If I Disappear by Eliza Jane Brazier

"I will solve your mystery. I will save you. It was meant to be me."

I love a good mystery. I love the suspense that builds as you discover clues, slowly putting all of the pieces together until you've finally cracked the case. It should come as no surprise then that the majority of my reading tends to fall into the mystery/thriller genre. I was a bit shocked, then, when I realized that I had yet to read a thriller this year. The fine folks at Berkley Publishing were kind enough to provide me with a copy of Eliza Jane Brazier's debut novel If I Disappear to read and review. As I opened to the first pages, I was quickly thrust into a novel filled with suspense, uncertainty, and paranoia. In short, the perfect kind of thriller to kick off the year. 

Sera's life is in shambles. Her marriage was over before it really even began, she has no job, and she spends her days just aimlessly drifting through life. Really the only thing keeping her going is her obsession with true-crime podcaster Rachel Bard. Rachel is everything Sera wishes she could be. Rachel is a strong woman, sure of her place in the world. She's so confident in the way she digs into cold cases and gives a voice to the missing women that fall through the cracks of criminal investigations. Empowered by this strength, Sera listens to the podcast episodes on repeat. She knows every detail of the crimes and begins to feel a kinship to Rachel and the women she investigates.

One day, the podcast episodes simply stopped. There was no explanation from Rachel, just radio silence. Even more alarming to Sera, is the change in tone to Rachel's last episode. The average listener may not have even taken notice, but Sera is certain of the emotion she detected in Rachel's voice. Fear. Driven by the need to keep the one positive in her life going, and perhaps made confident by the example that Rachel has set for her, Sera decides to take investigating Rachel's absence into her own hands. She drives to the rural town near the ranch where Rachel and her family live and begins to plant herself into Rachel's world. As she encounters Rachel's family and even takes on a job at the ranch, she begins to suspect that she is in over her head. Something foul is afoot, and it will take every fiber of her being to uncover it. 

In If I Disappear author Eliza Jane Brazier spins a twisty tale that balances suspense and misdirection with rich character development. Each page is imbued with an underlying sense of paranoia and dread, the kind of writing that kept me ready for any surprise and eager to keep reading more. The main character Sera is a classic unreliable narrator. Her mistrust of the supporting characters is only heightened by her skepticism at her own assertions. The book is as much about solving a missing person case as it is about finding a purpose for living. Brazier meticulously weaves these two threads throughout the writing, each quietly echoing the other. This comes together in a conclusion that adequately solves the mystery and brings a deeper sense of understanding to the main character. If I Disappear is a confident debut thriller that served as a perfect way to kick off my reading of the genre this year. 

For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads

(2021, 5)

This entry was posted on Monday, January 25, 2021 and is filed under ,,,,,,,,. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response.

32 Responses to “If I Disappear by Eliza Jane Brazier”

  1. I don't read a lot of mystery/thrillers, but I also love collecting the pieces and trying to figure it all out. Sounds like the author did a brilliant job plotting this book and reveals information in a satisfying way.

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    1. That's really the key to a good mystery, set out the clues and have them come together in a logical and surprising way. This one delivered on all fronts!

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    1. I love when I don't know where a story is going, and this one kept me guessing!

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  3. I was wondering when you'd get back to some good mystery and suspense! :D The premise of this one is certainly interesting, and one I'll be adding to my own list.

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    1. It was far past the time to read a suspense novel haha

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  4. I love this cover but I have had mixed results with unreliable narrators. I may eventually give this one a try.

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    1. I would say that none of these characters are really likable in the traditional sense, so that could deter you from this one.

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  5. Now I'm wondering what happened to Rachel! I can understand why Sera embarks on her mission to find her. Glad to hear this was a hit!

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  6. I often struggle with unreliable narrators but I am so intrigued by this one. It sounds like the kind of mystery that I would really enjoy. I'm off to see if my library has it.

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    1. They can be hit or miss for me too. Sometimes I just don't care for them. Sera isn't likable in the traditional sense, but it was hard to pull myself away from the mystery.

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  7. This sounds like a great mystery. I'm intrigued to know what happened to her now.

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  8. Thrillers are always a struggle for me but I love that cover and it feels like a fresh premise so I'm going to see if I can find it on audio.

    Karen @ For What It's Worth

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    1. As I've read more and more of them, I seem to be able to guess the ending more frequently. This one had enough twists and misdirection to keep me on my toes right until the very end.

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  9. Oh, YES! I love a good mytsery/thriller. I'm currently reading the Sandhamn series, taking place in Sweden. Really good mystery series as well!

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  10. That cover is awesome Ethan. I am always up for some mystery and suspense!

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    1. I was drawn by the cover but stayed for the mystery!

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  11. *gimme hands* a thriller, with the podcast angle is right up my alley. I love the twisty, unreliable goodness of this.

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    1. This one was pretty much impossible to put down. You have to give it a read!

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  12. I love a true crime podcast and I love a mystery book, this sounds perfect!

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    1. It makes for such an intriguing combination!

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  13. Now, that is a fan in a darker, stalkerish way. I enjoy the occasional unreliable narrator in a thriller.

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    1. This one got really dark, but it was still fun to read.

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  14. here we go again, now you will be reviewing tons of thrillers which I will then have to read! Excellent review, I am not 16th in line for this one at the library!

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    1. Just hold on haha. My next two reads are thrillers too!

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    2. Now* oops. I hate that we can't edit comments.

      I just saw you posted a review for The Wife Upstairs and at least I beat you to the punch on that one because I already have it on hold, lol.

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    3. Hopefully it doesn't take too long for you to get it. That one seems to be a must read, so the libraries may have multiple copies!

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  15. Not gonna lie, I find the cover of this one weird and off-putting. The story, though, sounds great. I like a thriller that makes me feel off-balance, where I'm never quite sure what's really going on or whom to trust. Sounds like this one does that well. I'll be reading it at some point for sure.

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    1. That off kilter feeling you get from the cover definitely is present in the story too, but in the best way haha

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