Missing, Presumed

DS Manon Bradshaw investigates the disappearance of Edith Hind, a Cambridge graduate student from a well-connected family. The case draws intense media attention and pressure from senior police officials, forcing Manon and her team to pursue multiple leads under public scrutiny. Manon balances the demanding investigation while navigating her personal struggles as a single 39-year-old woman in modern London. The narrative alternates perspectives between Manon, other detectives on the case, and individuals connected to the missing woman. The investigation reveals complex relationships and hidden tensions within Cambridge's academic circles and the Hind family's social network. As days pass without answers, both the police and Edith's loved ones must confront difficult questions about her life. The novel explores themes of isolation in contemporary society and the gap between public personas and private lives. Through its parallel examination of a detective's personal life and professional duties, it raises questions about how people cope with uncertainty and loss of control.

Readers describe this as a character-driven police procedural that focuses more on the detective's personal life than the central mystery. Many appreciate DS Manon Bradshaw's complexity - her dating struggles, career challenges, and raw internal monologue. Readers liked: - The realistic portrayal of police work and procedures - Natural, witty dialogue - Multiple viewpoint characters providing different perspectives - The exploration of loneliness and relationships Common criticisms: - Slow pacing, especially in the first half - Too much focus on Manon's dating life vs. the investigation - Unsatisfying resolution to the mystery - Some found Manon's character irritating or self-absorbed Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (23,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (1,800+ ratings) Book Riot readers poll: 7.8/10 "The character development is outstanding but the actual mystery left me wanting more," notes one Amazon reviewer. A Goodreads review states: "This succeeds more as a study of modern loneliness than as a thriller."

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🔍 Before writing Missing, Presumed, author Susie Steiner was a journalist for The Guardian and The Times for 11 years 📚 The novel's protagonist, DS Manon Bradshaw, was inspired by Steiner's own struggles with finding love and starting a family in her late thirties 🌟 The book reached #7 on The Sunday Times bestseller list and was selected for the BBC Radio 2 Book Club 💫 Steiner wrote much of the novel while undergoing treatment for a rare form of eye cancer, which later influenced themes of vulnerability in her work 🎭 The character development in Missing, Presumed was influenced by Steiner's appreciation of Victorian literature, particularly George Eliot's ability to create complex, flawed characters