In this cleverly told Christmas mystery, readers learn that Mariah Ellison has accepted her friend Sadie's invitation to spend Christmas with her and her husband. But when Mariah arrives at Sadie's home, she is rudely turned away by Sadie's husband who says she is not home and that he doesn't know where she is or when she is coming back. Completely perplexed, Mariah finds other accommodations and once she is settled she sets out to find out what happened to Sadie. Can she do it before Christmas?
With no obvious clues or leads, Mariah's quest for answers appears doomed from the start. However, she is determined and she proceeds to question those who know Sadie. What she eventually uncovers is shocking.
A CHRISTMAS VANISHING by Anne Perry is a well-plotted and thought-provoking tale. It deals with the perils of gossip and greed. It also raises the question of how well we ever know anyone. The characters are an eclectic group whose secrets reveal aspects of Sadie that Mariah had never detected. As her investigation proceeds, Mariah learns more and more and it's not just about the woman she called a friend. Mariah also takes a close look at herself and does some soul-searching.
I found A CHRISTMAS VANISHING to be well-written and engrossing. Highly recommended.
Charlotte Pitt’s clever grandmother investigates the sudden disappearance of her dear friend in this chilling holiday whodunit by New York Times bestselling author Anne Perry.
Mariah Ellison, Charlotte Pitt’s grandmother, accepts her longtime friend Sadie’s gracious invitation to spend Christmas with her and her husband, Barton, in their picturesque village. But upon arrival, Mariah discovers that Sadie has vanished without a trace, and Barton rudely rescinds the invitation. Once Mariah finds another acquaintance to stay with during the holiday season, she begins investigating Sadie’s disappearance.
Mariah’s uncanny knack for solving mysteries serves her well during her search, which is driven by gossip as icy as the December weather. Did Sadie run off with another man? Was she kidnapped? Has someone harmed her? Frustratingly, Mariah’s questions reveal more about the villagers themselves than about her friend’s whereabouts. Yet in the process of getting to know Sadie’s neighbors, Mariah finds a kind of redemption, as she rediscovers her kinder side, and her ability to love.
It is up to Mariah to master her own feelings, drown out the noise, and get to the bottom of what occurred, all before Christmas day. With the holiday rapidly approaching, will she succeed in bringing Sadie home in time for them to celebrate it together—or is that too much to hope for?