A young girl is witness to a brutal murder. Intent on doing the right thing and against her parents wishes, she insists on becoming a witness for the prosecution . This decision is the beginning of a series of incidents that will threaten every member of her family and result in an unbearable family breakdown. With the best of intentions everyone attempts to follow the safest course of action to safeguard our witness. Only for human frailty and love of family to create a dangerous crisis that puts everyone involved at serious risk if the perpetrators are to protect their identity and erase those people who present a potential threat to their freedom. An unusual storyline, dealing with a grey area of police undercover actions alongside the difficulties faced by honest people living every hour with the fear of discovery overshadowing every thought and action. Many thanks to publisher and NetGalley for the ARC .

Wow, just wow. I actually finished this book a couple of days ago and that ending has just totally knocked me off my feet. I am not going to say anything at all about it but wow.

I love Gillian’s books and was thrilled to be accepted to read an ARC. It was everything I hoped for and more. It kept me up well past my bedtime which is not ideal when I have to be up at 6am for an early work start but hey who cares? At least I can sit and work in my PJ’s at the minute with the book close to hand so I can sneak in an extra chapter of two.

This book tells the story of the harsh realities of life under a witness protection programme. When Zara, Lauren’s daughter and Adrian’s stepdaugter, witnesses the murder of a local homeless man little did the family know that the trial was only the beginning of their troubles. Zara, in her teenage naivete, twisted the truth in the hope that a bigger sentence would be imposed however this backfires and it’s not long before her life is on the line.

With no options left the family are placed under witness protection and swiftly moved to an unknown location. Adrian has the biggest decision to make of his life. To flee with his wife, Lauren and step daughter Zara or stay to be with his own teenage daughter, Poppy.

It’s not long before Adrian finds himself ensconced in the vigilante group searching for his step daughter but can he pull it off and blow them off the scent or is he inadvertently leading them straight to them.

This a thought provoking, emotional, dark and twisty read that kept me on the edge of the seat all the way through.

The emotions that Lauren and Zara displayed as they had to leave everything they know behind is heartbreaking. To be in that situation where you have no one to turn to and don’t know who you can trust is deeply unsettling.

This is a book that will stay with me for a very long time and I am giving it a big fat 5 stars. It was amazing. Many thanks to Jen Breslin at Micheal Joseph for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.

My thanks to Penguin U.K. - Michael Joseph for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘How to Disappear’ by Gillian McAllister in exchange for an honest review.

This proved a very effective psychological thriller. It was my first experience of Gillian McAllister’s writing and was very impressed. In order to avoid spoilers I won’t say too much about the plot as I always feel that this kind of thriller is best read ‘cold’.

Lauren's fourteen year-old daughter, Zara, had witnessed a terrible crime and testified anonymously in court. Although her identity was protected under law, a group of dangerous people are determined to get revenge. When Zara's identity is revealed online, it puts a target on her back.

In order to keep Zara safe she and Lauren enter an official witness protection program. They have to give up everything and everyone they love, including Aidan, Lauren’s husband, who is Zara’s stepfather. He would have joined them but he
has a daughter, Poppy, from an earlier marriage and he is naturally unwilling to leave her.

The rules of the program are strict for a reason as those seeking them are relentless. A text, a selfie, even a like on social media could prove potentially dangerous. What could possibly go wrong? Trust me quite a lot else this wouldn’t be much of a thriller.

The narrative moved between the perspectives of Zara, Lauren, and Aidan. There were times when I was quite frustrated with the characters’ though again there wouldn’t be much drama if they had behaved themselves.

I was a big fan of the USA TV series, ‘In Plain Sight’, about their Federal Witness Security Program (WITSEC), though the USA is a huge place compared to hiding people in the U.K. especially given the amount of CCTV coverage.

Overall, I found this a well paced and exciting thriller with relatable characters and some interesting twists. Following this positive experience I plan on checking out more of Gillian McAllister’s work.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

This was a one sitting read as it was so enthralling and a real roller coaster of a journey. I loved the characters, especially Zara and all the obvious issues that she had to face. Gillian McAllister is a great author and all I can say is that this book was amazing as it dealt with a topic that I had never thought of before. Reading this book has opened my eyes to many questions about the witness protection scheme and the people who have to lie within this situation. I especially loved the ending as it tied things up so well.
I would say to anyone get out and read this as soon as it is published and prepare for an exciting, thought provoking journey.

I enjoyed this book and it kept me hooked and wanting to read it quickly to find out what happened at the end. I kept guessing what I thought the ending would be and in all scenarios, I was wrong!
It is a story of what happens when a teenage girl witnesses a murder of a homeless man by two up and coming football stars of the local football club. The level of hate this generates when she testifies in court leads to a group being formed with the purpose of finding her and inflicting harm.
She needs to go into witness protection, move away,, change her name, and everything that goes with it. This is also a difficult time for her family - her mum obviously needs to move with her but what about her step dad who has his own daughter locally, and his mum ...... who does he put first?
A very easy read, tense at times, and thoroughly enjoyable!

I was given an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and independent review.
I always enjoy reading books written by this author as they contain interesting and though provoking subjects.
This book was no exception.
Exciting, pacy, thrilling I read this book with my heart pounding at times. The story flowed well and was interesting and informative about witness protection.
5 stars. Highly recommended

I haven’t read any of this author before so wasn’t sure what to expect. It was a great read, reading about what can happen in witness protection, very scary reading but I imagine very true in real life scenarios. I was hooked from the beginning and just wanted to find out what happens but also didn’t want the book to end, a sign of a good book for me. I will definitely look to read more by this author.

What a corker of a read! I don’t think many of us know what It’s like to be in witness protection, but Gillan gives us a good idea of it. Thrilling from the offset, the book opens with a young girl as a witness part of a major murder trial. As things unravel from the trial, the young girl and her mother have to enter witness protection due to their own safety. A captivating story and pulls you in from the start. A must read for fans of crime out there.

Well that can I say about this book – really loved it. Read a bit and think yes I know where that is going but no wrong every time – the sign of a fab book. Zara, a teenager witnesses a murder and decides to become a witness in the Court case against a group of footballers as she feels it is her duty especially as she helps with the homeless and it is a homeless man who dies. This is where the trouble starts as the family find themselves in a situation of victim hatred by some of the footballers and their families. This leads to the family being split up. Her mom, Lauren with her, go into witness protection but her stepdad decides he cannot do this as he has a daughter of his own and cannot leave her. He, as is Lauren, are both devastated by the decision they have had to make. The tension builds and builds as Aidan tries to find out who runs the group who have the vendetta in the hope of eventually getting the family back together. Things go from bad to worse in the witness protection programme and they are found and have to move again due to choices they make in the daily lives which seem innocuous but cause problems. The digital age plays the biggest part of the problem. Life does not run smoothly for the separated family due to the stress of being found being separated. The book flows really well and when you cannot see what is coming especially at the end you feel satisfied that it is a book well written and hopefully well received. Really enjoyed it – thank you Netgalley

Well after a lot of rave reviews on this I feel a little at odds with the general consensus. It was a good book that was thought-provoking in terms of considering a family going into witness protection and the associated choices involved with that. That part of the book was really interesting. However, the remainder, aside from a few twists and turns/revelations felt a little pedestrian to me and then rushed in the last few chapters when most of the action took place!

The story is told by switching among four members of the same family, which works well and gives you a good idea of the characters you're following but does leave it slow to progress the story, which on reflection is quite straightforward.

I've read Gillian McAlister before and I'll be reading future books but this didn't quite hit it for me.

Thanks as ever for the preview version via NetGalley.

OMG! I Loved this book and I couldn’t put it down!

Zara after witnessing a murder decides to testify in court, but the trial didn’t really go the way she imagined and with her life being threatened she has to go into the witness protection program. Will she be able to disappear?

I loved that the book was constantly bouncing between four different story tellers: Poppy, Zara, Lauren and Aiden. In this way you could really get drowned into the story and see how the four characters where dealing with the obstacles ahead. Tension and suspense are present throughout the book, with lots of twists which I didn’t see coming!

This was the first book I’ve read from this author! But for sure won’t be the last one!

Wow wow wow! I just love Gillian McAllister books, they are so well written, and this one is no exception.

If you are looking for a tense and compelling psychological thriller that you just can't put down then look no further. This book is just brilliant! I think it will be one of, if not THE most talked about books in 2020.

Highly recommended and 5 super shiny stars.

I didn't really enjoy this book.

It's very long winded and drawn out for at least 90% of the book. All the action takes place in the last few chapters and epilogue but then that feels very rushed.

I know other's have liked it so obviously it's just not my type of book.

When 14 yr old Zara witnesses the murder of a homeless man, the lives of those closest to her is changed forever. Her identity is protected when she is called as a witness in court (Girl A) but when her identity is discovered, the families of the convicted lads are determined to get revenge.
The police advise Zara’s mother that the only solution to guarantee her safety is to go into the witness protection program which means leaving everything she has ever known behind, including her stepfather & step sister who decides that he cannot leave his daughter and terminally ill ex-wife behind. We follow Zara & her mother Lauren as they enter the witness protection programme & are moved to a new area to start new lives.
The book is written as a psychological thriller but it lacked some drama for me and felt quite pedestrian and predictable. The strength of this novel is in the impact that we see as a result of Zara speaking out & doing the right thing and there is a good twist towards the end but overall I found this book odd – in some ways it was an interesting but I wanted to slap Lauren repeatedly and ask her whether she really understood the impact of her actions on her vulnerable daughter? Zara would have been so much safer without her silly mother! As the author explains at the end, writing a book about people going into the witness protection programme is always going to be difficult as by its nature, those who know how the process works cannot divulge details.
Disclosure: I received an advance reader copy of this book free from the publisher via NetGalley. Whilst thanks go to the publisher & author for the opportunity to read it, all opinions are my own.

WOW WOW WOW- What a page turner

Zara is just a teenager witnessing a murder on a homeless man and ends up having to go into protection, mum Lauren and Zara leave all the family behind including stepdad Aidan and beloved dog Bill.

Outstanding writing from Gillian, totally gripping, engaging and a joy to read. I loved how the chapters were set out.

The last 40 minutes of the book had my heart beating so fast not knowing what way this book would go. I was left gobsmacked!

Please please give this one a read you will not be left disappointed.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me and my book of the year.

Huge thank you to Penguin UK - Michael Joseph for allowing me to review this fantastic ARC.

How to Disappear is bestselling author Gillian McAllister’s latest standalone psychological thriller and is a witness protection thriller. It is part thriller and part account of adjusting to a completely new and foreign way of life as part of the witness protection program. It highlights the fact that one seemingly inconsequential decision or good deed can have severe consequences and impact a wide range of people.

On her way home from school 14-year-old Zara witnesses an event that will inevitably change her and her family’s lives forever. Islington in London is the setting for the brutal murder of a harmless homeless man, Jamie, who had been viciously attacked by two Holloway Football Club youth players, Luke and Mal, who are about to sign to a premier league club. They leave him injured on the street where he dies. She reports the crime to the police and a year later she is the prosecution's star witness but of course her identity is protected for her own safety and she is known only as Girl A. Her mother Lauren, stepfather Aidan and stepsister Poppy all support her decision to speak out and try to achieve justice for the cold-blooded murder. However, the lads and their backers are determined to find out who is behind the anonymous testimony. Once identified she is subjected to a barrage of threats against her life and they make it very clear that she has a bounty on her head.

The police then advise that Zara go into the witness protection program which means leaving everything she has ever known behind, no contact with friends or loved ones and a change of name and image. This is a captivating and original concept for a thriller and charts the breakup of a strong family unit all because Zara wanted to do the right thing. It has cost herself and both her mother and stepfather everything. The plot is impeccably wrought, compulsive and highly addictive meaning you'll likely devour it in a single sitting as I did. You become immersed quickly and as the story progresses it becomes ever more disturbing, chilling and full of danger. You never know what is lurking around the corner and it gives you a little insight into what it would be like to live under witness protection. I was not expecting the final chapters to be as explosive, powerful and shocking as they were but it was a great way to round off an exciting, incisive, thought-provoking and highly entertaining read. Many thanks to Penguin for an ARC.

How To Disappear was an incredible read! It was thrilling and addiciting.

The book immediately drew me in, and once I started reading, I could not stop. The story was fantastic and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

A hit for me and highly recommended!

Fourteen-year-old Zara has to go into witness protection after testifying against two boys accused of the murder of a homeless man, Lauren her mother goes with her. They have to leave behind their friends, jobs and family just to stay safe, the rules of protection say no contact with anyone, but Zara's step-father Aiden hides a phone in Lauren's backpack which she finds and uses.
The safe house is discovered.
Gillian McAllister produces her most gripping psychological thriller to date. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am happy to recommend.
I want to thank NetGalley, Penguin UK, Michael Joseph and author Gillian McAllister, for a pre-publication copy to review.

Wow, I’m not even sure calling this book a rollercoaster ride does it justice. This book was a book that I just could not put down for a moment. I was on the edge of my seat both literally and figuratively speaking from the very first page. I honestly am not sure my review (or any other review) will do this book justice. If you love psychological thrillers then you need to make getting this book an absolute priority!

I don’t think that I can say too much about the plot without giving away a tiny part of the story, and it is something that you really need to experience for yourself.

The main characters, Lauren, her daughter Zara, her husband (and Zara’s stepdad) Aidan, and Aidan’s daughter from his previous marriage Poppy, present the most uncomplicated blended family I have ever seen in a story, and I loved that it was a loving family unit that had no complicated relationships within the family, it was really refreshing to see that some families can blend well. What they all experience individually as a result of the crime that Lauren witnessed is anything but uncomplicated.

The twists and turns in this book had me flummoxed right to the very end. This is the most beautifully written thriller that had my heart pounding, and me gasping, and shedding a tear or two.

READ THIS BOOK. READ IT NOW! (sorry for the caps lock, but you really need to read it!)

Every ounce of How To Disappear is superbly written. Gillian McAllister draws you in and doesn't let go until the very end. I found it extremely difficult to put How To Disappear down and I devoured it one sitting.

Thankyou to Penguin- Michael Joseph for my advance copy in exchange for an honest review.