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Thank you so much to Electric Monkey Books for sending me this stunning proof copy of 'The Reappearance of Rachel Price', the unmissable new thriller from Holly Jackson, coming on April 2nd! I have been a fan of Holly Jackson's books for as long as I can remember (read my thoughts on her 'A Good Girl's Guide To Murder' trilogy here) and so it was a real honour to have the opportunity to read and review 'The Reappearance of Rachel Price' ahead of its publication.
The narrative follows 18-year-old Bel, high school student, loner and the daughter of the infamous Rachel Price, the mystery no one has been able to solve. 16 years ago, Rachel Price vanished without a trace, leaving a young Bel alone at the side of the road. This story is what has drawn documentary makers to the Price family, who agree to create a film about the enigmatic Rachel. Missing. Presumed dead.
Then, Rachel Price turns up. Alive. And she has a story to tell. Finally, the world will know the truth.
Unless, of course, Rachel is lying.
I absolutely loved this book! Holly Jackson fans will not be disappointed by this fresh take on the missing persons genre, with Holly's trademark tension, twists you didn't see coming and complex central protagonists.
Bel as a main character makes this book work so well; her cynical remarks, closed-off demeanour and unquenchable thirst for the truth makes her such a fun character to spend time with. Although she isn't always the most likeable, Bel's distrust of those around her feels very authentic for someone in her situation, and I was rooting for her from start to finish. Bel's perception of others actually gives the book what feels like an unreliable narrator element, which really added to my enjoyment of the plot, and made me second guess every tiny detail that I thought I had worked out. The way she develops as a person throughout the book is so poignant, and even though the novel is written in third person, Bel's voice echoes on every page, making for a compelling read which will stay with me for a long time. The imagery of the knot in Bel's gut as a metaphor for deep seated inner turmoil and visceral fear is so powerfully portrayed, I felt Bel's anguish in my own body as I read her story.
Rachel as a character is one of the best written protagonists that I have ever come across. I was never sure how I felt about her and her role in everything that happened, which made the twist right at the end even more profound for me. Rachel ended up being my favourite character, as the way her true self gets revealed was tense, emotional and beautiful all at once. I think readers will really enjoy the psychological layers behind Rachel and her return, as they are so well crafted.
Rachel and Bel become such a profound comment on mother-daughter relationships, and how complex they can be to navigate. I loved the way in which they ultimately help one another to grow and find their places in the world; the tension, sadness and shock portrayed in the scenes following Rachel's reappearance is palpable, and these expansive yet intensely painful moments became some of my favourite parts of the book. The nuances of Rachel and Bel's interactions are really moving to read, catalysts for both a great mystery and a really important comment on societal expectations surrounding mother-daughter relationships. This storyline in particular captures the anguish we face when we realise that those we should love the most are strangers to us, and how one moment can change the way we feel about everything.
Although Rachel hasn't been in Bel's life for long, her presence has shaped Bel's world, a concept that I really loved reading about, as this gives the whole book a deeply human element that a lot of crime novels usually romanticise or skim over. I really admire Holly Jackson's ability to tackle sensitive and complex themes with honesty and compassion; it gives her books a gravitas and authenticity which you don't often find.
I really liked the added element of the documentary, it makes the plot even more gripping and shines a light on the versions of ourselves we present to the world and the selves that we keep hidden. I loved the slightly clunky actions of the film crew, and the at times less than ideal responses from the Prices, it adds a layer of levity and normality to what is otherwise a very surreal situation. The interview scenes and family dinners were some of the parts that I most enjoyed reading, they are so funny and so uncomfortable simultaneously.
As a crime-thriller, 'The Reappearance of Rachel Price' ticks all the boxes. The plot has an ending you will never see coming, the characters all feel like people you know yet are completely unique, the family secrets make for some explosive revelations and the mystery itself is entirely gripping. Full of sadness, conflict and a desperate need for answers, this book is an amazing example of how to write crime, whilst still feeling like a real story, about real people.
'The Reappearance of Rachel Price' is a book about the choices we make, and the earth-shattering consequences of those choices. It is a book about how we shape our lives around loss, and what happens when the person we love the most turns out to be someone else entirely. It is about the relationships we have with the people in our lives, which always matter, even if they are only fleeting. A pacy, unputdownable mystery combined with a beautifully rendered expression of human sadness, 'The Reappearance of Rachel Price' is a book you will not want to miss. Who knows? You might even be the one to work out the truth...
'The Reappearance of Rachel Price' publishes on April 2nd, and is available to preorder now.
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