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The Vanishers: A mind-bending thriller that will leave you breathless
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.
332 pages, Paperback
Published May 7, 2026
About the author
R.G. Belsky
18 books552 followersAuthor of The Mogul (coming Nov. 10 from Level Best); author of The Vanishers (dpDigital 2026); Co-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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 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
June 12, 2026
A paranormal/sci-fi mystery!
Throughout human history individuals, tribes of indigenous people, even entire races have vanished from the world - without trace! Think of the Bermuda Triangle - ships, planes and people simply vanish, with no bodies or wreckage ever found.
This story centred around a very localised "Bermuda Triangle", a spacious, delightful rental property. Here the guests simply disappeared, along with all records of their existence.
Where did they go, who was abducting them, and why?
This was a creepy and intriguing story, full of suspense, with numerous twists and turns. It certainly kept me guessing. The main protagonists were, in my opinion, a little underdeveloped but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story. A solid 4 stars from me.
Throughout human history individuals, tribes of indigenous people, even entire races have vanished from the world - without trace! Think of the Bermuda Triangle - ships, planes and people simply vanish, with no bodies or wreckage ever found.
This story centred around a very localised "Bermuda Triangle", a spacious, delightful rental property. Here the guests simply disappeared, along with all records of their existence.
Where did they go, who was abducting them, and why?
This was a creepy and intriguing story, full of suspense, with numerous twists and turns. It certainly kept me guessing. The main protagonists were, in my opinion, a little underdeveloped but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story. A solid 4 stars from 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.
October 7, 2026
Not a bad horror its ok. But it seems like this is his first horror book. Its about disappearing people who have visited and gone inside a summer retreat. Its a bit more sci fi than horror and I've read better books.
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
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.
July 1, 2026
MY THOUGHTS:
I love it when an author tries a new thing! I've read most of this author's Clare Carlson Mysteries and loved them. This one is different! This one has paranormal elements and a touch of sci-fi which I love.
The more you read the more addicting it becomes. The more you read... the more you have to keep going. To say this book is un-put-downloadable is an understatement. It’s just the kind of book that you absolutely must keep reading. I was totally into it and the characters.
I loved Megan. I was with her all the way. Even though there was a lot of really crazy stuff going on I totally believed her. And I loved her dedication. The other two characters I really liked were Jackie and Sam. Jackie, her friend at work believed her the whole time. She stuck by her like a true friend. And Sam, he was a paranormal investigator and he stole my heart!
This was one strange, creepy book that gave me Twilight Zone and Outer Limits vibes and I was loving every minute of it! A very quick read that could totally be devoured in a day... but don't! Sit back and enjoy every page, you won't regret it.
I voluntarily posted this review after receiving an e-copy of this book from Partners in Crime Tours. Thank You!
I love it when an author tries a new thing! I've read most of this author's Clare Carlson Mysteries and loved them. This one is different! This one has paranormal elements and a touch of sci-fi which I love.
The more you read the more addicting it becomes. The more you read... the more you have to keep going. To say this book is un-put-downloadable is an understatement. It’s just the kind of book that you absolutely must keep reading. I was totally into it and the characters.
I loved Megan. I was with her all the way. Even though there was a lot of really crazy stuff going on I totally believed her. And I loved her dedication. The other two characters I really liked were Jackie and Sam. Jackie, her friend at work believed her the whole time. She stuck by her like a true friend. And Sam, he was a paranormal investigator and he stole my heart!
This was one strange, creepy book that gave me Twilight Zone and Outer Limits vibes and I was loving every minute of it! A very quick read that could totally be devoured in a day... but don't! Sit back and enjoy every page, you won't regret it.
I voluntarily posted this review after receiving an e-copy of this book from Partners in Crime Tours. Thank You!
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
July 10, 2026
The house was perfect. That was its first lie. 🤫🏡
I am still shaking off the chills after turning the final page of The Vanishers by R. G. Belsky. If you love a psychological thriller that makes you question your own sanity right along with the protagonist, you're gonna want this one on your TBR list!
The story follows Megan Foley and her husband, Patrick, who scored an absurdly cheap summer house share in Stone Beach, Connecticut. Sounds like a dream, right? Wrong. From the moment they arrive, the host, Mrs. Monahan gives off majorly unsettling vibes. But things go from quirky to straight-up terrifying when Megan sees a little boy named Tommy playing one day, and the next day he’s just gone. Erased. And the creepiest part? Every other guest in the house acts like he never existed.
Belsky does an incredible job building a slow-burn, claustrophobic dread. Watching the other guests succumb to this glassy-eyed, TV-induced trance while Patrick grew cold and distant genuinely gave me goosebumps. I was screaming at Megan to run, especially when whatever was stirring in the attic started making moves!
It’s a masterclass in gaslighting and suspense. Megan’s isolation feels so real that I found myself second-guessing everything right alongside her. It’s fast-paced, deeply unsettling, and has a twist that makes the price of a perfect summer way too high.
✨️ Thank you, Partners in Crime Tours and R. G. Belsky, for sharing The Vanishers with me!
I am still shaking off the chills after turning the final page of The Vanishers by R. G. Belsky. If you love a psychological thriller that makes you question your own sanity right along with the protagonist, you're gonna want this one on your TBR list!
The story follows Megan Foley and her husband, Patrick, who scored an absurdly cheap summer house share in Stone Beach, Connecticut. Sounds like a dream, right? Wrong. From the moment they arrive, the host, Mrs. Monahan gives off majorly unsettling vibes. But things go from quirky to straight-up terrifying when Megan sees a little boy named Tommy playing one day, and the next day he’s just gone. Erased. And the creepiest part? Every other guest in the house acts like he never existed.
Belsky does an incredible job building a slow-burn, claustrophobic dread. Watching the other guests succumb to this glassy-eyed, TV-induced trance while Patrick grew cold and distant genuinely gave me goosebumps. I was screaming at Megan to run, especially when whatever was stirring in the attic started making moves!
It’s a masterclass in gaslighting and suspense. Megan’s isolation feels so real that I found myself second-guessing everything right alongside her. It’s fast-paced, deeply unsettling, and has a twist that makes the price of a perfect summer way too high.
✨️ Thank you, Partners in Crime Tours and R. G. Belsky, for sharing The Vanishers with me!
August 4, 2026
A vacation at a beautiful seaside house. Sounds like a dream. But….. it could also be too good to be true, as Meagan is soon to discover. People start behaving strangely, including her husband. Then, people start disappearing and no one even remembers they existed at all. Why is Meagan the only one who sees that something is wrong? What is going on? And can she and her husband even leave?
I watch a lot of horror movies, gothic ones included. The synopsis grabbed me right away. I wondered whether the plot was going to be predictable. It wasn’t. I was kept on my toes, ever curious to what was behind the eerie occurrences. About halfway through I was pretty sure I had things figured out. But, I didn’t. Not really. There was a thing or two that I felt could have been left out. They didn’t work for me. That said, I still enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
I watch a lot of horror movies, gothic ones included. The synopsis grabbed me right away. I wondered whether the plot was going to be predictable. It wasn’t. I was kept on my toes, ever curious to what was behind the eerie occurrences. About halfway through I was pretty sure I had things figured out. But, I didn’t. Not really. There was a thing or two that I felt could have been left out. They didn’t work for me. That said, I still enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
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
June 7, 2026
What a wild ride! This one grabbed my attention from the very beginning and never let go.
Imagine finding the perfect vacation home…it’s almost too good to be true.
Someone vanishes…no one remembers seeing them….ever! It’s like they never existed!
I absolutely loved the paranormal element woven throughout the story. The eerie atmosphere, unsettling mystery, and growing sense that something wasn't quite right kept me hooked from start to finish.
Every new revelation made me question what was really happening, and I couldn't wait to uncover the truth.
If you enjoy thrillers with a creepy, chilling atmosphere, mysterious disappearances, and paranormal twists, this one is definitely worth picking up.
Vibes:
Paranormal suspense
Creepy atmosphere
Mysterious disappearances
Chilling mysteries
Unsettling twists
"What is really happening?" energy
This one was a wild ride for sure! I loved the creepy, chilling, paranormal atmosphere!!
Imagine finding the perfect vacation home…it’s almost too good to be true.
Someone vanishes…no one remembers seeing them….ever! It’s like they never existed!
I absolutely loved the paranormal element woven throughout the story. The eerie atmosphere, unsettling mystery, and growing sense that something wasn't quite right kept me hooked from start to finish.
Every new revelation made me question what was really happening, and I couldn't wait to uncover the truth.
If you enjoy thrillers with a creepy, chilling atmosphere, mysterious disappearances, and paranormal twists, this one is definitely worth picking up.
Vibes:
Paranormal suspense
Creepy atmosphere
Mysterious disappearances
Chilling mysteries
Unsettling twists
"What is really happening?" energy
This one was a wild ride for sure! I loved the creepy, chilling, paranormal atmosphere!!
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 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.
July 3, 2026
What if people around you vanished? You can remember them but everyone and everywhere else, they never existed. Not a single trace. Megan knows what she saw and who she saw but no one believes her.
Everything about the book is spooky. A beautiful house that sounds too good to be true. When reading this book look for the little details that don’t match up. Megan is a great character and the author did an amazing job writing her feelings, reactions, and her story.
Everything about the book is spooky. A beautiful house that sounds too good to be true. When reading this book look for the little details that don’t match up. Megan is a great character and the author did an amazing job writing her feelings, reactions, and her story.
July 31, 2026
This was a surprisingly good read! I'm not a fan of paranormal activities but this book was really good! Enjoyed from the beginning till the end. Highlu recommend 👌
June 15, 2026
This book has been very hard to rate. I was very very intrigued by the plot, and I think R.G. Belsky has amassed a great group of elements that could make this novel a true hit: a perfect crime, a cryptic villain, a strange house, and an angsty romance. However, while I would like to make it clear there are parts that I enjoyed, I do think the novel overall fell short. I was tempted to give it three stars for its potential alone, but ultimately settled on two for its execution.
Megan Foley is absolutely committed to enjoy her holiday: read, sail, save her marriage. The rental house at Stone Beach, Connecticut, seems like the perfect place to make all her vacation dreams come true until a boy goes missing. Soon, the boy's brother, a young woman, her boyfriend, and a whole family follow. Aside from the obvious issue, Megan is the only one who remembers these people after their disappearance, like every record of their existence vanished along with them. Even though she tries her best to convince her fellow guests that their landlady, Mrs Monahan, is kidnapping her guests, everyone believes she is going insane. Eventually, when her own husband disappears, she is forced to go back to a life in which she has to pretend this never happened.
From the very first pages, Belsky introduces us to the vanishings, so it is easy to be hooked right away. Of course, this was a successful strategy as we're drawn into the drama of the story in very few pages, but the pace was almost too quick. As there was time to truly build neither suspense nor romance (more on that later), we are rather *told* by Megan how strange everything is, but we do not get to appreciate it or see it developed throughout the narrative.
An example of this is her first night in Mrs. Monahan's house. Megan and her husband, Patrick, get romantic and sleep together. Although Megan denies us any close look at her experience, "at the moment" she does not indicate that there is anything *wrong* about it, only that it is an experience more passionate than they're used to. However, the next day, she reveals to us that it was actually a very unsettling experience for her because he felt "different". Couldn't we, as readers, have had a glimpse of that feeling while it was happening instead of just being told after the deed?
This kind of after-thought writing also affected the love story, which only made me angry because it truly had the potential of being super angsty (my favourite thing). When Megan becomes determined to save her husband, she seeks out Sam Devane, a professor who specialises in unexplained phenomena. They both start working together and come up with a very dangerous and flaky plan that just might help bring the missing people back. The night before they act on it, Megan realises she does not love her husband anymore, she is very much in love with Sam, panics, confesses this to him, and after he admits the same they end up sleeping together. Busy day. The next day, he leaves without her so as not to put her in danger, leaving a note he signs with an "I love you". Now, this would have been a fantastic love story if it had been woven into their interactions, if we had caught glimpses of how our narrator started falling for the professor. More than a romance, it really is just a surprise love story that never had the time to fully develop.
I found this problem kept coming back into the novel at times. For the sake of keeping up a quick pace to hold readers' attention, the narrative ends up sacrificing some valuable time building up both suspense and romance.
Aside from this, the novel is marketed as a "paranormal Gothic thriller", and I think this novel falls more into the Sci-fi realm. This is not a criticism of it being Sci-Fi(it's one of my favourite genres), but it definitely sets the expectations in a different direction.
To me "The Vanishers" felt more like a draft of a great novel in progress. As I said, there are many promising elements playing into the story, and I do think Belsky has great potential as a storyteller. Unfortunately, I think it needed a bit more time and development to become the story it had the potential to be.
Thank you to DP Digital Publishers for providing a complimentary eBook review copy! All opinions expressed are my own.
Megan Foley is absolutely committed to enjoy her holiday: read, sail, save her marriage. The rental house at Stone Beach, Connecticut, seems like the perfect place to make all her vacation dreams come true until a boy goes missing. Soon, the boy's brother, a young woman, her boyfriend, and a whole family follow. Aside from the obvious issue, Megan is the only one who remembers these people after their disappearance, like every record of their existence vanished along with them. Even though she tries her best to convince her fellow guests that their landlady, Mrs Monahan, is kidnapping her guests, everyone believes she is going insane. Eventually, when her own husband disappears, she is forced to go back to a life in which she has to pretend this never happened.
From the very first pages, Belsky introduces us to the vanishings, so it is easy to be hooked right away. Of course, this was a successful strategy as we're drawn into the drama of the story in very few pages, but the pace was almost too quick. As there was time to truly build neither suspense nor romance (more on that later), we are rather *told* by Megan how strange everything is, but we do not get to appreciate it or see it developed throughout the narrative.
An example of this is her first night in Mrs. Monahan's house. Megan and her husband, Patrick, get romantic and sleep together. Although Megan denies us any close look at her experience, "at the moment" she does not indicate that there is anything *wrong* about it, only that it is an experience more passionate than they're used to. However, the next day, she reveals to us that it was actually a very unsettling experience for her because he felt "different". Couldn't we, as readers, have had a glimpse of that feeling while it was happening instead of just being told after the deed?
This kind of after-thought writing also affected the love story, which only made me angry because it truly had the potential of being super angsty (my favourite thing). When Megan becomes determined to save her husband, she seeks out Sam Devane, a professor who specialises in unexplained phenomena. They both start working together and come up with a very dangerous and flaky plan that just might help bring the missing people back. The night before they act on it, Megan realises she does not love her husband anymore, she is very much in love with Sam, panics, confesses this to him, and after he admits the same they end up sleeping together. Busy day. The next day, he leaves without her so as not to put her in danger, leaving a note he signs with an "I love you". Now, this would have been a fantastic love story if it had been woven into their interactions, if we had caught glimpses of how our narrator started falling for the professor. More than a romance, it really is just a surprise love story that never had the time to fully develop.
I found this problem kept coming back into the novel at times. For the sake of keeping up a quick pace to hold readers' attention, the narrative ends up sacrificing some valuable time building up both suspense and romance.
Aside from this, the novel is marketed as a "paranormal Gothic thriller", and I think this novel falls more into the Sci-fi realm. This is not a criticism of it being Sci-Fi(it's one of my favourite genres), but it definitely sets the expectations in a different direction.
To me "The Vanishers" felt more like a draft of a great novel in progress. As I said, there are many promising elements playing into the story, and I do think Belsky has great potential as a storyteller. Unfortunately, I think it needed a bit more time and development to become the story it had the potential to be.
Thank you to DP Digital Publishers for providing a complimentary eBook review copy! All opinions expressed are my own.
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.
May 9, 2026
Thank you @netgalley for the review copy.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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And the ending, very satisfying for me. I like how everything finally came together at the end.
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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.
.
June 16, 2026
This is a hard book for me to review. The plot, at its core, is fantastic. A sci-fi suspense, but heavy on the suspense side for most of the ride. It kept me engaged even through the sci-fi parts (which is just not my thing). However, it is missing the twist that thrillers are known for, here everything happens exactly as you think it will. The writing feels a bit unpolished, and there are some inconsistencies throughout the book (a character is said to have 2 daughters, but then is said to have a son and daughter instead). I did genuinely enjoy the story though, and I wish we got more of an explanation for it all at the end! It was a fun, one day read for me.
June 18, 2026
How people rated this so high I don’t know - I hated it.
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.
June 7, 2026
Megan and her husband decide to stay spend summer away from the city, and instead, at a Holiday House by a lake in a rural community. The house seems too good to be true, with a low price for the full summer, which includes all meals, use of the boat on the lake and other equipment that will allow them to enjoy and get the most of their summer holiday break.
Once at the house, Megan however soon begins to realise that what seemed to be the perfect Summer House is definitely too good to be true. Her husband who wanted to spend summer away to allow them time together, plus time to write his book, now seems to just want to spend his time with the other house guests in the communal room, watching television, something that he rarely does at home.
The landlady's behaviour seems to become a little strange, especially when Megan tries to explore the house as she believes that people have begun to go missing.
I received this title as a review copy from dp digital publishers.
When I began this title, I found it enjoyable and the idea was intriguing, the character development was good and I really did feel the emotions that Megan was going through. However the plot was fairly simple and it became obvious as to what was going to happen next, and there was no twists to the story.
There were also detail errors, this could be due to my copy being a review copy, I really hope so, as I hate to think any book made it all way to publishing with issues like dates changing, to start with the house was bought in 1989 but later it says 1979. Plus one character was introduced as having a husband named Bill and 2 daughters, named Jennifer and Stacy, then later, the same character later told Megan more information about her husband Ted and children named Ted Junior and Paige.
Its not often that I go back on an ebook to double check on details, but this time I did. These are just the 2 occasions I noticed whilst trying to enjoy the story. I have a feeling that if I purposely looked for errors, I would probably find more.
I did wonder if at first it was possibly to do with the plot maybe and I was waiting for a twist at the end with Megan possibly finding out she was somehow having fake memories planted or she was really in a coma, but there was nothing. The changes in the details were not acknowledge so I can only assume they were errors.
Unfortunately, in my case it made the story a hard book to finish, I only kept on to the end just to see if there was a twist that brought the detail changes into the storyline but there was nothing. I was just left with the feeling that maybe the author was possibly asked to make changes which then messed with the story, as the end really wasn't as strong as the start.
The use of brand names also felt a bit thrown in like it was done to try and give the story a modern feel, but really it just felt like I was suddenly having advertisements in my books! The landlady could have just said that she had all the streaming services available, the character should have just lost her mobile phone and the child his handheld gaming console etc. There really was no need for product placement.
I really wanted to enjoy this book as the blurb sounded so fantastic I applied for the review copy twice without realising. Therefore I hope the publishers have spotted these errors and fixed them in the final release, as it would definitely make the story a much more enjoyable read.
Once at the house, Megan however soon begins to realise that what seemed to be the perfect Summer House is definitely too good to be true. Her husband who wanted to spend summer away to allow them time together, plus time to write his book, now seems to just want to spend his time with the other house guests in the communal room, watching television, something that he rarely does at home.
The landlady's behaviour seems to become a little strange, especially when Megan tries to explore the house as she believes that people have begun to go missing.
I received this title as a review copy from dp digital publishers.
When I began this title, I found it enjoyable and the idea was intriguing, the character development was good and I really did feel the emotions that Megan was going through. However the plot was fairly simple and it became obvious as to what was going to happen next, and there was no twists to the story.
There were also detail errors, this could be due to my copy being a review copy, I really hope so, as I hate to think any book made it all way to publishing with issues like dates changing, to start with the house was bought in 1989 but later it says 1979. Plus one character was introduced as having a husband named Bill and 2 daughters, named Jennifer and Stacy, then later, the same character later told Megan more information about her husband Ted and children named Ted Junior and Paige.
Its not often that I go back on an ebook to double check on details, but this time I did. These are just the 2 occasions I noticed whilst trying to enjoy the story. I have a feeling that if I purposely looked for errors, I would probably find more.
I did wonder if at first it was possibly to do with the plot maybe and I was waiting for a twist at the end with Megan possibly finding out she was somehow having fake memories planted or she was really in a coma, but there was nothing. The changes in the details were not acknowledge so I can only assume they were errors.
Unfortunately, in my case it made the story a hard book to finish, I only kept on to the end just to see if there was a twist that brought the detail changes into the storyline but there was nothing. I was just left with the feeling that maybe the author was possibly asked to make changes which then messed with the story, as the end really wasn't as strong as the start.
The use of brand names also felt a bit thrown in like it was done to try and give the story a modern feel, but really it just felt like I was suddenly having advertisements in my books! The landlady could have just said that she had all the streaming services available, the character should have just lost her mobile phone and the child his handheld gaming console etc. There really was no need for product placement.
I really wanted to enjoy this book as the blurb sounded so fantastic I applied for the review copy twice without realising. Therefore I hope the publishers have spotted these errors and fixed them in the final release, as it would definitely make the story a much more enjoyable read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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 25, 2026
I wanted to like The Vanishers so badly. Creepy seaside house? Missing child no one remembers? Weird attic energy? Sign me up! Unfortunately, this one just did not work for me at all.
The story follows Megan Foley and her husband Patrick as they spend the summer in a suspiciously cheap luxury house share in Stone Beach, Connecticut hoping to fix their marriage problems. At first everything seems idyllic, aside from the host being just a little too attentive and the other guests giving off increasingly strange vibes. Then Megan sees a little boy named Tommy playing around the house… only for him to completely vanish the same afternoon. Megan starts asking questions but everyone acts like this child never existed, including her own husband. As the guests begin zoning out in front of the TV for hours and Patrick starts acting distant, Megan becomes convinced something deeply wrong is happening inside the house — especially in the attic that their generous host states is off-limits.
The premise? Fantastic. The execution? Oof.
The writing felt incredibly juvenile to me from the very beginning. There was so much repetition that I felt like I was reading the same thoughts and conversations over and over again. And Sam? Seriously? “I love you” after two days? I cannot. I physically could not take it seriously. Every emotional moment felt rushed and overly dramatic in a way that pulled me completely out of the story instead of drawing me in.
The mystery also felt painfully obvious from the start. I kept hoping there would be some massive twist that would prove me wrong, but unfortunately everything unfolded pretty much exactly the way I expected. There were multiple points where I genuinely contemplated DNFing because getting through it started to feel like homework. The only reason I rounded my rating up to 3 stars from a 2.5 is because there was at least enough tension and stakes to make me curious about how it would end.
That said, I just can’t recommend this one. The atmosphere had potential, and there were flashes of an interesting psychological horror story underneath everything, but the writing style and character dynamics made it such a difficult read for me. I’m hoping the author’s other novels work better for me because this one was a miss.
This one came out May 7th. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, DP Books, for proving this eARC with me in exchange for my honest opinion.
The story follows Megan Foley and her husband Patrick as they spend the summer in a suspiciously cheap luxury house share in Stone Beach, Connecticut hoping to fix their marriage problems. At first everything seems idyllic, aside from the host being just a little too attentive and the other guests giving off increasingly strange vibes. Then Megan sees a little boy named Tommy playing around the house… only for him to completely vanish the same afternoon. Megan starts asking questions but everyone acts like this child never existed, including her own husband. As the guests begin zoning out in front of the TV for hours and Patrick starts acting distant, Megan becomes convinced something deeply wrong is happening inside the house — especially in the attic that their generous host states is off-limits.
The premise? Fantastic. The execution? Oof.
The writing felt incredibly juvenile to me from the very beginning. There was so much repetition that I felt like I was reading the same thoughts and conversations over and over again. And Sam? Seriously? “I love you” after two days? I cannot. I physically could not take it seriously. Every emotional moment felt rushed and overly dramatic in a way that pulled me completely out of the story instead of drawing me in.
The mystery also felt painfully obvious from the start. I kept hoping there would be some massive twist that would prove me wrong, but unfortunately everything unfolded pretty much exactly the way I expected. There were multiple points where I genuinely contemplated DNFing because getting through it started to feel like homework. The only reason I rounded my rating up to 3 stars from a 2.5 is because there was at least enough tension and stakes to make me curious about how it would end.
That said, I just can’t recommend this one. The atmosphere had potential, and there were flashes of an interesting psychological horror story underneath everything, but the writing style and character dynamics made it such a difficult read for me. I’m hoping the author’s other novels work better for me because this one was a miss.
This one came out May 7th. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, DP Books, for proving this eARC with me in exchange for my honest opinion.
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
July 9, 2026
I have to admit that I like book covers that get my attention, along with a title that grabs my attention. Just like this one. The Vanishers … hmmm … what could that be about?
I think one of the great things about writing is how far an author is willing to take his or her imagination … whether the story sounds farfetched or not … it is an art form that I appreciate. And this one? Well, this one seems pretty far-fetched but it would only be limited by imagination.
I enjoyed this tale about Megan and Patrick finding the ‘perfect’ place to take a vacation, to recharge their marriage, to just get away from the hustle and bustle of life, even though Megan would stay in the city for the week for her job at the district attorney’s office and Patrick would stay at the house to work on writing his book.
There was more to this so-called ‘perfect’ place than what was expected. I mean, it really did sound too good to be true for the price. All meals included. A fantastic room to watch TV in. The apparent perfect host in Mrs. Monahan, or was she?
A secret room upstairs.
People who just weren’t there anymore.
A best friend who believed in Megan no matter what.
A couple of folks who believed in the supernatural.
Mrs. Tierney with a familiar story.
I also appreciated the fact that these were short, titled chapters. I think that is something that is coming back to the writing world – titled chapters. It adds something to the tale … a hint of what is to come.
Overall, I did enjoy reading about Megan’s quest to find out what was happening to the people who visited this house and the lengths she went through to get to those answers. The way technology is progressing at a rapid clip these days, I wouldn’t 100 percent rule any of this out, no matter how outlandish this story seems. If you like a bit of supernatural and enjoy a quick read with a lot of imagination thrown in, give this one a try.
I think one of the great things about writing is how far an author is willing to take his or her imagination … whether the story sounds farfetched or not … it is an art form that I appreciate. And this one? Well, this one seems pretty far-fetched but it would only be limited by imagination.
I enjoyed this tale about Megan and Patrick finding the ‘perfect’ place to take a vacation, to recharge their marriage, to just get away from the hustle and bustle of life, even though Megan would stay in the city for the week for her job at the district attorney’s office and Patrick would stay at the house to work on writing his book.
There was more to this so-called ‘perfect’ place than what was expected. I mean, it really did sound too good to be true for the price. All meals included. A fantastic room to watch TV in. The apparent perfect host in Mrs. Monahan, or was she?
A secret room upstairs.
People who just weren’t there anymore.
A best friend who believed in Megan no matter what.
A couple of folks who believed in the supernatural.
Mrs. Tierney with a familiar story.
I also appreciated the fact that these were short, titled chapters. I think that is something that is coming back to the writing world – titled chapters. It adds something to the tale … a hint of what is to come.
Overall, I did enjoy reading about Megan’s quest to find out what was happening to the people who visited this house and the lengths she went through to get to those answers. The way technology is progressing at a rapid clip these days, I wouldn’t 100 percent rule any of this out, no matter how outlandish this story seems. If you like a bit of supernatural and enjoy a quick read with a lot of imagination thrown in, give this one a try.
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.
June 3, 2026
When Megan and her husband Patrick accept an invitation to spend the summer at a luxurious house share in 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.
MY THOUGHTS ⭐⭐⭐.5
Have you ever read a book that has an unusual twist to the story that leaves you wondering what is truly going on? 😮
This book has a unique story with a great premise that drew me in from the start! With a mysterious plot and a suffocating feeling to the story, I had no idea where the story was leading me but I was keen to keep the pages turning to find out. I particularly loved the first half of the book where central characters kept disappearing along with all evidence of their very existence. This aspect of the story was well-executed, keeping me wondering what the heck was going on.
Megan was a great protagonist, determined to find out why everyone was disappearing, despite no one believing her. The ending was completely surprising and caught me off guard. A well-written, genre -blending story.
Thank you @digitalpublishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.
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.
MY THOUGHTS ⭐⭐⭐.5
Have you ever read a book that has an unusual twist to the story that leaves you wondering what is truly going on? 😮
This book has a unique story with a great premise that drew me in from the start! With a mysterious plot and a suffocating feeling to the story, I had no idea where the story was leading me but I was keen to keep the pages turning to find out. I particularly loved the first half of the book where central characters kept disappearing along with all evidence of their very existence. This aspect of the story was well-executed, keeping me wondering what the heck was going on.
Megan was a great protagonist, determined to find out why everyone was disappearing, despite no one believing her. The ending was completely surprising and caught me off guard. A well-written, genre -blending story.
Thank you @digitalpublishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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