It took me a long time to read this book. It wasn't anything original and the twist wasn't shocking. Definitely left some plot holes.

First book I’ve read by Amanda McKinney and I got into it quickly. Even though I’d worked out who Marjorie’s killer was before the end of the book I still really enjoyed it. If you like thrillers with plenty of twists and turns then you won’t be disappointed.

Earlier this year, my friends @thrillerbookloversthepulse introduced me to @amandamckinneyauthor and I will be forever grateful. When I start one of her books, I know I’m in for a rollercoaster of twists, OMG moments and, most importantly, fun.

When I Disappear is a twisty thriller with multiple timelines and POVs. Sylvia is a hot mess. One minute, she’s drinking wine in the morning, and the next, she’s playing Nancy Drew with the local police while crushing hard on Rhett, the man convicted of killing her mother. She’s unpredictable, keeps things interesting and makes me laugh.

One of my favourite elements of the book is how generational trauma is woven throughout Sylvia and Rhett’s family histories and how it shows up in their present-day lives. Really interesting and adds a layer of complexity to the plot.

If you’re a twisty and entertaining thrillers fan, check out When I Disappear when it comes out in January 2025!

Thank you @stormbooks_co and @netgalley for the gifted copy.

Absolutely loved this read. Definitely recommended!
The characters were easy to get to know and the plot kept me interested! I don't want to give spoilers out! But give this a read!

This was my First Amanda McKinney book.
This is a must Read, I really enjoyed the story line of this book ,with all the twist and turns . I did not expect the ending at all

This book sounded like everything I love from the description so I was very excited to have been gifted this from the publisher. As soon as I started this book I was swept up into it and I found myself lost in that world, completely oblivious to everything else going on around me. That was exactly how I knew that this was going to be a book that I would love and I wasn't wrong. There was so much mystery in this that I was second guessing everything I thought I knew every time I turned the page. The characters were great, but it was the plot that left me speechless. I loved trying to figure everything out. I was a little confused at the beginning with all of the time changes and character switches however the best books are written this way and the author was very clear each time it switched so it made it so much easier to get lost in the story. When our main character Sylvias mother was killed, twenty years, prior her whole life went down the drain. Now, with the murderer, Rhette, up for parole and about to be released she doesn't know what to do. With anonymous notes being left on her doorstep and the convicted murderer vehemently denying his involvement in the case Sylvia is determined to get to the bottom of who really harmed her mother. When Sylvia gets a threatening letter in the mail she realizes they are all connected to her mother's case. With Rhette by her side she's determined to figure out who the real killer is and set it innocent man free. With short chapters it really allowed the reader to get involved in the story and not be too overwhelmed by the complexity of it. With great characters and a very unique plot I was very glad to get the chance to check this book out it really grabbed my attention and I loved all the twists and turns that were delivered. There were a few slow parts however that I did find a little hard to get over but once you surpass those it gets a lot better. I loved Rhettes and Sylvia's character interactions. They seem so genuine and I love the banter that the two of them had with each other. These two characters took what was an already fantastic book and pushed it over the edge. I find a character can make or break a story and these two definitely made it. This was the first book I've ever read by this author however after one like that I cannot wait to see what else she comes out with. Great read that really left me on the edge of my seat and charging my mind on the outcome after every chapter. I can't wait to see this on hit shelves. The ending was the best part I couldn't have seen any of it coming. Thank you to the author and the publisher for allowing me to read this one early I feel very thankful.

ARC Review- Pub Date 01/24/2025

I loved this book. Lots of suspense and it held my attention from the very beginning. I did figure out the ending before I got there, so minus 1 star for the predictability. But overall, a great read!

Thank you to NetGalley & Storm Publishing for this advanced copy!

This had so many twists and turns, and kept me guessing throughout it all. Its stars with Rhett Cohen being released from prison after serving twenty years for the murder of Marjorie Stone. He’s been adamant he’s innocent from the beginning.

At the same time, Marjorie’s daughter, Sylvia, receives chilling letters seemingly from the killer and a threat: You are next. When Rhett visits Sylvia to ask about the letters, the two set out to find the real killer, until Sylvia disappears.

With the whole town and police accusing Rhett as suspect number one, Rhett races to find Sylvia before it’s too late.

Hands down one of the best books I have read in 2024! It earned the complete 5 stars! It actually got me thru a really rough period in my life! Once I picked it up I did not want to put it down. The storyline was full of twists and turns that I did not expect! You will not regret reading this one!

This being my second read of Amanda McKinney, I went into this book with high expectations and it didn't disappoint.

Sylvia lives like a recluse after her mother's murder. She starts receiving threatening letters which alludes to the fact that the convicted killer Rhett was not actually guilty who is then released on parole. Thus begins a quest to find the real killer.

The double POV's of Rhett and Sylvia in the book kept things interesting. You start learning about the characters and the plot thickens. I do feel however that Marjorie's POV made predicting the ending easier. The overarching plots all wove seamlessly and came together well in the end.

Highly recommend!!!!

I thank NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the E-Arc and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a wild ride. From the accusations of false imprisonment to Sylvia’s a disappearance it was all crazy. Also can I just say the idea of the “real” killer being out there free is such a scary thought to me. I loved it

I was hooked 10 minutes into this one. This isn't groundbreaking, but it is a solid psychological thriller. Yes, there were a couple of twists, but for me I was more interested in the portrayals of the multiple points-of-view.

I liked this, and I would read more from the author.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.

Sylvia’s mother was killed 20 years ago and after some mysterious letters arrive at her doorstep, the man who was convicted of her murder is released.
This was a fast paced book which I almost read in a day as I couldn’t wait to find out what happened
The 2 main characters Rhett and Sylvia were interesting and I didn’t work out the ending until it was revealed which i feel is a sign of a good book.
Thanks to NetGalley, Storm publishing and Amanda McKinney for an advance copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

A page turner I kept coming back to. 20 years after her Mother’s murder and following the release of her mother’s killer Sylvia receives a threat. Rhett who always claimed his innocence makes an unlikely pair with Sylvia to solve who really killed Marjorie and will Sylvia be next? With just enough side stories and characters to keep things interesting this book is a solid read. Thank you to the publisher, Net Galley, and the author for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

WOW! If you like Freida McFadden, Lucinda Berry, or A.R. Torre this is the book for you. I have not read anything from this author before this one and now I've added multiple to my TBR list. What a great psychological thriller that is fast paced with twists that had me guessing. A solid 4.75 stars.

Synopsis: 20 years ago, Sylvia Stone’s mother was killed, and Rhett Cohen was convicted of killer her. Rhett has recently been released and Sylvia opens her door to find a letter suggesting that Rhett was innocent. A series of letters arrive with the last claiming Sylvia is next. Rhett is a man driven by vengeance trying to find the man that framed him... and kill him. Sylvia seems to have guilt because her testimony is the reason he was locked up.. She teams up with Rhett to find the real killer. She feels like she owes him... Or does she?

Loved this book. Multiple POV, dual timeline, journal entries. and twists. Highly recommend this thriller when it releases in January 2025!

Thank you, NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the advanced reader copy.

This was a fantastic read! It kept you guessing throughout and the ending did not disappoint! There was a point where I had an inkling of who did it; however, I didn’t expect the tangled web that was created. I would absolutely recommend this book.

I did read this book very quickly. It was engaging and I found myself wanting to know what happened next. The writing was good and easy to follow.

My only gripe is that I felt that the plot twist could be seen coming a mile off. Just not all that shocking, I suppose.

Enjoyable book though!

What the heck did I just read! Perhaps one of the twistiest plots I’ve ever read. This was dark… so dark at times. Just when you think you have a suspect everything shifts. It’s a fast paced well written story line about how wrong things can be perceived. This dogs deep into secrets and the past until the story is untangled. And what a jaw dropper

Thank you to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for the arc
Wow what a read, brilliant from the start when Marjorie, Sylvia's mother is murdered. We then forward twenty years to the current day when it appears that Sylvia receives four letters saying she is next. The man they convicted, Rhys is let out of prison since it proves that in fact he was not the murderer.
This is one wild ride and an exciting book with lots going on.
Brilliant thriller that'll have you binge reading til the very end.
Great character detail and background, with a fantastic plot and end twist.
Kerry Kennedy Author

When I Disappear von Amanda McKinney ist ein packender Thriller, der geschickt mit den Themen Geheimnisse, Verlust und die düsteren Seiten menschlicher Beziehungen spielt. Die Autorin gelingt es, den Leser von Anfang an in eine Welt voller Rätsel und emotionaler Spannungen zu entführen, die ihn bis zur letzten Seite nicht mehr loslässt.

Im Mittelpunkt des Romans steht die junge Protagonistin, die mit einer traumatischen Vergangenheit und einer Reihe ungelöster Geheimnisse konfrontiert wird. Als sie plötzlich verschwindet, beginnt eine spannende Suche nach der Wahrheit, die die Leser in die tiefen Abgründe menschlicher Psychologie und in die komplexen Verflechtungen von Vertrauen und Verrat führt.

McKinney versteht es, eine dichte, atmosphärische Spannung aufzubauen. Der Plot ist so konstruiert, dass jeder Schritt der Suche nach der verschwundenen Frau die Leser auf eine neue, unerforschte Wendung der Geschichte führt. Die Autorin schafft es, mit überraschenden Wendungen und klugen Erzähltechniken die Spannung kontinuierlich zu steigern, was When I Disappear zu einem packenden Thriller macht, der den Leser immer wieder auf die falsche Fährte lockt.

Besonders gelungen ist die Charakterzeichnung. Die Hauptfigur ist komplex und tiefgründig. Ihre Motivationen und inneren Konflikte werden auf eine Weise präsentiert, die sowohl empathisch als auch faszinierend ist. Auch die Nebencharaktere sind gut entwickelt und tragen zur Atmosphäre des Buches bei, indem sie die geheimen Ebenen der Geschichte weiter vertiefen.

Der Schreibstil von Amanda McKinney ist eindrucksvoll – flüssig, aber intensiv, und mit einem klaren Fokus auf die emotionale Tiefe der Handlung. Sie versteht es, eine ständige Ungewissheit zu schaffen, die den Leser zwingt, seine eigene Wahrnehmung der Ereignisse immer wieder in Frage zu stellen. Was ist wahr? Was ist nur Schein? Diese Fragen ziehen sich wie ein roter Faden durch das Buch und tragen erheblich zur Spannung bei.

Fazit: When I Disappear ist ein Thriller, der mit seiner psychologischen Tiefe und den raffinierten Wendungen überzeugt. Amanda McKinney liefert eine Geschichte, die sowohl spannend als auch emotional packend ist, und bei der der Leser ständig im Unklaren über das wahre Motiv hinter dem Verschwinden der Protagonistin bleibt. Für Fans von intensiven, geheimnisvollen Thrillern ist dieses Buch definitiv eine Empfehlung wert.