Reviews

Then She Vanishes by Claire Douglas

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eliselea's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

lumos_nox's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No

4.25

theavidreaderandbibliophile's review against another edition

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3.0

Then She Vanishes by Claire Douglas takes readers to Bristol in March of 2012. Jessica Fox is a reporter with Bristol & Somerset Herald, and she is working on a hot story. A woman is accused of murdering a man and woman in the early hours before returning home to Tilby where she takes the shotgun to herself. The woman was found alive but unconscious. Jessica is shocked when she hears the woman accused of killing two people is her old friend, Heather. Jessica and Heather were friends as young teens until the night Heather’s sister, Flora vanished without a trace. Jessica is sent to Tilby by her boss to dig for information, but she has her own agenda. She cannot believe Heather would commit such a heinous crime. Jessica with help from her co-worker, Jack begins searching for answers.

Then She Vanishes is the first novel I have read by Claire Douglas. It is a dark story that touches on the topics of drug dealers, abusive partners, people hooked on illegal substances, predatory older men, and a stalker. The subjects are dealt with lightly (no depth). Then She Vanishes is a slow starter and the pace does not improve. I would have liked a peppier speed. The mystery is straightforward with a red herring or two. Then She Vanishes is more mystery than suspense. With a suspense novel, I want to feel anticipation (be on the edge of my seat). The point-of-view alternates to give readers different perspectives plus it goes back in time (and then back to the present) to tell readers what happened when Flora disappeared. It was too much back-and-forth for me. The story failed to engage me, and I found the ending predictable. I knew how the story would end from early in the book. All the loose ends are tied up neatly at the end (a little too neatly). Then She Vanishes needed more depth, a faster pace and some unexpected surprises. While Then She Vanishes was not the right fit for me, I suggest you obtain a sample to see if it suits you. Then She Vanishes takes readers down a rabbit hole as a reporter searches for the truth after two murders.

lizabellie24's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

It was the kind of book you must read multiple times to fully understand the connections and plot/storyline. Overall, it was a great book and I totally recommend it for those wanting a physiological thriller. |/\|

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