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How to Disappear Completely: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 9 Feb 27From the author of Night's Edge comes a dark, atmospheric, genre-blend of a novel following a young woman who is thrust into a deadly conspiracy that takes her across the Midwest and her own memory to understand what happened to her sister twenty years ago.
There's an explanation for everything. There's nothing to be afraid of…
When Hazel was thirteen, her sister Kira believed she'd received a message from another world after a strange paranormal encounter. The mystery consumed her. Then she disappeared.
Twenty years later, Hazel remains haunted by anxiety, grief, and intense episodes of a cryptic déjà vu. When Hazel is introduced to a podcast called The Satellites, she realizes that a group of people from her town had the same experience Kira did. Before long, what once felt like tragedy begins to feel more like conspiracy.
Determined to unravel the truth of what happened to her sister, Hazel reluctantly teams up with Silas, the mysterious man behind the podcast. And against her better judgement, they tumble headfirst into a dark, twisted romance.
But then members of the group start turning up dead. And the more Hazel and Silas investigate, the worse Hazel's episodes get. What happened to Kira is bigger and deadlier than Hazel ever realized, and if she can't solve it, she might be the next to disappear.
There's an explanation for everything. There's nothing to be afraid of…
When Hazel was thirteen, her sister Kira believed she'd received a message from another world after a strange paranormal encounter. The mystery consumed her. Then she disappeared.
Twenty years later, Hazel remains haunted by anxiety, grief, and intense episodes of a cryptic déjà vu. When Hazel is introduced to a podcast called The Satellites, she realizes that a group of people from her town had the same experience Kira did. Before long, what once felt like tragedy begins to feel more like conspiracy.
Determined to unravel the truth of what happened to her sister, Hazel reluctantly teams up with Silas, the mysterious man behind the podcast. And against her better judgement, they tumble headfirst into a dark, twisted romance.
But then members of the group start turning up dead. And the more Hazel and Silas investigate, the worse Hazel's episodes get. What happened to Kira is bigger and deadlier than Hazel ever realized, and if she can't solve it, she might be the next to disappear.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 9, 2027
About the author
Liz Kerin
7 books400 followersLiz Kerin is an award winning playwright, screenwriter, and author of horror and speculative fiction. She is the author of the critically acclaimed NIGHT’S EDGE duology, dark fantasy adventure THE PHANTOM FOREST, and the forthcoming HOW TO DISAPPEAR COMPLETELY from Sourcebooks/Poisoned Pen. Her short fiction and personal essays have appeared on Reactor (FKA Tor.com), in the Brink Literary Journal, and in the PUNK GOES HORROR anthology from TruBorn Press. As a screenwriter, she has a number of film/tv projects in development, including adaptations of her novels. She is a graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and lives in LA with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
I absolutely LOVED this book! What a creepy, suspenseful ride!
The story surrounding Hazel and what happened to her sister 20 years ago had me completely invested. The characters were intriguing, the atmosphere was chilling, and there were moments when I felt like I was holding my breath, worried about what was going to happen next!
I watched a video yesterday where Liz Kerin mentioned the phrase “Scary Spice,” and I immediately thought how perfectly it describes this book! With its psychological horror, supernatural elements, and a little spice mixed in, it really is such a fitting description! 👻🌶️
I love a book that can genuinely creep me out while keeping me completely hooked on the mystery, and this one delivered!
If you enjoy atmospheric horror with supernatural undertones, plenty of suspense, thriller vibes, and a little scary spice, definitely add this one to your TBR! 🖤
I absolutely LOVED this book! What a creepy, suspenseful ride!
The story surrounding Hazel and what happened to her sister 20 years ago had me completely invested. The characters were intriguing, the atmosphere was chilling, and there were moments when I felt like I was holding my breath, worried about what was going to happen next!
I watched a video yesterday where Liz Kerin mentioned the phrase “Scary Spice,” and I immediately thought how perfectly it describes this book! With its psychological horror, supernatural elements, and a little spice mixed in, it really is such a fitting description! 👻🌶️
I love a book that can genuinely creep me out while keeping me completely hooked on the mystery, and this one delivered!
If you enjoy atmospheric horror with supernatural undertones, plenty of suspense, thriller vibes, and a little scary spice, definitely add this one to your TBR! 🖤
Read
April 4, 2026So excited to share this new one with you all! FYI, this book does contain some dark romance/spicy elements. I feel that's worth noting, as my previous three books did not.
Anyway! All I ask is that everybody avoids spoilers in their reviews. Say whatever else you want. Just don't say the things you KNOW I'm talking about. :)
Anyway! All I ask is that everybody avoids spoilers in their reviews. Say whatever else you want. Just don't say the things you KNOW I'm talking about. :)
October 23, 2026
Extremely interesting concept with an unpredictable ending.
When Hazel was thirteen years old, her older sister, Kira, went missing. Several decades later, a podcast focusing on Kira’s disappearance reopens old wounds that Hazel does not want to revisit. This is not your traditional missing person novel. That’s all the detail I’m going to give!
This was a unique blend of all different kinds of genres, which made it hard to figure out how it was going to end. Definitely not predictable! I figured out a few things but did not come close to how it all tied up. It kinda made my head hurt, but in a good way. I liked the weirdness of this one!
As a quick aside…with the genre mix, there is a bit of dark romance/spice thrown in.
All in all, I really liked this, and it definitely made me think. This is my first book by this author and definitely won’t be my last.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
When Hazel was thirteen years old, her older sister, Kira, went missing. Several decades later, a podcast focusing on Kira’s disappearance reopens old wounds that Hazel does not want to revisit. This is not your traditional missing person novel. That’s all the detail I’m going to give!
This was a unique blend of all different kinds of genres, which made it hard to figure out how it was going to end. Definitely not predictable! I figured out a few things but did not come close to how it all tied up. It kinda made my head hurt, but in a good way. I liked the weirdness of this one!
As a quick aside…with the genre mix, there is a bit of dark romance/spice thrown in.
All in all, I really liked this, and it definitely made me think. This is my first book by this author and definitely won’t be my last.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 rounded up! I have so much I want to say but unfortunately it mostly revolves around the ending and my thoughts would be very spoiler-y, so my lips are sealed. I took a few days to sit with the ending though, because at first I wasn't sure how I felt about it, but the more I think about it, the more I like it.
This book was not what I thought it'd be, and at no point did I know where it was going to end up, which I loved. Nothing was predictable, except maybe one thing, about one person, but I'm not gonna talk about that. I was so gripped by this and felt so engrossed in this world. This isn't my first read from Liz Kerin, and something that's true of all her work is how incredible her world building is, and how real her characters feel. I always feel like I'm really in this story with these people, wherever they are.
A really great read. I really loved this. Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC!
This book was not what I thought it'd be, and at no point did I know where it was going to end up, which I loved. Nothing was predictable, except maybe one thing, about one person, but I'm not gonna talk about that. I was so gripped by this and felt so engrossed in this world. This isn't my first read from Liz Kerin, and something that's true of all her work is how incredible her world building is, and how real her characters feel. I always feel like I'm really in this story with these people, wherever they are.
A really great read. I really loved this. Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5/5. Tense, gripping, moody, and deliciously atmospheric.
Hazel takes us through her past and present experience with the loss of her sister at a young age after they both experienced a world-altering, unexplainable fright. After stumbling into a podcast about the peculiar event decades, she cannot help but throw herself back in, meeting and quickly losing those with a seemingly shared understanding along the way.
There is a profound sense of familiar loss and longing throughout this entire story. It is as though each of the characters have "disappeared completely" to cope in their own unique ways. Kerin has written complicated, pain stricken characters with grace. Their personal reactions to trauma are laid out plainly, defining who they are in their adult lives. No one knows who to trust, let alone themselves, and the reader is perpetually caught in that fearful cluelessness. Even the moments of closeness and intimacy are shadowed by an intense uncertainty.
I was engrossed by this novel from the first chapter and finished it in nearly one sitting. Kerin's prose is artful and dark. It adds to the fast paced and tense story beautifully. This is one that will stick with me.
How to Disappear Completely is simply best kept secret until you can experience it for yourself.
And you should absolutely experience it for yourself.
Hazel takes us through her past and present experience with the loss of her sister at a young age after they both experienced a world-altering, unexplainable fright. After stumbling into a podcast about the peculiar event decades, she cannot help but throw herself back in, meeting and quickly losing those with a seemingly shared understanding along the way.
There is a profound sense of familiar loss and longing throughout this entire story. It is as though each of the characters have "disappeared completely" to cope in their own unique ways. Kerin has written complicated, pain stricken characters with grace. Their personal reactions to trauma are laid out plainly, defining who they are in their adult lives. No one knows who to trust, let alone themselves, and the reader is perpetually caught in that fearful cluelessness. Even the moments of closeness and intimacy are shadowed by an intense uncertainty.
I was engrossed by this novel from the first chapter and finished it in nearly one sitting. Kerin's prose is artful and dark. It adds to the fast paced and tense story beautifully. This is one that will stick with me.
How to Disappear Completely is simply best kept secret until you can experience it for yourself.
And you should absolutely experience it for yourself.
September 19, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
“How to Disappear Completely” by Liz Kerin started off so strong. The opening was genuinely creepy and unsettling, and I was immediately invested in Kira’s disappearance and the strange event from twenty years earlier. Unfortunately, the book didn’t maintain that momentum and ended up disappointing me.
I really enjoyed the Satellites concept and the podcast transcripts. Hazel discovering other people from her hometown who experienced the same bizarre event made the mystery intriguing, and I liked trying to figure out whether there was a logical explanation or something genuinely supernatural happening.
However, the story eventually felt like it was trying to do too many things at once, and I became much more interested in the mystery than the romance. I disliked Silas as a character, and the romance/erotic scenes between him and Hazel genuinely disgusted me. Given his connection to Kira and everything surrounding the murder investigation, the relationship was especially uncomfortable for me and felt unnecessary.
The ending did manage to surprise me, but I ultimately found it unsatisfactory. It explained some things while leaving me with more questions than I wanted, and it didn’t give me the payoff I was hoping for after such a promising beginning.
Overall, this was a creepy, weird, and original story with an intriguing premise, but unfortunately, the strong opening didn’t translate into a satisfying read for me. The mystery kept me guessing, but the romance, pacing, and ending left me disappointed.
“How to Disappear Completely” by Liz Kerin started off so strong. The opening was genuinely creepy and unsettling, and I was immediately invested in Kira’s disappearance and the strange event from twenty years earlier. Unfortunately, the book didn’t maintain that momentum and ended up disappointing me.
I really enjoyed the Satellites concept and the podcast transcripts. Hazel discovering other people from her hometown who experienced the same bizarre event made the mystery intriguing, and I liked trying to figure out whether there was a logical explanation or something genuinely supernatural happening.
However, the story eventually felt like it was trying to do too many things at once, and I became much more interested in the mystery than the romance. I disliked Silas as a character, and the romance/erotic scenes between him and Hazel genuinely disgusted me. Given his connection to Kira and everything surrounding the murder investigation, the relationship was especially uncomfortable for me and felt unnecessary.
The ending did manage to surprise me, but I ultimately found it unsatisfactory. It explained some things while leaving me with more questions than I wanted, and it didn’t give me the payoff I was hoping for after such a promising beginning.
Overall, this was a creepy, weird, and original story with an intriguing premise, but unfortunately, the strong opening didn’t translate into a satisfying read for me. The mystery kept me guessing, but the romance, pacing, and ending left me disappointed.
September 6, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for my first ARC! 3.5 ⭐️ rounded up. Not just one but two of the most self destructive characters I’ve ever encountered. Meet Hazel, our main character, who has been shaken and molded by trauma. Immediately upon meeting her, she’s blowing up her life and doesn’t care who she’s left dismembered in her chaotic wake. She decides to entertain one of the weirdest relationship dynamics; seriously, her run of poor decisions is legendary. Follow along and see where it leads her. I had an icky feeling following the story and characters both, which was probably intentional. There’s a bit of sci-fi, which mostly went over my head. But I was entertained from beginning to end. Probably deserves a trigger warning for substance relapse and more.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.75 ⭐️
Wow! What a premise!
This was quite the mash-up of psychological suspense + paranormal mystery + conspiracy + grief + missing sister + unreliable perception/déjà vu + dark romance + deaths + road trip. There was a lot going on, but I really got into it.
I was surprised because I’m not usually into the paranormal element. But it worked for me here. What really stood out to me was the focus on what happens when you’re made to question your own memories and experiences, and how isolating that can be. I loved the idea that sometimes finding even one person who believes you, and believes in you, can change everything. There was something really powerful about watching these characters feel so alone in what they knew to be true, until someone finally validated them.
And then there was that constant question of what was actually real. The déjà vu, the strange connections, the feeling that something was just off. I loved not knowing exactly what to believe or where this story was going.
This was such a different horror story, and that’s what I liked so much about it. It was creepy, strange, unsettling, emotional, and definitely stood out from other horror books I’ve read. This gave me shades of Incidents Around the House and We Used to Live Here, so if you loved those I’d definitely recommend giving this one a try.
Poisoned Pen Press, thank you for the ARC. I am so grateful for the opportunity to read a new-to-me author, and one that I will gladly be reading more of. These opinions are my own and given in return for an advance reader copy.
Wow! What a premise!
This was quite the mash-up of psychological suspense + paranormal mystery + conspiracy + grief + missing sister + unreliable perception/déjà vu + dark romance + deaths + road trip. There was a lot going on, but I really got into it.
I was surprised because I’m not usually into the paranormal element. But it worked for me here. What really stood out to me was the focus on what happens when you’re made to question your own memories and experiences, and how isolating that can be. I loved the idea that sometimes finding even one person who believes you, and believes in you, can change everything. There was something really powerful about watching these characters feel so alone in what they knew to be true, until someone finally validated them.
And then there was that constant question of what was actually real. The déjà vu, the strange connections, the feeling that something was just off. I loved not knowing exactly what to believe or where this story was going.
This was such a different horror story, and that’s what I liked so much about it. It was creepy, strange, unsettling, emotional, and definitely stood out from other horror books I’ve read. This gave me shades of Incidents Around the House and We Used to Live Here, so if you loved those I’d definitely recommend giving this one a try.
Poisoned Pen Press, thank you for the ARC. I am so grateful for the opportunity to read a new-to-me author, and one that I will gladly be reading more of. These opinions are my own and given in return for an advance reader copy.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
How to Disappear Completely is a fast-paced, lightly sci-fi thriller with a dark romance. You'll be breathless to finish the story and figure out just what's happening in this small town. Twenty years ago, Kira, Hazel's sister disappeared on an outing from the mental facility where she was being treated. Several months earlier, she (and Hazel) had a weird, alien-like experience and Kira had problems dealing. Now, Hazel is an adult and her father just turned her on to a podcast about people in the area with the same experiences that she and Kira had. But Hazel wants nothing but for the podcast to stop. But the more she investigates, the harder it gets to walk away from.
I was all in here until the dark romance, which just feels icky and unneeded. Then, the story just felt like it dragged and I wanted it to be over. Still, the idea was a good one and the writing was definitely engaging and fast paced. I think taking out the romance would help.
I was all in here until the dark romance, which just feels icky and unneeded. Then, the story just felt like it dragged and I wanted it to be over. Still, the idea was a good one and the writing was definitely engaging and fast paced. I think taking out the romance would help.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I went I to this thinking, oh thriller, but got some X-files ish mystery that I was a little obsessed with, so thank you Netgalley for the read.
Hazel has a traumatic childhood her sister Kira disappeared with out a trace but she ha dbeej obsessed with the idea she had received a message from another world.
Was this just the imagination of a young girl or was something else going on?
No one ever knew, then Hazel an adult is introduced to a podcast where she realizes maybe the thing with Kira wasn't just a one off and maybe the message was something more sinister.
Digging deeper into things it seems like they are picked off one by one, turning up dead as they find more questions.
Not going to lie this had me breathing hard, because who is doing this?? Is this some big conspiracy or is the mastermind closer to home or is this really something alien and unknown..
That ending I expected but didn't part of it, so not bad for a twist.
This would be a fantastic audiobook!
Hazel has a traumatic childhood her sister Kira disappeared with out a trace but she ha dbeej obsessed with the idea she had received a message from another world.
Was this just the imagination of a young girl or was something else going on?
No one ever knew, then Hazel an adult is introduced to a podcast where she realizes maybe the thing with Kira wasn't just a one off and maybe the message was something more sinister.
Digging deeper into things it seems like they are picked off one by one, turning up dead as they find more questions.
Not going to lie this had me breathing hard, because who is doing this?? Is this some big conspiracy or is the mastermind closer to home or is this really something alien and unknown..
That ending I expected but didn't part of it, so not bad for a twist.
This would be a fantastic audiobook!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Creepy, scary, and a little spicy—this book did a great job of scaring me at night! 😳 I really enjoyed how easy the writing made this one to get through, and the concept was so interesting and different.
There were definitely moments that had me questioning what was really going on, and I loved that the story kept me guessing. The ending was not at all what I expected, but in the best way!
Thank you to NetGalley, Liz Kerin, and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. 📚
There were definitely moments that had me questioning what was really going on, and I loved that the story kept me guessing. The ending was not at all what I expected, but in the best way!
Thank you to NetGalley, Liz Kerin, and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. 📚
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley.
It's going to be hard AF to write a review of this book without a plethora of spoilers... So, let's say what I think I can say and respect the author's request. First, it's paramount to avoid such spoilers; whether you're attracted to the plot (I was) or not, dive into the book knowing as less as possible. Second, this was not what I was expecting, not by a fair margin. I was expecting a dark sci-fi horror book, and...not, it's not that. Similar, but not, way, way more complex and deep. And third, I fucking love it!
It's going to be hard AF to write a review of this book without a plethora of spoilers... So, let's say what I think I can say and respect the author's request. First, it's paramount to avoid such spoilers; whether you're attracted to the plot (I was) or not, dive into the book knowing as less as possible. Second, this was not what I was expecting, not by a fair margin. I was expecting a dark sci-fi horror book, and...not, it's not that. Similar, but not, way, way more complex and deep. And third, I fucking love it!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
There are books that end up being completely different than you thought and turn out as a disappointment, but there are also those books that go a bit different that turn out better than you could've expected.
How to Disappear Completely
by
Liz Kerin
squarely fits into the latter category. A surprising, atmospheric, and terrifying genre-blend novel that left me in awe after the final page turn.
When Hazel was thirteen, her sister Kira believed she'd received a message from another world after a strange paranormal encounter. The mystery consumed her. Then she disappeared. Twenty years later, Hazel remains haunted by anxiety, grief, and intense episodes of a cryptic déjà vu. When Hazel is introduced to a podcast called The Satellites, she realizes that a group of people from her town had the same experience Kira did. Before long, what once felt like tragedy begins to feel more like conspiracy.
Determined to unravel the truth of what happened to her sister, Hazel reluctantly teams up with Silas, the mysterious man behind the podcast. And against her better judgement, they tumble headfirst into a dark, twisted romance. But then members of the group start turning up dead. And the more Hazel and Silas investigate, the worse Hazel's episodes get. What happened to Kira is bigger and deadlier than Hazel ever realized, and if she can't solve it, she might be the next to disappear.
After getting back-to-back years with a Kerin novel in Night's Edge and First Light, we had to wait two-and-a-half years for How to Disappear Completely . You know what...it was worth the wait. I know Liz had life to tend to over the past few years, and never expect author's to pump out a novel every year, but with the books she scribes, I always want more and am a bit impatient. But, again, this novel was worth the freaking wait.
How to Disappear Completely falls between the thriller and horror genres in such a wonderful way. The dreadful suspense of the story allows it to seep under your skin in a way that made me feel uncomfortable at moments, as I connected with Hazel and the struggles she is facing. Losing a loved one is never easy, but in the fashion she did, I can't even imagine. But that is just the beginning, How to Disappear Completely goes on a journey of discovery and even more unsettling reveals that made for a captivating adventure where nothing really is as it seems.
I say a blend of horror and thriller, but there is also a bit of spicy storytelling that one would sometimes find in a popular romance novel. I knew going into this book there would be a bit of this, but still was shocked when I finally came upon the first moment. As someone who typically doesn't read much spice, it was a nice addition to this story. It also is there for a point, a purpose, not just for shock or dirty for dirty sake. Kerin lays a foundation with it that reveals itself later, but also just a nice bit a spice.
This story is about a search for answers to questions that might seem a bit far fetched, but without any other solutions is the only way to go. But it's also about dealing with loss and the actual repercussions of a life without concrete answers. The disappearance of a loved one is obviously not a great thing for that loved one but can have a ripple effect in those family members and friends surrounding the missing person. Life can unravel as you know it when the questions surrounding this loss are unanswered and mysterious. It's how you deal with this that sets your future in place, a not-so-easy thing to deal with.
Writing reviews can sometimes be easy, sometimes are extremely hard. Usually this is because you are unsure how you feel about said book, but you know what, sometimes its because the reveal is so much of what the story is about, but can't say it as the vast majority have not been able to read the story. The only way to really understand how wonderful How to Disappear Completely is to experience it for yourself. An incredible journey, but an ending that makes the story feel complete.
How to Disappear Completely is an unpredictable and wonderfully unsettling novel where the scariest mysteries are sometimes the ones we desperately need answered. Liz Kerin crafts an atmospheric and emotional novel, with a touch of spice, with an ending that made everything that came before it hit even harder. How to Disappear Completely is a beautiful genre-bending story that was worth the wait!
How to Disappear Completely hits bookstores everywhere on February 9, 2027 from Poisoned Pen Press. The audiobook is available via Libro.fm!
NOTE: We received an advance copy of How to Disappear Completely from the publisher. Opinions are our own.
When Hazel was thirteen, her sister Kira believed she'd received a message from another world after a strange paranormal encounter. The mystery consumed her. Then she disappeared. Twenty years later, Hazel remains haunted by anxiety, grief, and intense episodes of a cryptic déjà vu. When Hazel is introduced to a podcast called The Satellites, she realizes that a group of people from her town had the same experience Kira did. Before long, what once felt like tragedy begins to feel more like conspiracy.
Determined to unravel the truth of what happened to her sister, Hazel reluctantly teams up with Silas, the mysterious man behind the podcast. And against her better judgement, they tumble headfirst into a dark, twisted romance. But then members of the group start turning up dead. And the more Hazel and Silas investigate, the worse Hazel's episodes get. What happened to Kira is bigger and deadlier than Hazel ever realized, and if she can't solve it, she might be the next to disappear.
After getting back-to-back years with a Kerin novel in Night's Edge and First Light, we had to wait two-and-a-half years for How to Disappear Completely . You know what...it was worth the wait. I know Liz had life to tend to over the past few years, and never expect author's to pump out a novel every year, but with the books she scribes, I always want more and am a bit impatient. But, again, this novel was worth the freaking wait.
How to Disappear Completely falls between the thriller and horror genres in such a wonderful way. The dreadful suspense of the story allows it to seep under your skin in a way that made me feel uncomfortable at moments, as I connected with Hazel and the struggles she is facing. Losing a loved one is never easy, but in the fashion she did, I can't even imagine. But that is just the beginning, How to Disappear Completely goes on a journey of discovery and even more unsettling reveals that made for a captivating adventure where nothing really is as it seems.
I say a blend of horror and thriller, but there is also a bit of spicy storytelling that one would sometimes find in a popular romance novel. I knew going into this book there would be a bit of this, but still was shocked when I finally came upon the first moment. As someone who typically doesn't read much spice, it was a nice addition to this story. It also is there for a point, a purpose, not just for shock or dirty for dirty sake. Kerin lays a foundation with it that reveals itself later, but also just a nice bit a spice.
This story is about a search for answers to questions that might seem a bit far fetched, but without any other solutions is the only way to go. But it's also about dealing with loss and the actual repercussions of a life without concrete answers. The disappearance of a loved one is obviously not a great thing for that loved one but can have a ripple effect in those family members and friends surrounding the missing person. Life can unravel as you know it when the questions surrounding this loss are unanswered and mysterious. It's how you deal with this that sets your future in place, a not-so-easy thing to deal with.
Writing reviews can sometimes be easy, sometimes are extremely hard. Usually this is because you are unsure how you feel about said book, but you know what, sometimes its because the reveal is so much of what the story is about, but can't say it as the vast majority have not been able to read the story. The only way to really understand how wonderful How to Disappear Completely is to experience it for yourself. An incredible journey, but an ending that makes the story feel complete.
How to Disappear Completely is an unpredictable and wonderfully unsettling novel where the scariest mysteries are sometimes the ones we desperately need answered. Liz Kerin crafts an atmospheric and emotional novel, with a touch of spice, with an ending that made everything that came before it hit even harder. How to Disappear Completely is a beautiful genre-bending story that was worth the wait!
How to Disappear Completely hits bookstores everywhere on February 9, 2027 from Poisoned Pen Press. The audiobook is available via Libro.fm!
NOTE: We received an advance copy of How to Disappear Completely from the publisher. Opinions are our own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
At thirteen, Hazel and her sister Kira receive a mysterious message they believe comes from another world. They call the being responsible the Snow Angel, and Kira becomes obsessed with it. Then Kira disappears without a trace.
Twenty years later, Hazel is still haunted by her sister's disappearance. No body. No answers. No closure. Just two decades of grief, guilt, and unanswered questions. Then a podcast revisits the mystery, other people who experienced the Snow Angel begin coming forward, and those people start having unfortunate little accidents. Apparently, hearing messages from another world comes with a rather alarming mortality rate.
I never really connected with Hazel, but I understood her. Between the grief and mysterious episodes that leave her freezing to the bone, sometimes to the point of unconsciousness, she's developed a rather unhealthy relationship with pills and alcohol. Not exactly a physician-approved treatment plan, but I understood her desperation.
What kept me turning pages wasn't necessarily Hazel herself. It was the mystery of Kira's disappearance. Where did she go? Why was her body never found? And what on earth (or elsewhere) was the Snow Angel?
Kerin tells the story across two timelines, 2006–07 and the present, and I thought she handled them well. The beginning takes its time establishing the characters and mystery, but once the suspicious accidents begin piling up, the suspense really takes off. Every time Hazel gets close to someone who might have answers, something terrible happens. I began worrying about her safety, although I had no idea who or what was responsible.
That's when the book started interfering with my bedtime. One more chapter. Just one more.
Of the supporting characters, Lily, Hazel's childhood friend, was easily my favorite. She's funny, loyal, and apparently believes happy hour can begin around two in the afternoon. Finally, someone with reasonable priorities! Her humor provided a welcome break from the grief, obsession, and the increasingly suspicious body count.
Kerin did a good job keeping me guessing. There were clues, and eventually certain characters started setting off my internal alarm bells, but the mystery wasn't obvious from the beginning. I enjoyed her writing style and the balance of suspense, emotional complexity, and occasional humor.
Unfortunately, the ending lost me. Without giving anything away, the final explanation involves some ambitious ideas about trauma and the nature of reality. And I understood it. I really did. But understanding something and believing it are two entirely different things.
Kerin explained her reasoning, but accepting it required a bigger leap than I was willing to make. I was perfectly happy to suspend my disbelief. Unfortunately, by the ending, my disbelief needed a parachute.
Despite my disappointment with the resolution, How to Disappear Completely earns four stars. The storytelling was engaging, the suspense kept me reading, and I genuinely wanted to know what happened to Kira. I just wish the ending had been as satisfying as the journey.
Readers who enjoy psychological suspense with speculative or supernatural elements, complicated family relationships, and explorations of grief and trauma may appreciate this one. Those who prefer more grounded explanations might share my reservations.
Four stars for a compelling mystery and several nights of just one more chapter. The ending? Well, we can't have everything.
Content Warnings: Grief and loss, child disappearance, murder, substance misuse, overdose, PTSD/trauma, violence, sexual content including choking/breath restriction during intimacy, and near-drowning.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing an advance reader copy of How to Disappear Completely by Liz Kerin in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Twenty years later, Hazel is still haunted by her sister's disappearance. No body. No answers. No closure. Just two decades of grief, guilt, and unanswered questions. Then a podcast revisits the mystery, other people who experienced the Snow Angel begin coming forward, and those people start having unfortunate little accidents. Apparently, hearing messages from another world comes with a rather alarming mortality rate.
I never really connected with Hazel, but I understood her. Between the grief and mysterious episodes that leave her freezing to the bone, sometimes to the point of unconsciousness, she's developed a rather unhealthy relationship with pills and alcohol. Not exactly a physician-approved treatment plan, but I understood her desperation.
What kept me turning pages wasn't necessarily Hazel herself. It was the mystery of Kira's disappearance. Where did she go? Why was her body never found? And what on earth (or elsewhere) was the Snow Angel?
Kerin tells the story across two timelines, 2006–07 and the present, and I thought she handled them well. The beginning takes its time establishing the characters and mystery, but once the suspicious accidents begin piling up, the suspense really takes off. Every time Hazel gets close to someone who might have answers, something terrible happens. I began worrying about her safety, although I had no idea who or what was responsible.
That's when the book started interfering with my bedtime. One more chapter. Just one more.
Of the supporting characters, Lily, Hazel's childhood friend, was easily my favorite. She's funny, loyal, and apparently believes happy hour can begin around two in the afternoon. Finally, someone with reasonable priorities! Her humor provided a welcome break from the grief, obsession, and the increasingly suspicious body count.
Kerin did a good job keeping me guessing. There were clues, and eventually certain characters started setting off my internal alarm bells, but the mystery wasn't obvious from the beginning. I enjoyed her writing style and the balance of suspense, emotional complexity, and occasional humor.
Unfortunately, the ending lost me. Without giving anything away, the final explanation involves some ambitious ideas about trauma and the nature of reality. And I understood it. I really did. But understanding something and believing it are two entirely different things.
Kerin explained her reasoning, but accepting it required a bigger leap than I was willing to make. I was perfectly happy to suspend my disbelief. Unfortunately, by the ending, my disbelief needed a parachute.
Despite my disappointment with the resolution, How to Disappear Completely earns four stars. The storytelling was engaging, the suspense kept me reading, and I genuinely wanted to know what happened to Kira. I just wish the ending had been as satisfying as the journey.
Readers who enjoy psychological suspense with speculative or supernatural elements, complicated family relationships, and explorations of grief and trauma may appreciate this one. Those who prefer more grounded explanations might share my reservations.
Four stars for a compelling mystery and several nights of just one more chapter. The ending? Well, we can't have everything.
Content Warnings: Grief and loss, child disappearance, murder, substance misuse, overdose, PTSD/trauma, violence, sexual content including choking/breath restriction during intimacy, and near-drowning.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing an advance reader copy of How to Disappear Completely by Liz Kerin in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
“How to Disappear Completely” by Liz Kerin is one of those books where I went in thinking, “Okay, creepy mystery with maybe some aliens?” and somehow ended up with a podcast, a conspiracy, murder, supernatural weirdness, and a very iffy romance.
The opening is seriously creepy. Kira’s disappearance and the strange encounter that happened twenty years earlier immediately made me genuinely unsettled. Unfortunately, that level of horror doesn't quite stick around for the entire book. Once the initial mystery is established, it leans much more heavily into psychological thriller/conspiracy territory, with the supernatural elements slowly creeping back in.
I really liked the whole Satellites concept. Hazel discovers a podcast featuring other people from her hometown who experienced the same bizarre event as Kira, and suddenly her sister's disappearance doesn't look like an isolated incident anymore. People have been struggling with the aftermath for years, some have died, and now someone seems to be hunting down the survivors. The podcast transcripts were a really fun addition and made the whole thing feel like I was watching some increasingly unhinged true-crime investigation unfold.
Hazel herself is understandably a mess after everything that happened to her sister, and watching her try to separate trauma, paranoia, and what might actually be supernatural was one of my favorite parts (though there was a lot of drinking and drug use to deal with everything). The book does a great job keeping you wondering whether there's a logical explanation for everything or if something genuinely not human is happening.
And then there's Silas.
The romance between Hazel and Silas definitely wasn't my favorite part of the book. Honestly, I was much more interested in the mystery surrounding Kira and the increasingly bizarre conspiracy than I was in Hazel's relationship drama. Things get especially questionable considering Silas's connection to Kira and the fact that we're simultaneously dealing with a murder investigation. Maybe this was supposed to add some spice to the story, but for me it mostly felt like someone had wandered into the wrong book.
That said, I have to give the author credit for making this thing weird. There were several moments where I genuinely had no clue where the story was going. Just when I thought I'd figured out what kind of book I was reading, it would swerve into something completely different. The answers at the end actually managed to surprise me, and while they explain a lot, they also leave you with a feeling that will have you questioning your own existence.
Overall, “How to Disappear Completely” was creepy, bizarre, original, and definitely memorable. The romance wasn't really my thing, and I occasionally felt like the story was trying to do about seventeen things at once, but I can't complain about a book that kept me guessing.
“How to Disappear Completely” by Liz Kerin is one of those books where I went in thinking, “Okay, creepy mystery with maybe some aliens?” and somehow ended up with a podcast, a conspiracy, murder, supernatural weirdness, and a very iffy romance.
The opening is seriously creepy. Kira’s disappearance and the strange encounter that happened twenty years earlier immediately made me genuinely unsettled. Unfortunately, that level of horror doesn't quite stick around for the entire book. Once the initial mystery is established, it leans much more heavily into psychological thriller/conspiracy territory, with the supernatural elements slowly creeping back in.
I really liked the whole Satellites concept. Hazel discovers a podcast featuring other people from her hometown who experienced the same bizarre event as Kira, and suddenly her sister's disappearance doesn't look like an isolated incident anymore. People have been struggling with the aftermath for years, some have died, and now someone seems to be hunting down the survivors. The podcast transcripts were a really fun addition and made the whole thing feel like I was watching some increasingly unhinged true-crime investigation unfold.
Hazel herself is understandably a mess after everything that happened to her sister, and watching her try to separate trauma, paranoia, and what might actually be supernatural was one of my favorite parts (though there was a lot of drinking and drug use to deal with everything). The book does a great job keeping you wondering whether there's a logical explanation for everything or if something genuinely not human is happening.
And then there's Silas.
The romance between Hazel and Silas definitely wasn't my favorite part of the book. Honestly, I was much more interested in the mystery surrounding Kira and the increasingly bizarre conspiracy than I was in Hazel's relationship drama. Things get especially questionable considering Silas's connection to Kira and the fact that we're simultaneously dealing with a murder investigation. Maybe this was supposed to add some spice to the story, but for me it mostly felt like someone had wandered into the wrong book.
That said, I have to give the author credit for making this thing weird. There were several moments where I genuinely had no clue where the story was going. Just when I thought I'd figured out what kind of book I was reading, it would swerve into something completely different. The answers at the end actually managed to surprise me, and while they explain a lot, they also leave you with a feeling that will have you questioning your own existence.
Overall, “How to Disappear Completely” was creepy, bizarre, original, and definitely memorable. The romance wasn't really my thing, and I occasionally felt like the story was trying to do about seventeen things at once, but I can't complain about a book that kept me guessing.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This one started off STRONG.
Possible alien encounter? Paranormal? Conspiracy? Podcast? Disappearances? Self-sabotaging main character? I'M HERE FOR IT.
Twenty years ago, when Hazel was 13, her sister Kira believed she received a message from another world. But she wasn't the only one who experienced the bizarre noises and snow in August. Hazel did, too. And so did multiple other people in their small town.
Kira became obsessed with the strange encounter, eventually leading to a stay in a psychiatric hospital - and then her disappearance.
Now, Hazel is consumed by grief, anxiety, secrets, and intense déjà vu, causing her to self-sabotage basically every aspect of her life.
Enter Silas, the mysterious man behind a podcast attempting to track down anyone who experienced the same phenomenon. There's just one tiny problem: after he interviews the people known as The Satellites (over the phone, of course), each one dies soon afterward.
Hazel teams up with Silas to figure out what is actually happening, and THIS is where I was fully invested. This book was weird. It was bizarre. It was unsettling. I had absolutely no idea where it was going. Basically, it was exactly my kind of unhinged.
And then Hazel and Silas spiral into a dark, twisted romance.
Did I mention Silas also dated Hazel's sister? When Kira was 18 and he was already in his twenties?
Now, in the author's defense, the synopsis quite literally tells us there's going to be a “dark, twisted romance.” Apparently I chose not to absorb that particular piece of information before starting the book, so that's on me 😂
Unfortunately, as a staunch non-spice reader, it still took my reaction from “OMG, this book is SO unhinged, I love it!” to “WTF am I reading? THIS IS NOT THE KIND OF UNHINGED I ENJOY.”
And it wasn't simply the presence of sex scenes. The sexual content ventured into dark territory that is very much NOT for me. Readers who enjoy dark romance may have an entirely different reaction, but personally? Give me aliens. Give me conspiracies. Give me creepy podcasts, mysterious deaths, disappearances, and people questioning reality. Give me WEIRD.
Just not that particular flavor of weird.
That being said, the actual mystery was SO good. I loved the bizarre atmosphere, I desperately wanted answers, and the final twist was absolutely wild. I never would have seen it coming.
There was so much about How to Disappear Completely that I loved, and had the romance been left out entirely, this easily could have been a much higher-rated read for me. Ultimately, 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC!
Possible alien encounter? Paranormal? Conspiracy? Podcast? Disappearances? Self-sabotaging main character? I'M HERE FOR IT.
Twenty years ago, when Hazel was 13, her sister Kira believed she received a message from another world. But she wasn't the only one who experienced the bizarre noises and snow in August. Hazel did, too. And so did multiple other people in their small town.
Kira became obsessed with the strange encounter, eventually leading to a stay in a psychiatric hospital - and then her disappearance.
Now, Hazel is consumed by grief, anxiety, secrets, and intense déjà vu, causing her to self-sabotage basically every aspect of her life.
Enter Silas, the mysterious man behind a podcast attempting to track down anyone who experienced the same phenomenon. There's just one tiny problem: after he interviews the people known as The Satellites (over the phone, of course), each one dies soon afterward.
Hazel teams up with Silas to figure out what is actually happening, and THIS is where I was fully invested. This book was weird. It was bizarre. It was unsettling. I had absolutely no idea where it was going. Basically, it was exactly my kind of unhinged.
And then Hazel and Silas spiral into a dark, twisted romance.
Did I mention Silas also dated Hazel's sister? When Kira was 18 and he was already in his twenties?
Now, in the author's defense, the synopsis quite literally tells us there's going to be a “dark, twisted romance.” Apparently I chose not to absorb that particular piece of information before starting the book, so that's on me 😂
Unfortunately, as a staunch non-spice reader, it still took my reaction from “OMG, this book is SO unhinged, I love it!” to “WTF am I reading? THIS IS NOT THE KIND OF UNHINGED I ENJOY.”
And it wasn't simply the presence of sex scenes. The sexual content ventured into dark territory that is very much NOT for me. Readers who enjoy dark romance may have an entirely different reaction, but personally? Give me aliens. Give me conspiracies. Give me creepy podcasts, mysterious deaths, disappearances, and people questioning reality. Give me WEIRD.
Just not that particular flavor of weird.
That being said, the actual mystery was SO good. I loved the bizarre atmosphere, I desperately wanted answers, and the final twist was absolutely wild. I never would have seen it coming.
There was so much about How to Disappear Completely that I loved, and had the romance been left out entirely, this easily could have been a much higher-rated read for me. Ultimately, 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was an ARC provided by NetGalley: Hazel is 13 her 18 year old sister who has the whole world in front of her goes out to a bonfire one night in August and hazel wakes up to snow in her bedroom and her sister acting strangely, she wakes up in the morning to her sister gone found up the road babbling about a snow angel. She’s diagnosed bipolar and things start to unravel until her sister Kira goes missing presumably dead. Fast forward 20 years and Kira is still struggling with the fall out of sister’s disappearance when she finds out from her father about a new podcast that is investigating the “snow angel” mystery with other people who had the same experiences as her sister, calling them the Satellites. Her mental health starts to deteriorate as she sets off on trying to figure out the mystery with the host of the podcast. Everyone the podcast interviews starts to die in unusual ways and Hazel starts to become suspicious someone is trying to silence the Satellites. Her entire life starts to unravel while trying to find out the mystery behind her sisters disappearance.
I truly couldn’t put it down, I was hooked on this thriller, trying to figure out what actually happened and what hazel and Kira experienced was a wild ride. Hazel starts off pretty unlikable and reckless, she’s guarded and selfish and judgemental towards the other satellites, her family and even herself. But turns out her initial intuition was right to be guarded. The second half is so intense I was on the edge of my seat, the Author puts the pieces together slowly and once you realize what’s happening the anxiety of what Hazel is going through and dealing with is terrifying. In the end I grew to love her and empathize with her plight, she wasn’t ever perfect but she was real and her story is relatable if you’ve ever felt the need to isolate yourself from trauma you’ve experienced. I love a mystery thriller like this where all the pieces are obscure and wild and then slowly come together. It was a great read I really enjoyed it and would love to read more from Liz Kerin!
I truly couldn’t put it down, I was hooked on this thriller, trying to figure out what actually happened and what hazel and Kira experienced was a wild ride. Hazel starts off pretty unlikable and reckless, she’s guarded and selfish and judgemental towards the other satellites, her family and even herself. But turns out her initial intuition was right to be guarded. The second half is so intense I was on the edge of my seat, the Author puts the pieces together slowly and once you realize what’s happening the anxiety of what Hazel is going through and dealing with is terrifying. In the end I grew to love her and empathize with her plight, she wasn’t ever perfect but she was real and her story is relatable if you’ve ever felt the need to isolate yourself from trauma you’ve experienced. I love a mystery thriller like this where all the pieces are obscure and wild and then slowly come together. It was a great read I really enjoyed it and would love to read more from Liz Kerin!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC REVIEW ✍️
Title: How to Disappear Completely
Author: Liz Kerin
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Genre: horror
Pub Date: 9th February 2027
Summary:
Hazel's sister Kira disappeared after having experienced what she believed to be a message from another world. Twenty years later, Hazel continues to search for answers as she still feels anxiety, grief and she continues to relive moments from her past. Hazel hears about a podcast called The Satellites in which people who have heard the same message that her sister has heard appear and share their experience. The man who leads the podcast is called Silas. Hazel soon falls for his looks and they have a very twisted romance. However, bad things start to happen. Satellites end up dying, one by one. Hazel must find out what's going on before she is next on the list.
Review:
From the first chapters I had goosebumps on my arms. These frightening scenes don't last throughout the whole story but in a way I'm glad, as I had to read this book during daytime anyway, as it started way too spooky. The book is dark amd twisty. It's fast-paced and I enjoyed it greatly. The spicy romance scenes were spot on and linked super well with the whole atmosphere of the book - scary, unexplainable occurances. The author has definitely built her characters well and indepth. I did feel that Hazel could have made better decisions however the ending wouldn't be as shocking and so unpredictable as it was, if she did things differently. I had mixed feeling about the ending, although, after a few hours of thinking about it, everything made sense in this book. The whole story is actually very unique and that's exactly what I'm looking for in a book, as I read many stories and I love the feeling of not being able to guess what will happen at the end - I did suspect someone of something (I won't spoil anything) but I didn't see that final ending coming!
My rating:
4.5 / 5
Title: How to Disappear Completely
Author: Liz Kerin
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Genre: horror
Pub Date: 9th February 2027
Summary:
Hazel's sister Kira disappeared after having experienced what she believed to be a message from another world. Twenty years later, Hazel continues to search for answers as she still feels anxiety, grief and she continues to relive moments from her past. Hazel hears about a podcast called The Satellites in which people who have heard the same message that her sister has heard appear and share their experience. The man who leads the podcast is called Silas. Hazel soon falls for his looks and they have a very twisted romance. However, bad things start to happen. Satellites end up dying, one by one. Hazel must find out what's going on before she is next on the list.
Review:
From the first chapters I had goosebumps on my arms. These frightening scenes don't last throughout the whole story but in a way I'm glad, as I had to read this book during daytime anyway, as it started way too spooky. The book is dark amd twisty. It's fast-paced and I enjoyed it greatly. The spicy romance scenes were spot on and linked super well with the whole atmosphere of the book - scary, unexplainable occurances. The author has definitely built her characters well and indepth. I did feel that Hazel could have made better decisions however the ending wouldn't be as shocking and so unpredictable as it was, if she did things differently. I had mixed feeling about the ending, although, after a few hours of thinking about it, everything made sense in this book. The whole story is actually very unique and that's exactly what I'm looking for in a book, as I read many stories and I love the feeling of not being able to guess what will happen at the end - I did suspect someone of something (I won't spoil anything) but I didn't see that final ending coming!
My rating:
4.5 / 5
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When Hazel was thirteen, she and her sister Kira experienced an odd phenomenon. In the wake of this quick, but disturbing experience, Hazel looked for logical explanations while Kira believed something otherworldly had contacted her. Shortly after, Kira disappears.
After twenty years of grief and trauma, Hazel is attempting to carry on with her life when she learns about a podcast called The Satellites. The podcast details the exact event Kira experienced and Hazel discovers that several other people in her hometown also experienced the event. Desperate for answers, she teams up with the podcast host, Silas, and travels through the Midwest seeking the other "Satellites".
How to Disappear Completely hooked me immediately. I quickly became invested in the mystery and devoured the novel. The things I appreciated the most were the tense atmosphere, the writing, and the twists.
There was one thing I absolutely hated and that was the relationship between Hazel and Silas (somehow I missed the publisher's description of their "dark, twisted romance." Oops!). The sexual relationship between the two seemed superfluous. It also did not ring true with what we learn of Hazel prior to her meeting Silas. When she hears about the podcast, she's irate and wants to sue Silas. When she first meets him, she has complete disdain for him and seems to pick up on his motives easily.
Fortunately, the rest of the novel made up for the Silas/Hazel dynamic. Highly recommend!
After twenty years of grief and trauma, Hazel is attempting to carry on with her life when she learns about a podcast called The Satellites. The podcast details the exact event Kira experienced and Hazel discovers that several other people in her hometown also experienced the event. Desperate for answers, she teams up with the podcast host, Silas, and travels through the Midwest seeking the other "Satellites".
How to Disappear Completely hooked me immediately. I quickly became invested in the mystery and devoured the novel. The things I appreciated the most were the tense atmosphere, the writing, and the twists.
There was one thing I absolutely hated and that was the relationship between Hazel and Silas (somehow I missed the publisher's description of their "dark, twisted romance." Oops!). The sexual relationship between the two seemed superfluous. It also did not ring true with what we learn of Hazel prior to her meeting Silas. When she hears about the podcast, she's irate and wants to sue Silas. When she first meets him, she has complete disdain for him and seems to pick up on his motives easily.
Fortunately, the rest of the novel made up for the Silas/Hazel dynamic. Highly recommend!
October 23, 2026
Hazel is Kira's younger sister and her biggest fan. One night, Kira claims she heard a cryptic-sounding message from a random voice in her bedroom. She can't decipher what the voice says, and it drives her crazy. When Kira eventually goes missing, their family is basically torn apart. The scene with the voice is definitely creepy! There's random snow? Stuff just gets real weird, like time and sound and paralysis.
20 years later, Hazel spirals as she tries to figure out what happened to her sister. She meets up with a podcaster, Silas, whose show covers encounters with the "snow angel," as they call it. He finds he's not alone; others from their small town have met this snow angel, and they set out together on a road trip to meet more of them.
Unfortunately for me, Hazel and Silas strike up a little romance. The wide open road will do that, apparently. I'm just NOT a romance or smut girlie, and this situationship made me cringe basically like never before! The pet names totally icked me out. They've known each other for like 4 days... and he's very bossy. I'm fine with someone taking control in the bedroom, but maybe discuss it first? Silas also comes across a little unhinged. I kept thinking, "Miss Hazel, what is you doin' girl?". I just really didn't feel it was necessary in this book, and I know I personally would have liked it a lot more without those scenes. But I'm just one person; I can definitely see it being perfect for romance thriller readers all over!
The ending/explanation of everything honestly confused me. It escalated QUICKLY! And I'm just not sure my brain completely wrapped around what was happening. This didn't make me like the book any less, though. I still really enjoyed it for the most part!
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the copy of this eBook in exchange for my honest review!
20 years later, Hazel spirals as she tries to figure out what happened to her sister. She meets up with a podcaster, Silas, whose show covers encounters with the "snow angel," as they call it. He finds he's not alone; others from their small town have met this snow angel, and they set out together on a road trip to meet more of them.
Unfortunately for me, Hazel and Silas strike up a little romance. The wide open road will do that, apparently. I'm just NOT a romance or smut girlie, and this situationship made me cringe basically like never before! The pet names totally icked me out. They've known each other for like 4 days... and he's very bossy. I'm fine with someone taking control in the bedroom, but maybe discuss it first? Silas also comes across a little unhinged. I kept thinking, "Miss Hazel, what is you doin' girl?". I just really didn't feel it was necessary in this book, and I know I personally would have liked it a lot more without those scenes. But I'm just one person; I can definitely see it being perfect for romance thriller readers all over!
The ending/explanation of everything honestly confused me. It escalated QUICKLY! And I'm just not sure my brain completely wrapped around what was happening. This didn't make me like the book any less, though. I still really enjoyed it for the most part!
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the copy of this eBook in exchange for my honest review!
September 28, 2026
Thank you NetGalley, and Poisoned Pen Press for the Advanced Reader’s Copy of How to Disappear Completely by Liz Kerin. This novel will be published on February 9, 2027.
The book gave shades of Paul Tremblay’s A Head Full of Ghosts and then it takes a left turn into something completely different and unexpected.
We have two sisters, Kira and Hazel, with Kira eventually being diagnosed with a mental health disorder, who both experience a shared event. Others also share this event. This story becomes a trip for Hazel to find the truth about her sister and connect with the others.
The others get connected via Silas. He hosts a Podcast for the other people who have experienced this event. Unfortunately, as Silas and Hazel connect, the others begin to die. One by one.
Hazel is an unreliable narrator but she was a character you empathize with and did like. The meds and the alcohol didn’t make her decisions any better. And Silas is a walking Jekyll & Hyde red-flag. His whole character seems off. His behaviour and actions rarely match one another.
After reading this, I’m still confused as to what happened and have unanswered questions. It was an interesting story and was well-written. I did enjoy the simple prose of the story.
At its core, it’s a story about mental health and how our trauma manifests itself. I think. Maybe. I don’t think I’m smart enough to grasp what it was.
If anything, find your people. Find your truth.
The book gave shades of Paul Tremblay’s A Head Full of Ghosts and then it takes a left turn into something completely different and unexpected.
We have two sisters, Kira and Hazel, with Kira eventually being diagnosed with a mental health disorder, who both experience a shared event. Others also share this event. This story becomes a trip for Hazel to find the truth about her sister and connect with the others.
The others get connected via Silas. He hosts a Podcast for the other people who have experienced this event. Unfortunately, as Silas and Hazel connect, the others begin to die. One by one.
Hazel is an unreliable narrator but she was a character you empathize with and did like. The meds and the alcohol didn’t make her decisions any better. And Silas is a walking Jekyll & Hyde red-flag. His whole character seems off. His behaviour and actions rarely match one another.
After reading this, I’m still confused as to what happened and have unanswered questions. It was an interesting story and was well-written. I did enjoy the simple prose of the story.
At its core, it’s a story about mental health and how our trauma manifests itself. I think. Maybe. I don’t think I’m smart enough to grasp what it was.
If anything, find your people. Find your truth.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When Hazel was thirteen, her sister Kira disappeared after becoming obsessed with a mysterious paranormal encounter. Twenty years later, Hazel is still haunted by her sister's disappearance and strange episodes of déjà vu. When a podcast introduces her to others who experienced something similar, she begins investigating what really happened to Kira. But the deeper she digs, the more dangerous things become.
I really enjoyed the supernatural aspect of this story, especially because as things unfold, you start to question whether what's happening is actually paranormal or if there's something else going on entirely.
This is definitely one of those books where you can't trust everything you're being told. Just when you think you have a handle on what's happening, things shift and suddenly you're questioning everything all over again! The characters are layered and intriguing, and the story keeps you guessing as it takes one unexpected turn after another.
Psychological horror, a little bit of spice, plenty of paranormal activity, and a mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat! There's so much more I could say about this one, but I think it's best to experience it without knowing too much going in.
If you enjoy stories that make you question everything you think you know, this one is worth picking up!
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!
I really enjoyed the supernatural aspect of this story, especially because as things unfold, you start to question whether what's happening is actually paranormal or if there's something else going on entirely.
This is definitely one of those books where you can't trust everything you're being told. Just when you think you have a handle on what's happening, things shift and suddenly you're questioning everything all over again! The characters are layered and intriguing, and the story keeps you guessing as it takes one unexpected turn after another.
Psychological horror, a little bit of spice, plenty of paranormal activity, and a mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat! There's so much more I could say about this one, but I think it's best to experience it without knowing too much going in.
If you enjoy stories that make you question everything you think you know, this one is worth picking up!
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Okay, what in the world did I just read? 😂
This started out SO strong. A sister who disappeared twenty years ago after a bizarre experience, other people from the same town claiming they experienced it too, a podcast connecting them, and then people start dying? I was completely invested.
I loved the creepy atmosphere, the mystery surrounding Kira, and The Satellites. I had absolutely no idea where this was going, which usually works really well for me.
But somewhere along the way, it started losing me. It gets much more into sci-fi, UFOs, space, and conspiracy territory, and that's just not really my thing. I can do weird. I LIKE weird. 😂 This was just a different kind of weird than I was expecting.
And Hazel and Silas? I could have done without that entire relationship. 😂 Especially considering his connection to Kira. The explicit scenes didn't add anything for me, and I just wanted to get back to the mystery.
The ending definitely surprised me. I had to sit there for a minute afterward and process what I had just read. I appreciate that I couldn't predict it, but I'm not sure I loved where it ultimately went.
A solid 3 stars. Great atmosphere, an incredibly original premise, and a mystery that kept me guessing—it just ended up going in a direction that wasn't really for me.
This started out SO strong. A sister who disappeared twenty years ago after a bizarre experience, other people from the same town claiming they experienced it too, a podcast connecting them, and then people start dying? I was completely invested.
I loved the creepy atmosphere, the mystery surrounding Kira, and The Satellites. I had absolutely no idea where this was going, which usually works really well for me.
But somewhere along the way, it started losing me. It gets much more into sci-fi, UFOs, space, and conspiracy territory, and that's just not really my thing. I can do weird. I LIKE weird. 😂 This was just a different kind of weird than I was expecting.
And Hazel and Silas? I could have done without that entire relationship. 😂 Especially considering his connection to Kira. The explicit scenes didn't add anything for me, and I just wanted to get back to the mystery.
The ending definitely surprised me. I had to sit there for a minute afterward and process what I had just read. I appreciate that I couldn't predict it, but I'm not sure I loved where it ultimately went.
A solid 3 stars. Great atmosphere, an incredibly original premise, and a mystery that kept me guessing—it just ended up going in a direction that wasn't really for me.
October 5, 2026
How to Disappear Completely was so compelling different than anything I've read within the thriller genre. I loved the exploration of dealing with loss and trauma in the sci-fi paranormal lens that Kerin sets up for us in this story.
Hazel is a great unreliable narrator. Even though she repeatedly makes questionable decisions that make her own life (and others) more complicated, I think this is top notch representation of someone dealing with the past she has went through. She isn't perfect but she loves her sister and she's trying to fix something she blames herself for, even if she keeps hurting herself in the process. Her actions (past/present) really drove the narrative and pacing in this story and it works really well.
I'm usually one for being picky about seemingly random romance sections in books, but I think here it really showed us what type of characters we are reading about. There's a method to their madness, even if their decisions surrounding the romance were a bit toxic.
I was able to figure out the "who-done-it" type of mystery in this book, but the final reveal at the end was something I was not expecting and it tied really well into the themes of the story. This is my first read of Liz Kerin's and I'm really interested in reading more!
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC!
Hazel is a great unreliable narrator. Even though she repeatedly makes questionable decisions that make her own life (and others) more complicated, I think this is top notch representation of someone dealing with the past she has went through. She isn't perfect but she loves her sister and she's trying to fix something she blames herself for, even if she keeps hurting herself in the process. Her actions (past/present) really drove the narrative and pacing in this story and it works really well.
I'm usually one for being picky about seemingly random romance sections in books, but I think here it really showed us what type of characters we are reading about. There's a method to their madness, even if their decisions surrounding the romance were a bit toxic.
I was able to figure out the "who-done-it" type of mystery in this book, but the final reveal at the end was something I was not expecting and it tied really well into the themes of the story. This is my first read of Liz Kerin's and I'm really interested in reading more!
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Kerin came to novels by way of the stage and the screen, and it shows in the best way. It shows in dialogue that knows when to stop, in transcripts that arrive like pages from a case file, in a sense of what a scene needs and no more. The opening movements are the most animated, because they are about a sister. Hazel carries Kira with supervisory fidelity, and the UFO story, that old paperback dread of lights and lost time, is both catalyzing and paralyzing.
All in all, it was a decent and simple read, which I truly appreciated. My reservations come later, and they are the reservations of a reader who has been given four novels and a seat in one. There is the conspiracy, which deepens and widens and begins to shed bodies, and there is the road across the Midwest, and there is Silas, the man behind the podcast, with whom Hazel tumbles into a rather sinuous romance. Each of these is competently done. Together they occasionally pull attention away from the sister and the dolor, the real mystery, and the grief gets handed off to the plot to be dealt with at speed.
I would read Kerin again. I would read it and think of Hazel in a car somewhere on a long flat road, getting that familiar feeling that she has been here before. I had it too, and I could not tell you whether that was the novel's doing or mine.
All in all, it was a decent and simple read, which I truly appreciated. My reservations come later, and they are the reservations of a reader who has been given four novels and a seat in one. There is the conspiracy, which deepens and widens and begins to shed bodies, and there is the road across the Midwest, and there is Silas, the man behind the podcast, with whom Hazel tumbles into a rather sinuous romance. Each of these is competently done. Together they occasionally pull attention away from the sister and the dolor, the real mystery, and the grief gets handed off to the plot to be dealt with at speed.
I would read Kerin again. I would read it and think of Hazel in a car somewhere on a long flat road, getting that familiar feeling that she has been here before. I had it too, and I could not tell you whether that was the novel's doing or mine.
October 17, 2026
First of all, the millennial nostalgia in this book had me hooked almost immediately! Starting in 2006, with references to AIM, LimeWire, PacSun, and Death Cab for Cutie, I felt like I’d stepped right back into my younger years. 🎶
But there’s so much more to this story than nostalgia!
The author blends genres in such an interesting way. There’s an eerie, almost horror-like atmosphere, paranormal and supernatural elements, a little astrology, and even some unexpected spice! It’s a combination I haven’t come across very often, but I really enjoyed how many different directions this story explored.
At its heart, though, this is a story about family, both the family we’re born into and the family we find along the way. It’s about searching for answers, understanding the past, and the connections that shape our lives.
And the ending? I appreciated that it didn’t try to tie every little detail into a perfect bow. There’s a sense of satisfaction while still leaving room for possibility, and I think that fits the story beautifully.
✨ This book is for you if you love a little millennial nostalgia, stories that blend genres, eerie and supernatural undertones, and most importantly: endings that leave you with something to think about.
Thank you to @poisonedpenpress for generously sending me this physical advanced reader copy!
📅 On sale February 9, 2027!
But there’s so much more to this story than nostalgia!
The author blends genres in such an interesting way. There’s an eerie, almost horror-like atmosphere, paranormal and supernatural elements, a little astrology, and even some unexpected spice! It’s a combination I haven’t come across very often, but I really enjoyed how many different directions this story explored.
At its heart, though, this is a story about family, both the family we’re born into and the family we find along the way. It’s about searching for answers, understanding the past, and the connections that shape our lives.
And the ending? I appreciated that it didn’t try to tie every little detail into a perfect bow. There’s a sense of satisfaction while still leaving room for possibility, and I think that fits the story beautifully.
✨ This book is for you if you love a little millennial nostalgia, stories that blend genres, eerie and supernatural undertones, and most importantly: endings that leave you with something to think about.
Thank you to @poisonedpenpress for generously sending me this physical advanced reader copy!
📅 On sale February 9, 2027!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.
If my queen, Rachel Harrison, throws a good word about a book, I’m going to read it.
One of the best openings for a book I’ve read in a while. The first two chapters I was so creeped out I wanted to put it down and watch some Teletubbies with my kids. It reminded me of the way I felt when watching The Fourth Kind. That shit was terrifying. I usually read before bed but I intentionally skipped one night because I was too disturbed.
After that banging start, the story dialled down on the dread scale a lot. It felt more like a thriller at that point. With some steam.
I was so invested into the characters.
Loved Silas. He was a complicated man and I wish we saw more from him. There were clever and messed up scenes and details that did not need any further explanation but I would have gobbled it up regardless.
The ending went towards a direction I was not expecting. So I was a little disappointed because I wanted to feel the same as I felt at the beginning of the book. I wanted to be terrified. I was left with an existential crisis instead.
Sheesh. What a read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.
If my queen, Rachel Harrison, throws a good word about a book, I’m going to read it.
One of the best openings for a book I’ve read in a while. The first two chapters I was so creeped out I wanted to put it down and watch some Teletubbies with my kids. It reminded me of the way I felt when watching The Fourth Kind. That shit was terrifying. I usually read before bed but I intentionally skipped one night because I was too disturbed.
After that banging start, the story dialled down on the dread scale a lot. It felt more like a thriller at that point. With some steam.
I was so invested into the characters.
Loved Silas. He was a complicated man and I wish we saw more from him. There were clever and messed up scenes and details that did not need any further explanation but I would have gobbled it up regardless.
The ending went towards a direction I was not expecting. So I was a little disappointed because I wanted to feel the same as I felt at the beginning of the book. I wanted to be terrified. I was left with an existential crisis instead.
Sheesh. What a read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley & Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC
How to Disappear Completely follows Hazel as she tries to get to the bottom of a paranormal event which happened to herself and her sister Kira in their childhood. 20 years later she tries to unravel the truth behind what really happened and the events surrounding her sisters disappearance, as she meets people who had a similar encounter through a podcast called 'The Satellites' hosted by Silas an ex-bf of her sister.
I was expecting more of a thriller mystery with possible horror elements but felt it was more of a sci-fi mystery and for me personally as i am not a huge fan of science fiction struggled with this in places. The character of Silas gave me the creeps throughout and i found the relationship between Silas and Hazel very uncomfortable.
I read it very quickly as I was desperate to know how things would turn out and I really liked the way it was written. Although the sci-fi side of things isn't to my personal preference I still found How To Disappear Completely to be an enjoyable, unique and well written story which I had a great time reading 🖤
4/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
How to Disappear Completely follows Hazel as she tries to get to the bottom of a paranormal event which happened to herself and her sister Kira in their childhood. 20 years later she tries to unravel the truth behind what really happened and the events surrounding her sisters disappearance, as she meets people who had a similar encounter through a podcast called 'The Satellites' hosted by Silas an ex-bf of her sister.
I was expecting more of a thriller mystery with possible horror elements but felt it was more of a sci-fi mystery and for me personally as i am not a huge fan of science fiction struggled with this in places. The character of Silas gave me the creeps throughout and i found the relationship between Silas and Hazel very uncomfortable.
I read it very quickly as I was desperate to know how things would turn out and I really liked the way it was written. Although the sci-fi side of things isn't to my personal preference I still found How To Disappear Completely to be an enjoyable, unique and well written story which I had a great time reading 🖤
4/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
October 8, 2026
MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS
Arc review
This book has a lot of potential but needs many improvements. The plot is messy, and I didn't finish it. The main character's actions at the beginning of the book upset me. Instead of communicating to her long-term boyfriend that she wanted to break up, she cheated on him and blamed it on the alcohol. Conveniently after she tells her boyfriend she cheated she has one of her Déjà vu episodes, and it feels like that was there to switch the reader into forgiving her for what she did.
Later on, her dad convinces her to listen to a podcast about her sister where she finds out that her sister had a secret boyfriend before the sister died,(her sister's secret boyfriend is the main character's love interest later on in the book) another thing that tickled my brain was that the supernatural being they describe sounds more like a Yuki-onna instead of an alien. I personally feel that if this book fixed some of these plot holes and filler scenes, it would have a lot more potential for me to finish it.
Arc review
This book has a lot of potential but needs many improvements. The plot is messy, and I didn't finish it. The main character's actions at the beginning of the book upset me. Instead of communicating to her long-term boyfriend that she wanted to break up, she cheated on him and blamed it on the alcohol. Conveniently after she tells her boyfriend she cheated she has one of her Déjà vu episodes, and it feels like that was there to switch the reader into forgiving her for what she did.
Later on, her dad convinces her to listen to a podcast about her sister where she finds out that her sister had a secret boyfriend before the sister died,(her sister's secret boyfriend is the main character's love interest later on in the book) another thing that tickled my brain was that the supernatural being they describe sounds more like a Yuki-onna instead of an alien. I personally feel that if this book fixed some of these plot holes and filler scenes, it would have a lot more potential for me to finish it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"How to Disappear Completely"
by Liz Kerin
5⭐️
I really enjoyed everything about this book ! I’m not a person who gets easily creeped out but the beginning of the story really creeped me out! And I stopped reading it at night lol 😂
It definitely was a smorgasbord of different genres! And I really loved that about this story!
It’s a mix of a Psychological Thriller ,mystery, the paranormal , a bit of Horror and a tad of some steamy and forbidden spice.
Loved the “Satellites” Podcast feel to it also with the transcripts! It really made you feel like you were apart of the story!
So FMC Hazel and her sister experience a sort of “paranormal experience “
Her sister has a mental break and goes missing and is presumed 💀
Hazel discovers a Podcast called “The Satellites “ that have presumably experienced the same paranormal phenomena.
But she starts to go down a very dark and strange rabbit hole and tries to uncover if it’s all true or if there’s something more sinister behind her sister’s disappearance.
Overall this book was just refreshing and original and I literally couldn’t put it down and stop looking behind my back lol 😂
Loved it and would highly recommend it!
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
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