Missing, Assumed Dead

By: Marva Dasef

Narrated by: Lisa Baarns

Prejudice, murder, insanity, suicide: Every small town has its secrets.

When Kameron McBride receives notice she's the last living relative of a missing man she's never even heard of, the last thing she wants to do is head to some half-baked Oregon town to settle his affairs. But since she's the only one available, she grudgingly agrees.

En route, she and her rental car run afoul of a couple of hillbillies and their pickup in an accident that doesn't seem...accidental. Especially when they keep showing up wherever she goes. Lucky for her, gorgeous Deputy Mitch Caldwell lends her a hand, among other things. Her suspicions increase when she meets the probate judge, and he tries just a little too hard to buy the dead man's worthless property.

Kam probes deeper into the town's secrets and finds almost no one she can trust. With Mitch's help, she peels away the layers of prejudice, suicide, murder, and insanity. Kam must find out what really happened to her dead relative before someone in this backward little town sends her to join him.

And she thought Oregon was going to be boring.

©2013 Marva Dasef (P)2014 Marva Dasef

Author Commends Narrator

Would you consider the audio edition of Missing, Assumed Dead to be better than the print version?

Depends on whether the reader uses audio books. It's definitely better for those who have poor vision.

What did you like best about this story?

The Oregon high desert setting isn't often used in mysteries.

What does Lisa Baarns bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Wonderful mix of tones to differentiate the characters. It wasn't a flat recitation, but like listening to a radio play.

Any additional comments?

Although I wrote the book, my thoughts are entirely based on the quality of the narration. That's all Lisa Baarns.

Nicely done

Any additional comments?

This was a very quick listen and one that I would recommend for days you just want to be entertained. Although I could not relate to the main character Kameron, there were moments that are just raw female.

Missing, Assumed Dead feels like a short story, with rambling internal monologues and extraneous scenic details edited out.

It is a mystery, but a mystery that follows the formula with exactitude. Some may find the plot predictable, but with decent writing Marva Dasef makes the story an enjoyable flow.
The romance is not stilted or forced. Although Mitch feels like an old-fashioned stereotype, he fits into the story and Kameron’s life easily.

Missing, Assumed Dead is a fast paced beach read.

distant relative missing

set in a tiny town, a mysterious disappearance of a relative she never knew about, sets our city girl on a dangerous romp through the secrets of the town. enjoyable read.

Not a nice place for a city girl.

If you could sum up Missing, Assumed Dead in three words, what would they be?

Clever plot twists

What other book might you compare Missing, Assumed Dead to and why?

I don't often read murder mysteries, so it's difficult to find a comparison. I was originally drawn to the book because of the eastern Oregon setting, an area I am both familiar with and fond of. The setting contributes a lot to the story, the characterizations are good and the twists and turns of the plot kept me guessing to the end. Very well done.

Which character – as performed by Lisa Baarns – was your favorite?

I first read this as a print book, so when I came to the audio book, I had some preconceived notions about how the characters should sound. Lisa Baarns' interpretation of Kam McBride almost exactly matched the voice I heard in my head while first reading the book. The other characters were also quite believable, with each character voice distinctive enough that I always knew who was speaking. A thoroughly enjoyable performance.

Missing,Assumed dead

Would you consider the audio edition of Missing, Assumed Dead to be better than the print version?

IDK,I only listened to the audio

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me wonder how everything fell into place in such a short amt of time

Any additional comments?

This book was ok to good.City girl gets notice unknown relative has died and she needs to come to a court in the country.Mayhem ensues.Love happens...in a week.Fast paced.The Narrator,Lisa Baarns,does a pretty good job with all the voices needed for this story.

YOU CAN TAKE THE GIRL OUT OF THE CITY, BUT YOU ...

Interesting and intriguing story!
Although I'm from the East Coast originally, I've lived in the Pacific NW since 9/29/01, first in Portland, Oregon and now in SW Washington. I loved the references to this area, and enjoyed the fast-paced and super interesting story! I could definitely see this happening, both in fiction and in reality haha! Deputy Mitch, yum!
Great story! This is the second book by author Marva Dasef, and I really enjoy her writing. I can't wait to read/listen to more of her books!

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Please take a moment to click the "YES" ("Helpful") button below if you found this review helpful :) Thank you!

Short entertaining murder/mystery

This is a short entertaining murder/mystery with a touch of romance and supernatural added in too. The characters are likable, and the plot kept my attention, even if the ending was a bit predictable. The narrator did well at giving the characters individual voices and her pace suited the story well. I would enjoy hearing more stories from this author and narrator.