Well paced and interesting thriller. Enjoyed learning about art theft and the role of chain of custody - would have loved to have the author go deeper- but really enjoyed this unique approach to legal suspense. Interesting characters and. A page turning story.

Enjoyed the storyline with likeable characters and interesting plot. Highly recommend as an easy, clean read.

What a unique story Putnam has brought us here. I love her writing, and typically we see courtrooms aplenty in her novels. But this novel is different, and I really enjoyed it. The art, the characters, the history - it all came together so well. I won't say this book has as much "danger" as some of her other stories, but I honestly didn't miss it because I was simply fascinated with the storytelling.

I cannot wait to see what comes next. I hope there's more of this - history, art, a budding romance (but honestly I'm ok even if it isn't), great characters, and an engaging plot. Putnam is an auto read author for me, so I know whatever it is, I will love it! I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

LEGAL VS. ETHICAL

The Vanished is a remarkably well-written and well-researched novel. Author Cara Putman takes on the task of creating a story that reminds readers of the vicious looting of priceless art during WWII. With that as a background, she manages to use four main characters to tell her story. Each of these characters has faced something difficult in the past, and one of them is trying to restart her career. Another is also working on restarting his career and discovers his main nemesis is at his new place, another faces discovering a long-lost treasure belonging to her family, and the last sees his life for what it is — a life of destruction. While on loan to an American museum, a woman recognizes not only a painting but also the people in the painting! This discovery brings the provenance of the painting into question. While this search is pending, family members discover other paintings they had no idea their beloved and well-respected family member brought home after the war. Two characters are responsible for the legal vs. ethical dilemma of attempting to find the original owner's descendants to reunite them with their paintings or offer them remuneration. As they work together to solve this problem, will they also solve the problem of their past broken hearts? This is a superb novel and I highly recommend it!

I was provided a complimentary copy of this novel by Kregal Publications and NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own and without influence.

An intriguing suspense following the disappearance and discovery of stolen artwork. I loved the art aspect included in the story and it made me want to read more about art taken during war.

No one writes better legal thrillers than Cara Putman! She's always able to weave her strong knowledge as a lawyer into a tale that keeps me turning the pages and this book is the latest proof! I was completely engrossed in the circumstances surrounding two paintings that may have been stolen during World War II and are now hanging in a small museum in Virginia. Were they once the property of a Jewish family who were forced to leave them behind when they fled Vienna in 1938? Do the family survivors have legal rights to these paintings?

Fans of mystery/suspense, this book's for you because the art mystery is just one of three in The Vanished! Janae Simmon's return to her hometown leads to a startling family secret and the death of Carter Montgomery's sister may not be as it seemed. I loved the work partnership between Janae and Carter, I admired that they both had strong moral convictions to guide them, and I was hoping that there might be a romance waiting to happen!

If you're looking for an intriguing suspense novel with a surprise ending and an enlightening look at the Lost Art of World War II, grab a copy of this book! I recommend it to all who enjoy romantic Christian suspense!

I received a copy of this book from the author and Kregel via NetGalley. There was no obligation for a positive review.

The plot of The Vanished seem slow to me at first. I then realized it was showing how the pace of life happens. A slow build turned into action, mystery, and romance. I liked how research into art and history is shown.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and a positive review is not required. All opinions are my own.

The Vanished is book one in the Secrets to Keep series that is written by Cara Putman. I’m a huge fan of this author and was really excited to read this story. The book will draw you in within the first few pages. You will not want to put it down once you start reading.

In the story, we meet Janae Simmons. She left her small town over 10 years ago because she wanted to pursue a legal career. However, all roads lead to home and she’s back at her grandmother’s home. Her grandparents are well known in the community and her grandfather has a sterling reputation. Janae has secrets that she wants to keep hidden from everyone. She does find a job at a local law firm, but it is definitely not what she expected.

Enter Montgomery. He has started his art per career as the Director at the Elliott Museum of art. He wants to make his own way in the art world and he also has secrets from his past that he is worried is going to affect his future. He is raising his nephew after his sister passed away.

Their paths meet when women claim that paintings that are being displayed in the museum were stolen from their family along time ago. Carter knows that he need
legal advice to do the right thing. Janae is not an expert in art. I do loved how she was determined to be.

Stolen art leads to a murder mystery that you have to solve. The author has done a great job with throwing in some twist and turns and making the story as realistic as possible. The book is well written the characters are engaging. I cannot wait until the next story.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and JustRead Publicty tours for allowing me to read a copy of this book. All thoughts on my own.

I really loved this book! Janae, an attorney moved back to her home town to help rediscover herself and to reconnect with her mom and grandmother. She was also fighting personal issues after she left her big city law firm after a huge financial mistake. Her character development was so incredible and I loved the Christian elements throughout it. Carter, who is the director at an art museum also has great character development that intertwines with Janae. He has a past that he battles with throughout the story that brings in amazing Christian themes. In the beginning they only met by chance but slowly after the murder and the stolen painting legal issues they were thrown into the case together. Although the plot was a bit slower than I anticipated, I really enjoyed these two stories and the mystery in it. It was well written and I will definitely be reading the rest of the books to come in this series!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

A mix of law, art, history and romance made this book stand apart. Throw in a murder and the suspicious death of a sister you have a winner.

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher. This review is my own honest opinion.

"She'd done the due diligence possible for her without help to discover if someone had reported the pieces as stolen. She also wasn't sure that the paintings would have been reported as stolen."

Janae did not plan on returning to her hometown. But when her world falls apart, she knew that was her only option. At least she has a back-up plan. Until she didn't.

Carter feels like he has something to prove. Being the art director of a museum was a longtime dream of his. Even though the museum was small, he still felt accomplished. Until someone makes a claim that two of the gallery's prominent pieces were actually stolen.

Carter seeks Janae's help in proving that pieces are legitimate. At first, Janae is reluctant to help. After all, this requires her setting up her own law practice and researching copyrights - an area of the law that she is completely unfamiliar with. Learning as she goes was definitely stressful. Can the two of them work together to discover the truth? How do they handle the wronged woman's claims?

This book discusses stolen World War 2 art. Before I read this title, I would have assumed that all art should go back to former owners. But now I understand that the whole process is complicated. Not everyone tells the truth on either side.

Art history and provenance is so fascinating. I loved how the author combined art with the law in suspenseful circumstances. Although there were some tense moments, this book might be even more of a mystery. Discovering what is really happening drives the story. Law plus art plus family plus a bit of romance creates a masterpiece book. Such an interesting and intense read.

My only disappointment was the fact that I wished the book would have been longer. The ending felt a bit rushed and abrupt for me. I wish that more explanations were given for some of the situations. But despite longing for a few more chapters, I still really enjoyed this novel.

I did read an advanced copy of this book. I wanted to read and review it. All opinions are my own.

What a wonderful book! It read super quickly. The characters were intense and wonderful. They each had their own issues to work through. They each have their own shortcomings and failings. In fact, they’re all human.

There is a prequel to this book that you’re going to want to read. It explains what happens to Carter’s sister and how he has custody of his nephew. It was also amazing. You don’t want to skip reading that one. Though yes this book will still make sense if you haven’t read it.

Carter is our wonderful male lead. He’s in between a rock and a hard place in his role at the museum though when an elderly woman claims that they have two paintings in the museum that rightfully belong to her. And then a lawyer contacts him. Can he keep his museum going? Will they lose the paintings? Why can’t he find records of where they bought the paintings?

Janae is our female lead and she’s back in the small town after losing her job in the big city. She’s doubting herself and her abilities. But she’s home. As she works to clean out her grandma’s house and carriage house she finds two paintings that have her questioning who her grandfather was and what his role in WWII was.

When she and Carter are thrown together will they find out the mystery of not only Janae’s paintings but the ones at the museum? Add in lots of twists and tons of suspense and this story runs. I could not put it down. It’s amazing. You’ll love it.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from JustRead Publicity Tours. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

I really wanted to love this book, but unfortunately there were a few things that bothered me.
I loved the plot and most of the story. Janae has come back to the town where she grew up because she made a huge mistake in her previous job, so she ends up wanting to start her own law agency, but will she be able to get clients? Carter is the director of the museum in town, a museum that is displaying two paintings that an elderly lady claims are her family's and she is demanding their return. Carter hasn't been director for long, and he is quite new to the area. And to make things even trickier, he finds he isn't getting support from the board in figuring out what to do about these paintings.
This of course brings the two together (which isn't a spoiler as it is in the blurb). I enjoyed seeing their relationship evolve as Janae helped Carter, and Carter ended up helping Janae with things I won't mention. I felt the relationship grew at a believable pace, as the books takes place over the course of a few months.
I loved learning more about what happened to pieces of art during WWII. I didn't realize the complexities that were involved in museums acquiring works of art, so that was eye opening and educational. Unfortunately, I felt there was too much legal jargon that I had to focus on to fully immerse myself in the story. I had to keep rereading sections to make sure I was understanding what was going on. And this bogged me down, causing me to take a lot longer to finish the book than I thought it would.
I think this wouldn't have been as much of a hindrance if the suspense had been more intense and fast paced. When I read suspense books I do prefer it that way. I love being on the edge of my seat and NEEDING to know what was going to happen next. Though there were scenes that had suspense, they were not as present as I was expecting. However, this was the first book I had read by Cara Putman, and I think I've seen some other reviews that made it sound like she has other books that may be more fast paced and suspenseful, so I defintely want to read more of her books. And I did enjoy this book enough that I really want to read the prequel and continue with the series.
All in all, this was an enjoyable book, and I definitely fell in love with the characters and am hoping we will see more of them in the remainder of the series.
I received an e-copy of this book as a member of the launch team and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.

Another great legal thriller, this time about stolen art from WW II with some information on the Monuments Men who helped recover part of the artwork. This was interesting reading about how provenance is determined for each piece of artwork and the legalities involved in proving it. The main story is of an elderly woman who attends an art gallery and sees two pieces that belonged to her family from before the war. The Museum Director, Carter Montgomery hires Attorney Janae Simmons to help resolve the case. Along the way Janae discovers some interesting information about her grandpa who fought in WW II. There is plenty of action and suspense and danger as Carter and janae try to uncover the truth plus a little romance and great spiritual insights.

I have often wondered what became of the artwork of those owners who had to leave their homes in WWII. Ms. Putman writes a story that has several priceless pieces that come into question as to their ownership. Not only are there legal questions that the author is familiar with since she is a lawyer, but also ethical questions. Is the saying, “Finders, keepers, losers, weepers”, something that we should uphold?

Janae Simmons is one lawyer that I would love to have represent me. She digs for the truth and puts aside the ramifications of what it might cost her family personally in order to do the right thing. This story still has questions that are unanswered, and there is a budding romance between Janae and Cater. I am looking forward to reading more in the Secrets to Keep series.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author and publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Regular viewers of the popular PBS Antiques Roadshow series should be familiar with the importance of provenance. In The Vanished, the latest legal suspense novel by Cara Putman, provenance plays a vital role.

Attorney Janae Simmons, haunted by a costly mistake in a previous case, finds herself back in her hometown, at a crossroads in her career. When the newly appointed director of the local art museum desperately seeks Janae’s expertise in resolving a dispute over two invaluable paintings, she reluctantly agrees to lend a hand. It quickly becomes evident that there is more going on behind the scenes than meets the eye and Carter and Janae find themselves in the midst of what could be a dangerous situation to both them and their families. Additional discoveries at Janae’s grandmother's home reveals more secrets that make her begin to question everything she thought she knew about her beloved grandfather.

The author has skillfully woven her own masterpiece filled with authentic characters, mystery, danger, and a touch of romance. The unwavering faith that directed the actions and decisions made by Carter and Janae as they wrestled with legalities versus the right thing to do was truly inspiring. Although I am deliberately keeping my details brief in order to avoid spoilers, I encourage readers to pick up a copy for themselves.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by JustReads Publicity. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

A nice blend of two topics I know little about...art and the legal process involved when a piece of art's history is in question.

Attorney Janae returns to her home town after she made a mistake at her big city law firm. Carter takes the position as a director of a small art museum to be closer to his parents. Their paths quickly cross and get intertwined. I loved that the novel presented not only legal questions, but ethical ones too. I found the smaller story line about Janae and her grandparents even more engaging that the main thread involving the museum, but both held my interest from beginning to end.

Writing this review is when I first noticed this is the start of a series. What?! This is great news.

The Vanished by Cara Putman is a delightful and intriguing mystery. Janae Simmons moves back to her small town and teams up with museum director Carter Montgomery. He’s her first client in her new law practice, and mystery surrounds several paintings over the original ownership. But what’s more intriguing is the artwork Janae finds stashed away in her late grandfather’s house. Priceless artwork that had become spoils of war. And whenever money is involved, the criminals come out to play.

This isn’t a fast-paced, run-for-your life novel, but I love how the story unfolds. Both Janae and Carter have to deal with their past issues, and I love their character arc. Both fight for justice and want to do the right things even if they are the hard things. I also find the art history interesting.

Check out The Vanishing for an intriguing read. I’m hoping it’s a series because I want more (and maybe Chloe or Margeaux’s story!)

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Vanished was a bit different from what I have expected.

I have discovered the author through the Hidden Justice series, which for me, was more of a faster pace legal suspense which I expected starting this story.

Though I found the pace a lot slower regarding the suspense, this was still an enjoyable legal mystery which tackled the intricate waves of ethical versus legal rights when it comes to stolen art and other valuable items from the WW2 era. A lot was stolen by the Germans and others during the war and this novel showcased how complicate it still almost 80 years after the war.

Throw in some Italian mafia, a possible murder and a suspicious board chair, and the intrigue picks up.

I enjoyed getting to know Carter and Janae and loved seeing Drew again.

I did find some threads in the plot to feel a bit rushed/patchy, but having read the novella, it made more sense to me than a reader who perhaps did not read the Novella – so, if you have not read the novella, get it directly from the author’s page.

What a fascinating look at both what the Nazis might have captured during World War II and the status of art now. I learned a lot about the paperwork kept for precious objects. The director at Elliott Museum, Carter Montgomery, is searching for the true owner of some artwork an elderly widow believes to belong to her family.

Attorney Janae Simmons goes back home to reevaluate her employment options. After working so hard in the big city, she is happy to be working in Kedgewick, Virginia, near her parents and grandmother. While helping her grandma organize, Janae comes across a wartime notebook her grandfather kept, which illuminates a fascinating historical incident.

This brings up the question of: what are the acceptable legal and moral reactions when an artwork is discovered years after everyone believed it had been claimed? How is artwork handled that was looted or stolen during the war? Institutions and collectors still face these issues today. It was interesting to learn about the art scene from many viewpoints: from the position of the individual for whom the art was taken, from the institution now in possession, from a lawyer seeking to figure out ownership, and from a person responsible for stealing art. It’s an intriguing read! Your book club will love it!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book from the publisher, and NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog https://psalm516.blogspot.com/