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domicspinnwand's review against another edition
4.0
Das war jetzt die zweite Katherine Webb in Folge (nach "Die Frauen am Fluss"), und beide habe ich auf Empfehlung der Booktuber beim Hangout gelesen- und von beiden wurde ich nicht enttäuscht. Ich könnte jetzt nicht mal sagen, welches mir besser gefällt - beide sind sehr unterschiedlich, auch wenn in beiden ein Mord aufgeklärt wird und in beiden Ereignisse aus der Vergangenheit für die Aufklärung wichtig sind.
Obwohl es um einen Kriminalfall geht und in diesem Buch sogar eine Kommissarin auftaucht, würde ich das Buch trotzdem nicht als Krimi bezeichnen. Es gibt auch eine Liebesgeschichte oder eigentlich sogar zwei, aber ein Liebesroman ist es auch nicht. Und die Geschichte ist wirklich spannend, ich muss zugeben, dass ich die Aufklärung zwar schlüssig fand, aber den Täter nicht wirklich "auf dem Zettel" hatte.
Das Ganze wird sehr gut und eher ruhig erzählt, die Figuren fand ich sehr gelungen - weder die Hauptfigur Francis noch Wyn noch Owen noch ihre Tante Pam (die mochte ich besonders) waren jetzt nur "gut und edel", sondern normale Menschen mit Ecken und Kanten. Über die Vorgeschichte der Tante Pam würde ich gerne noch mehr erfahren - vielleicht hat Frau Webb dazu auch schon ein Buch geschrieben?
Auch das Ende hat mir sehr gut gefallen - optimistisch, aber eben nicht "Friede Freude Eierkuchen" - ein wirklich gutes Buch. Ich werde sicher noch mehr von der Autorin lesen, wenn auch vielleicht nicht gleich jetzt sofort.
Obwohl es um einen Kriminalfall geht und in diesem Buch sogar eine Kommissarin auftaucht, würde ich das Buch trotzdem nicht als Krimi bezeichnen. Es gibt auch eine Liebesgeschichte oder eigentlich sogar zwei, aber ein Liebesroman ist es auch nicht. Und die Geschichte ist wirklich spannend, ich muss zugeben, dass ich die Aufklärung zwar schlüssig fand, aber den Täter nicht wirklich "auf dem Zettel" hatte.
Das Ganze wird sehr gut und eher ruhig erzählt, die Figuren fand ich sehr gelungen - weder die Hauptfigur Francis noch Wyn noch Owen noch ihre Tante Pam (die mochte ich besonders) waren jetzt nur "gut und edel", sondern normale Menschen mit Ecken und Kanten. Über die Vorgeschichte der Tante Pam würde ich gerne noch mehr erfahren - vielleicht hat Frau Webb dazu auch schon ein Buch geschrieben?
Auch das Ende hat mir sehr gut gefallen - optimistisch, aber eben nicht "Friede Freude Eierkuchen" - ein wirklich gutes Buch. Ich werde sicher noch mehr von der Autorin lesen, wenn auch vielleicht nicht gleich jetzt sofort.
debtat2's review against another edition
4.0
Set on dual timelines the main story takes place in 1942 during the war whilst the other is set in 1918 and follows the lives of two 8 year old best friends, Frances and Wyn.
1918 – Frances and Wyn are inseparable, they do everything together. Whilst out playing the girls hear of an old haunted house that used to house the city’s lepers, and as every young child would, they decide to go and investigate. But it wasn’t ghosts they found, the ghost turned out to be a frightened young foreign man, Johannes who is in hiding. And then something terrible happens. Wyn goes missing.
1942 – Bath has come under attack and bombs are being dropped across the city. As the clear up operation begins the following morning the remains of a young child, long dead is discovered. Wyn’s body.
The finding of Wyn’s body after all these years has brought back memories for Frances. Repressed memories that she wasn’t even aware of until now. As the memories slowly bubble to the surface Frances knows there is something important that she needs to remember if she is ever going to finally find out what happened all those years ago on the day her best friend went missing.
As well as the bomb that unearthed the body of Wyn, on that same night a young 6 year old boy, Davy goes missing, Wyn’s nephew that Frances was babysitting. Wracked with guilt Frances frantically searches the city for Davy as well as searching her mind for her missing memories.
With a host of other characters, Frances family and our introductions to the rest of Wyn’s family it seems as though someone else may know more about Wyn’s disseverance than they are letting on. But who and why?
With a dual mystery, a murder, a missing child, a city being bombed and even some romance this is a multi layered, cleverly plotted book filled with a great cast of characters. Frances character is written so well that you can’t help but to feel for her and become completely invested in her story and the old heart strings get a few tugs along the way!
A heartachingly, provocative page turner of a book and her best work to date.
https://debbiesbookreviews.wordpress.com/2019/06/07/the-disappearance-by-katherine-webb/
1918 – Frances and Wyn are inseparable, they do everything together. Whilst out playing the girls hear of an old haunted house that used to house the city’s lepers, and as every young child would, they decide to go and investigate. But it wasn’t ghosts they found, the ghost turned out to be a frightened young foreign man, Johannes who is in hiding. And then something terrible happens. Wyn goes missing.
1942 – Bath has come under attack and bombs are being dropped across the city. As the clear up operation begins the following morning the remains of a young child, long dead is discovered. Wyn’s body.
The finding of Wyn’s body after all these years has brought back memories for Frances. Repressed memories that she wasn’t even aware of until now. As the memories slowly bubble to the surface Frances knows there is something important that she needs to remember if she is ever going to finally find out what happened all those years ago on the day her best friend went missing.
As well as the bomb that unearthed the body of Wyn, on that same night a young 6 year old boy, Davy goes missing, Wyn’s nephew that Frances was babysitting. Wracked with guilt Frances frantically searches the city for Davy as well as searching her mind for her missing memories.
With a host of other characters, Frances family and our introductions to the rest of Wyn’s family it seems as though someone else may know more about Wyn’s disseverance than they are letting on. But who and why?
With a dual mystery, a murder, a missing child, a city being bombed and even some romance this is a multi layered, cleverly plotted book filled with a great cast of characters. Frances character is written so well that you can’t help but to feel for her and become completely invested in her story and the old heart strings get a few tugs along the way!
A heartachingly, provocative page turner of a book and her best work to date.
https://debbiesbookreviews.wordpress.com/2019/06/07/the-disappearance-by-katherine-webb/
kimcheel's review against another edition
4.0
This is the second book of Katherine Webb's that I've read - actually listened to, and I quite enjoyed it. There were some stark similarities to The Legacy, that critically speaking are kind of annoying - specifically both protagonists searching through hidden memories due to trauma, but I find she writes those moments so well that I actually don't care as a reader. If you write something well, do it often. I'll definitely be pursuing her other books.
thebooktrail88's review against another edition
4.0
Visit the locations in the book
I do love a Katherine Webb novel. They've been set in rural houses, secrets in the mist and historically intriguing and this latest one is no different. Inspired by the Bath Blitz, it's more of a war story this time and there's less intrigue and stunning settings in the countryside, but it's typical Webb with its full formed characters and wonderful writing.
The novel is set firmly in the war-torn city where bombs are raining down on the streets and houses in and around Holloway and Beechen Road. This history of the city really helps bring the time to life as you feel the fear, the shock and the horror of the war. Houses bombed and destroyed, the fear of having having to flee into the air raid shelter when you hear the sirens.
The people of Bath try to lead normal lives but one night, a girl goes out for some time on her own and when she gets to her friends house, it’s been destroyed and is now a pile of rubble. Missing people and the unknown were common sadly at that time, and the fear and uncertainty of the time mean that it was very hard to get any real answers about missing people and/or accidents.
The author is keen to point out that the story is inspired by the Bath Blitz but it’s not a fictional account by any means. Many of the events are based on real ones but the people with speaking parts in the novel are fictional.
The Leper Hospital which is such a part of the novel was located on Holloway with the St Mary Magdalene Chapel. The poor workhouse was also a sad feature of the Victorian times and earlier.
A mystery of a girl and a child told across time reveal the confusion of war and a city trying to come to terms with its past.
I do love a Katherine Webb novel. They've been set in rural houses, secrets in the mist and historically intriguing and this latest one is no different. Inspired by the Bath Blitz, it's more of a war story this time and there's less intrigue and stunning settings in the countryside, but it's typical Webb with its full formed characters and wonderful writing.
The novel is set firmly in the war-torn city where bombs are raining down on the streets and houses in and around Holloway and Beechen Road. This history of the city really helps bring the time to life as you feel the fear, the shock and the horror of the war. Houses bombed and destroyed, the fear of having having to flee into the air raid shelter when you hear the sirens.
The people of Bath try to lead normal lives but one night, a girl goes out for some time on her own and when she gets to her friends house, it’s been destroyed and is now a pile of rubble. Missing people and the unknown were common sadly at that time, and the fear and uncertainty of the time mean that it was very hard to get any real answers about missing people and/or accidents.
The author is keen to point out that the story is inspired by the Bath Blitz but it’s not a fictional account by any means. Many of the events are based on real ones but the people with speaking parts in the novel are fictional.
The Leper Hospital which is such a part of the novel was located on Holloway with the St Mary Magdalene Chapel. The poor workhouse was also a sad feature of the Victorian times and earlier.
A mystery of a girl and a child told across time reveal the confusion of war and a city trying to come to terms with its past.
gretainthedreamland's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
catayane's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jthbooks's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book! It’s Katherine Webb at her finest! 8 books in and she’s only getting better.
This story had everything. Brilliantly researched historical fiction, mystery, romance. I took at guess at the ending and I completely wrong! I love that! But it made sense.
I read this book slowly to enjoy all the details. It’s such a page turner, kept me guessing till the end. Great characters, beautiful descriptions and so atmospheric.
This story had everything. Brilliantly researched historical fiction, mystery, romance. I took at guess at the ending and I completely wrong! I love that! But it made sense.
I read this book slowly to enjoy all the details. It’s such a page turner, kept me guessing till the end. Great characters, beautiful descriptions and so atmospheric.
annarella's review against another edition
5.0
A gripping book, well written and fascinating. I liked the descriptions of the historical background, the fleshed out cast of characters, and the plot with its double timeline.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
aditurbo's review against another edition
4.0
Good suspense-historical fiction. I learned a lot about the bombing of Bath during WWII, and enjoyed the solid characters and story.