As a big fan of #AGoodGirlsGuidetoMurder, I couldn’t wait to read this #YAdebut from Ripley Jones, also featuring a true crime podcast! I love the basis of this mystery being set 20 years ago! So excited to see what more is to come from Jones!

Thank you, Ripley Jones, @Wednesday Books, St Martins Press & Netgalley for my advance copy! All opinions are my own!

I really enjoyed this book, the story and the way it was written was pretty cool. The author did an awesome job at keeping the suspense till the end. I was soo into this book. I just wanted to keep readying. There was so much backstory and hidden things. Lots of twists and turns. It was an interesting read and it was a fun one also. If you like mysteries and suspense. This one is for you.

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress , @wednesdaybooks for giving the chance to read and review this book.

So, I’ve come to realize lately that I just don’t really enjoy too many books from the YA genre anymore. However, this one did surprise me! The first 50% was a little slow for me, but I also feel like it was mostly necessary to build the story. The last half had me on the edge. It kept me guessing about who may have killed Clarissa. Cam did get on my nerves sometimes, as did Blair BUT they’re teenagers and that’s typical! Overall, I ended up truly enjoying the mystery of the story! The books also touched on a lot of heavy topics for teens and I feel like it was nicely done.

Cam and Blair, high school students are as different as could be. Cam is a socially awkward straight A student. Blair, an aspiring writer thinks she will never amount to anything. She is constantly battling her needy boyfriend, James and her best friend, Cam. Cam and Blair are in a journalism class, and for their senior project they decide to make a podcast about a local legend, Clarissa Campbell, a local girl who went missing 20 years before. They have no idea what they are doing and start ruffling feathers by asking questions. They talk to all the old players and rip open all the old wounds. There are a lot of layers to the mystery and multiple things are learned during their podcast.

There were some frustrating parts, in Cam's impetuous nature, leaping without thinking and not considering the impact on anyone, but maybe that is just the teenage years. Overall, I really liked the story. I liked the characters, Blair's increase in self esteem as the book progressed, and the ending had a nice twist. If you are a fan of Girls Guide to Murder, then this is absolutely a must read.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book. All thoughts are my own.

4.5 Stars. Fantastic debut. Really enjoyed this YA read. Cameron and Blair are great characters. As are some of the supporting characters, like Sophie and Mr. Park. The mystery abotu Clarissa's disappearance is well done; the sleuthing of Blair and Cameron is well done. I enjoyed the podcast/true crime aspect of this novel.

"In August of 1999, dazzlingly popular cheerleader Clarissa Campbell disappears from a party in the woods outside the rural town of Oreville, Washington and is never seen again. The police question her friends, teachers, and the adults who knew her—who all have something to hide. And thanks to Clarissa’s beauty, the mystery captures the attention of the nation. But with no leads and no body, the case soon grows cold. Despite the efforts of internet sleuths and true-crime aficionados, Clarissa is never found—dead or alive.

Over twenty years later, Oreville high-school juniors and best friends Blair and Cameron start a true crime podcast, determined to unravel the story of what—or who—happened to this rural urban legend. In the process they uncover a nest of dirty small-town secrets, the sordid truth of Clarissa’s relationship with her charismatic boyfriend, and a high school art teacher turned small-town figurehead who had a very good reason for wanting Clarissa dead. Such a good reason, in fact, that they might have to make him the highlight of their next episode…

But does an ugly history with a missing girl make him guilty of murder? Or are two teenage girls about to destroy the life of an innocent man—and help the true killer walk free?"

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed herein are my own.

This book is great for fans of a “Good Girls Guide To Murder”. For a school project, friends Cameron and Blair decide to do a podcast on Clarissa Campbell, who disappeared in August 1999. This story was thrilling and intense, kept me entertained until the end. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC.

🌟🌟🌟💫 3.5/5 stars

Missing Clarissa is a fun, entertaining YA thriller with a podcast element and true crime vibes. The story follows best friends, Blair and Cameron, as they start a podcast documenting their attempt to solve their hometown cold case.

Missing Clarissa is a lighter version of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder. It definitely appeals to the younger side of YA, but I enjoyed the characters and the story. I always love a podcast element and this book definitely capitalizes on it. I can see this being excellent audio.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

It was okay. I found the side plot where one of the characters accepts her sexuality to be much more interesting than the main plot trying to solve the mystery of Clarissa. It was good but not great.

What is it with small towns and missing girls???

I had no idea what to expect when going into this book and I can all say is that I LOVED IT.

The mystery surrounding a missing girl from over 20 years ago continues to plague a small town. Now declared a cold case, Clarissa’s ghost continues to haunt the people of this small town who never truly got over the idea that this popular cheerleader could go missing in a town that was considered “safe”.

Fast forward to the current time and two girls decide to create a podcast trying to solve this case that many people just wanted to sweep under the rug. When they start to discover more than they bargained for and more than one person emanates red flags.. these two girls have no idea what they’ve gotten themselves into.

When the danger creeps closer and closer as these two girls get scarily close to discovering what truly happened to Clarissa, they may just end up solving this cold case but stop more than one psychopath in their tracks.

Missing Clarissa is YA thriller about a cheerleader who went missing in 1999 and was never found. 2o years later, two high school friends start investigating through a crime podcast. As they look into Clarissa's past, they also discover things things about themselves. The book started off slowly for me but gained momentum as I progressed further in the novel. Some of the decisions of the main characters were not always the most thought out but since this is geared toward young adults I did not mind it much. While the mystery was not a huge surprise, it was fun, light mystery/thriller and easy to get through.

I really enjoyed this book and thought the premise was great. I liked the two main characters Cam and Blair and their unique personalities. It was a nice mystery that had you questioning who all was involved. I would love to read more by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC.

“𝑾𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒘𝒉𝒐. 𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒘𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝒇𝒆𝒘 𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒔. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒆 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉: 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒂 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍.”

This YA book is such a fun investigative suspense; I know quite a few students who would love picking this up.

Although the “investigative podcast into a cold case” trope is done a lot these days, I loved how Ripley Jones framed it as a journalism assignment for the two main characters, Cam and Blair. The podcast wasn’t perfect; in fact, the girls had a lot to learn about the work it takes to make a podcast (the humour around everyone remarking “did you record this in a bathroom” made me chuckle every time.) The chapters are uniquely titled as episodes and who the focus is of the investigation (episode 3: The Friends), which I thought was a neat touch. The mystery of how and why Clarissa vanished was solid, especially in a small-town where everyone knows of everyone, with fleshed out characters. Jones also isn’t afraid to remind us that these girls are teenagers and they are trying to figure out who they are. Sometimes with true crime fascination, we are listeners/readers/viewers forget that real people care and real people have their lives torn apart by it; I liked how different characters reminded the girls that what they are doing has consequences for everyone. The ending plays like a classic thriller, in that Cam makes a reckless decision (that might have some rolling their eyes), but it makes for very entertaining reading.

Missing Clarissa is a story of searching for answers, friendship, mistakes, and repercussions. It is a page turning mystery that would entertain fans of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and In the Dark We Forget. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Wednesday Books for the ARC!

Missing Clarissa is a great choice for anyone who loves listening to true crime podcasts.

Blair and Cameron are friends, even though they are very different types of people. Blair has a popular boyfriend, and is very insecure about her own worth. Cameron is driven, and certainly not interested in dating anyone. She wants to be a journalist and knows she can accomplish this if she does well in their journalism class.

The girls have a final project to do, and decide to do a podcast about a famous missing person in their town, Clarissa Campbell. She disappeared more than 20 years ago, after a party in the woods outside of Oreville, Washington. Clarissa was blond and a cheerleader, so her case got a lot of attention, at first. But when no body was found, and there was no trace of her, the case went cold and the press disappeared.

Blair and Cameron start their podcast with their impressions of what happened. They doggedly (well, Cameron doggedly) chase down leads and interview Clarissa's ex-boyfriend, best friend and art teacher, all of whom might have something to hide. As the podcast's popularity grows, the girls realize they are in danger, because Clarissa's killer might still be around.

Beyond the true crime aspect of this book, Missing Clarissa also touches on sexual harassment, abusive relationships, and difficult friendships and familial relationships. It should really resonate with teenagers who are dealing with their own troubled relationships and show them that many teens have the same problems they do.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book.

I haven’t been reading as much YA lately as I normally do so I put off reading Missing Clarissa. I’m sorry I did that because it is such a twisty and well-written mystery. I loved the premise of current teen podcasters tackling a decades old missing persons case.

I loved the character arcs of both characters, Blair and Cam, each growing throughout the story with each experience.

While this is clearly geared towards the younger of the younger adult audience, I still found it to be an enjoyable read with a satisfying conclusion.

My thanks to St. Martin’s Press for this gifted DRC.

The book starts out with a bang that is for sure. From giving us the backstory of what happened to Clarissa to meeting our two podcast girls ready to dominate the airwaves with the story. It was a bit messy trying to figure out which of the people were giving their point of view. I loved how after each interview the girls did we got the true feelings from the other characters that they spoke to, getting to see how and why they made the choices they did after Clarissa went missing. There were so many different times that I had to pause to highlight a passage or a quote from one of the characters because of it either being funny or just hit a nostalgic part of me. Overall it was an amazing read and I absolutely recommend it for people who are a big fan of "Two can keep a secret"

Loved/hated the true descriptions and actions of the teenagers. Insufferable but also accurate! I thought this was the perfect quick read - somewhat predictable but still so good!

1999, popular cheerleader Clarissa disappears from a party in the woods. Despite national attention, she is never found and the story goes cold.
20 years later, 2 high school friends from Clarissa’s school start a podcast dedicated to the mystery. But will Blair and Cameron solve the murder? Or ruin innocent lives?

Mixed feelings.

I really liked the relationship between Blair and Cam.

Blair wants to be an author but lacks confidence. At first I thought Cam was just eccentric genius, but I began to wonder if she's supoosed to be on teh spectrum. Another review I read pointed out that Cam's actions at the end of the book weren't in line with the maturity of a person her age and I agree. It's like Cam is super-smart about things like physics but lacks social skills and an understanding of others' emotions.

I have to say that I do feel like this is a bit similar to Good Girls Guide to Murder. The small town, the cold case, the podcast, the threats against the girl detectives, even the libel lawsuit. The more I read, the more similar it felt to me. That said, these elements are in a lot of mysteries.

My other issue is how much time the book's (diverse) characters spent criticizing the obsession our culture has with missing white women and then they do a podcast about a missing white woman. Was there no other crime in their small town they could solve? Maybe not.

I did enjoy aspects of it but there's also a lot that left me unsatisfied.

Reviewed on YA All Day, my YA book blog.

Cameron and Blaire are podcast hosts and have chosen to “reopen” an old missing persons case to solve the now cold case. As they continue to investigate, they slowly piece things together. It’s at this time that it becomes increasingly clear that someone is willing to do anything to stop them. Unbeknownst to the girls, they are running out of time. Will they be able to solve the case, ultimately saving themselves and each other? Or will the answers they are looking for be taken to the grave?

I enjoyed this book and loved how the information was presented. It was written in a way that allowed the reader to build a case and try to solve it. There were many twists and jaw-dropping moments that kept me on my toes. Although I was swept up in the story, I don’t feel I ever really connected with Cam and Blaire. I didn’t find them all that relatable. That said, I loved Irene as she reminded me a bit of my mother. Overall, I would recommend this book to those I believe would enjoy it, and I look forward to more from this author.


Voluntarily reviewed after receiving a free copy courtesy of NetGalley, the Publisher, and the author, Ripley Jones.

The disappearance of Clarissa Campbell shook the town of Oreville, Washington to its core. Her disappearance also intrigued the nation. A beautiful cheerleader with her life ahead of her disappears after a bonfire captivates the nation. Twenty years later, there are conspiracy theories and finger-pointing, but the case has gone cold. That is when Blair and Cameron (or Cami) come in. As part of a project for their journalism class, they decide to start a true crime podcast exploring her disappearance. As they start digging, they discover more about the case than what was reported. And what they ultimately uncover might kill them.

When I read the blurb for Missing Clarissa, I wasn’t impressed with it. I should have known not to judge the book by the blurb (or the cover if I am going to go there). This book was a great read. It kept me up late reading it. I was concerned about Cami and Blair (and their investigation), and I wanted to know what happened to Clarissa.

Usually, I would write the trigger warning at the end of the review, but I felt that these trigger warnings might be triggering more people. The trigger warnings are:

Adult/minor sexual relationships (off page-Clarissa plus other girls with her art teacher).
Sexual assault (off-page).
Murder
Rape (off-page).
Gun violence (Cami and Blair).
Violence
Murder
Cursing
Homophobia (off page, told by Clarissa’s boyfriend about what he did to a gay classmate).
If any of these trigger you, I recommend not reading this book.

What I liked the most about this book was how real it felt. The girls weren’t natural-born sleuths; they bumbled through the investigation with almost no tact (well, Cami did, Blair tried). They made enormous (and sometimes nearly catastrophic) mistakes. It made the book so much more enjoyable to read.

The main characters, Cami and Blair, were as opposite as they could get. Cami was brilliant, had no filter or tact, and tended to bulldoze her way through life. On the other hand, Blair was brilliant in her way, was cautious when approaching things, and moved along her lifepath cautiously. Their dynamic was perfect for the book. Together and separately, they clarified their investigation that made the book for me. Brilliant Cami made that final connection, and Blair figured out where Cami had gone and who she was with when Cami went missing.

I loved that the author made podcasts the book’s central focus (along with Clarissa’s disappearance). Again, Cami and Blair were not tech geniuses who knew how to set up their podcast. It was the opposite. Their podcast sounded like it was recorded in the bathroom, and they had zero editing skills. But even with that, they still got a decent following. I liked that the author included excerpts from the podcast at the end of the chapters. It tied everything together for me.

The main storyline of Missing Clarissa is the story of Clarissa’s disappearance. What I liked most was that it wasn’t cut and dry. It also showed that the investigation into her disappearance was bungled. I enjoyed watching it unravel as the girls tracked down witnesses, friends, and family. Each little bit of information gleaned was exciting. Of course, it did take a dark turn when the girls uncovered things about the sheriff, the former art teacher (who wasn’t as loved as he thought he was), and how that tied into the investigation. I wasn’t surprised at what was revealed (with the sheriff). To mess up an investigation that badly, there had to be outside forces in play. But I was surprised by what was revealed when they looked into the art teacher. I shouldn’t have been, considering the clues dropped and the sweep-it-under-the-rug mentality at schools in the 90s. What I was surprised about was the outcome of the investigation. I did not expect it to end as it did or the multiple investigations it spawned.


Several secondary storylines revolved around Blair, Cami, and their various relationships. I loved the one between Cami and her crush/soon-to-be girlfriend. Her coming out to her mom was hilarious. I was laughing my butt off that entire scene. Blair’s relationship with her boyfriend annoyed me. He was a jerk the whole book, and that scene towards the end gave me such satisfaction.

The end of Missing Clarissa was impressive. The twist on Clarissa’s missing person case and its fallout were well written. I did not see any of it coming. Several big revelations made me go, “No way.” It wasn’t a happy ending per se, but there was closure for many people and vindication for a man wrongly accused.

I would recommend Missing Clarissa to anyone over 21. There is violence, language, and nongraphic sexual situations. Also, see my trigger warning paragraph.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, NetGalley, and Ripley Jones for allowing me to read and review Missing Clarissa. All opinions stated in this review are mine.