I saw this book while looking through BookXcess’s online catalog but because I cannot buy every cheap book that appeals to me, I found a copy from the library’s e-catalog and decided to just borrow it instead.

The Disappearances starts when Aila and Miles’ mother dies. Because their father has to leave, Aila and Miles are sent to live with her mother’s best friend, Matilda, and her family in her mother’s hometown. When they arrive, Aila and Miles discover that the town of Sterling hides a mystery: every seven years, something disappears. It could be the sense of smell, it could be the stars, it could be dreams.

As Aila does her best to clear her mother’s name (people hold her mum responsible because she was the only one who could leave), she discovers that the Disappearances seem to bear a close connection to a book her mother left behind, a book of Shakespeare…

I enjoyed this because of the mystery. It’s so interesting to think of a town where things just disappear and no one knows why. Of course, that’s going to make them insular and of course, that’s going to make them a bit weird. And of course, Aila’s going to want to prove that her mother is not a bad person. In terms of atmosphere and character motivation, the book nails it.

But the climax was a bit strange. I’m trying not to give away spoilers, but let’s just say that there was a delay between confronting the antagonist and the solving the mystery of the Disappearances. Which meant that when Aila and her friends actually solve the case, I was a bit confused because I thought that things were supposed to be heading in a different direction. It all made sense in the end, but I was momentarily confused towards the end (and not in a good way).

Overall, I enjoyed this book. Do I need to buy a copy for myself? No, not really. But I am tempted.

Featured Image: Background from Canva