A review by minimicropup
The Nature of Disappearing by Kimi Cunningham Grant

adventurous hopeful mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

It wasn’t the story I thought it’d be, but it was still good. 
 
Energy: Benevolent. Cooperative. Optimistic. 
Scene: 🇺🇸 Set in the wilds of Idaho.
Perspective: Our main character is a hunting and fishing guide. Their old bestie goes missing just as they’re starting to reconnect, prompting our MC to look deeper into the circumstances surrounding her disappearance. 
 
🐕 Howls: The direction of the story once we find out what happened to Janessa. The cozy mystery feels and the Big Bad. The YA overthinking-style romances.  
🐩 Tail Wags: Emlyn’s character development. The flashback chapters. Janessa and Emlyn’s friendship ups and downs. The mystery of what happened to Janessa. 
 
🤔 Random Thoughts:
This is obviously somewhat inspired by the Gabby Petito case…it wasn’t an icky copycat story (looking at you Joyce Maynard lol), it felt respectful and takes a different direction. 
 
If you like mysteries on the lighter, cozier side, check this one out. The resolutions felt more like what you’d get in a cozy mystery and are secondary. Most of the plot is character development and friendship/relationship dynamics, spurred on by the mystery. It wasn’t poorly done or too convoluted and contrived, I just felt a disinterested near the end because I was expecting something darker and grittier. 
 
🤓 Reader Role: Guided by the narrator to explore the scenes around us and observe the characters and learning their backstories. 
🗺️ World-Building: Atmospheric, lush. Easy to imagine with sensory details sprinkled throughout.
🔥 Fuel: Character evolution and emotional investment. How did Emlyn and Janessa meet? Why did they lose touch? Why has Janessa stopped posting her #vanlife journey? Is she in danger? Will Emlyn and Tyler figure out what happened? Will they reconnect romantically? 
📖 Cred: Romanticized realistic-ish
 
Mood Reading Match-Up:
Rivers. Osprey. Airstream trailer. Prayers. Streams. Campfire. Espresso beans. Lake water. Sun through the trees. Cold. Hunger. 
  • Contemporary fiction with romance and cozy #vanlife mystery storylines
  • Bff dynamics, falling apart, reconnecting, reconciling differences and growing up
  • Shy girl emerging from her shell 
  • Threads of second chance romance, secret crushes, first loves, and heart break
  • Atmospheric campingcore 
  • Amateur wilderness sleuthing quests
  • Cat-and-mouse games in the forest with the bad guy
  • Loving (and leaving) an addict
  • Wise Christian elder and finding a safe space community 
  • Breezy reflective reads, easy to listen to
  • Books to read at the park/out in nature 
 
Content Heads-Up: Date rape (attempted). Missing person. Misogyny. Addiction (recovery, relapse). Painkillers (prescribed, addiction). Parental abandonment. Medical (appendicitis, injuries). Drugging. Drug trafficking. Animal death (hunting, trapping). Animal cruelty (inhumane trapping). Guns. Betrayal. Violence (fighting, attack). 
 
Rep: Cisgender. Heterosexual. Brown, pale, and ambiguous skin tones. American. Christian.
 
📚 Format: Library Audio
 
My musings 💖 powered by puppy snuggles 🐶
Expand filter menu Content Warnings