A wild ride: atmospheric, dark, heartbreaking and cosy at the same time. There's emotion, suspense and an excellent storytelling
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher!
Creepy and chilling! Joni Blackwood disappears on All Gallows’ Eve and-through flashbacks and a dual timeline-we find out that this happy band of friends is not at all as they appear to be, and that secrets and deception abound. I could not stop reading until I found out what had actually happened-and it was an ending I did not see coming!

This book was okay and I liked the unsuspected twist at the end. What I didn't like was all of the lead character's emotional baggage. This is a book that will make you question the loyalty of the people closest to you.

Do you know the feeling.. when you start watching a new series and the first episode, the pilot, is just like.. the worst? That’s how this book starts; the first chapter is a struggle to get through. It starts with a dialogue and this might sometimes work very well, in this case it’s just confusing. There’s no atmosphere, way too little buildup (where are we? Who are we? How does it look around us? What’s happening?) Once simple sentence doesn’t make you féél the surroundings.

Example: ‘… from the trees in last night’s unexpected hailstorm.’ This is part of the second last sentence of the first chapter and is supposed to create a spooky mysterious mood. But it doesn’t work by just putting it in a simple sentence like this. Describe it! Describe how it got dark(er) first, maybe suddenly and fast, how the wind howled, how the trees swinged, how the cold creeped up upon us and how the animals got eerily quiet. Just something…

And this makes me realise: why all the short sentences? It’s weird and it’s not a nice reading experience to be honest. I also found some missing interpunction here and there.

And the characters are just horrible and shallow thus far. I just really didn’t enjoy this book. Every time it was supposed to be spooky it turned out to be a joke or something else. It wasn’t my vibe, while it had so much potential.

This book had me gripped from the beginning and I got a strong sense of time and place which made me feel like I was right in the middle of the story.

Lisa is a brilliant storyteller and her cast of characters each play a crucial role. This book had me guessing all the way through and I found it difficult to put down.

Many twist and turns along the way and an ending I would never have guessed! Perfect for readers who like to immerse themselves in a good mystery.

Thank you to the publishers for the chance to read and review this.

Omg. Go pick up this book right now. Don’t hesitate, just go, it is a literal thrill ride. Twists, turns and an unexpected ending.

The plot follows our MC Cass and a few of the important characters in her life. Her best friend Joni has always been the most popular and still is after being crowned the May Queen at the local Gallows Tree celebration. Soon after the night’s festivities, Joni goes missing, vanishing without a trace. Cass is determined to find her friend, ripping open fresh wounds from the past.

I was so immersed in this story, it is gripping and I had to know how it ended. The ending caught me off guard but I can’t talk about it or it will spoil everything.

I loved the love triangle in this novel, and after reading it I feel regret that the character feels. Excellent writing that sinks you in.

I'm somewhere between 3.5 and 4 stars on this. My reticence is down to the fact that the book very firmly leads you to believe one thing about the MC and does not seed in the idea that she is an unreliable, even untrustworthy narrator until around 70% of the way through. Weirdly one of the aspects it does really well - the ride or die female friendship - is the thing which it thoroughly betrays by the end. I also felt that the dark folkloric elements weren't woven into the bed rock of the story but instead picked up and dropped as it suited the author. All that aside, it is a compulsive read, with an authentic setting and some very astute observations about 90s teens (I know, I was there). I'm not sure I liked the book overall but I had a good time reading it.

This book was really a page turner from the first chapter. I loved how all of the characters had history both with each other and the town and it was pretty much explained from the very beginning and throughout. The author did a wonderful job describing relationships and their dynamics. I appreciated that a lot.

How is this a debut?? This is the most atmospheric book I've read in forever. When I am looking for a thriller, this is EXACTLY what I'm looking for. Flawed characters, relatable but dark situations, and so many secrets... I felt like I was able to experience this time and place, and this book became my priority for the weekend. There were some twists that weren't as surprising, but that was because the writer left clues, so I could feel as though I was learning and watching. Thanks so much to NetGalley for letting me read this! I can't wait to read the next book by Lisa R0okes.

Wow, this was a seriously holy crap the whole time kind of a book. The country English village setting, the spooky tunnel with the baby crying, the terrifying threats using the gallows, this was suspenseful, scary, and I could not put it down until I knew what happened to Joni.

I am in awe of this book! Such a delicious, twisty story. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough! The writing had me hooked from the beginning, so addictive. I had so many different theories throughout, but my jaw hit the floor at that last reveal. It gave me goosebumps. One of the best thrillers I have ever read!

So many secrets, and I had sooo much fun figuring them out and having them revealed! Will be recommending this to anyone who loves a twisty mystery.

Joni Blackwood vanishes on All gallows’ eve in South Yorkshire. People outside the village believes that she was sacrificed as a part of pagan ritual. Though Joni has been crowned and been given the title of Gallows Queen before she vanished without leaving any trace. The characters have a poignant back stories and that is what connected them while back in village, there are many bizarre stories and Joni’s mom herself used to tell her story of the horrifying branches and ghosts. The story has been narrated in dual timelines; present and past.

The truth is frightening, deep and twisted. What’s more horrifying is that not only Joni goes missing but the remains of a child is also found and the truth comes out with a layer of mystery, suspense and secrets. The book has paranormal elements and the ending was shocking. The mystery of Gallows tree kept me on toes. The writing was compelling.

Thanks to the publisher and Author.

I was SHOCKED with how this ended. Shocked. I thought I had this book pegged. Then BAM-just kidding, twist. Man. I really , really, liked how this turned out. Part of me was mad but another part loved it.

I’ve realised recently that a crime fiction trope that I really, really love is a small town mystery. Also, coming from Wales, which has a fantastic history of folk tales and mythology, I am also a huge fan of folklore and a bit of creepiness mixed in with a more traditional crime story and that is exactly what forms the basis of this novel.⁣
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A group of childhood friends desperately try to figure out what has happened to Joni who goes missing after a local bonfire tradition All Gallows’ Eve. The split narrative takes us back to when the main characters were teenagers, trying to navigate the already tricky period of adolescence, whilst also dealing with absent parents, poverty and first loves and relationships.⁣
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Sinister clues then start appearing in the present day which seem to link Joni’s disappearance to a tragic event from years earlier, and this threatens to unearth secrets they would rather keep hidden.⁣
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I was really shocked that this was a debut novel, it’s got a very distinctive voice and the mystery is complex and develops in a really unexpected way. A brilliant set of characters, and the Northern setting of a small village near Sheffield was perfect for this storyline full of secrets and suspense.

I devoured this book in a day. I loved the complex relationships between all the characters and felt they were really well explored. The plot kept me guessing till the very end and the ending was brilliant! A really well put together thriller with lots of twists. Definitely recommend!

4.5/5✨

Thank you, NetGalley, Orion Publishing Group, and Lisa Rookes for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This book was really a page turner from the first chapter. I loved how all of the characters had history both with each other and the town and it was pretty much explained from the very beginning and throughout. The author did a wonderful job describing relationships and their dynamics. I appreciated that a lot.

Overall, this book is creepy, twisty and seemingly paranormal. There are a lot of times that make you wonder if your predictions of what is going to happen next or who may not be the best person(s) are true.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and cannot wait to read more from this author.

This is a slow burn, dual time line of Joni Blackwood.
Lisa Rookes has written a gem of a book.
It’s small town claustrophobia that bites in all the right places.
A sure fire five star read.
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read the advance E arc. #JoniBlackwood #Netgalley I just reviewed The Vanishing of Joni Blackwood by Lisa Rookes. #TheVanishingofJoniBlackwood #NetGalley

The Vanishing of Joni Blackwood by Lisa Rookes is an extremely well written story with an intricate plot and skillfully drawn characters.
From the very first page, I found myself completely engrossed in the story.
A compelling and atmospheric story that immediately sucked me in.

Thank You NetGalley and Orion for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Thank you Netgalley & Orion Publishing for an eARC ♥️

I absolutelyyyyyyy loved the atmospheric setting of the small village, where traditions and secrets run deep. The protagonist's search for their missing friend Joni is both heartwarming and heart-wrenching, and I found myself fully invested in their journey.

As the story unfolds, the author skillfully weaves together clues and red herrings, keeping me on the edge of my seat. And that final reveal? Wow! I didn't see it coming at all.🔥🔥🔥

If you're a fan of mysteries with a strong sense of place and a hint of the unknown, you'll love this one. It's a real page-turner, and I can't wait to read more from Lisa Rookes 👍🏽