The Vanishing Wife
Leigh Brody FBI Mystery #2
Nichole Severn
Leigh Brody is an FBI criminologist. We first meet Elyse in book 1. Leigh becomes friends with the PA in her gynecologist’s office. Elyse offers comfort and strength when Leigh discovers she has cancer.
Book 2: Leigh is medical leave following surgery to remove the cancer. Elyse leaves a distraught but unclear voice mail on Leigh’s cell phone. When Leigh arrives at the beachside vacation cottage in Gulf Shores, AL she finds Elyse’s husband acting strange and her teenage daughter is worried. There are blood splatters on the floor, Elyse is missing; no one seems to know where she is. Earlier Elyse reported she had been attacked but the police seemed unconcerned. The body of a fifteen-year-old is found on the boardwalk. Gulf Shores Police Department’s Detective Henrietta Moore is the lead on the case of several missing teenage girls. Her investigation leads to deceptions, secrets, and relationship problems. Leigh unexpectedly is appointed guardianship. Despite a warning from her FBI superior to stay away from the case, Leigh Is determined to find her friend and help the missing girl.
I have not read book 1 in this series but book 2 seems to stand well alone. Author Michole Severn is a brilliant writer. She manages to examine the mind of the criminal mind. The heroine is Leigh, a strong female character that demonstrates zeal for solving a crime.
Thank you NetGalley for the review copy.

Book 89 of 2024
The Vanishing Wife
By Nichole Severn

This book is the second in the series but I read it as a stand alone. The story had multiple pov and had me wondering what the ending would be. There are some potential triggers but nothing was described in detail. As someone who normally reads fantasy and thrillers this straight true crime style mystery was a change.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC of The Vanishing Wife by Nichole Severn.

This book is the second in a series where Detective Leigh Brody is determined to get answers, get justice, and right wrongs.

Leigh gets a concerning call from her only close friend, Elyse, asking for help. Elyse’s message is very vague and now she’s unreachable. Elyse is vacationing at her summer home with her husband and 14 year old daughter. Leigh, being out on medical leave, rushes to help.

When Leigh arrives she finds a wall of crime scene tape, a pool of blood, and learning her friend was attacked and missing. Not only is Elyse missing but several teens girls have also gone missing. Leigh’s FBI training kicks in and she’s determined to find not only her friend but the local teen.

In her pursuit she uncovers lies, secrets, marital issues, and has to handle a suicide resulting in her becoming a guardian.

I didn’t read the first book which isn’t necessary but is often referenced in this book. The book was a little slow going at first and I feel like the end was rushed to wrap up the case. Overall the story line was good and Severn set the tone for book 3. I don’t think I’ll be revisiting the Agent Brody series but I appreciate the read.

Pub Date: September 12, 2024
🌟🌟.5

This was a really great read. It is a very, very slow burn and sometimes I think it was too much and the story just kept going on too long.

But, it kept me guessing... I didn't catch on until the very end on what was happening. It ended on a bit of a cliffhanger as well.

All in all I loved the FMC and I will definitely read more in this series.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC for my honest review.

#NetGalley #TheVanishingWife #StormPublishing #NicoleSevern

This book was gripping and hard to put down. It didn't feel like everything else you see out there, it felt very fresh. I really enjoyed this book!

This story really blew me away. It has so many twists and turns in it. False starts and dead ends. At one point you get so frustrated you want to pull your hair out, yet you just cannot walk away from the story. What happened to Leigh's friend? After all that you have been through with someone, can you ever really say that you truly know that person? This book makes you question just about every single relationship you've had or will have. It's a gut punch and a kick to the face. I love it.

By the time the ending came along, I thought I had a pretty good idea of who did what. Boy, I didn't even have a clue. Come into reading this with an open mind because it is not what you think it's going to be. This is the first book of Nichole's that I have read but I am certainly ready to dive into that pool again when her next book shows up. I recommend this book.

Thanks to Net Galley, the publishers, and to Nichole Severn for the ability to read and review this book. All opinions are my own and are completely honest.

Leigh is on medical leave when she gets a message from her friend Elyse. When she gets there Elyse is missing and there's blood all over the floor. What happened to her? Her husband is acting strange and what about the daughter? Elyse is missing and girls are being kidnapped and murdered. Twists and turns, finding out the truth and some surprises. Can't wait for book 3.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I had not realised it was the second in the series and I shall look to read the first. It had a lot of twists and turns and many many elements. For this reason I have given it 4 stars and not five because in my view there is only so much that can be included before it becomes too much. Nevertheless a really enjoyable read.

This was an intense mystery. It's about a missing woman and some young girls who have been abducted. There are so many twists and turns and the ending is really surprising, but I enjoyed it. Kept me interested the whole way through!

This was the first book I’ve read by this author so I didn’t really know what to expect. It soon clicked that this was part of a series but it didn’t detract from the reading. It was a real page turner and I was gripped from the beginning. I can understand all the great reviews because it was full of emotion and tension, but for me it was just a bit too far fetched and over the top. I’ve given it 4 stars (even though I had to suspend belief quite a lot!) because I was kept on the edge of my seat and the writing is so good. Thanks to Storm and NetGalley for the early copy.

This book had me hooked from the very start. I loved how it was written and I'll definitely be reading more from this author!

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in this series, unfortunately, I didn't read the first book so I was at a disadvantage. However, this book was full of suspense twists and turns. A recommended read.

This was my first book by this author but certainly will not be my last! I was hooked in from the very first page, finishing the whole book in one sitting.

criminologist, FBI, medical-leave, friction, friends, friendship, crime-thriller, missing-persons, cancer-survivor, thriller, suspense, dual-perspectives, twisty, due-diligence, Alabama, tense, dual-timeframes, infidelities, extortion****

Despite being on Medical Leave following cancer treatment, Leigh came to Gulf Shores to help her friend but instead finds the FBI because the woman has gone missing. Then she finds that local teenage girls have also been disappearing, but they are turning up dead. Then comes the race to stop the killer and more. Very tense and full of twists and high drama. Good read.
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Storm Publishing via NetGalley.

The Vanishing Wife by Nichole Severn is book 2 in the Leigh Brody FBI mystery series. FBI criminologist Leigh Brody arrives at her friend Elyse’s beachfront Alabama vacation home and walks straight into a crime scene. Blood spatters the floor, and Elyse’s worried husband and reserved teenage daughter have no idea where she is.

Her boss orders her not to get involved, but Leigh is determined to find her friend. She’s trying to understand reports of Elyse’s erratic recent behavior when the body of a fifteen-year-old girl is found on the nearby boardwalk. And the case takes a chilling turn when another girl goes missing.

The story is told with alternating timelines with Elyse before she disappears and then after she is missing.

The story involves an emotional, tense, and twisted case. Leigh is a strong character and is determined to catch predators, no matter the cost.

The story shows what someone would do and the extreme lengths they would go to to protect their loved one. The story was fast-paced and quite a page-turner. I'm looking forward to more in this series.

#TheVanishingWife #NetGalley @Stormbooks_co

Nichole once again gets her hook in us as we follow Leigh to what seem like a cry for help. Boy does it all get twisted & we don't see the blows coming. We get 2 POV which amplifies the suspense on what actually happened. Definitely a thrilling mystery to enjoy & an interesting end or is it? Thanks to Storm Publishing. Honest review.

Wow!!! Agent Leigh Brody is back, and I am here for it! 😍 Leigh may be on medical leave from the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit, but she just can’t help getting involved. Her good friend (her only friend really) leaves her a voicemail from her vacation saying she needs help. That’s it, after that Leigh can’t reach her. But once Leigh arrives it seems her friend is missing. And she’s starting to wonder how well she actually knows her friend. As young girls start to go missing, Leigh is wondering if her friend’s disappearance is somehow tied in. She will get to the bottom of this mystery, even though she’s not supposed to be on the case. This is the second book in the #leighbrody series, and they have both blown me away. My only suggestion is to read them in order, to avoid spoilers! 5 ⭐️

I thought the first book in this series was good but this one was even better. This was an intense fast paced story that kept me on the edge of my seat.
Leigh Brody goes to Gulf Shores, Alabama when her friend calls for help. What she walks into is a complex mystery that keeps you guessing until the super shocking ending.
Let me tell you this one just left me excited and chomping at the bit for the next book.

Leigh is on medical leave following surgery when she receives a cryptic voicemail message from her friend, Elyse, which sends her rushing to the Gulf Shores, Alabama. When she gets there, she discovers that Elyse has gone missing. Leigh manages to insert herself into the investigation even though she has no authorisation to do so. At the same time, a girl has gone missing and subsequently turns up dead. The cases present lots of twists and turns as they intertwine and Leigh and Detective Henrietta Moore have their hands full trying to unravel it all. The story takes some interesting turns with a particularly surprising flick right at the end. And never underestimate what a mother will do to protect her child!
My reason for taking a star away from what could've been a 5 star read, is that I cannot belive that Detective Moore was able to hide her relationship to one of the victims for 10 years! Even if she did manage it, it would've come out as soon as the girl went missing. That particular point bothered me throughout the story.
Thanks to Netgalley, Storm Publishing, and Nichole Severn for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

One of the best books I’ve read lately! I wish I had read the first book in the series first to truly understand what Leigh has gone through but I will definitely read it and any other books in this series. I loved the writing, the characters, and all of the twists and turns in this book. I truly enjoyed reading this. Thank you Netgalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC. I can’t wait to read more about Leigh Brody’s journey!