The evocative atmosphere, the slow-moving plot, and the well-developed cast of characters made me appreciate this book primarily. Unfortunately, I think it lost my interest in the last third after being a little monotonous, and even though I felt the ending was fine, I didn't feel riveted.

If you enjoyed Megan Miranda's The Last To Vanish, you're going to want to check out The Girls Who Disappeared. A spooky small town with a handful of unexplained disappearances is the perfect atmosphere for a thriller. Add in the creepy cabin in the woods and you’ve got yourself the perfect setting!

The beginning of this book was so engaging: Olivia and her friends were driving home from a night out on the town when Olivia had to swerve to avoid hitting something in the road. The car crashed, and Olivia woke to find her legs trapped and her friends gone. I couldn’t wait to find out what happened to her friends!

I really enjoy how Douglas starts off with two seemingly unrelated stories, leaving the reader wondering how the two relate to each other. She used a similar technique in The Couple at No. 9. I love the guessing game of figuring out the connection!

I love the podcast element in books, so I was sad that Jenna’s podcast didn’t play more of a role, other than giving her a reason to be questioning the townspeople. I was hoping for some clips of her podcast, especially in the audiobook. She was still a good character, though, and investigated the case in what seemed like a realistic way.

I’ve become a big fan of Claire Douglas lately, thanks to Harper’s re-publishing of a lot of her books. I’m excited to read more of her backlist!

The book tells the story of 4 girls involved in a car accident late at night but only 1 is recovered; the other 3 and their belongings seemingly vanished. I found this is so compelling. The writing has a consistent and easy flow filled with suspense that keeps you reading late into the night. The author sets the scene well to immediately engross you in the town and the residents.

I really enjoyed the two POVs - one of the BBC reporter creating a podcast about the case, the second of the one girl left behind in the accident. It helped propel the story along more than if it had been from only one POV. The ending of the book was intriguing and not at all one of the scenarios I had been creating in my mind as I read.

The book is written with a lot of British slang which can be confusing if you’re not familiar with the terminology. I wish the relationship between Stace and Derreck had been fleshed out more and I felt some small pieces were left unresolved or at least not explained thoroughly. Regardless, I’ll be checking out other books by this author and I genuinely enjoyed reading this.

Thank you to Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for this ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to like this but it felt too slow moving and cheesy at times. Olivia is in a car accident with her three friends and when she awakes, she is trapped but they are missing. It was mysterious and intriguing, though slow moving, until the Thailland storyline came in. It felt forced and cheesy. The rest of the book dragged and I did not care for any of the twists. None of the characters felt very likable either. The description of the town was creepy and on point.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ahhh I really enjoyed this book! It was full of surprise and it was delightfully creepy, and kept me on my toes!

“Don’t trust anyone…….Everyone is lying”. The tarot cards are warning Jenna, a journalist investigating the disappearance of 3 young women when their 4th friend swerves to miss a person in the road, when she comes to the friends are gone without a trace. It’s been twenty years and the survivor, Olivia, is struggling with her life. Jenna, and Dale a police detective, are both dealing with their own problems too. I enjoyed the twists from the modern day story, and how it’s telling is mixed in with another story line that took place in 1980.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book, I recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for this ARC. Olivia and her girlfriends are headed home from a night out when something appears in the road. Olivia swerves and crashes. When she comes to after being knocked out, she is trapped under the steering wheel and her 3 friends have completely vanished. Twenty years later, Jenna is wanting to interview Olivia for a podcast and the cold case has been reopened. Will they ever get to the bottom of what happened? #TheGirlsWhoDisappeared #ClaireDouglas #Jan2023

3.5 rounded down.

Synopsis: Back in 1998, Olivia and her three friends are driving home from a night out and get into a car crash at the Devil's Corridor (a road where eerie things are rumored to occur). When Olivia comes to, her three friends are missing and, 20 years later, have still not be found. Jenna, an investigative podcaster, comes to Wilshire in hopes of solving this cold case. The story is told in dual narratives by Olivia and Jenna and its interspersed with a Thailand timeline.

Review: This book had an interesting premise but felt a little bit slow and (at times) repetitive. Also, the ways in which it came together didn't really work for me-- it was a bit over the top, while also functions as a nice neat way to wrap things up.

Four girls enjoy a night out and drive home on the Devil's Corridor ending in disaster! Only one girl is found at the crash site pinned by the steering column and unable to get out of the car. Rescued and unable to remember what happened to her friends leaves Olivia Rutherford open to the suspicious scrutiny of her neighbors and the townspeople. A long and arduous recovery does not restore her memory of that horrific night. It's now twenty years later and journalist Jenna Halliday has arrived in Willshire to interview those close to the missing girls to create a podcast in the hope of turning up new evidence or clues as to what happened on that night. Jenna didn't expect the locals to be willing to talk, however, she didn't anticipate hostility and threats. Are they protective of Olivia or does everyone have something to hide?
This fast-paced psychological thriller will keep you guessing until the very end. No spoilers here. Douglas' plot is ingenious and original. We know that no one can disappear into thin air, however, there are no credible sightings to explain what happened. It has now been twenty years without a clue. A suspenseful read that will keep you reading, many discussion points for Book Clubs.

This was a bit of a branch out for this author, a multi generational tale of smuggling, murder and revenge. More complex than her usual psychological thrillers, could use a bit of tightening but still a solid pay off. 3.5 stars rounded up.

This one was pretty good – it held my interest and kept me guessing trying to figure out the big twist. It was a fun read with a touch of spooky which is always nice at this time of year.

Twenty years ago, four teenagers were driving home when they crashed and when Olivia woke up, her friends were gone. Now, Jenna has come asking questions for her podcast. She learns that there are many secrets held within this small town and as she grapples with how to untangle them her life seems to be in danger. Things are not what they seem, people are not who they appear to be, and someone is following her. Olivia seems to be hiding something, but then again so does the lead detective on the cold case. Will Jenna be able to decipher this web of untruths and make it home to her son?

I thought that the big reveal was done in a clever and twisted sort of way. I didn’t see it coming, which always adds to my enjoyment. This was my first read by this author and I appreciated her writing style, it kept me hooked. I felt that the pacing was not too fast and not too slow, just at the right spot.

Check this one out if you’re looking for a slightly spooky read on a cold, raining afternoon. This one would pair well with a blanket and a nice hot beverage.

Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher, @harperperennial for my advanced e-ARC in exchange for this honest review. This one is out on January 10th of next year – get your pre-orders in now!

Thank you Harper Perennial & Netgalley for providing this arc in exchange for my review.
This mystery/thriller leaves you wanting to turn the page faster and faster to find out what the hell is going on; there were so many questions that I needed to know the answers to. Fast paced, where everyone is a suspect, and you can trust no one. I really enjoyed this book!

Another great book by Claire Douglas. Two different stories which wind themselves together in a surprising way. A twenty year old mystery, with a podcaster on the trail. Great characters, lots of twists and turns and an ending that will catch you by surprise. Keep them coming!

It’s 1998 and a group of four friends are driving home after a night out. The weather is stormy, the rain gets heavier by the minute. Olivia just has gotten her license and is nervous about the trip along the “Devils Corridor”. Suddenly, they are involved in a horrific accident. The driver, Olivia is trapped in the car when she wakes up but her three friends are missing. They have never been seen again.
Then we flash forward to journalist Jenna Halliday who is investigating the 20 year old cold case.The town, plus the girl found (Olivia) are not happy with Jenna's digging and someone is trying to push her out of town.
If you've read Claire Douglas before, you know that she has a great writing style to keep her stories gripping and fast paced. She makes it impossible for you not to be intrigued enough to keep flipping those pages!
However, the main issue I had was the pacing. I felt some of the "past" was unnecessary to keep including. I don't think it did anything for the book at all. There were some repetitive parts as well- Jenna's family life- she complained a lot about her husband and child.
I'm still not sure about the ending... I can't decide if I liked it or not. I thought it was interesting, but I'm not sure if it worked.
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for this eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The first half of this book held my attention, but the second half felt really lackluster. I never liked the C plot line in Thailand, and I was underwhelmed with how it tied into the larger story. This premise and setting had so much potential to be suspenseful, creepy and twisty, but the ending fell pretty flat. I enjoyed Claire Douglas' previous books, so I would definitely try her next one.

I was so excited to read this after devouring The Couple at Number 9. I love the author’s writing but this one was just ok for me. The mystery was great and kept me wanting more but the end fell flat and I did not like the twist.

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️

Olivia Rutherford and her three friends suffered a horrific car accident on a rural road dubbed “The Devil’s Corridor”. Olivia was the only one found. Twenty years later, the mystery of the disappearance of the three girls stills ways on the small town. Journalist Jenna Halliday is covering the case for her podcast. The locals aren’t thrilled with Jennas presence and pretty soon she receives warnings to leave things alone. The deeper Jenna heads down the rabbit hole, the more she realizes that she’s in danger and someone is determined to make sure the past stays buried.

The Girls Who Disappeared is available January 10,2023.

Thank you to netgalley and harperperennialpaperbacks for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

The Girls Who Disappeared by Claire Douglas is a book I enjoyed reading this month! It has layers of mystery with a bit of spookiness if you must travel down The Devil's Corridor! One fateful night twenty years ago four friends were returning from a party and had an accident. Olivia Rutherford, who was driving the car wakes up in the hospital with very little memory of that night. The strange thing about the whole ordeal is the three passengers are missing! There are no signs of the girls or their bodies.
On the twentieth anniversary of the accident journalist Jenna Halliday is sent to record a podcast about the event and how it has affected Olivia and the families of the missing girls. Soon trouble begins as the questions Jenna asks stirs up secrets and suspicions.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the opportunity to read this book.
Publication Date: Jan 10, 2023

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, from Harper Perennial and Paperbacks and #NetGalley. Thank you to the publishers, NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to preview and review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

A bit slow to start but worth the read.

This is my first book by this author. It was a great read that kept me guessing until the very end. I highly recommend it!

Twenty years ago, four friends are driving home from a night out when they are involved in a horrific accident. The driver, Olivia Rutherford, is trapped in the car when she wakes up but her three friends are missing. They have never been seen again.

Jenna Halliday has come to the small town in the Devil’s Corridor to do an investigative podcast for the anniversary of the disappearance. Some of the locals aren’t happy to have the past dug up and will make sure Jenna knows she’s not welcome. As she gets closer to the truth, someone starts sending her warnings. Who doesn’t want the truth discovered? Will she find out what happened to the missing girls?

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up!!

I am a little torn on my overall enjoyment of this novel. It was a decent mystery that gave me the creeps with its eerie setting and paranormal vibes. A dark, wooded road known as the Devil's Corridor, where strange occurrences have been experienced. A lonely cabin in the woods. A group of stone altars that are believed to have been used for human sacrificial rituals. All the perfect compliments of a satisfyingly creepy thriller!! I quickly became invested in the story and in solving the mystery of Olivia's accident and the girls' disappearance....until I wasn't. The "big" reveal was clever and interesting, and I can see how some readers will love it, but I just didn't care for the ending at all. It was a fast read, but a tad bit slow in progression. Olivia got on my nerves. Countless times, I just wanted to smack some sense into her. This book could have potentially been a 5-star read for me if the ending was more exciting. I read in the acknowledgments that the text was heavily edited. Maybe it should have been left alone?

The Girls Who Disappeared is my first read by this author. Even though I didn't love it and disliked the ending, I did enjoy it for the most part and felt that it was worth the read. I will be looking for more of Claire's books to add to my TBR!

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Perennial and Paperbacks, and the author for allowing me digital access in exchange for my honest opinion!