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The Disappearance of Grace
Now you see her. Now you don’t.
Captain Nick Angel has finally made a separate peace with the war in Afghanistan. Since having been ordered to bomb a Tajik village which resulted in the death of a little boy of no more than two, he’s been suffering from temporary bouts of blindness. Knowing the he needs time to rest and recover from his post traumatic stress, the US Army decides to send him to Venice along with his fiancee, the artist, Grace Blunt. Together they try and recapture their former life together. But when Grace suddenly goes missing, Nick not only finds himself suddenly alone and sightless in the ancient city of water, but also the number one suspect in her disappearance.
A novel that projects Hitchcockian suspense onto a backdrop of love and war, The Disappearance of Grace is a rich, literary thriller of fear, loss, love, and revenge. From the war in the Afghan mountains to the canals of romantic Venice, this is a story that proves 20/20 eyesight might not always be so perfect and seeing is not always believing.
Captain Nick Angel has finally made a separate peace with the war in Afghanistan. Since having been ordered to bomb a Tajik village which resulted in the death of a little boy of no more than two, he’s been suffering from temporary bouts of blindness. Knowing the he needs time to rest and recover from his post traumatic stress, the US Army decides to send him to Venice along with his fiancee, the artist, Grace Blunt. Together they try and recapture their former life together. But when Grace suddenly goes missing, Nick not only finds himself suddenly alone and sightless in the ancient city of water, but also the number one suspect in her disappearance.
A novel that projects Hitchcockian suspense onto a backdrop of love and war, The Disappearance of Grace is a rich, literary thriller of fear, loss, love, and revenge. From the war in the Afghan mountains to the canals of romantic Venice, this is a story that proves 20/20 eyesight might not always be so perfect and seeing is not always believing.
222 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 11, 2012
7 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Vincent Zandri
242 books576 followers"Vincent Zandri is one of the most acclaimed thriller writers working today!" --Publishers Weekly
“Zandri (is) a veteran wordsmith who executes quality and quantity at superlative levels.” --Book Reporter
"The story of Vincent Zandri is the story of our times."
--Business Insider
"Vincent Zandri hails from the future."
--The New York Times
“Sensational . . . masterful . . . brilliant.”
--New York Post
"...big time author..."
--Digital Journal
Considered one of the most prolific writers of his generation, Vincent Zandri is the winner of the 2015 PWA Shamus Award and the 2015 ITW Thriller Award, both for MOONLIGHT WEEPS in the Best Original Paperback category. He is also the NEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY, and AMAZON KINDLE OVERALL NO.1 bestselling author of hundreds of novels, novellas, and stories, including THE REMAINS, MOONLIGHT WEEPS, THE EMBALMER, THE SHROUD KEY and QUIETLY INTO THE NIGHT. His list of domestic publishers includes Delacorte, Dell, Down & Out Books, Thomas & Mercer, Blackstone Audio, Tantor Media, and more. He is also the CEO of Bear Media. An MFA in Writing graduate of Vermont College, his work is translated in the Dutch, Russian, French, Italian, and Japanese. Having sold over 1 million editions of his books, Zandri has been the subject of major features by the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and Business Insider. He has also made appearances on Bloomberg TV and the FOX News network. In December 2014, Suspense Magazine named Zandri's, THE SHROUD KEY, as one of the "Best Books of 2014." Suspense Magazine selected WHEN SHADOWS COME as one of the "Best Books of 2016". He was also a finalist for the 2019 Derringer Award for Best Novelette. A freelance photojournalist, freelance writer, and the host of the popular YouTube Podcast, "The Writer's Life," Zandri has written for Strategy Magazine, RT, Living Ready Magazine, New York Newsday, Hudson Valley Magazine, The Times Union (Albany), Game & Fish Magazine, CrimeReads, Altcoin Magazine, The Jerusalem Post (ghost), Market Business News (ghost), Duke University (ghost), Colgate University (ghost), New York University (ghost), The Rice University Gazette (ghost), Yale University (ghost), Digital Journal (ghost), and many more. An Active Member of ITW, he lives in New York and Florence, Italy. For more go to WWW.VINZANDRI.COM
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 24, 2013
Suffering from PTSD and recurring temporary blindness from his tour in Afghanistan, Captain Nick Angel is sent to Italy on vacation with his fiancee, Grace Blunt, for a chance to recover. Soon after they arrive in Venice, Grace notices a stranger in a dark overcoat watching them. The man appears to be following them.
Seated at a cafe in Venice, Grace sees the man again. The suspense builds as he approaches their table, and then Grace disappears. Nick finds himself alone and unable to see, with no one to help him. No one saw anything. Even the police seem reluctant to help, or to believe him. When it is revealed that Nick and Grace argued the previous day, witnessed by members of the public, Nick finds himself a suspect in her disappearance.
The bombing of an Afghan village and the death of a toddler cause Nick emotional trauma throughout the novel. We are reminded of it often. The parallel between loss in a war torn country and loss in a romantic city is noted well by the author. Loss is tremendous no matter where it occurs.
Questions surrounding her disappearance gnaw at Nick. Did she disappear, or did she use his temporary blindness to her advantage and walk away, as suggested by the police? We learn their relationship is troubled and this trip is supposed to give them a chance to grow closer.
Written in first person narrative, the premise for the story and the contrast of love and war is good. All the components necessary for a rich thriller are there; however, The Disappearance of Grace failed to grip me. The content is rich and relevant, yet the story is repetitive and lacks depth.
In Nick's numerous flashbacks to the horrors of Afghanistan, the author mentions the young boy, the dust on his face, and the killing so many times, I found it weakened the story and diluted the impact. I'm sure we are meant to see Nick's internal struggles with PTSD, live through the horrors of war with him, but instead we are left on the outside witnessing it like a movie that plays the same scenes over and again. Perhaps this repetition was intended to emphasize the dreadfulness of what he had been ordered to do. For me, it killed the emotion I'm sure the author was trying to create and I never felt drawn into the story.
The short chapters make this an easy read, although the author's repeated use of one-word sentences for effect was rather annoying. The conclusion was not surprising and left me feeling flat. I have read and enjoyed other works by this author much more.
Seated at a cafe in Venice, Grace sees the man again. The suspense builds as he approaches their table, and then Grace disappears. Nick finds himself alone and unable to see, with no one to help him. No one saw anything. Even the police seem reluctant to help, or to believe him. When it is revealed that Nick and Grace argued the previous day, witnessed by members of the public, Nick finds himself a suspect in her disappearance.
The bombing of an Afghan village and the death of a toddler cause Nick emotional trauma throughout the novel. We are reminded of it often. The parallel between loss in a war torn country and loss in a romantic city is noted well by the author. Loss is tremendous no matter where it occurs.
Questions surrounding her disappearance gnaw at Nick. Did she disappear, or did she use his temporary blindness to her advantage and walk away, as suggested by the police? We learn their relationship is troubled and this trip is supposed to give them a chance to grow closer.
Written in first person narrative, the premise for the story and the contrast of love and war is good. All the components necessary for a rich thriller are there; however, The Disappearance of Grace failed to grip me. The content is rich and relevant, yet the story is repetitive and lacks depth.
In Nick's numerous flashbacks to the horrors of Afghanistan, the author mentions the young boy, the dust on his face, and the killing so many times, I found it weakened the story and diluted the impact. I'm sure we are meant to see Nick's internal struggles with PTSD, live through the horrors of war with him, but instead we are left on the outside witnessing it like a movie that plays the same scenes over and again. Perhaps this repetition was intended to emphasize the dreadfulness of what he had been ordered to do. For me, it killed the emotion I'm sure the author was trying to create and I never felt drawn into the story.
The short chapters make this an easy read, although the author's repeated use of one-word sentences for effect was rather annoying. The conclusion was not surprising and left me feeling flat. I have read and enjoyed other works by this author much more.
December 28, 2012
A beautiful setting (Venice), a protagonist with a dark past (the Afghani war) who must find his missing girlfriend despite a significant and suspense-inducing handicap (temporary blindness). It has the ingredients of a great thriller, but the souffle didn't quite rise for me. Other than the narrator, there are no well developed characters. Despite his blindness, you never get a sense that he's in real danger. And the ending, well, just ends. No climax.
December 13, 2013
Now you see her. Now you don’t…
The novel is a nice contribution to the Mystery/Suspense reading pile and because of the authors focus on the story, and not on shock vale, one I would let my 14 year-old read. Though some of the imagery could be disturbing to more sensitive kids this age, most are exposed to it each time they watch the news were even in a more fantastical and carnivalistic manner.
Without having any spoilers, what happens after Grace has been kidnapped, walked away and abandoned him or disappeared into the masses of summer visitors to Venice Italy, we have not only the disappearance of his fiance, Grace, but there is the forced focus on his own grace being lost with the one focal act in Afghanistan, which is the assumed cause of his PTSD related intermittent blindness. As the reader, we are spoon fed more and more of the actual story on the bombing of the village with each wakening and moment his sight returns to him. I kept trying to guess what caused his PTSD. It was obvious because of his repetition of one image, but when we get more and more hints to what was happening before and after the bombing, who was involved the interactions of the soldiers and the village members I was almost wondering if the main horror causing his PTSD was going to end up being a cow. Yes a cow and you will have to read. This is how well Zandri had me going. (hey don’t laugh, read the book and tell me if I am wrong!)
Captain Angel, in his real life beyond being an officer in the Army reserves (I think it is the Army but I tend to think everyone is due to my former life as an Army wife).. anyway in his life before his touring in Afghanistan, he is a well known novelist and his fiance, Grace, painter. Each brings their tools of creation to capture not only the “grace” of their former professional lives back, but to re-capture their life together. It is a beautiful love story. One which when Grace disappears and leaves CPT Angel stumbling blind, forces him to find a way back to living with sight, both outward and within his own psyche. He slowly begins to realize grace comes from within.
A fluid story moving you along at a quick and rhythmic pace. A story device many authors of mystery and suspense novels use and one that the can be seen in many of the stylistic consistencies, recurring theme, the narrowed and focused “view” (or lack thereof) of our narrator and protagonist Captain Nick Angel, and his life without sight. What I found interesting and what prompted me to notice some of these things was the synopsis mentioning the Hitchcokian flavor of suspense. If we are to address the novel from an auteur theory story wise, the above rings true. But I am getting a bit deep and though many of these things can easily be put upon the story I do not want to lose you as a reader so I will wrap my review up with a few main points.
A few things I did not like? The character development of Grace and CPT Angel was so strong and complete the rest of the cast was ignored to much. Supporting characters do not need to be as developed but they were not developed enough, or the right characters were not, meaning the story was a bit unbalanced at times. Perhaps this was another way to keep us as unbalanced as Nick was? But I do not think it was such, I think that I maybe giving to much to what is meant to be a simple contribution to the mystery genre.
Does this mean it is not a good book? Oh definitely not, it is a great book. I liked it. I would not give it a five star rating, I liked it, not loved it. It did not release the kraken crooning, glitter and bacon smothered Goddess within me, but it did make me think and give me pause while reading. I truly enjoyed the cleverness and beauty of this tale. It had an age old feeling, much like the sinking city of Venice. Kind of like a street side painting, not hanging in the Louvre but still worth stopping to pay attention to and purchasing to enjoy even further.
Disappearance of Grace is a fast paced read with many layers which can be read at leisure at a summer rental on the cape, or in the coffee-house on your lunch hour over a week or perhaps hiding from your family over your holidays. It can also be read if you want to do some Fischer Price analytics of the Mystery genre. Which ever you choose I think you will enjoy this tale. I think it would actually make a great Book Club book actually! (since we are talking book clubs too this week here).
I am giving this a 3.75 star. Not quite a 4 star and not even a 3.5 star. So when I go and put this up on Amazon and Goodreads it will be a 4 star but here at the Cabin, it is Allllllllllllllmost there! Which is still a win! I liked it! Definitely not the pants and not quite of the festive nature of the Cabin. It is a read with my tea mid day. Just right.
The novel is a nice contribution to the Mystery/Suspense reading pile and because of the authors focus on the story, and not on shock vale, one I would let my 14 year-old read. Though some of the imagery could be disturbing to more sensitive kids this age, most are exposed to it each time they watch the news were even in a more fantastical and carnivalistic manner.
Without having any spoilers, what happens after Grace has been kidnapped, walked away and abandoned him or disappeared into the masses of summer visitors to Venice Italy, we have not only the disappearance of his fiance, Grace, but there is the forced focus on his own grace being lost with the one focal act in Afghanistan, which is the assumed cause of his PTSD related intermittent blindness. As the reader, we are spoon fed more and more of the actual story on the bombing of the village with each wakening and moment his sight returns to him. I kept trying to guess what caused his PTSD. It was obvious because of his repetition of one image, but when we get more and more hints to what was happening before and after the bombing, who was involved the interactions of the soldiers and the village members I was almost wondering if the main horror causing his PTSD was going to end up being a cow. Yes a cow and you will have to read. This is how well Zandri had me going. (hey don’t laugh, read the book and tell me if I am wrong!)
Captain Angel, in his real life beyond being an officer in the Army reserves (I think it is the Army but I tend to think everyone is due to my former life as an Army wife).. anyway in his life before his touring in Afghanistan, he is a well known novelist and his fiance, Grace, painter. Each brings their tools of creation to capture not only the “grace” of their former professional lives back, but to re-capture their life together. It is a beautiful love story. One which when Grace disappears and leaves CPT Angel stumbling blind, forces him to find a way back to living with sight, both outward and within his own psyche. He slowly begins to realize grace comes from within.
A fluid story moving you along at a quick and rhythmic pace. A story device many authors of mystery and suspense novels use and one that the can be seen in many of the stylistic consistencies, recurring theme, the narrowed and focused “view” (or lack thereof) of our narrator and protagonist Captain Nick Angel, and his life without sight. What I found interesting and what prompted me to notice some of these things was the synopsis mentioning the Hitchcokian flavor of suspense. If we are to address the novel from an auteur theory story wise, the above rings true. But I am getting a bit deep and though many of these things can easily be put upon the story I do not want to lose you as a reader so I will wrap my review up with a few main points.
A few things I did not like? The character development of Grace and CPT Angel was so strong and complete the rest of the cast was ignored to much. Supporting characters do not need to be as developed but they were not developed enough, or the right characters were not, meaning the story was a bit unbalanced at times. Perhaps this was another way to keep us as unbalanced as Nick was? But I do not think it was such, I think that I maybe giving to much to what is meant to be a simple contribution to the mystery genre.
Does this mean it is not a good book? Oh definitely not, it is a great book. I liked it. I would not give it a five star rating, I liked it, not loved it. It did not release the kraken crooning, glitter and bacon smothered Goddess within me, but it did make me think and give me pause while reading. I truly enjoyed the cleverness and beauty of this tale. It had an age old feeling, much like the sinking city of Venice. Kind of like a street side painting, not hanging in the Louvre but still worth stopping to pay attention to and purchasing to enjoy even further.
Disappearance of Grace is a fast paced read with many layers which can be read at leisure at a summer rental on the cape, or in the coffee-house on your lunch hour over a week or perhaps hiding from your family over your holidays. It can also be read if you want to do some Fischer Price analytics of the Mystery genre. Which ever you choose I think you will enjoy this tale. I think it would actually make a great Book Club book actually! (since we are talking book clubs too this week here).
I am giving this a 3.75 star. Not quite a 4 star and not even a 3.5 star. So when I go and put this up on Amazon and Goodreads it will be a 4 star but here at the Cabin, it is Allllllllllllllmost there! Which is still a win! I liked it! Definitely not the pants and not quite of the festive nature of the Cabin. It is a read with my tea mid day. Just right.
December 14, 2012
The Disappearance of Grace is a gripping psychological thriller that will keep you riveted on the edge of your seat as you turn the pages. Written in the first person narrative, author Vincent Zandri weaves a fascinating tale of one man's inner struggles of dealing with PTSD and intermittent blindness from his time served in Afghanistan. And if that isn't bad enough, his fiancee disappears from an outdoor cafe in Venice right in front of him and he didn't see it happen because of his blindness. Did Grace really disappear, or did she simply walk away from Nick? How will Nick search for Grace with his intermittent blindness? Did he have something to do with her disappearance? These and many more questions are what you will think about when you read The Disappearance of Grace!
From the very first page this story captivated my attention and I knew I was in for one heck of a roller coaster ride. Author Vincent Zandri has a masterful style of writing that draws the read into Nick's story and the mystery of Grace's disappearance. Rich in detail and vivid descriptions, the plot grips you with its intense twists and turns, it keeps you in suspense and guessing what will happen next. The chapters are short quick reads with cliffhanger clues that beckon the reader to continue on to the next chapter, it is simply an addicting and suspenseful mystery thriller that will completely engage your imagination and provide you with an adrenaline rush.
I couldn't help but feel for Nick and his continuous ordeal of reliving his horrific time in Afghanistan. His flashbacks provide the reader with insight into his internal struggle and will leave your emotions raw and spent. I loved the balance of mystery and romance that is interwoven in the story, you can feel the love that Nick and Grace feel for each other, while they also struggle to deal with his infirmities, it is simply heart wrenching.
With realistic characters; engaging dialogue and interactions; and a riveting intense storyline that will keep you guessing until the end; The Disappearance of Grace is a compelling story that is a must read! This story is so haunting, it will resonate with you long after the last words have been read.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
From the very first page this story captivated my attention and I knew I was in for one heck of a roller coaster ride. Author Vincent Zandri has a masterful style of writing that draws the read into Nick's story and the mystery of Grace's disappearance. Rich in detail and vivid descriptions, the plot grips you with its intense twists and turns, it keeps you in suspense and guessing what will happen next. The chapters are short quick reads with cliffhanger clues that beckon the reader to continue on to the next chapter, it is simply an addicting and suspenseful mystery thriller that will completely engage your imagination and provide you with an adrenaline rush.
I couldn't help but feel for Nick and his continuous ordeal of reliving his horrific time in Afghanistan. His flashbacks provide the reader with insight into his internal struggle and will leave your emotions raw and spent. I loved the balance of mystery and romance that is interwoven in the story, you can feel the love that Nick and Grace feel for each other, while they also struggle to deal with his infirmities, it is simply heart wrenching.
With realistic characters; engaging dialogue and interactions; and a riveting intense storyline that will keep you guessing until the end; The Disappearance of Grace is a compelling story that is a must read! This story is so haunting, it will resonate with you long after the last words have been read.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
November 3, 2012
Nick Angel is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. He knows that the stress is directly related to his last mission in Afghanistan. The psychological and emotional stress is causing a physiological response, transient blindness. His stress is also causing stress on his relationship with his fiancée, Grace Blunt. Nick loves Grace and he knows that she loves him in return, but their reunion is not without its own stress . . . namely Grace's infidelity. But they are both willing to work through the stress and place more of an emphasis on their love for one another. The stress is cranked up a few notches when a somewhat nefarious character, the man in the overcoat, seems to follow them around Venice. His constant appearance puts Grace on edge and Nick is unable to soothe her anxiety. And then Grace disappears. The police and the US Embassy don't seem to be mounting much of an investigation as they feel that Grace probably just walked away. Nick's off-and-on vision doesn't help the situation. No one seems to believe Nick's assumption that the man in the overcoat has taken Grace, except Giovanni the waiter. Who is the man in the overcoat? What do the phone calls with the repeated message "I See" really mean? Can Nick get the authorities to take him serious in time to save Grace? Will Nick's vision ever fully return?
The Disappearance of Grace is about more than the purported abduction of Grace. Grace Blunt disappears along with Nick's peace of mind. His peace and inner "grace" are in constant turmoil by the actions taken during his last mission in Afghanistan as much as by the disappearance of his fiancée. Given the fact he cannot rely upon his vision for prolonged periods of time, he must rely upon the kindness of strangers, such as Giovanni. The story takes a few psychological twists and turns with the "visions" Nick has while dreaming. Each vision reveals more and more about his feelings about Afghanistan and his love toward Grace. The characters and the action are very believable and there are just enough layers to the story to keep you guessing until the end. The Disappearance of Grace is a quick read and one that I can recommend for readers that enjoy psychological thrillers.
The Disappearance of Grace is about more than the purported abduction of Grace. Grace Blunt disappears along with Nick's peace of mind. His peace and inner "grace" are in constant turmoil by the actions taken during his last mission in Afghanistan as much as by the disappearance of his fiancée. Given the fact he cannot rely upon his vision for prolonged periods of time, he must rely upon the kindness of strangers, such as Giovanni. The story takes a few psychological twists and turns with the "visions" Nick has while dreaming. Each vision reveals more and more about his feelings about Afghanistan and his love toward Grace. The characters and the action are very believable and there are just enough layers to the story to keep you guessing until the end. The Disappearance of Grace is a quick read and one that I can recommend for readers that enjoy psychological thrillers.
December 5, 2012
Almost from the beginning, I was drawn into this book and did not want to put it down. I love a good mystery, and although this is more along the lines of thriller/espionage/spy, it is extremely well-written. This is the way a good mystery book should be written. The reader is kept in the dark with only fuzzy moments of light until we reach the conclusion. And in many ways, there are still ends that need to be tied up, but the conclusion is quite satisfying. There were twists, turns, and so much more. This is not a happy-go-lucky book, but you will certainly find romance if you look for it. The author will keep you off balance until the end, but the bumpy ride is well worth it.
One thing that intrigued me above all else was the fact that PTSD can cause blindness. I had never heard of this, and it prompted me to even look it up. It was also good to see the author be supportive of our U.S. military even in light of an unpopular war. Although the true intent of the book may not have been to build up the military, it still accomplished that purpose. All too often, we Americans take our freedom for granted, and the recurring vision/dream experienced by the main character should certainly prove to make us thankful for the country in which we live.
The negatives are barely worth mentioning, but in keeping with my review philosophy, I need to let my readers new of a couple potential issues. There is some profanity in the book, but I am happy to report that it is not nearly as widespread as most books in this genre. While there are no bedroom scenes, the morals are sometimes a little loose. Again, I was not truly offended. Honestly, there is nothing else negative to report. This is a book that is a quick read for those who love a good mystery!
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, an all opinions are 100 percent mine.
One thing that intrigued me above all else was the fact that PTSD can cause blindness. I had never heard of this, and it prompted me to even look it up. It was also good to see the author be supportive of our U.S. military even in light of an unpopular war. Although the true intent of the book may not have been to build up the military, it still accomplished that purpose. All too often, we Americans take our freedom for granted, and the recurring vision/dream experienced by the main character should certainly prove to make us thankful for the country in which we live.
The negatives are barely worth mentioning, but in keeping with my review philosophy, I need to let my readers new of a couple potential issues. There is some profanity in the book, but I am happy to report that it is not nearly as widespread as most books in this genre. While there are no bedroom scenes, the morals are sometimes a little loose. Again, I was not truly offended. Honestly, there is nothing else negative to report. This is a book that is a quick read for those who love a good mystery!
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, an all opinions are 100 percent mine.
November 20, 2012
When I first started reading this, I thought that the title referred to the actually physical disappearance of someone, but it was much more than that. Nick, because of his PTSD blindness, suffers the disappearance of Grace, his fiancee, every time the blindness hits him. I also thought that he was feeling her disappear a little whenever he thought about her infidelity or her frustration with him being temporarily blind.
As he is struggling with his actions in Afghanistan and trying to come to grips psychologically with why he is suffering blindness, Grace begins to notice the same bearded, black-eyed man who seems to be stalking them. Combined with some weird phone calls, her anxiety level is also increased - until she seemingly disappears one day while they are out to lunch. Nick is in one of his blind spells, so doesn't realize at first that she is gone. After involving the police, they seem to think she might have just walked away from him, not been abducted. The longer she is gone, the more frustrated Nick becomes, both with his blindness and the apparent lack of police involvement.
This book definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. From Nick's descriptions of what happened in Afghanistan to trying to piece together the clues to Grace's disappearance, I couldn't finish the book fast enough. It was quick paced, as even during Nick's blind times when he needs to sleep, he has very active dreams that are shared with the readers. These dreams are usually vivid recollections of the airstrike he ordered, but they also become interspersed with dreams of Grace and what might have happened to her.
I would recommend this to anyone who would like a relatively quick read that enjoys psychological thrillers.
As he is struggling with his actions in Afghanistan and trying to come to grips psychologically with why he is suffering blindness, Grace begins to notice the same bearded, black-eyed man who seems to be stalking them. Combined with some weird phone calls, her anxiety level is also increased - until she seemingly disappears one day while they are out to lunch. Nick is in one of his blind spells, so doesn't realize at first that she is gone. After involving the police, they seem to think she might have just walked away from him, not been abducted. The longer she is gone, the more frustrated Nick becomes, both with his blindness and the apparent lack of police involvement.
This book definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. From Nick's descriptions of what happened in Afghanistan to trying to piece together the clues to Grace's disappearance, I couldn't finish the book fast enough. It was quick paced, as even during Nick's blind times when he needs to sleep, he has very active dreams that are shared with the readers. These dreams are usually vivid recollections of the airstrike he ordered, but they also become interspersed with dreams of Grace and what might have happened to her.
I would recommend this to anyone who would like a relatively quick read that enjoys psychological thrillers.
December 10, 2012
I am quietly reflecting the book I have just completed. I'm not sure what I want to share with my fellow readers. I can tell you this story is gripping and so very hard to put down once you start it. At least it was for me. There are eighty two chapters, but most are short and fast. The tale is told in first person narrative from the perspective of Captain Nick Angel.
He's survived the fight in Afghanistan with the exception of one night, when he ordered a strike against an Afghan village. That night mars his survival and causes a temporary PTSD blindness that comes and goes, not always at the most opportune times. He and his fiancee', Grace Blunt, are spending a month in Venice Italy to assist in his recovery. But their time in Venice is filled with anything but rest and relaxation. Grace Blunt becomes his eyes when they arrive, but she also notices a man in an overcoat who seems to be following them, or at the very least, he is everywhere they are. His constant staring at the couple and Grace in particular is very unsettling and in a moment's time, Grace vanishes into thin air.
This book is truly haunting and will stay with you long after you have closed the covers. I love a good thriller/ suspense novel and The Disappearance of Grace fulfilled every need I had in a novel of that nature. If you love suspense , if you love a thriller, and a well written and thought out book, You MUST read The Disappearance of Grace .
It was an amazing read!
He's survived the fight in Afghanistan with the exception of one night, when he ordered a strike against an Afghan village. That night mars his survival and causes a temporary PTSD blindness that comes and goes, not always at the most opportune times. He and his fiancee', Grace Blunt, are spending a month in Venice Italy to assist in his recovery. But their time in Venice is filled with anything but rest and relaxation. Grace Blunt becomes his eyes when they arrive, but she also notices a man in an overcoat who seems to be following them, or at the very least, he is everywhere they are. His constant staring at the couple and Grace in particular is very unsettling and in a moment's time, Grace vanishes into thin air.
This book is truly haunting and will stay with you long after you have closed the covers. I love a good thriller/ suspense novel and The Disappearance of Grace fulfilled every need I had in a novel of that nature. If you love suspense , if you love a thriller, and a well written and thought out book, You MUST read The Disappearance of Grace .
It was an amazing read!
December 13, 2012
The Disappearance of Grace by Vincent Zandri is the second book I have read and reviewed by this author. As with Scream Catcher, this book had me immersed right from the first page.
Captain Nick Angel has been sent to Venice to recuperate from PTSD from a stint in Afghanistan, that has caused blindness to occur off and on. The doctor's do not know why he is having this problem but feel some rest and relaxation would heal him. They have his girlfriend Grace meet him in Venice where they hope to rekindle their feelings for each other and just be together.
The story goes from what happened on the last day Nick was in Afghanistan to being with Grace. Sitting in an open cafe one day, Grace remarks that there is a man watching them. This happens a few times all when Nick is not able to see, then one day Grace just disappears from the table and is whisked away. Nick is of course panicked and with the aid of a waiter, is able to report her missing. Police are at first skeptical and really do not believe that Grace was kidnapped. In Afghanistan Nick ordered the bombing of a village where known terrorists were. In this attack was a little boy who was killed and Nick can not get this out of his mind and he dreams of this all the time.
This well written story is one of those that you are not really sure what will happen next and the reader does not know just what to believe until the ending. Then it makes sense. I enjoyed it and highly recommend it. Great book!
Captain Nick Angel has been sent to Venice to recuperate from PTSD from a stint in Afghanistan, that has caused blindness to occur off and on. The doctor's do not know why he is having this problem but feel some rest and relaxation would heal him. They have his girlfriend Grace meet him in Venice where they hope to rekindle their feelings for each other and just be together.
The story goes from what happened on the last day Nick was in Afghanistan to being with Grace. Sitting in an open cafe one day, Grace remarks that there is a man watching them. This happens a few times all when Nick is not able to see, then one day Grace just disappears from the table and is whisked away. Nick is of course panicked and with the aid of a waiter, is able to report her missing. Police are at first skeptical and really do not believe that Grace was kidnapped. In Afghanistan Nick ordered the bombing of a village where known terrorists were. In this attack was a little boy who was killed and Nick can not get this out of his mind and he dreams of this all the time.
This well written story is one of those that you are not really sure what will happen next and the reader does not know just what to believe until the ending. Then it makes sense. I enjoyed it and highly recommend it. Great book!
December 17, 2012
While fighting in Afghanistan, Nick orders the attack on a small village. The killing a young boy in the village leaves him with temporary blindness that comes and goes. To recover, the Army sends him to Venice for a month to be reunited with his fiancee, Grace, who he hasn't seen in a year.
While Nick and Grace are at an outdoor cafe, Grace disappears. Did she abandon Nick? Was she kidnapped and, if so, by who? The police suspect that Grace has had enough and left Nick. So with intermittent blindness, Nick does what he can to find her on his own. In the meantime, he is getting phone calls where the caller just says, "I see."
I found the writing style a bit more stilted than I'm used to so it took me a while ('til the first third of the book) to get used to it. After that, I was fine with it. The chapters were short and snappy (sometimes just a page) which I like.
The author did a good job with Nick's character. I could feel Nick's pain and regret in killing the young boy and his desperation in finding Grace. Despite his intermittent blindness, he never gives up.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2012/12...
While Nick and Grace are at an outdoor cafe, Grace disappears. Did she abandon Nick? Was she kidnapped and, if so, by who? The police suspect that Grace has had enough and left Nick. So with intermittent blindness, Nick does what he can to find her on his own. In the meantime, he is getting phone calls where the caller just says, "I see."
I found the writing style a bit more stilted than I'm used to so it took me a while ('til the first third of the book) to get used to it. After that, I was fine with it. The chapters were short and snappy (sometimes just a page) which I like.
The author did a good job with Nick's character. I could feel Nick's pain and regret in killing the young boy and his desperation in finding Grace. Despite his intermittent blindness, he never gives up.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2012/12...
November 8, 2012
The Disappearance of Grace was a story about a woman who is kidnapped from right beneath her fiance's nose. He never even saw the event because of his temporary blindness. Captain Nick then embarks on a search through Venice for his missing fiance. Who can he trust? Who does he trust? Is everything as it appears? Did she really get abducted? Perhaps she chose to leave - was running from something? There are so many different directions the story could have taken. The author masterfully created the characters in the Disappearance of Grace. The story also includes tremendous sadness due to Captain Nick's past in the war and the horrible events that happened there - under his command - and senseless. He has recurrent dreams about a child that was killed in one particular series of bombings and raids.
The conclusion is not at all what you would expect it to be based on the events and characters. But it all makes sense in the end. Overall I would rate this book at a 4.5 and would absolutely read similar type stories or follow-ups by this author.
This book was provided to me by Partners In Crime (book tours). All opinions are honest and mine - good or bad.
The conclusion is not at all what you would expect it to be based on the events and characters. But it all makes sense in the end. Overall I would rate this book at a 4.5 and would absolutely read similar type stories or follow-ups by this author.
This book was provided to me by Partners In Crime (book tours). All opinions are honest and mine - good or bad.
April 15, 2016
Nick Angel is suffering from PTSD related blindness. He his struggling with the decisions he made and how he is forever affected by them. Nick is trying to regain his sight, permanently, when Grace disappears. Nick is the obvious suspect and at times I was questioning his sanity. Nick fights to get the local police to follow the lead of the mysterious man. Through Grace's disappearance Nick is forced to face his demons. Doing so may lead him to Grace and his sight.
Grace is a tough cookie. She wants what's best for Nick and she doesn't allow him to use his vision loss as an excuse. It's easy to tell that she is in it for the long haul and truly loves Nick, despite her indiscretion.
After reading the first sentence I knew I was going to love this read. I was not anticipating this read to be heart wrenching. The flashbacks brought great insight to Nick's internal struggle and the strength of his and Grace's love for each other. They also left me emotional and raw.
Grace is a tough cookie. She wants what's best for Nick and she doesn't allow him to use his vision loss as an excuse. It's easy to tell that she is in it for the long haul and truly loves Nick, despite her indiscretion.
After reading the first sentence I knew I was going to love this read. I was not anticipating this read to be heart wrenching. The flashbacks brought great insight to Nick's internal struggle and the strength of his and Grace's love for each other. They also left me emotional and raw.
December 22, 2012
Another suspense filled book by Vincent Zandri. First let me say that, thanks to Partners in Crime, I've discovered the wonders of Vincent Zandri. He's an amazing author who is a master at keeping his reader's on the edge of their seats. I loved the characters and I wanted to know what was going on. I must admit, I didn't trust any of the characters. I wasn't sure where this was going. The story really kept you guessing.
It's a fast-paced read that you will absolutely not want to put down. You will want to keep reading until that very last page is turned. This is a wonderful book to spend an afternoon with especially during the winter when we can all use a good read. This is it!
FTC Disclosure: The author provided me with a copy of this book to review. This did not influence my thoughts and opinions in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
It's a fast-paced read that you will absolutely not want to put down. You will want to keep reading until that very last page is turned. This is a wonderful book to spend an afternoon with especially during the winter when we can all use a good read. This is it!
FTC Disclosure: The author provided me with a copy of this book to review. This did not influence my thoughts and opinions in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
April 1, 2014
The mystery was the only thing that kept me reading this book. The character development was non-existent, and there were so many spelling and punctuation errors I wanted to throw my Kindle across the room every other page (or click on the Kindle). Drove me crazy. Honestly, I finished it only because I wanted to know how it ended, but I wished several times I hadn't wasted my time in the first place.
March 13, 2016
I mostly read this book in snippets a week apart in waiting rooms, yet it was compelling enough that I was able to re-engage each time I picked it back up. Although even with that going on for me, I still noticed a few times it seemed a bit too repetitive with the "but wait, let's review what's happened so far!" moments.
February 23, 2016
This book was awful. It had an interesting premise which kept me interested for the first halfand then suddenly went to bits. The prose and writing style is exceptionally good - it kept me going despite a paper thin plot.
I wouldnt recommend this to anyone - unless they are really bored and need a quick read.
My stars are purely for the lovely first quarterof the book and the language.
I wouldnt recommend this to anyone - unless they are really bored and need a quick read.
My stars are purely for the lovely first quarterof the book and the language.
May 17, 2013
Nick suffers from PTSD from Afghanistan war, he is on and off blind trying to recoup in Venice. Then is fiancé is kidnapped right in front of him. This book talks about love and what some people will do for love.
August 5, 2014
Although I thought Nick was interesting, and wanted to hear more about his story, I could not care less about Grace. I wanted to slap her. Since I did not give two sh*** about Grace, I had no interest in whether or not she appeared again, and I stopped reading.
February 25, 2013
Loved this book. A lot of twists with excellent suspense. Will have to try more books from this author.
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