This was a fun ghost story from Webb that kept me interested and turning the pages. It's told from the point of view of Julia, who is at wit's end after her husband kills himself and is found to be a con man ala Bernie Madoff and has cheated most of their friends out of their life savings. Then a stranger named Adrian Sinclair appears at her door and offers her a new life taking care of his mother, Amaris, who is also a famous author who Julia thought dead. But instead she has merely vanished from fame and Adrian promises he can do the same for Julia. Since all of her friends have abandoned her and may be coming after her with lawsuits, Julia agrees to go with Adrian to Havenwood, the Sinclair's magnificent estate in the wilderness near Lake Superior. The estate was built by a rich fur trader named Andrew McCullough centuries earlier and contains many secrets that haunt its vast halls. As soon as Julia arrives, she starts to hear whisperings and sees visions of spirits that seem to come out of some of the paintings on the walls. So is Julia hallucinating or are spirits haunting the estate? She is off her depression medication and hallucinations may be a result. But why has she really been brought to Havenwood? And how is Seraphina, a psychic who conducted a very dangerous seance years before, a big part of the mystery? As the novel progresses, there are many twists to the story and all is definitely not what it seems.
I enjoyed this one quite a lot. A good novel to read in the fall close to Halloween. I have read one other book by Webb, THE TALE OF HALCYON CRANE, which I thought was also a good ghost story. I have a few of her other books on my TBR stacks that I'll be reading sometime soon.
I enjoyed this one quite a lot. A good novel to read in the fall close to Halloween. I have read one other book by Webb, THE TALE OF HALCYON CRANE, which I thought was also a good ghost story. I have a few of her other books on my TBR stacks that I'll be reading sometime soon.
Reading this was a case of exactly the right book at exactly the right time. What I wanted: something slightly spooky, gothic atmosphere, mysterious twists, and a full housekeeping staff, all in a not-so-taxing work of fiction. I got everything I wanted, absorbed in the novel's darkened ambiance, sitting in front of window, watching colorful Autumn leaves ripped from the trees by the wind. Yes, yes, yes - this is what a Halloween read should be.
The writing borders on horrible and palatable. It reminded me of the romances published by Avalon in the late 80's with two-dimensional characters but entertaining little plots. Some of the phrasing even sounded familiar. I suspect Webb used to read them, too.
I think maybe the author tried to fit too much story into this; I felt like too many ends were tied up (if that makes any sense). And then that very last part - well, I wasn't expecting that and it had a much eerier feel than the rest of the novel. I enjoyed that twist.
The only part that I had trouble with was that the main character was being fed delicious, exquisite meals and luxuriating in front of picture windows, all while being waited on hand and foot. Yet she still felt tense? Tension melted away from her in steamy baths and soft beds several times a day. I really couldn't identify with her because that is far from the reality I know. If she wants to feel some real tension, I invite her to raise my kids for a day. I'll take the hot bath and the nap.
The writing borders on horrible and palatable. It reminded me of the romances published by Avalon in the late 80's with two-dimensional characters but entertaining little plots. Some of the phrasing even sounded familiar. I suspect Webb used to read them, too.
I think maybe the author tried to fit too much story into this; I felt like too many ends were tied up (if that makes any sense). And then that very last part - well, I wasn't expecting that and it had a much eerier feel than the rest of the novel. I enjoyed that twist.
The only part that I had trouble with was that the main character was being fed delicious, exquisite meals and luxuriating in front of picture windows, all while being waited on hand and foot. Yet she still felt tense? Tension melted away from her in steamy baths and soft beds several times a day. I really couldn't identify with her because that is far from the reality I know. If she wants to feel some real tension, I invite her to raise my kids for a day. I'll take the hot bath and the nap.
An okay book but not a solid hit. Too long and rambling in parts which led me to skim a lot of it. I'm still looking for a ghost story in the league of Macardle's "The Uninvited," McDowell's "The Elementals," or Jackson's "The haunting of Hill House."
Everyone who knew Jeremy and Julia Bishop thought that they were living such a perfect life together. However when Jeremy dies unexpectedly, Julia discovers just what a perfect lie her Ponzi-scheming husband was actually living. Devastated by his sudden death and enraged by Jeremy's duplicity, Julia is desperate to start her life over again. So when a stranger appears on her doorstep offering her a unique position, Julia finds herself eagerly accepting it.
After experiencing some measure of fame earlier in her career, the eccentric horror author Amaris Sinclair has completely withdrawn from the public eye. Although the entire world believes that she has been dead for the past decade, she actually has been living in seclusion at her family's palatial estate: Havenwood. Now the reclusive novelist's son Adrian has suddenly turned up on Julia Bishop's doorstep looking for someone to act as a companion and caretaker to his elderly mother. Julia is definitely intrigued by his story.
While it certainly sounds unique, Adrian Sinclair's offer is also an extraordinary one. Julia has always admired Amaris Sinclair; and the chance to meet such an illustrious author is almost too good to refuse. With her once-secure life collapsing around her, she is absolutely certain that accepting Adrian's position will change her life. While she is not sure if that change will be entirely beneficial, Julia nevertheless jumps at this chance for a completely fresh start.
Havenwood is a magnificent, centuries-old mansion situated in the middle of the wilderness near Lake Superior. When Julia eventually arrives there, she begins to suspect that her too-good-to-be-true job offer is exactly that. Although she appreciates Havenwood's apparent solitude, there is still a certain eerieness to the house's location.
Julia can almost sense the multitude of disturbing secrets and painful memories that haunt the halls of the Sinclairs' home. There is also no denying that certain unexplained mysteries and the remnants of a troubling past still dwell somewhere in the forest beyond. As a matter of fact, Julia has several questions of her own that she would like answered...
Why would such a celebrated author as Amaris Sinclair choose to vanish from the public eye more than a decade earlier? What are the whispers that Julia hears? And why, exactly, was Julia brought to Havenwood in the first place?
For answers, Julia soon turns to Drew McCullough, the great-grandson of the mysterious Scottish nobleman who built Havenwood. Together, they begin to realize that something horribly sinister and very close to Julia's own family history is emerging from the past. Something that wants to gain access to the present. With extraordinary twists and turns, spine-tingling scenes, and an ingenious plot, The Vanishing by Wendy Webb is an intriguing and chilling story.
Although it took me much longer to read this book than I anticipated, I thoroughly enjoyed it. In my opinion, the story was frightening and appropriately suspenseful. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future and would certainly give this book an A!
After experiencing some measure of fame earlier in her career, the eccentric horror author Amaris Sinclair has completely withdrawn from the public eye. Although the entire world believes that she has been dead for the past decade, she actually has been living in seclusion at her family's palatial estate: Havenwood. Now the reclusive novelist's son Adrian has suddenly turned up on Julia Bishop's doorstep looking for someone to act as a companion and caretaker to his elderly mother. Julia is definitely intrigued by his story.
While it certainly sounds unique, Adrian Sinclair's offer is also an extraordinary one. Julia has always admired Amaris Sinclair; and the chance to meet such an illustrious author is almost too good to refuse. With her once-secure life collapsing around her, she is absolutely certain that accepting Adrian's position will change her life. While she is not sure if that change will be entirely beneficial, Julia nevertheless jumps at this chance for a completely fresh start.
Havenwood is a magnificent, centuries-old mansion situated in the middle of the wilderness near Lake Superior. When Julia eventually arrives there, she begins to suspect that her too-good-to-be-true job offer is exactly that. Although she appreciates Havenwood's apparent solitude, there is still a certain eerieness to the house's location.
Julia can almost sense the multitude of disturbing secrets and painful memories that haunt the halls of the Sinclairs' home. There is also no denying that certain unexplained mysteries and the remnants of a troubling past still dwell somewhere in the forest beyond. As a matter of fact, Julia has several questions of her own that she would like answered...
Why would such a celebrated author as Amaris Sinclair choose to vanish from the public eye more than a decade earlier? What are the whispers that Julia hears? And why, exactly, was Julia brought to Havenwood in the first place?
For answers, Julia soon turns to Drew McCullough, the great-grandson of the mysterious Scottish nobleman who built Havenwood. Together, they begin to realize that something horribly sinister and very close to Julia's own family history is emerging from the past. Something that wants to gain access to the present. With extraordinary twists and turns, spine-tingling scenes, and an ingenious plot, The Vanishing by Wendy Webb is an intriguing and chilling story.
Although it took me much longer to read this book than I anticipated, I thoroughly enjoyed it. In my opinion, the story was frightening and appropriately suspenseful. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future and would certainly give this book an A!
Wow! What an awesome gothic/suspense tale of family secrets, creepy mansion and creepy owner and all around superbly told tale.
I loved Wendy Webb's other book, The Fate of Mercy Alban, which was fabulous. This book was even better. These two books are the best books Ive read this year.
From page one you will be captivated and sucked in to the story. There are NO slow parts, every page, every word will enrapture you.
A lady who needs to vanish from a life of misery that she has inadvertently been pulled into. A chance comes along to run from it all. Is it chance or is it fate? Is it a good idea to have run from it all, pretending to be dead? Or is this chance of vanishing, all expenses paid, worse than anything she has of yet faced. Read the story and see.
5 stars.
I loved Wendy Webb's other book, The Fate of Mercy Alban, which was fabulous. This book was even better. These two books are the best books Ive read this year.
From page one you will be captivated and sucked in to the story. There are NO slow parts, every page, every word will enrapture you.
A lady who needs to vanish from a life of misery that she has inadvertently been pulled into. A chance comes along to run from it all. Is it chance or is it fate? Is it a good idea to have run from it all, pretending to be dead? Or is this chance of vanishing, all expenses paid, worse than anything she has of yet faced. Read the story and see.
5 stars.
