By Kelly Dean Jolley
Meryton Press, 2023
Paper, $9.99
Genre: Mystery
Reviewed by Lisa Harrison
In his novel The Vanishing Woman, Kelly Dean Jolley joins the seemingly-impossible-occurrence mystery genre by posing the question of where a woman who disappears from the locked cabin on a moving train might be. If she is on the train, is she hiding, or is she being hidden? Is foul play involved, and if so, who might be the culprit? Protagonist Tad Fowler has recently sold his lucrative software company and is journeying by train from L.A. to New York when he meets and is immediately smitten by Quinn Shepherd, the glamorous sometime actress and owner of a dog-walking business who is traveling with her friend Aubrey Borden. Quinn is concerned about the mental state of her friend, who has recently experienced a break-up with her boyfriend, but Quinn and Tad face a new set of worries when Aubrey is discovered absent from the room in which she planned to ensconce herself for the duration of the trip.
Aubrey is a member of a family so incredibly wealthy that they are able to suppress any knowledge of their existence from the press and social media, Quinn explains to Tad. Quinn therefore decides against informing anyone about her friend’s disappearance while she and Tad attempt to locate her. Having dispensed with the question of why authorities are not alerted and the entire train immediately searched, Jolley leisurely recounts the growing attraction between Tad and Quinn as they alternately make their own attempts to solve the mystery and wait while a conveniently befriended air marshal does his own sleuthing. A plot twist mid-storyline means Tad must put to use his extensive knowledge of classic Hollywood detective movies to solve a case in which the stakes are more personal than he imagined.
Dotted with references to detective novels and vintage movies, Jolley’s prose gives a nod to mid-20th century noir. The author’s efforts at emulating the exemplars of the genre are somewhat uneven, but old movie buffs will enjoy references to scenes and dialogue with which they are familiar, fans of The Lady Eve and His Girl Friday in particular. The Vanishing Woman contains many of the “usual suspects” of the genre: a gullible hero, a femme fatale, crotchety detectives, and moral equivocation. An intimate encounter between two of the characters is an integral part of the plot; fans of spicy romance will take this development in stride. The third-person narrative focuses on the experiences, thoughts, and reactions of Tad Fowler; readers who prefer a story told from the standpoint of the “male gaze” will appreciate this perspective. A final plot twist at the end provides an unexpected resolution along with a satisfying moral to this intricate tale of vices and virtues.
The Vanishing Woman will appeal to readers who enjoy the repartee and tropes of the noir genre along with some spicy content.
Lisa Harrison is an avid reader who spent 15 years in the book publishing industry. When not curled up with a cup of tea, a book, and a rescued cat or two (or more), she enjoys all varieties of needle crafts.
