Watch Her Vanish (Rockwell and Decker, #1)

by Ellery Kane

Fear hits her like a wave crashing against the sheer cliffs nearby. She sees the woman’s feet first, then the legs bent like broken driftwood. Then, the blouse strewn open; the marks on her beautiful neck. Her knees buckle as a hand grabs her elbow to break her fall.
Forced home to Fog Harbor, California, to look after her little sister, Criminal Psychologist Olivia Rockwell is struggling to adjust to life in a town so small she can hardly breathe. Until, at church one morning, the sound of a scream leads her to the body of a missing local teacher in the shallows nearby. All the evidence points to Olivia’s most threatening patient, Drake, who is safely locked up behind bars…
Convinced of Drake’s innocence—and desperate to believe in the system that’s keeping her own murderer father behind bars—Olivia gets to work on her own suspect list. All her life she’s run towards trouble, but this time she’s treading on the toes of brooding and handsome Detective Will Decker.
Then a second woman’s body is discovered, strangled while out on an evening jog. The strip of blue material used to choke her implicates Drake once again, forcing Olivia and Will to admit they are out of their depth and must work together to crack the case.
The deeper they dig, the deadlier the trail becomes. It’s clear more innocent women will die if they don’t get one step ahead. But then a note written on a scrap of paper found in the last victim’s car leads them to a terrifying realization: the killer has his sights on Olivia’s little sister as the next victim…
An addictive and unputdownable crime thriller that will keep you up all night. Perfect for fans of Melinda Leigh, Kendra Elliot and Mary Burton.

• ASIN: B08D3X8Y2X
• Publish Date: 2020 (first published 9 October 2020)
• Publish Status: Unknown
• Publish Country: GB
• Format: eBook (Kindle)
• Pages: 441
• Language: English

Reviews

[Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading]

This was my first time reading this author, and I am sure it will not be my last. I am always on the lookout for thrillers/mysteries which will keep me guessing and have me on the edge of my seat. Watch Her Vanish, the first book in the Rockwell and Decker series, delivered all that and more.

Criminal Psychologist Olivia Rockwell returned home to Fog Harbour after going through a bitter divorce. She lives with her sister in their family home and works at the Rockwell Maximum Security Prison. Despite being haunted by secrets from her past, she proved to be resilient. While at a vigil for a woman who had gone missing, she heard a scream. She ran towards the sound with no concerns for crime scene protocols and in process angered Detective William Decker who was part of the investigative team.

The author weaved a captivating story filled with suspense, mystery, humour and sexual chemistry. She did an excellent job in her creation of the suspect pool. I had my suspicions as it relates to the perpetrator and I was partially right, but it amazed me to discover who else was involved.

The story featured well-developed characters from the primary to the secondary ones. Will’s partner JB brought humour to the story and had me laughing despite the seriousness of the case.

I didn’t like the route taken as it relates to the attraction between Will and Olivia. The push and pull became tiresome after a while. Hopefully, as the series progress, they will get it right.

The story ended in an unexpected manner. I wouldn’t call it a cliff-hanger, but it’s clear there are a lot of loose ends leaving the reader with several questions.

Conclusion/Recommendation
Watch Her Vanish is a wonderful start to what promises to be an exciting series. Fans of mystery, suspense, and crime thrillers would enjoy this latest offering from Kane.

[Emma (SCR)]

Thank you to Bookouture for my copy of this book via netgalley. If you are a regular reader of my blog or reviews you will know I love a crime story so I was excited to start a new one with a new to me author.

 

The first thing I have to say about this book is that is very disturbing. I read quite a lot of crime books but this one really got under my skin. The manipulation and the secrets in this one really get inside your head. Let’s say I’m glad I’m not living on my own because I think I’d have to sleep with the lights on for a while after this one!

 

Ellery does such a good job of keeping you guessing throughout the whole book. I was constantly on the edge of my seat not know who might be killed next or who the killer was.

 

I really like the newspaper clippings in between the story. I like little unique touches like this. It helps to make a book stand out.

 

As well as the case there’s the backgrounds of our two main characters Olivia and Will. These two have quite the stories to tell and I look forward to unpacking them more as we continue the series.

[kimbacaffeinate]

Welcome to Fog Harbor, California, where the primary employer is Rockwell Prison, a maximum security penitentiary.

Criminal Psychologist Olivia Rockwell lives with her sister in their family home and both work at the prison. The two have baggage and secrets, but I liked Olivia and found her to be a strong character.

When a missing woman turns up dead, it shakes the small town. Detective Will Decker and his partner are assigned to work the case. When another body turns up, it looks like they may have a serial killer on their hands.

From the initial back-and-forth banter between Olivia and Will, we witness a spark. The two traded barbs and Will eventually seeks her out for assistance on the case, allowing them to interact more.

This was an interesting case, and the author did a wonderful job of making connections and casting doubt. She wove the characters past and present into the cases while weaving in the prison and its inmates. It was intriguing and kept me guessing.

The tale isn’t overly gruesome or heavy on police procedures, but we gain enough insight to paint a gruesome picture. The profiling was fascinating and showcased the author’s background.

Secondary characters from partners to family members were developed and added to the story. They brought humor, worry, and more. I loved Will’s partner. The man made me laugh and offered light against the dark investigation.

We see a relationship develop between Olivia and Will, one I think will grow over the course of the series. It was a nice side dish to the murder mystery.
This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer