A twisty murder mystery in the past and the present, this book follows Sylvia Stone, whose mother was killed violently and is now receiving threatening letters that know too much about the case. It also tells the story of the man who was imprisoned for it, based on her testimony. It started out strong, if a little erratically. Unfortunately, I lost interest quite early on and couldn’t get back into it. The tone never locks into one mode or another. Some parts read like cozy mystery, others like true crime with some elements of the psychological thriller and even romance. The characters keep going from one extreme to the other, so I never connected with anyone. The twist and the motivations behind the crime(s) didn’t make sense to me. It must be very hard to write a novel, so I really hope other readers enjoy this more. It just wasn’t for me.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Storm Publishing.

This was my first time reading anything by Amanda McKinney, and I was impressed. This was a chilling, moody read that was able to keep my attention. I love a small town psychological thriller and I will add this to my recommendation list.

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



Pub date- Jan 24th, 2025

Wow! I loved this! I couldn’t put it down and read during every free second I could spare. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

I had no idea where this one was going. I didn't see the twist coming, but also wasn't totally shocked by it. It was a good read.

This gripping thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat from first page to last page. I was impressed with how the author dealt with the twists that I never saw coming. I highly recommend this book to thriller lovers.

I want to thank Storm Publishing for this ARC via Netgalley.

Sylvia is still struggling to get her life together. She hasn't had a job in months, she really has no care about her looks and it's now been twenty years since her mother was murdered. The person she testified against at trial, Rhett has just been granted parole and mysterious letters have been showing up. Letters that can only be referencing her mother's murder. But what is the meaning of all this? Why is someone bringing attention to all of this, unless Rhett really was innocent after all. Giving her drive again, Sylvia decides to try and dig into all of this. Who is leaving these letters, why and where did they get the evidence that was left in the last letter? It seems the police are not in any hurry to do anything about this except to tell her to lock her doors and windows, so when she goes missing it really ramps the investigation up, especially when it is found that Rhett was the last one to see her.... Is the killer back for Sylvia now, and maybe the police had it right all along and now look what happened since he is out in amongst the public again... This was such a great thriller and I really was not sure where it was going. Loved the storyline with her mother slowly unfolding things. Thriller Book Lovers the Pulse always looks forward to Amanda's thrillers! Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the complementary ebook. This review is of my own opinion and accord.

From the short chapters to the two amateur sleuths at the center of the action, Amanda McKinney once again managed to knock it out of the park with her soon-to-be rereleased novel, When I Disappear. Already one of my go-to authors when looking for a fast-paced plot full of ratcheting suspense, I was head over heels as the twists came barreling in from all sides. With flashbacks aplenty and gripping multiple POVs, my eyes never wavered from the pages until the downright shocking finale.

The characters, however, were easily the best piece of this psychological thriller. Rhett and Sylvia to be specific. Humanized and equally flawed, they brought authenticity to the plot, which helped me relate to each of them in turn. From Rhett’s swift reintroduction to society after twenty years in prison to how Sylvia suddenly found herself with a reason to put down the bottle, they quickly came alive on the page. And by putting them together in quite the unlikely duo, McKinney delivered in spades.

The only tiny fly in the ointment was the fact that I did figure out most of the twists before their perfectly timed reveals. That was, though, likely down to my insatiable appetite for all things suspense. And considering the evocative descriptions and well-developed characters, this book just couldn’t go wrong. After all, the foreboding was thick and the plot was propulsive. Together it made for one altogether addictive rollercoaster ride that I finished in just a matter of hours.

All said and done, it was clear from page one that this masterful author pulled out all the stops once again. With an adrenaline-pumping climax and several deliciously unhinged characters taking center stage, there simply wasn’t a thing not to love. So now, after closing the cover, I completely understand why my colleagues at Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse are enamored with this book. So run out and pre-order your copy today as I guarantee that you’re going to love this quick, easy read. Rating of 4.5 stars.

Thank you to Amanda McKinney, Storm Publishing, Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse, And NetGalley for my physical and digital copies. All opinions are my own.

20 years ago, Sylvia helped put a man in prison. Was he guilty?
Sylvia's mom, Marjorie, was murdered, and Rhett Cohen was found guilty of the crime. Fast forward to 20 years later, Rhett is up for parole, and Sylvia receives mysterious letters left at her front door. I enjoyed Amanda Mckinney's writing style, which included short chapters and made it a quick and easy read. I figured it out fairly quickly, but I still enjoyed the ride.

Thank you, NetGalley and Storm Publishing, for this ARC. I look forward to reading more by this author.

A small town is shaken with a shocking murder. Twenty years later, it’s on the news again.

Wow… what a twisty psychological thriller!
I loved the short chapters and the fast paced.

After spending 20 years in prison for a horrific murder, Rhett is released and goes in this crazy and tense revenge, to find out who framed him.

He goes after Sylvia, the daughter of the woman Rhett was accused of killing. Together they try to figure out who was behind of the setup.

This book was so intense and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I really enjoyed the ending.

When I Disappear was my first book from Amanda McKinney and I am sure I will read more from her backlist.

Thank you so much NetGalley, Storm Publishing and Amanda McKinney for this eARC.

Publication Day is 01/24/2025, also my birthday 🤗

Someone delivered a note at 2:30am to Sylvia Stone's doorstep. A single sheet of white paper and in the middle typed across numbers 3:02, the following two nights, she received two more notes, delivered in the same manner. 
3:04
3:11
The fourth note was pretty intimidating with the pendant speckled with dried blood, and the note said:
You are net

Twenty years ago, Sylvia Stone's mother was brutally murdered by a local carpenter, Rhett. Sylvia knows that those notes reveal things about that past murder. 

 I did guess what was happening or the culprit who did it quite early on the story, so it's kind of disappointing that the "giveaway" is pretty obvious. However, it's still one of that psychological thrillers that you don't want to put down once you start your reading. Short chapters and interesting flip of dual timelines are definitely my thing, too.

If you like twisty thrillers that have you asking "what is going on?" I recommend you read this book. It is a twisty story full of lies and misdirection that I could not put down. Sylvia Stone helped make sure Rhett Cohen went to jail for the death of her mother. 20 years later he is up for parole and she is receiving threatening notes related to the crime. It leaves everyone wondering what is going on and points to the innocence of Rhett. He is willing to do whatever it takes to prove his innocence, including work with Sylvia. But can he trust anyone? Told from multiple points of view, including Sylvia's mother, readers are given the pieces to the puzzle. There are lots of characters in the story, most of them unlikable and unreliable which adds to the challenge of figuring out what is the truth and who can be trusted. The side story with the missing man, Jesse, at first felt like a distraction but in the end added to the story.

I LOVED this. Can't believe I haven't read any Amanda McKinney books before. This is a cracking psychological thriller with a great plot, a big heart, fantastic characters and an absolutely BRILLIANT twist that literally had my jaw dropping. Set in small-town America, the novel 's two central characters are Rhett and Sylvia. Rhett has spent twenty years in prison after being wrongly convicted of murdering Sylvia's murder. Shortly after he's released, Sylvia receives several anonymous letters that suggest Rhett is innocent. What follows is a brilliantly twisty tale as Sylvia and Rhett join forces to try to uncover the truth about the murder.
A fabulous read.

Whelp… didn’t see that coming!!! What the heck did I just read?!! 
A Creepy, crawly, brain eating worm! Yep that’s how my brain felt after finishing this book! WHAT THE HECK?! Afraid to finish without the lights on? Yeppers! Creepy, spine tingling - an overused phrase I know - but no other phrase really describes this book, it is truly spine tingling! Hold on to your hats dear ones! So many twists and turns in this spectacular, heart pounding, pull your hair out by the roots, throw your Kindle into the fire good book!
Please don’t read the spoilers, you won’t be disappointed. Author’s summary give you enough deets. 
Brain eating worm potentially, but not disappointed:).

Riveting. Heartstopping. Drama.
I still can't believe that ending.
I was rooting for the girl to get the guy the whole time.
And then I wasn't.

This wasn’t bad.

I mean…I read it and promptly forgot about it within two days, so it’s definitely not a stay with you kind of book.

Our main characters are a little frustrating because they don’t really seem to do logic. But I wanted to know how it would end and if I was right about the twisty bits (I was).

It’s a beach read and I wasn’t sorry I read it. I just may not ever think about it again.

• ARC via Publisher

Imagine waking up to a letter that suggests the man you helped convict for your mother's murder might actually be innocent. That's Sylvia Stone's reality. As anonymous letters pile up, each more revealing than the last, Sylvia's world turns upside down. And just when you think things couldn't get more intense, the final letter arrives with a bone-chilling message: "You're next."

This book is a wild ride, packed with twists that kept me guessing until the very end. Clear your schedule because once you start reading, you won’t be able to put it down!

I absolutely LOVED A Marriage of Lies, so I was very excited to read Amanda McKinney's latest thriller! When I Disappear did not disappoint! I really love Amanda McKinney's writing style. And she has a real knack for coming up with super crazy and creative plots!

Sylvia receives a series an anonymous letters in the middle of the night. These letters suggest that her mother's murderer, Rhett, was innocent and spent 20 years in jail for nothing. When Rhett is released from prison, Sylvia receives another letter saying, "you're next". Shortly thereafter, Sylvia disappears.

This was a pretty crazy read! I was constantly changing my theories and unsure where the novel was heading. The ending was really great - I didn't guess it at all! Although I did prefer A Marriage of Lies to this one, When I Disappear is still really good!

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.w

Great story that I just wanted to keep on reading. Rhett had been convicted of killing Sylvia's mother 20 years ago and what she had stood up and said in court had helped him get sent down. He has always denied doing it and when a letter is left at her house it changes things.
A fast paced book throughout with plenty of suspects to keep you guessing.

This was an interesting story, light and easy to read, but not quite living up to the promise. The premise was intriguing, with anonymous letters that threatened to unravel the past, but it came out very predictable. Throughout the book, I kept expecting some kind of twist or unexpected happening, but it never came.

There were also a few things that didn't sit well with me, like Rhett finding out about the letters through gossip. That felt off and a little too convenient. Then there's Sylvia. She's not the easiest character to like, and some of her early thoughts and behavior raised red flags that made it hard to connect with her as the story progressed.

All in all, it is not a bad book; it is fast-paced and keeps you turning the pages, but not one that will remain in my head for very long.

This story was previously published as The Stone Secret, an Independent Publisher Book Awards Gold Medal Winner - 2024. The new version includes an updated plot and new content.

2.5 ⭐️ rounded up

I really enjoyed Amanda McKinney’s “Mad Women” series, so I was eager to download the latest from this author when offered an ARC. But, unfortunately, this one wasn’t quite as satisfying for me. I think she has grown as an author since she originally penned this story-which seemed simplistic and sometimes predictable as compared with the others that I have read.

At 2:00 A.M., on 4 consecutive nights, Sylvia Stone receives 4 anonymous letters revealing details that only the true killer of Marjorie Stone would know. The first three contain numbers: 3:02, 3:04 and 3:11. The last contains just three words: “You are Next”.

Does this mean that Rhett Cohen, the man who was convicted of murdering her mother twenty years ago-really was innocent as he had always maintained?

And, if he is, then why does Sylvia disappear shortly after he is released from prison?

The story unfolds from multiple POV’s including those of Sylvia, Rhett and Marjorie.

“When I Disappear” is described by the Publisher as a twisty psychologist thriller perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, and I would agree! I have just personally outgrown the very OVER THE TOP popcorn 🍿 thrillers that these authors write, but for readers who LOVE these types of stories this will score much higher!

If you are intrigued you can get a copy on January 24, 2025.

Thank You to Storm Publishing for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always these are my candid thoughts.