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The Man Who Disappeared

3.27 of 5 stars 3.27 · rating details · 261 ratings · 55 reviews

What would you do if, out of the blue, your husband disappeared and you found out he was a suspected criminal?

When reliable, respectable Felix Kendall vanishes, his wife Kate is left reeling. As she and their children cope with the shocking impact on their comfortable lives, Kate realises that, if Felix is guilty, she never truly knew the man she loved. But as she faces th...more

Hardcover, 384 pages

Published by Sceptre (first published 2009)

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Sep 04, 2010 Teresa rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

An entertaining, fairly absorbing read. Morrall's biggest strength is her characterization, her specialty being at least one character who is damaged yet strong. Her characters live outside the pages; they are real.

But all of Morrall's work causes me to pause, as if she's just shy of doing something that could make her great. For example, the ending of Astonishing Splashes of Colour felt too contrived for me to rate the book 5 stars. And though I enjoyed this book for the most part, I felt some...more

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Nov 01, 2011 Barbara Green rated it 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed The Man Who Disappeared immensely. I connected with the characters from the outset. In my opinion it is because they are totally believable. The book is about the disappearance of Felix an ostensibly successful and respectable accountant and the impact it has on himself, his wife and family. It seems initially as if it's a straightforward yarn but it is much more than that. Morrall uses the device of flashback to tell her story but she uses it judiciously. I particularly liked the way...more

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Jun 26, 2011 CuteBadger rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

An ordinary family man disappears leaving his wife and children to pick up the pieces. The police say he's wanted for money laundering, but this seems at odds with everyone's impressions of him.

The book deals with the aftermath of Felix's disappearance and considers some of the reasons he may have gone, but it isn't a crime novel or a thriller. One of the lurb comments on the back of the paperback edition says, "Down at the core, beneath its several layers, The Man Who Disappeard is a well-craft...more

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Dec 07, 2011 Ali rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a good page turner of a read, only the second novel by this author I have read. I can't say it has the power of 'Astonishing Splashes of Colour' but it was diverting well executed plot.
When Kate's husband disappears, she has to face the truth about his financial mismanagement and even criminality. Her whole life alters, her bank accounts are frozen, she has to allow the house to be repossessed, and move into a council flat. Her children's lives are turned upside down too. The story is to...more

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Jul 03, 2010 Teresa rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is one of the TV Book Club's Summer Reads selection and one which I was pleased to see. I have read two of Morrall's previous novels, " Astonishing Splashes of Colour" and "The Language of Others", both of which examined characters on the periphery of society, one with synaesthesia and one with Asperger Syndrome. I enjoy the quirkiness of her novels, their introspectiveness and total lack of showiness.

In "The Man who Disappeared", Felix Kendall is the one on the outside looking in, standing...more

This is one of the TV Book Club's Summer Reads selection and one which I was pleased to see. I have read two of Morrall's previous novels, " Astonishing Splashes of Colour" and "The Language of Others", both of which examined characters on the periphery of society, one with synaesthesia and one with Asperger Syndrome. I enjoy the quirkiness of her novels, their introspectiveness and total lack of showiness.

In "The Man who Disappeared", Felix Kendall is the one on the outside looking in, standing on the pavement gazing longingly at real life portraits of family life in lit front rooms, a family life he yearns for having been orphaned at an early age. He's as unreadable as the sphinx which perhaps explains why his wife Kate and his children remained blissfully unaware of his involvement in a money laundering scheme - the discovery of which leads to Felix disappearing without a trace, his family left to pick up the pieces.

This isn't an in your face, action thriller, quite the opposite - man vanishes, wife has to struggle on with all the usual humdrum chores of life. In this tightly knit narrative, we see the after effects of Felix's disappearance, especially those which impinge on his family not just in material but also in emotional terms. How well do you ever know someone? There aren't any great exaggerations/dramatic scenes at play here - it's all focussed on people like Kate who discovers she never really knew the man she worshipped and how unsettling that must be in every respect.

"Was he ever the man she'd thought he was? It now seems as if he was little more than a model of Action Man, designed to bend and adapt to all circumstances...He was a blank space, inviting creativity, a man for all seasons."

Forced to downsize home, school, friends, everything from their previous life the family are put through the mill. Yet, in the midst of this zooming in on the family left behind, there are some telling insights into Felix too and why he felt compelled to disappear. Whilst he doesn't win us over entirely, he doesn't emerge as the arch-villain of the piece either - a testament, I feel to the depth and skill of Morrall's characterisation. It's a sad, sad situation (sorry, Elton..) to which there is no easy remedy and sorry doesn't go anywhere near.

The ending of the novel doesn't leave us feeling unrealistically upbeat but perhaps more resigned to the fact that life isn't plain sailing for any of us as Kate realises later on,

"Nobody saunters through life on a clear, straight road with no red lights, roundabouts or traffic jams."

This is a quiet, understated novel with many hidden layers - just like the people in our lives...
(less)

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Jul 07, 2010 Elliott James rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book gave the impression it was going to be a thriller, with some sort of magical powers ect. it's not. I don't understand why it's one of the summer reads for the TV book club, because it's nothing special, in fact, it's very far from special, I'd say average. I did enjoy it, and at the beginning it was a proper page-turner, but you get to about page 100, and it gets boring. I laughed at how in the acknowledgements Morrall thanks people for their criminal knowledge. Okay, maybe they helped...more

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Feb 23, 2011 harryknuckles rated it 4 of 5 stars

Back in 2003, Michel Faber published The Crimson Petal and The White, which has to be one of my favourite books of all time. The Crimson Petal and The White is one of those books where the detail of the locations and the people are so precise they leave an indelible stain upon your imagination and they never leave you. I hoped that eventually another volume of this fantastic saga would come along. Over three days, I was fully immersed, only to be drawn painfully away by inconveniences such as wo...more Back in 2003, Michel Faber published The Crimson Petal and The White, which has to be one of my favourite books of all time. The Crimson Petal and The White is one of those books where the detail of the locations and the people are so precise they leave an indelible stain upon your imagination and they never leave you. I hoped that eventually another volume of this fantastic saga would come along. Over three days, I was fully immersed, only to be drawn painfully away by inconveniences such as work and sleep. When the book was over, I felt truly bereft.
With The Apple Michel Faber has provided a fascinating set of seven short unconnected stories (maybe episodes would be a better word) about some of the characters in the earlier novel. Those who were thirsting for more will have to make do with this - it is a short book, which I read in a couple of hours - but it is definitely up to the same standard as the novel, and provides some revealing glimpses of what happened next (or even what happened before in one or two instances). I probably forgot to breathe at times, I was enjoying it so much! For those, like me, a little annoyed by the abrupt ending of The Crimson Petal and The White, this will hopefully be somewhat soothing. While not a linear sequel, there are glimpses of the later lives of Agnes, William, Sugar and Sophie. It was great to be reunited with some old favourites.
In The Apple, the world of late nineteenth century London engulfs once more. Within the pages lie seven pure gems of storytelling from a true master of the art. The main character Sugar appears, but in an episode before her starring role in the novel. Whether you are learning about the mental decline of William Rackham in his later years or of Sugar's history prior to the events of the first book, you are entranced by the depth of character and the realism of their lives. We learn more about other incidental characters from The Crimson Petal and The White: they may have been minor players in the original story, but here they are fleshed out further. I won't describe the stories in any detail - they are short enough, but it’s fair to say, that this is worth reading if you loved the novel. Unfortunately it also had the effect of leaving me wanting another more substantial historical novel from Mr Faber. Faber is a master of prose, the atmosphere he conjures is pure genius. His skill of depicting the life and manners of the Victoria era with all its heights and depths, its passion and its hypocrisy is one to be savoured.
The highlight is the final story in the collection, "A Mighty Horde of Women in Very Big Hats, Approaching." It is the story of a small boy caught up in the 1908 march of the suffragettes, and it is page-turning stuff. All the stories are interesting, but this was my favourite.

Although a great doorstep of a book (in the best sense of the term), The Crimson Petal and The White leaves you wanting more. The Apple supplies a little more. Those looking for a true "sequel" to the superb The Crimson Petal and The White might be a bit disappointed, I don't know. Personally, I was thrilled to spend time, however brief, with the characters.
In summary, anyone who enjoyed The Crimson Petal and The White will love this - if you didn't read that book, shame on you!(less)

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Jul 26, 2011 Jayne Charles rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Man who Disappeared is about a man who....erm....disappeared. it's a book that does exactly what it says on the tin. Provided you can cope with the idea of international fraud being committed in Budleigh Salterton (quite a feat but I managed it), this is a fantastic read. Smoothly and confidently written, full of characters you can believe in, and with a storyline that's simple but gripping. The blurb on the back wisely takes the line 'What if this happened to you...?' and throughout the boo...more

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Dec 31, 2012 Dorottya Bacsi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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May 11, 2011 Melissa rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Melissa by: TV Book Club

Shelves: library-book, paperback, 2011, crime, read-all-night

I have mixed feelings about this book. It's definitely a page turner - I picked it up meaning to read it for half an hour before bed, and then suddenly it was 5 hours later. Oops. So it's definitely compelling, but I think a lot of that is to do with the central conceit, rather than the writing or plot itself. Books like this are the sort that need some sort of locking system on the last few chapters, because I have no will power and frequently spoiler myself when there's a major mystery at the...more I have mixed feelings about this book. It's definitely a page turner - I picked it up meaning to read it for half an hour before bed, and then suddenly it was 5 hours later. Oops. So it's definitely compelling, but I think a lot of that is to do with the central conceit, rather than the writing or plot itself. Books like this are the sort that need some sort of locking system on the last few chapters, because I have no will power and frequently spoiler myself when there's a major mystery at the heart of a story. In this case, the mystery is Felix Kendall, the titular Man Who Disappeared. After receiving an urgent phone call from an old school friend, he goes into immediate hiding, leaving his wife and three children behind to wonder if they ever really knew him at all. Brilliant. Really hits all the 'tell me more' buttons.

The problem is, the plot beyond that is a bit thin. Felix's motivations soon become blindingly obvious, and there's never any big twist or revelation. I enjoyed the chapters written from the youngest childrens' points of view, but by far my favourite was Millie, the daughter whose friends abandoned her and who began stalking the beautiful sixth-former she was obsessed with. Sadly, she got the least page time out of the bunch. And while Morrall wrote the children well, made them easy to connect and empathise with, it was a little more difficult to really embrace the mother, Kate. The family were initially very well off, making for a more dramatic downfall when their finances were cut off, but the way she turned her nose up at the council estate they moved to and patronised a well-meaning neighbour made her seem a little too snooty to really like.

That's another thing - the dialogue of the "common" characters was so overdone in contrast to the Kendalls' - full of ums and likes and ands. Morrall made the difference so stark, it crossed the line into silly. She also changes tense a lot, and the awkward transition from past to present sometimes pulled me out of the moment. After an un-put-downable beginning and middle, the end of the book began to slow to a crawl. It was artificially revived by placing the youngest son in danger, and while it did pick the pace back up nicely, the way she used it to pull the whole story together and tie it in a neat bow felt overwrought, too obvious.

From this review, it probably sounds as though I disliked it, but that's not true. A book you can hardly put down, that keeps you up all night, is never a bad one. I just feel as though Morrall has a lot of potential, but there are some fairly large flaws holding her back from being really, really good. I'd give this a 7/10.(less)

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Sep 01, 2012 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I found the start of the book slightly irritating with all its back-tracking and filling in on past events. Each time the reader is taken back to some distant event to the detrement of the action in the present. However, subsequently one realises it is all relevant information which culminates in a feasable and touching climax. The characters and their relationship with each other are beautifully drawn and the unfolding drama believable and gripping. I actually cried in the scene when father eve...more

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Dec 14, 2012 David rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, read-in-2012

Kate Kendall and her family have a happy life in Devon. Her oldest son Lawrence is a not very diligent student away at university, whilst his younger siblings Rory and Millie are enjoying their time at private schools. Then, as she arrives at the airport to return home after a study trip to Canada, she is taken aside for questioning by police. It transpires that her husband Felix has gone missing, suspected of collusion in laundering money raised from human trafficking and other murky dealings....more

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Jul 08, 2012 Hodgeheg rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

An enjoyable and engrossing read, I like the author's style of writing. Returning from a trip to Canada , a woman discovers that her husband is accused of criminal activity regarding money laundering and he has disappeared. The story continues with the wife and children dealing with the fallout and trying to build a new life. There are aspects of the story that I found hard to believe, for instance the extent of the media interest in the crime. Also there are smaller storylines which could have...more

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Aug 23, 2010 Fiona rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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May 30, 2011 Juliajuliah rated it 4 of 5 stars

There is no such as a perfect family. Even though we know that, we still believe the adverts and films that tell us otherwise. People are flawed.Perfection is unattainable. Life is difficultand reality can be chilling.

This intelligent, keenly observant, unusual and gripping novel illustrates this beautifully. The plot takes us back and forth between the absent husband /father and his recovering family. We are hooked in to finding out how everything went so wrong andhow it will turn out.

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Aug 01, 2011 Tracy L added it

This is a reasonable tale of the 'perfect' husband's fall from grace as he disappears after coming under investigation for money laundering. It describes the effects this has on his wife and children, but my sympathy was limited as it became clear their greatest trials were moving into a small flat, saying goodbye to private school & the wife going out to work. As such, I didn't really warm to the characters and I found the ending lacked any energy. An easy read but not altogether rewarding!

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Feb 10, 2011 Jan Howard rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Have just this morning finished this book. It shows what happens when a family member disappears and the knock on effect to everyone around you, for what ever reason a person decides to leave an old life behind it is those you leave behind that are most affected, this book very cleverly covers every person in the family really well. I am being circumspect because I do not want to give the story line away. Read this book you will not be disppointed.

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Jan 17, 2011 Debbie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: library-reading-group, local-author

This book didnt live up to my expectations. Offered as a suspense thriller with Felix an international criminal wanted by interpol I very quickly became engrossed and look forward to the fallout of his disappearance. Unfortunately I found that all the charactors developed in a very predicatble way and it lost momentum with no big finale, twist or surprise at the end. I gave it a 3 because despite my disappointment I found myself unable to put it down.

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Jun 28, 2010 Kim rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: library, 2010

Kate discovers that her husband Felix is wanted in connection with a money laundering investigation. He has disappeared and she is left wondering whether she ever knew him.
The book follows their early relationship which started when her Headmaster father invites a group of boys for Sunday lunch. She likes Felix- and he goes away to make a name for himself so that he can 'court' her.

I really enjoyed this book- it is due to be on the UK tv book club over the summer.

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Oct 21, 2012 Donna rated it 2 of 5 stars

"When posh people go bad" and the family have to scum it and shop at ASDA instead of Waitrose...gasp....and mother has to get a job as a cleaner!! Poor posh lady....poor child having to go to state school....shudder, just imagine that. I couldn't identify with it, but I persevered and finished it. Disappointed with the end though.

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Aug 19, 2010 Catherine rated it 1 of 5 stars

Read this one as a quick summer read. And it was quick, and it was easy. Can't say that it will ever be one of my faves, but it was interesting. I especially liked to see the mother's role in the family, and how she didn't know how strong she really was until it was all tested. So true...

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Jul 24, 2011 Wanrong rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I vaguely remember liking "Astonishing Splashes of Colour", so was quite happy to give this book by Clare Morrall a try. Not that it was bad or anything, but it just wasn't much to speak of. Okay for a summer read, but the storyline (while interesting premise) didn't quite take off.

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Aug 01, 2011 Katie Grainger rated it 2 of 5 stars

The Man Who Disappeared I picked this book up because i was one of the newly formed TV book club books. The blurb for the story was quite exciting but unfortunately it did not live up to my expectations. There was actually very little action within the novel and I found myself slightly bored throughout a large proportion of it. Less exciting than I thought it would be.

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Jun 10, 2012 Hayley rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

An interesting topic and I enjoyed the way in which the story was told from different perspectives. At first I found the present tense narrative slightly annoying but soon stopped notcing it. (view spoiler)

All in all, a good read.

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Aug 19, 2010 Gina rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Nice easy read, very absorbing. Ultimately the story of a family, a love affair and a crime that looks at how people view their lives and relationships and asks if we can ever escape from our mistakes. Also an analysis of what it is to be a woman in modern times and the choices we can make for our lifestyles.
The characters are nicely drawn and you are not browbeated intoa view - you can make your own mind up as you go along.

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Jan 16, 2012 Dale Harcombe rated it 3 of 5 stars

Interesting premise about how well we know the person we are married to and what happens when what we think we know is not the reality. I enjoyed it though couldn't say it was a page turner.I'd be curious to read another of this author's books.

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Mar 11, 2012 Lisa (scarlet21) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Kate and Felix have been married for twenty odd years; they have it all; three children, all privately educated; big comfortable house; holidays abroad and no money worries...until one day Felix disappears and the police apprehend Kate at the airport asking questions about his whereabouts....all of a sudden the lives of Kate and the children are thrown into turmoil and Kate has to learn to deal with a lack of money, making decisions and keeping her family together.

Interesting concept of the per...more

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Aug 11, 2010 Annie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I didn't see the TV Book Show discussion but I must say I really liked this one. The characters are more conventional than the norm for Clare Morrall, but I loved them none the less and particularly liked the multiple viewpoints - excellent characterisation, loved Rory, and heart bled for Millie. Kate is a good strong central figure. I thought the story was strong, the suspense and pain palpable - I really enjoyed it.

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Aug 12, 2010 Iheke Ndukwe rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is a frightfully clever book but you can't help thinking that more could have been done with it. Also, the book feels heavily weighted towards a female audience. That said, it was a good story well told and well worth reading.

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Jul 08, 2012 Kate Creed rated it 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed The Man Who Disappeared immensely.The characters are totally believable and the narrative moves at a pace, keeping you transfixed to it.I don't think it is a heavy going book but a thought provoking journey into how fragile our comforts actually are.
I did wonder how the ending would present its self because the anger, hurt and transformation of four lives are too sharp and focused to be melted away with a short "I am sorry" or forgiveness crud.So the final scene where words melt into...more

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