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The Night They Vanished
A family with a secret.
A past about to catch up with them.
Hanna has barely spoken to her family since the tragedy that rocked their lives fourteen years ago. The tragedy for which they held Hanna responsible.
Then she sees her family home listed as the scene of a horrific crime. Number of victims: three. Date of crime: today. Frantic, Hanna tries to contact her family, only to find they have disappeared.
To find them, Hanna will have to confront what happened all those years ago.
And the person determined to make her pay for it . . .
A past about to catch up with them.
Hanna has barely spoken to her family since the tragedy that rocked their lives fourteen years ago. The tragedy for which they held Hanna responsible.
Then she sees her family home listed as the scene of a horrific crime. Number of victims: three. Date of crime: today. Frantic, Hanna tries to contact her family, only to find they have disappeared.
To find them, Hanna will have to confront what happened all those years ago.
And the person determined to make her pay for it . . .
384 pages, Paperback
First published May 5, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 214 reviews
April 18, 2022
Dark Tourism - tourism directed to places that are identified with death and suffering.
It sounds macabre and yet fascinating…and unfortunately, it’s under-utilized in this book.
Hanna is very distanced from her family. She doesn’t really keep in touch with her dad, stepmom, or younger sister, Sasha.
However, one day she’s browsing a website devoted to dark tourism, and sees her family home on the main page, promoted as the site of a murder.
The police don’t find any evidence of a crime, but they don’t find the family either. The house has been abandoned.
Hanna begins a desperate search to find them, but will have to confront her past to do it.
This was a so-so read. I found it interesting for the most part. However, there are dual timelines and POVs, and I really didn’t care for the ones revolving around Hanna’s younger sister, Sasha. Hanna’s POV is much tighter and riveting. There are some revelations, but nothing earth-shattering or particularly memorable. The book is also way too long, and gets repetitive in both story and dialogue. I also found it a bit cheesy.
I would’ve enjoyed it more if the story was a bit darker and delved deeper into the dark tourism element. I probably won’t remember this one in a few months from now, but it was entertaining enough to finish it.
2.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for a physical ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 5/3/22.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
It sounds macabre and yet fascinating…and unfortunately, it’s under-utilized in this book.
Hanna is very distanced from her family. She doesn’t really keep in touch with her dad, stepmom, or younger sister, Sasha.
However, one day she’s browsing a website devoted to dark tourism, and sees her family home on the main page, promoted as the site of a murder.
The police don’t find any evidence of a crime, but they don’t find the family either. The house has been abandoned.
Hanna begins a desperate search to find them, but will have to confront her past to do it.
This was a so-so read. I found it interesting for the most part. However, there are dual timelines and POVs, and I really didn’t care for the ones revolving around Hanna’s younger sister, Sasha. Hanna’s POV is much tighter and riveting. There are some revelations, but nothing earth-shattering or particularly memorable. The book is also way too long, and gets repetitive in both story and dialogue. I also found it a bit cheesy.
I would’ve enjoyed it more if the story was a bit darker and delved deeper into the dark tourism element. I probably won’t remember this one in a few months from now, but it was entertaining enough to finish it.
2.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for a physical ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 5/3/22.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
January 20, 2024
2.5 stars
Started out a lot stronger than it ended.
A young woman searching for answers to her family’s hidden and mysterious past.
Dark Tourism: tourism that involves traveling to places associated with death and suffering.
This novel pulled me in with its dark tourism website which is a main plot point. I had never heard of this term before and was fascinated to find out there is such a demand for it.
I liked the main character and was curious about her family situation which was revealed slowly.
As the story progressed, it lost its grip on me. The characters began doing things that seemed unrealistic and I realized the overall tone of the book had more of a YA feel.
By the end, I was skim reading as the plot was highly implausible and I simply wasn’t invested anymore.
Overall, this had a mysterious and intriguing storyline at first but went downhill after the halfway point. There are many favourable reviews out there, so be sure to check them out before deciding on this one.
Thank you to the publisher for my review copy!
Started out a lot stronger than it ended.
A young woman searching for answers to her family’s hidden and mysterious past.
Dark Tourism: tourism that involves traveling to places associated with death and suffering.
This novel pulled me in with its dark tourism website which is a main plot point. I had never heard of this term before and was fascinated to find out there is such a demand for it.
I liked the main character and was curious about her family situation which was revealed slowly.
As the story progressed, it lost its grip on me. The characters began doing things that seemed unrealistic and I realized the overall tone of the book had more of a YA feel.
By the end, I was skim reading as the plot was highly implausible and I simply wasn’t invested anymore.
Overall, this had a mysterious and intriguing storyline at first but went downhill after the halfway point. There are many favourable reviews out there, so be sure to check them out before deciding on this one.
Thank you to the publisher for my review copy!
October 9, 2023
It did had me intruiged enough to continue reading and see how it would end but overall it wasn't a story for me. I usually like reading about messy family dynamics so I was intruiged to pick it up.
May 5, 2022
After leaving home at sixteen following a wild rebellious streak, Hanna has been estranged from her family for fourteen years & has finally decided to cut off all ties & move on with her life, & leaves their last Christmas card to her unopened. Her last relationship went down in flames but her best friend, Dee, sets Hanna up on a blind date with Adam. He seems fairly normal but has an unusual hobby as he runs a website which focuses on Dark Tourism - the virtual touring of sites of various crimes including murder. Following their blind date, Hanna checks out the site & is horrified to see her family home listed as the site of the murder of her dad, stepmother, & step-sister, Sasha. Adam professes innocence & says his site has been hacked, so a panicked Hanna tries to contact her family but they have disappeared & no-one knows what happened or where they went.
The narrative is split between Hanna & Sasha, with Sasha's part taking place in the months leading up to her family's disappearance. I thought both main characters were easy to empathise with & I found myself becoming invested in what had happened. Hanna's story hints as at deep dark secret in the past, whilst Sasha's plot line was rather poignant as she tried to be the obedient girl her parents expected, yet longed for some freedom, friends of her own, & to get to know her older sister. I think her internal conflict was portrayed particularly well. The story line is well written & there are several twists & turns, even if the actual resolution is pretty much what I expected. Overall it kept my interest well & I enjoyed reading it - 4.5 stars (rounded down on sites where half stars are not allowed).
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Little, Brown Book Group UK / Sphere, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
The narrative is split between Hanna & Sasha, with Sasha's part taking place in the months leading up to her family's disappearance. I thought both main characters were easy to empathise with & I found myself becoming invested in what had happened. Hanna's story hints as at deep dark secret in the past, whilst Sasha's plot line was rather poignant as she tried to be the obedient girl her parents expected, yet longed for some freedom, friends of her own, & to get to know her older sister. I think her internal conflict was portrayed particularly well. The story line is well written & there are several twists & turns, even if the actual resolution is pretty much what I expected. Overall it kept my interest well & I enjoyed reading it - 4.5 stars (rounded down on sites where half stars are not allowed).
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Little, Brown Book Group UK / Sphere, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
April 5, 2022
Hanna has been estranged from her family for 14 years. Ever since a tragedy happened and her family blamed her for it. Now Hanna sees information that there was a horrible crime committed at her old family home. As Hanna ties to reach her family, they have all disappeared. Is Hanna ready to face her past and search for her family?
Vanessa Savage’s writing is very impressive in THE NIGHT THEY VANISHED. I really enjoyed the multiple points of view chapters, this held my interest perfectly. The premise of the book was clever and unique, this is no small accomplishment in this crowded genre. Thriller and Mystery fans will likely enjoy this one very much!
Many thanks to Grand Central Publishing for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
Vanessa Savage’s writing is very impressive in THE NIGHT THEY VANISHED. I really enjoyed the multiple points of view chapters, this held my interest perfectly. The premise of the book was clever and unique, this is no small accomplishment in this crowded genre. Thriller and Mystery fans will likely enjoy this one very much!
Many thanks to Grand Central Publishing for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
February 13, 2023
The Night They Vanished is a gripping and pacy read which will keep you hooked until the end, each chapter ends with a "oh for goodness sake, give me more" feeling.
This is a family full of lies, secrets and murder which seems to get darker with every passing moment.
I definitely recommend this 📚
This is a family full of lies, secrets and murder which seems to get darker with every passing moment.
I definitely recommend this 📚
May 16, 2022
From the author of THE WOMAN IN THE DARK and THE WOODS comes THE NIGHT THEY VANISHED, a heart-thumping thriller featuring Hanna, a young woman who made a big mistake back in high school and the frightening, lingering repercussions that follow.
Hanna’s father thought he was making the right decisions about his daughter. Their small hometown in Wales reeled from what she had done. Having her go away seemed like the best idea. At 15, she had brought shame to the family, rebelled against every rule her parents made and, in the end, left their Welsh community picking up the pieces of a tragedy so stunning they never forgot. And the town blamed Hanna. Now she rarely goes back for a visit; when she does, it almost always ends in an argument. Her mum tries to keep the peace, but her dad acts like he can’t stand the sight of her. To make matters worse, Hanna barely interacts with her half-sister, Sasha, who is now 14. Why does she torture herself this way?
It’s been 14 years, and now Hanna has a good job, a nice home and a boyfriend --- well, she had a boyfriend. Liam turned out to be a total jerk, not that Hanna didn’t beg him to stay. If she’s honest with herself, she’ll admit that Liam was just the latest in a long string of jerks. She still has trouble getting over Jacob, her first true love. Was Jacob a jerk too? Maybe history is simply repeating itself.
Hanna’s longtime best friend, Dee, tries to set her up with a blind date. Really, she says, Adam is nice. Now that’s a sentence no one wants to hear when told why you’d want to meet someone: He’s nice. Seriously? But Hanna trusts Dee, so reluctantly she heads to the pub to meet Adam, promising herself she’ll give it an honest try. That means she’ll hang around for maybe an hour. But then she starts to warm up to Adam. Their first date ends with him taking her to a creepy deserted house with a spooky history and confessing that his hobby has morphed into a sort of job. He explains that he manages a website called The Dark Tourist. It sounds weird and frankly unnerving, but Adam really does seem nice.
The morning after their date, Hanna explores The Dark Tourist website in more depth and makes a shocking discovery. The newest listing shows images of her family’s home and a gruesome story claiming that her entire family is gone. Adam swears he didn’t upload it. But can she trust him? After all, she only just met him. Of course, they get the police involved, which is tough for Hanna, considering her sketchy past. By now, she has convinced herself that she actually likes Adam. What is he going to think of her when her whole sordid history is laid out before him?
Then, as more sinister entries appear on The Dark Tourist, nagging doubts creep in. Is he lying to her? Who else could be putting these listings on the website? Launching their own investigation only produces more questions. The most pressing one of all is: Are they in danger, or is it merely a nasty prank?
Someone wants to mess with Hanna’s head, and they do a great job in THE NIGHT THEY VANISHED. Even in these times with computers and cell phones, some families restrict usage, which makes them vulnerable to a highly savvy criminal. And there’s a highly savvy criminal to be reckoned with here. Vanessa Savage’s new thriller not only will get your pulse racing but also will make you rethink your approach to helping others solve their problems. This is a definite don’t-miss.
Reviewed by Kate Ayers
Hanna’s father thought he was making the right decisions about his daughter. Their small hometown in Wales reeled from what she had done. Having her go away seemed like the best idea. At 15, she had brought shame to the family, rebelled against every rule her parents made and, in the end, left their Welsh community picking up the pieces of a tragedy so stunning they never forgot. And the town blamed Hanna. Now she rarely goes back for a visit; when she does, it almost always ends in an argument. Her mum tries to keep the peace, but her dad acts like he can’t stand the sight of her. To make matters worse, Hanna barely interacts with her half-sister, Sasha, who is now 14. Why does she torture herself this way?
It’s been 14 years, and now Hanna has a good job, a nice home and a boyfriend --- well, she had a boyfriend. Liam turned out to be a total jerk, not that Hanna didn’t beg him to stay. If she’s honest with herself, she’ll admit that Liam was just the latest in a long string of jerks. She still has trouble getting over Jacob, her first true love. Was Jacob a jerk too? Maybe history is simply repeating itself.
Hanna’s longtime best friend, Dee, tries to set her up with a blind date. Really, she says, Adam is nice. Now that’s a sentence no one wants to hear when told why you’d want to meet someone: He’s nice. Seriously? But Hanna trusts Dee, so reluctantly she heads to the pub to meet Adam, promising herself she’ll give it an honest try. That means she’ll hang around for maybe an hour. But then she starts to warm up to Adam. Their first date ends with him taking her to a creepy deserted house with a spooky history and confessing that his hobby has morphed into a sort of job. He explains that he manages a website called The Dark Tourist. It sounds weird and frankly unnerving, but Adam really does seem nice.
The morning after their date, Hanna explores The Dark Tourist website in more depth and makes a shocking discovery. The newest listing shows images of her family’s home and a gruesome story claiming that her entire family is gone. Adam swears he didn’t upload it. But can she trust him? After all, she only just met him. Of course, they get the police involved, which is tough for Hanna, considering her sketchy past. By now, she has convinced herself that she actually likes Adam. What is he going to think of her when her whole sordid history is laid out before him?
Then, as more sinister entries appear on The Dark Tourist, nagging doubts creep in. Is he lying to her? Who else could be putting these listings on the website? Launching their own investigation only produces more questions. The most pressing one of all is: Are they in danger, or is it merely a nasty prank?
Someone wants to mess with Hanna’s head, and they do a great job in THE NIGHT THEY VANISHED. Even in these times with computers and cell phones, some families restrict usage, which makes them vulnerable to a highly savvy criminal. And there’s a highly savvy criminal to be reckoned with here. Vanessa Savage’s new thriller not only will get your pulse racing but also will make you rethink your approach to helping others solve their problems. This is a definite don’t-miss.
Reviewed by Kate Ayers
May 5, 2022
The Night They Vanished had me intrigued from the very first page! The dark themes were absolutely PERFECT! Dark family secret ... dark tourism ...
Dual timeline and POV - yes please!
The writing is excellent and the storyline kept me guessing the whole way through. I enjoyed the twists and surprises throughout. I was just over the halfway point in the book and had NO idea what was going on or what would happen next. Love that! I found the ending very satisfying!
Overall this is a great thriller/mystery and one I can see getting a lot of love. I highly recommend!!
Huge thank you to Grand Central Publishing for my gifted copy!!
Dual timeline and POV - yes please!
The writing is excellent and the storyline kept me guessing the whole way through. I enjoyed the twists and surprises throughout. I was just over the halfway point in the book and had NO idea what was going on or what would happen next. Love that! I found the ending very satisfying!
Overall this is a great thriller/mystery and one I can see getting a lot of love. I highly recommend!!
Huge thank you to Grand Central Publishing for my gifted copy!!
May 1, 2022
A dark family secret, dark tourism and dark themes this one was a suspenseful read!
Hanna, a woman with a past that darkens her life, left town when a tragedy rocked their small village and blame was laid on her feet. Fourteen years later and she is mostly estranged from her family. Her life is riddled with inconveniences and then she comes across her family home on the web, announcing horrific crimes, that were taking place that very day. Thus begins the scramble...for clues, for connections, for answers to make it all make sense.
A dual pov and dual timeline...meeting in real time for a crash ending. I loved the writing style and the way the suspense built from a trickle to a roar. (iykyk) This one touches on a lot of darker themes but doesn't go off the deep end. The ending wasn't predictable right off to me, but by the 75% mark I had most of it figured out. There were still a couple twists that threw me!
Thank you to @novelsuspects and @grandcentralpub for the advanced gifted copy for review.
Hanna, a woman with a past that darkens her life, left town when a tragedy rocked their small village and blame was laid on her feet. Fourteen years later and she is mostly estranged from her family. Her life is riddled with inconveniences and then she comes across her family home on the web, announcing horrific crimes, that were taking place that very day. Thus begins the scramble...for clues, for connections, for answers to make it all make sense.
A dual pov and dual timeline...meeting in real time for a crash ending. I loved the writing style and the way the suspense built from a trickle to a roar. (iykyk) This one touches on a lot of darker themes but doesn't go off the deep end. The ending wasn't predictable right off to me, but by the 75% mark I had most of it figured out. There were still a couple twists that threw me!
Thank you to @novelsuspects and @grandcentralpub for the advanced gifted copy for review.
July 26, 2022
The Night They Vanished
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75 (Rounded to 4 ⭐️)
Genre: Thriller
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 5/3/22
Author: Vanessa Savage
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Pages: 384
Goodreads Rating: 3.65
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: A family with a secret. A past about to catch up with them. Hanna has barely spoken to her family since the tragedy that rocked their lives fourteen years ago. The tragedy for which they held Hanna responsible. Then she sees her family home listed as the scene of a horrific crime. Number of victims: three. Date of crime: today. Frantic, Hanna tries to contact her family, only to find they have disappeared. To find them, Hanna will have to confront what happened all those years ago. And the person determined to make her pay for it . .
My Thoughts: The story is narrated by Sasha and Hanna, in dual timelines, Sasha is from the past and Hanna in the current time. The characters are well developed, have depth, mystery, and relatable. I really connected with Hanna, but not Sasha so much. The author’s writing style was complex, suspenseful, tense, dark, and disturbing. While this is dark, it is not too far fetched and makes the story enjoyable. I love how the author built on the tension, building up the plot, it started with a little twist here or there, then building up to bigger twists. My only con was the story felt too long, I think if it was a bit shorter, it would have wrapped up better. This story is classified as a thriller but I felt it was more of a mystery. Still a good story that I enjoyed and would recommend if you like a slower burn thriller.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75 (Rounded to 4 ⭐️)
Genre: Thriller
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 5/3/22
Author: Vanessa Savage
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Pages: 384
Goodreads Rating: 3.65
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: A family with a secret. A past about to catch up with them. Hanna has barely spoken to her family since the tragedy that rocked their lives fourteen years ago. The tragedy for which they held Hanna responsible. Then she sees her family home listed as the scene of a horrific crime. Number of victims: three. Date of crime: today. Frantic, Hanna tries to contact her family, only to find they have disappeared. To find them, Hanna will have to confront what happened all those years ago. And the person determined to make her pay for it . .
My Thoughts: The story is narrated by Sasha and Hanna, in dual timelines, Sasha is from the past and Hanna in the current time. The characters are well developed, have depth, mystery, and relatable. I really connected with Hanna, but not Sasha so much. The author’s writing style was complex, suspenseful, tense, dark, and disturbing. While this is dark, it is not too far fetched and makes the story enjoyable. I love how the author built on the tension, building up the plot, it started with a little twist here or there, then building up to bigger twists. My only con was the story felt too long, I think if it was a bit shorter, it would have wrapped up better. This story is classified as a thriller but I felt it was more of a mystery. Still a good story that I enjoyed and would recommend if you like a slower burn thriller.
April 19, 2022
I loved the premise of this one, check this out 👇🏻
Synopsis: A family with a secret.
A past about to catch up with them.
Hanna has barely spoken to her family since the tragedy that rocked their lives fourteen years ago. The tragedy for which they held Hanna responsible.
Then she sees her family home listed as the scene of a horrific crime. Number of victims: three. Date of crime: today. Frantic, Hanna tries to contact her family, only to find they have disappeared.
To find them, Hanna will have to confront what happened all those years ago.
And the person determined to make her pay for it . . .
I mean family secrets are nothing new but I liked the whole idea of seeing a posting online saying the family were victims of a crime with the date being the present day. The whole not knowing what had happened to them, only knowing they were indeed at the very least missing was intriguing for sure and then the whole thing had a complexity that just worked for me. I wouldn’t say this was exactly fast paced but it also wasn’t a slow burn either, I guess it was just steady throughout which is honestly great because it kept me interested. There were lots of suspects to chose from and I kept changing my guesses but ultimately I did guess right. It was actually fine by me because I was still entertained, overall this was just an easy and fun thriller read for me that did have a unique feel to it.
Synopsis: A family with a secret.
A past about to catch up with them.
Hanna has barely spoken to her family since the tragedy that rocked their lives fourteen years ago. The tragedy for which they held Hanna responsible.
Then she sees her family home listed as the scene of a horrific crime. Number of victims: three. Date of crime: today. Frantic, Hanna tries to contact her family, only to find they have disappeared.
To find them, Hanna will have to confront what happened all those years ago.
And the person determined to make her pay for it . . .
I mean family secrets are nothing new but I liked the whole idea of seeing a posting online saying the family were victims of a crime with the date being the present day. The whole not knowing what had happened to them, only knowing they were indeed at the very least missing was intriguing for sure and then the whole thing had a complexity that just worked for me. I wouldn’t say this was exactly fast paced but it also wasn’t a slow burn either, I guess it was just steady throughout which is honestly great because it kept me interested. There were lots of suspects to chose from and I kept changing my guesses but ultimately I did guess right. It was actually fine by me because I was still entertained, overall this was just an easy and fun thriller read for me that did have a unique feel to it.
March 25, 2022
The Night They Vanished starts out with a thrilling premise that immediately drew me into the story- a woman estranged from her family who discovers an anonymous message on a creepy website reporting the deaths of her family members who then finds their home empty of all belongings and signs of life. I just did not get invested in this book as I had hoped. I noticed multiple events and character attributes that were far-fetched or didn’t line up with what had already been established earlier in the book. For fear of venturing into spoiler territory I won’t go into detail on those instances.
What I liked:
interesting and unique premise
the friendship between the main character and her lifelong best friend
alternating points of view
This was an enjoyable read that was suspenseful, but not the thriller I initially thought it would be when I first picked up the book. Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
What I liked:
interesting and unique premise
the friendship between the main character and her lifelong best friend
alternating points of view
This was an enjoyable read that was suspenseful, but not the thriller I initially thought it would be when I first picked up the book. Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
March 29, 2022
Psychological Thrillers are almost always touted as riveting and breathtaking, with convoluted twists readers won't see in advance, resulting in sleepless nights and missed phone calls. That'd be lovely, but it seems rare to me that a Psychological Thriller matches the hype. THE NIGHT THEY VANISHED by Vanessa Savage truly delivers all of the above. I read it in one session, I didn't figure everything out in advance, I was completely engrossed and unaware of my surroundings, and I cheered on the genuinely good characters as well as the multiple Feckless characters who had to learn to overcome their failings and mistakes...before all was forever lost.
June 3, 2022
This was an interesting read, not what I was expecting. I enjoyed Hanna but not so much her younger sister.
This whole idea of the story was a good one. You will have to read and find out what the secret was.
I gave this one 3.5 stars. You might like to give it a try.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.
This whole idea of the story was a good one. You will have to read and find out what the secret was.
I gave this one 3.5 stars. You might like to give it a try.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.
June 10, 2022
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2022/06/02/...
Before Hanna met Adam, she had no idea what dark tourism even was. It all started when she let her best friend Dee convince her to go on a blind date with him, and in all fairness, Adam turned out to be a very nice guy, if a little obsessed with his strange hobbies. During their date, Adam takes Hanna to a creepy old house and explains how places like this have inspired him to create a website called The Dark Tourist, where he features and writes about locations associated with death and heinous crimes.
A little unnerved but intrigued, Hanna returns home after the date and decides to check out The Dark Tourist and is horrified by what she sees. The latest post on the site shows an image of her old family home listed along with a pronouncement that that all the occupants within—Hanna’s father, stepmother, and half-sister—were murdered. In a panic, Hanna contacts Adam about the post, but he swears his site must have been hacked because he did not upload the entry. Not knowing what to believe, Hanna decides to check up on her family personally, even though she has barely spoken to them in the last fourteen years. In fact, Hanna is pretty sure her father had already washed his hands of her completely, but still, she had to know.
What she discovers is even more disconcerting. No one seems to have any idea what happened to Hanna’s family. She can’t reach them. Their house sits empty. Some of the townsfolk say they must have moved out, but Hanna can’t seem to get a clear answer out of anyone. The whole village is suspicious of her now that she’s returned because they still think she’s trouble, or that she’s dangerous after what happened all those years ago. But Hanna doesn’t care what they think or what they believe she did, she just wants to find her family, as there are secrets in her past that need protecting.
The Night They Vanished was a novel I found more mysterious than anything. The story is told via two perspectives, alternating between Hanna and her half-sister, Sasha. The latter’s chapters begin some months before Hanna meets Adam and discovers her house listed on his website, so it is gradually revealed what happened to her family.
But Sasha’s POV is even more revealing than that. As her plotline unfolds, the picture of a shy and lonely young girl slowly comes to light. We find out that she is the product of a strict upbringing, from a cold and uncompromising father and a mother who just goes along with everything he says. Sasha also doesn’t fit in at school and feels disconnected from everyone around her because of how her family keeps her so isolated. All this is set up to make you wonder, did her older sister Hanna also experience such a dispassionate childhood and loneliness when she was growing up in this household? Did she fight back? And might that have anything to do with why she left home at such a young age and never looked back?
Hanna’s own POV provides some answers to that. We find out that she was a troubled teenager whose rebellious acts often got her into trouble. It was enough to land her in a church group that helped kids like her. There, she became part of a close-knit group of friends and until tragedy struck and her whole life blew up. Years later, Hanna has been run out of town, and all her loved ones have turned their back on her, and the current situation with her missing family is somehow related to everything, but how? As Hanna and Adam team up to investigate, more questions begin to present themselves. Someone is clearly targeting Hanna, but why? And what could they want?
In many ways, this reminded me very much of another Vanessa Savage novel I read, The Woods, which also deals with small towns, past transgressions, and family. While that one was on the slower side, The Night They Vanished was slightly more urgent in its pacing, and I was glad the plot moved quickly. There were a few things I wish could have improved, however, including the dark tourism aspect. This story had the potential to be darker and more suspenseful, but there were some missed opportunities. I also felt the author might have played her cards close to the vest too long, misjudging the timing so that when we finally found out what Hanna’s secret was, I had already figured it out, which robbed the revelation of much of its impact.
Small flaws aside though, I enjoyed The Night They Vanished very much. The ending was especially intense, delivering an edge-of-your seat rush to the finish. Overall a well-paced mystery suspense novel and I would definitely pick up another book by Vanessa Savage.
Before Hanna met Adam, she had no idea what dark tourism even was. It all started when she let her best friend Dee convince her to go on a blind date with him, and in all fairness, Adam turned out to be a very nice guy, if a little obsessed with his strange hobbies. During their date, Adam takes Hanna to a creepy old house and explains how places like this have inspired him to create a website called The Dark Tourist, where he features and writes about locations associated with death and heinous crimes.
A little unnerved but intrigued, Hanna returns home after the date and decides to check out The Dark Tourist and is horrified by what she sees. The latest post on the site shows an image of her old family home listed along with a pronouncement that that all the occupants within—Hanna’s father, stepmother, and half-sister—were murdered. In a panic, Hanna contacts Adam about the post, but he swears his site must have been hacked because he did not upload the entry. Not knowing what to believe, Hanna decides to check up on her family personally, even though she has barely spoken to them in the last fourteen years. In fact, Hanna is pretty sure her father had already washed his hands of her completely, but still, she had to know.
What she discovers is even more disconcerting. No one seems to have any idea what happened to Hanna’s family. She can’t reach them. Their house sits empty. Some of the townsfolk say they must have moved out, but Hanna can’t seem to get a clear answer out of anyone. The whole village is suspicious of her now that she’s returned because they still think she’s trouble, or that she’s dangerous after what happened all those years ago. But Hanna doesn’t care what they think or what they believe she did, she just wants to find her family, as there are secrets in her past that need protecting.
The Night They Vanished was a novel I found more mysterious than anything. The story is told via two perspectives, alternating between Hanna and her half-sister, Sasha. The latter’s chapters begin some months before Hanna meets Adam and discovers her house listed on his website, so it is gradually revealed what happened to her family.
But Sasha’s POV is even more revealing than that. As her plotline unfolds, the picture of a shy and lonely young girl slowly comes to light. We find out that she is the product of a strict upbringing, from a cold and uncompromising father and a mother who just goes along with everything he says. Sasha also doesn’t fit in at school and feels disconnected from everyone around her because of how her family keeps her so isolated. All this is set up to make you wonder, did her older sister Hanna also experience such a dispassionate childhood and loneliness when she was growing up in this household? Did she fight back? And might that have anything to do with why she left home at such a young age and never looked back?
Hanna’s own POV provides some answers to that. We find out that she was a troubled teenager whose rebellious acts often got her into trouble. It was enough to land her in a church group that helped kids like her. There, she became part of a close-knit group of friends and until tragedy struck and her whole life blew up. Years later, Hanna has been run out of town, and all her loved ones have turned their back on her, and the current situation with her missing family is somehow related to everything, but how? As Hanna and Adam team up to investigate, more questions begin to present themselves. Someone is clearly targeting Hanna, but why? And what could they want?
In many ways, this reminded me very much of another Vanessa Savage novel I read, The Woods, which also deals with small towns, past transgressions, and family. While that one was on the slower side, The Night They Vanished was slightly more urgent in its pacing, and I was glad the plot moved quickly. There were a few things I wish could have improved, however, including the dark tourism aspect. This story had the potential to be darker and more suspenseful, but there were some missed opportunities. I also felt the author might have played her cards close to the vest too long, misjudging the timing so that when we finally found out what Hanna’s secret was, I had already figured it out, which robbed the revelation of much of its impact.
Small flaws aside though, I enjoyed The Night They Vanished very much. The ending was especially intense, delivering an edge-of-your seat rush to the finish. Overall a well-paced mystery suspense novel and I would definitely pick up another book by Vanessa Savage.
July 27, 2022
This wasn't my favorite from this author, but I really enjoy her books regardless. 3.5 stars.
December 23, 2022
Hannah's family has disappeared. As Hannah desperately searches for them, she realizes her past has finally caught up with her. Clever, tantalizing and wonderfully twisty, I couldn't put this book down. It's a fast-paced, easy read with a compelling character written with lots of layers and excellent writing.
May 18, 2022
THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND THE PUBLISHER FOR THIS REVIEW COPY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
Hanna is living a difficult life away from her family, dad, step-mom, and a little sister. Her only family is her best friend who decided to set up a blind date for her. Adam-the blind date is into dark tourism and runs a website dedicated to it. Someone hacked that site and Hanna found her family home listed there with some shocking details. On the other side, Sasha is also living a harsh and strict life. She is not allowed to do anything like a normal teen and doesn't have friends. She needs a way to feel normal.
The synopsis of the book intrigued me but the book missed the mark. Two narratives were going on and sometimes I felt one narrative was lagging. The writing style wasn't able to hold my attention, the flow of the writing was missing. The characters were too annoying and I wasn't able to connect to any of them. The relationship between Hanna and Adam was behind my comprehension, the chemistry was nowhere to be found. Hanna and Sasha's father was a piece of work and one of the worst characters. The first half of the book was torture to read but if you make it to the second half then you are up to some twists and real progress in the story.
Hanna is living a difficult life away from her family, dad, step-mom, and a little sister. Her only family is her best friend who decided to set up a blind date for her. Adam-the blind date is into dark tourism and runs a website dedicated to it. Someone hacked that site and Hanna found her family home listed there with some shocking details. On the other side, Sasha is also living a harsh and strict life. She is not allowed to do anything like a normal teen and doesn't have friends. She needs a way to feel normal.
The synopsis of the book intrigued me but the book missed the mark. Two narratives were going on and sometimes I felt one narrative was lagging. The writing style wasn't able to hold my attention, the flow of the writing was missing. The characters were too annoying and I wasn't able to connect to any of them. The relationship between Hanna and Adam was behind my comprehension, the chemistry was nowhere to be found. Hanna and Sasha's father was a piece of work and one of the worst characters. The first half of the book was torture to read but if you make it to the second half then you are up to some twists and real progress in the story.
May 13, 2022
Set in a small Welsh village The Night They Vanished follows Hanna and her sister Sasha. Hanna has reinvented herself and left behind her family; she now lives in Cardiff. She left home when she was sixteen after an occurrence that ruined lives for which she was deemed responsible. On a true-crime website, she sees her old family home where three murders have just taken place. The website is run by her blind date, a chap called Adam, set up by her friend from her schooldays, Dee. It's not long before danger calls for Hanna and Adam.
The Night They Vanished is a dark and nuanced story with some great twists. The characters were well constructed and I did my level best to figure out whodunnit. With a haunting caravan park setting providing creepiness, I found this to be an utterly addictive read. Very highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Little, Brown Book Group via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
The Night They Vanished is a dark and nuanced story with some great twists. The characters were well constructed and I did my level best to figure out whodunnit. With a haunting caravan park setting providing creepiness, I found this to be an utterly addictive read. Very highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Little, Brown Book Group via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
October 26, 2022
Hanna has been estranged from her family for fourteen years. But the past collides with the present when she discovers that her former family home is listed on a true crime website as the scene of a gory murder. Terrified that her family is dead, she informs the police. But they find the house abandoned and Hanna’s family missing. It’s up to Hanna to find out where they’ve gone.
Told from two character’s perspectives (Hanna and her younger sister Sasha) this really was a fast paced thriller. Some strong characters made this a winner for me. I enjoyed the two separate timelines and hearing the voices of each sister through out. Creepy and thrilling.
Told from two character’s perspectives (Hanna and her younger sister Sasha) this really was a fast paced thriller. Some strong characters made this a winner for me. I enjoyed the two separate timelines and hearing the voices of each sister through out. Creepy and thrilling.
June 10, 2022
At the beginning this story will have you turning pages very fast but then it stops and the book transforms itself into a dual storyline between Sasha a 14 year old and Hanna a 29 year old woman. Although it was necessary to hear Sasha’s POV it was frustrating at times to hear about school and her daily life.
The author purposely hides major factors of the story and give us tidbits of relevant information every two to three chapters, by the time I read half the book I pretty much had an idea of the main issue but not the culprit. Also, she put together as characters a group of people that obviously have mental health issues; from depression, anger issues, bullying, machismo mixed with apathy; these are not mentally stable characters.
I would recommend this book because it was thrilling and suspenseful. If you are looking for books that explore dysfunctional dynamics in towns and families, this one is for you but unfortunately not for me.
The author purposely hides major factors of the story and give us tidbits of relevant information every two to three chapters, by the time I read half the book I pretty much had an idea of the main issue but not the culprit. Also, she put together as characters a group of people that obviously have mental health issues; from depression, anger issues, bullying, machismo mixed with apathy; these are not mentally stable characters.
I would recommend this book because it was thrilling and suspenseful. If you are looking for books that explore dysfunctional dynamics in towns and families, this one is for you but unfortunately not for me.
July 6, 2022
This was a struggle to get through. The first half felt so long slow and I didn’t really care for any of the characters enough to really get into it. I skimmed the second half, predicting the end almost exactly. The ending by the way, was also so far fetched and included a side story that I didn’t feel added anything other than adding more names to know
Thank you Novel Suspects and Grand Central Publishing for the advanced copy.
Thank you Novel Suspects and Grand Central Publishing for the advanced copy.
June 7, 2022
This was a solid 3.5 stars for me. It’s a pretty typical thriller told from two different POVs and times which eventually intersect. It’s an interesting story with a lot of red herrings thrown in there and an inability to trust anyone. I think I struggled because it felt forgettable like the hundreds of other formulaic suspense/thrillers I’ve read but it doesn’t mean it’s a poorly written book.
The story follows Hannah and her attempts at reclaiming her life after a miserable break up with agreeing to go on a blind date with someone her friend set up for her. However the next day she finds that the website her blind date runs shows her old family home as a target for a murder. Concerned about her estranged family, Hannah goes on a hunt to find them and has to face her past to do so.
It’s a dark story with a lot of terrible characters and it keeps you turning the pages to see what happens. It’s not hard to guess who the villain is but it’s more challenging to guess the why. I struggled with the reasoning behind it because these are all grown men and women still blaming a 15 year old girl for something out of her control. It felt like quite a stretch. Nevertheless I enjoyed the read and was glad I gave it a go.
The story follows Hannah and her attempts at reclaiming her life after a miserable break up with agreeing to go on a blind date with someone her friend set up for her. However the next day she finds that the website her blind date runs shows her old family home as a target for a murder. Concerned about her estranged family, Hannah goes on a hunt to find them and has to face her past to do so.
It’s a dark story with a lot of terrible characters and it keeps you turning the pages to see what happens. It’s not hard to guess who the villain is but it’s more challenging to guess the why. I struggled with the reasoning behind it because these are all grown men and women still blaming a 15 year old girl for something out of her control. It felt like quite a stretch. Nevertheless I enjoyed the read and was glad I gave it a go.
April 23, 2022
Hanna was a troubled teen going through a rebellious stage after her mother had died and she was forced to live with her overbearing strict father and his new wife. At the age of sixteen she decided to leave after a tragedy leaves her the gossip of their small town. Now fourteen years later estranged from her family, Hanna has her life somewhat together as she’s got a job, friends, and a social life. She’s even started dating after a horrible relationship ended. However, her world is turned upside down when she looks on a dark tourism site and sees a photo of her childhood home with the headlines saying a gruesome murder happened there. What’s even worse is that her dad, stepmother, and sister are all missing. With the alternating povs between Hanna and her sister Sasha this psychological thriller is captivating and smart. The Night They Vanished is a dark story with plenty of twists to keep in you interested. I really enjoyed this on and am thankful to Netgalley and Grand Central Pub for the arc to read for a honest review.
September 21, 2023
Technically 2.5 starts but honestly this book was just not that good in my opinion. The plot set up had potential but as I finished the story everything was so… bland? Not exciting? Not sure what the right word is to describe it. And written in a way that really just irked me, I don’t know how to explain it. And the characters’ inner thoughts were honestly hard to read due to being cringey, not written that well, etc. I feel so bad because usually I at least give three stars, and that was originally my plan, but every chapter toward the end made me like the book less and less. 😭
May 8, 2022
Vanessa Savage’s The Night They Vanished is a thrilling rollercoaster ride of a read that grabs your attention from page one and doesn’t let go until the very end. Pitched as a psychological thriller, I found this to read as more of a mystery, with a family gone missing, handful of suspicious characters, red herrings and a “whodunnit” question running through my head the entirety of the book. You’ll quickly turn into a gumshoe sleuth trying to figure out this twisty (and yes, psychological) mystery.
Savage constructs an intricate puzzle giving us a mystery to solve—the disappearance of Hanna’s family (including Sasha). Savage holds back just enough details to keep us in a constant state of suspense and confusion. We get bits and pieces of each character’s past—even the secondary and minor ones—so that we can start forming opinions of them. Each character is left with enough blanks, though, so we don’t quite know who to trust or if they are involved in some way. Even Hanna’s closest friends made my list of suspects at one time. You’ll quickly find yourself sleuthing along trying to find out what is going on with the dark tourism website, mysterious Adam, old friends and a random hit and run that are somehow all connected to the disappearance. There’s definitely a lot (like, a lot a lot) going on in the book but that’s what makes it so easy to devour quickly—it’s hard to put down.
The story is told between two perspectives—our main protagonist Hanna and secondary protagonist Sasha. Hanna is a self-depreciating, secretive character who is emotionally crippled by her past. Sasha is Hanna’s naive step-sister who is doomed to a life of solitude and strictness in the wake of Hanna’s destruction to the family. I like how Hanna’s timeline runs present-day while Sasha’s starts months prior and comes crashing into Hanna’s.
One thing I liked and wish would’ve been developed a bit more was the dark tourism aspect to it. What a concept and what a plot line to run with. It was only a minor player in the book though and I think it could’ve added another level of creepiness and uniqueness to the story. I wanted to go down that road but the book went another direction.
While you may see where some twists in the story are headed, Savage includes a curveball or two that shakes up the plot. It’s a quick, lots happening read that at no time slows down. Suspenseful, dark and twisty, this is your next book if you’re on the hunt for an intensely thrilling mystery.
Thank you Novel Suspects and Grand Central Publishing for the arc of this book
Savage constructs an intricate puzzle giving us a mystery to solve—the disappearance of Hanna’s family (including Sasha). Savage holds back just enough details to keep us in a constant state of suspense and confusion. We get bits and pieces of each character’s past—even the secondary and minor ones—so that we can start forming opinions of them. Each character is left with enough blanks, though, so we don’t quite know who to trust or if they are involved in some way. Even Hanna’s closest friends made my list of suspects at one time. You’ll quickly find yourself sleuthing along trying to find out what is going on with the dark tourism website, mysterious Adam, old friends and a random hit and run that are somehow all connected to the disappearance. There’s definitely a lot (like, a lot a lot) going on in the book but that’s what makes it so easy to devour quickly—it’s hard to put down.
The story is told between two perspectives—our main protagonist Hanna and secondary protagonist Sasha. Hanna is a self-depreciating, secretive character who is emotionally crippled by her past. Sasha is Hanna’s naive step-sister who is doomed to a life of solitude and strictness in the wake of Hanna’s destruction to the family. I like how Hanna’s timeline runs present-day while Sasha’s starts months prior and comes crashing into Hanna’s.
One thing I liked and wish would’ve been developed a bit more was the dark tourism aspect to it. What a concept and what a plot line to run with. It was only a minor player in the book though and I think it could’ve added another level of creepiness and uniqueness to the story. I wanted to go down that road but the book went another direction.
While you may see where some twists in the story are headed, Savage includes a curveball or two that shakes up the plot. It’s a quick, lots happening read that at no time slows down. Suspenseful, dark and twisty, this is your next book if you’re on the hunt for an intensely thrilling mystery.
Thank you Novel Suspects and Grand Central Publishing for the arc of this book
June 9, 2022
Before I even started reading The Night They Vanished, the creepy cover and unique premise drew me in. Hannah, a 30 year old woman, goes on a blind date with a man who runs a dark tourism website. The website is designed to showcase places associated with death and suffering. After their date Hannah looks at the website only to find a photo of her estranged family’s home and a listing claiming they had been murdered. When she shows up to their house, it is empty. Where did they go?
The book started off fast-paced, and I enjoyed the short chapters and multiple POVs. The writing style was easy to follow and I was quickly breezing through the pages. Unfortunately, it started to lose steam halfway through. It was very much a slow burn, but the dialogue was repetitive, and the final reveal wasn’t overly shocking. I think if the book had been shortened, and the dark tourism website had been more utilized, it would have kept me a bit more engaged. Dark tourism is something I’ve never seen explored before, and it really added to the dark and ominous tone. Kudos to Savage for adding such a unique piece to the story, something not easily achieved in the thriller genre.
Many thanks to Grand Central Pub for sending me a finished copy in exchange for an honest review.
The book started off fast-paced, and I enjoyed the short chapters and multiple POVs. The writing style was easy to follow and I was quickly breezing through the pages. Unfortunately, it started to lose steam halfway through. It was very much a slow burn, but the dialogue was repetitive, and the final reveal wasn’t overly shocking. I think if the book had been shortened, and the dark tourism website had been more utilized, it would have kept me a bit more engaged. Dark tourism is something I’ve never seen explored before, and it really added to the dark and ominous tone. Kudos to Savage for adding such a unique piece to the story, something not easily achieved in the thriller genre.
Many thanks to Grand Central Pub for sending me a finished copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 11, 2022
I don’t read a whole lot of thrillers these days, but let me tell you this book was absolutely PHENOMENAL.
The story is a dual POV that follows Hanna and Sasha - sisters from an oppressive home with a dad who is dead set on not letting Sasha repeat Hanna’s mistakes. Hanna, after finally getting her life together, is set up on a blind date with a man named Adam. Interestingly enough, Adam runs a website that showcases “dark tourism” - tourism of places where suffering or bad events happened. At the end of the date, Hanna realizes there’s a story about her dead high school sweetheart on the website, and also a picture of her fathers home that says a triple murder has occurred there — time stamped with the current date.
This book had me enthralled from start to finish. There were great plot twists, a subplot of romance, and a “who done it” mystery that I just ate up every part of. This book has been a top read of the year for sure.
*Thank you Hachette, Grand Central Publishing, and Vanessa Savage for the Copy*
The story is a dual POV that follows Hanna and Sasha - sisters from an oppressive home with a dad who is dead set on not letting Sasha repeat Hanna’s mistakes. Hanna, after finally getting her life together, is set up on a blind date with a man named Adam. Interestingly enough, Adam runs a website that showcases “dark tourism” - tourism of places where suffering or bad events happened. At the end of the date, Hanna realizes there’s a story about her dead high school sweetheart on the website, and also a picture of her fathers home that says a triple murder has occurred there — time stamped with the current date.
This book had me enthralled from start to finish. There were great plot twists, a subplot of romance, and a “who done it” mystery that I just ate up every part of. This book has been a top read of the year for sure.
*Thank you Hachette, Grand Central Publishing, and Vanessa Savage for the Copy*
May 14, 2022
4.5 rounded up to 5
I really liked this book a lot, the writing is really good and I loved how the author carefully built the story. It's a slow burn but it keeps you wanting to turn every pages.
I don't want to reveal too much, but I hated the dad so much, maybe because he reminded me so much of my own father. I related to Hanna like I never related to a character in a book before.
The mystery is not that hard to understand once your about half way through the book you have all the information to be able to guess. But I was still intriguing by the story and wanted to know more.
I would recommend this book to people who are new to the genre as well as thrillers/mysteries fan.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
I really liked this book a lot, the writing is really good and I loved how the author carefully built the story. It's a slow burn but it keeps you wanting to turn every pages.
I don't want to reveal too much, but I hated the dad so much, maybe because he reminded me so much of my own father. I related to Hanna like I never related to a character in a book before.
The mystery is not that hard to understand once your about half way through the book you have all the information to be able to guess. But I was still intriguing by the story and wanted to know more.
I would recommend this book to people who are new to the genre as well as thrillers/mysteries fan.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
May 14, 2022
Hanna has been estranged from her family for the past fourteen years when she comes across a dark tourist website showing her family’s home listed as a scene of a horrific crime. There are three victims and the date is today 😱. But she is unable to contact anyone, it seems they have just vanished. As Hannah tries to find her family and piece everything together, it becomes clear that someone from her past is determined to make her pay for old grievances.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Great story line with multiple POV’s, it had a good amount of creepy/suspenseful moments with some questionable characters and plenty of red herrings. Overall a winner for me! 3.75⭐️
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Great story line with multiple POV’s, it had a good amount of creepy/suspenseful moments with some questionable characters and plenty of red herrings. Overall a winner for me! 3.75⭐️
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