Missing White Woman is a stunning, suspenseful thriller with life lessons galore. A novel that has a lot to teach us if we’re open to listening and capable of introspection. Kellye Garrett has knocked this one out of the park!
Breanna is in Jersey City for a romantic weekend with her new boyfriend, Ty. Despite Ty having to work more than expected, they’re having a nice weekend checking out the sites in New York City and the sheets in their Airbnb. But it all goes to hell when Bree wakes up one morning to find a dead woman in the house and Ty missing. And it’s not just any dead woman, but suspected to be Janelle Beckett, a woman who disappeared earlier in the week and the subject of viral posts and videos on social media. With Ty the main suspect and Bree’s past something she wants to keep hidden, she’s forced to turn to her ex-best friend, who’s now a lawyer, for help despite their falling out over a decade ago. Together, they will uneasily search for the truth while trying to keep Bree from becoming another victim of social media’s cancel culture.
I’m obviously not a black woman nor someone who has had the same life experience as Bree’s character. So, it’s impossible for me to fully understand or appreciate how it would feel to be her in this situation. But Kellye Garrett’s writing is so vivid and storytelling so immersive that I was able to connect with Bree, strongly feel her emotions, and sympathize with her plight. And that connection is enhanced by the relatability of Bree through her relationships, whether it’s finding love with someone special or the difficult nature of a great friendship that ended abruptly. All of which put me on edge the entire time, nervous energy coursing through my body, urging Bree to figure out the truth and wishing hard for her to find peace and move forward with her life.
Additionally, the usage of social media as a central part of the plot is brilliantly done. How it’s deployed to shape the court of public opinion and convict people of wrongdoing without hard evidence is poignant commentary on the current state of the world. Highlighting that by being too quick to judgment and lacking intellectual curiosity, we’re causing undue or premature harm to others. And positing that the drive for a large number of views, likes and shares has the potential for great harm and impacts our humanity. Something we should all take a hard look at next time we log on to post or comment.
Missing White Woman is a fantastic book written by a marvelous author. A thriller that entertains, educates and holds up a mirror to society. One that demands your attention and stimulates reflection. Not to be missed.
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