has the feeling that the two incidents are related. However, it’s a stretch…virtually impossible to link the two.
Susie Steiner has scripted an immensely enjoyable, mystifying mystery that is fast paced, thoughtful and well written. Missing, Presumed is a good police procedural with an equal amount of pavement pounding, forensics, hunches and team updates.
The cast of characters is totally believable, each having his/her own crosses to bear. Steiner skillfully addresses Manon’s ‘unattached at age 39’ trauma and her exploits in online dating. In some ways she reminds me of a younger version of divorced Detective Inspector Hazel Micallef in Inger Ash Wolfe’s Canadian mysteries. The fact that these detectives are ‘human’ gives the story a sense of reality.
I wouldn’t be upset if a follow up to Missing, Presumed is published one of these days. I’d like to follow this group of policemen and women for a while and watch them change and adapt.
If you’re in the mood for something a little different, Missing, Presumed is worthwhile.
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LibraryThing member justacatandabook
One night, 24-year-old Edith Hind goes missing. The front door of her home is wide open, there is blood inside, and her keys, phone, and car have been left behind. DS Manon Bradshaw knows immediately that this case will be big; Edith's father, Sir Ian Hind, is surgeon to the Royal Family, after
This book started off in excellent fashion. It's told from a multi-narrator point-of-view, which I suppose is all the fashion these days, but it wasn't irksome in the least. We hear from Manon; her work partner, Davy, who is thoroughly "glass half full" to Manon's "half empty"; Miriam Hind, Edith's mother; and Helena, who is Edith's somewhat troubled best friend. Manon stands out immediately. She's smart, sarcastic, and somewhat vulnerable. The cataloging of her various Internet dates are humorous, yet she's clearly a strong and competent detective. The beginning plot of the novel hooks you immediately, as you are thrown into the search for Edith. The police's fear, along with that of Edith's mother, is palatable.
My only real quibble with this novel is its lag about 2/3 through. Manon goes on a bit of a bender, and it becomes almost painful to read for a bit. You can't help but want your detectives to have a bit of decorum to them. The plot also drags a bit, focusing more on Manon's dating issues, then the mystery. However, once she discovers another key linkage, we're off and running again. The mystery plot itself is intricate and keeps you guessing. It's certainly not filled with likable characters, but then mystery, murder, and mayhem rarely is. Edith's ending is a bit of a disappointment, but I enjoyed a look at the other characters a "year later," where we see what Manon, Davy, and some of the others are up to. I could potentially see Manon becoming a reoccurring character; she's complex and intelligent and unlike many female detective we see in print right now. Steiner's book was different and interesting, and I certainly enjoyed it. Definitely worth the read - 3.5+ stars.
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all. Suddenly, Edith's life is under a microscope: her parents, her boyfriend, Will, and her best friend, Helena. Manon finds herself working every angle to find Edith, while juggling her own issues and insecurities, including her loneliness: at 39, she is single and estranged from her father and only sister.This book started off in excellent fashion. It's told from a multi-narrator point-of-view, which I suppose is all the fashion these days, but it wasn't irksome in the least. We hear from Manon; her work partner, Davy, who is thoroughly "glass half full" to Manon's "half empty"; Miriam Hind, Edith's mother; and Helena, who is Edith's somewhat troubled best friend. Manon stands out immediately. She's smart, sarcastic, and somewhat vulnerable. The cataloging of her various Internet dates are humorous, yet she's clearly a strong and competent detective. The beginning plot of the novel hooks you immediately, as you are thrown into the search for Edith. The police's fear, along with that of Edith's mother, is palatable.
My only real quibble with this novel is its lag about 2/3 through. Manon goes on a bit of a bender, and it becomes almost painful to read for a bit. You can't help but want your detectives to have a bit of decorum to them. The plot also drags a bit, focusing more on Manon's dating issues, then the mystery. However, once she discovers another key linkage, we're off and running again. The mystery plot itself is intricate and keeps you guessing. It's certainly not filled with likable characters, but then mystery, murder, and mayhem rarely is. Edith's ending is a bit of a disappointment, but I enjoyed a look at the other characters a "year later," where we see what Manon, Davy, and some of the others are up to. I could potentially see Manon becoming a reoccurring character; she's complex and intelligent and unlike many female detective we see in print right now. Steiner's book was different and interesting, and I certainly enjoyed it. Definitely worth the read - 3.5+ stars.
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LibraryThing member Lisa_Wojcik49
Eh. That about sums up my reaction to this book. A run-of-the-mill missing person/presumed dead story that seems to try too hard. The author was intent on providing an in-depth psychological analysis of the main character and insights into the psyche of the other players in the story, but I don't
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think it worked. The character analyses almost seemed too contrived, as if the author was trying too hard in character development and wasted time which could have been better spent on the story. I will admit that being American I had difficulty with some of the British phrases used in the book, but I did not let that affect my opinion of the actual story. Would I read another book featuring DS Manon Bradshaw? Probably not. Show Less
LibraryThing member Corwin2634
I enjoyed this book very much. I thought the story moved along well, and the characters were believable. I will look forward to reading more titles from this author.
LibraryThing member Randall.Hansen
Hard to describe this book, which is part criminal investigation and part a look at the private lives of the coppers -- and the victims. Set in England, it follows a group of police officers centered around DSI Manon Bradshaw, a solid policewoman who has a sorry personal life. Like many trendy
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books, this one has alternating chapters told from the perspective of the handful of major characters. Other reviews talk about massive plot twists and shockers, but I really found none of that... just the unfolding of the crime and related activities as the investigation continues. An enjoyable read, but not quite up to Tana French; would have liked to see more thrilling and detective work and less on the messed up personal lives of the characters. Show Less
LibraryThing member SquirrelHead
If you have been reading my blog Novel Meals for a while you’ll know I love a police procedural. DCI Banks and Tana French’s Dublin Murder Squad are my absolute favorite series. This book by Susie Steiner grabbed me early on with stylings from Peter Robinson and Tana French.
Manon Bradshaw is
What happened to the brilliant Cambridge student Edith Hind? The first 72 hours are crucial in finding a missing person alive so the clock is running from the start of this novel.
The things I liked about Manon Bradshaw was the character was written so well, she was so real. The job is her life and thus, she is a 40-year old single woman trying her hand at internet dating, but always putting her job ahead of her social life. I liked her resolve and total focus to her work and solving this “misper” (missing person). I liked her partner Davy and his optimistic approach to everything in his life. I liked her boss Harriet and how the interactions were so believable. But, I am a police procedural junkie so this book really captured me!
Sir Ian Hind, the missing girl’s father, is a royal surgeon who’s employed by the Queen. He is very high society and expects special treatment, obvious from his conversations in the book. You could almost feel sorry for him. As the story moves along you wonder if Edith is alive or did she just skip out on everyone? All is revealed about 40 pages from the end. Everything fits together and there is a big fat twist to the case that will surprise you.
This isn’t a slam dunk, a mystery you figure out early on. That’s a wonderful thing to be surprised when you are reading a mystery.
Food and Drink: there wasn’t much mentioned but I wanted to share the little bit I ran across.
Vodka tonics and pints of bitter and beer, also a Monkfish Stew. Bacon roll, sausages, egg yolk bursting over buttered toast.
Christmas meal at the police station while Manan is on call: “Her canteen lunch of Shepherd’s Pie and Boiled Carrots has collapsed into the four corners of it’s yellow polystyrene box. Brown gravy, Bistro infused, the mince pebble-dashing her throat as it goes down. Piped mash - has it ever been a potato”
POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT – so read no further if you have an interest in this book.
My opinion here…..ok I did not like how Manon was suddenly completely besotted with Alan Prenderghast. At the same time, I was hoping the story wouldn’t wrap everything up in a neat tidy ending where everyone gets what they want. Sometimes there shouldn’t be a happy ending so I was grateful Manon and Alan didn’t hook up permanently.
The mystery behind Edith’s disappearance was indeed solved but I came to dislike her by the end of the book. She’s selfish, she didn’t think once of calling to end the massive and expensive manhunt and more importantly, let her mother know what became of her. What an awful thing to allow…..in this, the author carried off the story brilliantly as I felt enough emotion to dislike a character. Well written.
Would I read more by this author? Absolutely! Let me read more about Manon Bradshaw and follow her police career.
I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from LibraryThing. All opinions are my own.
Manon Bradshaw is
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the main focus with strong supporting cast of fellow officers and detectives. Sir Ian and Lady Miriam Hind, a high profile family, reports their daughter Edith missing. There is enough evidence littering Edith’s town home to suggest she has been the victim of foul play. A broken wine glass and blood on the floor, the front door unlocked and ajar, coats spilled into the hallway as if a struggle took place.What happened to the brilliant Cambridge student Edith Hind? The first 72 hours are crucial in finding a missing person alive so the clock is running from the start of this novel.
The things I liked about Manon Bradshaw was the character was written so well, she was so real. The job is her life and thus, she is a 40-year old single woman trying her hand at internet dating, but always putting her job ahead of her social life. I liked her resolve and total focus to her work and solving this “misper” (missing person). I liked her partner Davy and his optimistic approach to everything in his life. I liked her boss Harriet and how the interactions were so believable. But, I am a police procedural junkie so this book really captured me!
Sir Ian Hind, the missing girl’s father, is a royal surgeon who’s employed by the Queen. He is very high society and expects special treatment, obvious from his conversations in the book. You could almost feel sorry for him. As the story moves along you wonder if Edith is alive or did she just skip out on everyone? All is revealed about 40 pages from the end. Everything fits together and there is a big fat twist to the case that will surprise you.
This isn’t a slam dunk, a mystery you figure out early on. That’s a wonderful thing to be surprised when you are reading a mystery.
Food and Drink: there wasn’t much mentioned but I wanted to share the little bit I ran across.
Vodka tonics and pints of bitter and beer, also a Monkfish Stew. Bacon roll, sausages, egg yolk bursting over buttered toast.
Christmas meal at the police station while Manan is on call: “Her canteen lunch of Shepherd’s Pie and Boiled Carrots has collapsed into the four corners of it’s yellow polystyrene box. Brown gravy, Bistro infused, the mince pebble-dashing her throat as it goes down. Piped mash - has it ever been a potato”
POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT – so read no further if you have an interest in this book.
My opinion here…..ok I did not like how Manon was suddenly completely besotted with Alan Prenderghast. At the same time, I was hoping the story wouldn’t wrap everything up in a neat tidy ending where everyone gets what they want. Sometimes there shouldn’t be a happy ending so I was grateful Manon and Alan didn’t hook up permanently.
The mystery behind Edith’s disappearance was indeed solved but I came to dislike her by the end of the book. She’s selfish, she didn’t think once of calling to end the massive and expensive manhunt and more importantly, let her mother know what became of her. What an awful thing to allow…..in this, the author carried off the story brilliantly as I felt enough emotion to dislike a character. Well written.
Would I read more by this author? Absolutely! Let me read more about Manon Bradshaw and follow her police career.
I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from LibraryThing. All opinions are my own.
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LibraryThing member CKGS
Detective Sergeant Manon Bradshaw, almost forty, no children and no long term relationship, is a member of the Major Incident Team in Cambridge. She is brilliant as a detective but her personal life is nonexistent. She has tried a few internet dates which adds some humor lto an otherwise serious
DS Bradshaw along with Detective Constable Davy Walker, investigates the disappearance of Edith Hind, the daughter of a prominent surgeon, Sir Ian Hind. Sir Ian and his wife, Miriam, with their royal connections, soon apply political pressure to the consternation of the Cambridgeshire police. As the team tries to stay one step ahead of the news coverage, Edith’s boyfriend and best friend are cleared but not before they are part of the fallout.
Miriam, Edith’s mother, is sure her daughter is still alive but can’t understand why there has been no ransom or why she hasn't been found.
As the hours increase with Edith missing, the chances of finding her alive decrease.
Then a body is found. Is it Edith?
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police procedural. DS Bradshaw along with Detective Constable Davy Walker, investigates the disappearance of Edith Hind, the daughter of a prominent surgeon, Sir Ian Hind. Sir Ian and his wife, Miriam, with their royal connections, soon apply political pressure to the consternation of the Cambridgeshire police. As the team tries to stay one step ahead of the news coverage, Edith’s boyfriend and best friend are cleared but not before they are part of the fallout.
Miriam, Edith’s mother, is sure her daughter is still alive but can’t understand why there has been no ransom or why she hasn't been found.
As the hours increase with Edith missing, the chances of finding her alive decrease.
Then a body is found. Is it Edith?
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LibraryThing member frogprof
Edith Hind disappears from her home one night, leaving blood on the wall, and Manon Bradshaw is assigned the case. I don't know Cambridge, England, at all, but the novel was very evocative of the city. Well-written characters and a story that moves quickly [with a few asides about Manon's Internet
Edith's mother is convinced that her daughter is still alive, but when another body -- not Edith's -- is found, her certainty is rocked. The tabloids get hold of the story and make a meal of the fact that Edith and her best friend may have been more than "just friends," and Edith's father's position as surgeon to the Royal Family just adds fuel to the fire. Manon Bradshaw is looking to move up in the ranks of the police force and this case may make her name.
The resolution of the case was not what I expected, which was nice -- Susie Steiner didn't telegraph the ending. Very good suspense novel!
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dating experiences] create an enjoyable read.Edith's mother is convinced that her daughter is still alive, but when another body -- not Edith's -- is found, her certainty is rocked. The tabloids get hold of the story and make a meal of the fact that Edith and her best friend may have been more than "just friends," and Edith's father's position as surgeon to the Royal Family just adds fuel to the fire. Manon Bradshaw is looking to move up in the ranks of the police force and this case may make her name.
The resolution of the case was not what I expected, which was nice -- Susie Steiner didn't telegraph the ending. Very good suspense novel!
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LibraryThing member Pet12
Missing, Presumed will appeal to readers who enjoy convincing character-driven mysteries. Set in Cambridgeshire, this mix of British police procedural and family drama, was not so much about the mystery for me but more about the characters.
It was the second book I read this week which is based on a
The police procedural aspects of this story felt very believable and indicate the amount of research the author must have put into her first crime novel.
I used the dictionary on my Kindle quite a bit while reading this and extended my vocabulary. Not a criticism, I love learning new words.
I felt a little underwhelmed by the resolution to the mystery. To be fair, I think this may be partly due to still getting over my book hangover from reading the other missing girl mystery this week.
Overall, solid character-driven fiction with a very credible feel to it.
I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It was the second book I read this week which is based on a
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female, in this case, Edith, who goes missing. Told from multiple perspectives, it dives deep into the characters' lives and thoughts, as the readers hear from Miriam, the missing woman's mother, from Helena, who is Edith's friend, and then from DS Manon Bradshaw and her team member, DC Davy Walker, who are investigating Edith's disappearance. It wasn't an immediate page turner, more of a slow-burner. As I gradually got to know all the characters, I was drawn into their worlds and became invested in some of the characters. There was a lot of focus on the detective's private life. Manon's attempts at finding love were pretty hilarious and some of her self-deprecating thoughts were fantastic and made her very believable. I liked Manon and also Davy, and in particular, their colleague DI Harriet Harper, who provided some laughs and a lighter mood. I would actually love to listen to the audio version of this just for the experience of hearing one of the suspects, Tony Wright, who I think would be an absolute hoot to listen to. I loved him and also Fly and his interactions with Manon. However, I had a hard time conjuring up any positive feelings towards the victim and her family.The police procedural aspects of this story felt very believable and indicate the amount of research the author must have put into her first crime novel.
I used the dictionary on my Kindle quite a bit while reading this and extended my vocabulary. Not a criticism, I love learning new words.
I felt a little underwhelmed by the resolution to the mystery. To be fair, I think this may be partly due to still getting over my book hangover from reading the other missing girl mystery this week.
Overall, solid character-driven fiction with a very credible feel to it.
I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member Dianekeenoy
A very good British police thriller. The main character, DS Manon Bradshaw is a flawed but very good detective. When the daughter of the Royal Surgeon goes missing, Bradshaw is the lead on the case and the twists and turns keep coming. I enjoyed this book and it kept me guessing until the end.
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Recommended. Show Less
LibraryThing member annbury
This compelling British mystery just doesn't let up, keeping the suspense high and the pages turning. In form, it is a police procedural set in the east of England, where a young woman has disappeared, leaving a plethora of unanswered questions and unresolved relationships behind her. But what
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drives the novel isn't form as much as the powerfully developed characters that keep it so engrossing. DS Manon Bradshaw is at the center of the novel and she is hard to ignore -- a strong if troubled person and police officer, with a powerful and sometimes cruel wit. The other police characters also spring to life, as do the parents and friends of the missing girl, and subsidiary characters who appear as the story unfolds. I wish there were more Manon novels, but it appears that we will have to wait. Show Less
LibraryThing member coho8
Where is Edith Hind? Edith, a Cambridge student and daughter of a prosperous family, is missing. One may presume foul play from the scenario in her home - front door unlocked, drops of blood, disarray, phone and keys left behind. Is there a crime or just a young woman gone missing on her
Detective Sergeant Manon Bradshaw is eager to get the search underway in the days before Christmas. Thirty-nine year old Manon is a competent inspector but her personal life is marked by loneliness and yearning to settle down. DS Bradshaw has compelling character traits. She is needy, a bit disheveled and does not always play strictly by the rules but is not dysfunctional in the manner of some literary detectives.
Each chapter is written from the perspective of rotating characters which provides an opportunity to round each one out. No one is perfect and that adds dimension to the suspects, detectives and the missing young woman.
This is a well written police procedural. The beginning was quick and the clues left behind lead to many blind alleys in the investigation. At about the 125 page point the book began to drag but the plot picks up later. Another novel with this crew, Manon especially, would be welcomed.
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own?Detective Sergeant Manon Bradshaw is eager to get the search underway in the days before Christmas. Thirty-nine year old Manon is a competent inspector but her personal life is marked by loneliness and yearning to settle down. DS Bradshaw has compelling character traits. She is needy, a bit disheveled and does not always play strictly by the rules but is not dysfunctional in the manner of some literary detectives.
Each chapter is written from the perspective of rotating characters which provides an opportunity to round each one out. No one is perfect and that adds dimension to the suspects, detectives and the missing young woman.
This is a well written police procedural. The beginning was quick and the clues left behind lead to many blind alleys in the investigation. At about the 125 page point the book began to drag but the plot picks up later. Another novel with this crew, Manon especially, would be welcomed.
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Awards
Barry Award (Nominee — First Novel — 2017)
Theakstons Old Peculier Prize (Longlist — 2017)
NPR: Books We Love (2016)
The Observer Book of the Year (Crime — 2016)
Language
Original publication date
2016
Physical description
400 p.; 23 cm
ISBN
0008123284 / 9780008123284