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The Vanishing Place
One girl escaped. But the forest took another...
A young girl wanders into the small town of Koraha, her hands stained with blood. She won't speak, but her path is tracked through New Zealand's unforgiving wilderness to a cabin - and the scene of a double murder.
The townsfolk know this cabin; it has a violent history. Twenty years ago, another girl was forced to flee, leaving her siblings and father behind. But now that her family's secrets have led to more victims, Effie has no choice but to return to the bush and face the truth of what happened there... and why she ran.
Flooded with atmosphere and full of twists, The Vanishing Place is perfect for readers of Lucy Clarke and Sarah Pearse.
A young girl wanders into the small town of Koraha, her hands stained with blood. She won't speak, but her path is tracked through New Zealand's unforgiving wilderness to a cabin - and the scene of a double murder.
The townsfolk know this cabin; it has a violent history. Twenty years ago, another girl was forced to flee, leaving her siblings and father behind. But now that her family's secrets have led to more victims, Effie has no choice but to return to the bush and face the truth of what happened there... and why she ran.
Flooded with atmosphere and full of twists, The Vanishing Place is perfect for readers of Lucy Clarke and Sarah Pearse.
383 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 16, 2025
262 people are currently reading
18048 people want to read
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June 24, 2025Honestly the title and the description made me think I’ve seen this on Netflix already? Lol. I came up empty in my search though.
Sounds like a great thriller with early reviews full of praise. Can’t wait to get started on this one.
Tyler at Berkley - thank you for always booking me up. All thoughts are my own. 💖💐
Expected Pub Date - 9/16/25
Sounds like a great thriller with early reviews full of praise. Can’t wait to get started on this one.
Tyler at Berkley - thank you for always booking me up. All thoughts are my own. 💖💐
Expected Pub Date - 9/16/25
September 2, 2025
Gripping and mysterious, The Vanishing Place takes readers deep in the New Zealand Bush, a place where Effie grew up and swore to never return! I loved the setting, the atmosphere, the tension, and the unease that poured from this book. This is a fabulous debut novel which delivered and then some!
Effie and her siblings grew up in the bush of New Zealand. It wasn't always easy, it wasn't always pretty, it wasn't always safe. After she leaves, she swears to never return. Years later she gets a blast from the past in the form of a phone call informing her that a young girl, covered in grim and blood has walked out of the bush. The young girl named Anya, looks shockingly like Effie! Intrigued, Effie heads back looking for answers, but will she like what she learns???
Told in two timelines, The Vanishing Place was a dark, shocking, and addictive book which my full attention from the very first page. I didn't want to put this book down! Usually when there is more than one timeline, I enjoy one more than the other but not this time. This time, I enjoyed them both equally. Both were gripping and dark. This book looks at family, survival, love, trauma, violence, secrets, neglect, and relationships. I felt for Effie and her siblings in the past timeline while at the same time feeling for Effie and Anya in the present day.
Wonderfully written, well thought out, gripping, dark, and hard to put down! I can't wait to read what Zoe Rankin writes next!
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Effie and her siblings grew up in the bush of New Zealand. It wasn't always easy, it wasn't always pretty, it wasn't always safe. After she leaves, she swears to never return. Years later she gets a blast from the past in the form of a phone call informing her that a young girl, covered in grim and blood has walked out of the bush. The young girl named Anya, looks shockingly like Effie! Intrigued, Effie heads back looking for answers, but will she like what she learns???
Told in two timelines, The Vanishing Place was a dark, shocking, and addictive book which my full attention from the very first page. I didn't want to put this book down! Usually when there is more than one timeline, I enjoy one more than the other but not this time. This time, I enjoyed them both equally. Both were gripping and dark. This book looks at family, survival, love, trauma, violence, secrets, neglect, and relationships. I felt for Effie and her siblings in the past timeline while at the same time feeling for Effie and Anya in the present day.
Wonderfully written, well thought out, gripping, dark, and hard to put down! I can't wait to read what Zoe Rankin writes next!
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Read
September 22, 2025Update: DNFing at 36%… this got so many good reviews. I’m bored. There’s a bunch of kids living in the woods. Someone died I guess. And there’s a feral child that’s annoying. Sorry I can’t get into it.
Update: does anyone know what vegemite tastes like? Bc it looks like someone put sludge on toast
Update: possum feces 😭
Update:
The best thing about climbing up a mountain is that you don’t have to do it.
Pre read
A MURDER in NEW ZEALAND??? Sign me up besties
Update: does anyone know what vegemite tastes like? Bc it looks like someone put sludge on toast
Update: possum feces 😭
Update:
The best thing about climbing up a mountain is that you don’t have to do it.
Pre read
A MURDER in NEW ZEALAND??? Sign me up besties
September 4, 2025
I don’t understand why out of all the books in the world the author could’ve picked, she decided to have the character be reading HP. Considering how AWFUL JKR is, like come on pick another book
Beyond that, truly great read - 4.75 stars
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT6W28kAG/
Beyond that, truly great read - 4.75 stars
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT6W28kAG/
September 25, 2025
Dark, twisted, and truly disturbing, The Vanishing Place took me into the depths of the New Zealand bush and made me shiver with fear. From the toxic family dynamics to the sinister vibe towards the end, I couldn’t put the book down and flew through the pages in under twenty-four hours. You see, about 75% of the way through, there was a big, giant shift in the plot that took me out at the knees. A twist that I never saw coming, it filled me with dread while the storyline revealed even more layers, which took this tale of slow burn domestic suspense and ratcheted it up to a whole other level. Centering around abuse, neglect, heartbreak, and tragedy, I felt all of the feels in this emotionally resonant story that was somehow both plot and character-driven at the same time.
My only real issue with this book was the need to suspend all disbelief. Well, that and the deliberate mysteriousness around a couple of the characters. That being said, the last one definitely kept me hooked on this novel. An evocatively written mystery that challenged all of my preconceived perceptions, this complex maze of secrets was far from what I was expecting before I began reading. From the intricately interwoven multiple plot lines that traversed four decades in the blink of an eye, it was an originally told saga that was as poignant and thought-provoking as it was chilling. All said and done, with a vividly atmospheric setting and plenty of emotional depth, this story of survival is one debut that you definitely won’t want to miss reading. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Growing up with her younger siblings in the unforgiving New Zealand bush, Effie believed their parents had cut them off from civilization because they loved Nature. She never suspected that their reasons might be more menacing. After witnessing a terrifying episode of violence, she escaped the wilderness to forge a life for herself halfway across the globe.
Now, when she learns the only witness to a murder is a little girl who looks just like her, Effie is compelled to return to the scene of her troubled childhood, where the secrets of her upbringing and the terrors of her past come rushing back to the surface. In order to find out once and for all what became of her family—and possibly help this mysterious girl who could be her younger self—Effie must face her greatest fears once more.
Thank you to Zöe Rankin, Berkley Publishing, and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: September 16, 2025
Content warning: maternal death, child abuse, tetanus, child death, violence, murder, forced captivity, cult, pregnancy, gun violence
My only real issue with this book was the need to suspend all disbelief. Well, that and the deliberate mysteriousness around a couple of the characters. That being said, the last one definitely kept me hooked on this novel. An evocatively written mystery that challenged all of my preconceived perceptions, this complex maze of secrets was far from what I was expecting before I began reading. From the intricately interwoven multiple plot lines that traversed four decades in the blink of an eye, it was an originally told saga that was as poignant and thought-provoking as it was chilling. All said and done, with a vividly atmospheric setting and plenty of emotional depth, this story of survival is one debut that you definitely won’t want to miss reading. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Growing up with her younger siblings in the unforgiving New Zealand bush, Effie believed their parents had cut them off from civilization because they loved Nature. She never suspected that their reasons might be more menacing. After witnessing a terrifying episode of violence, she escaped the wilderness to forge a life for herself halfway across the globe.
Now, when she learns the only witness to a murder is a little girl who looks just like her, Effie is compelled to return to the scene of her troubled childhood, where the secrets of her upbringing and the terrors of her past come rushing back to the surface. In order to find out once and for all what became of her family—and possibly help this mysterious girl who could be her younger self—Effie must face her greatest fears once more.
Thank you to Zöe Rankin, Berkley Publishing, and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: September 16, 2025
Content warning: maternal death, child abuse, tetanus, child death, violence, murder, forced captivity, cult, pregnancy, gun violence
September 11, 2025
“This place will kill you, no-one ever leaves here.....he’s made sure of that. This is the vanishing place”.
Wow, where do I start? This book had me gripped from the start, and didn’t let me go until the last page. I was fully absorbed in it.
It centres around Effie, her sister Tia, brother Aiden and newborn brother Four (because he’s the fourth born). Effie is the eldest at 8 years old. They live with their parents deep in the New Zealand bush, living off grid, with nothing much of anything, and certainly no luxuries. Life is hard, the mother is absent after Four is born, the father leaves for long periods of time, which means that Effie has to try and keep herself and her siblings alive. There is violence, neglect and heartbreaking tragedy, with little outlook for improvement. There is some respite from the hardship by a kind lady called June and Effie’s friend Lewis.
When Effie is 15 she escapes the bush and makes a new life for herself in Scotland, it’s a good life, with good friends and she has tried to leave her dark past where it belongs. However, she gets a call saying that a girl, a spitting image of herself as a child, has walked out of the bush. So Effie goes back, 17 years after she left, to a place she swore she would never return.
What does she find when she returns? Well you’ll need to read the book to find out, but what I will tell you is that the journey is a rollercoaster, what I thought was going to be a simple domestic thriller, had way more layers than that. I did get slightly confused about 3/4s of the way through the book when new characters got thrown into the mix, but stick with it, because the pay-off is definitely worth it, and it all becomes clear. The book gave me all the feels, happy, sad, tense, surprised, angry, shocked and hopeful. I understand that this is a debut novel for the author, and what a solid debut it is. I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy in exchange for my honest feedback. Publication date is 23rd October!
Wow, where do I start? This book had me gripped from the start, and didn’t let me go until the last page. I was fully absorbed in it.
It centres around Effie, her sister Tia, brother Aiden and newborn brother Four (because he’s the fourth born). Effie is the eldest at 8 years old. They live with their parents deep in the New Zealand bush, living off grid, with nothing much of anything, and certainly no luxuries. Life is hard, the mother is absent after Four is born, the father leaves for long periods of time, which means that Effie has to try and keep herself and her siblings alive. There is violence, neglect and heartbreaking tragedy, with little outlook for improvement. There is some respite from the hardship by a kind lady called June and Effie’s friend Lewis.
When Effie is 15 she escapes the bush and makes a new life for herself in Scotland, it’s a good life, with good friends and she has tried to leave her dark past where it belongs. However, she gets a call saying that a girl, a spitting image of herself as a child, has walked out of the bush. So Effie goes back, 17 years after she left, to a place she swore she would never return.
What does she find when she returns? Well you’ll need to read the book to find out, but what I will tell you is that the journey is a rollercoaster, what I thought was going to be a simple domestic thriller, had way more layers than that. I did get slightly confused about 3/4s of the way through the book when new characters got thrown into the mix, but stick with it, because the pay-off is definitely worth it, and it all becomes clear. The book gave me all the feels, happy, sad, tense, surprised, angry, shocked and hopeful. I understand that this is a debut novel for the author, and what a solid debut it is. I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy in exchange for my honest feedback. Publication date is 23rd October!
August 13, 2025
4.5. A great opening prologue drew me immediately in to the book. A bedraggled bloodied young girl walks into a grocery store and speaks her name only. Then goes completely mute. She won’t tell anyone who she is or where she’s from out of huge fear. She has come from deep in the Bush of New Zealand.
Then the chapters begin in alternating timelines 20 years apart and seriously the first couple are crazy good. Told with the darkness and secrecy of the past juxtaposed with the storyline of the present, it flowed back and forth seamlessly.
This book was so different that I really liked it. Police officers investigating a girl who escapes the Bush which brings back the original girl who escaped from the Bush 20 years earlier. Filled with horrible traumas and yet interspersed with deep love made this book one that will likely stay with me for a while. What an excellent debut published novel. I can’t wait to see her next book.
My only negative is that there are a lot of characters toward the end that I had to pay close attention to who was whom. The ending seemed almost too fast.
Thank you to NetGalley, Zoe Rankin and Berkley Publishing Group for the e-Arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
Then the chapters begin in alternating timelines 20 years apart and seriously the first couple are crazy good. Told with the darkness and secrecy of the past juxtaposed with the storyline of the present, it flowed back and forth seamlessly.
This book was so different that I really liked it. Police officers investigating a girl who escapes the Bush which brings back the original girl who escaped from the Bush 20 years earlier. Filled with horrible traumas and yet interspersed with deep love made this book one that will likely stay with me for a while. What an excellent debut published novel. I can’t wait to see her next book.
My only negative is that there are a lot of characters toward the end that I had to pay close attention to who was whom. The ending seemed almost too fast.
Thank you to NetGalley, Zoe Rankin and Berkley Publishing Group for the e-Arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
November 26, 2025
This started out really strong, but I felt it started waning a little after halfway. Told mostly in Effie’s POV, we go back and forth between present day, where a young girl comes out of the bush muddied and injured, and the past, when Effie lived with her family off the grid in the New Zealand bush. I found myself needing answers of who the little girl was, where did she come from, and what happened, while also engrossed in Effie’s past so far from civilization. I was a bit underwhelmed by the ending and felt the additional POV added in the later parts was unnecessary, but overall a solid debut.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
August 22, 2025
Zoe Rankin's debut thriller, THE VANISHING PLACE, was a highly anticipated thriller for me and with a blurb by Lisa Gardner, you know I had to prioritize this one!
A brutal murder in the wilds of New Zealand forces Effie to confront the place she once vowed never to see again. As a child, she and her siblings believed their parents kept them hidden in the bush out of love for the land. Only later would she realize the truth was far darker. Years after fleeing, Effie learns of a young girl who looks hauntingly like her and who witnessed the killing. Drawn back against her will, she must face the shadows of her past and the wilderness that shaped her. The search for answers will reveal secrets about her family—and herself—that she never expected.
Told in dual timelines two decades apart, the story grips from its chilling prologue and never lets go. Zoe Rankin blends atmosphere, trauma, and love into a haunting narrative of survival. The first half of the book is a bit slower than I would have liked it to be, but it does set the stage for what exactly is happening, with both timelines strongly correlating together. This book has trigger warnings for child abuse, so please be mindful when picking this up. The second half moves extremely fast, which kind of gave me whiplash, but ties everything together. I did kind of expect what was going to happen, but I still enjoyed seeing it play out. While the ending brings a rush of characters and a quick resolution, this debut leaves a lasting mark. Rankin is making her mark in the thriller realm of fiction authors with THE VANISHING PLACE.
A brutal murder in the wilds of New Zealand forces Effie to confront the place she once vowed never to see again. As a child, she and her siblings believed their parents kept them hidden in the bush out of love for the land. Only later would she realize the truth was far darker. Years after fleeing, Effie learns of a young girl who looks hauntingly like her and who witnessed the killing. Drawn back against her will, she must face the shadows of her past and the wilderness that shaped her. The search for answers will reveal secrets about her family—and herself—that she never expected.
Told in dual timelines two decades apart, the story grips from its chilling prologue and never lets go. Zoe Rankin blends atmosphere, trauma, and love into a haunting narrative of survival. The first half of the book is a bit slower than I would have liked it to be, but it does set the stage for what exactly is happening, with both timelines strongly correlating together. This book has trigger warnings for child abuse, so please be mindful when picking this up. The second half moves extremely fast, which kind of gave me whiplash, but ties everything together. I did kind of expect what was going to happen, but I still enjoyed seeing it play out. While the ending brings a rush of characters and a quick resolution, this debut leaves a lasting mark. Rankin is making her mark in the thriller realm of fiction authors with THE VANISHING PLACE.
September 29, 2025
"The route was ingrained in her. Every land marker. Every bend in the river. As the oldest child, she had the bush etched into her skin -- Dad had made sure of that."
It's been seventeen years since Effie walked out of the bush leaving behind her family and she hasn't gone back, until now. A young girl who looks just like Effie has emerged from the bush. She won't speak and appears traumatized. Who is she and what happened to her? Effie is certain they must be related and returns to face her past.
Although the story has thriller elements, it reads as literary to me, with a mixture of family drama, a love story and a slow burn mystery. Make that TWO mysteries, in two timelines, decades apart. Both timelines are told from Effie's point of view, as a child in the past and as an adult in the present. One of the most compelling aspects of the story is Effie's world view as she ages from a young child into her teen years in a coming of age arc. Zoe Rankin's writing is lush and vivid, bringing the bush to life in such a way that it's a living, breathing entity. Overall the pacing ebbs and flows, as does the tension, but the unease and sense of foreboding never quite disappears. The ending creeps up a little too quickly, but is satisfying nonetheless tying together many threads including a surprising change in perspective that occurs!
I alternated between the physical book and the audiobook, but with Eva Seymour's stunning narration, I found myself gravitating more to the audio. Her New Zealand accent, along with an emotional and riveting performance made for a more immersive experience. Gareth Reeves' performance was eerie in its own right, but I can't say more without spoilers!
THE VANISHING PLACE is wildly atmospheric, enthralling and haunting. Rankin delves into tough themes of childhood abuse and trauma, family bonds, the depths of love and living with tragedy. The suspenseful dark and disturbing events, will keep you invested and seep into your bones like the quiet on a still dark night. Don't miss this taut and thrilling debut!
____
Thank you Berkley Publishing and Random House Audio for my gifted copies. All opinions are my own.
It's been seventeen years since Effie walked out of the bush leaving behind her family and she hasn't gone back, until now. A young girl who looks just like Effie has emerged from the bush. She won't speak and appears traumatized. Who is she and what happened to her? Effie is certain they must be related and returns to face her past.
Although the story has thriller elements, it reads as literary to me, with a mixture of family drama, a love story and a slow burn mystery. Make that TWO mysteries, in two timelines, decades apart. Both timelines are told from Effie's point of view, as a child in the past and as an adult in the present. One of the most compelling aspects of the story is Effie's world view as she ages from a young child into her teen years in a coming of age arc. Zoe Rankin's writing is lush and vivid, bringing the bush to life in such a way that it's a living, breathing entity. Overall the pacing ebbs and flows, as does the tension, but the unease and sense of foreboding never quite disappears. The ending creeps up a little too quickly, but is satisfying nonetheless tying together many threads including a surprising change in perspective that occurs!
I alternated between the physical book and the audiobook, but with Eva Seymour's stunning narration, I found myself gravitating more to the audio. Her New Zealand accent, along with an emotional and riveting performance made for a more immersive experience. Gareth Reeves' performance was eerie in its own right, but I can't say more without spoilers!
THE VANISHING PLACE is wildly atmospheric, enthralling and haunting. Rankin delves into tough themes of childhood abuse and trauma, family bonds, the depths of love and living with tragedy. The suspenseful dark and disturbing events, will keep you invested and seep into your bones like the quiet on a still dark night. Don't miss this taut and thrilling debut!
____
Thank you Berkley Publishing and Random House Audio for my gifted copies. All opinions are my own.
September 20, 2025
The Vanishing Place is an incredible debut. It completely immerses you in the New Zealand bush. The narration is absoluty superb, I felt transported to the other side of the world.
The writing was well done and I loved the multiple timelines. The ending literally gave me chills. I didn't see that coming 😱
The writing was well done and I loved the multiple timelines. The ending literally gave me chills. I didn't see that coming 😱
October 2, 2025
I think this book might have been written especially for me. No kidding. I gathered from the blurb that it would probably be up my street but it was more than that, it was practically sitting down in my kitchen having a coffee with me.
I adore a good wilderness story, and it was the perfect base for this engrossing rollercoaster ride of a book, with its atmosphere, mystery and secrets galore. I didn’t feel it was particularly fast-paced nor extremely action-packed, yet it was absolutely thrilling. I was captivated from the start and it kept me guessing throughout. (For the record: most of those guesses proved to be wrong.)
Effie’s POV in a dual timeline worked perfectly. I often tend to prefer one timeline over another but both Effie’s past and present had me glued to the pages and I wanted to know it all.
I could waffle on but the long and the short of it is quite simple: I found The Vanishing Place a very impressive debut and Zoë Rankin is definitely one to watch! If you like your thrillers on the darker side and the wilderness speaks to you, go get yourself a copy of The Vanishing Place!
The Vanishing Place is out now in digital formats, audio and paperback.
Massive thanks to Viper Books and NetGalley for the DRC. All opinions are my own.
I adore a good wilderness story, and it was the perfect base for this engrossing rollercoaster ride of a book, with its atmosphere, mystery and secrets galore. I didn’t feel it was particularly fast-paced nor extremely action-packed, yet it was absolutely thrilling. I was captivated from the start and it kept me guessing throughout. (For the record: most of those guesses proved to be wrong.)
Effie’s POV in a dual timeline worked perfectly. I often tend to prefer one timeline over another but both Effie’s past and present had me glued to the pages and I wanted to know it all.
I could waffle on but the long and the short of it is quite simple: I found The Vanishing Place a very impressive debut and Zoë Rankin is definitely one to watch! If you like your thrillers on the darker side and the wilderness speaks to you, go get yourself a copy of The Vanishing Place!
The Vanishing Place is out now in digital formats, audio and paperback.
Massive thanks to Viper Books and NetGalley for the DRC. All opinions are my own.
November 11, 2025
"The Vanishing Place" opens with a haunting image: a blood-covered little girl emerging from the New Zealand bush, and a woman named Effie, long since escaped from her traumatic childhood in that same wilderness, being pulled back into the place she swore she’d never return to. From the very first chapters, the author sets up a world that is beautiful, raw and dangerous, layering in the mystery of what happened to Effie’s family and what this new girl might mean for her past.
The story weaves two timelines: the present-day investigation into the girl’s arrival and the lingering echoes of Effie’s childhood in the bush. Zoë Rankin uses the New Zealand wilderness almost as a character itself: the isolation, the trees, the hidden places all contribute to the sense of dread and the unknown.
Effie’s return forces her to confront not just the cold case of the missing girl, but how her own survival shaped the stories she told herself. The juxtaposition of her adult life and the harshness of her upbringing gives emotional weight beyond the standard thriller beats. The reveals are paced well: you get clues, you get misdirection, and the tension builds steadily until the final stretch.
Overall, "The Vanishing Place" is a gripping, atmospheric thriller that blends survival, family trauma and mystery in a vivid setting.
The story weaves two timelines: the present-day investigation into the girl’s arrival and the lingering echoes of Effie’s childhood in the bush. Zoë Rankin uses the New Zealand wilderness almost as a character itself: the isolation, the trees, the hidden places all contribute to the sense of dread and the unknown.
Effie’s return forces her to confront not just the cold case of the missing girl, but how her own survival shaped the stories she told herself. The juxtaposition of her adult life and the harshness of her upbringing gives emotional weight beyond the standard thriller beats. The reveals are paced well: you get clues, you get misdirection, and the tension builds steadily until the final stretch.
Overall, "The Vanishing Place" is a gripping, atmospheric thriller that blends survival, family trauma and mystery in a vivid setting.
September 23, 2025
The Vanishing Place
by Zoe Rankin
An impossible-to-put-down, haunting debut
An impressive, atmospheric thriller debut that pulled me in right from the start. Effie, a police officer on the Isle of Skye, is called back to New Zealand when a blood-covered girl—who looks eerily like her—is found in a store.
Effie had sworn she’d never return to the bush, but this girl may hold the key to long-buried family secrets. The author does an excellent job of immersing us in the haunting setting of the New Zealand bush. The story has a slightly cult-like vibe, especially with how the bush-people are portrayed, which added to the tension and mystery.
Themes of family, love, loyalty, and survival. A solid debut—I’ll definitely be watching for what Zoe Rankin writes next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the e-ARC
by Zoe Rankin
An impossible-to-put-down, haunting debut
An impressive, atmospheric thriller debut that pulled me in right from the start. Effie, a police officer on the Isle of Skye, is called back to New Zealand when a blood-covered girl—who looks eerily like her—is found in a store.
Effie had sworn she’d never return to the bush, but this girl may hold the key to long-buried family secrets. The author does an excellent job of immersing us in the haunting setting of the New Zealand bush. The story has a slightly cult-like vibe, especially with how the bush-people are portrayed, which added to the tension and mystery.
Themes of family, love, loyalty, and survival. A solid debut—I’ll definitely be watching for what Zoe Rankin writes next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the e-ARC
dnf
September 7, 2025DNF 39%
I’m just so utterly bored and also confused. Someone asked me what I was reading and I had no idea what to tell them.
Me: ‘Uhhh, a girl came out of a bush?’
What is this book even about? I don’t know and I don’t care to find out anymore.
I’m just so utterly bored and also confused. Someone asked me what I was reading and I had no idea what to tell them.
Me: ‘Uhhh, a girl came out of a bush?’
What is this book even about? I don’t know and I don’t care to find out anymore.
October 14, 2025
I could not puzzle out what in the world was going to happen with this story. From the intense beginning, to the flashbacks of the past, multiple people and families with mysterious connections…
The settings really enhance the plot, from Scotland to New Zealand, I was there with the characters for each moment. I loved the isolation of the bush, and seeing how the kids spent their days; the struggles and joys.
I know this won’t be everyone’s flavour of book, but I personally loved it! I encourage you to give it a go if you like adventure thrillers, tales of survival, and murderous mysteries.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Berkeley Publishing Group for a copy!
The settings really enhance the plot, from Scotland to New Zealand, I was there with the characters for each moment. I loved the isolation of the bush, and seeing how the kids spent their days; the struggles and joys.
I know this won’t be everyone’s flavour of book, but I personally loved it! I encourage you to give it a go if you like adventure thrillers, tales of survival, and murderous mysteries.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Berkeley Publishing Group for a copy!
July 9, 2025
* thanks to Berkley for the NetGalley review copy! (Pub date: September 16, 2025)
Review TK but *WOW* this was good!
Review TK but *WOW* this was good!
November 24, 2025
Effie grew up deep in the New Zealand bush with her family, only visiting the nearby town on rare occasions. But something happened in her teens that sent her running to Scotland, where she remained for the next two decades. When an old friend calls to say a young girl—who looks uncannily like Effie—has turned up in town, covered in blood and seemingly straight out of the bush, Effie knows it’s time to return home.
I’ll be honest: it took me a little while to settle into this book. I struggled to connect with Effie at first and I didn’t really care about the characters early on. I even considered putting it down around the 25–30% mark. But I’m so glad I didn’t, because from about halfway onwards I absolutely couldn’t put it down.
The setting was beautiful and atmospheric It gave me Where the Crawdads Sing vibes—just transplanted to the NZ bush instead of the marshlands. Some of the New Zealand plant names and local terms were unfamiliar to me, but they added to the authenticity.
I really enjoyed the dual timelines, and the story kept me guessing with plenty of twists and turns. The romance and family elements also gave me all the feels and added warmth to the darker parts of the plot.
A gripping and emotional, read once it gets going.
4.5 stars. Would definitely recommend.
I’ll be honest: it took me a little while to settle into this book. I struggled to connect with Effie at first and I didn’t really care about the characters early on. I even considered putting it down around the 25–30% mark. But I’m so glad I didn’t, because from about halfway onwards I absolutely couldn’t put it down.
The setting was beautiful and atmospheric It gave me Where the Crawdads Sing vibes—just transplanted to the NZ bush instead of the marshlands. Some of the New Zealand plant names and local terms were unfamiliar to me, but they added to the authenticity.
I really enjoyed the dual timelines, and the story kept me guessing with plenty of twists and turns. The romance and family elements also gave me all the feels and added warmth to the darker parts of the plot.
A gripping and emotional, read once it gets going.
4.5 stars. Would definitely recommend.
June 27, 2025
Zoë Rankin's The Vanishing Place is an absolute triumph, a masterful blend of atmospheric suspense and deeply human emotion that will keep you utterly captivated from the very first page. Rankin crafts a narrative so intricate and compelling, it feels less like reading and more like breathing the same air as her unforgettable characters.
Every twist and turn is handled with exquisite precision, pulling you deeper into a labyrinth of secrets without ever revealing too much too soon. The prose is beautiful, evocative, and perfectly sets a tone that is both haunting and hopeful. This isn't just a mystery; it's an exploration of resilience, memory, and the unseen ties that bind us.
If you're looking for a book that will grip your heart, challenge your perceptions, and leave you pondering long after you've turned the final page, look no further. The Vanishing Place is a truly exceptional read that deserves every bit of its five stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Every twist and turn is handled with exquisite precision, pulling you deeper into a labyrinth of secrets without ever revealing too much too soon. The prose is beautiful, evocative, and perfectly sets a tone that is both haunting and hopeful. This isn't just a mystery; it's an exploration of resilience, memory, and the unseen ties that bind us.
If you're looking for a book that will grip your heart, challenge your perceptions, and leave you pondering long after you've turned the final page, look no further. The Vanishing Place is a truly exceptional read that deserves every bit of its five stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 14, 2025
2.5
Now do I think this was a bad book? No - I just think it wasn’t for me.
I think the constant back and forth between timelines was meant to not only build tension but provide back story. For me, it became a bit much. Towards the end I really just wanted the story to finish in the current timeline but we were still going back and forth because even more backstory was needed. I think if the book was a little shorter it would benefit from that honestly.
Now specifically regarding story points in the book (non spoiler style)…
- Characters not fully communicating their reasoning in order for a specific storyline to happen was…frustrating for me.
- The young female MC being upset with a guy BECAUSE HE WAS A GENTLEMAN was wild to me.
- The use of religion as a means of control was annoying but a female character near the end came in with the actual truth so…if you think you’ll stop reading because of that, hold on lol
Towards the end, I think the author maybe wanted us to feel the time passing slowly while the female MC experienced her struggle but I think that could have been cut down for a bit imo.
I think this book is for readers who like a slow burn mystery that is not necessarily cozy or a thriller but right in the middle. If you prefer fast paced or cozy, level expectations 🙂
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this ARC 🙌🏽
TW: strong language, dark themes, abuse (physical, mental, alcohol), child harm
Now do I think this was a bad book? No - I just think it wasn’t for me.
I think the constant back and forth between timelines was meant to not only build tension but provide back story. For me, it became a bit much. Towards the end I really just wanted the story to finish in the current timeline but we were still going back and forth because even more backstory was needed. I think if the book was a little shorter it would benefit from that honestly.
Now specifically regarding story points in the book (non spoiler style)…
- Characters not fully communicating their reasoning in order for a specific storyline to happen was…frustrating for me.
- The young female MC being upset with a guy BECAUSE HE WAS A GENTLEMAN was wild to me.
- The use of religion as a means of control was annoying but a female character near the end came in with the actual truth so…if you think you’ll stop reading because of that, hold on lol
Towards the end, I think the author maybe wanted us to feel the time passing slowly while the female MC experienced her struggle but I think that could have been cut down for a bit imo.
I think this book is for readers who like a slow burn mystery that is not necessarily cozy or a thriller but right in the middle. If you prefer fast paced or cozy, level expectations 🙂
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this ARC 🙌🏽
TW: strong language, dark themes, abuse (physical, mental, alcohol), child harm
October 2, 2025
The blurb:
A young girl wanders into the small town of Koraha, her hands stained with blood. She won't speak, but her path is tracked through New Zealand's unforgiving wilderness to a cabin - and the scene of a double murder.
The townsfolk know this cabin; it has a violent history. Twenty years ago, another girl was forced to flee, leaving her siblings and father behind. But now that her family's secrets have led to more victims, Effie has no choice but to return to the bush and face the truth of what happened there... and why she ran.
My thoughts:
Wow, what an incredible debut. The storytelling was great, and was such a suspenseful, creepy atmospheric read.
The storytelling is told across multiple timelines from Effie’s point of view until about 3/4 through when we hear from an alternate pov and timeline.
The mystery and suspense builds and as the story unfolds it was shocking to understand what the vanishing place meant.
This is a book I’d highly recommend picking up, eerie and mysterious.
Thank you so much to Viper books for the advance copy to read. Opinions expressed here are my own.
A young girl wanders into the small town of Koraha, her hands stained with blood. She won't speak, but her path is tracked through New Zealand's unforgiving wilderness to a cabin - and the scene of a double murder.
The townsfolk know this cabin; it has a violent history. Twenty years ago, another girl was forced to flee, leaving her siblings and father behind. But now that her family's secrets have led to more victims, Effie has no choice but to return to the bush and face the truth of what happened there... and why she ran.
My thoughts:
Wow, what an incredible debut. The storytelling was great, and was such a suspenseful, creepy atmospheric read.
The storytelling is told across multiple timelines from Effie’s point of view until about 3/4 through when we hear from an alternate pov and timeline.
The mystery and suspense builds and as the story unfolds it was shocking to understand what the vanishing place meant.
This is a book I’d highly recommend picking up, eerie and mysterious.
Thank you so much to Viper books for the advance copy to read. Opinions expressed here are my own.
September 19, 2025
3.5 Stars
Effie grew up in the New Zealand bush, off-the-grid with her family, but left seventeen years ago cutting ties with her family. Now a police officer in Scotland, her old best friend, Lewis, summons her back when a young girl who looks like Effie shows up covered in blood. This child is clearly related in some way to Effie and has witnessed something terrible but won’t speak. Effie must return and find out what’s become of her family.
Effie had an unusual upbringing living off-grid in the bush. Her history is doled out slowly with chapters alternating in the present and back in the past, starting with Effie as a nine-year-old. The chapters were short and left me eager for more info with each shift. Why was Effie’s family living in the bush and what happened to make her flee?
I found both the mystery of the past and present captivating but was a little lost around the 75% mark when several characters were introduced without context. The story goes off in a different direction at this point. Effie makes some impulsive choices in the present that I found hard to believe given that she’s a police officer. Parts dragged on in a bad situation, and then the last 5% was a rush of action and revelations. I will say I was happy with how it all worked out by the end.
Even though I had some mixed reactions to this mystery I thought The Vanishing Place was a promising debut, and I wouldn’t hesitate to pick up another book by Ms. Rankin in the future.
I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy courtesy of the publisher. These are my thoughts and opinions.
Effie grew up in the New Zealand bush, off-the-grid with her family, but left seventeen years ago cutting ties with her family. Now a police officer in Scotland, her old best friend, Lewis, summons her back when a young girl who looks like Effie shows up covered in blood. This child is clearly related in some way to Effie and has witnessed something terrible but won’t speak. Effie must return and find out what’s become of her family.
Effie had an unusual upbringing living off-grid in the bush. Her history is doled out slowly with chapters alternating in the present and back in the past, starting with Effie as a nine-year-old. The chapters were short and left me eager for more info with each shift. Why was Effie’s family living in the bush and what happened to make her flee?
I found both the mystery of the past and present captivating but was a little lost around the 75% mark when several characters were introduced without context. The story goes off in a different direction at this point. Effie makes some impulsive choices in the present that I found hard to believe given that she’s a police officer. Parts dragged on in a bad situation, and then the last 5% was a rush of action and revelations. I will say I was happy with how it all worked out by the end.
Even though I had some mixed reactions to this mystery I thought The Vanishing Place was a promising debut, and I wouldn’t hesitate to pick up another book by Ms. Rankin in the future.
I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy courtesy of the publisher. These are my thoughts and opinions.
November 1, 2025
Brilliant! I really enjoyed this book. Looking forward to seeing what Zoe Rankin writes next.
August 8, 2025
Ok but this was FANTASTIC!!! It’s the kind of book that grabs hold and steals sleep from you and leaves you with chills when you’re finished. The setting is SUBLIME!!! The twists are jaw dropping. The vibes are EPIC!! 10/10 would read again. If you love a thriller read it asap!!
July 26, 2025
Fantastic debut thriller! Zoe Rankin’s writing takes you to the dense wilderness of New Zealand and into the lives of these broken characters. It’s a survival story, a story of a religious cult, and those that got away. Highly recommend this one.
December 10, 2025
Full review to follow
Atmospheric, creepy and thrilling
Atmospheric, creepy and thrilling
June 25, 2025
✨ The Vanishing Place by Zoë Rankin ✨
⭐️ 4.5 stars
📚 Huge thanks to NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review!
⸻
Tropes & Themes:
🌲 Isolated wilderness survival
🧍♀️ Haunted past
🧬 Family trauma & secrets
👁️ A child witness who mirrors the protagonist
⏳ Returning to the scene of the past
🌀 Unraveling memory
⸻
This debut wrecked me in the best way. Set deep in the New Zealand bush, The Vanishing Place is a chilling, emotional thriller about a woman forced to confront her darkest memories when a murder and a girl who looks just like her pulls her back to the childhood she escaped.
Effie is such a layered and compelling main character. You feel her fear, her guilt, her strength. The wilderness setting was so vivid it almost felt like a character of its own; raw, wild, and claustrophobic. As the mystery deepens, you’re right there with her, questioning everything and holding your breath through each reveal 😮💨
Zoë Rankin’s writing is beautifully tense, lyrical but sharp, and full of this quiet dread that builds until it explodes. I especially loved how she weaved together past and present, trauma and healing. The emotional payoff at the end hit.
⸻
Final Thoughts:
If you’re into psychological thrillers with heart, complicated family dynamics, and a strong sense of place, The Vanishing Place is so worth picking up. It’s gripping, eerie, and genuinely powerful. Can’t wait to see what Zoë Rankin writes next 🖤🌿
⭐️ 4.5 stars
📚 Huge thanks to NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review!
⸻
Tropes & Themes:
🌲 Isolated wilderness survival
🧍♀️ Haunted past
🧬 Family trauma & secrets
👁️ A child witness who mirrors the protagonist
⏳ Returning to the scene of the past
🌀 Unraveling memory
⸻
This debut wrecked me in the best way. Set deep in the New Zealand bush, The Vanishing Place is a chilling, emotional thriller about a woman forced to confront her darkest memories when a murder and a girl who looks just like her pulls her back to the childhood she escaped.
Effie is such a layered and compelling main character. You feel her fear, her guilt, her strength. The wilderness setting was so vivid it almost felt like a character of its own; raw, wild, and claustrophobic. As the mystery deepens, you’re right there with her, questioning everything and holding your breath through each reveal 😮💨
Zoë Rankin’s writing is beautifully tense, lyrical but sharp, and full of this quiet dread that builds until it explodes. I especially loved how she weaved together past and present, trauma and healing. The emotional payoff at the end hit.
⸻
Final Thoughts:
If you’re into psychological thrillers with heart, complicated family dynamics, and a strong sense of place, The Vanishing Place is so worth picking up. It’s gripping, eerie, and genuinely powerful. Can’t wait to see what Zoë Rankin writes next 🖤🌿
August 24, 2025
"This is the vanishing place."
This is a dark, twisted tale. It's full of family love but also mistakes, living off the grid, and fear of the outside world.
Effie got out years ago. Now she's a park ranger/officer and she still enjoys the outdoors but she has her own life now, outside of the New Zealand bush and where she was raised. But a call shatters that all. A little girl with red hair and startling blue eyes has stumbled out of the bush just like she did, years ago. She is frightened, won't speak, and has signs of being held captive. Effie realizes it's time - she needs to come back and face her past and what happened to her.
This is a bit of a slow burn, to start. You go through a lot of flashbacks of Effie's life growing up, pretty well raising herself and her siblings, as well as being introduced to the outside world a few times to experience a little school and to make a lifelong friend.
But the flashbacks to now give more detail about this girl they have found and what Effie must face. There is a lot of violence and abuse involved and there were times this was a very tough read. I loved the messages from her friend, their adorable dog updates, and I absolutely loved June. This was a heartwarming, sad story that highlighted the absolutely worst and best of family and those we choose to let into our worlds. It's a movie story that will stay with me.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
This is a dark, twisted tale. It's full of family love but also mistakes, living off the grid, and fear of the outside world.
Effie got out years ago. Now she's a park ranger/officer and she still enjoys the outdoors but she has her own life now, outside of the New Zealand bush and where she was raised. But a call shatters that all. A little girl with red hair and startling blue eyes has stumbled out of the bush just like she did, years ago. She is frightened, won't speak, and has signs of being held captive. Effie realizes it's time - she needs to come back and face her past and what happened to her.
This is a bit of a slow burn, to start. You go through a lot of flashbacks of Effie's life growing up, pretty well raising herself and her siblings, as well as being introduced to the outside world a few times to experience a little school and to make a lifelong friend.
But the flashbacks to now give more detail about this girl they have found and what Effie must face. There is a lot of violence and abuse involved and there were times this was a very tough read. I loved the messages from her friend, their adorable dog updates, and I absolutely loved June. This was a heartwarming, sad story that highlighted the absolutely worst and best of family and those we choose to let into our worlds. It's a movie story that will stay with me.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
September 11, 2025
I stayed up far too late reading this!
For any Kiwi reader, the parallels between what happened in NZ this week, and what's in the book, will be strangely eery. Of course the author couldn't have known what would happen, but the feel of the book certainly felt like the headlines in every newspaper - children in the bush, angry father, rifles, police. Which probably made the book hit hard.
I was not expecting the twists when they appeared. Well played Zoe!
100% recommend.
For any Kiwi reader, the parallels between what happened in NZ this week, and what's in the book, will be strangely eery. Of course the author couldn't have known what would happen, but the feel of the book certainly felt like the headlines in every newspaper - children in the bush, angry father, rifles, police. Which probably made the book hit hard.
I was not expecting the twists when they appeared. Well played Zoe!
100% recommend.
September 15, 2025
An astounding debut novel by a wonderful writer.
I found that I was engrossed immediately by the twists and hooks of the dual timeline and the mysterious backstory… right up until the timelines collided and then I became frustrated and confused.
The sudden introduction of new characters, in the last third of the book, and a new timeline, threw me and I found myself pulled from the page. Once the “reveals” started I found I was no longer able to willingly suspend disbelief. I needed a resolution that came sooner with less convoluted “are they dead or not?” obfuscations.
It has been interesting to read this novel in the same week that the media in NZ has been filled with headlines about a “fugitive” off grid bush family. Both the fiction and real world scenarios raise more questions than they answer. I didn’t quite buy into the reasons why Effie and Anya were subjected to all that they went through, and struggled with their complex relationships with men.
The writing is incredible, however the story just got too much for me.
I found that I was engrossed immediately by the twists and hooks of the dual timeline and the mysterious backstory… right up until the timelines collided and then I became frustrated and confused.
The sudden introduction of new characters, in the last third of the book, and a new timeline, threw me and I found myself pulled from the page. Once the “reveals” started I found I was no longer able to willingly suspend disbelief. I needed a resolution that came sooner with less convoluted “are they dead or not?” obfuscations.
It has been interesting to read this novel in the same week that the media in NZ has been filled with headlines about a “fugitive” off grid bush family. Both the fiction and real world scenarios raise more questions than they answer. I didn’t quite buy into the reasons why Effie and Anya were subjected to all that they went through, and struggled with their complex relationships with men.
The writing is incredible, however the story just got too much for me.
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