Missing Sam

A Novel

De: Thrity Umrigar

Narrado por: Reena Dutt

A tense and twisty story of a woman who goes missing on a morning run and her wife's determination to both find her and clear her own name--from the bestselling author of Honor

One night after a party, old grievances surface between married couple Aliya and Sam and the night ends badly with a heated argument. Sam goes for a run early the next morning to clear her head—and doesn’t come back.

Aliya reports her wife missing, but as a gay, Muslim daughter of immigrants, she can't escape the scrutiny and suspicion of those around her. Scared and furious and feeling isolated as strangers and acquaintances alike doubt her innocence, Aliya makes one wrong choice after another. She must fight to prove her innocence in the public eye even as she is torn between her fear that Sam is dead and her desire to find and save her wife. But is safety ever truly possible for them?

A provocative examination of suburban mores, Missing Sam captures the terror manifested in today’s political climate, and the real dangers, both physical and psychological, of being brown and queer in America.

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Missing Sam is a sneaky novel. At first glance, it appears to be a thriller about a missing woman. But in actuality, Thrity Umrigar writes about gender, prejudice, cultural identity, race, and the complexities of love and marriage. What a feat! Like Celeste Ng’s Little Fires Everywhere, this page turner delivers so much more than thrills and twists."—Ann Hood, author of The Knitting Circle

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars

Missing Sam by Thrity Umrigar was so much more than a thriller. Going into this book, I expected a suspenseful missing person story, but what I got was a layered, thought-provoking exploration of identity, prejudice, relationships, and the power of public perception.

When Sam disappears after a heated argument with her wife, Aliya, suspicion immediately falls on the person closest to her. As a queer, Muslim woman and the daughter of immigrants, Aliya finds herself fighting not only to find her wife but also to defend herself against assumptions, stereotypes, and the court of public opinion.

What stood out most to me was how realistic everything felt. The relationship dynamics were incredibly relatable. We all have arguments that seem insignificant in the moment, but when viewed through the lens of tragedy, those same moments can take on an entirely different meaning. The story also highlights how quickly a rumor or accusation on social media can destroy someone's reputation, even without evidence.

The multiple POVs were executed beautifully, giving depth and nuance to every perspective. The writing was thoughtful, emotional, and immersive. While there were definitely twists and moments of tension, this book's greatest strength was its examination of what it means to be brown, queer, and constantly scrutinized in America.

Daunting, thrilling, and incredibly well written, Missing Sam is a mystery that stays with you long after the final page.

Loved the theme of family relationships

I really disliked the part where Sam went back to his house -- it didn't ring true to me at all.

Personal, Spiritual, Familial, and Cultural Healing

I began listening to this book expecting a bit of sapphic romance mixed with suspense. I did not expect to be taken along a journey and experience characters awakening to self enlightenment, familial healing, cultural and heritage exploration and understanding all rolled in to the suspense. This isn’t a book to read or listen to and then put back on the shelf. This is a book to experience and digest. I’ll be reflecting carefully pieces of these words as I go about my existence in this world. Thank you, Thrity Umrigar, for challenging me with your words in such an unexpected way.

What a cultural surprise

I liked this book, so much listened to it 3 times. A muslim/Indian/American woman, marries a white American woman from a dysfunctional family. Loving, tender, loyal gay couple and one gets kidnapped - the story is about a search and realization of what are the differences for one another. Parental, cultural influences and the impact it has on their relationship.

Very disappointed with this read

This is one of the most disappointing books I’ve read all year. It reads more like an op ed from the New York Times. There is no doubt that this author writes beautifully but unfortunately in this case the book was just terrible. Not a mystery and it felt like 12 hours of people just chatting.