Vanished

The Gwen St. James Affair, Book One

By: Nicole McKeon

Narrated by: Teralyn Davis

Length: 10 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

The Dresden Files meets The Parasol Protectorate in the first book of this clever, fast-paced gaslamp fantasy series about a woman ahead of her time who knows too much about magic, and not enough about self-control.

Eccentric social outcast Lady Gwenevere St. James knows many secret things: magic, alchemy, artifice, and even the truth about the long-forgotten faeries. But she does not know why common criminals are using rare and dangerous magic to kidnap orphans from the streets of New London.

After rescuing one young girl, Gwen vows to save the rest, no matter the cost. But a handsome inspector from Scotland Yard is also investigating the case, and he thinks Gwen knows far too much about the kidnappings to be innocent.

To save the children, Gwen must dodge the inspector, bully a coven of witches, and outsmart her marriage-minded mama, all while managing a wily young pickpocket and a headstrong raven. But an unexpected secret hides at the center of the mystery, one that will force her to confront the most painful event from her past, and possibly sacrifice her future.

©2023 Nicole York (P)2023 Tower Room Publishing

Please add the others!

This turned out to be a very enjoyable listen. I didn’t have high expectations to begin with, but found myself really enjoying the book. The narration is good with a variety of voices and the narrator did well with both male and female characters. The world is interesting and the pacing good. The story is pure entertainment. Not too dark but not fluffy either. I’m really hoping the rest of the series gets added.

Awesome narration--great read.

I read Vanished and listened to the audio sample. I liked the voice and style of the narrator, Teralyn Davis, so I got it. The book is a gem, and the audio performance is transcendent. Davis is perfection in her interpretation, bringing it to life with a skill that matches McKeon's writing.

Vanished is an exciting adventure through a fantasy re-imagining of Edwardian England, and Gwen St. James is an exciting female version of Sherlock Holmes, using her acute powers of perception and a deep knowledge of magic to solve the mysterious kidnappings of young girls in New London. A strong plot, great characterization, and detailed settings makes this a must read, and the strength of the narrator makes it a thrilling listen.

I have followed McKean's writing since the publication of the Laws of Founding. She will be one of our great fantasy writers, I am sure.

I feel privileged to have watched her journey into authorhood.

Really great

I loved so much about this! It reminded me a bit of the Veronica Speedwell books, but with a fantasy bent. It’s a bit too dark to be classified as cozy, but it wasn’t overly gritty either. My only issue with it was that the pace seemed a bit slow at times. I can’t really put my finger on why. It was one I was able to easily put down several times, yet I thoroughly enjoyed it while I was listening. I’ll eagerly keep an eye out for book 2.