Vanished

by Fletcher Knebel

The baffling Greer case hit the front pages of the national press and stayed there, as rumors, speculations, accusations, and bizarre plots were paraded before a puzzled and avid public. How could a prominent Washington attorney and top aide to the President of the United States during a contentious re-election campaign simply vanish?

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, American

368 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1968

About the author

Fletcher Knebel was an American author of several popular works of political fiction.

He graduated from high school in Yonkers, New York, spent a year studying at the Sorbonne and graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in 1934. Upon graduation, he received a job offer from the Coatesville Record, in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. He spent the next 20 years working in newspapers, eventually becoming the political columnist for Cowles Publications. From 1951 to 1964, he satirized national politics and government in a nationally published column called "Potomac Fever".

In 1960, he wrote a chapter on John F. Kennedy for the book Candidates 1960. This seemed to ignite a passion for writing books and he turned his hand to book-length works. He wrote fifteen books, most of them fiction, and all of them dealing with politics. His best-known novel is Seven Days in May (1962), (co-written with Charles W. Bailey), about an attempted military coup in the United States. The book was a huge success, staying at number one on the New York Times bestseller list for almost a year, and was made into a successful film also titled "Seven Days in May" in 1964.

Knebel was married four times from 1935 to 1985. He committed suicide after a long bout with cancer, by taking an overdose of sleeping pills in his home in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1993. He is the source of the quote: "Smoking is one of the leading causes of statistics."

Reviews

[Randy Stapilus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read several Knebel's books more or less in a row in the late 60s and early 70s. Looking at them again more recently, I think they hold up pretty well as solid thrillers with a big-picture base.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting. Dated, but oh so relevant still today. What a President! Sent me to Thoreau.

[Clair Keizer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A political thriller written in 1968. Who could imagine so much still lends to the world today? Let there be no doubt, there are more than a few dated effects that will make most readers today cringe, from the point of view toward homosexuality, recognition of African Americans in professional roles, to the role of women in the workplace and at home. Much has changed, yet sadly much hasn't changed. The points of view Fletcher Knebel explores in "Vanished" carry as much weight today as they did 53 years ago. Perhaps the threat of nuclear war isn't as pronounced, but the day-to-day uncertainty of international relations with other countries, including the People's Republic of China and Russia remain, along with a score of others. The shadowy unknowns of the US intelligence entities still plays with people's minds and worse, domestically and internationally. And the tone of political disagreement and upheaval has never been worse. It's a shame we've learned so little since then.

[Jeff Crosby · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I began re-reading Vanished, I realized that I remembered almost nothing about the story. That is unusual for this type of novel. I believe I read it at about the same time as The President’s Plane Is Missing, and the two novels have become a mash.

While that is slightly annoying, it does allow me to read a “new” political thriller.

To begin, I like the pace. Knebel allows the story to unfold at an even pace, without a rush toward resolution. Much of the novel works well, especially as a procedural. However, it loses steam and gets lost in its message.

Still, I enjoyed the book.

[Chuck Neumann · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Vanished" is a political thriller written in 1968 by Fletcher Knebel, co-author of "Seven Days in May". I usually enjoy these type novels, but was a little disappointed in this one. The story is well written, the characters fairly interesting, and for most of the novel it was quite good. However, as the novel went on it was apparent the close friend and advisor of the President that vanished was on a special top secret mission for the President, which took away much of the mystery. The main character is the Press Secretary, who all in all is not that interesting. He feels abused by the Press, is in love with his younger secretary, and starts to get upset when the President doesn't share everything with him. The novel bounces around to other characters to tell the story, including a very talented black FBI agent, a wall street investor, a big shot investigative reporter, and a lobbyist. The novel's big reveal was that the vanished man was working with others to unit all nuclear scientists to go on strike unless nuclear weapons are dismantled and never seen again. All countries with nuclear weapons go along. (How likely was that in 1968?) The whole thing seemed off. If the President wanted to keep it quite, why stage a headline making disappearance of his advisor. It could have been accomplished by his going on a vacation in Europe, for example. Oh well, it was an interesting novel but overall not really one that stands up.

[Ginny Thurston · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will not spoil the political thriller mystery for readers, but I found this book confusing because of all the narrators and characters. The point of view kep t changing so frequently that I could not remember who they were ... FBI, CIA,Journalist, cabinet member....too much info. The most interesting part was that since it was written in 1968, technology was very archaic.Messages were sent abroad by Telstar, research was done in the library with microfiche, large UNIX computers were used and dot matrix printing with perforated paper. I also enjoyed learning about Tristan da Cunha...the most isolated island in the world. Some things have not changed....influence in Washington and political cronyism. The importance of journalism and a free press are still crucial to our democracy and fears of nuclear Armageddon by some armed psychotic dictator is certainly still here.

[Eric Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dated a bit, but as always, Fletcher Knebel told stories which captured the zeitgeist and gave clear views of the political climate in which we presently live. Though intriguing, this one didn't capture me as much as some of his others, such as Seven Days in May, Night of Camp David, Trespass, and Dark Horse.

[Polly · Rating 3 out of 5]

The very complicated mystery of this book was interesting but it felt like there was a rush to wrap things up in the last chapter.

[Alan LaPayover · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh, if only some fantasies could be real.

[Tommy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story which is a terrifying what if scenario that could happen.

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wish the reveal was a bit more engaging

[Gordon Howard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dated political thriller from the 1960s. It's obvious what is going on about halfway through. Only novel I know of to have some scenes sweet on Tristan de Cunha.

[Katrina Hansen Hernandez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a bad story, but I found some of the plot forced and the ending dragged in exposition.

[Mark W. Cole · Rating 1 out of 5]

President's best friend disappears on a secret mission to stop the arms race. What a coincidence,
but this is all happening during an election season. Apparently he was unable to stop the arms race. Maybe the next novel will be where he tries to talk Al-Quaida into stopping their Jihod.

[Margaret Boehm · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fair. I feel there was too much information given in the book to make the novel interesting.

[Dianne · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring.. too much political detail and not enough story. Couldn't finish.

[ChrisGA · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow moving book published in 1968----yet the issues could be today. Just couldn't get interested in the characters.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent political thriller even taking into consideration it was written in 1968 and the world was much different