Watch Her Vanish: An absolutely gripping mystery thriller

Name: Watch Her Vanish: An absolutely gripping mystery thriller
Rating: 4.433628082275391 (113 reviews)

Ellery Kane

Oct 2020 · Rockwell and Decker Book 1 · Bookouture

4.4

113 reviews

Ebook

350

Pages

Eligible

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About this ebook

‘Absolutely fantastic… I couldn’t put it down once I started.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

Shutting the car door against the rain, Bonnie instantly feels safe with her husband’s favorite baseball cap on the seat beside her and the two empty booster seats behind her littered with loose Cheerios. She smiles to herself, feeling lucky to be going back to her boys. But she never makes it home…

Hundreds of candles light the stained-glass windows of the church as the people of Fog Harbor, California gather for Bonnie McMillan’s vigil. The much-loved teacher, mother and friend has been missing for nearly a week, her car left abandoned on a lonely road, and her husband and two little boys are inconsolable.

But then a scream shatters the silence of the church. Someone has found her body in the shallows nearby, her blouse ripped open to exposing marks on her beautiful neck, her legs bent like broken driftwood. Who would hurt this kind, loving soul? Fog Harbor is a safe and close-knit community, but someone close to her knew she would be driving home alone that night. Could a dangerous killer be hiding among them?

Bonnie would do anything for her students and had changed so many of their lives for the better, but was one more twisted than she knew? She certainly didn’t realize that her marriage wasn’t as perfect as she thought, and her husband was keeping a dangerous secret from her.

But when another woman is found, her tiny body dumped against the trunk of a massive redwood, it’s clear the that no one in this remote little town can be trusted. The victims knew each other. They also knew their killer. And more will to follow unless someone breaks the chain…

An addictive and unputdownable crime thriller that will keep you up all night. Perfect for fans of Melinda Leigh, Kendra Elliot and Mary Burton.

Readers love Watch Her Vanish:

‘PERFECTION! Be prepared to skirt your responsibilities because you won’t want to put this book down… keeps you guessing until the end. I cannot wait for the next installment!’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars

‘A taut fast-paced thriller in every sense of the word. Dark and oozing with suspense. Well plotted and stunningly written. Loved it!’ Kelly Russo Reviews, 5 stars

‘WOWZA!!!... I cannot wait to get my hands on the next installment in this series!’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars

‘Absolutely fantastic… I couldn’t put it down once I started.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘A scream!… Grabs a hold of you and keeps you reading till the end!’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘Loved!! Everything about this book was spot-on!… I was pulled in from the beginning and it didn't let up once! Can't wait for book 2.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘A fantastic book. Like wow! I really got into this read… This book will draw you in and you won’t be able to stop.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘Grabs you by the heart, then grabs you by the throat and shakes up all your cells.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

Ratings and reviews

4.4

113 reviews

Anne Loshuk

October 11, 2020

This is the first book in the Decker and Rockwell crime thriller series and the first I have read by this author, but it will not be the last. It is a thrilling read with lots of red herrings, plot twists and intrigue. Olivia Rockwell is working as chief psychologist at Crescent City Prison, in Fog Harbour, California. Detective Will Decker moved there from the SFPD for a fresh start. Both have scars and secrets from their past, but when a killer starts to target women working at the prison, they find their paths converging. Things become even more complex because the prime suspect is an incarcerated serial killer that Olivia counsels, and that Deck has history with. It is a well constructed murder mystery with a compelling plot that leaves you guessing until nearly the end of the book. It has a twist at the end and sets the stage for the next book well with a bit of a cliff hanger in both the thriller and the romance areas. Even though I liked the idea of a romance between the protagonists, it did seem a little immature and unrealistic in parts. I liked the touch of humor in the story, how the author slowly developed the characters and that they all had strong personalities. I especially liked the development of Drake’s character, he is devious, manipulative and creepy. Overall, this is an entertaining story with a well-developed plot. I will look forward to reading the future books in this series. I received an early copy of this book from Bookouture via NetGalley with no obligation to review. This in no way influenced my review and all opinions expressed are solely my own.

Kathleen Hughes

October 9, 2020

Fog Harbor, California is a typical small town, peppered with Mom and Pop stores, churches and gossip. It is also home to Crescent Bay State Prison where many of the local residents are employed. Olivia Rockwell, who has returned to her hometown to care for her younger sister, is the Chief Psychologist at the prison. Bonnie McMillan, who teaches creative writing to prisoners, has disappeared on her way home from a late night movie. At a vigil for the missing Bonnie, Olivia first meets ruggedly handsome local police officer Will Decker. She also encounters him a second time shortly after the vigil when she is one of the first to discover Bonnie’s body. After another killing, suspicion falls on Drake Devere, a convicted murderer and published author. What motive would Drake have to kill his favorite teacher, the woman who helped him get his book published? How would he be able to come and go from a secure prison? Just what is going on behind those prison walls? As Rockwell and Decker team up to investigate, they find the answers to these questions and much more but not before their lives and those of people close to them are threatened. Watch Her Vanish is the first in a new series. While I look forward to the next Rockwell/Decker installment, I hope to see some slight changes. The first is a small one. I found it hard to believe that Bonnie watched a movie in a theater by herself until 2 in the morning. Same for the second victim who was out jogging alone at 4:30 in the morning. I also think that Ellery Kane should decide whether the series emphasis is on mystery or romance. 4 stars. Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture and Ellery Kane for this ARC.

Grace J. Reviewerlady

October 9, 2020

Definitely a 'whodunnit' - thing is, I couldn't quite work out who! Olivia Rockwell has returned to Fog Harbor in California to be close to her sister. The local state prison, Crescent Bay, provides a lot of employment locally, including Olivia who is a psychologist there. When another employee's missing body is found, all the evidence leads to Olivia's most serious inmate - but how can it have anything to do with him while he's safely locked up 24/7? Olivia wants to believe the system works - after all, it's kept her father safely locked away for a number of years - and embarks on her own investigation but locks horns with Detective Will Decker, who is officially dealing with her colleague's death. Surely there must be a plausible explanation - but who will find it first? A well-plotted mystery, full of secrets but ending up with everything clearly laid out but I would have liked it to be just a bit sharper, grabbing my focus instead of just asking for it. The story is good but it didn't set my pulse racing, unfolding at it's own pace until it's all explained by the last page. It'll be interesting to see where this series heads next though, and I'll certainly watch out for the next book. Sometimes, it just takes the first one to set it all up. Four stars for this one.

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