YESSS ! Great debut full length thriller by one of my faves @amandamckinneyauthor. This is far from being her first novel, but it's her first one full lenght in the thriller genre. As usual Amanda style I loved and devoured it.

From the first page to the very last I was hooked. She grabbed me straight away and never let me go. This book is non stop action packed. There's always something happening. Her writing will pull you in right away, it's descriptive, researched and flows perfectly.

Honestly, I'd say for about half the book I had no idea where she was headed with the plot, you know what I loved that. Loved being thrown from side to side, from suspect to suspect, I had suspicions throughout the whole book, but she always made me flip sides. I did sort of have some suspicions confirmed but honestly it did not ruin it at all for me since she played with my mind so much.

The pacing was great, it was a little slower in the beginning, but once everything started unfolding it didn't let up. It was action packed, filled with twists, lies, secrets, revenge and deceit. The story never felt unrealistic or too much, there weren't unnecessary add ons. The characters were definitely all unreliable, honestly I didn't trust anyone and that's definitely what I love when I read a thriller. It was a clever psychological thriller.

The ending and the reveal were perfectly done, with the closure that I love.

If you're looking for a fast paced psychological thriller with unreliable characters definitely give this one a try !

When I Disappear takes place in a small town where they were wreaked by an unexpected murder of Marjorie Stone the mother of Sylvia Stone. The story jumps between right before Marjorie was murdered and 20 years later when her convicted murder Rhett Cohen is released from prison. Upon Rhett upcoming release Sylvia starts to get mysterious letter at her door. Sylvia then begins the journey to determine where the letters are coming from. As she begins that journey Rhett was just released from prison. Rhett connects with Sylvia attempting to get more information on the case to tie up the details to try to find the details behind what happened to Marjorie. As the two attempt to work together to get to the bottom of Marjorie's murder it is soon discovered that things many not actually be just as they seem.

This book kept me ready for each page turn, wondering what could happen next, and constantly asking why. The timeline jumping helped to really give you a great understanding of the back story behind both of the main characters as well as the secondary characters. I was excited to see what the next twist would be as I read this book. This book was a 5 out of 5 stars read for me. A quick read but no lacking action or mystery.

When I Disappear by Amanda McKinney

As I began to read I thought, “This seems familiar” and then found that I had read it in its original telling. I kept reading quickly and found it still to be a thrilling story though I already knew how it would end.

What I liked:
* Rhett: convicted of murder, carpenter, served twenty years in prison, wants to find the person who framed him, seemed to be a good man, liked him and hoped things would work out for him eventually…would enjoy follow-up on his story
* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing
* That the story is told from three perspectives: Sylvia Stone, Rhett Cohen, and through Marjorie Stone’s journal
* Jesse’s thread and how he did a turnaround
* That there were people that were admirable like Billy and Detective Young
* How twisted, dark, and grim it proved to be
* That the murders were solved
* That it made me think, and care, and be glad I can enter this type of story without having to live it in real time
* The animals though I wondered who took care of Tango when Rhett went to jail and who took Shirley in later in the story
* All of it really except…

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Knowing that evil people and deeds in this story do happen in real life

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Definitely!

Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

This was an enjoyable read! It was fast-paced and had short chapters, which kept me from wanting to set it down. I liked that we got POVs from both Sylvia and Rhett. Even though I guessed the big twist early on, it was still a fun read. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future!

Thanks, @thrillerbookloversthepulse, @netgalley, and @stormbooks_co for the #gifted e-arc!

The synopsis for Amanda McKinney’s WHEN I DISAPPEAR was so intriguing and I’ve enjoyed reading her books in the past. Therefore, I jumped at the opportunity to read this ARC. The storyline itself offers the reader a suspenseful mystery filled with long-held secrets and danger around every corner.

The story centers around Sylvia Stone, whose mother was killed in a brutal attack 20 years ago. Rhett Cohen was found guilty of the crime, spending two decades in prison for the murder, never waving from his proclamations of innocence. Once released, he immediately reaches out to Sylvia, hoping to find the person who really killed her mother and ultimately framed him.

As I write this review, I will admit that I have mixed feelings about this novel. What I really liked: it kept me quickly turning the pages on my Kindle—short chapters and alternating POVs really helped move the story forward. I finished the book quickly, needing to know (for sure) who the culprit was (I will say that I guessed the identity of the murderer early on in the novel). And Amanda McKinney does a very good job of creating tension and suspense in her writing!

However, I found that there was not enough depth to the main characters, especially Rhett. I felt I never really got to know him as well as I should have. And some plot points didn’t work well for me—for example, Sylvia’s inner dialogue regarding Rhett and her inappropriate crush on him, even though he was convicted of her mother’s murder. And Rhett’s instantaneous forgiveness of Sylvia, the woman whose testimony sent him to prison, seemed a bit far-fetched. But that could just be me.

Overall, though, it was a quick, fun, and suspenseful read with a very intriguing twist (for those who don’t see it coming). I read it in about two sittings, so that’s a huge plus! Fans of Amanda McKinney should definitely give it a go!

A huge thanks to NetGalley, Amanda McKinney, and Storm Publishing for gifting me the ARC of WHEN I DISAPPEAR! I appreciate you trusting me with an honest review!!

3.75 stars.

As a member of Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse, I got the chance to read an advance copy of this novel.

This was a solid thriller that I read in just two sittings; the short chapters made it so easy to keep on turning page after page. I wasn’t sure where the story was going at first and there were some good red herrings. The novel had a good twist near the end.

The story was told from a few points of view and in two timeframes (via flashbacks), The main character’s first person perspective really put me right into the story. An enjoyable, quick, easy read!

Thanks to the publisher for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

When I Disappear is the perfect quick read for those looking for a "who actually did it?!" mystery thriller. That question you are trying to answer is who actually killed Sylvia Stone's mother Marjorie? Is it the man, Rhett Cohen, who has served 20 years for her murder or was it truly someone else like he tried telling everyone over 20 years ago? At the time of Rhett's release, a townsperson has gone missing and dirty secrets are arising about other townspeople that make you wonder their involvement. The story is well written with short chapters that build on current and past events through POVs of each of the mentioned characters above. I truly appreciated getting to see Rhett's POV so often as his POV highlights the struggles of reengaging in the community after imprisonment. In the setting of possible false imprisonment, you truly feel for him as you see how people treat him and how he has to struggle rebuilding his life.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this free ARC read in exchange for my honest review. For those looking to obtain a copy for yourself to untie this mystery it will be available January 24, 2025.

With all that being said, if you are an avid thriller reader looking for a hard to solve mystery, this may not be the best book for you. The synopsis of the book says "You may think you know how this story ends. Think again."; however I did guess very early on what the twist would be. With that being said, I still enjoyed the book. Amanda McKinney does a great job at building the suspense of the murder mystery while bringing in other mysteries arising in this small town. I will say, the build with new mysteries being added made me second guess myself; so maybe that quote is true! But ultimately, once I got closer to the end of the book, and gaps in past stories were filled, I was able to validate my original thought.

The twists and turns in this psychological thriller kept me guessing until the final reveal. The story is told from the POVs of Sylvia, Rhett & Marjorie in including flashbacks.

I really enjoyed the book by Amanda McKinney and I look forward to reading some of her other books.

Thank you to NetGalley & Storm Publishing for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you @stormbooks_co @amandamckinneyauthor & @netgalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

At 2:00 a.m., Sylvia Stone finds a letter on her doorstep that hints at the innocence of Rhett Cohen, the attractive carpenter who was imprisoned for her mother’s murder two decades earlier. The letters keep coming, each containing specific information that only the real murderer could possess, leading Sylvia to doubt her past testimony.

As Rhett is freed from prison, the last letter arrives with a terrifying warning: “You’re next.” Shortly afterwards, Sylvia goes missing, and suspicion falls back on Rhett.

MY THOUGHTS: I enjoyed this story with its twisty plot, short chapters, and well-developed characters, even though I figured out the final twist relatively early on. The action moves quickly and unfolds through the alternate viewpoints of Sylvia and Rhett, as well as from journal entries by Sylvia’s mother.

The story is told in multiple points of view over different timelines. We learn that Sylvia Stone's mother has been killed. The evidence points to a local carpenter called Rhett Chone. In the present day, we see Sylvia befriend Rhett on his return to his hometown. We are taken on a rollercoaster of a read learning about Sylvia and her relationship with her Mum. Sylvia receives some letters that suggest that something is not right with Marjorie's death. All in all, the ending was one that I never saw coming.

I really enjoyed this book - a quick read, short chapters, making me unable to put it down. Just one more, just one more......
It's the first I've read by this author and I enjoyed the style and the pace.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First book I’ve read by this author. This is a good, solid book. A man released from prison for a murder from 20 yrs ago…..who claims he’s innocent. One slip up and he’s back in prison. Proving his innocence won’t be easy. I like that there aren’t too many people to keep track of. Plenty of twists and by 25% through the book, you are fully invested and can’t wait to see what happens next. I would recommend this book to friends.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A 20-year old murder case is revived when threatening letters start arriving at Sylvia’s door days before her mother’s convicted killer is released. But if he’s still in prison - who is leaving her letters?

The story is set in the always spooky and enchanting backwoods of Vermont, where small-town gossip and high-school heroes rule over all.

I really enjoyed this book, right up until the ending. I just didn’t buy it, and admittedly it wasn’t the ending I wanted for these characters. I still recommend it as a good read, especially if you are like me and a sucker for the natural horror-story settings that are the sparsely populated corners of our world.

This was my first Amanda McKinney book. I did enjoy this book. While I enjoyed it I was able to guess the antagonist of the story from early on. Although not confirmed until the end, wouldn’t be a story if it was, I had it figured out. I read a lot of thrillers and suspense so that may be why I could guess who it was that killed Marjorie. I don’t want to give too much away. 3.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 4.

Wow...what a ride...that heads hurtling down the tracks with reckless abandon! This was definitely an easy one on which to keep turning those pages. I was sucked in by Sylvia's story with a tragic past and her paths crossing once again with the man accused of murdering her mother. Rhett is a misunderstood man, understandably out for revenge. But just what has he stumbled upon after two decades gone. Their story leads to places you'll never expect! I liked the unpredictability but it definitely had me shaking my head...like, what just happened here? This is a good one for those that like a fast-paced thriller without gore and terror.
Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC. All opinions are mine.

Woah!

This book blew me away. I just kept on reading again and again turning the pages.

This was one of the best thrillers i've read this year.

This was a great read! Rhett is convicted of killing Marjorie. Twenty years later he is released and learns of Marjorie’s daughter, Sylvia, is receiving threatening letters. He knows he is innocent and is determined to find the real killer. Lots of action quickly follows making for a gripping read!

Everyone at @thrillerbookloversthepulse is talking about this addicting psychological thriller that I could not put down. I stayed up way past my bedtime because I needed to know what happened. Flawed and well fleshed out characters some that you love to hate. Sylvia and Rhett are an unlikely duo. This twisty rollercoaster ride grabbed me from the first chapter and didn't let go until the OMG ending! Don't miss this one!
Thank you Storm Publishing and Netgalley for the ebook.

WHEN I DISAPPEAR was filled with twists and turns. I honestly had a hard time putting it down. I would recommend it to all those who enjoy a fast paced thriller.

Many thanks for my gifted copy.

A psychological thriller, When I Disappear (2025) by Amanda McKinney has a dark, atmospheric opening and murder. Sylvia Stone is struggling with life, having lost her job and she rarely leaves her house. A letter is dropped on her doorstep in the middle of the night, followed by three more, warning her she is next. The letters refer to Sylvia’s mother's murder twenty years earlier, with the man responsible, soon to be paroled. The story is told from Slyvia and her mother’s perspective, as past traumas and family history are revealed in a gripping tale. There are plenty of twists and turns, with gritty reveals and an overall ominous feel that is a suspenseful four star read rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without any inducement. With thanks to Storm Publishing and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes.