Published: 2024
Author: Holly Jackson
Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Young Adult, Crime
Audience: Grades 10–12, Adult
Number of Stars: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
Goodreads Link: The Reappearance of Rachel Price
Content Warnings: Kidnapping, gaslighting, violence, parental neglect, stalking, death/grief, and strong language.
Publisher’s Summary
Goodreads Choice AwardNominee for Readers’ Favorite Young Adult Fiction (2024)
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.
Full Review
Sixteen years after her mother vanished, Bel Price is forced to relive the mystery through a true-crime documentary. When Rachel Price suddenly reappears with a wild story of survival, Bel’s skepticism creates a massive rift in her family. As she digs into her mother’s claims, she uncovers a web of gaslighting and secrets that suggest the real danger never actually left.
While this book often gets a four-star rating, I found it to be a bit underwhelming. The psychological tension and the look at media exploitation are strong, but the pacing drags in the middle, and the final twist requires a massive suspension of disbelief. I’d recommend it to older teens who love “unreliable narrator” tropes, but if you prefer the tight logic of Holly Jackson’s A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder or the intensity of Five Survive, this one might feel a bit messy.
The sleek, modern cover is definitely designed to grab a teenager’s eye. While there is some diversity in the supporting cast, the story is mostly focused on the insular, messy Price family. Ultimately, it’s an atmospheric thriller that sometimes chooses shock value over a solid, grounded plot. If you felt the “big reveal” was a bit too far-fetched, you’re definitely not the only one!
🎒 Classroom & Curricular Connections
- Media Literacy: Discuss the ethics of the true-crime industry. Does filming a documentary help solve cases, or does it exploit the victims for profit?
- Creative Writing: Have students write a “documentary transcript” for a fictional cold case to practice narrative voice and perspective.
- Psychology: Explore the concept of Gaslighting. How do the characters in the book use psychological manipulation to make Bel question her own sanity and memories?
- Logic & Plotting: Compare this book to Jackson’s previous works. Have students debate whether the “Final Twist” was earned or if it relied on too many coincidences.
