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Review
'Lesley Thomson is a class above, and A Kind of Vanishing is a novel to treasure.' --IAN RANKIN
'Thomson skilfully evokes the era and the slow-moving quality of childhood summers, suggesting the menace lurking just beyond the vision of her young protagonists. A study of memory and guilt with several twists.' --GUARDIAN
A thoughtful, well-observed story about families and relationships and what happens to both when a tragedy occurs. It reminded me of Kate Atkinson. Thomson is particularly good at capturing the minutiae of childhood as well as the secrets, the lies, the make believe, the jealousies and spitefulness, the confusion and wonder of being nine years old.' --SCOTT PACK
Lesley Thomson's engaging writing style skilfully explores the obsession and the sense of guilt, hope and despair, trust and mistrust that will fill the lives of all the people who once knew the girl who disappeared. A masterful exploration of human feelings that is paired with an equally masterful description of the settings that form the background to this gripping story. Full of unexpected twists, this is a crime story that will leave you wondering until the end whether a crime has, in fact, been committed at all.' --BOOK AFTER BOOK
'Such is the vividness of the descriptions of the location in this well structured and well written novel that I want to get the next train down...just when one thinks one can guess where it is leading, it switches, and the conclusion is a tense and gripping one. On the edge of my seat? No way - I was cowering under it.' --SHOTSMAG
'Thomson skilfully evokes the era and the slow-moving quality of childhood summers, suggesting the menace lurking just beyond the vision of her young protagonists. A study of memory and guilt with several twists.' --GUARDIAN
A thoughtful, well-observed story about families and relationships and what happens to both when a tragedy occurs. It reminded me of Kate Atkinson. Thomson is particularly good at capturing the minutiae of childhood as well as the secrets, the lies, the make believe, the jealousies and spitefulness, the confusion and wonder of being nine years old.' --SCOTT PACK
Lesley Thomson's engaging writing style skilfully explores the obsession and the sense of guilt, hope and despair, trust and mistrust that will fill the lives of all the people who once knew the girl who disappeared. A masterful exploration of human feelings that is paired with an equally masterful description of the settings that form the background to this gripping story. Full of unexpected twists, this is a crime story that will leave you wondering until the end whether a crime has, in fact, been committed at all.' --BOOK AFTER BOOK
'Such is the vividness of the descriptions of the location in this well structured and well written novel that I want to get the next train down...just when one thinks one can guess where it is leading, it switches, and the conclusion is a tense and gripping one. On the edge of my seat? No way - I was cowering under it.' --SHOTSMAG
SHE MAGAZINE (BOOKS OF THE MONTH)
'This emotionally charged thriller grips from the first paragraph, and a nail-biting level of suspense is maintained throughout. A great second novel.'
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Lesley Thomson weaves an intricate and mesmerising storyline guaranteed to keep you turning the pages. Initially, the story is set in the late 1960s and beautifully evokes the attitudes and atmosphere of the times. Two nine-year-old girls from very different backgrounds are forced to play together, against their wishes, by their well-meaning parents. One of them vanishes without trace. The narrative continues apace and explores the complex relationships within and between the two families involved as the years unfold and the child is not found. The plot develops with many twists and turns as it heads towards a truly chilling penultimate chapter. Concluding at a Millennium Eve party, the novel is very relevant to present times reflecting,as it does, people's increasing anxieties and concerns over the vulnerability of young children to the evils of modern society.A thoroughly enjoyable read.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is an exceptionally intelligent and subtle crime novel. Thomson's characters are beautifully crafted, both their external actions and their internal lives. Her eye for detail and insight into behaviour and motivation is a cut above most crime novels, leading the reader into uncomfortable areas of the self. She holds you spellbound until the final page. Thoroughly recommended.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
My wife kind of vanished for a few days. Then I noticed this book seemed to to occupy the space where she used to be. When she returned I picked the book up and kind of vanished too...
This book really keeps you guessing. There are a series of mysteries that keep you intrigued so you have to find an explanation for them. This is a murder mystery where you are not even sure the crime has been committed.
As you read through the book you are left with a series of questions. At the start of the story you are introduced to two beautifully drawn complex families through the inner thoughts of two nine year old girls who are thrown together as playmates but who don't really like each other much. One of these dissappears for the larger part of the novel and when she re-enters you are left confused but fascinated to work out what has really been going on. Thomson has a way of telling one story but leaving you in no doubt that something else is going on behind the main narrative and leaving it tantalisingly beyond your reach until the very end.
The story is full of twists, the crime and the criminal hinted at throughout but not named until the final two chapters. This is a fine telling of a tale based on an elaborate maze of distrust, it's very much a story of our time where right and wrong live together in a kind of restless intimacy.
This book really keeps you guessing. There are a series of mysteries that keep you intrigued so you have to find an explanation for them. This is a murder mystery where you are not even sure the crime has been committed.
As you read through the book you are left with a series of questions. At the start of the story you are introduced to two beautifully drawn complex families through the inner thoughts of two nine year old girls who are thrown together as playmates but who don't really like each other much. One of these dissappears for the larger part of the novel and when she re-enters you are left confused but fascinated to work out what has really been going on. Thomson has a way of telling one story but leaving you in no doubt that something else is going on behind the main narrative and leaving it tantalisingly beyond your reach until the very end.
The story is full of twists, the crime and the criminal hinted at throughout but not named until the final two chapters. This is a fine telling of a tale based on an elaborate maze of distrust, it's very much a story of our time where right and wrong live together in a kind of restless intimacy.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A Kind of Vanishing
This story cleverly evokes childhood in the 1960s. I felt I could have been either of the characters. The story moves on and the suspense and mystery is strong all the way through. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Earwig
Layers upon layers of intrigue
A work colleague recommended this book and I started reading it not really sure what to expect. Whilst it took me a while to get into it, by part 2 I was definitely hooked and... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Sussex bookworm
Very disappointing!
I was very disappointed in this book which failed to fulfil the hype. It certainly wasn't the worst book I've ever read but the style didn't appeal and the plot was convoluted and... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Pigwin
A kind of confusing.
I really expected to like this book as it came with great enthusiasm from a friend. What I found difficult was to remember who everyone was! Read more
Published on 29 April 2010 by Fontaine
A really well written novel.
I received this book very late as the postman had left it in an outbuilding.
I had forgotton that I orderd it! Read more
I had forgotton that I orderd it! Read more
Published on 1 Mar 2010 by wilmasusan
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