The Vanishing: A Novel by Wendy Webb

(This book was provided to me by the publisher.)

about book:

A mysterious visitor with an intriguing offer, a centuries-old mansion in the middle of the wilderness and a seance gone horribly wrong set the stage for a gripping supernatural novel from award-winning author, Wendy Webb, featuring a woman who has taken on a bit more than she bargained for when she becomes the companion of a reclusive horror novelist.

Recently widowed and rendered penniless by her Ponzi-scheming husband, Julia Bishop is eager to start anew.  So when a stranger appears on her doorstep with a job offer, she finds herself accepting the mysterious yet unique position: companion to his mother, Amaris Sinclair, the famous and eccentric horror novelist whom Julia has always admired - and who the world believes is dead.

But when Julia arrives at Havenwood, the Sinclair's enormous estate on Lake Superior, she begins to suspect that the reason this position is "too good to be true" is that something very sinister, and very close to Julia's own family history, is quickening out of the past.

my thoughts:

Creepy.  Spine-tingling. Shocking.  Those three words describe The Vanishing perfectly.  This spook-tastic novel will have you snuggling deeper and deeper under the covers afraid to get out of bed.  Seriously! I was freaked out by some of the darker aspects of the story and would jump every time I heard a noise outside.  I have to admit that this irrational fear only made me enjoy the book even more.

The Vanishing is a terrific novel that explores the dark and twisted nature of the supernatural, the concept of memory, and the beauty of love and family.  Julia Bishop is a woman in dire need of escape - her life has been completely turned upside-down/inside-out by her Ponzi-scheming husband. He's recently passed away and as a result the HUGE illegal mess he made has been handed down to Julia - she's the one on the hook for his transgressions.  What is she to do?  No one believes that she is innocent and they are making their hateful opinions known.  So, when she gets an offer to "vanish without a trace", how can she resist?  Especially, since her knew digs will be at Havenwood - the home of famed horror novelist, Amaris Sinclair.  Of course, "too good to be true" offers do come with strings attached - except, these aren't the kind of strings Julia was prepared for.  And that is all I will leave you with.  Just know that you will LOVE this amazing, suspense-filled thriller to bits - I did!

Thanks so much to Rebecca from Hyerperion Books (Hachette Book Group) for providing me with a copy of this novel!