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There are currently 30 member reviews
for The Vanishing Place
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Janet T. (Westford, MA)
The Vanishing Place
From the first page, The Vanishing Place captivated the reader. There is a dual timeline but it was presented in a very understandable way. I couldn't wait to keep on reading the story. Each timeline provided a hook so the reader wanted to know more about that time period. A good part of the story made the reader cringe but the cringes were erased by a constantly changing narration of what was happening. Plot twists all over the place, none of which this reader guessed. Excellent read, a book that the reader will think about over time and will want to read again. The reader is sorry that the story is over. I want more of these characters.
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Karen S. (Allston, MA)
Outsiders good and evil
This book saved me from a string of books that I started and could not finish. A bold start, engaging characters, set in New Zealand, and full of "outsiders" in every sense of that word. Who was in a cult, and which cult? Well-timed twists on this aspect kept things lively.
The book managed to reveal the past in alternate chapters with the present discoveries with being confusing. The romance aspect might have been annoyingly formulaic if the rest of the story wasn't so interesting. I hope Zoe Rankin writes another novel soon, whatever setting and storyline she chooses.
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Sherie W. (Duluth, MN)
Haunting mystery
I enjoyed The Vanishing Place. It took me a little bit to get into the story due to the two timelines, but once I was hooked, I didn't want to put it down. Effie has a lot to unpack, emotionally, when she is called home to New Zealand. It was a rollercoaster of emotion and trying to figure out what was coming next! A haunting mystery and thriller!
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Linda M. (Ocala, FL)
The New Zealand Bush is a Scary Place
The Vanishing Place
by Zoe Rankin
I was completely absorbed in this tense, atmospheric thriller from the prologue to the last paragraph. The book is set in the remote, dangerous New Zealand bush country and the storyline moves between the present and events that have taken place over the past 25 years. The characters are memorable and slowly become more fully understood as the plot twists and turns and dark secrets are revealed. I read over 100 books a year and this one will certainly rank in this year's top 10 as one that was scary, completely unique and impossible to put down. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes thrillers and mysteries and who isn't afraid to stay up late reading long into the night.
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Helen B. (WINTHROP, ME)
The Vanishing Place
This debut novel set in the at once enthralling, yet dangerous bush country, of New Zealand is a clever and fantastic thriller. The characters each hold secrets deep in their souls and Rankin masterfully constructs their personalities to go along with the consequences of such secrets. There are twists and turns and a few moments when you hold your breath, as the author winds a tale of cultism, violence, love, faith, family, and sadly deceit from those you should be able to trust the most. There were a couple of sections that were a little confusing, but quickly became clear. Rankin's writing is spot on and her descriptions of the bush put you there. I know I will be seeing the face peaking from the plant covered tree for a long time! Unlike most new books in this genre, Rankin's novel is not the same overused trope of thriller. It is unique and truly scary on more than one level. Plan on being up all night reading this one! Thank you Berkley Publishers, Bookbrowse.com and Netgalley for the Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review.
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Mary S. (Bow, NH)
What a ride!
I think one word best describes this book: engrossing. What a story, what a cast of characters, what a setting! Zoe Rankin is the Kiwi Harlan Coben. I hate to exercise and I rode my stationary bike for an extra 5 minutes to finish a chapter of this book. It is excellent.
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Linda L. (Hilliard, OH)
Confusing timelines
I read The Vanishing Place on my kindle. I always prefer print editions, so this format was a bit challenging from the beginning. If I had the book, I could flip back and forth more easily to clarify characters and events. This story changed timelines from chapter to chapter. I found it confusing and I wish the author had dealt more on the main character, Effie. If you enjoy a very twisty thriller set in amazing locations, this might be a good read for you. Revelations were made throughout the book, especially toward the end, but the revelations, in my opinion, were revealed too slowly. Effie loved her father and tried her whole life to understand his actions towards his family. She yearned for closure and understanding, a universal desire to which we all can relate.
