This was a story that is certainly in my favorite genre, so I was excited to read the story, especially as it takes place in Morrocco. I have always wanted to travel to Morrocco, but haven't quite made the trip just yet. It was nice to learn more about the culture and country. I felt like the story with Julie was entertaining and very interesting and I enjoyed the ending. However, there were moments in between that were a bit far-fetched to believe, so I had mixed feelings.

"Disappeared" by Bonnar Spring is a riveting and suspenseful novel that earns a solid four-star rating for its gripping storyline and compelling characters. The narrative follows Julie Welch as she embarks on a harrowing journey to find her missing sister, Fay Lariviere, in the vast and treacherous Saharan desert.

The novel immediately grabs the reader's attention with the mysterious disappearance of Fay from a hotel in Morocco. As Julie delves into the search for her sister, the plot takes unexpected turns, introducing elements of danger, deception, and a relentless stalker. The stakes are raised when an attack meant for Julie results in the death of another woman, intensifying the urgency of the sisters' predicament.

Bonnar Spring skillfully builds tension throughout the story, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as Julie unravels the mystery behind Fay's disappearance. The remote village in the Saharan desert serves as a captivating setting, adding an atmospheric quality to the narrative. The author's vivid descriptions transport the reader to the harsh and unforgiving desert landscape, enhancing the sense of peril.

The characters, particularly Julie and Fay, are well-drawn and evolve realistically as the plot unfolds. The dynamic between the sisters, fueled by anger, worry, and a shared determination to survive, adds depth to the story. The exploration of their relationship and the reasons behind Fay's secrecy contribute to the emotional resonance of the novel.

The pacing of the narrative is well-executed, with a balance between moments of intense action and quieter, introspective scenes. The plot twists and turns keep the reader engaged, and the suspenseful atmosphere is maintained until the satisfying resolution.

While the novel successfully delivers on its promise of a thrilling desert adventure, there are instances where the plot may feel somewhat predictable, and certain character decisions could be further explored for added complexity. Additionally, the resolution, while satisfying, may wrap up certain aspects of the story a bit too neatly.

In conclusion, "Disappeared" is a captivating and well-crafted thriller that captivates with its engaging plot, vivid setting, and strong character dynamics. Bonnar Spring demonstrates skill in building suspense and delivering a satisfying tale of survival in the unforgiving Saharan desert. This novel is recommended for readers who enjoy suspenseful and atmospheric thrillers with compelling characters.

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me advance access to this title. I really enjoyed reading this story and look forward to reading more from this author. As a reader, I am really motivated by character driven stories and I found myself quickly becoming immersed in these characters’ lives. Full review to come.

This book had me hooked from page 1 onwards. In the middle it went on a bit but was thrilling regardless. Loved the thrilling nature of this book.

I really enjoyed this story and was on the edge of my seat. Great read if you’re looking for something complex and intriguing.

I am sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in the concept. I believe that it would benefit your book more if I did not skim your book and write a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience.

What a great story! and beyond that, the author's depiction of Morocco is amazing. Clearly she's spent time there and the images are so well drawn I feel like I have too. It's a story of family and loyalty and a glimpse into a world I know little about. Highly recommend!

This is a tale of two sisters, one of whom goes missing when they're on vacation in Morocco.

Fay disappears, leaving a note that she's taking care of an urgent errand for her husband and will return in two days. She doesn't.

Julie goes to great lengths to find her sister and They work together to save themselves and disappeared innocents in a thrill ride of escalating violence and action.

I could not put this book down, it was truly everything I needed in a thriller. It was fast paced and well written. This is novel that will have you imagining ever scene like it’s a movie!

Set in Morocco, it was an enjoyable story of adventure and suspense. As someone who is risk averse, I would have been on the first flight out of there and left them all to it!

After the initial pages, I found myself not connecting with the story or characters, so I decided to pass on this book. Did not finish

Middle-aged American sisters Julie Welch and Fay Lariviere are on a dream trip to Morocco when Fay disappears. The hotel staff find a note from Fay indicating she would be back in two days but she doesn't return. Julie finally learns Fay was headed to a remote village in the Saharan desert. Fay arrange a trip to find Fay only to be abandoned by her villager guide in the middle of nowhere. Julie finally reunites with Fay in a remote prison and learns the reason for her sister's cagey behaviour. The remote desert location is so evocatively described, with danger and betrayal following Julie and Fay everywhere. It was a nail-biting read until the very end of the story.

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and Oceanview Publishing. My opinions are my own.

I read this in one gulp. We do not know where we are when chapter one opens. Then I saw a reference to the Atlas Mountains and knew it was Morrocco. Two sisters take their annual getaway to this exotic local and wind up in an intrigue involving a rescue of previously unknown relatives who were believed dead for 15 years. There is danger, spy stuff, good guys and bad guys. My thanks to the author and NetGalley for a complimentary copy.

Disappeared is a stand-alone thriller about two sisters whose holiday to Morocco goes horribly wrong.
I hadn’t heard of the author previously, but was alerted to it’s availability by an email from the publisher. I liked the sound of the exotic setting, but found it took a long time to get going and I had to push myself to keep going with it.

Julie Welch and her sister Fay are well-to-do middle-aged American tourists who have chosen Morocco for their annual getaway from their busy family lives. They look forward to exploring the local culture, savouring the food and of course lots of shopping. When Fay doesn’t return from a day out, Julie is initially annoyed, then alarmed, then panic-struck, and finding the American consulate unhelpful, sets out on her own to find her, a journey that will take her into terrible danger.

The first half of this reads like a brilliant travel memoir - vividly rich descriptions of the scenery, the towns, the people and the mouth-watering food. Unfortunately very little actually happens, and given this is billed as a thriller, I was completely bored and as frustrated with Julie as she is with Fay. Around 50% we finally get some action and find out what’s going on, then there’s an equally boring further 20% with lots of talking and agonising about their plight. The final third does make up for it, as the sisters use their limited resources to hatch a plan to escape, and the tension ratchets up fast, so I was glad I stuck around - but had this not been a review copy I would’ve given up long before.

My friends know how much I hate present tense narration - instead of conveying immediacy and atmosphere, as I believe is intended, it excludes me from the story and keeps me distractible and resentful of the time it takes to get through a book. This is all told from Julie’s first person POV and in my opinion would’ve worked much better in traditional past tense. The writing is otherwise good, I definitely felt like I was there in the heat and the dust, I just didn’t enjoy the experience. Having been unable to travel for the best part of three years, I had hoped for a book that would take me somewhere interesting - this achieves that goal if you interpret “interesting” as “I don’t want to go there!”

Others have generally rated this higher than I did so if my particular bugbears don’t bother you, and you’re after a slow-burn thriller set somewhere quite different, do check it out.
Thanks to NetGalley and Oceanview for the post-publication review copy, Disappeared is available now.

I liked this book. It was written well and I love a good mystery! If you're looking for a good read, this is it!

Disappeared by Bonnar Spring was an enjoyable, very tense read. Two American sisters - Fay Lariviere and Julie Welch - go to Morocco for their yearly catch-up. Fay, an executive in a tech company, is married to Gil, a lawyer, and Julie has an office job, a ten-year-old son, Alex, and two other children. One sister is harbouring secrets from the other and for her, it is a lot more than just a holiday but both will find themselves in jeopardy in this tale which is full of action. The location is evocatively described by the author, there is a super sense of place and I enjoyed finding out more about the sisters. Danger lurks around many corners in this compelling family tale. Very highly recommended, I would love to read more from this author and look forward to doing so.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel, at my own request, from Oceanview Publishing via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Since they were teenagers, Jule and Fay usually take a "sisters trip" each year, a chance to reconnect and, for Julie, to take a break from her kids that makes her appreciate family life that much more when she returns. But they haven't taken a trip together since Fay got married and moved to NYC, so when Fay reaches out with the suggestion of Morocco, Julie convinces her husband it will be safe, and off they go. Soon after arriving, however, Fay disappears from their hotel and Julie realizes someone is following her around town. After another tourist mistaken for Julie is attacked, her anger at Fay for taking off turns to fear for her safety. Julie sets out to look for Fay, using a scrap of paper she left behind as her only clue. When she finds her, however, Julie joins Fay as a prisoner of Moroccan special forces. The sisters must use every ounce of their resourcefulness and determination to escape if they are ever to get back home. Disappeared is a well-written, engrossing action adventure. The pace of the story starts slow, with Julie left to entertain herself when Fay first disappears, but builds faster and faster with the action, as Julie heading out to look for her sister and as they plot and execute their escape. Important information is seamlessly and subtly provided. I liked the characters and their motivations and actions always seemed plausible. The wonderful descriptions of Morocco and Moroccan culture add another measure of depth to the story.

Enjoyable book, with a lot of suspense. I will be recommending this to readers interested in books set in a foreign country.

Suspenseful story. Character driven. Held my attention but did lag sometimes. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

Thank you to Oceanview Publishing for sending an advance copy of Disappeared.

Julie and her sister Fay love to take exotic trips to blow off the steam of everyday life. They live by the motto that the journey is the real destination, often finding themselves where they never expected. On their latest trip to Morocco, Julie wakes up to a note from Fay saying she’ll be back in 2 days. When she doesn’t return Julie starts to worry and ask around. Due to a conflict with the hotel, the pair has their room changed and that very night a woman in their old room is killed. After playing amateur detective and gathering some clues, Julie sets off for a remote location in the desert to track her sister down. The sisters reunite in a prison and Julie learns the deep secrets that Fay has kept from her. Pairing up with an imprisoned mother/daughter/grandchild trio, this group of unlikely allies put their will to the test to survive.

I’ve recently been reading a lot of ‘travel thrillers’ (didn’t even know that was a genre, to be honest…is it a newer trend?) and I’ve got to say I’m obsessed. I don’t know if being stuck with no serious travel for a couple of years is a catalyst or what, but I’m loving these books about vacations going awry. I really enjoyed this one being set in Morocco because it’s an uncommon setting to my knowledge, and I was able to read an entertaining story while also learning some new info.

I liked Julie a lot, I could basically see her rolling her eyes and huffing and then going after her sister in true sibling fashion. There’s nothing she wouldn’t do for her family and that’s really the theme to this book. The side characters we meet are so lovable. I’m writing this review weeks after the read so I am blanking on some names, but the hotel clerk that helped Julie and the wife of the restaurant owner that Julie met were fantastic additions to the story and I wish I knew more about them. The family that Julie and Fay meet in the prison is great as well, wholly dedicated to each other and ensuring they remain together and safe.

The descriptions are vivid, I definitely got a feel for Morocco, both the cities and the desert. It’s a place that is pretty high on my bucket list and this book did nothing but make me want to experience it more (which sounds very weird to say after reading a thriller set there!)