This book was interesting and kept me reading. It was very similar to a good girls guide to murder, but it's not the first time I've read a very similar book to another do in not upset about that. The main character Cam comes across as very unlikable but I think that's the point lol

I know this book is branded as something that people who enjoyed A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder will like but if I’m being honest this is a straight up knockoff of Holly Jackson’s series.

Cam and Blair have been best friends for years so it’s only natural that they partner up for their journalism classes semester long project. Despite warnings from teachers and family the girls decide to focus on the disappearance of local girl Clarissa Campbell which occurred twenty years prior. They document their findings via podcast and in the process uncover the town of Oreville’s secrets. This was meant to be school project…but what happens if they find the killer?

Let me start off by saying I did like parts of this book. I was engaged and finished the book without having to force myself to read through boring bits. For the intended YA audience this will probably be a hit, it’s fast paced and generally easy reading. HOWEVER, there are definitely a few issues.

Probably my biggest problem with this book was the writing itself. First, the author feels the need to constantly comment on people’s race. Don’t get me wrong I love diverse reads but something about the way the author includes diversity in this book just rubbed me the wrong way. Every time a character is introduced the first thing mentioned about them is their skin colour. Yes, skin colour is something very visible and important when describing a character’s appearance but the way it was done made me feel like that was all the author wanted us to know about each character. Was not a fan of that.

Then there was the main character Cam. God, she was annoying. I believe this was the authors intention and kudos her because she succeeded. I found Cam obnoxious, self-absorbed, and arrogant. I just could not get onboard with the suggestion that her traits were “quirky”.

The writing style was a bit confusing, and I often found myself having to re-read to try and understand what was being said. The way the story jumped back and forth between Blair and Cam’s perspective did not help with this. I also felt there were a lot of gaps in the plot. It felt as though the author wanted you to just connect the dots on your own, however in my opinion more explanation was needed.

The bones of this book are strong but I’m not sure about the execution.

I didn't mind this book but it felt like the author's first, it was a little rough in parts then tried to hard in others. It reminded me a lot of Good girl's guide to murder.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this book.

I liked this one a lot! Quick, easy read with good pacing and enjoyable, relatable characters! While the ending was a little predictable it was still very enjoyable and I would definitely recommend.

This is another book I really wanted to love. It had a great premise and so much potential… but I absolutely despised the two main characters. Blair and Cam were too much. Cam especially. They were so unlikable that it made the book a chore to read.

They start a podcast about a cold case of a missing woman in their town. The girls get into so much trouble and really make a mess out of the situation. Cam doesn’t think at all and is so impulsive that her actions were ridiculous. I also figured out who killed Clarissa as soon as they were introduced.

The mom Irene is the only likable character in my opinion, but even she seemed like an over the top Caricature of a mother.

I just really didn’t like this book. I know it’s based in YA and I LOVE YA. I loved Sadie (a book by a different author told in podcast format that this book is being compared to), but this one was not very good.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The concept behind the novel with two students creating their own true crime podcast is one that is super engaging and one I like and I know my students would love. I think the characters as two very different personalities would be ones my students would like. I am sure the students would enjoy the novel.

The one area that the novel feel short for me was that there was so much going on with the romance subplot that it overshadowed part of the investigation and made a portion of the novel seem very muddled and then the solution at the end seemed to come quickly without a lot of buildup.

Ripley Jones is an absolutely phenomenal author, and I am very glad I was given the chance to read an ARC version of this book. Missing Clarissa, at first, seems just like the plethora of YA murder mystery novels that have become popular the past few years - a picture-perfect girl from a small town goes missing, the case lays dormant and unsolved for years, only to be picked up for fun by a pair of teenagers who solve the mystery the adults never wanted to solve. However, the story goes much deeper than that, and it doesn't become apparent how many underlying themes are present until towards the end of the book. In addition to being a fun, entertaining read, this book is a thoughtful reflection on society and the many institutions that comprise our criminal justice system.
Cam and Blair, two best friends, decide to dig into the 20-year old cold case on Clarissa Campbell, a teenage girl who disappeared from their small town on the Olympic Peninsula in the late 1990s; they pick the case up for a journalism class project, and along the way become invested in finding justice for the long-missing Clarissa. What justice means, exactly, they aren't sure of at first. Initially, they think it means finding the girl they think ran away, but it quickly turns into a mission to solve her murder and bring to light the string of crimes that led to Clarissa's death and a cover-up that prevented closure for Clarissa's friends and family.
Along the way, Blair and Cam both grow a lot - primarily Cam, though, who reminds me a lot of myself in high school: not-so-secretly queer, a major know-it-all nerd, and probably neurodivergent (the ADHD in me related heavily to Cam's struggles with navigating people and her need to be right the whole book. Also- her gay panic when a cute classmate flirts with her? INCREDIBLE). And as someone who grew up living in Washington, and spent a few years living on the Olympic Peninsula, it was really heartwarming to see the way Jones depicted the area I consider my home. I'd also like to call attention the the ending acknowledgement, and how much I appreciate the information about the appropriation of indigenous cultures in Washington, as well as the discussions of systemic racism, the corruption of the prison system, and erasure of indigenous voices when appropriating indigenous cultures.
Overall, Missing Clarissa was an extremely well-written book with bright, vibrant characters, and thoughtful approach to social issues, and a unique approach to the YA murder mystery genre. Funny, heartwarming, suspenseful, and smart. I cannot recommend this book enough.

Missing Clarissa by Ripley Jones was a thrilling mystery book with a shocking twist for fans of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and Truly Devious! The plot was well paced and hard to put down.

I enjoyed the podcast angle of the story, but I wish the author gave us even more on the making of it. I thought Cam was a very well developed character. I had a good sense of who she was and I thought her friendship with Blair was lovely. They balanced each other out well.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for this digital arc in exchange for my honest review which is not affiliated with any brand.

This was such a good thriller! It kept me guessing and intrigued the whole time! The characters were likable and well developed. I would definitely recommend this to everyone!

For fans of A Good Girls Guide to Murder and Sadie, Missing Clarissa is your next book choice. In this one, two high school best friends, Blair and Cam, decide to record a podcast for their journalism class. The topic? An unsolved mystery in their very small town: what happened to Clarissa? Clarissa had been a pretty, blonde cheerleader who vanished without a trace in 1999. There were many theories about what happened, but the case was never solved and a body was never found. Could Clarissa be out there somewhere? And if not, where is she? The girls start digging up old news stories about the case and interviewing key players, but then strange things start happening. Who is it that doesn't want this case solved? A page-turner for sure.

This book was good. At first it felt a little too similar to AGGGTM, but it quickly changed to its own path. The mystery kept me guessing the entire book. I enjoyed the characters and their dynamics(although I wish Blair was a little more confident!). It was a quick read that I didn’t want to put down, and fully enjoyed.
Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Wednesday Books for the opportunity to read this.

I am not impressed. Just really not. The feeling I have after reading this book is nothing, and that's just underwhelming.

Let me lay out the 5 main reasons why you should not read.

1- Unoriginal. This book has a predictable plot with a predictable ending. It was just waaaay too predictable. And that isn't good in a murder plot, because then there is no suspense (unless it is told from the murderer's perspective.) All the characters were pretty stereotypical, but not in a fun way like One of Us is Lying. It was in a boring and overused way.

2- Overly Political. Why do people read? Most of the time it's for entertainment, to escape reality. I felt like this book made that impossible. I don't mind when authors incorporate some of their beliefs into their work, on some level it's inevitable and I think it can further the plot and make their work feel more authentic. I just feel like the author of Missing Clarissa would have been better off writing a book on their political opinions. The book has frequent references to ACAB, Antifa, how horrible cops are, 'rich white men', LQBTQ rights, etc. Fine if it had been a political book- but it wasn't. The only politics I like to read in my fiction books are fae politics.

3- Unrealistic. I like to feel like the murder story I'm reading could happen to me. Just me that feels that way? Oh well. Anyway, the problem is that the 'evidence' would never stand up in court and the way that the whole confrontation went down was super rushed and absurd. Aside from that, the author described the town in the beginning as a super conservative and homophobic little pocket of people. They didn't hyperfocus on this point, but the hints were there. However, I counted 7 LGBTQ characters in all. I don't mind that, except for it doesn't make any sense. I live in the 5th biggest city in the US, Phoenix, and I don't even know that many members of the LGBTQ community. Not to mention that statistically, in a town with like 2000 people, that is unlikely.

4- Obsession Over Race. Let me tell you, during the first half of the book, I thought I was going to go insane. I read "Everybody loves a dead white girl." way too many times. Not only that, but the author literally describes e v e r y o n e s skin color. I don't need to know the race of every person in the mc's journalism class. The first thing that you describe about a book character shouldn't be their skin color.

5- Writing Style. I really felt like I was reading one of those free, self-published books on Amazon Kindle. It was poor writing. No picture painting, no imagery. I like when authors are so vivid I can smell where I am. On top of that, the writing was a bit choppy, and not quite at that next level, you know? Not at that, 'I write for a living' level.

No offense to the author because hey- they put themselves out there. But as a reader, I would have to encourage others not to read this book as it was a waste. Find better quality books- and read them.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

Cam and Blaire are best friends that decide to tackle the missing person case from 1999 in their hometown. Popular girl Clarissa had gone missing after a party and the girls decide for their journalism class to do a podcast about it. After that, things rapidly fall apart.

My problem with this book is that it was inconsistent. Cam was hard to like and extremely selfish. She was impulsive and for someone that was billed as being incredibly smart, she did a lot of truly stupid things. She thought she was always right and could do whatever she please and damn the consequences. At times, it made the book hard to read. She wound up hurting everyone around her and never had to pay for it. Blair was a decent character with more heart but I felt her narrative got pushed aside.

I thought the mystery of this book was fairly transparent. I figured out very early on who the bad guy was. I found the writing style to be choppy and hard to follow at times.

There's been a surge of YA mysteries done in a podcast format and I'm a big fan. It helps bring the reader into the story and make it realistic, with the interviews and real time updates as the characters make discoveries. I enjoyed making connections and theories along with the girls and found this to be a well paced and entertaining thriller.

Blair and Cam are truly amateur true crime investigators. They're looking into the case for a journalism assignment and know pretty much nothing about making a podcast or Clarissa's disappearance. While it did make the story more relatable, Cam accusing people with no evidence and saying things without considering other's feelings got on my nerves. Is it that hard to have a bit of restraint and tact when talking to people about their loved one's case? Thankfully Blair is her opposite and several times saves the interview by relating to people.

The mystery wasn't too hard to figure out once we met the players, but it was still fun and had a good wrap up. I can't wait to re-listen to this on audio!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the copy

This is about a girl named Clarissa Campbell who was a cheerleader.
She disappeared 20 years ago from a party in the woods.
Blair and cam start a podcast about Clarissa. There calling the podcasts missing Clarissa.
There doing the podcasts to hopefully find out more about what happened to Clarissa.
If you like a great mystery and kinda suspense too because you don't know what is going to happen then this book is fir you.
This book was approved by netgalley and the publisher to read and review.

Missing Clarissa
A Novel
by Ripley Jones
Pub Date 07 Mar 2023
St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books
Teens & YA

I am reviewing a copy of Missing Clarissa through St Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books and Netgalley:


It was August of 1999 when Clarissa Campbell a dazzlingly popular cheerleader, disappears from a party in the woods outside the rural town of Oreville, Washington and is never seen again. The police question everyone in her life, her friends, her teachers and the adults who knew her. They 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.


Oreville high-school juniors and best friends Blair and Cameron start a true crime podcast, over twenty years later 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?


I give Missing Clarissa five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

A small town with a big mystery. Twenty years ago a young, beautiful, recent high school graduate went missing from a party in the forest. She has never been seen again and no signs of a body or a struggle ever surfaced. Her boyfriend was the prime suspect and never got out from under the assumed guilt. The town moved on but everyone remembers her story.

Cam and Blair, in the local small high school, have taken journalism this year. Cam decides her their project must be the best project ever. They are going to do a podcast on this missing high school student from 20 years ago - and they are going to solve it.

I love stories based around true crime Podcasts. I love the moral ambiguity with covering them - is it fair to the accused? Is it fair to the family and community that lost someone? Cam was strong willed and bullheaded as she pushed and shoved those that she interviewed. I loved Blair's struggle with who she was, what she wanted and where she saw herself going next.

The mystery was also great. The clues were every so slowly revealed and it kept me completely engaged and on the edge of my seat. It helps that I'm also in Washington state and could picture the forest, the parties, the protected lands, the rain. This one had so many layers, so many great questions, I asbolutely loved it!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

What a great book. 5 stars all the way! Held my attention and was suspenseful. Can’t wait to read more of this author’s books.
Thanks NetGalley and St. Martins for this ARC.

What drew me in was the mention of the podcast and honestly I liked this book but the only thing that kept me reading was dining out how the mystery ended. It felt chaotic at times and not in a good way. There were things I w would have loved to see fleshed put more. But the book was good.