I got into Holly Jackson’s books by accident. I originally bought A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder as a present for my girlfriend. She loved it so much that she quickly got the rest of the series. After hearing her rave about them, I decided to read them too — and I’ll admit, they’re brilliant.
So, when The Reappearance of Rachel Price was released, it shot straight to the top of her wishlist. I bought her a copy, and once it had been passed between her and her mum, I finally got my turn.
A Missing Mother Returns
The novel centres on 18-year-old Annabel Price — known as Bel — whose mother Rachel vanished without a trace sixteen years earlier. Bel never really knew her, and her feelings are complicated. She doesn’t dwell on the loss, as she’s grown up with a close-knit and loving family made up of her dad, aunt, uncle, cousin, and grandfather.
Things start to shift when a film crew arrives to make a documentary about Rachel’s disappearance. Bel wants nothing to do with it, but her dad agrees to participate because the family desperately needs the money.
Then — out of nowhere — Rachel Price reappears.
Where has she been for the past sixteen years? And why now? What follows is a twisting mystery full of secrets, emotional confrontations, and revelations that shake the Price family to its core.
Familiar Style, New Story
If you’ve read A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, you’ll likely spot similarities. Bel, like Pip Fitz-Amobi, is a strong-willed teenage girl determined to uncover the truth. She also forms a connection with Ash, a young assistant on the documentary crew, who becomes her reluctant sidekick. There’s even a hint of a budding romance between them.
The pacing of the book is spot on. Nearly every chapter ends with a cliffhanger that kept me saying, “Just one more.” I tore through this book because I had to know what happened — but I didn’t want it to end. That’s always a sign of a great read.
Some Minor Quibbles
While I thoroughly enjoyed the book, it does have its flaws. There are moments where the story requires a bit of suspension of disbelief — which is fairly standard in fiction, but your mileage may vary.
As an aspiring writer myself, I always ask: If this were my book, how would I tell this story? Endings are especially tricky. I had my own idea for how the book should’ve wrapped up. As much as I loved it, I can’t help thinking my version might’ve been better (my girlfriend disagrees). But hey, that’s my cross to bear.
My Goodreads rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)
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