The Nature of Disappearing

The Nature of Disappearing

Kimi Cunningham Grant

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In this captivating novel of suspense, a wilderness guide must team up with the man who ruined her life years ago when the friend who introduced them goes missing. Emlyn doesn’t let herself think about the past. How she and her best friend, Janessa, barely speak anymore. How Tyler, the man she thought was the love of her life, left her freezing and half-dead on the side of the road three years ago. Her new life is simple and safe. She works as a fishing and hunting guide, spending her days in Idaho’s endless woods and scenic rivers. She lives alone in her Airstream trailer, her closest friends a handsome and kind Forest Service ranger and the community’s makeshift reverend, who took her in at her lowest. But when Tyler shows up with the news that Janessa is missing, Emlyn is propelled back into the world she worked so hard to forget. Janessa, it turns out, has become a social media star, documenting her #vanlife adventures with her rugged survivalist boyfriend. But she hasn’t posted lately, and when she does, it’s from a completely different location than where her caption claims to be. In spite of their fractured history, Emlyn knows she might be the only one with the knowledge and tracking skills to save her friend, so she reluctantly teams up with Tyler. As the two trace Janessa’s path through miles of wild country, Emlyn can’t deny there’s still chemistry crackling between them. But the deeper they press into the wilderness, the more she begins to suspect that a darker truth lies in the woods―and that Janessa isn’t the only one in danger. Poignant, suspenseful, and unforgettable, THE NATURE OF DISAPPEARING explores what it takes to start over―and the cost of letting the past pull you back in.


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  • Nyxxx
    Mar 25, 2025
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  • bookgang
    Mar 30, 2025
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    Thank you to Macmillan for the advanced reader copy for our show. This novel hits store shelves on June 18th. 

    I couldn't be more excited to get my hands on Kimi Cunningham Grant's next novel after our 5-star experience with her last book, These Silent Woods

    This new thriller sits perfectly in the romantic suspense space, pulling the reader into a slow-burn mystery in the first half with estranged friends brought together through an unexpected wilderness excursion. 

    Janessa and Emlyn once referred to themselves as bosom buddies growing up. Emlyn's mother struggles with depressive spells that leave her daughter caring for herself and financially unable to indulge in a lot of things that her peers can. Her new friend Janessa offers Emlyn friendship and stability in a world where she doesn't have access to those things. 

    Let's be clear that the transaction isn't one-sided, though, because Emlyn is both indebted and in obligation, in many ways, to do whatever Janessa wants because of the help she offers her. Her role is to fawn and go along with whatever Janessa wants, and she's always been happy to oblige.

    All is well until Janessa's next-door neighbor and other best friend, Tyler, falls head-over-heels for Emlyn, and Janessa requests that the two not be engaged in a relationship. Emlyn doesn't understand her friend's request, but the attraction between them is unstoppable, and when Janessa discovers that they have resumed this relationship in secret, their friendship slowly dissolves. 

    Later, we find out that the relationship between Emlyn and Tyler also has ended through a dual timeline that can become confusingly intertwined as they merge into one story.  

    That's why it is a surprise when Emlyn, now working as a wilderness guide, receives an unexpected visit from Tyler, sharing that he believes Janessa may be in danger in the woods of Idaho. He needs someone of her caliber and skills to find her. 

    Janessa is a travel influencer with her partner and has suddenly vanished somewhere in the woods and as they uncover chilling clues, they worry that her partner may not be all that he seems. 

    Through these shifting timelines, we discover why these three friends are estranged and how she views her role in these friendships dissolving. She also must navigate the reemerging feelings she has for Tyler and the haunting reason for the dissolution of their relationship, to which I will be vague. 

    Grant expertly crafts an atmospheric and suspenseful first half, immersing readers in the lush landscapes of Idaho while untangling the mysteries surrounding the trio's fractured relationship. 

    However, as the story progresses, the plot veers into far-fetched territory, wrapping up quickly with a lot of telling instead of showing for the reader. Additionally, the infusion of religious undertones, while not problematic for me, did detract from the overall narrative flow as they started to overwhelm the plot as Grant pulled in religious parallels for this journey. 

    This novel will tick the right boxes, though, for readers who want to explore Idaho through a new lens and for fans of authors like Nicole Baart, who weave heartfelt messages into the threads of their thrillers for readers to uncover. This is a great one to pack in your beach bag this summer, but, for me, was not a memorable thriller experience. 

    cw- animal trapping- may be disturbing to some readers; addiction

     

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  • tmelting
    Apr 02, 2025
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    4.5
    Like in These Silent Woods, Cunningham Grant excels at writing about nature. In this story, Emlyn is making a life for herself as a fishing guide in Idaho when her former best friend possibly goes missing. Janessa is an influencer documenting #vanlife online when she suddenly stops posting. Is there a problem or not? Emlyn is pulled back into her past and we learn about it through flashbacks. I loved the pacing and tone of this book. Generally, I steer away from thrillers, since I don't like to spend hours on the edge of my seat. This book had a general feeling of unease throughout. It is very realistic and left you constantly questioning things. There is a slow unraveling of the characters' history. Everyone is multifaceted and Emlyn's own issues with self-worth makes it difficult to tell who is on her side or not. Despite it being less intense than many thrillers, it keeps you hooked throughout, and I read the book in a day. I also liked the themes of being lost and finding your way - both in the wilderness and in life. Thanks to NetGalley and the Minotaur Books for an advanced copy.

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