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The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde
Four sisters. One summer. A lifetime of secrets.
When fifteen-year-old Margot and her three sisters arrive at Applecote Manor in June 1959, they expect a quiet English country summer. Instead, they find their aunt and uncle still reeling from the disappearance of their daughter, Audrey, five years before. As the sisters become divided by new tensions when two handsome neighbors drop by, Margot finds herself drawn into the life Audrey left behind. When the summer takes a deadly turn, the girls must unite behind an unthinkable choice or find themselves torn apart forever.
Fifty years later, Jesse is desperate to move her family out of their London home, where signs of her widower husband’s previous wife are around every corner. Gorgeous Applecote Manor, nestled in the English countryside, seems the perfect solution. But Jesse finds herself increasingly isolated in their new sprawling home, at odds with her fifteen-year-old stepdaughter, and haunted by the strange rumors that surround the manor.
When fifteen-year-old Margot and her three sisters arrive at Applecote Manor in June 1959, they expect a quiet English country summer. Instead, they find their aunt and uncle still reeling from the disappearance of their daughter, Audrey, five years before. As the sisters become divided by new tensions when two handsome neighbors drop by, Margot finds herself drawn into the life Audrey left behind. When the summer takes a deadly turn, the girls must unite behind an unthinkable choice or find themselves torn apart forever.
Fifty years later, Jesse is desperate to move her family out of their London home, where signs of her widower husband’s previous wife are around every corner. Gorgeous Applecote Manor, nestled in the English countryside, seems the perfect solution. But Jesse finds herself increasingly isolated in their new sprawling home, at odds with her fifteen-year-old stepdaughter, and haunted by the strange rumors that surround the manor.
324 pages, ebook
First published July 25, 2017
749 people are currently reading
8430 people want to read
About the author
Eve Chase
11 books1,379 followersEve Chase is an internationally bestselling British novelist who writes rich, layered and suspenseful novels. Including R&J pick, no.1 kindle bestseller The Midnight Hour, The Birdcage, The Glass House (The Daughters of Foxcote Manor, US) Sunday Times top ten and Richard and Judy Book Club pick, The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde (The Wildling Sisters, US) longlisted for the HWA Gold Crown Award, and Black Rabbit Hall, winner of Paris' Saint-Maur en Poche prize for Best Foreign Fiction.
Say hello @evepollychase on Instagram, X, and Facebook
Say hello @evepollychase on Instagram, X, and Facebook
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,022 reviews
June 22, 2017
This is a beautfully written and haunting story that revolves around Applecote Manor in the Cotswolds, brimming with gothic overtones. It has two timelines, set in the 1950s and the present. It begins with an attention grabbing scenario where a body is being dragged, and you are left wondering and eager to know who it is, what has taken place, and what are the circumstances and motivations behind it. In 1959, four close sisters, Flora, Pam, Margot and Dot Wilde arrive at Applecote Manor for a turbulent summer. Affectionately known as the Wildings, they are staying with their Aunt Sybil and Uncle Perry, who are devastated about the disappearance of their daughter, Audrey, five years previously. In the present, Jessie and Will move into Applecote Manor hoping that it proves to be a balm to the spirits for their emotionally troubled family. This is a story of nostalgia, yearnings, family, secrets and lies.
The Wildings mother is off working in Morocco, and the girls get caught up in the mystery of the missing Audrey for their stay. We see things through the perspective of fifteen year old Margot, the sister that fades into the background. Two attractive neighbours stoke up feelings and desires between the sisters leading to friction. Everything falls apart and decisions are made that cement a bond between the sisters that is stronger than familial ties. In the present, an insecure Jess worries over her fraught relationship with her stepdaughter, Bella, who is hostile and still deeply connected with her dead mother. Applecote Manor seems to offer an ideal and idyllic location to ease their family problems. Bella hears the rumours associated with the Manor and cannot resist looking into the secrets of the house.
Eve Chase writes vivid and vibrant prose that reflects the slow pace of life in a rural setting and the long summer days. She evokes the 1950s period well with the sisters coming of age and the excitement of exploring the mystery of Audrey. She connects the impact of past events on the present with the new family with flair. It is a well plotted and character driven book which I found compelling reading. The most gripping part for me was the 1950s aspect of the novel. I recommend this to those who enjoy a slow paced haunting period mystery set around a house with secrets. A great read. Thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph for an ARC.
The Wildings mother is off working in Morocco, and the girls get caught up in the mystery of the missing Audrey for their stay. We see things through the perspective of fifteen year old Margot, the sister that fades into the background. Two attractive neighbours stoke up feelings and desires between the sisters leading to friction. Everything falls apart and decisions are made that cement a bond between the sisters that is stronger than familial ties. In the present, an insecure Jess worries over her fraught relationship with her stepdaughter, Bella, who is hostile and still deeply connected with her dead mother. Applecote Manor seems to offer an ideal and idyllic location to ease their family problems. Bella hears the rumours associated with the Manor and cannot resist looking into the secrets of the house.
Eve Chase writes vivid and vibrant prose that reflects the slow pace of life in a rural setting and the long summer days. She evokes the 1950s period well with the sisters coming of age and the excitement of exploring the mystery of Audrey. She connects the impact of past events on the present with the new family with flair. It is a well plotted and character driven book which I found compelling reading. The most gripping part for me was the 1950s aspect of the novel. I recommend this to those who enjoy a slow paced haunting period mystery set around a house with secrets. A great read. Thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph for an ARC.
October 21, 2018
The Wildling Sisters by Eve Chase is a 2017 G.P. Putnam’s Sons publication.
The Wilde Sisters arrive at the Applecote manor in 1959 to spend the summer with their aunt. The girls, Dot, Flora, Pam, and Margot are close and protective of each other. But, their visit to the lovely country estate is dampened by their aunt’s struggle to overcome her daughter, Audrey’s disappearance, five years earlier. The mystery consumes the girls, but the closer they get to the truth, the closer they come to possible danger, and tensions begin to arise between them over two handsome boys.
Fifty years later, with the memory of her widower husband’s wife constantly surrounding her, Jesse is ready to escape the city. Not only that, her stepdaughter was involved in an ugly incident, which figured into her desire to move. Applecote Manor felt like the perfect place in the perfect setting at the perfect time.
However, trouble starts almost immediately. Her stepdaughter becomes increasingly difficult to handle, her husband is always away at work, and disturbing rumors about the house finally reach her ears. As her stepdaughter becomes nearly obsessed with the strange disappearance of a former resident, Jesse feels her life is slowly unraveling.
This is one of those books I was dying to read, but it just kept slipping down the TBR pile until I gradually lost track of it. Thankfully, while searching for another book in my voluminous Kindle folder, I happened across it and made a point to get started on it. I do recall hearing a lot of buzz about his book when it was first released. I have read other books by Eve Chase and was very impressed with her work. But, what drew me to this one was the constant effusive gushing about the novel’s strong Gothic tones. As a huge fan of Gothic novels, I’m going to have to cry foul on that one, just a little. Yes, there are a few Gothic elements, but I didn’t feel they were as strong or pure as many others have. I was slightly let down on that front, however, the story was very compelling, with dual timelines, and a very atmospheric and absorbing mystery to uncover.
As is usually the case for me, I was drawn more towards the historical elements of the story, but the present -day scenario, while not really adding a lot to the mystery, suggests a possible air of pending doom, which was quite effective, and may have been a slightly underrated element in the story.
The author wound the story around until the two timelines merged in a poignant way, slowly releasing the pent -up tensions, and bringing closure to all in a satisfying way.
I am glad this one didn’t drop completely off my radar. The story has a lot of familial touches, bringing the characters to life in a vivid and emotional way, drawing the reader into their world with lush writing, dialogue, and descriptions. Eve Chase once again impresses.
4 stars
The Wilde Sisters arrive at the Applecote manor in 1959 to spend the summer with their aunt. The girls, Dot, Flora, Pam, and Margot are close and protective of each other. But, their visit to the lovely country estate is dampened by their aunt’s struggle to overcome her daughter, Audrey’s disappearance, five years earlier. The mystery consumes the girls, but the closer they get to the truth, the closer they come to possible danger, and tensions begin to arise between them over two handsome boys.
Fifty years later, with the memory of her widower husband’s wife constantly surrounding her, Jesse is ready to escape the city. Not only that, her stepdaughter was involved in an ugly incident, which figured into her desire to move. Applecote Manor felt like the perfect place in the perfect setting at the perfect time.
However, trouble starts almost immediately. Her stepdaughter becomes increasingly difficult to handle, her husband is always away at work, and disturbing rumors about the house finally reach her ears. As her stepdaughter becomes nearly obsessed with the strange disappearance of a former resident, Jesse feels her life is slowly unraveling.
This is one of those books I was dying to read, but it just kept slipping down the TBR pile until I gradually lost track of it. Thankfully, while searching for another book in my voluminous Kindle folder, I happened across it and made a point to get started on it. I do recall hearing a lot of buzz about his book when it was first released. I have read other books by Eve Chase and was very impressed with her work. But, what drew me to this one was the constant effusive gushing about the novel’s strong Gothic tones. As a huge fan of Gothic novels, I’m going to have to cry foul on that one, just a little. Yes, there are a few Gothic elements, but I didn’t feel they were as strong or pure as many others have. I was slightly let down on that front, however, the story was very compelling, with dual timelines, and a very atmospheric and absorbing mystery to uncover.
As is usually the case for me, I was drawn more towards the historical elements of the story, but the present -day scenario, while not really adding a lot to the mystery, suggests a possible air of pending doom, which was quite effective, and may have been a slightly underrated element in the story.
The author wound the story around until the two timelines merged in a poignant way, slowly releasing the pent -up tensions, and bringing closure to all in a satisfying way.
I am glad this one didn’t drop completely off my radar. The story has a lot of familial touches, bringing the characters to life in a vivid and emotional way, drawing the reader into their world with lush writing, dialogue, and descriptions. Eve Chase once again impresses.
4 stars
July 11, 2017
4.5 Stars
A compelling and atmospheric page turner, a rich gothic tale for lovers of books like the The Thirteenth Tale Set in large period Manor deep in the English countryside a once imposing home but now slightly dilapidated overgrown estate. A house with a sense of intrigue about it and an unsettling history where strange rumours surround the Estate and the family that lived there in the past.
Present Day
Applecote Manor captivates Jessie with it promise of hazy summers in the Cotswolds a perfect escape for her troubled family, far away from London and its madness and a new beginning in a home that she can at last make her own. But the house has a hidden history and strange rumours surround the estate, rumours which the locals are not about to divulge too easily.
The Fifties
When the four wilde sisters come to stay with their Aunt and Uncle at Applecote Manor, they find that the vanishing of their young cousin Audrey 5 years earlier still remains a mystery and the hot summer of 1959 becomes one they will remember for some time.
Beautifull descriptive writing by Eve Chase and a terrific air of suspense with a tightly woven and mysterious plot, I was captivated from beginning to end, for me this is the sort of novel that only comes around once in awhile and not only has the author a remarkable literate style she has a terrific imagination and I have no hesitation in recommending this novel for loves of gothic intrigue and haunting tales where family secrets and period houses come to life.
My thanks to NetGalley for an opportunity to read this one in return for an honest review.
A compelling and atmospheric page turner, a rich gothic tale for lovers of books like the The Thirteenth Tale Set in large period Manor deep in the English countryside a once imposing home but now slightly dilapidated overgrown estate. A house with a sense of intrigue about it and an unsettling history where strange rumours surround the Estate and the family that lived there in the past.
Present Day
Applecote Manor captivates Jessie with it promise of hazy summers in the Cotswolds a perfect escape for her troubled family, far away from London and its madness and a new beginning in a home that she can at last make her own. But the house has a hidden history and strange rumours surround the estate, rumours which the locals are not about to divulge too easily.
The Fifties
When the four wilde sisters come to stay with their Aunt and Uncle at Applecote Manor, they find that the vanishing of their young cousin Audrey 5 years earlier still remains a mystery and the hot summer of 1959 becomes one they will remember for some time.
Beautifull descriptive writing by Eve Chase and a terrific air of suspense with a tightly woven and mysterious plot, I was captivated from beginning to end, for me this is the sort of novel that only comes around once in awhile and not only has the author a remarkable literate style she has a terrific imagination and I have no hesitation in recommending this novel for loves of gothic intrigue and haunting tales where family secrets and period houses come to life.
My thanks to NetGalley for an opportunity to read this one in return for an honest review.
August 23, 2017
The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde is an exquisitely written mystery/ historical fiction. The writing is rich and descriptive, immersing you in the scenery and the lives of the characters. I felt like I could envisage the rambling house and walk through the gardens with its tantalising smells of flora and delightful views.
The dual line flips between the present day and 1959 with the full picture slowly emerging as the book progresses. The perspective is told from two perspective; 15 year old Margot in 1959 and Jessie in the present day. The storytelling was effortless, with the two times effortless leading from one to another.
I adored this book. It was deliciously descriptive and simply beautifully written. The past story of the narrative, which concentrates on the Wilde siblings and the mystery of what happened to Audrey, is beautifully evocative of times gone by. I was utterly lost in the hazy never ending summer and the story and mystery of the characters. It focused on the relationships and dynamics between the sisters, and how this started to change as the girls began growing up over the summer. Of course the mystery of what happened to Audrey is also delved into.
The present day is more driven by the relationship between step families and attempting to start afresh. I do think the Wilde sisters story could have been a stand alone story, but the present day brought it all together and led the book towards its fantastic conclusion. What brought the two time periods together is the theme of loss, and obviously the mystery of what happened to Audrey at Applecote that long ago summer.
If you love historical fiction and/ or mysteries that really make you feel part of the story with rich and beautifully haunting writing, then The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde is a must read. This is one of my favourite reads so far this year, I really am beginning to adore historical fiction such as this. Writing that can really set the scene and weave a compelling and suspenseful story, that also manages to touch your soul.
If you don't like story's that move along at a deliciously slow pace, immersing you fully into the world of the characters, this may not be fast paced enough. I'm finding books such as this utterly absorbing, with the rich and lavish descriptions really involving the reader more thoroughly in the story. Eve Chase is a new author to me, but I really need to read more of her works. If this is a taste of her writing, she will be straight onto my instant purchase list. Simply beautiful.
With many thanks to NetGalley, Penguin U.K - Michael Joseph and Eve Chase for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest and unbiased review.
The dual line flips between the present day and 1959 with the full picture slowly emerging as the book progresses. The perspective is told from two perspective; 15 year old Margot in 1959 and Jessie in the present day. The storytelling was effortless, with the two times effortless leading from one to another.
I adored this book. It was deliciously descriptive and simply beautifully written. The past story of the narrative, which concentrates on the Wilde siblings and the mystery of what happened to Audrey, is beautifully evocative of times gone by. I was utterly lost in the hazy never ending summer and the story and mystery of the characters. It focused on the relationships and dynamics between the sisters, and how this started to change as the girls began growing up over the summer. Of course the mystery of what happened to Audrey is also delved into.
The present day is more driven by the relationship between step families and attempting to start afresh. I do think the Wilde sisters story could have been a stand alone story, but the present day brought it all together and led the book towards its fantastic conclusion. What brought the two time periods together is the theme of loss, and obviously the mystery of what happened to Audrey at Applecote that long ago summer.
If you love historical fiction and/ or mysteries that really make you feel part of the story with rich and beautifully haunting writing, then The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde is a must read. This is one of my favourite reads so far this year, I really am beginning to adore historical fiction such as this. Writing that can really set the scene and weave a compelling and suspenseful story, that also manages to touch your soul.
If you don't like story's that move along at a deliciously slow pace, immersing you fully into the world of the characters, this may not be fast paced enough. I'm finding books such as this utterly absorbing, with the rich and lavish descriptions really involving the reader more thoroughly in the story. Eve Chase is a new author to me, but I really need to read more of her works. If this is a taste of her writing, she will be straight onto my instant purchase list. Simply beautiful.
With many thanks to NetGalley, Penguin U.K - Michael Joseph and Eve Chase for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest and unbiased review.
July 26, 2017
Applecote Manor in 1959 was home for Perry, Sylvia, and Audrey as well as the summer vacation place for the Wildling sisters Margot, Flora, Pam, and Dot until the summer Audrey disappeared.
When Audrey disappeared, the girls never went back until one summer when their mother decided she needed to get away from it all. She sent her daughters back to Applecote Manor to stay with their aunt and uncle.
This summer wasn't the best for anyone, though. The close knit sisters drew apart, and Margot was obsessed with finding out what really happened to Audrey. Along with everything else, Aunt Sylvia did a few odd things and kept things from the girls.
Meanwhile back to present day at Applecote Manor. Applecote Manor has just been bought by Jessie and Will against the wishes of their rebellious teenage daughter, Bella, who is mourning the loss of her mother. Bella gives her stepmother, Jessie, a rough time by continually making hurtful comments to Jessie about how she isn't her mother. Once Bella finds boxes of her mother's things, the comments get worse.
Bella also feels that Applecote Manor still houses the ghost of Audrey and her family. A few things happen that might make that true especially since Bella is living in the attic rooms where Audrey lived.
As we go back and forth, we find out the personalities of the characters are mostly carefree in 1959 until the disappearance of Audrey and quite tense in present day.
THE WILDLING SISTERS grabs you from the first sentence. Ms. Chase's writing is marvelous, enticing, and detailed.
I enjoyed both the present and past stories and loved the descriptions of Applecote Manor and its grounds when they were in pristine shape and in present day when both the house and grounds needed a lot of work.
If you like mysteries and family drama, the WILDLING SISTERS is for you. It has a hint of Gothic and an undertone of foreboding.
ENJOY!! 5/5
This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.
August 30, 2017
I truly wanted to love this one more! An atmospheric, character driven, gothic novel set in an aging house in England's countryside. The story weaves past with present as it follows the mystery of Applecote Manor. It is beautifully written in a lyrical way.
What happened 50 years ago at Applecote Manor? What secrets does it hold?
Present day-The new owner Jessie loves their new home for its historic appeal. Her husband Will thinks its a money pit and needs too many repairs. Jessie's teen-age stepdaughter, Bella says "bad stuff has gone down in this house, I feel it".
1959- The four sisters move to Applecote Manor to live with their Aunt Sybil and Uncle Peregrine when their mother goes abroad. Aunt Sybil has imprisoned herself in the home since the disappearance of her daughter, Audrey, five years earlier. She went down to the river one day and was never seen again.
It is an engaging, but slow-building mystery from past to present. I preferred the Wildling sisters story from the past full of mystery and intrigue.
What happened 50 years ago at Applecote Manor? What secrets does it hold?
Present day-The new owner Jessie loves their new home for its historic appeal. Her husband Will thinks its a money pit and needs too many repairs. Jessie's teen-age stepdaughter, Bella says "bad stuff has gone down in this house, I feel it".
1959- The four sisters move to Applecote Manor to live with their Aunt Sybil and Uncle Peregrine when their mother goes abroad. Aunt Sybil has imprisoned herself in the home since the disappearance of her daughter, Audrey, five years earlier. She went down to the river one day and was never seen again.
It is an engaging, but slow-building mystery from past to present. I preferred the Wildling sisters story from the past full of mystery and intrigue.
December 30, 2017
3☆ Slower Paced Mystery
The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde is a story of Mystery, intrigue, Family Drama, Gothic & Atmospheric that mixes past and present.
Unfortunately I found that the blurb and start of this book had so much promise it packed a real impression.
Then as the story progressed I found myself getting slightly confused and it just didn't grab my attention.
I found the story seemed to lack the same intrigue and mystery the whole way through.
It was beautifully written and Eve created beautifully atmospheric pictures I just felt it was lacking something I just can't seem to put my finger on.
I did however really enjoy the Wilding Sisters past stories. I loved how they came together as sisters. I found their past storylines to be much more engaging. The search for their missing cousin was intriguing. I would of preferred the story to have been centred around them solely as the Characters alone would of been enough.
I just felt the Present story of Jesse and Applecote Manor a little misplaced.
I do however think The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde does have potential, and it would definitely appeal to readers who love slower paced character driven mystery, that has a real gothic feel. With lots of drama.
The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde is a story of Mystery, intrigue, Family Drama, Gothic & Atmospheric that mixes past and present.
Unfortunately I found that the blurb and start of this book had so much promise it packed a real impression.
Then as the story progressed I found myself getting slightly confused and it just didn't grab my attention.
I found the story seemed to lack the same intrigue and mystery the whole way through.
It was beautifully written and Eve created beautifully atmospheric pictures I just felt it was lacking something I just can't seem to put my finger on.
I did however really enjoy the Wilding Sisters past stories. I loved how they came together as sisters. I found their past storylines to be much more engaging. The search for their missing cousin was intriguing. I would of preferred the story to have been centred around them solely as the Characters alone would of been enough.
I just felt the Present story of Jesse and Applecote Manor a little misplaced.
I do however think The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde does have potential, and it would definitely appeal to readers who love slower paced character driven mystery, that has a real gothic feel. With lots of drama.
December 30, 2017
3☆ Slower Paced Mystery
The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde is a story of Mystery, intrigue, Family Drama, Gothic & Atmospheric that mixes past and present.
Unfortunately I found that the blurb and start of this book had so much promise it packed a real impression.
Then as the story progressed I found myself getting slightly confused and it just didn't grab my attention.
I found the story seemed to lack the same intrigue and mystery the whole way through.
It was beautifully written and Eve created beautifully atmospheric pictures I just felt it was lacking something I just can't seem to put my finger on.
I did however really enjoy the Wilding Sisters past stories. I loved how they came together as sisters. I found their past storylines to be much more engaging. The search for their missing cousin was intriguing. I would of preferred the story to have been centred around them solely as the Characters alone would of been enough.
I just felt the Present story of Jesse and Applecote Manor a little misplaced.
I do however think The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde does have potential, and it would definitely appeal to readers who love slower paced character driven mystery, that has a real gothic feel. With lots of drama.
I would like to thank Netgalley for this book in which I honestly and voluntarily reviewed.
The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde is a story of Mystery, intrigue, Family Drama, Gothic & Atmospheric that mixes past and present.
Unfortunately I found that the blurb and start of this book had so much promise it packed a real impression.
Then as the story progressed I found myself getting slightly confused and it just didn't grab my attention.
I found the story seemed to lack the same intrigue and mystery the whole way through.
It was beautifully written and Eve created beautifully atmospheric pictures I just felt it was lacking something I just can't seem to put my finger on.
I did however really enjoy the Wilding Sisters past stories. I loved how they came together as sisters. I found their past storylines to be much more engaging. The search for their missing cousin was intriguing. I would of preferred the story to have been centred around them solely as the Characters alone would of been enough.
I just felt the Present story of Jesse and Applecote Manor a little misplaced.
I do however think The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde does have potential, and it would definitely appeal to readers who love slower paced character driven mystery, that has a real gothic feel. With lots of drama.
I would like to thank Netgalley for this book in which I honestly and voluntarily reviewed.
March 3, 2017
I very much enjoyed Eve Chase's previous novel, Black Rabbit Hall , so I was looking forward the author's next book. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this one nearly as much.
This story opens with a bang! And then slows down greatly. I had a very difficult time engaging in the story until about the halfway mark when things started to pick up.
I believe the dual time narration (one of my favorites!) didn't work for this book. The past story was much more engaging and relevant and interesting than the one told in the present. In fact, I feel that the present story wasn't needed at all!
I enjoyed the mystery which had a few twists and turns, however story this felt a bit more character driven. It discusses family dynamics and relationships, especially with step-families and siblings.
I would give this one 3.5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This story opens with a bang! And then slows down greatly. I had a very difficult time engaging in the story until about the halfway mark when things started to pick up.
I believe the dual time narration (one of my favorites!) didn't work for this book. The past story was much more engaging and relevant and interesting than the one told in the present. In fact, I feel that the present story wasn't needed at all!
I enjoyed the mystery which had a few twists and turns, however story this felt a bit more character driven. It discusses family dynamics and relationships, especially with step-families and siblings.
I would give this one 3.5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 28, 2017
I was originally interested in this story due to the whimsical beauty of the front cover. That, along with the title, led me to assume this was a historical thriller of sorts. As I prefer going into thrillers 'blind' I did not read the synopsis and instead was pleasantly surprised to find, whilst reading this, that it was far more complex than I had ever imaged it being.
Present-day Jessie is aborting the chaos of London life and transporting her family to gorgeous Applecote Manor. Nestled in the depths of the English countryside she images this rural retreat will be the miracle that will restore her fissured family. However, her husband still finds himself reeling from a life split between week-day London and weekends in the countryside, and Jessie finds herself isolated with a toddler demanding constant attention and a teenage step-daughter who continues to despise her and still grieve for her deceased mother.
In the summer of 1959 Applecote Manor was the home of Sybil and Perry. Unable to cope with the disappearance of their daughter, Audrey, their home in now both a shackle they are confined to and their one last, tenuous link to their lost daughter. The intrusion of their four nieces, however, breathes life both back into the gloomy shell of a home and the gloomier shells of the people who reside there. For one summer the manor is returned to its former chaotic state and, in return, sheds the city skins of these London-born girls and transforms them into feral things of the forest.
I was initially unable to see how these two disparate narrative veins would converge, but enjoyed them both equally and immensely. Each was given a separate voice and a distinct feel entirely of its own, that both suited the time periods and the inhabitants of the story. But once the threads that bound each story began to unveil themselves to the reader, I was enthralled.
This was a mystery story, as I had initially speculated, but it was also a story about so much more than that. The character that entitles this book never appears inside its pages and yet the course of the live of two separate families revolve so much around her memory. For that is what this book is ultimately about - family. The trails and grief and agony that accompanies the fierce love and protective spirit you feel for those you choose as your own. For neither could exist without the other, and every facet of feeling is tested and explored inside this book.
The Gothic overtones of this novel were heightened by the setting, which remained a constant link, along with the spirit of Audrey, between the narratives. I found this often read like a classic female Gothic tale and found similarities between this and such renowned works as Jane Eyre and Rebecca. In its own way, perhaps it is a retelling in itself, but it is more the feel of these pieces that this novel so authentically evokes. The larger countryside setting was portrayed in broad, sweeping strokes, yet the feel of the manor and the character of the individuals who reside there were intricately preserved inside these pages. Chase makes it abundantly clear where her readers' focus should remain, and the heightened emotion centred on one, small sphere of space made this an equally powerful as poignant read.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Eve Chase, and the publisher, Penguin, for this opportunity.
Present-day Jessie is aborting the chaos of London life and transporting her family to gorgeous Applecote Manor. Nestled in the depths of the English countryside she images this rural retreat will be the miracle that will restore her fissured family. However, her husband still finds himself reeling from a life split between week-day London and weekends in the countryside, and Jessie finds herself isolated with a toddler demanding constant attention and a teenage step-daughter who continues to despise her and still grieve for her deceased mother.
In the summer of 1959 Applecote Manor was the home of Sybil and Perry. Unable to cope with the disappearance of their daughter, Audrey, their home in now both a shackle they are confined to and their one last, tenuous link to their lost daughter. The intrusion of their four nieces, however, breathes life both back into the gloomy shell of a home and the gloomier shells of the people who reside there. For one summer the manor is returned to its former chaotic state and, in return, sheds the city skins of these London-born girls and transforms them into feral things of the forest.
I was initially unable to see how these two disparate narrative veins would converge, but enjoyed them both equally and immensely. Each was given a separate voice and a distinct feel entirely of its own, that both suited the time periods and the inhabitants of the story. But once the threads that bound each story began to unveil themselves to the reader, I was enthralled.
This was a mystery story, as I had initially speculated, but it was also a story about so much more than that. The character that entitles this book never appears inside its pages and yet the course of the live of two separate families revolve so much around her memory. For that is what this book is ultimately about - family. The trails and grief and agony that accompanies the fierce love and protective spirit you feel for those you choose as your own. For neither could exist without the other, and every facet of feeling is tested and explored inside this book.
The Gothic overtones of this novel were heightened by the setting, which remained a constant link, along with the spirit of Audrey, between the narratives. I found this often read like a classic female Gothic tale and found similarities between this and such renowned works as Jane Eyre and Rebecca. In its own way, perhaps it is a retelling in itself, but it is more the feel of these pieces that this novel so authentically evokes. The larger countryside setting was portrayed in broad, sweeping strokes, yet the feel of the manor and the character of the individuals who reside there were intricately preserved inside these pages. Chase makes it abundantly clear where her readers' focus should remain, and the heightened emotion centred on one, small sphere of space made this an equally powerful as poignant read.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Eve Chase, and the publisher, Penguin, for this opportunity.
June 12, 2017
4 stars--I really liked it.
I read Chase's first book, Black Rabbit Hall, and liked it, and I think I liked this one even more.
These dual-timeline novels have a formula to them (one which I enjoy): a dramatic secret in the past leads to healing and character growth in the future. This one follows the formula, but with the added bonus of the "past" story taking place in the late 1950s, which means the players were alive in the "present" narrative as well, contributing to both stories.
With this book, I enjoyed the story and character in both timelines. I thought characterization was nicely done and pacing was good.
I received this review copy from the publisher on NetGalley. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review; I appreciate it!
I read Chase's first book, Black Rabbit Hall, and liked it, and I think I liked this one even more.
These dual-timeline novels have a formula to them (one which I enjoy): a dramatic secret in the past leads to healing and character growth in the future. This one follows the formula, but with the added bonus of the "past" story taking place in the late 1950s, which means the players were alive in the "present" narrative as well, contributing to both stories.
With this book, I enjoyed the story and character in both timelines. I thought characterization was nicely done and pacing was good.
I received this review copy from the publisher on NetGalley. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review; I appreciate it!
February 14, 2017
Last year I read Eve's debut novel, Black Rabbit Hall, and absolutely loved it. I was very much looking forward to a new book by her.
This one is a dual timeline story taking place in the 1950's to present day. Which these are my favorite types of stories but few authors that can pull it off well. Eve, I'm happy to say, does. She opens with a bang with a body being dragged through the grass. I mean, it just screams for you to finish to find out what happens! I think I enjoyed the past story best with the 4 Wilding sisters. I loved their dynamic and their lives better than I did with the present day story. I just didn't like their family dynamics and was happy when we got back to the sisters. I probably would have given this novel 5 stars of it had focused more on the sisters and their missing cousin--it was such a evocative storyline and I wanted more of that. There's no doubt that Eve can write, her storytelling is beautiful. I'm already looking forward to what she writes next.
**Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This one is a dual timeline story taking place in the 1950's to present day. Which these are my favorite types of stories but few authors that can pull it off well. Eve, I'm happy to say, does. She opens with a bang with a body being dragged through the grass. I mean, it just screams for you to finish to find out what happens! I think I enjoyed the past story best with the 4 Wilding sisters. I loved their dynamic and their lives better than I did with the present day story. I just didn't like their family dynamics and was happy when we got back to the sisters. I probably would have given this novel 5 stars of it had focused more on the sisters and their missing cousin--it was such a evocative storyline and I wanted more of that. There's no doubt that Eve can write, her storytelling is beautiful. I'm already looking forward to what she writes next.
**Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 7, 2017
I discovered Eve Chase earlier this year when I read her book “Black Rabbit Hall” which I truly enjoyed. So when I heard she had another book coming out I knew I had to read it. And I was not disappointed. The “Wildling Sisters” is told in dual time lines, summer of 1959 and the other 50 years later. I enjoyed the historical time line much better than the present.
From the first chapter, which completely grabs your attention, there is a fascinating atmosphere of mystery. I could not put this book down; I was in a race to get to the end, although I didn’t want it to end. The story is slow-moving, a very moody Gothic tale. The mystery is maintained throughout the whole book. The only issue I had, I didn’t feel the “past” met the “present” very smoothly, but I would highly recommend this book and author.
4.5* rounded up.
From the first chapter, which completely grabs your attention, there is a fascinating atmosphere of mystery. I could not put this book down; I was in a race to get to the end, although I didn’t want it to end. The story is slow-moving, a very moody Gothic tale. The mystery is maintained throughout the whole book. The only issue I had, I didn’t feel the “past” met the “present” very smoothly, but I would highly recommend this book and author.
4.5* rounded up.
August 3, 2017
This book really surprised me. It’s a gothic tale that shifts from the 1950s to present day. It centers on Applecote Manor in the English countryside. There are all the elements of a gothic novel – an estate with a mysterious history, strange rumors, and interesting characters that leave you guessing. Eve Chase’s writing is beautiful and she’s able to so effectively weave a plot of suspense with this novel. The sense of intrigue combined with an air of foreboding just permeates the book, page after page. I didn’t want to put it down. It just kept drawing me deeper and deeper into the narrative. The characters are interesting and thoughtfully written. I enjoyed how the weaving of time was handled. It really effectively helped keep the sense of unease going throughout the novel. The primary focus of the novel is ultimately around family relationships and dynamics. How these things play out and impact everyone so differently. The characters were all well drawn but the way that Chase made Applecote Manor a character in its own right was done brilliantly. It felt as real to me as any of the characters. All in all, a wonderful novel with suspense, mystery and a family saga all rolled into one! Highly recommend this one particularly if you’re a fan of the gothic novel!
NOTE: Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free ARC of this novel for an honest review.
NOTE: Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free ARC of this novel for an honest review.
February 11, 2019
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The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde by Eve Chase. (2017).
In the present day, Jessie and her troubled family move to Applecote Manor thinking it'll be the perfect escape. But the house has an unsettling history.
In 1959, teenager Margot and her three sisters arrive at Applecote to find their aunt and uncle still struggling after the disappearance of their daughter Audrey five years before. The sisters are drawn into the mystery until the summer takes a shocking turn - will they be bound together or torn apart?
This book was recommended to me and I'm glad I went ahead and read it as it was an enjoyable novel. As you can tell from the blurb, there are two storylines happening in the same house years apart and I really liked both narratives that come together in the end. At the book's heart is the mystery of what happened to Audrey, but I felt it's also a coming-of-age for all of the teenagers in both storylines even though this occurs in different ways. The imagery is beautiful and I could really picture Applecote Manor as I read. If you enjoy Kate Morton novels, you may appreciate this book as it had a similar feel (with a much shorter length). I intend on checking out the author's previous work and look forward to future works.
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The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde by Eve Chase. (2017).
In the present day, Jessie and her troubled family move to Applecote Manor thinking it'll be the perfect escape. But the house has an unsettling history.
In 1959, teenager Margot and her three sisters arrive at Applecote to find their aunt and uncle still struggling after the disappearance of their daughter Audrey five years before. The sisters are drawn into the mystery until the summer takes a shocking turn - will they be bound together or torn apart?
This book was recommended to me and I'm glad I went ahead and read it as it was an enjoyable novel. As you can tell from the blurb, there are two storylines happening in the same house years apart and I really liked both narratives that come together in the end. At the book's heart is the mystery of what happened to Audrey, but I felt it's also a coming-of-age for all of the teenagers in both storylines even though this occurs in different ways. The imagery is beautiful and I could really picture Applecote Manor as I read. If you enjoy Kate Morton novels, you may appreciate this book as it had a similar feel (with a much shorter length). I intend on checking out the author's previous work and look forward to future works.
June 10, 2018
really enjoyed this novel which is 2 stories interlinked with each other and easy written plot and soon read this book as soon as got in the plot didn't want to put the book down.
October 4, 2017
I listened to the audiobook of this story and the narration was superb.
Very well written story but would have liked to have seen a stronger plot hence the three stars.
To think I only recently started to listen to audiobooks and now I listen most days.
I spend an awful lot of time laid down due to a back injury and I can see their must be a huge market for this medium.
Really helped to pass the time and an intriguing story. Will be on the lookout for more from this author.
Very well written story but would have liked to have seen a stronger plot hence the three stars.
To think I only recently started to listen to audiobooks and now I listen most days.
I spend an awful lot of time laid down due to a back injury and I can see their must be a huge market for this medium.
Really helped to pass the time and an intriguing story. Will be on the lookout for more from this author.
December 31, 2019
I wanted a book that would pull me out of this cold, dark winter, a book that would would hold me captive, and this book did that wonderfully well.
Two narratives, separated by fifty years, tell a story of sisters and secrets, of an unsolved mystery and its consequences, and of how family relationships are changed by events and by the passage of time.
The first story is told by fifteen year-old Margot Wilde, the third of four sisters who live a happy, bohemian life in fifties London. When their widowed mother is presented with the chance of a summer in Morocco she seizes it, and sends her girls to stay with their Aunt Sibyl and Uncle Perry at Applegate Manor in the Cotswolds. It would be their first visit since their cousin Audrey had disappeared five years earlier.
Margot had been particularly close to Audrey, they had always resembled one another; and when she was in her family home, when she saw how deeply her disappearance still troubled her aunt, she couldn’t help being drawn into the life that he cousin had left behind and being troubled by the unsolved mystery.
It was unsettling for all four sisters, and because the summer was warm they were able to spend much of their time outside, That was how they came to meet Tom and Harry Gore, whose family spent their summers at the neighbouring Coniston Place. And that was what unsettled the relationship between the four sisters ….
The second story is told by thirty-five year-old Jessie, who has persuaded her husband to but Applegate Manor. It stretched their finances, almost to breaking point, but Jessie was sure that moving out of London and settling in the country was the best thing for her family. It would allow her to give her young daughter the upbringing she wanted,; it would give her a chance to improve her relationship with her stepdaughter, who she didn’t think had been able to come to terms with her mother’s death a few years earlier; and it would allow her to escape from the very long shadow cast by her husband’s first wife.
None of that would be simple, nothing really went to plan, and when she learned the history of her new home Jessie began to question whether she had really done the right thing for her family ….
I was captivated by each story, because both narratives had the ring of truth as they spoke in their different ways of evolving family relationships, of the ways that the past can haunt the present, and the complications the come with growing up.
The echoes and the differences were beautifully handled, with subtlety and the lightness of touch that made it feel completely natural and right. I particularly liked the contrast between the bright and warm summer days of the past and the cold and wet days of the present.
Of course, all of that would only work if the characters were engaging, and they were. They lived and breathed, and they pulled me right into their stories. I always love stories about sisters and I loved that these sisters were both distinctive and alike, and that the relationships between them were so very well drawn. The characters of step-mother and step-daughter in the present day were just as well done, and I was very impressed by the way that the relationship between the two was drawn and the way that it evolved.
The plot was beautifully and thoughtfully constructed; and there were times when I saw exactly where the story was going and there were times when my expectations were very cleverly subverted. The way that the two stories came together was particularly good, and I was held to the very last page.
The writing was the best thing of all. It was vivid, it was evocative, and it was impressionistic. I was never really aware that I was reading descriptive passages, that I was reading the narrator’s thoughts, and yet I drew so much about the times, about the places, about the lives being lived, from the two narratives.
"Houses are never just houses. I’m quite sure of this now. We leave particles behind, dust and dreams, fingerprints buried on wallpapers, our tread in the wear of the stairs. And we take bits of the houses with us. In my case, a love of the smell of wax polish on sun-warmed oak, late summer filtering through stained glass. We grow up. We stay the same. We move away, but we live forever where we were most alive."
I can easily forgive some things that felt improbable, some things that fell into place too easily, because there were so many more things in this book that I loved.
It was one of those books that made me think that the author and I have read and loved many of the same books.
I picked up her previous book from the library today, and I am looking forward to what comes next.
Two narratives, separated by fifty years, tell a story of sisters and secrets, of an unsolved mystery and its consequences, and of how family relationships are changed by events and by the passage of time.
The first story is told by fifteen year-old Margot Wilde, the third of four sisters who live a happy, bohemian life in fifties London. When their widowed mother is presented with the chance of a summer in Morocco she seizes it, and sends her girls to stay with their Aunt Sibyl and Uncle Perry at Applegate Manor in the Cotswolds. It would be their first visit since their cousin Audrey had disappeared five years earlier.
Margot had been particularly close to Audrey, they had always resembled one another; and when she was in her family home, when she saw how deeply her disappearance still troubled her aunt, she couldn’t help being drawn into the life that he cousin had left behind and being troubled by the unsolved mystery.
It was unsettling for all four sisters, and because the summer was warm they were able to spend much of their time outside, That was how they came to meet Tom and Harry Gore, whose family spent their summers at the neighbouring Coniston Place. And that was what unsettled the relationship between the four sisters ….
The second story is told by thirty-five year-old Jessie, who has persuaded her husband to but Applegate Manor. It stretched their finances, almost to breaking point, but Jessie was sure that moving out of London and settling in the country was the best thing for her family. It would allow her to give her young daughter the upbringing she wanted,; it would give her a chance to improve her relationship with her stepdaughter, who she didn’t think had been able to come to terms with her mother’s death a few years earlier; and it would allow her to escape from the very long shadow cast by her husband’s first wife.
None of that would be simple, nothing really went to plan, and when she learned the history of her new home Jessie began to question whether she had really done the right thing for her family ….
I was captivated by each story, because both narratives had the ring of truth as they spoke in their different ways of evolving family relationships, of the ways that the past can haunt the present, and the complications the come with growing up.
The echoes and the differences were beautifully handled, with subtlety and the lightness of touch that made it feel completely natural and right. I particularly liked the contrast between the bright and warm summer days of the past and the cold and wet days of the present.
Of course, all of that would only work if the characters were engaging, and they were. They lived and breathed, and they pulled me right into their stories. I always love stories about sisters and I loved that these sisters were both distinctive and alike, and that the relationships between them were so very well drawn. The characters of step-mother and step-daughter in the present day were just as well done, and I was very impressed by the way that the relationship between the two was drawn and the way that it evolved.
The plot was beautifully and thoughtfully constructed; and there were times when I saw exactly where the story was going and there were times when my expectations were very cleverly subverted. The way that the two stories came together was particularly good, and I was held to the very last page.
The writing was the best thing of all. It was vivid, it was evocative, and it was impressionistic. I was never really aware that I was reading descriptive passages, that I was reading the narrator’s thoughts, and yet I drew so much about the times, about the places, about the lives being lived, from the two narratives.
"Houses are never just houses. I’m quite sure of this now. We leave particles behind, dust and dreams, fingerprints buried on wallpapers, our tread in the wear of the stairs. And we take bits of the houses with us. In my case, a love of the smell of wax polish on sun-warmed oak, late summer filtering through stained glass. We grow up. We stay the same. We move away, but we live forever where we were most alive."
I can easily forgive some things that felt improbable, some things that fell into place too easily, because there were so many more things in this book that I loved.
It was one of those books that made me think that the author and I have read and loved many of the same books.
I picked up her previous book from the library today, and I am looking forward to what comes next.
September 4, 2017
Review can also be found on my blog: https://overtherainbowbookblog.wordpr...
There are so many books described as being, ‘perfect for Kate Morton fans’ that I was a little sceptical when I started this book. However I needn’t have worried as I thought this book was fantastic and well deserved the comparison.
Firstly I loved the setting of Applecote Manor. The description of those seemingly endless summer days of childhood, discovering new friends and creating mysteries everywhere was brilliant. It definitely had me feeling nostalgic for my own childhood and the adventures I had with my sister in the woods behind our house. The house almost seemed alive at times as it seemed to change depending on the moods of the occupants and seemed to help them discover clues to solve the mystery. This helped contribute to the spooky atmosphere that is present throughout the book.
The characters were all very well imagined and developed throughout the book, seeming very realistic and true to life. I especially liked Margot who reminded me of me from my childhood slightly geeky (OK I was very geeky!), misunderstood and suffering from eczema. She was definitely was a character I felt I could get behind and I found myself hoping she would have the happy ending I felt she deserved. I also felt sorry for Jessie as I felt she was a women trying her best against a very angry and obstructive step daughter. Her attempts to make a better, happier life for her new family was very poignant at times. I never really warmed to Ben though. I wanted to shake him for his casual attitude towards His daughters obvious grief for her late mother and for letting her drive a wedge between him and Jessie. I don’t think I would have been as patient and understanding as Jessie was.
The mystery of what happened to Audrey was well played out with the truth of what happened being gradually revealed. This helps keep the reader very intrigued and I kept reading as I wanted to find out what happened. The twist at the end took me by surprise as I thought the mystery had been solved. I also liked that the author included information about what happened to the characters after the summer and how things turned out for them.
This is Eve Chase’s second novel and the second of hers that I have read. I really look forward to reading any future work from her and highly recommend her to anyone who hasn’t read anything by her yet.
Huge thank you to Gaby Young and Michael St Joseph publisher for copy if this book.
There are so many books described as being, ‘perfect for Kate Morton fans’ that I was a little sceptical when I started this book. However I needn’t have worried as I thought this book was fantastic and well deserved the comparison.
Firstly I loved the setting of Applecote Manor. The description of those seemingly endless summer days of childhood, discovering new friends and creating mysteries everywhere was brilliant. It definitely had me feeling nostalgic for my own childhood and the adventures I had with my sister in the woods behind our house. The house almost seemed alive at times as it seemed to change depending on the moods of the occupants and seemed to help them discover clues to solve the mystery. This helped contribute to the spooky atmosphere that is present throughout the book.
The characters were all very well imagined and developed throughout the book, seeming very realistic and true to life. I especially liked Margot who reminded me of me from my childhood slightly geeky (OK I was very geeky!), misunderstood and suffering from eczema. She was definitely was a character I felt I could get behind and I found myself hoping she would have the happy ending I felt she deserved. I also felt sorry for Jessie as I felt she was a women trying her best against a very angry and obstructive step daughter. Her attempts to make a better, happier life for her new family was very poignant at times. I never really warmed to Ben though. I wanted to shake him for his casual attitude towards His daughters obvious grief for her late mother and for letting her drive a wedge between him and Jessie. I don’t think I would have been as patient and understanding as Jessie was.
The mystery of what happened to Audrey was well played out with the truth of what happened being gradually revealed. This helps keep the reader very intrigued and I kept reading as I wanted to find out what happened. The twist at the end took me by surprise as I thought the mystery had been solved. I also liked that the author included information about what happened to the characters after the summer and how things turned out for them.
This is Eve Chase’s second novel and the second of hers that I have read. I really look forward to reading any future work from her and highly recommend her to anyone who hasn’t read anything by her yet.
Huge thank you to Gaby Young and Michael St Joseph publisher for copy if this book.
July 21, 2017
Find all my book reviews, plus author interviews, guest posts and book extracts, on my blog: https://whatcathyreadnext.wordpress.com/
4.5 stars
From the opening chapter, there is an absorbing atmosphere of mystery that the author skilfully maintains throughout the book. Alternating between past and present, there are subtle links, echoes and common themes in both stories. Often, in a dual time narrative such as this, I find myself more drawn to the parts set in the past. However, in this case, I felt equally engaged in both stories.
Despite her unexplained disappearance five years earlier, Audrey is a constant, silent, almost ghostly, presence in the story set in the past.
‘There’s a patter of small footsteps. A swing of plait. A flick of yellow ribbon. Something pulls at the edges, a darkness that no one dare name.’
Similarly, Will’s first wife, Mandy, exerts a similar influence on the story set in the present. There are with echoes of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca in Jessie’s fixation with her predecessor, so much more stylish and accomplished she imagines than she is. But of course, the second Mrs de Winter never had to deal with a rebellious step-daughter. In fact, Jessie’s sense that she can never live up to Mandy in the memories of her step-daughter and husband, form a barrier and blind her to what is really going on. Every set back, Jessie interprets as a sign of Mandy’s ‘triumph’ from beyond the grave.
There is lovely descriptive writing about the countryside that conjures up an idyllic summer that seems somehow frozen in time: ‘The river drifts lazily ahead, twisting gently, wide as a country lane, willow trees kissing the cloudy green surface.’ However, beneath the idyll there are hints of danger, secrets and mystery.
I enjoyed the way the book explored themes of identity. For instance, how Audrey and Margot looked similar, could be mistaken for each other even and the effect this has on Margot and others around her.
‘I ask myself, what would Audrey do right now if she were me, and I her, and our fates had been swapped, like straw boaters, as they so easily might have been in the jumble of the last days of summer?’
Or the way in which the bond between Margot and her sisters – so strong in the beginning, almost telepathic – starts to unravel. Margot even starts to envy Audrey her status as an only child, seeing her as ‘a sweet-sharp cordial undiluted by siblings’. Similarly, Jessie’s hope that the move to Applecote will help the family come together seem precarious, as if the house is determined that the secrets of the past must emerge.
‘She wonders about the other thing lying dormant at Applecote, waiting for the right conditions to come alive.’
In the slow unveiling of the facts behind Audrey’s disappearance, the author certainly sent this reader up a few dead ends. I enjoyed the author’s previous book, Black Rabbit Hall, but thought this was even better.
I received an advance reader copy courtesy of NetGalley and publishers, Michael Joseph, in return for an honest review.
4.5 stars
From the opening chapter, there is an absorbing atmosphere of mystery that the author skilfully maintains throughout the book. Alternating between past and present, there are subtle links, echoes and common themes in both stories. Often, in a dual time narrative such as this, I find myself more drawn to the parts set in the past. However, in this case, I felt equally engaged in both stories.
Despite her unexplained disappearance five years earlier, Audrey is a constant, silent, almost ghostly, presence in the story set in the past.
‘There’s a patter of small footsteps. A swing of plait. A flick of yellow ribbon. Something pulls at the edges, a darkness that no one dare name.’
Similarly, Will’s first wife, Mandy, exerts a similar influence on the story set in the present. There are with echoes of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca in Jessie’s fixation with her predecessor, so much more stylish and accomplished she imagines than she is. But of course, the second Mrs de Winter never had to deal with a rebellious step-daughter. In fact, Jessie’s sense that she can never live up to Mandy in the memories of her step-daughter and husband, form a barrier and blind her to what is really going on. Every set back, Jessie interprets as a sign of Mandy’s ‘triumph’ from beyond the grave.
There is lovely descriptive writing about the countryside that conjures up an idyllic summer that seems somehow frozen in time: ‘The river drifts lazily ahead, twisting gently, wide as a country lane, willow trees kissing the cloudy green surface.’ However, beneath the idyll there are hints of danger, secrets and mystery.
I enjoyed the way the book explored themes of identity. For instance, how Audrey and Margot looked similar, could be mistaken for each other even and the effect this has on Margot and others around her.
‘I ask myself, what would Audrey do right now if she were me, and I her, and our fates had been swapped, like straw boaters, as they so easily might have been in the jumble of the last days of summer?’
Or the way in which the bond between Margot and her sisters – so strong in the beginning, almost telepathic – starts to unravel. Margot even starts to envy Audrey her status as an only child, seeing her as ‘a sweet-sharp cordial undiluted by siblings’. Similarly, Jessie’s hope that the move to Applecote will help the family come together seem precarious, as if the house is determined that the secrets of the past must emerge.
‘She wonders about the other thing lying dormant at Applecote, waiting for the right conditions to come alive.’
In the slow unveiling of the facts behind Audrey’s disappearance, the author certainly sent this reader up a few dead ends. I enjoyed the author’s previous book, Black Rabbit Hall, but thought this was even better.
I received an advance reader copy courtesy of NetGalley and publishers, Michael Joseph, in return for an honest review.
May 16, 2018
I enjoyed Eve Chase's writing style- it was very rich in imagery. A dual narrative full of mystery and dark intrigue. We follow the past history alongside a more modern storyline with the Applecote Manor taking a central role. The Wilding girls spend a summer there after their cousin had disappeared several years before. Their aunt and uncle were understandably changed by this ordeal and many stories and rumours are around. I loved this part of the story particularly.
In more modern times Jesse feels cut off from everything she knows at the Manor and haunted by the mystique and dealing with a step daughter
June 23, 2019
So addictive and atmospheric and haunting. The mystery really grabbed me and I was easily transported to the lazy, idyllic teen summer full of secrets - also a summer of creepy/sad mystery, sisters, crushes and coming of age. I love when these dual storyline historical/contemporary novels are done well - and adore spending time in the English setting with gothic/romantic old houses full of history, secrets and haunting stories of past lives who walked the same halls.
October 18, 2017
There’s nothing I like more than dual timeline Historical fiction that orbits around a crumbling country manor harbouring dark secrets. Deeply atmospheric with a cast of relatable characters, The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde ticked all of the boxes for me. From start to finish, I was caught up in the mystery and tension of both eras, the emotional turmoil within the lives of the characters, and the sheer glory of Applecote Manor, both in its hey day and its more recent decrepit state.
The mystery of what happened to Audrey links 1959 to the present day nicely, and while I usually tend to favour one era over the other in this style of novel, in this case, both eras were equally intriguing. Eve Chase has done such an excellent job at bringing Applecote Manor to life, her evocative narrative just jumping right off the page. I felt a particularly creeping sensation whenever there was a scene involving a character being alone at the garden pool:
‘Silence. There is no one, of course, nothing at all, just a magnesium lick across the pool that dazzles momentarily, leaving behind her own wavering reflection, and something that makes Jessie lean forward, heart racing, and part the slurry of leaves with her fingers to check that the submerged smudge is not a body bobbing at the bottom of the pool, just a trick of light.’
This type of evocative imagery was maintained throughout the entire novel but never overdone.
Jessie, our protagonist in the present day, was highly likeable and roused my sympathies instantly. Trying to carve out her own identity as a new mother and wife, she increasingly compares herself to her predecessor, always selling herself short. Moving to Applecote Manor is not only a new start for the whole family, but also a late in life coming of age for Jessie. She’s a character who shines throughout, honest in her introspection, and I admired her tenacity, particularly when it came to interacting with her step-daughter. I felt the author depicted this precarious relationship to perfection, and likewise, the second marriage dynamics. It would be such difficult terrain to navigate, stepping into a dead woman’s shoes and through Jessie, I got a true sense of this struggle. I always felt she acted accordingly, never in a way that was unjustified or unbelievable. The very soul of authenticity.
Margot and her sisters were a delight. I found the humour in these sections a lively addition and there were plenty of moments where I laughed out loud at the sister’s observations:
‘One afternoon Harry invites Flora to Cornton Hall; Pam is actually struck mute for three and a half hours by the swinging left hook of her own jealousy.’
The entire novel is infused with this sort of natural wit, but it’s showcased more in the 1959 sections, the dynamics of the Wilde sisters adding that ‘something more’ to every scene that they are in. The relationship between the sisters, their deep and abiding loyalty to each other, was a wonderful part of this story. They were a unit; them against the rest of the world, and they rarely lost sight of that. Margot herself was a faithful narrator and I enjoyed experiencing the 1959 story through her eyes. She puts up with a lot on account of being Audrey’s pale comparison, and I thought she showed great strength of character on more than one occasion.
The mystery itself and how it unravels between the two eras was very well done. I didn’t really foresee Audrey’s fate and there were a couple of other highly tense encounters woven into the plot, in both eras, that kept me reading well into the night. The ending is beautifully serendipitous, with a full circle aspect that I greatly appreciated. With a truly lovely cover, The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde did not prove itself unworthy of such adornment. I highly recommend this novel to those who love stories about mysterious old rambling houses in the English countryside filled to the brim with secrets, sisters, and a way of life long past.
The mystery of what happened to Audrey links 1959 to the present day nicely, and while I usually tend to favour one era over the other in this style of novel, in this case, both eras were equally intriguing. Eve Chase has done such an excellent job at bringing Applecote Manor to life, her evocative narrative just jumping right off the page. I felt a particularly creeping sensation whenever there was a scene involving a character being alone at the garden pool:
‘Silence. There is no one, of course, nothing at all, just a magnesium lick across the pool that dazzles momentarily, leaving behind her own wavering reflection, and something that makes Jessie lean forward, heart racing, and part the slurry of leaves with her fingers to check that the submerged smudge is not a body bobbing at the bottom of the pool, just a trick of light.’
This type of evocative imagery was maintained throughout the entire novel but never overdone.
Jessie, our protagonist in the present day, was highly likeable and roused my sympathies instantly. Trying to carve out her own identity as a new mother and wife, she increasingly compares herself to her predecessor, always selling herself short. Moving to Applecote Manor is not only a new start for the whole family, but also a late in life coming of age for Jessie. She’s a character who shines throughout, honest in her introspection, and I admired her tenacity, particularly when it came to interacting with her step-daughter. I felt the author depicted this precarious relationship to perfection, and likewise, the second marriage dynamics. It would be such difficult terrain to navigate, stepping into a dead woman’s shoes and through Jessie, I got a true sense of this struggle. I always felt she acted accordingly, never in a way that was unjustified or unbelievable. The very soul of authenticity.
Margot and her sisters were a delight. I found the humour in these sections a lively addition and there were plenty of moments where I laughed out loud at the sister’s observations:
‘One afternoon Harry invites Flora to Cornton Hall; Pam is actually struck mute for three and a half hours by the swinging left hook of her own jealousy.’
The entire novel is infused with this sort of natural wit, but it’s showcased more in the 1959 sections, the dynamics of the Wilde sisters adding that ‘something more’ to every scene that they are in. The relationship between the sisters, their deep and abiding loyalty to each other, was a wonderful part of this story. They were a unit; them against the rest of the world, and they rarely lost sight of that. Margot herself was a faithful narrator and I enjoyed experiencing the 1959 story through her eyes. She puts up with a lot on account of being Audrey’s pale comparison, and I thought she showed great strength of character on more than one occasion.
The mystery itself and how it unravels between the two eras was very well done. I didn’t really foresee Audrey’s fate and there were a couple of other highly tense encounters woven into the plot, in both eras, that kept me reading well into the night. The ending is beautifully serendipitous, with a full circle aspect that I greatly appreciated. With a truly lovely cover, The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde did not prove itself unworthy of such adornment. I highly recommend this novel to those who love stories about mysterious old rambling houses in the English countryside filled to the brim with secrets, sisters, and a way of life long past.
September 10, 2017
Visit the locations in the novel : Audrey Wilde and Applecote
Eve Chase wrote Black Rabbit Hall which built a very idyllic yet gothic mansion deep in the English countryside. Here we have Applecote with secrets within its walls and what went on there all those years ago made me shiver.
I do love a good dual time line novel and this just sang to me. The opening chapter was one of the best and suspenseful I’d read in a while. The time line stories really fitted with the themes and setting but I did prefer the story in the past. The house was at the centre of a deliciously hidden and evocative time - the secret which broke that all apart, and made the house what it is today.
I felt part of the scene - sitting in the hot summer grass, the grand house behind me.There’s some lovely writing in this book “We move away but we live for ever where we were most alive”. A novel to read with a glass of something cold and the promise of a sunny escape with clouds of intrigue and darkness on the horizon
There is lots of scene setting , some intriguing characters, a weaving tale and the result is a captivating read.
March 3, 2022
Oh how I loved these characters! The Wilde sisters (or “Wildlings”) make for a very colourful and compelling bunch to lead you into their world, and paired with the atmospheric setting of Applecote Manor, it contained everything I love in a book.
Rolling out in two timelines, one in 1959 and one in the present, Applecote Manor is the one constant that bridges the separate tales. In 1959, the four Wilde sisters are sent to the English countryside to live with their aunt and uncle for the summer whilst their bohemian mother runs off to Cairo to take on a bookkeeping position. How I would love to meet every single one of these characters in real life! The sisters are a delightful bunch, close-knit and full of life and the product of a rather unconventional upbringing. Soon they restore some joy into the old household, which has been in mourning ever since their cousin Audrey vanished without a trace five years previously.
The second timeline features Jesse, a young mother and stepmother, who has fallen in love with Applecote Manor and is trying to make it into a home for her family. Though I was afraid that I would not love the present timeline as much as the sisters’, I was soon won over by this young family, who were (almost) as compelling and interesting as the Wilde sisters. Of course the house is a bit reluctant to give up its secrets, revealing them slowly and gradually, until we finally find out what happened to Audrey all those years ago.
THE VANISHING OF AUDREY WILDE is one of those delicious treats that you want to savour as long as possible and miss when the last page has been turned. Beautifully written, astutely observed and with told with insight and compassion, it gave me joy every time I was able to steal a moment and get lost in its pages. I also loved the Gothic undertones of the old manor house, which was the type of atmospheric setting that almost features as a character itself. The mystery itself was secondary to the story and yet very compelling, just as the story told of innocence lost and the coming of age of the sisters. A truly wonderful book! I look forward to reading more from this author in future.
4.5 stars
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Rolling out in two timelines, one in 1959 and one in the present, Applecote Manor is the one constant that bridges the separate tales. In 1959, the four Wilde sisters are sent to the English countryside to live with their aunt and uncle for the summer whilst their bohemian mother runs off to Cairo to take on a bookkeeping position. How I would love to meet every single one of these characters in real life! The sisters are a delightful bunch, close-knit and full of life and the product of a rather unconventional upbringing. Soon they restore some joy into the old household, which has been in mourning ever since their cousin Audrey vanished without a trace five years previously.
The second timeline features Jesse, a young mother and stepmother, who has fallen in love with Applecote Manor and is trying to make it into a home for her family. Though I was afraid that I would not love the present timeline as much as the sisters’, I was soon won over by this young family, who were (almost) as compelling and interesting as the Wilde sisters. Of course the house is a bit reluctant to give up its secrets, revealing them slowly and gradually, until we finally find out what happened to Audrey all those years ago.
THE VANISHING OF AUDREY WILDE is one of those delicious treats that you want to savour as long as possible and miss when the last page has been turned. Beautifully written, astutely observed and with told with insight and compassion, it gave me joy every time I was able to steal a moment and get lost in its pages. I also loved the Gothic undertones of the old manor house, which was the type of atmospheric setting that almost features as a character itself. The mystery itself was secondary to the story and yet very compelling, just as the story told of innocence lost and the coming of age of the sisters. A truly wonderful book! I look forward to reading more from this author in future.
4.5 stars
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April 17, 2018
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway! I put off reading it for a while as I did not expect to like it. I think it's really the cover that turned me off. Sorry to say but it's almost impossible not to judge a book by it's cover! I felt obligated to read the book though since I was so kindly awarded it and the description on the back cover did interest me.
So, I was very pleasantly surprised when I found myself absorbed in it and loving the story! There were characters I loved and those I really hated. There were characters I thought were bad who ended up good and those I thought were evil who ended up warm-hearted.
The writing was unique and while very descriptive, not drawn-out and boring. I was pulled along by the mystery of the story and happy in the end to know what actually happened. I enjoyed it so much that I've already decided to pick up this author's other book, Black Rabbit Hall!
So, I was very pleasantly surprised when I found myself absorbed in it and loving the story! There were characters I loved and those I really hated. There were characters I thought were bad who ended up good and those I thought were evil who ended up warm-hearted.
The writing was unique and while very descriptive, not drawn-out and boring. I was pulled along by the mystery of the story and happy in the end to know what actually happened. I enjoyed it so much that I've already decided to pick up this author's other book, Black Rabbit Hall!
January 22, 2020
Full disclosure, I didn’t love the ending of this book. That being said, the beauty of the writing, and the Easter egg hunt that starts from the very first page, was amazing. It took me a while to get through, but only because I was absorbing it all in precious bite-sized pieces. I’d definitely recommend this.
July 20, 2017
One of the best books I have read this year!
My review can be found here:
https://foxtrevert.wordpress.com/2017...
My review can be found here:
https://foxtrevert.wordpress.com/2017...
December 26, 2024
This is a delightful dual timeline story about a lovely English home called Applecote Manor set in the Cotswolds England.
In alternating chapters we are taken from 1959 to over 50 years later, and learn about the lives of the people that lived there.
The four beautiful Wilde sisters who in 1959 arrive at Applecote Manor to spend the summer with their aunt and uncle. Sadly their aunt is struggling to come to terms with the disappearance of their daughter Audrey five years earlier.
Fifty years later, a young family purchase Applecote Manor as their family home. The husbands first wife died and this is his second marriage. Jessie his new wife is lovely, however her constant insecurities about her husband and marriage I found annoying.
Eve Chase did a marvellous job of bringing me to Applecote Manor. The atmosphere she created in and around the house was beautiful. I'm so glad to have found another favorite author.
In alternating chapters we are taken from 1959 to over 50 years later, and learn about the lives of the people that lived there.
The four beautiful Wilde sisters who in 1959 arrive at Applecote Manor to spend the summer with their aunt and uncle. Sadly their aunt is struggling to come to terms with the disappearance of their daughter Audrey five years earlier.
Fifty years later, a young family purchase Applecote Manor as their family home. The husbands first wife died and this is his second marriage. Jessie his new wife is lovely, however her constant insecurities about her husband and marriage I found annoying.
Eve Chase did a marvellous job of bringing me to Applecote Manor. The atmosphere she created in and around the house was beautiful. I'm so glad to have found another favorite author.
July 1, 2017
Jessie hopes that a move to the country will help her relationship with her teenage step daughter, Bella. Jessie is also trying to escape from being surrounded by memories of her husband’s deceased wife, Mandy, and wants a fresh start. But their new home is not the haven that Jessie had hoped for. Bella is caught up in the disappearance of a young girl, Audrey, some 50 years ago.
The book fluctuates between telling the present-day story of Jessie and the story of the missing Audrey 50 years ago. Five years after Audrey’s disappearance, Margot and her three sisters are sent off by their mother to stay with Audrey’s parents, their Aunt Sybil and Uncle Perry. Sybil and Perry have been housebound since their daughter’s disappearance and pretty much shunned by their neighbors since Perry had been a suspect in his daughter’s disappearance. Margot is pulled into the strange world Audrey has left behind and the sisters are drawn apart by the attentions of two young men. When disaster strikes, hard decisions need to be made.
This is the second book by this author and I’ve had the pleasure of reading them both. I very much enjoy the characters and atmosphere that she creates in her books. While in many ways, it’s a typical tale of an old English house with past secrets, the author has quite a knack for bringing her characters to life and has wonderful insight into the human heart.
Spellbinding and recommended.
This book was given to me by the publisher in return for an honest review.
The book fluctuates between telling the present-day story of Jessie and the story of the missing Audrey 50 years ago. Five years after Audrey’s disappearance, Margot and her three sisters are sent off by their mother to stay with Audrey’s parents, their Aunt Sybil and Uncle Perry. Sybil and Perry have been housebound since their daughter’s disappearance and pretty much shunned by their neighbors since Perry had been a suspect in his daughter’s disappearance. Margot is pulled into the strange world Audrey has left behind and the sisters are drawn apart by the attentions of two young men. When disaster strikes, hard decisions need to be made.
This is the second book by this author and I’ve had the pleasure of reading them both. I very much enjoy the characters and atmosphere that she creates in her books. While in many ways, it’s a typical tale of an old English house with past secrets, the author has quite a knack for bringing her characters to life and has wonderful insight into the human heart.
Spellbinding and recommended.
This book was given to me by the publisher in return for an honest review.
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