The View that Disappeared

by Jamie McNabb

When octogenarians Jack and Betty Luckner move into a high-rise retirement center, they expect to make certain adjustments. An efficiency kitchen. A one-star dining room.

They do not expect their fellow residents to start dropping dead at the dinner table.

Armed with only an iron-willed sense of justice, Jack and Betty set out to track down the serial killer . . . before anyone can put a stop to their efforts.

Drawing on the traditions of Dashiell Hammett and Monty Python, The View that Disappeared serves up a five-star collation of inventive murders, gallows humor, and courage.

246 pages, Paperback

Published October 6, 2016

Reviews

[Alec · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great read, and very unique in my experience. On one hand, it's a very intriguing mystery with a dark and wonderful sense of humor, on the other, it's a reflection on how our society too often treats it's elders with disdain and neglect, and if you can borrow a third hand from a friend, a very personal look at one man's journey through age, grief, and self-determination. Though if you think you have to be on the experienced side of retirement age to appreciate this novel, you're dead wrong. At 30, I found myself very pleasantly surprised at how easily I could relate to and empathize with good old Jack Luckner. It's not only rare to have such a complete character arc in the genre, but also given to a character in his 80s who seems to jump through the pages to mock the stereotype of the doddering old man by taking a certain wry glee in playing at being a doddering old man to throw his quarry off the scent. In short, this is a great mystery, with a very atypical setting and hero, with more layers than you could expect.

[Karen Gail Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack and Betty Luckner have had a long and happy marriage. They met in 1957. Their early marriage was the years of the Vietnam War: "folksongs, long hair, freelove, and pot". At this telling, they are in their mid to late 80's in age and living in an assisted living complex which also includes a nursing home division and hospice.
Their assisted living apartment is small. There is a kitchen, but most meals are taken in a common dining room for the assisted living residents. It is here where most interaction between residents occurs. And where Jack and Betty begin to notice that residents are dying. Many of these residents are in good physical health. Everything begins to deteriorate...the physical property and the quality of meals. All things over which the residents have no control. Then Betty also dies, leaving Jack distraught and thinking of suicide.
This is a disturbing and excellent book. It is full of the memories of a life together (a love story), the difficulties of aging, the fright of feeling helpless, and determination to make a difference.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh wow! What a great read....funny funny funny. I absolutely adore Jamie McNabb's sense of humor.

Jack and Betty Luckner live in a retirement home which is less than desireable . Friends of theirs are dropping like flies and they decide to find out if there is a murderer in the home. Following their investigation gives the reader a chance to laugh out loud.

I received this book from the author and thank him so much. I'm an avid reader and rarely find a book that I like as much as this particular one.

Run, don't walk, to your nearest bookstore and get a copy. You'll be glad you did.

[Chaya · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Luckners move into the Terezin Tower Senior Estates, and start to notice its residents dying off in sometimes suspicious circumstances. They suspect some foul play, but how to prove it?

This is a mystery novel told in the first person by Jack Luckner, a crotchety 80-something with a foul mouth and wry view on the world of the senior citizen home. The action in the noves moves at a fair clip, but the subject matter is rather bleak, enumerating lots of different deaths of lots of the characters, not all of them suspicious. The narrator's voice is funny at times; he is a sarcastic observer of the sad events taking place around him.

The tale, though, is overall very depressing. Jack recounts not only the deaths that occur, but incidents of elder abuse, staff treating the seniors like children, sad back stories for several characters, ammonia stenches and cold meals that form their setting. It wasn't my cup of tea.

[Hazel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh you were going to be five stars but the last three pages just ruined it for me.

I adored the character development I felt like even the 'side characters' were fleshed out so well within only a page or two which takes considerable skill! I come imagine them all crystal clear with their own distinct personalities.

The setting, well if that wasn't the most comically accurate description of our British NHS hospitals I don't know what could have been. I know this is set in the US but honestly the resemblence is uncanny. Trust me I spend enough of my time in them.

The main characters could have been anyones Grandma and Grandad possibly over exagerated at times (to prove a point and done intentionally I presume) but loveable so loveable.

I wanted to keep reading from the very first page, the authour has such a way with words and is able to turn a phrase so well. The inner monologue of the main character so felt so so real.

However, the 'shock' or 'twist' or whatever that was supposed to be in chapter 29. Pointless. Ruined the whole thing for meI was going to keep it as to re-read but now I no longer will be doing so.

I recieved this copy as a goodreads giveaway. I was not obligated to review this book and my review is in no way influenced by this.

[Shruti · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book through a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you, Jamie McNabb and Goodreads!

Review:
Don’t you love the synopsis? Octogenarians investigating possible homicides has bestseller written all over it. The premise is brilliant and the writing is AMAZING. Throw into the mix the sense of humor and sass of Jack Luckner, and you get a perfect first 180 pages.

I didn’t particularly care for the ending. It felt a little contrived. There was no motive for the killings and don’t give me any of that “psychopath” bull. This book doesn’t really work that well as a mystery.

Having said that, I would still recommend this book to people. Why? The humor. It’s brilliant. There’s a lot of sass and gallows humor going on in the book. The tone of the protagonist through most of the book follows the style of dark humor, which is exactly the kind of humor that I like. There were several pages were I was snorting loudly. And that is what people should read this for. If Jamie McNabb ever dabbles in the humor genre, I would definitely like to check the book out. I’m sure it will be a bestseller.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Originally posted on This is Lit - Book Blog.

[Marci · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review is based on an uncorrected proof that I was fortunate to win on Goodreads. I've waited to rate this book because I wanted to let the ending sink in. I love the style of this book up until the last few pages. It has good flow even though it jumps back and forth from past to present. I like the setting, the background and details on the characters. I'm not sure how to give my thoughts on the ending without spoiling it, so I'll just say that I didn't care for how it ended. I felt that it left things unfinished and without the same flow that the rest of the book exhibited. I still have questions. But the majority of the book was great! I'll pick up a copy of the new release and update my review.

[Rishit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got this book from the author to review.
The story's about Octogenarians Jack and Betty who have set out out to find the cause of the sudden death
of many of their fellow friends in their jolly retirement community.
A very gripping and interesting book. Keeps one bounded from the beginning to the end. The story didn't losses its pace throughout. The characters are
well and perform their role accurately. The dilogs and narration are well writen and makes the book a page-turner.
Overall very good. Recommended

[Vera Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Won a copy here at Goodreads. From the very beginning the book draws the reader in. It's bad enough to go into a home that the seniors get good care, but this one isn't. You might go into to have your dinner, and notice that a friend is missing. No body seems to be talking. But later find out he is gone (as in dead).

Lots of strange things happen and too many go missing. The book will keep the reader on edge.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, thanks to Jamie McNabb for providing a copy of this book for review.
Jack and Betty Luckner expect to live out the rest of their lives in comfort in their retirement community condo. However, when some of their fellow residents meet their demise in a variety of ways, the couple begins to investigate, all the while putting themselves in harms way.
This was a delightful mystery/thriller/tragic novel while at the same time sprinkled throughout with humor. A very entertaining read.

[Tikri /Letitia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent story with humor and suspense which grip your attention on the surface level while raising serious issues underneath. I'm 80+, won this Goodreads Giveaway, and agree that "Drawing on the traditions of Dashiell Hammett and Monty Python, The View that Disappeared serves up a five-star collation of inventive murders, gallows humor, and courage."