The Other Annie

by Brian O'Sullivan

The follow-up to The Photo Album!

On December 24th, 1998, fifteen-year-old Annie Ryan attended a Christmas party at her uncle William's palatial estate. She arrived at five, sat down for dinner at six, and then excused herself from the dinner table around 6:15.

She was never seen again.

William Ryan, looking for a new set of eyes, hires Bobby McGowan to take the case. After all, Bobby found his mother's killer after twenty years.

How much more difficult could this be?

THE OTHER ANNIE is a rollercoaster of a thriller with twists and turns that you'll never see coming.

Genres: Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Fiction

310 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2024

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Amy K]

The Same Bobby

Bobby is an amateur sleuth who is down on his luck in the employment department and just happens to have a knack for solving seemingly unsolveable cold cases. This is his first paying gig. Bobby is a fun, likable character who you can't help but root for. I enjoyed the second book as much as the first.

[Alex]

**The Other Annie** by Brian O’Sullivan is an outstanding follow-up in the series, deserving another 5-star review. This book maintains the same high level of interest and engagement as its predecessor, with a storyline that captivates from start to finish. O’Sullivan continues to impress with his adept character development and intricate plotting. The narrative is compelling and I’m eagerly awaiting the third book in this series. ;-) Highly recommended for fans of the first book and newcomers alike.

[sarah_eliza]

After solving the 20 year old cold case of his mother's murder, Bobby gets asked to investigate the 25 year old disappearance of a Hollywood producers niece. Can he do it again?
From a self published author, i have enjoyed both these books and hope he continues Bobby's investigations. I also love his dad.

[Tammy Hunter]

Brilliant!

[Donna Mallery]

This is the second book in the series, and I feel like it won’t be the last! Brian has another hit with Bobby as an unlikely crime fighter! We have a twenty-five year old murder that many have unsuccessfully tried. I like how the author carries us through the investigation and Bobby is a very likable character. He has an unconventional way of solving crimes!

[Trish]

So good! This was a great follow up to The Photo Album. Just when I thought the twists couldn’t get any better, another one comes along.

[Ashli Ferguson]

I did enjoy this book! there were parts where I felt it drug on a times but all in all it was a good sequel of sorts to The Photo Album!

[Steve]

4.5

[Keeley Webb Author]

The Other Annie by Brian O'Sullivan is the second book in his Bobby McGowan series, following The Photo Album, where he attempts to piece together the mystery of his mother's twenty-year-old murder. This time, we follow Bobby as he tries to solve the twenty-five-year-old mystery of what happened to fifteen-year-old Annie Ryan on Christmas Eve in 1995.

There's something so likeable and relatable about Bobby's character that makes you root for him every step of the way. I felt like I was there with him as he pieced together the information from that evening. Annie had attended a Christmas Eve party with around sixty relatives at her wealthy film producer uncle's huge estate.

Almost everyone was a suspect, and no one had seen her leave. Bobby is not even an official PI, but is acting as one and isn't the first to examine the case. Many have tried and failed before him, and he feels like he's getting nowhere fast.

This was a binge-worthy read that kept my interest throughout, with quite a few heart-racing moments. I'd highly recommend giving this series a try, and I'm looking forward to reading the third book.

[Melissa Smith]

I had to read this immediately after finishing “The Photo Album.” Bobby is back ready to investigate another 25 year old murder! When William hires him to find out what happened to his teenage niece, we join him on this crazy investigation.

I love finding new authors. These books will captivate you and keep your attention for sure. Billy is such a likable character, especially since he’s not actually a PI. More or less a jobless citizen with a bone to pick. He will stop at nothing to get to the truth!

[Kelly]

Brian O'Sullivan has done it again! "The Other Annie" is the second book in the Bobby McGowan series and hopefully not the last!

What happened to Annie Ryan 25 years ago? She just vanished from a family Christmas party that had 50 people in attendance. Bobby's investigation introduces us to some interesting people and takes on some unexpected twists. I seriously did not want to put this book down.

[Laura Felty]

Very good!

This is Brian's second novel that I have read. This novel was a continuation of Bobby's shenanigans. It could be a stand alone but does have the character building and insights into Bobby's psyche in the first novel. The Ryan family is new. Excellent detail throughout. And yes, I am part of the Facebook group and how I stumbled onto this excellent author.

[Misti Baldwin]

loved it!

Bobby is back in the saddle as an amateur PI on to his next case. A 25 year old cold case of a round girl named Annie gone missing. Most think her family had something to do with her disappearance. Bobby finds out the whole truth and exposes those involved.

A read that gets better as the story unfolds and leaves you unable to stop reading until it’s all done!

[Sarah Ashley]

fantastic read

Loved this classic whodunit with all of its twists and turns. I didn’t realize it was a sequel per se but I definitely recommend reading the first book before starting this one as this book spoils how the first book ends if you didn’t read it already.

[Leslie preston]

Excellent who dun it

Really enjoyed this.book, thought it was about to drag on, but I was mistaken. My first book by O'Sullivan and definitely not my last. Quick book to read full of great character development

[Leann Reads]

It’s been a minute since I read a book in one day. Couldn’t put it down. I enjoyed this as much as the first one! I hope there is more coming in this series! I want to see what cold case murder mystery Bobby will solve next

[Brandy D Osborn]

So many twists and turns! Didn’t want to put this one down. So good! I have mixed emotions about the ending. It didn’t turn out the way I was hoping but it turned out great at the same time. Brian O’Sullivan has quickly, and definitely, become one of my favorites!

[Alexandra Bollella]

I absolutely love love love this series!! Bobby McGowan is at it again! This book kept me on the edge of my seat! All the twists and turns, it's a roller coaster ride! Onto The Video Tape! Brian O'Sullivan you don't disappoint!

[Kathie Walter]

The sequel to The Photo Album did not disappoint! I sincerely hope Mr. Sullivan continues with Bobby McGowan’s story. I highly recommend both books! 10/10

[Heather Hoards Books]

I really, really hope we see more of Bobby in the future. This is a great sequel to an amazing series.

[T Gardner]

Disappointed with the same communicating with the killer storyline again in this book. Now I see it happens in book 3 too? Come on! Dumb. I’m done.

[Beth Robinson]

couldn't put it down!!!

[Lisa Brooke Reads Books]

Brian O'Sullivan is one of my favorite authors, and The Other Annie is a fantastic follow-up to The Photo Album.
The story itself is gripping and emotionally rich. I absolutely loved it.

However, the audiobook experience was frustrating due to frequent, unnecessary pauses that disrupted the flow. A great story deserves a smooth narration, and unfortunately, this one didn't quite deliver. If you're deciding between formats, l'd recommend reading the print or Kindle version instead!

[Jenn.reads.books]

glad I finished it

I started this book last month but stopped after only reading a short bit. I picked it back up the other day and the story took on a wild ride of twists and turns. Brian O’Sullivan is become a new favorite author.

[Elaine Rainbolt]

Bobby McGowan

I loved this book. I hated to see one of the deaths in it. This author makes reading his books easy and makes it so you don't want to put it down. This book got me hooked from the start, especially how it started at the ending of the photo album.

[Jamie]

I was on the edge of my seat the whole time with this sequel!! It was a fantastic follow up from the photo album. If you haven't read this series, you are missing out!! Great job Brian O'Sullivan 🤩

[Joan]

I liked this book a lot. I continued to think I'd figured it all out as I was reading and then some twist would come along and I'd change my predictions. It will keep you guessing.

[Beth]

If you thought family Christmas dinners were awkward before, just wait until you attend one in The Other Annie by Brian O'Sullivan, part of the escalating chaos known as the Bobby McGowan series.

First, let’s appreciate the setup. It’s Christmas Eve, 1998. Fifteen-year-old Annie Ryan arrives at her uncle’s lavish estate (because of course it’s lavish, no one ever vanishes from a shack). She sits down to dinner at six, politely lasts fifteen minutes, which frankly deserves recognition. Excuses herself at 6:15… and is never seen again.

Some people skip dessert. Annie skipped existence.

Enter Bobby McGowan, our resident investigator and walking embodiment of “I suppose I’ll sort this out, so.” Fresh off solving his mother’s murder after a casual twenty-year delay by police (no pressure), Bobby is hired by Uncle William, who apparently decides that what this situation really needs is “a new set of eyes.”

The brilliance of The Other Annie isn’t just in the twists (and there are enough to give you fictional whiplash), but in how confidently it misleads you. You start out thinking, “Ah, yes, classic disappearance mystery.” Every time you think you’ve figured out who’s hiding something, the book cheerfully pulls the rug out from under you and replaces it with another rug. With a trapdoor.

O’Sullivan writes suspense the way some people host Christmas: layered, tense, and slightly dangerous. The pacing barrels forward like a sleigh with no brakes, and just when you think you see the landing, the story veers sideways into yet another revelation you absolutely did not predict, despite confidently telling yourself you did.
In short, The Other Annie proves that in the Bobby McGowan universe:

Christmas is unsafe.

Wealthy relatives are suspicious by default.

If you leave the dinner table early, commit to it.

Five stars. Would not attend that Christmas party.

[Valerie Sukhu]

It’s Christmas Eve 1998, and 15 year old Annie Ryan vanishes without a trace from her wealthy uncle’s estate. Her uncle, desperate for answers, turns to Bobby McGowan—the same guy who recently cracked open his own mother’s decades-old murder. As Bobby starts digging, he realizes Annie’s disappearance isn’t as clean-cut as it seems and this family is hiding way more than just grief. The deeper he goes, the more twisted things get—and someone out there will do anything to keep the past buried.


I powered straight into The Other Annie which is book two in Brian O’Sullivan’s Bobby McGowan series as soon as I finished The Photo Album because Bobby’s “I’m-not-a-cop-but-watch-me-solve-this” vibe had me hooked. 


This time, his reputation lands him a job on a twenty-year-old cold case involving fifteen-year-old Annie Ryan, who vanished from her uncle’s estate on Christmas Eve, and everyone in that snow-dusted mansion is sketchy. 


Missing-person thrillers are my sweet spot bc nobody simply disappears and somebody always knows something so I spent the whole read interrogating the pages and still face-planted when the twist hit. Brian O'Sullivan never fails to deliver. 


The Other Annie is perfect if you live for cold-case mysteries, stubborn amateur sleuths, and family secrets wrapped in holiday lights. BUT as I mentioned it is book #2 in a three book series so you will want to read The Photo Album before diving into this one. 

[Liz K]

This is my first book by Brian O'Sullivan, and I was coming in with a big hyped aura because he was well-loved in the Psychological Thriller Readers page in Facebook, and for good reason, I think. I did not know at the beginning that this is part of a series (I just blindly read books these days, as long as they're highly recommended), but even though it is part of a series, I still liked and understood it without reading the first book.

The Other Annie is a story of family and forces that can destroy it. It is also a story of new perspectives, perfect timing, and why we shouldn't really give up on the important things.

You will love this book if:
you like cool dialogues and a bit of humor in your thrillers
you like twists that make use of the little, basic things, but make it out to be big ones
you liked the 1st book in the series

You will not enjoy this book if:
you like fast-paced books
you like books which do not include a lot of side commentary which may not be useful to the overall plot and story
you like your twist given to you at the end, not in the middle
you have the ff triggers: rape, corruption, family issues

Will definitely recommend readers to read the 1st book first, so as not to spoil the first book. I will be reading it after a while, once I forgot the spoilers in this book for the 1st book :)