The Other Side of Disappearing Summary, Characters and Themes

The Other Side of Disappearing by Kate Clayborn is a heartfelt blend of mystery, family drama, and slow-burn romance. 

At its core, it’s the story of two sisters bound by love, loss, and secrets—particularly the shadow left by their reckless mother and a notorious con man named Lynton Baltimore. When the past resurfaces through a true crime podcast, Jess Greene must confront not only the truth about her family’s history but also her own fears about vulnerability, connection, and letting go. As she embarks on a cross-country search for answers, she discovers that sometimes the hardest truths are the ones closest to home.

Summary

Jess Greene has spent most of her adult life in survival mode, raising her younger half-sister Tegan after their mother, Charlotte, abandoned them over a decade ago. Charlotte left without a backward glance, running off with a man she barely knew—a man Jess quickly recognized as Lynton Baltimore, an infamous con artist whose elaborate schemes became the focus of a wildly popular true crime podcast, The Last Con of Lynton Baltimore.

Jess has always known the truth but buried it deep, determined to protect Tegan from the pain of their mother’s betrayal and the scandal tied to Baltimore’s name.

But secrets have a way of unraveling. Now seventeen, Tegan has started to piece together the puzzle herself. Armed with her own questions and the relentless curiosity of adolescence, she reaches out to Salem Durant, the sharp, unyielding host of the Baltimore podcast. 

Salem is determined to crack the case of Baltimore’s disappearance—after all, he vanished without a trace along with Charlotte years ago. Tegan’s message reignites Salem’s obsession, and soon she and her producer, Adam Hawkins, are on Jess’s doorstep, eager to follow any lead that might point them to Baltimore’s last con.

Jess’s first instinct is to shut it all down. 

She’s spent too long building a stable life for Tegan, one that doesn’t revolve around the mother who left them or the man who manipulated her. 

But Tegan is resolute—she wants answers, even if they hurt. Fearing for her sister’s safety and unable to let her face the past alone, Jess reluctantly agrees to join the road trip across the country, chasing shadows of Charlotte and Baltimore.

The journey is both literal and emotional. As the four of them—Jess, Tegan, Salem, and Adam—track down people from Baltimore’s past, they uncover more than just clues to his disappearance. Each stop reveals layers of deception, betrayal, and heartbreak left in his wake. 

They meet victims of his cons, former acquaintances, and even potential accomplices, piecing together a picture not just of a criminal, but of the woman who chose to disappear with him. For Jess, every revelation is a double-edged sword—one part catharsis, one part devastation.

Tensions run high between the sisters. Jess’s protective instincts clash with Tegan’s fierce independence, forcing them to confront uncomfortable truths about their relationship. 

Tegan isn’t the little girl Jess raised anymore; she’s growing up, searching for her own identity beyond Jess’s careful control. Their bond is tested, stretched thin by years of unspoken resentment, grief, and the fear of what they might find at the end of the road.

Amidst the emotional chaos, Jess finds an unexpected connection with Adam. Where Salem is brash and single-minded, Adam is quieter, more observant—someone who sees through Jess’s defenses without pushing too hard. Their relationship starts with wary banter, but slowly, Jess lets her guard down.

Adam understands the ache of abandonment; he carries his own emotional scars. Together, they navigate the fragile territory between vulnerability and fear, their slow-burn romance offering Jess a glimpse of something she hasn’t felt in years: hope.

The climax of their journey brings them face-to-face with Charlotte. The confrontation is raw and unfiltered, revealing that her connection to Baltimore was far more personal—and devastating—than Jess ever imagined. Charlotte isn’t just a woman who made bad choices; she’s someone whose own traumas twisted her into the kind of person who could leave her children behind. 

The encounter forces Jess and Tegan to reconcile with the fact that closure doesn’t always come with neat answers or apologies.

In the end, the story isn’t just about finding their mother or uncovering Baltimore’s fate. It’s about Jess learning to loosen her grip, to trust that Tegan can stand on her own. It’s about understanding that love isn’t measured by how tightly you hold on, but by the space you give someone to grow.

Jess embraces her feelings for Adam, realizing that vulnerability doesn’t make her weak—it makes her whole.

The Other Side of Disappearing is a story of family, forgiveness, and the courage it takes to face the past, even when it hurts. It’s about discovering that sometimes, the real mystery isn’t what happened to the people who left—it’s what happens to the ones who stayed.

Characters

Jess Greene

Jess Greene is a complex character shaped by the pain of abandonment and her fierce dedication to protecting her younger half-sister, Tegan. Raised by a mother who ran off with a conman, Jess has had to assume the role of both a caretaker and an emotional shield for Tegan, seeking to protect her from the mysteries surrounding their mother’s disappearance.

As the story progresses, Jess’s protective instincts are tested, particularly when Tegan decides to take matters into her own hands and search for answers about their mother. This decision forces Jess to confront her own emotional walls and fears, especially regarding vulnerability and trust.

Throughout the narrative, Jess’s journey is one of personal growth, as she learns to let go of control, allowing herself to embrace love and connection. Her evolving relationship with Adam Hawkins plays a significant role in this transformation.

The emotional trajectory of her character reveals someone who has long suppressed her own needs for intimacy and healing. Over time, she is able to open up to the possibility of both romantic and familial healing.

Tegan Greene

Tegan Greene is the younger half-sister of Jess and serves as the emotional catalyst for much of the plot. Unlike Jess, who has built her life around protecting their fragile stability, Tegan is a curious and independent teenager eager to unravel the truth about their mother’s disappearance.

Her decision to reach out to Salem Durant, a true crime podcaster obsessed with Lynton Baltimore, sets the story in motion and brings Tegan into conflict with Jess. Tegan’s character arc is one of maturation as she moves from a young woman yearning for answers into someone who must grapple with the emotional and ethical complexities of the search.

Her journey is about asserting her independence and finding her own path in life, which contrasts sharply with Jess’s attempt to keep her under a protective umbrella. As the narrative unfolds, Tegan also learns to reconcile with the scars left by her family, especially her mother’s abandonment.

Her relationship with Jess evolves as they navigate the deeper truths about their shared history. This development further deepens Tegan’s emotional growth throughout the story.

Adam Hawkins

Adam Hawkins is the producer accompanying Salem Durant on her journey to uncover the truth behind Lynton Baltimore’s last con. Initially, Adam is presented as a somewhat detached professional, focused on the investigative process and seemingly indifferent to the emotional drama surrounding the sisters.

However, as the story progresses, it becomes clear that Adam is not as emotionally distant as he initially appears. His interactions with Jess reveal a man with his own emotional baggage, someone who, like Jess, has built walls around himself to avoid vulnerability.

The evolving relationship between Adam and Jess is central to his character arc. As they work together, Adam begins to show more of his internal struggles and his own desires for connection.

His journey mirrors Jess’s in some ways, as both characters must confront their own capacity for intimacy, forgiveness, and healing. Adam’s relationship with Jess develops from professional detachment to a deep, emotionally charged bond.

This offers him a rare opportunity to break down his own barriers and experience emotional closeness. It is through this connection that Adam learns to engage with his own vulnerabilities.

Salem Durant

Salem Durant, the true crime podcaster, is a character who embodies the ethical dilemmas of modern journalism, particularly in the realm of true crime. Her obsession with Lynton Baltimore and his final con is what initially brings her into the lives of Jess and Tegan.

While Salem is driven by her need to uncover the truth, her role in the story raises important questions about the consequences of publicizing others’ traumas for the sake of a compelling narrative. She clashes with Jess over privacy concerns, often pushing boundaries in her quest for answers, which creates tension between the two women.

Salem’s motivations are not purely driven by a desire for fame or success; instead, her fixation on Baltimore and the story’s implications for Jess and Tegan suggests a deeper emotional investment. However, Salem’s own character arc is not as deeply explored as Jess’s or Tegan’s, but she does serve as a catalyst for their exploration of their past.

Through Salem’s character, the novel probes the ethics of storytelling and the emotional costs of seeking truth at any price. Her role underscores the tension between uncovering the truth and respecting personal boundaries.

Themes

The Complex Dynamics of Family, Abandonment, and Healing from the Trauma of Parental Neglect

At the heart of The Other Side of Disappearing is the profound exploration of family dynamics, particularly the way abandonment impacts both the immediate and extended relationships within a family. Jess Greene’s life is dominated by the shadow of her mother’s abandonment, as she takes on the role of caretaker and protector for her younger sister, Tegan.

The traumatic departure of their mother, who ran off with a conman, has left lasting scars that affect Jess’s emotional well-being and her relationship with Tegan. While Jess does everything in her power to shield Tegan from this pain, the underlying emotional turmoil they both carry remains unresolved.

Throughout the journey, the sisters confront the fractured pieces of their familial identity and are forced to confront the feelings of abandonment that have been buried for so long. The novel challenges the idea of unconditional love within family structures, showing how betrayal from a parent can redefine how siblings navigate their bond.

Healing is not just a matter of time, but rather the ability to confront uncomfortable truths and come to terms with their emotional scars. Through the shared process of uncovering their mother’s secrets, Jess and Tegan are pushed to redefine their relationship and find a path forward, one that acknowledges the deep wounds caused by abandonment while allowing space for growth and forgiveness.

The Tension Between Protection and Autonomy in the Sisterly Bond

The relationship between Jess and Tegan is central to the plot, capturing the struggle between protective instincts and the desire for independence. Jess, having stepped into the role of caretaker, has long considered herself the protector of Tegan, but as Tegan matures, their relationship becomes more strained.

Tegan’s desire to seek the truth about their mother’s disappearance represents a turning point in the narrative, as it challenges Jess’s long-held sense of responsibility and control. This push and pull between the sisters is emblematic of the larger themes of autonomy and the difficulty of letting go.

Jess’s instinct to shield Tegan from the potential pain of discovering the truth about their mother highlights her fear of losing control and being unable to protect her sister from the emotional devastation of the past. However, Tegan’s journey toward understanding her own identity and forging her path in the world necessitates breaking free from Jess’s protective grasp.

The evolution of their relationship underscores the tension between love and control, and the novel explores how, in the end, allowing Tegan to seek her answers becomes an essential step toward their mutual healing and growth.

The Ethical Dilemmas in True Crime Storytelling and the Cost of Exposing Personal Trauma

In The Other Side of Disappearing, the theme of truth versus privacy is examined through the lens of true crime journalism, particularly through the character of Salem Durant, a podcaster obsessed with unraveling the mysteries surrounding Lynton Baltimore. Salem’s pursuit of the story forces a confrontation with the ethical considerations of publicizing personal trauma.

The novel deftly questions whether the pursuit of truth in a sensationalized format—such as a true crime podcast—can justify the emotional cost it inflicts on the people involved, especially when those people are survivors of trauma like Jess and Tegan. Jess, in particular, is wary of the invasion of privacy that Salem’s work represents, as she feels that the search for answers could expose more harm than healing.

The story grapples with whether the ethical concerns of exploiting someone’s past for the sake of entertainment or storytelling outweighs the need to understand the truth, thus making it a powerful commentary on the role of the media in dissecting personal histories. It explores the blurred lines between journalistic integrity and emotional exploitation, asking whether uncovering painful truths can truly bring resolution or merely reopen old wounds.

The Struggle for Trust, Vulnerability, and Emotional Intimacy Amidst the Echoes of Past Betrayal

Trust and vulnerability are critical themes in the book, especially in the context of romantic and familial relationships. Jess’s emotional walls, built over years of guarding herself against further emotional harm, create a barrier that prevents her from connecting deeply with others, including Adam Hawkins, Salem’s colleague and the unexpected romantic interest in the story.

Jess’s history of abandonment and betrayal has made her wary of intimacy, both physical and emotional. Her journey of allowing herself to trust and be vulnerable with Adam represents a significant evolution in her character, as she begins to dismantle the walls she has constructed to protect herself from further heartbreak.

Adam, similarly, is a character who struggles with his own emotional baggage, and his relationship with Jess serves as a means of exploring how vulnerability and trust are earned, not given. Over time, the relationship evolves from a tentative connection to a deeper, more emotionally complex bond that allows Jess to embrace her need for connection.

The romance arc provides a poignant counterpoint to the darker themes of abandonment, showing how the ability to trust again is a form of personal healing that requires both risk and growth.

The Journey Toward Self-Discovery and Reclaiming One’s Identity Beyond Past Trauma

Throughout the novel, characters grapple with the notion of identity and the ways in which past traumas shape their sense of self. For Jess, her identity has long been tied to her role as a protector and caregiver for her sister, Tegan.

However, as the journey toward uncovering the truth about their mother progresses, Jess begins to confront the complexities of her own identity beyond the roles she has been forced to play. Similarly, Tegan’s quest for answers about their mother forces her to reevaluate her sense of self, as she navigates the emotional implications of uncovering family secrets and facing the harsh truths of their past.

In both cases, the characters’ journeys toward self-discovery are fraught with difficulty, as they must learn to redefine themselves on their own terms. The novel suggests that identity is not something fixed or solely defined by past experiences but is instead fluid and subject to change, particularly when characters are willing to face the truths of their past and let go of the burdens they’ve been carrying.

The evolution of their personal identities is tied directly to the healing process—only by embracing their vulnerabilities and accepting the complexities of who they are can they move beyond their trauma and step into a new chapter of their lives.

The Impact of Deception and Manipulation on Personal Relationships and the Search for Truth

A recurring theme in the book is the long-lasting impact of deception and manipulation, particularly through the character of Lynton Baltimore, the conman whose actions affect the lives of everyone involved. The deep-seated mistrust that Jess and Tegan experience stems not only from their mother’s abandonment but also from the manipulative tactics used by Baltimore to deceive and exploit those around him.

The characters’ investigation into Baltimore’s past reveals how his lies and cons have affected multiple lives, leaving a trail of emotional devastation in his wake. The novel explores how the need to uncover the truth about Baltimore and his connections to the family is not just about finding answers but also about confronting the larger issue of how lies and deceit have shaped their lives and their ability to trust others.

Through their search, Jess and Tegan confront not only the reality of their family’s past but also the emotional consequences of having been deceived by someone they trusted. This theme is central to the characters’ evolution, as they must grapple with the disillusionment that comes with uncovering the painful truth and the way deception has colored their relationships with each other and the outside world.