Despite the macabre genre, I'm a pretty big fan of true crime. I have read about this particular case in the past and I'm sure I've seen something on TV about it. It was a nice review of the facts and a few speculations that really make you think... someone who knew Lauren more than likely knows exactly what happened to her.
The majority of True Crime books feels like the author is exploiting a travesty for their own benefit. This one did not. It truly feels like the author is invested in this case and is trying to keep this story alive for the benefit of the family. The author also includes some dirt on himself... which is a sign of humility and sincerity.

Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a true story of Lauren Spierer who vanished June 3, 2011. This book truly left me with more questions than it did answers. It left me wondering whether or not anyone will ever come forward with more information. So many lawyered up so quickly. Someone knows something they are not saying.

Lauren was a student at Indiana university. She disappeared in 2011. She attended a party and was very intoxicated. She was in no state of mind to be by herself. Alas she was left to travel home alone with no shoes or phone and vanished. This case is still open and I truly pray that one day this family gets closure on what happened to Lauren.

This was a short read for me. The author had me engrossed in the details of this case. I cannot wait to read more from him!

As a fledgling reporter at a small paper in New York, Shawn Cohen took a call from a college kid in Indiana. The caller's friend, New York native Lauren Spierer, had vanished from Indiana University after a night out with friends. More than a decade later, now a grown adult well into his career, Choen jumps back into the still unsolved case that continues to haunt him.

This author's connection to case from the early days clearly gave him a very in depth understanding of all of the different people who were (potentially) involved. The case is also a good choice for a book because it illustrates just how easily this could happen to anyone. Lauren was a normal, social college student from an upper middle-class family in a nice part of the country.... and on a June day in 2011. she left a friend's apartment, began to walk the few blocks home, and was never seen again. It's a stark reminder that this kind of thing happens all the time and it's important to be as safe as possible. This author diving back into the case from the beginning and follow up all the angles was a really interesting premise.

That being said, I felt like it was very hard to keep track of all the people involved and it made the book a little bit of a tedious read. Given the length of time Laurien has been missing I expected a large number of people involved. Between law enforcement, private investigators, friends, fellow students, witnesses to the start of the night, and suspects, I fully understand there's a lot to deal with. However, I felt like it could have been narrowed down a lot, or maybe addressed but in a more general way that wouldn't make it feel as name-soupy. I just really struggled to keep everyone straight, especially at the end where he's following up on so many people at once. I was hoping that with so much first-hand experience with this case, the author would have narrowed down the possibilities and spent the most time on whatever he feels is the most plausible theory. I felt like even after ten years on this case, the author doesn't really have a solid take on what he thinks happened (though it's pretty clear he does NOT think it was local serial killer Israel Keyes based on how quickly he dismisses the idea no matter who brings it up) and that was kind of disappointing.

On the plus side, I do think the author has done a brilliant job of being upfront about certain concerns (Lauren's history of drug and alcohol abuse) without ever making it seem like she was the bad guy, was an easy victim, or should have done a better job protecting herself. It's a very fine line to walk and it was done very respectfully. The author also did a great job of describing how hard it is for a community to move on. For example, I found his discussion of the missing posters in Bloomington to be fascinating; how long do you leave them up? If you're a town trying to move on, they have to come down eventually. If you're the family & friends still hopeful, still searching for answers, it's never time to take them down. I appreciated that the author explained that ultimately the town took them down, the family apologized to anyone who was upset by them, and everyone continued to keep Lauren's story alive in other ways.

Overall, I enjoyed the book, but without a resolution or at least a very strong theory on what happened, the book left me still looking for answers and if I feel that way after reading a book about a girl I never met, I can't imagine how her family feels without closure. I really hope they find peace.

In College Girl, Missing we get an inside look at the unimaginable disappearance of Lauren Spierer. No one would ever imagine that an intelligent and beloved college girl would go missing in plain sight at the nexus of a safe mid-western university - that is exactly what happened to Lauren. Not only are we told the story of Lauren's disappearance, but we are given insight into her as a person. As a yet unsolved case, this book brings her story and case back into the light in the hopes that someone, somewhere can help solve what really happened that night, giving family and friends some closure.

I liked how the author delved into the depths of Lauren's character, both the good and the bad. There was no evidence of subterfuge or glossing over the facts. With information gleaned from interviews from her family, friends and the last people she was seen with that night, you get a whole picture into the pain of the family and a true synopsis of this horrible mystery. The narrator in particular brings levity to this book, without sounding like a monotonous Dateline episode.

Overall, I enjoyed this short but succinct book. There was a lot of research that went into it. Some of the negatives were that the author, family and friends seemed very biased and short-sighted as to what happened to Lauren. Rather than new theories, this was just a summary of the original work done by the police force. Part of this is due to the unwillingness of the police department to comment and not due to short-sightedness on the author's part.

This is a great unsolved disappearance book that goes beyond the surface. You will feel for everyone involved on some level. I truly hope, much like the author and family, that the publishing of this book spurs new interest in Lauren's case or that new information will come forward. I will be on the lookout for any updates by this author, as I am sure he will follow this to the very end.

4 stars for College Girl, Missing. I was familiar with Lauren Spierer's case but hadn't heard much about it since maybe 2013. This book is good for those who aren't familiar with the case and want to learn about it, but if you are already knowledgeable of the background, you won't find much new information in this book. I thought the narrator, Kyle Snyder, did a good job reading the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and HighBridge audio for this audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.

This audiobook is about Lauren Spierer, a college young lady that disappeared one night after partying with some friends. The police have drained every lead they have had and have not been able to find any trace of her. None of her friends, including her boyfriend, were able to help and all had good alibis. The audiobook is written by a reporter who followed the case from the beginning. He worked with her parents to get any and all information from them that might help, no matter how small. After all, they really wanted her home and they asked him for his help. This book is his way of reaching out to get anyone with any information to come forward. I really liked listening to this book as the narrator was really good and I felt that I followed it well. This audiobook really hit my heart and I feel so much for her parents. I would not want to be in their positions. I truly hope that someone will come through with any information that will help them. It is a great read, but not fast and it is a heartbreaker.

I won’t be giving this book my usual star rating due to the topic. The rating is solely for the audiobook presentation / narrator’s work.
Would I suggest the book though? Yes.


I do watch/listen to true crime documentaries/podcasts but I don’t really read much nonfiction. When it comes to true crime it can get tricky. It’s a fine line between sensationalizing a story for clicks, views, reads or in short: money; and actually striving to find truth.
As I’m not familiar with the case I can’t be sure how inclusive this book is when it comes to evidence and theories.

Overall I found this book informative and captivating and hope it brings the necessary attention to the case for it to be solved, or maybe even for a guilty party to come clean.

"College Girl, Missing" by Shawn Cohen is a compelling and heart-wrenching account of the disappearance of Lauren Spierer, a case that has haunted many for over a decade. The writing is excellent, drawing readers in with its detailed narrative and meticulous attention to the events leading up to Lauren's disappearance. Cohen's journalistic expertise shines through, with well-documented sources and new testimonies that were previously unheard of by the police.

One of the standout aspects of this book is the thorough research and the way Cohen presents the information. Each detail is carefully corroborated, making the story not only engaging but also credible. The author successfully pieces together a timeline that helps the reader understand the complexities of the case and the challenges faced by investigators.

However, despite the comprehensive coverage, the case remains unsolved, and this is where the true emotional weight of the book lies. My heart aches for Lauren's family, who have endured unimaginable pain and uncertainty. The book leaves readers with a profound sense of sadness and a yearning for justice that has yet to be served.

Overall, "College Girl, Missing" is a powerful and thought-provoking read that sheds light on a tragic mystery. It is a must-read for true crime enthusiasts and anyone interested in the intricacies of real-life investigations.

***Thank you NetGalley and Shawn Cohen for the ARC read***
All thoughts and opinions are mine, and mine alone.

Before listening to this book i hadn't heard about this case. I feel that this is an important book to try highlight that this girl is still missing and her family and friends need to know what happened to her.
I found this really interesting, the conflicting stories, the mess up the police seem to have made through-out this case and the fact that this book raises more questions than it answers.

I loved being able to hear this story through the lens of a journalist. It was so well written, hard to follow at times as an audiobook, but in general was very well put together.

As an avid truecrime consumer, I’ve heard a lot of retellings of Lauren’s story and it always hits so close to home for me. I was a wild college student just a year before she went missing. I was being carried around and making poor decisions and trusting everyone with reckless abandon. I can’t imagine if any of my friends went missing like Lauren. I can’t imagine who I’d blame or what dark holes I’d fall into. This case breaks my heart.
This reporter’s take is an interesting perspective. The way his own scandals changed the way he looked at some of the persons’-of-interest reaction was a realistic reaction that showed growth. His closeness with Lauren’s parents was endearing and his determination to speak with people who’ve remained close-lipped was impressive.
Overall I don’t know if this book really gives anything super new to the case, but exposure is important and Lauren deserves to be found and brought back to her family.

I always feel weird about leaving a starred review to true crime. Lauren Spierer deserves her story to be told and the first half of the book really does. The book at the beginning talks a lot about who Lauren was and portrayed her as she was: a human.

However, the second half of this book turned into how amazing the author was and went into tangents about how *he* knew things and could get interviews no one else can.

It was hard to read because it took so much away from Lauren’s story and it was unfair to her and finding out what happened to her.

I've been listening to a lot of true crime audiobooks lately. I find it wild how these horrific things can happen and most people don't even know the stories, myself included.

I hope that the families all find peace. It's been amazing to see how these sorts of events can push people into helping others.

The narrator, Kyle Snyder, has a good voice. But I will say it didn't capture my interest as well as others. There was no emotion and maybe that's for the best.

If you like true crime and cold cases, check out College Girl, Missing by Shawn Cohen. Thank you to NetGalley, Shawn Cohen, Kyle Snyder, and High Bridge Audio. I have written this review voluntarily.

The true story of Lauren Spierer and her disappearance.

Lauren was a student at Indiana University. One night she went out, as college students do. She was drinking and had done some drugs. She was around so many people, but come morning, she was gone. Unfortunately, her body was never found. This book takes the reader through Lauren’s actions the night she went missing. Lauren’s parents still don’t know what happened to their daughter over 10 years later. They are still looking for answers.

This book does a good job at telling Lauren’s story. It’s short, but concise. If you are a true crime junkie, read this book.

Lauren’s family still doesn’t know what happened to her. Was she murdered? Was it an accident? Was it a medical emergency? Where is she? Who knows more than they’re saying? Will her family ever have closure? Was her case linked to other cases? Did she OD?

My thoughts and prayers are with Lauren’s family. My hope is that this book gains some traction and the truth to what happened that night comes to light.

I enjoyed listening to this story as an audiobook! It was like a true crime podcast only a much deeper dive into the story (and without ads!).

This unfortunate story seems all too familiar as the missing college girl, Lauren, would’ve been at college at the same time as myself. This story is a bit haunting as it’s too reminiscent of my own experience in college with roommates or friends. The college sophomore went out to bars and then headed back to a friend’s apartment late into the night, never to be seen again. The story is that she then drunkenly left the apartment on her own and never made it back to her home. Was she abducted? Did she ever leave her friend’s apartment? The author digs into the details and of that night.

Thank you to #NetGalley and Shawn Cohen for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 Stars

The strange disappearance of college student, Lauren Spierer, in the earlier morning hours of June 2011, on her Indiana University campus, is the stuff of crime podcaster super sleuths dreams. She was a popular pretty student who had a substance problem and after a night of partying disappeared from an acquaintances apartment and was never seen again. There are a bevy of suspects but none the police could pin down. Her case remains unsolved to this day.

My review is only of the book itself not the tragic disappearance.

This written by, Shawn Cohen, one of the journalists that covered Lauren's disappearance over 20 years ago like most mass media outlets. The first part of the book focuses on Lauren and the time leading to her disappearance, details of the night she went missing and the heart breaking aftermath. It reads like a 20/20 report (which she was featured on) with a heavy focus on a few of the men who interreacted with her the last evening. The author claims to be sharing new information about the case, I will admit I am not familiar with her story so I can not confirm how much was actually new. Later, he adds a few phone conversations with the suspects, who repeat that they didn't do anything to Lauren and that they don't want to talk to him. Other than to revisit a long forgotten case, I am not sure what the point of this book was. He seems to be attacking everyone who was around her and considered a possible suspect in the case, "hoping to make them talk". While I rally for holding the real culprit responsible, some of the people he is going after have to be innocent because they are not ALL at fault. He switches between first and last names which are pretty similar so following who is being talked about or is talking becomes difficult at times. Cohen interjects a lot of his own opinions which muddies the water even further.

The second part of the book is where I have the most issue. The author spends the last part talking about himself and his career and his torrid past. His history has nothing to do with Lauren's disappearance and it is completely irrelevant to finding out what happened to her. He presents as buddy-buddy with Lauren's family and friends but based on the quotes from them, I do not get the sense that it is sincere. This feels like a desperate grab at money and a little more fame for the author and not to bring justice to the Spierer family. I wish her family and friends luck on one day learning the truth but this book is a hard pass.

I had the audio version read by Kyle Snyder who does an excellent job. He is easy to understand and enjoyable to listen to. I would recommend listening to other works read by him.

I wanted to like this so bad. College Girl, Missing about is about a young women who disappeared from Indiana University. There are parts where he really went into detail, but I was hoping for more detail about who she was before attending IU. Towards the end, it seemed more about him and his resume after the story. I think there could have been a better ending of talking about what her friend group is doing now.

The realization that this tragedy has not been resolved is difficult to grasp. I was unaware of the case until now, so I am grateful to the author for shedding light on it. I hope that this information will eventually lead to closure for the family.

A gripping true crime audiobook about a girl who disappears in plain sight. Back in 2011, Lauren Spierer's disappearance did not seem to be just some random abduction, especially considering that the 20-year-old was out with dozens of classmates in a bustling university town on the night she went missing.
I generally enjoy reading and listening to true-crime stories, so of course when I saw this tittle in Netgalley, I had to request the audiobook for this one. The structure of College Girl, Missing unfolds in a way in which it manages to keep the listener's attention, making them want to know more. In terms of the content of the book, I think it takes a lot of courage to keep looking into a disappearance that happened thirteen years ago. Cohen had the opportunity to talk to some of the students who knew Lauren for the first time, since many mistakes were made by authorities when Lauren banished that night. He hints to the readers what he believes happened that night and puts the focus on those people who were not investigated at the time.
Personally, I was not the biggest fan of the narration by Kyle Snyder; and in some parts, the author focus too much on himself. I did hope for the Spierers to finally get closure, but unfortunately it was not possible -at least for now- despite the author's efforts to help the family. Overall, it was a great audiobook, and I definitely recommend this one if you like this genre.

An important story but to be honest, I'm not sure what this book is trying to achieve. I came in expecting a true crime read, but left feeling like the author was writing an autobiography where a key part of his life was investigating the disappearance (but adding what appears to be little). I learnt about the case I'd never heard of so I'm not sure what is new but from what's said, seems nothing but trying to add some pressure on those who may know something. I think there could have been less about the author and more about the intended story. I feel bad for the family and friends of Lauren, and of course Lauren herself, and I hope one day they have answers.