What do you think?
Rate this book
The Vanishing Act
'Completely gripping and incredibly addictive... I absolutely loved it and can't recommend it highly enough!' - The Book Magnet blog ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
----------
Life as a missing person is absolute murder...
When artist Eloise Ford hears that human remains found in an abandoned mine are believed to be those of long-missing teenager Elizabeth King, the shock sends her reeling.
It can't be true. Eloise knows this for a fact because... she is Elizabeth King.
Now, her carefully curated life in Cornwall is falling apart. Her husband is acting strangely, her children aren't speaking to her and she can't sell a painting for love nor money. But much more worrying are the signs that someone knows exactly who she is... and why she had to vanish thirty years ago.
Eloise needs answers. Is her son's ex-girlfriend just plain annoying... or does she know something? Will the detection skills of the online 'Truth Seekers' group prove more than amateurish? What's the real story behind those village newcomers?
And just how far would she go to keep her family, her friends, and her fraudulent life, safe?
----------
Readers and reviewers love The Vanishing Act!
'I have laughed, I have gasped at the twists, I have loved characters, I have hated characters. This is crime fiction laced with dry wit that is incredibly clever' - Random Things Through My Letterbox, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I loved this book... it just kept on giving and delivering. Just as I thought I had it mapped out - wham! Another curve ball. Another direction. Another secret or lie exposed. And all so expertly plotted, and very ably executed' - Amazon reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Cleverly plotted with many surprises and twists' - Amazon reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Witty and twisty' - My Weekly
'Ingenious and impossible to put down' - Yours
'I absolutely loved it and flew through it; the perfect combination of suspense, heart and humour!' - Laura Marshall, author of Friend Request
'I raced through this intriguing, twisty and darkly funny thriller!' - Roz Watkins, author of The Red House
'Cleverly plotted and compulsively readable' - _fortheloveofbooksx
'I couldn't put this down - such a clever, witty mystery, with great twists and a brilliant cast of characters who aren't always what they seem... I loved it!' - Nicci Cloke, author of Her Many Faces
'A deliciously darkly funny thriller of the very best kind' - Fiona Cummins, author of When I Was Ten
'As well as a good mystery, Jakeman writes warm and funny dialogue that brings the relationships between the characters thoroughly to life' - The Morning Star
----------
Perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty, Lisa Jewell and Kristen Perrin, this clever, darkly comic thriller will keep you glued to the pages!
----------
Life as a missing person is absolute murder...
When artist Eloise Ford hears that human remains found in an abandoned mine are believed to be those of long-missing teenager Elizabeth King, the shock sends her reeling.
It can't be true. Eloise knows this for a fact because... she is Elizabeth King.
Now, her carefully curated life in Cornwall is falling apart. Her husband is acting strangely, her children aren't speaking to her and she can't sell a painting for love nor money. But much more worrying are the signs that someone knows exactly who she is... and why she had to vanish thirty years ago.
Eloise needs answers. Is her son's ex-girlfriend just plain annoying... or does she know something? Will the detection skills of the online 'Truth Seekers' group prove more than amateurish? What's the real story behind those village newcomers?
And just how far would she go to keep her family, her friends, and her fraudulent life, safe?
----------
Readers and reviewers love The Vanishing Act!
'I have laughed, I have gasped at the twists, I have loved characters, I have hated characters. This is crime fiction laced with dry wit that is incredibly clever' - Random Things Through My Letterbox, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I loved this book... it just kept on giving and delivering. Just as I thought I had it mapped out - wham! Another curve ball. Another direction. Another secret or lie exposed. And all so expertly plotted, and very ably executed' - Amazon reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Cleverly plotted with many surprises and twists' - Amazon reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Witty and twisty' - My Weekly
'Ingenious and impossible to put down' - Yours
'I absolutely loved it and flew through it; the perfect combination of suspense, heart and humour!' - Laura Marshall, author of Friend Request
'I raced through this intriguing, twisty and darkly funny thriller!' - Roz Watkins, author of The Red House
'Cleverly plotted and compulsively readable' - _fortheloveofbooksx
'I couldn't put this down - such a clever, witty mystery, with great twists and a brilliant cast of characters who aren't always what they seem... I loved it!' - Nicci Cloke, author of Her Many Faces
'A deliciously darkly funny thriller of the very best kind' - Fiona Cummins, author of When I Was Ten
'As well as a good mystery, Jakeman writes warm and funny dialogue that brings the relationships between the characters thoroughly to life' - The Morning Star
----------
Perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty, Lisa Jewell and Kristen Perrin, this clever, darkly comic thriller will keep you glued to the pages!
335 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 11, 2025
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 21, 2025
3.0 / 5.0
It’s an ok book, if someone were to ask me about this book in two weeks time I’ll probably would have forgotten it entirely. It’s a comfy cozy read but there’s nothing in this that makes it very memorable or screams out banger. It’s a book you can go to for a decent read that did what it said on the book. That being said there wasn’t anything in this that got me hooked or invested. I found the plot and everyone to be surface level, I found the relationships shown in the book to be very surface level it’s clear no one really confronts anything and that’s why we have this book.
In all honestly I won’t be picking this book again or the series if it is one. It’s ok. Just probably the odd one out.
It’s an ok book, if someone were to ask me about this book in two weeks time I’ll probably would have forgotten it entirely. It’s a comfy cozy read but there’s nothing in this that makes it very memorable or screams out banger. It’s a book you can go to for a decent read that did what it said on the book. That being said there wasn’t anything in this that got me hooked or invested. I found the plot and everyone to be surface level, I found the relationships shown in the book to be very surface level it’s clear no one really confronts anything and that’s why we have this book.
In all honestly I won’t be picking this book again or the series if it is one. It’s ok. Just probably the odd one out.
September 24, 2025
The Vanishing Act by Jo Jakeman sounded so intriguing – human remains are found, believed to be a long missing person. However, the main character knows it can’t be that person because she is that person! A big thank you to Hannah Harman for sending me a copy of the book for review.
I flew through the pages of this one. Eloise is rather taken aback when she hears about the discovery of human remains thought to be those of teenager Elizabeth King, missing for decades. Not surprising when you find out that she is Elizabeth King, living quietly under an assumed name. From the start, I was desperate to know what had happened to make her go into hiding.
There are parts of the book written as though they were from a online page of a group called Truth Seekers. One member of the group is very keen to find out if the body is that of Elizabeth as they have a close connection and would like closure for the family. The dynamics of the group was so interesting to read about as rumours and misinformation were so easily stoked up. However, most members had only good intentions. Involved with this group is Eloise’s son’s ex-girlfriend Holly and they form an unlikely alliance.
Eloise is reluctant to reveal the truth but when it becomes clear that someone knows exactly who she is, that they are linked to the body and that she might be in danger, she needs to find out the truth about the body for herself. It was actually quite thought-provoking as you consider what families of missing people must go through over the years with no information about what what happened to their loved ones.
The Vanishing Act is a terrific read. Not quite cosy crime but not hard nosed either. I found it a gripping read that made me laugh, surprised me often, had some really bad baddies and some really likeable protagonists too. It’s a cleverly plotted crime novel that is both entertaining and twisty.
I flew through the pages of this one. Eloise is rather taken aback when she hears about the discovery of human remains thought to be those of teenager Elizabeth King, missing for decades. Not surprising when you find out that she is Elizabeth King, living quietly under an assumed name. From the start, I was desperate to know what had happened to make her go into hiding.
There are parts of the book written as though they were from a online page of a group called Truth Seekers. One member of the group is very keen to find out if the body is that of Elizabeth as they have a close connection and would like closure for the family. The dynamics of the group was so interesting to read about as rumours and misinformation were so easily stoked up. However, most members had only good intentions. Involved with this group is Eloise’s son’s ex-girlfriend Holly and they form an unlikely alliance.
Eloise is reluctant to reveal the truth but when it becomes clear that someone knows exactly who she is, that they are linked to the body and that she might be in danger, she needs to find out the truth about the body for herself. It was actually quite thought-provoking as you consider what families of missing people must go through over the years with no information about what what happened to their loved ones.
The Vanishing Act is a terrific read. Not quite cosy crime but not hard nosed either. I found it a gripping read that made me laugh, surprised me often, had some really bad baddies and some really likeable protagonists too. It’s a cleverly plotted crime novel that is both entertaining and twisty.
September 11, 2025
Well... wasn't this book the gift that kept on giving!
I have read and enjoyed quite a few books by this author so I was quite excited to get my hands on this, her latest. And I have to say I wasn't disappointed. We start with the discovery of some old bones and speculation soon turns to their identity being that of the teenaged Elizabeth King who disappeared many years ago. But there is one person who knows 100% that it isn't Elizabeth - one Eloise Ford, wife and mother. How does she know, and why is she so sure? Well… it's quite simple. She is, or rather was, Elizabeth King.
But, she has reasons as to why she really doesn't want to fess up. She has a good life now - sort of - and she really doesn't want to rock that boat.
Oh, and also there's that small matter of why she ran away and what happened on “the night of”.
Meanwhile, the case is being heavily discussed in online group "Truth Seekers" but are some of its members taking more than merely a passing interest.?
I loved this book. As I said, it just kept on giving and delivering. Just as I thought I had it mapped out - wham! Another curve ball. Another direction. Another secret or lie exposed. And all so expertly plotted, and very ably executed.
And the characters.... All playing their parts well. All easy to connect to in one way or another.
It's fast paced, occasionally frenetic. But at the same time, the action plays out steadily. Slowly cutting through all the noise to eventually expose the whole truth. A truth that eventually left me wholly satisfied.
So in all in all, another winner from this author and a worthy addition to an already well impressive back catalogue. Roll on next time.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
I have read and enjoyed quite a few books by this author so I was quite excited to get my hands on this, her latest. And I have to say I wasn't disappointed. We start with the discovery of some old bones and speculation soon turns to their identity being that of the teenaged Elizabeth King who disappeared many years ago. But there is one person who knows 100% that it isn't Elizabeth - one Eloise Ford, wife and mother. How does she know, and why is she so sure? Well… it's quite simple. She is, or rather was, Elizabeth King.
But, she has reasons as to why she really doesn't want to fess up. She has a good life now - sort of - and she really doesn't want to rock that boat.
Oh, and also there's that small matter of why she ran away and what happened on “the night of”.
Meanwhile, the case is being heavily discussed in online group "Truth Seekers" but are some of its members taking more than merely a passing interest.?
I loved this book. As I said, it just kept on giving and delivering. Just as I thought I had it mapped out - wham! Another curve ball. Another direction. Another secret or lie exposed. And all so expertly plotted, and very ably executed.
And the characters.... All playing their parts well. All easy to connect to in one way or another.
It's fast paced, occasionally frenetic. But at the same time, the action plays out steadily. Slowly cutting through all the noise to eventually expose the whole truth. A truth that eventually left me wholly satisfied.
So in all in all, another winner from this author and a worthy addition to an already well impressive back catalogue. Roll on next time.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
September 4, 2025
The Vanishing Act follows Eloise, who’s sent reeling when human remains are found in an abandoned mine, reportedly belonging to long-missing teenager, Elizabeth King. But that’s impossible, because Eloise is Elizabeth King. Now, her carefully curated life in Cornwall is falling apart. Someone seems to know who she is, and why she had to vanish thirty years ago. Eloise needs answers - but how far will she go to keep her family, her friends, and her fraudulent life, safe?
The Vanishing Act is told over three parts, and follows Eloise and her son’s ex-girlfriend Holly over alternating viewpoints. Eloise is a brilliant character - she is flawed and a little self-absorbed but ultimately fierce, determined and a character to root for. That complexity makes her easy to connect with, and her dynamic with Holly adds even greater depth. Holly is equally compelling; despite carrying the weight of her own loss, she remains strong-willed, feisty, and full of spirit.
The Cornish setting in The Vanishing Act adds so much atmosphere to the narrative that I was completely absorbed by the surroundings. It strikes the perfect, ironic balance between picturesque and claustrophobic, infusing the small village with an undercurrent of tension that keeps the pages turning. The narrative itself is cleverly plotted and compulsively readable - thought provoking without losing its pace, and as entertaining as it is suspicious.
The Vanishing Act was my introduction to Jo Jakeman’s books, and I’m now looking forward to reading the rest of her backlist!
Thank you so much to Hannah and Jo Jakeman for sending me this advanced copy of The Vanishing Act to read and review. My opinions are my own.
The Vanishing Act is told over three parts, and follows Eloise and her son’s ex-girlfriend Holly over alternating viewpoints. Eloise is a brilliant character - she is flawed and a little self-absorbed but ultimately fierce, determined and a character to root for. That complexity makes her easy to connect with, and her dynamic with Holly adds even greater depth. Holly is equally compelling; despite carrying the weight of her own loss, she remains strong-willed, feisty, and full of spirit.
The Cornish setting in The Vanishing Act adds so much atmosphere to the narrative that I was completely absorbed by the surroundings. It strikes the perfect, ironic balance between picturesque and claustrophobic, infusing the small village with an undercurrent of tension that keeps the pages turning. The narrative itself is cleverly plotted and compulsively readable - thought provoking without losing its pace, and as entertaining as it is suspicious.
The Vanishing Act was my introduction to Jo Jakeman’s books, and I’m now looking forward to reading the rest of her backlist!
Thank you so much to Hannah and Jo Jakeman for sending me this advanced copy of The Vanishing Act to read and review. My opinions are my own.
September 9, 2025
This is one of the best books that I've read this year. I have been entertained, I have laughed, I have gasped at the twists, I have loved characters, I have hated characters. This is crime fiction laced with dry wit that is incredibly clever.
Human remains have been found in an abandoned mine house, near to where Eloise lives in Cornwall. The media report that the remains have been identified as Elizabeth King, a teenager who went missing decades ago. The community is shocked, but nobody is as shocked as Eloise because she knows the truth about Elizabeth. She is Elizabeth King, so that body certainly isn't.
Whilst Eloise appears to have a great life in the small Cornish town she now calls home, she is struggling. Her husband Kim is acting in a strange way, her daughter is no longer speaking to her and her art gallery is not as successful as she would hope. Add to this, the discovery of this body, and then another one and it becomes clear to Eloise that someone close knows far more about her than she is comfortable with.
With the help of Molly; her son's ex-girlfriend, who she initially dislikes, and Molly's team of online detectives called the Truth Seekers, Eloise sets out to uncover the mystery and what follows is a clever, complex tale of intrigue, murder and long held secrets.
The characters are drawn with precision, the Cornish setting is wonderful and the dialogue and pace is just perfect. I really enjoyed this and highly recommend it.
Human remains have been found in an abandoned mine house, near to where Eloise lives in Cornwall. The media report that the remains have been identified as Elizabeth King, a teenager who went missing decades ago. The community is shocked, but nobody is as shocked as Eloise because she knows the truth about Elizabeth. She is Elizabeth King, so that body certainly isn't.
Whilst Eloise appears to have a great life in the small Cornish town she now calls home, she is struggling. Her husband Kim is acting in a strange way, her daughter is no longer speaking to her and her art gallery is not as successful as she would hope. Add to this, the discovery of this body, and then another one and it becomes clear to Eloise that someone close knows far more about her than she is comfortable with.
With the help of Molly; her son's ex-girlfriend, who she initially dislikes, and Molly's team of online detectives called the Truth Seekers, Eloise sets out to uncover the mystery and what follows is a clever, complex tale of intrigue, murder and long held secrets.
The characters are drawn with precision, the Cornish setting is wonderful and the dialogue and pace is just perfect. I really enjoyed this and highly recommend it.
September 16, 2025
This was a fast paced mystery set in Cornwall. Eloise is a happily married artist with two grown up children. When a body is discovered in an abandoned building, an anonymous tip reveals the person to be Elizabeth King who has been missing for many years. However Eloise knows this cannot possibly be true and she is not sure what is going on.
Holly, her son’s girlfriend has a missing sister and has joined an online forum to solve missing person cases in the hope of finding Lisa, her own missing sibling.
Eloise has not told anyone her own secret and when she finally reveals all to Holly she is forced to rely on someone she is not really sure about and a group of investigators who might not know what they are doing!
The story is told from both Eloise and Holly’s points of view and it is difficult to know who is telling the truth at first as neither of the women are being honest. They have a lot of similar problems and gradually this brings them together as they try to work out what is going on.
I enjoyed reading this book as it was cleverly plotted with many surprises and twists. I would certainly be interested in reading other books by this author in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.
Holly, her son’s girlfriend has a missing sister and has joined an online forum to solve missing person cases in the hope of finding Lisa, her own missing sibling.
Eloise has not told anyone her own secret and when she finally reveals all to Holly she is forced to rely on someone she is not really sure about and a group of investigators who might not know what they are doing!
The story is told from both Eloise and Holly’s points of view and it is difficult to know who is telling the truth at first as neither of the women are being honest. They have a lot of similar problems and gradually this brings them together as they try to work out what is going on.
I enjoyed reading this book as it was cleverly plotted with many surprises and twists. I would certainly be interested in reading other books by this author in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.
September 6, 2025
When artist Eloise Ford hears that human remains are found in an old abandoned mine are believed to be those of long-missing teenager Elizabeth King, the shock sends her her reeling. It can't be true. Eloise knows this for a face because... she is Elizabeth King. Now, her carefully curated life in Cornwall is falling apart. Her husband is acting strangely, her children aren't speaking to her and she can't sell a painting for love or money. But much more worrying are the signs that someone knows exactly who she is... and why she vanished thirty years ago.
The story is told from Eloise and her son's ex-girlfriend Holly's perspective. Eloise is a flawed but compelling character. Holly also has her own troubles. This is an intriguing story that will make you laugh. The pace is fast in this gripping read. The story is set in Cornwall.
Published 11th September 2025
I would like to thank #NetGalley #LittleBrownBookGroupUK and the author #JoJakeman for my ARC of #TheVanishingAct in exchange for an honest review.
The story is told from Eloise and her son's ex-girlfriend Holly's perspective. Eloise is a flawed but compelling character. Holly also has her own troubles. This is an intriguing story that will make you laugh. The pace is fast in this gripping read. The story is set in Cornwall.
Published 11th September 2025
I would like to thank #NetGalley #LittleBrownBookGroupUK and the author #JoJakeman for my ARC of #TheVanishingAct in exchange for an honest review.
September 8, 2025
Told over three parts from a dual perspective, we watch the unlikely bond between a mother and her boyfriend’s girlfriend develop from loathing to something a bit more complex, infiltrated with deceit and secrets coming unfurled.
The biggest secret of Eloise being the suspected missing persons remains is revealed very close to the start allowing you to work through many narratives of what could’ve been along the way, suspecting everyone and keeping you engrossed. The development of both characters, Eloise and Holly, had me feel all the emotions towards them! Dislike, distain, an element of sympathy, to finally realising how strong these women were both individually and as a very odd team!
A great read and I look forward to reading more of Jo’s work!
The biggest secret of Eloise being the suspected missing persons remains is revealed very close to the start allowing you to work through many narratives of what could’ve been along the way, suspecting everyone and keeping you engrossed. The development of both characters, Eloise and Holly, had me feel all the emotions towards them! Dislike, distain, an element of sympathy, to finally realising how strong these women were both individually and as a very odd team!
A great read and I look forward to reading more of Jo’s work!
September 21, 2025
Eloise Ford leads a comfortable and tightly controlled life in Cornwall until the day she sees that human remains have been found in an abandoned mine nearby. Someone has leaked the name of the dead woman, Elisabeth King, but Eloise knows that isn't true - she is Elisabeth King. Suddenly Eloise's life is spiralling out of control until she forms an unlikely alliance with her son's girlfriend and her band of online sleuths.
This is a quite formulaic novel but that's no bad thing as it is easy to read. I liked the partnership between Eloise and Holly and the emphasis on friends and family. The plot is utterly predictable but still runs along at a pace and the setting in Cornwall is integral, with a few references to the economy being so seasonable. For its genre it's pretty good!
This is a quite formulaic novel but that's no bad thing as it is easy to read. I liked the partnership between Eloise and Holly and the emphasis on friends and family. The plot is utterly predictable but still runs along at a pace and the setting in Cornwall is integral, with a few references to the economy being so seasonable. For its genre it's pretty good!
Read
September 22, 2025When Eloise hears that human remains found in an abandoned mine are believed to be those of long-missing teenager Elizabeth King, she knows this can’t be true because she is Elizabeth King. As more about the case emerges, Eloise worries that someone knows exactly who she is and why she had to vanish thirty years ago. With the online 'Truth Seekers' group pursuing their own amateur enquiries, how far will Eloise go to keep her settled new life safe?
With its fresh premise, likeable protagonist and fluent, chatty style, this is ideal for readers of suspense / true-crime online sleuthing mysteries.
This is an independent review of an advance copy. With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity.
With its fresh premise, likeable protagonist and fluent, chatty style, this is ideal for readers of suspense / true-crime online sleuthing mysteries.
This is an independent review of an advance copy. With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity.
September 4, 2025
This one had me hooked right from the start. I loved the premise, and the cover instantly caught my eye. Once I started reading, it was so easy to get into; the pacing flowed really well and there wasn’t a single point where I felt it dragged. Instead, it kept me turning the pages, eager to see what would happen next.
Eloise was such a compelling main character. I really enjoyed how her inner struggles were written, her fierce love for her family, her desire to be perfect, and the emotional rollercoaster she goes through as her past collides with her present. The balance between her vulnerability and strength made her easy to connect with.
The supporting cast was also really well handled. Each character was given just enough depth to keep me guessing, but also felt individual and memorable. I especially liked how the story kept introducing new elements and people without it ever feeling overwhelming.
What really stood out was how the book managed to be suspenseful and intriguing while also making me laugh. The dark humour woven into the twists gave it such a unique flavour, and the whole “who done it” vibe kept me guessing until the end.
Overall, this was a fun, quick, and engaging read. A solid 4 stars from me, and one I’d happily recommend to anyone who loves mystery with a sharp, witty edge.
Eloise was such a compelling main character. I really enjoyed how her inner struggles were written, her fierce love for her family, her desire to be perfect, and the emotional rollercoaster she goes through as her past collides with her present. The balance between her vulnerability and strength made her easy to connect with.
The supporting cast was also really well handled. Each character was given just enough depth to keep me guessing, but also felt individual and memorable. I especially liked how the story kept introducing new elements and people without it ever feeling overwhelming.
What really stood out was how the book managed to be suspenseful and intriguing while also making me laugh. The dark humour woven into the twists gave it such a unique flavour, and the whole “who done it” vibe kept me guessing until the end.
Overall, this was a fun, quick, and engaging read. A solid 4 stars from me, and one I’d happily recommend to anyone who loves mystery with a sharp, witty edge.
October 24, 2025
I love Cornwall and I had such high expectations for this thriller set in Cornwall. I found the setting to be kind of underbaked, I don’t think it was written by someone who has an intricate knowledge of the area. I found the crux of the plot to be incredibly far fetched. Aside from the first twist, it was a bit meh. A fine enough thriller but not one I would rave about to friends.
January 17, 2026
A bunch of women try to unravel two murders and a collection of missing women. Most chapters end with a collection of messages transmitted by virtue of the internet and it is this collection of interested parties which researched enough to make clear who dun it. A modern way to write a detective story.
September 23, 2025
This was a great, fast-paced read that had me hooked from the start. I loved the main character and the unique blend of suspense and witty humour. The mystery kept me guessing until the end. A great 4-star read!
September 3, 2025
4.5 stars
Fast paced and gripping, this is one absorbing thriller. Secrets and lies fill the pages as we’re treated to Eloise’s journey of deception and fear.
Eloise seemingly has it all, but underneath the facade she’s barely holding it together since seeing the news headline and wondering what happens next. It all happened so long again so who knows what she did?
I thought Holly was a great character. Struggling with her own loss, she was feisty and determined to do the right thing. The relationship between her and Eloise was an interesting one that developed as more of the story became clear.
Fast paced and gripping, this is one absorbing thriller. Secrets and lies fill the pages as we’re treated to Eloise’s journey of deception and fear.
Eloise seemingly has it all, but underneath the facade she’s barely holding it together since seeing the news headline and wondering what happens next. It all happened so long again so who knows what she did?
I thought Holly was a great character. Struggling with her own loss, she was feisty and determined to do the right thing. The relationship between her and Eloise was an interesting one that developed as more of the story became clear.
September 21, 2025
It felt like a long read without much reward
October 20, 2025
Rounded up from 3.5
Started with the two most insufferable, annoying characters, but I must admit I warmed up to them
Started with the two most insufferable, annoying characters, but I must admit I warmed up to them
September 11, 2025
I enjoyed every page of this super book and was sorry when it reached it's satisfying conclusion, as I would have happily carried on reading.
If you would like to read my full review please visit my blog at:
https://leftontheshelfbookblog.blogsp...
If you would like to read my full review please visit my blog at:
https://leftontheshelfbookblog.blogsp...
November 27, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed Jo’s previous book One Bad Apple, so I was thrilled to get an early copy of The Vanishing Act to read.
I would class this book and One Bad Apple as thoroughly entertaining, easy crime/cozy mystery thrillers and are absolutely ideal for the times you need a break from the gruesome, but still need to engage your brain in the who, what and why’s.
The Vanishing Act is all about Eloise King. An artist living in Cornwall with her husband and children. Her marriage is going through a rough patch, one of her children has stopped speaking to her and the other is leaving to go to University soon. She’s also struggling financially with her art gallery and has lost her creativity to paint and this is all before a body is found in an abandoned mine house close her her home.
The blurb above explains Eloise/Elizabeth’s dilemma, and with the help of her son’s ex-girlfriend they start to find out who this body really is and why it has appeared now.
Jo Jakeman has the wonderful ability to create funny, flawed and believable characters. Some you love and some you hate, but all are brought to life within the pages and keep the reader engaged, entertained and utterly enthralled.
Overall I would recommend this to all fans of cozy crime and amateur armchair detectives.
I would class this book and One Bad Apple as thoroughly entertaining, easy crime/cozy mystery thrillers and are absolutely ideal for the times you need a break from the gruesome, but still need to engage your brain in the who, what and why’s.
The Vanishing Act is all about Eloise King. An artist living in Cornwall with her husband and children. Her marriage is going through a rough patch, one of her children has stopped speaking to her and the other is leaving to go to University soon. She’s also struggling financially with her art gallery and has lost her creativity to paint and this is all before a body is found in an abandoned mine house close her her home.
The blurb above explains Eloise/Elizabeth’s dilemma, and with the help of her son’s ex-girlfriend they start to find out who this body really is and why it has appeared now.
Jo Jakeman has the wonderful ability to create funny, flawed and believable characters. Some you love and some you hate, but all are brought to life within the pages and keep the reader engaged, entertained and utterly enthralled.
Overall I would recommend this to all fans of cozy crime and amateur armchair detectives.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews