My rating:
add to my books
Loading...
Vanished (Nick Heller Mystery #1)
by
Joseph Finder (Goodreads Author)
With Vanished, author Joseph Finder launches a four-book thriller cycle featuring tough, smart, and stubborn Nick Heller. In this fierce series starter, Heller receives a late-night call from his nephew Gabe. The call qualifies as a four-alarm emergency: Nick's sister-in-law has been beaten into a coma, and his brother Roger, with whom he has never been on the best of term...more
Hardcover, Large Print, 0 pages
Published
September 1st 2009
by Center Point Large Print
(first published January 1st 2009)
There is a good chance some of your friends read this book. Sign in to see!
sign in »
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
This book is currently not featured on any Listopia lists.
Add this book to your favorite list »
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
2,096)
(same review for both books in the series, copied and pasted. because i'm lazy).
i read mostly romance, but am finding myself completely bored with most. so i sought out my other favourite books - suspense-ish. i came upon the nick heller series by accident, and am seriously resenting there being only TWO books! so damn good!
here's what you need to know:
- similar to jack reacher, but better. nick heller has a great sense of humour and is far more self-aware then dear...more
i read mostly romance, but am finding myself completely bored with most. so i sought out my other favourite books - suspense-ish. i came upon the nick heller series by accident, and am seriously resenting there being only TWO books! so damn good!
here's what you need to know:
- similar to jack reacher, but better. nick heller has a great sense of humour and is far more self-aware then dear...more
Joseph Finder- Vanished (St. Martin’s Press 2010) 4.25 Stars
Nick Heller’s brother was grabbed outside of a downtown restaurant and Nick’s nephew, Gabe, has asked for his help in finding his dad. Special Forces training and a job as a spy for hire has prepared him for a moment just like this. He intends to locate his brother no matter what secrets he must uncover and what scandals he will unearth. He will find out just how little he really knows about his brother and that he may not b...more
Nick Heller’s brother was grabbed outside of a downtown restaurant and Nick’s nephew, Gabe, has asked for his help in finding his dad. Special Forces training and a job as a spy for hire has prepared him for a moment just like this. He intends to locate his brother no matter what secrets he must uncover and what scandals he will unearth. He will find out just how little he really knows about his brother and that he may not b...more
Last Sunday, I shared with you a series of novels I thought would make you laugh and cringe at the same time. This week I have a novel for you that have recently been released in paperback, Joseph Finder’s Vanished. To say I am a fan is an understatement. I have read all his novels and always look forward to the next. So, if you wish, click off here, thinking I am a homer, see you tomorrow, maybe. Me being the Yankees fan I was raised to be, always can find something wrong with things in Boston...more
view 2 comments
One of my favorite corporate intrigue thrillers has long been Paranoia, and I'm terribly excited to tell you that this best selling author has done it again! In his new book, Mr. Finder introduces Nick Heller, an elite corporate intelligence specialist and former Special Services extraordinaire!
In California, Nick receives a frantic phone call from his fourteen year old nephew begging him to come to Washington D. C. immediately as his father has vanished without a trace, and his mother...more
In California, Nick receives a frantic phone call from his fourteen year old nephew begging him to come to Washington D. C. immediately as his father has vanished without a trace, and his mother...more
This was my first Joseph Finder book, so I did not know what to expect from this author. I would have to say that Vanished was an average read, neither good nor bad storytelling. I liked the main character, Nick Heller, though it would have been nice to see a bit of his personal life and to know what he was feeling at times. His sister-in-law Lauren was fairly one dimensional and annoying with all the secrets she was keeping that seemed necessary to drag the story out. His nephew, Gabe, was on...more
Joseph Finder has done it again...written another amazing action packed thriller.The first chapter has lots of drama and suspense and sets the tone for the rest of the book. It starts out with Lauren and her husband Roger Heller going out to dinner. As they are walking out of the restaurant, Roger forgets his wallet. He turns to head back into the restaurant, when he hears Lauren call his name. The last thing Lauren remembers before she awakens in a hospital bed is Roger saying “Why her”? Now Ro...more
Roger and Nick Heller are brothers and as different as night and day. Roger is a financial genius who learned at the knee of his father who is in jail for bilking people out of billions. Nick is former Special Forces who had never been swayed by his father’s lifestyle. When Roger’s wife is assaulted and Roger disappears, Lauren Heller asks for Nick’s help. Nick is already working a case of missing cargo from a plane but can’t turn down Lauren, especially if it means keeping his nephew, Gabe,...more
I have recently read the 2nd book in this series and really liked it and so when I found the 1st book at $2.99 on Amazon I grabbed it and moved it up in my reading queue.
This book sets up Nick Heller an ex-Special Forces soldier working as an intelligence investigator in a company hiring their services to corporation. A kind of corporate spy for sale. Something has happened to his brother and he must use all of his resources to find him. A very fast moving novel and exactly the type...more
This book sets up Nick Heller an ex-Special Forces soldier working as an intelligence investigator in a company hiring their services to corporation. A kind of corporate spy for sale. Something has happened to his brother and he must use all of his resources to find him. A very fast moving novel and exactly the type...more
Vanished by Joseph Finder: I was unimpressed with this book. It was OK, but, for me, somewhat formulaic. I read a review that encouraged me to read it; a new series by a thriller master. The new series features a Jack Bauer / Jack Ryan type of superhero, called Nick Heller. The story revolves around the brother of the hero who is the “vanished” of the title. At first the brother’s disappearance seems like a kidnapping, but it spirals into something much more complicated, which is a nice plot....more
Bill
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Mystery/Thriller fans
Recommended to Bill by:
self
Finder is a favorite. Vanished concerns the sudden and inexplicable disappearance of a mid-level corporate manager, his Special Forces brother and their father. Nick Heller, the ex-Special Forces bro, is the primary protagonist and he does battle (both wits and fisticuffs) with an army of baddies while trying to learn what became of his brother. Their father, a former billionaire, is serving a 30 year prison term for fraud and he plays a minor - but critical - role in the story. As is Finder's s...more
Nick Heller Knew Washington's Bureaucracy Before He Got Kicked Out And Was Hired By Stoddard Associates Who Sent Him To Los Angeles To Locate A Missing Plane. Nick Found The Plane Along With Containers Filled With A Billion Dollars That Went Missing In Iraq, But Before He Could Do Anything More His Nephew Phoned To Say That His Mom Was Attacked And His Dad Was Missing! Roger Was The Older Brother And More Like His Dad Before His Dad Was Convicted And Sent To Prison For The Biggest Heist Of The ...more
Vanished by Joseph Finder (won from The Book Trib) (Rating--5)
Synopsis: Nick Heller, former Special Ops now working in PI Private Sector receives a call for help from Gabe, his nephew. Gabe's stepfather, Roger and Nick's estranged brother, has vanished and his mother has been attacked and is in the hospital. Nick not close to his brother or his father, who is in prison for securities fraud, takes a leave of absence to help investigate what has happened to his brother Roger. Even though the...more
Synopsis: Nick Heller, former Special Ops now working in PI Private Sector receives a call for help from Gabe, his nephew. Gabe's stepfather, Roger and Nick's estranged brother, has vanished and his mother has been attacked and is in the hospital. Nick not close to his brother or his father, who is in prison for securities fraud, takes a leave of absence to help investigate what has happened to his brother Roger. Even though the...more
The first chapter has lots of drama and suspense and sets the tone for the rest of the book. It starts out with Lauren and her husband Roger Heller going out to dinner. As they are walking out of the restaurant, Roger forgets his wallet. He turns to head back into the restaurant, when he hears Lauren call his name. The last thing Lauren remembers before she awakens in a hospital bed is Roger saying “Why her”? Now Roger has disappeared.
Lauren calls Nick, Roger’s estranged brother to ...more
Lauren calls Nick, Roger’s estranged brother to ...more
Lauren Heller is attacked after she and her husband Roger were out to dinner. When she wakes up in the hospital she finds that Roger has disappeared.
Nick Heller is Roger's brother and although he and Roger haven't spoken in years, he is fond of Lauren and her son, Gabe.
When they ask for Nick's help, he agrees and finds that Roger works as the CFO of a corporation and investigates corruption. He's found something, according to Lauren and she thinks he may have been kidnapp...more
Nick Heller is Roger's brother and although he and Roger haven't spoken in years, he is fond of Lauren and her son, Gabe.
When they ask for Nick's help, he agrees and finds that Roger works as the CFO of a corporation and investigates corruption. He's found something, according to Lauren and she thinks he may have been kidnapp...more
This was a great book! The suspense was real, the characters were real. There was little description, but the dialogue really formed the characters. It begins with the disappearance of Rodger Heller. His wife, Lauren, was beat up, but otherwise left alone. It's up to Nick, Rodger's brother, to figure out what happened. It's very important that their father, Victor, is in jail for embezzling, fraud, laundering, and whatever the hell else you can illegally do with money! ...BUT! And you may have k...more
With his novel Vanished, Joseph Finder introduces the character of Nick Heller a private spy who served with the U.S. Army Special Forces. In this first instalment Nick is dealing with the disappearance of his older brother Roger who vanishes after his wife is attacked. Nick faces the task of protecting his sister-in-law and nephew while uncovering the circumstances of his brother's disappearance. The more he uncovers the more he realizes that his brother is living a double-life. This fast-pace...more
A solid thriller about a former soldier in the Special Forces who now works as a corporate investigator and who is called in when his own brother is kidnapped. As the protagonist, Nick Heller, tries to figure out what's going on, he learns a lot about his brother that he didn't know; and recalls key moments in their relationship. This is a pretty good dramtic for revealing a lot about the emotions and motivations of the primary characters.
The story didn't quite work for me. I gues...more
The story didn't quite work for me. I gues...more
Really enjoyed this first novel of a new series about Nick Heller, a former Special Corpsman in the military and now an intelligence investigator, who is one of the best at what he does. His brother is a financier in high places who goes missing. It appears he may be abducted. His nephew calls on his help. As he follows the trail he uncovers some very interesting facts. The plot takes several twists and keeps you interested, it doesn't lag. The techy stuff, the BlackBerry's and RaptorCards...more
According to the promos I have read on Vanished, it is the first of a new series by Joseph Finder. That is good news as Nick Heller, former special forces soldier and now an investigator for a security firm, is an engaging character with a sense of humor and strong independent streak.
Vanished focuses primarily on Heller's brother--the one who has vanished--and his family who asks for Nick's help. They of course get more than they asked for with lots of plot twists and turns and a su...more
Vanished focuses primarily on Heller's brother--the one who has vanished--and his family who asks for Nick's help. They of course get more than they asked for with lots of plot twists and turns and a su...more
One brother looking for his missing brother. What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive. If you love the DC area and all of the scandals associated with some of our more militant Government contractors or you just love a great story that keeps you enthralled while the hero tries to figure out the magician's trick; you will really enjoy this book. My boss told me that I would enjoy it based on my love of books by Brad Thor, Clive Cussler, Tom Clancy, John Sandford, and Vince...more
Nick Heller and his brother Roger grow up with their father in prison for securities fraud and theft. It affects the brothers differently. Nick joins the government's special forces and Roger goes into finance. Roger is kidnapped according to his wife, Lauren. Their son, Gabe loves his Uncle Nick who tries to find out what happened. The family ties are interesting but the plot kind of bogs down somewhat in the type of story that you have read before. Hopefully, Nick's stories will become m...more
Joseph Finder rocks. He has a knack for creating characters that are tough and cool, but have brains. They also don't believe they're all that's standing between us and the end of the world (cough, Mitch Rapp, cough).
This is another fun romp (oh, such an overused word!) through DC, which, since I just got here a week ago, I thoroughly enjoyed.
I can't wait to read the next Nick Heller book and I'm crossing fingers and toes that he doesn't turn out to be a d-bag like Mitch Rap...more
This is another fun romp (oh, such an overused word!) through DC, which, since I just got here a week ago, I thoroughly enjoyed.
I can't wait to read the next Nick Heller book and I'm crossing fingers and toes that he doesn't turn out to be a d-bag like Mitch Rap...more
Another thriller. I keep saying I don't generally read this sort of book and now I know why. I bought Vanished because I liked Finder's earlier book, Paranoid. Paranoid was original and fast moving with a hero I could relate to. Vanished is contrived and conceived, I think on a white board like so many TV shows. The main characters are super heroes or arch villains. This whole mess was a vast disappointment. This is why I generally avoid vest selling thrillers. I have to move on ...more
Nick Heller's brother Roger has gone missing and he's promised Roger's stepson that he'll find him. That's quite the setup and for the first half of the book, the mystery just gets deeper and deeper. Who can Nick trust? The second half of the book has the answer: almost nobody. Along the way, the pace never lets up and the danger grows.
While the story is not without flaws, the writing is clean and intense. The plot, characters, and settings gripping. The sleuthing and fighting were w...more
While the story is not without flaws, the writing is clean and intense. The plot, characters, and settings gripping. The sleuthing and fighting were w...more
The audio version takes the story to a whole new dimension, Holter Graham’s vocal range is incredible. From the nasal sounds of a teen boy, to the heartbroken cries of a wife, the dramatic emotional entanglements are brought to life and will leave you nearly breathless at times. I found myself rewinding and listening a second or even a third time, just to make sure I had taken it all in. . .
Vanished is a thriller and it most certainly does…and beyond that, it is entertaining! Don’t m...more
Vanished is a thriller and it most certainly does…and beyond that, it is entertaining! Don’t m...more
Joseph Finder did follow the hero rulebook with the creation of Nick Heller:
Special Forces background (check)
Troubled childhood (check)
Has trouble with authority (check)
Can punch his way out of a situation (check)
Loner (check)
Cracks cynical jokes when a pistol is pointed at his face (check)
Tough guy with a good heart (check)
What sets Nick Heller apart from the others is that Finder places him in a business environment (Heller is a corpo...more
Special Forces background (check)
Troubled childhood (check)
Has trouble with authority (check)
Can punch his way out of a situation (check)
Loner (check)
Cracks cynical jokes when a pistol is pointed at his face (check)
Tough guy with a good heart (check)
What sets Nick Heller apart from the others is that Finder places him in a business environment (Heller is a corpo...more
This is the first of the Nick Heller series with the second to be on sale this month. I really like many of the characters in this book primarily Nick, Dorothy, Merlin,and Gabe. The plot is engaging and the action fairly fast paced (although it did drag at times). I definitely recommend reading this book and then picking up the second book which I have already had the opportunity to read through an Early Reviewers program - the second book is even better. It is my plan to now go back and rea...more
Great book. Loved the characters, loved the plot. Loved the writing style. The main character, Nick Heller, is a private eye whose brother goes missing, due to a level of involvement in some corporate finance shenanigans. The suspense was great, the corporate finance stuff wasn't ridiculously over my head so it wasn't enjoyable, and the main character was a fun rough-around-the-edges kind of guy who had a sweet side too. Excellent vacation read. Looking forward to reading the next Nick Heller bo...more
I liked the hero of the story, Nick Heller, a security type guy who does highly secret surveillances etc. for highly secret businesses. His brother disappears and his sister in law is critically injured, so he decides to help out on the case. Unfortunately, Nick was the only character I liked. I didn't much care what happened to his conniving brother, his lying wife, or his complaining nephew. So although the story wasn't half bad, I didn't love it.
Really, 3 1/2 stars
Good, fast, exciting read. As Charisse said, there is some predictability. Sometimes it's transparent that he's setting something up to use later in the story. But the writing is good enough that it doesn't come across as cheezy. Reminds me somewhat of Linwood Barclay, but Finder's a little more sophisticated. He's a former intelligence officer, so he's got that inside knowledge on which to draw. I enjoyed the slightly sardonic humor, especially from the Nick ...more
Good, fast, exciting read. As Charisse said, there is some predictability. Sometimes it's transparent that he's setting something up to use later in the story. But the writing is good enough that it doesn't come across as cheezy. Reminds me somewhat of Linwood Barclay, but Finder's a little more sophisticated. He's a former intelligence officer, so he's got that inside knowledge on which to draw. I enjoyed the slightly sardonic humor, especially from the Nick ...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wow!! Great!! | 8 | 23 | Dec 17, 2011 06:59am |
Readers Also Enjoyed
Joseph Finder’s plan was to become a spy. Or maybe a professor of Russian history. Instead he became a bestselling thriller writer, and winner of the International Thriller Writers Award for Best Novel for KILLER INSTINCT (2006) and winner of the Barry and Gumshoe Awards for Best Thriller for COMPANY MAN (2005).
Born in Chicago, Joe spent his early childhood living around the world, in...more
More about Joseph Finder...
Born in Chicago, Joe spent his early childhood living around the world, in...more
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
