When You Disappeared

Catherine is getting two of her three children ready for school. Later, she receives a call from her husband, Simon’s, office telling her that he did not show up for work. When she realizes that his car is still in the garage, she thinks he must had gone for an early run so she goes in search of him. By nightfall, she is frantic…but no Simon. He has simply disappeared. As Catherine works with the police to try and find him, they go over how Simon and Catherine had lost their child, Billy. It was 25 years before Simon returned to tell Catherine why he left her. Simon’s mother could never stay and remain faithful to his father, Arthur. She kept going back to Kenneth, a horrible man. So, Simon left to find out what finally happened to his mother. The story follows Simon’s journeys to different places as he plies his hand at various jobs and adventures. We also see how Catherine has carried on with her life raising the children and making a life for herself. For years she truly thought Simon was dead, but 25 years later, she learns the truth. Wow! This is an incredible story of the twisted mind of a narcissistic man who blames everyone else for his problems and failings. This is the type of book you cannot put down. One misconception caused years of hate and grief. I highly recommend this book and don’t want to give away much more so that I don’t spoil it for others. It is truly a must read. Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

When I started reading the book I wasn’t sure if I would like it. There is a lot of long descriptions which imo took to long to get through the chapters. But gradually I found myself glued to the book, unable to put it down. In the beginning I had sympathy for Simon. How deep must he have been betrayed (by what I didn’t know then) to make the decision he did. Was Katherine the monster he made her out. I didn’t seemed that way. She didn’t let on knowing what had happened and why. But it wouldn’t be the first time a normal person is not that normal when put under the magnifying glass. With each passing chapter I understood less what Simon was doing and doubted that Katherine was really innocent. Nothing pointed to her being guilty of something, but I couldn't, wouldn’t believe somebody could be that callous and malicious without a good reason. And in the end, when Simon gave his reason. The why he blamed everything that happened on his wife, I was shocked. I just couldn’t believe it. I wanted to scream and shake sense into Simon, if I could. How can a person be so mislead and destroy everything good in his life? I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer!

Catherine wakes up one morning to find her husband gone. She checks his shoes .. no his running shoes are right where they always are. His car is still there, his keys are not missing. His wallet is on the dresser. Where is he and what has happened to him? Twenty Five years later Simon appears on her doorstep. He has all the answers, and he knows it's time that Catherine had them, too. But neither of them know the whole truth! The story line is perfect. When Simon shows up, he confesses to all he's done in the past years. Every other chapter or so the reader hears Catherine's voice .. to learn how her life has turned out. And of course, the one question she wants answered ... Why? I have to share with you .. I did not like Simon. I could not find any redeeming qualities. His total disregard of his family .. just disappearing. Did he never think about how they were .. were they eating... where were they living? It got worse with each story that Simon had to share. The ending is stupendous. Never, ever had any inkling of what was coming. Excellent writing. Revised edition: Previously published as The Wronged Sons, this edition of When You Disappeared includes editorial revisions. Many thanks to the author / Thomas & Mercer /Netgalley for the advanced digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.