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. 

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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!

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.

This is one of all time favourites. I have watched the movie countless times, the bbc tv remake and I've seen it on the stage twice. Pleasure to read this it's a classic. Great edition I really liked the cover. I wish there was more reprints of older classics like this. Given so many modern day writers base their books around these classic it would be great to be able to easily accesses the classics to new generations.