Vanishing Act Audiobook, by Thomas Perry Play Audiobook Sample

Vanishing Act Audiobook

Vanishing Act Audiobook, by Thomas Perry Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Joyce Bean Publisher: Tantor Audio Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 6.67 hours at 1.5x Speed 5.00 hours at 2.0x Speed Series: The Jane Whitefield Series Release Date: May 2009 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9781400180257

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

30

Longest Chapter Length:

42:46 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

04:57 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

20:08 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

41

Other Audiobooks Written by Thomas Perry: > View All...

Publisher Description

Jane Whitefield is a Native American guide who leads solitary outcasts through hostile territory to escape the vengeance of their enemies. But the shaded forest paths her Seneca ancestors might have followed on such missions have all been converted to superhighways, and now the safest way stations are crowded urban buildings that offer the camouflage of anonymity. Still, the supply of runaways—and the need for a woman who will take great risks to save them—have never been greater. Jane knows all the tricks; in fact, she has invented several of them herself in the ten years she has been teaching fugitives to live with new identities. Many of her clients have been innocent people whom the institutions of society have been too slow and cumbersome to protect, but an increasing number have been like the gambler Harry Kemple: people who aren't especially admirable but who aren't bad enough to deserve to die prematurely. Jane opens her door to find in her house an uninvited visitor named John Felker, the latest to run to her for sanctuary. Felker is not like the others Jane has helped, and everything about him is disquieting. He doesn't even know whom he is running from—only that whoever is framing him as an embezzler has already circulated an open contract in the prison system for his death. Maybe his problems began years ago, when he was a policeman; a good cop makes an enemy with each arrest. But perhaps he is still a policeman and has invented precisely the right story to entrap Jane. Or perhaps he is something even worse. The unexpected guest draws this exceptional woman into an adventure of mystery, love and sacrifice, betrayal and vengeance, and propels her on a pursuit that takes her from the night streets of Los Angeles and Vancouver to the dark, unexplored regions of her own mind. There is no way for Jane Whitefield to survive this particular vanishing act except to uncover the hidden meanings of violent events that have kept police forces and criminal syndicates equally mystified for years. She must see beyond the cement and steel of the cities and learn to see as her Indian ancestors did. Vanishing Act is Edgar Award winner Thomas Perry at the top of his form, pitting a heroine like no other against a cunning, implacable enemy in a world where mercy and brutality exist in equal measure and the only way to survive is by one's wits.

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"This one is a real doozy, and my favorite of all the Jane Whitfield books. I think the villain in this one is the most fun and the climax of the story is the deepest and most well thought out. I was riveted the whole time. This book has a lot of twists and turns. In general I tend to glaze over a bit with all the Indian lore, but this book makes me want to visit all the locations and settings in it so I can relive the events in it. Must read if you are at all interested in Jane Whitfield "

— Yogi (5 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

  • “There are probably only half a dozen suspense writers alive who can be depended upon to deliver high-voltage shocks; vivid, sympathetic characters; and compelling narratives each time they publish. Thomas Perry is one of them.”

    — Stephen King
  • “Thomas Perry is, quite simply, brilliant. And as each book comes out he becomes more so.”

    — Robert B. Parker
  • “The best thriller of the year, from one of the most thoroughly satisfying writers around.”

    — Lawrence Block
  • “Thomas Perry has given us a chase of heart-stopping velocity, a good dash of ice-dry humor, and best of all, a heroine of uncommon appeal and intelligence.”

    — Martha Grimes
  • “Thomas Perry keeps pulling fresh ideas and original characters out of thin air. The strong-willed heroine he introduces in Vanishing Act rates as one of his most singular creations.”

    — New York Times Book Review
  • “Bean’s performance is an act that’s hard to follow. She’s highly believable as Whitefield and modulates the story’s emotional ups and downs easily.”

    — AudioFile
  • Bean's performance is an act that's hard to follow. She's highly believable as Whitefield and modulates the story's emotional ups and downs easily.

    — AudioFile

Vanishing Act Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 3.85294117647059 out of 53.85294117647059 out of 53.85294117647059 out of 53.85294117647059 out of 53.85294117647059 out of 5 (3.85)
5 Stars: 10
4 Stars: 14
3 Stars: 5
2 Stars: 5
1 Stars: 0
Narration: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 (5.00)
5 Stars: 1
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 (5.00)
5 Stars: 1
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    — Codename Eric, 3/12/2015
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Nice mystery that ends differently than I expected. Towards the middle I was thinking, "really?", but then there was a nice twist. "

    — Gini, 2/19/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Love the series. They keep getting better "

    — Susan, 2/8/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Highly recommended by Sidran! Jane Whitefield is a great character. I am going to read the rest of these books "

    — Todd, 1/28/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Rating the series. Excellent storyline. "

    — Lesa, 1/23/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " This was a very exciting read that kept you wondering what was going to happen next. Native American, Jane Whitefield, is a special guide who helps people who are in trouble of some kind. After being betrayed by a client who stole her heart she learns to go back to some of the ancient native ways to survive. I plan to add others in this series to my to-read list. "

    — Linda, 1/21/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I like this whole series w/ jane whitefield hiding people. "

    — Debdanz, 1/20/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Worth reading. In addition to being well-written, the legends and customs of Native American tribes of the area are woven into the story. "

    — Karen, 1/8/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " First in the Jane WHitefield series. The main character is a guide who helps a people disappear. The author includes a lot of details about native americans and the new York area but sometimes all the details slow downturn plot. "

    — Denise, 12/30/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Good mass-paperback crime thriller set in Native American culture ala Tony Hllerman. I'm hooked now. "

    — Gretchen, 12/21/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Such an incredibly distinctive voice. This is one of those books that I read again as soon as I finished it the first time. I love the blend of intense practicality coupled with overt mysticism. Tremendous start to a great series. My grandmother even liked it, and she's picky as hell. "

    — Carolyn, 12/20/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " liked this a lot. looking for the next one. "

    — Joan, 12/15/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Love this series!! Mystery and history of the Indians. I love Thomas Perry's way of writing and I don't want to put it down until I'm done. "

    — Kris, 11/19/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " It was OK with clever twists in the plot but nowhere near as good as his later books. The Native American thread didn't work for me. "

    — Couchcmdr, 11/19/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " This is the first in Jane Whitefield series by Thomas Perry. I will definitely read more. Having grown up in New York I enjoyed all the description about different areas of our state. "

    — Cindy, 9/3/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Another series I owe to Annie. Hard to categorize, the story of an American-Indian woman who makes a living establishing new identities for a variety of people in trouble. She also maintains multiple identities for herself to use in the course of her work. Unique subject and a good writer. "

    — Sharon, 8/30/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Sort of predictable. The main character is a lonely woman who falls for the wrong guy and winds up in major danger. "

    — Doris, 7/26/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Almost stopped reading, first half was a 2, second a 4. "

    — James, 4/19/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " One of my very favorite characters. Nice to see a male author not afraid to create a strong female character who doesn't fall back on some male in her life to save her. Instead she risks her life to save others. "

    — KarenC, 12/6/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I liked the heroine, Jane Whitefield and the Native American history/philosophy sprinkled throughout the story. I would read more of Thomas Perry's series with this character "

    — Lesly, 9/24/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " probably my all time favorite book-a big plus is that this is the start of a series about Jane Whitefield that is fabulous! "

    — Moogie, 3/26/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I found it an engrossing who done it but the relationship was contrived "

    — Kathleen, 2/14/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Enjoyed it. It was different than the mystery I thought it was going to be. Buy very engaging and interesting. "

    — Chrissy, 1/1/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " First book by this author, would like to read more. "

    — Rosebud, 11/2/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " High adrenaline, high octane thriller with a strong female protagonist. The author leaves clues that makes the reader uncomfortable with the story and Jane's decisions but never enough to say "that's it!" Also full of Native American lore, culture and mystic. "

    — Ruth, 7/24/2011
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " This one was big on blah, blah when blah would have worked better. "

    — Kevin, 6/22/2011
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " I usually like this type of book but this one just wasn't my cup of tea. I couldn't relate to the main character, Jane, and had a hard time following the convolutions of the plot. "

    — Joanne, 6/13/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I really enjoyed this book. The rest of the series was not as good. "

    — Lisa, 5/15/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Part of an addictive series. I enjoyed this book. "

    — April, 5/7/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Probably a 4.5. Intense story of a Native American heroine who gives people new identities. Interesting cultural notes about the tribes in NYState and a great chase scene in the Adirondack Wilderness. "

    — Ellen, 3/20/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " First book by this author, would like to read more. "

    — Rosebud, 3/8/2011
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " A little uneven. Might try another to see if it was just me. Nice to have a strong, but fallible woman character. "

    — Alice, 10/20/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Good mass-paperback crime thriller set in Native American culture ala Tony Hllerman. I'm hooked now. "

    — Gretchen, 9/25/2010
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " The first half was a little dull. She has an affair with her client and I thought 'uh-oh' and sure enough it turned out to be a bad idea. Things got more exciting in the second half, so I can give it three stars. "

    — Sandra, 9/12/2010

About Thomas Perry

Thomas Perry is the bestselling author of over twenty novels, including The Butcher’s Boy, which won the Edgar Award, and Metzger’s Dog, which was named a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. He received a BA degree from Cornell University and a PhD in English from the University of Rochester.

About Joyce Bean

Joyce Bean is an accomplished audiobook narrator and director. In addition to having won several AudioFile Earphones Awards, she has been nominated multiple times for the prestigious Audie Award. Equally adept at narrating fiction and nonfiction, and she also narrates audiobooks under the name Jane Brown.