Disclaimer: I received this arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: The Temple House Vanishing

Author: Rachel Donohue

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 4/5

Recommended For...: Mystery lovers

Genre: Mystery

Publication Date: February 6, 2020

Publisher: Algonquin Publisher

Pages: 336

Recommended Age: 16+ (sexual content, TW suicide, slight gore, child abuse TW)

Explanation of CWs: Suicide at the beginning of the novel and child abuse is present throughout the novel.

Synopsis: Twenty-five years ago, a sixteen-year-old schoolgirl and her charismatic teacher disappeared without trace...

In an elite Catholic girls' boarding-school the pupils live under the repressive, watchful gaze of the nuns. Seeking to break from the cloistered atmosphere two of the students - Louisa and Victoria - quickly become infatuated with their young, bohemian art teacher, and act out passionately as a result. That is, until he and Louisa suddenly disappear.

Years later, a journalist uncovers the troubled past of the school and determines to resolve the mystery of the missing pair. The search for the truth will uncover a tragic, mercurial tale of suppressed desire and long-buried secrets. It will shatter lives and lay a lost soul to rest.

The Temple House Vanishing is a stunning, intensely atmospheric novel of unrequited longing, dark obsession and uneasy consequences.

Review: This book was pretty good. I liked the plot and I thought the writing was well done. I also liked the character development overall.

However, I did think that the opening was rather off-putting. It was really similar to other books like it. I also felt like the world building wasn't as well done as possible. The pacing was also a little too slow for me.

Verdict: It was great!