What do you think?
Rate this book
Before I Disappear
Not yet published
Expected 10 Nov 26
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?
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?
Kindle Edition
Expected publication November 10, 2026
About the author
Cate Quinn
5 books967 followersCate 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
Books by Cate Quinn - Black Widows and Blood Sisters
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews
August 3, 2026
This book was…fine? Confusing? A little all over the place? I’m definitely in the minority which is fine!
I think it was bringing too many plot twists together and trying a little too hard for me. I wanted to really enjoy the characters but they were all too unreliable for me to become invested in them.
I was also distracted and annoyed by the constant flashbacks and memories (which I completely understand was part of the point!!!) that it pulled me away from the story.
So yeah, I just think this one wasn’t for me but I can see it being a hit :)
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC!
I think it was bringing too many plot twists together and trying a little too hard for me. I wanted to really enjoy the characters but they were all too unreliable for me to become invested in them.
I was also distracted and annoyed by the constant flashbacks and memories (which I completely understand was part of the point!!!) that it pulled me away from the story.
So yeah, I just think this one wasn’t for me but I can see it being a hit :)
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC!
July 10, 2026
Before I Disappear was thrilling page turner. I could not put this down as soon as I started it. We are thrown into the story where our main character April wakes up and has no memory of the last couple of months. She is told she is on the run and being placed into witness protection. This is because she was the victim of a violent crime. There was not a single moment in this book where I correctly guessed what was going to happen.
I did receive a very early copy of this book so there was some errors but I expect those to be corrected by the time this comes out in November
I did receive a very early copy of this book so there was some errors but I expect those to be corrected by the time this comes out in November
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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⭐️
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⭐️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Criminologist April Anderson wakes up in a motel room not remembering where she is or what has happened during the last few months. She is told she is a witness for a high profile criminal who somehow caused the injuries she has, and it is up to her to remember what happened before the trial or her life changes forever.
This started off strong and I was really hooked into the story, but as it went on the romances were just really off putting for me. The sexual flashbacks were just weird lol
I also found a lot of things not realistic at all, like leaving such a high profile witness alone over and over again, and also that one scene where she overhears something whispered that jolts her memory. I can see lots of people enjoying this one, but it just wasn't for me.
thank you netgalley for the arc!
This started off strong and I was really hooked into the story, but as it went on the romances were just really off putting for me. The sexual flashbacks were just weird lol
I also found a lot of things not realistic at all, like leaving such a high profile witness alone over and over again, and also that one scene where she overhears something whispered that jolts her memory. I can see lots of people enjoying this one, but it just wasn't for me.
thank you netgalley for the arc!
July 31, 2026
I could not put this one down! I spend the first half of the book distrusting everyone and the second half felt like a nonstop sprint with twist after twist. I did not see some of these twists coming and loved how it played out!
Dr, April Anderson wakes up in protective custody with no memory of how she got there. No one will tell her the full story. She’s on the run, the court case is getting closer and closer and it’s up to her to start remembering.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! What a fun ride!
Dr, April Anderson wakes up in protective custody with no memory of how she got there. No one will tell her the full story. She’s on the run, the court case is getting closer and closer and it’s up to her to start remembering.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! What a fun ride!
August 2, 2026
My first Cate Quinn book was a bust. I really wanted to like it, and I gave it every chance, pushing through all the way to the end, but it really was a struggle. This is one of the most unrealistic and unbelievable books I've ever read, and I just couldn't get into the story. I'm disappointed that this had to be my introduction to Cate Quinn's writing, but unfortunately, this one just wasn't for me.
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this advanced readers copy for my honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this advanced readers copy for my honest review.
August 4, 2026
Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark for the eARC of Before I Disappear by Cate Quinn in exchange for an honest review.
Releases: November 10, 2026.
Before I Disappear was a captivating read! I never got bored and it was hard to put down once I started. I spent the entire time trying to piece together what happened to April as more and more information unfolded. What I didn’t expect were the plot twists there at the end… what a ride!
This is a great book for anyone wanting a fast paced suspense that will keep you mentally solving the puzzles.
Releases: November 10, 2026.
Before I Disappear was a captivating read! I never got bored and it was hard to put down once I started. I spent the entire time trying to piece together what happened to April as more and more information unfolded. What I didn’t expect were the plot twists there at the end… what a ride!
This is a great book for anyone wanting a fast paced suspense that will keep you mentally solving the puzzles.
July 22, 2026
This book really surprised me as I never knew where things were headed until much later in the story!! April has temporary amnesia after witnessing a crime so now she is in police protection. She doesn’t know who to trust or who she can believe and neither do we!
This book was action packed. Think a Jason Bourne movie! Lots of surprises along the way and told from the ending to the beginning so I was shocked when I finally understood all that had gone on. Don’t miss this one!
This book was action packed. Think a Jason Bourne movie! Lots of surprises along the way and told from the ending to the beginning so I was shocked when I finally understood all that had gone on. Don’t miss this one!
July 20, 2026
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.
#BeforeIDisappear #NetGalley
Cate Quinn
Before I Disappear
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.
#BeforeIDisappear #NetGalley
Cate Quinn
Before I Disappear
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
THIS IS AN ADVANCED READING COPY FROM NETGALLEY. It is available to the public on November 10, 2026
Wow! What an incredibly exhilarating experience this was.
Dr. April Anderson wakes up with an awful headache and dressed in clothes that aren’t hers and in a place that she doesn’t recognize. The last thing she’d remembered was giving a lecture at NYU on criminal behavior of the Mafia to her students and she can’t recall anything after that. Then she sees a police man sleeping in a chair in the corner of the room. Her movements wake him and she is defensive and terrified but he’s calmed her enough to tell her she is in protection and was hurt by some bad people who found her while in the hospital recovering and they had to move her, She asks about her fiancé Chris, she remembers him. And is told he is okay. She wants to call him but the doctor feels too much stress and cops feel any contact outside will jeopardize her location. Throughout the protective detail she begins getting flashbacks of herself as someone who was not just an academic but someone else with a vengeance for something she can’t seem to remember but she is noticing her subconscious mind is able to do things that a normal academic wouldn’t. Such as get resources to figure out what is going with her, why she’s not able to speak to her fiancé and why the police won’t reveal what happened but keep saying it will compromise her true memory if they do. She also can fluently and expertly fight jitsu as she’s learned when startled by her cop protective detail and she took him out good and his gun. She’s also feeling things that are quite a bit deeper than protector and victim within the parameters of her and Sam’s relationship.
As the stakes against her become higher and the men looking for her keep getting to the locations they have to continue moving to, April begins to realize she has had another life outside of her academic one and it wasn’t one she’s able to make peace with. The flashbacks of an older man, naked showering washing off all kinds of colored strings from his body is haunting her. Another is of them lying naked in bed. She can actually smell the cigar, the aftershave and sickly sweet sweat of this man and she’s distraught with herself because she no longer knows who she is or what she is or was capable of. She’s distracted over all these memories, if that’s what they are and cannot come to terms with the flashbacks that she is having. She isn’t sure she’ll ever be able to reconcile or figure out if she is the good academic or the other April who is clearly a vengeful violent and most likely a trained killer. #BeforeIDisappear #SourcebooksLandmark #CateQuinn
Wow! What an incredibly exhilarating experience this was.
Dr. April Anderson wakes up with an awful headache and dressed in clothes that aren’t hers and in a place that she doesn’t recognize. The last thing she’d remembered was giving a lecture at NYU on criminal behavior of the Mafia to her students and she can’t recall anything after that. Then she sees a police man sleeping in a chair in the corner of the room. Her movements wake him and she is defensive and terrified but he’s calmed her enough to tell her she is in protection and was hurt by some bad people who found her while in the hospital recovering and they had to move her, She asks about her fiancé Chris, she remembers him. And is told he is okay. She wants to call him but the doctor feels too much stress and cops feel any contact outside will jeopardize her location. Throughout the protective detail she begins getting flashbacks of herself as someone who was not just an academic but someone else with a vengeance for something she can’t seem to remember but she is noticing her subconscious mind is able to do things that a normal academic wouldn’t. Such as get resources to figure out what is going with her, why she’s not able to speak to her fiancé and why the police won’t reveal what happened but keep saying it will compromise her true memory if they do. She also can fluently and expertly fight jitsu as she’s learned when startled by her cop protective detail and she took him out good and his gun. She’s also feeling things that are quite a bit deeper than protector and victim within the parameters of her and Sam’s relationship.
As the stakes against her become higher and the men looking for her keep getting to the locations they have to continue moving to, April begins to realize she has had another life outside of her academic one and it wasn’t one she’s able to make peace with. The flashbacks of an older man, naked showering washing off all kinds of colored strings from his body is haunting her. Another is of them lying naked in bed. She can actually smell the cigar, the aftershave and sickly sweet sweat of this man and she’s distraught with herself because she no longer knows who she is or what she is or was capable of. She’s distracted over all these memories, if that’s what they are and cannot come to terms with the flashbacks that she is having. She isn’t sure she’ll ever be able to reconcile or figure out if she is the good academic or the other April who is clearly a vengeful violent and most likely a trained killer. #BeforeIDisappear #SourcebooksLandmark #CateQuinn
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Before I Disappear • Cate Quinn
One phrase: amnesia, secrets, and everyone is suspicious 🧠🔍
Before I Disappear starts with such a tense setup.
April Anderson, a successful criminologist and lecturer, wakes up in an unfamiliar hotel room with a serious head injury and no memory of how she got there. Across the room is a police officer telling her she is under protection because she is the key witness to a horrific crime.
Tiny problem.
April does not remember the crime.
Or the last two months of her life.
Immediately, she is trapped in this terrifying in between place where everyone around her seems to know more than she does, but no one will give her straight answers. She is supposed to testify. The whole case depends on her memory. But the more she tries to piece things together, the more confusing everything becomes.
Why won’t anyone help her remember?
Why is everyone being so secretive?
Why is the cop guarding her telling her one version of events while her fiancé, who is secretly tracking her, seems to have another?
And why does April keep uncovering pieces of herself she does not recognize?
I love a thriller where memory itself becomes the mystery, and this one has that frantic, disoriented energy from the start. April is trying to rebuild the truth from fragments while also figuring out who is safe, who is lying, and whether her missing memories are the thing putting her in danger or the only reason she is still alive.
The countdown to the trial adds even more pressure, because if April cannot remember what happened, a dangerous person could walk free and she may never get her old life back.
This is one of those “trust no one, not even yourself” thrillers, and I was fully pulled into the paranoia of it all.
✨ Tropes and vibes:
🧠 amnesia thriller
🏨 remote hotel room
🔍 criminologist FMC
🚔 police protection
👀 trust no one
💍 suspicious fiancé
⏳ trial countdown
🧩 fractured memories
🖤 psychological suspense
🔐 secrets everywhere
😵💫 unreliable reality
⚖️ key witness mystery
📚 Read this if you like:
Memory loss thrillers, psychological suspense, hidden secrets, protective custody plots, unreliable narrators, suspicious love interests, and stories where every recovered memory changes what you think you know.
This was tense, twisty, unsettling, and full of that delicious thriller panic where everyone feels like they are hiding something.
#BeforeIDisappear #CateQuinn #PsychologicalThriller #MysteryThriller #BookReview @Landmark
One phrase: amnesia, secrets, and everyone is suspicious 🧠🔍
Before I Disappear starts with such a tense setup.
April Anderson, a successful criminologist and lecturer, wakes up in an unfamiliar hotel room with a serious head injury and no memory of how she got there. Across the room is a police officer telling her she is under protection because she is the key witness to a horrific crime.
Tiny problem.
April does not remember the crime.
Or the last two months of her life.
Immediately, she is trapped in this terrifying in between place where everyone around her seems to know more than she does, but no one will give her straight answers. She is supposed to testify. The whole case depends on her memory. But the more she tries to piece things together, the more confusing everything becomes.
Why won’t anyone help her remember?
Why is everyone being so secretive?
Why is the cop guarding her telling her one version of events while her fiancé, who is secretly tracking her, seems to have another?
And why does April keep uncovering pieces of herself she does not recognize?
I love a thriller where memory itself becomes the mystery, and this one has that frantic, disoriented energy from the start. April is trying to rebuild the truth from fragments while also figuring out who is safe, who is lying, and whether her missing memories are the thing putting her in danger or the only reason she is still alive.
The countdown to the trial adds even more pressure, because if April cannot remember what happened, a dangerous person could walk free and she may never get her old life back.
This is one of those “trust no one, not even yourself” thrillers, and I was fully pulled into the paranoia of it all.
✨ Tropes and vibes:
🧠 amnesia thriller
🏨 remote hotel room
🔍 criminologist FMC
🚔 police protection
👀 trust no one
💍 suspicious fiancé
⏳ trial countdown
🧩 fractured memories
🖤 psychological suspense
🔐 secrets everywhere
😵💫 unreliable reality
⚖️ key witness mystery
📚 Read this if you like:
Memory loss thrillers, psychological suspense, hidden secrets, protective custody plots, unreliable narrators, suspicious love interests, and stories where every recovered memory changes what you think you know.
This was tense, twisty, unsettling, and full of that delicious thriller panic where everyone feels like they are hiding something.
#BeforeIDisappear #CateQuinn #PsychologicalThriller #MysteryThriller #BookReview @Landmark
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars rounded up.
Before I Disappear is a book you won't be able to put down!
Dr. April Anderson is a criminologist and NYU lecturer who woke up disoriented, with a strange man, in an unfamiliar house. She has no memories of the last 2 months. She's told she's in witness protection for being a witness in a high profile trial, she has to work through her memories and her identity to discover the truth and save herself.
This is my 3rd Cate Quinn novel, and I enjoyed all her past work (especially 'The Clinic'). Her newest novel is no different, and it kept me captivated until the end. First-person POV was perfect for this novel, and allowed the reader to explore everything April was going through. You can feel the inner turmoil she has to work through. I felt like I was learning at the same time April was. Amnesia and figuring out who she can trust goes really well together in this novel. I also enjoyed the well-timed twists and reveals and the character development was there.
That being said, I feel like more research should've been done on witness protection. There was conflicting information, and it seems like the government put her in harms way more than once (biggest one is I don't think they would've performed unnecessary surgery for trial evidence). I don't know too much witness protection, but what was portrayed here is unbelievable. There were parts of the novel that became repetitive. I can't tell you how many times I read about threads, but it was too much!! I get that she's trying to remember, but it needed to be toned down. Also, a nitpick of mine is when the same memorable word is repeated numerous times, for me this was 'subterfuge.' I'm not removing points for this, but it had to of been used at least 6 times in the first 15% or so. Once it was used twice in the same chapter. Surely there's other words that can be used. It didn't come up again after the opening chapters, thankfully. Lastly, I wish more about the Mafia was focused on the first half of the book. There were some hints in the first half, but as someone who has zero understanding of the Mafia, it would've been nice to delve into this fictional scenario about Ferro more.
I do recommend this book to most readers, especially if you enjoyed 'The Clinic.' I think it was overall well-executed.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Before I Disappear is a book you won't be able to put down!
Dr. April Anderson is a criminologist and NYU lecturer who woke up disoriented, with a strange man, in an unfamiliar house. She has no memories of the last 2 months. She's told she's in witness protection for being a witness in a high profile trial, she has to work through her memories and her identity to discover the truth and save herself.
This is my 3rd Cate Quinn novel, and I enjoyed all her past work (especially 'The Clinic'). Her newest novel is no different, and it kept me captivated until the end. First-person POV was perfect for this novel, and allowed the reader to explore everything April was going through. You can feel the inner turmoil she has to work through. I felt like I was learning at the same time April was. Amnesia and figuring out who she can trust goes really well together in this novel. I also enjoyed the well-timed twists and reveals and the character development was there.
That being said, I feel like more research should've been done on witness protection. There was conflicting information, and it seems like the government put her in harms way more than once (biggest one is I don't think they would've performed unnecessary surgery for trial evidence). I don't know too much witness protection, but what was portrayed here is unbelievable. There were parts of the novel that became repetitive. I can't tell you how many times I read about threads, but it was too much!! I get that she's trying to remember, but it needed to be toned down. Also, a nitpick of mine is when the same memorable word is repeated numerous times, for me this was 'subterfuge.' I'm not removing points for this, but it had to of been used at least 6 times in the first 15% or so. Once it was used twice in the same chapter. Surely there's other words that can be used. It didn't come up again after the opening chapters, thankfully. Lastly, I wish more about the Mafia was focused on the first half of the book. There were some hints in the first half, but as someone who has zero understanding of the Mafia, it would've been nice to delve into this fictional scenario about Ferro more.
I do recommend this book to most readers, especially if you enjoyed 'The Clinic.' I think it was overall well-executed.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Before I Disappear is a gripping psychological thriller that wastes no time pulling you into its unsettling mystery. Cate Quinn takes a classic amnesia premise and elevates it with tight pacing, emotional depth, and a protagonist whose fractured identity becomes the story’s most compelling danger.
April Anderson waking up in a remote motel with a new name and no memory is a brilliant hook — but what makes the novel truly addictive is how quickly the ground shifts beneath her. The cop who claims he’s protecting her, the fiancé who insists he’s tracking her for her own good, the looming trial she’s supposedly central to… every relationship feels unstable, every explanation slightly off‑centre. Quinn leans into that uncertainty beautifully.
As April’s memories return in disorienting flashes, the tension builds in a way that feels both psychological and visceral. The more she uncovers about the night of the crime, the more she realises she may not be the woman she believed herself to be — and that her missing memories might be the only thing keeping her alive. It’s a clever, unsettling dynamic that keeps the reader questioning everyone, including April herself.
The short, cliff‑hanger‑driven chapters make this an easy book to devour in long, breathless stretches. Quinn’s pacing is razor‑sharp, and the sense of threat never fully lets up. By the time the truth comes into focus, the emotional stakes are as gripping as the twists.
Fast, tense, and wonderfully disorienting, Before I Disappear is perfect for readers who love unreliable narrators, high‑stakes psychological suspense, and thrillers that keep you turning pages long past bedtime.
with thanks to Cate Quinn, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
April Anderson waking up in a remote motel with a new name and no memory is a brilliant hook — but what makes the novel truly addictive is how quickly the ground shifts beneath her. The cop who claims he’s protecting her, the fiancé who insists he’s tracking her for her own good, the looming trial she’s supposedly central to… every relationship feels unstable, every explanation slightly off‑centre. Quinn leans into that uncertainty beautifully.
As April’s memories return in disorienting flashes, the tension builds in a way that feels both psychological and visceral. The more she uncovers about the night of the crime, the more she realises she may not be the woman she believed herself to be — and that her missing memories might be the only thing keeping her alive. It’s a clever, unsettling dynamic that keeps the reader questioning everyone, including April herself.
The short, cliff‑hanger‑driven chapters make this an easy book to devour in long, breathless stretches. Quinn’s pacing is razor‑sharp, and the sense of threat never fully lets up. By the time the truth comes into focus, the emotional stakes are as gripping as the twists.
Fast, tense, and wonderfully disorienting, Before I Disappear is perfect for readers who love unreliable narrators, high‑stakes psychological suspense, and thrillers that keep you turning pages long past bedtime.
with thanks to Cate Quinn, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
July 8, 2026
This one had such a strong premise, and the amnesia trope had me hooked from the start.
What I enjoyed most was discovering the truth alongside April. The reveals came at a steady pace, so I was always curious to see what piece of the puzzle would come next. I enjoyed that everyone was a suspect, I genuinely couldn't pick a side and that's what kept me reading, so the suspense was there. That said, there were a few things that stopped this from being more than a 3-star read for me.
There were quite a few spelling and editing mistakes throughout, which pulled me out of the story. I also expected a lot more from the trial. It felt surprisingly short, and one of the biggest bombshells was revealed and then wrapped up so quickly that it didn't have the impact I was hoping for.
Some of the police procedures surrounding a witness in protective custody also felt a little unrealistic, making parts of the story harder to believe.
April's backstory completely caught me by surprise, and I wish it had been teased throughout the book with a few subtle clues instead of being dropped all at once. I also wanted much deeper character development because I never fully connected with her. The romantic subplot didn't really add anything for me either and felt like it could have been left out.
Overall, this was an entertaining thriller that kept me turning the pages, but I finished it wishing it had dug a little deeper into its characters and biggest reveals.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC.
What I enjoyed most was discovering the truth alongside April. The reveals came at a steady pace, so I was always curious to see what piece of the puzzle would come next. I enjoyed that everyone was a suspect, I genuinely couldn't pick a side and that's what kept me reading, so the suspense was there. That said, there were a few things that stopped this from being more than a 3-star read for me.
There were quite a few spelling and editing mistakes throughout, which pulled me out of the story. I also expected a lot more from the trial. It felt surprisingly short, and one of the biggest bombshells was revealed and then wrapped up so quickly that it didn't have the impact I was hoping for.
Some of the police procedures surrounding a witness in protective custody also felt a little unrealistic, making parts of the story harder to believe.
April's backstory completely caught me by surprise, and I wish it had been teased throughout the book with a few subtle clues instead of being dropped all at once. I also wanted much deeper character development because I never fully connected with her. The romantic subplot didn't really add anything for me either and felt like it could have been left out.
Overall, this was an entertaining thriller that kept me turning the pages, but I finished it wishing it had dug a little deeper into its characters and biggest reveals.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley and author Cate Quinn for an arc copy of Before I Disappear in exchange for my honest review!
Final rating: 2.5 stars!
This book started off strong and promising, however, I found that it fell flat for me.
There is an immense amount of repetition which I had understanding for at first, as the main character is suffering from a head injury and can’t remember much, but it got to a point where I became disinterested and just wanted to finish. The flashbacks, in my opinion, are overly done and took away from much of the character development. The continued conversations with police, saying the same things over and over like how she's "an academic" and "a lecturer at the University" became bothersome and overdone rather quickly.
As for the characters, they feel a bit bland and don't get quite interesting until about 80% of the way through the book. I also feel as though the relationships and romantic partners in this were rushed and I can't picture any of these characters together, it is a bit confusing to be honest.
Although, I will say the author does an excellent job at throwing in some plot twists, which is why I gave this book the rating that I did. However, the rest of the book just didn't really have me gripped and hooked like I thought it would have based off the synopsis.
Overall, while the plot twists keep the story interesting at times, the repetition, underdeveloped characters, and rushed relationships ultimately make this a 2.5-star read for me.
Final rating: 2.5 stars!
This book started off strong and promising, however, I found that it fell flat for me.
There is an immense amount of repetition which I had understanding for at first, as the main character is suffering from a head injury and can’t remember much, but it got to a point where I became disinterested and just wanted to finish. The flashbacks, in my opinion, are overly done and took away from much of the character development. The continued conversations with police, saying the same things over and over like how she's "an academic" and "a lecturer at the University" became bothersome and overdone rather quickly.
As for the characters, they feel a bit bland and don't get quite interesting until about 80% of the way through the book. I also feel as though the relationships and romantic partners in this were rushed and I can't picture any of these characters together, it is a bit confusing to be honest.
Although, I will say the author does an excellent job at throwing in some plot twists, which is why I gave this book the rating that I did. However, the rest of the book just didn't really have me gripped and hooked like I thought it would have based off the synopsis.
Overall, while the plot twists keep the story interesting at times, the repetition, underdeveloped characters, and rushed relationships ultimately make this a 2.5-star read for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
When Dr April Anderson wakes in a hotel room she doesn’t recognise, she has absolutely no memory of how she got there. She is even more confused when her hair is dyed, she has a head injury and has a new ID with new names. Told she is under protection custody as the victim of a terrible crime, she’ll has to take part in a major trial as a witness, but has no memory of the events that led to this.
But April isn’t sure who she can trust. Can she trust the Officer tasked with monitoring her protection or the fiancé who is secretly tracking her. When her memories slowly start to return, she discovers a side to herself that she doesn’t recognise. A side that she would rather stay hidden …
As the trial draws closer, someone is desperate to keep April silent and her missing memories may be the only thing that is keeping her alive. Will she remember the full truth and get her old life back … or disappear forever?
This was an incredible read with such an original premise for me. Just go into this blind!Disorientating, secretive, suspenseful and action packed, this dark thriller was filled with amazing twists and red herrings that kept me gripped until the very end. The unsettling mystery around April’s injuries and current need for protection was fab, as were the short chapters and fast pacing.
Plot heavy rather than character driven, I couldn’t stop reading this one and highly recommend if you love psychological thrillers!
Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark and Cate Quinn for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
But April isn’t sure who she can trust. Can she trust the Officer tasked with monitoring her protection or the fiancé who is secretly tracking her. When her memories slowly start to return, she discovers a side to herself that she doesn’t recognise. A side that she would rather stay hidden …
As the trial draws closer, someone is desperate to keep April silent and her missing memories may be the only thing that is keeping her alive. Will she remember the full truth and get her old life back … or disappear forever?
This was an incredible read with such an original premise for me. Just go into this blind!Disorientating, secretive, suspenseful and action packed, this dark thriller was filled with amazing twists and red herrings that kept me gripped until the very end. The unsettling mystery around April’s injuries and current need for protection was fab, as were the short chapters and fast pacing.
Plot heavy rather than character driven, I couldn’t stop reading this one and highly recommend if you love psychological thrillers!
Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark and Cate Quinn for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Clinic made me a Cate Quinn fan and I know I was in the minority on that one. I absolutely loved it so I couldn’t wait to read Before I Disappear. I was again reminded me why I enjoy her books so much. Her writing is immersive, her characters feel genuine and relatable, and the way she slowly builds the mystery is ridiculously intriguing. It goes without saying, I loved Before I Disappear just as much as I relished The Clinic.
The plot completely pulled me in! I was constantly questioning who, what, where, when, why as the story kept taking unexpected turns. Memory loss narratives always get my attention and when you add an unreliable narrator, psychological suspense, an isolated motel setting and a looming trial, there’s no way I wasn’t going to be hooked. I also appreciated that the story was told entirely from April’s perspective. She was intelligent yet vulnerable because of her missing memories, and I couldn’t help but root for her. The constant misdirection kept me guessing, and the action filled ending made the payoff worth it.
My only minor complaints were that I had a few moments where I didn’t completely wrap my head around the memory-loss premise and the direction it took. There were also a couple of spots in the middle that I would have eliminated to make this a hundred pages less, but despite that, I was completely engaged.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark through NetGalley for the advance copy!
The plot completely pulled me in! I was constantly questioning who, what, where, when, why as the story kept taking unexpected turns. Memory loss narratives always get my attention and when you add an unreliable narrator, psychological suspense, an isolated motel setting and a looming trial, there’s no way I wasn’t going to be hooked. I also appreciated that the story was told entirely from April’s perspective. She was intelligent yet vulnerable because of her missing memories, and I couldn’t help but root for her. The constant misdirection kept me guessing, and the action filled ending made the payoff worth it.
My only minor complaints were that I had a few moments where I didn’t completely wrap my head around the memory-loss premise and the direction it took. There were also a couple of spots in the middle that I would have eliminated to make this a hundred pages less, but despite that, I was completely engaged.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark through NetGalley for the advance copy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I had a pretty good time with Before I Disappear. The whole setup pulled me in straight away — April waking up with no memory, being told she's under police protection, and somehow being expected to testify in a trial she doesn't even remember being connected to. I immediately wanted to know what had happened to her and, probably just as importantly, who she could actually trust.
I liked April as a main character, especially because even she didn't really know what to make of herself as her memories started coming back. There was a constant feeling of okay, but can we actually trust this person? and I enjoyed trying to work things out alongside her.
There were plenty of twists and moments that made me change my mind about what I thought was happening, which definitely kept me reading. I also liked the short chapters — it made this very easy to pick up and keep going because there was always another little piece of the puzzle waiting.
I didn't completely love every twist or feel as blown away by the ending as I wanted to be, so it's more of a 3.5-star read for me than a new favourite. But I was entertained, I wanted to know what happened, and I definitely didn't regret picking it up.
A good choice if you like psychological thrillers where you can't quite work out who is telling the truth and the main character is trying to piece everything together at the same time as you are.
⭐️⭐️⭐️½
I liked April as a main character, especially because even she didn't really know what to make of herself as her memories started coming back. There was a constant feeling of okay, but can we actually trust this person? and I enjoyed trying to work things out alongside her.
There were plenty of twists and moments that made me change my mind about what I thought was happening, which definitely kept me reading. I also liked the short chapters — it made this very easy to pick up and keep going because there was always another little piece of the puzzle waiting.
I didn't completely love every twist or feel as blown away by the ending as I wanted to be, so it's more of a 3.5-star read for me than a new favourite. But I was entertained, I wanted to know what happened, and I definitely didn't regret picking it up.
A good choice if you like psychological thrillers where you can't quite work out who is telling the truth and the main character is trying to piece everything together at the same time as you are.
⭐️⭐️⭐️½
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
👀🤕 ARC BOOK REVIEW 🤕👀
PUB DATE: Nov 9th 2026
My Rating : ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 3 Untrustworthy Slow Burnt Stars
When criminologist April wakes up in an isolated hotel , with a new identity under the watchful eye of NYPD detective Hollister she quickly realizes she’s in danger but no matter how hard she tries …she doesn’t remember a thing ??!!
April quickly finds herself unable to trust anyone and as the story unfolds with flashbacks between past and present we see April is hiding a dark past that is haunting her and blurring her vision to be able to depict between fact and fiction.
Under witness protection , April needs to try to put the pieces together as soon as possible before she’s put in court to face the terrifying mafia and put him behind bars , but first she needs to remember how she got here… but she can’t even remember her relationship with her fiancee Chris ?
As the author toes the line slowly , the story feels repetitive at times with the flashbacks and confusing adding side romances that don’t quite fit and doesn’t really pick up until about the 60% mark .
If you’re looking for unrealistic plot twists , that has enough tension to draw the reader with outlandish twists and unreliable narrators then definitely add this one to your TBR !!
PS I was originally drawn to this book by the cover and the synopsis but don’t feel the cover is the right fit for this story 🤷🏻♀️
Thank you NetGalley , Sourcebooks Landmark and Cate Quinn for this tension filled ARC 🙌🏼
PUB DATE: Nov 9th 2026
My Rating : ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 3 Untrustworthy Slow Burnt Stars
When criminologist April wakes up in an isolated hotel , with a new identity under the watchful eye of NYPD detective Hollister she quickly realizes she’s in danger but no matter how hard she tries …she doesn’t remember a thing ??!!
April quickly finds herself unable to trust anyone and as the story unfolds with flashbacks between past and present we see April is hiding a dark past that is haunting her and blurring her vision to be able to depict between fact and fiction.
Under witness protection , April needs to try to put the pieces together as soon as possible before she’s put in court to face the terrifying mafia and put him behind bars , but first she needs to remember how she got here… but she can’t even remember her relationship with her fiancee Chris ?
As the author toes the line slowly , the story feels repetitive at times with the flashbacks and confusing adding side romances that don’t quite fit and doesn’t really pick up until about the 60% mark .
If you’re looking for unrealistic plot twists , that has enough tension to draw the reader with outlandish twists and unreliable narrators then definitely add this one to your TBR !!
PS I was originally drawn to this book by the cover and the synopsis but don’t feel the cover is the right fit for this story 🤷🏻♀️
Thank you NetGalley , Sourcebooks Landmark and Cate Quinn for this tension filled ARC 🙌🏼
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
July 19, 2026
Before I Disappear by Cate Quinn is a gripping psychological thriller, keeping readers off-balance from the very first chapter. The story follows April, the victim of a brutal crime that caused amnesia. Her very survival hinges on fractured memories she cannot fully piece together. April is told she’s being guarded by the police for her own protection; they say bad men are looking for her, but won’t give her any more details. As an associate professor of criminology, April deals with crime logically, but her trauma makes her feel vulnerable.
Quinn expertly exploits the reader's trust throughout the story. The internal tug-of-war—mistrusting April, feeling guilty for doubting her as a victim, then mistrusting her again—is an emotional rollercoaster that highlights the perfect pacing of the book.
One of the more interesting dynamics in the book is April’s complex relationship with the police officer tasked with her protection. Is he genuinely trying to protect her, or is he taking advantage of her fragile state? This ambiguity keeps the suspense high.
This was my first Cate Quinn read, but it won’t be my last! Ultimately, her novel is a great blend of crime, romance, and psychological suspense that will leave you second-guessing every character's motives until the very end.
(I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
Quinn expertly exploits the reader's trust throughout the story. The internal tug-of-war—mistrusting April, feeling guilty for doubting her as a victim, then mistrusting her again—is an emotional rollercoaster that highlights the perfect pacing of the book.
One of the more interesting dynamics in the book is April’s complex relationship with the police officer tasked with her protection. Is he genuinely trying to protect her, or is he taking advantage of her fragile state? This ambiguity keeps the suspense high.
This was my first Cate Quinn read, but it won’t be my last! Ultimately, her novel is a great blend of crime, romance, and psychological suspense that will leave you second-guessing every character's motives until the very end.
(I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book has a great premise that hooked me at the start. It is told from a single point of view, an unreliable narrator named Dr. April Anderson, who loses her memory in an accident, and she needs to recall what happened in order to testify in court. She can't remember what happened, can't remember who she is, and doesn't know who to trust.
There are many things that I felt could've been stronger in the story. I wished April's knowledge as an academic in criminology would've played out more in the plot. Also, I felt there were good cliffhangers at chapter endings, but the build up of suspense never really carried through into the next chapter. It also felt repetitive; this is mainly a result of her memory loss, but also beyond the flashbacks, a lot felt like it was brought up over and over. There's also hints towards possible mental health issues, like multiple personality disorder, and I wish the author would've either fully committed to that or not included it at all. The biggest issue I had was that I questioned the logic behind several plot developments and noticed frequent inconsistencies.
There were deeper themes of identity and how different versions of ourselves exist over time. Also there were themes about family allegiance and how far people are willing to go for those they love.
ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a review.
There are many things that I felt could've been stronger in the story. I wished April's knowledge as an academic in criminology would've played out more in the plot. Also, I felt there were good cliffhangers at chapter endings, but the build up of suspense never really carried through into the next chapter. It also felt repetitive; this is mainly a result of her memory loss, but also beyond the flashbacks, a lot felt like it was brought up over and over. There's also hints towards possible mental health issues, like multiple personality disorder, and I wish the author would've either fully committed to that or not included it at all. The biggest issue I had was that I questioned the logic behind several plot developments and noticed frequent inconsistencies.
There were deeper themes of identity and how different versions of ourselves exist over time. Also there were themes about family allegiance and how far people are willing to go for those they love.
ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Imagine waking up with no memory, being told you’re the most important witness in a murder case, and realizing someone might kill you before you remember why.
That was enough to have me hooked from page one.
Before I Disappear is the literary equivalent of being gaslit for however many pages. And I mean that as the highest compliment. I questioned everyone. The cops? Suspicious. The strangers? Suspicious. The people trying to help? Also suspicious. Honestly, I even started side-eyeing April because at this point nobody was safe from my accusations.
The memory-loss storyline could have felt overdone, but Cate Quinn kept revealing just enough to make me think I’d solved it… only to immediately humble me. Every recovered memory sent me spiraling into a brand new theory that lasted approximately twelve minutes.
The tension never let up, the paranoia was contagious, and by the end I realized Cate Quinn had been five steps ahead of me the entire time.
If you enjoy psychological thrillers that make you distrust every character, every memory, and eventually yourself… congratulations. This book is your next personality trait.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
That was enough to have me hooked from page one.
Before I Disappear is the literary equivalent of being gaslit for however many pages. And I mean that as the highest compliment. I questioned everyone. The cops? Suspicious. The strangers? Suspicious. The people trying to help? Also suspicious. Honestly, I even started side-eyeing April because at this point nobody was safe from my accusations.
The memory-loss storyline could have felt overdone, but Cate Quinn kept revealing just enough to make me think I’d solved it… only to immediately humble me. Every recovered memory sent me spiraling into a brand new theory that lasted approximately twelve minutes.
The tension never let up, the paranoia was contagious, and by the end I realized Cate Quinn had been five steps ahead of me the entire time.
If you enjoy psychological thrillers that make you distrust every character, every memory, and eventually yourself… congratulations. This book is your next personality trait.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 28, 2026
This had a lot of potential, but unfortunately it took me a long time to become invested.
The first half of the book felt lackluster, repetitive, and slow. I found myself waiting for something significant to happen, and because of that, it took me several days to get through the first 50–75% of the story. Overall, it felt very surface level, lacking the depth I was hoping for, and at times it read more like a rough draft than a fully developed novel.
Based on the cover, I expected something entirely different. While I know covers aren't everything, this one didn't seem to reflect the story at all, and I think a more fitting design would have better prepared readers for what they were getting into.
That said, the ending completely changed the pace for me. Around the 75% mark, the story finally grabbed my attention, and I ended up flying through the last quarter of the book in under an hour. The final twist was compelling and made me eager to see how everything unfolded.
While this wasn't a standout read for me, I can absolutely see it working for readers who enjoy amnesia storylines with unexpected twists. I just wish the same level of suspense and momentum from the ending had been present throughout the entire novel.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
The first half of the book felt lackluster, repetitive, and slow. I found myself waiting for something significant to happen, and because of that, it took me several days to get through the first 50–75% of the story. Overall, it felt very surface level, lacking the depth I was hoping for, and at times it read more like a rough draft than a fully developed novel.
Based on the cover, I expected something entirely different. While I know covers aren't everything, this one didn't seem to reflect the story at all, and I think a more fitting design would have better prepared readers for what they were getting into.
That said, the ending completely changed the pace for me. Around the 75% mark, the story finally grabbed my attention, and I ended up flying through the last quarter of the book in under an hour. The final twist was compelling and made me eager to see how everything unfolded.
While this wasn't a standout read for me, I can absolutely see it working for readers who enjoy amnesia storylines with unexpected twists. I just wish the same level of suspense and momentum from the ending had been present throughout the entire novel.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received a free copy of this book from Landmark—thank you!
Wow, the twists and turns. Before I Disappear was a very different thriller than anything I’ve read before. Cate Quinn keeps the tension high from the very first pages, and just when I thought I had everything figured out, another twist completely changed my perspective. It kept me on edge the entire time.
The story is fast-paced, full of surprises, and the reveals are cleverly woven throughout. I especially enjoyed how earlier scenes took on a whole new meaning once the truth came out.
The only reason this wasn’t a 5-star read for me is one scene that still left me with questions. (Spoiler) When Chris is lured to the warehouse and brutally beaten by Fero—before we know Fero is actually his father—I wasn’t completely convinced by the explanation. While I understand it was likely meant to hide their relationship and show just how manipulative and ruthless Fero was, I felt the motivation behind that particular attack could have been developed a little more. It didn’t quite feel fully resolved for me.
Even with that lingering question, this was an original, suspenseful thriller that kept me guessing until the very end. If you enjoy psychological suspense with plenty of twists and unpredictable turns, this one is definitely worth reading
Wow, the twists and turns. Before I Disappear was a very different thriller than anything I’ve read before. Cate Quinn keeps the tension high from the very first pages, and just when I thought I had everything figured out, another twist completely changed my perspective. It kept me on edge the entire time.
The story is fast-paced, full of surprises, and the reveals are cleverly woven throughout. I especially enjoyed how earlier scenes took on a whole new meaning once the truth came out.
The only reason this wasn’t a 5-star read for me is one scene that still left me with questions. (Spoiler) When Chris is lured to the warehouse and brutally beaten by Fero—before we know Fero is actually his father—I wasn’t completely convinced by the explanation. While I understand it was likely meant to hide their relationship and show just how manipulative and ruthless Fero was, I felt the motivation behind that particular attack could have been developed a little more. It didn’t quite feel fully resolved for me.
Even with that lingering question, this was an original, suspenseful thriller that kept me guessing until the very end. If you enjoy psychological suspense with plenty of twists and unpredictable turns, this one is definitely worth reading
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks so much to Landmark for the free book!
This one kept me guessing from beginning to end. It's a mafia mystery/thriller with an amnesia storyline, and it's incredibly plot-driven. Every time I thought I had things figured out, the story took another sharp turn, and almost every theory I came up with ended up being wrong. I genuinely had no idea where it was going, which made it hard to put down.
Cate Quinn's writing style made it easy to stay invested, and the pacing never really let up. There's always something happening, so be prepared for a bit of whiplash... in the best way possible.
My biggest downside was the romance subplot. It felt forced to me and didn't really fit with everything else the story was doing. I found myself much more invested in the mystery than the relationship.
Since this was an ARC, I also noticed quite a few typos and editing errors that occasionally pulled me out of the story. I'm hopeful those will be cleaned up before publication.
Overall, I had a really fun time with this one. If you love fast-paced thrillers, mafia intrigue, and stories that constantly keep you second-guessing yourself, I'd definitely recommend giving Before I Disappear a try.
This one kept me guessing from beginning to end. It's a mafia mystery/thriller with an amnesia storyline, and it's incredibly plot-driven. Every time I thought I had things figured out, the story took another sharp turn, and almost every theory I came up with ended up being wrong. I genuinely had no idea where it was going, which made it hard to put down.
Cate Quinn's writing style made it easy to stay invested, and the pacing never really let up. There's always something happening, so be prepared for a bit of whiplash... in the best way possible.
My biggest downside was the romance subplot. It felt forced to me and didn't really fit with everything else the story was doing. I found myself much more invested in the mystery than the relationship.
Since this was an ARC, I also noticed quite a few typos and editing errors that occasionally pulled me out of the story. I'm hopeful those will be cleaned up before publication.
Overall, I had a really fun time with this one. If you love fast-paced thrillers, mafia intrigue, and stories that constantly keep you second-guessing yourself, I'd definitely recommend giving Before I Disappear a try.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews