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jo_bookworm's review
4.0
Audrey plans a once in a lifetime cruise around the Greek Isles as a 70th birthday present to herself. She asks that her two children - Lexi and John to come away with her.
Lexi and John reluctantly accompany her. But when she goes missing they then start questioning the relationship they have with each other, their deceased father and their mother.
Intriguingly we know that Audrey is missing right from the first page of the book - as we read on we are waiting until we get to that point in the story.
In dual time narrative, we are taken back to another ship and another time. One where Audrey is bound for India, where she meets the man who becomes her husband. When the world and its values were a very different place.
How does Audrey's past have anything to do with the present and possibly the future?
I found this novel riveting, not just the background to Audrey who I felt sorry for from beginning to end but the well drawn characters of Lexie and John. Lexie has poured her heart and soul into wanting a child. That is her main focus, so much so that it is eating away at her relationship with everyone. My opinion of her changed as she tried to deal with her own personal grief as well as that of looking after an aging mother.
John on the other hand, I disliked from the start and nothing he did made me feel any different. Working himself into an early grave no doubt and trying to maintain a facade that was slowly crumbling. But the hope of an inheritance when his mother dies......
So when did Audrey go missing on that cruise and the ultimate question - did she jump or was she pushed?
There is only one way to find out and that is to read the novel.
Lexi and John reluctantly accompany her. But when she goes missing they then start questioning the relationship they have with each other, their deceased father and their mother.
Intriguingly we know that Audrey is missing right from the first page of the book - as we read on we are waiting until we get to that point in the story.
In dual time narrative, we are taken back to another ship and another time. One where Audrey is bound for India, where she meets the man who becomes her husband. When the world and its values were a very different place.
How does Audrey's past have anything to do with the present and possibly the future?
I found this novel riveting, not just the background to Audrey who I felt sorry for from beginning to end but the well drawn characters of Lexie and John. Lexie has poured her heart and soul into wanting a child. That is her main focus, so much so that it is eating away at her relationship with everyone. My opinion of her changed as she tried to deal with her own personal grief as well as that of looking after an aging mother.
John on the other hand, I disliked from the start and nothing he did made me feel any different. Working himself into an early grave no doubt and trying to maintain a facade that was slowly crumbling. But the hope of an inheritance when his mother dies......
So when did Audrey go missing on that cruise and the ultimate question - did she jump or was she pushed?
There is only one way to find out and that is to read the novel.
mazza57's review
3.0
This was a Library book club read about which I have rather ambivalent feelings. I have to say the number of mistakes in the printing was annoying, extra or repeated words or words missing. I felt the narrative started well, intensely descriptive and evocative of the place and situation. I especially liked the descriptions of Indian life. However, for many pages it did read a bit more like a Mills and Boon romance than a thriller. It was an easy pacy read and I liked the characterisation of Audrey, in particular. Although none of the characters were loveable I think the author displays their personalities well allowing us to see some of the worst parts of the human character. Where the book lets itself down, in my opinion, is the failure to really ramp up the thrill - it was predictable in that I knew what was happening to Audrey from very early on. I also hate the tactic of simply repeating whole chapters of the book - such as the meeting in the library - why is that needed? There was a little twist at the end which I hadn't seen coming.
m3l89's review against another edition
4.0
A very enjoyable read, although slightly predictable.
Some irritating kindle formatting errors.
Some irritating kindle formatting errors.
funsizesteffi's review against another edition
3.0
It was very predictable and got to a point I knew what was going to happen
cheryl59's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book, it had quite a slow pace to start with but by the end I just couldn't put it down as the tension built.
leona_omahony's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book and although it was an easy read it had a nice flow to it. At first I thought going between past and present might be confusing but it wasn't like that at all. If you like family type sagas you'll enjoy this book.
My thanks to the publisher for an advanced E Copy via netgalley in return for an honest review.
My thanks to the publisher for an advanced E Copy via netgalley in return for an honest review.
laural27's review against another edition
5.0
I love books that deal with disappearing people (is that weird?!) I have such an interest in how some people can just suddenly vanish and then no trace of them ever be found again. So when I read the blurb of The Disappearance I was hooked.
Set in the present day with flashbacks to 1950’s India, The Disappearance follows the story of Audrey who met and fell in love with the enigmatic Ralph Templeton in Bombay. They lived the apparent life of bliss with two children and a gorgeous house. As Audrey approaches her 70th birthday alone she reflects on her life and decides to take her two children on a cruise around the Greek islands as a birthday treat. But the cruise doesn’t quite pan out how Audrey’s children Lexi and John imagined it would.
On the evening of her birthday, Audrey disappears. As the ship is searched high and low, fear for Audrey’s safety arises. Is she still on board or is she somewhere in the sea...and, if so, who put her there?
As the clock ticks down and the cruise draws to an end, will the mystery of Audrey’s disappearance be solved? Or is the sea the only witness to what really happened…?
This book was soooo addictive from beginning to end. The flashbacks to Audrey’s time in India were so tangible and I was fascinated to read about her experiences in Bombay and her whirlwind relationship with Ralph. As the plot fast forwards to the present we are shown events through Lexi’s eyes and I immediately formed an affinity with her. Although her feelings towards her twin brother, John, also wore off on me and I think that’s what led me to be so untrusting of him…because Lexi was incredibly unsure of his motives for a lot of things.
The pacing of this novel was perfect and had me unable to put it down. I read this book in one gigantic go and couldn’t read it fast enough! I was so intrigued by everything that was happening and was trying my best to piece it altogether.
The ending was incredibly fantastic and had me secretly fist pumping the air! There are lots of nicely tied up plot points which always leave me feeling satisfied. And, I sort of want a sequel! I was so invested in Audrey’s story that I just want to learn more about her past and her well, everything!
I believe this to be Annabel’s second novel and after reading this I am eager to go back and read her debut, Coming Home. I will also be eagerly awaiting her third!
Definitely a must read if you love a good mystery with a dose of family drama and untrustworthy characters thrown in for good measure!
Set in the present day with flashbacks to 1950’s India, The Disappearance follows the story of Audrey who met and fell in love with the enigmatic Ralph Templeton in Bombay. They lived the apparent life of bliss with two children and a gorgeous house. As Audrey approaches her 70th birthday alone she reflects on her life and decides to take her two children on a cruise around the Greek islands as a birthday treat. But the cruise doesn’t quite pan out how Audrey’s children Lexi and John imagined it would.
On the evening of her birthday, Audrey disappears. As the ship is searched high and low, fear for Audrey’s safety arises. Is she still on board or is she somewhere in the sea...and, if so, who put her there?
As the clock ticks down and the cruise draws to an end, will the mystery of Audrey’s disappearance be solved? Or is the sea the only witness to what really happened…?
This book was soooo addictive from beginning to end. The flashbacks to Audrey’s time in India were so tangible and I was fascinated to read about her experiences in Bombay and her whirlwind relationship with Ralph. As the plot fast forwards to the present we are shown events through Lexi’s eyes and I immediately formed an affinity with her. Although her feelings towards her twin brother, John, also wore off on me and I think that’s what led me to be so untrusting of him…because Lexi was incredibly unsure of his motives for a lot of things.
The pacing of this novel was perfect and had me unable to put it down. I read this book in one gigantic go and couldn’t read it fast enough! I was so intrigued by everything that was happening and was trying my best to piece it altogether.
The ending was incredibly fantastic and had me secretly fist pumping the air! There are lots of nicely tied up plot points which always leave me feeling satisfied. And, I sort of want a sequel! I was so invested in Audrey’s story that I just want to learn more about her past and her well, everything!
I believe this to be Annabel’s second novel and after reading this I am eager to go back and read her debut, Coming Home. I will also be eagerly awaiting her third!
Definitely a must read if you love a good mystery with a dose of family drama and untrustworthy characters thrown in for good measure!
read_by_hev's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars really, but it was a good read so I rounded it up rather than down. Unfortunately, I went into this book expecting a thriller, and found this to be more of a mystery. I loved the way this story was told, and the fact that Audrey was a genuinely nice person meant that I found it easy to read. I found the story intriguing and was caught up in the drama, which ended well there just isn't a big twist at the end, more of a "meh" kind of twist. That isn't to say that the ending was bad, it was a lovely ending and I did enjoy it but it was not what I was expecting at all.
Overall a good read, but there is a definite trigger warning for Domestic Abuse and rape in this book which can get a little graphic at times.
Overall a good read, but there is a definite trigger warning for Domestic Abuse and rape in this book which can get a little graphic at times.
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