‘The Vanished’ by N. J. Mackay

Published by Canelo,
27 March 2025.
ISBN: 978-1-80436-491-8 (PB)

Detective Inspector Sebastian Locke lives with his teenage daughter Tilly and Val, who was once his mother-in-law. She has an annexe in the house. He and his girlfriend Charlotte (known as Charlie) had married very young when she fell pregnant with Tilly. They split up before long, Charlie became a drug addict and Seb vowed to bring Tilly up on his own.

A call comes into the police station, Sid, Charlie’s partner has reported her missing. On arrival at their squalid flat on a really run down estate, there is no sign of Charlie or Sid, but a further search in a flat above reveals Sid’s body, his throat cut from ear to ear.

We then learn of Charlie being held in a locked dark room and coming to in a bad state, suffering from an overdose and being violently sick. She has no idea where she is or how she got there.

Seb’s team trace Charlie’s social worker, Sam Martin, he and his sergeant Lucy Quinn pay her a visit. She tells them her brother Alex, a doctor knew Sid and Charlie. On visiting him they learn of a drop-in centre where Charlie often went.

However, on making enquiries, they are told there has been no sign of Charlie there lately. Then another woman disappears, also with a history of drug addiction. Seb and the team are now really puzzled, and when there is another murder and a third disappearance, they hardly know which way to turn.

Investigations are made about a local drug baron, but they can find no connection between him and the murders or disappearances.

What exactly is going on and who can have carried out the crimes and why? Seb becomes desperate to find his ex-wife, can he discover where she is being held before it’s too late?

The book reveals a great insight into the drug addict’s world and how easily it destroys so many lives. An author’s note at the end of the book says this will be Sebastian Locke’s last story. Such a shame, I will miss him. Highly recommended.
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Reviewer: Tricia Chappell

Niki Mackay studied Performing Arts at the BRIT School, and it turned out she wasn’t very good at acting but quite liked writing scripts. She holds a BA (Hons) in English Literature and Drama and won a full scholarship for her MA in Journalism. 

Tricia Chappell. I have a great love of books and reading, especially crime and thrillers. I play the occasional game of golf (when I am not reading). My great love is cruising especially to far flung places, when there are long days at sea for plenty more reading! I am really enjoying reviewing books and have found lots of great new authors.