What do you think?
Rate this book
Have You Seen Her
A thrilling and timely novel about three women with dark secrets whose lives intersect in the picturesque and perilous Yosemite National Park from the USA TODAY bestselling author of Please Join Us.
Equipped with a burner phone and a new job, Cassie Peters has left her hectic and secretive life in New York City for the refuge of her hometown of Mammoth Lakes, California. There, she begins working again with Yosemite Search and Rescue, where a case she worked a decade ago continues to haunt her.
She quickly falls into old patterns, joining a group of fellow seasonal workers and young adventurers who have made Yosemite their home during the summer. There, she meets Petal, a young woman living in a trailer with her much older wife, keeping a detailed diary of the goings on of the park, and Jada, a recent college graduate on a cross-country road trip with her boyfriend, documenting their journey on Instagram.
When these three women cross paths, Cassie’s past catches up with her, and the shocking consequences ripple out far beyond what any could have imagined in this unputdownable thriller.
Equipped with a burner phone and a new job, Cassie Peters has left her hectic and secretive life in New York City for the refuge of her hometown of Mammoth Lakes, California. There, she begins working again with Yosemite Search and Rescue, where a case she worked a decade ago continues to haunt her.
She quickly falls into old patterns, joining a group of fellow seasonal workers and young adventurers who have made Yosemite their home during the summer. There, she meets Petal, a young woman living in a trailer with her much older wife, keeping a detailed diary of the goings on of the park, and Jada, a recent college graduate on a cross-country road trip with her boyfriend, documenting their journey on Instagram.
When these three women cross paths, Cassie’s past catches up with her, and the shocking consequences ripple out far beyond what any could have imagined in this unputdownable thriller.
327 pages, Hardcover
First published June 27, 2023
About the author
Catherine McKenzie
27 books4,789 followersCatherine McKenzie was born and raised in Montreal, Canada. A graduate of McGill in History and Law, Catherine practiced law in Montreal for twenty years before retiring to write full time. An avid runner and skier, she's the author of numerous bestsellers including HIDDEN, FRACTURED, THE and the GOOD LIAR. I'LL NEVER TELL was a #1 Amazon Bestseller, a Globe & Mail and Toronto Star Bestseller, shortlisted for the Hugh McLennan Prize for Fiction.
On April 30, 2024 Catherine will publish the first in a new funny mystery series named EVERY TIME I GO ON VACATION, SOMEONE DIES as Catherine Mack.
On April 30, 2024 Catherine will publish the first in a new funny mystery series named EVERY TIME I GO ON VACATION, SOMEONE DIES as Catherine Mack.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 951 reviews
June 2, 2023
My Reviews Can Also Be Found On:
Twitter - Amazon - Storygraph - The Book Review Crew
3.5 Stars
While reading this book I couldn't help but compare Jim and Jada to Gabrielle Venora Petito and Brian Laundrie. I don't know why but these characters just gave off that vibe to me and I liked it because it gave the book a true-crime feel. The book is about two deaths decades apart and the story is told in two timelines fairly close together, it is never clarified but it comes across as mere months. We have Cassie in the now and Cassie a few months ago as she has quickly left her husband and has gone back to the area where she grew up. In fact, all of the main characters are running away from something and we the reader eventually find out what and why that is. The book was very diverse with characters of different ethnicities and included LGBTQ characters. We get a clear background on all of them as well.
Petal is a character in the book that I liked a lot, her journal entries were the highlight for me. I really enjoy epistolary novels and this was a good way to get into Petal's head and understand her internal thoughts. The book was quite the adventure, to say the least...I loved the location as it becomes a character itself and Yosemite National Park sounds beautiful yet dangerous. The rescues and descriptions were amazing, realistic and well-researched. This was a twisty rollercoaster ride, very fast-paced and the ending threw me for a loop. I wonder if there will be a book two? I would read it.
One thing I did not like about the story is the fact that Cassie hooked up with someone. Why does every book have sex and/or romance in it?! It is not needed in thriller books and it added nothing to the story. She is running away from her husband but hooks up with someone right away, women do not need men. Hence the half star taken off and rounded down instead of up.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
3.5 Stars
While reading this book I couldn't help but compare Jim and Jada to Gabrielle Venora Petito and Brian Laundrie. I don't know why but these characters just gave off that vibe to me and I liked it because it gave the book a true-crime feel. The book is about two deaths decades apart and the story is told in two timelines fairly close together, it is never clarified but it comes across as mere months. We have Cassie in the now and Cassie a few months ago as she has quickly left her husband and has gone back to the area where she grew up. In fact, all of the main characters are running away from something and we the reader eventually find out what and why that is. The book was very diverse with characters of different ethnicities and included LGBTQ characters. We get a clear background on all of them as well.
Petal is a character in the book that I liked a lot, her journal entries were the highlight for me. I really enjoy epistolary novels and this was a good way to get into Petal's head and understand her internal thoughts. The book was quite the adventure, to say the least...I loved the location as it becomes a character itself and Yosemite National Park sounds beautiful yet dangerous. The rescues and descriptions were amazing, realistic and well-researched. This was a twisty rollercoaster ride, very fast-paced and the ending threw me for a loop. I wonder if there will be a book two? I would read it.
One thing I did not like about the story is the fact that Cassie hooked up with someone. Why does every book have sex and/or romance in it?! It is not needed in thriller books and it added nothing to the story. She is running away from her husband but hooks up with someone right away, women do not need men. Hence the half star taken off and rounded down instead of up.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
May 5, 2023
My thanks to Atria books, Catherine McKenzie and Netgalley.
This was definitely my kind of story. I loved every minute of it!
I've developed a soft spot in my old age for books that make me feel at home. And the part of California where this book takes place is very much home territory-ish!
This was a fantastic story and whodunit!
Probably going to have to read more from Ms. McKenzie in the future!
This was definitely my kind of story. I loved every minute of it!
I've developed a soft spot in my old age for books that make me feel at home. And the part of California where this book takes place is very much home territory-ish!
This was a fantastic story and whodunit!
Probably going to have to read more from Ms. McKenzie in the future!
July 5, 2023
Have You Seen Her follows a woman on the run from her past set against the backdrop of Yosemite National Park.
Cassie is running from her old life in New York City, equipped with a burner phone and a new job at Yosemite National Park. After ten years, she’s rejoining the Search and Rescue team. She becomes friendly with a group of seasonal workers and summer vacationers. But Cassie is not the only one running from her past. And the past will eventually catch up with them.
This atmospheric thriller has two timelines. It includes a mix of Cassie’s pov along with journal entries, Instagram posts, and YouTube transcripts.
It’s nicely paced, with compelling characters set against the vivid landscape of Yosemite. I’ve never been to Yosemite, but the author made me feel like I was there.
I was invested in this story right from the beginning. But the ending slightly fell apart for me. The final reveal was a bit of a letdown.
But other than that, this would be a great book to add to your summer tbr.
3.5 rounded up.
Thank you to Atria Books for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
https://booksandwheels.com
Cassie is running from her old life in New York City, equipped with a burner phone and a new job at Yosemite National Park. After ten years, she’s rejoining the Search and Rescue team. She becomes friendly with a group of seasonal workers and summer vacationers. But Cassie is not the only one running from her past. And the past will eventually catch up with them.
This atmospheric thriller has two timelines. It includes a mix of Cassie’s pov along with journal entries, Instagram posts, and YouTube transcripts.
It’s nicely paced, with compelling characters set against the vivid landscape of Yosemite. I’ve never been to Yosemite, but the author made me feel like I was there.
I was invested in this story right from the beginning. But the ending slightly fell apart for me. The final reveal was a bit of a letdown.
But other than that, this would be a great book to add to your summer tbr.
3.5 rounded up.
Thank you to Atria Books for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
https://booksandwheels.com
September 6, 2023
Raised in the small California town of Mammoth Lakes, Cassie Peters left after a summer spent working with the Yosemite Search and Rescue. After a harrowing discovery, she abandoned her old life for a new one in New York City. But just like ten years ago, Cassie has run from her life yet again. This time in the opposite direction—straight back to the calming woods of Yosemite.
Back in her old stomping grounds, Cassie quickly readjusts to the hectic and exhausting life of a wilderness rescuer. Just as everything is settling into a normal rhythm, however, a young couple goes missing. Bringing back bad memories from ten years ago, Cassie finds herself wrapped up yet again by her past. Will she be able to focus on finding the two lovebirds lost in hundreds of acres? Or will the past finally come calling?
After all, there is something in particular that Cassie was fleeing. And even the wilds of a national park may not be enough space to hide. With nightmares plaguing her nights and a ravaging search for the missing couple haunting her days, she is left trying to make sense of her circumstances. But as the days pass, the situation becomes dire. Will they find them in time? Or will Cassie’s past come calling first?
Phew. In typical Catherine McKenzie style, Have You Seen Her was packed full of deeply hidden secrets, unexpected twists, and ever increasing tension. Starting with an explosive opening chapter that threw a grenade into the plot right from the get-go, I was uncertain how such a dramatic introduction could leave much hidden. But, boy, was I wrong as the storyline managed to deftly hide plenty until the altogether riveting climax.
Unfortunately, here’s where the teeny, tiny flaw came to light. After a thoroughly epic twist, the conclusion left me wanting. Not even remotely wrapped up, my only hope is that McKenzie is planning to follow up this book with a sequel as there is that much that was left hanging unresolved. Then again, the lack of a decisive bow on a storyline is my own personal pet peeve, so I’ll leave it up to you to decide how irritating this ending may be.
Now back to what I loved! Complete with truly outstanding female characters, I easily became wrapped up in their lives. From the fearful Cassie who starts to rediscover her confidence to the innocent and wide-eyed Petal, they were craftily created. Genuine and well-developed, I felt like I could picture them in real life. Even the setting felt fully-fleshed out, giving the ultimate environment for a psychological thriller.
Then there was the format. Told in dual timelines of then and now, I was kept on the back foot trying to work out how the two were going to meet. Even better, however, McKenzie worked in a smattering of journal entries, Instagram posts, and news articles. Taken as a whole, this one took me on quite the ride, with suspense gradually rising throughout.
Full of hairpin turns that revealed one surprise after another, I just could not get enough of this one. I know I should expect this from anything McKenzie writes, but, for some reason, I’m always impressed by how truly special they are. And this one was no different. Ultimately, I cannot rave about it enough and strongly recommend pre-ordering this puppy now! Rating of 4.5 stars.
Trigger warning: spousal abuse, being lost in the wilderness, controlling relationship, infidelity
PUB DATE: June 27, 2023
Thank you to Catherine McKenzie, Atria Books, and NetGalley for a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Back in her old stomping grounds, Cassie quickly readjusts to the hectic and exhausting life of a wilderness rescuer. Just as everything is settling into a normal rhythm, however, a young couple goes missing. Bringing back bad memories from ten years ago, Cassie finds herself wrapped up yet again by her past. Will she be able to focus on finding the two lovebirds lost in hundreds of acres? Or will the past finally come calling?
After all, there is something in particular that Cassie was fleeing. And even the wilds of a national park may not be enough space to hide. With nightmares plaguing her nights and a ravaging search for the missing couple haunting her days, she is left trying to make sense of her circumstances. But as the days pass, the situation becomes dire. Will they find them in time? Or will Cassie’s past come calling first?
Phew. In typical Catherine McKenzie style, Have You Seen Her was packed full of deeply hidden secrets, unexpected twists, and ever increasing tension. Starting with an explosive opening chapter that threw a grenade into the plot right from the get-go, I was uncertain how such a dramatic introduction could leave much hidden. But, boy, was I wrong as the storyline managed to deftly hide plenty until the altogether riveting climax.
Unfortunately, here’s where the teeny, tiny flaw came to light. After a thoroughly epic twist, the conclusion left me wanting. Not even remotely wrapped up, my only hope is that McKenzie is planning to follow up this book with a sequel as there is that much that was left hanging unresolved. Then again, the lack of a decisive bow on a storyline is my own personal pet peeve, so I’ll leave it up to you to decide how irritating this ending may be.
Now back to what I loved! Complete with truly outstanding female characters, I easily became wrapped up in their lives. From the fearful Cassie who starts to rediscover her confidence to the innocent and wide-eyed Petal, they were craftily created. Genuine and well-developed, I felt like I could picture them in real life. Even the setting felt fully-fleshed out, giving the ultimate environment for a psychological thriller.
Then there was the format. Told in dual timelines of then and now, I was kept on the back foot trying to work out how the two were going to meet. Even better, however, McKenzie worked in a smattering of journal entries, Instagram posts, and news articles. Taken as a whole, this one took me on quite the ride, with suspense gradually rising throughout.
Full of hairpin turns that revealed one surprise after another, I just could not get enough of this one. I know I should expect this from anything McKenzie writes, but, for some reason, I’m always impressed by how truly special they are. And this one was no different. Ultimately, I cannot rave about it enough and strongly recommend pre-ordering this puppy now! Rating of 4.5 stars.
Trigger warning: spousal abuse, being lost in the wilderness, controlling relationship, infidelity
PUB DATE: June 27, 2023
Thank you to Catherine McKenzie, Atria Books, and NetGalley for a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
August 1, 2023
Favourite Quote “In Memory of Those Who Are Lost, But Not Yet Found”
The main focus is on the three women with dark secrets, and are all running from something ,that will impact their lives. and cause collateral damage. when their lives intersect in the scenic and dangerous Yosemite National Park. The park has two deaths a decade apart from one another. In each instance Cassie was there, is she responsible? Is that why she abruptly leaves New York and her husband.. The chapters are labelled as now and then. The exact timeline is never revealed but it doesn’t take away from the story. It just was confusing at the beginning.
Cassie returns to the only place she thinks she’ll be safe. Close to where she grew up, to return to work as a search and rescue for YNP.
I related to Petal’s character on a personal level, I felt right there while she was writing her entries into her journal it revealed her most inner personal thoughts.
I journal daily myself, it’s cathartic and helps with my anxiety. The author brought Yosemite to life with her atmospheric writing, the park leapt from the pages. It is both scenic and dangerous. It’s not just the nature you have to worry about, but also the characters, that are secretive and dangerous themselves. The storyline was full of plot twist, fast paced, and the ending was a complete surprise that I did not see coming. It was a worthy OMG moment for me.. The book was quite the roller coaster ride, that had me guessing right up to the end..
It was my first book by Catherine McKenzie and I look forward to see what she writes next. Also checking out her backlist.
A special thanks to Atria books, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
The main focus is on the three women with dark secrets, and are all running from something ,that will impact their lives. and cause collateral damage. when their lives intersect in the scenic and dangerous Yosemite National Park. The park has two deaths a decade apart from one another. In each instance Cassie was there, is she responsible? Is that why she abruptly leaves New York and her husband.. The chapters are labelled as now and then. The exact timeline is never revealed but it doesn’t take away from the story. It just was confusing at the beginning.
Cassie returns to the only place she thinks she’ll be safe. Close to where she grew up, to return to work as a search and rescue for YNP.
I related to Petal’s character on a personal level, I felt right there while she was writing her entries into her journal it revealed her most inner personal thoughts.
I journal daily myself, it’s cathartic and helps with my anxiety. The author brought Yosemite to life with her atmospheric writing, the park leapt from the pages. It is both scenic and dangerous. It’s not just the nature you have to worry about, but also the characters, that are secretive and dangerous themselves. The storyline was full of plot twist, fast paced, and the ending was a complete surprise that I did not see coming. It was a worthy OMG moment for me.. The book was quite the roller coaster ride, that had me guessing right up to the end..
It was my first book by Catherine McKenzie and I look forward to see what she writes next. Also checking out her backlist.
A special thanks to Atria books, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
October 14, 2022
I'm so excited to announce my 14th novel, Have You Seen Her coming out June 27, 2023! Please add it to your to-read shelf so you can learn about all giveaways etc!
Here's the description!
A thrilling and timely novel about three women with dark secrets whose lives intersect in the picturesque and perilous Yosemite National Park from the USA TODAY bestselling author of the “addictive” (Samantha M. Bailey, #1 bestselling author of Woman on the Edge) Six Weeks to Live.
Equipped with a burner phone and a new job, Cassie Peters has left her hectic and secretive life in New York City for the refuge of her hometown of Mammoth Lakes, California. There, she begins working again with Yosemite Search and Rescue, where a case she worked a decade ago continues to haunt her.
She quickly falls into old patterns, joining a group of fellow seasonal workers and young adventurers who have made Yosemite their home during the summer. There, she meets Petal, a young woman living in a trailer with her much older wife, keeping a detailed diary of the goings on of the park, and Jada, a recent college graduate on a cross-country road trip with her boyfriend, documenting their journey on Instagram.
When these three women cross paths, Cassie’s past catches up with her, and the shocking consequences ripple out far beyond what any could have imagined in this unputdownable thriller from an author who “never fails to impress” (Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author).
Here's the description!
A thrilling and timely novel about three women with dark secrets whose lives intersect in the picturesque and perilous Yosemite National Park from the USA TODAY bestselling author of the “addictive” (Samantha M. Bailey, #1 bestselling author of Woman on the Edge) Six Weeks to Live.
Equipped with a burner phone and a new job, Cassie Peters has left her hectic and secretive life in New York City for the refuge of her hometown of Mammoth Lakes, California. There, she begins working again with Yosemite Search and Rescue, where a case she worked a decade ago continues to haunt her.
She quickly falls into old patterns, joining a group of fellow seasonal workers and young adventurers who have made Yosemite their home during the summer. There, she meets Petal, a young woman living in a trailer with her much older wife, keeping a detailed diary of the goings on of the park, and Jada, a recent college graduate on a cross-country road trip with her boyfriend, documenting their journey on Instagram.
When these three women cross paths, Cassie’s past catches up with her, and the shocking consequences ripple out far beyond what any could have imagined in this unputdownable thriller from an author who “never fails to impress” (Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author).
January 30, 2023
In this clever, breathless thriller, the talented Catherine McKenzie explores deep themes of trauma and revenge against the dangerous, atmospheric backdrop of Yosemite National Park. Full throttle action mingles with dark secrets and hidden agendas in a gripping thrill ride full of hairpin turns and jaw-dropping twists. You’ll devour this in one sitting — I know I did!
July 8, 2023
Catherine McKenzie's name popped up with must-read 2023 releases and while I was looking at Goodreads Reading Challenges and Award Winners. Have You Seen Her is the author's latest book, and I was lucky enough to grab a copy on NetGalley. Told in the present and slight past, we meet 3 women who are on a journey to Yosemite. They have no connections from what we can tell, but somehow they all meet up, intertwining their lives to save a bear from being euthanized. One saves the other's life when she nearly falls on a climb. The third is writing a simple story about how they all met. As the pages unfold, we learn what they are all running from, and it seems minor until it isn't. Slow-burner, somewhat unreliable narrator (not told in first person) but the chapters leave essential facts and scenes out. Readers don't find out until too late what's really happening, and by then, it did feel like a let-down because too much was hidden. At the same time, time plays a critical role so finding out facts at the proper time is important, and maybe things are necessary and intentional here. Good writing. Interesting characters. At first I wasn't into the story but it grows on you. Will definitely try another book from the author.
May 27, 2023
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Catherine McKenzie, and Atria Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
When it comes to Catherine McKenzie, I would not call myself an expert, but a fan of her work. McKenzie knows how to spin a tale and keep the reader in the middle of it all, injecting current trends whenever she can. This piece is no different, in that it takes the protagonist in a journey into her past, while peppering the story with some modern twists and provides the reader with a smorgasbord of events upon which to feast. Things flowed well and kept me connected as I made my through it. A definite winner for those who love McKenzie’s work.
Cassie Peters is ready to leave the hectic nature of her New York City life behind her and return to her roots, in a way. With a new job and basic phone in her pocket, Cassie returns to Mammoth Lakes, California and a life she has missed. Working Search and Rescue within Yosemite National Park, Cassie reconnects with other seasonal workers as she remembers an event that haunted her years ago.
Cassie is soon swept up in the summertime drama of her colleagues and finds herself feeling young again. She encounters Petal, a youth who lives in a trailer with an older partner. Petal has been keeping a meticulous diary of events within the park, which proves to be great reading. Cassie also finds Jada, a young and hip woman who has begun a cross-country adventure with her boyfriend and wants it all on social media for the world to see.
During that fateful summer, Cassie crosses paths with these two women and the past comes crashing into the present, where horrors and memories rule them all. As the story unfolds, Cassie will have to come to terms with the past, while Petal and Jada hold keys to helping her and the ability to trigger her even more. This is sure to be one summer job that Cassie will never forget. A stunning thriller that will keep readers up and guessing well into the night. Catherine McKenzie at her best!
For those who have not read Catherine McKenzie’s work before, this may be a great starting point. A strong standalone novel, McKenzie offers up a solid narrative foundation to guide the reader along the way. The story branches off at various points, but stays true to its core and the narrative leads the reader along the intended path. Decent characters provide some interesting flavouring to a piece that is full of moments of suspense. Plot twists emerge and kept me wanting to know more, even when things were developing in front of me. Mckenzie’s use of ‘modern spins on the fiction novel’ proves somewhat effective, though I am more a traditionalist than trying to cobble together perspectives through Instagram posts. All the same, it added a unique spin on things and enriched the final product. Catherine McKenzie is one to watch and I am happy to have read many of her books to date.
Kudos, Madam McKenzie, for a great thriller that is sure to impress many.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
When it comes to Catherine McKenzie, I would not call myself an expert, but a fan of her work. McKenzie knows how to spin a tale and keep the reader in the middle of it all, injecting current trends whenever she can. This piece is no different, in that it takes the protagonist in a journey into her past, while peppering the story with some modern twists and provides the reader with a smorgasbord of events upon which to feast. Things flowed well and kept me connected as I made my through it. A definite winner for those who love McKenzie’s work.
Cassie Peters is ready to leave the hectic nature of her New York City life behind her and return to her roots, in a way. With a new job and basic phone in her pocket, Cassie returns to Mammoth Lakes, California and a life she has missed. Working Search and Rescue within Yosemite National Park, Cassie reconnects with other seasonal workers as she remembers an event that haunted her years ago.
Cassie is soon swept up in the summertime drama of her colleagues and finds herself feeling young again. She encounters Petal, a youth who lives in a trailer with an older partner. Petal has been keeping a meticulous diary of events within the park, which proves to be great reading. Cassie also finds Jada, a young and hip woman who has begun a cross-country adventure with her boyfriend and wants it all on social media for the world to see.
During that fateful summer, Cassie crosses paths with these two women and the past comes crashing into the present, where horrors and memories rule them all. As the story unfolds, Cassie will have to come to terms with the past, while Petal and Jada hold keys to helping her and the ability to trigger her even more. This is sure to be one summer job that Cassie will never forget. A stunning thriller that will keep readers up and guessing well into the night. Catherine McKenzie at her best!
For those who have not read Catherine McKenzie’s work before, this may be a great starting point. A strong standalone novel, McKenzie offers up a solid narrative foundation to guide the reader along the way. The story branches off at various points, but stays true to its core and the narrative leads the reader along the intended path. Decent characters provide some interesting flavouring to a piece that is full of moments of suspense. Plot twists emerge and kept me wanting to know more, even when things were developing in front of me. Mckenzie’s use of ‘modern spins on the fiction novel’ proves somewhat effective, though I am more a traditionalist than trying to cobble together perspectives through Instagram posts. All the same, it added a unique spin on things and enriched the final product. Catherine McKenzie is one to watch and I am happy to have read many of her books to date.
Kudos, Madam McKenzie, for a great thriller that is sure to impress many.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
June 23, 2023
Believe it or not, Have You Seen Her is the first of Catherine McKenzie's books I've read. When I read the blurb for it, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. A thriller about complex women set in Yosemite National Park, a place as lethal as it is breathtakingly beautiful? That checks alllll the boxes for me.
The plot focuses on three women whose lives intersect in Yosemite. Cassie has fled her life in NYC to lay low and work as a Search and Rescue (SAR) officer for the summer. Jada and her boyfriend Jim have arrived at the park after a cross-country adventure in their Airstream, documented in Instagram posts. And Petal and her much older girlfriend, Sandy, have settled in a trailer at the park after living itinerant lives for the past two years. All of the women have secrets, and when someone goes missing, those secrets come to light with shocking and far-reaching consequences.
Have You Seen Her is an immersive and atmospheric thriller, bringing Yosemite's landmarks and environs completely to life. McKenzie puts us on the ground with the SAR team, and it was fascinating to read about their rescue operations. I loved the mixed media aspect of the story, which incorporates journal entries, news articles, and Instagram and YouTube transcripts (although I wish it would've included actual photos -- maybe the final copy will). The characters are interesting, but not as fully developed as they could have been.
The romance subplot felt entirely unnecessary, and the characters involved didn't have any chemistry whatsoever. I also felt that some of the dialogue rang false, and although the twist at the end wowed me, I do feel like some things were sacrificed earlier in the narrative to make it work (I won't be specific to avoid spoilers). But I always love discovering a new author with a lengthy backlist, and there was enough in Have You Seen Her to make me intrigued about McKenzie's earlier books. Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the early reading opportunity.
The plot focuses on three women whose lives intersect in Yosemite. Cassie has fled her life in NYC to lay low and work as a Search and Rescue (SAR) officer for the summer. Jada and her boyfriend Jim have arrived at the park after a cross-country adventure in their Airstream, documented in Instagram posts. And Petal and her much older girlfriend, Sandy, have settled in a trailer at the park after living itinerant lives for the past two years. All of the women have secrets, and when someone goes missing, those secrets come to light with shocking and far-reaching consequences.
Have You Seen Her is an immersive and atmospheric thriller, bringing Yosemite's landmarks and environs completely to life. McKenzie puts us on the ground with the SAR team, and it was fascinating to read about their rescue operations. I loved the mixed media aspect of the story, which incorporates journal entries, news articles, and Instagram and YouTube transcripts (although I wish it would've included actual photos -- maybe the final copy will). The characters are interesting, but not as fully developed as they could have been.
The romance subplot felt entirely unnecessary, and the characters involved didn't have any chemistry whatsoever. I also felt that some of the dialogue rang false, and although the twist at the end wowed me, I do feel like some things were sacrificed earlier in the narrative to make it work (I won't be specific to avoid spoilers). But I always love discovering a new author with a lengthy backlist, and there was enough in Have You Seen Her to make me intrigued about McKenzie's earlier books. Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the early reading opportunity.
June 25, 2023
Catherine McKenzie manages to keep me on the edge of my seat once again! Taking me out into a national park with a main protagonist who seems to be running from her problems. Add to that a story that goes between the "then" and the "now" and all kinds of missing people and I am a goner.
Have You Seen Her just had this great suspense thriller vibe, well-developed characters, and a fairly realistic motive( can I write that?🤔🤣). The greatest thing about a C.M. novel is that even when I feel like her novel is a "limited series", as a reader her characters always make me think "potential season 2 option."
Expected Publication Date 27/06/23
Goodreads Review 25/06/23
* Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.*
Have You Seen Her just had this great suspense thriller vibe, well-developed characters, and a fairly realistic motive( can I write that?🤔🤣). The greatest thing about a C.M. novel is that even when I feel like her novel is a "limited series", as a reader her characters always make me think "potential season 2 option."
Expected Publication Date 27/06/23
Goodreads Review 25/06/23
* Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.*
May 15, 2023
On the run from a secret past, Cassie has left her life in New York and begun a job as a search and rescue worker at Yosemite, where she previously worked ten years ago. Cassie is reminded of a case from a decade ago when now, hikers start going missing. Cassie works with both old and new alliances to try to find the missing hikers, while keeping her own past hidden. But she may not be the only one with secrets.
This was a good read. Once I got to the twist at around the 75% mark my interest really picked up and I was super into what was going on. The multiple perspective was very well done. But I have to admit before that mark, it was a slow burn leading up to what I knew had to be coming. I would have enjoyed some more action on some fast paced rescues. The writing is good, the setting is great and well researched. While the characters were ok, I also really liked them a lot more after the reveal. Overall I would recommend if you like a slow burn with a worthy payoff.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
3.25/5⭐
This was a good read. Once I got to the twist at around the 75% mark my interest really picked up and I was super into what was going on. The multiple perspective was very well done. But I have to admit before that mark, it was a slow burn leading up to what I knew had to be coming. I would have enjoyed some more action on some fast paced rescues. The writing is good, the setting is great and well researched. While the characters were ok, I also really liked them a lot more after the reveal. Overall I would recommend if you like a slow burn with a worthy payoff.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
3.25/5⭐
Shelved as 'nope-dnf'
September 6, 2023DNF 35%
This book is so boring I can't force myself through it anymore. It feels incredibly generic and the characters are frustrating me. I thought the setting would make this a gripping thriller but it's not adding anything to the story other than some commentary on not feeding wild bears. PASS.
This book is so boring I can't force myself through it anymore. It feels incredibly generic and the characters are frustrating me. I thought the setting would make this a gripping thriller but it's not adding anything to the story other than some commentary on not feeding wild bears. PASS.
October 24, 2022
With furious pacing and a stunning reveal, this is an incredibly satisfying thriller. The SAR (search and rescue) life provides the perfect backdrop for a riveting story about secrets and survival.
October 12, 2022
A fabulous adventure. The writing is superb and the twist a brilliant surprise!
June 27, 2023
Catherine McKenzie returns following Please Join Us with her 14th novel, HAVE YOU SEEN HER —A thrilling and timely novel about three women with dark secrets whose lives intersect in the picturesque and perilous Yosemite National Park.
Cassie Peters (main character) has left her hectic and secretive life in NYC for her hometown of Mammoth Lakes, California, to work for Yosemite Search and Rescue. A case she worked on a decade ago continues to haunt her. She is running from her husband. No matter how often she changes her name, will she be found?
Two other young women's paths intersect:
Petal: lives in a trailer with diary entries of the park, revealing her marital status to an older dangerous woman, Sandy (controlling).
Jada: a recent college graduate on a cross-country road trip with her boyfriend, Jim in an airstream documenting their journey on Instagram, but is their relationship as perfect as their IG posts?
Is there a dark side to these relationships? How do these characters connect? Cassie must confront her past to move on.
Told via two timelines, then and now, with Cassie's POV mixed with journal entries, Instagram posts, news articles, and YouTube transcripts.
A young couple goes missing, bringing back haunting memories from the past for Cassie. Things are not as they appear. All of the main characters are running from something.
From the breathtaking atmospheric setting of Yosemite National Park with a cast of well-developed compelling characters, dark secrets, and numerous jaw-dropping twists, McKenzie CAPTIVATES with this fascinating adventure—keeping you guessing to the conclusion. You know darkness lurks, and the author cleverly keeps you hooked in anticipation in this stunning thriller—HAVE YOU SEEN HER.
I enjoyed the metaphors/parallels with the two sides of the picturesque picture-perfect postcard breathtaking setting (beautiful yet dangerous), much like the characters. Will there be a sequel?
I got the Gabby Petito/Brian Laundrie vibe giving you that true-crime feel. For fans of Joyce Maynard's The Influencers and Rick Monifa's Everything She Feared.
Thank you to Atria Books for an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: June 27, 2023
June 2023 Must-Read Books
Cassie Peters (main character) has left her hectic and secretive life in NYC for her hometown of Mammoth Lakes, California, to work for Yosemite Search and Rescue. A case she worked on a decade ago continues to haunt her. She is running from her husband. No matter how often she changes her name, will she be found?
Two other young women's paths intersect:
Petal: lives in a trailer with diary entries of the park, revealing her marital status to an older dangerous woman, Sandy (controlling).
Jada: a recent college graduate on a cross-country road trip with her boyfriend, Jim in an airstream documenting their journey on Instagram, but is their relationship as perfect as their IG posts?
Is there a dark side to these relationships? How do these characters connect? Cassie must confront her past to move on.
Told via two timelines, then and now, with Cassie's POV mixed with journal entries, Instagram posts, news articles, and YouTube transcripts.
A young couple goes missing, bringing back haunting memories from the past for Cassie. Things are not as they appear. All of the main characters are running from something.
From the breathtaking atmospheric setting of Yosemite National Park with a cast of well-developed compelling characters, dark secrets, and numerous jaw-dropping twists, McKenzie CAPTIVATES with this fascinating adventure—keeping you guessing to the conclusion. You know darkness lurks, and the author cleverly keeps you hooked in anticipation in this stunning thriller—HAVE YOU SEEN HER.
I enjoyed the metaphors/parallels with the two sides of the picturesque picture-perfect postcard breathtaking setting (beautiful yet dangerous), much like the characters. Will there be a sequel?
I got the Gabby Petito/Brian Laundrie vibe giving you that true-crime feel. For fans of Joyce Maynard's The Influencers and Rick Monifa's Everything She Feared.
Thank you to Atria Books for an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: June 27, 2023
June 2023 Must-Read Books
June 28, 2023
Intense, unpredictable, and gripping!
Have You Seen Her is a tortuous, cunning mystery that takes you into the life of Cassie Peters, a young woman who, after fleeing a controlling marriage, finds herself back in Mammoth Lakes, California, working once again for the Yosemite Search and Rescue until the actions and behaviours of two random women trigger the past to collide with the present, long-buried secrets to finally be revealed, and the truth of what really happened on those fateful, tragic days ten years ago to finally come to light.
The prose is taut and gritty. The characters are vulnerable, ruthless, and impulsive. And the plot builds and unravels nicely into an intricate tale full of lies, deception, abuse, desperation, manipulation, coercion, troubled pasts, unusual friendships, scheming behaviours, violence, and murder.
Overall, Have You Seen Her had everything I’ve come to expect in a Catherine McKenzie novel and more. It’s a sophisticated, crafty, enthralling tale that, in my opinion, is a must-read for anyone who enjoys an exceptionally eerie, edgy thrill ride written by a great Canadian writer.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Have You Seen Her is a tortuous, cunning mystery that takes you into the life of Cassie Peters, a young woman who, after fleeing a controlling marriage, finds herself back in Mammoth Lakes, California, working once again for the Yosemite Search and Rescue until the actions and behaviours of two random women trigger the past to collide with the present, long-buried secrets to finally be revealed, and the truth of what really happened on those fateful, tragic days ten years ago to finally come to light.
The prose is taut and gritty. The characters are vulnerable, ruthless, and impulsive. And the plot builds and unravels nicely into an intricate tale full of lies, deception, abuse, desperation, manipulation, coercion, troubled pasts, unusual friendships, scheming behaviours, violence, and murder.
Overall, Have You Seen Her had everything I’ve come to expect in a Catherine McKenzie novel and more. It’s a sophisticated, crafty, enthralling tale that, in my opinion, is a must-read for anyone who enjoys an exceptionally eerie, edgy thrill ride written by a great Canadian writer.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 30, 2023
Another great book from this author. Love all the twists that I really did not see coming
July 2, 2023
Dark secrets prevail in this awe dropping thriller with shocking twists and an incredible ending. Although a challenging read due to one of the main plots being domestic abuse, it also depicts how women, desperate to leave an abusive relationship feel hopeless, afraid to leave, who live in fear each day and will do just about anything if they can find a way out and survive. Even then, they are always looking to see if they are going to get caught.
Cassie Peters is on the move. She has left her life in New York and has hopefully erased herself so she will never be found. She is running from the one person she truly loved, but now is perilously afraid of, her husband.
She returns to her hometown of Mammoth Lakes in California where she had previously worked as a search and rescue team member at Yosemite years ago. She desperately needs a job even though the reason she had left the position years ago was because of a tragic search and rescue where someone died.
All she wants to do is blend in under her maiden name, forget what she has been through and think about what her next steps should be to hide forever. A daunting task.
But of course, things don’t go as she planned. When a couple, Jada and Jim post footage of a bear taking food from them chaos ensues at the park and this opens her up to a risk of being seen on social media.
She then meets a woman named Petal and her partner Sandy. Petal is keeping a diary because she would like to write a book someday about their adventures in camping. Petal, it seems has become a bit obsessed with the couple who posted the footage, Jada and Jim. She has a feeling Jim may be abusing Jada as when she first met Jada, she found her crying because she and Jim had a horrible argument.
Suddenly the couple goes missing while on a hike. Which is the same thing that happened all those years ago. As the search and rescue try to find them and the park becomes a circus of media attention, Petal disappears as well. Then a dead body is found, and Cassie’s world is thrown into turmoil. She becomes the prime suspect in the death. Just how did it all come to this? How will she survive? Just what happened to the missing campers?
Have You Seen Her is so captivating and surprising and gripping in so many ways. Because the reader becomes quite invested in the characters and their stories and backstories the shocking outcome will astonish them.
Thank you #NetGalley #AtriaBooks #CatherineMcKenzie #HaveYouSeenHer for the advanced copy.
Cassie Peters is on the move. She has left her life in New York and has hopefully erased herself so she will never be found. She is running from the one person she truly loved, but now is perilously afraid of, her husband.
She returns to her hometown of Mammoth Lakes in California where she had previously worked as a search and rescue team member at Yosemite years ago. She desperately needs a job even though the reason she had left the position years ago was because of a tragic search and rescue where someone died.
All she wants to do is blend in under her maiden name, forget what she has been through and think about what her next steps should be to hide forever. A daunting task.
But of course, things don’t go as she planned. When a couple, Jada and Jim post footage of a bear taking food from them chaos ensues at the park and this opens her up to a risk of being seen on social media.
She then meets a woman named Petal and her partner Sandy. Petal is keeping a diary because she would like to write a book someday about their adventures in camping. Petal, it seems has become a bit obsessed with the couple who posted the footage, Jada and Jim. She has a feeling Jim may be abusing Jada as when she first met Jada, she found her crying because she and Jim had a horrible argument.
Suddenly the couple goes missing while on a hike. Which is the same thing that happened all those years ago. As the search and rescue try to find them and the park becomes a circus of media attention, Petal disappears as well. Then a dead body is found, and Cassie’s world is thrown into turmoil. She becomes the prime suspect in the death. Just how did it all come to this? How will she survive? Just what happened to the missing campers?
Have You Seen Her is so captivating and surprising and gripping in so many ways. Because the reader becomes quite invested in the characters and their stories and backstories the shocking outcome will astonish them.
Thank you #NetGalley #AtriaBooks #CatherineMcKenzie #HaveYouSeenHer for the advanced copy.
October 15, 2022
Ahhhhhh this was amazing! Such a wild ride. I was so captivated by the setting and the SAR team details, and the mystery deepened with every page. I devoured this in one sitting and literally yelped out loud at one point!
June 20, 2023
This book begins with our main character, Cassie, leaving her abusive husband, Kevin. Cassie is a rock climber who once worked for the Yosemite National Park’s Search and Rescue Team (the SAR). After meeting Kevin, she started living in New York City and lost herself. She asks her old boss, Jenny, if she can come back to Yosemite for the summer. Not only will it give her money to live off of while figuring out what she wants her new life to be, but it will also keep her very secluded.
Cassie is welcomed back, and work begins. There is always someone twisting an ankle, wandering off course, or worse, and the season is busy. It becomes even more difficult when a couple of Instagrammers named Jada and Jim arrive. Jada has an encounter with a bear, and her reckless actions make her go viral. Soon after, the pair go missing, and it’s up to the SAR team to find them.
This complication sends Cassie spiraling, as the exact thing happened ten years prior. While working a rescue mission for a couple that had gone missing, she found the person she was looking for. Unfortunately, that person had succumbed to the elements and Cassie always felt that she was partly responsible for not finding her in time. Now, as her team is searching for Jada and Jim, she’s becoming defeated and worried that history is repeating itself.
This book started off slowly, but it did start to pick up as it went on - the synopsis (and my review) make this sound more like a mystery, but the ending completely blindsided me! This ended up being a mystery/thriller, that does deal heavily with domestic violence (there’s a reason Cassie left her husband to hide in the woods). This ended up being quite entertaining - a solid four stars!
(Thank you to Atria Books, Catherine McKenzie, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on June 27, 2023.)
Cassie is welcomed back, and work begins. There is always someone twisting an ankle, wandering off course, or worse, and the season is busy. It becomes even more difficult when a couple of Instagrammers named Jada and Jim arrive. Jada has an encounter with a bear, and her reckless actions make her go viral. Soon after, the pair go missing, and it’s up to the SAR team to find them.
This complication sends Cassie spiraling, as the exact thing happened ten years prior. While working a rescue mission for a couple that had gone missing, she found the person she was looking for. Unfortunately, that person had succumbed to the elements and Cassie always felt that she was partly responsible for not finding her in time. Now, as her team is searching for Jada and Jim, she’s becoming defeated and worried that history is repeating itself.
This book started off slowly, but it did start to pick up as it went on - the synopsis (and my review) make this sound more like a mystery, but the ending completely blindsided me! This ended up being a mystery/thriller, that does deal heavily with domestic violence (there’s a reason Cassie left her husband to hide in the woods). This ended up being quite entertaining - a solid four stars!
(Thank you to Atria Books, Catherine McKenzie, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on June 27, 2023.)
June 26, 2023
Cassie needs an escape, and there's no better place for that than the woods. It's to the woods she goes, then, to work in Search and Rescue. But Cassie has secrets—and so do the people around her.
I am always looking for hiking books. SAR books. Stuck-in-the-woods books. For reasons I cannot explain, I both want to spend all my time in the woods, not getting lost or being murdered by axemen, and also read a lot about people...uh...in the woods, sometimes getting lost or being murdered by axemen. Somehow these two desires have managed to coexist (peacefully, without axe-murder!) so far.
You can imagine, then, my pleasure at finding a mystery set almost entirely in a national park, with SAR work and hiking aplenty. (In another life, I want to be a backwoods ranger. In this life, I love reading about it, but there aren't all that many novels that fit the bill.) McKenzie has done her research here, and I love the details about hasty searches and the high proportion of callouts that don't amount to much. Cassie loves the work she's doing, but she's also aware that a lot of what goes wrong in national parks boils down to "people are really, really stupid sometimes".
Have You Seen Her moves quickly—I read the bulk of it on a three-hour flight, and the time (along with pages and plane, I guess) flew. I have mixed feelings about twists in general, and this book has a fairly significant one. On the one hand, I didn't see it coming (hurray); on the other hand, the mysteries that make me happiest are the ones in which things are as they seem, I'm afraid for the character throughout, and the narrator isn't hiding anything big from the reader. I'm afraid that any more I say will veer into spoiler territory, so I'll leave it at that, but this will be a better fit for those who want twisty and turny than for those who want something more straightforward. Still, a solidly satisfying read when I haven't been able to escape into the woods recently.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
I am always looking for hiking books. SAR books. Stuck-in-the-woods books. For reasons I cannot explain, I both want to spend all my time in the woods, not getting lost or being murdered by axemen, and also read a lot about people...uh...in the woods, sometimes getting lost or being murdered by axemen. Somehow these two desires have managed to coexist (peacefully, without axe-murder!) so far.
You can imagine, then, my pleasure at finding a mystery set almost entirely in a national park, with SAR work and hiking aplenty. (In another life, I want to be a backwoods ranger. In this life, I love reading about it, but there aren't all that many novels that fit the bill.) McKenzie has done her research here, and I love the details about hasty searches and the high proportion of callouts that don't amount to much. Cassie loves the work she's doing, but she's also aware that a lot of what goes wrong in national parks boils down to "people are really, really stupid sometimes".
Have You Seen Her moves quickly—I read the bulk of it on a three-hour flight, and the time (along with pages and plane, I guess) flew. I have mixed feelings about twists in general, and this book has a fairly significant one. On the one hand, I didn't see it coming (hurray); on the other hand, the mysteries that make me happiest are the ones in which things are as they seem, I'm afraid for the character throughout, and the narrator isn't hiding anything big from the reader. I'm afraid that any more I say will veer into spoiler territory, so I'll leave it at that, but this will be a better fit for those who want twisty and turny than for those who want something more straightforward. Still, a solidly satisfying read when I haven't been able to escape into the woods recently.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
June 20, 2023
1.5 stars
I am always looking for thrillers with unique plots, settings, or twists. I was excited to stumble upon Have You Seen Her and see that it is set at Yosemite National Park. In fact, I stopped reading the synopsis there, at the end of the first paragraph, and immediately requested a copy. I was excited to dive into this book largely blind and hoped for a unique thriller that I have not read a version of before.
Have You Seen Her is a mystery that centers on Cassie, a woman who recently fled New York, and is again working on Yosemite National Park’s search and rescue team when a woman goes missing in eerily similar circumstances to the last time Cassie was at the park.
You may have noticed that I did not call this book a thriller, because it should definitely not be called one. If anything, it is a very slow-burn mystery. For three-quarters of the novel, we learn about Cassie, her day-to-day experiences, and other women visiting the park.
I wish I could say that the suspense helped me push through the slow plot, but there was not much suspense despite the author’s many efforts. Other than some mysterious text messages, the majority of the book slowly unfurls the past that Cassie is running from and the circumstances around a previous rescue Cassie was involved ten years prior. These are the inherent mysteries of the novel until a woman goes missing. The ending felt like it came out of absolutely nowhere.
This book does have a number of positive early reviews, but I do not share that opinion. Many of those glowing reviews mention the “stunning reveal.” I think readers are so stunned because the reveal is so incongruous with the rest of the story. There is little build up to the revelation, and it comes out of nowhere because it was not inline with the character development. Other than this dropping of the veil, there were no twists and turns.
Besides this disjointed reveal, the book did not work for several reasons. The plot was largely uneventful and dull. The buildup to the main story took much too long, and when it occurred, it was not very satisfying, just odd. For a story about a search and rescue worker, I expected (and wanted) more action and excitement. I anticipated a novel that described what the rescues were like. Instead, readers are not told about them until after they occur, and no details are provided beyond that they happened. In addition, the nonlinear timeline is not executed well. While I was able to follow it, I think a lot of readers will find it confusing. All of the characters are pretty one-dimensional and difficult to become invested in. To add to all of that, there were a lot of incorrect technical details that the average person knows.
Overall, I was disappointed by Have You Seen Her. I think the ideas the novel is based on are solid, but the execution largely failed. I would only recommend this book if you like slow-burn mysteries and being hit with a twist that comes from out of nowhere.
Note: I received an e-ARC of this book from its publisher, Atria Books. Regardless, I always provide a fair and honest review.
I am always looking for thrillers with unique plots, settings, or twists. I was excited to stumble upon Have You Seen Her and see that it is set at Yosemite National Park. In fact, I stopped reading the synopsis there, at the end of the first paragraph, and immediately requested a copy. I was excited to dive into this book largely blind and hoped for a unique thriller that I have not read a version of before.
Have You Seen Her is a mystery that centers on Cassie, a woman who recently fled New York, and is again working on Yosemite National Park’s search and rescue team when a woman goes missing in eerily similar circumstances to the last time Cassie was at the park.
You may have noticed that I did not call this book a thriller, because it should definitely not be called one. If anything, it is a very slow-burn mystery. For three-quarters of the novel, we learn about Cassie, her day-to-day experiences, and other women visiting the park.
I wish I could say that the suspense helped me push through the slow plot, but there was not much suspense despite the author’s many efforts. Other than some mysterious text messages, the majority of the book slowly unfurls the past that Cassie is running from and the circumstances around a previous rescue Cassie was involved ten years prior. These are the inherent mysteries of the novel until a woman goes missing. The ending felt like it came out of absolutely nowhere.
This book does have a number of positive early reviews, but I do not share that opinion. Many of those glowing reviews mention the “stunning reveal.” I think readers are so stunned because the reveal is so incongruous with the rest of the story. There is little build up to the revelation, and it comes out of nowhere because it was not inline with the character development. Other than this dropping of the veil, there were no twists and turns.
Besides this disjointed reveal, the book did not work for several reasons. The plot was largely uneventful and dull. The buildup to the main story took much too long, and when it occurred, it was not very satisfying, just odd. For a story about a search and rescue worker, I expected (and wanted) more action and excitement. I anticipated a novel that described what the rescues were like. Instead, readers are not told about them until after they occur, and no details are provided beyond that they happened. In addition, the nonlinear timeline is not executed well. While I was able to follow it, I think a lot of readers will find it confusing. All of the characters are pretty one-dimensional and difficult to become invested in. To add to all of that, there were a lot of incorrect technical details that the average person knows.
Overall, I was disappointed by Have You Seen Her. I think the ideas the novel is based on are solid, but the execution largely failed. I would only recommend this book if you like slow-burn mysteries and being hit with a twist that comes from out of nowhere.
Note: I received an e-ARC of this book from its publisher, Atria Books. Regardless, I always provide a fair and honest review.
July 6, 2023
I was very underwhelmed by this one. It took me forever before I was really interested, honestly not sure why I kept reading and didn't dnf the book. I wasn't sure about Cassie, she was hiding something, you could tell. Turns out she was hiding so much past and present. It also felt like she was playing the people around her. She was, but not as much as others. When it was revealed that both Petal and Jada knew Cassie before hand and what they cooked up, I was both impressed and not. Their partners kinda deserved what happened to them, but it was the speech by Petal at the end that made me glad I wasn't on her radar, I think at her core she could be evil.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2023
First thank you so very much to Netgalley & Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was so beyond THRILLED that I got a copy of this! The scenery was great and I loved the premise. Unfortunately, I became very bored and didn't connect to any of the characters. I even had a hard time keeping up with the alternating timelines, with no sense of how much time was between then and now.
This one won't stop me from continuing to read McKenzie's books, but this one just wasn't for me.
I was so beyond THRILLED that I got a copy of this! The scenery was great and I loved the premise. Unfortunately, I became very bored and didn't connect to any of the characters. I even had a hard time keeping up with the alternating timelines, with no sense of how much time was between then and now.
This one won't stop me from continuing to read McKenzie's books, but this one just wasn't for me.
March 2, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the copy of Have You Seen Her by Catherine McKenzie. There was a lot more to the story than the description indicated, but the book started slowly, giving a lot of information about her life in the past with a few glimpses of the present. The two different timelines were confusing to me. I usually enjoy dual timeline books, but for some reason I couldn’t keep them straight until I was well into the book and even then I would have to check back to see if it was Then or Now. I’m still unsure how long ago Then was. The characters were well-written and I liked how they were distinctive and flawed. If you love a twisty ending, this is the book for you - the ending was completely unexpected and I want to read the book again to see what clues I missed. This was a good read, but it took too much work to understand the timelines.
May 14, 2023
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This book was ok. A bit of mystery but I prefer more twists and turns. There was a twist towards the end that I didn't see coming for sure. I didn't find it very suspenseful. It took me a bit to read because I wasn't very invested in the plot and its direction.
A few technical things that bugged me a little- you can't tell the number is blocked when they text you. If they've blocked you, they can't message you either. That didn't make sense to me. Also, you can totally see when someone has read your message on Instagram. On Twitter, people don't change their handles- they change profile pics, bios, and statuses.
This book was ok. A bit of mystery but I prefer more twists and turns. There was a twist towards the end that I didn't see coming for sure. I didn't find it very suspenseful. It took me a bit to read because I wasn't very invested in the plot and its direction.
A few technical things that bugged me a little- you can't tell the number is blocked when they text you. If they've blocked you, they can't message you either. That didn't make sense to me. Also, you can totally see when someone has read your message on Instagram. On Twitter, people don't change their handles- they change profile pics, bios, and statuses.
March 26, 2023
I’m so excited to be reviewing my first advanced copy—HUGE thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books!
Have You Seen Her by Catherine McKenzie is a fast-paced thriller that takes place in Yosemite. In an effort to escape her abusive husband, Cassie flees her old life to join the park’s search-and-rescue team, a job she once had years ago. Things start to get suspicious when a couple goes missing and the case is eerily similar to one she dealt with years before—plus, we learn that Cassie has some secrets of her own.
I really enjoyed this book! The national park setting was cool to read about and I enjoyed learning about the day-in-the-life of a SAR team. The dual timeline was a little tricky at first, but eventually smoothed itself out. This is a great read for anyone who loves the outdoors and a good thriller!
You can grab a copy of Have You Seen Her on June 27 ☺️
Have You Seen Her by Catherine McKenzie is a fast-paced thriller that takes place in Yosemite. In an effort to escape her abusive husband, Cassie flees her old life to join the park’s search-and-rescue team, a job she once had years ago. Things start to get suspicious when a couple goes missing and the case is eerily similar to one she dealt with years before—plus, we learn that Cassie has some secrets of her own.
I really enjoyed this book! The national park setting was cool to read about and I enjoyed learning about the day-in-the-life of a SAR team. The dual timeline was a little tricky at first, but eventually smoothed itself out. This is a great read for anyone who loves the outdoors and a good thriller!
You can grab a copy of Have You Seen Her on June 27 ☺️
June 17, 2023
Thank you Simon and Schuster for an earc of this book in exchange for my honest review
I loved this book. I finished it in one day because it got me so hooked. I wanted to know more, I wanted to unravel the mystery and I am so glad I did because I did not expect the plot twist. I almost wished the book was longer because some areas did feel rushed and I wanted more information. But otherwise this was a really good mystery book and I will definitely be checking out other books by this author
I loved this book. I finished it in one day because it got me so hooked. I wanted to know more, I wanted to unravel the mystery and I am so glad I did because I did not expect the plot twist. I almost wished the book was longer because some areas did feel rushed and I wanted more information. But otherwise this was a really good mystery book and I will definitely be checking out other books by this author
Displaying 1 - 30 of 951 reviews