E.A. Jackson’s debut novel, Missing, was everything I was looking for in a police procedural set in London. I liked the way she handled the cold case set in 1990, writing it as a straightforward current investigation, rather than using flashbacks. Then, she followed that case up with the investigating detective, Detective Chief Superintendent Martha Allen, handling the case thirty years later.
In August 1990, Thomas and Viv Carpenter were on a short trip to London when they reported their baby disappeared from their hotel room in the early morning hours. The window had been open during the heat wave to allow in a little air. When Carpenter arose around 6 AM, baby Bella was gone. Detective Inspector Martha Allen headed up the investigation. However, when a young woman calling herself Nell Beatty turned the baby in at the police station, the case was over. Although Allen thought something was wrong about the case and the young woman, she was ordered to let the Carpenter case go. Then, thirty years later, she gets a call from a police officer who once worked the Baby Bella case. He’s now the Detective Chief Inspector in Bristol who is investigating the murder of Nell Beatty.
Thirty years later, Martha Allen is still fixated on the Carpenter case, and her long ago suspicions. Now, with Nell Beatty back on her radar, she’s in a position to look back at that old case while connecting it to Nell’s death, and her unknown life.
Jackson delves deeply into Martha Allen’s own obsession with the Baby Bella case, and the people involved in it. Allen knows she’s bucking the old boys’ network from thirty years ago, one that still has some pull. But, she works by several pieces of advice from her original training sergeant. “”Good detection…was 90 percent details. Slow and careful wins our race. that’s why they call us the plod.” Then there’s the advice she worked with her entire career. “Accept nothing. Believe nothing. Challenge everything.” The reader will want to remember that with the unexpected ending of this intriguing police procedural, Missing.
Missing by E.A. Jackson. Atria, 2025. 298p.
FTC Full Disclosure – Library book
This one is definitely for me!
I agree Kim. I am picking it up from my library today.
OK. You sold me.
Give it a try. I liked the format & the voice. Plus, it leaves no doubt the baby was found, so you don’t have to worry about that.
Now on hold at my library. Thank you.
Give it a try, Kevin.
Planning on it. Glad the child is okay too as I am no fan of the endangered kids deals.
One of the best polic procedurals I have ever read! Highly Recommend
Very good, wasn’t it, Bonnar?
My library network doesn’t have it! 🙄 I will try Moray libraries, as we now have borrowing rights in several adjacent local authority areas.
Oh, I love to have borrowing rights at other libraries, Rosemary. I hope that works for you. It opens up so many opportunities.
My library has a copy, but I was able to download it through the Cloud Library.
I love the Cloud Library.
Oh, I get it, Jeff. I love NetGalley because it’s easy to download ARCs.
Listening to this now on Libby- narrated by the fabulous Nicola Walker – and just moved into the 2020 end of the story. Totally captivated with the twisting plot and Jackson’s exploration of what drives Allen to continue when the only reason to do so is one part distraction, 2 parts obsession. The time in-between for the so very human Allen is beautifully written and sadly described
No matter how rational we are, we are also animals with animal instincts.
PS I so wish we had Cloud Library here in New Zealand- I will keep searching.
Welcome, Susan. It’s an excellent story, isn’t it?
I hope you find something similar to Cloud Library!
Well I’ll be a wreck today – listened to the end of Missing late into the night. What a fantastic human twist at the finish. t could easily be a stand alone classic – but hopefully EA Jackson is working on #2 in the series. Allen is a fabulous character with so much more to offer
Is there a way to edit or delete a post
BTW Cloud Library is similar to Libby most libraries in the US should have access you just need a library card to access and there is no limit to the number of libraries. https://libbyapp.com/shelf
Susan, I have to delete posts for you, if you want one deleted. Let me know, No way to edit. I’m sorry.
You’re right. Most of us have access to Libby.
I think there’s a planned sequel. Terrific twist, wasn’t it?
Yes it was kind of a double twist – not that it mattered in the scheme of things but proved even Allen could be wrong in the scheme of things
Now that I’ve started the book, I went back to look at your review and the comments. Yes, we have Libby as well as access (through the Palm Beach County Library) to the Cloud Library.
When I read the specific comments about the time of the original case – Thursday, August 2, 1990 – it sounded familiar, so I dug out my notebook from that year and discovered that we were in England at the time. We weren’t in London, but pn a book buying trip with our late friend Bob. That day we visited another friend – sadly, also dead now – who was the Registrar of Manchester University, as well as a part-time book dealer. We stopped at Dick’s house for lunch ( and to look at books, of course), then moved on. We spent the night in Llandudo, Wales. My description of the weather is “sunny, hot! 90÷.” The next day – in Llandudo, Coney, Colwyn Bay, Prestaton, Rhos-on-Sea and St. Asphalt (where we spent the night) was the same, sunny and hot!
Coney, not Coney
That was my typo
St. Asaph was not my mistake, but autocorrect to St
Asphalt
Damn, not my typo after all. autocorrect again – Conwy
What I loved is that Allen was almost right but actually wrong at the end – so human.
Totally agree, Susan. Terrific twist at the end.
Jeff, I love it that you looked up the weather at that time because you were in England. She had the weather right!