This had the makings to be good but really fell flat due to some major holes.

Are the police supposed to be bumbling idiots? I couldn’t tell if we were supposed to think they were doing a good job or not, but I thought they were absolute morons. First, the kidnappers reach out and say that this is happening because of a secret that a parent has. Ok, so you’d think the immediate police reaction would be to…interview the parents, right? NOPE. There’s no interrogation of the parents, they just review their past arrests (or lack thereof) and throw their hands up. What??? If the kidnapper has reached out and hinted at the reason for the kidnapping, you better believe none of the parents in question are going to be let off the hook like that! It was unreal. The detectives instead interview the principal for the third time (?!?!) in case she has any insight into the parents’ deep dark secrets. HUH??? Why don’t you just go straight to the source!!?? Then it turns out they had actually SEARCHED the building where the 13 people were being hidden, and the police didn’t notice brand new locks on this decrepit location? Ok. Nice work. Then, when they have identified that the abductees are very likely being held in the old mansion, they just sit around? Hello? What? I’m not sure what they do in England but I’m pretty sure whatever the British equivalent of a SWAT team would’ve been there in under an hour. Then they let a civilian in to talk to the mastermind because they’re afraid she’s going to kill the kids before the kidnap specialists show up. Ummm. The mastermind is inside of a bunker. She has no idea you’re there. They should’ve just let things play out and all the kids would’ve been safe. It made no sense.

On the other hand, the parents are also aware that their kids have been abducted due to one of their secrets, and they keep repeatedly saying they’ll do anything to get their kids back. Anything, except, it seems, DIVULGE THEIR SECRETS TO THE POLICE. Lol. Ok. Instead they blow up their marriages and social lives by sharing them with each other.

And finally, to be frank, what Reynold did wasn’t even that awful. Ok, having an affair with someone he has power over is sexual harassment and inappropriate for the workplace, urging her to get an abortion is shitty, and then having his boxer friend go threaten her is scary, but uhhh the people who ran someone over and then drove away and covered it up are DEF WORSE. I just felt like the lengths Cally, Brandon, and Oscar went to to make this dude suffer were nonsensical given the actual role he played. They made it seem like he had done something way more heinous. Also the twist at the end with Cally being twins with Oscar was just like…I don’t care. It didn’t feel exciting or even interesting. I didn’t care that Reynold ended up killing his own son. It was just like trying too hard to be a soap opera at that point.

So this was a 3 for me. The writing itself was fine, but the plot has MAJOR issues.

A fantastically pacey thriller that will keep you guessing. An unusual premise that is so well drawn and plotted. The characters are well developed and engaging. Lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing and a satisfying ending. I’ve not read this author before but I have downloaded more.

The Vanishing of Class 3B gives you whiplash as you think you have it sussed but you don't. It's a fast paced thriller that keeps you on your toes and guessing. Every character plays an important part of the plot and you will not see the plot twist at the end coming.

I loved this book, it’.s a book that kept me gripped right from the start. My thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley. Jackie Kabler never disappoints

Whoa! I did not expect this story to go the way it did! This book had a bit of everything! It had suspense, intrigue, actuon, murder, kidnapping, A great who done it and some good police work! There were some crazy twists and turns that I did not expect! Great book! The storyline was crazy interesting and kept me glued to my Kindle! I highly recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! Definitely don't miss out on this book! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

The concept of this sounded really exciting but unfortunately it didn't quite hit the way I wanted it to. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a bad book by any means but it just didn't blow me away.

Aside from Monique, none of the parents seemed bothered enough that their children had been abducted which came across as pretty strange. The rest were more bothered about keeping their (relatively minor) secrets. I was a bit disappointed when we found out what the secrets were as I thought they must be pretty damn spectacular if they meant more to the characters than getting their children back.

The story did hold my interest as I was intrigued to find out who had taken the children and why. I think I would have preferred more of the focus to be on the families rather than the police investigation, as a lot of the potential for emotional investment was lost with the focus on the police characters.

I did like the ending as everything was explained in a satisfactory manner and there were no loose ends.

Jackie Kabler has done it once again with The Vanishing of Class 3B. I was totally engrossed from the very first page.

A small group of children, along with their teachers, board a bus and leave on a day trip to a wildlife park. When their parents return at the end of the day to collect them they quickly realize that the bus is not simply delayed, but has vanished with its passengers unaccounted for. So begins a confounding mystery and every parent's worst nightmare. What has happened to Class 3B?

Ms Kabler's novels are not to be missed if you seek a well-plotted, perfectly nuanced thriller that will keep you glued to the pages. Add this one to your TBR.

Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for an ARC.

I was rather excited about this book but it just did not flow well. It was slow and the multiple narratives slowed it even further. I tried to carry on but I was very unimpressed.

Rating: 2.0/5

I was drawn to this novel by its premise: A bus full of children, some with wealthy, famous parents, inexplicably goes missing while on a school trip. It put me in mind of the US television drama, "Crisis" from about 8 or 9 years ago and which starred Gillian Anderson and Dermot Mulroney. I was all set for a riveting thriller - but that isn't really what I got.

Things started okay, but even considering the dramatic nature of events in the opening chapters, I wasn't getting a sense of heart-pounding excitement. It all felt a little flat and failed evoke any emotional involvement. As the story progressed, so matters deteriorated further. Events were far-fetched and the writing was on the simplistic side. I am not a fan of contrived melodrama and there was plenty of that on display, with hackneyed literary techniques intended to (supposedly) heighten the tension - but without success.

It was hard to take the characters seriously, let alone find their actions, or the situations they found themselves in, believable. However, for all that, there were occasions when it, almost perversely, made for enjoyable light-hearted reading - in spite of (or perhaps even because of) the laughably ludicrous scenarios being presented.

There are worse ways to spend a few hours than reading disposable fiction such as this, but it is unlikely to live long in the memory - at least, not for the right reasons.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

Firstly I would like to thank both Netgalley and the publisher One More Chapter for my copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Well, anyone who knows me knows I am a huge Jackie Kabler fan, and when I received the email to let me know this arc was available there was no way I could wait to start reading.

The Vanishing Of Class 3B had me on tentahooks throughout. Compelling me from the beginning, right until the very last chapter with a huge little bombshell.

This book held everything you could ever want from a psychological thriller. Great, relatable characters – check. Incredible storyline – check. Little bit of mystery and confusion – check. Twist upon twist – double check…

And… I’m not sure about anyone else, but if I can’t figure out the twist, solve the mystery before it’s been plated out in front of – that makes it even better!!

This was the easiest 5 ⭐️’s I have given to a book this year. I am really excited for all you thriller junkies who are yet to read this book for the first time!!

Two stars. I couldn't get sucked into this book like I desired to. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. The many points of view and the slowness of action contributed to why I didn't feel much reading this story.

I loved the premise and couldn't wait to get stuck in. It started off quite strong and got straight into the action without too much faffing around but it just all felt a bit slow for me. Its very character based and the characters are all well written and decent enough. It's a psychological thriller that builds the tension throughout. You're always waiting for the other shoe to drop to see just what's going on and who's behind it. Personally I'd have preferred more actual things happening but there were a few interesting wee revelations and the big twist at the end so it did what it set out to do and was a decent enough story

A bus of children and teachers disappears. Where are they? Who took them? One teacher is found murdered. The characters are not truly likable except the kids. That is common in this genre of mystery and intrigue. Red herrings kept me guessing. I sort of knew, but then, I would not. This author is talented and gifted at writing a cannot put down novel. This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher and the author. Grab a comfy throw…sit by a warm fire…become immersed in this book.

This is the first Jackie Kabler book I have read and I found it to be an excellent thriller. Not your usual kidnap/ransom story as a whole class of schoolchildren are taken. We get to know all the parents very well and learn that many of them have secrets from their past that they really want to remain hidden. The characters are drawn very convincingly and their different personalities make for a very interesting set of individuals. As the book progresses there are many revelations and it becomes clearer what the reason for the abductions is…or so you think! Because there are more twists and turns and that is what keeps you reading. I will be interested to read more of Jackie Kabler’s books as I found this one very good.

I really wanted to like this story because the premise was very interesting, but it suffered from having way to many points of view. The story just felt choppy and disjointed and it was not for me. I will not be posting a review outside of netgalley as I did DNF this book. Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for this honest review.

This is the first book I've read from this author but won't be the last. With an unusual premise that reminded me of a case where a bus full of kids went missing, I had to read and wasn't disappointed. With lots of suspects, secrets and twists it kept me on my toes until an unexpected thrilling ending.