I tried to like this one. I really did. I could not get interested at all. If I hadn’t been granted this as an ARC I would’ve DNF, but I kept going to give a fair review. I didn’t care about any of the characters. The story bounced around a lot. It just wasn’t for me at all.
I just reviewed Have You Seen Her by Catherine McKenzie. #NetGalley

A great summer thriller! I loved the setting and the search and rescue aspect. I liked the different timelines and the social media posts as well.

Catherine McKenzie manages to keep me on the edge of my seat once again! Taking me out into a national park with a main protagonist who seems to be running from her problems. Add to that a story that goes between the "then" and the "now" and all kinds of missing people and I am a goner.

Have You Seen Her just had this great suspense thriller vibe, well-developed characters, and a fairly realistic motive( can I write that?🤔🤣). The greatest thing about a C.M. novel is that even when I feel like her novel is a "limited series", as a reader her characters always make me think "potential season 2 option."


Expected Publication Date 27/06/23
Goodreads Review 25/06/23

* Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.*

A entertaining summer thriller that’ll make you wary of stepping into a national park in the near future.

Missing hikers and abusive men are the primary focus in this thriller that takes place in the gorgeous Yosemite National park. This thriller has all the elements of the Gabi Petito case that was making the headlines two years ago with some crazy twists along the way. The characters were engaging and since the book was written in dual timelines, had me NEEDING to know what happens next. It’s a bit of a slow start but the action really ramps up near the end that is totally worth it to stick around for.

Things to look forward to:
-separate then and now timelines
-mixed media (diary entries, social media posts, newspaper clippings, video transcripts)
-descriptions of Yosemite that’ll make you want to visit
-descriptions of Yosemite that’ll make you scared to visit 😆
-a twisty thriller with an ending you didn’t see coming
-Smokey the bear

I received a digital ARC from Atria Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I was drawn into this novel from the first sentence. I could not stop thinking about the characters when I was not reading. The way this novel is written is genius. All of it comes together in a way I did not expect.

"Have You Seen Her" by Catherine McKenzie is a thrilling rollercoaster set in the breathtaking backdrop of Yosemite. Cassie's escape from her abusive husband leads her back to her former role in the park's search-and-rescue team. As she dives into her new life, strange disappearances draw her attention, bearing an uncanny resemblance to a past case she once handled. Unbeknownst to everyone, Cassie carries her own hidden secrets.

I absolutely loved this book! The national park setting provided a refreshing and captivating backdrop, immersing me in the world of a search-and-rescue team. Exploring the day-to-day experiences of these dedicated individuals was a fascinating aspect of the story. Admittedly, the dual timeline initially posed a challenge, but as the plot progressed, it seamlessly came together.

For outdoor enthusiasts and thriller lovers alike, "Have You Seen Her" is a must-read. Its blend of nature's wonders and gripping suspense creates an enthralling and satisfying reading experience.

Overall I'd give this book 3 ⭐ but I'm giving an extra because I had NO IDEA where this book was going .. then I thought I did & NOPE . Until the last page there's little twisties thrown in so I gotta bump the ⭐ rating because I love when a book surprises me. Also Im born & raised in California & absolutely loved that this book was set around Yosemite. Truly one of the most beautiful, breath taking places .

Now that I feel like climbing a mountain I'm going to go watch vertical limit ✌️

Thank u again to #Netgalley for another great read . ❤️ The #arcs .

Have You Seen Her? is one of my favourite thriller reads this year!

It is about a young woman who flees her old life to start afresh doing search and rescue in Yosemite National Park. Her life becomes intertwined with two other women hiking in the park and just what is happening when people start going missing?

The story started off intense and alternated between “then” and “now” timelines, which was very easy to follow. The characters were nuanced and interesting and I enjoyed how the story was told via narrative text, Instagram posts, diary entries, and news articles. The writing was easy to read and the pacing was good. There was a great, unexpected twist which led to a an exciting ending. Very well plotted and clever. I think this is Catherine McKenzie’s best novel to date.

Thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada and Netgalley for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

Great summer read by Catherine McKenzie. I enjoyed the multiple POVs. Lots of twists and tension. Filled with well developed characters. Some I liked and some that made me want to slap them!
Thank you Catherine McKenzie, NetGalley and AtriaBooks for the opportunity to read and review this book

I DNFed this one unfortunately. I only got about 20% of the way in and I was so bored. I did not connect with the characters and I did not like the layout (at least on my kindle).

I’m sure others will enjoy this book but it was too slow for me and I could not get in to it.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

On the run from her past, Cassie has left her life in New York to begin a job as a search and rescue worker at Yosemite National Park. She had previously worked there ten years ago. Now, as Hikers start to go missing, Cassie is reminded of a case she work on from a decade ago, when Hikers start to go missing again. Cassie works with both old and new alliances to try to find the missing hikers, while keeping her own past hidden. But she may not be the only one with secrets to hide.

Cassie’s POV alternates from the past and the present, but I found it easy to follow. The National Park setting was very atmospheric, and I felt the Park become its own character. I enjoyed reading about and learning what a SAR team does on a daily basis. This is a great read for anyone who loves the outdoors and a good thriller!

I had the honor of reading this ARC thanks to Netgalley, the Author, Catherine McKenzie, and the Publisher Atria Books.


Pub Day for Have You Seen Her by Catherine McKenzie is on June 27th, 2023

Have You Seen Her is an atmospheric, twisty, character driven thriller that delivers an impressive reveal. The three women at the heart of the story are distinct and fully fleshed out, and I loved the way the timelines wove together as we learned how two deaths years apart are related to one another. If you loved the atmosphere of Where The Crawdads Sing, but with a modern string of violence to solve, add this one to your list!

Believe it or not, Have You Seen Her is the first of Catherine McKenzie's books I've read. When I read the blurb for it, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. A thriller about complex women set in Yosemite National Park, a place as lethal as it is breathtakingly beautiful? That checks alllll the boxes for me.

The plot focuses on three women whose lives intersect in Yosemite. Cassie has fled her life in NYC to lay low and work as a Search and Rescue (SAR) officer for the summer. Jada and her boyfriend Jim have arrived at the park after a cross-country adventure in their Airstream, documented in Instagram posts. And Petal and her much older girlfriend, Sandy, have settled in a trailer at the park after living itinerant lives for the past two years. All of the women have secrets, and when someone goes missing, those secrets come to light with shocking and far-reaching consequences.

Have You Seen Her is an immersive and atmospheric thriller, bringing Yosemite's landmarks and environs completely to life. McKenzie puts us on the ground with the SAR team, and it was fascinating to read about their rescue operations. I loved the mixed media aspect of the story, which incorporates journal entries, news articles, and Instagram and YouTube transcripts (although I wish it would've included actual photos -- maybe the final copy will). The characters are interesting, but not as fully developed as they could have been.

The romance subplot felt entirely unnecessary, and the characters involved didn't have any chemistry whatsoever. I also felt that some of the dialogue rang false, and although the twist at the end wowed me, I do feel like some things were sacrificed earlier in the narrative to make it work (I won't be specific to avoid spoilers). But I always love discovering a new author with a lengthy backlist, and there was enough in Have You Seen Her to make me intrigued about McKenzie's earlier books. Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the early reading opportunity.

This seemed like a really thrilling ride from the get go. But it disappointed me because it just fell flat. I wanted to like this book so much because the summary was very intriguing but I just didn't.

I loved the setting of this book! The vivid descriptions of California and Yosemite brought it to life. Having a group of girls at the center of this thriller was even more unique. Typically thrillers are driven by a single main character, but Petal and Jada really make the story shine. Highly recommend!

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
I love the author’s previous books so I was so excited to read this one. This book is definitely slow paced and seems to drag on. I thought that the premise sounded really good with a woman who is on the run from her past, and missing hikers, unfortunately for me the ending was a letdown and left me feeling underwhelmed. I was wanting more! I did enjoy the two alternating timelines, the journal entries, hidden secrets, built up tension, and the true crime vibe. This one started off with a bang, but then it dragged on, and the conclusion left me wanting more. Overall, it was OKAY, but nothing that blew me away. However, I will definitely continue to read future books by Mckenzie!


𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞?
I think that this one will be a hit or miss. If you enjoy reading slow burn atmospheric thrillers then give this one a try!

𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫3.5/5


Thank you to Atria books and Netgalley for my #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!

This story takes place in Yosemite. What a great stage. I loved the whole outdoor thing. Brought back memories of my own visit years ago. Good tension in the search and rescue scenes. There was a twist towards the end I never saw coming that was like Wow!

Have you Seen Her?

Cassie Peters has left her life (and husband) in NYC behind. She has come back to hometown of Mammoth Lakes, California. She has acquired a job as a member of the Yosemite Search and Rescue, a job she worked a decade earlier. She is there to work but is always looking over her shoulder, worried that her husband has found her. She works hard along with the seasoned team she has joined. While working, she meets a young woman named Petal, who lives in a trailer with her wife, Sandy, and Jada a recent graduate on a cross country trip with her boyfriend, Jim. Jada is posting about their trip on Instagram and her posts are getting a lot of attention. This worries Cassie.

When their lives become intertwined, things get interesting FAST!

WOWZA!

Just when I thought I had things figured out, Catherine McKenzie turned the tables on me. I was shocked and my jaw dropped at one of the reveals. I had no clue what was going to happen. I seriously did not see that twist coming! Nicely done! I enjoyed that she pulled the wool over my eyes. I found this book to be well written and shocking.

I enjoyed the mix of characters. Some are likeable, some are unlikeable. That kept things interesting. Yosemite set the backdrop for this mystery thriller which was gripping and kept me on my toes.

Cassie returns home to work search and rescue in Yosemite after leaving her husband. You think the story is about her hiding from her husband and him coming to track her down, but it is also about Cassie's past and some of the park visitors she interacts with. I liked the multiple story lines and the inclusion of Petal's diary entries and some podcast/blog transcripts. It made the story feel very current and real. Of course I also enjoyed the local references that I could connect with. Many of the twists were good surprises and I loved how it all came together at the end, though I could have done without Petal's all explaining final diary entry. I don't need that bow on top of the present.

Cassie Peters flees from her secretive like in new York for her hometown in California.
There, she begins working with Yosemite Search and Rescue. While working, a case she worked years ago continues to haunt her. She joins a group of seasonal workers who live in Yosemite for the summer, including Petal, a young woman with a much older wife, and Jada, a college grad who is documenting her cross-country journey on Instagram. Cassie’s past catches up with her in a shocking way.

When I saw Mary Kubica recommend this book, I knew I would love it! The dark, atmospheric setting of Yosemite dialed up the creepy factor in this thriller. The themes of trauma and revenge were woven throughout along with twists I didn’t see coming. I can’t wait to check out more from this author!

Thank you to Netgalley, Atria and Catherine McKenzie for the ARC! “Have You Seen Her” releases June 27th.

This review will be shared to my Instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)