My #Review for Night Falls, Still Missing by Helen Callaghan #PsychologicalThriller #Mystery

Title: Night Falls, Still Missing

Author: Helen Callaghan

Publisher: Penguin UK, Michael Joseph

Published: July 23rd, 2020

Pages: 400

Rating: 4.5/5*

 

 

My Review:

This is an edge of your seat suspense filled psychological thriller, an enthralling page turner and a great read.

Madison Kowalczyk is on an archaeological dig on a remote Orkney island when she phones her best friend, Fiona Grey, demanding she travels from Cambridge to join her as she needs her help. They arrange to meet up en route but Madison isn’t there when Fiona arrives and she’s not where she’s supposed to be staying, either. As Fiona gets increasingly concerned about Madison’s whereabouts the other members of the dig don’t seem as worried but something isn’t right. As Fiona starts asking questions and notifies the police of her worries she also discovers aspects of Madison’s life she’d been unaware of and puts herself in danger, too. Can she discover what happened to Madison? Can she keep herself safe whilst she seeks the truth about Madison’s disappearance?

The setting for most of this story is Orkney, an archipelago off the northeastern coast of Scotland which is famous for its Neolithic and Viking remains, making it an ideal setting for the archaeological dig which is at the centre of this mystery. The action mainly takes place during January when the winter storms add to the ambiance and bleak atmosphere. The characters are multi-faceted, many are not likeable and Fiona is uncertain just who she can trust. The flashbacks give an insight into the somewhat fraught relationship between Madison and Fiona and between Madison and her family. There are tensions between the dig team that add to the mystique and there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. It is an exciting read with lots of drama, dilemmas, revelations and surprises culminating in a thrilling conclusion.

I requested and was gifted a copy of this book and this is my honest review after choosing to read it – and not wanting to go to bed until I’d finished reading it!

Synopsis:

“Please come. I need your help . . .”

Fiona and Madison have been best friends since childhood. So when Madison sends her an unexpected call for help, Fiona doesn’t hesitate to come to her aid. Madison, an archaeologist, works at a dig on a tiny Orkney island, where the icy North Sea wind warns of a coming storm.

But when Fiona gets off the ferry, Madison isn’t there to meet her. She’s missing.

Madison’s colleagues claim to know nothing about her disappearance. But in such a tight-knit group, how can Fiona know that one of them isn’t responsible? As Fiona begins her search, she soon unravels a web of lies. Madison didn’t live the life she claimed to, and now Fiona’s own life is in danger . . .

Buy Link: Amazon