I’m going to have to agree with the blurb for “When I Disappear” - if you’re a fan of Freida and Jeneva’s work, this one is certainly for you. It’s fast-paced, easy to digest, and... predictable. The multiple POVs were a nice touch, but it would’ve been great if each one had a different narrator to really bring the audio to life. It’s the kind of audiobook that you can casually listen to while doing something else, but don’t expect any shocking twists or deep revelations.

When I Disappear is a new thriller, I don't normally read thrillers, however, I was hooked from the very start of this book and couldn't put it down. I had to know what happened next and was kept on the edge of my seat.

This book is told from the dual points of view of Sylvia Stone and Rhett Cohen.

Sylvia's mother was murdered 20 years ago, and Rhett was sent to prison. Now Sylvia is being targeted, and Rhett is released when it's proven he wasn't the murderer.

Rhett is doing whatever he can to undercover who murdered Sylvia's mother, and who is targeting her. Can Rhett get the answers he's been seeking?

With all the secrets and lies this book had some twists and turns I wasn't expecting.

I enjoyed this book, and can't wait to see what comes from this author.

The suspense in this audiobook was like a roller coaster, it really kept my interest. So many times, I thought I had it figured out and I was so wrong. Great flashbacks too.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, the author and Dreamscape Select | Storm Publishing for this audio ARC.

This book was a decent suspense that had lies, murder, and twists. I wish there and been three different narrators for the three different characters but the narrator did do a good job. I liked the different timelines and the three point of views. I always feel this adds more to the story. I was listened to this book in two days because it was a quick book and I wanted to know what was going to happen next.

I really enjoyed this one. I had the audiobook and it was so easy to listen to and follow the plotline. The narration by Elise Roth was done quite well. I loved how she made me feel the emotions Sylvia was experiencing. Sylvia Stone is a 39 year old woman who is the lead investigative journalist of a crime case. 20 years previously her own mother was murdered and Sylvia was a witness to it that helped put Rhett Cohen in prison for the murder. But just as Rhett is about to be paroled Sylvia begins getting letters that undeniably indicate that Rhett was not the killer. I can only begin to imagine how I would feel knowing that I was a reason someone was falsely imprisoned. What I didn't expect was for the two of them to team up to find the real killer.

The story is told in a couple different timelines: 20 years previously and present day. There are three different POV's: Marjorie who is Sylvia's murdered mother, Sylvia and Rhett. I found the addition of Marjorie's POV very telling and added an additional twist to all the twists and turns throughout the story that I wasn't expecting. I loved this one!

When I Disappear was an enjoyable and engaging read that kept me hooked throughout. One of the standout features was the way the story unfolded through multiple perspectives, which added depth and complexity to the narrative. It was fascinating to piece together the different viewpoints and try to uncover what was true. The narrator did a good job bringing the characters to life, but I felt there could have been clearer distinctions when chapters shifted to the past. At times, it wasn’t immediately obvious when the timeline had changed, which caused some moments of confusion. Despite that, the story’s pacing and suspense were excellent. I was constantly second-guessing the characters’ intentions and trying to figure out what truths were real. The twists and turns kept me invested, and I appreciated how everything came together in the final chapters. It was a compelling story with strong emotional undertones and a satisfying conclusion. If you're someone who enjoys multi-layered narratives with elements of mystery and intrigue, I’d recommend giving this one a try. It’s a thought-provoking and gripping read that stays with you even after the last page.

When I Disappear by Amanda McKinney
Narrated by Elise Roth

Elise Roth did a very good job of narrating this story. No going overboard with any of the voices so I could just enjoy the story without thinking about the narrator.

The story starts with a gruesome crime twenty years ago and then the story moves forward twenty years to the daughter of the murder victim. Sylvia Stone is a mess, barely getting off the couch, not taking care of herself, getting let go from her journalism job seems to have sent her in a tailspin. What sort of wakes her up and take notice is when she gets a series of letters with numbers and then one with what seems to be a threat.

Rhett Cohen, the man that has been convicted of the murder is getting out of prison so it's easy to think the letters could have something to do with his release. After meeting both Sylvia and Rhett, I immediately liked one of these people much better than the other. Yes, I picked a team pretty quickly. Rhett makes contact with Sylvia and they both seem to be on the same page that there could be a murderer that's never been caught. Should Sylvia, be scared, should she be more careful? I couldn't help wondering the same for Rhett. For a man who has lost everything, he seems like a very good person.

There is always tension in the story. It seems Sylvia is being threatened and it also seems that someone might be trying to frame Rhett. Someone here is not on stable ground mentally. I had a lot figured out but that was okay, I wanted to see how everything played out, if my hunches were correct or if I was way off base.

Thanks to Dreamscape Select | Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.

Amanda McKinney's latest novel, WHEN I DISAPPEAR, is a gripping, twisty, whodunit psychological thriller of murder, secrets, manipulation, lies, and deception that will keep you guessing with red herrings.

Four Letters.
One Chilling Message.
YOUR NEXT.

A ski mask
A journal
The jewelry
The shrine

About...

Sylvia Stone begins receiving letters twenty years after her mother Marjorie's murder. She has spent 20 years living a lie.
Rhett Cohen has spent 20 years in prison after being convicted of the murder. He claims he is innocent.
Was he in the wrong place at the wrong time?

When Sylvia receives the last letter informing her she is next, Rhett is desperate to uncover the real killer before he is again blamed. Then she disappears.

Who framed Rhett? Who killed Marjorie Stone?

My thoughts...

WHEN I DISAPPEAR is an engrossing popcorn thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat with mounting suspense.

Told from multiple POVs and flashbacks from twenty-some years ago, the author keeps you hooked with her twists, turns, suspects, and unreliable narrator.

Jealousy, greed, obsession, and an evil, sinister plan of murder (s) unravel in this small town full of secrets.

McKinney's skill in crafting a dark and multi-layered narrative is evident, and readers will find the ending satisfying. This was my first book by the author, and I'm eagerly looking forward to reading more.

Audiobook...

For an immersive experience, the audiobook is narrated by Elise Roth, whose engaging performance brings the characters to life.

Recs...

WHEN I DISAPPEAR is for Miranda Rijks, Emily Shiner, Robin Mahle, and Daniel Hurst fans.

Thanks to Dreamscape Select and Storm Publishing for providing me with an ALC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pub Date: Jan 24, 2025
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I really enjoyed this and will definitely be looking to read more by this author.
I listened to the audiobook which was excellently narrated.

The characters were strong right from the off, the opening pages had me hooked. The intrigue when the lead character is released from prison and the mystery surrounding the letters just kept me listening in almost one sitting.

Totally enjoyed and will definitely recommend

Did a woman help wrongly convict an innocent man accused of murdering her mother?

Did a man serve 20 years in prison for a crime he did not commit?

The book's intriguing premise earns 10 stars.

The book unfolded from two POVs (mother and daughter) with different timelines.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Elise Roth.

Since there was only one narrator, it was frequently difficult to discern who was saying what.

The narrator made no effort to change the tone of her voice.

When listening to the daughter's POV, I felt like I was listening to a Nancy Drew book character with a YA vibe.

For example, the daughter remarked multiple times how hot her mother's accused killer was. (Huh?)

Author Amanda McKinney is an experienced and talented writer.

This book is a re-release of an earlier book and most likely explains the book's multiple glitches.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars

Damn this was crazy. I listen to it on audiobook and I did the whole thing in one go. I couldn’t make myself stop. It was so captivating and the narrator (Elise Roth) was amazing. I didn’t see the twist coming from a mile away. Literally addictive and so twisted. A 3.75⭐️ for me

Great book. Couldn't stop listening. Thank you for giving me the chance to read in advance. I was in love with all the characters.

OMG the ending! I was not expecting this at all. Just fantastic. I love the narration. I just cannot get over this story.

Not what I expected. Seemed a little long and convoluted. But the end? Wow! Didn't see that coming. Would recommend.

When I Disappear is an addictive, thrilling and all consuming ride. As usual Amanda style I loved and devoured it. Her writing style always captivates, hooks me and the unfolding of her plots are always masterful.

From the first page to the very last I was hooked. She grabbed me straight away and never let me go. This book is non stop action packed. There's always something happening. Her writing will pull you in right away, it's descriptive, researched and flows perfectly.

Honestly, I'd say for about half the book I had no idea where she was headed with the plot, you know what I loved that. Loved being thrown from side to side, from suspect to suspect, I had suspicions throughout the whole book, but she always made me flip sides. I did sort of have some suspicions confirmed but honestly it did not ruin it at all for me since she played with my mind so much.

The pacing was great, it was a little slower in the beginning, but once everything started unfolding it didn't let up. It was action packed, filled with twists, lies, secrets, revenge and deceit. The story never felt unrealistic or too much, there weren't unnecessary add ons. The characters were definitely all unreliable, honestly I didn't trust anyone and that's definitely what I love when I read a thriller. It was a clever psychological thriller.

Overall, this was a great thriller that I had so much fun reading. I loved the pacing, the plot, the reveal. It did leave us on an open ended ending.. I'm curious for more !

🎧 The narration by Elise Roth was good. I was a little scared as she is alone narrating 3 characters, one which is a male. She did a great job of having distinct voices for each of the women it made it easy to distinguish them. As for the man voice it was also easy to distinguish as she made her voice rougher. I thought she delivered the story very well.

✨️Thank you to @netgalley, @stormbooks_co @amandamckinneyauthor for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this audiobook. I was eh about the main character of Sylvia at first because she seemed very whiny. Then we had some more characters come in. Like Rhett. Multiple points of view, two timelines and some interesting and secretive characters. I loved this entire book. A mystery that has a bizarre twist at the end that you can kind of see coming 3/4 of the way through but just don’t want to believe. Well believe it. Phenomenal book. Great narration.

A fast-paced plot that was easy to follow. Big surprise ending!
Great narrator too.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

When I Disappear is a thriller that will draw you in with just the first few chapters! This was quick read that I didn't want to stop listening to! You will think you know exactly what happens and then the author will pull you in a new direction.

This story is mostly told in the present timeline, with flashes into the past, where a man wrongfully accused of murder 20 years ago is out and wants to figure out who framed him. He teams up with the daughter of the woman he was accused of murdering because she desperately wants to help him.

I was hooked right from the start and needed to know how all of the individual plot points tied together. I had a theory that I totally thought I was going to correct on, but I couldn't of been farther away from the actual ending. The conclusion was shocking and really wrapped up the book. This was my first novel I read by Amanda McKinney, but it certainly will not be the last.

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for my Audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Solid premise, but I felt like things got super predictable about midway through the book. I wish the story had been a little more detailed and the killer a little more creative.

When I Disappear grabbed me in the first five minutes! I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook and devoured it in a day! At just over 8 hours in length it was relatively short but that did not mean that the story was lacking depth. The narrator was easy to listen to which made the experience even better.
The story has a dual timeline which helped to build the details in the plot and develop the characters. There are some twists in turns that surprised me in this one! I did not see the ending coming!

Thank you NetGalley, Amanda McKinney, Ellie Roth and Dreamscape Audio for the opportunity to preview this title. The opinions shared are my own.

This title is expected to be released Jan. 24, 2025.