The Vanishing Child: An absolutely gripping, emotional page-turner with a jaw-dropping twist by Jennifer Harvey

 

They’d used his school photograph in the newspapers. His blond hair neatly combed, smiling for the camera. I thought, you will disappear, Johnny. This will be the last photo taken of you.

Forty years ago: Cece’s son went out on his bike on a hot summer’s day and never came home. Every evening she lingers on her front porch, hoping to see him coming up the driveway. But the street remains empty and, with her heart aching, Cece goes back inside and closes the door behind her…

Forty years later: On a rare visit to her father, Carla stumbles across a box tucked away in one of the cupboards. Full of her father’s diaries and old newspaper clippings, it tells the story of the disappearance of three boys when her father was just a child.

Her father refuses to discuss the missing children and his silence only makes Carla more curious. When she meets the mother of the last boy who went missing, and sees her pain first-hand, Carla becomes determined to help Cece finally lay her child to rest.

But as Carla begins to read the diaries and discovers more about the dark days all those years before, she realizes the truth might be more complicated than she thought. There are people in this town who will do anything to stop her digging up the past, and uncovering the truth could change her world in ways she never imagined possible.

Amazon  

 

About The Author

Her short stories have been published in numerous literary magazines in the US and the UK, such as Bare Fiction, Litro Online, Carve Magazine, Folio, and The Lonely Crowd.

She has been shortlisted for various short story prizes including the Crime Writers' Association Margery Allingham Prize, the Bristol Prize, the University of Sunderland Short Story Award and the Bridport Prize. Her radio dramas have won prizes and commendations from the BBC World Service. She has been longlisted twice for the Bath Novel Award.

You can find out more over at Jennifer's website: www.jenharvey.net
Or follow her on Twitter at: @JenAnneHarvey1 

 

My Review

 
 Once I picked this one up, I was hooked and needed answers, and along with Carla that finds the box, we are on a journey to solve some horrible crimes.
Her father is dying and now she needs him to answer questions, and it seems everyone is against her, her mother, sister, and the entire town.
A page-turning read, that makes you want for a better outcome, but having to accept the facts.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bookoutour, and was not required to give a positive review.