Missing Clarissa

A Novel

By: Ripley Jones

Narrated by: Allen Winter, Atlanta Amado Foresyth, Inés del Castillo, Kimberly M. Wetherell, Raymond J. Lee

"This YA thriller features a podcast production with music and a full cast complementing evocative narration by Inés del Castillo."—AudioFile

This program is read by Inés del Castillo and a full cast and features a podcast with special sound design.

Perfect for fans of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, Ripley Jones's Missing Clarissa is a gripping novel about two friends who start a true crime podcast—with dangerous consequences.

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

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

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

A Macmillan Audio production from Wednesday Books.

©2023 Ripley Jones (P)2023 Macmillan Audio

this book needs to be a series

I enjoyed this book. it had me engaged from the beginning. I love the friendship between the two girls, Cam and Blair.
they had a great podcast, I can see this being a series where they keep the podcast and keep solving murders unsolved around their town or surrounding.
but all in all great book, wonderful mystery. well written

Meh

I always love the podcast idea and i think they did a great job. But yeah it’s just kinda meh nothing special about it. Also predictable.

Great narration!

Really fun mystery and excellent narration. Narrator really puts you inside of each character’s head.

It Was Alright

Overall the story is good and it tells a good story.
Cam has to be the most annoying character I’ve ever met in a book and I think everyone around her is way to forgiving of her bratty and impulsive nature. It all ends well, a little climatic for the over all story and voice but it was okay.

Main character’s voice was annoying

Cam’s voice and manner of speaking took much away from a fairly good story. The other voices were fine.

Just okay

I was confused when the other reviews said there was a political narrative being pushed, until they got to it about 2 hours in. I didn’t love the narration, and it was just not that engaging.

Predictable

Narration was really good. The story was predictable and cheesy at times. The political push was obnoxious honestly.

Lots of Political Agenda

The story itself is good. I enjoyed the tie-in to podcasts, and Cam's lack of filter was funny in places. The author did a good job of providing likable (but sometimes frustrating) characters. The downside is that there were strong political views woven throughout the book, even to the point of being preachy at times. That's fine if you're prepared for it, but the synopsis gave no indication of it. If you're in the mood for escapism and would like a few hours to avoid politics, maybe give this one a miss. If you're not prepared for it, it can distract from the story.

Would have been a five.

I am a sucker for town mystery and teen sleuth genre. It was well written and the narration was on point. But what really turned me off was the heavy political monologue that popped up here and there. I am all for inclusion of your own beliefs. But this one lacked any openness for differing opinions and complete arrogance and immaturity. Helping someone see your side never includes forcing it down their throat.