I enjoyed this rather unsettling book. Psychologist Olivia Rockwell returned to Fog Harbour, California, two years ago to keep an eye on her much younger sister, Emily. She heads up the Mental Health Unit at the Crescent Bay State Prison (CBSP). Detective Will Decker (Deck) moved to Fog Harbour from the SFPD to reset his career. Both have skeletons in their closets. So when someone starts killing women who work at the prison these two get a bit antsy.

The first to die is Bonnie McMillan who turns up dead virtually at her own memorial service after she has been missing for a few days. She has been strangled. Then the body of Laura Ricci, the CBSP kitchen supervisor is found similarly killed. The very limited evidence points back to the prison and the rumour mill points to Drake Devere. Devere is a serial killer of five women who can nevertheless be quite charming. He has also written a fictional best seller about, unsurprisingly, a serial killer, presumably modelled upon himself. He knew both the dead women. But how can a prisoner in a maximum security facility get out there and kill people?

When yet another female prison worker and Emily’s good friend goes missing the rumour mill goes wild and the names of suspects get bandied around wildly. By this point the tension is as thick as the fog that settles over the aptly named Fog Harbour. Nobody knows who to trust. Deck is working as hard as he can but he is convinced something smells fishy in this whole set-up. Olivia is also determined to find the truth and when Deck won’t go along with her wild schemes she goes rogue.

This book gets more and more unsettling as it races towards an explosive conclusion that I didn’t see coming until it was almost upon me. It could have been a five star read but the early chapters were, not slow but a little hard to follow with information and characters thrown at you rapidly. Once that settled down and I worked what was what and who was who it surpassed my expectations with clever plotting and a diabolical plot. This will appeal to anyone who enjoys a thriller, psychological thriller or mystery story. Many thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and Ellery Kane for my review copy. My opinions are my own.

Ellery Kane's Watch Her Vanish is the first in the Rockwell and Decker series featuring a prison psychiatrist, Olivia Rockwell, and Detective Will Decker. Women are being murdered in Fog Harbor - Olivia's home town that she reluctantly came home to - and the key suspect in the murders is Drake, one of Olivia's most dangerous patients... but he's behind bars. While in prison, Drake wrote a novel that intertwines with the murders, as well as Olivia's past with her father. And the ending!!! WOWZA!!! The author has left such a cliffhanger that I cannot wait to get my hands on the next installment in this series!

This is the first in the Rockwell and Decker series and my first novel by this author.

The name of the town “Fog Harbor” got me; it reminded me of the fictional town of Cabot Cove.
from the “Murder She Wrote” series with Jessica Fletcher.
Nope not a cozy mystery! I am okay with that but so sad that it just did not grab me.
I so wanted to love this…Many times when I read psychological thrillers and detective stories I totally moan at the use of nasty language. So was happy with a clean story; but then so sad but I just did not love this story. Doesn’t mean it wasn’t good, it just didn’t work for me and trust me I wanted it to work!!
I am sure this novel will find appreciative. We all have such different taste in what we like to read!
I will read another novel by this author.

Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for this early release granted to me in exchange for an honest professional review. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for October 9, 2020

Absolutely fantastic suspense story. I couldn’t put it down once I started. I definitely can’t wait fir the next in the series to come out.

Fast paced crime thriller. Chief prison psychologist Olivia Rockwell must work with Detective Will Decker to solve a string of murders and all evidence points to an incarcerated violent patient of Dr. Rockwell's.
While I enjoyed the book, the lead characters have the stereotypical love/hate relationship and they are both strong but damaged by their pasts. This is the first book in a series so I wasn't overly surprised by it ending in a cliffhanger. I look forward to the next book, hoping for a few less cliches and no cliffhanger.

As a reader, if an author's inability to reel me in to the story from the get-go, I mark it down as a failure.

This novel was uninspiring, dull, and mediocre at best. There wasn't much to say about the characters. No one stood out and the romance aspect between Olivia and Will—I didn't buy it. I wasn't able to see the connection and would have thought they would have worked better as partners than romantic interests.

To add on to that, let's talk about the plot. It just wasn't interesting enough to keep me intrigued and way too easy to determine the person behind the gruesome murders hence the skimming. I'm almost too ashamed to admit how much skimming there was. The storyline was drawn out and quite boring, and it just wasn't a decent whodunnit mystery thriller to me. It's hard to put it into words but there was that something something lacking that could've made this an exponential read.

Sadly with the lack of positives going on with this novel, I am not driven enough to continue with the series.

The writing in itself is OK, but none of the characters are "normal". They all have some strange background, and a lot of stupid actions are taken in order to make this plot. Not my kind of book.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of Watch Her Vanish, the first novel to feature psychologist Olivia Rockwell and Detective Will Decker, set in Fog Harbour, California.

Olivia is working as a psychologist in the local prison, Crescent City, when one of her workmates disappears. It’s not long before her body is discovered, garrotted with her clothes in disarray. She’s only the first victim and Deck and his partner JB realise they’re are hunting a serial killer and the prime suspect is an inmate.

Watch Her Vanish is very much a mixed bag with some good bits and some inexplicable bits. It is mostly narrated from Olivia and Deck’s points of view, with tension added by the victims’ final minutes before they are stopped by the killer. The killer’s identity is not revealed until the denouement but it’s not too hard to guess although the motive is more elusive. This latter isn’t particularly original but it has some unusual touches.

I found the actual plot quite compelling as there is a lot going on. The victims may or may not be as innocent as they initially seem and there are hints of gang activity and smuggling. Unfortunately these threads are picked up and put down throughout the novel with no real forward momentum and no resolution. There are further complications to this scenario but I don’t want to add spoilers. I found it all incredibly frustrating but this and the cliffhanger ending suggest a roadmap for the sequel. Some readers may like this approach but I know I don’t because I’ll have forgotten most of this book by the time I get round to reading the next one, if I do.

I’m not really sure what to say about the characters. I have no understanding of Olivia’s thought processes and actions. For an educated woman with a doctorate in psychology her decision making is poor and impulsive. I could list various examples but why bother? Deck is a strong manly man, masking his emotions and past. You get the picture.

Watch Her Vanish is interesting in some ways, clichéd in others and disjointed in its outcome.

Never read an Ellery A. Kane Book I didn't like, but this book is one of the Best. I read to enjoy, I'm not the greatest detective (OK/Fair), but this one I didn't see coming. This is one you don't want to put down and I have to say I didn't, who needs a clean house. The characters are interesting, all with their own agenda. Olivia and Will do make an interesting not a couple/couple. Grab the book and grab a quiet corner, ENJOY!

Watch her Vanish is a cant miss mystery in Ellery A. Kane new series Rockwell and Decker.
The author creates a small town that reader will be able to connect with as well the the troubles Criminal Psychologist Olivia Rockwell comes across she she is desperately trying to find her sister.
While Watch Her Vanish is a "Who Don it" Instead of using a clue like format they author uses the different characters who work alone until they are unable to more forward.
Readers might figure out quickly the connections and why the person is murdering the women. Yet its the story and not the easily figured out murder that will keep readers connected.
Rocker and Decker series is the start of a new mystery series that readers can not miss out on.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of Elery A Kane Watch her Vanish.

Watch Her Vanish is the first book in the Decker and Rockwell series. Set in California, Olivia Rockwell, the chief psychologist at Crescent Bay Prison, is forced to work with police detective Will Decker to solve a series of murders. The victims of these murders are all women -- all of them were employees at Crescent Bay Prison.

Somewhat of a "whodunnit" mystery, Watch Her Vanish approaches the classic "whodunnit" from a different angle. The evidence gathered at the crime scenes all lead to the same suspect -- a suspect that is already incarcerated at Crescent Bay Prison. How can that be?

Watch Her Vanish is the first book that I've read from the author, Ellery Kane and I liked it. While I am a fan of mysteries, I am not that fond of cliffhangers, which is how this novel ended. I would have preferred that the crime be solved and new crime be introduced in the following installment, with the same cast of characters.

I rated it 3 stars (liked it.) However, for those readers that enjoy or don't mind cliffhanger endings, this novel will not disappoint.

I received a digital ARC from Bookouture through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

Although I was slightly confused at the very beginning trying to keep the characters straight, it didn't take long to get it all figured out. The action was fast paced from the first page. I liked the twists that led up to the climax and it had a satisfying conclusion.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read this book. I wanted to like this book. I loved the description, and the main character is a woman. But really "Forced home to Fog Harbor, California, to look after her little sister" it's not like her sister is 10 years old! That being said, I did not like their relationship, not sure why but they annoyed me. So many characters and so many stories, I understand this is the first in a series, Halfway through, I already felt overwhelmed and was having trouble keeping everyone straight. I ended up skimming the rest of the book, hoping something would catch my interest. The book was too long, maybe better editing would help?

I was a little let down by this one. Parts are so cliched -- the detective is tough, handsome and rugged, with a painful past. He's instantly attracted to the female lead, a beautiful, smart psychologist who has her own painful past, but he also instantly bristles to her. They do the old "love 'em, hate 'em" thing where they both rankle each other and everybody knows they're smitten. She's strong except in his arms. All that.

The main story is that women who work for a prison keep ending up dead, and the main suspects either work in the prison or (for the biggest suspect) are in the prison. It's an atmospheric novel set in a small coastal town surrounded by forest. There's lots of back story for both main characters, and it's kind of annoying in that you don't know what's going on and it's supposed to make you wonder but it just made me feel like I've walked in halfway through a book.

I guessed most of the whodunnit part right from the beginning. I found it very predictable. Another part of the whodunnit annoyed me a lot as a reader, but I won't say what because it's a spoiler. I consider it a sign of pretty bad writing though. I also really get tired of supposedly smart female protagonists doing ridiculously dangerous things and then having to get rescued by the man.

The biggest letdown of all for me is that this ends on a cliffhanger. I knew all along that it was the first in a series but I'm used to detective series that tell one crime per book even if they continue on with the personal story lines. This one ends with the crime part unresolved and you're supposed to stay tuned for book number two to find out what happens next. It is not at all standalone.

For those who like this formula -- beautiful but wounded main characters, a clean love story, lots of wondering about what really happened in their pasts, evil bad guys, cat and mouse games, lots of murder (nothing gory or gratuitous) -- this will deliver well. I liked it, but didn't love it, and was pretty annoyed by several key parts.

I read a digital ARC of this book for review.

WATCH HER VANISH by Ellery A. Kane is a crime thriller and the first book in the new Rockwell and Decker series. It is also the first book that I have read by this author. Olivia Rockwell is the head psychologist at the local prison and one of her most violent patients is implicated in the murder of a missing teacher. How is this possible? He is in prison. Is he guilty? Is someone setting him up as the culprit?

Olivia as well as lead detective, Will Decker, took a while to get to know, but they were definitely characters you could root for. Their motivations and actions seemed believable. The secondary characters were a mix of good and bad. They enhanced the story and the relationships seemed believable. The plot was complex with multiple story lines. The author also did a good job of interspersing some humor. Themes include family, trauma, secrets, violence, murder and much more. While the main story lines are resolved, there are several threads that can be developed in future books in the series.

Overall, this was a fast-paced read that had high stakes and some unusual plot twists. If you are a fan of crime thrillers, then you may want to check this one out. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series as well as checking out other books by this author.

Bookouture and Ellery A. Kane provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review and opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

A woman is found murdered. Criminal Psychologist Olivia thinks the culprit is her most dangerous patient, but he is behind bars. Then another woman is found murdered, strangled like the first victim, both related to the local penitentiary. She must find a way to proof her patient is guilty.

I wonder if I was in “the wrong mood” to read this book, but something did not work for me at all. It is not a bad book by any means, but I did not click with this book. There were too many people with so many backstories, and it was hard for me to keep track of all of them. There is nothing wrong with the writing, but I think the book should be shorter. It lost a bit of its focus somewhere in the middle. Then I felt like I just want this to over with, so who’s behind the murders and why. It is still a decent read, but to be honest, I would not read it again (wanting to reread a book is my definition of a good/great book).

I for a free copy through NetGalley in an exchange for an honest review.

Watch Her Vanish by Ellery Kane
1st book in new series and it starts off with a scream! Excellent storyline, characters are well fleshed out and you come to know them and their weaknesses and strengths, this book was a fast read and kept my interest all the way through. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a good mystery that grabs ahold and keeps you reading till the end! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this book and letting me leave my opinion!!

What a great start to a new series. This is a crime thriller with a hint of romance. I was glued to the pages until the end. Large cast of characters both good and bad.

This book is centered around the residents of Fog Harbor, California where the majority of them work for the Crescent Bay State Prison. When one of their employees is murdered the signs point to incarcerated serial killer Drake Devere. But his psychologist Olivia Rockwell doesn't understand how a man on death row could have committed a murder outside the prison. Is he being framed? When more women are murdered Olivia is perplexed about what is going on.

Homicide Detective Will Decker was one of the cops that finally brought Drake to justice years ago. He knows Drake is more than capable of these new murders but just doesn't understand how he could be pulling them off.

Both Olivia and Will were fascinating characters with dark past histories that are defining them in the present. The most fascinating character of all in the book was defiantly Drake. Any more on that would be a spoiler. I am looking forward to the next book.

There is something about finding a new author and the first book in a new series that makes me slightly dizzy with anticipation.
Watch Her Vanish(Rockwell & Decker Book 1) is set in Fog Harbor, California. Most of the characters work in some capacity at the Crescent State Bay Prison. Olivia Rockwell is the psychology staff supervisor who meets Detective Will Decker when the body of a missing woman is discovered. She also worked at the prison, and it seems one of Olivia's patients, Derek Devere is a likely suspect. Because he is on death row, it seems unlikely that he escaped just to commit this crime. But does he have an accomplice on the outside, or is a copy cat killer using him to cover his tracks?
Rockwell and Decker both have interesting and complicated backstories. There were quite a few twists and turns and I think I looked twice at most of the characters, trying to decide who was guilty. Just when I thought I had everything tied up in a neat little package, the author pulled the rug out from underneath me. I always enjoy a good game of whodunnit and why, and I look forward to seeing what comes next.

I loved this crime thriller and had a hard time putting it down. Ellery Kane has done a great job with her character development and a surprise at the ending! Dr Rockwell is the doctor handling Drake’s case. He is already in prison for serial murders but evidence keeps pointing to him. Detective Decker is the one who put Drake in prison and is sure he is involved with the serial murders happening currently. Sparks fly between Rockwell and Decker as they work together to try and solve the murders. I received an ARC copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.