Before I Disappear

by Cate Quinn

From the acclaimed author of The Clinic and The Bridesmaid comes a new frantic thriller of a criminologist who wakes, dazed and confused, in a remote hotel— with no memory of how she got there.

If she can't remember, her memories might not be the only thing that goes missing.

When criminologist April Anderson wakes in an unfamiliar hotel room with no memory of how she got there — or why she fled her comfortable life in New York— she's told she's under police protection, the only witness to a horrific crime.

With no memories and no answers to her repeated questions, April isn't sure who to trust — the cop guarding her, or the fiancé secretly tracking her. As April sifts through the wreckage of her own memories, she uncovers a version of herself she doesn't recognize, and secrets she'd rather forget.

As the trial date closes in, April realizes someone else wants her silent. Her missing memories aren't just the key to the case, they might be keeping her alive. Will she remember the truth… or disappear forever?

Genres: Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Adult

Kindle Edition

Expected publication November 10, 2026

About the author

Cate Quinn is a travel and lifestyle journalist for The Times, the Guardian and the Mirror, alongside many magazines. Prior to this, Quinn's background in historic research won prestigious postgraduate funding from the British Art Council. Quinn pooled these resources, combining historical research with first-hand experiences in far-flung places to create critically acclaimed and bestselling historical fiction.

Books by Cate Quinn - Black Widows and Blood Sisters

Reviews

[Claudia Aikman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS for the advanced copy of this book.

That is a great book. It was an interesting original storyline for me and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The mystery was so intricately woven; I was reading each chapter wondering how it all played out. It didn’t drag out at any points. And the ending was really good!

The only negative were the spelling errors. This book needs to be read and edited for incorrect word placement.

I will highly recommend this book! 4.5⭐️

[Ashley’s Bookcase 🖤 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before I Disappear follows successful criminologist and lecturer April Anderson as she wakes up in a motel room with an almost-fatal head injury, paired with a severe case of amnesia. Startled by a cop sitting in an armchair across the room, April has no idea what he means by she’s ‘under police protection’ as a key witness to an incredibly serious crime that has taken place in New York.

Desperate to understand the situation April finds herself in, she starts to repeat the last 24 hours as she knows it (it’s actually been 2 months) until eventually, tiny snippets start to slowly come back to her. However, until these snippets form a bigger picture April is still unable to determine what has, or hasn’t happened to her.

A slow recovery wouldn’t be a problem if she wasn’t due to stand trial as the sole witness, with the whole case resting on her. If she fails to remember, the culprit will walk free, and she will find herself in protective custody permanently, unable to return to her fiancé, home or job. The only way to get her life back is to remember, but everyone around her is stopping this from happening.

Why won’t anyone help her remember?
Why is everyone being so secretive?
Why does she need a (handsome?) cop by her side constantly?
And why is the cop telling her an entirely contradicting story compared to her fiancé (who is secretly tracking her every move) ?

As time crunches & the court date creeps closer, will April remember, or will she be forgotten forever?

Thank you Sourcebooks Publishing & NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book to read & review. Expected UK release date; 10/11/26.

***spoliers below***

Ugh I really LOVE an amnesia trope, it’s an automatic add to TBR for me and I think this particular aspect of the book was done really well. I found the use of medical documents incredibly engaging. I really liked how April’s inner (and occasionally outward) frustration was described, as I think if I were in the same shoes, I would feel incredibly annoyed with my own mind letting me down too. I liked how well the amnesia & mistrust aspects paired incredibly well together; because how can we expect April to remember who she can/cannot trust when she literally doesn’t remember a thing all? I think the constant battle April faced of trying to figure out who she could trust was brilliant, it really got me thinking and trying to analyse each characters behaviour & speech when engaging with April, trying to find any hints.

I was pleasantly surprised to have not guessed each characters genuine involvement in April’s life (although I did predict he very ending with Sam) and feel the majority were rounded off very satisfyingly (minus Ferro, feel this was a little lack lustre considering he was a main character). However the very final twist GOT ME, I did not see that coming and thought it was very clever, the type of twist that once it’s revealed you feel a fool for missing all the drip-fed hints throughout the story. One thing I found a little disappointing (as an atmospheric reader) was the locations and the descriptions (or lack there of). I feel we could have had a bit more depth, especially the police station and court room. However I guess the whole premise is set on the fact April is to be kept in the same nondescript place.

I have never read anything containing Mafia involvement before, and I think had I known this prior I maybe wouldn’t have picked this book up, but i did find myself just needing to know the resolution, and mainly the reason behind the incident in the first place. My only criticism on this is would a notorious Mob boss seriously WRITE A PHYSICAL BOOK containing all their criminal activity/earnings/contacts and be so reckless as to keep it inside their criminal premises, jeopardising their whole criminal enterprise? I highly doubt it. For me, this just seriously undermined the dangerousness of Ferro completely, as from then on, I just saw him as a wee man who keeps a diary.

Overall this was a good read, especially for anyone who is a fan of a cat & mouse chase because I was a bag of nerves most of the last 50%! I’m definitely going to add The Clinic & The Bridesmaid to my TBR.

[Suesyn Zellmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

April wakes up in a motel with no memory of how she got there and who the policeman in the chair is. He explains that she’s in danger and he’s the officer currently assigned to her care. She suffered an attack that left her with head trauma weeks ago, and was recently attacked again in her hospital room. So they took her farther away and promised to keep her safe until the trial she’s supposed to testify at. If she gets her memory back, that is.

So yes, it’s an amnesia story. And also a mafia story. Had I known that, I would have passed on this book because I don’t enjoy mob stories, and unfortunately, this was no exception. Which was strange because I like this author and her previous books, but this one just wasn’t the same.

Anyway, she starts getting pieces of her memory back, but they don’t make much sense. The officer tells her conflicting information from her fiancé (whom she stays in touch with, knowing it puts everyone in danger). She consistently makes stupid decisions and bad choices, yet keeps getting away with it. Seriously, the police come across as bumbling fools throughout the story.

But then again, so do the members of the mafia she deals with. Pretty much every male character is a moron, and she’s the beautiful woman who outsmarts them all and also can’t stop talking about the color of her eyes and hair. The story gets more convoluted as it goes on until it finally just kind of peters out with everything neatly resolved.

It felt like reading a rough first draft, with no editing, but in absolute need of editing everywhere. It didn’t seem at all like this author’s typical stories, and I really hope it’s just a one-off.

My thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the free advanced reading copy of this book.

[Jacqueline Rackard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Memories create context to our lives and provide a way for us to relive both tragic and joyous experiences. For April Anderson, NYU lecturer, her childhood memories are filled with conflict and sadness and very little joy. After losing her parents and brother to a tragic accident when she was young, April is shuffled off to a children's home with no family in sight. She is eventually taken in by her aunt who provides financial conveniences and opportunities for a good education.
Despite her difficult childhood, April has been able to cobble together a productive life until she is viciously attacked and left for dead.

The novel begins as April, who is struggling with her memory loss, wakes up in an unfamiliar place with a new identity. She is promptly told that she is in witness protection because she must testify at the trial of a notorious Mafia boss. She is left with so many questions about what happened to her and who she can trust. As she gradually regains bit and pieces of her memory, April is confronted with the realization that there is much of herself and her past life that has yet to be revealed. Who can she trust- Chris, her fiancé, the federal agents who are interrogating her, or her aunt who has been a distant but influential part of her early life?

The novel is primarily plot driven with very little character depth or development particularly with the supporting characters. The romance sub plot is forced and unnecessary. At times, the plot seems overwrought to the point of complete disbelief.

However, the novel does provide an action filled thriller with suspenseful twists at every corner, as the reader is taken on a journey to uncover the April's truth. Overall, the story is engaging and entertaining.

[Stacy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I adored The Bridesmaid, so I grabbed this book from NetGalley as soon as I saw it! Unfortunately, it was a huge disappointment. Now, I know this is an ARC, so some mistakes are to be expected but wow does this book need editing! Aside from typos galore and things like John becoming Paul at one point, the inconsistencies were driving me nuts! I wasn't sure if they were supposed to be there as part of her head trauma or if it just needed editing and I felt like I was going crazy. As it went on though, it became clear it couldn't all be explained by her head injury. It was also very repetitious. I was so tired of hearing about cotton and threads and machinery and all the other frequently repeated parts. Still, I tried my best to ignore the mistakes, hoping they would be fixed before publication, and just focus on the story. I think I would rate it a bit higher, but I still don't think it would have worked for me. It's very melodramatic, unrealistic and just not my kind of plot. Also, it seems unlikely that someone under police protection would be allowed to go into town alone all the time and the cop wouldn't stay in the same hotel room as her. They can't protect you like that. I truly hate to say it, but I think Before I Disappear is a hot mess. Hopefully it will be better by the time it publishes. It's such a shame because I thought The Bridesmaid was fantastic. 2.5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC.

[Rachel S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC!

When criminologist April Anderson wakes up in a hotel room with no memory of how she got there, she's told she's under police protection as the only witness to a horrific crime. With no memories and no clear answers, she's left trying to figure out who she can trust while piecing together what really happened.

Okay, this had me side-eyeing a little at first because some of the witness protection elements didn't feel especially believable to me. There were a few moments where I found myself questioning how certain things were possible. But honestly? The last 40% completely won me over.

I spent most of the book trying to figure out what was real, what was connected to her amnesia, and who the actual enemy was. April was such an interesting FMC. She could be incredibly bold at times, but I also felt for her as she navigated the constant uncertainty of not knowing who deserved her trust.

There were multiple moments where my jaw genuinely dropped because I was blindsided in the best way. The layers of this story were not what I expected, and I never would have guessed some of the connections that were revealed. If the witness protection aspects had felt a little more realistic to me, this easily could have been a higher rating.

This was my first Cate Quinn, and it definitely won't be my last.

[Victoria Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I grew up on a steady diet of soap operas, so when I saw this book featured one of my favorite melodramatic tropes—amnesiac heroine—I smashed that request button! The results were mixed.

Criminology professor April wakes up in the hospital under the watchful eye of the NYPD. Something has happened, but she, alas, remembers nothing. After a threat, she is spirited off to a Midwest safe house, along with her purse, which just happened to have a burner phone hidden by her boyfriend (ingenious or just unbelievable?). Now she doesn't know whom to trust: the cops who don't seem to be telling her the whole truth or her fiancé, who tells her, via the secreted burner phone, that she's in danger from them. Will our forgetful prof put the pieces together and identify the baddies in time?

This book, though an easy and quick read, wasn't my favorite. Two and a half stars rounded up. If you're looking for a summer popcorn thriller and you don't care too much about plot turns that could never ever happen in real life, it might be for you!

Thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Landmark, via NetGalley, for the ARC!

[Lindsay Brazil · Rating 2 out of 5]

The description sounds super cool and I think this book could be something awesome but it needs a lot of work. There are just so many typos and grammar errors. There's a couple points in the book where I was confused and assumed it was maybe an unreliable narrator thing.

As early as ch.4 - so far we've been told multiple times that she isn't officially in witness protection yet - that he's been with her for days straight in the room keeping her safe still in his NY police uniform - then suddenly he's like ya I'll drive you and you can go get coffee and breakfast. To which shes like ??? I can go out?

His response - that's the whole point of witness protection - no one knows you're here....

I think this is the case of a bunch of little things that need to be worked out.

I want to give it the benefit of the doubt that these things will be fixed before release due to this being an ARC read.

[Harvee Lau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Criminologist April Anderson is a respected university lecturer, who is attacked, loses the memory of the attack and finds herself in a witness protection program while waiting to testify in a sensational mob related trial.

The amnesia section of the book is intriguing, especially as April tries to recall what happened to her and to make sense of the images that flash into her mind of a Cutting Room, where giant reels of thread whirr above, sending the threads down to the floor, covering her face and body.

The intrigue of the novel lies in April's attempts to piece her past together, her connection to the mob boss soon to be on trial, and her relationship with her police handler, the cop assigned to keep her hidden and safe in witness protection.

The ending is surprising, as April finds there is another, deeper side to her personality, one that does not fit in with her normal life as a university expert on crime.

Intriguing yet disturbing at the same time.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cate Quinn opens on a strong, disorienting note. April Anderson, an NYU professor and criminologist, comes to in Iowa with no memory of how she got there and a trial bearing down on her where her testimony (and the memory she can’t access) are the only things that can deliver justice. Quinn knows exactly how much to withhold, the early chapters dole out information in careful morsels, just enough to keep you leaning forward without letting you get your footing.

That control is the book’s strength but also where it tested my patience a little. Through the long middle stretch, Quinn leans hard on the same handful of withheld details, circling back to them again and again with only a sliver of new info each time. There’s a recurring uncertainty about who’s really on April’s side, and it’s genuinely unsettling, but it gets used so often that it sometimes spins in place.

Stick with it, though. The ending justifies the patience the middle asks for; a leaner middle would’ve made it a standout, but Before I Disappear is still a confident, twisty thriller.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before I Disappear by Kate Quinn follows April, who wakes up in a motel room with no memory of how she got there—or why there's a sleeping police officer is sitting in the corner. As she pieces together the events that led to her attack, she must navigate a complicated path toward uncovering the truth and reclaiming her life.
This was a mixed read for me. The mystery surrounding what happened to April kept me engaged, and I enjoyed following her journey as she slowly uncovered the pieces of her past. The story moved at a steady pace.
Where the book lost me was the mob-related storyline. However, the ending delivered several surprises that helped elevate the overall experience. While I was able to predict some of the twists, there were still enough unexpected revelations to keep the conclusion satisfying.

[Kerry Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cate Quinn does not disappoint with this new fast passed thriller. The main character is April Anderson who is a NYU professor of Criminology . She wakes up in a hospital with a police officer in her room telling her that she was recovering from an injury which she has no memory of and is in government protection while she awaits a trial where she is a key witness. The problem is that she is having a hard time remembering the crime that put her in the hospital. She has no idea who she can trust. This story is original, twisty, and a wild ride. If you like unreliable narrators, action, and twists and turns then this book is for you! Special thanks to NetGalley and the author for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

[nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

yeah… i don’t really know what to say about this book.

it unfortunately was not a hit for me. none of the characters were likable and it felt like a cheap soap opera a lot of the time.

i’ve previously liked this author’s work, but this one didn’t resonate with me. obviously with ARCs you’re not getting the final version, but this book definitely needed some major editing still. a lot of grammatical mistakes and even characters somehow changing names at some points? it got confusing.

the main character was infuriating and her memories and actions just got repetitive at times. the big twist at the end was pretty ridiculous.

hopefully i’ll like the next book this author puts out!

[BHK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before I Disappear by Cate Quinn was so good! From the very first chapter, I was completely hooked by the mystery surrounding April and her missing memories, and was questioning everything right alongside her. I loved the constant sense of uncertainty throughout. Every time I thought I had a handle on what was happening, another twist or revelation made me reconsider everything! The story is packed with tension and the suspense built steadily, and it nearly impossible for me to put the book down! This was a gripping and clever thriller that kept me guessing until the end, and it’s one I would happily recommend to anyone who loves psychological suspense with plenty of surprises!

[Ciara Habiger]

This book has a lot of potential and really hooks the reader from the first pages. HOWEVER, the editing, grammar and sentence structure need A LOT of work. This Arc seemed almost completely unedited and the like it was the first draft which made it difficult to stay engaged.

The premise of the book is really good and does hook the reader. A few plot points were truly shocking and well developed. I enjoyed the last 50% immensely and could not put it down. If I wasn’t distracted by the errors, this book would have been 4 stars. Hopefully that is fixed in the released edition!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to review this work!

[Britney Ireland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is very well written and definitely worth the read. Thank you to #NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy.

Throughout the story I was drawn into the characters life and had no clue where this book was gonna end up taking me as I went into it blindly without reading the synopsis. I feel like that was a great choice because I was kept on the edge of my seat and kept turning the pages to see what happened.

The ending was very satisfying and wonderful. I enjoyed this from the start till the finish.

[Chantelle Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay! It took me a while to get into. I really liked the beginning, it was super intriguing and a well set up unique thriller, but I felt like the middle fell flat. It took a while to get to the line up of twists and I’m unsure if I like the mafia direction. I didn’t really connect or relate with our FMC, but I did like her humour and persistence, and I felt like the story was all over the place at some times. The romance as well felt forced and out of place. Overall, I did end up finishing it and it was a quick enough read!

[Nikki Losin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. Before I Disappear by Cate Quinn is a fast-paced psychological thriller that kept me guessing from start to finish. The amnesia storyline pulled me in immediately, and I loved trying to work out who April could trust as her memories slowly returned. The tension builds steadily, with plenty of twists, secrets, and moments that made me question everything I thought I knew. The addictive mystery and constant sense of danger made this a compelling read that thriller fans will easily race through.

[Briana Baptiste · Rating 5 out of 5]

I. Ate. This. Book. Up. I read it in less than 24 hours! It was so good! Such an easy page turner. Cate Quinn did an excellent job of giving you enough information to get your gears turning. I couldn’t tell who was lying to April. I have never read anything like this before either! I really liked how each chapter was short and almost everyone ended on a cliff hanger! I couldn’t stop reading. I needed to know how it ended. Cannot wait to read more by Cate Quinn!

[Alora Khan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m kind of mixed up about this. Started out strong, but towards the end the plot kind of got away from me. It ended up being something that I couldn’t have expected or anticipated. There’s a small part of me that continues to think that it doesn’t quite make sense. That aside, the writing was fantastic, I enjoyed the short chapters, and the main character was interesting. It was lots of flipping pages trying to figure out exactly what she couldn’t remember. If you’re a fan of the amnesia trope don’t miss this. Coming November 2026

[Breanna Ahern · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️This book immediately hits the ground running. Throughout you’re constantly questioning who April can and who she can’t trust. You keep learning more about the different people in her life. I think at one point or another throughout the book I was questioning everyone’s intentions. And I was shocked at the first turn towards the end of the book but the second/third twist I definitely did not see coming at all. I could not put this book down!

[Eve Merritt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, SOURCEBOOKS Landmark, and Cate Quinn for the advanced readers copy of her newest thriller in exchange for my unbiased review.

A NYU professor who specializes in crime groups/the Mafia wakes up with no recollection of what happened to her the last 6 months, and a fresh scar on her forehead. I was hooked in the beginning of this book trying to figure out what happened to our MC! ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

[Jaima Adams · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, this one wasn’t for me.

The mystery relied heavily on misdirection that felt obvious rather than clever, making most of the twists easy to predict. I also struggled with the writing style, which felt underdeveloped and gave the story a more juvenile tone than I expected.

While I can see it being appealing to readers looking for a lighter, accessible mystery, it ultimately wasn’t a good fit for my tastes.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up Before I Disappear immediately after finishing a very gripping thriller, which set the bar very high for this book. It did NOT disappoint. There are so many layers to this mystery and I kept jumping back and forth on who I believed was telling the truth. There are a couple of plot holes or red herrings that weren't clear, but otherwise, I loved this book.

[Maya_Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this free advanced copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is a thriller from the author Cate Quinn, who is quickly coming an autobuy Author.

This one had me spinning from page one until the last. I am so glad I got to read this and enjoy it. I will recommend this book to all of my friends and followers.

[LibraryLaur · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this as much as Quinn's previous thrillers; it was a little tawdry in parts. It definitely kept my attention until the end but was not altogether satisfying.

*Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

[Emma Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was actually SOOOO good! I was immersed the whole time reading this, there was so many twists and turns that wete unexpected! I didn't know which way was Up at one point 👀😂

Fantastic character development and storyline! I did not see that ending coming!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received an arc from NetGalley.

Before I Disappear kept me on the edge of my seat! Who is April? Is she really who she thinks she is? Is anyone? I enjoyed the pacing of the book and how the author kept me guessing until the very end.

I'd recommend this read to fans of Cate Quinn, or to people who like twisty thrillers with (possibly?) unreliable narrators.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was just...not good. So repetitive . Fibers, threads, strands, shards over and over and over. It needs a heavy edit. The only reason I'm giving it two stars is because I do think the entire concept/twist/ending is good and extremely creative. But man, the rest was a slog.

[xx.reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you for the ARC from netgalley

It started off really good, in the mid it was meh, end was also okay but literally every decision April was making was pissing me off.
Every male character is dumb as shit too.
The mystery was good, it kept me engaged but everything else was meh.