When artist Eloise Ford hears that human remains are found in an abandoned mine are believed to be those of long-missing teenager Elizabeth King, the shock sends her reeling. It can't be true. Eloise knows this for a fact because.... she is Elizabeth King. Now, her carefully curated life in Cornwall is finally falling apart. Her husband is acting strangely, her children aren't speaking to her and she can't sell a painting for love or money. But much more worrying are the signs that someone knows exactly who she is.... and why she vanished thirty years ago.

The story is told from Eloise and her sons ex-girlfriend Holly's perspectives. Eloise is a flawed but compelling character. Holly also has her troubles. This is an intriguing story that will make you laugh. The pace is fast in this gripping read. The story is set in Cornwall.

Published 11th September 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #LittleBrownBookGroupUK and the author #JoJakeman for my ARC of #TheVanishingAct in exchange for an honest review.

This one had me hooked right from the start. I loved the premise, and the cover instantly caught my eye. Once I started reading, it was so easy to get into; the pacing flowed really well and there wasn’t a single point where I felt it dragged. Instead, it kept me turning the pages, eager to see what would happen next.

Eloise was such a compelling main character. I really enjoyed how her inner struggles were written, her fierce love for her family, her desire to be perfect, and the emotional rollercoaster she goes through as her past collides with her present. The balance between her vulnerability and strength made her easy to connect with.

The supporting cast was also really well handled. Each character was given just enough depth to keep me guessing, but also felt individual and memorable. I especially liked how the story kept introducing new elements and people without it ever feeling overwhelming.

What really stood out was how the book managed to be suspenseful and intriguing while also making me laugh. The dark humour woven into the twists gave it such a unique flavour, and the whole “who done it” vibe kept me guessing until the end.

Overall, this was a fun, quick, and engaging read. A solid 4 stars from me, and one I’d happily recommend to anyone who loves mystery with a sharp, witty edge.

Dark Humour..
Eloise is beyond shocked to learn that human remains discovered in an abandoned mine are those of Elizabeth King. It simply cannot be. She knows this - as she is Elizabeth King. As she reels in disbelief, her life begins to crumble. Worse, it soon becomes clear that someone else knows exactly who she is. Nothing is quite as it seems in this well penned tale of secrets and lies heavily laced with dark humour, a well drawn cast of credible characters and a cleverly woven plot.

When Eloise hears that human remains found in an abandoned mine are believed to be those of long-missing teenager Elizabeth King, she knows this can’t be true because she is Elizabeth King. As more about the case emerges, Eloise worries that someone knows exactly who she is and why she had to vanish thirty years ago. With the online 'Truth Seekers' group pursuing their own amateur enquiries, how far will Eloise go to keep her settled new life safe?

With its fresh premise, likeable protagonist and fluent, chatty style, this is ideal for readers of suspense / true-crime online sleuthing mysteries.

With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.

Upon publication I will post my review on my blog and on GoodReads to recommend it to readers.

Jakeman is such a skilled writer with this pacy, compelling story that opens with a bang and ends in explosive fashion. Parts in between weren’t quite as strong for me, but that conclusion really pulled it back.

When human remains are found and identified as those of a teenager who has been missing for a long time, no one is more surprised than Eloise. Because she is the one person who knows - for reasons of her own - that this simply cannot be true.

And it's not as if she needed more problems. With her family life going to pieces and her artistic efforts going unappreciated, Eloise has more than enough of those already. But she knows she has to get to the bottom of this. And fast!

Twisty and darkly humorous, this is an entertaining novel worth reading.