book reviews

Book Review: Missing Clarissa by Ripley Jones



Title:ย Missing Clarissa
Author:ย Ripley Jones
Publisher:ย Wednesday Books
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Age Group: Young Adult
Content/Trigger Warnings:ย Physical abuse, violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, panic attacks/disorder
Book Links:ย Bookshop::B&N::Amazon::Goodreads


In a gripping novel perfect for fans of Sadie and A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, two best friends start a true crime podcastโ€”only to realize they may have helped a killer in the process.

In August of 1999, dazzlingly popular cheerleader Clarissa Campbell disappears from a party in the woods outside the rural town of Oreville, Washington and is never seen again. The police question her friends, teachers, and the adults who knew herโ€”who all have something to hide. And thanks to Clarissaโ€™s beauty, the mystery captures the attention of the nation. But with no leads and no body, the case soon grows cold. Despite the efforts of internet sleuths and true-crime aficionados, Clarissa is never foundโ€”dead or alive.

Over twenty years later, Oreville high-school juniors and best friends Blair and Cameron start a true crime podcast, determined to unravel the story of whatโ€”or whoโ€”happened to this rural urban legend. In the process they uncover a nest of dirty small-town secrets, the sordid truth of Clarissaโ€™s relationship with her charismatic boyfriend, and a high school art teacher turned small-town figurehead who had a very good reason for wanting Clarissa dead. Such a good reason, in fact, that they might have to make him the highlight of their next episodeโ€ฆ

But does an ugly history with a missing girl make him guilty of murder? Or are two teenage girls about to destroy the life of an innocent manโ€”and help the true killer walk free?

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