Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica Summary

Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica is a domestic mystery-thriller about a series of disappearances in a suburban neighborhood. The novel follows the cases of Shelby Tebow, who goes missing first, followed by Meredith Dickey and her six-year-old daughter Delilah ten days later. Eleven years later, Delilah mysteriously reappears, triggering shocking revelations about what really happened to the missing women.

Mary Kubica is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author known for suspense novels including The Good Girl, Pretty Baby, and Local Woman Missing. A former high school history teacher, she holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and American Literature from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Her novels have been translated into over thirty languages and have sold over five million copies worldwide.

Local Woman Missing is perfect for readers who enjoy domestic thrillers, psychological suspense, and stories with multiple timelines. Fans of Mary Kubica's previous works and those who appreciate authors like Riley Sager will find this book compelling. The novel appeals to readers interested in suburban secrets, missing person cases, and twist-filled narratives that challenge assumptions about what really happened.

Local Woman Missing is worth reading for thriller enthusiasts seeking a suspenseful page-turner with unexpected revelations. The novel was an Indie Next pick in May 2021, a Goodreads Choice Awards nominee for Mystery & Thriller, and a finalist for an Audie Award. Critics praised Mary Kubica as "a helluva storyteller" with novels described as "hypnotic" and "thrilling", making this a well-regarded addition to the domestic thriller genre.

Local Woman Missing follows three disappearances across eleven years. Shelby Tebow goes missing first, followed by neighbor Meredith Dickey and her daughter Delilah. The story reveals that Bea, driving drunk with Meredith, hit and killed Shelby, then framed Shelby's husband Jason. When Meredith tried to confess, Bea killed her and imprisoned young Delilah in her attic. Years later, a brainwashed girl posing as Delilah escapes captivity while the real Delilah remains hidden.

The main characters in Local Woman Missing include Shelby Tebow, the first missing woman, and Meredith Dickey, who disappears with her six-year-old daughter Delilah. Other key characters are Josh (Meredith's husband), Leo (their son), and neighbors Kate and Bea who help investigate the disappearances. Jason, Shelby's husband, becomes the primary suspect in her murder, while Dr. Feingold, Shelby's obstetrician, faces a malpractice lawsuit.

The major twist in Local Woman Missing reveals that the girl who returns claiming to be Delilah is actually Carly Byrd, another abducted child brainwashed by copycat criminals Eddie and Martha Cutter. The real Delilah was locked in Bea's attic for eleven years after witnessing Bea kill her mother Meredith. Additionally, Bea—not Jason—was responsible for Shelby's death after hitting her while driving drunk, then framing an innocent man.

Local Woman Missing jumps back and forth between multiple timelines throughout the narrative. The story alternates between events happening eleven years in the past when the disappearances occurred and present day when "Delilah" reappears. This structure gradually reveals what happened to each missing person through flashbacks, building suspense as readers piece together connections between past and present events.

Local Woman Missing explores themes of suburban malaise, trauma, and individualism within seemingly perfect neighborhoods. The novel examines how secrets and lies can destroy lives, the guilt associated with covering up crimes, and the lengths people go to protect themselves. Mary Kubica also addresses domestic deception, the lasting impact of childhood trauma, and how communities respond when people vanish without explanation.

Local Woman Missing continues Mary Kubica's signature style of domestic suspense with unreliable narrators and shocking twists, similar to her debut The Good Girl. While maintaining the psychological depth found in her earlier novels like Every Last Lie and The Other Mrs., Local Woman Missing incorporates more complex timeline shifts and multiple missing persons. The novel showcases Kubica's evolution as "a writer of vice-like control" while delivering the "dark and twisty" storytelling fans expect.

Some readers find Local Woman Missing challenging due to its multiple timelines and numerous characters, which can create confusion during the narrative jumps between past and present. Critics note that certain plot revelations require significant suspension of disbelief, particularly regarding how long Delilah remained hidden and undiscovered. Additionally, some readers feel the pacing drags in middle sections before accelerating toward the final twists, though most agree the payoff justifies the buildup.

Readers who enjoyed Local Woman Missing should explore:

• Riley Sager's Home Before Dark, which similarly features domestic mysteries with shocking reveals
• Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl offers comparable unreliable narrators and suburban secrets
• Lisa Jewell's Then She Was Gone explores missing children and family trauma
• The Good Girl by Mary Kubica herself
• Ruth Ware's The Woman in Cabin 10
• B.A. Paris's Behind Closed Doors for fans of domestic thrillers with twist endings