The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde: The spellbinding mystery from the Richard & Judy bestselling author of The Glass House

It is 1959 at Applecote Manor in rural England. Margot and her three sisters have been shipped off to stay with their Aunt and Uncle for the summer while their mother, a slightly eccentric woman, heads off to warmer climes. It is the first time they have been back since their cousin, Audrey, disappeared five years previously at the age of twelve and has not been heard of since. The atmosphere in this country retreat is suffocating as Audrey’s parents cannot move on from this terrible event. Enter the sisters. They have the potential to be a fairly wild bunch and this summer is no exception. Jump forward fifty years and Jesse, Will and their two children are looking to relocate from London to a more rural setting. They purchase Applecote Manor and it soon becomes obvious that all is not quite what it seems. The story of how these two strands converge is told in this book and it turns into a thriller/mystery of epic proportions. Alternating chapters narrate the story of the two timelines.

I adored this book. Old houses and their secrets are always a good basis for a cracking yarn but this one surpasses most that I have read. The tension is palpable, almost too much at times and I think the reason the author has been so successful in creating it is the way the book has been structured. Most chapters end on a cliff-hanger and these become more tantalising as the book progresses. Because we don’t revisit that timeline for another whole chapter, the suspense that is created in waiting to see what happens is almost unbearable. The only thing I can think of which is similar goes back many years to my childhood, having to wait for the following week’s Dr Who episode to find out whether the Doctor and his assistant escaped from the Daleks!! The modern day portion is written in a brisk, no-nonsense style and is perceptive in its depiction of the dynamics which trouble most families. The 1950s story on the other hand, is more haunting and more lyrical. Although the book is not particularly fast-paced, it does gain momentum as it progresses. The characters are believable, plausible and, mostly, likeable.

There is nothing at all that I didn’t like about this book and I can’t praise it enough.

As far as I am concerned this novel comes into the “must read” category. Apparently Eve Chase has written at least one other book and will definitely be adding it to my bookshelf. Well done Eve.

This is a well written mystery. Four sisters share a dreamy summer with an aunt and uncle and their teenage daughter. Time seems to have stood still but tragic mystery is gradually revealed. From the girl who appeared to have everything to her impoverished cousins, it would appear on the surface which family was to be envied, but life is full of twists and turns and the house remains constant, looking on. This plot gently appears and switches between eras. It resolves well and I would recommend this as a book to take on holiday.

The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde is a haunting, interwoven mystery that flips back and forth between the 1950s, and the present.

In The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde, the author weaves a wonderfully compelling thread between two eras. The writing is rich and the story intriguing. It’s a who-done-it, but it is also about young sisters growing up, of secrets, and of temptation. It’s addictive and thrilling.

The parts of the story in the 1950s are haunting and tempting and very readable. I loved this half of the book. The tale told in the present day is a little less romantic and I found it to be somewhat stilted. for example, the wife and mother character seems wooden and tilts too much at a tired step-mother stereotype. She doesn’t know how to deal with her new teenage step-daughter, who behaves like a spoiled brat. But then we flip back to the sisters in the 1950s and are drawn so convincingly into their era of denial, and the forbidden sexual tension of adolescence. Their bond as sisters is strong, even in murder.

Both stories revolve around what really happened to Audrey Wilde. The characters are powerful and believable. The story is beautifully told and keeps the reader guessing until the very end. I liked this book very much.