This week, Jeff Popple reviews three good books about true and fictional disappearances. More of Jeff’s reviews can be found on his blog: murdermayhemandlongdogs.com
They Thought I Was Dead by Peter James
Macmillan, $34.99
Peter James’ series about Brighton police detective Roy Grace has become a mainstay of the British crime scene, both in books and on television. An ongoing element of the series has been the question around what happened to Grace’s first wife, Sandy, who went missing. Now with James’ They Thought I Was Dead, we finally get a resolution. Told primarily from Sandy’s perspective, this is a briskly paced thriller with plenty of surprises and well etched characters. Sandy is not overly likeable, but James does a good job of generating sympathy for her and the ending is suitably poignant. A must read for fans.
The Lady Vanishes by Alison Sandy, Bryan Seymour, Sally Eeles and Marc Wright
Harper Collins, $34.99
Almost as weird as fiction, and certainly just as compelling, is The Lady Vanishes. When Marion Barter disappeared overseas in 1997 the police dismissed it as the actions of a bitter divorced woman. However, this was not the case. The Lady Vanishes, based on the popular global podcast, details the winding investigation into what really happened to Marion. From the tentative initial efforts by the police, to her daughter’s 27-year search for answers, to the amazing truth uncovered by the skilled team of investigators behind the podcast. Written in a well-paced and lively manner this is a fascinating read.
The Last Victim by Tracy Hall and Summer Land
Hachette, $34.99
The Last Victim also has its roots in a popular podcast, ‘Who The Hell Is Hamish?’ In 2017, Tracy Hall’s life was turned upside down when she discovered that the man she had been dating was actually a prolific con man. Her ‘Max’ turned out to be Hamish McLaren who had a record of using various names, and swindling people out of millions of dollars. When he disappeared on Tracy, he took $317,000 of her savings and changed her life. The Last Victim is an empowering story about what Tracy went through, and a timely warning about how easy it is to be scammed.
