Rolling out in two timelines, one in 1959 and one in the present, Applecote Manor is the one constant that bridges the separate tales. In 1959, the four Wilde sisters are sent to the English countryside to live with their aunt and uncle for the summer whilst their bohemian mother runs off to Cairo to take on a bookkeeping position. How I would love to meet every single one of these characters in real life! The sisters are a delightful bunch, close-knit and full of life and the product of a rather unconventional upbringing. Soon they restore some joy into the old household, which has been in mourning ever since their cousin Audrey vanished without a trace five years previously. What happens at Applecote Manor has repercussions that stretch tentacles into the present day . . . A mystery of nail-biting suspense * Woman & Home * It is a fascinating story of sibling rivalries and jealousies of unrequited love and mystery, of lives lost and lifetimes wasted.

When fifteen-year-old Margot Wilde and her three sisters arrive at Applecote Manor in July 1959, they expect a quiet English country summer. Instead, they find their aunt and uncle still reeling from the disappearance of their daughter, Audrey, five years before.As the arrival of two handsome neighbors divides the sisters’ loyalties, Margot finds herself drawn into the life Audrey left behind and the mystery of her vanishing.But when the summer takes a deadly turn, the girls must unite behind an unthinkable choice or find themselves torn apart forever. Beautifully written with superb characters, this is a deeply satisfying novel which glows with texture and emotion -- Elizabeth Buchan * Sunday Times bestselling author of The New Mrs Clifton * I loved this book, wonderfully atmospheric, with totally convincing characters. The interactions between the four sisters were fascinating and the story held my attention. I did have a bit of a problem adjusting time frames but I'm sure that just reflects how involved I had become in the narrative. Jessie and Will believe that Applecote Manor will be “a gentler, more benign” place than London, a city that “forces girls to grow up too fast, strips them of their innocence”. Do you agree with their decision to move the girls? How does the house prove their expectations wrong? Have you ever moved somewhere in hopes of achieving a different lifestyle? The mystery of what happened to Audrey was well played out with the truth of what happened being gradually revealed. This helps keep the reader very intrigued and I kept reading as I wanted to find out what happened. The twist at the end took me by surprise as I thought the mystery had been solved. I also liked that the author included information about what happened to the characters after the summer and how things turned out for them.How did the family secrets in the novel affect Rita, Hera, and Sylvie? Have you ever discovered secrets from your own family’s past? Do you think the truth is sometimes best untouched? Or the way in which the bond between Margot and her sisters – so strong in the beginning, almost telepathic – starts to unravel. Margot even starts to envy Audrey her status as an only child, seeing her as ‘ a sweet-sharp cordial undiluted by siblings’. Similarly, Jessie’s hope that the move to Applecote will help the family come together seem precarious, as if the house is determined that the secrets of the past must emerge. I found this symmetry between the sisters’ relationships and those of the mothers and daughters in both past and present was something that worked well and helped to give a sense of balance to The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde. (Although I did have a slight preference for the storyline set in the 1959 heatwave because it felt more atmospheric.) I also liked how the mystery was handled between both timelines. Eve Chase paces the suspense beautifully until she’s ready for the reveal and brings characters together from the past and present to reach a resolution.

The dual line flips between the present day and 1959 with the full picture slowly emerging as the book progresses. The perspective is told from two perspective; 15 year old Margot in 1959 and Jessie in the present day. The storytelling was effortless, with the two times effortless leading from one to another. Hera finding a baby abandoned in the woods is a big turning point in the novel. Do you think Rita and the Harrington’s made the right decision in that situation? If you were in their shoes, how would you have reacted? Did you have a favourite Wilde sister? Why or why not? Did the sisters remind you of your own siblings?I'm really in awe of Chase's power of description. It is magical and she sharpens every sense -- Veronica Henry * Daily Express * A dark and dangerous event occurs at the Finch home during the summer of the total solar eclipse. Do you believe in cosmic energy? Why or why not? Do you think the solar eclipse influenced people’s behavior in The Birdcage?