I am giving my five stars without thinking any further but my main reason to enjoy this book so much is not related to the mystery about young cheerleader’s disappearance!
The characterization of this book is perfect! Cam is my kind favorite weirdo I truly adored! She’s extra intelligent, socially awkward, eccentric, over enthusiastic, impatient, impulsive. Thankfully her best friend Blair is quite opposite of her characteristics, balancing her in positive way. She’s kind, observer, fixer with great storytelling skills even though she has insecurities about her own abilities.

When Cam comes out with an idea out of nowhere to start a podcast about town’s most effective tragedy, Blair reluctantly finds herself buried into this project.
20 years ago, Clarissa Campbell: popular cheerleader, talented art student, disappears in the woods outside the rural town of Oreville, Washington. During their podcast, they will bring out different perspectives to this incident. How hard it can be? They will just talk and discuss new theories!
They both want to pass with flying colors from their journaling class. This is the best concept they can focus. This is the heart wrenching mystery has been hunting the town for years.

They never found the body! Clarissa’ mother thinks she can be still alive but most of her loved ones, including her father, her boyfriend who was also person of interest for the involvement in her disappearance and her best friend think otherwise.

Cam chose the subject because of the popularity but when she and Blair start hearing from different perspectives, there’s a lot of drama coming out from Clarissa’ inner circle who truly miss her!

The press objectified Clarissa as a young white girl with a perfect face! But she’s more than that! Most of the people truly know her talk about the secrets they’ve been hiding with Cam and Blair. Because they are tired to keep things to themselves.

Both girls finally realize Clarissa’ disappearance is more than just a project they have to work on or podcast success with climbing numbers of followers! They want justice for her and other girls who are mistreated just like her! But her good intentions to bring out true justice may endanger their safety! Because there are people out there not so happy about the town’s longtime kept secrets coming out!

Overall: fast pacing, unique, absolutely different from other YA mysteries with its emotional POVs from the people who are involved into the podcast project and smart writing style! The character stories are more alluring than the entire disappearance mystery!

I also enjoy how Cam and Blair discover the realities about themselves during their investigation. Cam comes clean about her sexual choices and starts building a great relationship even though she doesn’t know exactly what she’s doing. And Blair sharpens her writing and shooting skills. Finally she discovers what she wants to do with her life.

I’m looking forward to read more Ripley Jones books in near future!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/ Wednesday Books for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

I love a good mystery, and I couldn't put this one down — I read it in one sitting! The story was thrilling and tense and kept me guessing until the very end. If you like true crime podcasts and A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, you'll love this book.