Missing Clarissa
A Novel
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3.7 • 9 Ratings
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
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?
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In August 1999, a group of Oreville, Wash., high schoolers headed into the woods for an epic party. Among these students was beautiful white cheerleader Clarissa Campbell, who went missing after the event and was never seen again; her body was never found, and the mystery of her disappearance was never solved. Twenty years later, Oreville high school juniors Blair Johnson, who is white, and Cameron Munoz, who is Mexican American and white, develop a podcast investigating the cold case as a journalism class project. The two teens assemble a list of major players surrounding Clarissa's disappearance, including Clarissa's then-boyfriend and a retired Oreville high school teacher. Blair and Cam find that not only are the persons of interest still alive, but they all have something to hide. The pair conduct interviews for their podcast, Missing Clarissa, which swiftly catches fire. But as their notoriety grows and they unearth long-buried secrets, danger begins to loom. While the cold case and podcast premise tread familiar ground, debut author Jones weaves a credibly outlined mystery that teems with ample small-town intrigue. Carefully crafted surprises, fair-play clues, and a satisfying narrative payoff propel this gripping read. Ages 13–up.
