The Night She Vanished: An absolutely gripping and totally nail-biting psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping twist
Wendy Dranfield
389 pages
Bookouture
published March 14, 2023
About the book
My parents seem to be the perfect couple. But no one knows what I know…
Everyone in the small Midwestern town of Henderson looks up to my perfect parents. With dependable jobs as a midwife and the town sheriff, they help this close-knit community feel safe. But the locals didn’t grow up in my parents’ house. They don’t know what I know. And they wouldn’t believe me if I told them…
After my best friend vanished when we were just fifteen, I left town and never looked back. I couldn’t prove it, but I think my parents killed her.
Now, years later, my little sister has vanished. I have no choice but to go home and play happy families again. Because I have to find out what my parents have done to her. I have to try to save her.
But when bones are discovered on a local farm, and all the evidence leads back to our front door, I realize I was wrong about absolutely everything. And that coming back was the deadliest thing I could do…
An utterly gripping read that will have you on the edge of your seat long into the night. If you like Freida McFadden, Lisa Jewell and Gone Girl you will love The Night She Vanished.
My Review
WOW, I was gripped from the start. A teenager disappears years ago and then another now. Then you find out the girl in the past was Nicole’s best friend and the girl in the present is her sister. Her dad is the sheriff and was a suspect in her friend’s disappearance.
It’s about family dynamics and secrets. I wasn’t sure who to trust and while there are characters that are thrown at you and made to seem shady, there were others that made me wonder based on something just not seeming quite right. And while I, as the reader, was privy to some history that starts off the book, I can’t imagine what type of grief is involved when someone goes missing and while you think you know what happened, but you never really will.
There were so many twists and red herrings. I didn’t want to put it down. Nicole is a relatable character. She is trying without luck to start a family and then must deal with her estranged one.
I can see why this one made the list of books to read this spring. A fast paced thriller that kept me guessing.
About Wendy Dranfield
Wendy is the bestselling author of the Detective Madison Harper crime series.
She is a former coroner’s assistant turned crime writer who writes a mixture of standalone thrillers, crime series and short stories. Some of her books have been shortlisted for various writing competitions and awards, including the Mslexia novel writing competition and the International Thriller Writer Awards.
You can find more information on her website: wendydranfield.co.uk
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