The Vanishing Act

Mallory Dawson #3

by Sarah Ward

Everyone in the family had a secret. Which one has proved deadly? When Mallory Dawson gets a call from a former colleague, Elsa, describing a strange scene, she initially thinks nothing of it. The teenage cleaner had gone into clean a holiday cottage in the forest to find a kettle boiling on the Aga, sandwiches half made and the family who were renting it gone.

DI Harri Evans, however, has a story about the place from the time he was in uniform. He was called out to a girl with scratches down her face claiming someone unseen had attacked her.

When the father of the missing family is found dead in their hire car there is an urgent hunt for the rest of the family. But their identities are false and there's no hint of their history. How are the past and present connected?

A tense and atmospheric Welsh crime thriller. Perfect for fans of Clare Mackintosh and Fiona Cummins.

Genres: Crime, Mystery, Thriller

310 pages, Paperback

Published July 4, 2024

Reviews

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read a few books from this author, Mallory Dawson receives a call from Elsa she cleans holiday cottages,she was cleaning and found one of cottages and was concerned leaving leftover sandwiches and something was left burning..the family disappeared the father was found dead in a car.but no sign of the family..what happened to them? A good read.so my rating is 3.5..

[Heather Coffee_Kindle · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this is the third book in the Mallory Dawson Crime Thriller series and I have actually read these all and in order... (very unusual for me to get that right haha).

I have enjoyed the previous two books, so was looking forward to this one and I wasn't disappointed. And I think the story and the writing gives enough back story that you could read this as a standalone book.

The story is of a family of 5 who vanish from their holiday home in a remote area of Wales which the cleaner of the property notices is under strange circumstances. The cleaner Elsa knows Mallory and calls her as she is concerned for the family.

Through the book it becomes apparent that the house has a past which involves alleged poltergeists and strange happenings when a family lived their back in 2003 3 siblings and their hippy parents.

Leaving Mallory and DI Harri Evans to investigate the disappearance of the family and trying to see if there is a connection between what is happening now and the houses history, sue to the unexplained events.

I really enjoyed this book and thought it followed on nicely from the last book, I enjoy the returning characters and feel very comfortable and confident when they are involved in the story. The settings are well described and I really enjoy the atmosphere created and all the tension, with the building of the plot and the story, along with the twists and turns you expect from a good mystery.

My main niggle is the constant referencing of Welsh language TV and Radio, I don't think it's always necessary to mention, although it is very comforting to read and be immersed in the Welsh language in this book.

I hope there are more books to come in this series as I feel so invested in Mallory, her son Toby and DI Harri Evans stories I want to know how their relationships progress.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for this ARC.

Reviews also published on:
Coffee and Kindle Blog
The StoryGraph
Amazon

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books where I come away with the certainty that I was not made out to be a detective. You know the ones? Where you feel the clues should be right there for you to pick up on but you just don’t see them.

How does an entire family of five disappear from a holiday cottage in such a rush that they forget the kettle, or to unplug hair appliances? This is the question Mallory Dawson is faced with. Although no longer an active member of the police force, Mallory is still a super sleuth and she loves to be involved in solving cases.

Things quickly take a turn for the worse when the father of the family is found dead in his car. But when police work reveals the father was using fake identity to rent the car and the cottage, the investigation into the disappearance might just come to an end before it’s even begun. Initially, DI Harri Evans doesn’t seem to need Mallory’s help. He is convinced the answers lie in the past. After all, this isn’t the first time he’s been called out to this very house. 

'The Vanishing Act' is full of intrigue from the very first page. The family's disappearance presents detectives and the reader with a humongous riddle. Even the interviews that are conducted, done extremely well, only seemed to add to my confusion instead of clearing things up. I definitely feel that, with my vast chair detective experience, I should have picked up on some clues but many things completely passed me by and I failed to see the bigger picture.

I very much appreciate how Sarah Ward combines Mallory's private life with her professional one, and also shows how difficult it is for Mallory to find a healthy balance in the way she treats her son while he struggles with his mental health. Mallory's personal circumstances have steadily been going downhill since we first met her. Currently, she finds herself living in a one bedroom caravan. It'll be interesting to see where she goes next but I'm absolutely rooting for something fabulous to come her way.

Sarah Ward is one of those authors who never lets you down. In my most humble opinion, the series featuring Connie Childs is still her best work but I always know that I will not be disappointed when I pick up a book by her. And 'The Vanishing Act' certainly didn't disappoint. Once you realise what's going on, the tension definitely goes up a notch. There are a lot of secrets and lies to uncover from the family's past, and there are even some who wonder if there might not be something supernatural about it all.

I thoroughly enjoyed 'The Vanishing Act' and for fans of Mallory and Harri who are maybe wanting a little something more ... well, let's just say I'm very much looking forward to the next instalment in the series.

[Laura Legere · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book (TBR July 4th, 2024)
I really enjoyed this book! The writing was really well done. the author did a very good job at keeping me hooked to find out what was going to happen, and revealed just enough at the right times to keep me hooked. I do not usually enjoy books from cop perspectives, however, in this book I had no problem with it! It also touched on supernatural, but not enough to turn me off from the story.

However, I felt like I was left with a lot of questions at the end. I would have liked to know WHY all of this happened. A deeper look into the past would have satisfied me in the end.

Overall! I do recommend this author and will keep an eye out for future books

[Mol Aspinwall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in a day - enjoyed the book, but don’t read the start at night…got scared and had to keep the light on for a bit…

Overall - enjoyed and kept me guessing who it was, but unsure how I feel on the ending … hence the 3 stars

[Yvonne (It's All About Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished reading: June 16th 2024

"I think all the bad blood spilled out that afternoon."

*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Canelo Crime in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***

REVIEW

I enjoyed my first two meetings with Mallory Dawson, so of course I couldn't resist adding book number three The Vanishing Act to my shelves. Add the fact that the blurb sounded fascinating with a family disappearing without a trace, the false identities and the hint at the paranormal, and I've been looking forward to read it. I have to say that this story hit the right spot for me again! Book two was a bit slower and less engaging for me, but The Vanish Act raises the stakes again and delivers us a suspenseful and truly intriguing ride.

The Vanishing Act can quite easily be read as a stand-alone without missing out on too much, although I do have to say that you might not understand certain references and character dynamics. Spoilers might also be found for certain developments on a personal level... So if you are planning to read the whole series, it's best to do so in order. That said, the case discussed in The Vanishing Act completely stands on its own, and it's a fascinating one at that with the family disappearing from a holiday cottage in the middle of a forest, seemingly without a trace... And that same Welsh cottage having a dark past.

This sequel switches back between past and present as we explore both the missing family and their secrets as well as what exactly happened inside that same cottage to give it its reputation. The events set in 2003 give the story a bit of a paranormal/supernatural vibe, and I loved how this element was incorporated into the plot without it being too overpowering. Nothing concrete is said about the events being either made up or in fact something not natural, and this gives the story the perfect ominous atmosphere without truly venturing into the fantasy genre. In fact, it's more of a Welsh myth/folklore vibe?

While it was great to meet up with Mallory, Harri and the rest again, I could appreciate that the main focus was on the disappearance and the events in 2003 this time around. It helped preventing the pace from slowing down too much, and there were so many secrets to unravel in past and present that the personal developments would have distracted other wise. Most of the characters are flawed and they all have their issues, but again the focus was mostly on the plot this time around. And while I did guess part of the truth, there were also things I didn't see coming. The story without doubt goes out with a bang!

In short, The Vanishing Act turned out to be another successful Mallory Dawson sequel. After how things ended, I will definitely be looking forward to the next book, that's for sure! If you like well written thrillers with a Welsh setting and don't mind a hint of the supernatural, The Vanishing Act is a great option.

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, it was good after reading “The Birthday girl” that you knew Mallory and Elsa characters already at the beginning of the book. Lots of different characters involved in the storyline. Kept you guessing, quite a few twists and turns.

[imylarsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

welsh crime, didn’t expect a lot but was good! 3.5

[Erin Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the Welsh vibe to it being a fellow Welshie but I didn’t love the plot

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story of a family that goes missing from their holiday cottage in Wales. It is revealed that the property has history of a haunting in the past. Murder, intrigue, whodunnit? I kept changing my mind right up til the end. Well written, fast paced and kept me turning those pages 😊

[BookswithLydscl | · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25* my favourite of the series! hope we get some more!

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was one surprise for me, and that was on page 290 of 299...

I had expected more from this book, but I'm sadly rather disappointed.

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 quick read, exciting twist ending

[Annalise Faulkner · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was so drawn out , I lost concentration through it regularly and did not find it fun to read there was no jumpy parts or getting me in the edge of my seat it felt bland through out.

[Lizzie Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elsa is employed as a cleaner by the owners of several holiday homes and has to clean them every week, even when the holidaymakers are staying for a longer holiday. Tall Pines is her least favourite house to work at because it is situated deep in the forest and because it has a frightening history. The current visitors are booked to stay for three weeks, which is strange for a house set in such an isolated location. Last week the visitors arrived early while Elsa was still working in the house, but Elsa obeyed her employers’ instructions and did not open the door until she had finished her work and then slipped away without speaking to them. However, she did watch the new arrivals from the window and saw a middle-aged man, a teenaged boy and girl and a younger, red-haired girl; a woman stayed in the car and Elsa saw very little of her face because she was wearing large dark glasses.

The next week when Elsa arrives, she is certain something strange is going on. The house is unlocked but the holidaymakers’ car has gone. Inside there is no sign of the occupants, however a kettle is still boiling on the Aga, bread only half buttered and other food for a picnic is on the kitchen table ready to be used, also a chair has been over-turned as if somebody had jumped up in a hurry. Elsa is worried about the family’s absence and asks advice from Mallory Dawson, a police detective who took early retirement and is spending the summer in a caravan on the Welsh coast with her teenage son. Mallory met Elsa during an earlier murder investigation and respects the girl’s good sense and instincts, so she goes out to Tall Pines and looks around. The family have not returned, and Mallory has to admit that the situation appears unusual, but she does not think it justifies contacting the police.

Tall Pines has been renamed by its current owners. Previously it had been called Pant Meinog, which means stony valley, and under this earlier name it has a sinister history. In 2003 the house had been occupied by a remote relation of the owner, Tom Thomas, who also lives in the only house near to Pant Meinog. This family consisted of a husband and wife, who were selfishly engrossed in their own hippie lifestyle and were rarely there for their three children, two teenage girls and a younger boy. That summer the two girls were bored and amused themselves by inventing a poltergeist. They used the art of distraction to throw things around and pretended it happened by supernatural means. Police and an exorcist were involved and the older girl tired of the game, however soon after this the younger girl, Gwenllian, emerged from her room screaming, with blood pouring from deep wounds, which resembled claw marks, on her face. Despite her sister’s admission that the earlier poltergeist activity was a hoax, Gwenllian insisted that she was attacked by a supernatural creature. Soon afterwards the family moved away.

After checking out the house, Mallory decides to hang around in town and go back to the house in the evening to see if the family has returned. To kill time she contacts a friend, Harri Evans a detective Inspector with the local police. Mallory tells Harri about the missing family. While Harri says that there is too little evidence to report it officially to the police he is more concerned than he admits because when he was a young police officer he had attended two of the poltergeist incidents, including the final one when Gwenllian was injured, and this affected him deeply.

The family do not return but soon everything changes radically when a body is discovered in a local lay-by. The car matches the description of the vehicle that Elsa saw outside the house but there is no identity to be found on the corpse and the police discover that both car and house were rented using cash and stolen ID. The police have to discover the identity of the dead person and the reason why the family were on holiday under a false identity, but it is even more urgent to find the missing people, especially the children. Mallory is employed as a civilian investigator on the police team, and it soon becomes clear that the tragedy of the present is embedded in the past. Mallory probes deeper into the history of Pant Meinog, and tries to make sense of the relationships of the people involved, both in the past and present. As she does so the death count mounts, and her own life is in unforeseen danger.

The Vanishing Act is the third book in the series featuring Mallory Dawson. It is a fascinating mixture of the past and present and a subtle study of a psychopathic personality, as well as the destructive force that certain places may have upon those vulnerable to atmosphere. It has a cleverly constructed plot and engaging protagonists. The Vanishing Act is an excellent read, which I recommend.
------
Reviewer: Carol Westron
For Lizzie Sirett (Mystery People Group)

[Roroblu'sMum · Rating 4 out of 5]

4* Not what it seems, with good dovetailing of past and present to create a good, slightly uneasy, creepy mystery.

As an introduction to this author, this was a decent choice. Admittedly I was in a bit of a book drought and went by the blurb, not expecting anything too deep or taxing, but got a good tale that had intrigue and mystery, with events and characters from the past and present coming together seamlessly.

Characters, unfortunately, didn't make a huge impact on me - I think the mention of the DI's son's illness, coupled with his stroppy, selfish attitude distracted me, and made me wonder why he was in the tale (there's a good insertion, as I later found), and made me view her as a detached, not-really-present mother.

Not having read the previous books, I wasn't sure why she was living in a rundown caravan and without a proper job. I'm not sure that i saw her as entirely believable. But, the tale itself, with the creepy house with history and hiding places, faux paranormal events, the creepy woods, the character who I wasn't quite sure had 'the sight' or not, and people who weren't quite as upstanding as they seemed to be, made for an interesting and 'I didn't see that coming' tale. I'd read more of the series, despite not having read the previous tales, and I hope that the DI and her son improve their relationship because of how she came through for him here (because of his stupidity getting him into a mess).

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Canelo for my reading pleasure.

[L Powers (Bookish_Mum) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Vanishing Act by Sarah Ward
Rating:4/5
Release Date: 4 July 2024

When Mallory Dawson receives a call from her former colleague Elsa, recounting a peculiar scenario, she initially brushes it off. Elsa describes finding a holiday cottage in the forest with a kettle boiling on the Aga, half-made sandwiches, and the family who rented it mysteriously vanished.

DI Harri Evans, however, recalls a haunting incident from his time in uniform involving the same location. He responded to a distress call from a girl with scratches on her face, alleging an unseen assailant attacked her.

The discovery of the missing family's father dead in their rental car triggers an urgent search for the remaining members. However, their identities prove to be false, and their history remains shrouded in mystery.

“The Vanishing Act” is an exciting and well-written addition to the Mallory Dawson series, brimming with intriguing characters.

I found it incredibly addictive and compelling—perfect for devouring in one sitting. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment, flying through the pages, completely captivated. I can't wait for more from this author and the Mallory Dawson series.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Canelo, and the author, Sarah Ward, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

[Alyce Gibson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Canelo and Sarah Ward for the eARC of this book. This is the 3rd installment of the Mallory Dawson crime books. Mallory is a former police officer and in each book is working with DI Harri Evans as a police consultant.

In this outing, Mallory is contacted by Elsa, a former colleague, about an eirie situation she has encountered. Elsa is a cleaner of holiday homes. She headed out to clean this particular home only to find it abandoned. Half eaten food on the table, a kettle about to boil, a chair knocked over, and the family all missing. Mallory is uneasy too and reports her findings to DI Harri Evans. Harri remembers the home from early on in his career. As a detective constable he was sent to investigate when the daughter of the renters had her face slashed. The two teenage girls claimed a poltergeist was haunting them and had slashed one's face. Merely a coincidence surely, but then the father of the missing family is found dead in his vehicle and a link to the past trouble is uncovered.

I found the story's premise very interesting and unusual. I wasn't entirely satisfied with the ending. It felt a little forced, and characters involved didn't appear till later in the book. Overall though it was a good book. Well written and enjoyable. I'll be reading more from this series. 3 out of 5 stars.

[Pgchuis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

I read this in one sitting on a flight and it certainly held my interest. The initial set up, with cleaner Elsa discovering one of her holiday homes having been abandoned with the kettle left on and sandwiches half made etc was really intriguing. I like the character of Mallory Dawson, who helpfully gets co-opted as a police consultant for each of these books, although I am beginning to wonder if her son needs to be dragged into all her cases - no wonder his father is concerned about him staying with Mallory.

On the other hand, after that really excellent opening set up, the logic of the rest of the plot didn't really hold together. I had questions both about the circumstances of what happened to the parents who disappeared in the present day - why did they succumb so easily? - and about the sections set in the past, where I didn't understand why certain things were kept secret. Without being spoilery it is hard to be more specific, but many of the characters seemed to be required by the plot to act in ways which seemed to me to be illogical.

Still, I will continue with this series - I need to find out if Mallory goes on holiday with Harri!

[Melanie Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mallory Dawson is called into investigate when a cleaning lady finds a family of five have seemingly disappeared into thin air from their holiday home.

DI Harri Evans asks Mallory to help with the case as a civilian investigator. The holiday home is one that he is familiar with as the family who lived there twenty years earlier were involved in several incidents of what the children claimed was the work of a poltergeist.

The events of two decades earlier and present day collide and it seems that in order to solve the mystery of what has happened to the missing family they must look to the past.

I enjoyed seeing the character of Mallory again as well as others from the previous novels. I feel like the reader is starting to get to know more about her personal life with each book and she becomes more realistic and relatable.
There is a bit of a paranormal twist to the investigation which makes it different to other crime fiction books. Although part of a series this could also be read as a standalone.

Good plot and characters. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Canelo crime for the advanced copy.

[Farah G · Rating 3 out of 5]

This police procedural provides a perspective on an unusual case that proves to be far stranger than it initially appears when Mallory Dawson is informed that a cleaner at a local holiday spot arrived at one of the properties to discover that the family had left a kettle on the hob and unfinished sandwiches to indicate an inexplicably swift departure.

When the father of the family is subsequently found dead, it raises questions not only about where the other family members are, but also possible links with an earlier case which was even stranger. As the family's secrets begin to reveal themselves, a disturbing picture emerges...

This mystery contained a paranormal element, which I really don't like in thrillers. However, the core story is fascinating and holds the reader's attention. So if you don't mind the unnecessary supernatural aspect, you will enjoy this book even more than I did.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for the opportunity to read this book.

Elsa is a cleaner and is tasked to clean a holiday cottage. She enters, and the cottage is empty, but there is a boiling kettle on the Aga, and buttered toast on the table, and one of the chairs is overturned.
She cleans, expecting the family to walk in, but no one arrives. She calls Mallory Dawson, who used to be a police officer, and says she finds the situation to be strange.
The cottage has a reputation. A family that lived there were besieged by a poltergeist.

This is a very interesting crime thriller. The investigators are reluctant to believe in any paranormal activity.
There is a creepy atmosphere though, and much mystery around the girl's injuries.
I like Mallory, she is a good investigator and has a passion to solve mysteries, and has a lot of empathy.

4/5 stars from me.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the whole I liked this book, though the supernatural element made it a little confusing at times. Set in West Wales, the countryside is well described and you do feel the loneliness of the isolated location of the cottages in the valley. The plot is based on two time periods, 2003 and the present day. In 2003 a family lived in the lonely cottage and there are parallels in the present day as a family come to the cottage, now a holiday home with their own 3 children and then disappear.
My main gripe with this book is the role of Mallory, no longer in the police, she does get involved too with the case, which doesn't really feel realistic. I also have misgivings about the relationship with her son, Toby and his own problems . The crimes were interesting and twisty though. Still some areas unresolved.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC

[Simone Frost · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first Sarah Ward book I’ve read and I didn’t realise it was part of a series. It works fine as a standalone. The cover caught my eye but I was disappointed that such an iconic Scottish cottage had been used - Blackrock Cottage - for a story set in Wales. This was quite jarring for me.

Elsa is a cleaner working on a holiday cottage. She returns for the first week clean and notices that everything has been left as if the family were in a hurry. She contacts Mallory, a former detective, to see what she thinks. This isn’t the first time there have been sinister goings on at the house.

This was an easy enough read and I liked the characters, especially Harri. It did feel like Elsa was forgotten about for most of the book. At times the story is a little predictable and it wasn’t as gripping as I’d hoped.

[Hannah Symonds · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book three in the Mallory Dawson Crime Thriller Series and can be read as a standalone. I have not read any books by this author but this one intrigued me. There are strange goings on in one of the remote holiday cottages, a cleaner has found some unsettling and quite frankly weird goings on as she went into clean for them. Mallory Dawson is the one to head up the investigation and see if she can piece together what happened to the family? but this holiday cottage holds a lot of memories are these things related? I liked how the story builds and I did not want to stop reading. I liked the mixture of characters and the plot was well thought through. I felt the first half was better than the first but I still enjoyed it. If you like a twist this is the book for you, as there are plenty. I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading Sarah's previous two.

[Kimberley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great read. While I really enjoyed the first two books, this had to be my favourite. It was suspenseful right from the beginning, and like her previous books there was a hair-raising tone to this novel too and moments where it was a bit scary!! I enjoy having the reoccurring characters and the shift from professional to personal life and struggles for both Mallory and Harry.

I really couldn’t figure out who the culprit was, and upon finding out it was Luke / Dylan, it felt like it should have been obvious. It was twisted ending! This was a great read, kept me hooked, and I really hope they’ll be some more stories for Mallory in the near future!

[Lillie Hardcastle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This third entry in the Mallory Dawson crime series hooks you from the start. Mallory is called to investigate a chilling scene at a remote Welsh holiday cottage—a kettle left boiling, sandwiches half-prepared, but the family has vanished without a trace. When the father turns up dead—and the family’s identities prove false—the mystery only deepens. Ward masterfully layers past and present, weaving in hints of the supernatural with merit rather than gimmick, creating a tense, atmospheric thriller that’s hard to put down. The story cleverly balances character depth, with Mallory’s personal life adding just enough emotional weight without slowing the pace.

[Chris Nolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent instalment in Sarah Ward's impressive Mallory Dawson series. Beautifully written and with a real sense of place (the Welsh countryside really comes to life), the series getas better and better. These are not conventional police procedurals as Mallory is no longer a cop; however, she is in demand and works closely as a consultant with local detective Harri Evans. In addition to an intriguing plot, the relationships between Mallory and Harri, and between mother and son, add to the interest. Very enjoyable.

[Milly Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought this as a ‘blind date with a book’ and it didn’t disappoint! Cottage cleaner Elsa calls Mallory Dawson when she finds a family has seemingly vanished into thin air - a lot of characters pulled into the story to suspect and pull apart what could have happened, potentially having strong links to a previous case in the same holiday cottage. Loved the plot and couldn’t figure out where this read was going to take me. Didn’t realise it was part of a series so should have read the others before but would like to read those now!

[emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t realise this was the second book and it did affect my reading a little. I was able to follow the story without reading the previous but it did hint the how the characters acted in the previous book quite a lot in the beginning which kinda out off a little. Other than that though I enjoyed it, a nice easy read