Cover Image: Have You Seen Her

Have You Seen Her

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Member Reviews

This thriller was incredibly atmospheric, and that is something I enjoyed a lot about it from. It was interesting to read about this character escaping her life from NYC and going 0ut west for a job. I enjoyed it because I felt like the author was placing me there at Yosemite.

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I was so excited for this setting, hoping for an atmospheric thriller. The setting was great. If I was rating for the setting alone it would be 5 stars. Honestly, love a thriller in a national park. Unfortunately the plot fell flat for me. I guessed the big twist and didn’t enjoy the romance aspect for a woman who was running from her past relationship. Overall just didn’t enjoy enough to recommend to anyone else.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

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This story is told in first person by Cassie, labeled “now” and “then”; social media posts and comments by Jada; and writing journal entries by Petal. The book starts off with a “now” that’s very gripping, a daring helicopter rescue and a dead body. Then we’re led back in time following the stories of these three women and how they all came to be in Yosemite this summer.

The story quickly establishes a pattern that gives the three women and their stories a common thread. I really enjoyed Cassie’s storyline and depth of character from exploring her past and loss in her previous stint at the park to her current storyline and why she has returned. I admit that at times I was annoyed for her story to be interrupted by journal entries and annoying hashtag posts. Jada was “that” tourist doing stupid things in the park, ignoring park rules then complaining to social media about the consequences. And also needing to be rescued for bad choices.

I did wish that there had been more details and highlights of the rescues that Cassie and her coworkers Ben, Gareth and Mia performed along with their boss, Jenny. That was probably my favorite part of the story. I didn’t see where this one was going at first, but I found the overall arc of it a bit disappointing but benefitting the thriller aspect.

Recommended to thriller lovers that enjoy watching a woman who’s made questionable choices in the past take charge of her life and be a badass member of a search and rescue team.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for a copy provided for an honest review.

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So far every book I have read by Catherine McKenzie I have thoroughly enjoyed, and this one also makes the list! This one was a little different for me having the setting out in the wilderness of Yosemite dealing with a search and rescue (SAR) group and having the mystery and thrills come from what can happen out in the adventurous outdoors. Cassie is likeable but kind of annoying for me the way she does things. I didn't like Jada and Petal was interesting. McKenzie did great keeping the three women somewhat separate with how their paths cross until just diving right in towards the end when everything starts to really fall into place. Some of the unfolding of the story went a little stagnant and slow for me, but once it picked back up I was back into the steady pace of it until the end! Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for a copy to read and review with my own thoughts.






When these three women cross paths, Cassie’s past catches up with her, and the shocking consequences ripple out far beyond what any could have imagined in this unputdownable thriller.

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What better way to run away from your past than heading out to Yosemite National Park. Have You Seen Her follows Cassie who leaves her life behind in New York City with a burner phone as she returns to her old job on the Search and Rescue team (SAR). It doesn't take long for Cassie's past to catch up with her quickly. I had a hard time connecting with Cassie with how secretive she was throughout the entire book, I understand wanting to protect yourself, but let someone in!

I loved the SAR involvement, it was fascinating reading about the rescue missions they went on (I wish we would have seen more). The story follows three women as their lives intertwine in in Yosemite. We see POV's from Cassie, Jada (an influencer who's documenting her trip with her boyfriend), and Petal (who talks about her much older girlfriend and their life). The romance plot felt forced, I think it would have been just as powerful had she not hooked up with one of her fellow SAR members.

This was a fast-paced book, and it made for the perfect summer read (perhaps not if you're on a camping trip)!
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I would like to thank NetGalley, Atria Books, and Catherine McKenzie for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This book was published on June 27th 2023.

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I was so excited to read this one because it combines a ton of things I love - thrillers, Catherine McKenzie, National Parks, hiking, and mysteries! And I was not disappointed! Catherine McKenzie once again delivered a great read. I really enjoyed how the story was told in alternating perspectives and timelines. I was also equally interested in each character and really enjoyed the development of each one.

There were a lot of elements to this book and normally I would worry that with so many different plot lines it would become too much, however, I think that McKenzie weaved each plot line together perfectly. Part of the story focuses on Cassie's past and the trauma of her friend's disappearance while hiking and eventual death. After being part of the search and rescue team that finds her friend dead, Cassie leaves behind that life for a new one in New York City. Now present date, Cassie is escaping from her life in NYC and has returned to California to her old job on the search and rescue team in Yosemite. We know that she's hiding from someone or something, but aren't entirely sure what until a little farther into the book.

Then we have a Petal, a young woman living in a trailer park with a much older wife - one who seems to be hiding secrets of her own. Living in the same area as Yosemite, Petal keeps a detailed diary of her daily life and how her life intersects with Cassie and Jada. Jada is a recent grad, on a van life trip with her boyfriend and sharing her journey on Instagram. Three very different women, but somehow their lives intersect.

I don't want to give too much away because it's such a fun plot. I loved the characters, the plot, the setting, the pacing, and the writing. I would definitely recommend!

Rating: 4 / 5

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Intrigue and danger in a national park.

This thriller takes off quickly and the fast pace keeps the reader hooked with some interesting characters and lots of secrets.

Cassie Peters returns to a familiar place after escaping an abusive marriage and starts a summer job with search and rescue at Yosemite. Petal, traveling with her partner, an older woman, is looking for something to write about and is usually observing and scribbling in her notebook. Jada is on an adventure with her boyfriend, Jim, and posting all the details on social media. The women meet at the park but really have nothing in common. Cassie’s days are consumed with work and she can’t really allow herself to feel safe as she remembers the last time she was in this area. Then, Jada and Jim go missing and a massive manhunt proves unsuccessful in finding the couple. Next, Petal vanishes. Are these disappearances connected and where are these people?

The narrative is told mainly from Cassie’s point of view and shifts back and forth in time from then and now. It’s all pretty dramatic and twisty at the end. It kept me interested and was an easy, entertaining read.

Rated 3.5 stars and rounded up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend. I also borrowed the audiobook from my local library and shifted between them.

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Nicely paced thriller following Cassie as she runs away from NYC to her hometown in California. She rejoins the Yosemite Search and Rescue team and falls back into her old habits. Told through Cassie's POV, journal entries and social media posts, this book will keep you on your toes.

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This was a fantastic book! It started off kinda slow as they were getting into the story but once the story started to come into full force it kept me interested and wanting to read more. I thought it had a great suspense aspect in it and it kept me wanting more. I would recommend!

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3.5 stars

I found myself struggling through this book at some points but overall it was a good read with some thrills.

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Have you seen her is a thriller set in Yosemite National Park. Cassie Peters returns to SAR (search and rescue) after leaving and living in New York for 10 years. The book has multiple viewpoints and a dual timeline and jumps between past and present as we learn why Cassie came back to SAR and what she’s running from in her past.

You can’t help but feel the comparisons to the Gabby Petito murder with this book via the character Jada, a popular Instagrammer who’s traveling the country with her boyfriend.

I did have a hard time getting into this book. I think the multiple viewpoints threw me off at first. I think I was expecting a lot more excitement from a thriller. The ending was great and really had an unexpected twist at the end.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Atria Books and @NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

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Thank you to Catherine McKenzie and Netgalley for a copy of this book.

"Have You Seen Her" by Catherine McKenzie intricately weaves the narrative of a woman seeking refuge from her past within the breathtaking confines of Yosemite National Park.

Cassie, fleeing her former life in New York City, enters a realm of anonymity armed with a disposable phone and a newfound position at Yosemite National Park's Search and Rescue team, a role she held a decade prior. Amidst forging connections with seasonal workers and holidaymakers, Cassie discovers that she's not the sole individual evading haunting histories. As the narrative unfolds, their pasts inevitably intertwine, promising an inevitable reckoning.

This gripping thriller unfolds across dual timelines, utilizing a multifaceted approach that blends Cassie's perspective with journal entries, Instagram posts, and YouTube transcripts. It maintains a well-crafted pace, featuring dynamic characters against the vibrant backdrop of Yosemite.

I am hoping there will be a sequel to this book.

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This thriller set in Yosemite National Park kept me guessing until the end. As part of the Yosemite search and rescue crew, Cassie Peters returns to her hometown where secrets from her past surface. This story jumps between past and present as we learn the real reason for Cassie's return. The relationships in the story evolved into something I never saw coming. Can the past every really be forgotten?

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I really wanted to get to this one, as it seemed interesting. This was requested when I first found out about NetGalley and I had requested so many ARCs that I could not get to all of them before they were archived. If I can find this somewhere for a reasonable price, I will try to get it!

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This book was in my "to-be-read" pile for some time, and had I known how much I would enjoy it, I would have gotten to it a lot sooner! I am a fan of books set in our National Parks, such as Paul Doiron's Mike Bowditch series set in Maine, or Nevada Barr's Anna Pigeon, which gives a look at various parks throughout the US. This one has a different feel, as it is a stand alone, not a continuing series. But it does give insight to working in the park system and what that life entails, which I find very interesting.

Cassie Peters returns to the seasonal work of being a summer park worker, after a ten year absence in New York. She is hiding secrets from her past, and we get hints of a violent ex in her life. She meets Petal and Jade, two young women who have settled in her park location for a bit. There are shades of mystery in these two women's lives as well, and ultimately will lead to a final climax.

I felt shades of reference to the Gabby Petito murder, a tragic case which was set in the backdrop of the National Parks. The character of Jade is a popular Instagrammer, and uses travel to bring new content to her followers. There is a hint that her life might not be all it appears on the surface. Her story is not a copy of the Petito case, but there are clear comparisons.

I loved the setting, the characters, and I found the story very compelling. This was a solid 4.5 read for me.

Thank you to Catherine McKenzie, Atria Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Title: A Gripping Tale of Suspense and Secrets: "Have You Seen Her" by Catherine McKenzie

Rating: ★★★★☆

Catherine McKenzie's latest psychological thriller, "Have You Seen Her," takes readers on a rollercoaster of suspense, unraveling a complex web of secrets and lies. Known for her skillful storytelling, McKenzie once again proves her mastery in crafting gripping narratives that keep readers on the edge of their seats.

The novel introduces us to the seemingly idyllic suburban life of Grace, a woman who appears to have it all—a loving husband, a beautiful home, and a fulfilling career. However, the facade begins to crack when Grace's neighbor, Ava, goes missing under mysterious circumstances. As the search for Ava unfolds, the author skillfully peels back the layers of the characters, revealing hidden truths and unsettling connections.

McKenzie's character development is outstanding, with each figure playing a crucial role in the unfolding mystery. Grace, with her carefully guarded past, becomes an enigmatic focal point, keeping readers guessing about her true nature and motivations. The supporting cast, including friends, neighbors, and law enforcement, adds depth to the narrative, making the story feel immersive and multi-dimensional.

The pacing is expertly handled, with the tension escalating steadily throughout the novel. The author weaves a tangled web of suspense, creating a sense of unease that lingers from chapter to chapter. As the plot twists and turns, the reader is left questioning every motive and suspect, making "Have You Seen Her" an engaging and unpredictable read.

One of the novel's strengths lies in its exploration of themes such as trust, deception, and the consequences of past choices. McKenzie delves into the intricacies of human relationships, forcing the characters—and by extension, the readers—to confront uncomfortable truths.

While the resolution is satisfying, some readers may find certain plot twists a bit predictable. However, the journey to the conclusion is so compelling that it doesn't detract significantly from the overall enjoyment of the novel.

In summary, "Have You Seen Her" is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers. Catherine McKenzie's storytelling prowess shines through, delivering a suspenseful and emotionally charged narrative that will leave readers eagerly anticipating her next literary venture.

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WOW- what the heck did I just read? I love Catherine's books. This was the perfect blend of Twist and kept me guessing. I l may have found my new fave by this Author. Well done Catherine.

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Crushed this read in a day! I really enjoyed the pacing of this novel and the way it kept me guessing throughout the whole thing. It’s a short read, which is just perfect too! It is set in the Yosemite area and is based around people doing search and rescue. I wasn’t expecting the twist at the end! I would highly recommend this novel!

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I will read absolutely anything Catherine McKenzie decides to write. After having read many of her books, I should have expected a twist ending, and yet I did not see this one coming. I loved the concept of the book - the world of SAR was very intriguing and I was hooked from the beginning. Cassie is a character to root for and that’s why I felt a bit disappointed at the end. Not sure how I hoped the story would conclude but I just couldn’t get behind this ending. Overall though, a great book!

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This book had twists I didn't see coming! Cassie arrives back in Yosemite to join the Search and Rescue team after 10 long years away. But she’s obviously running from something in her past - there’s so much there though, it’s hard to know which part she’s running from. She is also drawn to two other women staying there - Petal who is in a relationship with a much older woman and Jada, a social media influencer traveling the country with her boyfriend. The lives of these three women intertwine and unfold over the summer months

The ending will blow you away! Dark secrets, hidden agendas & revenge are the backdrop for this cleverly crafted novel. This was a quick read, with lots of twists!

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