A shocking murder in the New Zealand bush draws Effie back to the place she swore she’d never return. Once a child who escaped her parents’ terrifying obsession with nature, she now faces the wild forest again when the only witness to the crime is a little girl who looks just like her. Effie must confront her past, uncover her family’s secrets, and solve the mystery before it’s too late.

I loved this book. I was hooked immediately. Told primarily in Effie’s present day, I loved the small flashbacks to her childhood, seeing how she was raised and what shaped her into who she is now. The bush descriptions are stunning, the small-town feel is spot-on, and the mystery kept me guessing until the very end. I sped through this one and would absolutely love a sequel with Effie as a cop in the town.

Dark, eerie, and atmospheric which are everything I want in a thriller. I can’t believe this is a debut! Zoe Rankin’s writing makes you feel like you’re right there in the wild New Zealand bush.

AMAZON | GOODREADS | BOOKSHOP | ★★★★★

The Vanishing Place is out now. Huge thanks to Berkley Books for my copy in return for my honest review. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books or on Tiktok @speakingof.books