One By One They Disappear

by Mike Lucas

One girl. Two identities. Three friends.
One disappears. One forgets. One remembers.
The truth will out. But which one?

Another deliciously creepy supernatural YA thriller that chills to the bone with imagined and real horrors.

Genres: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Historical, War, Friendship, Supernatural

403 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 21, 2024

About the author

Mike was born in Plymouth, England, and moved to Adelaide, Australia, in 2010.

His first picture book, Olivia’s Voice, was a CBCA Notable in 2018. Later that year, Vanishing, a book that discusses animal extinction, was published. Bad Herbert arrived in 2020. Let's Build a House, the first book in the Let’s Build series was published by Hachette Australia in April 2021. Let’s Build a Backyard followed in 2022. His first YA novel, What We All Saw, published in May 2022 by Penguin Australia, was shortlisted for the Readings Prize, the CBCA Awards and the Prime Minister's Literary Awards. A second YA novel will follow in May 2024. The Christmas Train was published by Little Hare in October 2023.

Mike has written and published several books of nonsense poetry, has had some work highly commended in magazines and contributed to Tadpoles in the Torrens, dedicated to Max Fatchen. He also had a poem selected by US Poet Laureate, Kenn Nesbitt, which appeared in One Minute Till Bedtime, published by Little Brown in the US and Australia in 2016, and another by Brian Moses in a 2021 Anthology with MacMillan UK.

Mike owns and helps to run a bookshop, Shakespeare's, in Blackwood, South Australia. Each year he writes a poem with the CBCA Book Week theme as a title. In 2017 and 2022 he was one of the main organisers of the Adelaide Festival of Children's Books. He has been awarded Honorary Membership of the CBCA SA.

He also works full time as an engineer and is a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. He is married with two grown up children, three cats and Holly the Bookshop Dog.

Mike has very little time to sleep, but often thinks up a poem or two while he does.

Reviews

[Meagan The Book Witch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outside, the sky above was clear and beautiful. The world below didn't care.

Okay, alright, buckle up guys.

Honestly, when I started this, I wasn't sure I'd love it. It's a slow burn, but like a true Gothic, once it starts, it just doesn't stop.

The story is told from the perspective of Hannah*, a young Jewish girl living in Germany in 1942.

After Hannah's situation turns dire, she's taken in by Aunt Maud, who lives in the mountains. With a broken leg and some plucky childhood courage, Hannah begins exploring her new surroundings. She mends clothes, makes friends, and tries desperately to hide her true identity. When an ominous fog rolls in, and one of her friends disappears without a trace, forgotten by everyone else who loves him, Hannah starts pulling at the threads of the mysteries surrounding the town.


spooooooky

I normally steer clear of books set during the holocaust, because there's only one way it'll go. This one, however, brought something entirely different to the table. World War II is the setting for the story, but honestly, it's about a lot more than that.

This story is woven together expertly. Each breadcrumb leads to a super satisfying payoff later on, and I just LOVE that. No irritating lose ends here! The last 15% of the book heralded a volley of "OH MY GOD"s from me.

The prologue alone set the whole tone for the book, and had me grinning from the delightful spookiness. I had to re-read it a few times before moving on to the main story. I especially loved the references to the Grimm brothers, and the whimsical fairytales entwined through the story.




The characters, are all great, and while some details and interactions feel a little superficial at times, the story moves at a perfect pace for the intended audience.

What We All Saw may still be my favourite, but this one definitely stands strong on it's own.



I was given a proof copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review


*Please note that at the time of reading, the main character was called Klara. I've been told it will be changed to Hannah at the time of publishing.

[Trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

reread for readers cup question writing

starts well, and ends with high tension and urgency.

(the middle is too long).

(just my opinion).

[Misha Palod · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was amazing, each day I TRIED to read a chapter before bed, but I literally couldn’t make it past a page without falling asleep. Better than any white noise or other sleep aid I've ever tried

[Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

I dont know what the fuck this book was and I did not enjoy the experience of reading it.
the blurb was so very vague, but in an intriguing way, so I figured what the hell, lets give it a go! and then I was full of confusion and regret.
I dont think adding a fantasy twist to Hitler is ever a good idea, but especially not at the end of an extremely confusing and bewildering plot.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really enjoyable book. It's an intriguing story and I love the fairytales aspect. After Hannah escapes the city, there is a period of set up, nothing really happens, Hannah is getting settled, making friends etc. But don't worry, it's not boring, the setup is essential. A wonderful story and so well told. Will definitely look at his other book.

[It'sPhoebe_duh*•.☆°•*. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, the second half of the book was very interesting and enjoyable, but it took so long to set up the story so the weight it all felt a bit unbalanced. I also found the elements of the big plot a bit confusing before all the dots connected. But I would recommend it! (I loved aunt maud she was great)

[Aaliyah Anastazia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars!

this took me a while to get into. the story starts off slow but eventually picks up and it had my full attention! i do feel like this was a slow burn as some parts felt too long and others had me hooked, but overall i enjoyed this. it was so thrilling to the point where i genuinely felt scared for some of the characters towards the end and how their situation would turn out. this story was so interesting and something different than what i’m usually interested in!

[Aussie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My notes:
- it was very slow burn at the start of this book .
- i love how Mike Lucas used references to the Grimm Brothers and fairytales entwined through the story
- i did enjoy it but it didnt make it to the 5 star list for me .

Book Summary:

When the fog comes, it stays, and everything disappears........
One girl
Two identities
Three friends
One disappear
One remembers
One forgets
There is truth in every tale
Find it

[The Book Squirrel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the start with the Brothers Grimm, and then the introduction to the setting and characters. It slows down a little, then, but picks up strongly with a supernatural mystery.
This gives a really interesting twist on psychology and the Holocaust.

I don't really like the "leave your body" plot. It's both convenient and unsettling.

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an intriguing story that had me gripped from quite early on.

I do have to say that you have to have some patience as the story does take a while to set up and get going, BUT, in my opinion, it was worth it.

It is one of those titles that, in my genrefied library, I wasn't quite sure where to locate it. Part historical fiction, part fairy tale, part mystery (I have ended up placing it in Mystery-Adventure) this follows the story of German-Jew Hannah, who lives in Stuttgart during World War 2. It starts off with a bit of an Anne Frank feel as Hannah and her family have to go into hiding, BUT when events take a turn for the worse, Hannah has to escape and go into hiding in the nearby mountains, clutching only a copy of Grimm's Fairy Tales and hiding her potentially deadly secret.

Hannah is taken in by the stern and scary Aunt Maud, but she gradually makes a couple of friends and they are able to explore the village together. But, there is always an edge to the story - and when children in the village start to disappear, and noone but Hannah remembers them, she decides to investigate.

This book IS worth the effort if you love a fairy tale woven into the fabric of a story. Be patient and reap the rewards.

[Palmer Flintoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had no idea what I was going into when I started. Firstly, it's set in Nazi Germany, which I had no idea of. But still, it was so intriguing. I love Hannah's growth as a character and the sort of full circle moment at the end. I also loved how it mixed history with an almost dystopian idea with the widespread hypnosis.

I have so much respect for Aunt Maud, and her taking Hannah in even once she met her and knew she wasn't Sofia. She did so much to protect her. The build up to the action was a little slow, but completely necessary and still interesting to read. Towards the end, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. This was unlike anything I've ever read before. I also love the tie in of the Brothers Grimm and the folklore behind the whole town.

This book made me forget I was reading and made me feel like I was there. I was terrified half the time as if I was experiencing everything first hand. It was amazing.

[Alisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spoilers ahead:
I really enjoyed this book, I was not expecting it to be a historical fiction set in WW2,.I was expecting a psychological thriller/mystery but I got both as well as a bit of fairytale mythology mixed in! The blend of WW2 with mythology and a suspensive mystery story was done so well. I loved how Mike Lucas used fairytale mythology to highlight the atrocities that occured in WW2 and if the Nazis trying to wipe out a whole culture. I loved the part where Herr Kessler told Sofia/Hannah that he did not shoot her as he liked her and the immediate hatred from him upon learning she was Jewish and her pointing out that this shows they are all the same and without the Star id David on their clothes even he cannot differentiate between them.
The friendship in the story between Sofia/Hannah, Josef and Elias was beautifully written.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story full of uncertainty and unexpected events that kept me wondering. There were memorable characters mentioned throughout the story, including Hannah’s parents. They were only mentioned at the start of the story however their significant impact in Hannah’s life was made clear by the end of the novel. The only problem I had was understanding the logic as to how the German radios had the ability to diminish people’s memories of their own children. The several references to fairytales throughout helped develop the plot and create the overall message to readers about being careful about who you trust.

[Brooklyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not your usual WWII story. Its told in a different kind of way with less of the killing and murder and human walking skeleton type of thing.
The book is also so far from what I imagined it would be from the blurb (It legit has like three words, so your imagination can go very far).
However, I do love that the Brothers Grimm and their tales are mentioned.

[Katie's Book Haven · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I started this book, I thought it had the most beautiful writing style, setting the scenes wonderfully.
Unfortunately, I quickly became bored with this slow paced story. I found it very hard to get into and connect with the characters. DNF.

[Chloe X Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG! I loved this book so muchhh ahh this book had me hooked all the way through I really recommend giving it a read the plot and characters were so amazing in my opinion and the fact in was set in ww2 and had other super interesting components made it even better !!

[Bayley Reynolds · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75