Blair and Cam are two friends who take on the task of creating a true crime podcast around the biggest mystery in their small town-the disappearance of Clarissa Campbell. This story is incredibly chaotic in a very entertaining way.

The mystery of what happened to Clarissa is something I figured out very early on in the story but I kept reading to learn if I was right. Naturally, as mysteries do there will be paths that try to deter you from the journey but I trusted my gut with this one.

The characters are strangely lovable to me and they are young. Teenagers. So, they are also annoying and naive and sometimes self involved. This story was framed well and I genuinely enjoyed reading it. The climax was a bit predictable and happened a little too fast in my opinion but I still enjoyed the book overall

4.5 stars

I can see why this has been compared to a Good Girl’s Guide to Murder!

This was my first time reading from this author and I’m happy to say I was surprised with how much I enjoyed it. This was very paced and entertaining; it’s a perfect read for a readathon.

Though I will say, I wanted more of the podcast element—more dedicated sections for the episodes rather than the style it was in.

Cam wasn’t my favourite character; she kept making the worst possible decisions and her abrasive perspective got on my nerves after a while. I personally liked Blair as a character and I felt I could relate to her a little more than Cam. Despite that, I really liked their friendship as they balanced each other out a lot.

I loved the queer representation, but as for the romance I felt it wasn’t needed; it just didn’t add much to the story in my opinion.

Overall, this wasn’t the perfect book for me, but it was a very enjoyable read and I’ll for sure be reading other books by them in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Missing Clarissa is the story of two girls making a podcast exploring their own hometown mystery- what happened to Clarissa in the 1990s? The story is fast-paced and interspersed with bits from the podcast, while also following both Blair and Cam as they question people about what happened to Clarissa and navigate their own teen years.

What I liked:
-The fast pace. This book does not waste time and I love when a book does that.
-The podcast elements. I loved when a book includes different media and I think it was used effectively here as each chapter is an episode.
-The diversity. From a single mom, a Latina character, a queer character, Native representation, I really appreciate that this diversity didn't feel forced.

What I disliked:
-It's very childish. That's okay because of the audience but the mystery, for example, is very clear from the beginning and I think any teen will be a bit insulted by how simple it is and will be able to call it from about the second chapter.
-Things sometimes feel rushed. People say "I love you" after dating what, two weeks? Things just move really fast especially in relationships and I think the character of Cam was made to be so stupid and impulsive to move the story along but it just ended with her making some awful, stupid decisions I think most teens would be smart enough not to make.

Overall I'm happy I read this book and I think teens will enjoy some aspects, even if the mystery is pretty weak.

It’s been twenty years since popular girl Clarissa Campbell went missing. When classmates and bestfriends Blair and Cameron team up for a school assignment, they decide to make a true crime podcast that will focus on Clarissa’s disappearance. The two girls start investigating the secrets of their small town starting with all of the people who were in Clarissa’s life at that time.

Missing Clarissa (2023) is an intriguing mystery with a podcast element. The podcast element is especially fun to read through audio as the narration cast sounds like they are recording on the spot. Listeners hear as the girls edit the podcast by discussing it in real time. The mystery of the book, what happened to Clarissa, slowly unravels as Blair and Cameron interview different people around town. Alongside this mystery, the book also focuses on Blair and Cameron’s friendship and its complications (namely, Blair’s boyfriend). There is even a hint of romance in this story that was adorable! Without spoiling, I found the solving of the mystery well done and I did not guess what happened to Clarissa!

This isn't the author's fault, but this was the third book this year alone that I read which involved a true crime podcast, and while they are popular in real life these days, the book trope is getting old.

This one starts with a great premise as two high friends start a podcast for their student project. Investigating a cold case where a girl went missing 20 years earlier. Told through a series of interviews with family members, friends and others that knew the missing girl, the two set out to solve this mystery and include their findings as part of their podcast.

For some reason, either the story or the characters, I am not really sure which, didn’t connect with me in addition to me predicting the ending. I don’t regret reading this one, but there was nothing special in it to grab me. It felt like an average read, but maybe I just wasn’t the target audience.

I definitely enjoyed this novel!

Not only is the writing style unique in this fast-paced mystery novel, but so are it’s characters which only made this story so much more pleasant to read!

I loved the dynamic between best friends Cam and Blair as they investigate the disappearance of Clarissa for their journalism class.

Everyone they interview has their own interesting story to share and reveal more and more about what kind of person Clarissa had been.

In the end, I was happy to find that many discoveries were made, besides only what happened to Clarissa (which wasn’t a huge surprise to me).

I would recommend this novel if you are looking for a YA fast-paced mystery that takes place in a small town!

PS. SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER



I LOVE how the cover relates back to the story!!

This is going to be quick, because I don't have much good to say. Ugh, where do I begin? I'm not sure why I listened to this entire book. I should have DNF'd it. If there is ever an advertisement for why we shouldn't let teenagers make crucial decisions, Cam should be the poster child. She is insufferable. She is not just awkward, she has zero filter. She has a mother who never taught her how to stop and think before she acted. She has friends who enable the behavior. Sophie had me rolling my eyes every time she opened her mouth. Blaire was the only good thing about this book. She was the only one who ended up growing at all in this book. I'm glad she figured herself out by the end. The mystery was meh. I pegged the killer right away. It's not hard to figure out. I have read much better YA mysteries. I don't recommend this on

2.5 rounded to 3 stars

Missing Clarissa is a Young Adult mystery from author Ripley Jones. I thought I would love this since I'm a huge fan of murder podcasts. High school students creating a podcast as a class assignment to investigate an old missing person's case. Unfortunately, this one didn't work for me in many ways. From the way it's written to the unlikable characters, I struggled just to get through it. I will say there were a few twists and turns that threw me, but I easily figured out the reveal before the end.

DNF @ 10%

I really wanted to like this one, the premise was so interesting to me, but I just struggled with the writing style and was unable to continue.

This is book was really good. I really enjoyed the plot. Two high school girls are doing a podcast about their towns biggest mystery a missing girl, for their journalism class. They are trying to figure out what happen to her. Interviewing people that were friends and family of the missing girl Clarissa.

Although I seen the plot twist coming, I still really enjoy the book. The story and the writing is easy the follow and not confusing.

I would recommend this book to friends especially if they like a mystery and multimedia style writing.

Welcome Back!

Last week, I was still really in a mystery mood and trying to overcome my massive book hangover from Nine Liars. So on a whim, I saw the audiobook for Missing Clarissa on Libby and decided to swoop in and give it a try.

SPOILERS AHEAD

Clarissa went missing from a small town in Washington in 1999, she was attending a summer party and was never seen again after. Now 20 years later two friends are going to find out what happened to Clarissa or at least try to. They are going to start a podcast for a school project, and they intend to talk to everyone close to Clarissa and see if they can figure out anything the police might have missed back in 1999. As the girls begin their podcast they have literally no idea what they are doing but as time goes on they quickly learn and they also learn that this case might lead to danger.

I absolutely loved this book. I listened on audio and I must admit I think that format lends itself amazingly to this story. There is a slight switch-up in tone whenever they are reading the podcast episode versus the rest of the story. I also loved the characters, both the main characters were unique and had different ideas, theories, and lives outside of the case. I just learned from GoodReads there is going to be a sequel! I am beyond excited and I can not wait to pick it up. In the meantime, I highly recommend picking up this mystery on audio.

Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars

Everyone in Oreville, Washington knows the name Clarissa Campbell. It isn’t because she was so memorable but instead because her story is so hard to forget. One night Clarissa was at a party in the woods, then she was never seen again. Despite a bunch of partygoers for witnesses, there was no body, evidence, and the police had little else to go on. More than twenty years later, the story has disappeared from the national spotlight. For local high school juniors Blair and Cameron, though, Clarissa is legendary. Figuring out what happened to Clarissa is the perfect project for these best friends to use in their journalism class. A true crime podcast with interviews and real journalism is sure to earn them an A. Cam is all in, determined to solve the unsolvable, and Blair is more than happy to go along with Cam’s plan. As Cam and Blair begin interviewing those who were closest to Clarissa, a different picture than what national media reported starts to unfold. Not everyone is happy with the duo digging up the past. Will Cam and Blair be able to honor Clarissa’s memory and bring peace to those who love her, or will they learn that Clarissa’s story isn’t much more than an urban legend?

THOUGHTS: Shorter in length, this mystery is sure to attract true crime and podcast fans as well as readers of books by April Henry or Natasha Preston. Recommended for YA collections.

Somewhat predictable young adult thriller, but still enjoyable nonetheless. I think a teen reader will enjoy this one more than I did.

3 stars!

Another YA thriller but unfortunately another miss. I feel like a lot of books compare themselves to A Good Girl's Guide to Murder and Sadie (both books that I really loved) and really the only things in common are the idea of a podcast element and that there are high school girls involved. I think where this book lacked was the intrigue of the main character. I thought both of these characters were extremely dull and surface level. I couldn't really differentiate between the two of them, and if I heard one more comment about Cam being so smart I was not going to finish this.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I really love a good YA thriller w/ a podcast element (hello still looking for that AGGGTM high)!

The first thing I noticed was all the diversity this book had in it. The characters, the topics they discussed, all of that is really nice to see in a YA book. You don't have to go way into it, but just enough to keep it in your mind to think about. I really was invested in the mystery of this but I'll be honest the way it was written wasn't exactly for me. It kept being annoyed by the main character and that was distracting.

Would definitely read this author again in the future!

YA thriller/mystery—yes please! This book is perfect for all lovers of "A Good Girl's Guide To Murder." Totally recommend giving this one a shot.

I enjoyed the premise of this book as podcasts are very popular right now and I liked the idea of high schoolers looking in to a local crime from years ago.

I wasn't a fan of the characters though. Cam was stubborn, narrow-minded, and rarely thought about the consequences of her actions. She just bulldozed through anything and anyone she felt was in her way.

The book was also a little slow for me. The ending was predictable and didn't have the twists and surprises I would have liked to see.

Thank you Net Galley and Wednesday books for the e-book in exchange for an honest review.

Back in August of 1999, the whole town of Oreville, Washington was shaken when Clarissa Campbell, the beloved and incredibly popular cheerleader, vanished without a trace during a party in the nearby woods. Despite extensive efforts, her disappearance remains an unsolved mystery to this day, leaving the community forever haunted by the unanswered questions surrounding her fate.

Fast forward over two decades, and we find ourselves in the present day. Blair and Cameron, inseparable best friends who attend Oreville High School, embark on an ambitious project: a true crime podcast that aims to delve deep into the enigmatic urban legend surrounding Clarissa Campbell's disappearance. Their determination leads them down a rabbit hole of dark secrets, exposing the hidden underbelly of this small town. As they peel back the layers of the past, Blair and Cameron uncover the shocking truth about Clarissa's tumultuous relationship with her charming boyfriend. More disturbingly, they stumble upon a small-town art teacher who not only holds a prominent position but also had a compelling motive for wanting Clarissa dead. The duo realize that this teacher might just become the captivating centerpiece of their next podcast episode, given the depth of his involvement and the secrets he harbors.

With each revelation, Blair and Cameron find themselves on a treacherous path, unearthing the twisted history of their community and putting themselves at risk in pursuit of the truth. The lines between justice, vengeance, and their own safety blur as they navigate the dangerous terrain of Oreville's secrets, all while aiming to bring closure to a decades-old mystery.

The characters in this book have an incredible ability to captivate you and stir your emotions. It was such a delightful, quick, and effortless read. I breezed through it within a few hours, completely engrossed in every aspect of the story. I was so deeply invested that I never paused to try and predict the ending before reaching it.

I definitely plan on reading more books by this author in the future, and I want to extend a big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My thanks to Netgalley, Wednesday books and Ripley Jones for providing me with an e-arc for review. My apologies for being late.

I opted to do this on audio while reading the e-arc and it was a good experience, I really enjoyed the podcast element at the end of each chapter. You do have to suspend some disbelief that after years these high schoolers are able to quickly solve the murder but it plays out nicely. The MC's are slightly unlikeable but do have a little growth throughout the story. Overall it was a fun read/listen.