After Image

by Jaime deBlanc

Years after a young woman’s mysterious disappearance, her stepsister is compelled to discover the truth in a novel of haunting psychological suspense.

Four years ago, beautiful yet troubled Allie Andersen vanished without a trace. The twenty-one-year-old daughter of an acclaimed actress, her disappearance captivated the media, left her family distraught, and became a fixation for online theorists, who implicated everybody Allie knew and loved. Everyone, including her devoted stepsister, Natasha.

Now, Natasha is finally trying to move on. The panic attacks and episodes of hysterical blindness she has suffered since her stepsister’s disappearance have diminished, and she no longer obsesses over the speculations of strangers. Until the remains of a young woman’s body are discovered in a lonely mountain canyon.

As Natasha reconnects with the sympathetic Detective Ruiz, inexplicable pieces of evidence surface that open her eyes to a family she thought she knew. It seems that everyone in Allie’s life had a credible motive for wanting Allie to vanish. Following each new clue, Natasha is determined to finally find the truth, wherever it leads, and whatever the cost.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Audiobook, Suspense, Psychological Thriller

316 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 8, 2024

About the author

Jaime deBlanc holds an M.A. in creative writing from the University of Texas at Austin. Her short fiction has been published in Catapult, Juked, and Post Road, and she has been the recipient of a MacDowell Fellowship and a Lighthouse Works Fellowship. She lives in Austin, Texas, where she works as a writing coach.

Reviews

[Karla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story 4 stars**
Audio 3.75 stars**
Narrator Viva Font

[adoseof.adri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stuck between 3-3.5⭐️. The premise & pacing started out great! But after a while, it just sort of dragged and the ending was super over-the-top in a way I didn’t care for.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jaime deBlanc debut novel, 'After Image,' immediately captivates with its enigmatic narrative that revolves around Natasha's search for a missing loved one. deBlanc artfully weaves a web of clues, drawing readers into a world rife with secrets and perils. Each carefully crafted scene beckons readers to unravel the intricate web of mystery, keeping them on the edge of their seats with unexpected twists and turns.

The author's skillful manipulation of tension and intrigue ensures that the reader is constantly engrossed in the narrative. The final chapters, along with a meticulously crafted epilogue, bring a satisfying and thought-provoking conclusion to the story, leaving a lasting impact.

I'd like to express my gratitude to Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an advance copy of this book. It's a rare delight to stumble upon a five-star thriller, and deBlanc undoubtedly delivers an exceptional reading experience.

With the publication date just around the corner (Oct 08, 2024), I highly recommend adding 'After Image' to your TBR list if you're a fan of compelling mystery and thriller genres.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ I still can’t believe this was a debut novel. I was gripped from the start and the way the book was written, it was impossible to put down. The plot, the characters, the pacing. Everything was so good! I can’t wait to read more from this author! Definitely a must read!

[Avery Abshire · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh. My. God. Soooooo boring. I only got interested once I hit chapter 62. Took me forever to finish and the ending was so dumb. Idk why this book was recommended to me. 👎

[dee (zuko’s girlfriend) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the ARC of this amazing debut thriller.

This book is really an intriguing emotional rollercoaster and perhaps the only one where I was unable to guess the ending till the very end. Really loved it. Except at a few points where the drama seemed too intense. The love angle also came off as a surprise to me and at one point I felt my heart was breaking apart after the truth got itself unravelled.

P.S: Would have loved to see the final interaction because my heart was clinging on to the hope of seeing things getting alright.

[Hannah Bugey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is totally giving off pretty little liar vibes and I’m so here for it. I loved the whole book and the ending was not the greatest. It was kind of disappointing to be honest. So that’s why this only got 3 stars. Solid read but not great ending.

[Meggan Ramos-Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly think this slowly became one of my favorite thrillers I have read this year. It reminded me of Pretty Little Liars but in the best way.

Four years ago, beautiful yet troubled Allie Andersen vanished without a trace. The twenty-one-year-old daughter of an acclaimed actress, her disappearance captivated the media, left her family distraught, and became a fixation for online theorists, who implicated everybody Allie knew and loved. Everyone, including her devoted stepsister, Natasha. Now, Natasha is finally trying to move on. The panic attacks and episodes of hysterical blindness she has suffered since her stepsister’s disappearance have diminished, and she no longer obsesses over the speculations of strangers. Until the remains of a young woman’s body are discovered in a lonely mountain canyon. As Natasha reconnects with the sympathetic Detective Ruiz, inexplicable pieces of evidence surface that open her eyes to a family she thought she knew. It seems that everyone in Allie’s life had a credible motive for wanting Allie to vanish. Following each new clue, Natasha is determined to finally find the truth, wherever it leads, and whatever the cost.

This gripped me from the very beginning. I honestly had no idea where it was going to go in terms of figuring out what actually happened to the main character. You have an unreliable narrator all the way through and that’s always my favorite part of thrillers that include them. During the middle it became a tad bit slow, but it doesn’t last long and the ending is worth pushing all the way through.

3.75 stars rounded up to 4!!! This was published a few days ago on October 8th, 2024.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as an ARC and really enjoyed it! Natasha is trying to solve her step sister’s missing persons cold case. It gave Pretty Little Liars vibes in that Natasha was working to solve the mystery while also struggling with her memories of her and her step sister’s rocky past. The first and last thirds moved very quickly and I loved the high suspense moments. I also loved that some things were up for interpretation near the end. A very solid thriller!

[Sayali Shelke · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars!!

Solid thriller - it's hard to believe this is Jamie deBlanc's first novel! She depicts the complexities of sibling relationships beautifully. After Image is well-written and well-paced, and although the ending wasn't necessarily shocking, it was developed properly.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC for review. To be published October 8, 2024.

A solid debut novel that will satisfy those who read BuzzFeed, in that Allie Andersen is 21 and the beautiful but troubled daughter of famous and acclaimed actress Isabel Andersen…now why can’t Nicole Kidman or Reese Witherspoon have a daughter just like that, darn it?

Four years ago Allie disappeared and this devastated her family and became huge fodder for the media. The tabloids accused everyone in Allie’s life of having something to do with it including her roommate and stepsister Natasha.

Since Allie’s disappearance Natasha has suffered from panic attacks but she’s improving, until a woman’s body is discovered. She teams up with a detective who worked the case to look for the truth.

So, not reinventing the wheel here, and, of course, the police are totally unprofessional and are clearly fine with allowing a civilian, wait, not just a civilian but a suspect to interfere with a case, but, you know, you’ve got to come at these things with some ability to suspend all disbelief at the door, right?

[maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this a lot more than i was expecting. The twist didn’t shock me but I had so much fun listening to everything unfold. That ending made me want 1 or 2 more chapters just a little more would’ve made it the perfect ending for me 🥲 for that i’m giving this 4.5 stars

[PinkAmy loves books, cats and naps · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not sure why books and movies sometimes romanticize dysfunctional friendships, but AFTER IMAGE is a prime example.

Former stepsisters and best friends, one with all the power, money and control and an adoring, admiring quiet one. I kept hoping for some equaling of balance between the two.

If not for the abrupt ending, leaving many unanswered questions, this would have been a 5 star review. I enjoyed the story very much, though when ever I checked to see how much time was left on my audiobook, I was surprised there was much more to go.

[marleighraereads · Rating 2 out of 5]

incredibly slow. i just wasn’t invested into the story at all. not for me.

[Erin Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Natasha and Allie are teenage step sisters who are also best friends, so when Allie disappears one day out of the blue Natasha is devastated and desperate to find her lost sister. Natasha is so upset that she develops stress related illnesses that render her temporarily blind during stressful situations. Four years go by with no news of Allie or what happened to her, until one day a body is found in a local canyon. It is not Allie but the finding of the young woman's body reawakens all kind of emotions and fears for Natasha regarding her missing sister. She vows to continue the search for the truth of Allie's disappearance, no matter the cost.

I would really like to give this book a 5 star review but I just can't bring myself to do it because of the way the narrator butchered the pronunciation of one of the characters names. It was like fingernails on a chalk board every time she said 'Mcnamara' rather than it's correct Irish pronunciation of Mac-na-mare-uh. It made me more than a little crazy and took away from my enjoyment of the story. Sorry, I'm sensitive that way;). So I would probably recommend the written version of this book rather than the audio version I listened to. Still this was a good book that kept my attention, surprised me and entertained me throughout. Recommended. 4.5 stars.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio for a chance to listen/read an ARC version of this audio book. All opinions are my own.

[Kyreadsthrillers · Rating 5 out of 5]

After Image by Jaime DeBlanc is a must-read 👏🏽 From the first page, the gripping plot pulls you in with unexpected twists and well-crafted characters, each hiding their own secrets. If you want a mind-bending thriller that keeps you hooked until the end, this one is five stars all the way!

Synopsis-

Four years ago, beautiful yet troubled Allie Andersen vanished without a trace. The twenty-one-year-old daughter of an acclaimed actress, her disappearance captivated the media, left her family distraught, and became a fixation for online theorists, who implicated everybody Allie knew and loved. Everyone, including her devoted stepsister, Natasha.

Now, Natasha is finally trying to move on. The panic attacks and episodes of hysterical blindness she has suffered since her stepsister’s disappearance have diminished, and she no longer obsesses over the speculations of strangers. Until the remains of a young woman’s body are discovered in a lonely mountain canyon.

As Natasha reconnects with the sympathetic Detective Ruiz, inexplicable pieces of evidence surface that open her eyes to a family she thought she knew. It seems that everyone in Allie’s life had a credible motive for wanting Allie to vanish. Following each new clue, Natasha is determined to finally find the truth, wherever it leads, and whatever the cost.

This one is out now!

[Amanda Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is more of a 4✨ book but finding out this was a debut novel it HAD to given extra credit. This was phenomenal for a new author. It had all the elements that make up a good mystery/ thriller book. The pace was consistent, there wasn’t any dragging and the plot was realistic. I’m not a fan when authors gaslight you throughout the book to make the ending over the top. (To me that’s cheating and lack of creativity, I know I know. That’s harsh but it is what it is.) I also didn’t see it ending the way it did- well not 100%. I definitely didn’t see the players that were involved being the one and the character development was great too. Truly amazing for a new author. I felt like I knew exactly who Alli was and the same with who Natasha was.


Truly the more I think about this book from the perspective of this being a debut novel I am seriously more impressed with all the little details that make up the book for what it is. Congratulations and well DONE, JAMIE! I can’t wait to see what you give us next!

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Allie Andersen was the daughter of a famous actress. She was a troubled teen sent to live with her father, his new wife, and her daughter after a failed stint in rehab. Allie and Natasha hit it off immediately. The stepsisters were best friends until Allie vanished one night while the girls were in college. 4 years later and no closer to finding out what happened to Allie, Natasha is having a hard time coping with the loss of her sister. Nothing makes sense and the more she digs into Allie’s final months, the more she realizes she didn’t know her at all.

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up. The story is told in the past and present POV of Natasha. Overall it was interesting and engaging. I guessed one big twist pretty early on and had the other figured out well before it was announced. That’s okay though, I still had fun reading it.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

This was a really good thriller! 4 years ago, Tasha’s stepsister Allie disappeared. Allie was the daughter of a famous actress and famous author, who had a history of addiction, lying, and extreme behavior. Tasha is the only person who never moved on from the tragedy. She finds a belonging of Allie’s, which triggers her own investigation into the disappearance. Turns out that Tasha didn’t know her sister as well as she thought and Allie had a lot of secrets.

I’m giving the author a lot of credit here because I had no clue this was a debut novel! I never would have guessed because it was so smart and well paced. Some people said that it got slow at times, which I will sort of agree with, but I didn’t mind it. I think my issue with this book was Allie herself. The whole book is centered on her and while she definitely had her reasons for things, I was so frustrated with her selfishness and her manipulations. And every character in the book seems to have negative things to say about Tasha in part because of what Allie said and did when she did nothing to deserve it. Allie’s manipulations continue until the very last page and by that time, I was just over her.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent debut novel. This thriller switches between the past and present. With a wide cast of characters, it seems any one could be the killer. Each has a motive and circumstantial evidence…but does that make them guilty? The author held a really taut line of tension that kept me engaged. Highly recommend this book.

[Kori · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5. I got pretty frustrated with this one. Lots of twists and turns but written at a snails pace. Very detailed, maybe too much so. The main character was absolutely flat. I pictured her deadpan through the whole story. Never smiling or frowning or crying or laughing. And as for the missing step sister, I regretfully loved her spoiled rotten toxic character. At least she kept this story interesting. And for a dark and nefarious storyline, the ending was disappointingly predictable. The first half was a four star and the second half was a three.

[Amanda Huffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would have loved more to the ending, but this book was GREAT. The twists were somewhat predictable, but a few got me. Can’t believe this was a debut novel. Hopefully we get more from this author asap!

[Nicole Hancock · Rating 4 out of 5]

A woman’s stepsister disappeared and the search for answers continues. Our main character also gets episodes where she randomly goes blind? Sometimes felt a bit “been there, done that,” but also had some compelling turns that kept me guessing.

[Susan Duttry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Natasha’s stepsister, Allie, suddenly disappeared four years ago and Natasha still struggles with the feeling that she should have done more to find her. With that thought in mind, Natasha reconnects with Detective Ruiz hoping that they can find more information on what happened to Allie. Natasha stumbles upon the top of a thumb drive left in one of her coat pockets lying in her doorway to her apartment. It resembles a thumb drive that Allie use to use, the head of a Panda Bear, but the bottom half is missing. Who left this clue and what information was on it? Natasha is more determined now to find Allie, but will it cost her more than she can bare.

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5🤯

[Crystle McClaugherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5- devoured this

[Nadine McLeod · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyable read. Quick short chapters that keep you guessing.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite good overall - all the twists that you want. The narrative gets a little annoying in the middle but it quickly resolves into moving plot. Worth the quick read.

[Sue Nicholson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was a really good read. Enjoyed it from the first page to the last