Book: The Vanishing Child
Author: Jennifer Harvey
Pub Day: August 26th 2021
My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
About The Book
It’s funny how one innocent decision can ruin your life. For me it was letting my son pedal away on his bike that hot summer day. He’d been so excited to go out by himself—like a big boy. And though I was usually so protective, I let him…
When Carla returns to her father’s house to care for him in his final days, she feels lost and heartbroken. So she’s glad when she meets a kindly older woman named CeCe, and they develop a warm, natural friendship. CeCe understands loss too. Because nearly forty years before her only son disappeared without trace, from this same small town.
Then, sorting through her father’s house, Carla discovers a box of diaries and newspaper clippings from the year CeCe’s son went missing. Her father was barely more than a child himself at the time, but it’s clear the disappearance affected him strongly.
The whole town is haunted by the memory of that summer: of the boy who was never found. But as Carla delves further into her father’s past she realises he may actually have known more than he has ever said—and that perhaps the answers CeCe so desperately seeks have been hidden here in this house all along.
With her father now too ill to tell his story himself, will Carla be able to discover the truth about what happened to the child who vanished—and give CeCe the answers she’s been seeking for forty years?
A heart-wrenching and emotionally charged novel about small-town secrets and the price of facing up to the truth. Fans of Liane Moriarty, Nicole Trope and The Silent Daughter will be gripped from the very first page until the final, heart-stopping twist.
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'The Vanishing Child' by Jennifer Harvey.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Jennifer Harvey, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 26th August 2021.
This is the first book I have read by this author.
I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that 'Fans of Liane Moriarty, Nicole Trope and The Silent Daughter will be gripped from the very first page until the final, heart-stopping twist.' I am a huge fan of Nicole Trope so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of a prologue, 29 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in Little Challam which is a fictional village in the UK 🇬🇧. This book is based in Devon, UK 🇬🇧 . I always enjoy when books are set in the UK as I'm from Wales and have sometimes visited areas mentioned in the book. This makes it easier to picture where the scenes are set at times.
This book is written in first person perspective and the main protagonists are Carla, Danny and Jonathan. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them.
'The Vanishing Child' discusses some topics that may trigger some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Jennifer discusses/includes distress and murder of children.
It is set over/includes multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.
This book is well written with vivid descriptions that really puts the reader in the story. The cover and synopsis suit the storyline perfectly.
The first thing I must say is that this book wins the award for most gripping first pages!!! I don't think I have ever read such a suspense filled, disturbing and horrifying prologue EVER. After I read that I couldn't leave it there and had to keep going. The storyline itself is quite unique and definitely intriguing. It is filled with tension and suspense but is also more of a slow burner. It takes you through Carla discovering things piece by piece and slowly putting things together to find out what happened to 2 children who were murdered and one who went missing but was never found. It is a mother's worse nightmare and as a mum myself the prologue almost had me in tears!! There are some parts that I found really difficult to read as they were so heartbreaking so be warned you may need the tissues out and also that it may trigger anyone who has suffered with the loss of a child. The storyline is filled with heartbreak, tension and suspense. However, I cannot say I was completely shocked when the truth was discovered which is a shame. I didn't get it 100% right and I led to the conclusions that I belive Jennifer wants to lead her readers but I think that in doing thay when the mystery is solved it doesn't come as a complete shock either. I won't say anymore than that as I don't want to spoil the storyline for future readers.
The characters were realistic and strong and I really did feel for CiCi and I also think that it took quite a lot of strength for Carla to continue to dig into the mystery. I was left wondering if she regretted finding the box which she admitted to on several occasions during the mystery solving process but I'm unsure if she still felt that way after. However, either way I really liked her character and I think that all the characters were quite well developed.
Overall an absolutely heartbreaking slow burning suspense that will keep you on edge throughout.
Genres covered in this book include Suspense, Mystery and Thriller amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Nicole Trope and anyone looking for a tension filled mystery.
272 pages.
This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 4 /5 (I enjoyed it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
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@JenniferHarvey @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86
Author Bio
Jennifer Harvey is a Scottish writer now living in Amsterdam.
Her short fiction has appeared in various publications in the US, Canada, and the UK and she has been shortlisted for the Bristol Prize, the Bridport Prize and placed third in the University of Sunderland Short Story Award. Her novels have been longlisted for the Bath Novel Award and her radio dramas have also won prizes and commendations from the BBC World Service.
Alongside writing, she is a Resident Reader for Carve Magazine, an editor for Carve Critiques, and serves as a member of the Editorial Board for Ellipsis Magazine. When not writing, she can be found sauntering along the Amsterdam canals, dreaming up new stories.
Social Media
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JenAnneHarvey1
Website: https://www.jenharvey.net/
Buy Links:
Amazon: https://geni.us/B097HJF5PMcover
Apple: http://ow.ly/hA4v50FfEzF
Kobo: http://ow.ly/RMlq50FfEsM Google: http://ow.ly/uqwH50FfEBe
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