The Disappearance [Paperback]

J. F. Freedman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1999

By the New York Times bestselling author of Key Witness

A shocking crime...An explosive trial...An electrifying novel of suspense ...

A young girl's disappearance leads defense attorney Luke Garrison to suspect something far more disturbing than an open-and-shut case of abduction and murder--a crime so shocking it will tear one family apart...and divide one town against itself.

Legal suspense in the bestselling tradition of Scott Turow

"A page-burner!"-Publishers Weekly

"Completely engrossing...You won't want to put this book down for a second."--Detroit News and Free Press

"Plenty of twists and turns in this portrait of corruption and evil in a small town."--Chicago Tribune

"Filled with pathos and grit...top entertainment."--Midwest Book Review

"Powerful...gripping...surprising."--Publishers Weekly

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

After forays into the coming-of-age (The Obstacle Course) and PI (House of Smoke) genres, Freedman seems to have settled back, with last year's Key Witness and this new novel, into the sort of rambunctious legal thriller that made his reputation with his debut, Against the Wind. That book has been his high water mark, critically and commercially, and his new novel is unlikely to match it, despite a powerful premise, exciting plotting both in and out of the courtroom and Freedman's usual muscular prose. The opening here is immensely gripping: a teenage girl is apparently kidnapped from her Santa Barbara, Calif., bedroom during a slumber party, her wealthy family deals with the devastation of her disappearance, her body is found and, a year later, a hotshot TV newscaster is arrested for the killing. Freedman handles this sensitive material?obviously inspired by the real-life kidnap-slaying of Polly Klass?freshly and with appropriate gravity. He takes a turn toward the routine, however, when he introduces his hero, attorney Luke Garrison, whose very contrariness?he's a former DA who has fled to the woods in shame over a past failure, who rides a hog and sports a goatee and a ruby stud in his ear?makes him just one more dashing antihero. Luke agrees to defend the newscaster, plunging himself and his hot-blooded girlfriend/assistant into an adrenalized investigation and trial full of false leads, twists and brushes with death, all of which Freedman handles skillfully, other than pointing a blatant finger at the dead girl's father as the real culprit. So the ultimate unmasking of the killer comes as no big surprise, although Freedman's lurid handling of it is surprising?and, some might say, exploitative, as this talented writer turns what begins as a worthy re-imagining of a brutal tragedy into a histrionic page-burner. Literary Guild, Doubleday Book Club and Mystery Guild selections.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Freedman (Key Witness, Dutton, 1997) has written another legal thriller, this time chronicling the disappearance and murder of the 14-year-old daughter of a wealthy Santa Barbara family. Luke Garrison is the unbelievable hero, a former district attorney who abandoned the legal system when he found himself a party to injustice. Now Luke has been persuaded to come back and defend the accused murderer. But he finds himself opposing all of his old colleagues, who have mixed emotions about his return. The case is an enigma, too. The facts don't add up, and there's evidence of child sexual abuse and adultery in this prominent family. Luke is able to demonstrate that he's still at the top of his game, and, with a little help from his friends, he solves the case. The novel reads very quickly, although it begins to feel very long and overly dramatic during the trial scenes. For larger collections.
-?Katherine E.A. Sorci, IIT Research Inst., Annapolis, MD
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Signet; 1 edition (September 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451197429
• ISBN-13: 978-0451197429
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #274,468 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #95 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Mystery & Thrillers > Thrillers > Legal

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE DISAPPEARNACE is a winner!!, August 19, 2000

By 

P. Legerski (Corona, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Disappearance (Paperback)

Having been a fan of Mr. Freedman's since AGAINST THE WIND, this book, THE DISAPPEARANCE is easily his best. The author has learned how to keep us guessing and bring in a taut well-written thriller that is chock full of surprises and intense moments!

Luke Garrison left Santa Barbara after a person he prosecuted, who was later to be found innocent, died by the State. Living in Northernmost California, he is living a secluded lifestyle...until an old friend comes up to see him. Seems a prominent family's daughter had been kidnapped and murdered over a year ago and the cops just made an arrest. The community has him convicted already and would Luke like to come back to his old city and defend the alleged??

The story has a bunch of misery and family secrets throughout and Freedman releases details slowly and surely. Once you think you know what's going on...he twists something and you are off on another chase!

Freedman has turned in his best book to date that is tight and easy to follow. The turns in the plot, the characters and the courtroom scenes come alive. A brilliant book! Now I'm going to read ABOVE THE LAW!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clear your calendar before you start this book!, August 15, 2000

By 

"justicewriter" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Disappearance (Paperback)

You'll need free time until you're finished, because you won't want to put it down!

This is a great read, a courtroom drama and murder mystery that keeps you guessing until the final scenes unfold.

The backbone of the book is the wonderfully drawn characters, especially Luke and Riva. Luke is the one-time prosecutor defending the man everyone thinks is guilty. His motivations are complex and finely drawn by an author with a gift for emotional details, the kind that make a character stand up off the page and come alive.

The roller-coaster ride plot takes you behind the thin veneer of a rich Santa Barbara family, into the dark corners and locked closets of their lives...the places they want no one to see. Their beautiful, innocent 14-year old daughter has been murdered. But how innocent was she?

Freedman earns high marks as a mystery maestro, a true craftsman of the genre. If you like the well-drawn characters of Richard North Patterson and the courtroom pyrotechnics of early John Grisham, you've gotta read The Disappearance!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BOOK OF THE CENTURY!, December 16, 1999

By 

Roy Byrd (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Disappearance (Paperback)

The disappearance is a thrilling book that anyone who loves mysteries should read. I have read and I own all of John Grisham's books and I must admit that I thought that no one was better than John Grisham. This book is full of secrets, a lot of bone chilling secrets. You don't find out about them til you are at the end of the book. One would think that you will never know who the real killer is but when you find out you will be absolutely shocked and you will shake your head in disbelief. If you plan to read this book you better have a lot of coffee so you be able to stay up all night. You will absolutely love this book if you love to read mysteries.