Customer Reviews

Vanished

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

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.

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.!

I read this book on vacation because I figured it would be a light read. I couldn't put it down. I was a little disappointed in the last few chapters because I kind of figured out what was going to happen, but it really held my attention.

This was a great book and I really enjoyed reading it. I am a big Danielle Steel fan. I think she is wonderful. The one thing about this book that I didn't like was The way Marielle went from the detective, to the attorney at the end. She barely knew the Charles' attorney. Just seemed kind of a thrown-together-end.

This book was just not one of my favorite Steel's. The plot was a little "iffy" and I didn't care for Steel's choice for Marielle's blooming love interest at the end

I'm huge DS and I loved everything about this novel I even liked the time oeriod it was set in. My heart went out to Marielle when she went to see her son Teddy only to discover that he had been kidnapped and the kidnappers were demanding a ransom for his safe return. This only brings back painful memories for Marielle who still thinks of her first son and husband Charles who is number one suspect since he blamed the death of their child on her many years before. While the police are looking for Teddy Marielle's marriage to her much older and very wealthy second husband is coming to a end because he to blames Marielle for their son's disapperance in light of this some shocking things are revealed about Malcolm and his business ventures. All is not lost for Marielle she is reunited with Teddy and leave their past behind to start a new future this is a great book and I recommend it to all.

I keep reading Danielle Steel hoping to find another Palamino. Once again I'm disappointed. The premise was interesting, but Ms. Steel fills it with "woe is me" characters. Thank goodness, I didn't spend money on this novel; it was lent to me by a friend.

This was my first Danielle Steel book and I am not ashamed to say that it is my last. I almost gave it two stars because I "survived" to the end, but it was disappointingly predictable- in plot line and writing style. I am glad that I read it though, because I will no longer be tempted to read another Danielle Steel title.

I don't like Danielle Steel. Sure, she had a few good books (Fine Things and Star), but most of her stuff just seems to recycle the same plot until it's been beat into the ground so deep we don't want to hear it again. Vanished is different. I read it only after watching the movie and thinking that this didn't sound like Steel to me. I wasn't disappointed. The story of a young boy's kidnapping in the early 1900s is affecting. His mother feels responsible for the death of a different son from a different marriage in a drowning accident years before. It so happens that the first son's father is in town at the time of the kidnapping and ends up getting blamed for young Teddy's disappearance. Marielle sides with her ex, but as the evidence mounts, finds herself wavering. In the meantime her marriage to Malcolm is falling apart and she is beginning to question his honesty as well. No, this is not a romance novel and a reader would be hard pressed to find a Steel love scene anywhere in this book. What it is, however, is a surprisingly well crafted novel of suspense.