The Vanishing

by Venezia Miller

Renowned violinist Celeste Westerberg captivates audiences with her unparalleled talent and grace. But beneath the surface of her seemingly perfect life, a storm is brewing. In a shocking turn of events, she halts a performance, abandons her instrument, and leaps from the concert hall's rooftop, leaving the world reeling in disbelief.

The tragedy rattles not only the music world but also the police, who are forced to confront the possibility that Celeste's death might not be a simple suicide.

When a man mysteriously vanishes, the puzzle deepens.

The police investigation uncovers unsettling ties to a long-forgotten disappearance case and a circle of former classmates whose artistic ambitions never quite materialized. As Isa and Timo delve deeper, they have to navigate the shadowy realms of artistic ambition and the underbelly of the drug trade.

With time slipping away, Isa and Timo race against the clock to untangle the complex threads of deception before another life is lost.

The Vanishing is the spellbinding fifth installment in Venezia Miller’s acclaimed Nordic noir series. Perfect for fans of dark, twisty Swedish police procedurals and sophisticated psychological suspense, this novel plunges inspectors Isa Lindström and Timo Paikkala into the shadowy underbelly of the classical music elite.

mystery, nordic noir, suspense

334 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 1, 2024

About the author

Engineer by day, writer by night—that's how I would describe myself. Since childhood, I have been fascinated with how writers can create entire worlds with simple words and draw others into their stories. I remember spending my summer holidays as a teenager reading detective stories and trying to write my own tales in the style of Agatha Christie on an old typewriter (yes, I'm that old!).

In the evenings, I would read my freshly typed pages to my younger sister, always ending on a cliffhanger to keep her longing for more. Those were precious moments. But as I got older and my schedule filled up with a job, husband, and children, there was little time left for writing. Eventually, I realized that all those stories in my head had disappeared.

In 2020, at the start of the Covid pandemic, I decided to reignite my passion for writing and published my first novel, THE FIND, on Amazon. Since then, this has become a full-blown book series.

As a writer, I truly appreciate your feedback and reviews. I am still on a learning curve and can always do better.

I am grateful to all the readers who have taken the time to read my books.

Thank you, and I hope you enjoy the series.

Reviews

[Ken Fredette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really don't know what to think, the main characters had two to three lovers, both Isa and Timo were drawn to people that were killed or committed suicide as the story unfolds. They were close but never committed to each other as detectives. The ending really disturbs me, not knowing the outcome. That said, I thought the book was truly a wonderful read because of all the messed up people. It only goes to show how life could be.

[Livia · Rating 5 out of 5]

27 year old Celeste Westerburg , once a four old old child prodigy, is now a brilliant worldwide known violinist...After a five year hiatus, due to a breakdown , she is playing to a packed out audience in The Philharmonic Hall in Gavle ...But this will be a night that not only the theatre goers , but those that loved her will never forget ..when after her first set Celeste throws herself from the top of the building ..Sergeant Sylvia Ahgren , one of the first officers at the scene knew Celeste , once being a part of a group ' The Crearives ', a group of talented artists, musicians and dreamers ..When Sylvia tells Inspector Isla Lindstrom that part of her dosent believe Celeste's death was a suicide , at first Isla only believes in the findings of Dr.Emnaesson , an open and shut case ...But when a man is murdered and another goes missing ...as all the different threads come together,, Superintendent Tino Paikkala , Isla Lindstrom and the team know they must delve deep ..Black can appear white when the light is binding ..but white loses all its lustre at the faintest sign of darkness ...Absolutely Gripping Stunning writing ..I look forward to book six .. Breathtakingly Good ... en itsmarkt lashing ....

[Kyrsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this series and the way the characters are evolving. While it's centered on crime, the real draw is the development of the characters. I appreciate flawed characters, and it's fascinating to see them grow. Isa, who might seem irritating and unlikeable in the first books, becomes more understandable as her backstory unfolds. Her dynamic with Timo is particularly interesting, showcasing her growth and change in a unique and intriguing way. The series is incredibly addictive, leaving you longing for the next book as soon as you finish one. Very compelling character evolution and engaging storytelling.

[Sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

kindle - 4.5* - a really nice change from the political thriller this series was, this was just a good old fashioned crime with the same characters. Easier to follow and the review saying there was a lot going on should try and read the last couple of books in the series because now THAT was a lot going on lol. Really enjoyed this, hope the next one is like this and away from the political thriller characters that I was getting confused with. But I do just love this series, and can’t wait to read the next, this one ended on a right cliff hanger

[Shar Schmidt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, but…

…there was a lot going on. So many storylines. The kidnapper/murderer was an ok twist. But what happened to Jonathan, Isa’s stalker, Timo’s personal life, the Krachev family, Max’s relationship with Celeste…it was a lot for one book. I wish the author had focused on telling one story rather than multiple stories, the book would’ve been so much better. And are Swedish police officers this emotional?

[GREG MAYNES · Rating 5 out of 5]

This amazing Swedish crime saga continues.

I chose the rating as this novel was continually producing surprises while at tbe same time adding more & more depth to each of tbe main characters while I producing others. .oreover it still provided lots of links to regional & global events taking place in 2020's.

[Vina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tedious.

[Tricia Cruciotti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't wait for the next one

I now cannot wait for the next book! I love this series! Once you start them you can't put them down.

[jackie pivac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another roller coaster

I enjoy the complexity of the stories, and how the main characters have evolved over the 5 books in the series. Bring on Book 6.

[Bill Pye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Done it again

Surprising again. Complicated plot. And another cliffhanger. Buying next one. Too many changes,may be not sure. What can I say I am addicted to The Find books.