Pages: 385
Published: 13th July 2017
Genre: Mystery
Content warnings: Missing child storyline, injury detail
When four sisters arrive at Applecote Manor to spend the summer, all is clearly not well.
They find their aunt and uncle still reeling from the disappearance of their only daughter, five years before. No one seems any closer to finding out the truth.
Why did Audrey vanish? Who is keeping her fate secret?
As the sisters are lured into the mystery of their missing cousin, the stifling summer takes a shocking, deadly turn.
One which will leave blood on their hands, and put another girl in danger decades later . . .
The extent of imagination in this book and the sheer level of depth found in its storytelling is really something to behold. Two richly detailed timelines that are filled with uniquely drawn, astutely developed characters make it a transportive experience amid a backdrop that is both wild and idyllic at the same time, as well as being an utterly absorbing read.
While there are numerous layers to this story and every single one of them provides ample intrigue, its primary theme centres on the loss of innocence and how family relationships are affected by tragic or life-changing events. Even in the more frivolous scenes there are dark undertones and a sense of foreboding, an atmosphere that is so well cultivated and carefully maintained throughout, in a way that leaves you somewhat in awe of the author’s craftsmanship.
The prologue is quite the eye-opener in two ways. Firstly, it tells us that the plot is leading us towards a dead body and four sisters conspiring to remove the evidence. This also means that the disappearance of Audrey is only one of the mysteries to unpick here, as it indeed takes place before the events of this book but still casts a powerful shadow over both storylines.
In some ways the present day events of Jessie finding her dream home feels quite removed from what happened years before, but seeing how the two children respond to the history of the house makes the other timeline lurk threateningly in the background. It is a clever way of enhancing the the strength of the concept, while also adding to the wild beauty of the setting.
Jessie is such a likeable character from the start and you really feel her pull towards the house, her enthusiasm infectious as she convinces her husband Will to abandon the city life for rural delights. But her resolve is tested by Bella, the rebellious stepdaughter whose reluctance to move and provocative obsession with Audrey’s long ago disappearance suddenly make the whole place seem less welcoming – especially when Romy is put in danger.
You really root for Jessie in these moments and are willing everything to work out for her, but aside from the secrets of the past, the main focus of this timeline is the growth of her relationship with Bella. It is a standard case of a teenage girl having to come to terms with her widowed father marrying someone else and at first, even being caring and good-natured is not enough for Jessie to get Bella on side, as we eventually learn that only Audrey’s legacy can bring them together. The road that Bella goes down in order to get there is a little frustrating, but the outcome is worth it.
All the time we spend with Jessie and her family is captivating, yet that only accounts for about a third of the book as the majority of it is taken up by the past timeline. This is told in the first person by Margot, one of four sisters who spend a formative and fateful summer at Applecote Manor with their aunt and uncle, who three years on are still bereft by the loss of their daughter Audrey.
Margot makes for a great narrator, more reserved and supposedly less glamorous than her two older sisters but still impressionable and full of strong emotions, particularly when Harry and Tom arrive on the scene. The most striking thing about her though is that resemblance to Audrey, and her willingness to give in when a clearly grieving Aunt Sybil casts her in the role of her vanished cousin. Despite the fact Margot never gives us a reason to doubt her earnestness, this is more than a little creepy.
Flora is the glamorous one, her elegance jumping from the page. Pam is far more practical and likes to boss the others around to an extent, but she also has a fun side. Then, following the three older siblings around we have Dot, filled with quiet strength and determination. Each sister is made to feel like a real person and they make for a very tight unit even amid the rivalry that surfaces when Harry and Tom come on the scene. As we see later on, they are more than capable of closing ranks.
There is a certain swagger about Harry in particular that makes him so attractive to the girls. They are young and naïve and enthralled by the possibilities that come from male company, a fact that becomes more arresting when we see events from Margot’s point of view. The two boys are affluent and without a care in the world, with the darkness that sits underneath it all very well concealed.
The exploration of loss in this book goes beyond Sybil and her trance-like ways. How the author approaches the character of Perry is in a more subtle yet equally effective way. Audrey’s parents spend a lot of time apart and the girls’ visit is like their salvation, with the happier moments they have together as a family as rare as they are wonderful to read.
Along with the characterisation, the quality of the writing is something that never lets up. There are moments of great literary refinement, details brimming with thought and worldly observation, the tone slightly more formal in the past timeline than in the present. And all the way through, the setting plays its part in giving you a lasting memory. Simultaneously we see how beautiful it is through the eyes of Jessie and how the house and estate serves as a summer playground for Margot and her sisters, while we are always aware of its tragic legacy.
Overall, this is a mystery containing all the depth you could possibly want. The two timelines were the ideal complement for each other and the characters all brought an immense amount to the story, pulling us into a setting that was a tantalising mix of ambience and menace. It truly feels that the author has created something so multi-layered here with powerful themes, that any reader will find at least one element to latch on to.
Eve Chase has published a number of bestselling novels over the past decade or more, and on the evidence of The Vanishing Of Audrey Wilde they a layered and rich with detail. Her debut was Black Rabbit Hall in 2015 and that has been followed by popular titles such as The Birdcage and The Glass House. Her 2024 release The Midnight Hour was a Richard and Judy Book Club pick and no.1 Kindle bestseller.
I bought this one after being taken in by the blurb, and unlike some books which turn out to be a bit of letdown, this was something of a gem. I adored the depth of this book and it is so well written with every character brought to life with great authenticity in both timelines.
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Stephen Reads Books 