I had a problem in this novel with the fact that the two cities involved in the disappearance of Flora were mere miles apart, the girl was missing for 18 years and never surfaced in all that time. With a small child, that would be plausible, but Flora was 16 when she was abducted. So the main surprise to me was the fact that she hadn't been found, or found her way home, years ago. And the boyfriend's mother's boyfriend was my chosen bad guy from his first introduction. I could not understand why there was no follow up on him after Flora went missing.

Other than that, it was a well-written who-done-it and the final ending was well done and Flora gave us a real surprise then. If you love British police procedurals this one is weak in places, but the background and characterizations are well worth the price of admission.

I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, Claire Douglas, and Penguin Publishers. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work.

Jess is a journalist called to report on a murder in her home town. The suspect turns out to be a close family friend that she lost touch with when she was 14. The book contains many twists, as Jess not only looks to discover the truth but also the reader discovers more about Jess. And even when the reader gets to the point of knowing the truth the final chapter changes everything. Added to this the book is based around Bristol, and as a Bristolian you are almost drawn into the book!!! Really recommend.

More of a 'Why done it' than a Who done it as the latter is pretty obvious even from reading the blurb. What kept me gripped with this book was wanting to know the why for the murder of a seemingly innocent woman and her son.

The friend of the alleged murderer tells the story in present time and flashback and although it has the more commonly used present tense that I'm not usually keen on, it works in this context.

For me, although the book dragged out in parts, I became more gripped as the book went on. Although I'm not so sure about the five star rating., I'm still going to award this book that amount because it did keep me gripped and it's pretty different from the other books I've read. If you find anything similar feel free to let me know in the comments.

This is such a good read and another winner from Claire Douglas! The storyline mainly centres on Jess and Heather, childhood friends who become estranged after Heather's sister Flora disappears and is presumed dead. When Jess, who is now a reporter, hears the news that Heather has been arrested for murdering 2 people and then tried to kill herself, she returns to her home town to see what's happened and to report for her paper. What starts as a simple straightforward storyline then takes several.twists and turns. Written in both the the past and the present the full.story begins to emerge from the memories and revelations of the main characters.

A good, twisty thriller. I really enjoyed this, the plot and characters held my attention and kept me turning the pages. I look forward to exploring more of this author's work.

I enjoyed this book - I thought it was beautifully written and I didn't predict the ending - good characters and you had to sympathize with the main characters and the twists and turns of the story - recommended.

Then She Vanishes is the latest book from Claire Douglas. Being new to her books, I was drawn in by the intriguing blurb. Reporter Jess returns to her hometown after the news that an old school friend has committed murder - before turning the gun on herself. Just what made sweet, lovely Heather kill two people?

Jess must unravel the mystery and work out just what made Heather do what she did. Although she too has secrets.

This was a good read, but parts of it moved quite slowly. This just could be me; I read many thrillers and sometimes need to take a break from them. I guess this novel just wasn't shocking as the blurb made it out to be. Overall a good read, and started out so well, but after the initial half it was just 'okay'. That said, I'll definitely read more from Claire Douglas in the future.

Heather and Jess used to be best friends, growing up in a small seaside town, until their friendship fell apart after Heather's older sister, Flora, went missing and was never found. Fast forward 18 years and Jess works in her childhood town as a reporter and it's then when she learns that Heather is currently in hospital in a coma after trying to commit a suicide, also having been accused of murdering two people in their own home before she tried to take her own life. Jess is torn - it's a story that can help her career but she also wants to stay loyal to her friend. Also, she can't believe that Heather, married mother of a young boy, could have commit such crime. What has really happened? Is there more to the story than meets the eye?

The characters in this story feel so real that I had a feeling they're going to jump off the pages at any moment. They're full of flaws but the fact that they're not perfect simply makes them even more relatable and realistic. Some of them are more likeable then the others, that are really untrustworthy but all of them are vivid and real. The story is written in chapters alternating between Jess and Margot in the present, and Heather in the past and we slowly but steadily get a picture of what has happened, what has shaped the girls and, perhaps, what has happened to Flora. In the present, Jess tries to find the truth hidden behind the death of the two murdered people, but also tries to stay loyal to Margot and Heather.

I liked the way the book was written, and how well it connected the subplots, slowly but methodically untangling the web of lies and dark secrets. I found myself changing my mind and opinions many times and couldn't be sure where the story might go - and I really liked this unpredictability.

It was a slow burner, but it couldn't be different with this kind of book, though no worries, there was not a single moment that it felt flat. Also, it was full of tension but not tension that makes you feel chilly - instead of thinking that something's really bad is going to happen I was rather sure that the worst has happened already and the final reveal is this what's going to blow me away. While it didn't happen - it didn't blow me away - it was still a brilliant story full of secrets, twists and surprises and kept me guessing until the end.

"Then she Vanishes" was a multi - layered and complex novel but easy to read, thanks to the forthcoming but also beautiful writing style, with words flowing with ease. Atmospheric and compelling story about friendship, family bonds, forgiveness, touching upon such topics like drugs, abusing, full of emotions and intrigue that kept me glued to the pages. Recommended!

A very solid novel that starts a bit slow (while everything is being set up) but then turns out to be really interesting. It kept me guessing how it will all play out in the end. Is Heather really a murderer. Or not? And why did someone shot these old people in the first place?

I found this storyline, along with the flashbacks to 1994 with Flora, the most interesting. Jess' own storyline was not necessary in my opinion, but it also didn't bother me that much. It added some drama and some suspense, but it also interrupted the main story at times.

The ending was really good. Although you could have guessed some of the revelations already, there still were surprises in store for the reader. All in all though I would say it's more of a family drama than a thriller. And the title could be better.

‘Then She Vanishes’ offers a slightly different take on the usual murder mystery. All the usual elements are there: a seemingly slam dunk case against a chief suspect; constant references to secrets and hidden truths that have an uncertain impact on the likely outcome of the investigation; and an unconventional investigator - in this case, a young female reporter. So far, so good you might think. And, indeed, it is an engaging and compelling read. The writing is reasonably fluent; the pace is maintained well throughout the narrative; and there are plenty of false leads to trip up the reader who jumps to a hasty conclusion. However, for this reader, a careless disregard of routine police procedure and the somewhat tediously slow reveal of the relevant backstories of the key characters tended to detract from what could have been an excellent read. Notwithstanding this mild criticism this book will entertain and maintain interest sufficient to want to read ‘just one more chapter’ again and again. Recommended.

On the face of it, a straightforward story. A young woman (Heather) has shot and killed an elderly mother and son, returned home and tried to take her own life. She's in hospital in a coma. Meanwhile her childhood friend, Jess, is a journalist for the local paper and realises she has a scoop. But can Jess return to the cut throat reporting she has left behind in London or will her feelings for the family she once longed to be part of, get in the way. There's a lot more to this than meets the eye as we learn that Heather's mum, Margot, has an older daughter who went missing 18 years ago. Jess knows there are secrets she doesn't know about, and she has her own secret around the time of Flora's disappearance. This is a loving family, but when you scratch the surface, the troubles emerge. Intrigue, past coming back to haunt the present and lots of layers and twists. I rushed to finish this - it's easy to read and a story where you need to know what happens.

Jess, Flora and Heather were very close during the summer of 1994 until a tragedy struck and flora went missing. Jess and Heather drifted apart and things began to change for them all. Many years later yet another tragedy strikes the sleepy seaside town. A man and his mother are shot dead in their own home. Jess, who is now a reporter is given the story to cover and she soon discovers that the woman accused of the shootings is none other than her childhood friend Heather. Did Heather really shoot these people in cold blood and then try to take her own life or is someone else responsible? There are plenty of twist and turns along the way with this story. The narrative swaps between Jess and Margot who is Heather's mother. What did happen to Flora? Is Heather a murderer? This book will keep you guessing right up till the end.

Thank you so much Netgalley and Michael Joseph for the arc of Then She Vanishes by Claire Douglas.
This book had me hooked right from the start! I mean that first chapter...wow!
The story begins when the sleepy, uneventful seaside town of Tilby is shocked by a double murder. An incredible opening scene described through the eyes of the killer. It's this murder case that makes Jessica (Jess) Fox , journalist and former Tilby resident return back to the village she grew up in. Finding out that her former best friend Heather, now a wife and mother, is suspected of the terrible crime is hard for her to believe. Especially since their is no apparent link between her and the two victims. Being back in Tilby brings back all sorts of memories to Jess as well as some secrets of the past. Fact is that she and Heather used to be very close growing up. Something that changed when one day Heather's sister Flora vanishes without a trace. It happened 18 years ago but remained a mystery ever since. With this new case the question is whether Jessica will be able to keep her professional distance while covering the story or whether she is too involved...
I genuinely liked the main characters their relationship with each other and personal development. The story also kept pace throughout and there were many interesting plot twists and story lines. I liked the flashbacks and the changing narrative as well. All in all a great page turner and one I strongly recommend!

'Then she vanishes' is the story of how Jess, a journalist, unravels the story of a double murder and attempted suicide which happens to see her old childhood best friend as the prime suspect.

This book has twists and turns galore as the past is rediscovered and links between different characters are revealed. A real page turner and a solid 4/5 stars!

This was a slow burner for me and I did briefly consider putting it to one side at one point but I'm glad I didn't as it turned into something really unexpectedly good. Claire Douglas is a relatively new author to me and what I've read so far I will definitely continue seeking her books.

Thanks to Penguin UK - Michael Joseph for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

It is this novel's complexity and depth that makes it such a riveting read.

A shooting, a missing girl and a failed suicide, the clues are evident, but there are so many permutations when the past is interwoven with the present, is it really as simple as it seems? The beginning is shocking, and the guilty party obvious? Until you meet the cast of characters, both in the present day and eighteen years previously. Everyone seems guilty, and you begin to doubt your observation skills and understanding of what is happening.

Jess, a journalist is trying to make a new start in Bristol, but when there is a sudden, violent incident in the town where she grew up, the past and present collide, and she has to face secrets she kept for years, and confront why she always seems to be running away.

Margot's life changed irrevocably eighteen years ago, but not for the first time. Now she faces heartbreak again, can she survive the loss of both her daughters?

The plot is fast-paced and easy to follow, as it moves between the past and present, and the different points of view. The characters are believable, as are the situations they find themselves in. Jess has a unique role in the story, both objective from her profession and subjective from her relationship with the family. This allows her, and the reader insights that an outsider wouldn't have, but also raises moral questions of bias and loyalty.

The unravelling of what led to the murders and the disappearance of Flora is realistic. The twists are clever, and the final chapters, adrenaline led and thought-provoking.

A cerebral thriller, that is both poignant and twisted.

I received a copy of this book from Penguin UK via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It kept me guessing the whole way through and like all of Claire's books it is a well written and compelling psychological thriller.

Highly recommend!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 ok stars

This was disappointing for me to be honest. The first chapter starts so well but then I think the book loses it’s way.

The characters are all a bit unlikeable or annoying and the premise was a bit weak.

It was easy to read but the shocking end wasn’t a shock and overall felt a bit flat.

This story follows three childhood friends Jess, Heather & Flora and through flashbacks we begin to understand how they have become the adults they are. Flora disappeared aged 16 and neither her sister Heather or Jess, Heather’s best friend at the time of the disappearance, have managed to let go of the secrets they carry.
The characters are realistically portrayed and the twists and turns and revelations are enthralling. I constantly wanted to discover what had happened to Flora. I was emotionally involved in this story which is cleverly written, slowly revealing the events. There are clues given throughout that allow you to puzzle and predict the plot keeping your brain actively involved. The final reveal answers all my questions. This is the first book I have read by Claire Douglas but I will be back for more! A good 4* plus from me.

I'd really like to give this book 3.5 stars. It's not quite as good as a 4, but definitely not as mediocre as a 3.

No doubt you've read the back cover to get this far, so I shan't waste time with a synopsis. It is an intriguing thriller, and the beginning of the book draws you in convincingly. But slowly the page turner begins to meander into mediocrity, and I wasn't particularly taken with Jess' partner, for instance. But the premise of a story which delves deep into the past of these of characters, some only knowing each other briefly before being separated for years, is what drives you on. Eventually the book clicks into gear, and you can't actually put it down; you need to know why, how, when, and how did crucial clues get missed all those years ago. So many topics are covered included various forms of abuse, and some of this is brushed over in not enough detail. By the end, you are satisfied, and surprised, sort of. But I do wish it wasn't quite so truncated near the end. A little more detail would not have gone amiss.

I've not read any other of Claire Douglas' novels, and this one has not deterred me.