The Lady Vanishes

by Alison Sandy, Bryan Seymour, Sally Eeles

A much-loved mother, teacher and friend steps on a plane for an overseas adventure and is never seen again.


When Marion Barter disappeared in 1997, police initially dismissed it as the actions of a divorced mother abandoning her family. In this book, the creators of the addictive global hit podcast The Lady Vanishes detail the winding investigation into Marion's disappearance, from tentative early police efforts to her daughter's 27-year search for answers.

The Lady Vanishes is an engrossing story of how a small team of seasoned investigative journalists and storytellers, a daughter's intuition and a team of listener super-sleuths uncovered a web of intrigue spanning nine decades and three continents, and how - after 57 episodes, 20 million downloads and sparking a coronial inquiry - they discovered at the heart of the mystery a stranger-than-fiction international man of mystery who could hold the key to what really happened to Marion.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, Audiobook

400 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 15, 2024

Reviews

[Erin]

ARC for review. To be published April 25, 2025.

Marion Barter disappeared in 1997 and police thought the divorced mother had just up and abandoned her family. The why on this is not entirely clear. To me, this would be like my mother disappearing and the police deciding she just jetted off to start a new life and never contacting anyone again. Yeah, because exactly NOTHING in my mother’s life would ever make anyone believe she would actually do that.

Here, Marion was an award winning schoolteacher. She had been divorced, but she had two children she was fairly close to. There had been so-called sightings of her but these could be easily faked. It just sounds to me like the police couldn’t find her or find evidence of a crime, so they immediately defaulted to “she’s run away” versus “she’s missing and we don’t know why.”

But I don’t know this for sure. Because I quit the book about 20% in.

I honestly felt about guilty to Marion for giving up on it. It’s clear from the parts I did read that a few years ago there was a popular Australian podcast that picked up the cold case and they either know or think they know what happened to her now, thanks only to the continuing efforts of her daughter (daughters are the best. Sons? Useless. Mostly. They can probably reach high things and they save all their allowance money so, when they are kids, moms and daughters can conspire together to steal their cash from them to get Pizza Hut, not that that EVER happened in the Brewster household, sorry, TJ, I swear we planned to pay you back.)

So, anyway, the book seemed to be mostly about how to start a podcast from nothing (which, actually, was quite easy for this bunch considering they were all in the TV news business. Would be much harder from me, especially since I don’t think my brother has anything handy for me to steal this time) and a lot of repetition. Plus there were a lot of quick jumps back and forth over time, sometimes spanning decades. And it was just….I’m SO SORRY, Marion, a bit dull. I think the book may have been a lot about the podcast, which I gather was very popular.

If you know the podcast and/or the crime you may enjoy this. Otherwise I can’t recommend.

[Deanna Loves to Read!!:) · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a story about the disappearance of Marian, a teacher and mother. She supposedly took a trip to Europe, but after 2 months she was never heard from again.

I really wanted to read this story. However, it dragged and dragged. There is a lot of information on how the podcast in Australia based on this story was started. But as far as the case? Lots of information and interviews with family- but nothing to catch and keep my interest- it was slow. I almost didn’t finish- but persevered and now I’m done!

On a side note- the podcast under the same name has over a million listens, so maybe that’s better than the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper 360 publishing for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Diane in Australia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars = It definitely held my interest.

When Sally's mother, Marion, disappeared in 1997 she spent the next 27 years searching for her. Marion was last seen boarding an overseas flight at the airport in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. She was 51 years old. There are many twists and turns in this search, and the lacklustre performance of the police doesn't help at all.

There is a podcast, of the same name, which ran for 57 episodes, and had 20 million downloads. It also sparked a coronial inquiry. So, if you love podcasts, you might check that out, too.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, The Lady Vanishes, by Alison Sandy, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Marion Warren is missing and nobody seems to care, the school teacher is missing in Australia. This is a sad case, but interesting.

[Kate Cedras · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the story and the premise sound really interesting… and the podcast is probably great- this book just wasn’t it for me.

It felt like it dragged on and could have been cut down by 100 or so pages.

The story is really intriguing though and I did finish as I wanted to know the ending.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for my honest review.

[Sandra Guzdek · Rating 4 out of 5]

I followed the podcast The Lady Vanishes almost from the very beginning, riveted from week to week and extremely emotionally invested in Sally’s quest. I remember the jolt of shock hearing about the personal ad and then again at the start of the inquest when we first learned about a certain Ric Blum. The podcast was a wild ride from start to finish, and this book faithfully documents the entire thing. I appreciated reading through all of the details again, many of which I had forgotten. I think it’s fairly evident what happened to Marion Barter. My heart hurts for Sally and her family.

My only complaints (and “complaints” feels like far too strong a word) are that the narrative feels a bit clinical at times—which is almost understandable as the authors are professional journalists whose trade demands impartiality—and the choice of present tense as opposed to past is, to me, an odd one. However, these are super minor, and if you followed the podcast, I think you’ll appreciate and enjoy this read.

[Chelsea Pittman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately, the story wasn’t interesting enough for me. As an avid reader, I always know when I’m not loving a book because instead of a day or two it takes me weeks to get through a book. This is caused by having a small desire to actually pick it back up.

The story is sad, of course, and I appreciate effort put into research and any resolution that podcasts and books like this can help a case.

Thank you to NetGalley, Alison Sandy, and Harper 360 for the opportunity to read it. I have written this review voluntarily and honestly.

[Dani Trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sad but in depth account of Marion’s disappearance. Definitely going to be checking out the podcast. Loved the way the book was formatted with interview and phone call descriptions.

[Shaun Ferguson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good lord, could this podcast have gone on any longer? So much repetition. Yes, fascinating and compelling, but far far too long.

[Stephanie Dirou · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a fan of the podcast you will really enjoy this. After listening to the podcast for 5 years it is great to have all the information compiled in one book

[Xanthi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this on audiobook format.
I’m into true crime podcasts but somehow this one slipped past me. I had never heard of it until I stumbled across the book.
There’s a lot of detail involved in this story , with many twists and turns. The man at the centre is obviously a diabolical psychopath who used and abused many women for his gain.
Whilst listening, I had to check myself a few times because I wondered how these women could be so gullible? Marion Barter was described as someone who felt she needed a man in her life, and was married and divorced three times. Despite being educated and intelligent she didn’t come across as being emotionally mature. But then I reminded myself that she was an innocent victim and undeserving of her fate, regardless of her poor decision making. I can’t, however, help feel saddened and frustrated by what the consequences of her decisions and actions had on her daughter, who had invested so much time, effort and heartache, into finding out what happened to her. This book very much felt to be just as much about her as her mother.
The police bungling and the bureaucratic roadblocks would have been maddening.
As an aside… I found the attitudes of Marion’s sisters incredibly dismissive and uncaring. It was one thing for Marion’s daughter trying to get authorities to treat the case as a missing person, but she also had to contend with her aunts’ failure to admit something was terribly wrong and their lack of support in trying to get to the truth. That was truly hard to hear.

[Hope Harbeck · Rating 1 out of 5]

I do not recommend this book.
I read this book for our Book Club and is the only reason I finished it. I don’t like to give up on a book if it’s for book club. We thought the premise of this book sounded interesting.
But, I didn’t like it. It was a drudge getting through it. It dragged on and on with lots of info repeated multiple times. Typically I read a book in 2 or 3 days. This one took me 9 days!

[Claire Mawdesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely superb. Had me hooked!

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Marion Barter was a devoted teacher who abruptly left the profession that had been her passion months after receiving the Queensland’s “Teacher of the Year” award. Marion suddenly sold her home at a loss and told family and friends that she planned to embark on a year-long trip to Europe. She was last seen at Brisbane airport on June 22, 1997, but she called her family and wrote postcards from abroad.

Unbeknownst to her daughter, Sally, Marion (or someone impersonating her) secretly returned to Australia in August of 1997 under a fantastical new name, “Florabella Natalia Marion Remakel,” although someone sent postcards from the UK to Marion’s family on Marion’s behalf. Marion’s failure to contact her son, Owen, for his birthday in October 1997 caused Sally to investigate her mother’s bank accounts, leading to the discovery that her accounts had been drained of tens of thousands of dollars over a number of weeks, primarily from a branch in New South Wales.

The police and several family members concluded that Marion wished to start a new life without her family and friends, but Sally believed that her mother had met with foul play. Marion did not attend Sally’s wedding, she never met her three grandchildren, she didn’t attend the funerals of either of her parents nor did she say goodbye to her son, Owen, who took his own life in 2002. Not only did Marion fail to reach out to anyone in all those years, but there’s no trace of her being alive. The activity on her bank accounts and other records ceased in late 1997. Sally dispirited by the litany of administrative and investigative failing, ultimately reaches out to journalists which, in turn, leads to a podcast, “The Lady Vanishes,” which aired its first episode on April 2019 and became a hit with over 20 million listens.

Although the story itself if gripping, the book suffers from unnecessary detail that slows the narrative. The author, for example, reports on interviews with Southport School staff whose meager contribution to the tale was that Marion was “theatrical” in her job interview and that her home looked as if it were lifted from a Laura Ashley catalogue. There is also much attention paid to the efforts of amateur sleuths. The same facts are repeated over and over again as if the reader is not being attentive. The book also relives the making of the podcast. Perhaps this will be of interest to fans of the podcast, but for those readers who are not familiar with the case, it delays the denouement. Thank you Harper Collins and Net galley for an advanced copy of this true crime book.

[J Kromrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Alison Sandy’s The Lady Vanishes is a riveting true crime memoir that delves into the mysterious disappearance of Marion Barter, a beloved mother, teacher, and friend who vanished without a trace in 1997. This book, co-authored with Bryan Seymour and Sally Eeles, is an extension of the popular podcast of the same name, and it offers a comprehensive and compelling narrative that will captivate true crime enthusiasts.

The story begins with Marion Barter boarding a plane for an overseas adventure, only to disappear under suspicious circumstances. Initially dismissed by police as a case of a divorced mother abandoning her family, Marion’s disappearance becomes a decades-long mystery. The book chronicles the tireless efforts of Marion’s daughter, Sally Leydon, and a dedicated team of investigative journalists as they uncover a web of intrigue spanning nine decades and three continents. 

The strength of The Lady Vanishes lies in its deeply human portrayal of those involved in the search for Marion. Sally Leydon’s relentless pursuit of the truth is heartbreaking yet inspiring. Her determination to find her mother, despite numerous setbacks and dead ends, is a testament to her love and resilience. 

Sandy’s writing is clear and engaging, effectively blending narrative storytelling with investigative journalism. The book is meticulously researched, with each chapter revealing new twists and turns in the investigation. The authors manage to maintain a sense of suspense throughout, making it difficult to put the book down. 

The Lady Vanishes explores themes of loss, perseverance, and the quest for justice. It highlights the emotional toll of a loved one’s disappearance and the impact on those left behind. The book also examines the challenges of investigating cold cases and the importance of never giving up hope. 

Overall, The Lady Vanishes is a compelling and thought-provoking read that will appeal to fans of true crime and investigative journalism. Alison Sandy, Bryan Seymour, and Sally Eeles have crafted a narrative that is both informative and emotionally resonant. The book serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring impact of unresolved disappearances and the importance of seeking justice for those who can no longer speak for themselves.

[kylie · Rating 3 out of 5]

We follow the TLV team through not only their reporting and investigation but also Marian's life story that abruptly ended when she vanished in 1997. Some say she was impulsive and individualistic,
Abandoning her family without a second thought. Others think that was a rouse and there was more happening behind the scenes.

While I thought the narrative storytelling and organization was done well, there was too much copy/paste Q&A from the courtroom. When there's too much of it, it's easy to get lost in it and glaze over. I also thought there was too much inconsistency on names (not just *his* names). Specifically, last and first names were used interchangeably often to reference people which became confusing, especially when many of the last names were either similar to other's first names or just in themselves could also be common first names. Consistency would have been appreciated.

**I received my copy from Netgalley.

[Britney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy.

As a listener of The Lady Vanishes podcast, I was excited to read the compilation of the investigation into Marion Barter's disappearance. However, as I delved into this book, I realized it was basically a transcribed written version of the podcast. Given the nature of it being heavily dialogue-based from interviews, it was difficult to get through. Moreover, the chapters didn't flow smoothly from one to the next. The reader had to connect a lot of dots.

The story is definitely interesting and there was a lot of work that went into the investigation for the very successful podcast; I just didn't think it translated well into a book format in the way that it was written. It needed to be written as a standalone book--not as a podcast transcribed.

[Erinn Jarvis-McMahon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found The Lady Vanishes to be a deeply moving and thought-provoking read. I didn’t know much about Marion Barter before, so for me the story felt fresh and full of mystery. It’s the kind of true crime book that doesn’t just shock you with what happened, but also with what could have been done differently. The human cost — the guilt, the uncertainty, the decades of waiting — is portrayed transparently and painfully.

Unlike some true crime books that can feel repetitive or drawn out, I had no issues with the way this was written. I was fully invested in the story, and each time I picked it up I found myself reading through multiple chapters before I even thought about stopping.

It’s one of those books that makes you think about missing persons cases not just as “cases,” but as lives ruptured, families changed, and systems that sometimes fail the most vulnerable.

[Amanda ( boookstamanda ) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lady Vanishes by Alison Sandy pulled me in quickly with its classic missing-person setup and steadily tightening sense of unease. The story balances investigation and atmosphere well, layering clues in a way that kept me guessing while slowly revealing the emotional undercurrents driving the mystery.

What really worked for me was the way the tension built over time. The plot stayed focused, the stakes felt personal, and the reveals were satisfying without being overly convoluted. It’s not a flashy, twist-every-chapter kind of thriller, but it’s confident in its storytelling and rewards patience with a strong payoff.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝗩𝗶𝗯𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸:
🕵️‍♀️ classic mystery vibes
🧩 clue-driven plotting
🌫️ slow-burn suspense

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗳:
you prefer nonstop twists over a more measured, atmospheric mystery.

Big thanks to Harper 360 for the gifted eARC!

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1997 Marion Barter disappeared. “The Lady Vanishes” is the story of how a small team of seasoned investigative journalists and Marion’s daughter tries to solve the mystery of what happened to Marion. Along the way the team web of crimes spanning nine decades and three continents, and an international man of mystery who could hold the key to what really happened to Marion.

I read this book hearing Alison Sandy’s voice. I started listening to the podcast of the same name on episode 4 or 5 and was hooked. When the book was announced I knew I was going to read it, since I miss the podcast. If you followed the pod it’s a must read, if you like true crime it is a must read!

Thank you NetGalley and Harper 360. #TheLadyVanishes #NetGalley

[Chelsea · Rating 1 out of 5]

I loved the podcast so perhaps this is best suited to those who don’t know the story, but either way it’s quite a boring overview of the story. Much longer than it needs to be. Also, the audiobook version is extremely hard to listen to with poorly faked accents throughout. With the success of The Lady Vanishes podcast, it’s pretty disappointing that those new to Marion’s story have this as their introduction. If you have the option, skip the book and skip to the catch up episodes of the original podcast.

[Rex Fausett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite aq story. A true heartbreaker and the tale of a serial fraudster who knows what happened to Sally's mother. I hope that eventually Blum will be sent away for life for a number of reasons, chiefly because he has demonstrated that is a despicable human being, a sociopath and possibly a murderer.

[Bert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gosh this book had me hooked. This is a very heartbreaking story, and the villain is just so evil, even worse because it’s all true. I haven’t listened to the podcast so I went into this completely blind and I was stunned when reading, audibly gasping not even joking. I love some Aussie true-crime.

[Jenna Chambers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid read for those who enjoyed the podcast and want a concise summary of this incredible story! Much more succinct than the podcast which is itself a huge time commitment. 8/10 because the numerous direct excerpts from the coroner’s inquest felt a touch lazy.

[Kirah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sleeper hit for me. I was completely unaware of this case and the podcast when I started the book but was riveted by the end. It was fascinating to see everything play out in real time and seeing each new piece of evidence come to light. Highly recommend!

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perhaps this is better as a book but as an audiobook it is too long and disjointed, there is no storyline to follow and it just becomes a collection of facts. I think would have been much more interesting as a podcast.

[Lyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very intriguing missing persons case. I found it a bit of a difficult read because it mostly comprises of podcast interviews. However, a fascinating case and I hope someone can discover what happened to Marion.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I followed the podcast on this subject for years and I really enjoyed the behind the scenes look at the podcasting team. I knew they were committed but had no idea! I think the podcast plus the book is a great combination, but I think the book alone would be very interesting.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I e given this 4 stars because of the sheer amount of work that went into compiling the podcasts from which this novel was created. It’s a very sad story but needed to be aired as a warning that if a relationship feels odd, then it probably is. I hope the family get justice one day.

[Cynthia Sillitoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

As others have said, the extraordinary podcast is the most encyclopedic source for the case.

This book focuses more on what it took Sally and the podcast team to create the podcast, a little bit about the investigation, and the coronial inquest.