Vanished

Truth always sounds like lies to a sinner.

Kendra Elliot
Vanished

Format:
Audible. Available to borrow via Kindle Unlimited with audio included. If you don’t have KU, this is one of those audios that’s less expensive to buy the ebook & add audio. Less than $6 for both at the time of this review.

Publisher’s Synopsis:
When an 11-year-old is abducted on her way to school, the FBI doesn’t waste a moment, sending agents to scour the area and embedding Special Agent Ava McLane with the distraught family. In the eye of the storm is local detective Mason Callahan, whose life is crumbling to pieces – he’s related to the victim, and his longtime confidential informant has just been murdered.

Both he and Agent McLane hole up in the victim’s family home. Every second counts in a kidnapping case, and the stakes keep rising the longer the girl is missing. As Ava and Mason struggle to hold the family together in their darkest hour, the two investigators find themselves drawn to each other.

Point of view:
3rd person. Alternating perspectives, not always by chapter, but it’s clearly defined. The majority of the book is either from Mason or Ava’s perspective. There are several scenes from the abductor/killer’s POV and a few from secondary characters.

Rellim’s Thoughts:
I listened to and enjoyed the entire Bone Secrets series and it was time to move on to Callahan & McLane. Mason Callahan plays a background but regular role in many of the Bone Secrets novels as an Oregon State Patrol detective. Though I think you could start with Vanished and not be confused or lost in any way, several characters make small appearances throughout this series.

In Vanished Mason is introduced to FBI Special Agent, Ava McClane, when she’s called in to assist in investigating the kidnapping of a young family member. This partially mystery, a lot procedural with suspense, with a little romance thrown in. All done really well. The romance aspect is still in its infancy and definitely an HFN, but I expect we’ll get to see that bloom over the next few books.

Narration:
Dual narration. I was honestly a little nervous about Nick Podehl & Amy McFadden because I tend to think of them as NA narrators and the MCs are mid-30s & early 40s. I didn’t have any trouble with either of their narrations and am looking forward to their being involved with the entire series.

Trigger Warnings (possible spoilers):
A child & two young adults are abducted. Adult murdered by bludgeoning. Details of the abductions & murders are thoroughly and frequently discussed.

My Favorite Quotes

Truth always sounds like lies to a sinner. – Vanished by Kendra Elliot @amymcnarrator & Nick Podehl #CallahanMcLane

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Have you ever loved someone, and the existence of that emotion was completely out of your control? Someone who knows you inside and out? Someone who is closer to you than anyone else in the world? That deep-down soul connection where you physically feel them moving about in the world? – Vanished by Kendra Elliot @amymcnarrator & Nick Podehl #CallahanMcLane

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This was full-steam-ahead, how-hard-can-we-shake-the-bed sex coming up. – Vanished by Kendra Elliot @amymcnarrator & Nick Podehl #CallahanMcLane

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