There was nothing particularly wrong with this, but it felt a little too similar to other thrillers. I didn't dislike it, but there was nothing about it that really stood out for me, and I didn't really connect with or relate to any of the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

4.5 stars for The Girl Who Vanished
Author: R.M. Ward
Release Date: May 12, 2023

Frances is on her way to the hospital following a call about her daughter Naomi being in an accident, when she believes she sees a little girl who has been kidnapped. Frances becomes obssessed with the little girl snd everything surrounding the alleged kidnapping. No one believes Frances and everyone thinks she is going crazy, Naomi is worried she is starting to have Dementia like Francis' mother did. Was a little girl kidnapped? Can Frances save her? Is Frances' mind playing tricks on her?

This story picked up quick from the beginning and I didn't want to put it down. It is told from 3 point of views, Frances, Naomi, and the girl. The story started out as more of a mystery/psychological thriller and finished up more along the lines of a psychological thriller/domestic thriller. I was able to figure out one of the twists, but the other one caught me by surprise. This book is a fast paced read that will have you questioning what is real and what is fake.

Make sure to pick up R.M. Wards latest book on May 12, 2023 and take a ride with Frances!

This book was enjoyable and very clever. You do start to work things out as you go along. Thank you @Netgalley for early access to this book.

Frances thinks she is losing her mind to a family history of dementia, and to be perfectly honest, you would be convinced too. She is convinced she was witness to a kidnapping, setting her world into a spiral. There are too many events to recap but all lead up to the ultimate question; is this dementia or is someone playing a sick joke on Frances? Will her memories uncover more from her past that she had hidden away?

The Girl Who Vanished - by R.M. Ward

Oh my..what a creepy and twisty thriller here.

Frances received a call from the hospital at night, said her daughter was injured in the car accident and needed Frances to be in the hospital asap. Frances was panic and when she was on the highway heading to the hospital, she saw a little girl in a car and asking for help. The little girl said the drivers were not her parents and wrote “HELP ME” on a napkin….

Then the story moved along to no one believed what Frances said. Everyone thought she was mad, but Frances insisted what she saw! Can she finally save the girl?

The Girl Who Vanished made me hooked and I finished the book in one sit. I found Frances was very pathetic, probably because of her childhood. She had PTSD and sometimes she thought she had dementia…

The twists in the story were excellent lily executed. I am surprised the whole idea of this book came from kind of a true story of the author…what an unexpected one!

Many thanks to Netgalley, HQ Digital and the author for this advanced copy.

Pub date: May 12, 2023

Having previously read Safe with you by this author,was really looking forward to this new book,and it definitely did not disappoint.
It grabs your attention from the first page and is one ot those books that you want to read as quickly as possible to find out if the outcome of the book is what you constantly are trying to guess it is .

WHAT A WILD RIDE. This book had my head spinning the entire time. It had me trying to decipher what was really happening and what was imagined. Throughout the book my mind was constantly being changed as to what the end result was going to be. I felt I was really able to connect to some of the characters and rooted for the successes. The family drama and mysteries kept me guessing until the very end. If you’re looking for a page turner with a thrilling ending, look no further.
CW: gaslighting, kidnapping, abuse

This one starts with some epic twists and turns. A crazy story with suspense and mystery. It was slightly predictable but the awesome writing and story telling made it so that didn’t detract from the story. A great plot moving at a great pace. Well done

The novel started well, a mother is informed her adult daughter has been admitted to a London hospital after an accident. Then the story gets convoluted with too many elements not combining to strengthen the narrative. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

3.5 rounded down

A panicked mother, Frances Brookman, drives frantically to a London hospital where her daughter Naomi has been taken after an RTC. She catches sight of a car driving recklessly out of the corner of her eye, there’s a child in the back, clearly distressed and forming the word ‘Help’. Frances stops at the next service station and so does that car and without questioning her actions, she follows them. Frances is clearly in a dilemma. Naomi needs her but so possibly does this child. What to do? If she does nothing could she live with herself? The story is told via the alternating perspectives of Frances, Naomi and The Girl.

First of all. I do like the book and enjoy reading it. It starts really well and effortlessly draws me into the storytelling. The pace is quick and I’m intrigued. At the start it seems to be a mystery thriller but then the pace slows and becomes more of a character driven study and a domestic psychological thriller. Frances’ perspective is done very well and all your sympathy heads in that direction. I’m invested in her story, her emotions are palpable and her trauma feels real. The other characters are less well conveyed but that’s not to say I can’t picture them.

The novel is very easy to read and is told in a straightforward way and it flows. One aspect of the outcome is a surprise but the other big reveal is possible to see from not that far into the book, hence the three star rating.

Overall, this is a solidly written, enjoyable novel with a good premise and strong aspects.

This story starts with a phone call to Frances that her daughter Naomi is in hospital. As she is driving there, she sees a little girl in the back of a car mouthing ‘help me’.
We soon learn that Frances is an unreliable narrator. Despite only being in her fifties, her family thinks she is getting dementia.

This is certainly a page turner but towards the end, when things are wrapping up, we’re introduced to a complicated storyline - too complicated for this stage of the story and so it feels rather contrived.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a wild ride full of suspense. I couldn't help putting myself in this mother's shoes at every turn. This had some thrilling and unexpected twists. It kept me captivated from start to finish.

I enjoyed this one. It centers on Frances, who becomes obsessed with a woman that she thinks kidnapped a child. Frances’s daughter Naomi is also a primary character and is worried that Frances nah be developing dementia like her own mom did. Chapters are narrated from both POVs.

I could empathize with both Frances and Naomi and I appreciated the family dynamic on top of the mystery. There were 2 big twists in this book, one that I figured out quickly (because that’s just how my mind works) and one that I thought I had right but went in another direction. The story was fast paced with lots is activity leading up to the culmination of the story. The ending left a little to be desired but left me hopeful.

Overall, this was a good mystery with a lot of action and surprising twists. I would recommend to those who enjoy the domestic suspense genre. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This thriller kept me entertained. What would you do if you saw a child asking for help in another car when you are in a hurry to get somewhere? Try to help? Convince yourself you didn’t see it?
This is what Frances is being faced with as she races to the hospital to see her daughter who is in critical condition.
The book kept me entertained and guessing. I was very entertained.
Thank you

This book's plot was full of twists and turns. It'll have you questioning whether or not you can trust the narrator's chain of events or if maybe she is have trouble with her memory .

Overall this is a fast paced engaging read, I recommend giving it a try!

Thank you to Net Galley, HQ and R.M. Ward for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book!

I actually loved this book;after I’ve reached halfway through I thought “I already know what’s gonna happen”, spoiler: I had no idea.I was pleasantly surprised by all the twists I didn’t see coming,I loved both Frances and Naomi,their relationship,but most of all Frances’ grow throughout the book,from feeling like she was loosing her mind to finally trusting herself again.Totally recommend <3

This is the first book of R.M Ward that I have read and I enjoyed it! This book kept me entertained and it was hard put it down. The only reason I did not mark it higher is because I felt the ending was a little drawn out but overall it is a really entertaining read, I’d certainly read more books from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ Digital for the opportunity to read the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Fans of R.M. Wards previous thriller are sure to enjoy this one! Twisty and suspenseful, The Girl Who Vanished kept me guessing right up until the end. A quick and easy read, this one is light on character development but still a good time.

Thank you HQ and Netgalley for selecting me for the eARC The Girl Who Vanished.

This book has a very interesting plot that keeps you hooked with every twist and turn. Could it be an unreliable author or a faulty memory? Could there have been a kidnapping or someone playing tricks on you? If you want a book that keeps you guessing until the end I recommend this book.

This was a great thriller of a read which kept me on the edge of my seat from the beginning until the very last page.

It was extremely well written with well developed characters and I have no hesitation in recommending this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and HQ Digital for this excellent ARC.