The Missing Wife by Sue Fortin: Book Review

The Missing Wife is a thriller set on the windswept west coast of Ireland, where Siobhan returns home to uncover the truth behind Kathleen’s mysterious disappearance

Synopsis: The Missing Wife

The Missing Wife by Sue Fortin
🕵️ She vanished without a trace. Now someone wants her sister to do the same.

Everyone remembers the explosive argument between Kathleen Walsh and her sister Siobhan the night Kathleen disappeared. But that was six months ago—and since then, there’s been nothing. No calls. No sightings. No closure.

Until a lone hiker stumbles across Kathleen’s purse on the rugged cliffs of the Irish coast. Inside? Just a torn scrap of paper scrawled with two chilling words:
“HELP ME.”

Now Siobhan is desperate to uncover the truth. But small towns have long memories and tight lips. As she starts asking questions, someone wants her silenced—and they’re not afraid to threaten what matters most.

The Missing Wife is a gripping domestic suspense about betrayal, guilt, and how far one woman will go to uncover the truth—and protect her own.

Her sister vanished. Now her daughter is missing. How many lives will it take to unearth the truth?

Review: The Missing Wife

The Missing Wife is a thriller set on the windswept west coast of Ireland, where Siobhan returns home to uncover the truth behind her sister Kathleen’s mysterious disappearance. Six months have passed since Kathleen vanished, leaving behind only a purse—and a lot of unanswered questions.

On paper, this novel has all the right ingredients for a compelling thriller: a missing person, long-buried family secrets, and a woman whose life is falling apart in the aftermath. Siobhan, a middle-aged woman facing the breakdown of her marriage, is determined to find out what happened to her sister. The plot promises suspense, emotional stakes, and a layered mystery.

And yet, The Missing Wife doesn’t quite live up to its potential.

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly why the story didn’t land as strongly as it could have. The structure is solid, and there are several twists and turns along the way that should be enough to keep most readers engaged. There are moments of tension, and at times the characters are placed in genuine jeopardy. But despite the setup, the story lacks a deeper emotional pull.

The core issue lies in the characterisation. While the premise is strong, the characters—especially Siobhan—aren’t written with enough depth or complexity to truly draw the reader in. The emotional stakes feel somewhat muted, which prevents the tension from fully landing.

Conclusion

The Missing Wife is still a competent and readable thriller. If you’re looking for a story with a good premise and a few twists, this may still be worth picking up. But if you’re after a gripping, character-driven mystery, it might leave you wanting more.

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Above all Keep Safe and treat people fairly.

Mark.