Winner of the Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Competition, Joanna Schaffhausen’s accomplished debut The Vanishing Season will grip readers from the opening page to the stunning conclusion. Ellery Hathaway knows a thing or two about serial killers, but not through her police training. She’s an officer in sleepy Woodbury, MA, where a bicycle theft still makes the … makes the newspapers. No one there knows she was once victim number seventeen in the grisly story of serial killer Francis Michael Coben. The only one who lived.
When three people disappear from her town in three years–all around her birthday–Ellery fears someone knows her secret. Someone very dangerous. Her superiors dismiss her concerns, but Ellery knows the vanishing season is coming and anyone could be next. She contacts the one man she knows will believe her: the FBI agent who saved her from a killer all those years ago.
Agent Reed Markham made his name and fame on the back of the Coben case, but his fortunes have since turned. His marriage is in shambles, his bosses think he’s washed up, and worst of all, he blew a major investigation. When Ellery calls him, he can’t help but wonder: sure, he rescued her, but was she ever truly saved? His greatest triumph is Ellery’s waking nightmare, and now both of them are about to be sucked into the past, back to the case that made them…with a killer who can’t let go.
more
A crime thriller with a twist. You will fall in love with these flawed and exceptionally developed characters. a real page turner, definitely recommend if you love thrillers, and make sure to read the sequel coming out soon!!
Kept me guessing, loved the “Bump” dog angle, and broken characters overcoming the sinister. I did guess the bad guy (yay, me!) but wasn’t sure for some time. Great read, terrific debut, an author to watch. Hope there’s a sequel.
The term page-turner doesn’t do this spectacular thriller justice. This story of pain and hope gripped me from the first page and left me winded and reaching for the sequel. Perfect for fans of James Patterson’s KISS THE GIRLS and Megan Miranda’s THE GIRL FROM WIDOW HILLS. I have a new favorite series, and a new favorite heroine in Ellery Hathaway.
This book started out fine. I think there were parts that could have been cut down. I admit, I skipped some and read the last few chapters to finish it. I’d try another of her books.
The overall story is believable.
The Vanishing Season
(Ellery Hathaway #1)
by
Joanna Schaffhausen
4 Stars
A tremendous debut novel, and a who-dun-it of the first order! The Vanishing Season kept me engrossed until the very end, and I never guessed who the killer was. It’s well written, the characters are people it’s easy to root for, and Ellery Hathaway is a heroine whose next story I am very anxious to read.
I received a free electronic copy of this police procedural/FBI novel from Netgalley, Joanna Schaffhausen, and St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I am happy to recommend Joanna Schaffhausen to friends and family, She writes an excellent mystery with interesting protagonists and prose that flows. She has several serial mysteries going, and I need to read them all…
Ellery Hathaway is the newest and only female police officer in the small town of Woodbury, Massachusetts, her employer for the last four years. Her basset hound Speed Bump is the only real man she will allow in her home or her life. Woodbury boasted 8 police officers, three patrol cars and very little crime – most of the time. No one but Ellie wants to consider the persons missing – three over the last three years, one disappearing each July – as anything more than dissatisfied people looking for a new life. Even without a corpse, Ellery knows in her heart they are dead but can’t get her Chief and occasional lover, Sam Parker, to re-open the cold cases which they and the state police had already investigated. It is a week before July 4th, and she knows they will be looking at another disappearance before the month is out. In desperation, she calls her FBI connection, Agent Reed Markham, the profiler who saved her 14 years ago from another serial killer, Francis Coben. That killer is safely still in prison, but these crimes in Woodbury have the same quirks and patterns of Francis Coben kills. Ellery would have to expose her past, kept secret for all these years, to perhaps convince Sam to take another look at these crimes. But Reed knows all about her past and is willing to come to Massachusettsthough he appears reluctant to get involved – until he and Ellery unlock the pattern of the serial killer’s choice of new victims – if they are right, Ellery is next. Again.
The Vanishing Season (Ellery Hathaway #1) by Joanna Schaffhausen
Someone witnessed a kidnapping that occurred 14 years ago but remained silent. Abigail Hathaway’s life story was no longer private following her survival from abuse and captivity. Francis Michael Coben took pleasure in abducting and torturing young girls in Chicago until he was successfully put behind bars. Abigail Hathaway was the girl who was found and survived. There were books and movies made about her life and experience.
To escape the attention of her past, Abigail “Ellery” Hathaway becomes a patrol officer in the quiet town of Woodbury in MA. Her brother Daniel who was sick with leukemia died 6 months after she returned home. Her father had abandoned the family and left her feeling abandoned when she needed support the most.
She was saved by now FBI agent, Reed Markham, who was only a newbie when he determined where the abducted girl might be. He received a lot praise and notoriety after the girls safe return.
Reed was adopted by a politician when he was a child after the murder of his biological mother. His ex-wife Sarit Ranupam is a reporter who assisted him with writing a book about the Abby Hathaway abduction. Reed was on a “stress leave” trying to make sense of his divorce and custody of 6 yo Tula.
Sam Parker is Chief of Police and although married to Julia, finds himself in a motel bed with Ellery Hathaway. The dynamics of this small town and police force yield Ellery the control in her life she feels she lost many years ago. Aside from Sam, her only other friend is Brady, a fellow insomniac who works in an animal shelter.
Ellery becomes obsessed with recent cases of missing women between Woodbury and Boston. She struggles to prove there’s a connection between these crimes. She calls up Reed Markham to provide advice on the case from an FBI perspective.
The two set out on a mission to solve these crimes. There are so many suspects with hazy pasts which lead them in many directions.
It seems the past comes back to haunt Ellery as she begins to question whether the answers she seek were right in front of her the whole time.
When I saw the blurb for The Vanishing Season, I was intrigued. The victim of a serial killer becomes a cop who then sees a coincidence when people go missing each year around her birthday. The book had me at that. Forget that a famous profiler got involved, I wanted to read about how Ellery was dealing with the aftermath of her trauma. And the author more than delivered!!
The Vanishing Season takes place in the town of Woodbury, Massachusetts. Ellery Hathaway, the only living victim of a sadistic serial killer, is a police officer there. Over the past three years, Ellery has noticed that a person has gone missing on her birthday. Suspecting a serial killer, she tries to get the chief to investigate and is written off. With days left until another person disappears, Ellery reaches out to the FBI agent who rescued her. Reed Markham. Can he help Ellery find the killer before he/she strikes again?
The plotline for The Vanishing Season was lightning fast, and it kept up that pace throughout the book. There was no lag, which was surprising considering how fast this book went. The author was able to keep my focus on the book for the entire book. Put it this way; I picked this book up at 9 am and finished it at 11 am.
I loved how the author portrayed Ellery’s character. It was Ellery that drew me to the book. I wanted to know, “How could someone live after being tortured like she was?”. I got my answer back tenfold. She had severe PTSD and couldn’t form attachments. But she managed to live a normal (if you could call that normal) life. I did want to smack her mother upside the head at points in the book. Your kid was kidnapped, sexually assaulted over and over, and tortured, yet you didn’t get her into therapy? That was a massive WTF from me.
I liked Reed. He was a washed-up version of the person he was when he rescued Ellery. I liked that he acknowledged that. I wasn’t too sure what to make of his dropping everything to help Ellery when she called. But I understood why he did it. He wanted to see how she turned out. He also understood the implications of the people missing on her birthday, and he believed her when she told him what was going on. The small sub storyline with his family did catch my interest.
The main storyline was well written. The author did a fantastic job of keeping how the killer was and why he/she was doing it under wraps. She had me thinking that it was several different people until the big reveal. I was surprised at who it was. I was also shocked at the twist in the plotline. I was not expecting it to go the way it did or what happened.
The end of The Vanishing Season wrapped up beautifully. There was enough left where I did wonder what the next book will be about. I can’t wait to read it!!
Little Abigail Hathaway was saved by Reed Markham when she was a child, but she’s no longer a child and now she’s police officer Ellery Hathaway. Surviving a serial killer was something that could change everyone and it certainly changed Ellery, but if she tilting it will win nails? Everyone else think she is, and it definitely made for a great reading. I have to say this was my first time meeting this author and I am looking forward to reading more.
The Vanishing Season is an impressive debut from Joanna Schaffhausen, and an equally impressive series start. All too often lately, I’ve been sucked in by a great prologue only to be let down by what follows, but that was not a problem at all with this book. The mystery is suspenseful and kept me on my toes, the procedural part of the story was interesting and thought-provoking, and the characters were terrific – even the ones I didn’t like. Our main characters, Ellery and Reed are both likable and even though I’ve never been in either’s shoes, they were still relatable. Ellery makes for a great protagonist. She’s stubborn, determined, and will stop at nothing to solve this case even when no one else thinks there is a case. Does she always make the right decisions? Not even close, and she’s also a bit broken by her past and keeping secrets that could come back to bite her. She’s got plenty of reason to keep secrets, and who wouldn’t messed up by what she’s been through. She lived through a nightmare and is still pushing through the other side. Reed is equally likable and also a little broken. His story tugs at the heartstrings as he deals with things in his personal life while also trying to help Ellery. I really liked Reeds chapters and the way his mind worked as they raced to find a killer before someone else could be taken. The mystery is laid out very well, and the author does give us a pretty good red herring or two as the story progresses. I did guess the killer’s identity, but that didn’t diminish my enjoyment of the story, and I will say that the author had me second-guessing myself more than once. All in all, this is a great start to the series, and I can’t wait to see more of these characters.
A page turning psychological treat. I love that both the lead characters are flawed. There first meeting is under terrible conditions when their lives were good. Now they meet again under terrible conditions again, but both their lives are falling apart. Some people may not like Ellery’s behavior but I believe it adds huge credibility to the premise of the story. Ellery is a living victim trying to hold her life together the best way she knows how. Things don’t add up and she wants answers. Reed is an FBI profiler having a rough time in his life. The call for help from Ellery spurs him out of his lethargy as he dives into this new case with her. The tension throughout the book is high as more clues show up and the officials have no clue who is doing the killing. Even when you think you know who it is you may be wrong.
What a fantastic find this series was! This is not a story for the faint of heart. Ellery is a survivor of a horrific abduction/rape/torture that occurred when she was fourteen. After years of dealing with what happened, she is living an anonymous life (or so she thinks) as a cop in a small town far from the site of her trauma. But the past has a way of catching up with all of us, and unfortunately for Ellery, she’s no exception…
I loved this first book – Ellery is a dark, damaged protagonist but striding through the darkness with her is surprisingly enlightening…
The character development here was first-rate. As is typical in serial killer/cop thrillers, everyone is lying through their teeth and hiding something (if not many somethings). This layering of secrets is altogether common in the genre – what is not is the delicate way that Schaffhausen teases out truths as the novel progresses. She doesn’t throw in red herrings or extraneous details; every detail is chosen carefully and revealed at just the right moment to heighten the tension and keep the reader engaged.
This was a rough read at times, but Ellery’s survival (past, present, and future) makes for a fascinating read and I definitely cannot wait to dive into book two!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
OMG, what a fantastic book this is. There are so many twists and turns. I can’t wait for her next book to be released because I have just found a new favorite author! Thanks for writing such great great book!
4 stars for a well done mystery set in a small Massachusetts town. The suspense builds up continuously and has a satisfying climax. Ellery Hathaway is a patrol officer in fictional Woodbury, Mass. She believes that there is a serial killer in town. However, although there are 3 missing persons, there are no bodies, so the police chief doesn’t believe her. Ellery was abducted by a serial killer when she was 14. She now uses her middle name, instead of Abigail. No one knows about her past except her Mom and someone who sends her birthday cards. She hasn’t told anyone in town her birthday. She believes the serial killer knows.
She calls Reed Markham, the FBI agent who rescued her, for help. This mystery was a enjoyable read. I finished it in 2 days. There are some gory parts. It is not a cozy mystery.
One quote:
“When at last he took the exit for Woodbury, it was if the forest rose up around the road, trees thick as a bear’s fur, the sun rendered as a distant, filtered light.”
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for sending me this book through NetGalley.
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Avid Reader –
M/F Thriller
Ellie is a police officer in a small town. She is known to be a strong, independent woman who isn’t afraid of anything. But Ellie’s past is something that haunts her daily. It’s also not something that she discusses. When she notices that people have gone missing and nobody is doing anything about it, Ellie does everything in her power to get her fellow officers to listen. She even goes as far as to use her sexuality at times.
With nobody listening to her, she reaches out to the one person who might. Agent Reed is on a downward slide. He is on thin ice with the FBI and his family. When Ellie contact him, he can’t help but be intrigued with her request.
Ellie and Reed are on the hunt for a killer that nobody else sees. But when the facts start to line up and more people go missing, Ellie’s department can’t help but see what she’s seen all along. This is a fast-paced thriller that is very entertaining.
It was fairly predictable and I figured out the killer quite early on in the story, but I didn’t feel that hindered my ability to enjoy the story until the end.
Triggers: Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder
Sarah –
Just a few chapters into this book, I knew that Ellery Hathaway was going to be my new favourite heroine. She’s fabulous. Damaged but resilient. Defiant, abrasive, and a complete loner. I warmed to Ellery as immediately as I did to Jessica Jones, Mercy Thompson, or Temperance Brennan.
But while I completely fell in love with Ellery, I didn’t completely love this first book. The plot moves slowly. At one point I realised I was 75% through the book and Ellery and Reed didn’t have any real suspects. The end is exciting but I’m not sure there are enough clues for readers to guess the whodunnit alongside Ellery and Reed. I enjoyed the story but I’d like to see the plotting and pacing improve in the next books.
While Ellery is definitely the hero in this story, I really enjoyed the working relationship between her and Reed, the FBI agent she works with. Tied together by a horror story many years ago, Reed and Ellery are very different people who manage to make each other stronger. Reed is a bit of a cliché. He’s a washed-up agent on the brink of both divorce and a formal suspension from his job. Burned out cops are a bit overdone so it’s his complicated relationship to Ellery that makes him interesting. I’m not sure he’d be interesting on his own but I love him as Ellery’s overqualified and slightly reluctant sidekick.
Having already read the second book in this series, I will say that I felt like the writing gets tighter and the suspense more exciting in the second story. Anyone new to the series will need to read this one first because it is impossible to understand Ellery without it. And this book is worth a read – even if just to get to know a fabulous new heroine.
Reviewers received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
I received an uncorrected ARC of this book for an honest review. First, the bad. I know it was uncorrected, so I hope they corrected the errors on the final copy, especially the continuity errors (just a few). Now for the good, which is everything else. I thought the author did an excellent job of portraying Ellery as a damaged but persistent cop who has an insatiable need to help people no matter the cost. She’s the only survivor of a serial killer as a child, saved by FBI agent Reed Markham. The book starts about ten years later when no one credits her belief of an active serial killer in her adopted small town outside of Boston. Reed had given her his card when she was rescued and said to call if she ever needed anything. She makes the call and there begins all kinds of trouble for Reed trying to help Ellery again. Their relationship is a long, circuitous road in which they appear to trust each other. This was a great story but the characters are what made it shine. I immediately read the next book, No Mercy.
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Press for an Advanced Reader Copy. I voluntarily read this book and the review and comments below are my honest opinion.
Ellery, a former victim and Reed the FBI agent that saved her are reunited in this The Vanishing Season. No one knows of Ellery’s past and the killer that abducted her is on death row. But when the killings begin again, Ellery is sure that some knows who she is and is a copy cat killer. A suspenseful, disturbing book with an intense ending.
This is the first time in reading anything from this author. Always on the search for more high drama mysteries of late this one caught my eye. Ellery in this right away catches my interest as she is also the one that drew me to the book. This town is a place I am familiar with but it is soon going to go through changes. Also there is Agent Reed whom has a history but now he is going to really have his hands full. The intrigue is deep so that it has you latched on so not a thing is missed or it could be dangerous. The title is so appropriate also you want to also know more. This is one that will not let go once you dig in along with these characters. Ellery now has a follower so when I come across her again I have to go where she leads.
The Vanishing Season is Joanna Schaffhausen’s debut novel, released in 2017…and, boy oh boy, is it a good one. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it gave me so much more.
Three people have gone missing and Ellery Hathaway knows they are dead and another will be taken very soon. Sam dismisses her warnings, but she won’t stop there. Sam is not only her boss, the chief of police, but also her lover, her married lover. I sure don’t approve of that, but as I read on, I could see how it happened. She uses sex as a weapon. That will have it’s own repercussions.
Woodbury, Massachusetts is a small town, a blink and you will miss it, with only eight police officers. I love to read of small towns, the gossip mill, and secrets that won’t stay secret. Ellery has a big one, but…
Ellery calls in the big guns, Reed Markham, an FBI profiler that had saved her from the serial killer that had taken her fourteen years ago, leaving her scarred and broken. He too has his own story. His marriage is on the rocks, but he had made a promise to her, so when she called, he came.
I love her basset hound, Speed Bump. LOL Critters always add some grins for me, and with a subject like serial killers, I need some chuckles.
The dog leapt from the vehicle with all the grace of a hippo performing a belly flop.
I have plenty of suspects, but two in particular have my attention. Even if I’m wrong, I don’t like them. LOL I do like to try and figure it out for myself as we follow clues, question witnesses, and try look for what others have missed.
There is no romance, though I know there are more books coming, so I wonder. I mean, just think about it, her body is scarred and so is her mind. She doesn’t want anyone in her house. Doesn’t want anyone touching her. And doesn’t want to share her secret. After what she’s been through, I can see why she protects herself, so who could possible get through the walls she has built up but the one person she trusts?
I am at 38% and my tension level is high, the pace is picking up, making me feel like the end is near, nut, there’s so much of the story left. I can only imagine what Joanna Schaffhausen has in store for her characters. I am lovin’ it.
I am filled with horror at the terrible things one person can do another, as the bits and pieces of Ellery’s captivity leaks out, each detail worse than the last.
Well…I didn’t see him coming. It takes a lot for an author to fool me so completely, especially near the end, but she had me eying the wrong guy until a page or two before he attacked. He was well camouflaged, but I will be on my toes with the next case, expanding my suspect list and reading between the lines.
Man oh man, I am so glad I took a chance on Joanna Schaffhausen. I had never heard of her. She kept me riveted from beginning to end and I can hardly wait for Book II, No Mercy. BRING IT ON!
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of The Vanishing Season by Joanna Schaffhausen.
See more at http://www.fundinmental.com
It is always interesting to try a new author and even more when it is her first book.
Joanna provided us with a great story that makes you think a little more about the after effects in somebody’s life as a result of a dramatic experience at a young age. This is one book I had to keep on reading to see what be happening next. I started book two as soon as I was finished with this one.