What do readers think of The Vanishing Place by Zoë Rankin? Write your own review.

This book saved me from a string of books that I started and could not finish. A bold start, engaging characters, set in New Zealand, and full of "outsiders" in every sense of that word. Who was in a cult, and which cult? Well-timed twists on this aspect kept things lively.

The book managed to reveal the past in alternate chapters with the present discoveries with being confusing. The romance aspect might have been annoyingly formulaic if the rest of the story wasn't so interesting. I hope Zoe Rankin writes another novel soon, whatever setting and storyline she chooses.

I enjoyed The Vanishing Place. It took me a little bit to get into the story due to the two timelines, but once I was hooked, I didn't want to put it down. Effie has a lot to unpack, emotionally, when she is called home to New Zealand. It was a rollercoaster of emotion and trying to figure out what was coming next! A haunting mystery and thriller!

The Vanishing Place
by Zoe Rankin

I was completely absorbed in this tense, atmospheric thriller from the prologue to the last paragraph. The book is set in the remote, dangerous New Zealand bush country and the storyline moves between the present and events that have taken place over the past 25 years. The characters are memorable and slowly become more fully understood as the plot twists and turns and dark secrets are revealed. I read over 100 books a year and this one will certainly rank in this year's top 10 as one that was scary, completely unique and impossible to put down. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes thrillers and mysteries and who isn't afraid to stay up late reading long into the night.

This debut novel set in the at once enthralling, yet dangerous bush country, of New Zealand is a clever and fantastic thriller. The characters each hold secrets deep in their souls and Rankin masterfully constructs their personalities to go along with the consequences of such secrets. There are twists and turns and a few moments when you hold your breath, as the author winds a tale of cultism, violence, love, faith, family, and sadly deceit from those you should be able to trust the most. There were a couple of sections that were a little confusing, but quickly became clear. Rankin's writing is spot on and her descriptions of the bush put you there. I know I will be seeing the face peaking from the plant covered tree for a long time! Unlike most new books in this genre, Rankin's novel is not the same overused trope of thriller. It is unique and truly scary on more than one level. Plan on being up all night reading this one! Thank you Berkley Publishers, Bookbrowse.com and Netgalley for the Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review.

I think one word best describes this book: engrossing. What a story, what a cast of characters, what a setting! Zoe Rankin is the Kiwi Harlan Coben. I hate to exercise and I rode my stationary bike for an extra 5 minutes to finish a chapter of this book. It is excellent.

The Vanishing Place
by Zoe Rankin

An impossible-to-put-down, haunting debut

An impressive, atmospheric thriller debut that pulled me in right from the start. Effie, a police officer on the Isle of Skye, is called back to New Zealand when a blood-covered girl—who looks eerily like her—is found in a store.

Effie had sworn she’d never return to the bush, but this girl may hold the key to long-buried family secrets. The author does an excellent job of immersing us in the haunting setting of the New Zealand bush. The story has a slightly cult-like vibe, especially with how the bush-people are portrayed, which added to the tension and mystery.

Themes of family, love, loyalty, and survival. A solid debut—I’ll definitely be watching for what Zoe Rankin writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the e-ARC

I read The Vanishing Place on my kindle. I always prefer print editions, so this format was a bit challenging from the beginning. If I had the book, I could flip back and forth more easily to clarify characters and events. This story changed timelines from chapter to chapter. I found it confusing and I wish the author had dealt more on the main character, Effie. If you enjoy a very twisty thriller set in amazing locations, this might be a good read for you. Revelations were made throughout the book, especially toward the end, but the revelations, in my opinion, were revealed too slowly. Effie loved her father and tried her whole life to understand his actions towards his family. She yearned for closure and understanding, a universal desire to which we all can relate.

The Vanishing Place by Zoe Rankin took me on a journey through The Bush in Australia which held many secrets including one family who pretty much lives off the grid. The reader gets much insight into the characters and I learned to care about each of them.

There are many twists and turns which held my interest and I was anxious to see how all would get resolved. I appreciate how well a book is written and this author does an excellent job! Thank you to the publisher and BookBrowse for allowing me to read The Vanishing Place and giving this review.