This was my 3rd thriller from Jackie Kabler and really enjoyed this one. I thought the pacing was excellent and my attention was held from start to finish. The character development was pretty good and everyone had distinct personalities and voices so it was easy to keep the large cast of characters straight. I found a lot of them to be very interesting and would have loved for their secrets to be expanded upon.
I was totally thrown by the final reveals and did not see most of them coming. I thought one was predictable due to a lot of intentional foreshadowing but at that point everything had been revealed so it wasn't disappointing at all.

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

Thank you to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A group of school children out on a field trip are kidnapped and the terms for release include money and a confession of their darkest secrets. Just which one of the parents has a secret devastating enough to warrant the abduction of the kids.
This story is full of misdirection, twists and turns which will keep you gripped in it's hold till the final page, where the last twist will reveal itself. This was a very quick read for me, as I could not stray far from the book without running back for more. Although some of the reveals are predictable there are some that are surprising and will make you catch your breath. The story focuses more on the parents, children and abductors and less on the actual police investigation, but that just makes more room for all the dirty secrets to surface.
I've enjoyed past Jackie Kabler books immensely and for that she has earned an automatic spot on my TBR list and will be a recommendation to friends and family in the future.

I have to be careful what I say here, as I don’t want to give any spoilers, but I was a bit baffled by some of the science at the heart of this plot – it didn’t quite work how I always thought these things did and Google was no help at all in enlightening me. Still, I’m not an expert so maybe that was just a ‘me’ thing!

Implausible biology aside, this is a really gripping police investigation/domestic thriller. A class of children and their teachers have vanished and the investigation quickly narrows down to a small group of parents who may be suspiciously involved – is one of them being blackmailed for ransom money due to dark secrets they are trying to hide?

I was absolutely hooked on trying to work out which of the suspects’ secrets might be relevant to the disappearance and which are about other things (mainly affair-related!). The perspectives hopped between parents Eldon, Claire, Reynold, Ben and the police investigators, and the author does a great job balancing what is revealed while we are in the various viewpoints.

It was a little bit frustrating how inept the police investigation turned out to be. They had no clues or suspects really and were baffled until someone eventually told them exactly who, what and where – incompetence to the point of unbelievability! And why on earth would they let a parent/suspect go alone to negotiate with potentially armed kidnappers who have already killed someone?!

So, pretty far-fetched in places but still a fun and gripping thriller. If you can take it all with a huge pinch of salt and suspend your disbelief then it is an enjoyable, easy read.

Well… mostly easy – reading as a parent, I had acid stomach and adrenaline burn throughout!

I LOVED this book!!

Utterly terrifying premise, families waving off their kids on a school trip, and await their return at the school gates at the end of the day....they wait....and wait!! This is every parents worst nightmare, and emotions are heightened as the police investigate this mystery..

This is a story of blackmail, secrets and deception. It is SO well executed. I enjoyed this book so much ~I didn't want it to end! Now I have finished it will be a hard act to follow.

I 100% believe this book will not disappoint. seriously readers, don't walk, RUN to purchase this!!

My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an advance copy.

I really enjoyed the start of the book, such a tense start, I did find that my interest waned in parts, which were mainly around the parents, who I wasn’t a fan off.

I did like the parts with the children and how the story came together at the end.

With a missing bus of children who have rich parents hiding secrets, this should have been a hit. The set up of characters was a bit dragged out in my opinion. I also could not connect with any of the characters. This just wasn't for me.

i keep trying with these kinds of thrillers, you know the type, but they kind of never hit for me. until now! quick and compelling. slay!

As soon as I heard the title for this book, I was desperate to read it, and the book itself did not disappoint. Pacy, interesting and full of dark and fascinating characters all wrapped up with a heart-pounding premise. A must read! Thanks Netgalley, the author and publisher for allowing me to read this.

One spring morning, a bus full of children and their teachers from a Cotswolds primary school head off on a much-anticipated day trip.

But as night falls and the well-heeled parents – one or two of them famous, as well as wealthy – wait at the school to collect their weary offspring, it soon becomes clear that something has gone very wrong.

This was an enjoyable, fast paced thriller, set in the picturesque and exclusive village Littleford in the UK.

This is the second book I’ve read of missing children - probably my most terrifying tropes - However, this was well written and tense, making it a perfect thriller. It was propelling enough to read in a few sittings, with an ending that made me gasp.

Peppered with a large cast of characters, many unlikable, its told from various points of view. I enjoyed this style as we got a glimpse and insight into a few of the characters, including the children.
Grab this if your after a clever, fast paced popcorn thriller.

Many thanks to the teams at HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for an advanced reading copy.

“The Vanishing of Class 3B” by Jackie Kabler is a gripping and enigmatic mystery that explores the baffling disappearance of an entire class of children and their teachers during a seemingly ordinary day trip. Kabler skillfully weaves together a compelling narrative filled with suspense, intrigue, and a sense of unease, leaving readers captivated from beginning to end.

The story begins with a group of children and their teachers from a Cotswolds primary school setting off on a much-anticipated day trip. However, as night falls and anxious parents gather at the school to retrieve their children, it becomes evident that something has gone terribly wrong. The entire class, along with their teachers, has vanished without a trace, leaving behind a perplexed community grappling with an unimaginable mystery.

Kabler excels at building a palpable atmosphere of tension and mystery throughout the novel. The disappearance of an entire class of children defies logic and plausibility, intensifying the intrigue and sense of unease as readers are left pondering the unimaginable. The author expertly employs red herrings and twists, skillfully leading readers down unexpected paths and keeping them guessing until the final revelation.

The characters in “The Vanishing of Class 3B” are well-developed and relatable, each with their own motivations and secrets. The narrative alternates between different perspectives, allowing readers to gain insight into the thoughts and emotions of various individuals affected by the disappearance. From the distraught parents to the determined investigators, the characters bring depth and complexity to the story, ensuring readers remain emotionally invested in the outcome.

Kabler’s writing style is engaging and accessible, making it easy for readers to immerse themselves in the story. The pacing is well-crafted, with a careful balance between moments of intense suspense and quieter, introspective moments that provide glimpses into the characters’ lives and motivations. The author’s attention to detail is evident, painting a vivid picture of the Cotswolds setting and enhancing the sense of place within the narrative.

One minor drawback of the book is that some readers may find certain plot elements to be slightly predictable. However, the overall execution of the mystery, coupled with the strong characterization and atmospheric writing, more than compensates for any minor predictability.

In conclusion, “The Vanishing of Class 3B” is a compelling and atmospheric mystery that will keep readers hooked from the first page. Jackie Kabler’s skillful storytelling, well-drawn characters, and expert pacing make this book a must-read for fans of suspenseful thrillers. With its intriguing premise and twists that keep readers guessing until the end, this novel will leave a lasting impression and have readers eagerly awaiting Kabler’s next thrilling offering.

The Vanishing Class of 3B

Oh my goodness The Vanishing Class of 3B was such a mind blowing explosive book. I honestly can say I’ve never read a book that had so many unexpected and jaw dropping plot twists. This is my second book by author Jackie Kabler and I just can’t believe what an incredible story teller she is. I was drawn to the plot on the first page. Every parents worse nightmare. You drop your child off for school in the morning for a field trip and the class never returns!! They vanished! I couldn’t imagine. If you want to read a propulsive and captivating thriller that keeps you up all night as you wont want to put it down, then I highly recommend you get a copy of The Vanishing Class of 3B.

Thank you so much Jackie Kabler, Netgalley and One
More Chapter for my e-arc in exchange for my honest review. This is perhaps my favourite thriller of 2023!

Pub Date: July 20, 2023

“The Vanishing of Class 3B” is a neat little thriller with a tense set up, a few good twists, and a style that keeps you reading.

Class 3B is excited as only a bunch of small children heading off on an excursion can be. Unfortunately, their school bus has broken down. So, a substitute is sourced, and they set off a little late. As a result, their parents expect them back a little late.

But not this late. It’s hours past the time they should have returned, and not one of the four teachers on board are answering their phones. What’s happened to them? The police are called, but they can’t immediately find the bus either. As the hours wear on, the thought that they’ve been kidnapped rather than met with an accident becomes harder to avoid.

Overall this is a tight plot. Kabler times revelations well, making them around the time readers might have worked it out, so that the tension and surprise feels unrelieved. A couple were well telegraphed; other twists were barely hinted at and take the reader more off guard.

There’s a pretty big cast here, with multiple parents, teachers, police, and kids. Kabler makes each distinct and vivid. It was easy to keep everyone straight. And although not all of them are particularly attractive characters – as so often in this sort of novel, everyone has a grubby secret or two – it is very easy to empathise with them in this situation.

It is true that there were a few small niggles for me. For example, at least one set of parents has had problems with household help selling personal information, yet they all allow people who haven’t had background checks near their kids and in their homes. Or, one of the detectives thinks that the kidnapping of a bus full of students is “unprecedented”. Yet I could instantly recall at least three occasions on which it’s happened in reality. You’d think a specialist would be aware of that sort of thing.

This is a good, readable thriller. It doesn’t really stand out from the crowd to any great degree, but you’ll enjoy it.

There used to be a nightmare I had every summer term, back in the days when I was teaching. It was always the same: I had lost my class. So this book really called out to my past trauma.

A busload of young children, along with four members of staff, don't return following a school trip. There was no contact with anyone, no record of an accident or breakdown, nor any cctv indicating what may of happened. A total vanishing of class 3B. The police are called in to envisage but they have very little to work on. The remaining staff at the school, including the head teacher as well as the distraught parents, are left to stew over where the children are.

Told from the perspective of several characters, there is a spread of viewpoints as they each question themselves and each other. There are secrets but whether these are relevant to the disappearance is to be revealed. The build up to anything at all significant is slow, as I imagine it would be in real life and there is a sense of dragging and repetition as the parents begin to fall apart at the seams.

Tension and suspicion grow as the story races towards its climax. A story about trust, family, parenthood, revenge and accountability and the nightmare all parents fear.

This is such a good read. Well paced, the time seemed to fly by. The situation of the disappearing school bus is quite tantalising as you can absolutely feel the terror that the parents must be feeling. Each of the pairs of parents has their own story but they all share feelings of helplessness. You share the police officers’ incredulity at what seems to be happening. The viewpoints alternate between some of the parents, the police and eventually, the children and their teachers. This adds variety and also means that the reader is privy to certain information which some are not aware of.

Secrets from the past are shown to be corrosive and you have the feeling that no matter how long it takes, the truth will come out. Characters are shown gradually owning mistakes from the past and several of the marriages come under extreme strain. As the plot twists and turns, I did foresee some of the events but certainly was taken by surprise by the ending. This is an enjoyable story which feels like a fresh read and which certainly keeps the interest.

In short: secrets from the past, a mystery to be solved

An intriguing and emotional ride as ten children mysteriously vanish after a school bus trip from which they don't return. As suspicion shifts between various parents and teachers, past secrets are revealed, and ransom demands are made, can police officer Sadie solve the case and bring the children home? A little longwinded at times, but generally enough twists and turns to keep up the pace. I enjoyed it.

Had a hard time getting into this book. Don’t want to give anything away but it seemed far fetched the lengths that were gone through. I did like the characters and the writing style, the resolution was just a bit lackluster.

I really enjoyed this book, a bit predictable but still a very good thriller. The fact that this is a police procedural slash mystery suspense is what grabbed my attention and it didnt dissapoint.

When a class of students, from a posh English school, go missing on field trip secrets from their parents past come back to haunt them.

While this book sounded promising I really struggled to finish it. It took me way longer than normal and I think that's due to the pace of the book. I feel like the real action happens in the last 25% of the book while the other 75% is building up the unlikeable parents.

A seemingly innocuous school trip starts to take on a sinister edge when the entire class, along with their teachers, simply vanish into thin air. With their parents anxiously waiting for the return of their children, the police have a difficult time investigating a crime which has left precious little clues. Gradually, as we get to know the place and the people who call it home, we start to realise that all is not idyllic in this Cotswold retreat and the children's parents, some of them rich and famous, have secrets they would rather not be exposed to a wider audience, and yet at the centre of the story are a bunch of vulnerable primary school children who have quite simply vanished.

The story moves along at a cracking pace, part police procedural but mainly about this set of parents and the lengths they will go to in order to protect themselves. Easy to spoil so I won't give away the plot as the premise of the story is done really cleverly. The many twists and turns kept me guessing and I enjoyed trying to guess in which direction the story was heading. The parents are an interesting bunch and it's a great insight into the vagaries of human nature and of the tangled web of deceit which can so easily spiral out of control.

The Vanishing of Class 3B is another fabulously convoluted story from this talented author. I'm already looking forward to the next on

Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Class 3b and their teachers are heading off on a day trip. When night falls and the class don’t return it becomes apparent that something has gone very wrong. What has happened to the class of children and their teachers? How can a class of children and a minibus just disappear?