The Disappearance

by Amanda Stevens

“I need you. Hurry!” It’s the worrisome text from her brother Connor that brings criminal analyst Claire Tinsley to picturesque San Miguel, Texas. There, she’s stunned to find her brother has vanished without a trace. Could he have murdered his employer and gone on the run? Claire refuses to believe it, and finds help searching for evidence from Ben Dornan, an undercover federal agent posing as a former cop. As they retrace Connor’s steps, Claire becomes intrigued by yet distrustful of the attractive man she believes is a cop. But she’s thoroughly shaken by a revelation that connects her to Connor and Ben…and puts a target on her back.

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Suspense

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 27, 2026

About the author

Amanda Stevens is the award-winning author of over fifty novels, including the modern gothic series, The Graveyard Queen. Her books have been described as eerie and atmospheric, “a new take on the classic ghost story.” Born and raised in the rural south, she now resides in Houston, Texas, where she enjoys binge-watching, bike riding and the occasional Horror Night with friends.

The Graveyard Queen trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrCf_e...

http://twitter.com/AmandaStevensTX

http://facebook.com/amandastevensbooks

amandastevensbooks@gmail.com

Reviews

[Robin (Bridge Four) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart

Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

3.5 hearts

In small town Texas, an unusual and gruesome murder has rocked the community.  Claire Tinsley, is headed there because of an urgent text from her brother, only to find he is nowhere to be found and there are suspicions he may have been involved in the murder. The Disappearance is currently a stand alone story that I think could go on to one or two more books.  There is a slight romance in the book as well but that is definitely not the focus.

Claire, and her brother Conner, have leaned on each other since their father was murdered when they were eight.  She will do anything to find her brother in the artist community he ended up in.  As a criminal analyst, she has the mind for this but not the practical experience.  There is another man in town, Ben, who is also looking for Conner, he needs to make sure Claire doesn't draw too much attention to her brother's current absence and the possibility that Conner was not the person who sent the text to get Claire to town.  There is a connection between Claire and Ben that is undeniable, but can the recovering FBI trust her with all of his secrets and their shared past.

This was a solid mystery.  I didn't guess the reveal at the end and that is a huge win for me in a story.  I liked the small town with an artist community in it and some of the busy bodies of the town.  The setting and backstory was well done.  I do wish there was a little more overall development of the characters and a few more threads unrelated to the murder mystery hashed out before the story ended.

This is going to be great for those who like a book with a lot of meat of the story and not much fluff.

Narration:
Performance: ★★★
Character Separation: ★★★★
Diction: ★★★★
Pacing/Flow: ★★★★
Sound Effects: None

Because the story is told in third person there is only one narrator even though some of the chapters focus on Claire and others on Ben.  Caroline McLaughlin is a new to me narrator and did a good job with the alternating PoVs and voices.  I was able to tell the major characters apart throughout the story.  Overall she did a good job with the pacing and flow capturing the mysterious nature of the story.  I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.

Listen to a clip: HERE

[Natalia Farnham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good fast paced thriller! I love it when an author doesn’t add fluff to bolster the pages and draw out a story. I think it was an interesting premise and kept me guessing on what the heck could have happened to the brother!

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and relatively short story!

Claire Tinsley gets an ominous text from her brother, asking her to come to meet him… immediately… to help him!
This is not something he would normally do, and… she’s on vacation in Europe!
With all of this in mind, she races to get a flight back to the states to go to see her brother Connor, to find out what the heck is going on!!

Unfortunately, when she gets to his place, he is not there! And his landlord hasn’t t see him. And, the places he usually hangs out at… well, he’s not there either.

But worse than all of this? His boss, in the art world, was found dead… in a very unorthodox way. One that is cruel and unusual. And, there are absolutely NO suspects….
Except of course, her brother, who is high on the list of the police…
But no one can find him!

On top of all else, Claire feels like she’s being followed! And strangely enough, she is! Apparently by an acquaintance of her brother…. But, what later comes out will leave your hair standing on end!

This was a power packed novel with a lot of great characters! Absolutely recommend this one!! ! The release date was on 1/27/26! So, look 👀 for it on shelves now!!

4 bright, beautiful, a bit scary…. Stars for me! ⭐️🌟⭐️🌟

#TheDisappearance by @AmandaStevens and narrated nicely by @CarolineMcLaughlin.

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and @HarlequinAudio for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!!

You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
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My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine

Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️

[Kaytea Burt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for this arc ! This was such a good read , the ending definitely threw me for a loop ! I liked how the two main characters relationship grew , but I wish there was a bit more to fill in the gaps ! I also wish there was a bit more at the end , who sent the message ? Was it the brother or someone else ? There was a few things I was feeling lacked , but it was an overall good mystery book for sure !

[Barbara Schultz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title: The Disappearance
Author: Amanda Stevens
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Caroline McLaughlin
Publisher: Harlequin Audio/Love Inspired
Genre: Mystery Thriller/Romance
Rating: 3.4 stars
Pub Date: January 27, 2026
Page: 224


Criminal analyst Claire Tinsley got a text from her twin brother Connor ~
“I need you – Hurry!”
So she rushes to San Miguel, Texas and once there she sends him a text- “I am here in San Miguel. Where are you?
She has his street address but is having difficulty finding it. She asks for directions and the woman states yes an apartment there was just on the news there was a murder India Cortez lived alone in her art studio.
The case interest Claire as a criminal analyst but she knows she must find her brother first.

She finds 1136 River Bend Road and is surprised as to how nice it is. She meets his landlady but she doesn’t know where Connor is but she does mention that Connor knew India Cortez. Connor is an artist so it really wasn’t a surprise but could Connor have been involved? Claire refuses to believe it, and finds help searching for evidence from Ben Dornan, an undercover federal agent.
Claire has concerns that the man who murdered their parents when they were nine years old might have something to do with this. Connor witnessed his father being shock in their driveway. He was traumatized by what he saw and certainly could not identify the man but perhaps the killer thinks he can identify him. So is trying to frame Connor.

The ending was a nice surprise.

Want to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date is schedule for January 27, 2026.

[Susie (DFWSusie)]

The Disappearance
Amanda Stevens

A twisty and exciting mystery thriller with a splash of Romance.
———
Harlequin Intrigue (Feb 2026)
Genre/Subgenre: romantic suspense, contemporary romance, thriller

Audio Narrator: she has a pleasant delivery and her voices have enough difference that it's easy to tell who is speaking, good with accents

Standalone/Series: standalone

Themes/Tropes: past trauma rises up to threaten current lives, twin in danger, missing loved one, mysterious stranger will help protect the new girl in town, small dangerous Texas towns, corrupt local cops

Steam/Spice Level: very low steam/spice, the Romance gets there eventually but it's the secondary story, fade to black

Setting: small South Texas town

POV: third person, past tense

Cops/LEO: yes, MMC is a recovering from injury FBI agent, and there's a local cop who's crooked
__________
Thank you Harlequin Audio for the Advanced Review Copy / Audio Review. Expected publication Jan 27, 2026

[Hannah D Sharpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Disappearance by Amanda Stevens is a romantic mystery told in dual POV with the primary POV as the female MC.

The mystery of this novel is borderline sleuth, but edges into thriller and cop/investigational mystery, as the characters have backgrounds that lend value in their hunt for answers.

The romance is a sweet romance, with closed door scenes and very little spice. The characters do evolve and rely on one another, and are fun to follow along with.

I listened to the audiobook version of this story, which was performed by a single narrator. I do think I would have preferred a dual narrator, but the story is told in 3rd person, and the narrator did a good job. I listened at 1.5x speed (my normal is 1.5-1.75x).

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for this advanced listeners copy.

[Vivienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

*The Disappearance* by Amanda Stevens was an especially enjoyable read for me because it’s centered around artists living in NoWhere Tx, which is something I’m personally a part of. That connection made the story feel more meaningful and authentic, and it was fun recognizing the creative community woven into the setting.

The book has a quiet, eerie tone that slowly pulls you in, and the atmosphere is really well done. The mystery unfolds at a steady pace and keeps you interested without feeling overwhelming. I also appreciated how much emotional depth the characters have—it’s not just about solving a mystery, but about the people and their lives.

Overall, this was a compelling and slightly haunting story, and the artist-focused setting made it stand out for me. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys atmospheric mysteries with a strong sense of place.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for this advanced listeners copy.

The Disappearance by Amanda Stevens is a romantic mystery told in dual POV with the primary POV as the female MC. The story is told in 3rd person, with one narrator on the audiobook.

This novel would be considered a mystery, with components of a thriller, and police/investigational plot, The characters have backgrounds that lend value in their hunt for answers.

There is also a romance component to this story, with closed door scenes and very little spice. I liked that the characters evolved as people and I enjoyed seeing their relationships grow.

I enjoyed that the story was told in 3rd person and I enjoyed the narrator as well. They kept me interested. I will definitely check out other stories from this author!

[Shawnee · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Disappearance" is a solid mystery thriller that will keep you listening/reading to the end! From the first chapter, you are pulled into the mystery around what happened to Claire's brother. There is an eerie and ominous feel to the book as Claire enters town and meets folks that may or may not be involved in her brother's disappearance.

There were a few twists and turns, and at times it was a bit of a challenge for me to keep up with the players, especially during the big twist at the end. There were some plot holes (not specifying as it may be a spoiler) and some threats/creepy happenings weren't taken seriously enough (IMO), but overall, it was a solid mystery thriller.

Great for Harlequin fans who appreciate a good mystery thriller!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarlequinAudio for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

[Erika Acton · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 ⭐️

I liked The Disappearance, but I did not love it. It has a really interesting premise and it moves quickly, so I expected to be more pulled in than I was. It is also very short, which usually works in its favor, but I was still surprised by how often I found myself feeling a little bored.

I cannot fully put my finger on what was missing. I think it may be that I never felt deeply connected to the characters, so even when the plot was doing things, it did not have the emotional hook that makes me feel invested. It is still a solid, quick listen and I can see why the concept would grab people, but it just did not fully land for me the way I hoped it would.

[Ashley Blough · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Disappearance is a tense, atmospheric mystery that pulled me in quickly and kept me guessing. Amanda Stevens does a great job building suspense, layering secrets, and creating a slightly eerie tone that lingers throughout the story. The pacing is steady with just enough twists to make it hard to put down.

This is a solid read for fans of mystery and suspense who enjoy character-driven stories with an ominous edge.

[Tara Martinetti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!!

This book was a fast listen with a high suspense factor. There were Multiple cliff hanger moments that had me holding my breath as I braced for the reveal. The clues on the trail had me guessing, but I didn’t figure the ending out too quickly. All in all I liked the mystery and suspense. If you like the show Outer Banks (I do) this book reminded me of that vibe!

[Laura Prindable · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claire is traveling abroad when she gets a desperate message from her twin brother to "come quick!". She heads to the states and finds her brother missing. She starts investigating immediately and finds the whole town is not what it seems.

4 stars.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Harlequin Audio for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Shawn Atkins Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for the Advance Copy.

I loved the fast pace of this mystery. I thought that the characters were built well and the suspense was great. I feel like the author could had added another element by making the relationship between Claire and Ben more than a passing moment but otherwise, it was very good.

[Laramee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A suspense filled with secrets and intrigue! Seeking justice and solving crimes! The narrator did a fantastic job bringing this story to life!

I received an audio ARC through Netgalley and all opinions are my own.

[Amethyst Maxey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick listen. The narrator did a great job. The story was fine, nothing special or too twisty. The ending did have a nice surprise.

Claire’s twin brother sends a text he needs her but when she gets to Texas, he has disappeared. She sets out to find him.

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
A compelling read, and thanks to the author for not another missing/dead girl mystery. This is a great whodunnit without knowing what was done, and the distrust throughout was palpable. A medium-paced book with dark secrets and buried truths that should appeal to most mystery fans.

[Becky Frazier · Rating 3 out of 5]

This audiobook was a somewhat enjoyable and very quick read.
The story was decent, the characters, I really liked.
The sex scenes were a little much at times.
The ending was unexpected and left open for more.

Interesting overall.

Thank you NetGalley for the copy

[Kelly Earls · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars for me. Quick little thriller that kept me engaged from the start. Narration was great keeping me on my toes throughout the book. Not as many twists as I was hoping for but the ending was great. Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the early audible arc! 🎧📖

[LizNReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

WHAT A TWIST AT THE END!!

Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Audio & Amanda Stevens for this ALC.

Caroline McLaughlin did a GREAT job narrating this book.

The story itself is a page-turner, very easy to follow. But that end? Whoa! I never saw it coming. A good book. 👌

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amanda Stevens one of my favorite authors. Claire Tinsley gets a text from her twin brother needing her help but when she arrives in Texas he is nowhere to be found. Then, when she is told about a murder she desperately needs to find her brother. enjoy.

[Karen Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written and well paced. Lots of suspects and I didn’t come close to figuring it out. Very enjoyable - light romance.

[Tammie Gunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great fun fresh new story, I have bought and read and loved everyone of her books. She never lets you donw.

[Sheri Jesse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely a horse of another color. For some reason, I really struggled getting through this book. There were a couple of really good surprises though that made it worth sticking it out.

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Romantic Suspense. I read this book by listening to the audiobook, and I really enjoyed this audiobook. I really enjoyed the suspense/mystery in this book. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters and all the drama in this book. This was a good read that I was pulled into the story from the beginning. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of ARC received from NetGalley : I listened to the audiobook version of The Disappearance by Amanda Stevens, narrated by Caroline McLaughlin. This was an entertaining read/listen that did keep my attention while I was listening but it was not unputdownable. The narration and audio quality were both great. I liked the characters but I wanted it to be more twisty.