This is a fast paced murder mystery. The story line is interesting and suspenseful. While I did enjoy the book I felt it lacking at times. I didn't really care for the characters. Sylvia was not really a likable character and Rhett was a little too chill for someone that was wrongly accused of murder. Overall the story is fast paced and intriguing.

I enjoy the audiobook. I would have prefered dual narration but Elise Roth did a great job bringing this story to life.

When I Disappear is a high-energy, twist-filled thriller with emotional stakes and strong narrator performance. It’s perfect if you enjoy binge-worthy audio mysteries—but go in ready for a slower setup, occasional predictability, and characters who grow fast. If that aligns with your style, this one’s a solid, immersive listen.

At 2:00 a.m. Sylvia Stone awakens to a letter on her doorstep suggesting the handsome carpenter, Rhett Cohen, who was convicted of murdering her mother twenty years earlier, is innocent. The anonymous letters continue, each one revealing details only the true killer would know, making Sylvia question her testimony years ago.

But as Rhett is released from prison, the fourth and final letter arrives with one chilling You’re next.
Then Sylvia disappears.

When I Disappear totally pulled me in with its mix of mystery, grief, and dark secrets. It’s one of those books where you think you’ve figured things out—until you haven’t. The characters are flawed and interesting. McKinney did a phenomenal job creating these characters, giving them depth and realistic qualities. The plot develops at a fast pace, which kept me engrossed as the twists and turns came flying at me. Also, the short chapters made it super easy to keep reading "just one more", which quickly turned into a binge session.

If you like psychological thrillers with a strong sense of place, emotional depth, and a few good jaw-dropping moments, When I Disappear is definitely worth a read.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

A Promising Plot That Needed More Punch
When I Disappear by Amanda McKinney had all the ingredients for a gripping mystery, and I genuinely enjoyed the core storyline. The premise itself was intriguing, and I appreciated the twists and turns that kept me guessing about what truly happened. It's clear McKinney knows how to construct a compelling plot, and for the most part, I was eager to see how everything would unravel.

However, the pacing felt quite slow in parts, especially in the middle section of the book. There were moments where I found myself skimming, wishing the narrative would pick up the pace and propel me forward with more urgency. This unfortunately made it a bit of a struggle to stay fully immersed at times.

My biggest disconnect, though, was with the characters. While they served their purpose in the plot, I just couldn't seem to form a strong connection with any of them. Their motivations and emotional arcs felt a bit distant, and I found it hard to truly empathize or invest in their individual journeys. As a result, the impact of some of the more dramatic reveals was lessened for me, as I wasn't emotionally tethered to the people experiencing them.

Overall, When I Disappear is a decent read with a clever mystery at its heart. If you're looking for a plot-driven thriller and don't mind a slower burn, you might enjoy it. For me, it was a solid "okay" – I liked the story, but wished for more character depth and a tighter pace to truly make it shine.

When I Disappear is a dark, atmospheric thriller that expertly blends psychological suspense with an eerie small-town setting. Amanda McKinney pulls readers into a haunting mystery filled with secrets, trauma, and the kind of creeping dread that makes you second-guess every character’s intentions—including the narrator’s.

The story centers on a woman who retreats to a remote Appalachian cabin in an attempt to heal from past trauma, but what she finds there is far from peace. Strange occurrences, a neighbor with secrets of his own, and the echoes of a missing girl’s disappearance converge to create a sense of unease that intensifies with every page.

McKinney’s writing shines in the way she builds tension. The pacing is sharp, and the psychological unraveling of the main character feels raw and believable. There’s a strong sense of isolation that mirrors the protagonist’s inner turmoil, making the twists hit even harder when they come.

This is a great pick for fans of atmospheric thrillers like The Last House on Needless Street or The Girl Before. It keeps you guessing and leaves you with just the right amount of unease.

So many good twists, and turns. Kept me guessing the whole time. If you like a good suspenseful thriller, look no further!

A solid thriller with strong characters and a fast-moving plot. While I guessed some twists early, the suspense and emotional stakes still made it a worthwhile read.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc. Honestly, it's hard to get into the story and was slow to start. Some of the characters are meh and forgettable whilst others are ok and are somewhat relatable but overall this is not entirely bad. You just have to stick with it til the last page to really appreciate it.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for the ARC of this audiobook for my honest review

I feel like this was a predictable thriller but even so it hooked me the whole way through and I was so interested. I would recommend it and read it again. Well written, great characters and enjoyable!

Just when Sylvia thought she could finally move on, she finds herself dropped into a nightmare.

Twenty years after she testified against Rhett Cohen for her mother’s murder, Sylvia starts receiving anonymous letters claiming he’s innocent—each one more disturbing than the last.

When Rhett is released and a final letter arrives that says, “You’re next,” everything she thought she knew is thrown into question.

Is the real killer still out there… and is Sylvia their next target?

I absolutely LOVE having the opportunity to both read and listen to the same book. Each brings its unique perspective and experience. The audiobook for When I Disappear had a wonderful narrator who helped bring the suspense and intrigue to life.

This thrilling four star read released in January and is available in print and audiobook; it's also available to read for free through Kindle Unlimited - lots of ways to enjoy this one!

Huge thanks to NetGalley, Amanda McKinney, and Dreamscape Select for the advanced audiobook in exchange for a review.

Lost the audiobook when I had to reinstall my app so never got to listen to it. Will have to buy it.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* This was such a great read, it was so hard to put down! Would read it again and recommend

Thank you to Storm Publishing and Macmillan Audio for the digital and audio copies to review.

This was a quick and fun popcorn thriller that I enjoyed reading, and I am a fan of McKinney two books in. When I Disappear was fast paced but a little predictable. The audio was great, I enjoyed reading it this way and I finished this in one sitting.

4/5 stars
He spent twenty years in prison. She spent twenty years living a lie.
At 2:00 a.m. Sylvia Stone awakens to a letter on her doorstep suggesting the handsome carpenter, Rhett Cohen, who was convicted of murdering her mother twenty years earlier, is innocent. The anonymous letters continue, each one revealing details only the true killer would know, making Sylvia question her testimony years ago.
But as Rhett is released from prison, the fourth and final letter arrives with one chilling message: You’re next.
Then Sylvia disappears.
You may think you know how this story ends. Think again.

This is a really good audiobook. I liked the characters and the storyline. I couldn't see the ending coming and had a great time listening to this.

A whodunnit vibe in this one is real. If the man that went to prison for twenty five years for killing your mother is innocent, then who is the killer? This book will have you you on the edge of your seat, looking around every corner and continually trying to figure out whose guilty party is. Great thriller

Quick easy read that is hard to put down.

Characters were pretty interesting.

The relationship between Sylvia and Rhett is strange and I don’t understand how they were able to bond so quickly. That part wasn’t too believable.

The twist was a little predictable, definitely knew something wasn’t right.

Otherwise good read.

Thanks NetGalley for the copy.

3.5 stars

The premise of this book hooked me - he spent 20 years in jail for the murder of her mother based on her testimony. Now he is out and looking for vengeance and she is receiving mysterious letters on her doorstep in the middle of the night. Then she disappears.

I enjoyed so many parts of this book! The storyline was good, the twists were good (although I found them predictable) and it was a quick read. It kept my attention from beginning to end.

Where it didn't work for me was the pacing of the storytelling and some of the plot holes. There seemed to be some long drawn out plotlines that were then either dropped or wrapped up so quickly you almost missed it.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and will keep Amanda McKinney on my TBR!

Everything about this novel is over the top and hard to swallow, with the exception of the wonderful cat Daphne. Sylvia has a horrible relationship with her mother (and a secret dead twin), then she falls in love with her mom's murderer after 10 seconds of talking to him, and also gets kidnapped. If you are sensitive to animal violence beware as there is a (completely unnecessary) part with a dead cat in a barn too. I wanted to quit this novel, but pushed myself to finish because I was sure the ending would be a surprise and great twist, but I already figured it out and it was very disappointing.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Storm publishing for my copy of this book.

Thank you Netgalley, Amanda Mckinney and Dreamscape Media for the audio Arc of When I Disappear
Narrated by Elise Roth

When I Disappear is a medium paced psychological thriller which keeps you engaged. I found the pacing and the character building well balanced and likeable. Our MC, Sylvia unlikeable to begin with but warmed to her as the story unfolded. The book itself was slightly less twisty than what I expected but didn't take away from the book as a whole.

Thank you Elise Roth for narrating this book. Her voice is a pleasure to listen to.

3.5 stars on Storygraph. 4 stars on other review sites

This was fantastic. I really enjoyed it and couldn’t stop listening. I was hooked from the first minute! The narration was wonderful. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this audiobook.