Yet another breathtaking psychological thriller from Gillian McAllister.
Zara witnesses a murder and gives evidence anonymously but when it’s found that she’s lied the people accused hunt her down.
When she’s been tracked down via social media and a threat made to her life, the Police offer to put the family in witness protection.
Aidan has a daughter from a previous relationship so can’t leave her so Lauren and Zara are ripped from his life.
They find it hard to cope being apart and come up with a way to communicate but it’s all risky and the group hunting Zara are hot on their heels.
This is a nail biting thriller that had me on the edge of my seat.
Thanks to Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Witness protection is only undertaken when someone's life is at risk from the perpetrator of a crime. The purpose is for that person to "disappear" and start a new life under another name with zero contact with his or her past life. When this solution is applied to a child it, by necessity, has to include the parents. McAllister's twist is to have this extreme option being applied but where only one parent can "disappear" with the child. The other having unbreakable commitments. So literally splitting asunder a loving family.
The resulting family drama is truly gripping and we share the impossible dilemma facing the husband left behind. His efforts to somehow maintain a connection, however tenuous, inevitably increase the chances of the criminals finding his daughter. Taut writing, an utterly believable plot and a a truly jaw-dropping twist in the final pages certainly justify Gillian McAllister's status as an author of excellence.

Imagine running, full pelt along a course with blind corners, unexpected diversions and something very nasty in pursuit. Your heart is pumping so hard and then, when you reach the finish line, you are exhausted, totally wrung out but exhilarated - well this is how I felt on reading this book! What an absolute epic race. What a story. What a writer! I won't add to what is already a good overall description in the book's blurb as anything more might involve giving away too much by way of spoilers. However, this is a story about families, about love, about sacrifices, about good and evil and how far people will go to protect those dearest to them. I have never given much thought to the Witness Protection Programme which the characters in the book find themselves forced into but it gave me much food for thought. What would I do in that situation? If it meant my family being split apart while some had to go away maybe forever and leaving the rest of the family behind, could I do it? The heart breaking decisions that have to be made by the mother, Lauren and her daughter, Zara, the step father, Aiden and his own daughter, Poppy are unimaginable. The mistakes they make which further endanger all of their lives only serve to point out that human behaviour is fallible and sometimes, despite being well intentioned, can have devastating consequences. I was constantly on edge reading this book, often waking in the night and reaching for it to read just another chapter. Finally, the conclusion! Oh, my oh my oh my. I wouldn't tell - not for the world. You will just have to get this book and read it. I will remember this book for a very long time as being a standout book of 2020 . My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A well-written, well-thought out thriller.

I loved how all the characters were so fleshed out and flawed in such a human way. This makes the book, for me, a four star, rather than three.
The issue I found with this book was the pace. The slow pace stopped me from really getting into it and I felt like I had to force myself to read. Luckily, the pace did pick up towards the end, and I did enjoy the resolution.
I can definitely appreciate 'How to disappear' is a well written book, but unfortunately not to my taste.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Loved the premise of this book and felt that it had all the ingredients for a page-turning thriller. However, it became a little too contrived for me and I predicted the ending half way through, which disappointed me. But overall an enjoyable read which definitely makes you question if you could possible have met, or know, someone in witness protection.

OMG this book is outstanding. I could not sleep until I had finished it because it kept encroaching on my dreams. Gillian McAllister, I can honestly say that this is your best book yet.

Lauren is happily married to her second husband Aiden. He is a good man and a wonderful step-dad to Zara and dad to his own daughter. However, when Zara witnesses a murder all their lives are thrown into turmoil. To protect the safety of her family Lauren must make a decision that rips the family apart.

I love it when instead of reading a book you can actually see it played out in front of your eyes and this is one such book. Lauren, Aiden and Zoe are outstanding characters who tell their side of the story as they see it. My heart went out to them when they made a mistake which put themselves or others in danger. I went through every emotion with them.

The ending rocked my world and left me curled up in a ball crying my eyes out!

Awe inspiring.

Phenomenal! An amazing writer and this is one of her best books yet.
A family torn apart by lies and secrets, each of the four main characters has emotional depth and you can empathise with their personal dilemmas.
It was edge of the seat reading, and my heart was in my mouth at the ending!

OH MY GOD. I just finished this book and immediately opened Netgalley to write this review. I am still crying / sobbing / laughing / shaking my head with what happened and how good this book is. I have NEVER read a book that shook me as hard and as deeply as "How to Disappear". It was absolutely excellent from start to finish, and the ending totally blew me away, more than any other book I have ever read. I am going to recommend this to everyone I know.

Thanks to Net Galley and Penguin UK for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
Wow! A gripping rollercoaster read from page one!
Zara is a teenager, she witnesses a fight between a homeless man, she knows, who dies and two young men who are about to embark on football careers. Zara gives evidence in court, anonymised as Girl A, she struggles under cross examination and the case falls apart, but it is only the beginning of nightmare for Zara and her family, forced to make difficult choices which separate them as Zara and her mum go in to witness protection.
There are some surprises as the story evolves revealing more details of the original crime, there are lots of emotions, fear, anger, love and strong family bonds. I definitely was blown away at the end.
A fantastic read, well done once again to Gillian McAllister

How to Disappear is a fabulous psychological thriller ,a roller coaster of a ride ,one book that I won't forget for a long time .To say it is gripping is an understatement !!I just hope I never have to go into Witness Protection !!! Many thanks to the Publisher the Author and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review

A thrilling and immersive novel, I read it in one sitting. I will definitely be recommending in-store and I can't wait for Gillian's next book!

Lauren's daughter, Zara, witnesses a murder and tells the police, a court case ensues and the fallout from her actions lead her and her mother into the care of the witness protection team. She and her mother disappear under this scheme but any wrong action by them could endanger them. So they need to make a complete break from everything they know and all those they love. How can they do this and is it achievable?
This book was full of tension, intrigue and suspense. At times my heart was racing and I could not put the book down.

This is my first Gillian McAlliser book and I will definitely be reading more. I will certainly recommend this to other people to read.

I thought this book was absolutely brilliant! I've read all of Gillian McAllister's books and I think this is the best yet. Lauren's teenage daughter Zara was witness to a murder. Now her identity has been revealed on social media, so the 2 of them have to go in to witness protection. It's hard to imagine having to leave everything behind and to start a brand new life as someone completely new. This is so well written and the fast paced plot will have you on the edge of your seat right to the amazing end!! Read and enjoy!! Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

This was a thrilling read, my favourite from the author so far.

The plot is at times maybe a little bit of a stretch but it didnt take away my enjoyment of the book and found it to be another fab psychological thriller from the author.

I love how the narration alternates and that's one thing I really enjoy in a book.

Cant wait to read more!

After witnessing the murder of a homeless man Zara testifies in Court against the 2 boys accused of the crime but the case collapses . Known as girl A to the court friends and family of the accused try to hunt her down .
The only option is to go into witness protection , her mother (Lauren) joins her but the father who has a daughter from a previous relationship decides to stay in London . The rules say no contact with the people left behind but the father sneaks a burner phone in to Lauren's back pack which she later finds and makes contact .
The father joins up with a vigilante group who are trying to find girl A and kill her because she now has further information about the murder and also some previous killings. He is trying to get proof of what the group are doing and is liaising with a member of the police . The whereabouts of girl A is discovered by the group and they are moved again by the person protection liaison officer to a new area . Eventually the perpetrators of the murder and other members of the group are convicted and imprisoned . A well thought out and written book .

This is one of the best books of the year. It raises Gillian from being a great author, to being the world-leading. This is a compelling read, that keeps you focused on the story and what is involved. It really is a super read.

Another sleep disturbing, stomach clenching book from Gillian McAllister who’s on top form with her latest How To Disappear. Mother and daughter Lauren and Zara live in Islington with Lauren’s husband Aiden, stepdad to Lauren and dad to Poppy. This blended family is further complicated by Poppy’s mum who is living with the terrible diagnosis of MS. The story unfolds when Zara, aged 14, witnesses the death of a homeless man and this one moment turns the whole family upside down. Lauren and Zara are forced into witness protection but without Aiden and Poppy. The heartbreak of this situation is wrenching to read. Relationships falter but love prevails and their mistakes, while potentially catastrophic, are completely understandable. Without revealing any more of the plot this is the ultimate cat and mouse story that will keep anyone on the edge of their seat. The ending took the wind out of me. Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for the ARC.

Gillian McAllister once again delivers a gripping psychological thriller that not only is a rollercoaster of a ride with twists and turns, but also provides us with a plot that questions ones take on the difference between right and wrong, both from a moral introspective point of view, but also from the point of view of the law. Throw into the mix exceptionally tangible familial relationships and the strong love between two people and you are once again treated to great read.

Gillian McAllister never fails to deliver.

I would say that this is likely the most grandiose plot I recall from Gillian, which she eludes to in her Author’s note. For this reason, it did feel at times, for me at least, a little bit of a plot stretch (if that is the right way to phrase it). Take nothing away from the delivery though, it sure had me engrossed in the characters and their lives from the start to the end (and damn, what an end!).

Wow - I had to wait until my heart stopped thudding and the blood ceased rushing through my ears to think clearly enough to write my review for this!

Lauren's daughter sees a dreadful crime being committed and does the 'right thing' by telling the police what she witnessed. But when it's discovered who she is, it puts the whole family in peril and changes their lives drastically. The only thing left is to disappear, but the slightest error can plunge them all back into the danger zone. Can they make a clean break from everything and everyone they know?

What a story! There is some very clever writing in this one. I slipped into it very easily, getting to know the characters and understanding what was happening and then things warmed up; the tension was palpable! Lying in bed last evening, reading (as you do) I found myself with my heart racing one minute and beads of perspiration forming on my forehead the next. Suspenseful just doesn't seem to be enough to describe how my senses have been stretched reading this, and I'm rather pleased to find I have a lighter read next - I'm not sure my heart could take another thriller hot on the heels of this one! Gillian McAllister has excelled herself this time round and I cannot recommend this novel highly enough. Without any doubt, this is a five star read.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

A tense thriller which made me think profusely about what it would mean to sever all ties and start a new life in a safe house in another part of the country complete with invented back story. A really unusual plot which I thoroughly recommend.