What do you think?
Rate this book
In Case I Go Missing
Not yet published
Expected 26 May 26A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder meets Fargo in this fast-paced YA mystery about a teen detective gone missing and her best friend who must finish her investigation.
Seventeen-year-old Fenny Allen has been Sarah Vincenty's sidekick for as long as she can remember, ever since the two of them solved the mystery of the stolen library books back in elementary school. Over the years, Sarah has ruffled a few feathers in their small town, building a reputation as both an amateur detective and a vigilante who has dispensed her own form of justice.
Now Sarah is missing. The police have written her off as yet another teen runaway, but Fenny is convinced that something more sinister has happened. When she discovers a binder Sarah left behind entitled In Case I Go Missing, Fenny learns that at the time of her disappearance, Sarah was investigating her biggest case yet.
Fenny knows that it's up to her to finish what Sarah had begun. As she and her friend Sam piece together the clues that Sarah left for them, they find themselves up against a decades-old mystery—one that links to the town's dark history. But is this binder a guide to finding Sarah—or are Fenny and Sam already too late?
The more the pair uncover, the clearer it becomes that those involved will go to great lengths to keep their secrets—even as far as murder.
Seventeen-year-old Fenny Allen has been Sarah Vincenty's sidekick for as long as she can remember, ever since the two of them solved the mystery of the stolen library books back in elementary school. Over the years, Sarah has ruffled a few feathers in their small town, building a reputation as both an amateur detective and a vigilante who has dispensed her own form of justice.
Now Sarah is missing. The police have written her off as yet another teen runaway, but Fenny is convinced that something more sinister has happened. When she discovers a binder Sarah left behind entitled In Case I Go Missing, Fenny learns that at the time of her disappearance, Sarah was investigating her biggest case yet.
Fenny knows that it's up to her to finish what Sarah had begun. As she and her friend Sam piece together the clues that Sarah left for them, they find themselves up against a decades-old mystery—one that links to the town's dark history. But is this binder a guide to finding Sarah—or are Fenny and Sam already too late?
The more the pair uncover, the clearer it becomes that those involved will go to great lengths to keep their secrets—even as far as murder.
400 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication May 26, 2026
2 people are currently reading
5337 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 9, 2026
I was given the opportunity to read and review an ARC of In Case I Go Missing by R. N. Swann. This is the first book that I have read by R.N. Swann.
As a teacher-librarian at a public school that has all reading levels --from emerging readers to university bound students--I am constantly looking for appropriate content that will interest my readers.
It took me a few pages to get into the novel. At first, I did not enjoy the writing style. My opinion changed as I got invested in the fate of the characters. Fenny, Sam and Sarah have been best friends since they were young. They are now seventeen. Sarah is the one who talks them into troublesome situations trying to solve different wrongs that have been going on in the town. Sam is the misunderstood kid from a rich family and Fenny is the sidekick. But, when Sarah goes missing and everyone in the town believes that the troublemaker just ran away, Fenny and Sam start to investigate. They don’t believe that Sarah ran away especially when they begin to investigate the mystery that she was investigating. There are many suspects and many town secrets are revealed. It is important to remember that the narrator tells you right away that the story will not have a happy ending.
I enjoyed the twists and surprises in the novel. I plan to purchase this for my library collection and recommend it to my mystery-lover patrons.
As a teacher-librarian at a public school that has all reading levels --from emerging readers to university bound students--I am constantly looking for appropriate content that will interest my readers.
It took me a few pages to get into the novel. At first, I did not enjoy the writing style. My opinion changed as I got invested in the fate of the characters. Fenny, Sam and Sarah have been best friends since they were young. They are now seventeen. Sarah is the one who talks them into troublesome situations trying to solve different wrongs that have been going on in the town. Sam is the misunderstood kid from a rich family and Fenny is the sidekick. But, when Sarah goes missing and everyone in the town believes that the troublemaker just ran away, Fenny and Sam start to investigate. They don’t believe that Sarah ran away especially when they begin to investigate the mystery that she was investigating. There are many suspects and many town secrets are revealed. It is important to remember that the narrator tells you right away that the story will not have a happy ending.
I enjoyed the twists and surprises in the novel. I plan to purchase this for my library collection and recommend it to my mystery-lover patrons.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and Viking Books for Young Readers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
“In Case I Go Missing” by R.N. Swann is a layered, fast-moving YA mystery that combines small-town secrets, long-buried history, and the emotional fallout of losing someone you thought would always be there. With a clever hook and steadily escalating tension, Swann delivers a suspenseful story that rewards patient readers who enjoy complex, twist-heavy mysteries.
Seventeen-year-old Fenny Allen has always been the sidekick to Sarah Vincenty who is the town’s self-appointed teen detective who exposes secrets, solves petty crimes, and isn’t afraid to take justice into her own hands. So when Sarah disappears just before graduation, the police are quick to label her a runaway. Fenny knows better. Her certainty deepens when she finds a binder Sarah left behind titled In Case I Go Missing, filled with notes, clues, and ominously torn-out pages.
Alongside Sam, her other best friend, Fenny picks up Sarah’s final investigation. What begins as a search for a missing girl quickly spirals into something far larger: a century-old mystery involving missing gold, a forgotten abandoned church, a man who vanished ten years earlier, and a cover-up that reaches into the highest levels of their small town. As suspects multiply, many of them powerful and protected, it becomes clear that Sarah’s disappearance is tied directly to secrets some people would kill to keep buried.
One of the story’s greatest strengths is its characters. Fenny and Sam feel like real teenagers, balancing gallows humor, fear, and loyalty in a way that keeps the story grounded. Their friendship is the emotional heart of the book, especially as both are dealing with difficult home lives. Sam’s in particular is shaped by years of abuse from his older brother. Sarah herself is a more complicated presence: smart and driven, but also deeply flawed, willing to exploit others’ secrets in pursuit of the truth. No one here is idealized, which makes the stakes feel more authentic.
The mystery is dense, with multiple timelines and plot threads weaving together, sometimes almost overwhelmingly so. Younger readers may find it a bit complicated, but Swann ultimately brings everything together in a way that feels intentional and satisfying. The pacing steadily tightens, layering twist upon twist until the central question--whether Sarah is alive or dead—can no longer be avoided.
By the end, the story delivers solid closure without pretending that trauma and loss vanish neatly. The characters grow, the truth comes to light, and there’s a sense of hard-won resolution rather than easy answers.
Overall, “In Case I Go Missing” is a smart, suspenseful YA thriller packed with secrets, history, and moral gray areas. With its strong friendships, flawed characters, and intricately connected mystery, it’s a rewarding read for older YA fans who enjoy complicated puzzles and small-town darkness lurking just beneath the surface.
“In Case I Go Missing” by R.N. Swann is a layered, fast-moving YA mystery that combines small-town secrets, long-buried history, and the emotional fallout of losing someone you thought would always be there. With a clever hook and steadily escalating tension, Swann delivers a suspenseful story that rewards patient readers who enjoy complex, twist-heavy mysteries.
Seventeen-year-old Fenny Allen has always been the sidekick to Sarah Vincenty who is the town’s self-appointed teen detective who exposes secrets, solves petty crimes, and isn’t afraid to take justice into her own hands. So when Sarah disappears just before graduation, the police are quick to label her a runaway. Fenny knows better. Her certainty deepens when she finds a binder Sarah left behind titled In Case I Go Missing, filled with notes, clues, and ominously torn-out pages.
Alongside Sam, her other best friend, Fenny picks up Sarah’s final investigation. What begins as a search for a missing girl quickly spirals into something far larger: a century-old mystery involving missing gold, a forgotten abandoned church, a man who vanished ten years earlier, and a cover-up that reaches into the highest levels of their small town. As suspects multiply, many of them powerful and protected, it becomes clear that Sarah’s disappearance is tied directly to secrets some people would kill to keep buried.
One of the story’s greatest strengths is its characters. Fenny and Sam feel like real teenagers, balancing gallows humor, fear, and loyalty in a way that keeps the story grounded. Their friendship is the emotional heart of the book, especially as both are dealing with difficult home lives. Sam’s in particular is shaped by years of abuse from his older brother. Sarah herself is a more complicated presence: smart and driven, but also deeply flawed, willing to exploit others’ secrets in pursuit of the truth. No one here is idealized, which makes the stakes feel more authentic.
The mystery is dense, with multiple timelines and plot threads weaving together, sometimes almost overwhelmingly so. Younger readers may find it a bit complicated, but Swann ultimately brings everything together in a way that feels intentional and satisfying. The pacing steadily tightens, layering twist upon twist until the central question--whether Sarah is alive or dead—can no longer be avoided.
By the end, the story delivers solid closure without pretending that trauma and loss vanish neatly. The characters grow, the truth comes to light, and there’s a sense of hard-won resolution rather than easy answers.
Overall, “In Case I Go Missing” is a smart, suspenseful YA thriller packed with secrets, history, and moral gray areas. With its strong friendships, flawed characters, and intricately connected mystery, it’s a rewarding read for older YA fans who enjoy complicated puzzles and small-town darkness lurking just beneath the surface.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
In Case I Go Missing is an emotional, gripping, and absolutely devastating story that will have you on the edge of your seat while simultaneously breaking your heart. R.N. Swann writes with such raw, authentic emotion that you feel every fear, every heartbreak, and every fragile hope as if it were your own.
The protagonist is deeply human — flawed, resilient, and achingly relatable. Watching them navigate danger, secrets, and uncertainty is both heart-wrenching and inspiring. You can feel the weight of every choice, every revelation, and every risk, making the tension almost unbearable at times.
The romance (if you can even call it that — it’s subtle and heartbreaking) adds an extra layer of emotional depth. It’s not about swoons or flirtation; it’s about connection, trust, and longing in the most fragile, poignant way. Every interaction hits hard because it’s real and consequential.
The story is tightly plotted, full of suspense, mystery, and emotional intensity. The pacing keeps you hooked from page one, and the twists and revelations leave your chest tight and your mind spinning.
The protagonist is deeply human — flawed, resilient, and achingly relatable. Watching them navigate danger, secrets, and uncertainty is both heart-wrenching and inspiring. You can feel the weight of every choice, every revelation, and every risk, making the tension almost unbearable at times.
The romance (if you can even call it that — it’s subtle and heartbreaking) adds an extra layer of emotional depth. It’s not about swoons or flirtation; it’s about connection, trust, and longing in the most fragile, poignant way. Every interaction hits hard because it’s real and consequential.
The story is tightly plotted, full of suspense, mystery, and emotional intensity. The pacing keeps you hooked from page one, and the twists and revelations leave your chest tight and your mind spinning.
December 9, 2025
I read this book before Viking picked it up as her publisher and refined it. The writing is sophisticated and the plot is engaging and twisty. Trust me. Its a great read.
November 24, 2025
In Case I Go Missing by R.N. Swann is a realistic suspense thriller. A missing teen detective. A notebook full of clues. And a small town full of suspects. Sarah, Fenny, and Sam grew up together and solved several mysteries, starting with the case of the missing library books then later exposing adults who were having affairs. But when Sarah goes missing not long before graduation, Fenny and Sam know something has gone horribly wrong. Police believe Sarah ran away. But Fenny discovers a binder Sarah left behind that’s labelled “If I Go Missing,” and has several pages torn out of it. Together, Sam and Fenny uncover a trail of clues Sarah left behind about the last case she was working on – that was both a century old cold case about missing gold and a cover-up involving some of the town’s most powerful people. People who would do almost anything to keep their secrets buried with the past. If you like a mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end, check out In Case I Go Missing.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews