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Those Who Disappeared
It’s been thirty years since his father went missing. Now there’s a body, can he finally find out why?
When a man’s body is discovered in a Swiss glacier thirty years after he went missing, his son, Foster Treherne, hopes he’ll finally have closure on what happened to the father he never met. But then the autopsy reveals signs of a struggle, and what was assumed to be a tragic accident suddenly looks more sinister.
Foster tracks down his father’s old friends, but when he starts to ask questions it becomes clear that there’s something they don’t want to tell him. While some are evasive, others seem to wish the body had never been found. What exactly is their connection to each other, and why are they so reluctant to discuss the day his father disappeared? Who are they trying to protect?
If he wants to uncover what really happened, Foster must follow the trail of secrets and lies—no matter how devastating the consequences, and what they might reveal about his father. Because the truth can only stay buried for so long…
When a man’s body is discovered in a Swiss glacier thirty years after he went missing, his son, Foster Treherne, hopes he’ll finally have closure on what happened to the father he never met. But then the autopsy reveals signs of a struggle, and what was assumed to be a tragic accident suddenly looks more sinister.
Foster tracks down his father’s old friends, but when he starts to ask questions it becomes clear that there’s something they don’t want to tell him. While some are evasive, others seem to wish the body had never been found. What exactly is their connection to each other, and why are they so reluctant to discuss the day his father disappeared? Who are they trying to protect?
If he wants to uncover what really happened, Foster must follow the trail of secrets and lies—no matter how devastating the consequences, and what they might reveal about his father. Because the truth can only stay buried for so long…
232 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 15, 2021
516 people are currently reading
3368 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Wignall
41 books560 followersArmy Child till age nine.
Settled back in a small town in the west of England.
Lancaster University - degree in Politics &
International Relations.
Writer.
Also writes as K.J. Wignall
Email: kevin@kevinwignall.com
Settled back in a small town in the west of England.
Lancaster University - degree in Politics &
International Relations.
Writer.
Also writes as K.J. Wignall
Email: kevin@kevinwignall.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
December 4, 2020
4/5 stars
Foster Treherne is rich and an artist, initially part of a group called ‘The New Painters’ but he alone has had great success. There is jealousy that he is the one who has made a name for himself as he gets a series of unpleasant anonymous notes making various accusations. Foster never knew his parents as his father Charlie disappears near a glacier in Switzerland before he is born and his mother commits suicide when he’s a baby. He’s raised very much at arms length by his maternal grandparents. A preserved body is found in a glacier revealed by boulders from an avalanche which proves to be Charlie. Following an oddity from the post mortem, Foster is determined to learn what he can about how and why Charlie died. It’s a fascinating truth seeking journey into his father’s university life and membership of a tight knit group known as The Pirensi Group with Indiana Jones aspirations. It is also a journey of self discovery.
I’ve read several books by Kevin Wignall and enjoyed them all. This one is especially clever as it’s a very understated novel about identity, in seeking to learn about his father and give him an identity he discovers more about himself. It’s also about abandonment, loneliness and a sense of belonging which understandably Foster has always felt. Where does Foster belong? Maybe the search for his father’s identity will give him roots somewhere and settle an itch he didn’t realise he had. This part of the novel really pulls at your heartstrings as no one really cares for him or shows him love as he grows up and yet despite this he becomes a fine, likeable man with a strong moral code. As he digs into his father’s background and tracks down members of the Pirensi group there’s a definite air of tension and rank closing as they wish to conceal and bury the past for ‘Those who disappeared ‘ which is so intriguing. The storytelling takes you in unexpected directions and into some wonderful settings. There are moments of tension and menace especially from the note sender and a good atmosphere builds as the mystery of Charlie deepens. He does get to the truth on both counts which gives him some closure and the ability to move on with his life and find happiness to accompany his success.
Overall, a good novel with multiple strands which keeps you interested throughout.
With thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the arc for an honest review
Foster Treherne is rich and an artist, initially part of a group called ‘The New Painters’ but he alone has had great success. There is jealousy that he is the one who has made a name for himself as he gets a series of unpleasant anonymous notes making various accusations. Foster never knew his parents as his father Charlie disappears near a glacier in Switzerland before he is born and his mother commits suicide when he’s a baby. He’s raised very much at arms length by his maternal grandparents. A preserved body is found in a glacier revealed by boulders from an avalanche which proves to be Charlie. Following an oddity from the post mortem, Foster is determined to learn what he can about how and why Charlie died. It’s a fascinating truth seeking journey into his father’s university life and membership of a tight knit group known as The Pirensi Group with Indiana Jones aspirations. It is also a journey of self discovery.
I’ve read several books by Kevin Wignall and enjoyed them all. This one is especially clever as it’s a very understated novel about identity, in seeking to learn about his father and give him an identity he discovers more about himself. It’s also about abandonment, loneliness and a sense of belonging which understandably Foster has always felt. Where does Foster belong? Maybe the search for his father’s identity will give him roots somewhere and settle an itch he didn’t realise he had. This part of the novel really pulls at your heartstrings as no one really cares for him or shows him love as he grows up and yet despite this he becomes a fine, likeable man with a strong moral code. As he digs into his father’s background and tracks down members of the Pirensi group there’s a definite air of tension and rank closing as they wish to conceal and bury the past for ‘Those who disappeared ‘ which is so intriguing. The storytelling takes you in unexpected directions and into some wonderful settings. There are moments of tension and menace especially from the note sender and a good atmosphere builds as the mystery of Charlie deepens. He does get to the truth on both counts which gives him some closure and the ability to move on with his life and find happiness to accompany his success.
Overall, a good novel with multiple strands which keeps you interested throughout.
With thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the arc for an honest review
January 5, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley, along with Amazon Publishing UK/Thomas & Mercer for this free advance copy in return for an honest review.
A glacier, an avalanche and an artist’s search for truth, all come together in this wonderfully conceived book by Kevin Wignall, an author I never read before and who has done a great job of exploring one mans journey to find the truth about his father and how he died.
After 32 years the body of Charlie Treherne is uncovered as the result of an avalanche on a Swiss glacier. Luckily, the body had been very well preserved over that time since Charlie’s disappearance, and his passport and diary had been wrapped in plastic so the coroner was able to at least identify the body.
Famous modern artist, Foster Treherne receives an unexpected visit from a State Department official informing him of the discovery of his father, Charlie. And this sets up the dramatic plot of one man’s attempt to learn the truth about his father’s death and existence. Charlie’s death had occurred before Foster was born, and to complicate matters his mother committed suicide when he was only one year old.
Basically raised by a nanny, and shipped off to boarding schools, Foster had no photos of his father, and really knew nothing of the man or his life, which was fine with Foster. But despite achieving worldwide artistic fame Foster has always had a hole in his psyche due to tragic circumstances surrounding the death of his parents, as well as his grandparents rather hands off and uncaring interest in his upbringing.
But, as so often happens, one little bit of information leads to another, and eventually Foster is convinced that his father’s death was not a mere accidental hiking death, but rather a murder. The discovery of a group photo now propels Foster on a journey of discovery and enlightenment. Who really were his mother and father, how did his father really die, and if it was not an innocent hiking accident who is to blame?
That Wignall is able to cover all of this in a short 232 page novel tells us about his ability as a writer. It is an action mystery, that really has little physical action. It is a detective story without a detective, and it is one man’s surprising desire to learn about his father. Foster is able to discover the identity of the people in the photo, but their memories of the day his father died are either incomplete or give the indications of a conspiracy. But was there a killer or was it truly an accident, and his desire to learn the truth also uncovers some facts about his father he never had known and which he might have been happy not to know.
This is a short, fast read. Yet it is a book that moves action around at a reasonable pace and teaches us that our past is not always what we think it is, and that our parents are not always who we believe they were. Fascinating, and a very good read with no violence, sex or any graphic sequences.
This review was previously published at www.mysteryandsuspense.com
A glacier, an avalanche and an artist’s search for truth, all come together in this wonderfully conceived book by Kevin Wignall, an author I never read before and who has done a great job of exploring one mans journey to find the truth about his father and how he died.
After 32 years the body of Charlie Treherne is uncovered as the result of an avalanche on a Swiss glacier. Luckily, the body had been very well preserved over that time since Charlie’s disappearance, and his passport and diary had been wrapped in plastic so the coroner was able to at least identify the body.
Famous modern artist, Foster Treherne receives an unexpected visit from a State Department official informing him of the discovery of his father, Charlie. And this sets up the dramatic plot of one man’s attempt to learn the truth about his father’s death and existence. Charlie’s death had occurred before Foster was born, and to complicate matters his mother committed suicide when he was only one year old.
Basically raised by a nanny, and shipped off to boarding schools, Foster had no photos of his father, and really knew nothing of the man or his life, which was fine with Foster. But despite achieving worldwide artistic fame Foster has always had a hole in his psyche due to tragic circumstances surrounding the death of his parents, as well as his grandparents rather hands off and uncaring interest in his upbringing.
But, as so often happens, one little bit of information leads to another, and eventually Foster is convinced that his father’s death was not a mere accidental hiking death, but rather a murder. The discovery of a group photo now propels Foster on a journey of discovery and enlightenment. Who really were his mother and father, how did his father really die, and if it was not an innocent hiking accident who is to blame?
That Wignall is able to cover all of this in a short 232 page novel tells us about his ability as a writer. It is an action mystery, that really has little physical action. It is a detective story without a detective, and it is one man’s surprising desire to learn about his father. Foster is able to discover the identity of the people in the photo, but their memories of the day his father died are either incomplete or give the indications of a conspiracy. But was there a killer or was it truly an accident, and his desire to learn the truth also uncovers some facts about his father he never had known and which he might have been happy not to know.
This is a short, fast read. Yet it is a book that moves action around at a reasonable pace and teaches us that our past is not always what we think it is, and that our parents are not always who we believe they were. Fascinating, and a very good read with no violence, sex or any graphic sequences.
This review was previously published at www.mysteryandsuspense.com
February 13, 2021
Rating: Very Good
Genre: Mystery Thriller
This is a story about a famous artist, Foster Treherne. One day Foster is informed that a body has been discovered in a glacier in Switzerland and that body is believed to be his father who has been missing for thirty years. Despite never knowing his father, Foster decides to dig for the truth after he suspects that his father’s accident might have been more than that. Fortunately, the father has left a diary and a picture that shows the group of friends the old man belonged to.
This is the first time I read something written by Kevin Wignall and I have to say that the story was quite enjoyable. I liked how things kept unraveling at a steady pace. As I progressed in the book I felt the mystery kept getting more interesting. The book is around 232 pages yet it has lots of meat to offer without the need to resort to unnecessary fillers. The characters were interesting especially the members of The Piranesi Society that the deceased father belonged to. The suspense to know and understand these characters and their motives added more intensity to the story along with the diary inclusion which was a crucial part of Foster’s discovery of the mystery.
Many thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for this honest and unbiased review.
Genre: Mystery Thriller
This is a story about a famous artist, Foster Treherne. One day Foster is informed that a body has been discovered in a glacier in Switzerland and that body is believed to be his father who has been missing for thirty years. Despite never knowing his father, Foster decides to dig for the truth after he suspects that his father’s accident might have been more than that. Fortunately, the father has left a diary and a picture that shows the group of friends the old man belonged to.
This is the first time I read something written by Kevin Wignall and I have to say that the story was quite enjoyable. I liked how things kept unraveling at a steady pace. As I progressed in the book I felt the mystery kept getting more interesting. The book is around 232 pages yet it has lots of meat to offer without the need to resort to unnecessary fillers. The characters were interesting especially the members of The Piranesi Society that the deceased father belonged to. The suspense to know and understand these characters and their motives added more intensity to the story along with the diary inclusion which was a crucial part of Foster’s discovery of the mystery.
Many thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for this honest and unbiased review.
March 15, 2021
4.25 Stars — A thanks to NetGalley for a free ARC of this meaty thriller in return for a sincere and completely honest and impartial review.
A captivating and quite original mystery, Kevin Wignall’s latest thriller has many things going for it. The authors use of tension is on-point here but ultimately, it is the strongly humanised and relatable narrative that is weaponised most effectively here, pulling me in nice and close, to the point where I caught myself turning the page with just a touch of timidly seasoned trepidation on not one — but several — occasions.
The narrative reaches its well-timed crescendo about 70% in and after what I’d call a banal opening sixty pages or so, the author is able to flush out well-to-do characters that are painted with a touch of naivety I suspect in order to aid the assumptive-errors the reader may presume which serves the twists and turns rather well indeed. The message Wignall is flagging for us throughout, is that despite often believing otherwise, we never truly know anyone, even those in the closest of proximities. A message we all should heed more and also less at the same time (go figure).
Foster is a straightforward protagonist in most manners, he is too trusting and a little naive at first but his Witt and adaptability under pressure holds him in good stead and unlike many other mystery-solving hero’s, he is flawed but not to the point of exhaustion. Wignall has done a very solid job in developing his lead character and I for one hope to see this a continuing trend in crime novels, all-too-often we are left with a lead character whom is predictably equipped to deal with his or her own flaws, which ostensibly then contradicts those very flaws in the first place, refreshingly Foster is just a man, whom senses his father has met with foul-play and is both created by and haunted from a horrific three-decades of not knowing what had come of his dear old dad.
An excellent read that I am glad I read, not perfect but more enjoyable each chapter which is the key to all decent novels, getting the reader to turn that page. Well done Kevin!
A captivating and quite original mystery, Kevin Wignall’s latest thriller has many things going for it. The authors use of tension is on-point here but ultimately, it is the strongly humanised and relatable narrative that is weaponised most effectively here, pulling me in nice and close, to the point where I caught myself turning the page with just a touch of timidly seasoned trepidation on not one — but several — occasions.
The narrative reaches its well-timed crescendo about 70% in and after what I’d call a banal opening sixty pages or so, the author is able to flush out well-to-do characters that are painted with a touch of naivety I suspect in order to aid the assumptive-errors the reader may presume which serves the twists and turns rather well indeed. The message Wignall is flagging for us throughout, is that despite often believing otherwise, we never truly know anyone, even those in the closest of proximities. A message we all should heed more and also less at the same time (go figure).
Foster is a straightforward protagonist in most manners, he is too trusting and a little naive at first but his Witt and adaptability under pressure holds him in good stead and unlike many other mystery-solving hero’s, he is flawed but not to the point of exhaustion. Wignall has done a very solid job in developing his lead character and I for one hope to see this a continuing trend in crime novels, all-too-often we are left with a lead character whom is predictably equipped to deal with his or her own flaws, which ostensibly then contradicts those very flaws in the first place, refreshingly Foster is just a man, whom senses his father has met with foul-play and is both created by and haunted from a horrific three-decades of not knowing what had come of his dear old dad.
An excellent read that I am glad I read, not perfect but more enjoyable each chapter which is the key to all decent novels, getting the reader to turn that page. Well done Kevin!
March 16, 2021
Those Who Disappeared is an engrossing literary mystery that reminds us that sometimes, through careful consideration, we discover we don't really know the people we feel we are closest to at all and that despite the facades people hide behind these people often don't have our best interests at heart. 32 years ago near the alpine village of Handeck in the municipality of Guttannen in Bern, Switzerland, 25-year-old Charles Treherne decided to take a trip hiking up the mountain to reach the Handeck glacier as it was a balmy October day. He loved the pristine natural environment and the isolation as it gave him time to ruminate on life and appreciate the beauty of Mother Nature. Hailing from an affluent family, Charles was a pupil at Bennington, an elite boarding school in New Hampshire before becoming an undergraduate at Yale and an ex-pat postgraduate history student at the University of Bologna in Italy. On the day of his disappearance, he had ventured out alone as apparently his companion who was visiting the area with him didn’t walk that day, and told the authorities that Charles didn't indicate the route he planned to take. There had been heavy snowfall, which made the climb even more dangerous, but this didn't stop him and he set off with his backpack that contained his passport, journal, water bottle, candy bar, a pen, spare socks—and his hiking boots and jacket. He was never to be seen again and it was assumed that like many tourists who tackle the trails that he had either gotten lost or injured and subsequently perished. Fast forward 32 years and prominent 32-year-old American figurative painter Foster Treherne, who is based out of a studio complex in Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin, has beaten the odds and hit the big time.
He is a former member of the group 'The New Painters', an idea brought about by his then-girlfriend, Polly, who used to support each other as struggling artists. But when Foster's career took off he left them behind and many of them became jealous of his success. After his masterpiece 'Little Boy Lost of American Art' he became one of the top tier artists in the world. He has been receiving sinister anonymous notes ever since. One day when he rolls up to his studio, the receptionist, Natsuko, informs him that Daniela Herrera from the American Embassy is waiting for him. She tells him that after an avalanche in Switzerland two days prior, a man’s body had been found entombed in ice and preserved by the cold high above the Handeck glacier in the accumulation zone. He was found with his backpack and on further inspection, among the injuries consistent with a fall was a suspicious blunt force trauma to the back of the head and 3 buttons were missing from his shirt signifying a struggle may have taken place. The New York Times publishes an article on the cold case but the photograph sent to them and printed alongside the article only had 6 people in it. However, the photo Foster received from his paternal grandmother had the same 6 people present but a seventh too. Why was the photo doctored and someone airbrushed out of it, and what exactly happened that day? This is a compulsive and enthralling mystery with an unusual plot and a whole lot of atmosphere. The descriptions of the landscape transported me there instantly and there's never a dull moment. It is a slow-burn literary mystery so if you're looking for a thriller with twists and punchy action this is not it. This is a story about seeking one's identity and wanting to know your origins and a rich character study of Foster. Highly recommended.
He is a former member of the group 'The New Painters', an idea brought about by his then-girlfriend, Polly, who used to support each other as struggling artists. But when Foster's career took off he left them behind and many of them became jealous of his success. After his masterpiece 'Little Boy Lost of American Art' he became one of the top tier artists in the world. He has been receiving sinister anonymous notes ever since. One day when he rolls up to his studio, the receptionist, Natsuko, informs him that Daniela Herrera from the American Embassy is waiting for him. She tells him that after an avalanche in Switzerland two days prior, a man’s body had been found entombed in ice and preserved by the cold high above the Handeck glacier in the accumulation zone. He was found with his backpack and on further inspection, among the injuries consistent with a fall was a suspicious blunt force trauma to the back of the head and 3 buttons were missing from his shirt signifying a struggle may have taken place. The New York Times publishes an article on the cold case but the photograph sent to them and printed alongside the article only had 6 people in it. However, the photo Foster received from his paternal grandmother had the same 6 people present but a seventh too. Why was the photo doctored and someone airbrushed out of it, and what exactly happened that day? This is a compulsive and enthralling mystery with an unusual plot and a whole lot of atmosphere. The descriptions of the landscape transported me there instantly and there's never a dull moment. It is a slow-burn literary mystery so if you're looking for a thriller with twists and punchy action this is not it. This is a story about seeking one's identity and wanting to know your origins and a rich character study of Foster. Highly recommended.
March 13, 2021
A thirty-year-old mystery is investigated by a son after his father’s body is discovered in a Swiss glacier. In digging up the past, Foster Treherne must deal with the lack of assistance from his father’s friends and truths that will not stay buried forever. In learning more about his parents, Foster’s work and life is challenged by fundamental questions of a person’s true nature and its impact on you. An interesting family saga history that rates three-stars. With thanks to NetGalley and the author for a preview copy for review purposes. All opinions expressed herein are freely given and totally my own.
November 18, 2021
Foster Treherne had never met his father who disappeared while hiking on a glacier prior to Foster's birth. More than thirty years later, his father's body was discovered and, due to being encased in ice for so many years, it was in pretty good shape, as far as 30-year-old corpses go. Along with the body, his father's journal, which was in the kind of moisture-proof bag that hikers often carry, was found intact and legible.
Foster never really knew his mother either as she killed herself when he was two, leaving the lad to be raised by cold, emotion-free, not too nice grandparents. Nonetheless, Foster became a world-famous artist with each of his paintings now fetching a small fortune.
His curiosity piqued by the journal, Foster began tracking down his father's old friends. This was the only way that he could get to know his father in any meaningful way. That search became the subject of a wonderful, off-the-wall, unusual mystery, perhaps one of the most unusual mysteries I have ever read.
I have enjoyed each of Kevin Wignall's books that I have read, and I anticipate enjoying the ones I have not yet read. Wignall's mind is so fertile, his writing is so literate without being stilted, his characters so interesting that he is quickly becoming one of my very favorite authors. Those Who Disappeared is a great example of a writer who feels no need to follow convention or write formulaic books (Whatever the hell, that means).
This book is not packed with action. It does, however, contain some very interesting twists and turns. I, clearly, loved it. But, due to its uniqueness, you may not....but I bet you do.
Over and out
Foster never really knew his mother either as she killed herself when he was two, leaving the lad to be raised by cold, emotion-free, not too nice grandparents. Nonetheless, Foster became a world-famous artist with each of his paintings now fetching a small fortune.
His curiosity piqued by the journal, Foster began tracking down his father's old friends. This was the only way that he could get to know his father in any meaningful way. That search became the subject of a wonderful, off-the-wall, unusual mystery, perhaps one of the most unusual mysteries I have ever read.
I have enjoyed each of Kevin Wignall's books that I have read, and I anticipate enjoying the ones I have not yet read. Wignall's mind is so fertile, his writing is so literate without being stilted, his characters so interesting that he is quickly becoming one of my very favorite authors. Those Who Disappeared is a great example of a writer who feels no need to follow convention or write formulaic books (Whatever the hell, that means).
This book is not packed with action. It does, however, contain some very interesting twists and turns. I, clearly, loved it. But, due to its uniqueness, you may not....but I bet you do.
Over and out
April 10, 2021
Those Who Disappeared is a stimulating and thought-provoking character drama, following the quest of a famous and successful modern artist to solve the mystery surrounding his father's death.
Charles Treherne, then a 25-year-old postgraduate student, disappeared high on the (fictional) Handeck Glacier in Switzerland, while hiking alone. Thirty-two years later, his remains emerge from the glacier (a not uncommon occurrence in real life). Berlin-based artist Foster Treherne is his sole surviving next-of-kin, a curious situation, since he was in utero at the time of Charles' disappearance.
Somewhat thrown by the discovery, Foster is accompanied to Bern by an American diplomatic aide, Daniela Herrera, to attend a forensic facility and accept his father's few personal effects. It's here that he's made aware that not all is straightforward as it seems - Charles' body bears signs of a fight, inconsistent with postmortem injuries caused by the movement of the glacier. As the forensic director speculates, "...if someone had been on the mountain [with him], they might have had some questions to answer.".
Among his father's personal effects is his journal, covering the time of his postgraduate days in Bologna, mentioning various friends (Foster's English mother included) and associates from the mysterious Piranesi Society and a few personal animosities. With the assistance of Daniela and his P.I.-on-retainer, Sigrid, Foster begins to track down the members of his parents' circle and determine who really was on the mountain the day Charles disappeared. Given that his mother committed suicide when Foster was only a year old, he receives some level of sympathy from the now fifty-something group of potential suspects, but he feels he's being stonewalled.
Foster's investigations take him to various points around western Europe, across the Atlantic to New York and Connecticut, and ultimately to a final showdown which coincides with his attendance at the famed Venice biennale art festival.
I found this an engaging and intriguing story about a young man who has grown up with plenty of talent, money and a privileged education, but largely without family roots (neither set of grandparents were particularly interested in his upbringing). His search for the truth about his father's (and mother's) deaths becomes, to some extent, a voyage of discovery into himself. There were several unexpected twists and turns, culminating in a satisfying resolution that felt realistic, in spite of the dramatic circumstances.
My thanks to the author, Kevin Wignall, publisher Amazon Publishing UK / Thomas Mercer and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.
Charles Treherne, then a 25-year-old postgraduate student, disappeared high on the (fictional) Handeck Glacier in Switzerland, while hiking alone. Thirty-two years later, his remains emerge from the glacier (a not uncommon occurrence in real life). Berlin-based artist Foster Treherne is his sole surviving next-of-kin, a curious situation, since he was in utero at the time of Charles' disappearance.
Somewhat thrown by the discovery, Foster is accompanied to Bern by an American diplomatic aide, Daniela Herrera, to attend a forensic facility and accept his father's few personal effects. It's here that he's made aware that not all is straightforward as it seems - Charles' body bears signs of a fight, inconsistent with postmortem injuries caused by the movement of the glacier. As the forensic director speculates, "...if someone had been on the mountain [with him], they might have had some questions to answer.".
Among his father's personal effects is his journal, covering the time of his postgraduate days in Bologna, mentioning various friends (Foster's English mother included) and associates from the mysterious Piranesi Society and a few personal animosities. With the assistance of Daniela and his P.I.-on-retainer, Sigrid, Foster begins to track down the members of his parents' circle and determine who really was on the mountain the day Charles disappeared. Given that his mother committed suicide when Foster was only a year old, he receives some level of sympathy from the now fifty-something group of potential suspects, but he feels he's being stonewalled.
Foster's investigations take him to various points around western Europe, across the Atlantic to New York and Connecticut, and ultimately to a final showdown which coincides with his attendance at the famed Venice biennale art festival.
I found this an engaging and intriguing story about a young man who has grown up with plenty of talent, money and a privileged education, but largely without family roots (neither set of grandparents were particularly interested in his upbringing). His search for the truth about his father's (and mother's) deaths becomes, to some extent, a voyage of discovery into himself. There were several unexpected twists and turns, culminating in a satisfying resolution that felt realistic, in spite of the dramatic circumstances.
My thanks to the author, Kevin Wignall, publisher Amazon Publishing UK / Thomas Mercer and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.
April 1, 2021
I enjoyed this one a lot. One man's journey to learn more about his father and what happened to him years ago. I wouldn't say this was an "edge of your seat" type of mystery. But it was well written, engaging, had interesting characters. And kept me interested throughout. 👍👍
**ARC Via NetGalley**
**ARC Via NetGalley**
March 23, 2021
This is the first book I have read by this author and I will need to read more.
In this standalone book, Foster Treherne, a wealthy artist finds out that the body of his father has been found in a glacier. His father disappeared more than thirty years prior and before Foster was born. His mother committed suicide when he was a baby, so knowledge of his parents is next to zero.
After the discovery of the body Foster becomes determined to find out more about his father and his subsequent death. Through a journal found with the body Foster discovers that his father was part of a small secretive group called the Piranesi Society and that the living members of this group are trying to cover something up.
This is not a fast, action-packed story, rather a progressive story of the past unfolding verbally among the various characters. Intriguing without all the violence and adrenalin.
Thank you Amazon Publishing UK and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
In this standalone book, Foster Treherne, a wealthy artist finds out that the body of his father has been found in a glacier. His father disappeared more than thirty years prior and before Foster was born. His mother committed suicide when he was a baby, so knowledge of his parents is next to zero.
After the discovery of the body Foster becomes determined to find out more about his father and his subsequent death. Through a journal found with the body Foster discovers that his father was part of a small secretive group called the Piranesi Society and that the living members of this group are trying to cover something up.
This is not a fast, action-packed story, rather a progressive story of the past unfolding verbally among the various characters. Intriguing without all the violence and adrenalin.
Thank you Amazon Publishing UK and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 15, 2021
I’m delighted to have been afforded an advanced reading copy via NetGalley and having read this novel to review and recommend it without reservation.
My opinions are my own and could not be influenced in such a process but I have to declare at the start that Kevin Wignall is one of my favourite authors and I have read his many books with interest and pleasure.
Those who disappeared is a wonderful story. It is written with great skill that engages the reader throughout. Whether this tension is wrapped up in the narrative or just my imagination I’ll leave you to judge. For this is unlike his previous works where secret agents, contract killers, nefarious plots with spies, government duplicity and double-cross fill the pages.
It is about a successful artist who grew up not knowing his parents. His mother took her own life shortly after his birth and his father disappeared some months before that, having ventured alone on a mountain walk. Foster has grown up without any real sense of belonging; his staff team has almost become his family and his art a place of solace and comfort. All this changes when an incident within a glacier reveals a body which is believed to be his dad. Frozen in time within the ice for some thirty-two years.
The book is a clever story about the casual nature of fame Foster has, as an artist, while having no clear identity of who he really is due to a fractured childhood. He has always felt abandoned by his mum. He was rejected by his maternal grandparents which compounded this disconnect. He had always believed his dad had been indisposed by events or delayed on a secret mission but would one day return for his boy.
Along with the body a perfectly preserved journal of his father was discovered. The book is about his interpretation of those writings, unexplained issues about the state of the body, insufficient to merit an investigation or to suggest anything other than accidental death from a fall.
In searching for some closure; answers to what may have happened, his father’s state of mind and relationship with his mother. Foster hunts down his dad’s post graduate friends who were part of a secret society. This becomes frustrating as each one seems to be concealing things and spinning half truths that mean his grasp of his father becomes muddled. In a sense this is mirror to his own life where he once was part of a group of talented artists who never quite made the break through he achieved.
Within this story are tensions from his father’s past with questions of why the surviving members appear to be closing ranks and avoiding him while Foster’s own past seems to be threatening his immediate success. This dual tension leaves the reader always on edge regarding individual’s motives and intent towards Foster, who he can trust and if he himself is in danger.
Hopefully others may see this within a novel that is about identity, the need to face the truth and the true worth of friendship. In the process we are taken to many wonderful locations and touch the world of art, frat houses and smell conspiracy. In the end the author asks whether it is more important to seek the truth or take revenge.
Wignall also demonstrates that without points of reference, we can lose more than memories when we bury the past. The symbolic unearthing of his father’s body from the glacier is also the catalyst to garner the truth and see oneself in that revealed light.
Those who disappeared is reclaiming those that are lost, forgotten and ignored. In this sense it is a grown up novel by an author who tells a good story but until this point has just thrilled and entertained.
This novel has those qualities still but provides a deeper response that resonates with my whole being. This is why I will continue to enjoy his books and easily recommend then to others.
My opinions are my own and could not be influenced in such a process but I have to declare at the start that Kevin Wignall is one of my favourite authors and I have read his many books with interest and pleasure.
Those who disappeared is a wonderful story. It is written with great skill that engages the reader throughout. Whether this tension is wrapped up in the narrative or just my imagination I’ll leave you to judge. For this is unlike his previous works where secret agents, contract killers, nefarious plots with spies, government duplicity and double-cross fill the pages.
It is about a successful artist who grew up not knowing his parents. His mother took her own life shortly after his birth and his father disappeared some months before that, having ventured alone on a mountain walk. Foster has grown up without any real sense of belonging; his staff team has almost become his family and his art a place of solace and comfort. All this changes when an incident within a glacier reveals a body which is believed to be his dad. Frozen in time within the ice for some thirty-two years.
The book is a clever story about the casual nature of fame Foster has, as an artist, while having no clear identity of who he really is due to a fractured childhood. He has always felt abandoned by his mum. He was rejected by his maternal grandparents which compounded this disconnect. He had always believed his dad had been indisposed by events or delayed on a secret mission but would one day return for his boy.
Along with the body a perfectly preserved journal of his father was discovered. The book is about his interpretation of those writings, unexplained issues about the state of the body, insufficient to merit an investigation or to suggest anything other than accidental death from a fall.
In searching for some closure; answers to what may have happened, his father’s state of mind and relationship with his mother. Foster hunts down his dad’s post graduate friends who were part of a secret society. This becomes frustrating as each one seems to be concealing things and spinning half truths that mean his grasp of his father becomes muddled. In a sense this is mirror to his own life where he once was part of a group of talented artists who never quite made the break through he achieved.
Within this story are tensions from his father’s past with questions of why the surviving members appear to be closing ranks and avoiding him while Foster’s own past seems to be threatening his immediate success. This dual tension leaves the reader always on edge regarding individual’s motives and intent towards Foster, who he can trust and if he himself is in danger.
Hopefully others may see this within a novel that is about identity, the need to face the truth and the true worth of friendship. In the process we are taken to many wonderful locations and touch the world of art, frat houses and smell conspiracy. In the end the author asks whether it is more important to seek the truth or take revenge.
Wignall also demonstrates that without points of reference, we can lose more than memories when we bury the past. The symbolic unearthing of his father’s body from the glacier is also the catalyst to garner the truth and see oneself in that revealed light.
Those who disappeared is reclaiming those that are lost, forgotten and ignored. In this sense it is a grown up novel by an author who tells a good story but until this point has just thrilled and entertained.
This novel has those qualities still but provides a deeper response that resonates with my whole being. This is why I will continue to enjoy his books and easily recommend then to others.
March 15, 2021
Foster Treherne's father went missing before he was born. A man's body has recently been found in a Swiss glacier. Foster has always wanted closure, to find out why he was abandoned by his father. Now he knows.
The medical examiner has found that the man was in some kind of struggle before he died. And maybe the accident wasn't really an accident.
Foster needs/wants more information. A diary of sorts is found along side his father. He starts tracking down his father's old friends. But he's getting nothing. They all seem to be hiding something .... but what? Who ... or what are they trying to protect? And why all of a sudden is he receiving threatening messages?
Lies and secrets can only be buried so long.....
Well written story about a man who wants to know who he really is. His father seemed to have abandoned his family and his pregnant wife at the time committed suicide. Hard not to understand a child's longing to know the answers for his questions. Characters are solidly drawn and live amid a swirl of mystery. Tension is felt from start to finish, the ending is unexpected.
Many thanks to the author / Amazon Publishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this mystery/crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
The medical examiner has found that the man was in some kind of struggle before he died. And maybe the accident wasn't really an accident.
Foster needs/wants more information. A diary of sorts is found along side his father. He starts tracking down his father's old friends. But he's getting nothing. They all seem to be hiding something .... but what? Who ... or what are they trying to protect? And why all of a sudden is he receiving threatening messages?
Lies and secrets can only be buried so long.....
Well written story about a man who wants to know who he really is. His father seemed to have abandoned his family and his pregnant wife at the time committed suicide. Hard not to understand a child's longing to know the answers for his questions. Characters are solidly drawn and live amid a swirl of mystery. Tension is felt from start to finish, the ending is unexpected.
Many thanks to the author / Amazon Publishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this mystery/crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
January 3, 2021
Those Who Disappeared by Kevin Wignall – This was an excellent read for me, as have been all of the books that I have read by the author
I read this within a day, and once I started it - I just could not wait to continue and see where the storyline was headed
The main character Foster Treherne is a successful and wealthy artist, who finds out at the beginning of the book that the body of the father who he never knew was just found
He has had a great deal of success in his life, however, is also quite alone. This finding opens up a search into the life and circumstances of the death, was this natural or intentional?
I will read more of Kevin Wignall’s books, and they are well written, interesting, and very enjoyable
4.5 Stars
Thank You to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK, and Author Kevin Wignall for my advanced copy to read and review
#ThoseWhoDisappeared #NetGalley
I read this within a day, and once I started it - I just could not wait to continue and see where the storyline was headed
The main character Foster Treherne is a successful and wealthy artist, who finds out at the beginning of the book that the body of the father who he never knew was just found
He has had a great deal of success in his life, however, is also quite alone. This finding opens up a search into the life and circumstances of the death, was this natural or intentional?
I will read more of Kevin Wignall’s books, and they are well written, interesting, and very enjoyable
4.5 Stars
Thank You to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK, and Author Kevin Wignall for my advanced copy to read and review
#ThoseWhoDisappeared #NetGalley
March 11, 2021
Those Who Disappeared is a literary cold case mystery, about an artist searching for the truth about his father, who disappeared while climbing in the Alps before he was born, by a British author who is new to me. I’m fortunate to be Pre-Approved by Amazon UK on NetGalley, and was drawn to the stunning cover image, so downloaded this on a whim, and ended up enjoying the writing as well as the gentle unraveling of the truth. It’s not a thriller, there’s not much suspense, and it takes a while to get going, but it’s a short fluid read and never boring.
Foster Treherne is a successful Anglo-American painter in his early thirties, whose career took off early, causing some jealousy amongst his peers, and now lives a quiet life in Berlin. Left an orphan by the suicide of his mother while he was still an infant, he has kept his distance from close relationships, to focus on his work. When the body of his father, Charlie, is found preserved in ice after an avalanche, showing evidence of a possible altercation, Foster is determined to learn more about the man he always dreamed would return for him. Tracking down his parents’ friends from that time, a secretive group who called themselves the Piranesi club, he senses they are hiding something from him, so armed with Charlie’s journal, his convenient wealth, and assisted by a beautiful diplomatic aide, Foster embarks on an obsessive quest for the truth that will change everything he thought he knew about his life.
I know almost nothing about the Art world, so it was fun to have our protagonist be a famous artist who’s unafraid to use his celebrity and connections to further his investigation, but he is refreshingly down to earth, considerate and modest at the same time. It’s a kind of Coming of Age story as Foster finds out the truth about his parents and matures emotionally as a result. There are some likeable support characters, a romance that doesn’t get in the way of the plot, no sex or violence and the mystery was interesting enough to keep me guessing. The side-plot about the threatening letters was a bit of a letdown, although does become relevant later.
I’d happily read more from this author. Thanks to Amazon UK & NetGalley for the ARC which allowed me to give an honest review. Those Who Disappeared is published on March 15th.
Foster Treherne is a successful Anglo-American painter in his early thirties, whose career took off early, causing some jealousy amongst his peers, and now lives a quiet life in Berlin. Left an orphan by the suicide of his mother while he was still an infant, he has kept his distance from close relationships, to focus on his work. When the body of his father, Charlie, is found preserved in ice after an avalanche, showing evidence of a possible altercation, Foster is determined to learn more about the man he always dreamed would return for him. Tracking down his parents’ friends from that time, a secretive group who called themselves the Piranesi club, he senses they are hiding something from him, so armed with Charlie’s journal, his convenient wealth, and assisted by a beautiful diplomatic aide, Foster embarks on an obsessive quest for the truth that will change everything he thought he knew about his life.
I know almost nothing about the Art world, so it was fun to have our protagonist be a famous artist who’s unafraid to use his celebrity and connections to further his investigation, but he is refreshingly down to earth, considerate and modest at the same time. It’s a kind of Coming of Age story as Foster finds out the truth about his parents and matures emotionally as a result. There are some likeable support characters, a romance that doesn’t get in the way of the plot, no sex or violence and the mystery was interesting enough to keep me guessing. The side-plot about the threatening letters was a bit of a letdown, although does become relevant later.
I’d happily read more from this author. Thanks to Amazon UK & NetGalley for the ARC which allowed me to give an honest review. Those Who Disappeared is published on March 15th.
December 17, 2020
This is a nice mystery. Foster, a famous artist finds out that the body of his father was discovered, after 30 years, in Switzerland. He was expecting that his body will surface one day, but he understands it was not an accident. Foster will not stop until he is finding out who did it. It was an easy read.
Thank you Netgalley for this nice book.
Thank you Netgalley for this nice book.
January 8, 2021
#ThoseWhoDisappeared #NetGalley
Thanks NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK, Kevin Wignall for an ARC to review.
When a man's body was discovered in a glacier after thirty years, Foster Treherne his son the famous artist found his lost father.
He begins a journey investigating the 30 years old puzzle and if it wasn't just an accident.
I loved the writing style, the characters and the book's setting.
Thanks NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK, Kevin Wignall for an ARC to review.
When a man's body was discovered in a glacier after thirty years, Foster Treherne his son the famous artist found his lost father.
He begins a journey investigating the 30 years old puzzle and if it wasn't just an accident.
I loved the writing style, the characters and the book's setting.
May 20, 2021
I have read several books by this author and this one was not bad. I thought his last book was his best book. I think he is growing as a writer. I thought the main character was good and the secondary characters were not bad. I thought the story flowed at a good pace but not sure if it was all plausible. I thought it was somewhat an original story which is always a good sign .I think what holds me back on the grade is that it could have been better it was missing something to it, I think for me what was missing was that this author should let loose a little bit more, plays it cautious hard to explain. I would have liked to see more detail on the art world and maybe a little bit more drama. I thought the ending was ok but it lacked sizzle too controlled like some other parts of the book. I do say go ahead and give it a spin. I give it 3.3 stars
November 19, 2020
How well do you really know your friends? Well enough for them to hide a terrible secret for you? Foster Treherne, in Kevin Wignall’s ‘Those Who Disappeared,’ knows all too well about the extent friends will go to keep something buried. You’ll have to wait until March 4th, 2021 to find out what Foster already knows. It’ll be worth the wait. It was for him.
Imagine growing up not knowing your parents and not experiencing love nor having a relationship with your paternal or maternal grandparents. What if you didn’t even know if your father was still alive? That’s the burden Foster has been living with since the day he was born. His father, Charles, disappeared 32 years ago on a glacier hike in the Bernese Alps when his girlfriend was 3 months pregnant. He was never found. His mom, having returned to England after meeting Charlie on a vacation in Italy, committed suicide a year after her son was born. Foster has grown into a charming man and a famous and well-respected artist. One day a visitor comes into his gallery and utters the words he’s been wanting to hear his whole life – we think we’ve found your father.
Wignall has written an exceptional story. Not only is it filled with unexpected twists, sharply written and evenly paced, it’s also believable. It’s more than just a story about a guy with a tragic background who is looking for his father; it’s about exploring the issue that we can become lost and alone even when surrounded by people. Wignall’s mystery reminds us not to believe everything we hear, and that oftentimes what we see on the surface is not what lurks below. This superbly written book begs to be made into a movie!
Thank you to Kevin Wignall, Amazon Publishing UK, and NetGalley for this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Imagine growing up not knowing your parents and not experiencing love nor having a relationship with your paternal or maternal grandparents. What if you didn’t even know if your father was still alive? That’s the burden Foster has been living with since the day he was born. His father, Charles, disappeared 32 years ago on a glacier hike in the Bernese Alps when his girlfriend was 3 months pregnant. He was never found. His mom, having returned to England after meeting Charlie on a vacation in Italy, committed suicide a year after her son was born. Foster has grown into a charming man and a famous and well-respected artist. One day a visitor comes into his gallery and utters the words he’s been wanting to hear his whole life – we think we’ve found your father.
Wignall has written an exceptional story. Not only is it filled with unexpected twists, sharply written and evenly paced, it’s also believable. It’s more than just a story about a guy with a tragic background who is looking for his father; it’s about exploring the issue that we can become lost and alone even when surrounded by people. Wignall’s mystery reminds us not to believe everything we hear, and that oftentimes what we see on the surface is not what lurks below. This superbly written book begs to be made into a movie!
Thank you to Kevin Wignall, Amazon Publishing UK, and NetGalley for this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 7, 2021
I couldn’t put this book down. It’s writing and characters are so addictive that I had to read everything in one sitting and barely been aware of what’s going on around me.
I was intrigued to know more of each character and what actually happened thirty years ago with Foster’s father and if his assumptions were correct or not.
It was interesting to see him traveling around Europe and met with some very interesting characters and retelling stories from those years when they lived so freely or so it seemed like.
It was my first book by the author but won’t be the last I’ll be reading for sure.
I was intrigued to know more of each character and what actually happened thirty years ago with Foster’s father and if his assumptions were correct or not.
It was interesting to see him traveling around Europe and met with some very interesting characters and retelling stories from those years when they lived so freely or so it seemed like.
It was my first book by the author but won’t be the last I’ll be reading for sure.
December 2, 2020
Those Who Disappear is a beautifully woven mystery and a compelling story of one man's relationship with the Father he never knew.
A glacier gives up a body - accident is assumed but the answers lie in the past, when a young man and his close knit group of friends are just beginning to come into their own.. until tragedy strikes.
I love the way the author layers his characters and offers up a lot to think about...whether or not there is foul play involved is very much secondary to the human drama playing out on the page. The resolution is emotionally resonant, the setting is described with perfect intensity and overall this was an absolutely excellent read.
Recommended.
A glacier gives up a body - accident is assumed but the answers lie in the past, when a young man and his close knit group of friends are just beginning to come into their own.. until tragedy strikes.
I love the way the author layers his characters and offers up a lot to think about...whether or not there is foul play involved is very much secondary to the human drama playing out on the page. The resolution is emotionally resonant, the setting is described with perfect intensity and overall this was an absolutely excellent read.
Recommended.
March 14, 2021
I was dissapointed when reading this book. From the very start, Foster is suspicious that his father's death wasn't an accident, and immediately starts to investigate. Each person he interviews conveniently gives him all the information he needs, and it's almost to easy for him to figure out what happened to his father 30 years ago. I would've liked a little more intrigue, and fewer sanctimonious lectures from the characters.
Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 19, 2021
a story about a very successful artist whose father died before he was born and whose mother died soon after. They belonged to a group in the 80s and some of the guys were sexual predators. NO discussion of the main characters art . what kind he creates what it looks like.. just a long journey to tell you what I just have. It is not worth the effort.
February 23, 2021
A bit slow, a gentle read. I was expecting a twist but there wasn’t one
April 3, 2021
Typical of many of Wignall's works, slow to get started but then starts to move along.
A world class artist gets involved in the mystery of the death of the father he never knew.
A world class artist gets involved in the mystery of the death of the father he never knew.
March 26, 2021
A quick well written mystery, this book is not only about discovering what happened to the MMC’s father, but it’s also about discovering more about oneself.
The main focus of this novel is, of course, the discovery of a body 30 years after the man went missing. The body turns out to be the father of the MMC, Foster. Someone he had never known, Foster begins to unravel who his father really was and what happened to him that fateful day. It’s a relatively short book but the discoveries, new information, solving pieces of the puzzle and the eventual conclusion are all revealed in a well timed manner. Things happen quickly but efficiently, enough to keep your interest throughout.
Secondary to this mystery is Foster learning more about himself by solving this mystery and meeting those who had known his parents. Not too much is explicitly focused on this but you can see it as different things fall into place.
An easy read, the mystery and it’s revelations keep you interested throughout. No crazy twists and turns, minimal action but the steady pace of pieces being revealed, new information and the painting of a much larger picture help complete this novel and maintain your attention.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of the book to review. This review is my own opinion.
The main focus of this novel is, of course, the discovery of a body 30 years after the man went missing. The body turns out to be the father of the MMC, Foster. Someone he had never known, Foster begins to unravel who his father really was and what happened to him that fateful day. It’s a relatively short book but the discoveries, new information, solving pieces of the puzzle and the eventual conclusion are all revealed in a well timed manner. Things happen quickly but efficiently, enough to keep your interest throughout.
Secondary to this mystery is Foster learning more about himself by solving this mystery and meeting those who had known his parents. Not too much is explicitly focused on this but you can see it as different things fall into place.
An easy read, the mystery and it’s revelations keep you interested throughout. No crazy twists and turns, minimal action but the steady pace of pieces being revealed, new information and the painting of a much larger picture help complete this novel and maintain your attention.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of the book to review. This review is my own opinion.
February 21, 2021
This starts off with a body being found in a glacier, a body who you find out belongs to Charlie Treherne who went missing 30 years prior. His son Foster who never even got to meet his dad jumps right into trying to find out what happened that day his father went missing. When he went to view the body there were slight signs of a struggle, also was able to get his dad's journal and belongings. Immediately he starts finding each person in the photo to try and get some insight on his parents. It is pretty apparent something was being hidden from the others in the photo, and I don't like how it seemed to drag on and on. There was no big climax in the story. In the end he does find out who murdered his father and gets the closure he needed. Pretty good read! Also thanks to NetGalley for my arc for an honest review!
February 25, 2021
I found this a bit slow to get into but once I did, I enjoyed it, A story of a father and son who never knew each other and the journey of the son discovering who his father was and the life he led.. This was very different to Kevin Wignall's other books, more of a mystery and I have to say I prefer his spy stories but in saying so still a fine effort. Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book..
March 29, 2021
An interesting read, which tells the story of a young man discovering who his parents truly were, after an accident uncovers his missing Father’s body.
April 15, 2021
Beautiful
An Art World who done it that left me wishing for impossible things and appreciating what I already have, and am. All thumbs up. Bravo!
An Art World who done it that left me wishing for impossible things and appreciating what I already have, and am. All thumbs up. Bravo!
September 13, 2022
I really wanted to like this one.... but I think the story just missed the mark.... the narrator didn't do it any favors either.... :(
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