This is an excellent debut novel from Joanna Schaffhausen. The prologue is haunting, and it will remain with you throughout the book. Fast forward fourteen years later and we find Ellery Hathaway investigating a ghost from her past. There have been three disappearances in the past three years, all right around Ellery's birthday. Her police chief doesn't buy Ellery's theory, and therefore does not support the investigation. He and others write it off as a crazy conspiracy theory, but Ellery knows deep down in her soul that she is right. The problem is, no one else in this sleepy little town knows about Ellery's past and the demons she has faced. The only person she can turn to is FBI Agent Reed Markham, the man that saved Ellery from a serial killer fourteen years before. As they begin their investigation they both start to wonder if they can trust each other and find this killer before it's too late during this year's"vanishing season".

The characters are well developed, and their checkered pasts are detailed in depth. The three active cases have odd interconnections that Ellery and Reed struggle to make sense of. There are many pieces to the puzzle that just don't seem to fit as they should. The suspense slowly builds throughout the book as the list of possible suspects grows, and Ellery and Reed soon find themselves casting suspicion on each other as new evidence comes to light. This is one of those books where each character immediately comes under suspicion when they are introduced into the story. You will think you have it figured out early on, but then the series of twists and turns will make you second guess it. The author keeps you guessing right up to the shocking conclusion.

I would recommend this book to fans of mysteries and thrillers. I received this as a free ARC from St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur for the ARC copy of this novel.
The Vanishing Season is a must read. I don't say this too often, but it is gripping from beginning to end. Ellery is a character that you have empathy for and is the main reason you will continue to read this book without putting it down. The mystery/thriller is set in a small town which is a character in itself. I have to say that if you like guessing who did it... then this one is definatly for you!

Would like to thank net galley and the publishers for allowing me to read and review this amazing book

What a ride this book gives you from the abduction of a little girl right to the end and then the story continues at an unbelievable pace... The how and the whys are all covered with a twist i never saw coming and the ending .... Just wow

An amazing story and another author to keep an eye out for

I was so excited about being excepted to receive an advance copy of this book to review, from the description it sounded like my kind of book. If i had seen this in a book shop and read the description i would have defiantly purchased the book on the spot!
And i am so pleased to say i was not disappointed in this book in the slightest.
The characters are memorable and it takes a different twist from other serial killer books which is always good to get something a little different and to see the characters in a different light.
The story is set in a small community where the most crime the local police have to deal with are someones bike being stolen and that making the headlines.
The only female on the small police force, Ellery, is hiding a secret and wants it to stay that way. She has managed to keep it hidden form everyone for years but that all starts to change when part of her past starts to come back and haunt her.
Police detective Ellery Hathaway is a former child victim of an infamous serial killer Francis Michael Coben. She was the only survivor out of the 17 victims, rescued by FBI Agent Reed Markham.
She is a survivor, she has managed to make a new life for herself and even though the scars on the outside have faded, the inner ones still haunt her.
When 3 people disappear without a trace and with little or no motive, all around the time of Ellery's birthday for the past 3 years she fears that history is starting to repeat itself.
She has been trying to convince her boss Police Chief Sam Parker that the disappearances are linked but without explaining her past she struggles to get any luck convincing anyone else of her theory.
With her birthday looming she fears it won't be long before someone else goes missing so she phones the only person she can think of that might just believe her. The man that rescued her and saved her life, Agent Reed Markham.
As the pair along with Ellery's dog Bump start digging into the cases of the missing persons, trying to find a link between the 3 cases things start to take on a menacing personal twist.
Is this the work of a serial killer? And what is the link between past and present?
This book is really well written and it really does draw you in and immerses you into their world. It deals with the physiological effects that still impact both Ellery and Reed and the impact that it has had on both their lives.
I would love this book will become a series and what the author will sweep us away with next.
This is definitely a book to recommend to anyone who enjoys this genre of books. I think we can expect good things from this author Joanna Schaffhausen and i have high hopes for her career after this book gets published on the 5th December.
I would put her the same class as more well known authors such as Karin Slaughter and Mo Hayder so very high praise indeed.
Congratulations Joanna on such an astounding debut and i can't wait to see what you come up with next :-)

First line: <i>"It's too dark to go out but too hot to sleep."</i>

Let me start off by saying "WOW".

This was an incredible read that had me hooked from the first line. I was up late into the night reading, fighting to keep my eyes open after a long day, but wanting to keep on reading nonetheless.

[book:The Vanishing Season|30654172] was a magnificent read - probably one of the best I've read all year. The main character, Ellery, is a strong female coming from a tragic and troubled past who has fought for her life and come out swinging, and is now trying to make the world a better place by being a law enforcement officer in a small town in Massachusetts. She was a poignant and interesting character that held her own throughout the story.

I felt a strong connection to FBI Agent Reed Markham who was a key player throughout the mystery. I also really loved the inclusion of Ellery's watchdog, Bump, whose character added a life to the story that made it feel more real. Bump is also a key to the story that may not be expected. Other secondary characters such as Chief Parker, Brady Archer, as well as a few others are well-developed, and their individual parts are all pertinent to the story.

This definitely a novel that I would recommend to my friends and family, because it's just so good. I've just finished it and been sitting practically motionless thinking over the events of the story. I definitely never saw the big reveal coming until it was too late, and I was shocked. It was perfect.

A big thank you to St. Martin's Press for granting my wish to read this novel, and as always thanks to Netgalley for allowing this opportunity.

I am left without words and in awe of the mystery that Joanna Schaffhausen was able to string up and slowly unravel, keeping you on your toes and frantically searching for the bit of evidence that would lead you to the killer's doorstep.

This was a great book, which had me hooked from the first page. It had a solid plot with strong characters. A read page turner. Excellent read, highly recommended.

Many thanks to Joanna schaffhausen and Netgalley for the copy of this book. I willingly read this book and voluntarily gave a unbiased review.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Minotaur Books for an advance copy of The Vanishing Season, a stand alone set in Foxbury, Massachusetts.

Ellery Hathaway is a police officer in small town Foxbury. Ellie used to be Abigail but she doesn't talk about it and moved to Foxbury to hide because Abigail was the last girl kidnapped by a serial killer and the only one to survive. FBI agent Reed Markham was the man who saved her and promised he would help her when she needed him. Now she does because every year for the past 3 someone from Foxbury has disappeared in early July round about the time of her birthday. It's July again and the Chief still won't take her suspicions seriously so Reed is her last hope. With troubles of his own is he the man to help her?

I thoroughly enjoyed The Vanishing Season. It is a good old fashioned mixture of mystery, investigation and thrills and has a good, readable flow and pace which kept me glued to the pages from start to finish. Ms Schaffhausen does an excellent job of hiding the perpetrator and the motive with plenty of false trails and red herrings. I wasn't totally convinced by the motive but as it isn't revealed until the end it doesn't mar an otherwise good read.

The characterisation is interesting. Reed Markham comes over as a thoroughly nice guy but obviously burned out as he doesn't appear to have much insight for a behavioural analyst. Ellie Hathaway, on the other hand, is smart and resourceful but suspicious, almost friendless and solitary. Their dynamic is fraught.

The Vanishing Season is a solid debut which I have no hesitation in recommending.

This is the first book that I have read by this author. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to my customers