Publication Date: 11th Sep 2025
Genre: Middle-Grade Mystery,
Fantasy
4.5 Stars
One Liner: Love it!
Fran doesn’t want to stay with
her uncle and aunt or their daughter, her annoying cousin Imogen. Doesn’t
matter if it is only for a week. However, even Fran doesn’t expect what she
sees. Imogen has disappeared, and no one remembers her, not even her parents or
her best friend, Bex!
Fran is not willing to let it
go. She will find out where Imogen is. But first, Fran has to determine what
the hidden garden on the Stillness Estate has to do with it.
The story comes in the
first-person POV of Fran, the third-person POV of Imogen and Bex, and the
third-person POV of another character.
My Thoughts:
Nosy Crow is fast becoming a
favorite middle-grade publisher. Their books are short, quick, and
entertaining! This one is no different.
It has short chapters, 2-3
pages each, and maintains a wonderful tempo. I finished the entire book in a
single sitting. Also, the cover is apt for the book.
The storytelling stands out
here. We get the story in different POVs and a dual timeline narrative. That
ensures that we can know what has happened and see how it affects the present.
This also prevents the need for an info dump at a later stage and keeps the
reader hooked.
Though Fran is the
protagonist, she is not the only main character. Imogen and Bex also play major
roles. I like that Imogen gets a third-person POV while Fran has the
first-person (since her narration is a bit more). Kids will not be confused
about whose story they are reading.
Moreover, the three girls are
distinct from each other. They are layered while still being kids. Neither of
them is perfect. They learn, they change, and they grow – all without making
the story preachy or boring.
The actual mystery surrounding the disappearance is really intriguing. I wish we had more details about the thing, but kids will enjoy the plot as it is. There’s
adventure, suspense, and danger.
The ending feels a bit abrupt,
but I can see why it ended that way. It’s perfect for the plot.
After asking for
illustrations, I did get one in this book. The first page of each chapter has
the illustration of an element from the cover. I won’t mind more, though!
To summarize, The Strange
Disappearance of Imogen Good is a wonderful blend of fantasy, mystery, a bit of
adventure, danger, and kids who learn to look beyond appearances.
Thank you, NetGalley and Nosy
Crow, for the eARC.
#NetGalley
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