Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

This was a very intriguing collection of cases that I'd never heard of before. I thought the way it was split up into sections was done really well and the information was presented clearly and very well written. Definitely one for true crime fans!

The Case Of The Vanishing Blonde by Mark Bowden is a collection of short True Crime stories that he's previously had published in various publications. Bowdens' credentials are impeccable, both as a successful ,and highly respected ,journalist and an author with Blackhawk Down and Killing Pablo probably his best known books.
There's not a duff story in this collection , though it's hardly an advertisement for various American Police forces who often are more Inspector Clouseau than Sherlock Holmes. My favourite chapters were those featuring Private Investigator Ken Brennan ,a larger than life character whose powers of deduction and perception rival the aforementioned Holmes or Hercule Poirot as he doggedly follows his hunches to get his man,often flying in the face of ridicule or disbelief.
A well-written compendium of True Crime stories,many of them showing that the truth is very often stranger than fiction, that I really enjoyed .

Thanks to Mark Bowden, Atlantic Books and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Mark Bowden is an accomplished reporter who has written many books and articles about crime. I’ve read the excellent The Last Stone, which covered the case of two missing girls and the subsequent investigation, and Bowden is certainly a thorough investigator as well as excellent writer. The Case of the Vanishing Blonde is a collection of some the many magazine articles he’s written and makes for fascinating reading. The bulk of the stories feature private detective, Ken Brennan, who has an almost Sherlockian ability to solve the even most impossible cases. There’s a wide variety of stories covered here and it’s an absorbing read. A fascinating and well put together collection.

I received a ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair review.

These true crime stories were an interesting read. truthfully i could not fully read the first 2 stories and had to skim over them. There are trigger warnings for the stories in this book so before you dive in check the warnings, I liked how the true stories were adapted and made me aware of cases i had not heard of.

Interesting collection of true crime short stories featured in magazines such as Vanity Fair. An enjoyable read.

Mark Bowden’s resume’ should give you all the antecedents you need to pick this book up. His writing has that assured journalistic tone that strikes the perfect balance between descriptive prose and clinical detail, perfect for the true crime written about here.

The half dozen or so long-form articles are not new, they are taken from magazines that Bowden has written for. They go as far back as the early 80’s right up to the present day.

Each article is in itself very interesting and covers topics from a frat party rape to a homicide committed by a female police officer.

Bowden has the ability to cut through the chaff and dive into the meat of his subject matter, you don’t read any wasted words or over-wrought rhetoric, the facts are presented and presented well.

For anyone with even a passing interest in long-form writing this book stands a solid example of the form an is well worth. read, at no point did I lose interest whilst reading this book.