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In the Vanishing Hour

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In the Vanishing Hour

By: Sarah Beth Martin
Narrated by: Melora Kordos
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About this listen

Massachusetts, Summer, 1951: When a boy drowns in the Charles River, a family is devastated, and the town of Norumbega is changed forever.

Eight years later, Frances Adams lives in the shadow of her dead brother, Mac. At her window dresser job, she befriends model Gwen, who inspires Frances to reinvent herself. When Gwen vanishes into the river, Frances becomes obsessed with her memory, and transforms herself into her likeness.

An investigation begins, and the police question three young men. Frances and friend Iris follow them to the local riverside park, where one of the men—the suspicious Harris—mistakes Frances for Gwen. Frances is intrigued by the idea of haunting him, and continues to pursue him in secret. As the mystery unravels, shocking revelations about its connection to a long-past family tragedy come to the surface.

Set in the haunting atmosphere of 1950s and 1970s New England, In the Vanishing Hour weaves suspense and mystery into a story about loss, identity, and the secrets best left untold.

©2022 Sarah Beth Martin (P)2024 Sarah Beth Martin Psychological Suspense Thriller & Suspense Fiction

Critic reviews

"Highly recommended for fans of literary suspense." —Independent Book Review
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Listener received this title free

A slow burn thriller that had a split timeline that upped the pace towards the end. Nicely narrated

Slow burn thriller

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Listener received this title free

I enjoyed the narration of Melora Kordos


This is a psychological thriller, Frances’s brother tragically dies in when he was a teenager. The only way the her family can cope with the loss, is leaving from the town. When more people mysteriously die people start to take notice. When Frances meets Harris, who seems to be connected to these disappearances, and to her brother's. Frances will not stop until she finds answers.

vanishing

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Listener received this title free

The story starts with three girls noticing three boys and gives their relationships from several points of view. Events in the past shape these relationships and lifestories. I found it difficult to get into this story as I had to keep checking which time and which character the segment was about. I liked the descriptions and insight of the female gaze and the author does more showing than telling. The plots interweave and, if you persist, several story questions are answered although there is an ambigious resolution. There are some twists in the tale and the main character's imitation of an older, stylish woman and stalking behaviour are partially explained. You do get to learn the significance of the tower on the island and the connection between the deaths of people in relation to the main character. I think this would work better in print where font changes could remind you of the date and character perpective.
The narrator could voice men and women differently, but I found it difficult to distinguish between the characters when in the chapter.
I received a free copy, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Time jumping, complex plot unsuited to audiobook.

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