3.75 ⭐
'He spent twenty years in prison; she spent twenty years living a lie..."

Was definitely hooked from start to finish, & genuinely didn't expect that plot twist.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Select & Storm Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

When I Disappear by Amanda McKinney and narrated by Elise Roth was a gripping psychological thriller that was packed with brilliant twist and turns throughout that will have you gripped from the beginning till the very end.

"He spent twenty years in prison. She spent twenty years living a lie."

At 2:00 a.m. Sylvia Stone awakens to a letter on her doorstep suggesting the handsome carpenter, Rhett Cohen, who was convicted of murdering her mother twenty years earlier, is innocent. The anonymous letters continue, each one revealing details only the true killer would know, making Sylvia question her testimony years ago.

But as Rhett is released from prison, the fourth and final letter arrives with one chilling message: You’re next.
Then Sylvia disappears.

You may think you know how this story ends. . . . . . . . . . Think again.

WoW. . . . . . . I really enjoyed this book and the ending was excellent

One thing I loved about this book it had short chapters which I found great and it did not drag when you were reading or listening it to this audiobook.

The narrated by Elise Roth was excellent and great voice for When I disappear.

I highly recommend this audiobook.

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing me with this ARC.

Oh my dear! this was one just to my taste!
Sylvia Stone's mother was murdered long time ago. Now Rhett Cohen, who was convicted of the crime is about to be released again.
Things turn crazy when nonymous letters arrive claiming that Rhett wasn't the killer at all.
And to top it up: Rhett arrives at Silvia's doorstep after twenty years!
This was twisted and I didn't see the final conclusion coming at all!
Elise Roth did a great performance in narrating this audiobook!

Thank you #NetGalley #Dreamscape Select and Storm Publishing for this advanced audiobook

This was my first book by Amanda McKinney and I enjoyed it.
Rhett Cohen was recently released from prison for a murder he says he did not commit. He is determined to find the real killer. Fast paced with many twists and turns, right up to a jaw dropping ending. Loved it!

When I Disappear was previously released as The Stone Secret. Fast paced with short chapters, this psychological thriller was a wild ride with clever twists.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for access to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

When I Disappear starts off with an intriguing premise—Sylvia Stone gets letters suggesting the man convicted of her mother’s murder, Rhett Cohen, is innocent. As more letters arrive, revealing details only the real killer could know, Sylvia begins questioning everything she once believed. It’s a twisty psychological thriller with a lot of potential, and while it definitely keeps you turning the pages, I found myself a little mixed by the end.

On the plus side, the writing is fast-paced, and there are plenty of moments that made me want to keep reading. But, the story veers a little too much into "too many twists" territory, where it feels like things are being thrown at you to shock, even when it doesn’t always make sense.

The characters, especially Sylvia, didn’t always feel as fleshed out as I’d hoped, and I ended up struggling with some of their motivations. I saw the final twist coming from a mile away, and while it was fun to read, I felt like it was trying a bit too hard to be mind-blowing. Still, it’s a decent read for fans of dark thrillers, even if it doesn’t totally nail the landing.

I really enjoyed the narration; I think it added a lot to my reading experience. Definitely recommend listening to this one on audio.

A big thank you to Netgalley, Amanda McKinney, and Dreamscape Media for the audiobook. Narrated brilliantly by Elise Roth, this was an incredible listen! The story took me on an emotional rollercoaster—what initially seemed like a tale of forbidden love quickly transformed into a bit of a cringy crush, and by the end, my mind was reeling and my jaw dropped! Definitely a must-read!

Admittedly the first 35% of the book I was a bit lukewarm but I pressed on and I’m so glad I did. The action picked up and trying to figure out all the different aspects was fun and engaging. But the cherry on the cake was the ending as while I figured it out, it was satisfying!

The narrator Elise Roth did a good job handling all the different characters although they tended to be subtle in their differences at times.

If you’re a thriller lover this is one to put on your TBR as it’s chock full of subplots that you want to see resolved.

I am thankful to have gotten the ALC for free from Dreamscape Select and Storm Publishing through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

I’m going to have to agree with the blurb for “When I Disappear” - if you’re a fan of Freida and Jeneva’s work, this one is certainly for you. It’s fast-paced, easy to digest, and... predictable. The multiple POVs were a nice touch, but it would’ve been great if each one had a different narrator to really bring the audio to life. It’s the kind of audiobook that you can casually listen to while doing something else, but don’t expect any shocking twists or deep revelations.

When I Disappear is a new thriller, I don't normally read thrillers, however, I was hooked from the very start of this book and couldn't put it down. I had to know what happened next and was kept on the edge of my seat.

This book is told from the dual points of view of Sylvia Stone and Rhett Cohen.

Sylvia's mother was murdered 20 years ago, and Rhett was sent to prison. Now Sylvia is being targeted, and Rhett is released when it's proven he wasn't the murderer.

Rhett is doing whatever he can to undercover who murdered Sylvia's mother, and who is targeting her. Can Rhett get the answers he's been seeking?

With all the secrets and lies this book had some twists and turns I wasn't expecting.

I enjoyed this book, and can't wait to see what comes from this author.

The suspense in this audiobook was like a roller coaster, it really kept my interest. So many times, I thought I had it figured out and I was so wrong. Great flashbacks too.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, the author and Dreamscape Select | Storm Publishing for this audio ARC.

This book was a decent suspense that had lies, murder, and twists. I wish there and been three different narrators for the three different characters but the narrator did do a good job. I liked the different timelines and the three point of views. I always feel this adds more to the story. I was listened to this book in two days because it was a quick book and I wanted to know what was going to happen next.

I really enjoyed this one. I had the audiobook and it was so easy to listen to and follow the plotline. The narration by Elise Roth was done quite well. I loved how she made me feel the emotions Sylvia was experiencing. Sylvia Stone is a 39 year old woman who is the lead investigative journalist of a crime case. 20 years previously her own mother was murdered and Sylvia was a witness to it that helped put Rhett Cohen in prison for the murder. But just as Rhett is about to be paroled Sylvia begins getting letters that undeniably indicate that Rhett was not the killer. I can only begin to imagine how I would feel knowing that I was a reason someone was falsely imprisoned. What I didn't expect was for the two of them to team up to find the real killer.

The story is told in a couple different timelines: 20 years previously and present day. There are three different POV's: Marjorie who is Sylvia's murdered mother, Sylvia and Rhett. I found the addition of Marjorie's POV very telling and added an additional twist to all the twists and turns throughout the story that I wasn't expecting. I loved this one!

When I Disappear was an enjoyable and engaging read that kept me hooked throughout. One of the standout features was the way the story unfolded through multiple perspectives, which added depth and complexity to the narrative. It was fascinating to piece together the different viewpoints and try to uncover what was true. The narrator did a good job bringing the characters to life, but I felt there could have been clearer distinctions when chapters shifted to the past. At times, it wasn’t immediately obvious when the timeline had changed, which caused some moments of confusion. Despite that, the story’s pacing and suspense were excellent. I was constantly second-guessing the characters’ intentions and trying to figure out what truths were real. The twists and turns kept me invested, and I appreciated how everything came together in the final chapters. It was a compelling story with strong emotional undertones and a satisfying conclusion. If you're someone who enjoys multi-layered narratives with elements of mystery and intrigue, I’d recommend giving this one a try. It’s a thought-provoking and gripping read that stays with you even after the last page.

When I Disappear by Amanda McKinney
Narrated by Elise Roth

Elise Roth did a very good job of narrating this story. No going overboard with any of the voices so I could just enjoy the story without thinking about the narrator.

The story starts with a gruesome crime twenty years ago and then the story moves forward twenty years to the daughter of the murder victim. Sylvia Stone is a mess, barely getting off the couch, not taking care of herself, getting let go from her journalism job seems to have sent her in a tailspin. What sort of wakes her up and take notice is when she gets a series of letters with numbers and then one with what seems to be a threat.

Rhett Cohen, the man that has been convicted of the murder is getting out of prison so it's easy to think the letters could have something to do with his release. After meeting both Sylvia and Rhett, I immediately liked one of these people much better than the other. Yes, I picked a team pretty quickly. Rhett makes contact with Sylvia and they both seem to be on the same page that there could be a murderer that's never been caught. Should Sylvia, be scared, should she be more careful? I couldn't help wondering the same for Rhett. For a man who has lost everything, he seems like a very good person.

There is always tension in the story. It seems Sylvia is being threatened and it also seems that someone might be trying to frame Rhett. Someone here is not on stable ground mentally. I had a lot figured out but that was okay, I wanted to see how everything played out, if my hunches were correct or if I was way off base.

Thanks to Dreamscape Select | Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.

Amanda McKinney's latest novel, WHEN I DISAPPEAR, is a gripping, twisty, whodunit psychological thriller of murder, secrets, manipulation, lies, and deception that will keep you guessing with red herrings.

Four Letters.
One Chilling Message.
YOUR NEXT.

A ski mask
A journal
The jewelry
The shrine

About...

Sylvia Stone begins receiving letters twenty years after her mother Marjorie's murder. She has spent 20 years living a lie.
Rhett Cohen has spent 20 years in prison after being convicted of the murder. He claims he is innocent.
Was he in the wrong place at the wrong time?

When Sylvia receives the last letter informing her she is next, Rhett is desperate to uncover the real killer before he is again blamed. Then she disappears.

Who framed Rhett? Who killed Marjorie Stone?

My thoughts...

WHEN I DISAPPEAR is an engrossing popcorn thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat with mounting suspense.

Told from multiple POVs and flashbacks from twenty-some years ago, the author keeps you hooked with her twists, turns, suspects, and unreliable narrator.

Jealousy, greed, obsession, and an evil, sinister plan of murder (s) unravel in this small town full of secrets.

McKinney's skill in crafting a dark and multi-layered narrative is evident, and readers will find the ending satisfying. This was my first book by the author, and I'm eagerly looking forward to reading more.

Audiobook...

For an immersive experience, the audiobook is narrated by Elise Roth, whose engaging performance brings the characters to life.

Recs...

WHEN I DISAPPEAR is for Miranda Rijks, Emily Shiner, Robin Mahle, and Daniel Hurst fans.

Thanks to Dreamscape Select and Storm Publishing for providing me with an ALC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pub Date: Jan 24, 2025
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I really enjoyed this and will definitely be looking to read more by this author.
I listened to the audiobook which was excellently narrated.

The characters were strong right from the off, the opening pages had me hooked. The intrigue when the lead character is released from prison and the mystery surrounding the letters just kept me listening in almost one sitting.

Totally enjoyed and will definitely recommend

Did a woman help wrongly convict an innocent man accused of murdering her mother?

Did a man serve 20 years in prison for a crime he did not commit?

The book's intriguing premise earns 10 stars.

The book unfolded from two POVs (mother and daughter) with different timelines.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Elise Roth.

Since there was only one narrator, it was frequently difficult to discern who was saying what.

The narrator made no effort to change the tone of her voice.

When listening to the daughter's POV, I felt like I was listening to a Nancy Drew book character with a YA vibe.

For example, the daughter remarked multiple times how hot her mother's accused killer was. (Huh?)

Author Amanda McKinney is an experienced and talented writer.

This book is a re-release of an earlier book and most likely explains the book's multiple glitches.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars

Damn this was crazy. I listen to it on audiobook and I did the whole thing in one go. I couldn’t make myself stop. It was so captivating and the narrator (Elise Roth) was amazing. I didn’t see the twist coming from a mile away. Literally addictive and so twisted. A 3.75⭐️ for me

Great book. Couldn't stop listening. Thank you for giving me the chance to read in advance. I was in love with all the characters.