What is it with small towns and missing girls???

I had no idea what to expect when going into this book and I can all say is that I LOVED IT.

The mystery surrounding a missing girl from over 20 years ago continues to plague a small town. Now declared a cold case, Clarissa’s ghost continues to haunt the people of this small town who never truly got over the idea that this popular cheerleader could go missing in a town that was considered “safe”.

Fast forward to the current time and two girls decide to create a podcast trying to solve this case that many people just wanted to sweep under the rug. When they start to discover more than they bargained for and more than one person emanates red flags.. these two girls have no idea what they’ve gotten themselves into.

When the danger creeps closer and closer as these two girls get scarily close to discovering what truly happened to Clarissa, they may just end up solving this cold case but stop more than one psychopath in their tracks.

Missing Clarissa is YA thriller about a cheerleader who went missing in 1999 and was never found. 2o years later, two high school friends start investigating through a crime podcast. As they look into Clarissa's past, they also discover things things about themselves. The book started off slowly for me but gained momentum as I progressed further in the novel. Some of the decisions of the main characters were not always the most thought out but since this is geared toward young adults I did not mind it much. While the mystery was not a huge surprise, it was fun, light mystery/thriller and easy to get through.

I really enjoyed this book and thought the premise was great. I liked the two main characters Cam and Blair and their unique personalities. It was a nice mystery that had you questioning who all was involved. I would love to read more by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC.

“𝑾𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒘𝒉𝒐. 𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒘𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝒇𝒆𝒘 𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒔. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒆 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉: 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒂 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍.”

This YA book is such a fun investigative suspense; I know quite a few students who would love picking this up.

Although the “investigative podcast into a cold case” trope is done a lot these days, I loved how Ripley Jones framed it as a journalism assignment for the two main characters, Cam and Blair. The podcast wasn’t perfect; in fact, the girls had a lot to learn about the work it takes to make a podcast (the humour around everyone remarking “did you record this in a bathroom” made me chuckle every time.) The chapters are uniquely titled as episodes and who the focus is of the investigation (episode 3: The Friends), which I thought was a neat touch. The mystery of how and why Clarissa vanished was solid, especially in a small-town where everyone knows of everyone, with fleshed out characters. Jones also isn’t afraid to remind us that these girls are teenagers and they are trying to figure out who they are. Sometimes with true crime fascination, we are listeners/readers/viewers forget that real people care and real people have their lives torn apart by it; I liked how different characters reminded the girls that what they are doing has consequences for everyone. The ending plays like a classic thriller, in that Cam makes a reckless decision (that might have some rolling their eyes), but it makes for very entertaining reading.

Missing Clarissa is a story of searching for answers, friendship, mistakes, and repercussions. It is a page turning mystery that would entertain fans of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and In the Dark We Forget. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Wednesday Books for the ARC!

Missing Clarissa is a great choice for anyone who loves listening to true crime podcasts.

Blair and Cameron are friends, even though they are very different types of people. Blair has a popular boyfriend, and is very insecure about her own worth. Cameron is driven, and certainly not interested in dating anyone. She wants to be a journalist and knows she can accomplish this if she does well in their journalism class.

The girls have a final project to do, and decide to do a podcast about a famous missing person in their town, Clarissa Campbell. She disappeared more than 20 years ago, after a party in the woods outside of Oreville, Washington. Clarissa was blond and a cheerleader, so her case got a lot of attention, at first. But when no body was found, and there was no trace of her, the case went cold and the press disappeared.

Blair and Cameron start their podcast with their impressions of what happened. They doggedly (well, Cameron doggedly) chase down leads and interview Clarissa's ex-boyfriend, best friend and art teacher, all of whom might have something to hide. As the podcast's popularity grows, the girls realize they are in danger, because Clarissa's killer might still be around.

Beyond the true crime aspect of this book, Missing Clarissa also touches on sexual harassment, abusive relationships, and difficult friendships and familial relationships. It should really resonate with teenagers who are dealing with their own troubled relationships and show them that many teens have the same problems they do.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book.

I haven’t been reading as much YA lately as I normally do so I put off reading Missing Clarissa. I’m sorry I did that because it is such a twisty and well-written mystery. I loved the premise of current teen podcasters tackling a decades old missing persons case.

I loved the character arcs of both characters, Blair and Cam, each growing throughout the story with each experience.

While this is clearly geared towards the younger of the younger adult audience, I still found it to be an enjoyable read with a satisfying conclusion.

My thanks to St. Martin’s Press for this gifted DRC.

The book starts out with a bang that is for sure. From giving us the backstory of what happened to Clarissa to meeting our two podcast girls ready to dominate the airwaves with the story. It was a bit messy trying to figure out which of the people were giving their point of view. I loved how after each interview the girls did we got the true feelings from the other characters that they spoke to, getting to see how and why they made the choices they did after Clarissa went missing. There were so many different times that I had to pause to highlight a passage or a quote from one of the characters because of it either being funny or just hit a nostalgic part of me. Overall it was an amazing read and I absolutely recommend it for people who are a big fan of "Two can keep a secret"

Loved/hated the true descriptions and actions of the teenagers. Insufferable but also accurate! I thought this was the perfect quick read - somewhat predictable but still so good!

1999, popular cheerleader Clarissa disappears from a party in the woods. Despite national attention, she is never found and the story goes cold.
20 years later, 2 high school friends from Clarissa’s school start a podcast dedicated to the mystery. But will Blair and Cameron solve the murder? Or ruin innocent lives?

Mixed feelings.

I really liked the relationship between Blair and Cam.

Blair wants to be an author but lacks confidence. At first I thought Cam was just eccentric genius, but I began to wonder if she's supoosed to be on teh spectrum. Another review I read pointed out that Cam's actions at the end of the book weren't in line with the maturity of a person her age and I agree. It's like Cam is super-smart about things like physics but lacks social skills and an understanding of others' emotions.

I have to say that I do feel like this is a bit similar to Good Girls Guide to Murder. The small town, the cold case, the podcast, the threats against the girl detectives, even the libel lawsuit. The more I read, the more similar it felt to me. That said, these elements are in a lot of mysteries.

My other issue is how much time the book's (diverse) characters spent criticizing the obsession our culture has with missing white women and then they do a podcast about a missing white woman. Was there no other crime in their small town they could solve? Maybe not.

I did enjoy aspects of it but there's also a lot that left me unsatisfied.

Reviewed on YA All Day, my YA book blog.

Cameron and Blaire are podcast hosts and have chosen to “reopen” an old missing persons case to solve the now cold case. As they continue to investigate, they slowly piece things together. It’s at this time that it becomes increasingly clear that someone is willing to do anything to stop them. Unbeknownst to the girls, they are running out of time. Will they be able to solve the case, ultimately saving themselves and each other? Or will the answers they are looking for be taken to the grave?

I enjoyed this book and loved how the information was presented. It was written in a way that allowed the reader to build a case and try to solve it. There were many twists and jaw-dropping moments that kept me on my toes. Although I was swept up in the story, I don’t feel I ever really connected with Cam and Blaire. I didn’t find them all that relatable. That said, I loved Irene as she reminded me a bit of my mother. Overall, I would recommend this book to those I believe would enjoy it, and I look forward to more from this author.


Voluntarily reviewed after receiving a free copy courtesy of NetGalley, the Publisher, and the author, Ripley Jones.

The disappearance of Clarissa Campbell shook the town of Oreville, Washington to its core. Her disappearance also intrigued the nation. A beautiful cheerleader with her life ahead of her disappears after a bonfire captivates the nation. Twenty years later, there are conspiracy theories and finger-pointing, but the case has gone cold. That is when Blair and Cameron (or Cami) come in. As part of a project for their journalism class, they decide to start a true crime podcast exploring her disappearance. As they start digging, they discover more about the case than what was reported. And what they ultimately uncover might kill them.

When I read the blurb for Missing Clarissa, I wasn’t impressed with it. I should have known not to judge the book by the blurb (or the cover if I am going to go there). This book was a great read. It kept me up late reading it. I was concerned about Cami and Blair (and their investigation), and I wanted to know what happened to Clarissa.

Usually, I would write the trigger warning at the end of the review, but I felt that these trigger warnings might be triggering more people. The trigger warnings are:

Adult/minor sexual relationships (off page-Clarissa plus other girls with her art teacher).
Sexual assault (off-page).
Murder
Rape (off-page).
Gun violence (Cami and Blair).
Violence
Murder
Cursing
Homophobia (off page, told by Clarissa’s boyfriend about what he did to a gay classmate).
If any of these trigger you, I recommend not reading this book.

What I liked the most about this book was how real it felt. The girls weren’t natural-born sleuths; they bumbled through the investigation with almost no tact (well, Cami did, Blair tried). They made enormous (and sometimes nearly catastrophic) mistakes. It made the book so much more enjoyable to read.

The main characters, Cami and Blair, were as opposite as they could get. Cami was brilliant, had no filter or tact, and tended to bulldoze her way through life. On the other hand, Blair was brilliant in her way, was cautious when approaching things, and moved along her lifepath cautiously. Their dynamic was perfect for the book. Together and separately, they clarified their investigation that made the book for me. Brilliant Cami made that final connection, and Blair figured out where Cami had gone and who she was with when Cami went missing.

I loved that the author made podcasts the book’s central focus (along with Clarissa’s disappearance). Again, Cami and Blair were not tech geniuses who knew how to set up their podcast. It was the opposite. Their podcast sounded like it was recorded in the bathroom, and they had zero editing skills. But even with that, they still got a decent following. I liked that the author included excerpts from the podcast at the end of the chapters. It tied everything together for me.

The main storyline of Missing Clarissa is the story of Clarissa’s disappearance. What I liked most was that it wasn’t cut and dry. It also showed that the investigation into her disappearance was bungled. I enjoyed watching it unravel as the girls tracked down witnesses, friends, and family. Each little bit of information gleaned was exciting. Of course, it did take a dark turn when the girls uncovered things about the sheriff, the former art teacher (who wasn’t as loved as he thought he was), and how that tied into the investigation. I wasn’t surprised at what was revealed (with the sheriff). To mess up an investigation that badly, there had to be outside forces in play. But I was surprised by what was revealed when they looked into the art teacher. I shouldn’t have been, considering the clues dropped and the sweep-it-under-the-rug mentality at schools in the 90s. What I was surprised about was the outcome of the investigation. I did not expect it to end as it did or the multiple investigations it spawned.


Several secondary storylines revolved around Blair, Cami, and their various relationships. I loved the one between Cami and her crush/soon-to-be girlfriend. Her coming out to her mom was hilarious. I was laughing my butt off that entire scene. Blair’s relationship with her boyfriend annoyed me. He was a jerk the whole book, and that scene towards the end gave me such satisfaction.

The end of Missing Clarissa was impressive. The twist on Clarissa’s missing person case and its fallout were well written. I did not see any of it coming. Several big revelations made me go, “No way.” It wasn’t a happy ending per se, but there was closure for many people and vindication for a man wrongly accused.

I would recommend Missing Clarissa to anyone over 21. There is violence, language, and nongraphic sexual situations. Also, see my trigger warning paragraph.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, NetGalley, and Ripley Jones for allowing me to read and review Missing Clarissa. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

Missing Clarissa is fast paced YA mystery/thriller. I really enjoyed the cast of characters in this one!

What's it about (in a nutshell):
Missing Clarissa by Ripley Jones is a fast-paced YA thriller that takes a high school project and turns it into a dangerous example of investigative journalism for two teenagers who initially just thought their podcast idea might be an opportunity for their ten seconds of fame.
My Reading Experience:
This is one of those "Oh! Wow!" thrillers that keep you guessing from start to finish. I always love the use of true crime podcasts. That little extra element always fascinates me, and I don't even listen to podcasts. I loved the fast pace. It's under three hundred pages, and with the fast pace, this book was a one-sitting read.

I also loved the side plot of Cameron exploring her sexuality and admitting that she is gay. The story was a bit contrived, but it played out nicely. As a counselor who has worked extensively with teens, I think that an actual YA audience needs more of a real and not always-so-nice account of coming out (so they get more of a realistic idea of what they will have to deal with and how to overcome it). Still, as an adult, I loved the innocence of that part of the story.

Overall, this story has a couple of misses, but I found it highly entertaining and rewardingly suspenseful.

Read if you like:
• YA thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat
• Sexual diversity exploration
• True crime podcasts as a plot device

High Schoolers, Blair and Cameron decide for their journalism assignment to create a podcast based on the story of a missing local girl, Clarissa Campbell, who vanished from a party in the summer of 1999, twenty years ago. As they reinterview witnesses and talk to suspects, they realize someone is coming after them, which means they must be close to discovering the truth.

I loved Missing Clarissa. This story was smart, witty and easy to read. It dealt with difficult, current, real world issues with grace and respect. Although it’s a young adult book, I wouldn’t keep that from convincing you to read it.

I know this is a book for youth but this septuagenarian liked it. It is plotted well. I liked the idea of two high school students thinking they could solve a decades old mystery. I liked how they went about the investigation, uncovering previously unknown or overlooked facts. The characters are developed well. Cam seemed to be the typical impetuous teen. While super smart, she can make some serious mistakes. Blair is a good counter to Cam, more calm and thinking things through. And Sophie was a delight. I loved the way she talked.

I don't like it when a heroine does something stupid that generates suspense. While that happens here, Cam is a teen and her actions are quite within her compulsive teen character. One thing I did not like was the emphasis on a budding gay relationship between teens and other similar relationships.

This is a well written novel for teens that adults would like too. I hope we see more mystery solving from Cam and Blair.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

One of my favorite aspects of this book is how realistic the teenagers are. Blair and Cam aren't professional podcasters, nor do they have expert insight into how to solve the twenty-year-old cold case of missing person Clarissa Campbell. They're just two seventeen-year-olds trying to complete a class project; their first attempt at podcasting goes awry, and their insecurities and lack of risk aversion permeate the story. I also love their concept of dating and romance and how to navigate that realm successfully (or, well, not-so-successfully). I'm glad Ripley Jones includes adults in the story, both as sources of information and levity; it creates some variety in perspective that's compelling.

The "villain" is predictable, but I still enjoyed solving the mystery with Blair and Cam.

I loved everything about this book except for the language. I realize that YA literature has some spicy language these days, but Jones used language three different times that I find very offensive. That’s the only reason I’m giving four stars. I will read this author again to see if it is a pattern.

I really enjoyed the inclusivity of the book, and I liked being in the heads of multiple characters. The mystery fell a little flat for me, but teen sleuths are always fun and cozy. It was a quick and pleasant read!

Twenty years ago Clarissa Campbell, a popular and well liked student, disappeared. The case was national news and since a body was never found her fate remains a mystery. Now high school students Cam Munoz and Blair Johnson have decided to start up a true crime podcast focused on Clarissa as part of a school project. I’ve noticed a few trends popping up over the last year or so, and books with a podcast as a focal point is a prominent one. And if done well, as it is here, it’s a fun plot device. So is it possible that two high school students can dig up new information and uncover the truth of what really happened to Clarissa? This is a solid, well paced mystery with plenty of twists and turns. I’d like to thank St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of Missing Clarissa.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R39HGZD2N396UY/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv