Did you have a favourite Wilde sister? Why or why not? Did the sisters remind you of your own siblings?

The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde: ‘Sisters. Bonded by blood’ The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde: ‘Sisters. Bonded by blood’

Fifty years later, Jesse is desperate to move her family out of their London home, where signs of her widower husband's previous wife are around every corner. Beautiful Applecote Manor, nestled in the English countryside, seems the perfect solution. But Jesse finds herself increasingly isolated in their new sprawling home, at odds with her sixteen-year-old stepdaughter, and haunted by the strange rumors that surround the estate.After this we move to the present time, albeit find ourselves at the same house, Applecote Manor, where Jess is determined to create a new idyllic life with her family, hoping to put behind past troubles, especially with her difficult teenage step-daughter Bella. I have to say I found the modern day story rather slow, mainly concerned as it was with strained family dynamics, Jess in particular grating on the nerves as she became increasingly insecure about her husband Will's dead first wife Mandy. Too much time was spent for my liking merely following Jess' thoughts, nothing much actually happening; nor did the story really connect very much to the past story. Chase's main strength here for me was mainly in the sense of foreboding she managed to create, and the setting of Applecote itself, a house with a past, the impressions of its past residents still resonating strongly, that atmosphere of mystery, cloaked secrets that refuse to offer themselves up. The writing was the best thing of all. It was vivid, it was evocative, and it was impressionistic. I was never really aware that I was reading descriptive passages, that I was reading the narrator’s thoughts, and yet I drew so much about the times, about the places, about the lives being lived, from the two narratives. 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 *

THE VANISHING OF AUDREY WILDE/THE WILDLING SISTERS THE VANISHING OF AUDREY WILDE/THE WILDLING SISTERS

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. A long hot summer, a Cotswolds manor house fallen into ruin, a dark secret hidden since the 1950s . . . all perfect ingredients for an addictive read, and The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde delivers atmosphere in spades * Good Housekeeping * This is a beautfully written and haunting story that revolves around Applecote Manor in the Cotswolds, brimming with gothic overtones. It has two timelines, set in the 1950s and the present. It begins with an attention grabbing scenario where a body is being dragged, and you are left wondering and eager to know who it is, what has taken place, and what are the circumstances and motivations behind it. In 1959, four close sisters, Flora, Pam, Margot and Dot Wilde arrive at Applecote Manor for a turbulent summer. Affectionately known as the Wildings, they are staying with their Aunt Sybil and Uncle Perry, who are devastated about the disappearance of their daughter, Audrey, five years previously. In the present, Jessie and Will move into Applecote Manor hoping that it proves to be a balm to the spirits for their emotionally troubled family. This is a story of nostalgia, yearnings, family, secrets and lies. An enthralling story of secrets, sisters and an unsolved mystery -- Kate Morton * Number One Sunday Times bestselling author of The Lake House *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. It is a fascinating story of sibling rivalries and jealousies of unrequited love and mystery, of lives lost and lifetimes wasted. Fifty years later, Jesse is desperate to move her family out of their London home, where signs of her widower husband's previous wife are around every corner. Gorgeous Applecote Manor, nestled in the English countryside, seems the perfect solution. But Jesse finds herself increasingly isolated in their new sprawling home, at odds with her sixteen-year-old stepdaughter and haunted by the strange rumours that surround the estate. From the opening chapter, there is an absorbing atmosphere of mystery that the author skilfully maintains throughout the book. Alternating between past and present, there are subtle links, echoes and common themes in both stories. Often, in a dual time narrative such as this, I find myself more drawn to the parts set in the past. However, in this case, I felt equally engaged in both stories.

The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde by Eve Chase - Penguin Books UK

The novel asks us to consider how far we would go to protect those we love. Were you surprised by the decisions the Wilde sisters make? Margot thinks they are “bonded by blood”. Do you think the sisters committed a crime? If so, are the sisters all equally guilty? From the first chapter, which completely grabs your attention, there is a fascinating atmosphere of mystery. I could not put this book down; I was in a race to get to the end, although I didn’t want it to end. The story is slow-moving, a very moody Gothic tale. The mystery is maintained throughout the whole book. The only issue I had, I didn’t feel the “past” met the “present” very smoothly, but I would highly recommend this book and author. How does where you come from influence or limit where your life can go? Does that have the power to reverberate through generations? Despite her unexplained disappearance five years earlier, Audrey is a constant, silent, almost ghostly, presence in the story set in the past. How does the novel portray family? Is sisterhood different for the Wilde sisters than it is for Romy and Bella? Do you think sisterhood is a different bond than brotherhood or that between siblings of different genders? If so, why?I would like to thank Penguin UK – Michael Joseph and Netgalley.com for the chance to read an early release of this novel to review for my blog. These dual-timeline novels have a formula to them (one which I enjoy): a dramatic secret in the past leads to healing and character growth in the future. This one follows the formula, but with the added bonus of the "past" story taking place in the late 1950s, which means the players were alive in the "present" narrative as well, contributing to both stories. The four sisters move to Applecote Manor to live with their Aunt Sybil and Uncle Peregrine when their mother goes abroad. Aunt Sybil has imprisoned herself in the home since the disappearance of her daughter, Audrey, five years earlier. She went down to the river one day and was never seen again. At each corner of the pool stands a goddess statue, fragile, beautiful, broken, like survivors of some terrible natural disaster.' (Loc 625)