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The Night She Vanished
My parents seem to be the perfect couple. But no one knows what I know…
Everyone in the small Midwestern town of Henderson looks up to my perfect parents. With dependable jobs as a midwife and the town sheriff, they help this close-knit community feel safe. But the locals didn’t grow up in my parents’ house. They don’t know what I know. And they wouldn’t believe me if I told them…
After my best friend vanished when we were just fifteen, I left town and never looked back. I couldn’t prove it, but I think my parents killed her.
Now, years later, my little sister has vanished. I have no choice but to go home and play happy families again. Because I have to find out what my parents have done to her. I have to try to save her.
But when bones are discovered on a local farm, and all the evidence leads back to our front door, I realize I was wrong about absolutely everything. And that coming back was the deadliest thing I could do…
Everyone in the small Midwestern town of Henderson looks up to my perfect parents. With dependable jobs as a midwife and the town sheriff, they help this close-knit community feel safe. But the locals didn’t grow up in my parents’ house. They don’t know what I know. And they wouldn’t believe me if I told them…
After my best friend vanished when we were just fifteen, I left town and never looked back. I couldn’t prove it, but I think my parents killed her.
Now, years later, my little sister has vanished. I have no choice but to go home and play happy families again. Because I have to find out what my parents have done to her. I have to try to save her.
But when bones are discovered on a local farm, and all the evidence leads back to our front door, I realize I was wrong about absolutely everything. And that coming back was the deadliest thing I could do…
389 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 14, 2023
1734 people are currently reading
2789 people want to read
About the author
Wendy Dranfield
21 books624 followersWendy is the author of the Detective Madison Harper series. Her novels and short stories have been shortlisted and longlisted for various writing competitions and awards, including the International Thriller Writer Awards.
Please note; as Wendy writes crime fiction, including police procedurals and psychological thrillers, her books contain plots, characters and actions dealing with a variety of crimes, including physical and psychological.
Wendy does not use social media, so if you find an account pretending to be her on any platform, it’s 100% fake! Visit her website for the most accurate and up-to-date information about her books: wendydranfield.co.uk
The final book in the Det. Madison Harper series will be out in May 2026.
Please note; as Wendy writes crime fiction, including police procedurals and psychological thrillers, her books contain plots, characters and actions dealing with a variety of crimes, including physical and psychological.
Wendy does not use social media, so if you find an account pretending to be her on any platform, it’s 100% fake! Visit her website for the most accurate and up-to-date information about her books: wendydranfield.co.uk
The final book in the Det. Madison Harper series will be out in May 2026.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 200 reviews
January 13, 2024
Earlier this year, I marked several 2023 thrillers as TBR after reviewing a Goodreads list that noted them as must-read books. The Night She Vanished by Wendy Dranfield was one of them, and after beginning it on Friday, I can totally understand why. From the first page, the story drew me in, and while I thought it had become quite obvious what was going on, the writing and suspense were so fantastic I couldn't put it down. Imagine when I hit the shocking points that began revealing the true killer's identity, where I learned I was completely wrong because the author had two mega twists built into the plot. For sure, I have read so many suspense novels, I easily pick out the hidden clues. But in this one, while I was on the right track, there were way more layers than I could've predicted. Really enjoyed the book, which had headed down the path to a 5-star read. For me, the ending was a bit of a letdown, tho... not because it wasn't filled with shock but because it kinda just revealed the killer and saved someone else and then it ended. I don't want to spoil anything, but so much tension had built up, we missed a payoff between a few characters where things settled themselves some more. We needed a "6 months later" epilogue that helped us transition back to normalcy. For others, this kind of ending isn't necessary and would be the 5-star read, so don't just take my word for it. You may absolutely love the entire piece. Definitely will be reading more from the author in the future.
dnf
November 15, 2025DNF at 30%
** this review contains reference to a theme that occurs within the first 30% **
The story was intriguing, I'll google spoiler summaries after publication but I cannot continue to read about the potential that a father impregnated his own daughter. If it was mentioned once, ok. But there are just too many mentions of this thus too many gag moments. I just can't. This story isn't for me.
I also was struggling with the writing generally, it's written in third person but there are some tense issues early on. That said, I would have kept reading if not for the incest theme - I don't know if it's a main theme for the balance of the book because I DNF'd.
Expected publication date: 14 March 2023
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
** this review contains reference to a theme that occurs within the first 30% **
The story was intriguing, I'll google spoiler summaries after publication but I cannot continue to read about the potential that a father impregnated his own daughter. If it was mentioned once, ok. But there are just too many mentions of this thus too many gag moments. I just can't. This story isn't for me.
I also was struggling with the writing generally, it's written in third person but there are some tense issues early on. That said, I would have kept reading if not for the incest theme - I don't know if it's a main theme for the balance of the book because I DNF'd.
Expected publication date: 14 March 2023
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
March 16, 2023
My favourite Wendy Dranfield book so far!
Omg I LOVED this one.
I do have a fascination for books about missing people, and this has to be one of my faves.
The story follows the protagonist who gets asked by her estranged parents to come home because her sister has gone missing. But the relationship is odd to say the least and the parents are acting strangely...
I won't say any more for fear of spoilers, but this was a 'read in one sitting' book for sure! The plot is so fast paced, I'm still thinking about it.
Amazing.
Omg I LOVED this one.
I do have a fascination for books about missing people, and this has to be one of my faves.
The story follows the protagonist who gets asked by her estranged parents to come home because her sister has gone missing. But the relationship is odd to say the least and the parents are acting strangely...
I won't say any more for fear of spoilers, but this was a 'read in one sitting' book for sure! The plot is so fast paced, I'm still thinking about it.
Amazing.
May 25, 2025
This was my first book from Wendy Dranfield and I absolutely loved it!! I’m kicking myself for not reading her books before now, but now that I have read THE NIGHT SHE VANISHED, I have so many of her other novels to look forward to!! And that’s exciting because there’s nothing better than finding a new author you thoroughly enjoy!
From the moment I picked up my Kindle to read this book, I knew I’d have a hard time putting it down. The story grabs you from the very beginning and does not let go. It’s a compelling read surrounding family dynamics and family secrets, showing how far people are willing to go to keep the past buried. The character development is brilliantly written by the author, further immersing the reader into a world of family estrangement and dysfunction. Whom can you trust? Who is telling the truth and who is lying? These are questions you’ll be asking yourself time and time again until the very end. And there are so many twists and turns you won’t see coming, you’ll feel like you’re on a roller coaster — and how fun are roller coasters?!
So if you enjoy psychological thrillers with a captivating plot, wonderfully rich characters, and a decades-long mystery to solve, you will definitely want to read Wendy Dranfield’s new novel. But be warned — once you start reading, you won’t be able to stop until the last page is turned!
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Wendy Dranfield, and Bookouture for gifting me the ARC of this book! I appreciate you trusting me with an honest review!!
From the moment I picked up my Kindle to read this book, I knew I’d have a hard time putting it down. The story grabs you from the very beginning and does not let go. It’s a compelling read surrounding family dynamics and family secrets, showing how far people are willing to go to keep the past buried. The character development is brilliantly written by the author, further immersing the reader into a world of family estrangement and dysfunction. Whom can you trust? Who is telling the truth and who is lying? These are questions you’ll be asking yourself time and time again until the very end. And there are so many twists and turns you won’t see coming, you’ll feel like you’re on a roller coaster — and how fun are roller coasters?!
So if you enjoy psychological thrillers with a captivating plot, wonderfully rich characters, and a decades-long mystery to solve, you will definitely want to read Wendy Dranfield’s new novel. But be warned — once you start reading, you won’t be able to stop until the last page is turned!
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Wendy Dranfield, and Bookouture for gifting me the ARC of this book! I appreciate you trusting me with an honest review!!
March 12, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up.
Everyone in the small Midwestern town of Henderson looks up to my perfect parents. With dependable jobs as a midwife and the town sheriff, they help make the close-knit community feel safe. But the locals didn't grow up in my parents' house. They don't know what I know. And they wouldn't believe me if I told them. After my best friend vanished when we were just fifteen, I left town and never looked back. I couldn't prove it, but I think my parents killed her.
Nicole is estranged from her family. Her best friend went missing when they were teenagers. Nicole has not been back to her hometown of Henderson in twelve years. But her little sister is missing, and she's certain her parents have had something to do with it. I never knew who was telling the truth or who I could trust. There's lots of twists but the pace is slow to begin with. There were parts that didn't feel true. I also felt the middle of the book dragged out a bit. It also could have been doing with an epilogue to give us a little more closure.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #WendyDranfield for my ARC of #TheNightSheVanished in exchange for an honest review.
Everyone in the small Midwestern town of Henderson looks up to my perfect parents. With dependable jobs as a midwife and the town sheriff, they help make the close-knit community feel safe. But the locals didn't grow up in my parents' house. They don't know what I know. And they wouldn't believe me if I told them. After my best friend vanished when we were just fifteen, I left town and never looked back. I couldn't prove it, but I think my parents killed her.
Nicole is estranged from her family. Her best friend went missing when they were teenagers. Nicole has not been back to her hometown of Henderson in twelve years. But her little sister is missing, and she's certain her parents have had something to do with it. I never knew who was telling the truth or who I could trust. There's lots of twists but the pace is slow to begin with. There were parts that didn't feel true. I also felt the middle of the book dragged out a bit. It also could have been doing with an epilogue to give us a little more closure.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #WendyDranfield for my ARC of #TheNightSheVanished in exchange for an honest review.
July 30, 2023
Nicole returns home after finding out her sister Aimee has gone missing. Nicole hasn't spoken to her parents since she left home at 17.
Nicole's parents are not exactly welcoming her home with open arms and why are they are both acting suspiciously?
I was so caught up in this book I actually read it in one sitting.
Who can you trust when everyone seems to be keeping secrets.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Nicole's parents are not exactly welcoming her home with open arms and why are they are both acting suspiciously?
I was so caught up in this book I actually read it in one sitting.
Who can you trust when everyone seems to be keeping secrets.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 4, 2023
The Night She Vanished is my first book by Wendy Dranfield. Oh what a thriller it was! Going back and forth from 2008 and Summer 2022, It starts off with Nicole getting a call from her parents (who she hasn’t talked to in many years) saying her sister is missing. Nicole’s best friend Lori went missing back in 2008 and her father (who’s the sheriff) was a suspect. Lots of secrets throughout and it just pulled me in from the very first page!! I really enjoyed this thriller and loved the twists at the end. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. To be published March 2023.
April 17, 2023
While the protagonist, Nicole, drove me absolutely insane with her stupid decisions, this story is definitely a worthy read. Nicole is called home to her estranged parents when her pregnant, baby sister goes missing. Suspecting her father of killing her best friend (boy, that’s a crazy twist) 14 years earlier, she has to navigate her unresolved feelings for her parents while searching for her sister. We have good character development of the friends as well as their parents. All this does is brings many twists and suspects in many crimes. It’s a crazy story that will hold your interest!
March 14, 2023
Nicole has been estranged from her family for years. When her best friend disappears while they were teenagers, Nicole was adamant that her parents were involved. Nicole made accusations that led to a mental break. Happily married to Luke for five years, her high school boyfriend, Nicole has managed just fine without her family.
However, one phone call changes everything. Her sister Aimee is missing, so Nicole returns home. While Nicole is desperate to find Aimee safe and sound, she goes back to the time when her friend Lori had disappeared. In fact, the story shifts back and forth between the past and the present.
Wendy Dranfield has written a thrilling story filled with twist after twist. I loved not being right about the guilty party over and over again. This is a book where the blurb is rather misleading, and reading it ahead of time tempted to sway my assumptions - which is exactly what they were, assumptions. Even so, whether it was the secrets, lies, or more, this book was truly addictive. The ending was truly an emotional one.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
However, one phone call changes everything. Her sister Aimee is missing, so Nicole returns home. While Nicole is desperate to find Aimee safe and sound, she goes back to the time when her friend Lori had disappeared. In fact, the story shifts back and forth between the past and the present.
Wendy Dranfield has written a thrilling story filled with twist after twist. I loved not being right about the guilty party over and over again. This is a book where the blurb is rather misleading, and reading it ahead of time tempted to sway my assumptions - which is exactly what they were, assumptions. Even so, whether it was the secrets, lies, or more, this book was truly addictive. The ending was truly an emotional one.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
March 15, 2023
I received this ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I adore Wendy’s Detective Madison Harper series so I was thrilled to be reading this Stand-alone.
I was hooked from the very first page and boy what a wild ride I was in for as the book progressed!.
I was with Nicole every step of the way as she went back to her hometown to find out what’s happened to her sister Aimee, she’s never been back since she left town not long after her best friend Lori went missing. Will it turn out to be the biggest mistake of her life coming back?.
With so many twists and turns and shocks I could put this down, i finished it with a few hours it was THAT good.
I think I need to lay down now.
I adore Wendy’s Detective Madison Harper series so I was thrilled to be reading this Stand-alone.
I was hooked from the very first page and boy what a wild ride I was in for as the book progressed!.
I was with Nicole every step of the way as she went back to her hometown to find out what’s happened to her sister Aimee, she’s never been back since she left town not long after her best friend Lori went missing. Will it turn out to be the biggest mistake of her life coming back?.
With so many twists and turns and shocks I could put this down, i finished it with a few hours it was THAT good.
I think I need to lay down now.
February 14, 2023
The Night She Vanished by Wendy Dranfield
Publisher: Bookouture
Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers
Expected Publication Date: March 14, 2023
The Night She Vanished is a standalone mystery by Wendy Dranfield. This book was filled with so many twists and turns and kept me on the edge of my seat. I actually could not go to sleep until I finished this book because it was so good and I needed to see how everything unraveled.
Wow, just wow! The Night She Vanished is probably my favorite book so far this year. I was drawn into the story on page one and couldn't believe it when I made it to the final page. I was able to read this in one day because it was so good and I could not stop reading it.
This book was captivating and engaging. The characters were fascinating and brilliantly developed. Trying to figure out what actually happened and who was responsible for what was so well played. Every time I though I knew what had happened another layer was revealed and I was left wondering what else could happen.
I highly recommend reading this! You will not be disappointed.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Publisher: Bookouture
Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers
Expected Publication Date: March 14, 2023
The Night She Vanished is a standalone mystery by Wendy Dranfield. This book was filled with so many twists and turns and kept me on the edge of my seat. I actually could not go to sleep until I finished this book because it was so good and I needed to see how everything unraveled.
Wow, just wow! The Night She Vanished is probably my favorite book so far this year. I was drawn into the story on page one and couldn't believe it when I made it to the final page. I was able to read this in one day because it was so good and I could not stop reading it.
This book was captivating and engaging. The characters were fascinating and brilliantly developed. Trying to figure out what actually happened and who was responsible for what was so well played. Every time I though I knew what had happened another layer was revealed and I was left wondering what else could happen.
I highly recommend reading this! You will not be disappointed.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 24, 2023
The writing in The Night She Vanished was shockingly bad and the protagonist, Nicole, is a strong candidate for the most moronic character I've ever read. I wanted her to be slowly crushed to death by a steamroller and unfortunately that didn't happen, so the book gets 1*
May 7, 2023
A title thats been used so many times before and yet grups you firmly. The prologue steers you in a solid direction and then bam all bets are off. Told from the main character's point of view the story focuses on two disappearances from different times linked to all the chatscters in the story
All the characters are well written and you feel the emotions through good writing. Ther are many twista and turns. It hooked me from page 1.
Thank you netgallery for my arc
All the characters are well written and you feel the emotions through good writing. Ther are many twista and turns. It hooked me from page 1.
Thank you netgallery for my arc
February 27, 2023
This is a great thriller with family well and truly at its heart.
Nicole receives a call from her parents who she has not seen for years, and immediately heads back to them. Her sister is heavily pregnant and has gone missing and Nicole suspects her parents know more than they’re telling her.
Being back there brings back bad memories as Nicole’s best friend disappeared when she was younger. With blood being found but no body, Lori’s parents have never known what happened to their daughter.
Quite a few of the characters are hiding something and as the story unravels, more and more secrets are revealed.
This is a great mystery thriller with a few storylines coming together to create a nail biting conclusion.
A great read.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Nicole receives a call from her parents who she has not seen for years, and immediately heads back to them. Her sister is heavily pregnant and has gone missing and Nicole suspects her parents know more than they’re telling her.
Being back there brings back bad memories as Nicole’s best friend disappeared when she was younger. With blood being found but no body, Lori’s parents have never known what happened to their daughter.
Quite a few of the characters are hiding something and as the story unravels, more and more secrets are revealed.
This is a great mystery thriller with a few storylines coming together to create a nail biting conclusion.
A great read.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
March 9, 2023
4/5 stars
"𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒔, 𝒊𝒕 𝒎𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅. 𝑰𝒕 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒄𝒓𝒖𝒆𝒍 𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖.
𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒓𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂 𝑮𝒐𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒏."
I'd like to thank Netgalley, the author - Wendy Dranfield, and Bookouture for the advance reading copy of "The night she vanished" because - WHAT.A.BOOK!!
The story starts off with our lead - Nicole getting to know that her sister is missing. After her best friend, Lori vanished when they were just fifteen, she left town and never looked back. She is sure that her parents were behind that, and now that her sister is gone, she is adamant on finding out what her parents have done, and save her baby sister.
The story takes place in small Midwestern town. Nicole's parent are the town sheriff and a midwife, who help the close-knit community feel safe, but the town's unaware of the truth, the facade that lives in the center of the community.
As the plot thickens, a sense of unease settles in - every character appears to have a hidden agenda, a buried truth they'll protect at any cost. Nicole finds herself without an ally as the seconds tick away and danger looms. But the real culprit is not who she thinks is, not even the one I thought would be...
At first Nicole's character felt naive, as she kept jumping straight to conclusion, causing everyone distress, but as the story furthers, I kind of started to get her - like all she wanted was to save her sister, and doesn't want the history to repeat- with what happened to her best friend. She wants to believe in people close to her, but with their questionable actions, she simply cannot.
Overall the story has a smooth flow that captures the readers, and won't let them put the book down unless they reach the end. With three different POVs, you get to know all the sides of the story, and it was really cool to see all the pieces fit in, and the puzzle getting solved. The characters have a depth to them, layered with complexity, guilts and regrets, attached to the secrets they ought to take to grave - to save their loved ones.
The only thing that bothered me was that the ending was not what I expected. I mean after all the build up, the tension between the characters, the unvieled secrets, the ending felt kind of abrupt. But all in all, it was an awesome experience.
I would like to recommend "The night she vanished" to all the mystery lovers out there who like thrillers with layers, different POV, and twists that they cannot see coming.
"𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒔, 𝒊𝒕 𝒎𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅. 𝑰𝒕 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒄𝒓𝒖𝒆𝒍 𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖.
𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒓𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂 𝑮𝒐𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒏."
I'd like to thank Netgalley, the author - Wendy Dranfield, and Bookouture for the advance reading copy of "The night she vanished" because - WHAT.A.BOOK!!
The story starts off with our lead - Nicole getting to know that her sister is missing. After her best friend, Lori vanished when they were just fifteen, she left town and never looked back. She is sure that her parents were behind that, and now that her sister is gone, she is adamant on finding out what her parents have done, and save her baby sister.
The story takes place in small Midwestern town. Nicole's parent are the town sheriff and a midwife, who help the close-knit community feel safe, but the town's unaware of the truth, the facade that lives in the center of the community.
As the plot thickens, a sense of unease settles in - every character appears to have a hidden agenda, a buried truth they'll protect at any cost. Nicole finds herself without an ally as the seconds tick away and danger looms. But the real culprit is not who she thinks is, not even the one I thought would be...
At first Nicole's character felt naive, as she kept jumping straight to conclusion, causing everyone distress, but as the story furthers, I kind of started to get her - like all she wanted was to save her sister, and doesn't want the history to repeat- with what happened to her best friend. She wants to believe in people close to her, but with their questionable actions, she simply cannot.
Overall the story has a smooth flow that captures the readers, and won't let them put the book down unless they reach the end. With three different POVs, you get to know all the sides of the story, and it was really cool to see all the pieces fit in, and the puzzle getting solved. The characters have a depth to them, layered with complexity, guilts and regrets, attached to the secrets they ought to take to grave - to save their loved ones.
The only thing that bothered me was that the ending was not what I expected. I mean after all the build up, the tension between the characters, the unvieled secrets, the ending felt kind of abrupt. But all in all, it was an awesome experience.
I would like to recommend "The night she vanished" to all the mystery lovers out there who like thrillers with layers, different POV, and twists that they cannot see coming.
March 16, 2023
What a whirlwind of twists and turns! It’s filled with so many who-dun-it’s making you think twice each time you’ve thought you figured everything out, you're wrong again.
If you love murder mysteries, family drama/affairs and thrillers read this, but don’t forget Nicole is a bit crazy but then again who are we to judge?
It’s crazy what some people will say or do, when they're stricken with trauma. I may not be thrilled with one of the accusations, I don't feel it was necessary in this incredible psychological thriller.
Thanks to Netgalley/publisher/Author for this free ebook in exchange for my honest review.
If you love murder mysteries, family drama/affairs and thrillers read this, but don’t forget Nicole is a bit crazy but then again who are we to judge?
It’s crazy what some people will say or do, when they're stricken with trauma. I may not be thrilled with one of the accusations, I don't feel it was necessary in this incredible psychological thriller.
Thanks to Netgalley/publisher/Author for this free ebook in exchange for my honest review.
December 29, 2023
Nicole is estranged from her parents but is called home when her younger sister Aimee is missing. For some reason she is afraid of her parents. Her best friend Lori was killed when she was 15 and Nicole suspects that her dad is responsible, and her mom helped to cover it up. Reading the synopsis had me hooked. I mean, her parents killed her best friend. Why? I HAD to find out. The book starts out strong with decent character development. As I got further into the book, I found myself getting frustrated with the main character, Nicole. Instead of using common sense she jumps to horrible conclusions. Lori's body is found after Nicole arrives and somehow that means that her father is responsible for Aimee's disappearance. How is this? Instead of Nicole asking people questions she jumps to conclusions that don't make sense. She makes damning suppositions to a reporter with absolutely zero proof. She claims this will help to find Aimee, but I don't see how. Also, she gets dizzy, weak kneed, trembly legs, and lightheaded a LOT in the book. There is also a lot of back rubbing in the book, anytime someone needs consoled. Overall the idea of this book is great, but it doesn't flow very well. One character needs to tell someone something but instead of saying it we go to a different subject. It's like the author was trying to make it dramatic but it just ended up being a bit annoying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2023
This story knocked me around. I suspected just about every single character involved for some crime or another.
Hats off to Dranfield for the murky messy twisted plot that kept my nose to the grindstone to figure out who did what to whom.
In the end, I wasn’t able to detect the culprits unit, they were revealed, but the book kept me busy.
The snarls are wonderfully interwoven and readers will be quite surprised at how many threads connect.
I do think the characters need to go on a long vacation 😀
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the early read.
Hats off to Dranfield for the murky messy twisted plot that kept my nose to the grindstone to figure out who did what to whom.
In the end, I wasn’t able to detect the culprits unit, they were revealed, but the book kept me busy.
The snarls are wonderfully interwoven and readers will be quite surprised at how many threads connect.
I do think the characters need to go on a long vacation 😀
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the early read.
March 5, 2023
The Night She Vanished is the latest enthralling standalone by the brilliant Wendy Dranfield. And it's a story that captivates from the very first page.
As Nicole gets a call from her estranged mother informing her that her eighteen year old sister Aimee has disappeared and she is expected on the next bus home. To the small Midwestern town, she fled, after her best friend Lori vanished.
Why? Because Nicole believes her parents were responsible.
But on her arrival she learns shocking truths about her sister and then bones are found on the land of a man once accused of rape.
And Nicole believes the bones belong to Lori. But why would they be on his land? That's what she's determined to find out and finally get answers about the night she vanished.
However, in a town full of secrets coming home could be the deadliest move Nicole has ever made.
And with shocks, surprises, twists and turns. This was a fantastic read. That genuinely kept me guessing and reading at the expense of everything else!
I was kindly provided with an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
As Nicole gets a call from her estranged mother informing her that her eighteen year old sister Aimee has disappeared and she is expected on the next bus home. To the small Midwestern town, she fled, after her best friend Lori vanished.
Why? Because Nicole believes her parents were responsible.
But on her arrival she learns shocking truths about her sister and then bones are found on the land of a man once accused of rape.
And Nicole believes the bones belong to Lori. But why would they be on his land? That's what she's determined to find out and finally get answers about the night she vanished.
However, in a town full of secrets coming home could be the deadliest move Nicole has ever made.
And with shocks, surprises, twists and turns. This was a fantastic read. That genuinely kept me guessing and reading at the expense of everything else!
I was kindly provided with an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
April 1, 2023
Wonderful. Thrilling. A fast paced, heart pounding read..I just could not put it down. Loved this one so much.
March 11, 2023
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book
have to admit psychological thrillers arent my favourite, think its cos they get my blood pressure up and i have to put the book down and this is what happened to me whilst reading this book
so much tension and mystery abound in this book with a best friend missing and now a sister its no wonder i needed breaks away this storyline...and as it heated up there was no escaping the inevitable with red herrings galore and multiple guilty abound when finally all was revealed near the end.... and yes i was surprised at who the perp was
think i will go and read some agatha christie now to calm down....
have to admit psychological thrillers arent my favourite, think its cos they get my blood pressure up and i have to put the book down and this is what happened to me whilst reading this book
so much tension and mystery abound in this book with a best friend missing and now a sister its no wonder i needed breaks away this storyline...and as it heated up there was no escaping the inevitable with red herrings galore and multiple guilty abound when finally all was revealed near the end.... and yes i was surprised at who the perp was
think i will go and read some agatha christie now to calm down....
March 8, 2023
Nicole left home as soon as she could. Her dad is the town sheriff, and her mom is a midwife. In the tight knit community of Henderson, they’re the perfect couple. However, no one knows what they’re really like and the secrets their holding. Now years later, Aimee, Nicole’s sister, has gone missing and Nicole rushes home to try to find her. When bones are discovered on a local farm, all evidence points to Nicole’s family. Will the secrets that her family have been hiding for all these years finally come to light? Will Nicole be able to find Aimee before its too late?
This was such a wonderful thriller that I couldn’t put down – it was so good! There was a lot going on in this one, so many moving pieces, but it all just worked like an intricate clock. I was hooked right from the beginning and that feeling stuck with me until the last page. It’s been a while since I’ve read a thriller I enjoyed this much. The writing style was just phenomenal, and the pacing was great – not too slow and not so fast you got lost. I loved the character development that occurred, I really felt like I knew the characters. I will say this one is big on the miscommunication, but if you are okay with that then you will enjoy this one.
Check out this fast paced and delightful thriller next week on March 14th!
Thank you to the publisher Bookouture, @bookouture, and Netgalley @netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was such a wonderful thriller that I couldn’t put down – it was so good! There was a lot going on in this one, so many moving pieces, but it all just worked like an intricate clock. I was hooked right from the beginning and that feeling stuck with me until the last page. It’s been a while since I’ve read a thriller I enjoyed this much. The writing style was just phenomenal, and the pacing was great – not too slow and not so fast you got lost. I loved the character development that occurred, I really felt like I knew the characters. I will say this one is big on the miscommunication, but if you are okay with that then you will enjoy this one.
Check out this fast paced and delightful thriller next week on March 14th!
Thank you to the publisher Bookouture, @bookouture, and Netgalley @netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 25, 2023
This is a must read!! A woman returns to her home town 12 years after her best friend is murdered and days after her younger sister goes missing. She has been estranged from her family and her return brings old issues back to the surface. This was a page turner that was so well written. I did not see the end coming. All of the red herrings fit well, but everything tied up nicely and made sense in the end. I can’t wait to read more books by this author.
February 24, 2024
Woah that ending!! Page turner
February 23, 2023
"The Night She Vanished" is a psychological thriller following MC Nicole, who returns to her hometown that she left 12 years ago when her estranged parents notify her that her younger sister is missing. Soon after she arrives, the remains of her best friend that was murdered 15 years prior are found. She story jumps through multiple POVs and timelines as Nicole and her childhood friend Kurt try to find out where her sister is and who killed their friend all those years ago.
This book absolutely captivated me! With many twists & short chapters often ending with cliffhangers, I definitely just wanted to keep reading so I could find out what the heck was going on.
With that being said, there were quite a few things that just... didn't make sense to me? I think despite being a longer book, there was still a need for further explanation or exploration of things. Without giving too much away, Nicole's horrible relationship with her parents is a key plot point. She leaves her hometown as soon as she graduates high school and never looks back. It is frequently mentioned that people don't know what growing up in "that house" was like, but I feel like nothing was really said?? You find out about some allegations and rumors made about her father, but even so, the deep hatred and awkwardness with her parents never fully seemed to make sense to me. There is explanation at the end, but it doesn't exactly feel like it was *enough*. Also, I felt the writing to be a bit simple - it was reminiscent of Freida McFadden.
Overall, I do feel that Dranfield tells quite the story and despite some annoyance with character thoughts/actions, I kept reading because I needed answers! And the ending was definitely a twist that I 10000000% didn't see coming!
I give this 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This book absolutely captivated me! With many twists & short chapters often ending with cliffhangers, I definitely just wanted to keep reading so I could find out what the heck was going on.
With that being said, there were quite a few things that just... didn't make sense to me? I think despite being a longer book, there was still a need for further explanation or exploration of things. Without giving too much away, Nicole's horrible relationship with her parents is a key plot point. She leaves her hometown as soon as she graduates high school and never looks back. It is frequently mentioned that people don't know what growing up in "that house" was like, but I feel like nothing was really said?? You find out about some allegations and rumors made about her father, but even so, the deep hatred and awkwardness with her parents never fully seemed to make sense to me. There is explanation at the end, but it doesn't exactly feel like it was *enough*. Also, I felt the writing to be a bit simple - it was reminiscent of Freida McFadden.
Overall, I do feel that Dranfield tells quite the story and despite some annoyance with character thoughts/actions, I kept reading because I needed answers! And the ending was definitely a twist that I 10000000% didn't see coming!
I give this 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
March 10, 2023
I love this author's Madison Harper series as well as a prior standalone book she's written, so I was excited to read this new thriller. It has a great premise about a woman whose best friend disappeared when they were teenagers. Now years later, Nicole is returning to her hometown and the home of her estranged parents when she learns her younger sister is missing.
However, I couldn't connect with Nicole or any of the other main characters. That and the uneven pacing made this a slow read for me. Nicole starts out logically looking into her sister's disappearance and wondering if it's somehow connected with her friend's disappearance, but then she jumps to one conclusion after another. By the time the complete truth is revealed, many other secrets from almost every character also come out. This book just wasn't for me and I rated it 3.25 stars, but I am still excited to read future books by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ebook. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
However, I couldn't connect with Nicole or any of the other main characters. That and the uneven pacing made this a slow read for me. Nicole starts out logically looking into her sister's disappearance and wondering if it's somehow connected with her friend's disappearance, but then she jumps to one conclusion after another. By the time the complete truth is revealed, many other secrets from almost every character also come out. This book just wasn't for me and I rated it 3.25 stars, but I am still excited to read future books by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ebook. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
February 12, 2023
Let's be clear about one thing: this author writes amazing stories. I have been reading her books for a few years already and she never disappointed me. This is another great one.
What would do when your best friends from school vanishes and because there are no clues, there is not even a body, it's very hard for the police to find the culprit. That's is horrible of course, but what is even worse is that you think your parents have something to do with it. There is only one thing left for you to do. Leave town as soon as possible, because no way are going sticking around those people.
the only thing that is eating at you is not seeing your little sister anymore. When one day you get a call with the most devastating news, you just have to go back even though all the horror is coming back.
Is is a coincidence that as soon as you set foot in your hometown, some bones are being discovered or is there more, much more to it?
Maybe now it's time to get to the bottom of it all. Soon you realise you are in danger, but who do you have to fear? Are you stepping into the lion's den or is there someone else you should be afraid of more?
Coming home to a town where few people like to see you again, is very hard. It's only natural you lean on them... Was this the right thing to do or should you have taken more care with whom to trust?
I loved this story. Of course my money was on the wrong horse again. 5 stars.
Thank you
What would do when your best friends from school vanishes and because there are no clues, there is not even a body, it's very hard for the police to find the culprit. That's is horrible of course, but what is even worse is that you think your parents have something to do with it. There is only one thing left for you to do. Leave town as soon as possible, because no way are going sticking around those people.
the only thing that is eating at you is not seeing your little sister anymore. When one day you get a call with the most devastating news, you just have to go back even though all the horror is coming back.
Is is a coincidence that as soon as you set foot in your hometown, some bones are being discovered or is there more, much more to it?
Maybe now it's time to get to the bottom of it all. Soon you realise you are in danger, but who do you have to fear? Are you stepping into the lion's den or is there someone else you should be afraid of more?
Coming home to a town where few people like to see you again, is very hard. It's only natural you lean on them... Was this the right thing to do or should you have taken more care with whom to trust?
I loved this story. Of course my money was on the wrong horse again. 5 stars.
Thank you
February 13, 2023
The Night She Vanished by Wendy Dranfield is a mind-blowing story. It revolves around family estrangement and who you can trust when you can't trust your parents.
The characters each have a complicated backstory with secrets and unresolved trauma that keeps them from moving forward with their lives.
After her best friend vanished when they were just fifteen, Nicole left town and never looked back. She couldn’t prove it, but she thought her parents had killed her best friend. Now, years later, Nicole's little sister has vanished. Nicole returns home to try to unravel her sister's disappearance.
The Night She Vanished is a gripping, nail-biting psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping twist. There were so many twists it had my head spinning. The back and forth on who was or was not involved and what would happen next kept me reading well into the night. There were some tender, tear-jerking moments, too.
I would recommend this book and this author. A very twisty mystery with some crazy characters! I would rate this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars (rounded to 5).
#TheNightSheVanished #NetGalley @bookouture
The characters each have a complicated backstory with secrets and unresolved trauma that keeps them from moving forward with their lives.
After her best friend vanished when they were just fifteen, Nicole left town and never looked back. She couldn’t prove it, but she thought her parents had killed her best friend. Now, years later, Nicole's little sister has vanished. Nicole returns home to try to unravel her sister's disappearance.
The Night She Vanished is a gripping, nail-biting psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping twist. There were so many twists it had my head spinning. The back and forth on who was or was not involved and what would happen next kept me reading well into the night. There were some tender, tear-jerking moments, too.
I would recommend this book and this author. A very twisty mystery with some crazy characters! I would rate this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars (rounded to 5).
#TheNightSheVanished #NetGalley @bookouture
February 25, 2023
A big thank you to NetGalley for allowing me an ARC of this book. I was spellbound! It was an amazing thriller that I took just 3 days to read - it was that good!
A mid-western murder mystery dealing with 4 closely knit high school friends; life changes when one mysteriously died and her body is not found.
I thought I had it figured out - but the identity of the killer blew me away. This was an intriguing and enjoyable read that I will share with my book group.
A mid-western murder mystery dealing with 4 closely knit high school friends; life changes when one mysteriously died and her body is not found.
I thought I had it figured out - but the identity of the killer blew me away. This was an intriguing and enjoyable read that I will share with my book group.
October 9, 2025
Holy twists & turns. I thought I knew early on in the book… I didn’t.
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