*I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the author, Claire Allan, in exchange for an honest review. As always, all opinions expressed are my own. *
People Don’t Just Disappear is the latest psychological thriller from Derry based author Claire Allan.
When a knock on the door from a young boy pulls Bronagh from her pre-holiday preparations, his urgent cries for ‘mama’ are not as they first seem.
After arriving home to an empty house and missing Bronagh, her boyfriend Mal contacts the police who initially don’t seem to take his concerns seriously or be in a hurry to locate her. However as the hours pass with no contact, all her belongings still at home, and no witnesses to her last known movements, it is obvious that her disappearance is a cause for concern. The story unfolds through the viewpoints of three different characters, each of whom provide a different narrative and experience of the current situation. I love this style of writing from Claire Allan because although the pace of the story is fast, the intricate crossing of the views of the different characters is like a slow release of information that further fuels your want to read more. Like many of her previous psychological thrillers, this one is filled with twists, turns and plenty of unexpected storylines that lead you to turning the pages quicker.
For those, like me, who have read Claire’s other thrillers, the fascinating character Ingrid Devlin makes a return too, providing interesting developments to her continuing story and growth.
I would give this book a 3.5 out of 5 and recommend it (and other Claire Allan books) to readers who enjoy picking up an Andrea Mara story or losing themselves in a Jane Casey book.
Published by Boldwood Books, People Don’t Just Disappear is available to purchase from today(29th November 2025) and would make the perfect stocking filler for any crime fiction reader!
Wee Bubble of Books 