Pub day 01.24.25

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Another win for McKinney! I just love her writing style, it flows so smoothly and you’ll be hooked immediately!

Sylvia Stone’s mother was murdered twenty years ago, and after her alleged killer is released from prison, Sylvia receives a series of letters that are seemingly threats dropped off by an unknown person at her door in the middle of the night.

Rhett, who still proclaims his innocence, is immediately pulled back into the Stone family and trying to solve cases before it’s pinned on him yet again.

Loved this book. Multiple POV, dual timeline, journal entries. A sphinx named Shirley. Definitely check this one out, it is so bingeable you will fly right through it!

Thanks so much to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for my ARC!

The story is told from multiple perspectives including Marjorie Stone, her daughter, Sylvia, and Rhett Cohen, the man accused and convicted of Marjorie’s murder. Twenty years later, Sylvia receives a series of letters, veiled threats telling her that she’s not safe. The timely appearance of the letters lead to the release of Rhett Cohen. The unlikely duo pair together attempting to finally uncover the truth behind Marjorie’s murder. It is a tumultuous emotional affair with lots of interesting twists. Thank you to NetGalley and Storm publishing for the chance to review this ARC. These are my true opinions.

I received an ARC of this book from Storm Publishing via NetGalley. I was so ready to give this 5 stars until the end! Every time I put the book down, I kept thinking about it, eager to pick it up again. I enjoyed the characterization as everyone was fleshed out and real. Rhett was realistic with very reasonable aftereffects of being in prison. Sylvia was realistic with how she handled her depression and loneliness. Even the more minor characters, such as the hairdresser and Jesse's mother, were depicted well. Shirley the cat was definitely a favorite!

But then about 2/3 of the way through, there is a code switch. That in itself took me by surprise, and I was into it.... until the last few chapters when everything was turned upside down and not in a good way! I really disliked both what happened at the end and also the speed with which just BAM this is what happened. I was hoping for the shocking reveal of a different villain than who it turned out to be.

There was also a brief scene about a dead animal that I felt went into too much detail. Animals being harmed is a TW for me.

This is a fantastic thriller and a must read for anyone who likes this genre. It came packed with twists and turns and the ending took me by surprise. It’s a great read and one that I’d definitely recommend.

In this book we follow Sylvia, whose mother was murdered twenty years ago. Rhett Cohen, who was working for her mother at the time, was accused of her mother’s murder. His fingerprints were on the knife that killed her and he had motive. Together with the testimony of Sylvia he was convicted of her mother’s murder.

Now twenty years later, Sylvia gets these strange letters delivered on her doorstep. In these letters is information that only the real killer knows. So did Rhett really kill her mother? Or was he innocent this whole time?

Later Rhett is released from prison and visits Sylvia. He wants to see the letters that were delivered to her because he wants to know who really murdered Sylvia’s mother. He wants revenge for all the years he spent locked up.

Sylvia and Rhett look into the murder of her mother together to find out who really killed her. But what will they find when they start looking? And will this information be dangerous?

This book is amazing. It’s fast paced and has a lot of short chapters. They find out so many things and there are so many things happening. I really couldn’t put this book down. I kept wanting to know what would happen next.
I loved the twists in the story. I really couldn’t have guessed what was going to happen next.
This is the first time I read something by Amanda McKinney and I’m very impressed. I’m very intrigued by what her other books are like.

I received an advance review copy (ARC) for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book had me from the start! When Sylvia receives letters in the middle of the night which appear to be from her mother's murderer, the tension is palpable, as the supposed murderer has been in prison for 20 years. When Rhett is released from prison shortly afterwards, they form an unlikely partnership to try and find the real murderer. Despite being able to spot the main twist, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. A refreshing way to solve a crime!

Twenty years ago, Rhett was convicted of brutally murdering an elderly lady. For twenty years, he has tried to convince everyone he was innocent. Now he's out, and determined to find out who framed him all those years ago, finding himself being helped by the daughter of his "victim". Then she disappears, and Rhett is sure he's missing part of this story.

This was such a great read, and I absolutely loved the twists, even if I did guess some of them fairly early on. I flew through this one in a couple hours and I just couldn't get enough.
Definitely keep an eye out for this one in the new year.

Sylvia receives letters with times twenty years after her mother is murdered, and it appears that the murderer is back, and she is to be his next victim. Rhett, who was convicted of the murder comes back, after receiving parole and along with the voice of Marjorie (Sylvia’s murdered mom) we find out the story of what really happened twenty years ago. Filled with twists and turns I did not see coming, this novel was a good read.

The twists and turns in this book were so good. It’s a fast paced read and I didn’t want to put it down. Rhett was in jail for a crime he didn’t commit. When he’s paroled early he wants revenge. He goes to see Sylvie, the daughter of the woman he was charged with murdering. She’s been getting letters from the person who is actually responsible for the murder. They team up to figure out who is actually responsible. The ending was great!!!

This is a mystery/thriller book that gave off “Pretty Little Liars” vibes. There were a lot of twists. It started out great.

*This is an #ARC provided by #NetGalley and #StormPublishing. The opinions expressed are my own. Publishing Date: January 24, 2025.
#WhenIDisappear

A fast paced thriller with so many twists and turns that I never saw coming. I honestly couldn’t put it down. It was creepy and interesting but the ending fell a bit flat for me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the early copy.

This was a fast paced , page turning thriller that was a bit of fun to read l I did guess what was happening quite early on though which was a bit disappointing. Whilst I enjoyed this book, I did struggle with a bit part of the story. The main character when from one extreme to the other very quickly and it just felt off to me. It was a like a switch was flicked and she became a different person.

Despite that, the story was interesting, idea., I just feel that it could have been done better. I don’t want to give anything away about the story so it is hard to say anymore.

Thank to Storm publishing on NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. Publishes on January 24th.

When I Disappear by Amanda McKinney
Publishing date - 01/24/25
Rating (5/5) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Netgalley , Storm Publishing , and author for this e-ARC.

Synopsis - Twenty years after Sylvia Stone’s mother was brutally murdered, she receives a letter on her doorstep that Rhett Cohen, the man accused of her mother’s murder and sent to prison for twenty years, is innocent of the murder. When Rhett is released from prison, she receives three more letters. The final letter she received ended with the message, you’re next …

What a great psychological thriller. I could NOT guess these twists and was instantly drawn in. I could not put this book down! The writing was fast-paced and the plot moved at a good speed, making it an easy read. Told by multiple point of views and a dual timeline which worked really well with this story. This was my first read by the author and after finishing this one ; I immediately went to download “Marriage of Lies” by her on my kindle.

Highly recommend this thriller when it releases in January 2025!

What a thriller! It kept me on my toes all the way and I finished it in one go. A mysterious killer who escaped justice, a man wrongly accused who seeks revenge, and a woman who lost both her mother and her sister.
This novel is as dark as it is suspenseful, making it perfect for fans of gripping mysteries with unexpected twists.
After receiving letters implying that the man convicted of her mother's murder twenty years ago might be innocent, Sylvia Stone begins to question everything she once believed. Rhett’s release from prison only raises the stakes, especially as the final letter ominously warns that she is next. When Sylvia herself disappears, the story takes an even darker turn.
McKinney masterfully builds suspense. Sylvia and Rhett are both deeply layered characters: Sylvia is haunted by her past and questioning her reality, and Rhett is a man hardened by two decades of imprisonment for a crime he may not have committed. Their stories intersect in powerful, emotionally charged ways.
Just when you think you know where the story is heading, McKinney pulls the rug out from under you. This is a must-read for anyone who loves psychological thrillers with endings that keep you thinking long after you’ve finished the book.

I hadn't heard about this author before, turns out she's written tens of 'Amazon charts bestsellers', including the typical novels with a picture of an attractive man on the cover. The author also claims to have won literary awards, when I fact-checked the claim, I found out the list of accolades includes things like 'Popsugar's 12 Best Romance Books'.

After learning this about the author, I completely understood why this novel is structured the way it is. I can honestly say I look up to anyone who finishes a book, and I am always in awe when I learn about people who are able to release book after book. I do admire the author's hustle and am happy for her that she's able to make a living out of writing. Get that coin, girl!

I believe this is a matter of personal taste, this author is simply not for me. However, this is not about the author, but the novel itself.

This is the first 2-star review I ever give (hopefully the last one) Unfortunately, I couldn't get into this book.

There are many reasons why, but I don't want to sound harsh given that this is an ARC. As they say, if you can't say something nice...

When I Disappear is a fast paced thriller with some fun twists. While I guessed the twist earlier on then I would like, I still enjoyed the journey. For some reason the book feels a little disjointed. Like the first half was a 5 star read and I was glued to the pages, and then things started to fall apart a little by the second half. There almost was a dual plot at times and the ending left me with some questions. Overall, I enjoyed this thriller and it definitely was a page turner!

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Twenty years ago Marjorie Stone was murdered. Now daughter, Sylvia lives alone as a spinster, rarely leaving her home--even having her hairdresser come to her, But when twenty-eight-year old Jesse Taylor goes missing, there's suspicion the two events could be connected--especially because the convicted killer of Marjorie (Rhett) Is now being released from prison. Sylvia begins getting strange notes: some with random times on them and one chilling that simply says, "You're next!" This is one of those great, convoluted novels that has you reading at break-neck speed as there are so many suspects and even the police are flummoxed!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Twenty years after Sylvia Stone’s mother was brutally murdered, she receives a letter on her doorstep that Rhett Cohen, the man accused of her mother's murder and sent to prison for twenty years, is innocent of the murder. When Rhett is released from prison, she receives three more letters. The final letter she received ended with the message, you’re next, and suddenly Sylvia disappears.
It's an absolute thriller you won’t put down until the shocking ending, one that you could never guess.
Twenty years after Sylvia Stone’s mother was brutally murdered, she receives a letter on her doorstep that Rhett Cohen, the man accused of her mother's murder and sent to prison for twenty years, is innocent of the murder. When Rhett is released from prison, she receives three more letters. The final letter she received ended with the message, you’re next, and suddenly Sylvia disappears.
It's an absolute thriller you won’t put down until the shocking ending, one that you could never guess.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. An enjoyable, fast paced thriller with a unique twist. I did guess the twist pretty early on, which was disappointing, but I felt like it was such a different ending that I wasn't super mad.

I liked the multiple perspectives and felt like they really worked for this story. The characters were all interesting. And the writing was solid- made for a super quick thriller read, which I love!

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Wow!!
I really enjoyed this one. So many twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. Definitely recommend.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this arc