"Watch Me Disappear" by Janelle Brown

I devoured this psychological thriller/suspense novel in less than 24 hours. Once I started reading, I could not stop!

“Watch Me Disappear” by Janelle Brown is the story of Billie, a seemingly perfect wife and mother who was able to “spin magic... to be such a terrific parent when she’d had such bad ones”. Billie disappears and is presumed dead during a solo hike in Desolation Wilderness. Making the story even sadder is that the family was just about as close to perfect as you could get. Johnathan, Billie’s husband, is a senior editor at a flourishing magazine/web site and Olive, her daughter, is a student at a prestigious private school. Everyone seems to love Billie and want to be around her. She is beautiful and a great wife and mother. The author had me loving her;  she reads Tana French… how could I not! However, as the story progresses, we realize all is not as it seems.

Most of the story takes place a few weeks shy of the year anniversary of Billie’s death. It makes us question how well we know those around us.

The author writes a perfect story that leaves you guessing what truly happens until the last few paragraphs. She answers every question that is raised throughout the book. Often, with suspense/thrillers, an author throws out bait to make several characters seem guilty or to make the reader question different characters and their motives. Often, some of those little nagging tidbits are never addressed. The author addressed each and every one!

The book did drag a tiny bit in the first few chapters, but the reader needed to get a feel for the characters, their backgrounds and personalities. I felt like a time or two the author got out the dictionary and added some big words (I had to look up a few like ennui, ineffably, nascent, fugging, carapace).  Neither of these is a deal breaker… just pointing out.

I enjoyed this book so much that after finishing this review, I plan to purchase and read her previous novels.

Release/Publication Date:  July 11, 2017
Genre:  Psychological, thriller, suspense
Cover: Perfect. I liked how the text disappears into the water. At first, I did not care for the cover as the mountains play such a large part in this book. However, upon finishing the novel, I realize that the ocean is a perfect depiction.
Source: I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review. Thank you!
Rating: 5 stars