Watch Her Vanish by Ellery A. Kane is the first in the Rockwell & Decker series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


Series Information:

Olivia Rockwell is a Criminal Psychologist working at Crescent Bay State Prison, in her hometown of Fog Harbor, California.  Her father is in another prison, serving a life sentence.  Detective Will Decker moved to Fog Harbor after his brother was convicted of shooting a woman, ending up in prison because Will turned him in.


My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)

Fog Harbor may have a serial killer on the loose, and women are dying.

 All evidence  points to Drake Devere, who is serving life without parole for murdering five women.  However, since the murders are occurring outside the prison, it seems unlikely that he is sneaking out at night to kill them.  But evidence is mounting.

Although Olivia is Drake's psychologist, and she has been convinced of his innocence, she is starting to doubt her own thoughts.  When it appears that the Oaktown Boys, a white supremacist motorcycle gang, may be involved, Olivia is nervous.  Her father was part of that gang, and although her sister Emily is sure he is reformed, Olivia is not so sure.

Decker and his partner JB seem to disagree as to who the killer is, but at least they are starting to work together better.  As they dig deeper, and more women die, it becomes obvious that they are missing a piece or two of the puzzle.

Meanwhile, Decker and Olivia are getting closer than either of them expect.


My Opinions:   

This was a really good start to a new series.  The plot was good, and there were a lot of suspects.

I liked both the main characters, and it is easy to see that their background and family will continue to torment them in future books.  Often in these books we see flawed characters, but in this case it is more their families that are flawed.  JB grew on me, but that was about it.  I didn't like any of the other characters, including Olivia's sister, who I found very annoying,

Even with 400 pages, it was a fairly fast read, with a number of red herrings that sent the reader in some crazy directions.  I did suspect the perpetrator, but was not positive.

Although I'm not a romance reader, I actually didn't mind the budding relationship between the two main characters.  

The only real problem I had with the book is that it ended with a cliff-hanger.  I think there are better ways for an author to ensure you read their next book wiithout resorting to this tactic.

Anyway, I am looking forward to the next in the series.

Psychopaths are smart and that's the dangerous thing. The story is really good at showing how subtle and meticulous a psychopath works his way into the, oh so willing, ”victims”.

There’s a serial killer loose going after women who work at the local prison, and the prime suspect is a prisoner who is locked away for life. So how is he escaping, in order to commit these crimes, who is helping him, or is there a copy cat set on making him look guilty. 

Olivia also works at this prion, and is the psychologists to many inmates, including Drake Devere. Olivia knows him well, but how is it that the main suspect of these new crimes is locked away already. Olivia helps out detective Will Decker to try to profile the killer, but when your profile doesn’t match the evidence it’s hard to work well together. Complex histories of both Olivia and Will have the potential for a long and interesting series following these two. 

I liked this book overall, however it took me ages to read. I found myself thinking it was dragging on and taking forever for anything to happen. The ending was done well. Quick and right to the point with a lot of action to keep you entertained. I felt like I was reading a screenplay for a movie.  I look forward to reading more from Kane in regards to these characters.

I really liked Watch Her Vanish. Another great mystery from this Author, I have read a few of her books and they are thrilling. This murder mystery was gripping and very exciting. An edge of your seat read that had me scared and guessing until the end. I enjoyed Rockwell and Decker's characters. The story is interesting and the characters well thought out. I'm looking forward to reading more of this series.

I give Watch Her Vanish 4 stars for its thrilling read.
I would recommend this book to Mystery Thriller Fans.

Thank you to Bookouture for my copy of this book via netgalley. If you are a regular reader of my blog or reviews you will know I love a crime story so I was excited to start a new one with a new to me author.

The first thing I have to say about this book is that is very disturbing. I read quite a lot of crime books but this one really got under my skin. The manipulation and the secrets in this one really get inside your head. Let’s say I’m glad I’m not living on my own because I think I’d have to sleep with the lights on for a while after this one!

Ellery does such a good job of keeping you guessing throughout the whole book. I was constantly on the edge of my seat not know who might be killed next or who the killer was.

I really like the newspaper clippings in between the story. I like little unique touches like this. It helps to make a book stand out.

As well as the case there’s the backgrounds of our two main characters Olivia and Will. These two have quite the stories to tell and I look forward to unpacking them more as we continue the series.

Watch her vanish is a police procedural set in a high-security prison. Dr Olivia Rockwell is a prison psychologist. The day she discovers the body of her colleague, Bonnie Macmillan, everything changes in her life!

Det. William Decker has moved from San Francisco and has a past he prefers to keep under the rug.

Det. Decker and his partner JB started investigating the case of Bonnie Macmillan. She was missing for a few days before they found her dead. The case has received too much attention from the media and also from the residents of Fog Harbour. While both the detectives are untangling the case, they come across another body, Laura. She also worked in the same prison. It appears to be more than just coincidence!

Decker and Rockwell come together to resolve the case, and before more bodies show up.

The murder takes place in Crescent Bay prison. It is not a straightforward job to work in a prison. It puts pressure and; the job needs also need patience and are taxed, on the mind.

Olivia Rockwell is a Stanford graduate and has worked with the FBI. As the coroner, Chet describes her “she is a big deal”. Olivia has created a wall around to protect herself and her sister, Emily. She also works in the same prison. Olivia keeps her childhood and family history a secret. She is a strong woman and is cordial with her fellow employees. Yet, the readers will find her detached.

Det. Decker complemented Olivia. He does not have much company other than his orange tabby cat, Cy. After work, back at home, he talks and shares his thoughts with Cy.

The narrative is set in Fog Harbour city, a small town in California. It has the Crescent Bay prison

which houses the notorious criminals. Handling and being in such a job can be heavy on the psyche.

The author has done excellent research given most of the scenes are written in jail. The author did an admirable job while describing the prison, or people and their feelings. She abreast with the central theme of the book. The readers can enjoy it in her writing.

The ending of the book takes the reader by surprise. The book edged on a few usual cliches, but the author with subtlety avoided them. The pace is apt and becomes the edge of a thriller towards the ending.

Even though Olivia and Decker are portrayed as intelligent people, but, there were times the reader might see them making irrational decisions.

Overall, Watch her Vanish is a good police procedural and its ending suggests the reader will enjoy more of these books. Recommended for crime fiction fans.

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture for the copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Let me be completely honest here: this book was amazing. Watch Her Vanish is a book about a Criminal Psychologist written by a Forensic Psychologist! So basically this author (Ellery Kane) knows what she’s talking about.

The book has a great beginning that really grabbed me and drew me in. Main character Olivia Rockwell has returned to California to keep an eye on her young sister, Emily. She is the head psychologist of the Crescent Bay State Prison where one of her most violent patients is under suspicion for murder. He is an interesting character to read and I was always questioning his manipulative and slimy ways. Then there is Homicide Detective William Decker. He is in the process of getting his career back on track and, of course, isn’t too keen on Olivia at first. But like any good psychological thriller, there are many tensions, twists, and thrills. I certainly enjoyed the book and would love to see what the author comes up with next for these character.

**Did Not Finish**

As a lover of books, and especially thrillers, it's painful for me to make the decision that a book just isn't for me and give up on it. This one has several of the right ingredients for a good thriller: murders; atmospheric setting; troubled protagonists. But none of those have interested me enough to keep on reading past what I found annoying:

Clumsy writing: as if the author is working too hard to be original: For example: "In the scrutinous glare of his headlights..." That one threw me right out of the story. Is there such a word as 'scrutinous?' 

Stereotypical, rigid characters: professionals with troubled pasts they haven't worked through: 'That's the thing about the past. You can hang up, but it always calls back.' The hints about these backstories are befuddling at times. And Rockwell and Decker have one of those annoying love/hate relationships that you know is going to end in bed, so get on with it already! 

But the clincher to stop reading came when I read in other reviews that the mystery does not reach a conclusion in this book but carries on to the next in the series...No! Save the cliffhangers for the plot of a TV series, please.

I received an arc from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Sorry it just wasn't my cup of tea.

I’m usually late to the party on thriller series, so it was nice starting a series from the beginning right when it’s being published. While I figured out the responsible party as soon as this character was introduced, it was still a suspenseful crime thriller, which answered the main whodunit for this book but left you hanging for the bigger crime.

Olivia Rockwell, a criminal psychologist who is still trying to come to terms with witnessing her own incarcerated father murder someone when Olivia was just a little girl, takes on the worst of the worst patients/criminals at the prison in Fog Harbor where no one can be trusted and everyone is always on edge. Her worst patient is Drake Devere, a serial killer who avoided the death penalty thanks to a previous deal and who has turned his previous crimes into a best selling crime book series. Detective Will Decker has fled to the police force in Fog Harbor to try to get back some of his anonymity after a family scandal that is alluded to throughout the book. Suddenly, female employees at the prison start being found brutally murdered, and Olivia might be next. Olivia and Dec must fight their obvious chemistry to try to identify the killer before it’s too late.

This book, while enjoyable to read because I liked Olivia and Deck’s characters, definitely followed the detective crime thriller script, and if you’ve read a lot of these, it’s really not hard to figure out who is killing these women. But, that being said, while Olivia was rather naive given her professional and personal background, I was still rooting for her to make it out alive. And, I really like the partnership between Deck and JB, the fuddy-duddy older detective Deck is partnered with who keeps his secrets and watches his back even as he insults and teases him. While it’s obviously a secondary relationship to the Rockwell and Decker one named in the series title, it seems to be the most realistic one and really creates a warmer tone to the book.

I also like that the author set herself up to possibly go several different directions with the future books in this series. I don’t want to give away the ending, but it was satisfying even with the cliffhangers. (Yes, plural.)

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. It has not influenced my opinion.

*Watch Her Vanish* by Ellery A. Kane is the first book in a series about Detective William Decker and Psychologist Olivia Rockwell. This is a thriller about Bonnie,  around mother found dead after a night at the movies. Later when another woman is found dead Detective Decker and criminal Psychologist Olivia Rockwell must work together to catch a killer. 

I couldn't put this book down. I stayed up late reading it. The main suspect is behind bars so how would he have committed the murder, but he is also a literary author who wrote a book about a man who commits murders from behind bars, could his fiction story be fact? 

I highly recommend this book to fiction and thriller fans a like. You will not be disappointed. 

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

“Trauma can stunt growth. Could change a sapling to a weed, a magnolia bush to oleander."

Young mother Bonnie McMillan vanishes without a trace after a late night trip to the movie theatre. The residents of Fog Harbor are worried and hold a vigil praying for her safe return. But the event is shattered by a piercing scream and the discovery of Bonnie's body outside the church. The murder rocks the community. 

Detective Will Decker is in charge of catching her killer and immediately finds himself clashing with Dr Olivia Rockwell, a psychologist who worked with Bonnie at Crescent Bay Prison. 

When the body of another woman is found, they fear they have a serial killer on their hands. With few clues and their only suspect a shadowy figure seen leaving the theatre at the same time as Bonnie, they face a race against the clock to find their killer before they strike again. 

Watch Her Vanish is the first book in a new crime series, which almost made me not ask to be on this tour as I read so many of them already. But the synopsis had me intrigued so I took a chance. I'm so glad I did. While the story follows some predictable tropes, overall this was a gripping, twisty, clever and surprising thriller that I couldn't put down. 

Our dual protagonists have an instant dislike for each other, which I expected to turn into the predictable, but much loved, enemies-to-lovers trope. While they do feel differently by the end, it didn't take quite the format or end with the outcome I was expecting, which I enjoyed. They were a great duo, with their sharp, barbed banter and reluctance to admit they work well together making them compelling to read. 

Like all great protagonists, they come with mysterious, dark and backstories that still haunt them which are slowly revealed. There is also a great cast of supporting characters that I both loved and loathed. But none that stood out as much as Drake Devere, a serial killer who is an inmate at the prison and a talented writer whose book written from behind bars has gained quite the cult following. He's a manipulative and sinister character that will turn on you at the flick of a switch. When it seems the killer is bringing his novel to life it's hard to know if he is involved or being set up like he claims. I'll be honest; I could never decide. 

This exciting, fast-paced thriller is one I would recommend to anyone who enjoys the genre. I can't wait to see what's next for Olivia and Will in book two.

I am excited to take part in the blog tour for Ellery Kane’s new mystery: Watch Her Vanish, a suspenseful murder mystery! This is my first read of Ms. Kane’s and I enjoyed the writing and the plotting and pacing. It’s always fun to read a mystery that keeps me guessing right up until the end!

Here’s the overview from Galaxy Media:

Book Description
The beam from the lighthouse slices through the dawn sky as she runs down the rocky stairway to the beach. She tries to take it all in—the waves crashing against the cliffs, the whip of salt grass in the wind—before finally dragging her eyes down to the innocent girl’s blonde hair, strewn across the bottom step like seaweed…

Returning home to Fog Harbor, California, to be closer to her little sister, Olivia Rockwell is struggling to adjust to life in a town so small she can hardly breathe. That is, until the sound of a scream leads her to the body of a local teacher in the shallows nearby. All the evidence points to Olivia’s most threatening criminal psychology patient, Drake, who is safely locked up behind bars…

Convinced of Drake’s innocence—and desperate to believe in the system that’s keeping her murderer father in prison and away from her sister—Olivia gets to work on her own suspect list. All her life she’s run towards trouble, but this time she’s treading on the toes of Detective Will Decker, whose past mistakes mean this case is his last chance to make amends.

Then a second woman’s body is discovered, strangled while out on an evening jog. The strip of blue material used to choke her implicates Drake once again, forcing Will to admit he needs Olivia’s special talent for understanding the minds of killers. It’s clear more innocent women will die if they don’t get one step ahead of the murders, and Olivia knows she will need her estranged father’s help to get close to Drake. 

But when Olivia’s profile leads them to believe Drake could be masterminding murders from within the prison walls, a message written on a scrap of paper found in the latest victim’s car leads them to a terrifying realization: Olivia’s little sister will be next…

I’m hooked. Ms. Ellery Kane did a fabulous job convincing me Deck and Olivia were better as a team, then when they worked on their own.  She wrote a fantastic mystery, full of twists and turns, with a concrete ending, but a bit of a cliffhanger. She’s a smart author, leaving us just enough to bring us back. And I will be back.

I feel like I've written this a lot lately but...YAY!  A new Series!!!  Watch Her Vanish starts off so strong and so creepy.  A woman is watching a classic thriller alone in a  theater.  It's the middle of the night.  Someone comes into the theater.  Someone follows her to her car.  You breathe a little easier when she gets into the car and takes off.  Never to be seen again.

Soon, everyone in a small town is connected to the case as more women who work in the town's biggest employer, the prison, are endangered and disappear.  The case is connected to a convicted serial killer.  His therapist and the disgraced detective who put him away in the first place team up to solve the case.  

I loved the pace of this book as well as the character development.  There were characters that I couldn't stand as the book started that grew and became more complex and human as it went on.  Could a killer leave maximum security to kill every stormy night?  Does it change your answer if you know he wrote a novel about a killer who does just that?  There are so many weird and creepy characters that could be involved.  

There are some resolutions but plenty to continue in the next installment.  And I cannot wait for it to come out.

As many of you may already be aware of, when it comes to thrillers I want non-stop action and this book started off strong. Readers are immediately transported into the murderer's latest victim's attack; however, it is shortly after this where the book starts to pump the brakes and drag events out for more of that slow-burn feel.

The plot remains suspenseful and kept me turning the pages, but it is because of the diminished action that reduced the stars for me. The best book that I can compare this to would probably be The Chestnut Man by Søren Sveistrup in the sense that the novel tends to focus mainly on the police procedural side of the crime instead of the killer's insight of the crimes. If you were a fan of that novel, then you will most likely enjoy this one way more than I did. 

Overall, I'm glad I read the book and found it to be an enjoyable read despite not having specific elements of a thriller that I prefer.

It's been a long time since I've read a thriller that is as captivating as Watch Her Vanish. Set in Fog Harbor, the book follows the story of Olivia Rockwell and the tragedies that continue to strike this idyllic community. 

I'm choosing this book for my book club as it's a fun read that keeps you on your toes. I'm an avid reader of mysteries and this book was well worth the investment and time. I loved it! Ellery Kane continues to raise the bar. I only wish it could be made into a movie!

Rating 4.5/5*

Talk about an edge of your seat page turner – wow, this story certainly is just that! When a serial killer strikes, all the evidence points towards Drake – but he’s already imprisoned for five murders and there’s no way he could get out . . . . is there?

As the prison’s Criminal Psychologist, Olivia Rockwell has Drake as one of her patients and she doesn’t believe he is guilty of these latest murders. However, Detective Will Decker is not so sure. The sparks fly when the two first meet but they need to work together to bring the killer to justice – especially when Olivia’s sister could be the next victim….

This is a fast paced, enthralling read that I didn’t want to put down until I’d discovered just who was the perpetrator.  It has well developed characters, plenty of twists and turns, is action packed and has enough red herrings to keep you guessing. It is also the start of a new series and I’m hooked, looking forward to reading more involving this duo and seeing where everything lead.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.

Criminal Psychologist Olivia Rockwell has been back home in Fog Harbor, California, since the death of her mother and has been caring for her younger sister. She really is not happy there, but she feels she must stay and make it work. When she hears a scream one night, she immediately reacts and rushes towards the chilling sound, only to see the body of a dead woman. 

She approaches the scene, not paying attention to protocol. When Detective Will Decker sees the crime scene disturbed by Olivia he is angry, thinking that his job just has been made more difficult. So the pair start of on rather bad footing. 

Olivia, always brilliant, sees right away where the evidence points. However, the suspect in question is behind bars. So how indeed does he come to mind? She has a very difficult job, that of counseling the most violent of prisoners, including a man named Drake, the man to whom the evidence points. Working at the prison is no easy task for Olivia, so despite the rocky start she had with the detective, she begins to search for answers, determined to prove Drake's innocence.

Meanwhile, Olivia has another huge battle on her hands, and this pertains to her family life. Despite the fact that she has cared for her sister since their mothers death, their relationship is on uneven terms. To further complicate Olivia's life, their father, a convicted murderer, is behind bars. Olivia will go the extra mile to keep her father there, and this includes having little or no contact with him.

So, Will Decker has his hands full with the case, and with Olivia butting in, things become quite complicated. What is worse is that the body of another woman is soon found and this hits too close to home for Olivia and her job at the prison, thus bringing her and Will in more contact than either would like.

There is yet another side story that begins to thread everything together regarding the two murders proving that danger is far too close to the lives and safety of others. Whether Olivia and Will manage to work past their differences to stop the killer so that no more young women lose their lives is the question at hand.

This excellent story is layered quite well, especially when it comes to seeing the reach that certain prisoners have even though they are behind bars. The element of danger is high and I was kept on the edge of my seat, especially as I endeavored to try and pinpoint the murderer. 

What an excellent first book in what is sure to be a terrific series. I love the fact that Olivia and Will began at odds with one another and I enjoyed watching their progression, especially knowing that there will be future books in this series. Concurrently, there were supporting characters who proved just about as interesting as Olivia and Will, thus making this quite a compelling read. The story, pacing and thrilling conclusion made this book near to impossible to put down.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

I have read every book thus far from this author and she never fails to disappoint. With that said this book is by far my favorite. I love a good thriller, whodunnit, chilling story and we get that in abundance. 
Ellery A. Kane knows how to write a story that grabs you and pulls you in till you devour it. 
This brand new series finds us with a detective who thought he fled his past, a psychologist who still lives in her past, and many who have no clue of the evil surrounding them. When Olivia and Decker finally work together it's amazing and explosive. I can not wait to see what happens in the next story. Excellent reading.

Watch Her Vanish by Ellery A. Kane is the first novel in the Rockwell and Decker series. This murder-mystery thriller set in a small town offers suspense, intrigue, and a side dish of romance.

Welcome to Fog Harbor, California, where the primary employer is Rockwell Prison, a maximum security penitentiary.

Criminal Psychologist Olivia Rockwell lives with her sister in their family home and both work at the prison. The two have baggage and secrets, but I liked Olivia and found her to be a strong character.

When a missing woman turns up dead, it shakes the small town. Detective Will Decker and his partner are assigned to work the case. When another body turns up, it looks like they may have a serial killer on their hands.

From the initial back-and-forth banter between Olivia and Will, we witness a spark. The two traded barbs and Will eventually seeks her out for assistance on the case, allowing them to interact more.

This was an interesting case, and the author did a wonderful job of making connections and casting doubt. She wove the characters past and present into the cases while weaving in the prison and its inmates. It was intriguing and kept me guessing.

The tale isn’t overly gruesome or heavy on police procedures, but we gain enough insight to paint a gruesome picture. The profiling was fascinating and showcased the author’s background.

Secondary characters from partners to family members were developed and added to the story. They brought humor, worry, and more. I loved Will’s partner. The man made me laugh and offered light against the dark investigation.

We see a relationship develop between Olivia and Will, one I think will grow over the course of the series. It was a nice side dish to the murder mystery.

Fans of Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh will want to add Watch Her Vanish to their reading list this fall.