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debtat2's review
4.0
Set on dual timelines the main story takes place in 1942 during the war whilst the other is set in 1918 and follows the lives of two 8 year old best friends, Frances and Wyn.
1918 – Frances and Wyn are inseparable, they do everything together. Whilst out playing the girls hear of an old haunted house that used to house the city’s lepers, and as every young child would, they decide to go and investigate. But it wasn’t ghosts they found, the ghost turned out to be a frightened young foreign man, Johannes who is in hiding. And then something terrible happens. Wyn goes missing.
1942 – Bath has come under attack and bombs are being dropped across the city. As the clear up operation begins the following morning the remains of a young child, long dead is discovered. Wyn’s body.
The finding of Wyn’s body after all these years has brought back memories for Frances. Repressed memories that she wasn’t even aware of until now. As the memories slowly bubble to the surface Frances knows there is something important that she needs to remember if she is ever going to finally find out what happened all those years ago on the day her best friend went missing.
As well as the bomb that unearthed the body of Wyn, on that same night a young 6 year old boy, Davy goes missing, Wyn’s nephew that Frances was babysitting. Wracked with guilt Frances frantically searches the city for Davy as well as searching her mind for her missing memories.
With a host of other characters, Frances family and our introductions to the rest of Wyn’s family it seems as though someone else may know more about Wyn’s disseverance than they are letting on. But who and why?
With a dual mystery, a murder, a missing child, a city being bombed and even some romance this is a multi layered, cleverly plotted book filled with a great cast of characters. Frances character is written so well that you can’t help but to feel for her and become completely invested in her story and the old heart strings get a few tugs along the way!
A heartachingly, provocative page turner of a book and her best work to date.
https://debbiesbookreviews.wordpress.com/2019/06/07/the-disappearance-by-katherine-webb/
1918 – Frances and Wyn are inseparable, they do everything together. Whilst out playing the girls hear of an old haunted house that used to house the city’s lepers, and as every young child would, they decide to go and investigate. But it wasn’t ghosts they found, the ghost turned out to be a frightened young foreign man, Johannes who is in hiding. And then something terrible happens. Wyn goes missing.
1942 – Bath has come under attack and bombs are being dropped across the city. As the clear up operation begins the following morning the remains of a young child, long dead is discovered. Wyn’s body.
The finding of Wyn’s body after all these years has brought back memories for Frances. Repressed memories that she wasn’t even aware of until now. As the memories slowly bubble to the surface Frances knows there is something important that she needs to remember if she is ever going to finally find out what happened all those years ago on the day her best friend went missing.
As well as the bomb that unearthed the body of Wyn, on that same night a young 6 year old boy, Davy goes missing, Wyn’s nephew that Frances was babysitting. Wracked with guilt Frances frantically searches the city for Davy as well as searching her mind for her missing memories.
With a host of other characters, Frances family and our introductions to the rest of Wyn’s family it seems as though someone else may know more about Wyn’s disseverance than they are letting on. But who and why?
With a dual mystery, a murder, a missing child, a city being bombed and even some romance this is a multi layered, cleverly plotted book filled with a great cast of characters. Frances character is written so well that you can’t help but to feel for her and become completely invested in her story and the old heart strings get a few tugs along the way!
A heartachingly, provocative page turner of a book and her best work to date.
https://debbiesbookreviews.wordpress.com/2019/06/07/the-disappearance-by-katherine-webb/
kimcheel's review
4.0
This is the second book of Katherine Webb's that I've read - actually listened to, and I quite enjoyed it. There were some stark similarities to The Legacy, that critically speaking are kind of annoying - specifically both protagonists searching through hidden memories due to trauma, but I find she writes those moments so well that I actually don't care as a reader. If you write something well, do it often. I'll definitely be pursuing her other books.
thebooktrail88's review
4.0
Visit the locations in the book
I do love a Katherine Webb novel. They've been set in rural houses, secrets in the mist and historically intriguing and this latest one is no different. Inspired by the Bath Blitz, it's more of a war story this time and there's less intrigue and stunning settings in the countryside, but it's typical Webb with its full formed characters and wonderful writing.
The novel is set firmly in the war-torn city where bombs are raining down on the streets and houses in and around Holloway and Beechen Road. This history of the city really helps bring the time to life as you feel the fear, the shock and the horror of the war. Houses bombed and destroyed, the fear of having having to flee into the air raid shelter when you hear the sirens.
The people of Bath try to lead normal lives but one night, a girl goes out for some time on her own and when she gets to her friends house, it’s been destroyed and is now a pile of rubble. Missing people and the unknown were common sadly at that time, and the fear and uncertainty of the time mean that it was very hard to get any real answers about missing people and/or accidents.
The author is keen to point out that the story is inspired by the Bath Blitz but it’s not a fictional account by any means. Many of the events are based on real ones but the people with speaking parts in the novel are fictional.
The Leper Hospital which is such a part of the novel was located on Holloway with the St Mary Magdalene Chapel. The poor workhouse was also a sad feature of the Victorian times and earlier.
A mystery of a girl and a child told across time reveal the confusion of war and a city trying to come to terms with its past.
I do love a Katherine Webb novel. They've been set in rural houses, secrets in the mist and historically intriguing and this latest one is no different. Inspired by the Bath Blitz, it's more of a war story this time and there's less intrigue and stunning settings in the countryside, but it's typical Webb with its full formed characters and wonderful writing.
The novel is set firmly in the war-torn city where bombs are raining down on the streets and houses in and around Holloway and Beechen Road. This history of the city really helps bring the time to life as you feel the fear, the shock and the horror of the war. Houses bombed and destroyed, the fear of having having to flee into the air raid shelter when you hear the sirens.
The people of Bath try to lead normal lives but one night, a girl goes out for some time on her own and when she gets to her friends house, it’s been destroyed and is now a pile of rubble. Missing people and the unknown were common sadly at that time, and the fear and uncertainty of the time mean that it was very hard to get any real answers about missing people and/or accidents.
The author is keen to point out that the story is inspired by the Bath Blitz but it’s not a fictional account by any means. Many of the events are based on real ones but the people with speaking parts in the novel are fictional.
The Leper Hospital which is such a part of the novel was located on Holloway with the St Mary Magdalene Chapel. The poor workhouse was also a sad feature of the Victorian times and earlier.
A mystery of a girl and a child told across time reveal the confusion of war and a city trying to come to terms with its past.
gretainthedreamland's review
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
catayane's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jthbooks's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book! It’s Katherine Webb at her finest! 8 books in and she’s only getting better.
This story had everything. Brilliantly researched historical fiction, mystery, romance. I took at guess at the ending and I completely wrong! I love that! But it made sense.
I read this book slowly to enjoy all the details. It’s such a page turner, kept me guessing till the end. Great characters, beautiful descriptions and so atmospheric.
This story had everything. Brilliantly researched historical fiction, mystery, romance. I took at guess at the ending and I completely wrong! I love that! But it made sense.
I read this book slowly to enjoy all the details. It’s such a page turner, kept me guessing till the end. Great characters, beautiful descriptions and so atmospheric.
annarella's review
5.0
A gripping book, well written and fascinating. I liked the descriptions of the historical background, the fleshed out cast of characters, and the plot with its double timeline.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
aditurbo's review
4.0
Good suspense-historical fiction. I learned a lot about the bombing of Bath during WWII, and enjoyed the solid characters and story.
oneofthefoxes's review against another edition
4.0
Irgendwie kompliziert, aber 3,75 Sterne trifft es besser lol
Ich fand den Roman dagegen tatsächlich spannend, obwohl man meiner Meinung nach doch recht schnell weiß, wer schuld an Wyns tod hat. Für mich lag der Fokus gar nicht so sehr auf der Frage wer, sondern eher darauf Was Francis in ihrer Kindheit verdrängt hat. Welchen Einfluss die Ereignisse noch immer auf ihr Leben haben. Genau das fand ich glaubwürdig und gelungen erzählt.
Etwas übertrieben fand ich aber, das Davie, Wyns Neffe verschwindet. Das war irgendwie für die eigentliche Handlung total unnötig. Es hat die Geschichte nicht wirklich vorangebracht und ich empfand das sogar irgendwie künstlich. Auch wenn dadurch ziemlich leicht offengelegt wird, warum Francis eigentlich noch Kontakt zur Familie ihrer besten Freundin hat. Denn auf mich wirkte das im ersten Moment auch irgendwie seltsam, weil sie eigentlich nur mit Wyn befreundet war, aber nicht mit deren großen Schwester.
Trotzdem, dieser Aspekt hätte auch anders aufgezeigt werden können. Es wirkte eben nach einer erzwungenen Parallele, zu Mal ja Wyns Skelett gefunden wird (kein Spoiler, das erzählt auch der Klappentext und es passiert auch recht früh in der Handlung). Denn eigentlich bringt, bei genauerer Betrachtung, erst dieser Punkt Francis dazu , ihre lang vergrabenen Erinnerungen wieder ans Licht zu holen.
Man muss es schon mögen, das die Handlung sich nicht so stark auf ein Wer fokussiert, es geht mehr darum, wie Francis schließlich ihre Erinnerungen zurück bekommt und sich einer Wahrheit stellt, die für sie sehr schmerzhaft ist. Auch die Frage von Schuld steht im Raum, Francis Gefühle fand ich hier sehr gut dargestellt.
Anstrengender fand ich ein paar Verwicklungen, die einfach irgendwie irrelevant waren. So auch weitere romantische Gefühle der Hauptfigur, weil auch das ein bisschen so wirkte, als ob die Autorin glaubte, sie müsse nun auch diesen Aspekt mit einbringen. Für mich hätte die Geschichte auch ohne diesen Punkt funktioniert. Aber gut. Am Ende hat mir vor allem der Weg hin zur Lösung gefallen, während ich die Auflösung selbst ein bisschen als Nebensache empfunden habe, weil es einfach klar war, das nur ein sehr kleiner Kreis an Personen als Täter*in in Frage kam. Und mein Bauchgefühl hatte mich tatsächlich nicht im Stich gelassen. Wobei ich vermute, das es auch daran liegt, das ich einfach die Konstruktion der Geschichte durchschaut habe, nicht zwangsläufig durch gezieltes Hinweise Sammeln.
Ich fand den Roman dagegen tatsächlich spannend, obwohl man meiner Meinung nach doch recht schnell weiß, wer schuld an Wyns tod hat. Für mich lag der Fokus gar nicht so sehr auf der Frage wer, sondern eher darauf Was Francis in ihrer Kindheit verdrängt hat. Welchen Einfluss die Ereignisse noch immer auf ihr Leben haben. Genau das fand ich glaubwürdig und gelungen erzählt.
Etwas übertrieben fand ich aber, das Davie, Wyns Neffe verschwindet. Das war irgendwie für die eigentliche Handlung total unnötig. Es hat die Geschichte nicht wirklich vorangebracht und ich empfand das sogar irgendwie künstlich. Auch wenn dadurch ziemlich leicht offengelegt wird, warum Francis eigentlich noch Kontakt zur Familie ihrer besten Freundin hat. Denn auf mich wirkte das im ersten Moment auch irgendwie seltsam, weil sie eigentlich nur mit Wyn befreundet war, aber nicht mit deren großen Schwester.
Trotzdem, dieser Aspekt hätte auch anders aufgezeigt werden können. Es wirkte eben nach einer erzwungenen Parallele, zu Mal ja Wyns Skelett gefunden wird (kein Spoiler, das erzählt auch der Klappentext und es passiert auch recht früh in der Handlung). Denn eigentlich bringt, bei genauerer Betrachtung, erst dieser Punkt Francis dazu , ihre lang vergrabenen Erinnerungen wieder ans Licht zu holen.
Man muss es schon mögen, das die Handlung sich nicht so stark auf ein Wer fokussiert, es geht mehr darum, wie Francis schließlich ihre Erinnerungen zurück bekommt und sich einer Wahrheit stellt, die für sie sehr schmerzhaft ist. Auch die Frage von Schuld steht im Raum, Francis Gefühle fand ich hier sehr gut dargestellt.
Anstrengender fand ich ein paar Verwicklungen, die einfach irgendwie irrelevant waren. So auch weitere romantische Gefühle der Hauptfigur, weil auch das ein bisschen so wirkte, als ob die Autorin glaubte, sie müsse nun auch diesen Aspekt mit einbringen. Für mich hätte die Geschichte auch ohne diesen Punkt funktioniert. Aber gut. Am Ende hat mir vor allem der Weg hin zur Lösung gefallen, während ich die Auflösung selbst ein bisschen als Nebensache empfunden habe, weil es einfach klar war, das nur ein sehr kleiner Kreis an Personen als Täter*in in Frage kam. Und mein Bauchgefühl hatte mich tatsächlich nicht im Stich gelassen. Wobei ich vermute, das es auch daran liegt, das ich einfach die Konstruktion der Geschichte durchschaut habe, nicht zwangsläufig durch gezieltes Hinweise Sammeln.