Vanishing Act

By: Thomas Perry

Narrated by: Joyce Bean

Length: 10 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

Jane Whitefield is a Native American guide who leads solitary outcasts through hostile territory to escape the vengeance of their enemies. But the shaded forest paths her Seneca ancestors might have followed on such missions have all been converted to superhighways, and now the safest way stations are crowded urban buildings that offer the camouflage of anonymity. Still, the supply of runaways - and the need for a woman who will take great risks to save them - have never been greater.

Jane knows all the tricks; in fact, she has invented several of them herself in the ten years she has been teaching fugitives to live with new identities. Many of her clients have been innocent people whom the institutions of society have been too slow and cumbersome to protect, but an increasing number have been like the gambler Harry Kemple: people who aren't especially admirable but who aren't bad enough to deserve to die prematurely.

Jane opens her door to find in her house an uninvited visitor named John Felker, the latest to run to her for sanctuary. Felker is not like the others Jane has helped, and everything about him is disquieting. He doesn't even know whom he is running from - only that whoever is framing him as an embezzler has already circulated an open contract in the prison system for his death. Maybe his problems began years ago, when he was a policeman; a good cop makes an enemy with each arrest. But perhaps he is still a policeman and has invented precisely the right story to entrap Jane. Or perhaps he is something even worse.

The unexpected guest draws this exceptional woman into an adventure of mystery, love and sacrifice, betrayal and vengeance, and propels her on a pursuit that takes her from the night streets of Los Angeles and Vancouver to the dark, unexplored regions of her own mind.

©2008 Thomas Perry (P)2009 Tantor

Great unique story line

A bit short and maybe underdeveloped characters. But first in series, so I know it will develop into a richer story.

Sharp, clever, fresh and fun.

I really enjoyed this mystery. It was sharp, clever, fresh and fun. I didn't see the plot twists coming, or anticipate the resolution. I'd read more by this author.

Very pleasantly surprised!

I’m going to sound like a jerk, I never listen to books narrated by women, I only tried this one because of the author. I’m not a woman hater by any means but all the ones I’ve previously tried to listen to I get 3-4 chapters in and can’t take it. I don’t know if it’s the over dramatized reading or what but it usually gets the book returned. This narrator I would listen to anytime!
The storyline was great! Loved the history lessons it had, I will definitely try another!

Great story

Loved the capable heroine. Fast forwarded over the detailed love scene. Twists and turns to the plot. Exciting action scenes. Totally understand the revulsion of American Indians for "Christianity" but did not care for the pagan religion either. Fast forwarded past the dreams except for the one with the dead mother comforting her living daughter.

I usually dislike women readers, but Joyce Bean excellent.

The repeating of several sentence fragments other reviewers have complained about no big deal. Infrequent.

Good read

Blends Native American Culture with mystery, suspense, intrigue, and romance. I will read more books by this author!

Love this author. Great narration.

very well written. well narrated. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. very smoothly performed. very well done.

No Butcher's Girl

Big disappointment after the Butcher's Boy series and Metzger's Dog. I found the main character totally lacking credibility and was totally put off by the indian mystique part.

The narration is overall ok but very inept and irritating when it comes to male voices.

Great, Unique Storyline

Narrator is great. Story is very good, quite different from typical mysteries. Jane Whitefield is a neat character - indian who helps people disappear. This is the first book. Worth the listen!

Fun thriller

Although this novel is pretty outdated for a thriller of this sort, I still enjoyed the fun one-liners, the random native american facts, and the main characters. And, although I was able to guess the ending by the middle of the book, it still left me biting my nails.

Well done.

Very enjoyable story with a nice twist. Narrator does a good job with good pacing.
I plan on listening to more by this author.