Iris Carr is a spoiled young English woman used to getting her own way. She is on holiday somewhere in a remote part of Europe with a group of friends. This group is not popular at the hotel because of the ways in which they behave and the disturbance they cause to the other guests. When the group decides to leave, no one is sorry to see them go. Iris has decided to stay on, but when she goes out hiking and gets lost on the mountain, she decides she's had enough to plans leave the next day. As she's waiting for the train, she is suddenly knocked out, waking up in a waiting room and barely making the overcrowded train. She doesn't speak any language other than English and her head is pounding so she is grateful to discover that the middle aged woman in tweeds sitting across from her is also an English woman. They have tea together, but Iris stops paying much attention to Miss Froy, who gives her some tablets. Iris falls asleep and when she wakes up, Miss Froy has vanished and everyone else insists she never existed at all. Iris fears foul play and tries to discover what's happened.

This is an excellent Golden Age mystery, which I am delighted to see reprinted. The book was originally published as The Wheel Spins and was made into films. I am not a movie person, so never saw any of the films. This was my introduction to the book and the author and I look forward to reading more of her work.

The book begins with the narrative written in third person mostly from Iris' point of view, with just a glimpse of the other characters. Once the mystery begins to unfold on the train, things start to shift around more from Iris to the other English people from the hotel who are also on the train, and back to England where Miss Froy's parents and dog await her return with feelings of foreboding. Each person on the train has their own worries that explain their behaviour so this is a necessary change in perspective as the story goes on. The book is well-written, the story kept me turning the pages, and the descriptions of the scenery added a lot to the narrative. If you're a fan of Golden Age mysteries like I am, this is a great book to pick up and enjoy.

It’s easy to see why Alfred Hitchcock chose to adapt this novel to film – it’s very much a psychological thriller. An English socialite is staying alone in a hotel in the mountains after her friends have all left, leaving her alone with an unusual cast of more English characters. She collapses on the platform of the station as she waits for the train but is bundled onto it at the last minute, finally squeezing into an overcrowded carriage. There she meets another English woman who mysteriously disappears from the moving train, with everyone else in the carriage denying she was ever there. She spends the rest of the novel trying to discover what has happened.

The ‘what happened’ in the event isn’t particularly hard to guess – it’s all reasonably clearly signposted – but the ‘why’ is a little more concealed and makes some sense. The larger part of the story though is the tension over the main character making herself believed and second guessing her own memories and thoughts. It’s a classic locked room kind of thriller and very enjoyable in a slightly dated way.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

4.5 stars for this excellent classic mystery! There is a great cast of characters to enjoy. The plot is complex but not completely unbelievable. The author is masterful at tying together all of the threads from earlier in the story.

Although switching to the perspective of Miss Froy’s parents took away a bit from the momentum of the mystery, it added heart to the story. My bigger qualm is that I struggled to see Hare as a good friend or love interest for Iris by the end of the story. However, he was still an interesting and important character.

I enjoyed this book very much and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys mysteries.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free eARC. This review is my honest opinion.

Thank you to Pushkin Press and NetGalley for an advance reader’s copy of this book.

I was disappointed in this original novel on which Hitchcock’s great 1938 film is based.
His version of “The Lady Vanishes” is one of my favorite films, and I’ve seen it innumerable times since if first appeared on network television about 60 years ago.

Perhaps in comparison to the lively film, this book seemed long-winded, the language dated, and the characters stiff. While I am a great fan of “Golden Age” mysteries, for me this one did not transfer well to the present.

I have always heard great things about Hitchcock's adaptation of this novel, but I had never read or watched The Lady Vanishes/The Wheel Spins. Now that I have finished the book, I want to get ahold of the film!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of the upcoming edition of this modern classic.

I've actually never seen the movie. I know. Gasp. But I do like a golden age mystery now and then, so when I saw this new edition of the classic novel, I figured I'll check it out. It turned out to be a rather mixed reading experience.
First a disclaimer: I read it over the course of several evenings at the end of long, exhausting days, so my brain was sleepy and not the most fine-tuned to nuance.
That said, I found the novel well written and interesting to begin with. It also didn't read all that dated, which is no small feat for something from 1936. The narrator is a posh young lady who takes a train, meets a governess named Miss Froy, and spends the rest of the novel looking for the woman when she disappears without a trace. Since the posh young lady had a heatstroke prior to boarding the train, she is somewhat of an unreliable narrator. And her perception of reality is challenged further by everyone around her denying ever seeing Miss Froy. So far so good. And then it gets muddled. I'm not sure if it was me or the book, but I ended up as confused as the protagonist. Though, unlike her, I didn't care as much. Moreover, I mostly predicted the outcome, just not the muddled path that gets us there.
It's a perfectly decent read, but not a particularly exciting one. As in, it might have made me sleepy even if I wasn't sleepy to begin with.
But it's possible that my experience was unique, and this really is a masterpiece. Opinions, after all, are subjective. And I definitely want to see the movie now. The Wheel Spins (the original title), The Lady Vanishes. The book's longevity is a testament to people's continuous interest in finding her. And that's no small feat. Thanks Netgalley.

I enjoyed reading the captivating inspiration behind Alfred Hitchcock's movie masterpiece. The story follows Iris Carr, a young socialite returning home to England after being on vacation with her friends. While on the train journey home, Iris meets a woman named ‘Ms Froy’ who inexplicably vanishes. The story takes place on a moving train, creating a confined setting and making the disappearance of Ms Froy even more mysterious. The writing is evocative and the story is action-packed and filled with suspense. While the ending did feel slightly rushed it was nonetheless a great read. I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a classic thriller!

Originally published as THE WHEEL SPINS in 1936. Adapted by Alfred Hitchcock for the screen in 1938.

Iris Carr, a glamorous, flighty orphan/socialite who has just sworn not to help others has spent a glorious summer holiday in “a remote corner of Europe” with a group of friends. She is now ready to return to London, alone.

On the train to Trieste she meets Miss Foy, governess and strikes up a pleasant conversation. She then naps and when she awakens Miss Foy has disappeared without a trace, but none of the other passengers will admit to having seen her.

Iris begins to fear for both her sanity and her life and begins searching the train for Miss Foy, thwarted by several along the way. She finds a fellow passenger who seems to believe her story. Will she solve the mystery?

This seems so obvious and tame now but I can only imagine it must have been very exciting when published. It’s well written. Glad to have read it.

3 stars!

As someone who really enjoys the mystery genre, it's always fun to read a classic mystery and see what has inspired current authors in a genre I love. The Lady Vanishes, originally published in 1936, is a classic mystery novel where a British socialite, Iris Carr, realizes a woman she met on her train home has gone missing, and must find her as everyone on the train makes her question if the woman ever really existed.

Although I have heard the premise of the book before, I didn't know the resolution or "twist" and so I found myself excited and then pleasantly surprised to see what happened. I do think that the writing did feel a little unfamiliar (probably because this is a classic book) and that made the reading experience a little confusing, but I would recommend for people who want to read classics in the mystery genre!

Thank you to Pushkin Press and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

3 stars!

As someone who really enjoys the mystery genre, it's always fun to read a classic mystery and see what has inspired current authors in a genre I love. The Lady Vanishes, originally published in 1936, is a classic mystery novel where a British socialite, Iris Carr, realizes a woman she met on her train home has gone missing, and must find her as everyone on the train makes her question if the woman ever really existed.

Although I have heard the premise of the book before, I didn't know the resolution or "twist" and so I found myself excited and then pleasantly surprised to see what happened. I do think that the writing did feel a little unfamiliar (probably because this is a classic book) and that made the reading experience a little confusing, but I would recommend for people who want to read classics in the mystery genre!

Thank you to Pushkin Press and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is the inspiration behind Hitchcock's film of the same name, and you can easily see why he was so drawn to it. The book simmers with his signature brand of suspense even before he put his spin on it. This has been on my TBR forever, so when it became available on NetGalley, you better believe I snapped it up and started reading straight away.

Iris is a young, independently wealthy socialite of the new sort. Fed up with the boisterous crowd of Bright Young Things she's been holidaying with, Iris declines to return to England with them and travels alone instead. On the train, she meets another Englishwoman. With a brisk, chivvying force of will, Miss Froy imposes herself on Iris's truculent self-isolation. Until she's suddenly gone. When Iris asks around if anyone has seen Miss Froy, her fellow passengers claim there was never a second Englishwoman in the compartment at all...

This is the first book I've read by Ethel Lina White. It held me in thrall and I finished it in one day. Her wit, insights, and observations on manners, behavior, and underlying motives slice to the bone.

The two central women are complex and extraordinary. They breathe in these pages, enduring pain and hard-earned growth.

The omniscient narration creates a delicious intimacy with the key players, unfolding their stories with masterful pacing. The train presses on with Iris Carr facing obstacles on all sides. It's a harrowing, relentless, visceral tale.

Hints of horror emerge early, laying the groundwork for the intensifying psychological shocks and high stakes battle ahead.

The opening unfurls with a beautiful setting and the vibrancy and uncertainties of travel. Iris is privileged and self-involved, yet dissatisfied. I was taken with her. Despite being popular, beautiful, and idly rich, she's aware of a dark undertow. The tension between the image of a carefree adventure and her inner state hooked me from the start.

Her insulation with her crowd of shallow friends and freedom in the outdoors contrasts powerfully with the crises that close in on her. The situation becomes claustrophobic and chilling. The wrenching suspense, mental torment, and horrific bits feel fresh.

White orchestrated the novel beautifully, drip-feeding new insights at each turn, creating a stunning tapestry to take our breath away. This thriller delivers the immense satisfaction of the jigsaw pieces snapping together at the end.

I recommend The Lady Vanishes to readers who enjoy suspense, amateur sleuths, or horror. Fans of other Golden Age crime writers, Patricia Highsmith, or Alfred Hitchcock have a treat in store. This novel would also make a good gift for people who prefer to avoid blatant sexual content and overt swearing yet are comfortable with mild titillation and characters who smoke, drink, and speculate about other people's sex lives. 

I'll add links after I post to TikTok and Goodreads

The Lady Vanishes is a book that keeps you on your toes and keeps you guessing as to what did happen to Miss Froy.

Although originally published in 1936 under the title The Wheel Spins, this book withstands the test of time.

It never gets old.

Iris Carr has been befriended by Miss Froy and when she cant be found anywhere on the train , Iris takes it on herself to rescue her new friend.

The train full of likeable and unlikeable characters and who can anyone believe.

No one believes Iris that Miss Froy even was on the train.

Twists and turns, closed door mystery and the suspense will keep the pages turning.\

Its no wonder this book was made into the infamous movie The Lady Vanishes.

The Lady Vanishes is an old time mystery similar to Agatha Christie that is tautly written and thoroughly enjoyable.

Now I am off to watch the movie but I suspect the book will by my favourite of the two.

Thanks to NetGalley and Pushkin Press/Pushkin Vertigo for reintroducing this great book.

A little bit more boring and less atmospheric book than "The Spiral Staircase" by the same author (I highly recommend reading that one), but nevertheless it's a nice mystery (and even thriller). Sometimes you actually doubt whether Winifred Froy existed, and for the last 50 pages I was just fantastically worried about her, the author knows how to make the reader feel tension, I was convinced of this for the second time (go read "The Spiral Staircase"!). Now I'm excited to read the rest of Ethel Lina White's books because her writing is just extremely intriguing!

The Lady Vanishes is an iconic book that has been made into movies several times, most notably the original version that launched Alfred Hitchcock's stellar career.
Written in 1936 by Ethel Lina White this is a Golden Age classic ,and a real treat.

After a rather raucous holiday in a small European resort ,where her rowdy cohort had annoyed other residents with their behaviour, socialite Iris Carr finds herself sharing the train home with many of those her and her group had annoyed. Suffering from sunstroke Iris is taken under the wing of a kindly lady. Miss Froy. After a nap Iris finds not only no sign of Miss Froy but everyone she asks denying any knowledge of her new acquaintance. With fellow passengers thinking Miss Froy is a figment of a distressed young woman's imagination Iris is determined to prove them wrong.

This is a joy to read, almost a "locked train" novel with a diverse range of characters, potential suspects if indeed Iris is correct and Miss Froy has been the victim of some kind of crime. The author constantly teases the reader, often just when it seems that Iris is making progress success is snatched from her by events without her being aware. Not as dry as the contemporary Agatha Christie's books there's a wry humour throughout and a nice back story of Miss Froy's elderly parents and her faithful dog looking forward to her return. It's quirky and often funny while at the same time suspenseful and claustrophobic as the train nears its destination with Iris struggling to be believed,let alone discover the fate of the missing lady.

An excellent read, fairly short and massively entertaining.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pushkin Press

A classic murder mystery ala Agatha Christie. There's no wonder why Alfred Hitchcock made a movie out of this book. It was suspenseful and mysterious. It constantly kept me guessing and I highly enjoyed it. The setting is my favorite, in the 1930s and with an isolated setting it was perfect. Would highly recommend it for any fans of classic murder mysteries.

Enjoyed this story. Mysterious and quirky characters. Red herrings and secrets. This talented author has written a novel that keeps the attention of the reader from page one. Thanks Netgalley .

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

Iris is befriended/rescued on a European train by Miss Froy, a governess who is also travelling back to England, but who (unlike Iris) has taken the trouble to learn some European languages. Iris, who is suffering from sunstroke, dozes off and when she wakes up again, Miss Froy has vanished and the other people in her carriage deny she ever existed. I don't know if it was really obvious, or if I have seen/read some version of this earlier, or if it is just well-clued and I worked it out, but it was immediately apparent to me what had happened to Miss Froy. Nevertheless, this was an entertaining read as Iris' earlier thoughtless behaviour means none of the people she knows from the hotel she has been staying at are inclined to help her. The perspective shifts from time to time so that we understand why a whole variety of people are unwilling to get involved. Iris begins to doubt her own sanity and this is set against the pathos of Mr and Mrs Froy plus Sock the dog waiting for Miss Froy's return.

The ending left Iris and her love interest ready to walk off into the sunset together, even though he has just doubted her sanity and been willing to drug her without her knowledge - not really a match made in heaven...

This is the fifth time I have read this classic novel of suspense. Like most people I have watched the film adaptations too but it is the novel that appeals most.
Ethel Lina White writes with ornate style always creating an atmospheric sense of mystery in her novels. In real life she had a dread of being buried alive and her evocation of character worked perfectly in novels of psychological suspense.
Written in the mid-1930s, when she was as well known as Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers, this novel reflects the growing tension in Europe as the world is about to be plunged into war again.
Miss Froy is like an elderly character actor, playing a bit part on stage, but stealing the headlines in all the reviews.
This is one of the real classics from the golden age of crime writing and deserves to find a whole new generation of readers, whilst still offering charm and satisfaction to those who have read it before.

A suspenseful, quick mystery that reminded me of an Agatha Christie novel.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.