The Vanished

Echoes from the Past #10

by Irina Shapiro

A secret sealed with a kiss…

The Lake District, 1923. Douglas Bellamy is dying, and a cruel entailment will leave his daughters destitute. Their only hope is a distant American cousin arriving for Christmas, whom the eldest daughter, Geneva, must charm into marriage. But she is already entangled with Rory Sullivan, the Irish estate manager her father would never accept, and her younger sister, Honor, watches their forbidden affair with envy slowly curdling into something deadly. As the household hurtles toward a glittering New Year’s Eve, old loyalties fracture and a devastating secret surfaces—one that will cost a young woman her life.

Present day. When a woman’s body is found in a sealed well, perfectly preserved and dressed in silk, archaeologist Quinn Allenby investigates. The claddagh ring on the dead woman’s finger tells her nothing, but an amethyst earring tangled in her hair plunges Quinn into the doomed world of the Bellamys. As her own family begins to fracture, she realises the truth buried in that well could destroy the living as surely as the dead…

A sweeping story of love, inheritance, and lethal family secrets, perfect for fans of Diana Gabaldon, Susanna Kearsley, and Barbara Erskine.

Genres: Historical Fiction

396 pages, Paperback

Published August 17, 2026

About the author

To write a novel was a dream of mine since I was a child. Life, my practical nature, and self-doubt got in the way, so it was decades later that an opportunity to write finally presented itself. I honestly didn't think I had what it takes to write a full-length novel, but once I faced the blank screen and my fingers touched the keyboard, everything disappeared except my characters and their surroundings, and suddenly I knew that this was what I was born to do.

Since then, I've written many books and have enjoyed some positive reviews, but sometimes, when I stop to reflect, I'm still amazed that I'm living my dream.

Follow me on BookBub for discount deals and new release alerts.

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/irina...

Reviews

[Deanna Loves to Read!!:)]

Another well executed winner from Irina Shapiro! She has become an auto read author for me!

I really love the Tate and Bell mysteries by this author, and was excited to pick up this one. Although it is not part of the Tate and Bell, it has many familiar elements as that series.

Dual timeline mystery, involving forbidden love and family secrets.

Present Day:
Archeologist Quinn Allenby is tasked with investigating a body found in a sea wall that is perfectly preserved. The body is wearing a silk dress, a ring and an amethyst earring that is tangled in her hair. Quinn used to be the host of "Echos of the Past", but was fired because her skills as a psychic were questioned. She is hoping this will lead her back to her position. As she investigates she learns that the body of a woman from the 1920's. This woman's family was in a dire financial situation, The father of this woman died of cancer, and the laws for the estate did not allow women to inherit. As Quinn begins to investigate, her brother, Logan, goes missing. Quinn must now look into this disappearance as well. This leads to information that Max. Logan's 5 year old son, might have been the target for kidnapping. The further she investigates, the more we come to see that there are some connections to the past.

Past:
Geneva is the eldest daughter of Douglas Bellamy who is dying of cancer. In order to provide for she and her sisters, she must woo a distant cousin into marriage. However, she is in a forbidden and secret love affair with Rory Sullivan. Her younger sister, Honor, watches the forbidden romance with jealousy and longing. This turns into a much darker emotion, and danger and betrayal are on the horizon.

The characters are complex in both timelines. We see loyalty to family fighting against the desires of the heart and this brings a very tense atmosphere. The effect of the past on Quinn's present day life adds to the emotional aspect and deepens the connections. And as her investigations reveal more and more secrets, the danger and damage to the present becomes obvious.

The slow burn mystery is written very well, with so much attention to detail that the subtlety of emotion really builds the bridge between the two timelines. The atmosphere is haunting and full of tension. The mystery is layered, and although I had my suspicions, it is still affective and fully realized, The setting in the Lake District and surroundings is descriptive and adds to the authority of it being a main character.

There were a few moments when I felt certain characters were not held completely accountable- but overall I thoroughly enjoyed this story.

I haven't read any of the other Echoes of the Past series. I will now rectify that!!

Highly recommend to those that love dual timeline, slow burn mysteries where the past is never far from the present!

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Aisha Faisal]

A century-old mystery. A family torn apart. A truth worth killing for.

Special thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for providing an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Vanished by Irina Shapiro is an absolute masterclass in dual-timeline storytelling, effortlessly weaving together atmospheric 1920s historical drama with a pulse-pounding modern mystery. Having followed the Echoes from the Past series through its previous entries, stepping back into Quinn Allenby’s world after a hiatus felt both comfortably familiar and wildly thrilling. Blending meticulous historical detail with a subtle supernatural edge, this installment stands out as one of the strongest in the series.

Main Characters
1923 Timeline: The Bellamy Estate

1. Douglas Bellamy: The terminally ill patriarch whose impending death exposes his family to total financial ruin due to a strict legal entailment.

2. Geneva Bellamy: The eldest daughter, expected to save her family by marrying a distant heir, while secretly harbouring a forbidden love.

3. Honor Bellamy: Geneva’s younger sister, whose growing envy of Geneva slowly transforms into a dangerous, dark malice.

4. Rory Sullivan: The devoted Irish estate manager whose lower social standing makes his romance with Geneva strictly forbidden.

5. The American Cousin: The sole surviving male heir, summoned from abroad to claim the estate and potentially save the Bellamy women from destitution.

The Investigation

Quinn Allenby: An archaeologist endowed with psychometry, the ability to read historical echoes from objects, facing public skepticism after being outed as a psychic.

Rhys: Quinn’s investigative partner, working to uncover cold-case histories to revive their television show, Echoes from the Past.

Logan Allenby: Quinn’s brother, whose sudden and mysterious disappearance creates a harrowing modern race against time.

Max Allenby: Logan’s vulnerable five-year-old son, placed under Quinn’s protective care amid escalating threats.

Storyline

The 1923 narrative is intoxicatingly vivid. Shapiro paints the Lake District with lush, evocative detail glittering cold lakes, towering stone manors, and an aristocratic line teetering on the edge of ruin. Douglas Bellamy’s illness and the cruel inheritance laws barring his daughters set up an atmospheric pressure cooker for a tense holiday season.

Geneva’s hidden affair with Irish estate manager Rory Sullivan forms the tragic emotional heart of this timeline. Watching Honor’s envy curdle into malice creates a slow-burn psychological tension that culminates in a devastating New Year’s Eve tragedy.

What worked particularly well for me 😉

The way the two timelines gradually began to mirror and illuminate each other. Every revelation from 1923 made me look at the present-day mystery differently, while every new clue Quinn uncovered made me even more desperate to return to the Bellamys and discover what had really happened.

There were several twists that caught me completely off guard, and I appreciated that the author didn’t make the answers too obvious. Just when I thought I had worked out where the story was heading, another secret emerged.

The atmosphere, family drama, forbidden romance, historical detail and supernatural touches all come together beautifully here. It’s a story about what people will do when love, inheritance, desperation and resentment collide and how secrets can remain buried for generations without ever truly disappearing. The Vanished was an absorbing and suspenseful read that kept me guessing right to the end. If you enjoy dual timelines, historical mysteries, family secrets and just a hint of the paranormal, this is definitely one to add to your reading list.

My Final Verdict

Whether you are a longtime follower of Quinn Allenby or picking up the Echoes from the Past series for the first time, The Vanished delivers a sweeping, beautifully constructed tale of betrayal, inheritance, and long-buried secrets. It serves as both a satisfying standalone mystery and a triumphant continuation of a beloved series.

[Peter Baran]

This is the tenth of Irina Shapiro's Echoes From The Past books, and the first I have read. And let me tell you, a lot has happened to our TV presenter / psychic investigator Quinn Allenby in those previous nine books. A lot of backstory is alluded to, there isn't a family member or friend who turns up who doesn't seem to have some secret tragedy that has probably already been documented. Because unlike her very straightforward Victorian mysteries, this series seems to run a modern-day thriller story up against whatever past-times investigation is her current case. Quinn has the ability to see in the past by touching an object that was owned by someone - and I assume that like here, in the other books, the object was owned by someone who was murdered and those visions unroll in a happily narratively useful order. In this past investigation for the comeback of her TV show after she was outed as a psychic (in book nine?), a woman's body has been found in a well by a stately home in the Lake District. Her visions take her back to the 1920's and a tale of a blocked inheritance and an American cousin. Meanwhile, in the modern day, Quinn's brother has gone missing, leaving his five-year-old son at school, the urgency of which means the past tale gets parcelled out piecemeal against the current one.

It's easy to be sniffy about the narrative contrivances here, and there are a few clunkers here, but there are also some absolutely terrific cliffhangers that got me to read "just one more chapter" as Shapiro did the tango between the 20's and now. It is, anyway, far too late for me to complain about the fundamental structure of a popular book series. And clearly she has thought through a number of the logistical issues of this gift, and even the problem of the gift being inherited by her children (which does actually become important here). So whilst her 20's story felt a little less immersive than her Victorian fiction, and Downton Abbey lite, it also played its melodrama a mystery to the hilt, where the modern story never quite held together for me, beyond the truism that people who commit crimes sometimes act quite strangely. Enjoyable pulp nonetheless.

[Paloma]

Quinn Allenby's secret is out. Through her show "Echoes of the Past", her psychic abilities have been exposed and her credibility as an archeologist questioned. Rhys, the showrunner, brings her a case that they hope will help save their show. Lynn Michaels discovered a well in her property. The workers found a bog body at the bottom of the well. It is now up to Quinn to figure out who the body belongs to and how it got there. What Quinn soon discovers is a very complicated family drama of two sisters dealing with a sick father who needs to settle their future before he dies. But nothing is ever as easy, and while Quinn navigates this case and finds out how the body got to the well, her nephew suffers an attempted kidnapping while her brother goes missing.

I loved both timelines. While Quinn was dealing with her own problems, Honor and Geneva where also trying to figure out how to survive after their father passed. It was a very difficult time for women with such archaic laws that didn't permit them to hold an inheritance without a male heir. They tried as best as they could to survive but tragedy seemed to hold on tightly to them. I liked Quinn husband Gabe a lot and their kids were so smart and adorable. Her son has a lot to deal with in the future with his gift and I hope we can see that in future books. Another great story by Irina Shapiro, I couldn't get enough!
Thank you Netgalley and Storm Publishing for this eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.

[Cheryl]

I did enjoy this story and I particularly liked that there were events happening in both eras. The earliest time was set in 1923 and the latter a hundred years later. The link between the two eras was Quinn, a woman who could experience events that had happened by holding an object. There were interesting characters in both eras although I did think that some characters, in both times, got off too lightly. It was a story that kept me interested until the end, although I had worked out most of the mystery. I hadn’t read any of the other books in the series but this didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the book. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Sarah]

★★★★½ A fascinating mystery with a brilliant premise, but so much drama!

This was my first book in the Echoes from the Past series, despite somehow choosing to start with book ten, and I really enjoyed the central premise. Quinn has the ability to touch an object belonging to someone who has died and experience glimpses of that person's past, and I absolutely loved this idea. It gives the historical mystery such an interesting connection to the present day and had me constantly looking for clues.

And apparently I was looking quite hard! I managed to correctly guess several of the major reveals quite early in the book, including one at around 20% and a couple more by about 40%. I won't say what any of them were because that would thoroughly ruin the fun, but guessing them didn't spoil the book for me at all. If anything, I really enjoyed spotting the breadcrumbs and seeing whether my theories were right.

What surprised me was just how much was happening in the present-day storyline. The blurb really doesn't do this part of the book justice. It gives the impression that Quinn's family begins to fall apart, but there is essentially another thriller unfolding in the modern-day story alongside the historical mystery. I think that deserved far more attention in the description because there are some genuine chills and thrills there.

My biggest issue was simply the sheer amount of unhappiness. Almost everyone is carrying heartbreak, family problems, difficult relationships or some other form of emotional baggage. Honor struggles with her place as the younger sister to Geneva, Geneva faces an impossible choice between marriage and the security of an estate or running away with someone who isn't necessarily right for her, and Quinn herself has an enormous amount of drama in her past and present. There were moments when I wanted to hand the entire cast a cup of tea and send them all to separate rooms for a quiet afternoon.

As someone who often reads for escape, it became a little too much drama for me. Quinn is probably the character I liked most, but learning more about everything she has already been through hasn't particularly made me want to go backwards and read the previous nine books. I suspect there's an awful lot more heartbreak waiting for me there!

Still, the mystery itself kept me thoroughly engaged, and I loved the idea at its heart. There are some clever clues, plenty happening in both timelines and a conclusion that gave me a lot to think about.

A very strong 4.5 stars from me. On sites that insist I choose between four and five, I'm rounding down to four, simply because while I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery, this isn't one I'd personally return to for a reread.

Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for an ARC of this title.

[Leanne]

The Vanished is a beautifully woven dual‑timeline mystery that blends inheritance, forbidden love, and long‑buried secrets into a story that feels both haunting and irresistibly immersive. The Lake District setting in 1923 is instantly evocative — glittering lakes, cold stone estates, and a family teetering on the edge of ruin. Douglas Bellamy’s impending death and the cruel entailment that will leave his daughters destitute sets the stage for a Christmas filled with desperation, ambition, and dangerous longing.

Geneva, tasked with charming a distant American cousin into marriage, is already entangled in a forbidden romance with Rory Sullivan, the Irish estate manager her father would never accept. Their relationship is tender, risky, and watched with growing envy by her younger sister, Honor — envy that slowly curdles into something far darker. The tension builds beautifully as the household moves toward a glittering New Year’s Eve, where loyalties fracture and a devastating secret surfaces, one that will cost a young woman her life.

The present‑day storyline is equally compelling. When archaeologist Quinn Allenby investigates a perfectly preserved body found in a sealed well — silk dress intact, claddagh ring on her finger, an amethyst earring tangled in her hair — she’s pulled straight into the doomed world of the Bellamys. The way the past bleeds into Quinn’s own life is handled with elegant restraint, allowing the emotional echoes between the two timelines to deepen rather than distract. As her family begins to fracture, the truth buried in that well becomes more than historical curiosity — it’s a threat capable of destroying the living as surely as the dead.

The writing is lush and atmospheric, full of sensory detail and emotional nuance. The author captures the fragility of privilege, the weight of inheritance, and the dangerous ways love can twist when paired with desperation. Both timelines feel fully realised, and the slow unfurling of the mystery is deeply satisfying.

Sweeping, haunting, and beautifully constructed, The Vanished is a captivating tale of love, betrayal, and lethal family secrets — perfect for readers who adore Diana Gabaldon, Susanna Kearsley, and Barbara Erskine.

With thanks to Irina Shapiro, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Monica Hills]

4.5 Stars- I was so excited to see this book was out as I have loved reading the other 9 books in this series. It has been awhile since the last book in the series was published but I was able to pick this up and get right back into the world of Quinn. What makes this series unique is that it blends a little bit of fantasy with historical fiction.

In this novel Quinn investigates with Rhys, a body that has been found preserved in a well in the Lake District in England. They are hoping that a ring found on the body will speak to Quinn and she will be able to uncover what happened to the body so they can use the story to resurrect their television show Echoes from the Past. The pressure is on because Quinn was outed as a psychic and there are a lot of people who don't believe she has the gift. After investigating Quinn learns that the body is a young woman from the 1920s and that her family was in a difficult situation due to her father having incurable cancer. The estate they live on does not allow females to inherit and all of their male relatives are dead except for one who is in the United States. The question becomes how did she end up in that well and who could possibly have done this to her. However this is not the only mystery in the story. In the modern story line, Quinn's brother, Logan, has gone missing. Logan is a single father to a five year old named Max. Quinn takes guardianship of Max while trying to search for her brother but things get more complicated as it seems that someone is trying to kidnap Max. Quinn must figure out not only what happened to Logan but also how to keep Max and her own family safe.

This was another fantastic addition to this series. I was so happy to see another book after so many years and I hope there are more to come. There was lots of mystery and action. There were some great twists that I did not see coming as well. I also enjoy the historical aspects as well as the touch of fantasy. Such a great novel that anyone will enjoy.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Meg Pearson]

The Vanished is another fantastic addition to Irina Shapiro’s Echoes from the Past series, and I absolutely loved it. This was a gripping, atmospheric mystery that kept me turning pages, with two timelines, two compelling mysteries, and plenty of twists that I absolutely did not see coming.

The 1923 storyline was my favorite. The Bellamy family is facing financial ruin as Douglas Bellamy lies dying and, because of the rules governing the estate, his daughters cannot inherit. The arrival of an American cousin who could save the family—and the expectation that Geneva will marry him—creates the perfect recipe for secrets, forbidden love, and family tension. I was completely invested in Geneva’s story and desperate to understand how it would ultimately lead to the body discovered a century later.

I also really enjoyed Quinn’s present-day investigation. Her ability to uncover the past by touching objects connected to the dead adds such a unique element to the historical mystery, and I love the way Shapiro uses it to seamlessly connect the two timelines. At the same time, Quinn is dealing with the terrifying disappearance of her brother Logan and suddenly caring for her young nephew Max, giving the modern-day storyline its own sense of urgency and emotional stakes.

The two mysteries unfold alongside one another so well, and I loved watching the pieces slowly come together. There were several twists that genuinely surprised me, and the tension kept building until the final chapters. Even when I thought I had figured something out, there was still another layer waiting to be revealed.

This was my first Echoes from the Past book, and I had no trouble following the story as a standalone. That said, I now absolutely want to go back and read the rest of the series!

A beautifully woven dual-timeline mystery with historical intrigue, family secrets, romance, paranormal elements, and plenty of suspense. The Vanished completely pulled me in, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves historical mysteries and dual timelines.

[Anne]

The Vanished by Irina Shapiro is a different kind of mystery. Although this is not the first in the series, it is the first for me. There are two mysteries: one from a hundred years earlier; one current. Quinn had had a popular television show based on unsolved older mysteries, until she was outed as a psychic, information they used to verify information and get leads. A great many people were thrilled at that revelation, but some were not and they were not nice. Rhys, her producer, had come to her with another mystery: a body had been found in an abandoned well at a small hotel. When they visited and saw the well, and the mortuary to view the body before sending it to their forensic pathologist, she spied a ring on the finger of the corpse and gently slipped it off. It was perfect for her to use to summon a vision. When she tried to see something, it was a blank. Evidently the ring had not been with this owner for long. Fortunately, an earring was found lodged in the hair of the deceased. Thus started the retelling of an interesting story.

Quinn took her responsibilities very seriously. She and her husband had two children of their own as well as a slightly older girl in their custody due to the death of her parents. She had a complicated family history, having been adopted. Her husband, Gabe, is the epitome of the understanding and helpful husband. Her small son seemed to have inherited his mother’s abilities so they guarded him carefully from anything that might disturb him. It was a touching story full of interesting twists and turns, some tragic. As it turns out, an elderly lady who had married into the family filled in the blanks for Quinn and Rhys and was thrilled to know it would be on television in the not too far distant future. What a terrific book. Great stories, great characters, and well worth the read.

I was invited to read The Vanished by Storm Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StormPublishing #IrinaShaprio #TheVanishing

[anxious musical bookworm]

I'd never read anything by Irina Shapiro before, and I think it showed once Quinn's past, her family and former cases eere mentioned.
It did not make the reading experience any less fun!
I was super invested in the Bellamy girls' story and was on the edge of my seat to figure out how it unfolded and how it would come to an end. I loved Quinn as a character - she was strong and empathic and she had such a big heart and cared so much for those around her.
I loved her relationship with Gabe and how sweet he was. I think he was my favourite character out of them all, always willing to help his wife, always willing to take the burden of it all off his wife's shoulders, even if it meant extra work or an extra mental burden for him.
The plot was gripping and compelling, and the writing was very well done too - like Rhys mentioned, I could see every 1923 scene as if it had been stripped from Downton Abbey - as someone whose favourite show IS Downton Abbey, I felt delighted. It was all so vivid and dreamy and very atmospheric. I will say that I called the first twist, but the second one caught me off guard SO bad, I had no idea it was coming.
The only thing that made me turn away from the book was Quinn's personal life - Gosh, I was so not invested in the drama going on in it. I was all in for the Bellamy drama, but felt so bored whenever we cut back to Quinn's dilemma and everything that was going on with her family. I understand that we needed something else to focus on and of course Quinn had her own stuff going on, but I just felt so bored with it all, I really couldn't care less and just wanted to go back to 1923.
Overall, it was a very fun book and I loved the mystical, paranormal aspect of it!

[Marcia]

Nothing like popping into a dual timeline, somewhat paranormal mystery series in book 10. While it works as a stand-alone, there were multiple times when I found myself wishing I knew more of Quinn's backstory as it seems to have been so formative for her character. This book was such a ride, it was worth the times I asked myself, I wonder who that was or why she feels that way? I definitely need to read the earlier books in this series.
Quinn is able to hold an object of meaning to a person and see their memories. She and her producer Rhys have a television program where these stories are told. It has been on hiatus after Quinn's gift is outed on the internet until the uproar dies down. Now, Rhys has found a new story for them. At the same time. Quinn's brother, Logan goes missing, leaving his 5 year old son, Max at the nursery school. As Quinn tries to comfort Max, find Logan and deal with her rising fear that something has happened to Logan, she tries to escape into the memories of the body found in a peaty sealed off well.
Both stories are finally resolved after a few surprising twists that kept this reader turning the pages.
While I had moments when the tensions of both stories had me setting it down for a few minutes, it never took long to know I had to get back to their world and learn what happened.
Great, somewhat intense read, but definitely a world where I will make a return trip soon.
My thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read an early copy of this. All thoughts are entirely my own.

[Tammy Moldovan]

Mistakes, duty and choices

Phew. This book was so good. It was my favorite in this series. I love the way the author always creates two separate but parallel thought provoking, emotional, and completely engrossing tales set in totally different time periods, starring totally different characters, and then somehow merges them together to create an interwoven cohesive and captivating tale. Quinn is an archeologist and historian who has the ability to see events from past lives when touching items owned by the deceased. It has been years since Quinn used her gift and in that time the pandemic happened, Quinn lost her MIL and birth mother, and her psychic abilities were exposed through social media. In this story, Rhys once again asks for her help when a bog body is discovered in an old well on property recently converted into a hotel. While Quinn is using an earring to learn the story of the lady in the well, danger once again threatens her personal life and her family. The danger and suspense in this particular installment cranked up slowly but surely until both Quinn and Geneva’s story had me progressively feeling more anxious and low key yelling at all the characters to be careful because something bad was going to happen. It definitely made for an unputdownable story as I was desperate to know what would happen next. I love when a book sucks me in so much that I am equally desperate to read it all at once but also to make it last. This book definitely was that type of book. And oh now I’m thinking about the next generation.

[Angela]

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Irina Shapiro brings the reader the tenth novel in the Echoes from the Past series with 'The Vanished' This novel can be read as a stand alone as I have done. This historical fiction has a flash back sequence with the present day character being able to see what happened in the past when she touches an item.

It begins in the Lake District, 1923, when Geneva and Honor Bellamy learn their father is dying and the estate will go to an American cousin who will be arriving for Christmas. In order to hold on to the estate, Geneva, the elder sister must marry him. Her younger sister, Honor is envious and jealous. As the storyline unfolds, we learn what happens to them between Christmas and New Years.

In the present day we meet archaeologist Quinn Allenby, who has the ability to touch items from the past and see visions of the owner. A woman's body is found in a sealed well and she is called in to investigate. While touching an earring that both of the sister's wore, she is drawn into the Bellamy's world. At the same time, she is dealing with her brother's disappearance, her nephew and the safety of her family.

This story is about love, inheritance and family secrets for those who are a fan. I was quickly transported to both storylines and found myself reading well into the night. While this is my first novel by this author, it won't be my last.

[Lori Peterson]

Received as an ARC through Netgalley to read and review, this is an honest review.

Thank you to Storm Publishing for the pre - approval to read this book.

Of the few books I've read from this author and publisher, this one is most poignant and deeply carved with a powerful emotional weight.

In Geneva's past it's 1923 and we're in the Lake District and a devistating hurricane is tearing the Bellamy apart. Geneva is trying to embrace the ability to find her own path of what it means to be a woman with status even as family obligations could means she marries a man that can continue the life Geneva and her sister Honor know best. But does she truly love Jesse... or does Rory Sullivan - whose a bit more rough around the edges but deeply devoted to edge his love for a woman he may never have... and Geneva is caught in a situation that haunts into the present where Quinn Allenby, an archaeologist is unraveling why a body was left in a well that became a tomb. The Allenby family isn't without their own secrets - the ability to see into the past that terrifyingly delivers Geneva's fate... but the family is undergoing their trails that are severing their sanity apart with Quinn not able to give her children the hope of safety as danger lurks everywhere.

And the past ties the present with a haunting twist.

Highly recommended.

[Kelsiesinkandpages]

What a fantastic historical mystery! I absolutely loved this book and was completely swept up in the story from the very beginning.

Told across two timelines, 1923 and 2023, this book has the perfect combination of historical fiction, mystery, secrets and suspense. I particularly loved the 1923 storyline — there were moments where I genuinely felt like I had stepped straight into an episode of Downton Abbey! Geneva and Honour were both such fascinating characters, and I loved getting an insight into their lives and the world they lived in.

The 2023 storyline brings a completely different feel, and I really enjoyed following Quinn as she tries to uncover the truth while dealing with the mystery surrounding her brother. There were so many questions I wanted answers to, and I found myself constantly trying to work out what was really going on.

I loved the atmosphere throughout this book and the way Irina Shapiro created such a compelling mystery without rushing the story. The slower pace really worked for me and gave me the chance to get to know the characters while slowly uncovering the secrets surrounding them.

This was exactly the kind of historical mystery I love — intriguing, atmospheric and full of secrets. I was completely invested in the story and didn’t want to put it down!

[Amanda]

In 1923, the Bellamy family is unraveling as Douglas Bellamy’s illness threatens to leave his daughters destitute, forcing Geneva to consider marrying their wealthy American cousin despite being secretly in love with Rory, the estate manager her father would never accept. Meanwhile, in the present day, archaeologist Quinn Allenby is investigating the discovery of a woman’s body sealed inside a well, which leads her back to the Bellamys and the secrets surrounding their family. The historical storyline was easily the more interesting of the two, especially with the forbidden romance between Geneva and Rory and all the family drama slowly coming to a head. I also really enjoyed hearing about Geneva’s descendants through Mrs. Wilson’s stories, and those little connections between the past and present were some of my favorite parts of the book.

Unfortunately, I never really cared about the present-day storyline. I didn’t realize this was part of a series since that wasn’t mentioned in the blurb, and I definitely felt like I was missing some context during Quinn’s chapters. The mystery itself also felt anticlimactic, especially when everything was wrapped up so quickly toward the end. There were some really intriguing pieces here, but the present-day story ultimately kept me from enjoying this one as much as I wanted to.

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Alicia]

This was such a great read. A couple of twists were thrown at the end that I did not expect. The book pulled me in and kept me hooked. I enjoyed the dual timelines, and there was a steady sense of unease that kept me turning pages. I especially enjoyed how the past and present narratives echoed one another without feeling repetitive each thread added something meaningful to the larger puzzle.

The characters have depth and author does a good job creating a quiet, haunting tension that makes you question everyone’s motives. While a few plot turns felt a bit convenient, the overall story was compelling, immersive, and satisfying. The ending tied things together in a way that felt earned, leaving just enough lingering mystery to think about afterward.

If you enjoy historical fiction with a strong emotional core, a touch of suspense, and secrets that refuse to stay buried, The Vanished is a rewarding read. I’m already looking forward to exploring more of the author's work. I went into this blind and was excited to see that it is a series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this title. This is my very honest review.

[Ivy Lee]

The Vanished is a gripping historical mystery that kept me invested from beginning to end. The story unfolds across two timelines, with both mysteries developing in parallel and each bringing its own questions, tension, and surprises.
I particularly enjoyed the double-mystery structure. Both timelines were equally compelling, and I never found myself strongly favoring one over the other. The pacing kept the story moving, making this an easy page-turner.
Shapiro's writing is beautifully descriptive without becoming overwhelming. The settings in both timelines are vivid and atmospheric, while the characters' emotions are conveyed strongly enough to make it easy to connect with them.
The final quarter was especially effective, with multiple twists that I genuinely didn't see coming. The book does an excellent job of leading the reader toward certain conclusions before pulling the rug out from under them.
Overall, The Vanished is a well-paced, atmospheric historical mystery with an engaging dual-timeline structure, compelling characters, and plenty of twists. A great choice for readers who enjoy historical fiction with a strong mystery at its heart.

[Nancy E.]

This is another truly gripping story in the Echoes from the Past series! Rhys convinces Quinn to take on another case when a young woman’s body is found in an abandoned well. Quinn is taken back to 1923 when she touches jewelry found with the body. The deceased lived in England in 1923 when the Bellamy family is about to lose everything since the patriarch Douglas is dying of cancer and there are no male heirs to inherit the estate. Then there is found an American-born cousin who will inherit the title Count of Gosforth. He agrees to marry Douglas’ daughter Geneva, thus saving the family from financial ruin. But Geneva’s romance with Rory, the estate manager, threatens to upset Douglas’ plan. In the meantime, in 2023 Quinn is embroiled in the mysterious disappearance of her brother Logan, leaving his 5-year-old son Max in her care. Tensions run high in the stories in both centuries and nothing seems to be going right for anyone. This story truly kept me on the edge of my seat, unable to put it down until the end. Brava, Irina! You’ve done it again!

[Patricia Williams]

I haven't read any of Irina Shapiro's Echoes of the Past series so came to this format new. The book is written in duel time with Quinn, an archeologist and historian with psychic abilities providing the POV from the past when she handles an artifact. This then forms the basis for a TV show produced by her colleague Rhys. I loved the way Quinn's family supports her. Although there is obviously some history there that has been revealed in a previous book that I will have to read later. The story in The Vanished is interesting. It is really two stories running parallel to each other. Both have a couple of unexpected twists and interesting endings. At the end of The Vanished we see Alex, Quinn's son exploring his inherited psychic powers so I expect there will be more in the Echoes of the Past series yet to come. A very enjoyable and easy read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

[Colin Bell]

This is the first book in this series that I've read, although I have read and enjoyed other books by this author, so have missed the back stories but it can be read as a standalone. It covers a dual timeline, 1923 and 2023, with mysteries in both times as archeologist Quinn investigates the death of a woman whose body was found in a well for a TV series. Using items of jewellery found with the body Quinn has flashbacks to the previous time, experiencing what had happened to the wearer, whilst all the time trying to deal with a missing person in her own time. I'm not sure that I could cope with her ability, living other people's lives especially when dealing with tragedy. Heartbreaking in both times this isn't a light read, so if you enjoy darker mysteries this one will be for you.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

[Angela Brown]

This is the last in a series of 10 books though j haven’t read any of the others or any by this author before.

It is possible to read as a stand-alone but there are obviously parts of Quinn Allenby’s back story of which I have no knowledge.

This is a dual timeline novel set in contemporary times - well 2023 and 1923. Quinn Allenby who seems to be some form of media archaeologist. Again I may have missed the point by not knowing her back story. She appears to have the ability to see events in the past when she holds something that belongs to someone and then she is able to tell their story. It seems this memory on the item needs to be imprinted. It was a very odd concept for me sadly.

So if you like a tale with psychic elements and mystery then this would be for you. I’m not sure it is entirely for me.

I’ve given this 3 stars but I was intrigued enough to want to know what happened in the end.

[Carol]

Quinn has a psychic ability to see into someone's past if she holds an item belonging to the upto recently this has been a secret but it has been revealed on the Internet causing lots of trouble. Rhys her friend and tv producer is back wanting her to take part in another story a body has been found in a well. She agrees to do what she can to discover a story. At the same time her brother goes missing leaving his 5 year old son behind. A strange woman tries to abductor him from nursery. Things get very tense both as Quinn and her husband try to protect the boy find his father and with the story of the dead woman running along side this is a very intense exciting book to read. This is part of a series that I have not read before but will definitely read the rest.
Thanks to Netgalley and Storm publishing for my arc copy

[Andrea Wenger]

In the Lake District in 1923, with her father's estate entailed, Lady Geneva Bellamy must charm an American cousin into marriage, despite her affair with another man—and her younger sister's envy. In the present day, archaeologist Quinn investigates the well-preserved body of a young woman in a sealed well on the Bellamy property, and the truth threatens the living.

This tense and immersive novel was really well done. It's full of twists, most of which were unexpected, but some were hinted at. (I always think the best twists are the ones that the reader figures out just before the author reveals them.) I've only read one of the previous books in the series, but was able to follow this one without any trouble. I look forward to going back and bingeing the whole series.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Lyn]

Having read a few books by this author, I was delighted to be asked to read this one. Although it is book ten in a series, it still worked as a standalone book. It is a dual time line narrative, where Quinn can go back in time to feel what people are feeling. The present day issue didn’t grab me as much, but 1923 situation was fascinating. Devastated by loss after WW1, Geneva is facing hard choices as her father is dying and the property is entailed. Suffice to say, the outcome is surprising but clever(as you would expect), but also in keeping with the times. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and enjoyed the historical perspective. The ending indicates that there will be a sequel, which I hope to read. Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for allowing me to read Irina’s work.

[Paula]

The Vanished is part of a series by Irina Shapiro that is new to me. I can’t say if the books all follow one family or how the series is connected. The book was an interesting story in the Echoes of the past series with a duel-time line. The 1923 timeline has two Bellamy daughters at the center. At the present day Lake District, archaeologist Quinn Allenby investigates a woman’s body found. Such as well written story with atmosphere that Ms. Shapiro does so well along with family drama past and present, a forbidden romance, and just a touch of the mystical. Just when I thought I knew all the answers that was a twist that made me rethink. Now I will need to catch up with the other previous nine books in the series.

[LouAnn]

I received The Vanished free through NetGalley! I’d never read anything by Irina Shapiro before, but I absolutely loved this one and finished it in less than 24 hours.

The main character, archaeologist Quinn Allenby, also has psychic abilities, which adds an interesting twist to the mystery. She becomes involved in investigating the fully-preserved body of a woman found sealed inside an old well, potentially as part of a TV show.

The story moves quickly, the mystery kept me interested, and the characters were well developed without slowing things down. A thoroughly engaging read, and I will definitely be reading more from this author!

[Jessica Emery]

The Vanished was so good! This is the tenth book in the Echoes from the Past series, but it was my first, and it was so good that now I want to go back and read all of the previous books!

This was a dual-timeline story, and both of the timelines kept me interested. The mystery unfolded at a good pace and kept my attention. I’m sure readers who have followed the series from the beginning will appreciate it even more, but overall, I thought this was a great 4-star read!

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

[R Evans]

This was a well worked dual timeline murder mystery. It focused on Quinn who had an ability to sense a persons experience by holding an artefact that belonged to a person in history. She was called in to examine the remains of a body found in a well in a remote Cumbrian house. She finds a web of intrigue surrounding the family of the victim that is slowly unravelled. While this happens her brother in then present day suddenly disappears again leading to a. Mystery that needs solving. A typically tortuous plot from the author that keeps you guessing to the end.