Cameron and Blair are the best friends into journalism class they have to come up with a project and decide to do a podcast on the biggest unsolved mystery in their little town that is about the night Clarissa went missing. When they first start their investigation the first interview is with her mother but soon after it starts cam and Blair get a weird feeling from Marion who is Clarissa’s mother but it isn’t until they go to see her room and her mother loses all control talking about Brad her boyfriend at the time, that they think this may have been a bad idea. Clarissa‘s mother isn’t the only one that surprises cam though her classmate Sophia seems to always be around when KM is alone and Kam a surprise at the dizzy feeling she gets smelling her perfume that makes her think she may be in Paris. this it seems the more they investigate the more they anger people but the before it’s over one of them may even be fighting for her life. Although if I really thought about it there were a couple of things I could’ve criticized but I was so wrapped up in the mystery it was so entertained by it but I won’t waste my time. I will just say you should definitely read this book. I know other people have done books about to girl to do a podcast but I really liked the way the story was executed with the insecure Blair and the Uber secure KM and what a great pair they made. I like the way Keon finagled her way into interviews that no one else could get I love the way Blair leveled her out it was so shocked about the ending. I really really enjoyed this book and want to read more about this author definitely! I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review

Ripley Jones' Missing Clarissa is the story of two best friends, Cameron Munoz and Blair Johnson, who start a true crime podcast—only to realize they may have helped a killer in the process. In August of 1999, dazzlingly popular cheerleader Clarissa Campbell disappeared 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, especially her boyfriend Brad Bennett who she apparently had an argument with, are who all have something to hide.

Thanks to Clarissa’s beauty, the mystery captured the attention of the nation. But with no leads and no body, the case soon grows cold and the Sheriff doesn't seem to care. Despite the efforts of internet sleuths and true-crime aficionados, Clarissa is never found—dead or alive. 20 years later, Oreville high-school juniors and best friends Blair and Cameron start a true crime podcast called Missing Clarissa, determined to unravel the story of what—or who—happened to this rural urban legend. 20 years later, Clarissa's mother still thinks she is alive and refuses to move on.

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?

Cameron is a head strong young woman who is very good at school but dragged Blair into taking a journalism class to add more depth to her already large resume. Blair is also an athlete who is hoping her own skills will get her a scholarship into the school of her choice. Cameron tends to be blinded by her surroundings, not realizing the girl she makes fun of, might actually be a pretty nice person, as well as someone who you could call your girlfriend. Blair often gets caught up in Cameron's ideas which lead to questionable actions.

So, overall, this isn't a bad story. My complaint is that authors today tend to use their personal issues and politics into the story instead of just letting the characters themselves tell you who they are and why you should care about what they have to say or do. The villain of this story hides in plain sight. I think the podcast part of this story was probably the most interesting in that we really see how deep Cameron and Blair get while telling the story. The story is told by both protagonists, which provides more background for the girls' friendship as well as making for a more well-developed plot.

In 1999, beautiful popular teenage girl, Clarissa Campbell disappeared from Oreville, Washington. More than twenty years later, two other high school girls, Cameron and Blair start a podcast about her disappearance for their journalism class. Carmen in particular is determined to find out what really happened. When they begin digging around more than one dirty secret of the town is revealed. The girls soon find themselves in way over their heads and in imminent danger.

The two main characters in this story feel very real. Cameron is smart but headstrong. She is a typical teen rushing in without thinking things through thoroughly. Blair is the opposite. She thinks too much but doesn't stand up for herself and what she wants because she suffers from a lack of confidence. She is also extremely loyal and is constantly caught between her loyalty to Cameron and her boyfriend both of whom demand a lot from her.

A lot of other characters in the story are kind of cliched. There is the loner who had a crush on Clarissa, the jock boyfriend left behind, the creepy teacher, and so on. Thus, although the story does have some exciting twists and turns, the resolution to the mystery is not very interesting at all. What is unique and interesting about the story, however, is the way in which it is told with each chapter ending with an episode of the podcast. This is what makes this book different from other books and keeps it interesting.

Thanks to Wednesday Books for the free book.
I'm going to start with, if you are able to get the audiobook, that's how I ended up reading and it's a full cast narration and extremely well done. Cam and Blair join up on a school project to look into the disappearance of Clarissa by creating a podcast of interviews from those that know her. I am liking the podcasts in books that we're seeing right now, so this part worked for me. I also appreciated how the author was realistic with teenagers not always knowing what to do next and screwing up. This book also focused on missing white teens, the prison system, and letting people tell their own story. I never felt these topics to be heavy-handed and they fit well within the story. I was engaged from beginning to end and enjoyed this story.

Two teen friends decide to do a podcast on what happened to a missing student years ago for a class assignment. As they start to gather information for the podcast, they delve deeper and deeper into the facts surrounding the case and put them and their love ones in danger.. The goal and they assignment is to find out what happened to Clarissa. This young adult novel was very intriguing. The characters were spot on and the story was well written. I only wished that the ending was more fleshed out. Overall, this is a great read.

I thought this was really interesting. I liked the podcast aspect of it and the investigation. I have read a fair bit of YA murder mystery and this one holds up pretty well all things considered. It does remind me a lot of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. Some of it was kind of repetitive and I didn't love the characters, but it was short enough that the characters weren't a super big part of it.

Missing Clarrisa is a mystery full of twists and turns and an annoying teenager.
In the rural town of Oreville, Washington, popular and beautiful Clarissa Campbell disappears. She left a party in the August of 199 and was never seen again, despite national attention to the case. over twenty years later, two high-school juniors and best friends Blair and Cameron start a true crime podcast of what seems to them as an urban legend. As they research the case for their journalism class Clarissa becomes a real person to them especially when they learn people dear to them knew her. Slowly they unravel a knot of small-town secrets each with a connection to the girl in question. Will the girls be able to find the killer after all these years.
My biggest issue is the main characters. Well, mainly one of them. Cam is the most annoying teen I ever met. She never thinks before she speaks. She thinks she’s so smart but makes stupid decisions. The beginning of the book is second-hand embarrassment as Cam makes no plan for the podcast and just plods along dragging Blair behind. If it wasn’t for Blair, the podcast would have been a rambling mess. Plus Cam makes such bad decisions that she puts herself and her friend in danger. This lack of ay self-awareness gives way to the idea of the autistic spectrum, but this is never approached.
The mystery itself is intriguing. Author Ripley Jones keeps the story twisting. As the girls find new clues, the story goes away as you would expect. It truly kept me guessing and I never guessed who the killer was. I probably should have based on some of the information, but Jones makes sure red herrings leave you as confused as the teens.
Missing Clarissa is an interesting story with a very annoying protagonist. If you can handle Cam, then you’ll enjoy this book.
Publication Date: March 7

I received an ARC from the publisher; all opinions are my own.

WIth mesmerizing suspense from the beginning, this is a story of teens who decide to do a true crime podcast and get caught up in the details of what led to teen-ager Clarissa’s disappearance. Their research opens a can of worms that can put both girls into danger and perhaps set a killer on a rampage. The action is moderately paced with a lot of dialogue between the teens and those they are interviewing. The story is told well and thoroughly with some red herrings along the way to make it more interesting. Good character development, good mystery and well-written suspenseful tale.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Finished ✔️ Missing Clarissa by Ripley Jones

4 ⭐️’s
Publish Day: March 7th, 2023
Kindle Unlimited: No
Perfect for fans of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder
Gripping novel about 2 friends who start a true crime podcast that comes with dangerous consequences.
2 high school juniors Blair and Cameron unravel things on the true podcast
Beautifully written
Held my attention very well!
Yes, I’d recommend

#DeesReading #DeesRecs #DeesBookRecommendations #BookNerds #BookNerdProblems #BookNerdsUnited #BookProblems #BookProblems101 #BookNerds #Bookworms #BookwormProblems #BooksOfFacebook #DeeTheBookReviewer #BookReviewer #NewToMeAuthor #ReadOfTheDay #BookOfTheDay #MissingClarissa #NetGalley #RipleyJones

I loved this book! "Missing Clarissa" by Ripley Jones is a mystery about a girl who went missing from a party in the woods of a small town 20 years earlier. As a journalism class project two students decide to make a podcast to solve the mystery, was Clarissa dead or did she run away? Blair and Cameron start digging into the past, despite warnings from people who were there when Clarissa disappeared. I read this book in just a few days, picking it up whenever I could.

Really liked this from the beginning. There could have been more jumpy moments, diving deeper into the story but overall it was entertaining!

Title: Missing Clarissa
Author: Ripley Jones
Release Date: March 7th, 2023
Page Count: 249
Format: Audiobook/Netgalley Ebook
Start Date: March 7th, 2023
Finish Date: March 8th, 2023

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:

Two girls who are looking for an amazing project for their journalism class decide to do a podcast investigating the disappearance of a girl in their town. She disappeared twenty years before and the case was never solved. This is more of a case where one girl had the brilliant idea and the other girl went with it. Either way, it was amazing!

I think there were parts of the book that I would have liked to have seen get expanded upon a little more. There are also references that I wish were more than just references. This isn't a criticism of the book. It's my own personal opinion. I also wouldn't hate it if there were many other books set involving Blair and Cameron. I don't know if there will be. If it were to ever become a series, I'd instabuy all of the rest of the books in a heartbeat. I wouldn't even need to think twice about it.

I started to read it via Netgalley, but I preordered the audiobook once I was sure that I was going to enjoy it very much. The moment it hit my library, I listened to it. The narrator did a fantastic job. I did have to slow down my normal speed to listen to it. Not that I'm complaining. I'd definitely try out other books narrated by her.

Similar To:
A Good Girls Guide to Murder

Despite their seeming differences, eccentric girl genius Cam Muñoz and the pretty but academically average Blair Johnson have been best friends since the sixth grade. Now that they’re in their junior year of high school, Cam has convinced Blair to take a journalism class together. Mr Park, their journalism teacher, is the smartest person Cam has ever met, and thus one of the very few whose opinion matters to her. When he gives their class a semester-long reporting project that they can do with or without partners, she thinks she’s come up with the perfect plan to wow not only him, but everyone else in their small town, if not the world.

Twenty years ago, beautiful, popular Clarissa Campbell disappeared from their Oregon town of Oreville after a post-high school graduation party. The case gained nationwide coverage, but no trace of Clarissa was ever found. The prime suspect was her football star boyfriend Brad Bennett, but with no evidence against him or anyone else, no one was ever charged with foul play involving her disappearance.

Now Cam thinks that she and Blair should partner up to make a podcast investigating what really happened to Clarissa. Her enthusiasm steamrolls Blair into agreeing, but Mr. Park is more cautious on the subject, leading the two very different girls to two very different reactions:

QUOTE
Why’s he grilling them? Why isn’t he excited? Cam doesn’t get it. Blair kicks her under her desk, but she barges ahead. “Do we need [podcast experience]? All we have to do is hit Record and put it online.”

Mr. Park’s face is impossible to read. “Keep in mind that’s a sensitive issue for a lot of people here. Tread carefully. And you might want to do a bit of research into podcasting before you ‘hit Record and put it online.’”

“Yes, Mr. Park,” Blair says before Cam can argue. Cam slumps back in her seat, the air around her crackling with fury and hurt.

<i>Tread carefully?</i> thinks Cam. <i>What’s that supposed to mean? What’s wrong with Mr. Park?

Tread carefully?</i> thinks Blair. <i>What does Mr. Park know that we don’t?</i>
END QUOTE

While their temperaments are dissimilar, the girls’ personalities complement each other nicely as they go about digging into the cold case. Unfortunately, their differences sometimes threaten to overwhelm them, as when Cam decides to go ahead and post their first episode to the Internet without even getting Blair’s permission, much less Mr Park’s okay. When the girls come way too close to discovering the truth about someone who very much doesn’t want to be found out, they find themselves in mortal peril. Will they be silenced before they can tell the world the truth about what happened to Clarissa?

This is a really well-written story that stands head and shoulders above the rest of the podcast thriller crowd, Young Adult or otherwise. Cam and Blair are both incredibly endearing, and are characterized so perfectly that when one of them does something horrifyingly foolish and dangerous – as certain suspense heroines will do – it feels entirely organic and not just a device to advance the plot. The pacing is fast and the dialog often laugh out loud funny, even as the seriousness of the situation is never taken lightly.

In fact, the American media obsession with the disappearance of pretty white girls is taken to task in more ways than one. Sophie, one of the girls’ journalism classmates, has her own fervent opinion on the matter:

QUOTE
[“]You’re obsessed with Clarissa’s story, the same way so many other people are. But you know who comprises the highest percentage of murder victims? Young Black men. Weaponizing stories of imperiled white women serves to enforce political repression. The prison industrial complex isn’t interested in protecting people from harm. It’s founded on the principle of harming people who are already vulnerable. All these dead white girl stories? All this fixation on sexualized violence against white women? Those narratives normalize structures of oppression that don’t do anything to prevent more violence from happening.[”]
END QUOTE

Missing Clarissa is a wildly entertaining novel with a wonderful sense of self-awareness regarding its own place in the canon. The mystery is as smart as Cam and as solid as Blair, with a strong streak of modern philosophy on social justice and accountability. I loved it.

I absolutely LOVE a good true crime fiction take, especially for a younger audience -- I don't always feel like true crime is a good genre for very young people, just because at certain ages, some of the real life stuff can be a little too dark. Having those things introduced here, and giving those dark themes to YA audiences through a fictional lens, is a really neat way to get them to realize that bad things can happen without it being especially traumatic for them. This was really well done here, and I feel like it'd be great for 14-17 year olds!

3.5*

Missing Clarissa was an entertaining, quick, and pretty easy read. I was surprised with how quickly I flew through it! The mystery was engaging and I actually really liked both main characters. Although yes, Cam got to be a little much there at the end, but I enjoyed her quirkiness. Blair had her issues too, she need a little self confidence boost.

Although I thought figured out who the murderer was pretty soon after they were introduced, I wasn't 100% certain until the end. The author did a nice job making me second guess myself a few times.
It's slightly implausible that the adults would open up so much to these two teens, but if you're able to suspend disbelief a little, it really was an entertaining read.

I understand wanting to describe characters, but the way this author went about it was a bit odd, and at times a little off-putting. It's part of the reason I'm rounding down my star rating instead of up. There were a few other things here and there that contributed to my choice to round down, but they could just be a me thing.
All in all though a pretty solid debut for Ripley Jones.

3.5 stars. Upon first glance, I thought this was just going to be A Good Girls Guide to Murder written by a different author. And while that was kind of what this was, it was also better and worse in some ways. The better parts consisted of the slight comedic properties and the fact that this book didn't take itself too seriously. The worse parts? The writing was hard to understand at times. I know the author was trying to come across as 'uber smart' because that's how Cam was supposed to be but some parts just felt worded wrong and I had to reread the sentence 2 or 3 times and that just took me right out of the story. And them we have Blair's extremely self-doubt. I know it was there to show something that happens to a lot of people, but it was definitely overbearing. The last 20/30% of the book is when I couldn't put it down. This book has A LOT of good points, cultural references, LGBTQ+ characters, and a lot of other things going for it, so I definitely say give it a shot.

Ripley Jones has a great writing style in Missing Clarissa and it had the potential to be a great book but...

It's 1999 and high school "it" girl, Clarissa, goes missing. Like poof, gone. Her football quarterback boyfriend is suspect #1 but his story clears, along with every other person of interest, and time moves on without ever finding her.

Flash forward to 2012, Cameron and Blair are juniors at the same high school as Clarissa. Cam really wants to become a journalist and enlists her best friend to take Journalism with her this year. They are assigned a multimedia research project and decide to make a podcast about how Clarissa went missing with a secret side mission to try and solve the mystery themselves, despite never having made or any idea how to produce a podcast.

It had the potential to be a really great book but it was really hard to keep my attention throughout the chapters. Each chapter is supposed to be an "episode" of the podcast and is extremely long. Given that this is book is a young adult, I struggled to get to the point where I was "stuck" (in a good way) with this book. Some of the writing was a little repetitive, ie. "Kelly read this book. Kelly had a hard time. Kelly is writing a review. Kelly needs to wrap this review up." Could be a person preference but I couldn't get past it.

This YA mystery, out today, is perfect for fans of Karen McManus or Holly Jackson.

I was entertained by the plot, and I flew threw the story in two days. I didn't find it as impactful as my favorites, but I still definitely recommend it! I'd be interested in reading another book about the same characters solving another mystery, too.

Thank you so much, Netgalley, for my digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book follows two teenage girls (Blair and Cam) who decide to start a podcast for a school project as they try to solve the mystery of a local girl, Clarissa, who went missing back in 1999.
I did find Blair's character to be quite relatable in the sense that she wasn't self-confident and was struggling trying to maintain her childhood friendship with Cam, and her popular boyfriend who doesn't get along with Cam. If I'm being honest, though, I spent most of this book thinking Blair deserved way better than BOTH of them. Cam and the boyfriend.

Cam's character INFURIATED me. And it's a huge reason why this book only got 3 stars from me. She was so unlikeable, and acted very much like a 5 year old. She was impulsive and selfish and seemed to know nobody would hold her accountable for her impulsive actions that, in reality, would have cost her loved ones a LOT.

Although the book itself was predictable, I knew who Clarissa's killer was from the very beginning. But it was definitely interesting to see it all unravel and read the two girls figure it out. I liked how fast paced it was, and that it was told in alternating POV's.

I also really enjoyed the inclusivity in this book, the fact that it was LGBTQ+ inclusive as well as single parent, with that single parent being unconventional and quirky. I loved that. It also definitely touched on the issue of only pretty white girls getting media attention when they're missing/murdered. Which is definitely a country-wide issue and I'm glad that the book included it.

All in all, I would recommend it to someone who primarily reads YA, and doesn't mind unlikeable characters.

In a small town in Washington, two friends work together to complete a research project for journalism class. They decide to do a podcast about a girl who went missing years ago from their hometown. Their goal is to solve the mystery but bringing up old memories can be painful.
Opinion
Holy Toledo, that was a great book! All of the hints and red herrings made for an interesting time. I will say that my solution was not correct but that the real answer made for a great story. The end was so suspenseful that I literally could not put the book down.
Many thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an ARC of this book.