Vanished [Paperback]

Danielle Steel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 18, 1994

In the late 1930s in New York, Marielle Patterson shares her life with her husband Malcolm and their little boy Teddy. But their lives are filled with secrets. Haunted by a past she has kept secret even from her husband, Marielle secretly lights a candle each year for a child who died in a tragic accident when he was scarcely more than a baby. Then Marielle runs into her first love, American expatriate Charles Delauney. And when her little Teddy is kidnapped Charles is first blamed, then arrested, as the Pattersons, the New York Police and the FBI turn the country upside down, looking for Teddy. A terrifying court drama seeks to put Charles Delauney behind bars, as a series of revelations begin to unravel the truth about Marielle, Charles, and Malcolm. Piece by piece the uncovering of their pasts creates a complex mosaic of the motives and passions controlling their lives. Vanished is an intriguing tale of guilt, desire and suspense, and people one can't easily forget, as they are drawn inexorably together, seeking the child that...vanished.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Despite some redundancies and dimensionless supporting characters, Steel's 31st novel is a potent blend of romance and intrigue. When Marielle Delauney marries New York steel magnate Malcolm Patterson in 1939, she does not tell him of her tragic past--neither the drowning accident that claimed her first child, nor the subsequent beating by her husband Charles that caused her to miscarry, nor the two years she spent recovering in a sanitorium. But what does the enigmatic Malcolm already know? When they have their own child, Teddy, Malcolm, to all appearances, is an adoring father. The still-vulnerable Marielle begins to gain self-confidence, even though she endures daily confrontations with a hostile and even sinister household staff. Then the day after Marielle has a chance meeting with Charles, who drunkenly makes vague threats against Teddy, the four-year-old is snatched from his room, the nanny and nurse chloroformed and gagged. The FBI is summoned, Marielle's past is exposed by a frenzied media and Charles is arrested. But where is Teddy? The author of Mixed Blessings keeps her secrets well, and--the annoying reprises of critical scenes aside--presents a strong portrait of a tormented young woman moving toward stability. 1,000,000 first printing; Literary Guild & Doubleday Book Club main selections; major ad/promo.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

Like Belva Plain in Whispers (p. 326), Steel soft-pedals gauzy romance in a fairly tightly plotted story--set mainly in 1930's Manhattan and about a lady wildly unlucky in love who's forced to deal with crime--in this case, kidnapping. Like Plain's battered wife, Marielle once loved unwisely. Charles Delauney (fiery green eyes) and Marielle (her eyes were ``deep blue sapphires'') had met in 1926 in Paris, then went on to make a gloriously happy marriage--until that moment when tragedy overtook their small son in a drowning accident, as well as their unborn child as the pregnant Marielle attempted a rescue. Suffering from Charles's accusations and blame, Marielle ended up spending some years in a sanitarium. Now, back again in Manhattan, Marielle is the protected, secure wife of rich businessman Malcolm Patterson, a smooth gent who does a good bit of business with Nazi Germany, and her joy in an otherwise restricted life is four-year- old Teddy. It is the sight of Teddy that sends expatriate Charles (who returns from the Spanish Civil War and meets Marielle in the park) into a wild rage--and when, horribly, Teddy is kidnapped, into the slammer as a suspect. Throughout Marielle's ordeal--with terrible reminders of the Lindbergh case--FBI agent John Taylor offers a strong shoulder (and more); a feisty newspaper woman turns up important clues; a mobster named Louis the Lover turns up a heart of gold; and the rosy respectability of Malcolm's circle takes on a new hue. There will be a trial, a last-minute rescue, and, at the close, Steel trots out a nice man for Marielle. As for Teddy, not to worry. Okay, worry a little.... The smashing duds and digs are still there--plus the subject's predictable pull. (First printing of 1,000,000; Literary Guild Dual Selection for October) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Corgi (August 18, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0552135267
• ISBN-13: 978-0552135269
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,299,197 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Danielle Steel has been hailed as one of the world's most popular authors, with over 590 million copies of her novels sold. Her many international bestsellers include 44 Charles Street, Legacy, Family Ties, Big Girl, Southern Lights, Matters of the Heart, One Day at a Time, and other highly acclaimed novels. She is also the author of His Bright Light, the story of her son Nick Traina's life and death.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Unlike Anything Danielle Steel Has Written Before, December 24, 2002

By 

BookMania (Stafford, TX, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vanished (Hardcover)

I've read a few Danielle Steel novels, but I never considered myself a fan of her work until I read this book. This is unlike the sappy romance novels that Steel usually puts out. This is more of a who-done-it mystery novel, and for the most part, it's an intriguing page turner.

The main character in this story is Marielle, a woman in her thirties who has been through alot in her life. She was married at 18, had a son at 21, got pregnant again, and lost both her son and her unborn child through a freak accident. Her husband (Charles) flipped out, and in a burst of rage, assaults her. She is committed to a mental hospital for over two years in order to get over the trauma. It is during this time that Marielle divorces Charles and leaves Europe for America, where she meets an older man named Malcolm and basically becomes his trophy wife, as well as a womb to carry the baby that he wants so badly. After a great amount of agony and struggle, Marielle becomes pregnant and gives birth to Malcolm's son, Teddy.

Several years after they last spoke, Charles and Marielle accidently run into each other again on the anniversary of their son's accidental death, and old emotional wounds are re-opened. Charles is resentful that Marielle has since moved on, re-married, and had another child. Teddy subsequently turns up missing, and everyone suspects that Charles kidnapped him in a fit of jealous rage.

The first 75% of this book is a page-turner. Then after that, it begins to lag. In the story, Charles is put on trial for Teddy's kidnapping, but the trial turns into a pointless waste of time. It's just a bunch of worthless fingerpointing about who is having an affair with whom, and whether or not Marielle is an un-fit mother; none of which has anything to do with kidnapping. The real meat of the story's mystery is solved too quickly at the end, and it doesn't justify the fact that the reader is forced to endure over a hundred pages of useless storyline to get there.

Regardless, this book will keep you entertained. A classic piece of literature it is not, but it's still quite enjoyable. I recommend this book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another favorite of mine!!!, May 13, 2002

By 

Jody L. Schoth (Katy, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Vanished: A Novel (Paperback)

This is another favorite Steel book of mine... Charles and Marielle seemed the perfect couple, but when tested with tragedy, Charles turns his anger and distress on his wife, and their marriage ultimately falls apart. Many years later, Charles sees Marielle with her young son, then soon after he is kidnapped... is this a coincidence... does Charles have something to do with this? All clues point to Charles, but we all know that is too easy... what's the real secret behind this story? It's full of devious characters, and lots of tear jerking moments... a must read for all Steel fans.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This book is just toooo sweeeeeettttt!, April 26, 2000

By 

Ebony Hoffman - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vanished: A Novel (Paperback)

I recently read the book vanished and it was unbelievable. This book really captured the true essence of creativity and defined love in the world of Daniell Steel. This book was filled with action packed excitement. I would go to bed at night reading the book having the plots and situations in my head trying to figure out the ending. There were a couple of boring parts, that is why i gave it four stars instead of five. This book is Highschool to college level reading enhancing the students mind to want to read something that is not lined with alot of sex. Vanished raised my levels of awarness for the mothers and fathers out there who have had their sons or daughters killed or kidnapped for reasons that are unknown.The undying love that the father showed to his son in this book is a true example of how children should be loved. Now how he went about trying to have him for hisself was completely the turning point of the story. I would reccomend this book to people who like romance and action packed novels. Once you open the book you can't put it down. Two thumbs up.! Great work.!