The Vanishing Act

An unputdownable, darkly comic thriller packed with twists

Jo Jakeman

$34.99

Paperback

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English

Constable
09 September 2025

Fiction & Literature; Crime & Mystery

'I absolutely loved it and flew through it; the perfect combination of suspense, heart and humour!' - Laura Marshall, author of Friend Request

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Life as a missing person is absolute murder...

When artist Eloise Ford hears that human remains 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 falling apart. Her husband is acting strangely, her children aren't speaking to her and she can't sell a painting for love nor money. But much more worrying are the signs that someone knows exactly who she is... and why she had to vanish thirty years ago.

Eloise needs answers. Is her son's ex-girlfriend just plain annoying... or does she know something? Will the detection skills of the online 'Truth Seekers' group prove more than amateurish? What's the real story behind those village newcomers?

And just how far would she go to keep her family, her friends, and her fraudulent life, safe?

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Readers love Jo Jakeman!

'I couldn't put this down - such a clever, witty mystery, with great twists and a brilliant cast of characters who aren't always what they seem... I loved it!' - Nicci Cloke, author of Her Many Faces

'A deliciously darkly funny thriller of the very best kind' - Fiona Cummins, author of When I Was Ten

'I raced through this intriguing, twisty and darkly funny thriller!' - Roz Watkins, author of The Red House

'What a cracking read! I had an absolute blast reading it ??' - Amazon reviewer ?????

'Humour and secrets aplenty... a fantastic read!' - Amazon reviewer ?????

'Jo Jakeman's new books are always a cause of jubilation. I raced through this book on Christmas Day. The story was gripping... When you writing the next one, Jo?' - Amazon reviewer ?????

'Couldn't put it down! Looking forward to seeing what Jo writes next!' - Amazon reviewer ?????

'Jo Jakeman is something of a canny secret for those readers in the know. Join the club. Buy this book... join me in the queue for the next one' - Amazon reviewer ?????

'Packed with explosive twists, this captivating murder mystery will keep you reading late into the night' - Womans Own

'A superb mystery with perfectly drawn characters and plenty of twists and turns' - Katy Watson, author of The Three Dahlias

'Absolutely loved this witty, wicked and cleverly plotted story, with its sharply-drawn chara

By: Jo Jakeman
Imprint: Constable
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 468mm, Width: 316mm, Spine: 196mm
Weight: 447g
ISBN: 9781408718438
ISBN 10: 140871843X
Pages: 368
Publication Date: 09 September 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Born in Cyprus, Jo Jakeman worked for many years in London before settling in Cornwall with her husband and sons. When she's not writing or reading, Jo walks the coastal paths and plots the fictional downfall of those who have wronged her.