Never To Be Found

by Jo Spain

THE BRAND NEW 2026 PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER FROM THE NO.1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE CONFESSION - now available to pre-order.

She helped him disappear. She'll wish she hadn't . . .

There is a chilling phenomenon in Japan known as Johatsu - people who vanish voluntarily from their lives. It's said 100,000 people per year are Johatsu, and an entire industry has sprung up to support those who choose to.

Life is hard. For some people, it's just too much.

That's what I thought when I brought the concept to England. People will disappear anyway. What if I could help them? So I pack their belongings discreetly, create new identities, forge documents, give directions to the cities and towns where the 'night-mover' can live anonymously.

It's just a business. I never saw it as a shameful act. I've helped people flee from abusive relationships, from work pressure, from debt, from unfulfilled lives. People in need.

I consider what I do to be honourable.
Until now that is.

Because I've just learned that I'm not absent of responsibility. That I am capable of doing a terrible thing.
That it's not just a business.

I helped somebody flee from a crime. From the police.

I evaporated a murderer.

And if I don't find him, I can't live with what he might do next.

Genres: Thriller

Kindle Edition

Expected publication July 2, 2026

About the author

Jo Spain is the author of the bestselling Inspector Tom Reynolds series and several international No. 1 bestselling standalone novels. Her first book, With Our Blessing, was a finalist in the 2015 Richard and Judy Search for a Bestseller.
Jo, a graduate of Trinity College Dublin, writes TV screenplays full-time. Her first crime series was broadcast on RTE in 2018 and she's currently involved in a number of TV developments including adaptations of her own novels. In 2021, she co-wrote Harry Wild, starring Jane Seymour, with the Emmy award-winning David Logan (airing 2022).
Jo lives in Dublin with her husband and four young children. In her spare time (she has four children, there is no spare time really) she likes to read. Her favourite authors include Pierre Lemaitre, Jo Nesbo, Liane Moriarty, Fred Vargas and Jodi Picoult. She also watches TV obsessively.
Jo thinks up her plots on long runs in the woods. Her husband sleeps with one eye open.

Reviews

[Karen]

Reviewing for blog tour next month. Enjoyable. Addictive and twisty.

[Zoreads_ox · Rating 3 out of 5]

I fully enjoyed this read, started off soo strong I was hooked from the beginning!
It was unlike what I usually read and I really was invested in the whole johatsu & learning about it, kept me wanting to know more!
The storyline was brilliant, I didn’t guess the twist towards the end so that did shock me but I was a bit gutted on how it ended, I could have done with knowing more!
It was my first book by this author & I will definitely be reading more!
Also a big thank you to NetGalley for letting me arc read this book ☺️

[Saffy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Jo Spain’s thrillers which are always original and unexpected and Never to be Found was no different. I’d never heard of the Japanese idea of ‘Johatsu’ and was completely intrigued by it and by the premise of the novel. Johatsu is a Japanese phenomenon of voluntarily disappearing from your life and an industry has developed to support people in this mission. Veronica has set up her own business in the UK to help people disappear and has just discovered she may have aided a criminal to vanish.
I loved this novel, it’s such an interesting concept and I was completely drawn into the stories of those who choose to disappear from their lives. Veronica is a interesting and complex character who is developed well. It’s well paced, with a great twist and I raced through it over the course of 24 hours. An enjoyable and recommended thriller.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

[bookedupnurse · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up:

She helped him disappear. She’ll wish she hadn’t …

There is a chilling phenomenon in Japan known as Johatsu, where people disappear voluntarily or ‘evaporate’ from their lives. It’s said that 100,000 people per year Johatsu from their lives within Japan and an entire industry has sprung up to support those who choose this. Life is hard and for some, it is just too much …

This is why Veronica Page brings the concept to England. People will disappear anyways, so what if she could help them? She packs their belongings discreetly, creates new identities, forges documents, gives directions to cities and towns where they can live anonymously. She sees it as helping those in need and honourable … until now.

When she is approached by an unknown male, she discovers that she is not absent of responsibility. This isn’t ’just a business’. She has helped someone flee from a crime and the unknown male is Seb Ashcroft, a detective looking for a murderer that Veronica has helped unknowingly ‘evaporate’. If she can’t help find him, will she be able to live with what he may do next?

Woweeee!!! This was an absolutely amazing story and although there are many books based on people disappearing and forming new identities, the premise of this book using the Johatsu information was so unique and original.

Told in the present day and split across several parts, the book is based in the UK with small elements in which we discover Veronica’s links to Japan. The book also does occasionally return to 2004 when Veronica was 18 and living at home with her parents. We see the demise of their relationships, her mothers deteriorating mental health and her fathers struggles with day to day life: becoming distant and working more and more away from home. When he ‘disappears’ while working in Japan, Veronica is introduced to the world of Johatsu and her fascination begins …

Veronica is the lead character within the book, however there is small chapters from Mark, who we know is accused of double murder, however, thanks to Veronica’s work, we don’t know WHO he now is. He evidently is watching Veronica and her every move, betrayed by her and her only promise she makes her clients on securing them a way of disappearing- that she would never search nor help searches for him. And the fact she has brought the police with her … he will make her pay.

Veronica was a great character, layered with lots going on: deeply hurt, untrusting and distant. She becomes rather likeable and so interesting to see her moral dilemma of breaking her promise - yet needing to help the wider public. We see her anguish, guilt and desperation. The dynamics between her and DC Ashcroft are interesting and their form an unlikely high-stakes investigatory team.

An amazing psychological, fast paced thriller with emotional twists and an unexpected ending that is wonderfully original and makes me desperately want to visit Japan - the descriptions within this book are so vivid! Highly recommended and cannot wait for this one to be released! ⭐️

My favourite Jo Spain book to date! Also … how am I getting to review a book by such a wonderful author! What a dream 💭

Thank you to NetGallery, Bonnier Books and Jo Spain for the ARC of this book!

[Aisha Faisal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Bonnier Books for providing me with a copy of this novel. Jo Spain has delivered an absolute knockout with this thriller! The story introduces us to the haunting Japanese phenomenon of Jōhatsu, the “evaporated people.” These are individuals who choose to voluntarily vanish from their lives to escape debt, shame, or dangerous relationships.

Bringing this concept to a UK setting makes for a story that is as ethically complex as it is pulse-pounding.

THE STORY
The novel follows Veronica, a woman operating in the shadows. She doesn't see herself as a criminal; she sees herself as a lifeline. She runs a bespoke service helping the desperate disappear. Through forged documents and "night-moves," she gives people a second chance at a life where no one knows their name.

The Twist of Fate:
Veronica’s moral high ground collapses when the police inform her that one of the men she helped "evaporate" is actually a cold-blooded murderer.

The irony is sharp: the woman who built a career on making people impossible to find must now use every trick in her arsenal to track a predator down. Because the "disappearing" process is done in silos (where different people handle locations and IDs separately), even Veronica doesn't easily know where he is.

WHY THIS BOOK STANDS OUT
A Fresh Trope: The "missing person" theme feels brand new thanks to the cultural depth of the Jōhatsu industry.

High Stakes: It shifts from a fascinating character study into a desperate, guilt-driven manhunt.

Complex Lead: Veronica is a flawed, compelling protagonist. Her empathy led her to help a killer, and now the blood of his next victim is on her hands.

Unstoppable Pace: I raced through this. The tension is constant, and the ending hits you like a gut punch.

"Veronica gave people the keys to a new life. But when she opened the door for a killer, she realised that some people don’t want to disappear to be safe, they want to disappear to be dangerous."

FINAL VERDICT:
The pacing is strong throughout, and once it gets going, it’s honestly hard to put down. I flew through it in basically because I needed to know how it would unfold. And when things start to come together, it hits hard, definitely one of those “wait… WHAT?” moments that make a thriller so satisfying.

Overall, this is such an original, thought-provoking thriller that balances action with deeper ethical questions. It really makes you think about whether anyone can truly disappear or if your past will always find a way to catch up with you. This is a taut, intelligent exploration of whether we can ever truly leave our ghosts behind. Jo Spain’s thrillers are always original, but this one is extra special.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never to Be Found, is the new novel by Jo Spain that dives into the haunting Japanese phenomenon of Johatsu—the “evaporated people”, to write a thriller that is as ethically complex as it is pulse-pounding.

The story introduces us to Veronica, a woman who operates in the shadows of society. She doesn’t see herself as a criminal; she sees herself as a lifeline. Veronica provides a bespoke service for the desperate, helping them become Johatsu. Whether they are fleeing abusive partners, crushing debt, or the suffocating pressures of a life that has become “too much,” Veronica is the one who forges the documents and maps out the “night-moves” to anonymity.

For Veronica, this is a mission of mercy. She isn’t just hiding people; she is giving them a second chance at a life where no one knows their name. She sees the “night-mover” industry not as something shameful, but as a necessary exit ramp for those the system has failed.

The moral high ground Veronica stands on collapses when she realises her vetting process has failed. She hasn’t just helped a victim of circumstance disappear, she has “evaporated” a cold-blooded murderer. By providing him with a new identity and a place to hide, she has effectively granted a predator a clean slate and a fresh hunting ground.

The novel shifts from a fascinating character study into a desperate, guilt-driven manhunt. Veronica knows that if she doesn’t track him down, the blood of his next victim will be on her hands. The irony is sharp: the woman who made a career out of making people impossible to find must now use every trick in her arsenal to do the exact opposite. The concept of Johatsu adds a layer of eerie, grounded reality to the plot. It makes the “missing person” trope feel fresh and culturally significant. Veronica is a fascinating protagonist. Her “service” is born out of empathy, but the story forces her to confront the dangerous consequences of playing god with people’s identities.

Never to Be Found is a taut, intelligent exploration of the lengths we go to for a fresh start. It asks if anyone can truly ever be “gone,” or if the ghosts of our past actions are the one thing we can never leave behind. Veronica is a flawed, compelling guide through a world where disappearing is an industry and finding someone is a death sentence.

“Veronica gave people the keys to a new life. But when she opened the door for a killer, she realised that some people don’t want to disappear to be safe, they want to disappear to be dangerous.”

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Bonnier Books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Ceecee · Rating 5 out of 5]

4-5 stars rounded up
Johatsu- a Japanese word meaning to evaporate, now used to describe people who have voluntarily vanished from their lives.
Johatsu-sha- an evaporated person
Yonige-ya - an agency which helps a person to disappear.

This is what Veronica Page does in England, arranging all aspects of the disappearances and she’s very good at it. She discreetly removes any essential belongings and creates new identities for those who need to flee for whatever reason. Unfortunately, one such person who disappears or evaporates, is a murderer and now she has to track him down before he kills again.

This is another excellent psychological thriller from Jo Spain which has an unusual and different premise which I thoroughly enjoy. How refreshing it is to read something a bit out of the ordinary focusing on Johatsu and the Johatsu-sha in Mark, who is the vanished in question. One of the particularly strong aspects of the novel is how Veronica becomes a yonige-ya as her backstory reveals her raison d’être. Her portrayal is excellent and I like her how morally conflicted she is throughout her quest to find Mark, assisted by police officer Seb, who is intriguing to say the least. The dynamics between them are fascinating as there’s a shifting atmosphere with various kinds of tension.

The pacing of the novel is spot-on and the building fear is palpable as it becomes one heck of a cat and mouse game. You wouldn’t want this particular cat chasing you. There are plenty of twists although the big reveal isn’t a huge shock as the penny has already dropped, but it’s still really good.

As for the settings, they are fantastic and add a great deal of atmosphere to the plot. This is true of Japan in particular but also of York which I know well!

Overall, this is another terrific thriller from the author and one I can recommend.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Bonnier Books/Zaffre for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.

My 1900th review on NG!

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never to Be Found is one of those thrillers that hooks you not with spectacle, but with the eerie intimacy of a confession. From the first page, the narrator’s voice feels unsettlingly calm, almost tender, as he explains the business he’s built around helping people disappear. There’s something strangely compassionate about it—packing up a life in the dead of night, smoothing the path for someone who can’t bear to stay where they are. It’s easy to understand why he sees himself as a quiet saviour.

And then, of course, everything shifts.

The novel leans into the haunting Japanese concept of Johatsu—people who choose to evaporate from their own lives—and brings it to England with a creeping sense of inevitability. What begins as a morally ambiguous service slowly curdles into something darker, and the moment he realises he has helped a murderer vanish is genuinely chilling. The guilt, the panic, the dawning horror of responsibility… it all unfolds with a beautifully controlled tension.

What I loved most is how the story balances its thriller bones with a deep, almost melancholy understanding of why people run. The loneliness, the pressure, the quiet desperation—it’s all there, humming beneath the plot. And as the narrator begins his frantic search for the man he helped disappear, the novel becomes not just a chase, but a reckoning. A man forced to confront the consequences of the shadows he’s been working in for years.

Atmospheric, morally tangled, and quietly devastating, this is a thriller that lingers. It asks what it really means to vanish—and what it costs to bring someone back into the light.

With thanks to Jo Spain, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Stephanie Bull · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never To Be Found centres on Veronica, a woman who has set up her own business helping people disappear without warning, becoming what is known in Japan as Johatsu—literally "the evaporated people". The term refers to those who deliberately vanish from their lives, leaving behind family, friends and identities in the hope of escaping unbearable pressures, shame or despair and starting anew. Veronica builds a very successful enterprise until she discovers she may have helped a murderer to vanish. Equal parts psychological thriller and poignant character study, this is a story that lingers long after the final page.

What an intriguing premise this is, and one that drew me in almost immediately. While there is plenty of suspense, this is far more than a conventional thriller. Jo Spain explores the emotional and psychological reasons that might drive someone to become one of the Johatsu, creating a story with remarkable depth, compassion and authenticity.

Veronica is a wonderfully complex protagonist—flawed, believable and ultimately very likeable. Her emotions, motivations and inner conflicts are developed with such care that it is impossible not to become invested in her journey. Over the course of the book we learn why and how Veronica followed this path. The author's portrayal of loneliness, desperation and the immense pressures that can leave a person feeling they have no other option is both sensitive and thought-provoking.

The plotting is wonderfully clever, with the mystery unfolding at a steady pace and revealing just enough to keep the pages turning. An unexpected twist caught me completely off guard, and the conclusion felt perfectly judged, delivering an ending that was both satisfying and entirely fitting for the story that preceded it.

A compelling, intelligent and emotionally rich thriller that offers far more than mystery alone.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Books for my advance reader copy in return for my honest and unbiased review.

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jōhatsu (Japanese) refers to the people in Japan who purposely vanish from their established lives without a trace. The disappeared or vanished. How have ai never heard of this before! As you know since I went to Japan for the first time in 2025 I am a little bit obsessed with the place. It was fascinating to learn about this practice.

Jo Spain has written one of my favourite books for 2026 in Never To Be Found. What a unique premise for a story. I absolutely loved it, it was clever and addictive. I wanted to devour it but at the same time take my time as I didn’t want it to be over. I did stay up way too late to finish it, you know when you get to that point in a book where you know you just have to keep going. Amazing.

Veronica runs her own business in Brighton in the UK, helping people disappear, voluntary of course. Her business is thriving, until she gets a knock on the door from the police who tell her that she has made a killer disappear and they need her help to find him. She is shocked and feels guilty for doing this so she agrees, against her own rules. This leads to a cat and mouse chase across England putting herself in danger at every turn.

I loved Veronica, she was a tough, single minded woman who was very broken inside. We learn what brought her to do this kind of work as we get to know her better. My favourite parts were the chapters in Japan. It made me want to go back even more than I already do. The food, the customs, the people, the locations.. it was all wonderful. Japan is a very special place and Jo Spain captured it perfectly.

Thank you so much to Bonnier Books UK for my early copy of this brilliant book to read. Out on July 2nd, do yourself a favour and read this book and learn more about Japan in the process.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another sensational novel by the author and a favourite for me so far! So incredibly clever and unique.

She helped him disappear. She will wish she hadn't.
In Japan, it is said that around 100,000 people per year are Johatsu - people who vanish voluntarily from their lives and there is an entire industry that has sprung up to support them. These people that help are also known as night movers. For some, life is too hard. They have things they wish to escape.
Veronica brings the concept to England, acting as their helper, to vanish from their lives, along with a network of helpers. It's just a business and she had never seen it as a shameful act, until now.

I really can't say more, as this one was so good going in NOT knowing what was coming! I loved so much about this novel. It was fascinating, unique, so twisted, mysterious, haunting and entertaining. The characters, the premise, the settings, were all just so incredibly compelling. I always love learning something new when I am reading and this was something I have never heard of before. While it was set in England there were also snippets from Japan, which I equally adored. This is one of those novels you wish you could erase from your memory, just so you can experience it again anew. A magnificent novel by the author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK, Zaffre Books for this gifted review copy.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jōhatsu - the Japanese word for those who voluntarily choose to vanish from their lives. Whether it is debt, loneliness, infidelity, they are assisted to make a new life from themselves elsewhere.

Our MC Veronica operates in the shadows, on the borders of legality helping people disappear in the UK. For most people, this is the opportunity start anew elsewhere often leaving behind their troubled or difficult lives. However, Veronica is approached by the Police who tell her that one of the people she helped 'disappear' is the prime suspect in a double murder and that Veronica must give him up.

The challenge is that the Johatsu process is assisted by a number of different people, each with a different role (identification, location etc.) and each person works in a silo meaning that no-one is really ever able to track down the disappeared after they are gone. Feeling guilty, Veronica decides to assist the Police and tries to track down the alleged killer but all is not as it seems.

This was a really interesting novel which I raced through. It had such an interesting and unique premise that I couldn't wait to find out what happened and when you find out it will hit you like a gut punch.

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those thrillers with a really strong premise that pulls you in straight away.

At the centre is a woman whose job is to help people disappear, giving them new identities, a clean break, no questions asked. It all feels quite on track as a business until she realises one of the people she’s helped wasn’t just escaping their life, but something far more serious. From that point, everything shifts and it becomes much more personal.

What worked well for me was that moral tension. She’s forced to look at her own part in what’s happened, and whether helping people vanish can ever really be neutral. It adds a bit more weight to the story than a standard chase thriller.

I also liked the idea of how easy it is to disappear. It’s slightly unsettling, especially when you think about it in a real-world context, and it gives the whole book an edge.

The pacing is fairly steady, not overly fast, but it builds nicely as things start to close in. It’s more about the pressure and consequences than big dramatic moments, which suits the story.

Overall, a solid, slightly different thriller with an interesting central idea and enough tension to keep you hooked.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of ‘Never To Be Found’ by Jo Spain, due to be published on 2 July 2026 by Bonnier Books UK, Zaffre.

Veronica Page enjoys her job, helping people using the Japanese phenomenon Jōhatsu to describe people in modern times who vanish voluntarily from their lives.

When she is approached by Seb Ashcroft, a detective in the police, she is shocked to discover that one of the people she helped ‘disappear’, Mark Drake, is wanted in connection with murder - and Seb will stop at nothing to track him down.

Veronica is a likeable yet complex character who has her own demons that have led her to this career, with her backstory interspersed into the plot. Seb is intriguing, his actions leave you with a range of emotions, and that he is holding himself back from Veronica whilst expecting her to give herself fully to assisting him.  

I had not heard of Jōhatsu before reading this book, but found myself engrossed in what it entailed and lengths some people go to in search of new life. 

This was a fast paced, dark, tense and twisty thriller. The storyline leads you one way, then flips everything on its head to take a new direction that was staring you in the face the whole time. Definitely a recommended read.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was a great read and I will definitely be reading more books by Jo Spain.

Veronica Page helps people disappear. People come to her because they want to leave their current lives and start a new one as someone else. It’s based on the Japanese concept of Johatsu where people leave their lives. Veronica has a link to Japan and it holds lots of memories for her.

Veronica is approached by Seb Ashcroft who is a police detective. He tells her that a man called Mark Drake is wanted for the murder of his wife and her sister. Veronica doesn’t know Mark Drake but she discovers that she helped him escape his life - he came to her already equipped with another identity and she knew him as Gary.

Seb and Veronica work together to trace Mark - something that goes against all of her working principles. The process is difficult but she feels awful that’s she’s helped a murderer disappear.

As Veronica gets more embroiled in Seb’s life and the search for Mark she continues to think about her father’s disappearance in Japan.

I liked the way the book was split into chapters that covered Veronica’s early life and Marks thoughts and actions. This was definitely a book they drew me in and kept me reading into the small hours.

[Lovetoread2023 · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the heart of this story is the intriguing subject of witness protection, combined with the lesser known Japanese concept of Johatsu where a person chooses to vanish and start a completely new life. This was something I hadn’t come across before and I found it very interesting.
The story follows Veronica, a compelling and complex character who brings this concept to England. She lives by a strict set of personal rules while helping people disappear, but everything changes when she unknowingly assists a murderer in vanishing. Her devastation when she discovers the truth is massive , and it adds real emotional depth to the story.
Veronica’s own past is gradually revealed, helping us understand her motivations and the reasons behind her unusual line of work.
The plot itself is refreshingly different, with a strong, steady pace and plenty of suspense throughout. A number of well placed twists keep the reader fully invested, making it a gripping and hard to put down read.

This was my first book by Jo Spain, and it proved to be an excellent introduction to her work. If you enjoy crime thrillers with a unique edge, compelling characters, and an original premise, this is definitely one to pick up.

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Never to Be Found by Jo Spain. Absolutely brilliant and an expert example of what a thriller should be: fast-paced, full of unreliable characters and layered with mystery.

The novel centres around the Japanese concept of Johatsu (‘evaporation’), where individuals disappear from their established lives without a trace. This idea is woven into the narrative in a thoughtful and sensitive way, raising questions around social expectations, cultural pressures and the cost of trying to escape them.

Veronica coordinates a service that helps individuals to ‘evaporate’, but her life quickly begins to unravel when a former client resurfaces, pulling together present danger with unresolved trauma from the past. Spain is undoubtedly a master storyteller and the novel is filled with twists and turns while remaining emotionally perceptive. It alternates between timelines and, at points, offers a dual narrative which is absolutely enthralling.
Beyond the central storyline, Veronica’s backstory was what really caught my imagination and added another compelling layer to the novel.

An absolutely fantastic read and one to add to my thriller highlights!

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by this author and it is based on the Japanese idea of Johatsu, when individuals decide to vanish from their lives due to shame, financial ruin or an abusive relationship. Such an interesting premise!
Veronica our first person narrator, runs an agency in Brighton, based on this concept and she really feels she is helping people who are desperate and need to disappear.
However one day she discovers she has inadvertently helped a murderer vanish and she feels compelled to aid Seb, the policeman who is pursuing him, putting herself in extreme danger in the process.
As the book progresses, flashbacks explain how Veronica has chosen such an unusual career and the reader is treated to many twists and turns along the way.
The book is well researched and really unique- I’d never heard of Johatsu before and found the descriptions of how it works really fascinating.
The ending did seem rather abrupt and failed to answer one important question- I wondered whether the author plans to turn this book into a series featuring Veronica. I for one would definitely be keen to read more about her journey.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.

[Di · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Jo Spain, particularly her series featuring Inspector Tom Reynolds, so I was very excited to read Never to be Found, another of her standalone titles. And I was not disappointed.
The book is based around ‘johatsu’, a real thing in Japan which helps people simply disappear from their lives and start over again. It’s a fascinating basis for a novel. When the protagonist Veronica Page finds that she has disappeared someone who wasn’t who he claimed to be she becomes mixed up in a desperate effort to find him.
This is a fast paced, exciting read with a darker edge to it. The whole concept of ‘evaporating’ from your life is incredibly sad and Veronica finds herself questioning the very thing she’s been helping people to do.
We also find out about Veronica’s own backstory, which is significant and interesting. We became very invested in her turning johatsu on its head in an attempt to find the murderer.
Overall this is a very enjoyable if somewhat melancholy book.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

[Pgchuis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

Veronica operates a discreet business helping people disappear. She learnt her trade in Japan, where the practice is known as johatsu. Her work is often outside the law, if not downright illegal, but she has always felt morally justified until she is approached by Seb, who claims she has helped a murderer disappear and thus escape justice. (I have to say that I was never really clear how Veronica drew the moral/immoral line in her work - she seemed to be OK with disappearing drug dealers and people massively in debt, and although obviously murder is a step further, people's lives are ruined by drug dealers and financial distress, but anyway...)

This novel is very readable, although I did work out some of the things that emerged at the end much earlier. I found the sections about Veronica's childhood and her links to Japan more compelling than the main story. This would make a good movie.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Japan, Johatsu is a thriving trade – a one-stop shop for helping people disappear from their lives and start a new one. Veronica is making a good living out of providing this service in the UK. She enjoys helping people get away from bad situations and start afresh.

Until a detective shows up at her flat demanding to know where a man she help disappear can be found – a man who has murdered two people. The problem is, even Veronica doesn’t know his new name or where he is.

I just LOVED this whole concept from the very beginning, it was so original and compelling. Veronica was a brilliant character, and the backstory of her time spent in Japan and how Johatsu came into her life, was gripping.

It was twisty, scary, clever, well-written, perfectly plotted and really memorable.

This was my first read by Jo Spain, I was so drawn in by the premise, and I’m looking forward to reading more by her!

[Farah G · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story introduces us to an intriguing Japanese concept: the fly by night agencies that help troubled individuals evaporate from their lives (aka disappear without leaving a trace.)

Veronica bases her career on this service, called yonige-ya in Japan where it is a recognised means of dealing with shame and despair. At the very least, it allows individuals to disappear rather than choose suicide. But Veronica has her own, very personal reasons for choosing this path...

Unfortunately, when it leads her to unknowingly help a murderer to disappear, thereby evading the authorities, Veronica knows she must make amends. The problem is, that process is anything but straightforward.

Jo Spain has done it again - this is an unusual and fascinating piece of story telling from an author who can always be relied upon to deliver the goods. Highly recommended!

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Donna's Book Addiction Book review Arc Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ARC Review
Never To Be Found
by Jo Spain
📅 Publication Date: 2 July 2026
If you love a thriller that keeps you second-guessing everything, Never To Be Found absolutely delivers 🔍
Jo Spain has a real talent for pulling readers straight into the tension from the very first page—and this book is no exception. The pacing is sharp, the twists are cleverly layered, and just when you think you’ve figured it out… you really haven’t 👀
What stood out most for me was the atmosphere—there’s this constant sense of unease running throughout the story that makes it impossible to put down. It’s the kind of book where every character feels like they could be hiding something, and trust becomes a dangerous game.
A gripping, addictive thriller that will keep you hooked late into the night—definitely one for fans of dark, twisty reads 🖤

[Patricia Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This, the latest book by Jo Spain looks at the Japanese process of Johatsu; basically disappearing from one's life into a new one. Veronica helps people to do this for reasons that become clear in the book and becomes entangled in one case much deeper than she likes, to the extent that she puts her life at risk. I love Jo Spain's books and this is definitely no exception. It is a unique, very clever premise for a book. There are twists on top of twists. You can't trust anything you read because a few pages later it will change just to keep you on your toes. And the ending is something else again. A wonderful very enjoyable read that I am happy to recommend to anyone who enjoys an intelligent, rollercoaster thriller.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

[Nicola Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting concept, the Japanese idea of johatsu or allowing people to disappear from their own lives. Veronica Page has brought this idea to England, setting up a business to allow people to vanish, with new names etc. and establishing a network of people to help. The business is a proven success, until the day a detective turns up and accuses her of helping a murderer to disappear. Veronica panics and tries to find out where he is, using her network of contacts. Eventually they work together to uncover his whereabouts with lots of twists along the way. Throughout, it is alluded to that Veronica is in this business because of an event that happened in her own family.
Jo Spain writes great thrillers and this is no exception, fast paced and tense with out of the blue twists that made me gasp out loud!

[EmmaReadsCrime · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5

Japan, there is a phenomenon known as Johatsu in which people vanish voluntarily from their lives. The main character, Veronica, has taken this concept to the UK and has made a successful business out of it. That is, until the police contact her because she has unknowingly helped a wanted murderer vanish.

This was my most anticipated read of the year and Jo Spain has come through! I often critique thrillers for being too similar, but the concept of this book was so refreshing and unique.

I felt I learned loads about Johatsu and ended up down a rabbit hole reading up all about it! I thought it was well-paced, and there were no slow parts in the story.

My main critique was I thought the twist was fairly obvious, but maybe that's just me! Apart from that, I thought this was another brilliant book from Jo Spain!

[Caroline Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first time reading Jo Spain, and what a brilliant introduction. Never to Be Found pulls you straight into the chilling mystery of a man who vanishes without a trace, leaving behind a trail of secrets that slowly, expertly unravel. I loved how Spain balances the investigative tension with the very human fallout — the strained relationships, the buried guilt, the sense that everyone is holding something back.

The atmosphere is spot‑on: claustrophobic, uneasy, and full of those small, telling details that make you question every character’s motives. Each reveal lands with real weight, and the final pieces come together in a way that feels both surprising and completely earned.

A gripping, character‑driven thriller that kept me turning pages. I’ll definitely be reading more from Jo Spain.

[Charlie Morris (Read, Watch & Drink Coffee) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy a Jo Spain thriller, especially around summer as her books tend to be set in a sunny location which gives them an extra touch of atmosphere. This one only occasionally pops across the seas to Japan, but is primarily set in England instead. But the setting here feels just as strong, as the cat-and-mouse chase throughout the streets of Brighton stands out just as much.

I really loved the originality of this story. I hadn't heard about "Johatsu" before, so it was really interesting to learn more about it and to see how it could be translated over to a UK setting. It's such a fascinating concept that makes for a gripping thriller premise.

I did guess one of the twists in this book, but it's a good one, and it still kept me hooked throughout.

If you enjoy action-packed thrillers with clever twists, then you'll want to read this one.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Netgalley for giving me this free advance copy, and I’m writing this review honestly and without bias.
This is a really good psychological thriller with a uniqueness about it. The plot incorporates the Japanese concept of 'Johatsu' - people who choose to walk away from their lives and 'vanish'. Veronica Page is the person who has set this up in England as she helps people to disappear. However it becomes apparent she has helped the wrong person and finds herself in a deadly game of cat and mouse. Set in the present in England and the past in Japan this is a gritty and edgy thriller that is perfectly paced and simmering with tension. Some good twists in this very enjoyable read. 4.5 ⭐️

[Louise Bookmac82 Mackin · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read the blurb for this book, I knew I had to read it. It spoke very loudly to me. I've always been fascinated by the witness protection scheme and I know this book isn't about that but its a similar subject.

This is the second Jo Spain book that I've read and like that other one, I couldn't put this down. It was a very fast paced story that grabbed me straight away and didn't let go.

I found the whole 'Johatsu' concept very interesting. I'd never heard the term before. I'm even more interested now, having read this book.
The story had so many twists and turns and I didn't see the ending coming at all. It left me feeling like I'd been played.
I am itching to read more by Jo Spain and have purchased a couple for my tbr.