A mother and son are shot in the early hours, while Heather is in hospital accused of the murders, Jess, Heather’s childhood friend is now a journalist and having known Heather and her sister as teenagers, decides to use their shared history to her advantage and get the best story. Jess and Heather were best friends until Heather’s sister went missing as a teenager and haven’t been in touch since.
I really enjoyed this, I actually think it’s the best Claire Douglas I’ve read yet. It’s well paced, realistic and everything ties up neatly.

Then She Vanishes is the second book I’ve read by Claire Douglas and this one doesn’t disappoint.
Summer of 1994 and Heather and Flora, sisters and along with their mother Margot were the family Jess felt she belonged to until one night Flora vanishes without a trace whilst walking home one evening.
Fast forward 25 years and Heather has killed two people and shoots herself only to be left in a coma. Jess is now a reporter and has had no contact with the Powell family since 1994 so she is sent to her old home town to find out what happened for a piece for her paper.
The chapters throughout this book are alternated between 1994 and Heather and Flora and present day with Jess and Margot. This I thought worked well in this thriller that had me gripped. This is a well written thriller with believable characters and was unputdownable.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Penguin for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. Was totally hooked from the start and found it hard to put down. I loved Jess with her upbeat personality and quirky clothing. I changed my mind about who the shooter was so many times during the story, and never guessed who the photos were from. This is a totally engrossing read and would definitely recommend to everyone who enjoys a great thriller will loads of twists.

'Then She Vanishes' is a beautiful and evocative thriller. The narrative is split between the present day and the summer of 1994. I loved the chapters set in the past. I was sixteen then and Douglas paints such an accurate picture of life back then, vibrant and full of nostalgia. The plot is good, nicely twisty and turny and it keeps up the 'did she...didn't she?' right up to the end. This was my first Claire Douglas novel, but it won't be my last.

Well this one certainly went off with a bang. It’s an opening chapter that compels you to read on. The timeline is split between the present time and 1994 and the last sighting of Flora. This is a good twisty read and while it seems an odd criticism it did feel like there was just too much going on at times.

I would give this book a 4 star review, I enjoyed the characters and the writing style, the reason why it did not get a 5 star review is because it was a bit predictable, I guessed most of the ending pretty much at the start. It is the first time I have read a Claire Douglas book and I would read the author again and recommend.

I have left a review on goodreads and will leave a review on Amazon when it allows me, i will also leave a review on The Book Club on Facebook.

To me, this is Claire Douglas’ best book so far.

Jess is a journalist who with her boyfriend has just moved back to Cornwall from London to work on the local paper. Once upon a time she was best friends with Heather, until the night Heather’s sister went missing. But now Heather is in hospital in a, accused of killing two people. Is Heather guilty? What happened to Flora all those years ago and what secret has Jess been keeping?

This story deftly moves between the past and present day and very cleverly told through the eyes of the girls and their mother, Margot.

Claire Douglas has written an extremely intelligent fast paced psychological thriller with very dark undertones. I really felt as though I got to know the characters, especially Jess and Margot, who my heart went out to. I am also in awe of the way the author built up the tension and jealousy between the girls as teenagers.
Although I guessed the ending of the book, it was still superb in its telling!

Jessica is initially conflicted about getting the exclusive scoop when her childhood friend has apparently murdered two people, but the plot develops layers from then on. I find it difficult to understand anyone harking back so much to a school friend they lost touch with, but Jessica's reasons become more understandable as we learn more of her story. The book kept me gripped and has the inevitable twists at the end. This would make a good holiday read.

Thank you for allowing me to review this book!

This is one of the best books I have read this year. I was very keen to get started on this book as I do like this author and have never been disappointed with other titles by her.

The story is set in Bristol with a supposed murder/ attempted suicide, although all is not as it first seems. This plot constantly unravels throughout the book which makes you never want to put the book down. Relationshipships unfold and develop throughout the book and you get a strong sense of the characters and this really makes the book what it is. I also like how not only is it told from different viewpoints but in the past and the future, leaving you to piece (simply) things together and keep you guessing.

This book had me totally gripped from start to finish, the ending was so well thought out!

Top marks! Amazing book!

A clever book with plenty of twists and turns and a spot on evocation of the era when the girls were friends. However, in my a four star book as, whilst trying not to give spoilers, I found the discoveries at the end quite rushed and had thought all the way through that the prologue identified the killer. I also found the internal monologues irritating.
Thank you to netgalley and Penguin UK for an advance copy of this book.

A great book. This starts of setting the scene in a straightforward way but the story is certainly not straight forward. It was a compulsive read that I quickly became annoyed when I had to stop and put my kindle down to do the mundane tasks around my home. It was fairly dark and I certainly did not guess the ending. Well written with characters so clearly described. A wonderful author.

I really enjoyed this book. Starts off with a missing teenager and becomes darker and darker as the story unfolds.
I loved the portrayal of the teenage years of the characters, it was very realistic. The complex family dynamics are very well written and the story just flows.
I would definitely recommend this book.

I've read several of Claire Douglas's crime thrillers, and I have to say, I think she's getting better as she matures. This multi-perspective, tautly written crime drama weaves past mysteries with present and drags the reader along by the hand as reporter Jess Fox tries to untangle the web of lies and misdirections that are needed to solve the brutal murder of an elderly woman and her son, together with the twenty-year old mystery of the disappearance of teenaged Flora Powell. There's lots of moving parts in this book, with old friendships and relationships, as well as new and current ones, the digging up of old conflicts, and plenty of creepy, sinister lurking around. Full of atmosphere and very engaging, there's plenty of mystery here, and I have to admit I really did not guess what was going on - although in retrospect, it was cleverly laid out with a breadcrumb trail.
I particularly liked the main character, Jess, finding her feet in her new job and dealing with the conflict that comes of being personally and professionally involved in a crime investigation. Her relationship with her boyfriend Rory was also very enjoyable, and something I would have liked to see more of.
For a book which opens with a shocking double murder, very little is heard in the story about the two victims, which is something I would have liked to see more of also, although I can understand why the author made the choices she did, having finished the book as a whole. Jess's friend Jack, though, I felt deserved a bigger part of the narrative. I really liked him, and as Jess's only friend outside of her relationship, I felt that his part in her life was downplayed in a way he didn't deserve.
Finally, and this is entirely a personal preference, I didn't particularly like the shifting narrative - not that I dislike multiple points of view (I don't!), but I do dislike when one is first person and others are third person. It really jars with me and I find it harder to get into the flow of the writing.
Claire Douglas is definitely capable of writing a slick and engaging thriller, with many moving pieces and enough surprises to keep you guessing. Background characters are fleshed out with their own lives, and you get the feeling there is a lot going on in the author's head that never made it onto the page. This adds depth and realism to the story, leading to a satisfying conclusion and overall a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

Had me gripped from the beginning. Fabulously written and enjoyable! I normally can guess an ending but this I didn’t! Really really great! Thoroughly enjoyed this. Couldn’t put it down

Very few books grab me by the first few pages, this one did. The author crafts a thrilling opening chapter with an equally shocking ending!
3 gunshots; the murderer of Clive and his elderly mum Deirdre is witnessed calmly walking away from their cottage, followed by an apparent failed suicide when Heather is found lying with gunshot wounds in her barn. Flora and Heather had been bought up by their mum following the accidental shooting of their father. Their friend Jess practically lived with them due to her own mothers disinterest. They were 3 happy and carefree girls until the fair rolled in to town and the mysterious Dylan turned Floras head.
Fast forward to the present; Heather, lies in hospital under police guard and is the main suspect in the double murder. Her sister Flora disappeared in 1994, never found and assumed dead. Jess, a journalist for her local paper has just been given a new assignment in her old hometown. Could Heather be the friend she fell out with back in 1994? She works with Jack, the photographer for the Bristol and Somerset Herald. Everything points to Heather being the murderer. Can she strike that balance of doing her job and gaining the family’s trust that she turned her back on all those years ago?
There are many twists and turns that keeps you thirsty for more, the question is what really happened the night Flora disappeared?

Thankyou to Penguin UK, Michael Joseph, NetGalley and Claire Douglas for my ARC for a truthful and unbiased opinion.

The book is set in the present day (well, actually 2012 – but it feels like the present day) and then back in the mid 90s. It flicks between the two time periods really well – and totally evokes the feeling of that time. I was a similar age to the characters in the 90s and the references – particularly to music and clothing were spot on!

The chapters are told from different characters perspectives which also keeps the momentum up.

It was one of those books that you want to read quickly to see how it all develops. The twists and turns are so exciting. Just when you think you’ve sussed what’s going on – another curved ball is thrown! I can’t tell you too much about the plot without giving it away – and you need to be shocked as a reader as it unfolds!

The literary style is not high brow – but that didn’t matter to me – I just enjoyed the storyline and it’s fast pace.

The characters all had flaws – and sometimes you wanted to give some of them a good shake – but I was still interested to see what happened to them all – and the relationships between them.

The blurb had said the only thing more shocking than the first chapter is the last – and I have to say that because of that I’d kind of guessed what was going to happen – but only right near the end of the book.

Overall a great read and I would recommend downloading it when it comes out on Kindle next week. I’ll also be checking out the authors back catalogue in the future.

A massive thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my advanced review copy in return for a review.

I don't get advance books from NetGalley often, but when I saw this one come available, I had to have it. I read an advance copy of Local Girl Missing back in the summer of 2016 and devoured it in about a day. I've also read The Sisters and loved it, so I was stoked to be able to read And Then She Vanishes ahead of its publication date.

This one got off to a slower start than Local Girl Missing and The Sisters, but once it got going, it was just as addictive as the others. I particularly loved the details of this book - every time I thought I had it figured out, something new would come to light. My favorite mystery/thriller reads give me enough information to think I can figure out "whodunnit," but are complex enough that the final reveal still holds surprises. Even if you think you know the ending of this one, you won't have predicted the whole story - this book keeps you guessing until the last page.

It wasn't quite as compelling at Local Girl Missing, so I'm giving it "only" 4 stars...but they're solid 4 stars. This is a great read.

Thank you to Michael Joseph and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of And Then She Vanishes in exchange for an honest review.

With thanks to Netgalley and Penguin for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

This is the fourth book I have read by Claire Douglas. She is one of my go to authors and her books are always a five star 🌟 read. I was so excited when I was given this book before the official publication date.

The prologue started with a stranger storming into a house in the early hours and killing fifty eight year old Clive Wilson and his elderly mother Deidre with a shotgun. Hours later Heather Underwood was found half a mile away with a self inflicted gun shot wound. The gun Heather used to shoot herself was also the murder weapon that killed the Wilson`s.

Jess was a disgraced tabloid reporter who had to move back to Bristol after being involved a phone hacking scandal. As kids Jess had been best friends with Heather and her older sister Flora for two years. Jess and Heather were close until Flora disappeared nineteen years earlier, they had not seen each other since.

To try and get a exclusive on the story Jess contacted Heather`s mum Margot Powell. As Jess investigates she discovers secrets and deception within the Powell family.

The story was told from the POV of Jess, Margot in the present and Flora from 1994 before she vanished.

This was about the relationship between mother and daughters, sisters and friends. My favourite characters in the book were Margot, Jess`s friend and colleague Jack and Flora. I felt so sorry for Margot who had already lost one child and now possibly Heather. I enjoyed reading about Flora`s summer romance with Dylan from the fair. Jess obviously loved Flora but she was definitely unhinged.

Each new chapter revealed another shocking secret. I found this book hard to put down, I had to know what led Heather to shoot the Wilson`s. I enjoyed how the different strands of Heather and Flora`s stories wove together seamlessly. The twist towards the end was shocking, I did not see that coming.

I highly recommend this book, good luck on publication day Claire!

Not sure about this one! There were too many red herrings and the final resolve almost too tenuous to be believable (I know its meant to be an extraordinary story but still).
And the extraordinary story should have been explored more - if you're going to reveal something so horrific as being held captured for 18 years then I felt this should have been more central to the story. The hugeness of that was almost glossed over at the end, the focus on Heather and Jess rather than Flora who I felt had the more interesting story.
The repetitive internal dialogue was a little tiresome and I didn't warm to Jess or felt her backstory to be that believable.
Also - we were lead to believe that Heather had killed Clive and his mother throughout the whole story, then there was the neat (twist?) ending that actually Flora had done it (for the police and family) but then an unnecessary update by Heather revealed that she had actually done it and let Flora take the blame - meant to be a twist on a twist? - but because we had believed Heather had done it all along it felt a little pointless.
I liked the setting, the fair, the caravan park, the news room, but as I say there were far too many red herrings and the ending unsatisfactory.

I really can't recommend this book enough. This drew me straight in and I found this really difficult to put down. Sometimes books that flip between present and past can be difficult to follow but this certainly wasn't. Full of secrets and intrigue. Definitely one to read!