In the summer of 1968, Alice discovers a secret about Eleanor Ramsay's mother. One day they play hide-and-seek and Alice disappears. Years later, Eleanor's father dies violently. 40-year-old Alice Kennedy attends his funeral. When Alice's teenage daughter Chris becomes suspicious of her mother's past and turns detective, an extraordinary turn of events opens up shocking truths for the Ramsay family and all those who knew the missing girl.
A Kind of Vanishing
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'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
About the Author
Lesley Thomson's first novel, Seven Miles from Sydney ("Compelling" Times on Sunday; "Bold and imaginative" Time Out; "Such an interesting novel" Guardian) is a crime thriller set in Australia. She also co-wrote actress Sue Johnston's autobiography Hold on to the Messy Times. She grew up in London and now lives in Lewes, East Sussex
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 25 people found the following review helpful
By Tim del S
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.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By J. Eve
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a great book; it combines the satisfying complexity and sophistication of a literary novel with a thrilling, page-turning and compelling 'can't put it down' quality. In the first part, the atmoshperic portrayal of the secretive Ramsay family is brilliant and convincing and I found myself completely absorbed by the inner world of the two girls, especially Eleanor, much of which reminded me of my own childhood. The pace of the latter parts of the book makes it gripping, as the plot twists and turns in a way that I didn't see coming at all. I have just re-read this book on my Kindle, having read the print copy last year, and enjoyed it just as much the second time round, as I could more fully appreciate the writing and the way the characters are developed. You will want to read it again. Great stuff - I highly recommend it.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
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 wanted to discover what happens to the characters, even the ones I didn't warm to, and the detail of the descriptions meant that I could clearly visualise each one. The two main characters whom we initially meet as 9 year old girls had been put together by their well-meaning parents and I could relate to this situation. The descriptions of the part of Sussex where a lot of the story takes palce was also recogniseable.
This is a well crafted novel which definitely merits a second reading as it is easy to miss some of the clues the first time round. It also works on several different levels - a mystery which might be a murder, human relationships, and trust and mistrust within families. I'm looking forward to more novels from this Sussex based author.
This is a well crafted novel which definitely merits a second reading as it is easy to miss some of the clues the first time round. It also works on several different levels - a mystery which might be a murder, human relationships, and trust and mistrust within families. I'm looking forward to more novels from this Sussex based author.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
struggled to read
I wouldnt buy another book by lesley thompson. I got up to page 54 and that was a struggle. I had to give the book up. Read more
Published 2 months ago by bookmoviefanatic
3.0 out of 5 stars
Okay but not great
I struggled to finish this book to be honest. I thought the first part was quite good told from the perspective of the two little girls, but after that it went down hill. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Helen L
1.0 out of 5 stars
So dull I couldnt even finish it
For only the second time in my life I found a book so dull that I gave up without finishing it.
Published 4 months ago by avaline
2.0 out of 5 stars
slow and boring
I really struggled to read this book, didn't like it at all, to be fair it's not my usual choice of subject material.
Published 7 months ago by Annabelle
3.0 out of 5 stars
It's okay, not outstanding
I purchased this book for 99p - as such it was pretty good value for money, but I would have been less impressed if I'd paid full price! Read more
Published 8 months ago by nickygrimshaw
2.0 out of 5 stars
Far too slow
Starts with a mystery never identified and left hanging, proceeds for hours of reading irritating minutia and rambling background. Became unreadable, unfinished.
Published 8 months ago by Beverley Stewart
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not to be missed!
This was a really un-put-downable read! I was gripped right up until the end. The characters are entirely believable, grown slowly as the story develops. Read more
Published 9 months ago by J. Cooper
3.0 out of 5 stars
slow-moving
Descriptions and characterisations were often good, if sometimes a little unbelievable. But the story moved far too slowly - it certainly wasn't a page-turner. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Ann C
5.0 out of 5 stars
Really addictive, atmospheric thriller - reminded me of Kate Atkinson
This is one of those rare things - a long book that you really. really dont want to end. The plot centres on a young girl who disappears from an abandoned mill in a quiet village. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Paula Marrel
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Good Read!
I purchased this book as I was researching my family history, and discovered that a lot of my Mother's Family lived at Tide
Mills, where this novel is set. Read more
Mills, where this novel is set. Read more
Published 9 months ago by joyspens1950
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