Thank you to NetGalley for my copy of this book.

What a fabulously delicious book. This book has a fantastic story line, excellent characters and is just unputdownable. I would highly recommend this book to anyone and I enjoyed it immensely.

Back of the book :

Everything changed the night Flora Powell disappeared.

Heather and Jess were best friends - until the night Heather's sister vanished.

Jess has never forgiven herself for the lie she told that night. Nor has Heather.

But now Heather is accused of an awful crime.

And Jess is forced to return to the sleepy seaside town where they grew up, to ask the question she's avoided for so long:

What really happened the night Flora disappeared ?



What I think : 

Jessica and Heather were best friends at school, they had one perfect summer. They both lived in the seaside town of Tilby in somerset. They had the best of times until something happened and they never really spoke again. That was eighteen years ago.

Jessica is now a reporter in a nearby town, she doesn't get back to her home town much. However, she's been asked to report on a double murder and an attempted suicide. It's then she realises that it's her friend from years ago. Heather. It turns out that Heather has shot two people in cold blood, then returned to the caravan park that her family owns and tried to kill herself. She is still alive though, but unconscious, so Jessica can't ask any questions. 

But just what has driven Heather to do this awful thing ? 

Maybe it has something to do with the disappearance of Flora, Heather's older sister ...? 

She went missing that summer that the girls were best friends. Jessica knows something about what happened then but she promised she'd NEVER tell ... 

So now Jessica feels compelled to investigate this crime. But in doing so will she have to tell ... ? 

Another fab book from this brilliant author of suspense. 

I really like how her books are always fast-paced with plenty going on. It really kept me on the edge of my seat wanting more, there's plenty of twists and turns and I also liked the way that each chapter was dedicated to the different characters so you could really get into their minds and find out what was really happening. We also get to go back to when Flora, Heather's older sister went missing and find out what actually happened.

And OMG ! what a brilliant ending !! 

I give this brilliant thriller 9/10 (five stars)

'Then She Vanishes' jumps right in and starts with the night Heather murders 2 people and then tries to kill herself, however having read Claire's books before I knew not everything was as it seems, she drip feeds you just enough information to help you try and puzzle it out yourself, as to what really happened that night. A brilliant thriller with the right amount of suspense and intrigue, Claire Douglas is fast becoming one of my favourite author's she never disappoints!!

A great page turner. Jess and Heather were friends that lost touch. Coming back to live in her hometown Jess now a journalist is shocked to find out that the news is all about Heather killing a Mother and Son before trying to kill herself. Will trying to get the scoop on this story stir up old feelings for Jess. It turns into a rollercoaster ride for both of the women. I highly recommend this book

Excellent book that I read in one evening. This sucked me in from the very start and I couldn’t read it quick enough. I will definitely read more by this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an honest and unbiased opinion.

One missing. One a murderer. One trying to find the truth.

For two years of their childhood, Heather and Jess were inseparable, Jess became part of the family, until one day Flora, Heather's older sister, vanishes without trace and Heather & Jess drift apart. Eighteen years later, Jess is back in her home town working as a reporter for a local newspaper when she is called to cover a case involving a woman accused of killing two people and then turning the gun on herself, Jess is shocked when she discovers the accused is her childhood friend, Heather. But what is her motive, she is a happily married mother of one, with everything to live for, Jess decides to dig deeper to find out the truth.

This book is the 6th (including a short story) by this author and I've loved every one I've read so far and this one was no exception, from the opening chapter and the first murder to that final twist at the end, I was hooked. The story is told over two timelines, 1994 when Flora disappeared and the present day, 2012 and is told from the perspectives of Jess and Margot (Flora & Heather's mum), it is full of twists and they all have their secrets, some that they don't want revealed, EVER! Another cracking read from one of the Queens of Suspense!!

I'd like to thank Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and Netgalley for the approval, I will post my review on Amazon and Goodreads.

I love an English crime storyline and this captivated me from the start lots of storylines running up to adjacent to and retrospective to the crime and then just when l thought l had it worked out it served up a curved ball great ending l thought but wrong again a final throw of the dice at almost the last page

I read a lot of this genre and sometimes they can be a bit predictable, however I found that this was quite a page turner and kept my interest throughout. I felt that it was well paced and came to a satisfactory end. I enjoyed the characters and the build up of tension throughout. The story centres around a girl that went missing years ago and the consequences for the family. I thought that it was quite a believable story and could happen. I liked the character of Jess and wanted her to do well in her reporting job. However I did guess halfway through one of the big reveals but it didn't spoil it as I wasn't hundred percent sure. I will certainly read more of this author and recommend this book as one of the better ones in this genre.

Twisty and (page) turney, as others have said. I raced through this novel. A story of girls, friendship, sisterhood and - of course - secrets and lies.

Twisty and gripping. This book starts in the heart of the action and keeps up the pace. I enjoyed the characters and it flowed well. Great read.
ARC copy.

Many years ago, in the quiet town of Tilby, teenager Flora Powell went out, never to be seen again. Now, her sister, Heather, has committed an unthinkable crime, her own life hanging in the balance. Journalist Jess, tasked with writing about the event, has more reasons than most to uncover the truth – she used to be Heather’s best friend and was there the day Flora disappeared. Jess knows she must face her past and return to where it all began. Just what exactly happened to Flora and how is it linked to current events?

This is one of those books that gets you hooked from the first chapter as we witness the fatal shooting of a man and his elderly mother by a calm, cold-blooded killer. From the outset, we are introduced to the main mysteries in the book: Who is the killer? Who are the victims? What links them? As the book progresses, it soon becomes apparent that there are more secrets in the Powell family and that the disappearance of Flora seems to be, somehow, linked to the killings. The story alternates between the present day investigation and the run-up to Flora’s disappearance, twenty years ago, providing us with a fast-paced, gripping plot that just makes you not want to put the book down!

I liked the character of Jess who we see battling with her emotions, feeling the pressure from her boss to exploit her relationship with the family to secure exclusive interviews with the family. This was particularly difficult for her as we discover the reason for her leaving her previous post was due to the much-publicised phone hacking scandal, so she could really do with keeping her work above board. For much of the book, I did not know how I felt about Heather, but I think that this is the author’s intention: she is a multi-faceted character who, to understand her fully, you will need to read the whole book.

Although there are some parts of the mystery that do not come as a surprise, there are quite a few red herrings along the way which make you change your theory as you are reading. There are enough shifty characters to make you question which of them were involved in Flora’s disappearance, each with their own motive. The revelation of what exactly happened to Flora is a particularly shocking one, and one that filled me with hatred for those responsible.

I have really enjoyed reading Claire Douglas’s books before – take a look at my reviews of Last Seen Alive and Local Girl Missing – and this one is another fantastic read. If you’re looking for a thriller that will grab and hold your attention, one of those ‘just one more chapter’ books, then Then She Vanishes is the book for you! Highly recommended!

Had high hopes for this one, especially seeing all the high ratings.

The beginning started off strong and drew me in, but it started fizzling out about a quarter of the way through. While I was curious to find out how things played out, there just weren’t any surprises here. That, along with the cookie cutter characters made this read fall short of my expectations from this author.

I’m still a fan, and look forward to seeing what she comes up with next. 😊

ARC provided by NetGalley

I love Claire Douglas's books and know that they all have carefully woven, complex plots with realistic characters.

"Then She Vanishes" features a hard nosed journalist with a well-concealed soft centre, who is tasked with writing a feature on a double murder which took place in her sleepy seaside home town - a place she left many years ago. Her estranged best friend from school is lying in a coma, having seemingly shot two innocent victims in their home early one morning. We follow Jess as she investigates, interviews, encounters old acquaintances and agonises over what to print and what to leave out for the sake of her old friend and her family. Everyone has secrets and there are mis-directions and red herrings galore, before the whole truth is finally revealed in the epilogue - thankfully, all loose ends are tied up by the end of the book.

All in all, a cleverly plotted, interesting and well-written book, as I've come to expect from this author. Highly recommended, 5 stars.

Wow! Just 5 super stars wow! Claire Douglas’ Then She Vanishes was everything a mystery and thriller should be and more! When Jess demoted reporter now living in Bristol after packing in the big life of London receives the call to write a story on two murders and alleged suspect she has no idea that this case will take her back in time. To a time both idyllic and horrendous. Because Jess knows the suspect. Her former best friend Heather whom tragedy has already struck almost 18 years earlier.

Jess never had a stable family life growing up and so when she and Heather meet in school and start to form a friendship Jess is over at the caravan park with Heather, her older sister Flora and the mother she wishes she’d had, Margot. It is 1994. And life is sweet. Sweet for all concerned until that day they visit the Carnival that is in town for the summer.

At 16, sister Flora finds first love and like most 16 year olds nothing will keep her away from Carnival operator Dylan. Much to the annoyance of Heather who is worried about her sister. Can’t understand Flora’s fascination with him. Why they are keeping secrets from each other for the first time in their lives. Heather wishes that Flora could see what Heather sees. Dylan is dodgy. Dylan has questionable friends. Dylan is up to no good. And so begins the rift between the sisters until that awful day that Flora disappears. Seemingly without a trace.

Back in the present, Heather is in a coma after a self inflicted gun shot wound and fall. It allegedly happened right after she kills a mother and son duo. A 40 something male and 60 something female. But why would Heather do something so completely out of character. Working hard to rebuild her relationship with Margot, the long suffering mother of Flora and Heather, Jess slowly builds a bridge and trust and eventually has Margot’s permission to write the story that will paint Heather in a different light other than the public’s perception of a cold blooded killer.

The two lean on each other and begin to rely on the other once more. As events unfold in the present Jess can’t help but wonder if the past is catching up to them and that this tragedy may very well be the key to answering very tough questions from the past.

Read the book. You will be riveted. Special thanks to Netgalley and Penguin UK Publishing for this fantastic ARC.

An enjoyable thriller which I had to read quickly as it made me really need to know how it was going to unfold. I did not expect the way it ended but all in all it felt like it was a believable end result and not hastily tied together like some thrillers I’ve read. Without revealing the storyline, which I try never to do, it reminded me that not everyone is what they seem to be, a good relationship is worth working for by talking through problems and sometimes, very rarely, justice is more important than the truth. However, personally I found that a week after I had read it I had forgotten all about it! So thank you Netgalley and publisher for the chance to read it but for me this was a forgettable story.

A truly gripping read. The story of two sisters and an old school friend. One sister missing presumed dead, another found shot and in a coma and a childhood friend who is now a journalist. Written between two eras of them as childen and the present day makes an enthralling story.
Once I started I could not put this book down, it cleverly drew me in to get to know the characters and with every twist and turn it just got better and better. A great book with a great ending. Claire Douglas delivers again and again.

An extremely enjoyable and intriguing read. The story flowed very well with plenty of twists and turns to keep you on your toes. A cast of really well developed characters ensured the tale was woven intricately.

A good read. Twisty turny plot where everyone seems to have a past!. Just when you’re sure of the outcome and who the villains are it all turns on it’s head

This book had me enthralled and perplexed from start to finish. Everything, from friendship to family to the beginnings of both, is questionable, complex and confusing for the characters in this book. I was completely surprised by and pleased with the ending. This would make an excellent movie and one which I would watch with my feet up despite knowing what happens next at every twist and turn.

I've not read Claire Douglas before and am grateful to NetGalley for the opportunity to read Then She Vanishes.

I really enjoyed this psychological thriller. Jess, the main character, is conflicted enough that you sympathise with her. Heather, suspected of a double murder, is in a coma in hospital. Does Jess get involved as an old friend and how much of that privilege should she use in her job as a journalist.

The book was gripping, with additional information added along the way to make you start doubting what these people really are capable of.

I will be looking out for Claire Douglas in future.