The Vanishing by Susanna Kearsley

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What a terrific novel! I fell completely into the world of 1680s Scotland, where Sergeant Adam Williamson is assigned to investigate the validity of a marriage claim on behalf of his superior, Lieutenant Turnbull. Lily Aitcheson has claimed that she is the widow of Jamie Graeme, the son of an aristocratic Scottish family, who had died while in service related to the Darien Settlement. As he investigates, Adam tries to stay objective. Still, he gets drawn into the complexities of Lily's life and the intrigue around the Jacobite uprising, the dissolution of the Scottish parliament and the misuse of the Equivalent Fund.


I enjoy dual time period books and the transitions between the two periods (the 1680s and 1707) were smooth and precise. I also appreciated the historical descriptions of religious, political and social tensions and the illustration of social classes and life in Edinburgh during that period. Not just for women like Lily but also for the military life experienced by Adam. Kearsley masterfully builds the picture of Lily's life. The descriptions are rich yet not overboard. I felt like I was in the room with them on their investigations as the tale completely transports you. The characters are well constructed and believable, and the plot twists! Wow.


One of my favourite books is Bellman & Black by Diane Setterfield, and this novel had a lot of similarities in the gothic mood. I highly recommend it - and I have already told my family and friends to read it!

Thanks to Netgalley for the review copy!

 


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