Vanishing Act

Title: VANISHING ACT

Authors: Jennifer AlLee and Lisa Karon Richardson

Publisher: Whitaker House

August 2013

ISBN:  978-1603749060

Genre: Historical

A family-minded medium and a dogged detective team up to solve a kidnapping case that leads them to places as unlikely as their partnership.

Juliet Button doesn't even believe in ghosts, but she believes in supporting her makeshift family of misfits. Having spent years as assistant to her uncle, an illusionist, she now has all of the skills and know–how she needs to make an audience believe the impossible. So, she begins a career as a medium by the name of Miss Avila. She wants nothing to do with a detective with the power to destroy the life she's built, but when President Lincoln's youngest son is kidnapped, and the first lady comes to her for help, she can't refuse, even if it means facing Pinkerton agent Carter Forbes, who knows far too much about her already—and possibly falling in love.

VANISHING ACT is the second book in this talented duo’s series, Charm and Deceit. The first book is Diamond in the Rough and it was stellar. VANISHING ACT is just as well written, but I had some issues with this story line. I believe that people can summon people from the afterlife (after all, it was done in the Bible) but I do not approve of such, it is evil (and it was so in the Bible as well) and this book had a distinctly evil feel to it, even though it is Christian, there is a faith message, and there is a good/happy resolution. Some people are more in tune to the spirit world than others, so if you are one of those who are, I’d suggest avoiding this book. If you aren’t one of them, then it probably won’t bother you.

There is a mystery in VANISHING ACT. President’s Lincoln’s young son, Tad, is kidnapped, and Miss Avila and Carter Forbes most work together to uncover the truth of his disappearance. Will they be able to solve the mystery and catch the kidnapper? It will take both Forbes detective skills and Miss Avila’s ability to deceive to solve this one—and it will put both their lives in danger.

Fans of historicals, either of these two authors’ books, or historical suspense stories will love VANISHING ACT. $9.99 Kindle. $12.99 paperback. 256 pages.