Where did she go: A Christmas Vanishing (Anne Perry)

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Anne Perry wrote many Christmas novellas, beginning with A Christmas Journey in 2003. Each features a character from one of her book series. This time, the focus is on Mariah Ellison. Readers of the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series know her as Charlotte’s grandmother. She is an elderly woman in this title and is reflecting on her life, attitudes and actions. This makes the book feel a bit elegiac and indeed, I think that this may have been Perry’s last book as she died not long ago.

Mariah goes to visit an old friend. She arrives travel worn only to find her friend is not there and the husband far less than welcoming. It takes a bit of time before Mariah finds a comfortable berth in the village where she once lived. She then tries to ferret out her friend’s whereabouts and fate.

What happened to Sadie? Did she go somewhere voluntarily? Why is her husband not more concerned? Has he harmed his spouse? Mariah will try her best to find out.

This book is set in the festive season. I very much enjoyed it. It reminds me of the many reasons that the author’s death was a true source of sadness for those who love historical mysteries.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing-Ballentine for this title. All opinions are my own.