“This new novel has more twists and fakeouts than an episode of Serial.”—Rolling Stone“An eerie, twisted thriller sure to shake up the most seasoned true crime die-hard.”—Harper’s BazaarA Most Anticipated Book of 2021 by Rolling Stone • CNN • E! Online • Buzzfeed • New York Post • Popsugar • Woman’s Day • Crime Reads • Hello Giggles When her favorite true crime podcast host goes missing, an … Day • Crime Reads • Hello Giggles
When her favorite true crime podcast host goes missing, an adrift young woman sets out to investigate and plunges headfirst into the wild backcountry of Northern California and her own dangerous obsession.
Sera loves true crime podcasts. They give her a sense of control in a world where women just like her disappear daily. She’s sure they are preparing her for something. So when Rachel, her favorite podcast host, goes missing, Sera knows it’s time to act. Rachel has always taught her to trust her instincts.
Sera follows the clues hidden in the episodes to an isolated ranch outside Rachel’s small hometown to begin her search. She’s convinced her investigation will make Rachel so proud. But the more Sera digs into this unfamiliar world, the more off things start to feel. Because Rachel is not the first woman to vanish from the ranch, and she won’t be the last…
Rachel did try to warn her.
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A slick, smart thriller you don’t want to miss.
A clever, sinister read with a surprising sting in the tail.
I’m not sure why it took me so long to write a review of this book–probably because I’ve been thinking about the ending and about the main character for weeks now. They’ll just pop back inside my head at random times, which I guess means that it’s a truly excellent book! You already know the plot from the back cover, so just let me say that I just really, really enjoyed being in Sera’s head and having her backstory revealed little by little. I don’t know if she’s likable, but as someone who often feels lost she is so relatable to me. The way she goes about trying to figure out Rachel’s disappearance and living in an environment that is immensely creepy was really engaging. The author does such a great job with setting and with making you feel like this beautiful place full of nature is also creepy af and full of secrets. I truly did NOT see the end coming, which is something I enjoy a lot (what can I say? I like being mind blown). The prose is amazing, and so are the snippets of old podcasts and the way little cues are sprinkled in them. Really one of my fave books!
It was written in first person and you didn’t know the names of anyone until quite a ways into the novel. Unique for sure but not what I was expecting
I couldn’t get into it.
Totally engaging characters made me care a lot about their unfolding story. These are not stick figures used in a thriller or mystery. Highly recommend.
What a wild ride of a story! This book truly had me second guessing and questioning everything as I continued to read, but also had me so confused with what was going on! Sera is obsessed with Rachel’s true crime podcast, and after losing her job, marriage, and everything else in her life it seems that this podcast and the host are the only things she’s holding onto. But when Rachel stops posting and uploading, Sera becomes obsessed with what happened and what’s going on and decides to take matters into her own hands and travels to Rachel’s town to get answers for herself and uses past podcast episodes as clues to help her get answers. Upon arrival, Sera meets Rachel’s mother Addy and secures a job and housing on the family farm, further solidifying herself into Rachel’s life, and works to investigate and get answers in a town that isn’t concerned at all. I was on the edge of my seat while reading trying to figure out where Rachel was and if something really happened to her, but in the end, I felt the ending was a little rushed and confusing. Overall, the storyline was great but the back and forth of the writing had me going back to re-read because I was a little confused.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Book 37 towards my goal of 240! 2/5 stars for this adult mystery read. This book had so much potential but just fell flat for me. I was intrigued by being told in 2nd person, and the podcast element. Usually those are automatic wins for me. I just can’t recommend this one.
I’m hooked on true crime podcasts so when I read this premise I was excited. Sera is unemployed, divorced, and is obsessed with Rachel Bard and her podcast called Murder, Missing, Conspiracy. The podcast focuses on missing girls, she talks about her parents and the Fountain Creek Ranch they own. Rachel has been radio silent, so Sera decides to find her using what she’s learned from Rachel’s podcast. Sera believes it is what Rachel wants and follows the clues to the ranch. Sera is met by Addy, Rachel’s mom, and is given a job on the ranch. Happy Camp is a small town where everyone knows each other, so when Sera asks questions about Rachel’s disappearance she’s surprised and irritated that no one is concerned. The story is a nice pace, but it’s a bit predictable and the ending felt rushed.
Thank you Berkley for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
If I Disappear
By: Eliza Jane Brazier
REVIEW
Bizarre. That is the perfect word for If I Disappear. I’m not a fan of podcasts, so I didn’t love reading about a podcast I did like the atmospheric vibe of sinister creepiness and just plain crazy. There are a couple of things I could have done without all together. I just don’t know what to make of Sera because nothing about her felt realistic or relatable or familiar. The premise is good, but the story kind of scattered like a confetti explosion. Honestly, this is probably a stylistic issue, and I prefer a different style. There are plenty of readers who will like the style of this story, though, and enjoy it more than I did.
A raw, searing suspense that also tackles important issues of womanhood and identity. Every page crackles with sinister tension and the haunting setting seeps into your bones. Clever and ominous, this is a thriller you won’t be able to put down.
Subtle, surprising, and genuinely scary… an unflinching exploration of our obsession with true crime and the darkness marbling our psyches. With sinewy prose and nuanced observations about the female experience, this debut marks a ferocious new voice.
A spellbinding tale of obsession and isolation, and the darkness that can unspool when the two intertwine. Thick with atmosphere and dripping with tension, this is a book you’ll want to devour in one sitting — if you dare.
Sleek, exciting, and twisty.
What a deliciously creepy thriller. The format it’s written in lends to that creepy “I see you” feeling and the writing is so vivid that I felt like I was right there with Sera. I could see the ranch, Happy Camp, all her surroundings. I had to stop and check that my doors were locked a few times because I got the heebie jeebies while reading 🙂 It kept me moving along, trying to guess what happens and who is actually the murderer and who are the good guys. Thank you for scaring the pants off me in the most creepy way!
Every page is packed with feral tension. Fans of true crime podcasts will love the chilling tale Brazier has woven. I won’t sleep for days.
A fascinating, twisty, beautifully written tale with an unforgettable premise and an ending you won’t see coming… a delight from start to finish.
This sinister take on the true crime media phenomenon is sure to send chills up your spine!
Sera is a unique character. She lives alone, recently divorced, has no real friends, listens to true crime podcasts, and feels like her favorite podcaster, Rachel, is talking directly to her. When Rachel’s podcasts stop Sera is sure that something bad has happen to her and heads to Rachel’s hometown to save her. When she arrives, she finds a ranch that has a history of women disappearing and a town that warns her to stay away from the ranch.
I am not a podcast listener, but I love a good thriller, mystery book. If I Disappear had me wondering what had happen to Rachel, were her parents as odd as they seemed, would Sera find out the truth. I had so many questions as I continued reading. I loved that Sera did not let anything detour her from finding the answers she was looking for and that she did not take everything and everyone around her at face value. She questioned everyone and everything she encountered.
I was not pulled into this story as deeply as I would like, I was able to put the book down and not really think about it until I picked it up again. But when I picked it up the rest of my world went away, and I could not be distracted by the life going on around me. I like the unique format of adding the podcast notes within the story. Over all, I really enjoyed If I Disappear and look forward to more of Eliza Jane Brazier’s books.
“A propulsive thrill ride full of surprises right through the firecracker ending.”