What an enchanting book. Despite her horrendous upbringing in a cold, cruel home for those with learning disabilities, Margaret Small manages to emerge as a kind, lovable, empathetic woman. I adored her and didn’t want this audiobook to end. There’s a bit of everything in this debut novel. Love, mystery, abuse, friendship, family relationships and institutional life.
Mainly, it’s a stark reminder of just how awful life was for women – particularly those who were differently normal – in the mid-twentieth century. They simply had no say – over their lives or their bodies. Those with learning difficulties were open to wide-spread abuse – by uncaring nurses and men.
Margaret has always been besotted with Cilla Black, whose music and autobiography she listens to constantly now that she’s free to live on her own. Wayne is her care worker – a wonderful gay man who genuinely cares for his ward and friend, and opens Margaret’s eyes to things about the world that escaped her while incarcerated. He also gives her the strength to get to the bottom of the mystery of who has started to send her money, simply signing themselves as ‘C’.
Although shocking in many ways, this still manages to be a warm, cosy mystery which is hilariously funny in parts. The parallels and circularity in the plot are clever and absorbing. I found the book utterly delightful, and will be recommending it widely. It is beautifully narrated by Annie Aldington.

I had seen a bit of buzz about this book on Twitter and knew a couple of people who had bought it for friends as Christmas presents. So when I saw that the audiobook was available on NetGalley I thought I would try it. What an absolutely delightful book! The narrators were so good, absolutely perfect for the roles. I loved Margaret Small and her story had me in tears more than a few times. She was so lovely and it broke my heart to learn what she had been put through. Although the story was deeply sad, there were moments of levity that had me smiling. Charisma was a hilarious character, for example. Wayne was so kind and patient and did a wonderful job of being Margaret's support worker.
I loved this book and will definitely be recommending it to friends. Full of emotion and ultimately an uplifting ending. Wonderful.

This was a warm and funny, emotional and thrilling, very well-rounded story with great characters. I highly recommend it! Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to listen to this ARC.

I was keen to listen to The Vanishing of Margaret Small because I had seen a lot of buzz about it and it sounded interesting. I was expecting a lighthearted listen and was intrigued to find out what the mystery would be. The book grabbed me from the beginning when we first met Margaret as a bewildered little girl being vanished from the only home she had ever known. I am a huge fan of dual timeline stories and this plot structure worked really well. The book is written in the first person from Margaret's POV and there are occasional very short chapters from the mysterious "C". I had my theories about who C was from the beginning and whilst I guessed elements of Margaret's story, C's identity came as a surprise. What struck me throughout the book was the huge sense of mindless injustice and cruelty that Margaret and her peers had to endure. The book is incredibly well researched and is inspired by real life experiences and this really comes across in Margaret's voice. Margaret is an incredibly loveable character in both timelines and what comes across is not only her strength and determination but also her kindness despite what she has endured. Some of the scenes were really hard to hear and although it's a work of fiction it's all the more difficult knowing it's based on reality. The book is slow paced but captivating and the characters are incredibly well written. I thought it was clever the way the author used Margaret's obsession with Cilla black and how she listened to Cilla's autobiography audiobook and cleverly wove it into the story. The Vanishing of Margaret Small covers themes of institutional living, learning disability, prejudice, unmarried mothers, family separation, community care, social injustice and the mistreatment of women. Positive themes include family, friendship, and triumph over adversity. The story and characters are brought to life through the wonderful narration of Annie Aldington. Annie's voice is perfect for Margaret and I would love to hear more audiobooks from her. I am blown away by this book - I didn't want it to end, I miss Margaret! Written with warmth, humanity insight and a touch of humour this is an incredible debut and I would recommend it to everyone.

Oh my word! This is a debut novel for Mr Alexander and what a debut it is.

I absolutely love Margaret ... what a likeable and strong character she is despite what she experienced in her young life. She has every reason to dislike her fellow human beings but she is much better person than most ... she is kind, thoughtful and understanding.

The book is told in two timelines, the past and the present.

The present: Margaret is 75 and living independently with the support of her excellent support worker Wayne. Margaret loves Cilla Black and she likes nothing more than listening to Cilla's autobiography but when she starts receiving notes and gifts from someone who signs them with "C", Margaret thinks Cilla is back from the dead but it can't be so who is it? The notes revive memories from Margaret's past.

The past: Margaret's story starts at 7 years old when she is "vanished" into a long-stay institution called St Mary's where she lives for the majority of her life. I won't say she is 'cared for' as what she endured is not care in any way, shape or form but Margaret endures it with innocent acceptance of knowing it's not right but being powerless to do anything about it. There are scenes which broke my heart but others that also warmed it.

Both timelines are equally captivating and enthralling but the past had me in bits at times at the cruelties of how children and adults who are "different" were treated but through it all, was the voice of Margaret who I can only describe as being a beautiful person.

I listened to the audiobook and I can highly recommend it; the narrators are just brilliant particularly the voice of Margaret ... oh my, she was brought to life for me; it was like she was sitting right next to me telling me her story myself ... just brilliant.

Margaret is a fictional character however, her story is based on the experiences of 'real' people the author has met during his working life which makes this book even more powerful and I must thank Bonnier UK Audio, Embla Books and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of The Vanishing of Margaret Small.

I didn’t know anything about this story when I picked it up, but I’m so glad I’ve listened to it. Beautifully narrated it’s a heart-breaking but also heart-warming portrayal of a woman with learning difficulties and how she was treated in the 1960s and 70s, when society handled people with such difficulties and also young women, very badly.
Margaret lives in an institution for most of her life, - ‘vanished away’ from her grandmother’s home. She is funny, and kind and rarely self-pitying, her resilience is inspiring in spite of betrayals and cruelty, as she lives a simple life buoyed by her love of music, especially Cilla Black’s. It was an unexpected but charming and enjoyable read.

Aside from that it’s pure escapism and I loved the characters, though sometimes I found them infuriating at times, but it all comes together and they’re well developed and their actions make sense as the story goes on. Overall I really enjoyed this audiobook and will be recommending it!

I cannot find enough superlatives to praise this audiobook. This is a beautifully moving portrayal of Margaret, a woman with learning disabilities who is ‘vanished’ into an institution. She isn’t taught to read and write, she is abused by the nurses and ridiculed by people who don’t understand her. At times this book is heartbreaking, at others it is hilarious. I have cried and roared with laughter in equal measures. An amazing book - I loved it.

This is a book that will stay with you long after you finish it. The main character, Margaret is incredibly endearing and whilst the book tackles some tough themes in terms of the treatment of those with learning difficulties in the past it manages to keep a lovely sense of balance with some of the kind and sensitive supporting characters and plenty of humour.
The audiobook version captures the tone of the book perfectly and gives it a real powerful punch.
Definitely a great debut book from the author ; I hope there is more to come from him in the future.
I am grateful to NetGalley and the publishers for my advanced reader copy of this book and am leaving my honest review voluntarily.

Rating - 4.5 rounded off to 5

A poignant read that beautifully intertwines the past & the present.

Thanks to NetGalley & Bonnier Books UK, for the Audiobook!

Synopsis -

75-year-old Margaret lives in the quaint seaside town of Whitstable near Kent,England. She is a great fan of singer Cilla Black & just after Cilla’s death; Margaret starts receiving money over mail with just the signature of ‘C’. But who is sending her these & why? To find her answers, Margaret needs to revisit her past for over 70 years ago.

Review -

The dual timeline of Margaret’s present life in 2015 & her past starting from 1947 worked great at sucking me right into her world. The narrator’s voice suited her perfectly & I could really envision her personality with the pacing & voice modulation. We also have the voice of this mysterious benefactor inserted between chapters which kept my curiosity levels always spiked.

I found Margaret to be such an endearing character. At the tender age of 6, she ‘vanishes’ into a child-care institute where she lives for over 20 years. My heart went out for Margaret as she is raised in a harsh, severe & authoritarian environment.

Amidst all the cruelty & viciousness around her, it is a miracle how Margaret still grows up to be such a sweet, kind & caring person. Her innocence & unassuming attitude were so moving both in the present & past - given the unfairness she is subjected to.

Some of the twists in the plot towards the end were not only shocking & least expected, but also heart-rendering & saddening. As Margaret digs deeper into her history which she had buried, with the help of her support worker, she finally unearths the identity of this mystery donor.

The setting of the book in Whitstable was lovely. I enjoyed the descriptions of this charming little English town by the sea.

The author deserves a great applause for his research into long-stay institutions for children with learning disabilities in those days, the level of abuse, neglect & oppression meted out to them. I loved the author’s note at the end, which details what inspired him with the idea behind the book.

Neil has done a commendable job in shedding light on this part of mankind’s history - in the form of an affectionate & thoughtfully written story about the life of Margaret Small

Her story tugs at your heart strings, invokes compassion & emphasizes the need for empathy & kindness in our world.

Highly recommend getting to know Margaret. She is sure to become a wonderful friend of yours.

A superb debut that will tug at the heartstrings. The story revolves around the lovable Margaret and is split over dual timelines of past and present, tracing back to when Margaret was vanished into the care system as a child with disabilities. She reflects from 2015 at the age of 75years. An avid Cilla Black fan she is convinced that monthly money deposits arriving from C are from the legendary singer. Margaret broke my heart and made me laugh in swings and roundabouts. I absolutely love her. Superb characterisation. The audiobook was brilliantly executed, bringing Margaret to life like a friend sitting having a yarn. A story and a character that will stay with me for some time to come. #thevanishingofmargaretsmall #netgalley #neilalexander

This is one of the best audiobooks I have listened to this year. Written by Neil Alexander and beautifully narrated by Annie Aldington and Rachel Atkins it is an absolute rollercoaster of a novel. Set in the 1950’s-1970’s and 2015 Margaret Small is sent to a home as a 7 year old child due to her learning difficulties and there she stays until she’s a woman in her forties. We follow her life in the institution and the people she encounters, as well as her life as a 70 year old woman living in the community with the help of a support worker.
Margaret is an amazing character and a Cilla Black super-fan, so when she begins to receive letters and gifts from ‘C’ she assumes it is Cilla sending them. After confiding in her support worker, the mystery is solved and it’s not who anyone (including me) thinks it is.
Oh my goodness- heartbreaking is not a good enough description for this beautiful and sensitive novel. I just hope the author writes his next book much more quickly than the 15 years this one took. An absolute triumph!

I love an audiobook that you take the time out of your day to listen to, one that takes you away from the daily grind and this is one of those books

I really enjoyed the narration in this book, 2 distinctive voices that were easy to listen to,

The story of Margaret Small is beautifully told, full of happiness, sadness, regret and discovery. The story is a great insight into the history of those with learning disabilities being in institutions.

I loved the term “vanished” as it really seemed to speak to the experience of Margaret and those like her, who really did appear to vanish from society.

A great listen.

Both heartwarming and upsetting, an insight into how the learning disabled have been treated.

I've read similar books before (Grace Henderson Says it Loud) but Margaret makes an eloquent narrator and her story has extra dimensions outside of the 'care home' scenario, that make this a touching and rather memorable audiobook.

Margaret Small is now 75, but she's only been taking care of her own business for half her adult life. Put away by her grandmother for her learning disabilities at age 7, she was only sent out into the world 30 years later. But she's always kept her values, her kindness, her good nature. A love of Cilla Black. Soon after Cilla' death, Margaret starts receiving letters signed 'C' with money and kind words for her. Is Cilla sending her these gifts?

The reader is escorted back through Margaret's long life, back to a childhood bed in a home with nuns, cleaning tasks, ill treatment, friends. Back a few decades to a different social setting, giving insight into how those with differences were viewed, but just as importantly, insight into Margaret's own mind through it all. And her rather sunny and decent self.

I loved listening to the audio voice of Margaret, the older woman telling us about life for her through decades of change and learning, both for herself and much more widely. As we try to unravel her mystery.

Her story takes a few unforeseen directions (and some you can see coming). It's a good look into some hard truths about our social care system. And ultimately an uplifting story about a woman treated badly but coming out the other side with her dignity and humour intact.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample listening copy.

A charming tale, that has its fair share of dark spots.
How children/young people were treated back in the 40/50's.
Margaret reflects on her history, with a matter of fact attitude. There's a decent amount of humour in this book.
Some of it one liners from Margaret, other times due to her misunderstanding of the situation.
The book works well between time lines, revealing the story little by little.
Enjoyable story and a little heart warmer.

In the 1940’s, when orphan Margaret Small was just a girl, her Grandmother sent her away with ‘the rat catcher’ to St. Mary’s - a facility for children with learning disabilities. This place was in fact more like a prison, everything she knew was ripped away from her and she was thrown into a life of abuse and deprivation there, until she was 41 years of age.

In 2017 Margaret begins to receive letters marked from ‘C’. Having long felt a connection to Cilla Black, she begins to believe that the letters are from Cilla. But with help from her social worker Gary, she resolves who could really be sending these letters.



Told from dual viewpoints and timelines, this is a multifaceted story, but somehow it fits together perfectly. I love the character of Margaret, in some ways naive and kooky, but kind and loyal. The sheer neglect and cruelty towards her makes me so sad and angry. The use of ‘C’ within the story sprinkles elements of mystery throughout the plot, leading you to wonder who it could possibly be? 



Absolutely heartbreaking, hopeful and at times funny - wonderful.


I really loved the narrator, she was the perfect choice for this as you can really imagine Margaret sounding like that.

Narrated by Annie Aldington ⭐⭐⭐
Author Neil Alexander ⭐⭐⭐ 3.5 stars

It was hard to spend time in this world but thats because it pushed me out of my comfort zone, and this was probably a rosey version of how it really was for this time. Neil Alexander is clearly a very talented writer and I would definitely read another novel by him.

Margaret Small was "vanished” to a long-term care facility for children with learning disabilities when she was seven years old by the Rat Catcher (Mr. Gray). She had been living with her maternal grandmother prior to being "vanished". Can you even imagine sending a young child away to an institution? My heart broke for her.

Margaret is such an endearing and likeable character! She is a fan of Cilla Black and after the death of her beloved entertainer, Margaret begins receiving letters signed with a "C." Is Cilla sending them to her? Her support worker, Wayne, informs her that it is not possible. Hoping to figure out who is giving her money, Margaret talks a walk down memory lane.

This was such a wonderful and lovely book. I adored Margaret from the very beginning. She is a lovely character with an interesting back story. So sad to know that individuals were learning disabilities were once initialized. Breaks my heart. What won’t break your heart is the author's note at the end of the book where he shares his inspiration for writing this book.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did an amazing job with the voices. She really brought Margaret to life as well as the supporting characters. Told in two timelines, this book is both heartwarming and engaging. This book will sneak up on you, steal your heart, give you a few chuckles and put a smile on your face.

What an impressive debut! I look forward to what Neil Alexander writes next!


Thank you to Bonnier UK Audio, Embla Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

What a good listen. It is a book that will make you a little teary as the story is so heartfelt but also so funny. Don’t read at work in your lunch as it does make you literally laugh out loud!