Single Sundays: The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson

Single Sundays: While this blog may be focused on reviewing book series as a whole, we can’t forget about the good ole’ standalone novel! On Sundays, I will review a novel that is considered to be a standalone novel. Here is this week’s offering:

Synopsis for The Reapperance of Rachel Price (from Goodreads):
A new true-crime fueled mystery thriller about a girl determined to uncover the shocking truth about her missing mother while filming a documentary on the unsolved case.

Lights. Camera. Lies.

18-year-old Bel has lived her whole life in the shadow of her mom’s mysterious disappearance. Sixteen years ago, Rachel Price vanished and young Bel was the only witness, but she has no memory of it. Rachel is gone, long presumed dead, and Bel wishes everyone would just move on.

But the case is dragged up from the past when the Price family agree to a true crime documentary. Bel can’t wait for filming to end, for life to go back to normal. And then the impossible happens. Rachel Price reappears, and life will never be normal again.

Rachel has an unbelievable story about what happened to her. Unbelievable, because Bel isn’t sure it’s real. If Rachel is lying, then where has she been all this time? And – could she be dangerous? With the cameras still rolling, Bel must uncover the truth about her mother, and find out why Rachel Price really came back from the dead . . .

From world-renowned author Holly Jackson comes a mind-blowing masterpiece about one girl’s search for the truth, and the terror in finding out who your family really is.

Author: Holly Jackson
Genre: Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller
Heat Rating: cool
Point of View: Third Person, Single
Publication Date: April 2, 2024
Source & Format: Public Library–Audiobook

Why I Picked it Up / My Expectations:

I was a big fan of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder‘s (AGGGTM) audiobook production. While I didn’t love how that series wrapped up, I still recommend that series to my friends who ask me what books to read in their audio versions. So I was curious to see what Holly Jackson’s next mystery novel would be and I put myself on the holds lists at my library for The Reappearance of Rachel Price.

The Plot:

I will admit that I almost DNF’d this one because it was so incredibly slow to start. I think when you tell me that Rachel Price reappears, she should appear sooner than later. You lose that suspense when her “reappearance” is in the title; I just kept waiting for it to happen and the story I signed up to read to really start.

Once Rachel appears, things to pick up for sure, but it still felt a little stale and slow overall. The last third was great and some bonus points for not having a super obvious resolution too. Did I love the ending? Again, no, but like AGGGTM, I can understand the rationale behind it even if it stretches reality.

The Characters:

No one in particular stood out. I think I was suspicious of everyone to be honest so I never really got attached to any of the characters. I’d say everyone is as developed at they need to be and they play their roles well.

Bel was an OK lead. I appreciated her growth from start to finish but she isn’t a favourite lead for me.

The Romance:

It’s not really a focus here at all so look elsewhere if want a “romantic suspense” type of novel.

My Audiobook Experience:

I enjoyed the production and I’m glad I opted to listen to it. I think listening to the characters and their emotions was helpful and amplified the final resolution.

My Rating: 3.5/5

It has a slow start that I think will turn off some people but the payout is worth it in the end if you are looking for a mystery that will keep you on your toes.

Read if You Like: murder mystery stories
Avoid if You: want more romance