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Gillian McAllister

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How to Disappear: The gripping psychological thriller with an ending that will take your breath away Kindle Edition

by Gillian McAllister (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

6,040 ratings

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The gripping Sunday Times bestseller that will have you on the edge of your seat until the very last page

'A relentless drumroll of suspense . . . ranks among the best psychological-suspense thrillers of recent years' A. J. Finn

'My heart was in my mouth whilst reading' 5***** Reader Review
__________

You can run, you can hide, but can you ever really disappear? . . .

Lauren's daughter Zara witnessed a terrible crime. But speaking up comes with a price, and when Zara's identity is revealed online, it puts a target on her back.

The only choice is to disappear.

From their family, their friends, even from Lauren's husband.

No goodbyes. Just new names, new home, new lives.

One mistake - a text, an Instagram like - could bring their old lives crashing into the new.

As Lauren will learn, disappearing is easy.

Staying hidden is much harder . . .
__________

'Bravo! How to Disappear is undoubtedly her best yet. Gripping and emotional - a cracking read' Clare Mackintosh

'Totally addictive, with twists that repeatedly pulled the rug from under my feet' Erin Kelly

'This book will take you on a whirlwind of emotions' 5***** Reader Review

'Tense and unpredictable. I couldn't put it down' Claire Douglas

'I read most of this with an anxious, twisty feeling in my stomach and there was a tear-filled moment' 5***** Reader Review

'If Jodi Picoult wrote psychological thrillers, they would look like this. A compulsive read with a jaw-dropping twist, I read it in a day' Rosamund Lupton

'I have never been as emotionally manipulated by a book as much as this one' 5***** Reader Review

'An intricate and spellbinding exploration of the devastating ripples that spread from a terrible crime' Holly Seddon

From the Publisher

	Everything but the Truth	Anything You Do Say	No Further Questions	The Evidence Against You	That Night	Wrong Place, Wrong Time

Customer Reviews	2,041	4,028	3,379	2,756	14,497	46,629
Price	£9.19	£10.11	£10.11	£10.11	£9.19	£3.69
Gripping	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Thrilling	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Twists you'll never see coming . . .	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓

Product description

Review

Totally addictive: clever, convincing and ingeniously plotted with twists that repeatedly pulled the rug from under my feet. But more than that, How to Disappear is peopled with characters so real and relatable you feel you could reach out and touch them. Any crime writer can keep you turning the pages - but few can make you care this much. -- Erin Kelly

High tension, believable characters and a terrific plot. A truly riveting read -- Lesley Kara

This intricately plotted drama is a masterclass in taut, twisty but beautiful writing ― Sun

Ingeniously constructed, with real flesh-and-blood characters and cliff-hanging suspense

A clever and original thriller with a brilliant ending. Beautifully written and emotional as well as tense and unpredictable, I couldn't put it down. -- Claire Douglas

Utterly compelling, addictive and gripping; the best psychological thriller I've read this year -- Lucy Clarke

Brilliantly written

The author's best book yet ― Prima

Tense, compelling, with a clever grand reveal ― Daily Mail

As tense as a piano string ― Sunday Times

Bravo! How to Disappear is undoubtedly her best yet. Gripping and emotional - a cracking read. -- Clare Mackintosh

An exceptional debut

If Jodi Picoult wrote psychological thrillers, they would look like this. A compulsive read with a jaw-dropping twist, I read it in a day -- Rosamund Lupton

A highly original novel about witness protection that is tense and compelling with a great ending. Her best yet! -- Mark Edwards

Included in 'Book Club' ― Woman's Weekly

At its core, this tense page-turner is a deeply original love story, and its characters are so warm and real that they stole my heart. I was absolutely gripped by Lauren, Aidan and Zara's story - rarely have I read a novel so fast. -- Beth O'Leary

I read How to Disappear with my heart in my mouth. Beautiful, layered, suffocating, with an impossible love story at its heart. -- Lia Louis

This book explores just how brutal witness protection can be, and the choices people involved must make ― Woman's Own

This intricately plotted drama is a masterclass in taut, twisty but beautiful writing ― Fabulous

Included in 'The Hottest Summer Reads' ― Cosmopolitan

Some thrillers stage a few moments of high anxiety (at best); more thrillers simply sprinkle jitters here and there, like piano ditties peppered lightly with minor chords. ButHow to Disappear is a relentless drumroll of suspense, a knife-edge novel in which - at any moment, with any word, in the spaces between words - the characters can drop into danger as though falling through a trapdoor. They aren't safe for even an instant . . . and neither is the reader who cares about them (and who couldn't?). Gillian McAllister's rattling, deeply satisfying book ranks among the best psychological-suspense thrillers of recent years, but you'll be reminded too of Jodi Picoult, Liane Moriarty, Celeste Ng's Little Fires Everywhere. Bloody hell, this is a good one. -- A. J. Finn

A clever, compulsive, cat-and-mouse family thriller that made my heart race. Never ever, would I want to go into a witness protection programme after this. Absolutely brilliant -- Jane Corry

A totally gripping and heart-wrenching story that leaves you breathless. Her best book yet, and that's saying something -- Jane Fallon

An exceptional thriller with a thumping, emotional heart ― Heat

Addictive, clever, twisty ― Sun

My goodness, it's brilliant. The ending blew me away! A superb, tense and thrilling ride. I admit I stayed up far too late to finish it, but it was so worth it -- Melanie Golding

Gillian McAllister has done it again. How to Disappear is a captivating story with unforgettable characters. This is one you can't put down and you won't soon forget -- Samantha Downing

I was blown away. Being forced to consider the reality of life under witness protection, of family members having to make impossible, brutal choices, was heartbreaking. I think it will resonate with many people. It's an outstanding and utterly gripping novel that deserves to be a bestseller -- Emma Curtis

A rollercoaster that will leave you gasping and turning the pages for more ― Refinery29

Tense and brilliant. If anyone's found expired with a copy of it lying next to them, it'll be because they flat-out forgot to breathe. This is her best book yet -- Jill Mansell

Gripping, cleverly-constructed, and heart-wrenching. Truly original

One of the best courtroom dramas I've ever read

Intelligent. Compulsive. Heart-wrenching. Unforgettable

I loved this gripping and thought-provoking read

Another brilliant psychological thriller from Gillian McAllister ― Hello!

I read it in a breathless day and a half. I loved every page

I couldn't look away from this intricate and spellbinding exploration of the devastating ripples that spread from a terrible crime. The desperate and dangerous slippery slope that one family finds themselves on is as gut punching as it is believable. Whip smart and wonderfully written. -- Holly Seddon

If you read one book this year, make it this one -- Adam Croft

A thrilling mystery with a strong emotional heart ― Woman & Home

Praise for Gillian McAllister ― -

Kept me glued to every page ― Good Housekeeping

Intense, utterly believable and at times shocking, it will make you see the world - even one in confinement - through new eyes ― WI Life

McAllister ratchets up the tension to excellent effect in this addictive page-turner ― Connaught Telegraph

Tense, twisty and perfectly paced, How To Disappear is a compelling portrait of a family under unbearable pressure - where one false step invites disaster into all their lives -- T. M. Logan

About the Author

Gillian McAllister is the Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author of eight stand-alone novels. Her books have been selected for the Radio 2 Book Club, Reese's Book Club, the Richard & Judy Book Club, and is published in thirty-six languages.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B081RGBQVC
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin (9 July 2020)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 6.1 MB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 453 pages
Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1405942428

Best Sellers Rank: 14,442 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- 70 in Political Fiction (Books)
- 86 in Political Fiction (Kindle Store)
- 118 in Political Thrillers (Books)

Customer reviews:
6,040 ratings

About the author

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Gillian McAllister

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Hello there!

As you find me, it's winter 2025 and my new novel is Famous Last Words, a thriller with a marriage at its centre. It asks the question: what would you do if your husband is caught up in a siege in central London? Only, the police tell you he isn't one of the hostages: he is the gunman... I hope you like the answer!

As to me, otherwise, I am the author of these novels:

Everything But The Truth (2017)

Anything You Do Say (2018) called The Choice in America

No Further Questions (2018) called The Good Sister in America

The Evidence Against You (2019)

How To Disappear (2020)

That Night (2021)

Wrong Place Wrong Time (2022)

Just Another Missing Person (2023)

Famous Last Words (2025)

My most popular novel is probably Wrong Place Wrong Time, which was selected for the Radio 2 book club and was the Reese's Book Club August '22 pick. It debuted at number 4 on the Sunday Times Bestseller List and number 2 on the New York Times Bestseller List.

When not writing (which is basically never), I can be found walking my dog Wendy and parenting my small toddler. The best moments of my day always are the first sip of my coffee, the moment I step into the bath at night, and my son telling me he loves me. And that rare thing that happens only once a year - a novel idea.

Customer reviews

6,040 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this psychological thriller to be a brilliant read with a genuine roller-coaster of an ending and lots of twists and turns. The characters are very believable, and the writing is well-executed, with one customer noting how the author skillfully describes feelings. Customers describe the book as emotionally charged and thought-provoking, with one review mentioning how it made them cry. The pacing receives mixed reactions - while some find the pace fantastic, others note a slow start.

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Plot Readability Character development Writing quality Emotional content Thought provoking Witness protection Pacing

138 customers mention ‘Plot’116 positive22 negative

Customers enjoy the plot of the book, describing it as a compelling thriller with lots of twists and turns that builds suspense.

"...Gillian Mc is brilliant at thinking up great story lines and placing her characters in impossible situations, so the reader is like 'Oh my GOD!..." Read more

"...All I will say is that this book is heartbreaking and shocking and I howled my eyes out whilst reading it...." Read more

"...There is so much going on; so many sun-plots that all add to such a rich storyline with lovely characters...." Read more

"...This, for me, is one of those books that just works. It's a thriller and a love story at the same time. It's fast-paced, yet gut-wrenching...." Read more

136 customers mention ‘Readability’136 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a brilliant and compulsive read that they relished every page, making it one of their favorite books of the year.

"...n't shine for me at the beginning, but once it got going, it played out like a film and I read it in one day...." Read more

"...What would I do in that situation?'' I liked the 2 girls ...very believable ...." Read more

"...How to Disappear is a stunning book, full of carefully crafted characters and a plot that will shock you with its emotional intensity and make you..." Read more

"Good psychological book" Read more

46 customers mention ‘Character development’37 positive9 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, noting that the characters are very believable and fully rounded, with one customer highlighting the moral dilemma faced by the main protagonists.

"...Good set of relatable characters and a very realistic portrayal of the catastrophic effects of social media and the internet, and how entitlement,..." Read more

"...is brilliant at thinking up great story lines and placing her characters in impossible situations, so the reader is like 'Oh my GOD!..." Read more

"...How to Disappear is a stunning book, full of carefully crafted characters and a plot that will shock you with its emotional intensity and make you..." Read more

"...on; so many sun-plots that all add to such a rich storyline with lovely characters...." Read more

36 customers mention ‘Writing quality’36 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, describing it as well-written and readable, with one customer noting the convincing character development.

"...Read it in 5 days which is fast for me. Very good, clever plot, well thought out...." Read more

"...I gave it three stars as it was readable enough to keep the pages turning...." Read more

"...point in querying how factually correct this book is when it's written this well, and made me think and feel the way it did...." Read more

"...This book is an easy read but not a patch on Wrong place wrong time... As you can tell I loved that one 🫶..." Read more

32 customers mention ‘Emotional content’32 positive0 negative

Customers find the book emotionally charged, with one mentioning feeling their heart in their mouth while reading, and another noting how it made them cry.

"...the internet, and how entitlement, small actions and hearsay can bring devastating effects...." Read more

"...crafted characters and a plot that will shock you with its emotional intensity and make you think about how you would react if you were in the same..." Read more

"...It's a thriller and a love story at the same time. It's fast-paced, yet gut-wrenching...." Read more

"...This book will take you on a whirlwind of emotions, and I don’t think I’ll be forgetting about it any time soon...." Read more

23 customers mention ‘Thought provoking’19 positive4 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking and innovative, with one customer noting it held their interest from start to finish.

"Gillian McAllister just keeps getting better and better!..." Read more

"...It had me totally engrossed to the point where I felt I was actually expriencing events first hand...." Read more

"...It made move my teaching of classes and it made me long for more from this clever author. I couldn’t have loved it more." Read more

"I really enjoyed this book, it was very thought provoking and even though you hear of witness protection you never really think of what that entails..." Read more

8 customers mention ‘Witness protection’8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's portrayal of witness protection, with one customer highlighting the complications involved in the process.

"...So the plot revolves around witness protection...." Read more

"...The story centres around witness protection and how those protected are the engineers of their discovery...." Read more

"...This book was about a subject that has always fascinated me, witness protection...." Read more

"Could not put this book down it was riveting and gave good insight into the witness protection scheme and how difficult it must be for all involved...." Read more

35 customers mention ‘Pacing’23 positive12 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some finding it fantastic and keeping them hooked throughout, while others note a long slow start and slow drawn-out plot.

"...Which is a shame because it started out so well, and with the author with a background in law how can it miss? Well, quite spectacularly it seems...." Read more

"...Sometimes, this dragged a little and I wanted things to move on...." Read more

"...It's a thriller and a love story at the same time. It's fast-paced, yet gut-wrenching...." Read more

"...It seems to move quickly as we read on to find out what is happening to all the characters at the same time, but in different circumstances...." Read more

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Kerry B
Great Story. Interesting, Different, and Current.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 February 2025
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The story didn't shine for me at the beginning, but once it got going, it played out like a film and I read it in one day. Good set of relatable characters and a very realistic portrayal of the catastrophic effects of social media and the internet, and how entitlement, small actions and hearsay can bring devastating effects. Would definitely recommend this book to readers of thrillers and social crime.

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Dee
A good read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 July 2020
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I was slightly disappointed in this book after all the comments on the cover...but first I'll say what I liked. Read it in 5 days which is fast for me. Very good, clever plot, well thought out. Gillian Mc is brilliant at thinking up great story lines and placing her characters in impossible situations, so the reader is like 'Oh my GOD! How can they cope with that? What would I do in that situation?''
I liked the 2 girls ...very believable . BUT Lauren got on my nerves or rather the author did when she went on and on about how much Lauren missed her husband ...I was like okay, I get it...move on...There was too much of it. Also, how could Lauren and Aiden be so stupid ...Ridiculous. BUT I liked the bit in York and thought Zara was very well portrayed and Poppy too. I loved the twist at the end...clever, but poor Aiden and Poppy who had to wait for the truth in agony of soul...(don't want to say too much but all I can say is I was so disappointed in the ending at first, but then it swung round - very clever)
so, I was swithering between 3 and 4 stars for this book, because as well as parts of it being beyond credible, I hated the amount of swearing. Way too much of it and it spoiled it because I don't expect it in G.As books. But overall an enjoyable read, so 4 stars it is.

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15 people found this helpful

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Jojomaman
Buy it now! What a book!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 July 2020
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I have been waiting 18 very long months for this book and have to start by saying that How to Disappear is one of the best books that I’ve read this year. Gillian McAllister is always a “go-to” author for me as she’s a writer who always seems to bring out hidden emotions in me. I can always find her writing seems to speak to me personally and I can always find something to relate to, making her one of a very short list of writers who’s books I will automatically order without even reading a blurb. Her books speak to me, reaching out to comfort or inspire, evoking feelings and responses to the perfectly pitched fictional scenarios. How to Disappear is a stunning book, full of carefully crafted characters and a plot that will shock you with its emotional intensity and make you think about how you would react if you were in the same awful situation as her characters. Because, believe me, the everyday decisions that we have to make are reflected back at us from this storyline and it prompts the question…”what would you do?”

I’ve always been curious about witness protection programmes and how they work, especially about whether or not anyone is ever found and how hard is it to just disappear? Would you tell the truth and testify against someone you know is a criminal if it meant that you had to leave the life you know and start again, often leaving behind those you love, never knowing when or even if you will see them again. That’s what happens to Zara and her mother Lauren after she witnessed a heinous crime. And that’s all I want to say about the plot as you need to read this with no preconceived ideas! All I will say is that this book is heartbreaking and shocking and I howled my eyes out whilst reading it.

How to Disappear is a contender for my book of 2020.

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32 people found this helpful

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katherine
great
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 April 2025
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Good psychological book

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Swotty Girl
Not A Psychological Thriller
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 February 2021
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If you are - like I was - intrigued by the idea of a thriller set around the world of Witness Protection, then stop. Do not buy this book. It's not a psychological thriller, even to call it a crime novel is pushing that definition to its logical extreme.

This is Women's Fiction, with a crime sub-plot hooked on to it. And the plot moves from daft to ridiculous.

Which is a shame because it started out so well, and with the author with a background in law how can it miss? Well, quite spectacularly it seems. I never really bought the idea that the police would place Zara under witness protection for reasons outlined by the author. Then Aidan's whole sub-plot of going undercover just made it worse - which by the way no police officer would ever encourage.

The characters of Lauren and Zara are dire. Lauren is whiny and frequently does things which make her Too Stupid To Live (I've been to London, it's dirty, overcrowded, the only thing going for it is its museums and galleries). Zara's character isn't logical swinging dramatically between bookish daughter to a stroppy, rebellious teenager. The third act revelation was unconvincing too.

As for the big 'twist' at the end, well it really wasn't. It was cliched and made me cringe (and made me wonder if the author didn't know how to end the book).

The antagonists are pretty faceless and unscary in my opinion. The book would have worked better if perhaps the POVs of Zara and Poppy were removed and one given to Luke. Anyone who has experience of football fans (I live near Newcastle) know its a religion to people and take it VERY seriously.

I gave it three stars as it was readable enough to keep the pages turning. However, it is being lauded as a fast-paced psychological thriller, when it spends more time on the love story of Lauren and Aiden. The thriller elements are weak and don't come to a satisfying conclusion. If you're looking for a light beach read, not particularly gritty then this could be for you. If you want a crime/thriller there are better, meatier books.

One last plea, London is not the capital of the world (or even England's best city).

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Emmanuel Read
un livre qui vous tient en haleine pat des descriptions et une dramaturgie efficaces
Reviewed in France on 21 April 2025
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Excellent plongeon dans l'univers angoissant d'une femme qui DOIT disparaître. Un thriller précis et passionnant

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Kindle Customer
An amazing story
Reviewed in Germany on 23 April 2021
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I absolutely loved this story, loved every bit of it!

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Kate
It escalates quite quickly towards the end with a surprisingly sad conclusion
Reviewed in Australia on 11 July 2023
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Great storyline, very different, and reading the authors notes at the end, it was obviously challenging as she couldn't research as much as she'd have liked.

Slow in places and repetitive, but the plot flows well.
Zara and Lauren have to go into protective custody, cutting all ties, including with her stepsister Poppy and stepdad Aidan.

Zara and Lauren struggle with their new identities and their very different surroundings, both desperate to talk to someone they turn away from each other, instead pulling in different directions.

Zara, a normally quiet, well-behaved teen, becomes rebellious and rude due to the security service constraints. Her mum is battling her own demons, and having always relied heavily on her husband, Aidan is facing the new challenges alone.

The gang seem a bit weak, their revenge a bit over the top, but it gives the story its narrative.

The gang targets Zara's step sister Poppy, the gang thinking Poppy knows where Zara is.

It escalates quite quickly towards the end with a surprisingly sad conclusion

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Cliente Kindle
Great book
Reviewed in Italy on 9 May 2024
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Keeps you hooked

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o_bozeman
Couldn’t put it down!
Reviewed in the United States on 18 October 2023
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I read this for a book club I’m in, and I absolutely could not put it down!!! It had me on the edge of my seat until the very last page.

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How to Disappear: The gripping psychological thriller with an ending that will take your breath away Kindle Edition

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Top reviews from United Kingdom

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5.0 out of 5 stars Great Story. Interesting, Different, and Current.

4.0 out of 5 stars A good read

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy it now! What a book!

5.0 out of 5 stars great

3.0 out of 5 stars Not A Psychological Thriller

Top reviews from other countries

5.0 out of 5 stars un livre qui vous tient en haleine pat des descriptions et une dramaturgie efficaces

5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing story

5.0 out of 5 stars It escalates quite quickly towards the end with a surprisingly sad conclusion

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book

5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn’t put it down!

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Great Story. Interesting, Different, and Current.

A good read

Buy it now! What a book!

great

Not A Psychological Thriller

un livre qui vous tient en haleine pat des descriptions et une dramaturgie efficaces

An amazing story

It escalates quite quickly towards the end with a surprisingly sad conclusion

Great book

Couldn’t put it down!