When Michael Palmer passed away in 2013, he left behind quite a legacy as one of the finest authors of medical thrillers I have ever read. I was so thrilled to see Daniel (D.J.) Palmer not only follow in his father’s footsteps, but also carve out his own niche as one of the top writers of domestic thrillers working today.

Palmer’s latest effort, MY WIFE IS MISSING, is one of the twistiest novels he has ever written. The plot literally peels away chapter by chapter like the skin of an onion, revealing shocking details that will have readers’ heads spinning.

"D.J. Palmer has masterful plotting in his genes. And it shows in MY WIFE IS MISSING, probably more so than anything he has written to date, making for one entertaining thriller from start to finish."

The Harts are vacationing in New York City and relaxing in their hotel room when the book opens. Michael has returned with some pizza for the family to enjoy, only to find that his wife, Natalie, and their two children, Addison and Bryce, are nowhere to be found. This is initially concerning because their belongings, including all of their luggage, are also gone. Natalie has not been herself lately, suffering from heavy bouts of insomnia that has brought about tremors, visions and memory problems. A panicked Michael runs all over the hotel looking for them but to no avail.

We get to enjoy the novel from three points of view: Michael, Natalie, and Natalie before she left. This will make much more sense as you come to realize that Natalie’s “disappearance” was completely planned, which Michael and the NYPD learn when they watch video surveillance of her and the kids calmly getting into an Uber outside the hotel. Why did she do it? As far as the reader is concerned, this is a novel of big questions that seem to keep piling up as each page is turned.

In much the same style as Gillian Flynn’s GONE GIRL, when you tell a story from the perspective of both sides of a marriage in trouble, you tend to waver back and forth as to which party is the responsible one. The same happens in MY WIFE IS MISSING. Was Michael an abusive husband, which gave Natalie no choice but to grab Addison and Bryce and run away? Or was she the one operating under a case of serious self-delusion and is now placing two innocent children in harm’s way due to her own insanity? You will have to keep reading to find out.

Palmer does a wonderful job containing the novel to just a handful of characters so as not to confuse matters. This makes the chase that much more suspenseful as the chapters about the past help us understand what is unfolding before our eyes in the present. An NYPD officer accompanies Michael as he travels across several states in pursuit of Natalie and the kids. Initially I found this odd, but there is a revelation later in the book that explains why he has such an interest in the case. I will not discuss it here, but I can assure you it is really, really good!

D.J. Palmer has masterful plotting in his genes. And it shows in MY WIFE IS MISSING, probably more so than anything he has written to date, making for one entertaining thriller from start to finish.