If I Disappear by Eliza Jane Brazier won’t be out until 2021, but you can learn all about it and pre-order it right now.

Sera listens to a true-crime podcast run by a young woman named Rachel. Rachel’s voice and stories comfort the lonely Sera, and when Rachel disappears, Sera is convinced she’s the one meant to figure out what happened. So she sets off for the place Rachel was last seen, her family’s ranch. There she is hired by Rachel’s mother to feed the horses and do general cleaning around the place. Right away Sera gets weird vibes. Everyone she encounters has a strange reaction to her, especially when she asks questions about Rachel.

Rachel’s parents are strange people and they want Sera to stay on the land and not leave because its “not safe” and no matter what Sera does, Rachel’s mother Addy seems to know. She warns Sera about going too far and when questioned about her daughter, Addy says a gang killed her.

But Sera knows that Addy isn’t telling the truth. And despite the chilly reception from the town people, the bizarre behavior of the parents, Sera refuses to give up in her search for Rachel. I would have packed up and left right away, but Sera is determined to find Rachel. And that’s what might put an end to her own life.

Here’s the official synopsis:

Sera loves true crime podcasts. They make her feel empowered in a world where women just like her disappear daily. She’s sure they are preparing her for something. So when Rachel, her favorite podcast host, goes missing, Sera knows it’s time to act. Rachel has always taught her to trust her instincts.

Sera follows the clues hidden in the episodes to an isolated ranch outside Rachel’s small hometown to begin her search. She’s convinced her investigation will make Rachel so proud. But the more Sera digs into this unfamiliar world, the more off things felt. Because Rachel is not the first woman to vanish from the ranch, and she won’t be the last…

This atmospheric novel makes you feel you are on the ranch, lonely and desperate. Creepy people, a ranch in the middle of nowhere. No wi-fi or connection to civilization lends itself to creating a strange and sinister backdrop for this story. I would have left on day one!

Coming out on January 26, 2021! Pre-order now.

If I Disappear is an intriguing mystery debut about a woman who finds out that her favorite true crime podcaster went missing, so she travels to where the missing woman’s house is located and starts her own investigation into this disappearance . Atmospheric, moody, with a great twist!

If I Disappear is a beautifully-written mystery with a fascinating premise: a woman embarks on a journey to look for a missing true-crime podcaster whom she admires; though it was more the style of writing - and the way it was delivered - that kept me from being totally engaged.

Make no mistake, this was very well-written, and I liked the creepy characters that live in the isolated ranch where our protagonist is looking for the missing woman; however, I thought the story would’ve been more impactful if it focused more on the plot, and less on being lyrical. Not there’s anything wrong with that - I just think that aspect might appeal to other readers more than it did me.

BUT, what I thought was really satisfying was the ending - it was the best part: I applaud the author for including that clever reveal. In a nutshell, this was an interesting mystery, and - given how dark this story is - I’m intrigued to see what Eliza writes next!