This was just OK for me, it started out with a great premise but then became very unbelieveable for me, I couldn't really wait for it to be over. I would class this an OK beach read but not something I would really rate highly. It was fast paced though and interesting start just more I read it let me down.

3.5

The Girls Who Disappeared is full of questions...where did the girls go? Who can be trusted? And what happened in Thailand? I spent part of the story utterly confused by some elements but knowing if I could piece them together I would likely solve the mystery.

The atmosphere of the town & the woods put me on edge but parts were a little slow while the story unfolded, but I was hooked enough to want to know what had happened 20 years ago. I won't give away the ending but it does answer all the questions & wrap everything up nicely. However, I was very frustrated with one of the characters & found their behaviour really difficult to comprehend which did leave me a little flat. I liked Jenna and suspected almost everyone else at intervals throughout the story 🤣

The mystery of a crash involving four girls but only one survivor is found. When the case is reopened the locals aren't happy. Someone wants the truth buried. Difficult at times to keep up with what is happening but very intriguing.

A historic car crash, 3 out of 4 girls disappear, never to be found. What happened? Why is a journalist now being discouraged from asking questions? Are rumours of hauntings to be believed?

This is a story with many twists, turns, ups and downs. The pace is generally good and, once you get into the book, the characterisation (at least of the main characters) is strong. Atmospherically the book shines.

I'm not, however, entirely sure what to make of this domestic noir. For the most part, whilst reading, I enjoyed the book immensely, but it's not without its faults. I struggled a little, at first with the fact that there were two tales afoot. Many authors now intertwine their stories (as also in visual media) and so this is not new, but I struggled a little with the apparent abruptness of the changes. I think this contributed to my not getting a grip on the characters until much further into the book that I would have liked.

Towards the end I struggled again with the suspension of belief that was required in order to progress the tale. What this means is that, one read book later, I struggle to recall exactly what happened, which perhaps is indicative of my mixed feelings.

I think I may have preferred the book, and it might have been more impactful, without the epilogue. Leave hanging that which is not fully resolved?

This is certainly worth a read if you are a fan of mysteries, domestic noir, and modern crime that is not procedural. It's a good read but may not linger.

With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Twenty years ago Olivia Rutherford Along with her three friends were coming home from a night out. She was the designated driver.. It was a nasty stormy night & there was an accident. Olivia was very badly hurt & trapped by her legs in the car but her three friends had disappeared without trace. As the anniversary of their disappearance approaches Jenna- an investigative journalist come to the Wiltshire town to do an in depth podcast. The town is pretty famous for it's stone circle & The Devil's Corridor- a road which has witnessed eerie happenings. She is staying at a woodland lodge & out of season it is a scary place. However Jenna is not one to be easily put off- even when it is obvious that there are things that people want to keep secret.

The real plus for this book was the brilliantly crafted atmosphere of the setting which was truly chilling. I like Jenna & admired her tenacity. I don't know where the book suddenly stopped being engaging & began to be confusing & hard to believe, even so I had to see it through. Thanks to Netgallery & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

What a winner ! I loved this twisty tale. Clair Douglas has you on the edge of your seat right from the beginning and keeps you on a white knuckle ride to the end. Loved it !

Mystery of 3 girls who go missing after a night out, with the one who remained not talking about it for 20 years. A journalist creating a podcast revisiting the event of the missing teens interviews the parents of some of the girls and eventually, the girl who had not talked gave her side of the story.

I really enjoyed this, I did wonder what the stuff abroad had to do with it all, but towards the end, it all fell into place and made sense, and it joined the stories up nicely.

I received this book from Netgalley in return for a honest review.

In a rural Wilshire town lies The Devil's Corridor. A road which has witnessed eerie happenings from unexplained deaths to the sounds of a child crying at night. Four girls drove home but after their car crashed only Olivia was found.
Fast forward twenty years later and journalist Jenna Halliday is working on a podcast to try to uncover the mystery but the locals aren't happy with this stranger's arrival. Least of all Olivia.
This is a clever, eerie, dark, thriller that will keep you guessing throughout, and with enough twists to throw you off the scent again and again.
Highly recommended!

When journalist Jenna Halliday is sent to Wiltshire to investigate the case of four teenage girls who disappeared after a car crash on the infamous 'Devil's Corridor' 20 years ago, she soon finds that her questioning and desire for answers is most unwelcome in the town.

Olivia Rutherford, the one survivor of the crash, has led a secretive and quiet life since that dreaded night but does she know more than she is letting on?

Following two different timelines we move between the past and present in an attempt to patch up the pieces of this mystery.

This book is very atmospheric and it does get the reader wondering if the mystery is a result of supernatural causes after we hear of a range of weird and eerie events.

I enjoyed this book and was eager to find out what had happened to the girls and the ending didn't let me down and it was something that I would not have guessed at all.

I would highly recommend 'The Girls who disappeared'.

Had me hooked from the off -Twenty years ago 4 girls were involved in a car crash . When one of them came to -the other 3 had vanished never to be seen again !
Brilliant read -I have a new author !

Thankyou NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review

This is a very well written and considered book by one of my favourite authors, Claire Douglas. Started and finished in a very short time as I couldn’t put it down.

Investigative journalist Jenna Halliday has come to a small village in rural Wiltshire to investigate the disappearance of three teenage girls twenty years ago. She aims to speak with the only survivor or a crash that the four friends had been involved in, although only Olivia was found in the wreckage.

The book also journeys back in time with a parallel story, set in Thailand, which until the end looks like it has little to do with what happened or why.

Excellent storyline and really pacy. Good characters and all of them seem involved, suspicious and have the potential to be involved at some stage.

Highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Claire Douglas is a must read author for me! I found The Girls Who Disappeared completely surprised me as it didn’t go in any of the directions that I was expecting and I loved that! Lots of twists and turns and I could NOT work out how the “holiday of a lifetime” was connected to the main storyline! Lots of unlikeable and dodgy characters but Jenna, the journalist stood out for me as a character I would love to meet again. Highly recommended!

Three missing girls. A twenty year mystery. A woman who may be able to crack this cold case.
In a rural Wilshire town lies The Devil's Corridor. A road which has witnessed eerie happenings from unexplained deaths to the sounds of a child crying at night.
But nothing more puzzling than the Olivia Rutherford case. Four girls drove home but after their car crashed only Olivia was found.
Twenty years later, journalist Jenna Halliday is covering the case. But the locals aren't happy with this stranger's arrival. Least of all Olivia.
Jenna soon starts receiving threatening notes and it is clear someone wants her out of this town before she suffers a dark fate . . .

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary review.

This was another spine tingling and not put down able book! Love the mystery and intrigue and never guessing the culprit. Brilliant!!

#TheGirlsWhoDisappeared #NetGalley

Twenty years before, four young women were involved in a car crash but only one was found. Now Jenna, a podcaster and journalist, arrives for the anniversary to try and resolve the mystery. The story is told through Jenna and Olivia alternatively and does begin quite slowly as Ms Douglas sets the scene and the other characters. It builds up to a great conclusion and will not disappoint.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review.

Wow!! What a read. I was hooked from the start. I couldn't read this book fast enough to find out what had happened all those years ago. It was such a great plot and done so well that I never sussed it out.
I really liked Jenna and Olivia; great female characters who felt real. I enjoyed that as well as the real gritty story about the missing girls, there were other parts to it. It was such a fab read.

Thank you for NetGalley for providing me with this book for review. Well I was very excited to be given the opportunity to read this book, I wasn't let down, thoroughly enjoyed this book. Read it in one sitting.

Twisty atmospheric book.
This book keeps the reader engaged throughout, it is well paced and the characters are believable.
Who has secrets? Who do you trust, especially if you are a lone female journalist stating in a fairly isolated cabin while you research a twenty year old mystery.
An enjoyable read with all loose ends tied by the end.

I really enjoyed this book and the creepy feeling it provides. It has a supernatural feel to it throughout and you don't want to trust anyone but as Jenna gets into the thick of it, you start to discover the secrets and lies. There are 2 stories in one and at first it is very confusing as you don't know the connection but it all comes together in a satisfying way at the end. Full of thrills and twists, this is the perfect book for mystery and crime lovers.

This was a twisty and compulsive read from Claire Douglas and I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed the podcast angle, and a slightly different twist on the standard police procedural. This was very much an easy read and one I'd recommend for some escapist fiction!