Then She Vanishes: The gripping psychological thriller from the author of THE COUPLE AT NO 9

Claire Douglas keeps you guessing throughout. You become invested in the characters and outcomes. I just love her writing style, it is warm and yet twisted. Plot endings are always a surprise. I need to read everything she has written. As a lover of thrillers she has to be one of my favourite authors.

As children, Jessica Fox and her friend Heather were inseparable. Always together, they were as thick as thieves, sharing each other’s hopes and dreams. Then one night, after slipping out to meet her boyfriend at the local fair, Heather’s sixteen-year-old sister Flora fails to return home. Her mysterious disappearance not only causes upset in the family but also creates a rift between the two girls. For no apparent reason, Jess suddenly begins to distance herself from Heather, deliberately shunning her in favour of her new friends, while Heather is understandably left feeling betrayed. The two girls then lose touch after leaving school.Eighteen years later, Tess is now a journalist working for the Bristol and Somerset Herald. When two people are found dead in the seaside town of Tilby, where Tess grew up, she is tasked with the job of reporting it for the paper. A woman named Heather Underwood is accused of shooting the couple, and as Tess types up the story, she can’t help wondering if it is the same Heather she used to know. Therefore, when her editor insists that she goes there to investigate further, she jumps at the chance.Having confirmed that the accused is indeed her old friend, Tess manages to secure an exclusive interview with Heather’s mother Margot, who still refuses to believe her missing daughter Flora is dead, or that Heather was capable of shooting anyone. However, the deeper Tess delves into the family’s history, the more secrets and lies she uncovers. It is only when she receives an anonymous warning to back off, that she realises, if she wants to find out the truth, she must decide which is more important … her job as a journalist, or her role as a friend.‘Then She Vanishes’ is a cleverly written crime thriller with intriguing plot twists and interconnecting threads. Each chapter focusses on an individual character, and as the story progresses each character’s backstory is gradually revealed, disproving any ideas the reader may have previously formed.Running parallel to the main story of Flora’s disappearance is Jess’s own struggle with commitment to her partner Rory. He wants to settle down and have a family, while she is reluctant to become a mother – mainly due to her relationship with her own dysfunctional mother. This, together with her colleague Jack’s relationship problems, not only adds extra tension to the story but also gives the characters more depth, providing them with relatable personalities.I really enjoyed this novel. It was full of surprises and held my attention right to the last page, where a final twist made for a satisfying ending. It is definitely worth the read.

This book was even better than the other books I have read by Claire. This time thinking after all her books I have read, I could work the plot out. I was feeling very pleased with myself....then she pulled the rug from under my feet and twisted the plot right around! Truly brilliant

Really enjoyed this book. I thought it was well written. Kept me enthralled.

This was an excellent read, exciting and perturbing. In 1994, Flora disappears without a trace. She just vanished. Twenty five years later, Flora’s sister, Heather, walks into a house and shoots the two people present. A middle aged man and his elderly mother.Jess used to be friends with Flora and Heather when they were older teenagers. Now she is a journalist for a local paper after losing her job with one of the big dailies in London. Jess’ friendship with Heather used to be strong, but it ended in a bad way and the young women haven’t seen each other for years.Now Jess finds herself on the girls’ doorstep, eager to get an exclusive that will help cement her future as a journalist. The book is told from different years and different viewpoints. The writing is brilliant and despite going from year to year, the story is told seamlessly. The characters are so well drawn they live and breathe from the page.The story is full of twists and turns, with new characters arriving regularly so that you wonder what part they played in the lives of these women. I didn’t guess the end, which was fabulous. The story ends so brilliantly, unpredictable yet also believable. This is not going to be my last Claire Douglas book.

I’ve read all Claire Douglas books and love her style of writing. There’s always twists and turns throughout them with surprising endings. This book of her’s was as good as ever.

I quite enjoyed this book although at times I found the writing style a little immature.I wouldn’t call it a thriller and why do authors think asking questions in the text make it so?There were times when I couldn’t put the book down and other times where I found it a little boring. However it’s worth a read

Loved it and have ordered more of the author's books.

This was a solid book. I bought it on a whim, and I'm glad I did. It kept me wanting to keep reading to find out what happened to everyone involved. Definitely recommend!

This book grabbed my attention from page one and held it all the way to the end. It's a story about relationships, growing up and how far we're willing to go to protect the ones we love. The secrets and lies will keep you guessing, and you still won't be right. Definitely one of the best books I've read this year. I highly recommend it!

I've read almost all books by this author now, and this one for me is the best so far!Awesome mix of allowing the reader to guess some parts of the whydunnit, but not others. Fantastic twist at the end. Really fabulous read. Can't wait for the next book!

A great novel that keeps on your toes until the end! It masterfully alternates two stories involving the characters: the nineties and 2012 and each chapter is told from one of the characters’ point of view.

Le livre est arrivé avec la couverture coupée. Étant donné le prix, je m'attendais à recevoir un livre en bon état....