Vanish with the Rose [Mass Market Paperback]

Barbara Michaels (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 30, 2008

Fearing for the safety of her missing brother, lawyer Diana Reed will do anything to get to the truth. Taking a job as a landscape architect at the last place Brad was seen—the sprawling estate where he worked as a caretaker—she prowls the strange old house determined to unlock its secrets. But each mystery Diana uncovers is more unsettling than the last, as odd visions, scents, and sounds pervade an atmosphere of dread and barely suppressed violence. And in her zealous search for answers, she may have inadvertently opened a door to something frightening and deadly that can never be closed again.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The prolific Michaels ( Into the Darkness ) sets off her latest high-voltage mystery the instant Diana Reed, a shrewd and determined lawyer, appears at the Nicholson estate in Maryland as their new landscape architect. Diana is actually searching for her younger brother Brad, who disappeared eight months earlier while working as caretaker for the estate's previous owner, Miss Musser. With considerable guile and a superficial knowledge of roses, Diana charms the Nicholsons into leaving her in charge of their manor for several weeks. Flying into action and dropping her disguise, she enlists the aid of Mary Jo, the feisty cleaning woman/student who once had an affair with Brad. Other allies are found in Walt Slade, the industrious, provocative gardener, and Andy Davis, Mrs. Nicholson's inept yet endearing son. The four disparate friends pry discreetly and focus their suspicions on Miss Musser's smarmy lawyer and Mary Jo's violent ex-husband. Woven through events are disquieting elements: crystal-clear music, lingering perfume and ambiguous forms suggesting an unworldy figure; indeed, Diana is saved from serious harm by a hand (quite literally) from another world. Michaels once again offers a witty, intricate and ultimately surprising story, with strong characterizations that keep the sparks flying. Literary Guild alternate; Doubleday Book Club main selection.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

In a desperate attempt to locate her missing brother, Diana Reed goes to work as a landscape architect at the last place he was seen. Unqualified for the job, she lives with fear of discovery--which, of course, eventually transpires, prompting her boss and coworkers to try to assist her in her search. Sinister events make murder seem the most likely explanation for her brother's disappearance, and, in true Michaels fashion, things get quite spooky. There's a creaky old house, a ghost (or perhaps more than one), a 100-year-old murder, and a drunken would-be killer. Not quite as good as Ammie, Come Home (Berkley, 1989) or Be Buried in the Rain (Berkley, 1987), but close. Lots of gardening detail makes things even more interesting. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 4/15/92; for an interview with Elizabeth Peters, a.k.a. Barbara Michaels, see "The Three Faces of Mertz/Peters/Michaels," p. 128.--Ed.
- Bettie Spivey Cormier, Charlotte-Mecklenburg P.L., Charlotte, N.C.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Harper; Reprint edition (September 30, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061582972
• ISBN-13: 978-0061582974
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #346,621 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A paranormal murder mystery, September 10, 2005

By 

cb (Minot, ND) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Vanish with the Rose (Mass Market Paperback)

Vanish with the Rose is an astounding murder mystery with a twist of paranormal. My sister recommended this book and what a wonderful adventure. The basic story is about a lawyer who pretends to be rose expert to solve a haunting mystery. You have mix of murders, ghosts and amazing friendships. She finds herself falling love with the old house and developing compassionate friends. I would recommend this book and I would also suggest The Ice House by Minette Walters.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well researched., July 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Vanish with the Rose (Mass Market Paperback)

This book exerted an energy towards me, not much unlike the paranormal forces Diana felt in the house. The energy was alive with laughter, excitement, apprehension and fear. Every page was filled with shivery anticipation of what deadly secrets Diana would discover next and I found myself unable to put the book down until my fears were appeased a little. I loved every character, especially Andy, whose wit and charm and unnerving loquacity (genetic, right?) made him the perfect hero for this suspense novel. Diana is the kind of woman any sensible young girl wants to grow up to be--- independent, clever and as tough as nails. She finds that deception and betrayal have close ties to love and obligation. Her brother, Brad, teaches her this from the grave and Diana becomes aware of inner strength she never knew she had. It's one of the longest Michaels' books I've ever read and I loved it.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good, Kept me guessing, April 27, 2001

By 

A. Y. Smittle (Winchester, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Vanish with the Rose (Audio Cassette)

Well, I am not the best mystery reader, but I was kept in suspense until I FINALLY figured it out ie when the author disclosed exactly "who-dun-it." So you can imagine the state of my household while I gasped with horror and terror at every turn of the page---neglectfully letting babies cry and starve and laundry unwashed as I nervously continued on, determined to find out who killed----what if------surely not Miss Emily!! Etc... All in all---very good story. An eccentric couple wins the lottery and purchases and renovates their dream house in Old Virginny. In steps our heroine, a lawyer undercover as a rose expert, there to help the couple replant the old family garden. The couple goes away, three "suspects" move in, a love story in the background, gosh, what else could there be? A little "lecture" on how hard it is to get funding for historic preservation, good one, Ms Michaels, and overall, you have one delicious novel! This is one of her good ones. Read it!