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The Summer She Vanished
A MISSING GIRL. A MURDERED WOMAN.
HOW LONG CAN A SMALL TOWN BURY ITS PAST?
Forty years ago, local teacher Sister Francesca Pepitone was found strangled in a parking lot on the outskirts of Boweridge.
One week later, seventeen-year-old Minna Larson disappeared. No one has seen or heard from her since.
The cases were never linked, and neither was solved, but Minna's niece Maggie is certain there's a connection because before she vanished, Minna was telling people she knew who had murdered Sister Fran, and that she had the evidence to prove it.
But no one believed her because there is one thing everyone can agree on.
Minna lies.
A blistering and shocking thriller that takes you on a taut and compelling journey to find the truth behind the story of a missing teen, a murdered nun, and the dark secret that connects them. Perfect for fans of SWEET LITTLE LIES, THE ROANOKE GIRLS and THE GIRLS WHO DISAPPEARED.
HOW LONG CAN A SMALL TOWN BURY ITS PAST?
Forty years ago, local teacher Sister Francesca Pepitone was found strangled in a parking lot on the outskirts of Boweridge.
One week later, seventeen-year-old Minna Larson disappeared. No one has seen or heard from her since.
The cases were never linked, and neither was solved, but Minna's niece Maggie is certain there's a connection because before she vanished, Minna was telling people she knew who had murdered Sister Fran, and that she had the evidence to prove it.
But no one believed her because there is one thing everyone can agree on.
Minna lies.
A blistering and shocking thriller that takes you on a taut and compelling journey to find the truth behind the story of a missing teen, a murdered nun, and the dark secret that connects them. Perfect for fans of SWEET LITTLE LIES, THE ROANOKE GIRLS and THE GIRLS WHO DISAPPEARED.
366 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 29, 2023
795 people are currently reading
797 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Irena Smith
2 books32 followersJessica has a BA in Glass & Ceramics and an MA in Glass, both from the University of Sunderland, based at the National Glass Centre. She’s a glass artist by trade, and has been selling online and through galleries since 2009, when she also began writing. Jessica’s writing is inspired by many things, but she loves podcasts, especially true crime, which she listens to while cutting glass and loading kilns.
Newcastle upon Tyne born and bred, Jessica now lives in County Durham, North East England, with her cat and epileptic rescue chihuahua. The Summer She Vanished is her debut novel.
Newcastle upon Tyne born and bred, Jessica now lives in County Durham, North East England, with her cat and epileptic rescue chihuahua. The Summer She Vanished is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
September 4, 2023
This is a borderline 3 stars for me- maybe more of a 2.5 stars. There was a major disconnect for me with the fact that main character did not know that she had an aunt until she was at her grandmother’s funeral. How is that even possible? No pictures. No nothing. And the relationships in this book were just a bit much for me. I think this book was trying to be a psychological thriller, but it was really just a cold case thriller,
Maggie has come “home” for a funeral and she has been dreading it. She has a strange relationship with her mom and the plan is for her to come and then head back to her home home in the UK. However she sees a strange man at the funeral and then learns that she had an aunt that went missing in the summer of 1972. She has NEVER heard that she had an aunt. Her mom nor her 3 uncles have never mentioned her- again I ask how is that possible?? Anyhow Maggie kind of becomes a dog with a bone and will not drop it until she learns what happened. She hears things like Minna (her aunt) lies. She liked to tell stories. She most likely ran away. But then Maggie learns that Minna’s teacher Sister Fran was murdered right before Minna disappeared. That is too coincidental right? Now Maggie has a group (Ted the hot cop, and Gretchen the alum) who are also invested in finding out what happened for their own reasons. The more they dig, the more they realize that there was a large scale cover up going on. What really happened to her aunt? Has too much time passed for her to find out?
With this being 2.5 stars, I don’t know that I would rant on this as a recommendation but maybe you will have a different take on it then I did. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Maggie has come “home” for a funeral and she has been dreading it. She has a strange relationship with her mom and the plan is for her to come and then head back to her home home in the UK. However she sees a strange man at the funeral and then learns that she had an aunt that went missing in the summer of 1972. She has NEVER heard that she had an aunt. Her mom nor her 3 uncles have never mentioned her- again I ask how is that possible?? Anyhow Maggie kind of becomes a dog with a bone and will not drop it until she learns what happened. She hears things like Minna (her aunt) lies. She liked to tell stories. She most likely ran away. But then Maggie learns that Minna’s teacher Sister Fran was murdered right before Minna disappeared. That is too coincidental right? Now Maggie has a group (Ted the hot cop, and Gretchen the alum) who are also invested in finding out what happened for their own reasons. The more they dig, the more they realize that there was a large scale cover up going on. What really happened to her aunt? Has too much time passed for her to find out?
With this being 2.5 stars, I don’t know that I would rant on this as a recommendation but maybe you will have a different take on it then I did. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 14, 2025
Great premise, nice opening, poor execution.
Synopsis
Maggie found out she has a missing aunt on the day she came back to the States after her maternal grandmother died. Before her aunt gone, a teacher, Sister Fran was murdered. Thinking that these two can't be a coincidence, Maggie is set out to find the truth. But not everyone wants the truth to be told in this small town.
Commentaries
My first problem with the book is the disjointed backstory.
We first met Maggie, then Maggie finding out about her aunt (a fact her mom's family didn't share with her and her sister), then she ran away everywhere trying to find the truth. I don't get it? Maggie doesn't know Minna at all, there's no love lost there, why would she try to find what happened to Minna within five minutes after she found out who Minna was? I need more established and believable motivation for Maggie.
Then, with her running to the police office, car rental office, and library; she met with people who grew up/classmates/knew Minna and she thought in annoyance something similar to: why does everyone got involved??
Like, Maggie, this is a small town and those accidents shook the whole town, what did you expect??
The second problem would be the group that bonded with Maggie over these cases. So. Much. Coincidence. Her ex bff just happened to be back and showed her something that could be a dangerous proof. Minna's ex classmates took Maggie in and explained stuffs and a cop also happened to know the case and wanted to get to the bottom of this thing. I might skim to the rest but I dare say that Maggie got things handed to her so there's no need to drag the plot up to Chapter 40.
Then, we have the weird flashback. I don't have the problem with flashbacks, but the writing made it weird. We have Maggie begged her mother to tell her about Minna (in a childish way), then the next chapter is a flashback from her mother's pov (but third person pov) that feels...weird. I don't know, I guess you have to read it yourself. And the flashback doesn't only occur once, but several times. I feel like we can do well without them and have someone tells Maggie directly or Maggie finds out by herself. There are other ways.
Also, nearing the ending, there's this chapter that is actually a letter for Maggie that didn't feel like a letter. It's a telling chapter, a revelation that's best told in a 'normal' way: via a scene! For a letter, it's too detailed! Filled with conversations and all, and I just couldn't take it anymore lol
But the most fatal one (for me) is that I couldn't connect with any of the characters at all. They didn't feel 'real', zero motivation, one dimensional bunch.
It's a disappointing read for me.
Next!
Synopsis
Maggie found out she has a missing aunt on the day she came back to the States after her maternal grandmother died. Before her aunt gone, a teacher, Sister Fran was murdered. Thinking that these two can't be a coincidence, Maggie is set out to find the truth. But not everyone wants the truth to be told in this small town.
Commentaries
My first problem with the book is the disjointed backstory.
We first met Maggie, then Maggie finding out about her aunt (a fact her mom's family didn't share with her and her sister), then she ran away everywhere trying to find the truth. I don't get it? Maggie doesn't know Minna at all, there's no love lost there, why would she try to find what happened to Minna within five minutes after she found out who Minna was? I need more established and believable motivation for Maggie.
Then, with her running to the police office, car rental office, and library; she met with people who grew up/classmates/knew Minna and she thought in annoyance something similar to: why does everyone got involved??
Like, Maggie, this is a small town and those accidents shook the whole town, what did you expect??
The second problem would be the group that bonded with Maggie over these cases. So. Much. Coincidence. Her ex bff just happened to be back and showed her something that could be a dangerous proof. Minna's ex classmates took Maggie in and explained stuffs and a cop also happened to know the case and wanted to get to the bottom of this thing. I might skim to the rest but I dare say that Maggie got things handed to her so there's no need to drag the plot up to Chapter 40.
Then, we have the weird flashback. I don't have the problem with flashbacks, but the writing made it weird. We have Maggie begged her mother to tell her about Minna (in a childish way), then the next chapter is a flashback from her mother's pov (but third person pov) that feels...weird. I don't know, I guess you have to read it yourself. And the flashback doesn't only occur once, but several times. I feel like we can do well without them and have someone tells Maggie directly or Maggie finds out by herself. There are other ways.
Also, nearing the ending, there's this chapter that is actually a letter for Maggie that didn't feel like a letter. It's a telling chapter, a revelation that's best told in a 'normal' way: via a scene! For a letter, it's too detailed! Filled with conversations and all, and I just couldn't take it anymore lol
But the most fatal one (for me) is that I couldn't connect with any of the characters at all. They didn't feel 'real', zero motivation, one dimensional bunch.
It's a disappointing read for me.
Next!
August 23, 2023
Our main character is Maggie, a student, who has returned to Boweridge (a small town in America) to see her mother for the first time in years. They’ve had a tempestuous relationship since Maggie chose to go to the UK to live with her father…and things take a downward turn when Maggie learns that she had an aunt, Minna, that nobody has talked about. Maggie takes it upon herself to learn more.
What Maggie discovers is that forty years ago a young nun, Sister Fran, was found murdered outside a diner on the outskirts of Boweridge. A week after this seventeen year old Minna disappeared. Everyone at the time assumed she ran away, but Maggie finds hints that the two cases might be connected as Minna told people she knew who had murdered Sister Fran.
We follow Maggie as she sets about trying to uncover the truth.
The town of Boweridge is full of characters with something to hide…a lot of which links to the convent where the name of one charismatic priest, Father Tom Brennan (the brother of the Chief of Police), keeps cropping up. Rumours have circulated for years, and Maggie finds plenty of evidence of a large-scale cover-up.
This was an absorbing read. The intricacy of the deception involved angered me, and the fact that so many innocent people got caught up in this web of lies was hard to comprehend. Not all our questions are answered - the slimy Simon definitely had something to answer to - but Maggie’s investigation makes for a compelling read. Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this before publication.
What Maggie discovers is that forty years ago a young nun, Sister Fran, was found murdered outside a diner on the outskirts of Boweridge. A week after this seventeen year old Minna disappeared. Everyone at the time assumed she ran away, but Maggie finds hints that the two cases might be connected as Minna told people she knew who had murdered Sister Fran.
We follow Maggie as she sets about trying to uncover the truth.
The town of Boweridge is full of characters with something to hide…a lot of which links to the convent where the name of one charismatic priest, Father Tom Brennan (the brother of the Chief of Police), keeps cropping up. Rumours have circulated for years, and Maggie finds plenty of evidence of a large-scale cover-up.
This was an absorbing read. The intricacy of the deception involved angered me, and the fact that so many innocent people got caught up in this web of lies was hard to comprehend. Not all our questions are answered - the slimy Simon definitely had something to answer to - but Maggie’s investigation makes for a compelling read. Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this before publication.
September 1, 2023
Debut novel, what?! I am so impressed with this book, and honestly would have never guessed it was the first for this author! I have read MANY a mystery/thriller and I must say this is the first that there was never a moment that I wasn’t interested. I find with a lot of books in this genre of there are times that it just feels like there’s too much or not enough information and it can drag on, or feel like it sped too quickly through parts. That didn’t happen in this book at all. It flowed so smoothly, had just the perfect amount of information, and kept my attention the entire time.
Minna lies. But does she? Or does everyone else?
Maggie returns home to the US from the UK for a family funeral and during her stay finds out she has an aunt she never knew about and uncovers a decades old unsolved murder. With the help of some new and old friends she dives head first into a very determined investigation that brings attention to many buried secrets of her town and even her family. With so many unpredictable twists and truths that come to light this one will keep you guessing.
The author did an incredible job weaving together the story with past and present. The character building was done so well and had me feeling like I personally knew the people of Boweridge. There were characters I loved, others I hated, and many had me feeling very emotionally invested in their parts of the story.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Minna lies. But does she? Or does everyone else?
Maggie returns home to the US from the UK for a family funeral and during her stay finds out she has an aunt she never knew about and uncovers a decades old unsolved murder. With the help of some new and old friends she dives head first into a very determined investigation that brings attention to many buried secrets of her town and even her family. With so many unpredictable twists and truths that come to light this one will keep you guessing.
The author did an incredible job weaving together the story with past and present. The character building was done so well and had me feeling like I personally knew the people of Boweridge. There were characters I loved, others I hated, and many had me feeling very emotionally invested in their parts of the story.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
April 21, 2025
3.5/5 stars! This was an interesting thriller with a cold case angle. When Maggie learns that she has an Aunt that's been missing for decades at her grandmother's funeral, she decides to find out what happened. What comes next is a web of lies and a whole town complicit in the crime. An interesting read, but lacking depth at some points.
September 1, 2025
2.5 ⭐️ I considered giving up on this book s few times but ultimately finished it. I didn’t feel for any of the characters and the story was pretty flat. I would not recommend this one.
July 24, 2025
Omg. I’m so sad this book is over. Easily my favorite read of 2025!
June 22, 2024
The beginning of this book is a little slower as it sets the scene and we learn about the main characters.
The title is used quite a few times within the book and I liked that.
Once the pace picked up, I was compelled to keep reading, there were many twists to the tale that kept me intrigued.
I didn't guess the ending!
The query with Simon was not answered but implied, was that a reason why Maggie worked hard to find out what happened to Mina?
Will look forward to Jessica's next book.
The title is used quite a few times within the book and I liked that.
Once the pace picked up, I was compelled to keep reading, there were many twists to the tale that kept me intrigued.
I didn't guess the ending!
The query with Simon was not answered but implied, was that a reason why Maggie worked hard to find out what happened to Mina?
Will look forward to Jessica's next book.
August 7, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley, Headline Books and the author for a sneak peek of this book to read and review!
Hometown girl, Maggie, returns for the funeral of her grandmother to uncover a family secret she never knew existed ... and of course she won’t rest until she gets some answers! This was a classic "small town hides all the things" slow burn mystery that just got better and better the deeper into the book I read. Every new reveal along the way truly kept me guessing. And the ending? Ya, I never saw that coming!
Nicely done debut! Excited to see more from this author in the future!
🔍 A solid crime thriller with all these chilling ingredients …
● all girls Catholic school
● unsolved murder
● cold case missing person
● small town cover ups
● family secrets
● lies, lies & more lies
● family dysfunction
happy reading!
Hometown girl, Maggie, returns for the funeral of her grandmother to uncover a family secret she never knew existed ... and of course she won’t rest until she gets some answers! This was a classic "small town hides all the things" slow burn mystery that just got better and better the deeper into the book I read. Every new reveal along the way truly kept me guessing. And the ending? Ya, I never saw that coming!
Nicely done debut! Excited to see more from this author in the future!
🔍 A solid crime thriller with all these chilling ingredients …
● all girls Catholic school
● unsolved murder
● cold case missing person
● small town cover ups
● family secrets
● lies, lies & more lies
● family dysfunction
happy reading!
August 23, 2023
A slow burn but still a pretty interesting and captivating story. The characters were all fleshed out well and evolved aling with the plot. The twists and turns weren't too predicable and caught me off guard. I loved the overall premise and found it really interesting. As I said, I did feel it qas a bit slow in parts but to be fair, the benefit of the slower paced sections was that you were getting more relevant vackstory or just some blatant red herrings thrown in before the pace picked up again and events unfolded further. Really well done
October 1, 2024
I found myself incredibly anger with this book at several points. (yes, I did give it 4 stars)
Trigger Warnings: Pedophilia, Implied Sexual Assault/Rape of underage girls, Victim Blaming, Murder, Physical Abuse of a Romantic Partner, Abusive Mother, Heavy Religious Themes
The Summer She Vanished is less of a whodunit but rather piecing together a 40 year old mystery and prove the known subject is guilty. Piecing together a family mystery with little to no help from her actual family, Maggie returns to America for her grandmother's funeral and learns about her secret aunt everyone tried to forget because she vanished just a few days after the murder of a Sister at her Catholic all girls High School.
We learn about the tragic events of Minna, and the abuse she and other teenaged girls at her school faced at the hands of Father Tom Brennon. It's treated as an open secret, and even the high reaches of their town tossed away evidence to protect this man. While we're led to believe these high reaches are to blame for everyone insisting nothing happened to Minna and that's why no one talks about her; people seem to want to talk the moment Maggie askes any questions. And pretty much everyone she meets tells her she looks just like her aunt... Which is super weird because why didn't she hear that a lot growing up? These same people seem to be willing to talk well enough they would have made these comments about Maggie when she was still living in town.
The twist ending is that Sister Fran is actually alive, and it's actually her twin sister Flora that was murdered by Father Brennon because he thought Flora was Fran. After Fran confronted him, told him to turn himself in or she would- he tried to meet up with her to 'talk' and by talk I mean kill. Fran adopted Flora's identity out of fear for her life, only hearing about Minna's disappearance weeks later as she went on the run. Which is so incredibly cheap, I hated it. I don't mean to not have the twin plot line, I think that was a pretty clever way to have there be this secret 3rd person involved- but I think it'd be a lot more palpable of a loss if Flora was indeed the surviving twin and hid all of these connections to protect her sister, and has been desperately trying to reach out to someone who will finally listen and solve the case.
So, my little tag line was about how this book made me angry. I think I see a lot of myself in Minna, and that just hard to listen to. There is so much victim blaming when it comes to Minna, even down to her killer's confession. Mike, her boyfriend, killed her in a fit of anger because she was going to send proof to someone that Father Brennon killed Sister Fran. Something that was morally right to do, and would have been incredibly cathartic to Minna as a victim to get justice. Mike gets angry and kills Minna because Father Brennon is his uncle, and he insists on protecting his family. In the letter he writes to Maggie, he blames it all on Minna. Minna "pushed his buttons", Minna "Liked getting reactions out of him", Minna showed him the tape, Minna stepped away- Minna was the one to show fear- Minna is the one who said he was just like his uncle, the man who raped and abused her, locked in a closet- Mike knew all of this and it was just Minna's fault.
I was furious listening to him blame Minna for her own murder. I was even more furious listening to the rest of the book with no real acknowledgment this was not her fault. It's meant to be obvious, of course it's not Minna's fault. But the first half of the book front loads you with all this blame pushed onto Minna. About how she's a liar, how she tells stories, she's a troubled teen, etc. Because it's so top heavy with people blaming Minna for her disappearance, not even bothering to look for her, there should have been some catharsis to it. Some conversation or inner monologue about how this town came down hard on a teenager that many people knew was being sexually abused instead of the pedophilia rapist in their church.
Some acknowledgment that no matter what lies Minna told, no matter how hard she pushed her boyfriend, no matter if she fought with her parents, or her siblings, even if she did try to escape and make things right; This was not her fault.
The letter at the end, Minna's letter to her sister, is heart wrenching to me as an older sister. Spending my life fearing my sisters will suffer like I did, and Minna's fear was not unfounded.
Maggie should have kicked that old bastard in his dentures.
Trigger Warnings: Pedophilia, Implied Sexual Assault/Rape of underage girls, Victim Blaming, Murder, Physical Abuse of a Romantic Partner, Abusive Mother, Heavy Religious Themes
The Summer She Vanished is less of a whodunit but rather piecing together a 40 year old mystery and prove the known subject is guilty. Piecing together a family mystery with little to no help from her actual family, Maggie returns to America for her grandmother's funeral and learns about her secret aunt everyone tried to forget because she vanished just a few days after the murder of a Sister at her Catholic all girls High School.
We learn about the tragic events of Minna, and the abuse she and other teenaged girls at her school faced at the hands of Father Tom Brennon. It's treated as an open secret, and even the high reaches of their town tossed away evidence to protect this man. While we're led to believe these high reaches are to blame for everyone insisting nothing happened to Minna and that's why no one talks about her; people seem to want to talk the moment Maggie askes any questions. And pretty much everyone she meets tells her she looks just like her aunt... Which is super weird because why didn't she hear that a lot growing up? These same people seem to be willing to talk well enough they would have made these comments about Maggie when she was still living in town.
The twist ending is that Sister Fran is actually alive, and it's actually her twin sister Flora that was murdered by Father Brennon because he thought Flora was Fran. After Fran confronted him, told him to turn himself in or she would- he tried to meet up with her to 'talk' and by talk I mean kill. Fran adopted Flora's identity out of fear for her life, only hearing about Minna's disappearance weeks later as she went on the run. Which is so incredibly cheap, I hated it. I don't mean to not have the twin plot line, I think that was a pretty clever way to have there be this secret 3rd person involved- but I think it'd be a lot more palpable of a loss if Flora was indeed the surviving twin and hid all of these connections to protect her sister, and has been desperately trying to reach out to someone who will finally listen and solve the case.
So, my little tag line was about how this book made me angry. I think I see a lot of myself in Minna, and that just hard to listen to. There is so much victim blaming when it comes to Minna, even down to her killer's confession. Mike, her boyfriend, killed her in a fit of anger because she was going to send proof to someone that Father Brennon killed Sister Fran. Something that was morally right to do, and would have been incredibly cathartic to Minna as a victim to get justice. Mike gets angry and kills Minna because Father Brennon is his uncle, and he insists on protecting his family. In the letter he writes to Maggie, he blames it all on Minna. Minna "pushed his buttons", Minna "Liked getting reactions out of him", Minna showed him the tape, Minna stepped away- Minna was the one to show fear- Minna is the one who said he was just like his uncle, the man who raped and abused her, locked in a closet- Mike knew all of this and it was just Minna's fault.
I was furious listening to him blame Minna for her own murder. I was even more furious listening to the rest of the book with no real acknowledgment this was not her fault. It's meant to be obvious, of course it's not Minna's fault. But the first half of the book front loads you with all this blame pushed onto Minna. About how she's a liar, how she tells stories, she's a troubled teen, etc. Because it's so top heavy with people blaming Minna for her disappearance, not even bothering to look for her, there should have been some catharsis to it. Some conversation or inner monologue about how this town came down hard on a teenager that many people knew was being sexually abused instead of the pedophilia rapist in their church.
Some acknowledgment that no matter what lies Minna told, no matter how hard she pushed her boyfriend, no matter if she fought with her parents, or her siblings, even if she did try to escape and make things right; This was not her fault.
The letter at the end, Minna's letter to her sister, is heart wrenching to me as an older sister. Spending my life fearing my sisters will suffer like I did, and Minna's fear was not unfounded.
Maggie should have kicked that old bastard in his dentures.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2024
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.
"The Summer She Vanished" by Jessica Irena Smith is a riveting crime thriller that grips you from the first page and refuses to let go. Set in the small town of Boweridge, the novel weaves a complex tapestry of mystery and suspense around the disappearance of seventeen-year-old Minna Larson and the murder of Sister Francesca Pepitone, two events separated by time but bound by a thread of dark secrets.
Smith's debut novel is a masterclass in tension and pacing. The narrative alternates between the past and the present, slowly unraveling the truth behind the two cases. The protagonist, Maggie, Minna's niece, is a compelling character whose determination to uncover the truth about her aunt's disappearance leads her down a path filled with twists and turns.
The author's background as a glass artist is evident in the meticulous construction of the plot, each piece fitting together with precision to reveal the stained glass picture of a town's hidden past. Smith's prose is sharp and evocative, capturing the oppressive atmosphere of a community haunted by its history.
What stands out in "The Summer She Vanished" is the authenticity of its setting and characters. Boweridge feels like a character in its own right, with its small-town dynamics and long-buried secrets creating a backdrop that is as intriguing as it is eerie. The residents of Boweridge are portrayed with depth and complexity, their flaws and motivations adding layers to the unfolding drama.
The novel's resolution is satisfying yet haunting, leaving readers to ponder the lengths to which people will go to protect their secrets. Smith's ability to balance the warmth of human relationships with the chill of betrayal makes for a story that is not only thrilling but also emotionally resonant.
In conclusion, "The Summer She Vanished" is a standout addition to the crime thriller genre. It is a book that promises to keep you up at night, both because you can't stop reading and because it leaves you with a lingering sense of unease about the darkness that lurks beneath the surface of everyday life. Jessica Irena Smith has crafted a debut that is both a page-turner and a thought-provoker, making her a new voice in crime fiction worth watching.
"The Summer She Vanished" by Jessica Irena Smith is a riveting crime thriller that grips you from the first page and refuses to let go. Set in the small town of Boweridge, the novel weaves a complex tapestry of mystery and suspense around the disappearance of seventeen-year-old Minna Larson and the murder of Sister Francesca Pepitone, two events separated by time but bound by a thread of dark secrets.
Smith's debut novel is a masterclass in tension and pacing. The narrative alternates between the past and the present, slowly unraveling the truth behind the two cases. The protagonist, Maggie, Minna's niece, is a compelling character whose determination to uncover the truth about her aunt's disappearance leads her down a path filled with twists and turns.
The author's background as a glass artist is evident in the meticulous construction of the plot, each piece fitting together with precision to reveal the stained glass picture of a town's hidden past. Smith's prose is sharp and evocative, capturing the oppressive atmosphere of a community haunted by its history.
What stands out in "The Summer She Vanished" is the authenticity of its setting and characters. Boweridge feels like a character in its own right, with its small-town dynamics and long-buried secrets creating a backdrop that is as intriguing as it is eerie. The residents of Boweridge are portrayed with depth and complexity, their flaws and motivations adding layers to the unfolding drama.
The novel's resolution is satisfying yet haunting, leaving readers to ponder the lengths to which people will go to protect their secrets. Smith's ability to balance the warmth of human relationships with the chill of betrayal makes for a story that is not only thrilling but also emotionally resonant.
In conclusion, "The Summer She Vanished" is a standout addition to the crime thriller genre. It is a book that promises to keep you up at night, both because you can't stop reading and because it leaves you with a lingering sense of unease about the darkness that lurks beneath the surface of everyday life. Jessica Irena Smith has crafted a debut that is both a page-turner and a thought-provoker, making her a new voice in crime fiction worth watching.
May 26, 2024
I gave this a 4 because of how intrigued this book had me. However I'm feeling quite conflicted by my review of this book. Overall and up to about 90% of this book, I was really enjoying it, I had my suspicious on what happened but wasn't confident enough; I like that in a book, not being able to guess.
Here's where I feel conflicted, would I have liked the book to end without answers? No. But the way in which we get the answers, it was too farfetched and too unrealistic that it annoyed me. Mikes confession letter, written as how someone would speak, didn't enjoy that. Nor do I think that confession would have happened. And the twist about Fran's identical sister, I think it was a good twist and I can kind of see why Fran wouldn't wouldn't have risked her and her daughters life to tell the truth but again, I just feel like a lot of it wasn't realistic. And then I'm aware, a lot of times books aren't realistic and that's why we enjoy them so much but it just felt to me that a good 90% of the book was really good just to be let down by the explanation.
Also on page 130, says sister Fran left convent after even prayer at 21:20 and then on the next page, 131, says evening prayer finished at 19:20. At the time I wondered if this discrepancy was on purpose and the characters investigating just hadn't clicked, but now it seems like it may have been an error on the authors part ...
Also Sister Joy's diary entry, also not how I imagine a real diary entry to be wrote. I'm probably too picky on how the author chooses to get information across but I still want to feel like it's authentic when reading.
One last criticism, characters memories. I understand when something traumatic happens, details can stick with people for a long time but even after 50 years, a lot of the characters seem to remember a lot of stuff, exact wording of conversations for example...nope just doesn't happen.
Keeping a rating of 4 stars because I was hooked and wanted to keep reading to find out what happened.
Here's where I feel conflicted, would I have liked the book to end without answers? No. But the way in which we get the answers, it was too farfetched and too unrealistic that it annoyed me. Mikes confession letter, written as how someone would speak, didn't enjoy that. Nor do I think that confession would have happened. And the twist about Fran's identical sister, I think it was a good twist and I can kind of see why Fran wouldn't wouldn't have risked her and her daughters life to tell the truth but again, I just feel like a lot of it wasn't realistic. And then I'm aware, a lot of times books aren't realistic and that's why we enjoy them so much but it just felt to me that a good 90% of the book was really good just to be let down by the explanation.
Also on page 130, says sister Fran left convent after even prayer at 21:20 and then on the next page, 131, says evening prayer finished at 19:20. At the time I wondered if this discrepancy was on purpose and the characters investigating just hadn't clicked, but now it seems like it may have been an error on the authors part ...
Also Sister Joy's diary entry, also not how I imagine a real diary entry to be wrote. I'm probably too picky on how the author chooses to get information across but I still want to feel like it's authentic when reading.
One last criticism, characters memories. I understand when something traumatic happens, details can stick with people for a long time but even after 50 years, a lot of the characters seem to remember a lot of stuff, exact wording of conversations for example...nope just doesn't happen.
Keeping a rating of 4 stars because I was hooked and wanted to keep reading to find out what happened.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2023
Sometimes you come across a book and it really blows your mind a little, for me The Summer She Vanished did just that.
It's not often I read something and can't pick a single thing wrong with it. Maybe I didn't like a character, worked it out all too easily or even felt it was too fast paced or slow. But The Summer She Vanished was just perfect. The pace was good, slow when it needed to be giving me those extra details and clues (Sometimes red herrings). But not so slow it bored me. The characters, real and life like. I can envisage them. Although admit Ted, was a little flatter than the rest which was a shame (Maybe that why this isn't quite 5 stars). As for the mysteries of who killed Sister Fran and what happened to Minna.... That's where this book gets everyone of its 4.5 stars in my opinion.
I love a good mystery, especially when it isn't heavy on police procedural and this story gave me just that. As mentioned in the book 'armchair detective' and I feel that's a really good summary of Maggie and her friends (I say friends as I believe that's exactly what they grow to be). Maggie was fairly likeable but there was one thing I think that the author left us to make up our own minds and that was regarding Simon. I don't know if I missed it, but I 'got' the gist I think, but it was never confirmed what happened. No spoilers as always and that one thing will not ruin your enjoyment of this book.
If you want a good mystery, with a whole host of characters spanning 40 years then I highly recommend The Summer She Vanished by Jessica Irene Smith. I believe this is her debut novel and if this is how she's starting things then I cannot wait to read more books! A solid 4.5 stars for a mystery I was guessing at till the VERY end!
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for this ARC in exchange of an honest review.
It's not often I read something and can't pick a single thing wrong with it. Maybe I didn't like a character, worked it out all too easily or even felt it was too fast paced or slow. But The Summer She Vanished was just perfect. The pace was good, slow when it needed to be giving me those extra details and clues (Sometimes red herrings). But not so slow it bored me. The characters, real and life like. I can envisage them. Although admit Ted, was a little flatter than the rest which was a shame (Maybe that why this isn't quite 5 stars). As for the mysteries of who killed Sister Fran and what happened to Minna.... That's where this book gets everyone of its 4.5 stars in my opinion.
I love a good mystery, especially when it isn't heavy on police procedural and this story gave me just that. As mentioned in the book 'armchair detective' and I feel that's a really good summary of Maggie and her friends (I say friends as I believe that's exactly what they grow to be). Maggie was fairly likeable but there was one thing I think that the author left us to make up our own minds and that was regarding Simon. I don't know if I missed it, but I 'got' the gist I think, but it was never confirmed what happened. No spoilers as always and that one thing will not ruin your enjoyment of this book.
If you want a good mystery, with a whole host of characters spanning 40 years then I highly recommend The Summer She Vanished by Jessica Irene Smith. I believe this is her debut novel and if this is how she's starting things then I cannot wait to read more books! A solid 4.5 stars for a mystery I was guessing at till the VERY end!
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for this ARC in exchange of an honest review.
September 11, 2023
I received an advanced reader copy of The Summer She Vanished in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this opportunity.
I've only recently decided that I want to dive a little deeper into psychological thrillers after having read a couple of really good ones in the spring, so when this one popped up on my Netgalley feed, I just requested it on a whim.
The premise sounded promising enough, the characters intriguing and I was looking forward to lots and lots of unforeseeable twists. The book delivered on the latter two aspects, but the premise was a little far fetched, but I will get to that later.
I really liked all of the characters, but especially Maggie's uncle and her sidekick Gretchen. All of the others were well-developed, too, however, even though I would have liked some more development of the relationships between Maggie and her mother, or Maggie and her supervisor. I wasn't all that happy with how the allusions to Simon's behaviour were at first so vague (although anyone could guess what that was about) and then not cleared up very much at all, in terms of Maggie's thoughts and feelings. That whole subplot felt rather passive to me when I would have appreciated more insight and depth to it.
The plot was pretty solid and though I didn't really understand Maggie's motivation to dig up that whole past, it was entertaining and I was very surprised by some of the turns of events.
What I struggled with throughout the whole book and what made me feel disconnected from the story quite a bit was how Maggie had never heard of her aunt until coming home for her grandmother's funeral. Neither her mom (who, admittedly, doesn't seem like a reliable source of information anyway) nor her uncles or anyone else has ever mentioned her and there have not been any pictures around, but all of a sudden everyone she meets tells her how much she looks like her aunt? When she very much still lived in that town when she was only a little younger than her aunt was when she vanished? I.e., when Maggie must have looked most like her aunt? That honestly just seems a little far-fetched.
All in all, this was a middle-of-the-road read for me, but then again I am quite new to the genre, and what doesn't work for me might work for so many other readers out there!
3/5 stars.
I've only recently decided that I want to dive a little deeper into psychological thrillers after having read a couple of really good ones in the spring, so when this one popped up on my Netgalley feed, I just requested it on a whim.
The premise sounded promising enough, the characters intriguing and I was looking forward to lots and lots of unforeseeable twists. The book delivered on the latter two aspects, but the premise was a little far fetched, but I will get to that later.
I really liked all of the characters, but especially Maggie's uncle and her sidekick Gretchen. All of the others were well-developed, too, however, even though I would have liked some more development of the relationships between Maggie and her mother, or Maggie and her supervisor. I wasn't all that happy with how the allusions to Simon's behaviour were at first so vague (although anyone could guess what that was about) and then not cleared up very much at all, in terms of Maggie's thoughts and feelings. That whole subplot felt rather passive to me when I would have appreciated more insight and depth to it.
The plot was pretty solid and though I didn't really understand Maggie's motivation to dig up that whole past, it was entertaining and I was very surprised by some of the turns of events.
What I struggled with throughout the whole book and what made me feel disconnected from the story quite a bit was how Maggie had never heard of her aunt until coming home for her grandmother's funeral. Neither her mom (who, admittedly, doesn't seem like a reliable source of information anyway) nor her uncles or anyone else has ever mentioned her and there have not been any pictures around, but all of a sudden everyone she meets tells her how much she looks like her aunt? When she very much still lived in that town when she was only a little younger than her aunt was when she vanished? I.e., when Maggie must have looked most like her aunt? That honestly just seems a little far-fetched.
All in all, this was a middle-of-the-road read for me, but then again I am quite new to the genre, and what doesn't work for me might work for so many other readers out there!
3/5 stars.
July 28, 2023
Four decades ago, a small town in the US suffered a double tragedy. A nun, Sister Francesca, was murdered - and shortly thereafter a 17-year-old girl named Minna Larson disappeared. The cases were not believed to be connected, and neither was ever solved.
Fast forward to the present, and Maggie - Minna's niece - has returned to America for a funeral. However, whilst staying with mother and step father, and finding out more about her mother's dysfunctional family, Maggie becomes increasingly preoccupied with the two cold cases.
From what she learns, Maggie feels convinced that there is in fact some kind of connection between the strangling of Sister Francesca and whatever happened to Minna.
Especially since, shortly before she disappeared, Minna had been insisting that she knew who was responsible for Sister Francesca's death. Unfortunately, Minna was known to be a liar, so nobody took her seriously at the time.
And what can Maggie do about it now, all these years later?
This was a story that took some time to gather its momentum, but once it took off, there was no looking back. I really enjoyed it, and would recommend it to anyone interested in small town mysteries and complicated family dynamics in general, and the reinvestigation of cold cases in particular. This gets 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review
Fast forward to the present, and Maggie - Minna's niece - has returned to America for a funeral. However, whilst staying with mother and step father, and finding out more about her mother's dysfunctional family, Maggie becomes increasingly preoccupied with the two cold cases.
From what she learns, Maggie feels convinced that there is in fact some kind of connection between the strangling of Sister Francesca and whatever happened to Minna.
Especially since, shortly before she disappeared, Minna had been insisting that she knew who was responsible for Sister Francesca's death. Unfortunately, Minna was known to be a liar, so nobody took her seriously at the time.
And what can Maggie do about it now, all these years later?
This was a story that took some time to gather its momentum, but once it took off, there was no looking back. I really enjoyed it, and would recommend it to anyone interested in small town mysteries and complicated family dynamics in general, and the reinvestigation of cold cases in particular. This gets 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review
January 16, 2024
The Summer She Vanished follows Maggie, who has recently returned home for her grandmother's funeral. While staying with her mom, even though they have a bit of a strained relationship, she finds a photo that shows a group of kids (her mom's siblings) but there seems to be an extra person in the photo, another girl. After doing some digging Maggie finds out that this other girl is her aunt Minna, who disappeared decades before and no one has heard from her since. Maggie falls down a bit of a rabbit hole in her search for Minna's story. It turns out Minna's teacher, Sister Fran, was found murdered in a diner parking lot. One week later Minna disappeared. Are the cases connected or is this just a coincidence?
I enjoyed this read. It didn't wander too far off the path of figuring out the cases; some books focus on too many side twists that take away from the main purpose but not this one. It's a fairly quick read but with a great amount of details. What I enjoyed the most was the emphasis on how different relationships work within a family and how sometimes families aren't actually picture perfect. It was great to follow along, trying to figure out the clues as I went before the characters did.
I would recommend this book to someone who likes figuring out cold cases and imperfect families. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book for free. This was my honest review.
I enjoyed this read. It didn't wander too far off the path of figuring out the cases; some books focus on too many side twists that take away from the main purpose but not this one. It's a fairly quick read but with a great amount of details. What I enjoyed the most was the emphasis on how different relationships work within a family and how sometimes families aren't actually picture perfect. It was great to follow along, trying to figure out the clues as I went before the characters did.
I would recommend this book to someone who likes figuring out cold cases and imperfect families. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book for free. This was my honest review.
August 16, 2023
I had the chance to dive into The Summer She Vanished by Jessica Irena Smith, thanks to the ARC I received from Headline through NetGalley in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Embarking on this novel was my first encounter with Jessica Irena Smith's work, and it delivered an engaging dose of mystery. While the pacing occasionally lagged, I persevered and was rewarded with a compelling plot that pulled me in. Our protagonist, Maggie, returns home for a family funeral and ends up delving into a decades-old murder in the town that intertwines with the vanishing of a young teenager. The intricate web of dysfunctional family dynamics woven through Maggie's story added depth to her character.
Maggie's relentless determination to uncover the truth behind these intertwined mysteries keeps the reader invested. The pace felt realistic, mirroring the pace of a real investigation, with periods of activity and quiet reflection. The twists in the narrative managed to catch me off guard, a feat I always appreciate. Smith paints a vivid picture of a small town, complete with its challenges and intricacies. While some nuances like accents and slang might not have been perfectly aligned, the story's authenticity shines through. Overall, The Summer She Vanished is a satisfying mystery, and I'm keen to explore more of the author's works in the future.
Embarking on this novel was my first encounter with Jessica Irena Smith's work, and it delivered an engaging dose of mystery. While the pacing occasionally lagged, I persevered and was rewarded with a compelling plot that pulled me in. Our protagonist, Maggie, returns home for a family funeral and ends up delving into a decades-old murder in the town that intertwines with the vanishing of a young teenager. The intricate web of dysfunctional family dynamics woven through Maggie's story added depth to her character.
Maggie's relentless determination to uncover the truth behind these intertwined mysteries keeps the reader invested. The pace felt realistic, mirroring the pace of a real investigation, with periods of activity and quiet reflection. The twists in the narrative managed to catch me off guard, a feat I always appreciate. Smith paints a vivid picture of a small town, complete with its challenges and intricacies. While some nuances like accents and slang might not have been perfectly aligned, the story's authenticity shines through. Overall, The Summer She Vanished is a satisfying mystery, and I'm keen to explore more of the author's works in the future.
February 25, 2025
I had the chance to dive into The Summer She Vanished by Jessica Irena Smith, thanks to the ARC I received from Headline through NetGalley in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Embarking on this novel was my first encounter with Jessica Irena Smith's work, and it delivered an engaging dose of mystery. While the pacing occasionally lagged, I persevered and was rewarded with a compelling plot that pulled me in. Our protagonist, Maggie, returns home for a family funeral and ends up delving into a decades-old murder in the town that intertwines with the vanishing of a young teenager. The intricate web of dysfunctional family dynamics woven through Maggie's story added depth to her character.
Maggie's relentless determination to uncover the truth behind these intertwined mysteries keeps the reader invested. The pace felt realistic, mirroring the pace of a real investigation, with periods of activity and quiet reflection. The twists in the narrative managed to catch me off guard, a feat I always appreciate. Smith paints a vivid picture of a small town, complete with its challenges and intricacies. While some nuances like accents and slang might not have been perfectly aligned, the story's authenticity shines through. Overall, The Summer She Vanished is a satisfying mystery, and I'm keen to explore more of the author's works in the future.
Embarking on this novel was my first encounter with Jessica Irena Smith's work, and it delivered an engaging dose of mystery. While the pacing occasionally lagged, I persevered and was rewarded with a compelling plot that pulled me in. Our protagonist, Maggie, returns home for a family funeral and ends up delving into a decades-old murder in the town that intertwines with the vanishing of a young teenager. The intricate web of dysfunctional family dynamics woven through Maggie's story added depth to her character.
Maggie's relentless determination to uncover the truth behind these intertwined mysteries keeps the reader invested. The pace felt realistic, mirroring the pace of a real investigation, with periods of activity and quiet reflection. The twists in the narrative managed to catch me off guard, a feat I always appreciate. Smith paints a vivid picture of a small town, complete with its challenges and intricacies. While some nuances like accents and slang might not have been perfectly aligned, the story's authenticity shines through. Overall, The Summer She Vanished is a satisfying mystery, and I'm keen to explore more of the author's works in the future.
September 8, 2025
I kept swinging between 3 and 4 stars for this, but ultimately there were more niggles for me than positives.
I'll start with the negative feedback:
Most of the book is quite slow. Too much was saved until the end - there was potential for layers to be peeled back more often, or for more clues to be planted and revealed in the middle. I didn't feel a lot of tension.
The main thread of the plot is not very original. The inciting incident at the start wasn't believable - Maggie arrives to stay in her mother's guest room, stumbles across some photos in boxes right outside the door, then launches head first into an investigation into the disappearance of an aunt she'd never heard of before. Some of the characters, like Ted the police officer, were a little stereotypical.
Then on to the positives:
Thanks to the ending, this story is actually quite memorable and will stay with me. There is a good, realistic twist, and all the loose threads are tied up. The Larson family were well developed, interesting characters, and I liked the small town USA setting.
This is quite good for a debut novel, but I did wonder for a while how the author hooked an agent/publisher with the initial chapters. By the time I reached the end, I thought yeah okay I can see why it was published - you just have to stick with it.
I'll start with the negative feedback:
Most of the book is quite slow. Too much was saved until the end - there was potential for layers to be peeled back more often, or for more clues to be planted and revealed in the middle. I didn't feel a lot of tension.
The main thread of the plot is not very original. The inciting incident at the start wasn't believable - Maggie arrives to stay in her mother's guest room, stumbles across some photos in boxes right outside the door, then launches head first into an investigation into the disappearance of an aunt she'd never heard of before. Some of the characters, like Ted the police officer, were a little stereotypical.
Then on to the positives:
Thanks to the ending, this story is actually quite memorable and will stay with me. There is a good, realistic twist, and all the loose threads are tied up. The Larson family were well developed, interesting characters, and I liked the small town USA setting.
This is quite good for a debut novel, but I did wonder for a while how the author hooked an agent/publisher with the initial chapters. By the time I reached the end, I thought yeah okay I can see why it was published - you just have to stick with it.
August 8, 2023
I received an ARC of this book from Headline via NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback. This was a very enjoyable mystery. I agree with one of the previous reviewers who mentioned that the pace was exactly as it needed to be - I was never bored or thought it dragged, despite there being some periods where not much happened. It seemed realistic; if these were people in real life, this is how their investigation would go, getting some clues, taking the steps to work them out, etc. A lot of mysteries and thrillers dip into the unbelievable with CSI type of investigations, and this one felt truer to life. I also did not guess any of the twists, which always impresses me.
Ms. Smith created a vivid small town with all its typical issues. If I had to nitpick one thing (and it is really not important), it would be regarding Maggie's move from the USA to the UK. I don't think it would be realistic for a teenager to suddenly gain a British accent, and sometimes the slang seemed inaccurate (speaking in American English when it should have been British). But this is really not relevant to the story, just an observation. I will certainly seek out more books by this author.
Ms. Smith created a vivid small town with all its typical issues. If I had to nitpick one thing (and it is really not important), it would be regarding Maggie's move from the USA to the UK. I don't think it would be realistic for a teenager to suddenly gain a British accent, and sometimes the slang seemed inaccurate (speaking in American English when it should have been British). But this is really not relevant to the story, just an observation. I will certainly seek out more books by this author.
June 17, 2023
This is my first read by Jessica Irena Smith and it made for a good mysterious read.
I did find in parts to be quite slow paced and my mind was wondering but I did stick with this novel and I am glad that I did as the plot was great.
We meet main character Maggie who is back home in America for a family funeral, having decided to stay with her mother and step dad we get to learn about the dysfunctional family of Maggie and her mother.
I enjoyed reading about Maggie and found her an interesting character. She learns about a murder in the town many years ago and how it may connect to a disappearing young teenager - this happened many years ago and Maggie becomes intent on solving this mystery. Maggie works tirelessly to try and solve the age-old mystery and its quite a journey.
A great read if you like a mystery novel, thanks to Netgalley, Jessica Irena Smith and the publishers for allowing me a copy of this novel.
I did find in parts to be quite slow paced and my mind was wondering but I did stick with this novel and I am glad that I did as the plot was great.
We meet main character Maggie who is back home in America for a family funeral, having decided to stay with her mother and step dad we get to learn about the dysfunctional family of Maggie and her mother.
I enjoyed reading about Maggie and found her an interesting character. She learns about a murder in the town many years ago and how it may connect to a disappearing young teenager - this happened many years ago and Maggie becomes intent on solving this mystery. Maggie works tirelessly to try and solve the age-old mystery and its quite a journey.
A great read if you like a mystery novel, thanks to Netgalley, Jessica Irena Smith and the publishers for allowing me a copy of this novel.
August 26, 2023
This was an interesting mystery that begins in 1972 and drives an already estranged family even further apart as the secrets are kept in a small town dominated by strict Catholic morals. Forty years pass after Sister Fran is found mysteriously murdered in a diner parking lot and her student Minna Larson runs away. Minna's niece wants to unravel the truths and lies that once exposed may help her family and hold some people accountable. There are others in the town of Browerridge who have pondered the mystery over the years, too, and are more than willing to help. Bit by bit, Maggie and her team uncover evidence, find witnesses, dig through old files and newspapers and piece together the events of the past.
There are lots of twists and turns, wrong corners and dead ends in a story that will keep you guessing until the end. I recommend The Summer She Vanished to mystery readers. I received a copy of the book in exchange for a review.
There are lots of twists and turns, wrong corners and dead ends in a story that will keep you guessing until the end. I recommend The Summer She Vanished to mystery readers. I received a copy of the book in exchange for a review.
August 14, 2023
I received a copy of this book from netgalley so thank you to them.
I have been missing thrillers recently so decided to request a few from netgalley and this one was so good! I loved the main character and her little gang of couch detectives. There were quiet a lot of people introduced during the book which could get a bit confusing at times but I took my time and went back when I had to and it all came together.
I got so invested in the mysteries and although I guessed the outcome of one I didn’t guess the why and I certainly didn’t guess the ending. The writing was good and the author managed to keep me interested throughout which is always a good sign. But I do wish that there was more done with the suspect in recent times rather than just past. I definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a good thriller
I have been missing thrillers recently so decided to request a few from netgalley and this one was so good! I loved the main character and her little gang of couch detectives. There were quiet a lot of people introduced during the book which could get a bit confusing at times but I took my time and went back when I had to and it all came together.
I got so invested in the mysteries and although I guessed the outcome of one I didn’t guess the why and I certainly didn’t guess the ending. The writing was good and the author managed to keep me interested throughout which is always a good sign. But I do wish that there was more done with the suspect in recent times rather than just past. I definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a good thriller
August 29, 2023
Right out of the gate I felt for our protagonist: she is returning home under difficult circumstances and to strained family relationships. Adding on accidentally learning the family secret on top of that and it's no wonder Maggie is overwhelmed.
Everyone says Minna lies, but everyone in town here lies too. Or maybe they are the liars? As we follow Maggie on her path we realize the town is full of secrets, red-herrings, and morally dubious people.
The author did a fantastic job of weaving together a twisted and fantastic tale. It was a wonderful blend of cold case, police procedural, and cozy mystery that unraveled in perfect time. I was enthralled from the beginning and the book did an excellent job of maintaining it's spell throughout.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for my advance copy of this book
Everyone says Minna lies, but everyone in town here lies too. Or maybe they are the liars? As we follow Maggie on her path we realize the town is full of secrets, red-herrings, and morally dubious people.
The author did a fantastic job of weaving together a twisted and fantastic tale. It was a wonderful blend of cold case, police procedural, and cozy mystery that unraveled in perfect time. I was enthralled from the beginning and the book did an excellent job of maintaining it's spell throughout.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for my advance copy of this book
August 25, 2023
If there’s one thing I LOVE, it’s a small town mystery with A GOOD RESOLUTION!!! This story really look a lot of twists and turns, and I really recommend reading this with an empty mind so you can enjoy the ride. I didn’t expect a large majority of the twists, and I felt as though they were good, solid reasonings for happened to Sister Fran and Minna.
I developed a connection with the characters that I wasn’t expecting. The author did a great job finding ways to make these characters seem real and enjoyable, even in hard moments. Highly recommend!
Thank you NetGalley for sending me this release!
I developed a connection with the characters that I wasn’t expecting. The author did a great job finding ways to make these characters seem real and enjoyable, even in hard moments. Highly recommend!
Thank you NetGalley for sending me this release!
September 25, 2023
I had the unexpected pleasure of bumping into Jessica at Metro Centre Waterstones the other week and I asked about her novel! I actually finished this a week or so ago but need to catch up on the reviews!
This debut novel is exciting, dramatic and full of twists. It encompasses so much mysterious energy into the plot that I really didn't want to put it down. I find so many mysteries presently rehash the same framework, so I struggle to get into the genre, but this one was refreshing and full of raw emotion.
Thank you Jessica for the signed book and it was lovely to speak to you! I hope to read more of your work in the future!
This debut novel is exciting, dramatic and full of twists. It encompasses so much mysterious energy into the plot that I really didn't want to put it down. I find so many mysteries presently rehash the same framework, so I struggle to get into the genre, but this one was refreshing and full of raw emotion.
Thank you Jessica for the signed book and it was lovely to speak to you! I hope to read more of your work in the future!
December 31, 2023
Maggie has come home to America for her grandmother's funeral. Her mother is emotionally manipulative, and she left 15 years ago to move to the UK with her father. Maggie discovers that when her mother was 10, her older sister disappeared, and no one ever spoke of her again. Minna was 17 when she disappeared, and had been telling people she knew who had killed her English teacher, Sister Francesca, from her all girls catholic high school. While some people had seen coincidences between the murder and the disappearance, secrets in a small town stay hidden. Maggie joins an ex-classmate of Minna's and the grandson of the cop who worked both cases, in order to discover what happened to Minna and Sister Fran. This book is the author's debut, and I was surprised considering how well written it was. It actually seemed a real way to solve a case in 2023. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 25, 2025
I picked this up because I’ve spent the month of August reading summer-themed books (or at least books with the word “summer” in the title). I was SO glad I did, because it was really good. I honestly had no expectations as to the subject-matter though I noted the many good reviews it had gotten on Goodreads and Amazon. But not only was the book a solid mystery with thriller twists and turns, the characters, especially Maggie, really resonated with me. I look forward to exploring this author’s future works—at the moment I only see one other book that she’s published, and it didn’t grab my attention quite as much.
September 2, 2023
I liked the idea but it could have done with some editing. There was a fair amount of repetition and the character often thought things like “why didn’t I think of that” about nearly every revelation. The American characters also used a lot of British terminology like “smallhold” that just aren’t used in the US.
I felt like the inspiration for the book had to be the famous 1969 unsolved mystery of Baltimore’s Sister Catherine Cesnik of which a whole docuseries has been made about but that wasn’t mentioned in the acknowledgements. The circumstances are nearly identical.
I felt like the inspiration for the book had to be the famous 1969 unsolved mystery of Baltimore’s Sister Catherine Cesnik of which a whole docuseries has been made about but that wasn’t mentioned in the acknowledgements. The circumstances are nearly identical.
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