Watch Her Vanish by Ellery A. Kane is the first book in her new Rockwell and Decker series. Prior to this, I read The First Cut which was so good that I gave it a five-star rating, so I was keen to get stuck into this crime thriller. Olivia Rockwell is the lead criminal psychologist at the local prison in her hometown of Fog Harbor, California and one of her most violent patients, Drake Devere is implicated in the murder of a missing teacher. Sure of Devere's innocence in this crime, Olivia and Detective Will Decker get to work, together with JB, Deck's number two and somewhat old-school partner, and they soon realise they are hunting a serial killer when another woman is found, strangled.

Watch Her Vanish was mostly narrated from Olivia and Deck’s viewpoints, with tension added in the victims’ final minutes of life. The plot was well thought-out and compelling, with a lot going on. The characters all had strong personalities and Olivia and Deck made a formidable team. I got a true sense of the main characters and rather liked them. The author's writing was fluent, and I never found myself bored or bogged down with detail. There were many moments of humour that had me smiling and I couldn't put it down as I needed to see what motivated the killer. The main storylines are well wrapped up leaving a few loose strings for development in future books.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Bookouture via NetGalley at my request, and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

This book is excellent!!  A fast paced thriller that kept you on the edge of your seat!!  A book to be read in one sitting!!

I loved Watch her Vanish it was a suspenseful crime thriller that I truly enjoyed. I read it in two sitting and I loved the relationship between Olivia and Will it was an intense read but I was in for the ride. It was a GREAT one. The Story starts off with a bang and just keeps getting better. I was sure I thought I knew how the book would end but it took a right turn and I was surprised by the great ending. A good read for anyone that enjoys the Rizzoli and Isles books or the Robin Cook's books of Jack and Laurie. I would recommend this to everyone that enjoys a good suspenseful read. Loved it. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for my advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

My interest in psychology started when I was young and grew through college when I chose it as my major.  This book fascinated me, and it was not only from the viewpoint of someone who loves reading mysteries but also from the viewpoint of someone who has become quite adept at figuring out "whodunnit" just from my college courses.  I know people, I understand how they think, why they take the actions they do, and I have seriously missed my calling as a forensic psychologist, to be quite honest.  So when I say that I was shocked when I got to the end of the book, that is saying something significant.  There was a point about halfway through the book where my sixth sense was tingling, but I ignored it because I couldn't imagine that it was leading me anywhere.  I should have listened.  You will never guess who committed the crime.  

Fog Harbor, California is a small, quiet town until a woman suddenly goes missing and is found days later, strangled and in plain sight of the church where a vigil was being held in her honor.  All signs point to a man criminal psychology Olivia Rockwell knows only too well...because she is treating him at the local maximum security prison.  Detective Will Decker thinks Olivia could be the key to solving this case, if only he could get her to cooperate instead of trying to convince him that her patient is innocent of the crime.  When a second body is found, in the same manner of death as the first victim, the "s" word begins to be thrown around, and Will and Olivia realize that time is now swiftly running out.  If they don't catch the killer soon, it could be Olivia's neck on the line next. 

I can't give you too much detail without giving things away, and half the fun in reading this wild ride of a book is the surprises around every corner.  While Olivia and Will have a bit of romance sparking throughout the book, the real pleasure in reading the story comes from trying to decipher the truth.  Is it possible that Drake Devere, the murderer safely locked away, is actually escaping to commit murders and then smuggling himself back into jail?  It all seems so impossible and yet...is it possible?  You'll ask yourself this question over and over again as Olivia and Will get closer to the truth.  You'll question the motives of everyone, and soon every character is a suspect.  Olivia's history is a sad one that she keeps hidden from those around her, and when you find out more about it, you begin to wonder if she can truly be an unbiased observer, just as Will wonders when he discovers her truth.  And then you look at Will and his sordid past, and you wonder if he just wants to brighten up his reputation once more.  This is not a book to read when you've got a lot of things on your mind, because you'll need every brain cell to focus on this mystery.

I'm super excited that this is just the first in a series with Olivia and Will in the starring roles!  I love murder mysteries, and the psychology thrown in is the cherry on top of what is sure to be an amazing series.

This is a great start to a new series. 
Olivia is attending a church service when she hears a scream outside. She goes over to help and sees that a body has been discovered. 
The body is of a woman she knows from work as a psychologist at the prison. 
Detective Will Decker is next on the scene and it’s clear there’s something between him and Olivia. 
It takes a while for the two of them to get used to each other but soon they’re working together to try and find a murderer. 
All signs point to the killer being Drake who is currently in prison - but how could he have got out?
Soon someone close to Olivia is in grave danger and they have to pull out all the stops to get there in time. 
I really liked the two main characters and look forward to finding out what’s next for them. 
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

He’s locked away behind bars, yet all signs point towards him as the murderer!

Olivia Rockwell is a criminal psychologist in a small town jail, where things are sometimes overlooked and thing don’t always work. Her and Sister Emily are all each other have now as they struggle adjusting to small town life.

Then the first body is found, missing mother and wife Bonnie who coincidentally works at the jail with Liv. All motive and evidence points toward Olivia’s most harmful patient Drake, whom in one jail for murdering women the same way Bonnie was murdered. He plead innocence from behind bars but something doesn’t add up.

Liv meets Detective Decker when they get off on the wrong foot. Liv became a criminal physiologist because her own father was behind bars for murder. Then there’s a second body linked to the jail and the small town no longer feels safe.

In the end Liv and Deck work together to try and solve the cases. Their chemistry building tension between them. This had me guessing right until the very end, there’s so many lies and secrets in this small town, can Liv make it out alive and keep Emily safe?

I really liked this book. Olivia and Will were very intriguing characters and I really liked the relationship that they developed throughout the book. The mystery behind Drake Devere and the way the story unfolded was so masterfully done. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire book. The twists and turns were very good and I didn't see a lot of them coming. The ending was so good as well. 

I would recommend this book if you like a very good thriller.

Watch Her Vanish is the first instalment in the Doctor Olivia Rockwell, who is a Criminal Psychologist, and Detective Will Decker series, set in Fog Harbour, California. Olivia Rockwell apprehensively returned to Fog Harbour two years ago to look after her younger sister, Emily. Presently, she is in charge of the Mental Health Unit at Crescent Bay State Prison. Detective Will ”Deck” Decker moved to Fog Harbour from San Francisco PD in an attempt to get his career back on track. Both have secrets that they are hiding. When one of Olivia’s female colleagues, Bonnie McMillan, from the prison disappears and her body is discovered garotted and with a clear indication that her clothes had been tampered with, Olivia is rocked to her core. Then when the MO and evidence gathered points to an inmate, Drake Devere, who is one of Olivia’s patients she doesn't know what to think. Will Decker also has history with Devere, aka The Vulture, as he was the one put him behind bars. Then the body of kitchen supervisor, Laura Ricci, is discovered. Devere is the most dangerous of all those behind bars having killed five women but how exactly can he have been involved when he's incarcerated in a maximum-security facility?

This is a stonker of a serial killer thriller as Kane shows her prowess when it comes to penning a story that'll get under your skin. It's tense from the outset and continues to grow ever more so until turning every page is a daunting task of what-ifs and the team are chasing down every possible lead in their desperation to bring the killings to a close. It's a chilling and thrilling race against the clock to identify and apprehend the killer before more lives are lost. The team is made up of intelligent, interesting characters whose only thought is getting justice for what has happened. There is sexual tension between Will and Olivia who must work together to solve the case and both have troubled pasts they would rather keep hidden. Will’s partnership with JB gets off on the wrong foot but they soon become accustomed to one another. The narrative never lets up and is not only packed with intense action it is full of suspense, drama and intrigue too. There are some clever and unpredictable twists and turns and the well-conceived plot makes this an absorbing, immersive and addictive page-turner. Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.

Definitely a 'whodunnit' - thing is, I couldn't quite work out who!

Olivia Rockwell has returned to Fog Harbor in California to be close to her sister. The local state prison, Crescent Bay, provides a lot of employment locally, including Olivia who is a psychologist there. When another employee's missing body is found, all the evidence leads to Olivia's most serious inmate - but how can it have anything to do with him while he's safely locked up 24/7? Olivia wants to believe the system works - after all, it's kept her father safely locked away for a number of years - and embarks on her own investigation but locks horns with Detective Will Decker, who is officially dealing with her colleague's death. Surely there must be a plausible explanation - but who will find it first?

A well-plotted mystery, full of secrets but ending up with everything clearly laid out but I would have liked it to be just a bit sharper, grabbing my focus instead of just asking for it. The story is good but it didn't set my pulse racing, unfolding at it's own pace until it's all explained by the last page. It'll be interesting to see where this series heads next though, and I'll certainly watch out for the next book. Sometimes, it just takes the first one to set it all up. Four stars for this one.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley and to Galaxy Media for my spot on this tour; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

Someone is killing women in Fog Harbour, California- women who work at the State Prison there.  Suspicion has fallen on Drake Devere, a serial killer held there, because he's written about a killer who manages it from prison. Olivia Rockwell, the psychologist who works with him, doesn't think he's responsible- it doesn't make sense, nor does Detective Will Becker but who is it?  Olivia and Deck find themselves on the spot as they work frantically on the case.  They'e good characters, the writing flows, and if the plot is a bit unrealistic, it's still a good read.  Thanks to netgalley for the ARC, This is meant to be the first in a series and I'm curious to see where it goes next.

Fog Harbor, California is a typical small town, peppered with Mom and Pop stores, churches and gossip. It is also home to Crescent Bay State Prison where many of the local residents are employed. Olivia Rockwell, who has returned to her hometown to care for her younger sister, is the Chief Psychologist at the prison. 

Bonnie McMillan, who teaches creative writing to prisoners, has disappeared on her way home from a late night movie. At a vigil for the missing Bonnie, Olivia first meets ruggedly handsome local police officer Will Decker. She also encounters him a second time shortly after the vigil when she is one of the first to discover Bonnie’s body. After another killing, suspicion falls on Drake Devere, a convicted murderer and published author. What motive would Drake have to kill his favorite teacher, the woman who helped him get his book published? How would he be able to come and go from a secure prison? Just what is going on behind those prison walls? As Rockwell and Decker team up to investigate, they find the answers to these questions and much more but not before their lives and those of people close to them are threatened.

Watch Her Vanish is the first in a new series. While I look forward to the next Rockwell/Decker installment, I hope to see some slight changes. The first is a small one. I found it hard to believe that Bonnie watched a movie in a theater by herself until 2 in the morning. Same for the second victim who was out jogging alone at 4:30 in the morning. I also think that Ellery Kane should decide whether the series emphasis is on mystery or romance. 4 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture and Ellery Kane for this ARC.

An intriguing start to a new series that is a must read. The characters are complex and well written. The plot is intense and full of suspense. Olivia and Will make an interesting team with a very slow burn romance that I look forward to seeing develop. I loved JB. He's more than he seems and adds a needed dose of humor. I was completely sucked into the story and the reveal blew my mind. The ending was perfect and made me anxious for the next one.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for an ARC of this book. The comments and review are my honest opinion.

A murder has occurred in the small town of Fog Harbor where Olivia works in the prison as a criminal psychologist. The murder mirrors the handiwork of one of Olivia’s most famous patients, Drake.
But of course that is impossible, or is it?  Writing another harrowing, twisted psychological thriller that she has become so well known for, Author  Ellery Kane offers her trademark suspense and twists that will keep you guessing.

**This review will be cross-posted all across social media and retail sites on pub day**

Dead bodies are being found, one after another, all posed and staged, all belonging to the female staff of the town Prison. All evidence leads to the most dangerous criminal serving life at the prison, all murders a recreation of his book. But how is he doing it from behind the bars?

This is the first book in a series and it surprises even me to say, I’ll be looking forward to the next instalment. Even for a 400-page book, it was gripping and fast-paced, minus just a few minor lulls. It took me a while to get used to the writing style, the past and present merged at so many points without any clear distinction, but it was great once I got the hang of it. Each character has its own distinct voice, especially the character of JB was great, I loved how it developed, but I think it got a bit over the top. At the end of every chapter, there’s always a small jaw-dropping teaser, and it made me anticipate what’s coming next so much.

My only issue was the romantic banter between the two leads, which filled more pages than it should have, considering this is supposed to be a gritty crime thriller. It was so annoying imo. Idk why all the recent thrillers I’ve read have a detective hell-bent on falling in love, face-first, and that too at work (Hello? One good, old thriller please?). The mystery and plot were great, and it’d have been awesome it the atmosphere was a bit grim too, to suit the story more. Nevertheless, I’m looking forward to what’s next to come in this series.

I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own. Pub Date: Oct, 9th.

A well written, intense novel, this is the first in the proposed series Rockwell and Decker featuring Dr. Olivia Rockwell, a prison psychologist and Det. Will Decker, a shunned San Francisco detective who has moved to Fog Harbor, Ca. to try and escape his past and broken family. Both of these characters are carrying a boat load of past “issues” that are weighing them down. As they try to move forward in life, they each keep large areas of their lives walled off from anyone with whom they come in contact.
This book was compelling to read, and at the same time I didn’t really enjoy it. It is filled with broken people in addition to the two main characters. There is a convicted serial killer, a psychopath, suspected of the current string of murders. There is also a prison guard who is known as “Handsy” because of his familiarity with the remaining prison staff and the warden who seems to be involved in something illegal at the prison. Additionally there is the husband of the first victim who has been stealing money from the psychopath, a hard as nails chief detective, a set of twins who are employees at the prison whose mother is suffering from dementia. All this angst surrounding this group of unpleasant people leave me wishing for some warmth and friendliness somewhere. While there are a few glimmers of hope and some relief in the form of Will’s partner, J.B., even he is presented in a negative light at the beginning of the book.
When I first began the book, I didn’t like it at all and considered putting it away without finishing it. As I read more, I began to get somewhat caught up in the story, and became interested in how everything was going to work out in the end. That put me in somewhat of a love-hate relationship with the book. The writing is excellent, the characters are strong; those are the good things. The atmosphere is cold and almost hopeless, which is a huge negative for me.
Readers who enjoy intense, fast paced book and who don’t mind multiple pointless murders committed by someone who has no sense of remorse may enjoy this book. The relationship between Rockwell and Decker explores some interesting possibilities, it just isn’t enough to entice me to read the next in the series which leads us to the other negative.
This book ends with a major cliff-hanger. That is a plot device which I personally dislike. The few times I’ve read books like that,  it seems that the long-term story is a never-ending one. This is not to be confused with books that have long through stories that are running simultaneously or in the background. Those complete the current story and in some cases the reader may not even be aware there is a bigger story until further in the series. This book, on the other hand, leaves you with the absolute certainty that the story has just begun. 
If any reader is enticed by this type of book, it will be essential they start from this beginning novel and move forward in order to fully understand what is happening. Even with that said, the reader doesn’t learn until the epilogue some of the details that lead to the dynamics between Decker and the psychopath.
My thanks to Bookoutour and Net Galley for providing me an advanced digital read copy of this book. This review an these opinions are entirely my own.

A promising start to a series. Some interesting characters and a good twisty plot.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Small town coastal setting, check.  

Lots of spooky fog, check.  

High security penitentiary full of murderers and general bad sorts, check. 

Serial killer doing the rounds, check.

Characters with complicated back stories, check and check.

Fantastic read, big check.

Now that I’ve ticked of my list of things I enjoy in a good murder mystery lets look at why I enjoyed Watch Her Vanish.  The small coastal town of Fog Harbor, California is home to sisters Olivia and Emily Rockwell, Olivia has returned to the town from San Francisco and has found her self a good position as chief criminal psychologist at the local prison.  Her life is thrown in to disarray when the body of a colleague turns up and the MO and evidence points straight to one of her patients, one who is safely locked up behind bars, Drake Devere.

Devere aka The Vulture is in prison for multiple counts of murder and the man who put him behind bars is the newest detective at FHPD.  Will Decker has left his big city life behind, leaving behind a troubled past he joins up with his seasoned partner JB.  JB is an old school cop and the two have a slightly rocky start to their blossoming partnership.  They are tasked with solving the case but before they get answers another body turns up and they worry they may have a serial killer on their hands.

This is book one in the Rockwell and Decker series, the story is really good but I was worried there was going to be some unneeded bedroom action with Rockwell and Decker as its very obvious they are attracted to one another, I’ve read books before when it happens and quite frankly I’d rather hear more about the crime, thankfully it is just a sprinkling of chemistry.  They do both have complicated pasts but I would imagine a lot of people in these types of jobs have seen some things they’d rather forget.  

The one thing I was a bit put out by was the fact a serial killer was on the loose and the local women were still driving about, leaving their houses in the middle of the night like it was a normal day, maybe its just me but I would be behind a locked door with a bread knife just in case!

I’m looking forward to reading book two, I enjoyed my visit to Fog Harbor!

Thanks to Net Galley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book in the Decker and Rockwell crime thriller series and the first I have read by this author, but it will not be the last. It is a thrilling read with lots of red herrings, plot twists and intrigue. Olivia Rockwell is working as chief psychologist at Crescent City Prison, in Fog Harbour, California. Detective Will Decker moved there from the SFPD for a fresh start. Both have scars and secrets from their past, but when a killer starts to target women working at the prison, they find their paths converging. Things become even more complex because the prime suspect is an incarcerated serial killer that Olivia counsels, and that Deck has history with. It is a well constructed murder mystery with a compelling plot that leaves you guessing until nearly the end of the book. It has a twist at the end and sets the stage for the next book well with a bit of a cliff hanger in both the thriller and the romance areas. Even though I liked the idea of a romance between the protagonists, it did seem a little immature and unrealistic in parts. I liked the touch of humor in the story, how the author slowly developed the characters and that they all had strong personalities. I especially liked the development of Drake’s character, he is devious, manipulative and creepy. Overall, this is an entertaining story with a well-developed plot. I will look forward to reading the future books in this series.

If that opening doesn't grab you and make you want to keep reading then I don't know what to tell you because that opening was epic!

This author just keeps getting better with her new book that comes out. I can see so much improvement from her YA trilogy! But enough about that, let's just talk about this fast-paced read, shall we?

Olivia and Deck are our main characters and boy do they both harbor some deep secrets that we get to slowly uncover. We get to watch them try and figure out who is killing women that work at the prison before anyone else gets killed. The book rally speeds up towards the end and makes you feel like the killer is waiting in the shadows.

Overall, I can't complain, this was amazing! Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the chance to read this great book! It's a perfect read for this time of the year!

Will go live in my blog: 10/10/20

A mysterious murder of one of the workers at the prison opens the narrative. Ms. Kane has developed characters that are both engaging and exasperating. Heap that on a prison system with type A personalities and both officers and inmates jostling for position and control and the plot develops. 

Olivia Rockwell is a Doctor of Psychology who strives to rehabilitate these hardened convicts. A mysterious murder of one of the workers at the prison opens the narrative. She and her younger sister Emily are working at the prison and trying to make the prisoners lives better and more productive. Law enforcement and the wardens at times seem to be on the opposite end of this rehabilitation tug-of-war.

Will Decker is a career law enforcement officer who is attracted to Olivia and is charged with finding the killer or killers. The prime suspect is a career criminal who has written a best-selling novel. 

Crescent Bay State Prison set in northern California’s north coast is the place where dangerous killers and hardened career criminals reside. The other residences are career prison workers who have been washed out of other California prisons. Add to this the dregs of Bay Area gangs like The Oaktown Boys who wield tremendous influence in all prisons and the plot matures.

I wondered why intelligent and highly trained women would devolve into situations which led them to being at risk. Foggy and cold nights on the northern California coast are not really inviting times to be on the backroads at night.

The twist at the end of the book caught me unprepared. I appreciated the lack of gratuitous hot sex scenes. Rather, this author made the characters more believable by pointing out their insecurities. 

This tale isn’t one you can take all at once—at times moving at a rather slow pace. I had a few problems with the protagonist and Detective Decker is a bit cliché. Be aware of the cliffhanger ending. A good pot of coffee or a glass of wine will help. 4 stars – CE Williams