The Vanishing at Smokestack Hollow: A Missing Family, a Desperate Plan, an Unsolved Mystery

by Jake Anderson

An immersive exploration of the mystery that gripped internet sleuths and bloggers and inspires an avid online following to this day—the bizarre disappearance of the Jamison family in the rugged Sans Bois Mountains—from a contemporary master of true crime journalism.

“There’s dark stuff up there, sir. You know that, right? Cults and such.” That’s what Starlet Jamison told the Sheriff after her son and his family went missing.

On October 8th, 2009, Bobby Jamison, his wife Sherilyn, and their six-year-old daughter Madyson, set off for a drive from their home in Eufaula, Oklahoma, to the nearby Sans Bois Mountains. They didn’t return that day, or the next. A week later, their truck was found abandoned on a mountain road. Inside was their dog, malnourished but alive, the family’s cell phones, wallets, and $32,000 in cash.

The ensuing eight-month search was the largest in Oklahoma history, but it yielded little evidence. Online, bloggers and web sleuths put forth dozens of theories, fueled by the Jamisons’ strange, trancelike behavior on a CCTV video. Some claimed the family was abducted by white supremacists or a religious cult. In 2013, there was a tragic break in the case, when deer hunters stumbled upon the skeletal remains of two adults and a child in the Smokestack Hollow area of Panola Mountain. Forensic testing confirmed the Jamisons’ identities.

But the mystery was only beginning. Had the Jamisons been planning to abandon their lives and raise Madyson alone in the wilderness—and if so, why? What happened to the briefcase and handgun that Sheryilyn was seen putting into the car? And why were no arrests ever made?

Investigative journalist Jake Anderson draws on police notes, interviews, and exclusive evidence to piece together the Jamisons’ last days and weeks, weaving together startling material with his own personal insights. The story is one of dark, paranoid obsessions, but also of real malevolent forces residing in those shadowy mountains—and a compulsively readable account of a true murder mystery whose chilling impact continues to be felt.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Mystery, Audiobook, Crime, History

336 pages, Hardcover

Published September 24, 2024

Reviews

[Sheila · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, The Vanishing at Smokestack Hollow, by Jake Anderson, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I remember watching a an episode of Disappeared, on ID, about this family, and wondering what happened to them. I thought this would book would help me understand, but, its more about the author then the family, and was a bit boring.

[Erin · Rating 1 out of 5]

ARC for review. To be published: who cares?

Jake Anderson. No, sir. No, you did not. You did not disrespect the lives of Bobby, Sherilynn and Madyson Jamison by making this book including yourself as a main character. So we, the readers, could read about your psychiatric issues, your dating life, your injuries, your drug problem for no reason at all. You were not related to the victims. You were not involved in this case. No one who picks up this book has any interest in reading about you.

You are shameless. And shameful. Anything I had to say about the book is lost in my disgust for you. I regret that there isn’t something lower than one star.

Oh, and it’s poorly written with incredibly stilted language where the author makes every attempt to show the reader he knows big words.

[Star Gater · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you HighBridge Audio for allowing me to read and review The Vanishing at Smokestack Hollow, A Missing Family, a Desperate Plan, an Unsolved Mystery by Jake Anderson on NetGalley.

Narrator: Chris Abernathy

Published: 99/24/24

Stars: 2.5

There were a lot questions concerning the deaths of this family before this book was written. These questions remain, as well as why. Why did the author choose this true crime to write about?

I read a lot of true crime. For me there was a disconnect. If the narrator wasn't easy to listen to I may have not finished the book. As I read I couldn't lose the why? Nothing was significantly book worthy or helpful in my opinion.

Near the end, the author starts debunking theories and the story spiraled out of control for me. I found myself gasping. I was left still wondering what did he want to achieve.

With no disrespect to this family's loved ones and friends, I hope these murders are solved. I'm not certain who the target audience should be.

[Kelly Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Holy shit why did I read this, I don’t care

[Megan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think I need a break from true crime books, as the last few that I've read have been full of personal anecdotes and irrelevant rambling. The information in this book, about the mysterious disappearances and later discovery of the remains of a family of three, is terribly disorganized and gets lost amid a lot of unnecessary filler. Conspiracy theories and Reddit rabbit holes abound. The audio was OK...I thought the narrator's attempts at trying to sound folksy when quoting people in Southeast Oklahoma fell flat. The synopsis calling Anderson a "contemporary master of true crime journalism" is generous at best.

I received an audio ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Jane Dormanen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was exceptionally well-researched and despite the case being so heavy, I also laughed out loud at the author’s clever comedic relief.

I for one loved reading the sections about the author’s life and experiences. They provided relevant and important perspectives, not only to the case, but also into the fact-finding process required to capture and accurately report on such a complicated case. Not to mention, I applaud his honesty and willingness to share his personal journey when mental illness is still so often stigmatized and misunderstood.

Well done, Jake!

[Emily Musgrove · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another audiobook - I wanted to like this more than I did. The area and places mentioned are familiar to me, and the mystery of what happened to the family is intriguing. But parts of the book were boring, I wasn’t a fan of what felt like “filler” chapters, and the author spent too much time sharing his personal life things - I wasn’t sure how those parts were tying into the book’s narrative. It’s a sad story, though. Very mysterious.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook of “The Vanishing at Smokestack Hollow” by Jake Anderson. In Fall of 2009 an entire family from Oklahoma went missing in the mountains. Bobby, Sherilyn and their six year old daughter Madyson Jamison vanished, and their dog was found barely alive in their truck along with a large sum of money. What happened to this family is the heart of this story. Everyone seems to have a different opinion of that and no real conclusion can be reached to date.
If you are a fan of true crime this is a good book that gives you much to think about.

Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing me with an audio of this true crime book.

[esthela ౨ৎ ·˚⋆ ༘ ✿ · Rating 3 out of 5]

{english review}

ARC

I have mixed feelings about this book.

First and foremost, I want to mention that I am a big fan of true crime books. I really enjoy the suspense and the thrill of trying to unravel the mysteries presented, as well as coming up with theories about possible outcomes. However, this book did not meet my expectations and left me with ambivalent feelings.

The story progresses very slowly and is packed with a wealth of information and details. While I appreciate the thoroughness of the research, the sheer volume of information ended up draining my energy and concentration. I often found myself questioning the necessity of certain comments and details, which seemed excessive and sometimes irrelevant to the narrative. This contributed to the reading becoming tedious and took me much longer to finish than anticipated.

The case of the family’s disappearance is undeniably intriguing and has great potential to captivate readers. However, the way the author presents various theories and perspectives becomes overwhelming. The multitude of approaches sometimes feels disorganized and lacks coherence, which can be confusing and make it difficult to grasp the case as a whole. Additionally, the narrative structure at times does not help maintain interest and can make readers feel lost amidst all the details.

Although I recognize and appreciate the effort and extensive research the author has put into this book, I’m afraid it did not resonate with me as I had hoped. Despite its rigor and depth of research, the way the material is presented did not suit my personal taste, and I found myself wishing for a more focused and fluid narrative. In summary, while the book has undeniable merits, it did not meet my personal expectations.

[reseña en español]

Tengo opiniones encontradas sobre este libro.

En primer lugar, quiero destacar que soy una gran aficionada a los libros de true crime. Disfruto mucho del suspenso y de la emoción de intentar desentrañar los misterios que se presentan, así como de formular teorías sobre los posibles desenlaces. Sin embargo, este libro no cumplió con mis expectativas y me dejó una sensación ambivalente.

La historia avanza de manera muy lenta, y está cargada de una gran cantidad de datos y detalles. Aunque aprecio la minuciosidad en la investigación, la sobreabundancia de información terminó drenando mi energía y mi capacidad de concentración. A menudo me encontré cuestionando la necesidad de ciertos comentarios y detalles, que parecían excesivos y, en ocasiones, irrelevantes para el desarrollo del relato. Esto contribuyó a que la lectura se volviera tediosa y me llevó mucho más tiempo del esperado.

El caso de la desaparición de la familia, sin duda, es fascinante y tiene un gran potencial para enganchar al lector. Sin embargo, la manera en que el autor presenta las diferentes teorías y perspectivas resulta abrumadora. La multiplicidad de enfoques a veces parece desorganizada y carece de coherencia, lo que puede resultar confuso y dificultar la comprensión del caso en su conjunto. Además, la estructura de la narrativa, en algunos momentos, no ayuda a mantener el interés y puede hacer que el lector se sienta perdido entre tantos detalles.

Aunque reconozco y valoro el esfuerzo y la exhaustiva investigación que el autor ha llevado a cabo, me temo que el libro no logró conectar conmigo de la manera que esperaba. A pesar de su rigor y la profundidad de la investigación, la manera en que se presenta el material no resultó ser de mi agrado, y me encontré deseando una narrativa más enfocada y fluida. En resumen, aunque el libro tiene méritos indudables, no cumplió con mis expectativas personales.

[Jayna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a case I had never heard of before, so I went into this knowing absolutely nothing.
Overall, the book kept me interested. And it was well researched for the most part.
It does focus a bit too much on the author at times, in my opinion.
Other times it goes off on long mostly irrelevant tangents. Had the Bigfoot ramblings happened earlier on, I'd have likely considered DNFing it.

Chris Abernathy narrates the audiobook. No complaints.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Tokoro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m very much in two minds about what I just read. It literally took me weeks to finish this book. While I was reading I was engaged in the mystery of this family’s disappearance, but once I put the book down, I found it very hard to motivate myself to pick it back up again and continue reading.

What I liked:

The Vanishing at Smokestack Hollow is richly detailed, well-researched and choc-full of interesting bits of parallel true crimes. The author often mentions other mysterious cold cases as mindboggling as the disappearance of the Jamison family. For example, I wasn’t aware of the disappearance of the McStay family in California, the youth killings in Weleetka, or the mystery surrounding the gruesome find of the Anadarko pastor in 2009. Even Albuquerque’s first serial killer, dubbed the “Bone Collector”, is referenced in one of the chapters. But what really skyrocketed my curiosity was the account on how North Fork Town came to be at the bottom of Lake Eufaula.

Evidence of how much time and effort went into compiling this true crime account is clear by the inclusion of facts such as where the word “forensic” originated from, or details on how and why autopsies started being done centuries ago. All of this and much more is what kept my interest while reading, but getting back into the book once I had to put it down…well, that was a little harder.

What I didn’t like:

As a logically-minded person, I don’t entertain flights of fancy. The occult-like elements in this case didn’t interest me at all and I felt it to be an unnecessary inclusion in this book as it isn’t fact-based. I enjoyed the accounts of other interesting cold cases (as mentioned earlier in my review), but at the same time I also felt there was too much unnecessary bloat and a lot of repetition to get the book to its intended word count. Sometimes it became overwhelming and tiring to read, and thus made it hard for me to continue reading when I instead wanted something that wasn’t taxing on my mind.

Although not overdone, I also didn’t find the inclusion of the author’s personal struggles and injuries necessary in this true crime account.

Conclusion:

Prior to reading The Vanishing at Smokestack Hollow, I’ve never heard of the Jamison family. However, it’s not necessary to know anything about their disappearance or the avid online following by internet sleuths it inspired, before starting this book. It’s all covered in this true crime mystery. I would recommend this book to readers who are deeply invested in solving cold cases or have an interest in true crime mysteries. There is a vast amount of information in this book and the author explores the Jamisons disappearance from every angle possible, which I found overwhelming. But if you’re someone who enjoys delving deep into every single detail imaginable of unsolved crimes, then this is the perfect read for you.

[Cornerofmadness · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was one I was of two minds about. One, the author wanted to make it personal as to why he chose to write this (his own chronic health issues and mental health issues) but it became a bit too much about him vs the actual case which became a negative to me. (especially when he took a detour into his own love life. Can't say that I cared about that)

Secondly there were a lot of side quests in this. I have no idea why several other, completely unrelated cases were mentioned in this. Once or twice to illustrate a point I wouldn't have minded but there was a lot of irrelevant material.

The last major negative was there was a lot of repeated material pertaining to the case. This could have been organized a bit better.

Bobby Jamison, his wife Sherilyn, and their six-year-old daughter Madyson, disappeared in the hills of OK, a place known for its reclusive and potentially dangerous residents, not to mention a boat load of meth labs. The only thing that was found was their truck with their dog inside and 32K of cash hidden in the floor. Their bodies weren't found for years (and barely 5% of any of their bodies) in an area that had been well searched making people wonder, had they been killed elsewhere and dumped there latter.

The book starts strong with the police investigation, the cadaver dogs and the search teams/helicopters but when nothing much is found the case goes cold and more or less unsolved. So what is the rest of the book about? The various police organizations investigating it, the FBI, private investigators and tons of citizen sleuths and all their pod casts. In fact, much of the rest of the book is about all the podcasters and online theories.

Were they murdered? Did they die of exposure? Was a murder suicide? Were they mentally insane? Were they drug addicts? Were they drug dealers? Was this a cartel hit? Did their family kill them in order to inherit?

All these theories are floated and since it is an unsolved case, there is no resolution. In the end it's a book I'll be donating, not keeping.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Vanishing at Smokestack Hollow by Jake Anderson is about one family from Oklahoma who on October 8, 2009, left their home for nearby mountains. They were never seen alive again. Conjecture and theories surrounded their mysterious disappearance including foul play, feral hogs, cults, drug links, murder/suicide and starting a new life elsewhere.

Bobby, Sherilyn and their young daughter Madyson vanished. A week later their dog was discovered barely alive inside their vehicle as well as $32,000 in cash. A huge search began with volunteers and experts alike. Sherilyn's son Colton (Bobby's stepson), friends, neighbours and media had their own views. There were poisoned cats, no trespassing signs galore and a mystery lodger. A grisly discovery made by hunters four years later gave some closure but too many questions remain. Items which should have been found weren't. The police were ill equipped. After doing research of his own, the author raises many points and the case remains unsolved.

Aside from the impossible mystery, what grabbed me most are the fascinating investigation details surrounding scent and "woodshock". Whatever happened, the last hours and moments of the three must have been horrifying and I feel for those who knew and cared about them.

The author includes his own experiences with chronic (and consequential mental) pain which as a chronic pain sufferer I relate to. However, in ways it felt irrelevant to the Jamison tragedy. I understand the purpose but the timing is odd and feels like an intrusion of sorts.

My sincere thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this captivating book.

[DeWayne Neel · Rating 3 out of 5]

With NetFlix, investigative reporting, and TV documentaries, one can read and see many unsolved criminal cases, expecting a large number of "error reports" due to everyone getting into the action while becoming amateur lawyers and investigators. This story begins in SE Oklahoma, a backwoods cultural environment that is the home of numerous meth labs and even more users of alcohol and drugs of all kinds. Eufaula was home to Sherilyn, Bobby, and daughter Madyson in 2009 until they disappeared from the community. Before their departure, there was evidence of their "spirit-filled home", not the holy kind. There was a drug-influenced lifestyle with a brief religious experience with a "traveling mission group" that had some grounding in a local church. The backwoods area had a long history of no-traditional behavior with an attitude of "leave me alone, or---". It was the OR that
led to their disappearance for several years before some remains were located, creating nationwide speculation.
"Meth cookers", mountain men, squatters, drug dealers, religious leaders, and any funny-looking individual were suspects. The few bones found created a few more suspects of the para-normal family. The suspect list grew, but no one was ever charged and the social media had its hay day with TV specials and crime show features. In a Madison Avenue world, it is hard to imagine this type of area still exists next door.

[Brin B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this read. The many storylines were well written, and everything was brought back together. There were so many lines of potential inquiry, potential suspects, intersecting “plot” points and each was explored and tied in. Many are seething against the author’s “insertion” as a “main character” in the storyline and I personally don’t see that at all. I’ve listened to plenty of true crime podcasts where the journalist’s motives for researching and intersecting interest in the case is included within the storyline. It’s no different here simply because it’s a book. The author portrays well the parallels in how what he has experienced in his life - chronic pain, substance addiction, crippling depression, and bipolar disorder - (all main components in the Jamison family case) helped him to be empathetic to these struggling people. He specifically states that he understands that his addiction was not to opioids which is a different case but that he can, in some ways, relate. I felt he took great care in how he spoke to those involved and it felt like a compassionate and respectful laying out of the story. Well done Jake! This is one I will keep in my back pocket for recommendations!

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Vanishing At Smokestack Hollow by Jake Anderson in 2010 Cherilyn, Bobby Junior and their daughter Madison went missing besides the footage that people say make them look like they’re on drugs while packing the truck there isn’t much to go on unless you’re going on gossip and rumors because there’s lots of that from satanic worship, drug abuse, racism hauntings an Indian burial grounds the story is a no Way Short of interesting topics. There’s a lot in the story to distract you from the fact no one was ever arrested for this crime. Some of the rumors that have been spread or enough to make their love ones hit their knees and pray it not to be true especially the one about poor Madison in Laredo Texas despite this book has no real arrest or a proper ending I found the book was full of interesting stories adjacent to this one and including things about this one and thought the author did a wonderful job telling a sad story. If you like to read the stories of true crime victims this is an entertaining book to read and one I totally recommend. #NetGalley, #KensingtonBooks, #JakeAnderson,#TheVanishingAtSmokestackHollow,

[Shelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because I have been interested in the Jamison family disappearance since it happened in 2009. While this was a good overview, it did not really add anything to my knowledge of the case. Followers of the case who read Websleuths, Reddit, or Facebook threads about the Jamisons will probably not learn anything new. It is full of the same allegations and discussion points that fill those threads. It is also full of the same disdain for law enforcement that his previous book about Elisa Lam is. His investigation was probably hindered by his prejudice against rural southerners and religious people. This is a good compilation of general information about the case, and it is convenient to have it all in one place, but I agree with other reviewers that the author spent too much time talking about himself. I also think his own struggles with bipolar disorder influence his interpretation of Sherilyn’s actions too much. While I want to have more concrete answers to what happened to the Jamison family and how the events in their lives led to whatever befell them, this book does not provide them.

[SueCanaan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rounded up to a 3, The Vanishing at Smokestack Hollow on audio was.....ok. Not great. Not compelling. But, ok.

This true crime case featuring dad Bobby Jamison, 44, mom Sherilyn Jamison, 40, and 6-year old daughter Madyson Jamison is an unsolved mystery. A family goes into the woods and never comes out. The family dog is in their truck along with a boatload of cash, but no signs of life (or bodies). Let me pause here to say I am an absolute true crime junkie. Podcast? I'm there. Dateline? Every week. Facebook groups of "sleuths"? Sign me up. Reddit? Hello, my name is Sue. I just love the stuff. It was a no brainer for me to request this one on Netgalley.

Sadly, despite the opportunity to make this story interesting, somehow it is not. There isn't enough guts to sustain a book of this length. It really does lend itself to an hour long podcast or tv episode without hours and hours of supposition based on????? Based on guesses. Too many guesses.

I also wasn't a fan of all the details unrelated to the mystery which frequently felt like filler to justify a book.

[Anne Brink · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Vanishing at Smokestack Hollow, Anderson has created what feels like a new genre: total immersion true crime. By weaving his own struggles with chronic pain and mental illness into the narrative, Anderson brings a deeply personal and empathetic perspective that enhances the reader’s connection to the tragic disappearance of the Jamison family. This relatability bridges the gap between investigator and subject, making the mystery even more poignant.

One of Anderson’s strengths lies in his ability to distill complex ideas into digestible insights without sacrificing depth. As he explores multiple theories behind the Jamison family’s disappearance, he does so with clarity and logic, presenting each possibility convincingly while respecting the unresolved nature of the case.

I absolutely loved reading this book. Anderson’s empathy and thoughtfulness shine through, making it as much a human story as a true crime investigation. I eagerly look forward to exploring more of his work in the future.

[Oolookitty · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is so massively overwritten, and badly written, it’s impossible to get through. For instance, it takes a deputy about five pages to find an abandoned truck because the writer spends many many paragraphs on descriptions of the mist, floating dust, little bits of local history, watching the taillights of another car vanish as it drives off, thoughts about Sasquatch, etc etc etc. This doesn’t serve to build suspense, it’s just tedious and it’s amateurish writing.

For instance: “pausing, he shined his light up at the rock face of the Bluff overlooking him, and then back to the clearing, where he caught something else in the near distance, the garbled frame of a junkyard vehicle covered in graffiti and occult symbols. Ferguson proceeded on foot, watching as his once shiny, county-issued loafers were covered in mud.”

Aside from the fact that this is a level of monotonous detail no one asked for, what the hell is a “garbled” frame of a car?

DNF.

[kylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded to 4⭐️

Vanishing at Smokestack Hollow has a bit of everything a modern disappearance narrative requires: the official story, the unofficial stories, interviews with friends and family, drugs, and Reddit threads. I've never seen this case before, so this felt incredibly comprehensive. I'm not surprised that tv gave the impression that this was a paranormal spook fest when most likely it was something much more human. (People can be terrible, especially when there are drugs involved.)

I understand that some readers are angry with the author writing himself into the narrative, his bout with mental health and chronic pain, but it felt wholistic to me. When researching a case in depth, I imagine it's only natural to find yourself connecting to the characters through shared life experiences. That's probably what drew you in in the first place. Anderson mentions early on his deep understanding of bipolar and the stigma associated.

Why isn't it a five? This felt long and perhaps a bit disjointed. I also remember stopping at one point and having to do math when I saw something like "over 15 years since the disappearance." That's not right??? The disappearance was in October 2009, which means 15 years is at least October 2024, next month and definitely not whenever that interview happened or was written down. Publisher please fix - thanks!

**I received my copy from Netgalley.

[Stephanie Dargusch Borders · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one started off strong but fizzled out a bit. I don’t mind reading about unsolved cases but I’m an Occam’s razor type of girl, and this case has many theories, none of which seem to fit. Part of the problem imo is the author didn’t have access (understandably) to the police case file. There were certain bits I really wanted to know more about—I’d love to read victim Sherilyn’s scathing 11 page letter to her husband, for example. I’d also love to view the cctv footage of the couple packing up their home in its entirety. I do find it interesting though that even the investigators on the case over the years differ in their theories of what happened to the Jamison family, since they would have access to the full case file. This is a case that I don’t think will ever be solved.

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

True crime: An investigative look into the 2009 disappearance of The Jamison Family- wife Sherilyn, husband Bobby, and daughter Madyson. A deer hunter finds the family truck abandoned and soon after a massive manhunt ensues to find the family. Three years later, the family’s skulls are found- and not far away from the abandoned truck location. The author explores all possible scenarios and explanations for what happened to the family. Drugs, mental illness, an impending divorce, financial troubles are a few of the topics explored. Oklahoma had a large meth problem. Police corruption. Lots of unknowns and grey areas. An interesting look at how the author’s personal experience played into his research. #goodreadsgiveaway #thevanishingatsmokestackhollow #jakeanderson #jillianhereforthebooks

[Redskullduggery · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was excited about this book ever since learning about the case on "Disappeared" several years ago and seeing that extremely creepy photo of Madyson. However, I only made it through about 75% of this book. There was too much insertion of the author into the story and there were far too many tangents into unlikely explanations and irrelevant details. To me, the most likely explanation for the family's demise is that they had very strange beliefs in the supernatural either caused by or exacerbated by mental illness and drug use and, as a result of this, they got lost in the woods and died of exposure. I would have liked more discussion of this and less of the far more unlikely explanations on offer (i.e. murder, conspiracy, etc.).

[Red Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Vanishing at Smokestack Hollow is a true crime read that had me captivated from the first page. This is about the Jamison family who ended up disappering in the Sans Bois Mountains and the case is one that still has an online following to this day. It was written well and I liked how the author included his own experince into the book. This was well researched and all the information was organized. Overall, this is one that I highly enjoyed and would recommend to any reader who loves true crime. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing/Citadel for this read in exchange of my honest review of The Vanishing at Smokestack Hollow by Jake Anderson.

[Ryan Hyatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Anderson writes a gripping, thoroughly researched true-crime narrative that captures the zeitgeist of a troubled family spiraling into tragic circumstances.

As the tale unfolds, a seemingly surface-level narrative related to a small-town husband, wife, and daughter cracks, revealing a bizarre and desperate world in which evidence and motivations leave the reader floundering for explanations into a case haunted by sadness and yearning for closure.

The story left me in awe, wondering how deep our delusions and addictions, if unchecked, might take us, destroying the lives of those we love most. Highly recommend.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Investigative journalist Jake Anderson delves into the bizarre disappearance of the Jamison family in the rugged Sans Bois Mountains. "The Vanishing at Smokestack Hollow" details the largest eight-month search in Oklahoma history, unraveling the mystery with meticulous research. A chilling read for fans of the true crime genre.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing, and Jake Anderson for the opportunity to read and review "The Vanishing at Smokestack Hollow" prior to its publication date.

[Suzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Vanishing at Smokestack Hollow, by Jake Anderson, is a true crime telling in minute detail with an equal share of the author's own health travails thrown in. There was so much information I found it difficult to absorb and retain. Even with that limitation, the story was gripping, emotional, and a little bit scary. I did not feel as connected to the story as I had hoped to be, but there is no denying how well researched the book is.

Thank you to #TheVanishingatSmokestackHollow #NetGalley #KensingtonPublishing #Citade #TrueCrime

[Holly Barker · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 2009, an Oklahoma couple and their 6 year old daughter went missing. Their truck was found abandoned with some suspicious contents. Four years later portions of their remains were found. It remains unclear what happened. This book looks at their lives before they went missing and explores their community, seeking possible answers to their fate. Much of that is quite interesting, but where this book goes really wrong is when the author inserts his own physical and mental health struggles into the story and tries to connect that to the missing family. It alters his entire approach to the investigation and tries to force a connection that doesn’t seem to be there.