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Disappeared
Explores the terrifying and lasting effects on a middle class Argentinian family of a single night during the summer of 1976, when some of them "disappeared" under the brutal regime of the military junta.
This book is out of print.
This book is out of print.
358 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
36 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Colin Falconer
68 books733 followersColin Falconer writes fast-paced historical adventures that sweep readers across centuries and continents, from the battlefields of Rome to the intrigues of forgotten empires. His novels blend action, danger, and unforgettable characters in richly imagined worlds.
Born in London, Colin now lives in Australia with his wife and their cocker spaniels. Click FOLLOW for updates on new releases, or join his mailing list for exclusive offers.
Born in London, Colin now lives in Australia with his wife and their cocker spaniels. Click FOLLOW for updates on new releases, or join his mailing list for exclusive offers.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 4, 2015
Good story, but inconsistencies
It was a good story, which is the only reason it's getting three stars. The author consistently forgot the names of the daughters. He called one by the mother's name for two chapters, and in the second half of the book switched up which one was sick as baby which drove me nuts!
It was a good story, which is the only reason it's getting three stars. The author consistently forgot the names of the daughters. He called one by the mother's name for two chapters, and in the second half of the book switched up which one was sick as baby which drove me nuts!
October 20, 2017
As our then crown prince married a daughter from a minister during the Argentinian junta days I think we in The Netherlands know a lot more about that dark episode than for instance people from Poland. She became a respected and very popular queen by the way. The sins of the fathers should not be blamed on the children and at least dad was not welcome at the wedding.
The day before I started to read the book I got as a present from the writer, I met someone who was a refugee from Syria. A nice hardworking young man who told me he had saved up during 10 years working in the Emirates, had come back home, bought a home and 2 shops and started a family. And then the civil war came and all was lost.
When I started to read "Disappeared" life is similar for two friends from university in Buenos Aires in the early seventies. They find jobs, fall in love, marry and one of them, Reuben, becomes the father of twin daughters. Then the shadows start to creep into view. Communists create havoc and the military answers in kind. No one knows how to be safe anymore. At first it is people who did something subversive that are targetted but more and more it is just devilish evil coming out in the dark.
One night one of the wives is taken by the secret police. The neighbours and her husband are shocked. But things get even worse.
Years later both children and the father have never seen each other again. Evil has just changed names.
It is that shedding of civilisation that was shocking and so well described by the writer. The real bad guys do not see themselves as bad. They did torture less than their colleagues they both think. But also the men in the street forget their morals.
In the book the people are never safe. Even 20 years later.
Very good book. A stark reminder why human rights are so important. Our liberal party leader hates the fact that human rights treaties prevent the Netherlands from doing things and wants to get out of the treaties. You should never want to be without a human rights anchor to prevent the ship that is your state to float away and flounder on the rocks killing its passengers.
http://dutchysbookreviews.blogspot.nl...
The day before I started to read the book I got as a present from the writer, I met someone who was a refugee from Syria. A nice hardworking young man who told me he had saved up during 10 years working in the Emirates, had come back home, bought a home and 2 shops and started a family. And then the civil war came and all was lost.
When I started to read "Disappeared" life is similar for two friends from university in Buenos Aires in the early seventies. They find jobs, fall in love, marry and one of them, Reuben, becomes the father of twin daughters. Then the shadows start to creep into view. Communists create havoc and the military answers in kind. No one knows how to be safe anymore. At first it is people who did something subversive that are targetted but more and more it is just devilish evil coming out in the dark.
One night one of the wives is taken by the secret police. The neighbours and her husband are shocked. But things get even worse.
Years later both children and the father have never seen each other again. Evil has just changed names.
It is that shedding of civilisation that was shocking and so well described by the writer. The real bad guys do not see themselves as bad. They did torture less than their colleagues they both think. But also the men in the street forget their morals.
In the book the people are never safe. Even 20 years later.
Very good book. A stark reminder why human rights are so important. Our liberal party leader hates the fact that human rights treaties prevent the Netherlands from doing things and wants to get out of the treaties. You should never want to be without a human rights anchor to prevent the ship that is your state to float away and flounder on the rocks killing its passengers.
http://dutchysbookreviews.blogspot.nl...
November 3, 2017
I received a free advance e-copy of this book and have chosen to write an honest and unbiased review. I have no personal affiliation with the author. Wow! Another extremely well researched piece of historical fiction by one of my all time favorite authors who never disappoints. Argentina is an amazing country with a past full of political unrest and upheaval that still continues into the present day. As I read I felt like I was on an emotional rollercoaster. This is a dark and tragic story that touched me to the core with an amazing and emotional ending. It is obvious that ‘Disappeared’ is well written by a great storyteller who isn’t afraid to tell it like it is. This book is well worth the read and I look forward to reading more from Colin Falconer in the future.
October 25, 2017
Absolutely engrossed in DISAPPEARED and suddenly realised up to Chapter 36 already and had not been reading long. Busy after that, could not wait to get back to read remainder of book. Fast paced, well thought out as always, holds reader interest until the end. Recommended read.
July 17, 2017
I recommend this book.
October 18, 2017
great book showing us we all have smething good and evil
November 24, 2020
Exceptional
March 4, 2024
I recommend this book. I have read this author several times and have never been disappointed. His mechanics of good writing are excellent. I like the way he uses real and fictitious characters to tell a real historical event. The action in this book takes place from 1974 to the 1990's in Argentina, England and Rome and tells about the power play among factions. WWII was a mark in history, but it was not the final marker. All kinds of people try to cash in on the flux of power beginning after the war and continuing to this day. These power hungry men made whoever and whatever stood in their way simply disappear. After the war, many war criminals escaped to South America in general and to Buenos Aires in particular. Nazism morphed into more heinous crime organizations with nasty tools of trade.
Thank you, Mr. Falconer, for a Good Read!
October, 2022. Reread. I did a Wiki study about Argentina and shocked when I read how COVID-19 had affected the country. Hence all nations will tell about the virus and how it changed us.
Reread March, 2024.
Thank you, Mr. Falconer, for a Good Read!
October, 2022. Reread. I did a Wiki study about Argentina and shocked when I read how COVID-19 had affected the country. Hence all nations will tell about the virus and how it changed us.
Reread March, 2024.
April 14, 2013
Sáhl jsem po téhle knize jen čistě náhodou. Nevěděl jsem co mě čeká. Autora jsme neznal. Ale trochu tomu pomohlo zvolení nového papeže a referendum na Malvínách. Obojího (tedy minulosti) by se měla kniha týkat.
A můžu říct, že jsme nadšen. Kniha se mi líbila moc, pokud je pravda, že se autor drží dost věrně faktů, tak jsem se i dost poučil. Přitom je to doba, kterou si pamatuji. Jen jaksi u nás v tu dobu fakta nějak chyběla.
Ale kdo to chce číst ne jako knihu naučnou, tak taky neudělá chybu. Prostě autora řadím do oblíbených a jdu číst něco dalšího.
Zmizelé rozhodně doporučuji přečíst.
A můžu říct, že jsme nadšen. Kniha se mi líbila moc, pokud je pravda, že se autor drží dost věrně faktů, tak jsem se i dost poučil. Přitom je to doba, kterou si pamatuji. Jen jaksi u nás v tu dobu fakta nějak chyběla.
Ale kdo to chce číst ne jako knihu naučnou, tak taky neudělá chybu. Prostě autora řadím do oblíbených a jdu číst něco dalšího.
Zmizelé rozhodně doporučuji přečíst.
April 14, 2007
Great Airplane Fiction / Beach Fiction / Holiday Fiction. I cried. I new a little about the goings on in South America, but this bought it further to light and sparked a bit of personal research. Brilliant portrayal of weakness, regret, poverty, indifference, greed, grief, and REVENGE. But there was more paragraph skipping violence for me. I don't need the detail of gore that Falconer goes to.
Synopsis available at:
[http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/f/c...]
Synopsis available at:
[http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/f/c...]
December 29, 2014
Depressing
If you want to read about horror and depression with no bright spots of hope then this is the book for you. I'm not saying it's not well written, just not my cup of tea. The author paints the story well. I just prefer to leave with joy in my heart instead of horror. Sorry Mr Falconer, you to rock as an author. Just finished feeling unfulfilled.
If you want to read about horror and depression with no bright spots of hope then this is the book for you. I'm not saying it's not well written, just not my cup of tea. The author paints the story well. I just prefer to leave with joy in my heart instead of horror. Sorry Mr Falconer, you to rock as an author. Just finished feeling unfulfilled.
April 12, 2015
Another fun ride
This book was great fun (if torture, murder and political violence is your idea of fun). Just when you think you know where the story is going it twists on you. Good stuff from a solid writer.
This book was great fun (if torture, murder and political violence is your idea of fun). Just when you think you know where the story is going it twists on you. Good stuff from a solid writer.
July 26, 2015
The storyline was intriguing and kept me engaged, but the Kindle edition has a lot of errors - grammatical and substantive, that took away from the story. For example, they had the wrong name in several places that might have been confusing to some readers.
August 25, 2014
Disappeared
I love this author his stories are so awesome. I could not step reading this book...the story was pure awesome
I love this author his stories are so awesome. I could not step reading this book...the story was pure awesome
February 12, 2015
Other than the ending was a pretty good book about the Dirty War in Argentina.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews