What do you think?
Rate this book
The Vanishers
Megan Foley knows she saw the little boy. So why does everyone at the perfect seaside house insist he never existed?The house was perfect. That was its first lie.
When Megan and her husband Patrick accept an invitation to spend the summer at a luxurious house share in Stone Beach, Connecticut, everything seems too good to be true. The rent is absurdly low. The host, Mrs. Monahan, is attentive to the point of unease. The other guests are pleasant — until they aren't.
One day, Megan sees a boy, Tommy, playing… and the next, Tommy is simply gone. Not moved. Not spoken of. Erased, as though he never existed. All the other guests at the house look at Megan blankly when she asks.
One by one, the guests succumb to long hours in front of the television in a glassy trance. Patrick grows cold and distant. Something stirs in the attic.
Megan alone seems immune — but for how long? As she begins to doubt herself and the house tightens its hold, she must confront the terrifying truth about Mrs. Monahan, the attic room, and the price of a perfect summer.
A chilling gothic thriller for fans of atmospheric domestic horror — available in Kindle Unlimited.
When Megan and her husband Patrick accept an invitation to spend the summer at a luxurious house share in Stone Beach, Connecticut, everything seems too good to be true. The rent is absurdly low. The host, Mrs. Monahan, is attentive to the point of unease. The other guests are pleasant — until they aren't.
One day, Megan sees a boy, Tommy, playing… and the next, Tommy is simply gone. Not moved. Not spoken of. Erased, as though he never existed. All the other guests at the house look at Megan blankly when she asks.
One by one, the guests succumb to long hours in front of the television in a glassy trance. Patrick grows cold and distant. Something stirs in the attic.
Megan alone seems immune — but for how long? As she begins to doubt herself and the house tightens its hold, she must confront the terrifying truth about Mrs. Monahan, the attic room, and the price of a perfect summer.
A chilling gothic thriller for fans of atmospheric domestic horror — available in Kindle Unlimited.
- GenresThriller
298 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 7, 2026
About the author
R.G. Belsky
17 books518 followersCo-author with Bonnie Traymore of Swipe (2025);Author of Broadcast Blues (Oceanview - 2024); It's News to Me (Oceanview - 2022); Beyond The Headlines (Oceanview 2021); The Last Scoop (Oceanview-2020) Below The Fold (Oceanview - 2019) Yesterday's News (Oceanview - 2018) Blonde Ice (Atria - 2016; Shooting for the Stars (2015); and The Kennedy Connection (2014).
Also writes thrillers under the pen name of Dana Perry.
Former Managing Editor of NBCNews.com
Worked as Managing Editor of NY Daily News; News Editor of Star magazine; Metropolitan Editor of NY Post.
Author of numerous other mystery novels including Loverboy and Playing Dead.
Contributing Writer for The Big Thrill magazine and BookTrib.
Also writes thrillers under the pen name of Dana Perry.
Former Managing Editor of NBCNews.com
Worked as Managing Editor of NY Daily News; News Editor of Star magazine; Metropolitan Editor of NY Post.
Author of numerous other mystery novels including Loverboy and Playing Dead.
Contributing Writer for The Big Thrill magazine and BookTrib.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
April 21, 2026
The Vanishers was a phenomenal read and one of those books that grabbed me from the first page and never let go. With a perfect house, a missing child, and secrets no one wants to admit, this story had everything I love in a thriller. It was a real page-turner that kept me fully engaged the whole way through, always making me want to read just one more chapter.
What I really loved was how vivid the characters were. I felt like I was right there with every one of them, experiencing their fear, confusion, and secrets as the story unfolded. They felt real and layered, and I became invested in what would happen to them. Each character added something important to the story, and their relationships and hidden motives made the mystery even more compelling.
The plot was so well done, full of suspense, twists, and revelations that kept me guessing. Every time I thought I had things figured out, the story took another turn. I loved how the tension kept building and how the mystery unfolded piece by piece. It was smart, gripping, and so hard to put down.
I also thought R.G. Belsky did an amazing job with the writing. The story flowed so well, the pacing was perfect, and the suspense was maintained all the way through. This wasn’t just a thriller with shocking twists, it was also a very well-written story with emotional depth and strong character development, which made it even better.
This was an addictive, suspenseful, and incredibly well-crafted read that kept me hooked from beginning to end. I loved the characters, the mystery, the twists, and the way the story kept surprising me. A fantastic thriller and definitely a standout read for me.
Thank you NetGalley, D.P. Books, and R.G. Belsky for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Publishing Date: May 7, 2026
What I really loved was how vivid the characters were. I felt like I was right there with every one of them, experiencing their fear, confusion, and secrets as the story unfolded. They felt real and layered, and I became invested in what would happen to them. Each character added something important to the story, and their relationships and hidden motives made the mystery even more compelling.
The plot was so well done, full of suspense, twists, and revelations that kept me guessing. Every time I thought I had things figured out, the story took another turn. I loved how the tension kept building and how the mystery unfolded piece by piece. It was smart, gripping, and so hard to put down.
I also thought R.G. Belsky did an amazing job with the writing. The story flowed so well, the pacing was perfect, and the suspense was maintained all the way through. This wasn’t just a thriller with shocking twists, it was also a very well-written story with emotional depth and strong character development, which made it even better.
This was an addictive, suspenseful, and incredibly well-crafted read that kept me hooked from beginning to end. I loved the characters, the mystery, the twists, and the way the story kept surprising me. A fantastic thriller and definitely a standout read for me.
Thank you NetGalley, D.P. Books, and R.G. Belsky for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Publishing Date: May 7, 2026
May 9, 2026
3⭐️ Thank you NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!!
I'm honestly unsure how to feel about this book. The premise sounded really interesting, and I was instantly hooked from the beginning! Unfortunately, the more I read, the less I enjoyed it. Some parts felt very middle-grade in terms of writing style, and a lot of things weren't explained in enough detail. Everything felt very rushed and quickly glossed over.
The plot itself moved quickly, which I did enjoy. I was able to finish this book in less than a day because the story was interesting enough to keep me hooked!! If it weren't for the fast pace, I probably would have rated this book 2.5 stars. The actual plot had potential, but the writing style and lack of detailed descriptions really didn't do it for me.
One thing that especially annoyed me was the romance between Sam and Megan. They knew eachother for barely a week before confessing their love for one another. Like I mentioned with the plot, everything felt rushed and undeveloped.
Overall, it was an interesting book to read and I'm grateful for the opportunity to have read it!
I'm honestly unsure how to feel about this book. The premise sounded really interesting, and I was instantly hooked from the beginning! Unfortunately, the more I read, the less I enjoyed it. Some parts felt very middle-grade in terms of writing style, and a lot of things weren't explained in enough detail. Everything felt very rushed and quickly glossed over.
The plot itself moved quickly, which I did enjoy. I was able to finish this book in less than a day because the story was interesting enough to keep me hooked!! If it weren't for the fast pace, I probably would have rated this book 2.5 stars. The actual plot had potential, but the writing style and lack of detailed descriptions really didn't do it for me.
One thing that especially annoyed me was the romance between Sam and Megan. They knew eachother for barely a week before confessing their love for one another. Like I mentioned with the plot, everything felt rushed and undeveloped.
Overall, it was an interesting book to read and I'm grateful for the opportunity to have read it!
May 9, 2026
Thabk you to DP Publishing for the ARC read.
What a great premise for a story, it truly gave me chills at points. If you love creepy build ups to some paranormal activity you'll love this book. I really thought Megan was the crazy one for a lot of the book. I love her friendship with Jackie but honestly a good friend would have sought therapy for her even if she did believe her story! Other than that, this was an intriguing read and for the most part enjoyed it
Did not like the fat shaming in this book.. happening multiple times with no contribution to the story line hence giving a lower rating.
I gave this book a 3.5 stars rating
What a great premise for a story, it truly gave me chills at points. If you love creepy build ups to some paranormal activity you'll love this book. I really thought Megan was the crazy one for a lot of the book. I love her friendship with Jackie but honestly a good friend would have sought therapy for her even if she did believe her story! Other than that, this was an intriguing read and for the most part enjoyed it
Did not like the fat shaming in this book.. happening multiple times with no contribution to the story line hence giving a lower rating.
I gave this book a 3.5 stars rating
May 7, 2026
Wowzers!!!!
Can I give this more than 5 stars please?
I never imagined this story would evolve into what it did! But I loved every moment of it! I’d love to see this turned into a movie.
Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC read of this book.
Imagine taking a holiday and the next thing you know people start to vanish but not only is it themselves that vanish it’s the memories, the minds, it’s everything. When Megan and her husband do a summer rental things aren’t what it seems and through the story she must try to rely on the help of others to set things right.
But the ending Yes people we have …… and it was amazing I’m sorry I don’t want to give too much away. But I loved this read!
It was so fast paced, edge of your seat suspenseful throughout the whole thing.
#thevanishers #rgbelsky
Can I give this more than 5 stars please?
I never imagined this story would evolve into what it did! But I loved every moment of it! I’d love to see this turned into a movie.
Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC read of this book.
Imagine taking a holiday and the next thing you know people start to vanish but not only is it themselves that vanish it’s the memories, the minds, it’s everything. When Megan and her husband do a summer rental things aren’t what it seems and through the story she must try to rely on the help of others to set things right.
But the ending Yes people we have …… and it was amazing I’m sorry I don’t want to give too much away. But I loved this read!
It was so fast paced, edge of your seat suspenseful throughout the whole thing.
#thevanishers #rgbelsky
April 24, 2026
I enjoyed this read! It was mysterious and intriguing, plenty of twists, and kept me interested. The FMC has a good depth to her character, and her story through the book progresses well. I particularly enjoyed her multiple conversations with her best friend about believing things that seem incredulous or impossible.
This almost was a 5 star read for me, but I felt the ending was a bit flat. There was a layer of suspense that was carried through the book, until you find out the secret behind the house and missing people. It seemed a little uninteresting at that point. Otherwise, I had a fun time reading this book.
This almost was a 5 star read for me, but I felt the ending was a bit flat. There was a layer of suspense that was carried through the book, until you find out the secret behind the house and missing people. It seemed a little uninteresting at that point. Otherwise, I had a fun time reading this book.
May 9, 2026
Thank you @netgalley for the review copy.
.
This book was such a fast paced read for me. The chapters are short and every chapter ends with something that makes me want to keep reading. Full of suspense and mystery from the beginning until the end.
.
I really like Megan as the main character. Even when everyone around her keeps acting like she’s crazy, she still tries hard to uncover the truth. I was rooting for her the whole time.
.
But honestly… Megan and Patrick’s relationship is SO frustrating 😭 Patrick annoyed me a lot with the way he treated Megan. It made me even more stressed while reading this.
.
I wouldn’t really call this a horror book, but it definitely has that creepy mystery and suspense atmosphere. The whole house felt unsettling and something always felt off.
.
And the ending, very satisfying for me. I like how everything finally came together at the end.
.
.
This book was such a fast paced read for me. The chapters are short and every chapter ends with something that makes me want to keep reading. Full of suspense and mystery from the beginning until the end.
.
I really like Megan as the main character. Even when everyone around her keeps acting like she’s crazy, she still tries hard to uncover the truth. I was rooting for her the whole time.
.
But honestly… Megan and Patrick’s relationship is SO frustrating 😭 Patrick annoyed me a lot with the way he treated Megan. It made me even more stressed while reading this.
.
I wouldn’t really call this a horror book, but it definitely has that creepy mystery and suspense atmosphere. The whole house felt unsettling and something always felt off.
.
And the ending, very satisfying for me. I like how everything finally came together at the end.
.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Vanishers
~R.G. Belsky
There are some houses that bury secrets in the family graveyard out back. And then there are others that don't just hide them – they erase them completely.
The Vanishers by R.G. Belsky is the kind of psychological thriller that whispers before it bites. Slow-burn? Yes. Predictable? Not a chance in the world. There's a quiet unease running through every page – a sense that something's wrong but you can't quite put your finger on it until the story already has you in a choke hold.
From the outside, Megan and Patrick Foley look like the perfect couple: dream jobs, upscale Manhattan apartment, stable life. But behind that carefully curated normalcy, things are falling apart. Their conversations have grown stale, their connection all but gone.
So when Megan suggests a summer escape to reconnect, Patrick – the English lit professor with writing block – jumps at the idea. Problem, beach houses are expensive and what they've looked at so far just don't live up to their dreams. Then, Patrick finds a listing for a stunning beachfront mansion in Stone Beach, Connecticut. Too perfect to be true. Too cheap to pass up.
From the moment they arrive, the air feels off. The local pharmacist who they stopped to ask directions from doesn't remember the house, but tells them where Pleasant St is located. The host, Mrs. Monahan, is so accommodating it feels intrusive. And then strange occurrences start – the first missing item, the first child no one remembers ever existing, the first shift in Patrick that Megan can't quite explain.
As people disappear and the remainder of the guests slip into detached contentment in front of the 120 inch television, Megan starts asking questions. The further she pushes to understand what is happening around her, the smaller the house seems to grow for those still there – room by room, memory by memory.
What if the house never let its guests leave… because it didn't need to? It could simply erase them from existence?
The character work is outstanding. The story centers heavily on Megan, and rightfully so. She carries the emotional weight, and her growing isolation is palpable. As the only one seemingly unaffected by whatever is happening, her clarity becomes both her strength and her vulnerability. Watching her question her reality while trying to hold onto it creates that steady, creeping dread. But then you have Patrick's transformation which is just as unsettling, if not more so because of how understated it is. He doesn't snap, he just slowly fades becoming something quieter, distant… compliant. The house doesn't act just as a setting here, it becomes a character as well. It watches, reshapes, consumes. The supporting cast are more like necessary background noise – they are present, their shifts in behavior adding to the unsettling feeling.
Pacing is more of a slow-burn leaning hard into gothic elements of control of space, loss of identity, the idea that a place can rewrite the people inside it – and it works. It isn't about constant twists or high-action moments - it's about that slow build towards the crescendo of tension. That creeping realization of something being very wrong here, yet no one else can see it but Megan. The visualization of the perfect seaside backdrop is there – open, airy, endless – but inside everything feels increasingly tight, contained and suffocated, giving you the immersion needed without all the descriptive details.
Overall, The Vanishers is a haunting, immersive psychological thriller that blends domestic tension with paranormal unease in a way that lingers. It plays with identity, control, and the terrifying idea of being erased - not just from the world, but from memory itself.
If you are looking for a psychological thriller that gravitates towards atmospheric horror and will stick with you long after, The Vanishers by R.G. Belsky releases on May 7, 2026. It's available for pre-order on Amazon right now!!
I would like to thank NetGalley and R.G. Belsky for the opportunity to Alpha/Beta/ARC The Vanishers. As always, all opinions and reviews are of my own volition. I have not been promised any compensation by the author or publisher for a fair and honest review.
~R.G. Belsky
There are some houses that bury secrets in the family graveyard out back. And then there are others that don't just hide them – they erase them completely.
The Vanishers by R.G. Belsky is the kind of psychological thriller that whispers before it bites. Slow-burn? Yes. Predictable? Not a chance in the world. There's a quiet unease running through every page – a sense that something's wrong but you can't quite put your finger on it until the story already has you in a choke hold.
From the outside, Megan and Patrick Foley look like the perfect couple: dream jobs, upscale Manhattan apartment, stable life. But behind that carefully curated normalcy, things are falling apart. Their conversations have grown stale, their connection all but gone.
So when Megan suggests a summer escape to reconnect, Patrick – the English lit professor with writing block – jumps at the idea. Problem, beach houses are expensive and what they've looked at so far just don't live up to their dreams. Then, Patrick finds a listing for a stunning beachfront mansion in Stone Beach, Connecticut. Too perfect to be true. Too cheap to pass up.
From the moment they arrive, the air feels off. The local pharmacist who they stopped to ask directions from doesn't remember the house, but tells them where Pleasant St is located. The host, Mrs. Monahan, is so accommodating it feels intrusive. And then strange occurrences start – the first missing item, the first child no one remembers ever existing, the first shift in Patrick that Megan can't quite explain.
As people disappear and the remainder of the guests slip into detached contentment in front of the 120 inch television, Megan starts asking questions. The further she pushes to understand what is happening around her, the smaller the house seems to grow for those still there – room by room, memory by memory.
What if the house never let its guests leave… because it didn't need to? It could simply erase them from existence?
The character work is outstanding. The story centers heavily on Megan, and rightfully so. She carries the emotional weight, and her growing isolation is palpable. As the only one seemingly unaffected by whatever is happening, her clarity becomes both her strength and her vulnerability. Watching her question her reality while trying to hold onto it creates that steady, creeping dread. But then you have Patrick's transformation which is just as unsettling, if not more so because of how understated it is. He doesn't snap, he just slowly fades becoming something quieter, distant… compliant. The house doesn't act just as a setting here, it becomes a character as well. It watches, reshapes, consumes. The supporting cast are more like necessary background noise – they are present, their shifts in behavior adding to the unsettling feeling.
Pacing is more of a slow-burn leaning hard into gothic elements of control of space, loss of identity, the idea that a place can rewrite the people inside it – and it works. It isn't about constant twists or high-action moments - it's about that slow build towards the crescendo of tension. That creeping realization of something being very wrong here, yet no one else can see it but Megan. The visualization of the perfect seaside backdrop is there – open, airy, endless – but inside everything feels increasingly tight, contained and suffocated, giving you the immersion needed without all the descriptive details.
Overall, The Vanishers is a haunting, immersive psychological thriller that blends domestic tension with paranormal unease in a way that lingers. It plays with identity, control, and the terrifying idea of being erased - not just from the world, but from memory itself.
If you are looking for a psychological thriller that gravitates towards atmospheric horror and will stick with you long after, The Vanishers by R.G. Belsky releases on May 7, 2026. It's available for pre-order on Amazon right now!!
I would like to thank NetGalley and R.G. Belsky for the opportunity to Alpha/Beta/ARC The Vanishers. As always, all opinions and reviews are of my own volition. I have not been promised any compensation by the author or publisher for a fair and honest review.
May 7, 2026
LONG GONE
With his terrific new novel, THE VANISHERS, ace mystery writer R.G. Belsky has teleported his considerable mastery of spinning compelling and fast-paced stories with spine-bending plot twists to an entirely different genre, the paranormal thriller.
While the reader might be tempted to draw immediate comparisons with the works of the great Stephen King, to do so might blind you to Belsky's unique way of telling this tale without a hint of mimicry and with the surefooted steps of an author who avoids the pitfalls and cliches that trip up lesser literary mortals treading this hallowed ground.
In short, THE VANISHERS is a triumph that doesn't lean on the legend. It stands on its own two feet, delivering the thrills and spills Belsky fans have come to expect from his award-winning Clare Carlson and Gil Malloy mysteries.
The crafty ways Belksy uses to capture and hold a reader's attention include his relentless focus on the very human qualities of his characters. This is particularly true of the increasingly desperate protagonist, Megan Foley, who seems to be the only one who notices the steady disappearance of fellow guests of a seaside Connecticut summer home where she and her husband Patrick hope will give them the quiet togetherness they need to save their marriage.
Both are busy New Yorkers with their eyes on the next rung of the career ladder instead of each other -- she's an assistant DA; he's a college lit professor who wants to write a book on his chosen field. They both know the marriage is in trouble but can't shift their focus to fix it while swept up by the demands of their jobs and the frenetic rhythm of city.
They can't believe their good luck in finding this beautiful Victorian-era house. Can't believe it's so cheap to rent a room for the summer. With amenities galore, including sailboats and a stupendous TV room with a mammoth screen that mesmerizes everybody but Megan.
Something makes her wary. She can't quite put her finger on why, but the grandmotherly owner of the house, the preternaturally cheerful Mrs. Monahan, creeps her out. Patrick seems oblivious and keeps pushing her to make friends with the other guest and watch TV with him. She pushes back. What about your book? What about us?
And then the guests start disappearing. One-by-one. The first is little Tommy, the youngest son of the Beechams. He loses his Nintendo and accuses his older brother of swiping it. Then vanishes.
Megan asks about him. Who, dear? The Beechams have only one son, Mrs. Monahan tells her. Even mom and dad Beecham tell her that. Maybe you'd like to relax and watch some TV, dear.
Later, when Megan returns to the city for her work week, she tries to find Tommy's birth record. There isn't one. When she surreptitiously talks to neighbors of the Beechams, they tell her there's only one son.
That becomes the pattern -- each disappearance marked by the person losing something. An iPod. A watch. Then, gone. With absolutely no trace they ever existed -- in the public record or the memory of friends and loved ones. Leaving Megan to doubt her sanity, a sentiment shared by fellow guests and co-workers, except for a randy colleague names Jackie.
Then Patrick disappears. So does the entire house and all the remaining guests. Instead of driving Megan to the nuthouse, this causes her to take a leave of absence from work and launch an obsessive quest to find her husband. And that house.
It's a trail that leads her to Sam, a puckish Mets fan and professor who specializes in the study of unexplained phenomena, including the infamous Bermuda Triangle disappearances and other similar events.
The pace goes into hyperdrive and the quest includes a whiz kid hacker and technological genius Megan once kept out of prison. But Belsky never resorts to the gadget-driven gimmickry that would beg for a massive dose of CGI in the movie version of this tale.
Wisely, he keeps the focus on Megan and her small band of eccentric but believable irregulars. It's the people, stupid. They're the ones that keep you turning the page, savoring the saga of a master storyteller.
-- Jim Nesbitt is the author of five hard-boiled Texas crime thrillers featuring a battered but relentless Dallas PI named Ed Earl Burch.
With his terrific new novel, THE VANISHERS, ace mystery writer R.G. Belsky has teleported his considerable mastery of spinning compelling and fast-paced stories with spine-bending plot twists to an entirely different genre, the paranormal thriller.
While the reader might be tempted to draw immediate comparisons with the works of the great Stephen King, to do so might blind you to Belsky's unique way of telling this tale without a hint of mimicry and with the surefooted steps of an author who avoids the pitfalls and cliches that trip up lesser literary mortals treading this hallowed ground.
In short, THE VANISHERS is a triumph that doesn't lean on the legend. It stands on its own two feet, delivering the thrills and spills Belsky fans have come to expect from his award-winning Clare Carlson and Gil Malloy mysteries.
The crafty ways Belksy uses to capture and hold a reader's attention include his relentless focus on the very human qualities of his characters. This is particularly true of the increasingly desperate protagonist, Megan Foley, who seems to be the only one who notices the steady disappearance of fellow guests of a seaside Connecticut summer home where she and her husband Patrick hope will give them the quiet togetherness they need to save their marriage.
Both are busy New Yorkers with their eyes on the next rung of the career ladder instead of each other -- she's an assistant DA; he's a college lit professor who wants to write a book on his chosen field. They both know the marriage is in trouble but can't shift their focus to fix it while swept up by the demands of their jobs and the frenetic rhythm of city.
They can't believe their good luck in finding this beautiful Victorian-era house. Can't believe it's so cheap to rent a room for the summer. With amenities galore, including sailboats and a stupendous TV room with a mammoth screen that mesmerizes everybody but Megan.
Something makes her wary. She can't quite put her finger on why, but the grandmotherly owner of the house, the preternaturally cheerful Mrs. Monahan, creeps her out. Patrick seems oblivious and keeps pushing her to make friends with the other guest and watch TV with him. She pushes back. What about your book? What about us?
And then the guests start disappearing. One-by-one. The first is little Tommy, the youngest son of the Beechams. He loses his Nintendo and accuses his older brother of swiping it. Then vanishes.
Megan asks about him. Who, dear? The Beechams have only one son, Mrs. Monahan tells her. Even mom and dad Beecham tell her that. Maybe you'd like to relax and watch some TV, dear.
Later, when Megan returns to the city for her work week, she tries to find Tommy's birth record. There isn't one. When she surreptitiously talks to neighbors of the Beechams, they tell her there's only one son.
That becomes the pattern -- each disappearance marked by the person losing something. An iPod. A watch. Then, gone. With absolutely no trace they ever existed -- in the public record or the memory of friends and loved ones. Leaving Megan to doubt her sanity, a sentiment shared by fellow guests and co-workers, except for a randy colleague names Jackie.
Then Patrick disappears. So does the entire house and all the remaining guests. Instead of driving Megan to the nuthouse, this causes her to take a leave of absence from work and launch an obsessive quest to find her husband. And that house.
It's a trail that leads her to Sam, a puckish Mets fan and professor who specializes in the study of unexplained phenomena, including the infamous Bermuda Triangle disappearances and other similar events.
The pace goes into hyperdrive and the quest includes a whiz kid hacker and technological genius Megan once kept out of prison. But Belsky never resorts to the gadget-driven gimmickry that would beg for a massive dose of CGI in the movie version of this tale.
Wisely, he keeps the focus on Megan and her small band of eccentric but believable irregulars. It's the people, stupid. They're the ones that keep you turning the page, savoring the saga of a master storyteller.
-- Jim Nesbitt is the author of five hard-boiled Texas crime thrillers featuring a battered but relentless Dallas PI named Ed Earl Burch.
May 13, 2026
I'm a huge fan of Belsky's Clare Carlson thrillers, and I was excited to read his new (May 7) The Vanishers, a paranormal thriller. The Vanishers is a compelling story of alienation and isolation, and it delivers chills and questions. How do you prove an absence?
[official teaser/synopsis] Megan Foley knows she saw the little boy. So why does everyone at the perfect seaside house insist he never existed? The luxurious house share in Stone Beach, Connecticut, was perfect. That was its first lie. One by one, the guests succumb to long hours in front of the television in a glassy trance. Her husband Patrick grows cold and distant. Something stirs in the attic. Megan alone seems immune — but why? And for how long?**
Belsky's earlier mystery-thrillers showed how adept he is at the probing, methodical approach, but he turns the procedural investigation on its head here in a paranormal thriller. People are disappearing, and there is no trace of them afterwards--not birth certificates or marriage licenses or any memory of the disappeared person ever having lived. It asks the question, how can you hold to your beliefs about what is true when everyone's memory, including the official record, contradicts you?
In the character of Megan Foley, Belsky has given us a strong willed, experienced and intelligent heroine who is pushed beyond the limits of her understanding. She works in the DA's office, so she seems the perfect heroine to get to the bottom of the disappearances, but whoever is vanishing these people has covered their tracks well. With no evidence and coming to the end of what she knows how to do, she enlists the help of friends and two experts who help her make the leap to what might really be happening. Even though it sounds as crazy as she's starting to seem.
The Vanishers, which could apply to those who have vanished or to those causing the disappearances, is rightly cagey about who (or what) is behind the disappearances. Megan's unsure footing mirrors our own unease as readers. The fact of not knowing adds to the atmosphere of foreboding. The guesthouse's proprietor delivers misdirection in smiling, soothing tones. Is she doing the vanishing, or is she as much a victim as everyone else?
The Vanishers is a chilling, page-turning paranormal thriller with well drawn characters. There is an X-Files "the truth is out there," feel to what happens, but with the further caveat that "the truth" may not be recognized as such. And it doubles down on the bleak alienation of feeling like the only sane person in the world, right up to the surprising end.
Recommended.
[official teaser/synopsis] Megan Foley knows she saw the little boy. So why does everyone at the perfect seaside house insist he never existed? The luxurious house share in Stone Beach, Connecticut, was perfect. That was its first lie. One by one, the guests succumb to long hours in front of the television in a glassy trance. Her husband Patrick grows cold and distant. Something stirs in the attic. Megan alone seems immune — but why? And for how long?**
Belsky's earlier mystery-thrillers showed how adept he is at the probing, methodical approach, but he turns the procedural investigation on its head here in a paranormal thriller. People are disappearing, and there is no trace of them afterwards--not birth certificates or marriage licenses or any memory of the disappeared person ever having lived. It asks the question, how can you hold to your beliefs about what is true when everyone's memory, including the official record, contradicts you?
In the character of Megan Foley, Belsky has given us a strong willed, experienced and intelligent heroine who is pushed beyond the limits of her understanding. She works in the DA's office, so she seems the perfect heroine to get to the bottom of the disappearances, but whoever is vanishing these people has covered their tracks well. With no evidence and coming to the end of what she knows how to do, she enlists the help of friends and two experts who help her make the leap to what might really be happening. Even though it sounds as crazy as she's starting to seem.
The Vanishers, which could apply to those who have vanished or to those causing the disappearances, is rightly cagey about who (or what) is behind the disappearances. Megan's unsure footing mirrors our own unease as readers. The fact of not knowing adds to the atmosphere of foreboding. The guesthouse's proprietor delivers misdirection in smiling, soothing tones. Is she doing the vanishing, or is she as much a victim as everyone else?
The Vanishers is a chilling, page-turning paranormal thriller with well drawn characters. There is an X-Files "the truth is out there," feel to what happens, but with the further caveat that "the truth" may not be recognized as such. And it doubles down on the bleak alienation of feeling like the only sane person in the world, right up to the surprising end.
Recommended.
May 13, 2026
the vanishers by r.g. belsky
thank you to NetGalley, DP Publishing, and the author for the eARC 🖤👽🛸
⭐️✨ 1.25/5 stars
i went into this expecting a paranormal gothic horror, and for the first half, it did have some creepy atmospheric moments that kept me reading. it’s very fast paced, easy to follow, and definitely readable in a short amount of time. but around the halfway point, the story shifted hard into sci-fi action territory, and i personally felt a little disconnected from where the plot ended up going.
my biggest issue was honestly the characterization and dialogue. a lot of the conversations felt stiff or oddly repetitive, especially Patrick constantly referring to his wife by name every other sentence 😭 it pulled me out of the story instead of making the relationships feel natural.
there were also a few comments about larger bodies/dieting early on that really rubbed me the wrong way. one scene in particular felt unnecessarily fatphobic, and it made the female friendships feel less believable to me. as someone who already struggles with women written by men in media, this unfortunately reinforced that disconnect.
the structure itself was straightforward and chronological, which made it easy to follow, but some plotlines felt underdeveloped or random — especially the sudden Sam side plot that became way more important than i expected?? i kept waiting for certain emotional beats to land harder, but everything felt a little rushed.
and i’m sorry but the repeated use of “helluva” and “lovemaking” had me fighting for my life 😭 the writing style just felt dated to me overall, almost like reading an older sci-fi paperback rather than a modern gothic thriller.
overall, this one just wasn’t for me, but if you like quick sci-fi/paranormal thrillers with a retro feel, you might have a better time with it than i did 🖤
⚠️ TW: abortion, child loss, death, fat phobia, grief, misogyny, murder, self-harm, suicide, violence
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
If you’ve been in a reading slump or just want something that pulls you in right away, The Vanishers is a really solid pick. It’s one of those books that gives you exactly what you want from page one—mystery, tension, and that immediate need to know what’s going on. I was hooked almost instantly.
The story moves fast, but it never feels rushed. There’s always something happening, and the pacing made it very easy to keep turning pages. I ended up reading it in one sitting because every chapter gave me another reason to keep going.
One thing I really enjoyed was how the author handled the atmosphere and characters. Each person felt distinct, and the shifting tones between scenes helped build that eerie, unsettling mood. It had that classic “something is very wrong here” feeling that I love in thrillers.
What also stood out to me was the subtle commentary underneath the mystery. Without saying too much, the disappearances made me think about how attached people are to screens and devices now. Sometimes it feels like we’re so present online that we lose touch with the real world around us. I thought that layer added something interesting to the story.
Now for the honest part: I personally expected the supernatural side to go in a different direction. I tend to love ghostly or spirit-based mysteries, so the reveal wasn’t exactly my favorite type of paranormal twist. That’s purely personal preference, though—it didn’t ruin the story for me, just wasn’t the direction I was hoping for.
Also… why was I kind of invested in Megan and Sam? Their dynamic had me smiling more than I expected. Honestly, RG Belsky could probably write romance too.
Overall, this was a fun, fast, addictive read. Perfect for anyone trying to get back into reading, or for someone who wants a thriller that grabs attention immediately and doesn’t let go.
The story moves fast, but it never feels rushed. There’s always something happening, and the pacing made it very easy to keep turning pages. I ended up reading it in one sitting because every chapter gave me another reason to keep going.
One thing I really enjoyed was how the author handled the atmosphere and characters. Each person felt distinct, and the shifting tones between scenes helped build that eerie, unsettling mood. It had that classic “something is very wrong here” feeling that I love in thrillers.
What also stood out to me was the subtle commentary underneath the mystery. Without saying too much, the disappearances made me think about how attached people are to screens and devices now. Sometimes it feels like we’re so present online that we lose touch with the real world around us. I thought that layer added something interesting to the story.
Now for the honest part: I personally expected the supernatural side to go in a different direction. I tend to love ghostly or spirit-based mysteries, so the reveal wasn’t exactly my favorite type of paranormal twist. That’s purely personal preference, though—it didn’t ruin the story for me, just wasn’t the direction I was hoping for.
Also… why was I kind of invested in Megan and Sam? Their dynamic had me smiling more than I expected. Honestly, RG Belsky could probably write romance too.
Overall, this was a fun, fast, addictive read. Perfect for anyone trying to get back into reading, or for someone who wants a thriller that grabs attention immediately and doesn’t let go.
May 11, 2026
Megan & husband Patrick decide to rent a property for the summer but they can only afford to rent a room at a luxurious house share in Stone Beach, Connecticut. The house is surprisingly large, well-furnished, & meals are included which are catered by the owner, sweet old lady, Mrs Monahan. There are several other guests & they are pleasant enough but for Megan, everything seems too good to be true.
One of the families living there has two children, until one day the youngest boy, Tommy, is missing. Except Megan seems to be the only one who remembers him. The other guests including his parents swear they only have one child. Tommy's disappearance is just the start & the more Megan tries to persuade Patrick there is something wrong, the more he becomes cold, distant, & impatient with her.
This is a nice little horror story although it changed partway through from purely horror to being more a paranormal thriller. I read it in one day so it definitely kept my interest but I think the reveal could have been more dramatic & a darker storyline. Only Megan seemed to be fully developed as a character, everyone else was more a secondary character, & Megan herself was a wee bit judgmental about people's weight. Overall it was an engrossing read with a great concept, but the reveal was a little disappointing. 3.5 stars (rounded up).
SUMMARY:
Plot: Good - Changed partway through from horror to being more a paranormal thriller. Reveal could have been more dramatic & a darker storyline.
Writing Style: Fair - Only Megan seemed to be fully developed as a character, everyone else was more a secondary character.
Enjoyment Level: Moderately High - I read this in one day so it definitely kept my interest. I felt the reveal/ ending was a little bit disappointing though.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, dp books, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
TWs:
One of the families living there has two children, until one day the youngest boy, Tommy, is missing. Except Megan seems to be the only one who remembers him. The other guests including his parents swear they only have one child. Tommy's disappearance is just the start & the more Megan tries to persuade Patrick there is something wrong, the more he becomes cold, distant, & impatient with her.
This is a nice little horror story although it changed partway through from purely horror to being more a paranormal thriller. I read it in one day so it definitely kept my interest but I think the reveal could have been more dramatic & a darker storyline. Only Megan seemed to be fully developed as a character, everyone else was more a secondary character, & Megan herself was a wee bit judgmental about people's weight. Overall it was an engrossing read with a great concept, but the reveal was a little disappointing. 3.5 stars (rounded up).
SUMMARY:
Plot: Good - Changed partway through from horror to being more a paranormal thriller. Reveal could have been more dramatic & a darker storyline.
Writing Style: Fair - Only Megan seemed to be fully developed as a character, everyone else was more a secondary character.
Enjoyment Level: Moderately High - I read this in one day so it definitely kept my interest. I felt the reveal/ ending was a little bit disappointing though.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, dp books, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
TWs:
May 7, 2026
The Vanishers is a wonderfully eerie, slow‑creeping thriller — the kind that starts with a single unsettling moment and then quietly tightens its grip until you realise you’ve been holding your breath.
For Megan Foley, the perfect summer at Stone Beach begins with that first lie: the house is beautiful, yes, but something about it feels off. The too‑low rent. The overly attentive host. The guests who seem pleasant until they suddenly… aren’t. And then there’s the boy — Tommy — whom Megan sees one moment and who is utterly erased the next. No one remembers him. No one even flinches when she asks.
That’s when the dread begins to bloom.
As the other guests slip into a glassy, hypnotic trance in front of the television and Patrick grows cold and unreachable, the house itself seems to pulse with a strange, hungry energy. Something stirs in the attic. Something watches. And Megan, somehow immune to whatever is consuming the others, starts to question her own sanity even as she clings to the truth she knows she saw.
The tension builds beautifully — claustrophobic, uncanny, and threaded with that delicious sense of “what is happening to this house, and why her?” The deeper Megan digs, the more the perfect summer curdles into something sinister, and the truth about Mrs. Monahan and the attic room lands with a satisfying, chilling snap.
A haunting, atmospheric thriller about gaslighting, isolation, and the price of perfection. It lingers like a shadow at the edge of your vision — unsettling in all the right ways.
With thanks to RG Belsky, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
For Megan Foley, the perfect summer at Stone Beach begins with that first lie: the house is beautiful, yes, but something about it feels off. The too‑low rent. The overly attentive host. The guests who seem pleasant until they suddenly… aren’t. And then there’s the boy — Tommy — whom Megan sees one moment and who is utterly erased the next. No one remembers him. No one even flinches when she asks.
That’s when the dread begins to bloom.
As the other guests slip into a glassy, hypnotic trance in front of the television and Patrick grows cold and unreachable, the house itself seems to pulse with a strange, hungry energy. Something stirs in the attic. Something watches. And Megan, somehow immune to whatever is consuming the others, starts to question her own sanity even as she clings to the truth she knows she saw.
The tension builds beautifully — claustrophobic, uncanny, and threaded with that delicious sense of “what is happening to this house, and why her?” The deeper Megan digs, the more the perfect summer curdles into something sinister, and the truth about Mrs. Monahan and the attic room lands with a satisfying, chilling snap.
A haunting, atmospheric thriller about gaslighting, isolation, and the price of perfection. It lingers like a shadow at the edge of your vision — unsettling in all the right ways.
With thanks to RG Belsky, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
May 17, 2026
The Vanishers by R. G. Belaky 📚 Firstly, a big thank you to dp DIGITAL PUBLISHERS for this e-book to read and review.
📚 The story kicks off with a really strong Prologue that put me on the edge of my seat and sent me forward with really high hopes.
The story follows the POV of assistant district attorney Megan Foley as her and her husband set out for a holiday that is meant to give their struggling marriage a reset.
The husband Patrick is a controlling asshat in my opinion. An opinion that was firmly set in place from very early on (chapter three) and as such I can’t say I was upset when it was his turn to vanish. Oops. Thankfully Megan has two great mates in Mitch and Jackie who come in later on to help her get to the bottom of what is happening and help blow the roof off of the mystery.
I LOVED the concept / storyline, but sadly didn’t connect with the characters. I think the instances of fat shaming (Megan and her husband towards another couple staying at the house) and the Insta-love between Megan and Samuel later on in the book, were two of the main reasons for that.
Although I can’t really hate on the POV Megan. She knew she wasn’t crazy, she knew bad things were happening to people and she put her life at risk to put a stop to it.
Also I loved the brain washing / reality changing mechanism! And I was kept intrigued throughout by wanting to find out the who’s and how’s of the disappearances.
This book has been marketed as a gothic thriller / domestic horror. A thriller yes, but I would class it as more of a sci-fi mystery.
Not bloody or gruesome enough for a gothic or horror label in my opinion.
Over all a “I liked it” three star read for me.
📚 The story kicks off with a really strong Prologue that put me on the edge of my seat and sent me forward with really high hopes.
The story follows the POV of assistant district attorney Megan Foley as her and her husband set out for a holiday that is meant to give their struggling marriage a reset.
The husband Patrick is a controlling asshat in my opinion. An opinion that was firmly set in place from very early on (chapter three) and as such I can’t say I was upset when it was his turn to vanish. Oops. Thankfully Megan has two great mates in Mitch and Jackie who come in later on to help her get to the bottom of what is happening and help blow the roof off of the mystery.
I LOVED the concept / storyline, but sadly didn’t connect with the characters. I think the instances of fat shaming (Megan and her husband towards another couple staying at the house) and the Insta-love between Megan and Samuel later on in the book, were two of the main reasons for that.
Although I can’t really hate on the POV Megan. She knew she wasn’t crazy, she knew bad things were happening to people and she put her life at risk to put a stop to it.
Also I loved the brain washing / reality changing mechanism! And I was kept intrigued throughout by wanting to find out the who’s and how’s of the disappearances.
This book has been marketed as a gothic thriller / domestic horror. A thriller yes, but I would class it as more of a sci-fi mystery.
Not bloody or gruesome enough for a gothic or horror label in my opinion.
Over all a “I liked it” three star read for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Vanishers was an absolute blast to read — the kind of story that grabs you with its weirdness, pulls you into its atmosphere, and refuses to let go. What stood out to me most, and what I genuinely loved, was the alien aspect. It wasn’t predictable or familiar; it felt unsettling in a way that made every chapter feel like stepping deeper into something unknown. The book leans into that eerie, otherworldly tension so well that I found myself constantly trying to piece together what was really happening, and loving every second of it.
The alien elements weren’t just background flavor — they shaped the entire tone of the story. There’s this creeping sense of strangeness that builds and builds, and the way the book reveals its secrets is incredibly satisfying. I loved how the mystery kept expanding, how each clue made everything feel even more off-kilter, and how the sci‑fi twist elevated the suspense instead of overshadowing it.
And the story itself? I loved it. It’s fast, atmospheric, and full of that addictive momentum that makes you say “just one more chapter” until suddenly you’ve finished the whole thing. The pacing is tight, the tension never dips, and the overall vibe is exactly the kind of eerie, imaginative storytelling that sticks with you long after you close the book.
A fantastic, eerie, alien‑tinged thriller — easily a five‑star read.
The alien elements weren’t just background flavor — they shaped the entire tone of the story. There’s this creeping sense of strangeness that builds and builds, and the way the book reveals its secrets is incredibly satisfying. I loved how the mystery kept expanding, how each clue made everything feel even more off-kilter, and how the sci‑fi twist elevated the suspense instead of overshadowing it.
And the story itself? I loved it. It’s fast, atmospheric, and full of that addictive momentum that makes you say “just one more chapter” until suddenly you’ve finished the whole thing. The pacing is tight, the tension never dips, and the overall vibe is exactly the kind of eerie, imaginative storytelling that sticks with you long after you close the book.
A fantastic, eerie, alien‑tinged thriller — easily a five‑star read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley, D.P. Books, and R.G. Belsky for the ARC.
Actual rating: 3.5 ⭐️
It starts with a vacation to mend their marriage. The house is perfect, although they are sharing with others. The weather is perfect, the rent price is perfect, the food is perfect. Then why do people keep disappearing and no one remembers them at all? Except for Megan, who doesn't know if she's going crazy, or the world is going crazy.
Jackie, Megan's friend, is the MVP of the book. We all need a friend like her. As for Megan, well, after all she's been through, she needs a therapist, to at least manage her emotions.
The characters needed a little more depth, something to make me attach to them and their goal. They appear, do their part, then poof. It's like they are there to make the plot moving only, although it feels like we should care about them.
I loved the premise of the book, and it could have gone so many ways. Maybe because of its shortness, it took away from the depth it could've reached. The chapters are short and quick to read, so it's good for a quick read while bored.
Actual rating: 3.5 ⭐️
It starts with a vacation to mend their marriage. The house is perfect, although they are sharing with others. The weather is perfect, the rent price is perfect, the food is perfect. Then why do people keep disappearing and no one remembers them at all? Except for Megan, who doesn't know if she's going crazy, or the world is going crazy.
Jackie, Megan's friend, is the MVP of the book. We all need a friend like her. As for Megan, well, after all she's been through, she needs a therapist, to at least manage her emotions.
The characters needed a little more depth, something to make me attach to them and their goal. They appear, do their part, then poof. It's like they are there to make the plot moving only, although it feels like we should care about them.
I loved the premise of the book, and it could have gone so many ways. Maybe because of its shortness, it took away from the depth it could've reached. The chapters are short and quick to read, so it's good for a quick read while bored.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received this ARC copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with an advance copy of this book.
The Vanishers was a genuinely enjoyable and creepy read.
The plot feels fresh, though it carries echoes of It. Megan and her husband, Patrick, rent what seems like the perfect summer vacation home—but it quickly becomes clear that it’s too perfect. From the very beginning, there’s an uneasy atmosphere that both Megan and the reader can sense. When the disappearances begin, the tension ramps up and the story shifts into a gripping thriller.
The characters are well written and believable—you never feel like they’re acting out of character. Megan stood out the most to me; she really drives the story forward. There were also a few characters I disliked, and even a couple I outright hated (for good reason).
The ending was satisfying, offering a sense of closure while still leaving room for possibility. Its inspiration from urban legends adds an extra layer of intrigue that makes the story even more engaging.
Overall, the book maintains a creepy, unsettling vibe throughout.
Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with an advance copy of this book.
The Vanishers was a genuinely enjoyable and creepy read.
The plot feels fresh, though it carries echoes of It. Megan and her husband, Patrick, rent what seems like the perfect summer vacation home—but it quickly becomes clear that it’s too perfect. From the very beginning, there’s an uneasy atmosphere that both Megan and the reader can sense. When the disappearances begin, the tension ramps up and the story shifts into a gripping thriller.
The characters are well written and believable—you never feel like they’re acting out of character. Megan stood out the most to me; she really drives the story forward. There were also a few characters I disliked, and even a couple I outright hated (for good reason).
The ending was satisfying, offering a sense of closure while still leaving room for possibility. Its inspiration from urban legends adds an extra layer of intrigue that makes the story even more engaging.
Overall, the book maintains a creepy, unsettling vibe throughout.
May 15, 2026
Thank you Net Galley and DP Books for the ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and rating.
The Vanishers is modern day Twilight Zone vibes. I devoured it in 3 days. It is just creepy and fast paced enough to keep you on the hook and gives a very satisfying ending. I also love the setting, premise and degree of tension/friction.
Spoilers….
My major qualm: the fact that home girl searched for a full year and never came up with a plan during that whole time so therefore was completely unprepared. I feel like it would have been more seamless if she teamed up with boy wonder and slut Jackie to come up with the plan and to find the house together but that’s just me.
My minor qualms:
Random awkward dialogue moments.
How are the MCs so very very in love despite a superficial relationship and minimal interaction?
Why on page 79 are the Snydermans suddenly the Bidermans?
Why did Sam not take Ann seriously and seemingly dismiss her right to Megan’s face but once Megan had a vested interest he’s all of the sudden going to help?
How many times can you call sex love making in one book?
3.5 but rounded up for devour-ability.
The Vanishers is modern day Twilight Zone vibes. I devoured it in 3 days. It is just creepy and fast paced enough to keep you on the hook and gives a very satisfying ending. I also love the setting, premise and degree of tension/friction.
Spoilers….
My major qualm: the fact that home girl searched for a full year and never came up with a plan during that whole time so therefore was completely unprepared. I feel like it would have been more seamless if she teamed up with boy wonder and slut Jackie to come up with the plan and to find the house together but that’s just me.
My minor qualms:
Random awkward dialogue moments.
How are the MCs so very very in love despite a superficial relationship and minimal interaction?
Why on page 79 are the Snydermans suddenly the Bidermans?
Why did Sam not take Ann seriously and seemingly dismiss her right to Megan’s face but once Megan had a vested interest he’s all of the sudden going to help?
How many times can you call sex love making in one book?
3.5 but rounded up for devour-ability.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley for giving me an ARC copy of the book for an honest review.
The Vanishers by R.G. Belsky is a book about an idyllic shared summer house in Connecticut where everything seems wonderful. That is until people start going missing one by one, and no one remembers that they even existed in the first place. They are wiped from all existence in their real lives and in the home. Megan is the only one who remembers.
I was hooked in the beginning and wanted to know more about what was going on, then it lost me in the middle. Megan meets Sam to try and figure out what is going on and falls in love within a few days of knowing each other. I rolled my eyes several times during their portion of the book. Then knowing that I had to continue to figure it out, I read the rest. If this wasn't an ARC, I might have DNF'ed it at that part. It was a 3 act book, plus an epilogue. Acts 1 & 3 were decent.
I ultimately gave it 3 stars because it was a fast paced story, it did hook me for some of the book, and I blew through it. Cut out the Sam romance and it would be a solid 3 star read.
The Vanishers by R.G. Belsky is a book about an idyllic shared summer house in Connecticut where everything seems wonderful. That is until people start going missing one by one, and no one remembers that they even existed in the first place. They are wiped from all existence in their real lives and in the home. Megan is the only one who remembers.
I was hooked in the beginning and wanted to know more about what was going on, then it lost me in the middle. Megan meets Sam to try and figure out what is going on and falls in love within a few days of knowing each other. I rolled my eyes several times during their portion of the book. Then knowing that I had to continue to figure it out, I read the rest. If this wasn't an ARC, I might have DNF'ed it at that part. It was a 3 act book, plus an epilogue. Acts 1 & 3 were decent.
I ultimately gave it 3 stars because it was a fast paced story, it did hook me for some of the book, and I blew through it. Cut out the Sam romance and it would be a solid 3 star read.
May 22, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
Please note this is a 2.5.
The plot of this was really good to start off- weird vibes with people falling off the face of the earth, and a main character who has made her unwilling way right into the middle of this. I think this book had so much potential in terms of pulling together paranormal and cosmic horror, but it didn’t quite pull together as well as it could have.
There was a bit too much instalove for me, and the dialogue was not ideal for me. I felt like there was also some stilted dialogue, and there was some weird writing as to some of the female characters. I just didn’t love the tone in places and there could have been a little more work for this one.
In addition, there was a bit of a sense that the sex scenes were written around as opposed to being ancillary to the plot. I wished it was just a little more together than what it was, and the twist was a little bit lacking for me as well.
I do think it was fast paced and there were some scenes that were well done, but it just felt a little bit lacking in some places.
Please note this is a 2.5.
The plot of this was really good to start off- weird vibes with people falling off the face of the earth, and a main character who has made her unwilling way right into the middle of this. I think this book had so much potential in terms of pulling together paranormal and cosmic horror, but it didn’t quite pull together as well as it could have.
There was a bit too much instalove for me, and the dialogue was not ideal for me. I felt like there was also some stilted dialogue, and there was some weird writing as to some of the female characters. I just didn’t love the tone in places and there could have been a little more work for this one.
In addition, there was a bit of a sense that the sex scenes were written around as opposed to being ancillary to the plot. I wished it was just a little more together than what it was, and the twist was a little bit lacking for me as well.
I do think it was fast paced and there were some scenes that were well done, but it just felt a little bit lacking in some places.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A couple rent a room in a too perfect house for the summer and then strange things start to happen and someone goes missing, except Megan is the only one who remembers them!
This is such an intriguing read. There’s an element of flashback that gives the whole story an edge right from the beginning. The introduction of main characters is brilliantly setup and immediately gives us a great idea of who the story is about that lets us form that necessary attachment.
I love that it was never boring, there was always pieces of information fed through the story to keep you tuned in and the story progressed at a good pace. It wasn’t predictable, even though the main concept sets out the idea for you.
I wouldn’t quite say it was ‘horror’ and nothing really kept me suspended or shocked me but it was an enjoyable read that was well written. I wouldn’t quite say have preferred an ‘ending’ to a particular relationship, or even just a conversation rather than just the idea of what was to happen but that’s just my preference as the story as a whole was concluded well enough.
This is such an intriguing read. There’s an element of flashback that gives the whole story an edge right from the beginning. The introduction of main characters is brilliantly setup and immediately gives us a great idea of who the story is about that lets us form that necessary attachment.
I love that it was never boring, there was always pieces of information fed through the story to keep you tuned in and the story progressed at a good pace. It wasn’t predictable, even though the main concept sets out the idea for you.
I wouldn’t quite say it was ‘horror’ and nothing really kept me suspended or shocked me but it was an enjoyable read that was well written. I wouldn’t quite say have preferred an ‘ending’ to a particular relationship, or even just a conversation rather than just the idea of what was to happen but that’s just my preference as the story as a whole was concluded well enough.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley for the advance reader copy
This book had an unsettling atmosphere that crept in early and never let go. There was a constant sense that something was just slightly off, and that eerie tension made it impossible for me to stop turning pages. Every chapter seemed to reveal just enough to keep me questioning what was really happening, while making me desperate to see what would come next.
What stood out most was how deeply the characters pulled me in. They felt layered and believable, which made the growing sense of unease around them even more effective. The author balanced suspense with emotional depth so well that I was equally invested in the characters and the mystery surrounding them.
The pacing was perfectly handled, building a quiet but persistent dread that kept my attention from beginning to end. It was the kind of story that stayed in my mind even when I wasn’t reading because I needed to know where it was all leading. If you’re looking for a mysterious thriller this one’s for you.
This book had an unsettling atmosphere that crept in early and never let go. There was a constant sense that something was just slightly off, and that eerie tension made it impossible for me to stop turning pages. Every chapter seemed to reveal just enough to keep me questioning what was really happening, while making me desperate to see what would come next.
What stood out most was how deeply the characters pulled me in. They felt layered and believable, which made the growing sense of unease around them even more effective. The author balanced suspense with emotional depth so well that I was equally invested in the characters and the mystery surrounding them.
The pacing was perfectly handled, building a quiet but persistent dread that kept my attention from beginning to end. It was the kind of story that stayed in my mind even when I wasn’t reading because I needed to know where it was all leading. If you’re looking for a mysterious thriller this one’s for you.
May 12, 2026
THE VANISHERS—A SMART, ATMOSPHERIC THRILLER
There is a quiet confidence to The Vanishers that reveals itself to the reader immediately. RG Belsky doesn’t rely on theatrics or excess, but on a mastery of tone and character. What begins as an inviting premise — a summer retreat along the coast — gradually tilts into something far more unsettling, and Belsky manages that shift admirably. The pacing is especially compelling, allowing the tension to accumulate in layers, trusting the reader, to feel the sense of relentlessness unease. That patience pays off spectacularly, imbuing the narrative with a steady, nearly hypnotic pull. By the time the truth begins to reveal itself, it somehow feels both surprising and inevitable. This is a novel that understands its own rhythm and stays true to it – an atmospheric, carefully constructed thriller, that values precision over noise, and leaves the reader with a lasting impression; a smart, atmospheric page-turner that I recommend highly.
—-Baron Birtcher, award-winning author of KNIFE RIVER
There is a quiet confidence to The Vanishers that reveals itself to the reader immediately. RG Belsky doesn’t rely on theatrics or excess, but on a mastery of tone and character. What begins as an inviting premise — a summer retreat along the coast — gradually tilts into something far more unsettling, and Belsky manages that shift admirably. The pacing is especially compelling, allowing the tension to accumulate in layers, trusting the reader, to feel the sense of relentlessness unease. That patience pays off spectacularly, imbuing the narrative with a steady, nearly hypnotic pull. By the time the truth begins to reveal itself, it somehow feels both surprising and inevitable. This is a novel that understands its own rhythm and stays true to it – an atmospheric, carefully constructed thriller, that values precision over noise, and leaves the reader with a lasting impression; a smart, atmospheric page-turner that I recommend highly.
—-Baron Birtcher, award-winning author of KNIFE RIVER
May 17, 2026
Huge thanks to RG Belsky, dp books and NetGalley for this advanced copy of The Vanishers. This review is being left voluntarily and all opinions expressed are my own.
This book had a really interesting premise about people disappearing from existence after staying in what seems to be the perfect summer home.
Main character Megan shows admirable determination and tenacity in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds and when she seems to be the only one left to fight.
The setting for the book provoked a real sense of unease and the character of Mrs Monahan was very unsettling.
For all the build up the big confrontation and finale, I felt quite underwhelmed when it actually arrived. I probably would have enjoyed it more if it had followed a horror path rather than the paranormal route it went down.
To the author's credit, I enjoyed the pacing of the story and the short chapters kept me invested throughout. A solid read and enough to make me want to try more from this author.
This book had a really interesting premise about people disappearing from existence after staying in what seems to be the perfect summer home.
Main character Megan shows admirable determination and tenacity in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds and when she seems to be the only one left to fight.
The setting for the book provoked a real sense of unease and the character of Mrs Monahan was very unsettling.
For all the build up the big confrontation and finale, I felt quite underwhelmed when it actually arrived. I probably would have enjoyed it more if it had followed a horror path rather than the paranormal route it went down.
To the author's credit, I enjoyed the pacing of the story and the short chapters kept me invested throughout. A solid read and enough to make me want to try more from this author.
May 11, 2026
Thank you DB publisher for ARC copy. An enjoyable read, with an unexpected twist that sets it apart from other books I’ve read. What begins as a classic story about a group of strangers staying in a mysterious house, where strange events gradually start unfolding, takes a dramatic turn into an entirely different reality. That being said, I found the writing style a bit too simple at times, relying heavily on short sentences and dialogue. While this creates a faster pace and keeps the story moving, it also limits the opportunity to explore the characters in greater depth. Despite this, I still found the book entertaining and would recommend it to anyone looking for something interesting and engaging, while also being an easy read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I started off really enjoying this book. The premise was interesting and I had a little shudder at some of the moments where I knew things were changing. However those moments were few and far between and the author missed so many opportunities to build on the tension and creepiness!
The writing at times felt somewhat juvenile and I didn’t like or gel with any of the characters especially the main person. I found her so rude!
It was a cool premise but unfortunately just wasn’t executed in the best way. It ended too abruptly, wasn’t eerie enough, and lost the atmospheric vibes almost at the beginning. I’d give this a 2.5.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and dp books for the ARC.
The writing at times felt somewhat juvenile and I didn’t like or gel with any of the characters especially the main person. I found her so rude!
It was a cool premise but unfortunately just wasn’t executed in the best way. It ended too abruptly, wasn’t eerie enough, and lost the atmospheric vibes almost at the beginning. I’d give this a 2.5.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and dp books for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book has been a ride. I had received an advanced copy and very much enjoyed this read. It is a very suspenseful story that throughout you are trying to figure out what and how the things are happening in this vacation house. You start to notice little clues before the character herself realizes. You start to feel the frustration the main character Megan has throughout the story of feeling like she is not being heard without delving into spoilers. The Vanishers is full of intrigue and suspense with a dash of mystery. It is an easy read and easy to follow along the story. Would definitely recommend.
May 18, 2026
This book is so good! The story of a perfect summer rental house that is not all it seems. People keep disappearing, but nobody believes what they are told. When Sam and Megan try to find out where the missing have gone, the house disappears, with Sam inside! Megan searches for a whole year before finding it again, but can she solve the mystery and save those who have been lost?
A fast paced, well written book. The characters are believable and the storyline has you frantically turning pages wanting to know what happens next.
I can’t wait to read more from this author.
Thank you to do Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.
A fast paced, well written book. The characters are believable and the storyline has you frantically turning pages wanting to know what happens next.
I can’t wait to read more from this author.
Thank you to do Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.
May 22, 2026
This is a total page-turner.
It reads somewhere between a Stephen King novel and a gripping family drama. It truly has everything: sci-fi, a bit of romance, deep friendships, and the ultimate human struggle—do I let it go, or push on with the impossible?
The characters are wonderfully written, given just the right amount of background for you to understand exactly where their origin stories began.
As for the ending, it is incredibly satisfying. You have an idea of what could happen, but there is enough room to guess the story from here on out to keep your endorphins on a high for days after finishing the last page.
It reads somewhere between a Stephen King novel and a gripping family drama. It truly has everything: sci-fi, a bit of romance, deep friendships, and the ultimate human struggle—do I let it go, or push on with the impossible?
The characters are wonderfully written, given just the right amount of background for you to understand exactly where their origin stories began.
As for the ending, it is incredibly satisfying. You have an idea of what could happen, but there is enough room to guess the story from here on out to keep your endorphins on a high for days after finishing the last page.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Grab some snacks and a blanket then find a comfortable spot on the couch because you're going to devour this book in one sitting. At least, that's what I did. I kept telling myself just one more chapter but I never actually put it down. The story flowed so effortlessly and was so compelling I just had to know what was going to happen next.
Tension builds steadily as we follow Megan on her journey to find out what's really going on at Mrs. Monahan's house. Is she losing her mind or has everyone around her lost theirs?
Grab some snacks and a blanket then find a comfortable spot on the couch because you're going to devour this book in one sitting. At least, that's what I did. I kept telling myself just one more chapter but I never actually put it down. The story flowed so effortlessly and was so compelling I just had to know what was going to happen next.
Tension builds steadily as we follow Megan on her journey to find out what's really going on at Mrs. Monahan's house. Is she losing her mind or has everyone around her lost theirs?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews