Disappearing EarthDisappearing Earth
Score Modern
What it's about
One August afternoon on the shore of Russia's remote Kamchatka peninsula, two sisters, aged eight and eleven, go missing. Over the following year, Julia Phillips tells the stories of the women of the community, each touched by the disappearance, in a suspenseful and haunting debut.
Why it's worth reading
It was a National Book Award finalist. It's an atmospheric, unusual mystery.
You'll love it if you liked
A Thousand Ships
Olive Kitteridge
The Snow ChildGood to know
Each chapter follows a different woman, almost like linked stories. It builds to a tense ending.
By the numbers
- Readers44 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller20 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz10 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #338 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #1053 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1946 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping
If you like this, read next
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI
Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators
East West Street
The Tattooist of Auschwitz
13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened in BenghaziExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Disappearing Earth worth reading?
Yes. It was a National Book Award finalist. It ranks #1,946 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 64.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Disappearing Earth about?
One August afternoon on the shore of Russia's remote Kamchatka peninsula, two sisters, aged eight and eleven, go missing. Over the following year, Julia Phillips tells the stories of the women of the community, each touched by the disappearance, in a suspenseful and haunting debut.
How long does it take to read Disappearing Earth?
About 11 hours (432 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Disappearing Earth?
If you liked it, try A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes, Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout or The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey.