*Watch Her Vanish* by Ellery A. Kane is the first book in a series about Detective William Decker and Psychologist Olivia Rockwell. This is a thriller about Bonnie, around mother found dead after a night at the movies. Later when another woman is found dead Detective Decker and criminal Psychologist Olivia Rockwell must work together to catch a killer.

I couldn't put this book down. I stayed up late reading it. The main suspect is behind bars so how would he have committed the murder, but he is also a literary author who wrote a book about a man who commits murders from behind bars, could his fiction story be fact?

I highly recommend this book to fiction and thriller fans a like. You will not be disappointed.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

“Trauma can stunt growth. Could change a sapling to a weed, a magnolia bush to oleander."

Young mother Bonnie McMillan vanishes without a trace after a late night trip to the movie theatre. The residents of Fog Harbor are worried and hold a vigil praying for her safe return. But the event is shattered by a piercing scream and the discovery of Bonnie's body outside the church. The murder rocks the community.

Detective Will Decker is in charge of catching her killer and immediately finds himself clashing with Dr Olivia Rockwell, a psychologist who worked with Bonnie at Crescent Bay Prison.

When the body of another woman is found, they fear they have a serial killer on their hands. With few clues and their only suspect a shadowy figure seen leaving the theatre at the same time as Bonnie, they face a race against the clock to find their killer before they strike again.

Watch Her Vanish is the first book in a new crime series, which almost made me not ask to be on this tour as I read so many of them already. But the synopsis had me intrigued so I took a chance. I'm so glad I did. While the story follows some predictable tropes, overall this was a gripping, twisty, clever and surprising thriller that I couldn't put down.

Our dual protagonists have an instant dislike for each other, which I expected to turn into the predictable, but much loved, enemies-to-lovers trope. While they do feel differently by the end, it didn't take quite the format or end with the outcome I was expecting, which I enjoyed. They were a great duo, with their sharp, barbed banter and reluctance to admit they work well together making them compelling to read.

Like all great protagonists, they come with mysterious, dark and backstories that still haunt them which are slowly revealed. There is also a great cast of supporting characters that I both loved and loathed. But none that stood out as much as Drake Devere, a serial killer who is an inmate at the prison and a talented writer whose book written from behind bars has gained quite the cult following. He's a manipulative and sinister character that will turn on you at the flick of a switch. When it seems the killer is bringing his novel to life it's hard to know if he is involved or being set up like he claims. I'll be honest; I could never decide.

This exciting, fast-paced thriller is one I would recommend to anyone who enjoys the genre. I can't wait to see what's next for Olivia and Will in book two.

I am excited to take part in the blog tour for Ellery Kane’s new mystery: Watch Her Vanish, a suspenseful murder mystery! This is my first read of Ms. Kane’s and I enjoyed the writing and the plotting and pacing. It’s always fun to read a mystery that keeps me guessing right up until the end!

Here’s the overview from Galaxy Media:

Book Description
The beam from the lighthouse slices through the dawn sky as she runs down the rocky stairway to the beach. She tries to take it all in—the waves crashing against the cliffs, the whip of salt grass in the wind—before finally dragging her eyes down to the innocent girl’s blonde hair, strewn across the bottom step like seaweed…

Returning home to Fog Harbor, California, to be closer to her little sister, Olivia Rockwell is struggling to adjust to life in a town so small she can hardly breathe. That is, until the sound of a scream leads her to the body of a local teacher in the shallows nearby. All the evidence points to Olivia’s most threatening criminal psychology patient, Drake, who is safely locked up behind bars…

Convinced of Drake’s innocence—and desperate to believe in the system that’s keeping her murderer father in prison and away from her sister—Olivia gets to work on her own suspect list. All her life she’s run towards trouble, but this time she’s treading on the toes of Detective Will Decker, whose past mistakes mean this case is his last chance to make amends.

Then a second woman’s body is discovered, strangled while out on an evening jog. The strip of blue material used to choke her implicates Drake once again, forcing Will to admit he needs Olivia’s special talent for understanding the minds of killers. It’s clear more innocent women will die if they don’t get one step ahead of the murders, and Olivia knows she will need her estranged father’s help to get close to Drake.

But when Olivia’s profile leads them to believe Drake could be masterminding murders from within the prison walls, a message written on a scrap of paper found in the latest victim’s car leads them to a terrifying realization: Olivia’s little sister will be next…

I’m hooked. Ms. Ellery Kane did a fabulous job convincing me Deck and Olivia were better as a team, then when they worked on their own. She wrote a fantastic mystery, full of twists and turns, with a concrete ending, but a bit of a cliffhanger. She’s a smart author, leaving us just enough to bring us back. And I will be back.

I feel like I've written this a lot lately but...YAY! A new Series!!! Watch Her Vanish starts off so strong and so creepy. A woman is watching a classic thriller alone in a theater. It's the middle of the night. Someone comes into the theater. Someone follows her to her car. You breathe a little easier when she gets into the car and takes off. Never to be seen again.

Soon, everyone in a small town is connected to the case as more women who work in the town's biggest employer, the prison, are endangered and disappear. The case is connected to a convicted serial killer. His therapist and the disgraced detective who put him away in the first place team up to solve the case.

I loved the pace of this book as well as the character development. There were characters that I couldn't stand as the book started that grew and became more complex and human as it went on. Could a killer leave maximum security to kill every stormy night? Does it change your answer if you know he wrote a novel about a killer who does just that? There are so many weird and creepy characters that could be involved.

There are some resolutions but plenty to continue in the next installment. And I cannot wait for it to come out.

As many of you may already be aware of, when it comes to thrillers I want non-stop action and this book started off strong. Readers are immediately transported into the murderer's latest victim's attack; however, it is shortly after this where the book starts to pump the brakes and drag events out for more of that slow-burn feel.

The plot remains suspenseful and kept me turning the pages, but it is because of the diminished action that reduced the stars for me. The best book that I can compare this to would probably be The Chestnut Man by Søren Sveistrup in the sense that the novel tends to focus mainly on the police procedural side of the crime instead of the killer's insight of the crimes. If you were a fan of that novel, then you will most likely enjoy this one way more than I did.

Overall, I'm glad I read the book and found it to be an enjoyable read despite not having specific elements of a thriller that I prefer.

It's been a long time since I've read a thriller that is as captivating as Watch Her Vanish. Set in Fog Harbor, the book follows the story of Olivia Rockwell and the tragedies that continue to strike this idyllic community.

I'm choosing this book for my book club as it's a fun read that keeps you on your toes. I'm an avid reader of mysteries and this book was well worth the investment and time. I loved it! Ellery Kane continues to raise the bar. I only wish it could be made into a movie!

Rating 4.5/5*

Talk about an edge of your seat page turner – wow, this story certainly is just that! When a serial killer strikes, all the evidence points towards Drake – but he’s already imprisoned for five murders and there’s no way he could get out . . . . is there?

As the prison’s Criminal Psychologist, Olivia Rockwell has Drake as one of her patients and she doesn’t believe he is guilty of these latest murders. However, Detective Will Decker is not so sure. The sparks fly when the two first meet but they need to work together to bring the killer to justice – especially when Olivia’s sister could be the next victim….

This is a fast paced, enthralling read that I didn’t want to put down until I’d discovered just who was the perpetrator. It has well developed characters, plenty of twists and turns, is action packed and has enough red herrings to keep you guessing. It is also the start of a new series and I’m hooked, looking forward to reading more involving this duo and seeing where everything lead.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.

Criminal Psychologist Olivia Rockwell has been back home in Fog Harbor, California, since the death of her mother and has been caring for her younger sister. She really is not happy there, but she feels she must stay and make it work. When she hears a scream one night, she immediately reacts and rushes towards the chilling sound, only to see the body of a dead woman.

She approaches the scene, not paying attention to protocol. When Detective Will Decker sees the crime scene disturbed by Olivia he is angry, thinking that his job just has been made more difficult. So the pair start of on rather bad footing.

Olivia, always brilliant, sees right away where the evidence points. However, the suspect in question is behind bars. So how indeed does he come to mind? She has a very difficult job, that of counseling the most violent of prisoners, including a man named Drake, the man to whom the evidence points. Working at the prison is no easy task for Olivia, so despite the rocky start she had with the detective, she begins to search for answers, determined to prove Drake's innocence.

Meanwhile, Olivia has another huge battle on her hands, and this pertains to her family life. Despite the fact that she has cared for her sister since their mothers death, their relationship is on uneven terms. To further complicate Olivia's life, their father, a convicted murderer, is behind bars. Olivia will go the extra mile to keep her father there, and this includes having little or no contact with him.

So, Will Decker has his hands full with the case, and with Olivia butting in, things become quite complicated. What is worse is that the body of another woman is soon found and this hits too close to home for Olivia and her job at the prison, thus bringing her and Will in more contact than either would like.

There is yet another side story that begins to thread everything together regarding the two murders proving that danger is far too close to the lives and safety of others. Whether Olivia and Will manage to work past their differences to stop the killer so that no more young women lose their lives is the question at hand.

This excellent story is layered quite well, especially when it comes to seeing the reach that certain prisoners have even though they are behind bars. The element of danger is high and I was kept on the edge of my seat, especially as I endeavored to try and pinpoint the murderer.

What an excellent first book in what is sure to be a terrific series. I love the fact that Olivia and Will began at odds with one another and I enjoyed watching their progression, especially knowing that there will be future books in this series. Concurrently, there were supporting characters who proved just about as interesting as Olivia and Will, thus making this quite a compelling read. The story, pacing and thrilling conclusion made this book near to impossible to put down.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

I have read every book thus far from this author and she never fails to disappoint. With that said this book is by far my favorite. I love a good thriller, whodunnit, chilling story and we get that in abundance.
Ellery A. Kane knows how to write a story that grabs you and pulls you in till you devour it.
This brand new series finds us with a detective who thought he fled his past, a psychologist who still lives in her past, and many who have no clue of the evil surrounding them. When Olivia and Decker finally work together it's amazing and explosive. I can not wait to see what happens in the next story. Excellent reading.

Watch Her Vanish by Ellery A. Kane is the first novel in the Rockwell and Decker series. This murder-mystery thriller set in a small town offers suspense, intrigue, and a side dish of romance.

Welcome to Fog Harbor, California, where the primary employer is Rockwell Prison, a maximum security penitentiary.

Criminal Psychologist Olivia Rockwell lives with her sister in their family home and both work at the prison. The two have baggage and secrets, but I liked Olivia and found her to be a strong character.

When a missing woman turns up dead, it shakes the small town. Detective Will Decker and his partner are assigned to work the case. When another body turns up, it looks like they may have a serial killer on their hands.

From the initial back-and-forth banter between Olivia and Will, we witness a spark. The two traded barbs and Will eventually seeks her out for assistance on the case, allowing them to interact more.

This was an interesting case, and the author did a wonderful job of making connections and casting doubt. She wove the characters past and present into the cases while weaving in the prison and its inmates. It was intriguing and kept me guessing.

The tale isn’t overly gruesome or heavy on police procedures, but we gain enough insight to paint a gruesome picture. The profiling was fascinating and showcased the author’s background.

Secondary characters from partners to family members were developed and added to the story. They brought humor, worry, and more. I loved Will’s partner. The man made me laugh and offered light against the dark investigation.

We see a relationship develop between Olivia and Will, one I think will grow over the course of the series. It was a nice side dish to the murder mystery.

Fans of Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh will want to add Watch Her Vanish to their reading list this fall.

Watch Her Vanish by Ellery A. Kane is the first book in her new Rockwell and Decker series. Prior to this, I read The First Cut which was so good that I gave it a five-star rating, so I was keen to get stuck into this crime thriller. Olivia Rockwell is the lead criminal psychologist at the local prison in her hometown of Fog Harbor, California and one of her most violent patients, Drake Devere is implicated in the murder of a missing teacher. Sure of Devere's innocence in this crime, Olivia and Detective Will Decker get to work, together with JB, Deck's number two and somewhat old-school partner, and they soon realise they are hunting a serial killer when another woman is found, strangled.

Watch Her Vanish was mostly narrated from Olivia and Deck’s viewpoints, with tension added in the victims’ final minutes of life. The plot was well thought-out and compelling, with a lot going on. The characters all had strong personalities and Olivia and Deck made a formidable team. I got a true sense of the main characters and rather liked them. The author's writing was fluent, and I never found myself bored or bogged down with detail. There were many moments of humour that had me smiling and I couldn't put it down as I needed to see what motivated the killer. The main storylines are well wrapped up leaving a few loose strings for development in future books.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Bookouture via NetGalley at my request, and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

This book is excellent!! A fast paced thriller that kept you on the edge of your seat!! A book to be read in one sitting!!

I loved Watch her Vanish it was a suspenseful crime thriller that I truly enjoyed. I read it in two sitting and I loved the relationship between Olivia and Will it was an intense read but I was in for the ride. It was a GREAT one. The Story starts off with a bang and just keeps getting better. I was sure I thought I knew how the book would end but it took a right turn and I was surprised by the great ending. A good read for anyone that enjoys the Rizzoli and Isles books or the Robin Cook's books of Jack and Laurie. I would recommend this to everyone that enjoys a good suspenseful read. Loved it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for my advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

My interest in psychology started when I was young and grew through college when I chose it as my major. This book fascinated me, and it was not only from the viewpoint of someone who loves reading mysteries but also from the viewpoint of someone who has become quite adept at figuring out "whodunnit" just from my college courses. I know people, I understand how they think, why they take the actions they do, and I have seriously missed my calling as a forensic psychologist, to be quite honest. So when I say that I was shocked when I got to the end of the book, that is saying something significant. There was a point about halfway through the book where my sixth sense was tingling, but I ignored it because I couldn't imagine that it was leading me anywhere. I should have listened. You will never guess who committed the crime.

Fog Harbor, California is a small, quiet town until a woman suddenly goes missing and is found days later, strangled and in plain sight of the church where a vigil was being held in her honor. All signs point to a man criminal psychology Olivia Rockwell knows only too well...because she is treating him at the local maximum security prison. Detective Will Decker thinks Olivia could be the key to solving this case, if only he could get her to cooperate instead of trying to convince him that her patient is innocent of the crime. When a second body is found, in the same manner of death as the first victim, the "s" word begins to be thrown around, and Will and Olivia realize that time is now swiftly running out. If they don't catch the killer soon, it could be Olivia's neck on the line next.

I can't give you too much detail without giving things away, and half the fun in reading this wild ride of a book is the surprises around every corner. While Olivia and Will have a bit of romance sparking throughout the book, the real pleasure in reading the story comes from trying to decipher the truth. Is it possible that Drake Devere, the murderer safely locked away, is actually escaping to commit murders and then smuggling himself back into jail? It all seems so impossible and yet...is it possible? You'll ask yourself this question over and over again as Olivia and Will get closer to the truth. You'll question the motives of everyone, and soon every character is a suspect. Olivia's history is a sad one that she keeps hidden from those around her, and when you find out more about it, you begin to wonder if she can truly be an unbiased observer, just as Will wonders when he discovers her truth. And then you look at Will and his sordid past, and you wonder if he just wants to brighten up his reputation once more. This is not a book to read when you've got a lot of things on your mind, because you'll need every brain cell to focus on this mystery.

I'm super excited that this is just the first in a series with Olivia and Will in the starring roles! I love murder mysteries, and the psychology thrown in is the cherry on top of what is sure to be an amazing series.

This is a great start to a new series.
Olivia is attending a church service when she hears a scream outside. She goes over to help and sees that a body has been discovered.
The body is of a woman she knows from work as a psychologist at the prison.
Detective Will Decker is next on the scene and it’s clear there’s something between him and Olivia.
It takes a while for the two of them to get used to each other but soon they’re working together to try and find a murderer.
All signs point to the killer being Drake who is currently in prison - but how could he have got out?
Soon someone close to Olivia is in grave danger and they have to pull out all the stops to get there in time.
I really liked the two main characters and look forward to finding out what’s next for them.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

He’s locked away behind bars, yet all signs point towards him as the murderer!

Olivia Rockwell is a criminal psychologist in a small town jail, where things are sometimes overlooked and thing don’t always work. Her and Sister Emily are all each other have now as they struggle adjusting to small town life.

Then the first body is found, missing mother and wife Bonnie who coincidentally works at the jail with Liv. All motive and evidence points toward Olivia’s most harmful patient Drake, whom in one jail for murdering women the same way Bonnie was murdered. He plead innocence from behind bars but something doesn’t add up.

Liv meets Detective Decker when they get off on the wrong foot. Liv became a criminal physiologist because her own father was behind bars for murder. Then there’s a second body linked to the jail and the small town no longer feels safe.

In the end Liv and Deck work together to try and solve the cases. Their chemistry building tension between them. This had me guessing right until the very end, there’s so many lies and secrets in this small town, can Liv make it out alive and keep Emily safe?

I really liked this book. Olivia and Will were very intriguing characters and I really liked the relationship that they developed throughout the book. The mystery behind Drake Devere and the way the story unfolded was so masterfully done. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire book. The twists and turns were very good and I didn't see a lot of them coming. The ending was so good as well.

I would recommend this book if you like a very good thriller.

Watch Her Vanish is the first instalment in the Doctor Olivia Rockwell, who is a Criminal Psychologist, and Detective Will Decker series, set in Fog Harbour, California. Olivia Rockwell apprehensively returned to Fog Harbour two years ago to look after her younger sister, Emily. Presently, she is in charge of the Mental Health Unit at Crescent Bay State Prison. Detective Will ”Deck” Decker moved to Fog Harbour from San Francisco PD in an attempt to get his career back on track. Both have secrets that they are hiding. When one of Olivia’s female colleagues, Bonnie McMillan, from the prison disappears and her body is discovered garotted and with a clear indication that her clothes had been tampered with, Olivia is rocked to her core. Then when the MO and evidence gathered points to an inmate, Drake Devere, who is one of Olivia’s patients she doesn't know what to think. Will Decker also has history with Devere, aka The Vulture, as he was the one put him behind bars. Then the body of kitchen supervisor, Laura Ricci, is discovered. Devere is the most dangerous of all those behind bars having killed five women but how exactly can he have been involved when he's incarcerated in a maximum-security facility?

This is a stonker of a serial killer thriller as Kane shows her prowess when it comes to penning a story that'll get under your skin. It's tense from the outset and continues to grow ever more so until turning every page is a daunting task of what-ifs and the team are chasing down every possible lead in their desperation to bring the killings to a close. It's a chilling and thrilling race against the clock to identify and apprehend the killer before more lives are lost. The team is made up of intelligent, interesting characters whose only thought is getting justice for what has happened. There is sexual tension between Will and Olivia who must work together to solve the case and both have troubled pasts they would rather keep hidden. Will’s partnership with JB gets off on the wrong foot but they soon become accustomed to one another. The narrative never lets up and is not only packed with intense action it is full of suspense, drama and intrigue too. There are some clever and unpredictable twists and turns and the well-conceived plot makes this an absorbing, immersive and addictive page-turner. Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.

Definitely a 'whodunnit' - thing is, I couldn't quite work out who!

Olivia Rockwell has returned to Fog Harbor in California to be close to her sister. The local state prison, Crescent Bay, provides a lot of employment locally, including Olivia who is a psychologist there. When another employee's missing body is found, all the evidence leads to Olivia's most serious inmate - but how can it have anything to do with him while he's safely locked up 24/7? Olivia wants to believe the system works - after all, it's kept her father safely locked away for a number of years - and embarks on her own investigation but locks horns with Detective Will Decker, who is officially dealing with her colleague's death. Surely there must be a plausible explanation - but who will find it first?

A well-plotted mystery, full of secrets but ending up with everything clearly laid out but I would have liked it to be just a bit sharper, grabbing my focus instead of just asking for it. The story is good but it didn't set my pulse racing, unfolding at it's own pace until it's all explained by the last page. It'll be interesting to see where this series heads next though, and I'll certainly watch out for the next book. Sometimes, it just takes the first one to set it all up. Four stars for this one.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley and to Galaxy Media for my spot on this tour; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.