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3.55 AVERAGE
3.55 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I have so enjoyed this series not only from a historical fiction perspective, but watching Louisa Cannon grow and come into her own. This latest installment once again brings Louisa to the aid of the Mitford family, but this time in the capacity of private investigator. The story takes place in London, France and Spain and is rich in detail about the locations, characters and their stories. Excellent read!
For all of you who already have read Jessica Fellowes' five Mitford family murder mysteries featuring former nurserymaid turned sleuth, Louisa Cannon, why didn't somebody tell me about them?! The Mitford Vanishing finds Louisa married to former D.I. Guy Sullivan and mother to their baby Maisie nearing a year old. Louisa has just joined Guy in their new private detective agency when they are called by the Mitfords to find sister Decca (Jessica Mitford at age 19) who has disappeared. As those who are familiar with the Mitfords know, several family members were fervent supporters of Naziism, while Jessica was much more left leaning. The Spanish Civil war is drawing anti-facists to Spain via France. Hitler is gaining power in Germany. Jessica has taken all her "running away" money and -- run away. Why? Where? Is she safe or in harm's way? Meanwhile, Louisa is called in to find another missing woman, Petunia Atwood, who failed to return to work after her vacation. Is it just a coincidence that she has an enemy in Bernard Plum, a well regarded employee at her insurance agency who was suspended when Petunia accused him of fraud? Fellowes is very adept at mixing an entirely fictional set of characters, Petunia, Bernard, Louisa, Guy and various other heroes, heroines, villains with a historically accurate picture of the Mitford sisters and Decca's disappearance in 1937, somewhat reckless, undeniably hard on her family, an act of rebellion and and a decision based on personal and political passion. I "read" the audio version of this book and found it delightful. The mysteries were well-plotted and the characters, even the minor ones who care for Maisie, run a Communist bookstore, translate for Guy, etc. are well drawn. Although I plan to go back to read the first four books in this series, I was not unduly confused by reading the fifth book first, just disappointed it took me so long to find this series. Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of the audiobook.
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I've enjoyed this series and am looking forward to reading more about the real Mitford sisters. To be honest, this was not my favorite book in the series. The storylines seemed disjointed with too many random characters popping in and out. I certainly hope there will be a 6th installment to wrap up with the youngest sister.
"1937. War with Germany is dawning, and a civil war already raging in Spain. Split across political lines, the six Mitford sisters are more divided than ever. Meanwhile their former maid Louisa Cannon is now a private detective, working with her policeman husband Guy Sullivan. Louisa and Guy are surprised when a call comes in from novelist Nancy Mitford requesting that they look into the disappearance of her Communist sister Jessica in Spain. But one case leads to another as they are also asked to investigate the mysterious vanishing of a soldier. As the two cases come together, Louisa and Guy discover that every marriage has its secrets—but some are more deadly than others. Suddenly home feels a long way away."
"1937. War with Germany is dawning, and a civil war already raging in Spain. Split across political lines, the six Mitford sisters are more divided than ever. Meanwhile their former maid Louisa Cannon is now a private detective, working with her policeman husband Guy Sullivan. Louisa and Guy are surprised when a call comes in from novelist Nancy Mitford requesting that they look into the disappearance of her Communist sister Jessica in Spain. But one case leads to another as they are also asked to investigate the mysterious vanishing of a soldier. As the two cases come together, Louisa and Guy discover that every marriage has its secrets—but some are more deadly than others. Suddenly home feels a long way away."
medium-paced
Set in 1937, The Mitford Vanishing is the fifth book in the series and takes place as the world is on the cusp of WWII. This time period is one of my favourite to read about and I appreciate the historical nods and details in this fiction story based on historical events (see the author's notes at the back AFTER you read the book). The Mitford family was a political and controversial one, chock full of mystery, intrigue and adventure. Jessica Fellowes seamlessly intertwines facts with beautiful storytelling.
Louisa Cannon, a private detective, has an unique tie to the Mitford family...she knows them inside out as a former maid. She is called in to investigate the vanishing of Jessica (Decca) and is helped by her policeman husband, Guy Sullivan, with whom she has formed a new detective agency. Their wee daughter, Maisie, makes several appearances. Twists and turns ensue and another case is introduced which connects with the missing Decca. Politics and the mores of the day (such as links to Winston Churchill, Communism, Fascism and social classes) are brilliantly written in. The ending is worth waiting for.
My favourite aspect about this books, other than the mystery itself, are the evolution of Louisa in her roles of wife, mother and detective and the generous splashes of historical Mitford details which bring the story to life. Historical Fiction, Women's Fiction and General Fiction readers ought to add this series to their list.
My sincere thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this fascinating book!
Louisa Cannon, a private detective, has an unique tie to the Mitford family...she knows them inside out as a former maid. She is called in to investigate the vanishing of Jessica (Decca) and is helped by her policeman husband, Guy Sullivan, with whom she has formed a new detective agency. Their wee daughter, Maisie, makes several appearances. Twists and turns ensue and another case is introduced which connects with the missing Decca. Politics and the mores of the day (such as links to Winston Churchill, Communism, Fascism and social classes) are brilliantly written in. The ending is worth waiting for.
My favourite aspect about this books, other than the mystery itself, are the evolution of Louisa in her roles of wife, mother and detective and the generous splashes of historical Mitford details which bring the story to life. Historical Fiction, Women's Fiction and General Fiction readers ought to add this series to their list.
My sincere thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this fascinating book!
3.5 stars.
I am unfamiliar with the Mitfords, except that they were English nobility, there were many sisters who fraternized with European leaders during many important events in the 20th century, and, oh yeah, most of them had a real fondness for fascism and were probably or actually anti-Semitic. So, I approached this mystery series with some trepidation.
This is my first book in this now 5-book series, and I’m glad that the main character isn’t an actual Mitford. Instead she’s a character created by the author: Louise Cannon, formerly in-service to the Mitfords as a housemaid, now a detective and co-owner of a detective agency with her former policeman husband Guy Sullivan, and a mother of a delightful baby girl.
Nancy Mitford begs Louise’s help at the book’s outset: younger sister Jessica “Decca” has vanished somewhere in France, and must be found and returned. Both Louise and Guy are employed and travel repeatedly to France during the course of their investigation, which touches on the brutality of the Spanish forces fighting each other and the involvement or British citizens in the Spanish Civil War, and the Mitford family dysfunctions and privilege.
Simultaneously, Louise is contracted by a woman to find her missing sister in London. Louise begins her solo search, encountering police indifference, and secrets at the company the missing woman worked at. Eventually, there even appears to be a tenuous connection back to their main case.
This was interesting, especially from Fellowes’ weaving of real historical people and events into this story. She had me googling as I read (I always appreciate learning details about history). I also liked Fellowes’ Louise, a woman with an interesting and difficult past I shall have to read about when I eventually pick up book one in this series. And I guess that means that Fellowes’ got me interested enough in Louise to read about the Mitfords.
With regards to this book, I found myself less engaged while reading the first half of the book, when Louise and Guy track down a naïve, reckless and privileged young woman with little understanding of the consequences of her actions. I much preferred the second half of the book when Louise devotes her energy to finding the missing woman in London. The book and the characters felt more lively to me there, perhaps because Fellowes did not have to work as many real people into her narrative .
Thank you to Netgalley and to St Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.
I am unfamiliar with the Mitfords, except that they were English nobility, there were many sisters who fraternized with European leaders during many important events in the 20th century, and, oh yeah, most of them had a real fondness for fascism and were probably or actually anti-Semitic. So, I approached this mystery series with some trepidation.
This is my first book in this now 5-book series, and I’m glad that the main character isn’t an actual Mitford. Instead she’s a character created by the author: Louise Cannon, formerly in-service to the Mitfords as a housemaid, now a detective and co-owner of a detective agency with her former policeman husband Guy Sullivan, and a mother of a delightful baby girl.
Nancy Mitford begs Louise’s help at the book’s outset: younger sister Jessica “Decca” has vanished somewhere in France, and must be found and returned. Both Louise and Guy are employed and travel repeatedly to France during the course of their investigation, which touches on the brutality of the Spanish forces fighting each other and the involvement or British citizens in the Spanish Civil War, and the Mitford family dysfunctions and privilege.
Simultaneously, Louise is contracted by a woman to find her missing sister in London. Louise begins her solo search, encountering police indifference, and secrets at the company the missing woman worked at. Eventually, there even appears to be a tenuous connection back to their main case.
This was interesting, especially from Fellowes’ weaving of real historical people and events into this story. She had me googling as I read (I always appreciate learning details about history). I also liked Fellowes’ Louise, a woman with an interesting and difficult past I shall have to read about when I eventually pick up book one in this series. And I guess that means that Fellowes’ got me interested enough in Louise to read about the Mitfords.
With regards to this book, I found myself less engaged while reading the first half of the book, when Louise and Guy track down a naïve, reckless and privileged young woman with little understanding of the consequences of her actions. I much preferred the second half of the book when Louise devotes her energy to finding the missing woman in London. The book and the characters felt more lively to me there, perhaps because Fellowes did not have to work as many real people into her narrative .
Thank you to Netgalley and to St Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.