Then She Vanishes

by Claire Douglas

*Pre-order the twisty, compulsive new thriller from the bestselling author of Local Girl Missing, Last Seen Alive and Do Not Disturb now*

THE ONLY THING MORE SHOCKING THAN THE FIRST CHAPTER . . . IS THE LAST. . .
___________

Everything changed the night Flora Powell disappeared.

Heather and Jess were best friends - until the night Heather's sister vanished.

Jess has never forgiven herself for the lie she told that night. Nor has Heather.

But now Heather is accused of an awful crime.

And Jess is forced to return to the sleepy seaside town where they grew up, to ask the question she's avoided for so long:

What really happened the night Flora disappeared?

'Amazing. A twisty whydunnit that I finished in just two days. Smart, gripping and atmospheric, readers will love Then She Vanishes' Gillian McAllister, bestselling author of The Evidence Against You
___________

Praise for Claire Douglas:

'Thrillingly tense and twisty' B A Paris

'Kept me up last night - scary, twisty, all too believable' Jane Corry

'Tense, claustrophobic and gripping' Paula Daly

'A page-turning slow burn' Cara Hunter

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Crime, Suspense

Paperback

First published June 27, 2019

About the author

Claire Douglas always wanted to write novels and, after many years of trying to get published, her dream came true when she won the Marie Claire Debut Novel Award in 2013 with THE SISTERS.

Her second and third novels, LOCAL GIRL MISSING and LAST SEEN ALIVE (Penguin), are Sunday Times bestsellers.

Reviews

[Joey R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.0 stars— When I saw that “Then She Vanishes “ by Claire Douglas was available at the local library, I decided it was finally time to read a book by an author who consistently gets good reviews. “Vanishes” begins with the murder of an elderly woman and her son with the chief suspect being Heather, who is found near death with a gunshot wound. The book then follows a local reporter, Jess, as she tries to get exclusives on this story using her childhood friendship with Heather and her mother to get information on the case. As the author discloses more information about Heather’s family history, the book seems to lose a lot of its credibility as the plot becomes very far-fetched. Although I enjoyed the multiple narratives format and the well written dialogue, I just couldn’t buy the storyline and all of the tragedies inflicted upon one family. It Is difficult to review a book that the whole time you are reading it you are thinking, “I should be liking this book more” but also thinking “I want to know what happens but I will be glad when this one is over.” I have seen many great reviews for this book, but the characters were so superficial I never got to the point where I felt that I cared what happened to any of them so 3 stars it is. (PS — this might be the worst, most wishy-washy review ever written).

[Irena BookDustMagic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3,5 stars

It has been some time since I finished Then She Vanishes so I will try to keep my review short and point-blank.

First and most important: this thriller was highly entertaining and that is it’s main plus.
It took me five days to finish it but that is because I was very busy in time I was reading it. I imagine if I had more time to read I would probably finish it in two days.

It was so easy to read, and I really wanted to turn those pages faster, even though the reason for that wasn’t that I was dying to know what will happen, but because I was purely enjoying spending my time with this book.

It main disadvantage, if I’m being honest, is it’s predictability.
There are many things that happened in the story and, of course, most of them weren’t as obvious, but the main revelation and the outcome were visible from the very beginning of the book.

The second flaw is that the story is just not rememberable.
As I already stated, it has been some time since I finished this novel and I already have hard time when I try to think about it’s side characters or subplots. Most of it is a blur.

In the end, I think this book would appeal to readers who like to read thriller from time to time, but if you’re an advanced reader of that genre, maybe you’d wish it brought more to the table.

Read this and more reviews on my blog: https://bookdustmagic.com

[L.A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Paperbacks for this ARC in exchange for my review.
It took me a few days to finish it even though I could have read it in one day if I had the time. All of Claire Douglas's books have a way of sucking me in, twisting my thought process and throwing me into a world of nothing else matters but solving this crime.

The present crime coexists with a past crime Jess reminisces concerning the disappearance of her childhood friend's sister Flora 18 years ago. With many shady characters being accused of her disappearance, they all appear to be connected or suspicious in the latest crime.

As a journalist now, Jess finds herself engulfed in the present crime because it involves her friend Heather. Accused of killing two people then turning the gun on herself, Heather has survived. She remembers little about the incident and Jess is determined to find out what happened while reliving the past and the dissolve of their friendship after Flora vanished.

There are so many questions throughout and fun to examine the characters, the setting and surprises
If it becomes predictable for you and draws you in, just wait the course will change: Claire's style!

[JanB · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC

[ReadAlongWithSue recovering from a stroke★⋆. ࿐࿔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve put this on my “unputdownable” shelf. Although this month has been a difficult one in our family life as regards worry, Stress and sorting stuff out, I’ve picked this book up with every chance I got. Sometimes I fell to sleep as soon as my head hit the pillow, it’s been an horrendous month.
I never once wasn’t eager to get back to this book, it made me mad I just couldn’t sit and continue to read it.

That being said, I absolutely loved this writing. It flowed so well, it’s difficult to explain as it’s thriller yet the writing flowed so relaxingly comfortable for me. No leaping so that I couldn’t follow it even when the chapter heading may have flipped to the past.

Don’t be mistaken about the title. It’s not your usual ‘girl vanishes’ type of read. I’ve also read far too many of those. This is so different.

I’ve heard it say that the blurb and titles gives away the plot. I disagree strongly.

You will get several twists and loopholes and cul-de-sacs within this book.
Even if you did guess some things (which I did) there are more revelations to be had right to the final page.

I’m enthusiastic about this one. Taking my time reading it I took so much away about all of these characters and how complex love can be.

For those that enjoy good flowing stories, ease of reading, guessing games, character driven.
This is for you.

Remember. Never make a judgement on others reviews, always make your own mind up on what you read 😁
I’d be interested in knowing how your thoughts, good, not so good. That’s what makes for great discussions!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to hold my hands up and admit that the sheer joy of having a new Claire Douglas book is indescribable ... a fellow fan will understand!!

Wow I devoured this in a day, as I truly could not put it down.

Heather and Jess were inseparable growing up in a small seaside town until Heather’s older sister Flora goes missing and is never found. Now 18 years later Jess is a reporter and sent back to her hometown to investigate a murder that her childhood friend Heather has been accused of. Why would a loving mother and wife kill 2 people that she doesn’t know then turn the gun onto herself. Will Jess be able to get the story of a lifetime or will their childhood friendship hinder the investigation!!

This thriller is well written, it grips you from the start and keeps you 100% hooked throughout. Loved how the story goes back to when Flora goes missing and is told from Margot (Flora’s mom) and Jess’s point of view. Along the way there are lots of secrets and twists which keeps you guessing until the end.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I challenge any reader to pick up this book, read the first chapter and then not want to devour the rest of the book! Oh my goodness, the first chapter had my heart pounding and my interest well and truely piqued. I am a big fan of Claire Douglas, having read most of her previous books and loved them.. she is definitely a writer that I instantly pick up, without needing t know the plot. Her stories are believable and characters relatable. Once I started reading this book I just wanted to keep reading... only time prevented me from reading this in one sitting.

This is the story of 2 best friends.. well they were when they were kids in their small seaside town. Heather and Jess were joined at the hip as kids.. until Heathers sister Flora disappeared one night and never came home. They both have secrets from that night and their friendship suffered. 18 years later Jess is a reporter and is drawn back to the town she grew up in when Heather is accused of a horrid crime. What would make her former best friend do what she has been accused of? jess is determined to find out, and in the process finally find out what happened to Flora all those years ago. A wonderful story of friendship, family, first love and secrets.

Thanks to a NetGalley and Penguin UK, Michael Joseph for my advanced copy of this book to read. all opinions are my own and are in no way biased.

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

The main issue with this book is that, save the main hook, it's just not that surprising. It starts off well. Why would a woman, to all regards happy in her marriage and with a baby she adores, get up one day and shoot two people dead? One of whom was an old lady to boot. I don't know about you, but I wanted to know.

Except the answer is right there in the blurb. This woman, Heather, had a sister who went missing when they were both young. Do we think the people she shot might have something to do with that? I couldn't possibly guess. Oh, hang on, yes I could. The whole rest of the book is an attempt to make us think someone else shot the two when she clearly did.

The description says:
THE ONLY THING MORE SHOCKING THAN THE FIRST CHAPTER . . . IS THE LAST.

So, can you even begin to imagine what the SHOCKING LAST CHAPTER reveals...????

I mean, it's fine. But if you read this kind of fiction, there's nothing new here at all. It's yet another psychological thriller that relies on people lying and imagining increasingly unlikely things.

Not one I'd recommend.

ARC via Netgalley

[Louise Wilson]

A teenager went missing twenty years ago, now her sister is in a coma after shooting herself.

A stranger had stormed into a house in the early hours killing fifty eight year old Clive Wilson and his elderly mother, Deirdre. Later Heather Underwood was found with a self inflicted gun shot wound. Jess, a reporter, has been sent to cover the story. The shooting had taken place in Jess's home town. But Jess's boss does not know that the perp had been Jess's childhood friend.

This is a fast paced read with many twist and turns. There is so much going on in this book. The way the author has written about the characters makes you feel that you knew them. I don't want to say anymore about this story as I don't want to spoil it for potential readers. A well executed who-did-it.

I would like to thank NetGalley, penguin UK - Michael Joseph and the author Claire Douglas for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Erin Clemence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

Expected publication date: August 3, 2021

Flora Powell disappeared without a trace one summer in 1994. Twenty-five years later, Flora’s sister, Heather, walks into a house and shoots two people in cold blood. Why would Heather, a wife and mother, kill two random people? Jess used to be close friends with Heather, until Flora’s disappearance tore them apart. Now a reporter, Jess is determined to get to the bottom of what happened and what caused Heather to snap.

Claire Douglas’ fifth novel, “Then She Vanishes” is full of pulse-pounding, page-turning twists and turns. Right from page one, the novel pulled me in, and I was immediately immersed in Heather and Jess’s world. “Vanishes” was well-told, with great flow and powerfully honest characters. The story is told primarily from the perspectives of Jess and Margot (Heather and Flora’s mother), but there are also segments told from Flora’s perspective, during the summer she vanished.

Heather and Flora have a close sibling relationship, rifled with competition, jealousy and a powerful protective instinct. Jess is the cast-away, looking for love and a family that she is not getting in her own home, headed by a cold and unloving mother. Each character has their own heartbreaking truth that allows a reader to instantly bond with them. Although exceptionally different, all three women are likable and relatable.

I made multiple attempts to guess the ending, as Douglas peppered the pages with any number of seemingly curious characters who could be suspects. But, to my great delight, I was wrong every time. When the ending finally came down, it was completely unpredictable, and yet utterly believable, which is what the best endings are made of.

This is my first book by Douglas, but I know it won’t be my last. Her creativity and almost-perfect writing style is difficult to find in this genre, and yet Douglas manages to do it with ease.

[Bex (Beckie Bookworm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one it was just amazing.
My third book by this author and by far my favourite.
I just adored how this was all connected together and I'm blown away with how the author has managed to connect the dots to make sense of everything while still managing to keep me in the dark through the journey.
This was such an impressive feat and managed to keep me guessing as well as constantly surprising me with its many twists and turns.
From that shocking beginning where two people are shot down in cold blood seemingly at random to that final end-game, I was seriously transfixed.
This had such real characters with flaws and all and I loved that nobody here was perfect.
I thought Jess herself was such a raw and real person who was by far her own worst critic.
I felt such sorrow for Margot who had lost one daughter only to potentially love another.
I changed direction in my mind so many times over where this might go.
This really was a work of pure genius and I really can't recommend this enough.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of And Then She Vanishes.

Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com

[Jayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

THEN SHE VANISHES starts off with a bang.

A woman walks into a house, randomly shoots two people in cold blood, and then allegedly shoots herself in a separate location.

Is one woman responsible for all of the gunshots?

And, if so, WHY?

Heather is a happily married mother of a toddler boy and the accused injured woman living in a small seaside town. She is in a coma and when she wakes up, she remembers nothing.

Told from the POV of multiple flawed characters, readers quickly learn that this is not the first time that Heather's family has been front-page news.

Heather's 16-year old sister Flora vanished 25 years ago. Only Flora's bloody shirt was found with no other clues.

Could the recent shootings be related to Heather's missing sister's cold case?

THEN SHE VANISHES is a fast-paced family drama about murder, friendship, and betrayal that features more red herrings than a local fish store. The book sizzles and soars and keeps readers guessing.

ONE CRITICISM: In her attempt to add extra elements of surprise/suspense/confusion to the storyline, the author introduced waaaay too many characters. At times, it was challenging to keep all of the characters and their possible connection to one or both of the crimes straight.

I listened to the audiobook and all of the book's narrators gave superb performances.

This is my second Claire Douglas book and I look forward to listening to future titles by this author.

[Nina (ninjasbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-developed and interesting characters made this novel a positive experience, if I hadn’t liked them so much the book would have been to long. It’s a very slow-burning thriller, which I liked because the story was engaging.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must tell you the line ‘ my insides fizzed like a refresher on my tongue when I saw him’ probably wins description of the year 😃😎😃 a brilliant line!

This book was described by an author as a ‘page turning slow burn’, I would concur with this

The book revolves around sisters Flora and Heather and best friend Jess, one now missing presumed dead, one in hospital unconscious accused of a double murder and one a journalist
The book starts with a ‘on the edge of your seat’ chapter and then carefully and steadily introduces you to all 3 and their past’s and how they have become as they are now
There are many secrets along the way that have to be unpicked and t’s crossed and i’s dotted and all are done with the reader in mind so you are brought along with the story and what could be pretty confusing isent!
As the story nears it end the pieces fall into place and you realise what really has gone on and what a great and multi layered tale it is
The ending is 2 pronged, it all makes perfect sense and then its turned on its head and shaken around and you finally realise the truth!!
A sterling cast, loved Jess the journo and also Margot the 2 girls Mum and Jack who was Jess’s colleague at the newspaper
Good descriptions of Bristol and Somerset brought back memories and a different take on domestic abuse was a clever by line to the story
Thoroughly enjoyable
10/10 5 Stars

[Erica⭐ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heather and Jess were more like sisters when they became the best of friends both feeling like outsiders formed a pretty watertight friendship and Jess likened the fact that Heathers mum Margot and sister Flora treat her more like family than her own mum did. That was until the very core of their friendship is destroyed when in the summer of 1994, Heathers sister Flora vanished.

Fast forward twenty-five years and as if lightning strikes twice, their sleepy seaside town is rocked again when tragedy hits and Heather tries to take her own life after taking the lives of two other people in cold blood – a loving, doting mother. The community are shell socked and can’t make sense of it.

Jess, now a reporter is sent back to her hometown to report on the case. What if she could solve both mysteries?

Or could she delve into the dark, dangerous side of her hometown revealing secrets and lies that are better left buried?

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was excellent. It had so many twists and turns and always kept my attention. The characters were really interesting and I particularly liked Jess and Margot. I liked how it went back into the past and explained what really happened to Flora and the lead up to it. It keeps you guessing until the last page and I found the ending to be good. It was very well written and it was a great book. I will definitely be reading more books from this author. I loved it.

[Donna Weber ( Recuperating from Surgery) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gripping, fast paced, twisty read with characters I cared about! Deciding between 4', 4 1/2 and 5 Star

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 5 out of 5]

Then She Vanishes is Ms Douglas's fifth thriller and having read each of them I can say with absolute joy that this is undoubtedly her most compelling and exciting to date. It centres around teenage sidekicks Heather and Jess whose friendships falls apart when Heather's sister Flora unexpectedly vanishes. Almost twenty years later and Jess is now working as a journalist for a small local paper when she learns that her best friend from teenage years, Heather, is currently in hospital in a coma having been accused of murdering a couple in their own home before turning the gun on herself. Jess hopes she can carry out a bit of investigative journalism, whilst also getting a scoop, and ask why a seemingly happily married mother of two could be driven to brutally murder two complete strangers. Or is there more to the story than meets the eye?

Without a doubt, this is one of the most enjoyable thrillers I have picked up this year so far. The prologue was an ingenious idea and opens the book in the most explosive and spectacular fashion. It's a riveting, edge-of-your-seat excitement fest and the slow-burn nature of the suspense creates a sinister atmosphere which had me on edge and never sure what would happen next. It's beautifully written and masterfully plotted; I must admit, without giving anything away, that the plotting was so sinfully clever that I was kept endlessly guessing. The twists, turns and plentiful misdirection has you thinking you know how its all going to end up but you are very swiftly reminded that the only one who knows is Ms Douglas herself. Many thanks to Penguin for an ARC.

[Ken · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another highly enjoyable read from Claire Douglas.

This thriller has plenty of mystery over two time periods that cleverly weave together.
Journalist Jess is tasked with reporting the double shooting in the seaside town of Tilby, the place in which she grew up.
It was there where Jess and Helen were best friends until the night that Helen's sister Flora disappeared.

The two central mysterys really drive the narrative as Jess is convinced that the accused former friend Helen is innocent of the shooting, whilst the events from 20 years ago hold significance as the reader is teased with what happened to Flora that night.

While I found this not to be as strong as Douglas's other titles, it still kept me gripped in wanting to know how everything connected.

[Claire Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another gripping psychological thriller from Claire Douglas. Jess and Heather are best friends, but when something happens in their childhood, the drift away from each other almost immediately. Twenty years later, Heather walks into a house and shoots two people dead. Jess, now a journalist, uses her ties with the family to get the expose but does her loyalties lie with Heather or her job. 4 stars

[Brooke - Brooke's Reading Life · Rating 4 out of 5]

*www.onewomansbbr.wordpress.com
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**3.5 stars**

Then She Vanishes by Claire Douglas. (2019).

The fair came to town. Flora disappeared.
Heather and Jess were best friends - until the night Heather's sister Flora vanished in 1994. Jess has never forgiven herself for the lie she told that night. Nor has Heather. But it's now 2012 and Heather has been accused of an awful crime. And Jess is forced to return to the sleepy seaside town where they grew up, to ask the question she's avoided for so long. What really happened the night Flora disappeared?

An intriguing why-dunnit (not to be mistaken with a who-dunnit) mystery that I think a lot of readers would like. The timeline changes between 2012 where Heather is accused of murdering two people, and 1994 when Flora goes missing and also includes several different character perspectives. Involving quite a few red herrings and many secrets, readers will think they know what's happened only to turn a few pages and it's all changed again. I was definitely drawn in and wanted to know what had happened in both timelines. I felt like the end was a bit unsatisfactory as for me explanations for some events felt just that bit too far-fetched and unbelievable. However, I still found it a good read overall and it's one I would recommend for those that enjoy a mystery story.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had high hopes for this one, especially seeing all the high ratings.

The beginning started off strong and drew me in, but it started fizzling out about a quarter of the way through. While I was curious to find out how things played out, there just weren’t any surprises here. That, along with the cookie cutter characters made this read fall short of my expectations from this author.

I’m still a fan, and look forward to seeing what she comes up with next. 😊

ARC provided by NetGalley

[Erin · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is being billed as gripping, thrilling, best twists but I'm afraid I didn't feel any of these things while reading it.

I couldn’t warm to any of the characters, the opening chapter was incredible, but fell rather flat from that point onwards. Such a shame, I was really looking forward to it. I’ve seen a lot of rave reviews, so maybe it just wasn’t for me.

I was invited to read this book by the publisher, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Many thanks to Claire Douglas, Penguin - Michael Joseph, and NetGalley for the invitation to read and review an arc of this book.

[Kimmy C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Early morning, in a quiet seaside village, the peace is shattered by two gunshots. An elderly woman and her son are shot dead, apparently by a local resident - a wife and mother, whose sister disappeared as a teenager.
Alternating timelines, from 1994 when 16 year old Flora rebels and goes missing, leaving her younger sister Heather and Heather’s friend Jess, to the current, when Jess is a reporter, sent to cover the story of the double shooting where Heather is prime and only suspect.
Told from the varying points of view of Jess, Heather, and Margot (Flora and Heather’s mother), everyone’s past is uncovered, secrets held and discoveries made.
As with this genre, there are a lot of twists, so much so that I was a bit over it by the end, even though it was cleverly done. But it kept my interest enough, and I would consider any other works by this author.

[Nicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heather and Flora Powell and their mother Margot were more like family to young Jess when she was growing up than her own mother ever was. That was until everything went wrong in the summer of 1994,Heather and Jess's friendship was never the same after Flora mysteriously disappeared whilst on her way home one summer's night.

Twenty five years later their sleepy seaside town is rocked by another shocking tragedy when Heather tries to kill herself after the loving wife and doting new mother kills two people in cold blood.

Jess,who is now a reporter is sent back to her hometown to report on the case. Can Jess find the key to both mysteries ? Or will her search reveal a darker side to the place she grew up - and put her in danger.

This gripping,enthralling thriller is written in chapters that alternate between Jess and Margot in the present day and Heather and Flora in the chapters set in 1994. In the chapters set in the present we follow Jess's search for the truth behind the deaths of the couple and her struggles to do her job diligently whilst staying loyal to Margot and Heather. In the chapters set in the past,we learn about the events leading up to Flora's disappearance and what happened on the night she vanished. The details of that fateful summer are drip fed to the reader,building up the tension and anticipation until Flora's fate is finally revealed. The cast of this thrilling story are a mixed bag of vivid, realistic personalities. Some likeable,some not so likeable,some very shady and untrustworthy and some were not who they appeared to be. I liked Jess,really liked poor Margot,didn't like Adam or Heather and for various reasons felt so much sympathy for poor Flora.What happened to Flora on that summer's night so many years ago? Did Heather kill the couple and if she did,what was her motive? And why does Jess constantly feel like she is being followed?

And Then She Vanishes is a exceedingly,well written,mesmerising thriller that had me hooked in from the very first page. The reader is drawn in by a chilling prologue and kept guessing throughout as the many layers of the story are revealed. This is Claire Douglas at her best,her words flow with ease,drawing the reader into her characters fictional world and making you care about some of their fates. I loved this book and couldn't put it down. Worth far more than five stars and highly recommended by little old me.

Many many thanks to Penguin Random House UK/ Michael Joseph for a arc of this book in exchange for a honest review

[Amanda - Mrs B's Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com

*4.5 stars

British domestic crime fiction and The Sunday Times bestselling author Claire Douglas has five thrilling books to her name now, after the release of Then She Vanishes in 2019. Douglas’ latest is a dark and secret filled novel, based around family relationships and a friendship from times past. Then She Vanishes makes its entry with a shocking and unexplained crime, that overshadows the length of this compelling novel.

Two crimes underline the latest thriller offering from Claire Douglas. Then She Vanishes revolves around the lives of Heather and Jess, once best friends as teenagers, but their friendship was turned on its head after Heather’s older sister Flora disappeared. Years later, Heather has committed an awful crime that is making headlines. Jess is now a disgraced journalist and she must return to her home town, the site of Heather’s crime, to report on this uncharacteristic story. In dealing with this shocking crime, Jess is forced to interrogate the details of Flora’s disappearance, revealing a litany of long held secrets, lies and uncomfortable truths.

Author Gillian McAllister has declared Then She Vanishes ‘a twisty whydunnit’. I think this is a perfect description of Claire Douglas’ latest. From the paralysing prologue, my eyes remained firmly fixed on Then She Vanishes until the bitter end.

Then She Vanishes is a two for one deal novel. We have a dual timeline narrative that switches between the year 1994 and 2012. In the past, we are confronted with the disappearance of a sixteen year old girl. While in the 2012 thread, we are issued with a perplexing crime to solve based on a murder of two people at gunpoint, by the sister of the missing teenager. Both timelines link, overlap and present a shocking series of revelations held by the characters in the story. As I have to come realise with Claire Douglas’ novels, nothing is ever as it seems with the situations she presents.

I was reminded by how highly I rate Douglas’ characterisation while reading Then She Vanishes, it really is first-class. Each of the characters are a slight enigma, which slowly unveils as the book progresses and pertinent details about each case is revealed. I was desperate to work Heather out and what motivated her to conduct such a heinous crime, that seemed to be unprovoked. Likewise, the 1994 storyline allows us to develop a strong understanding of Flora. In Margot, the girl’s mother, we see a woman consumed by a terrible crime in the past. While Jess, the lead character, seems to drive the story forward. There are also a good collection of supporting characters that all contribute to this perplexing tale.

There are some strong and resounding themes that rotate around Then She Vanishes. From guarded secrets, teenage rebellion, friendships, parental relationships, sibling rivalry, career crisis, mental illness, loss, post-natal depression and revenge. These topics are underscored by Jess’ investigations and thought patterns as a journalist, exposing a story for the press. Douglas also includes excerpts of Jess’ articles about the cases presented in Then She Vanishes in between the narrative.

It is a tension filled race to the end, with the reader remaining on the outer until the last chapter. I did do a double take and a re-read once I got to the final chapter of the book, as I couldn’t believe how it all panned out. Then She Vanishes is another disquieting tale, from a leading writer in the field of contemporary crime and domestic based fiction.

POPSUGAR READING CHALLENGE 2020 #4 A Book with a Three-Word Title.

[Jocelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Synopsis

A sleepy seaside down in southwest England is shaken to its core when a beautiful, sweet young teenager named Flora disappeared without a trace. Eighteen years later, Flora’s remaining family is once again blasted across the headlines when it appears her younger sister brutally murdered two people at random before turning the gun on herself.

Review

All right Claire Douglas, we need to have a talk because I’m a little upset with you. Your latest book cost me two nights of sleep because I could not put it down. From the moment I read the dramatic and mysterious prologue I was hooked, desperate to know more.

As far as summer thrillers go, this one was great. It was an easy read, but also quite gripping and dark. Then She Vanishes was an atmospheric and intricate tale about the bond between sisters, mother and daughter, and childhood friends. Bonds that can withstand the test of time and trauma and come out stronger for it. This was also a tale about the seedy underbelly simmering beneath the idyllic surface of a picturqesue coastal town.

“Twisty” is an overused term these days but in this case it aptly applies. Especially when it came to the way all these character’s lives were still intertwined nearly two decades later, often in ways none of them could possibly fathom. It was a complex story full of emotion and intrigue that kept me guessing.
Some of the “twists” seemed really bizarre and impossible at first, but eventually they all (mostly) came together and made horrible sense in the end.

My only real criticism is about the main character, Jess. Her whole “I had a hard childhood so I push everyone away!” schtick got old and was a little flat. She mostly just came across as selfish, especially when she had such an amazing partner she treated so horribly. She was still a likeable character, though, especially with her moral dilemmas about being a reporter reporting on people she used to think of like family. It was refreshing to see a member of the press have that much integrity when it came to such a sensational story.

Final Thoughts

I can’t believe that I’ve never read anything by Claire Douglas before! I’m definitely going to be picking up more of her books because it appears that Douglas sure knows how to write a riveting domestic thriller.

Read my full review on my blog!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my review

[Ellery Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick and clever read. Realistic characters, crafty plotting, and the perfect amount of backstory and misdirection drew me in and never let go. Ms. Douglas has a new fan.

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

THEN SHE VANISHES
Claire Douglas

Jessica Fox used to be best friends with Heather Powell when they were kids. Despite being very different economically, and socially, these girls were great friends until... Now years later, Jessica is a reporter and Heather is in a coma from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the chest done after she murdered 2 people, a 70 something mother, and her 58-year-old son. But why would a young woman shoot and kill two random people?

Jessica knows that Flora, Heather's sister went missing when they were kids, but Heather's mom knows the rest of the story and now that story really means something. Jessica finds out that Heather's father was shot when Heather was 10, and that Heather is the one that accidentally shot him. Jessica has the scoop on what has happened and an exclusive contract with Margot, Heather's mom. But some paper keeps scooping her. Jessica is not without a past that might impact her future, both professionally and with her boyfriend Rory.

The action is fast-paced and shifts every chapter when the POV changes between Jessica, Heather, and Margot. I really liked that Heather was included in the POV, despite being in a coma she adds to the intrigue. Jessica gets busy trying to find out if there is a connection between Heather and the people she shot and that is when things get really interesting. You will be sorry if you miss this one.

4 stars

Happy Reading!

[Adele Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Then She Vanishes. It goes back and forth from 1994 to the present day and tell the story of Flora, Jess, Heather and Margot.
Gloria mysteriously disappears aged 16, baffling her family and friends right the way through to 18 years later
Heather is accused of killing a mother and grown son in their own home and then turning the gun on herself.
Then She Vanishes is a brilliantly written who done it, that has you thinking a number of people are guilty of a number of crimes.
Add this book to your To Be Read list as you will not me disappointed.