All About Books discussion

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O’Farrell is a haunting, beautifully woven novel that uncovers a family secret buried for over sixty years. When Iris receives a call about a great-aunt she never knew existed—Esme Lennox, about to be released from a psychiatric institution—her life is suddenly pulled into a past full of silence, shame and unspoken truths.

O’Farrell shifts between past and present to reveal Esme’s vibrant childhood, her refusal to conform, and the heartbreaking events that led to her disappearance from the family story. As Iris tries to understand who Esme is—and why she was hidden away—the novel unravels questions of memory, identity, and the cost of defying expectations.

Atmospheric, unsettling, and deeply moving, this short novel is perfect for readers who enjoy lyrical writing, complex characters, and a mystery centred on the quiet tragedies that shape families. It’s one of those books that lingers long after you’ve turned the final page.

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