Member Reviews
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I really enjoyed this and found the flashback format worked well. Good writing and characters, it hooked me from the beginning and had plenty of twists and turns. I’d certainly recommend this to fans of the genre!
Well written suspense novel brilliant storyline,kept me guessing from start to finish.Would recommend this book and author to anyone who likes mystery novels.Would not have suspected Margo was the guilty party.Great read thanks.
A very slow predictable and unbelievable book.
Margo returns to her home town to look after her father after he had surgery.
She then befriends her old school bullies which seems unbelievable to me .or very forgiven, then the body of an old school friend that went missing 15yr ago is found, when a TV crew turns up to investigate the murder Margo helps with the interviews' I found Margo very unpredictable, childish and unbelievable on things she did
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review
Jessie German disappeared on her way home from school on 26th May 2006. She was never seen again and there were no clues as to what had happened to her.
Margo her best friend moved away shortly after and hasn’t been back since, however returning home trying to pick up the pieces of her failed marriage. When the news breaks that a body has been found in the old swimming hole.. it turns out this has been where Jessie has been for the last 15 years.
Margo decides to investigate, using her old diary and assists the crew from a documentary series Into Thin Air as they try to find out what happened to Jessie.
Full of suspense and told through the view points of Margo and Austin as the prepare the show Into Thin Air. Suspicion is thrown onto a lot of people, which keeps you guessing. I thought I had it a few times before I actually got it.
Thank to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. I will be seeking out more from these authors
I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery that kept me hooked. I appreciated the flashback, the plot, and the characters.
Some less dialogue would have helped.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
In 2004, Jessie Germaine disappeared on the evening of May 26, & no-one has seen or heard from her since. Her friend, Margo, left Lake Moss to go to university & hasn't returned until now & just as she returns, after her divorce, & to look after her dad who is resting after an operation, she hears that Jessie's remains have been found. Margo runs into an old friend, Austin, who is part of the crew filming a documentary about Jessie's case, & Margo offers to help. As the interviews take place, it becomes clear that quite of few of Jessie's old friend group people are hiding something.
First of all, I found it to be very well-written. The character of Margo is particularly easy to empathise with, & I thought her tentative romance with Austin didn't overwhelm the focus of the story. I read it in just over 24 hours so it's safe to say it kept my attention well. Unlike some of the other reviews, I have to say that I found the twist ending entirely predictable - I even worked out why it had happened. It didn't spoil my reading experience, but I had to knock half a star off my original rating for being too predictable, so 3.5 stars it is. (rounded up to 4 stars on sites which don't allow half star ratings).
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Avon Books UK, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
Sadly, I worked out who the perpetrator was and more or less why very early in the story. Unfortunately most of the characters in the tale are unpleasant and self-serving. I didn't even feel any empathy for the dead girl, Jessie and I felt no sympathy for Margo, who came across as very immature.
Having said all that I did want to follow through with the story to confirm my correct suspicions.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Steph Mullin; Nicole Mabry/Avon Books for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
This was super interesting mystery/thriller about a woman who returns to her hometown years after her best friend disappeared. When she returns, her best friend's body is found and she is thrust into the center of the investigation. I thoroughly enjoyed the concept and the mystery, and I had to keep reading to know what happened. I didn't vibe with the writing style too much; I felt like the dialogue felt very forced and not very natural. I did however, really like the ending and was extremely satisfied with how it all turned out.
Thank you Avon Books and Netgalley for the early copy.
I loved Steph and Nicole's last book but this one was just not for me.
The story is a slow burn and I could not get through it, I could not connect to any of the characters.
I did end up DNF'ing this one but I am sure there is a reader out there for it, just was not one for me.
When She Disappeared by Steph Mullin and Nicole Mabry has Margo back in Lake Moss after fifteen years. On her way into town, she learns Jessie Germaine who disappeared in 2004 has been found in the local high school swimming hole. Margo teams up with her old friend, Austin who now works on the documentary show to uncover the truth. I was looking forward to reading When She Disappeared because it sounded like a suspenseful thriller (I have been wanting to read a twisty whodunit filled with tension that would have me on the edge of my seat). When She Disappeared has a fifteen-year-old mystery, unreliable narrator, a variety of suspects, and a documentary crew who wants the truth. I did not feel that the elements came together into one cohesive whole. The story moves at a very slow pace (I have seen snails move faster) and the authors are extremely verbose. We do not need to know what Margo is wearing each time she goes out with Austin (nor her makeup choices). The main character, Margo is an unlikeable woman. It is hard to enjoy a story when you do not like the MC. None of the characters are fleshed out. They are flat from lack of development. The mystery can be solved early in the story. The ending was a big disappointment. There is a lot of repetition in the book. At least a quarter of the book could have been edited from duplication. When She Disappeared lacked the right elements to make it a suspenseful, engaging novel. While When She Disappeared was not for me, I suggest that you obtain a sample to check it out for yourself. When She Disappeared failed to satisfy my craving for a suspenseful whodunit.
Margo has to come back to her childhood town to take care of her dad. With so bad memories of her moms death and her missing best friend, she doesn't want to stay long. Not long after she's back they find Jessies body in a local swimming hole. Back when she disapered a True Crime show covered her case and now they are are back with an old class mate.
I really enjoyed the pacing of the story. How everyone had faults you can see how antsy they got when they are put under the spot light and investigation. I love True Crime so I was really interested in the part of how they were trying to find answers. I got suspicions early on of who I thought did it, and this time I was able to guess but liked I wasn't able to say 100% for sure. The budding relationship in the story was a nice touch as we got to know Margo and Austin better. Margo's relationship with her dad was interesting as well, all the trauma they both faced that was effecting the now. I liked the way it ended, I don't want to give anything away but it felt very real and could happen in real life.
Thank you to Avon Books and Netgalley for my copy for early review.
My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Avon Books UK for the electronic copy.
Although the start of the story was good, I'm afraid it didn't continue in the same vein. This seems to have a narrative of two halves which is barely brought together in a twisty conclusion. First of all, the main theme is that the body of Jessie Germaine is discovered after 15 years at the bottom of a swimming hole. When she first disappeared the programme "Into Thin Air" tried to investigate but the local police were of a mind to think she had run away. On the same day, Margo is returning home to Lake Moss to care for her father - a teacher and coach for years at the local high school - recovering from surgery. It's a shock, both to her and the inhabitants of this small town USA, afterall, Jessie was her best friend?
Secondly - Austin, on whom Margo had had a crush in high school, has also come back to town but he's with the "Into Thin Air" team ready to re-open the investigation now a body has been found.
So, Margo and Austin team-up to interview all the likely candidates in this scenario - who might have killed Jessie? Meanwhile the narrative conveys a rather "adolescent" continuation of the attraction between Margo and Austin, and the concentration of Margo's descriptions of houses' decorative attributes, and her own choice of clothes and makeup really make for some boring reading. Although I think the writing attempted to convey tension and suspense as Margo acquires a stalker on social media and feels she's being followed, I'm sorry, but it just wasn't believable.
Sorry, but that's my opinion.
I must confess, every once in a while I scroll through NetGalley to see what’s available. When I saw the cover and title for When She Disappeared by Steph Mullin & Nicole Mabry, I thought OK. Then I read the blurb and I had to have it.
I love small towns, where everyone knows your name…and all the secrets. How can a killer hide in plain sight? I got curious to see if the author(s) could pull off the mystery of the culprit, or, at least, get and keep the suspense to a high level that would keep me flipping the virtual pages. No worries there. These ladies did that very well.
After her failed marriage, Margo put Wilmington in her rearview mirror and headed home, to Lake Moss and her ailing father. Memories flood her, and, as she pulled into the driveway, the radio announced that her best fried, who had been missing for many years, had been found. What a homecoming.
I wish Margo would confide in Austin about her fears. I would, and I fear it may be in her best interests if she does. I feel she is in danger, alone, vulnerable and by hanging her out there by herself, Steph and Nicole had me fretting more and more…every time there was a noise in the house, a light flickered, a dog barked, a bush rustled….
When She Disappeared by Steph Mullin & Nicole Mabry was so much more than I expected. The book was long enough that I had to put it down, unable to finish it in one sitting. I fought the urge to know…to finish the twisty trail to the end.
Well done ladies. I LOVED it.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of When She Disappeared by Steph Mullin & Nicole Mabry.
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This was a welcome surprise! I usually love anything that involves high school drama, flashbacks, diary entries, and things like that. Checked all the boxes, plus throw in a cold-case documentary and a GREAT twist!?? Sign me up! I don't want to give much away but read this! The characters are well written, fast-paced and you really feel a part of the town of Lake Moss. The story focuses on a girl missing for 15 years, body is found, and high school friend returns and tries to help find out what happened. Again, no spoilers, just give this one a chance! Look forward to more from these 2 authors!
Thank you to #NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this ARC.
This is my first novel by Steph Mullin and Nicole Mabry and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This is such a thrilling ride of a novel and if you love a good old mystery then this will be right up your street.
We meet Margo, returning to her hometown where many years ago her friend vanished, never to be heard of again. Whilst on her return there is the news that her old friend, Jessie's body has been recovered and this sets off the premise of the novel.
The towns people gossip about who or what killed Jessie and Margo is haunted about the past. I have to admit, that I did work out who the killer was quite early on in the storytelling, but it did not tarnish this read for me personally.
A good novel that is worth a read, especially if you like a good mystery.
Thanks to the authors, the publishers and to NetGalley for allowing me a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
This story started off well and the first chapter intrigued me. However I felt it went downhill from there and I couldn’t finish as it didn’t have the right draw. Had I persevered it may have been ok
A really good, twisty murder mystery thriller about a girl who went missing years ago and how it links to the present day. Set in a small town where everybody knows everyone else, This book has an excellent surprise ending though let down by too much dialogue, in my opinion.
Well worth a read and is recommended.
Thanks to Galley and Avon Books UK for the chance to read and review.
When She Disappeared by Steph Mullin and Nicole Mabry Is about a young woman named Margo who comes home to help take care of her dad after surgery. Her arrival coincides with the remains being discovered of her best friend Jessie who went missing when they were seniors in high school. Margo is shocked and doesn’t know what to think. Everybody thought that maybe Jessie just ran off 15 years earlier. This event brings back a lot of old pain and trauma that Margot went through as a teen a young child. Her mother died when she was 12 and her and Jessie grew apart. They reconnected their senior year of high school only for Jessie to disappear.
While Margo is back helping take care of her dad, who was a teacher and basketball coach at the high school, she runs into her old friend Austin. He is in town with an investigative journalism TV show and is the sound producer. He invites Margo to go along with him to do pre-interviews for the people who were closest to Jessie. This causes problems for Margo. She starts getting threats online and in person.
I very much enjoyed the way this book was written. It was from Margo‘s point of view only. I wasn’t sure whether I could believe everything she was telling me. There were also some diary entries from when she was younger that gave clues to what might actually be going on. The end was somewhat shocking to me. I wish there would’ve been a little bit more detail to one of the parts of the ending. I would’ve liked to know more about a certain situation that turned out to be something that was going on with Jessie disappeared. Other than that, I read this book very quickly because little by little tidbits of information were being given to me and I could not wait to find out what actually happened. You should definitely read this book if you like mysteries, unreliable narrators, stories about teens. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
This was a well written thriller that I did enjoy reading. All the characters were well described and ortrayed life at college so well with BFF, bitchiness and emotion laid bare. . There was plenty of clues throughout the book to make a good guess at the ending but it did not spoilt the reading. The scenes were so clearly described that I felt I was there seeing it all so clearly. Sadly the descriptions of places were so intense that they did become bogged down with verbosity at times, but the result was well worth it.
Margo returning home gave her so many intense issues, relating to her mothers death and then the discovery of her friends body after so many years.
I had really enjoyed The Family Tree from Steph Mullin and Nicole Mabry and was expecting similar from their second book When She Disappeared. When Margo returns to Lake Moss to care for her dad following surgery she has to face a lot of demons she has failed to expunge from her past. Also returning is an adolescent crush, Austin, who is working on a TV programme Into Thin Air…. This investigation has been resurrected due to the recent discovery of the body of Jessie, Margo’s best friend. It’s not long before the Margo and Adam pair up to interview the lengthy list of murder suspects. It’s a twisty plot with many unreliable characters, Margo included. Ultimately though the storyline drowns under a lack of editing and poor writing. There was a deluge of extraneous detail about paintwork, furniture, food and make up that added nothing to the story and hampered the flow and all tension disappeared. Whatever perceived danger Margo felt was soon ameliorated by putting on make up, a sundress and eating and/or drinking beer. Such a disappointing read and an easily guessed finale. Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.