Ghosts of the Unfound

by Jennifer Crown

Finalist - 2025 IAN Book of the Year Awards - Thriller Category

My daughter is missing.
Everyone thinks I have something to hide.
I do.

A stunned nation witnessed the unthinkable when Hannah Smoke, a reality television psychic, learned on live television that her young daughter had been kidnapped.

The crime was an instant media obsession. When Hannah’s desperate attempts to bring her daughter home failed, the world turned on her: If a psychic can’t find her own child is she a fraud—or something far worse?

Reporter Asha Bennett sees in Hannah’s story a chance to save her crumbling career. But as she pieces together the tragic events, a dangerous discovery threatens far more than her job…

Hannah has a good reason for staying quiet.
Some secrets don’t just punish the guilty. They destroy the innocent.

Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell meets Ask for Andrea by Noelle Ihli in a story where grief, guilt, and obsession twist into a revelation you’ll never forget.

Genres: Thriller

315 pages, Paperback

Published July 19, 2025

About the author

Science teacher by day and psychological thriller writer by night, Jennifer Crown is a debut author based in New Jersey. She shares her days with a bossy cat, a patient husband, and three kids who are growing up too fast. When she’s not writing, she’s doing her best to hold the fraying threads of her chaotic life together with humor and caffeine.

Reviews

[Kathie Walter · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good!

I did not see that coming! This was a fast paced thriller with all the twists and turns. Hands down one of the best books I’ve read this summer!

[Wendy Husted · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really did enjoy this book. I came across it because Jennifer is actually in the reading group I belong to on FB. I probably would not have ever found this book if it were not for it. I am so glad I did, though.
The book had me sucked in right from the beginning. I found myself thinking I had it all figured out, but I was wrong. Jennifer did a great job with her description of each scene. I loved how the past and the present rolled in together.
The whole time , I sat there rooting for Hannah and baby Grace. I highly recommend it and look forward to her next book.

[Alicia Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this story down!

This is a flashback style which was beautifully done. It was easy to keep up and honestly made you feel like you were part of the interview with Asha and Hannah.

Hannah goes through every parent’s nightmare and her telling her story one last time to Asha is a huge deal!

Asha is new to the journalist world and moved over from the UK. Getting a huge story dropped in her lap is crazy and her career it’s on the line.

The way this story ends makes me really hope book two is in the works as this ended on a cliff hanger of sorts…. Highly recommend this story!!!!!!!

[Regan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! If you enjoyed the TV Series All Her Fault, you will enjoy this book. The author takes us on a journey through the emotional times that follow families when a member is kidnapped. Old wounds come back as the mother attempts to understand why this has happened and wondering if it is her fault because she is in the national limelight for her career.

After the headlines disappear, the damage of the family is already done and the wonder if the child is still out there remains. After over 20 years, Hannah (the mother), is finally willing to talk to a reporter to tell her side of the story. This is a career making story for a young journalist but she has little time to prepare to understand the background or significance of the story.

I am excited to read more from this author!

[marjorie birney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic.

I enjoyed this immensely. I couldn't put it down. It will keep you interested from the start and continues until the final word. It gas so many surprises and this is believable.
I recommend this book for who enjoys a book both thrilling and a mystery at the same time. It is like watching a movie as I'm reading. I'd give it more than a ten if I could.
Get This Book!!! I'm going to check out other books by this author. 😃

[Amy K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow burner

The first quarter of this book was really slow for me. There was character development and laying of groundwork, but it just felt tough to connect with for me. I almost DNF it, but I stuck with it and was glad that I did. Once the interview process began, it became more interesting to me, and I looked forward to page turning.

[Loris Diaconu · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a twist, what an ending! The whole story I kept trying to figure out what the big reveal would be and when I thought I figured it out, there’s another bigger reveal just a few chapters afterwards. The details, character development and the switch between past and present really held my interest. I loved the ending and can’t wait for the second book in the making!

[Judy Farr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye opening read.

I started this book at 8:00 at night and finished it at 5:00 the next morning. It held my attention all the way through. The only thing I would have liked to have seen was Rick's reactions to his Daughter's return. I feel like he deserved to be acknowledged. Love this read.

[Rhonda Bobbitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what an amazing thriller. This is one of those books you can't put down once you start. Great characters and a very twisty plot. That ending 🤯, didn't see that coming. I would love to read a sequel 😏.

[Camille Vernisie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book.

This was an amazing read. The pure emotion caught by the author shows her true craft. It was only in the last bit of the book that I caught on to the twist. I can’t wait to see what’s next in store for these characters.

[Belinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put it down!

What a great book! I read this in one sitting! The suspense of finding out what was on the next page had me completely mesmerized.
Fantastic read!

[tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read full of twist,alot of emotions but not a tear jerky kind of book.
Lots of what ifs.
The ending is what gets you and I thought I figured it out but it got me.
The ending to the book leaves you wondering is there a second one coming out the way the author left it.

[Brittney willoughby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy moly! What a RIDE!!!! I honestly have no words for this book besides the fact you must read it! You wont be disappointed.

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uniquely told and very cool tale. I will definitely keep an eye out for more by Crown.

[Jaime K · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really interesting book about a psychic whose child goes missing, along with the nanny, while on a national talk show. 25 years later, there seems to be a new development, because the mother, Hannah, invites reporters to interview her. She wants one in particular, likely because it's a new employee and would be easy to push around.
(Also, Asha's colleague, Charing, is a told jerkface and I wouldn't want her within 1000 feet from me).

Hannah tells her story from the moment she found out her Grace was kidnapped to what she learned less than a month before. We also get mental breaks from the intensity of the trauma to current day, where Hannah and Asha discuss the past events to how each of them is now.

The story is sad, and not only because of Grace's kidnapping and the nanny's POV. I felt like it dragged just a smidge to get to the end, but Crown did a really good job making the prose flow well and not actually be boring. The end surprised me (it shouldn't have) and IMO was a good end.

[Cheryl Shepherd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found myself predicting the ending from early on. However the story to get there was well thought out and well told. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it.