EXCERPT: 5 November 1947
I was seven years old when they vanished me. The Rat Catcher done it. He stole me from Grandma. In the beginning, you see, I lived with Grandma, for Mother had died soon after I was born.

On days when I was naughty, Grandma told me I was cursed. She said my red hair was the work of the Devil; that I was a changeling, swapped by the fairies, all for what my mother had done. What my mother had done, she wouldn't say. I learned very quickly not to ask. If I did, God help me, she'd get angry, give my legs a good hiding with the belt.

There was this man, you see. His name was Mr. Grey, but everyone on our street called him the Rat Catcher. Oh, he was a sneak! Tall and crooked, with a long silver ponytail that snaked all the way down his back. He worked for the Board of Control - them lot who put you away for good. His job was to nick children from their houses, take them up St Mary's in Canterbury. Not just any children, mind - only the ones like me, what was different.

ABOUT 'THE VANISHING OF MARGARET SMALL': Meet Margaret Small: 75, plain spoken and a Cilla Black super fan. Shortly after the death of her idol, Margaret begins receiving sums of money in the post, signed simply 'C'.

She is convinced it must be Cilla, but how can it be? To solve the mystery of her benefactor Margaret must go back in her memories almost 70 years, to the time when she was 'vanished' to a long-stay institution for children with learning disabilities.

MY THOUGHTS: What an amazing read (listen) this was! I love being blindsided by the unexpected, and Neil Alexander manages to do this with his debut novel! Definitely a writer to watch.

Margaret Small is intellectually challenged, but she more than makes up for this with spades of common sense, far more than many so called intelligent people. She is kind and willing but easily taken advantage of. What she does she does well and she takes pride in her work.

Margaret tells her story over two timelines. She is now in her 70s and living in a flat and supervised by her support worker, Wayne. Wayne is a lovely, caring person, fully invested in enabling Margaret to live her best possible life. We need more Waynes in this world.

Margaret's current story is interspersed with the story of her life in St. Mary's, a residential home for the intellectually challenged and mentally disturbed.

Margaret is a delightful character, obsessed with Cilla Black, and frequently thinks that Cilla is 'talking' to her. Margaret often answers her. Margaret can neither read nor write and so, when she starts getting letters, she has David, a kind young lad who works in Sainsbury's, read them to her. They are simply signed 'C'.

The Vanishing of Margaret Small is a story that tore at my heart, had me shedding tears in places, but also had me laughing out loud in others.

Annie Aldington narrated superbly.

A wonderful book that everyone should read. And please don't forget to read the author's note at the end. It is enlightening.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

#TheVanishingofMargaretSmall #NetGalley

I: @neilalexanderwriter @bonnierbooks_uk @emblabooks

T: @neilalexander_ @bonnierbooks_uk @emblabooks

#contemporaryfiction #familydrama #friendship #historicalfiction

THE AUTHOR: Much of the inspiration for Neil Alexander's debut novel, 'The Vanishing of Margaret Small', came directly from the voices of people with a learning disability, and the incredibly moving first person accounts of living in long stay institutions, which he heard while working for the UK charity Mencap. Neil, who has a Masters degree in English Literature from the University of Kent at Canterbury, began his career working in health journalism. Originally from Northern Ireland, he now lives in the seaside town of Whitstable in Kent. He currently teaches English part-time and is working on his second novel.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bonnier Audio UK for an audio ARC of The Vanishing of Margaret Small, written by Neil Alexander and narrated by Annie Aldington, for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage

I loved this!
I switched between the audio and ebook versions, and I couldn't stop reading and listening.
The story is powerful, following our protaganist Margaret Small who lived in a home for children with learning difficulties.
Margaret is a wonderful character. Readers will instantly warm to her and feel her pain and joy.
The topic is a difficult one, about how people try and make their way in the world when they are dismissed and forgotten about.
The different timelines add a strong contrast with Margaret's early life and later as she confonts her past. The addition of Margaret being a Cilla Black superfan was fantastic, making her so personal to the reader.
I adored this book, and would highly recommend it.

You know you’ve just finished a really special book when it comes to a close and you miss the main character already. I came to this thinking it was going to be a quirky little story about a quirky little character and I was looking forward to it, I’ve never been so glad to be wrong, it’s so very much not, yet so very much more than that.

I’m stunned to note that this is a debut, it’s written so beautifully, seamlessly, with fantastic momentum and great heart. With a flawless split timeline. Annie Overington has absolutely smashed the narration here too.

When we first meet Margaret Small living alone at age 75 assisted by her current support worker Wayne. Margaret has a learning disability and life hasn’t always been lived in her flat in Whitstable. For most of her life she was vanished to St. Mary’s a home or institution for “people like margaret” when Margaret’s idol Cilla Black passes away and seemingly starts sending Margaret notes and gifts from beyond the grave we are taken on a beautiful, heart wrenching, tear jerking yet hilariously funny and affirming journey back in time to when Margaret was first vanished, and everything that happened throughout her life to bring us right up to date and into Margaret’s future.

I adored margaret, I’m usually cautious of men writing women, but the author has done a stellar job on this. Wayne, Sainsbury’s Dave and “C” are really well written too. I couldn’t find anything not to live apart from the hard truths that make up the story in the novel. Thank god times have changed! #Jorecommends
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to listen to this audio book in return for an honest review.

In a Nutshell: An unusual story. The title and cover makes this debut novel appear light and easy-going, but it gets quite intense at times. Definitely worth reading for its quirky protagonist and its character-oriented storyline.

Story Synopsis:
75-year-old Margaret Small has been a lifelong Cilla Black fan. After the death of the singer, Margaret begins receiving anonymous envelopes containing cash, with a simply note signed ‘C’. Margaret is sure that these are from Cilla, but whom can she confide in? Her young caregiver Wayne will surely laugh at her.
To resolve the mystery, we are also given a glimpse of another timeline beginning from 1947, when little Margaret was first ‘vanished” into a long-stay institution for children with learning disabilities.
Both the timelines are narrated to us in the first person pov of Margaret.


Where the book worked for me:
😍 Margaret as the lead character is endearing and will definitely make her way into your heart. Despite the tough life she has had, she ventures into each day with an amazing never-give-up attitude. Simply adored her!
😍 I wont tell you why and how long Margaret ended up in the children’s institution but the way this aspect is incorporated into the plot is marvellous. It isn’t a case of writing a character with a disability just to fit in with the current trend in fiction but forgetting to use it after some casual mentions. On the contrary, the author thoughtfully makes use of this aspect of Margaret’s personality in almost every chapter.
😍 There are some memorable secondary characters as well, both good and bad. Wayne was among my favourites.
😍 The two timelines work wonderfully in sync with each other. Neither seems forced, and both were equally enjoyable.
😍 The chapters are short, adding to the pace of the novel. (I was a bit apprehensive to see eighty-seven chapters at first! Needn’t have worried.)
😍 While the book is quite emotional, it also incorporates plenty of humour.
😍 The story is slow and quick at the same time, if you know what I mean. There’s not much happening in each chapter but you still feel like the plot is moving ahead steadily, mainly by uncovering greater facets of the characters’ personalities.
😍 The author’s note at the end reveals the real-life inspiration for Margaret. Loved it!
😍 Okay, call me gender-biased, but I am not a fan of men writing women; most of the times, they mess up female representation. So imagine my surprise when I discovered that this is written by a man! What a beautiful and sensitive portrayal of the female characters! There was no scene where I felt like the writing went stereotypical. So yeah, I admit, there are some good male writers in contemporary fiction. I hope some more of them come my way. (Sorry for being so presumptive in my dismissal of male authors! It’s a case of ‘Multiple times bitten, perennially shy.’)
😍 Imagine also my surprise when I discovered that this is a debut work. It is far more complex and nuanced than many of the established works I have read.
(How do debut writers write whimsical characters best – I wonder! Gail Honeyman’s Eleanor Olliphant’, Matt Cain’s Albert Entwistle, even Fredrik Backman’s Ove – all are debut works with memorably peculiar characters. Neil Alexander’s Margaret Small joins this elite list without a doubt.)


Where the book could have worked better for me:
😑 A tad too convenient at times, especially in the second half.
😑 Some of the secondary characters are too clichéd.
😑 There are some plot points, mainly about Margaret’s younger years, that are brushed off hastily. I would have loved some more details on these gaps.


The audiobook experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 8 hrs 41 min, is narrated mainly by Annie Aldington, with some chapters coming from another narrator. The second narrator doesn’t get much chance to show her vocal range, though the scenes narrated by this person are also performed well. (Notice how hard I am trying to avoid spoilers about identity!)
Aldington is MARVELLOUS! Her voices and her emotions are spot on. The personality she creates with her voice not just for Margaret but for all the characters she voices is so good that you feel; like you are hearing a multi-cast performance.
There’s only one problem if you opt for the audio version, which is brilliant in every other way. You will discover at least the gender of the mysterious ‘C’, which eliminates half of the potential suspects from the list. Reading the book would have helped retain the mystery better.

All in all, this is a book that is heartrending and heartwarming at the same time. If you want to read the touching story of a loveable old lady, definitely give this a go.

4.25 stars.

The book is available on Kindle Unlimited.

My thanks to Bonnier UK Audio and NetGalley for the ALC of “The Vanishing of Margaret Small”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.

What an excellent audiobook! I felt so much for Margaret and followed her journey, experiencing her heartache and triumphs. I am so pleased we are working on a society that allows those with learning disabilities to be themselves and not be treated as outcasts. Although there is still so much to do, this story brings home the anguish of those still mistreated.

The narration style brings Margaret to life perfectly, and I was invested in her from the first few chapters. The dual timelines flow perfectly, and there is nothing I can suggest to improve this! The bonus is that I live in Canterbury, so Margaret feels even more realistic, as I could picture the locations spoken about vividly. I understand why the move to Whitstable appealed to Margaret's "C" so much. (No spoilers here!)

Although the author's note confirms that Margaret is a fictional character to me, she is alive and well in my heart. A delightful character with an extraordinary story, making this an unforgotten audio for sure! A true innocent, and gentle soul that the world needs more of.

"The Vanishing Life of Margaret Small" is available now!

I don’t think my review can even start to say how good this book is. The narrator was the perfect voice to do Margaret and her story justice. The story tells what happened back in the 40’s and 50’s to children who were thought to be “different”. I loved it. Margaret was a wonderful life like character who had an awful life at times. However her strength of character allowed her to make the most of her life. Her support worker Wayne deserves a knighthood! If everyone had a Wayne in their life the world would be a much better place. I wish I could give it more than 5*

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC

The book is listed as a literary fiction but felt no less than a memoir. The scenarios mentioned in the book around how people with disabilities were treated is shockingly true to its core.

Here's what to love:
🤎Dual timelines
🤎Margaret's character development (homely, soft yet determined)
🤎Plethora of characters variations to love, hate and befriend
🤎Fiction but feels like reality
🤎Mysterious gift sender

The best part about this is anyone can read it, doesn't really belong to a specific kind, just a beautiful tale about the life a women forced to disappear.
I really hated the way those nuns behaved at the special homes***, but I also understand it was important for the story to show that aspect of people.

To know more about what I am talking... Read the book 🤗

Thankyou @bonnierbooks_uk @neilalexanderwriter for the digital ARC

#TheVanishingofMargaretSmall #NetGalley

The Vanishing of Margaret Small is the first novel by British author, Neil Alexander. The audio version is narrated by Annie Aldington and Rachel Atkins. In 1947, at the age of seven, Margaret Small is collected without explanation from her grandmother’s home by a man she dubs The Rat Catcher.

Mr Grey is with the Board of Control and has done a bunch of tests on her: he deposits her at St Mary’s Hospital (for defectives), in Canterbury where she is kept, except for a short episode at another institution, for the next thirty-four years of her life. She never sees her grandmother, or the contents of the tiny suitcase she packed for her, again.

Almost seven decades later, Margaret, at seventy-five still cannot read, but manages to live alone in her cottage in Whitstable, with frequent visits from Wayne, her support worker. She’s always been a big fan of Cilla Black, has a wealth of Cilla facts stored in her brain, and consoles herself over the death of her idol by listening frequently to the audiobook of her memoir.

But someone is sending her notes with cash, signed with “C x”: she believes it’s Cilla but, except for the one read to her by the young man in Sainsbury’s, she has no idea what they say, and she’s reluctant to ask Wayne, because he will probably think she’s lost it. She likes the life she has now, her routine and the people in her life, and the last thing she wants is to be put away again.

Something the notes do have her thinking about is her time at St Mary’s, all those years ago: the nurses, always strict, some kind, others terribly cruel; the other patients, some true friends, others who claimed to be but weren’t really, one she loved (who loved her back, surely?), all eventually leaving her behind; the work, some of which she liked, especially when she was good at it, some of which it was wrong to make patients do.

And those tests that Mr Grey did? Her learning difficulties may have been recognised, but they were never addressed. Instead, Margaret was labelled as “incapable” and shoved away out of sight, and for a long time, out of mind.

Margaret is a protagonist with whom the reader can’t help feeling empathy. For all she endures, she’s resilient, and surprisingly lacking in bitterness (about cruelties inflicted on her she mildly states “it wasn’t right”) and wants, more than anything, just to be part of a family.

Alexander throws the reader a little surprise before a most satisfactory resolution to Margaret’s story. He gives his characters wise words and insightful observations. “Don’t judge yourself the way others judged you in the past.” Funny, moving and uplifting, this is an outstanding debut novel.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Bonnier UK Audio.

Wow this is one special audiobook. The narrator did an absolutely outstanding job of bringing Margaret to life. So much so, that I felt I was sat in Margaret’s living room with her and I was hooked by the end of the first chapter.
Margaret herself is an absolute joy to read about. I don’t know what I want to do first - give her a massive hug or give her a lifelong Audible subscription. Her experience is so unjust and unfair and yet as much as it’s a poignant and emotive book, its equally so uplifting and hopeful too. I loved speculating about the mystery packages and who they’d come from. Now that I have finished the audiobook, I miss it already, but I am so glad I listened to it.

Thank you to Neil Alexander, his publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an advanced copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Although a novel, i felt this could have been written on a true narrative of someones life. Set in the 60's originally and then 2015 latterly this books tells a sad story of being put into the care system for being slow to learn? whatever that means. Poor little girl taken from her family by the equivalent of social services to exist in residential care. The writing was superb, the storyline very believable and could have happened to people around us. I loved the main character and so hoped for a happy ending for her. Thankfully these situations don't occur now, as caring people we should always challenge and ensure this can never happen again. Narration was excellent and really opened up the dialogue. Thank you #NetGalley for the audiobook to review.

"The Vanishing of Margaret Small by Neil Alexander is this authors' debut novel!

The definitions of "Vanish": To pass quickly from sight; Disappear; To pass completely from existence; To assume the value zero.

Vanish is exactly what happens to seven-year-old Margaret in 1947 when her maternal grandmother and Mr. Gray decide she should be 'dropped off' at St. Mary's Hospital, a long-stay institution for children with learning and physical disabilities.

This is where Margaret remains until, at thirty-two years old, she's told she can leave St. Mary's to live in a small group home while receiving guidance from an assigned Support Worker.

When we first meet Margaret it's 2015, she's seventy-five years old, living alone, and unable to read or write. Her current Support Worker, Wayne, is attempting to convince her the letters she's receiving, aren't from her favorite singer, Cilla Black. He assures Margaret they'll get down to the bottom of the mystery of who is sending them...

Silly me, I thought this audiobook was going to be a simple, easy, lickety-split listen. Was I ever mistaken but what a pleasant surprise!

Told in two timelines, this story is an intensely emotional journey with top-notch characterizations. It's impossible not to love Margaret, as she's definitely the one who holds this story together. She may be a bit slow but she has an inner beauty that's impossible to resist.

Margaret's early life wasn't easy, but once given the chance, she melds into a new life outside of St. Mary's and into a welcoming community without issue. She proves herself to be a survivor with a kind heart, without bitterness for many years spent in a cruel institution, looking forward and not backward at life.

The audiobook is narrated by Annie Aldington who does a remarkable job of bringing Margaret to life, as well as, providing believable voicing to the other characters.

I was surprised to find out "The Vanishing of Margaret Small" is this author's debut novel. The author's note at the end, gives brief detail of what brought this amazing story to life. I do hope this book finds its way in front of a large audience of readers and listeners for the well-written and meaningful story it is. I highly recommend it to all!

Thank you to NetGalley, Bonnier UK Audio, and Neil Alexander for an ALC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.

This book was beautifully written. Margaret Small is one of my favourite characters of the year. The mystery kept me guessing incorrectly right up to the reveal.

There were a lot of difficult to read parts of this book and reading about how some of the characters were treated (and knowing that this actually happened) was truly heartbreaking.

A brilliant story that I highly recommend.

Margaret is amazing. Her story is so powerful- people need to hear it. I was so moved by her harsh upbringing - the way she was treated was heart breaking. The author does a fantastic job of capturing changes in socially acceptable behaviour over time. Lessons have been learned and we are all one step closer to equality. Hearing Margaret’s view of life and the way she was treated has to be an education to every reader. In life we should be kind, it costs us nothing.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Embla Books for approving me for an ARC of this book.

Where do I even begin? Everyone and I mean everyone needs to read this book! I defy anyone to not fall in love with Margaret Small, she is the most loveable character you could ever meet and once you know her history you can’t help but love her more. This story is told in a dual timeline. We have present-day Margaret who is struggling to understand why she keeps receiving letters from someone called ‘C’ and Margaret as a child/teen/ young woman telling us her story inside the walls of St Mary’s.

I honestly found it so hard to hear what she had endured as a child in St Mary’s and I don’t think I can have hated a character more than Nurse Cunningham! The sad fact of the matter is that whilst this book is a work of fiction it is based on real stories and my heart breaks to think of what people with disabilities, physically or mentally, went through in the 1940s-1980s. As Margaret tells us her story I wanted someone to help her and give her the life she deserved. Whether it was Joan, Eva or kind Sandra, the people she trusted kept abandoning her and each time my heart broke a little more for her.

Present-day Margaret is a creature of habit and I love the simplistic life she lives. You have to admire the life she has built for herself, considering her institutional life. When the letters and gifts start appearing I immediately want to know who it is. This level of mystery grabbed me straight away and kept me listening. I had a few theories running through my mind and after one or two surprises we finally learn who the mystery sender is. I was pleasantly surprised and felt that this gave the story a lovely ending worthy of Margaret.

Whilst this book does deal with some very hard truths there are some lovely moments of laughter. From Margaret’s unwavering faith to Cilla Black to Charisma and her unladylike qualities, there are quite a few moments to make you smile. Wayne was a huge supporting role for Margaret and he too comes with his own quirky personality which is why I think he gets on so well with Margaret.

I’m not ashamed to say that this book brought tears to my eyes even before I got to the end. My heart ached for Margaret and the life she could have had but I was also proud of her accomplishments and her unwavering faith in human kindness. Everyone needs a Margaret in their life and I’m so pleased that I got the chance to meet her, even if it’s just in the fictional world. Her story and the untold stories that this book is based on will stay with me for a long time. Now all I need is for Neil Alexander to hurry up and write his next book, I need more of this beautiful writing in my world!

What a wonderful premise for a book! I absolutely adored 'The Vanishing of Margaret Small'. The titular character is so very lovable, her story both heartbreaking and warming in turns. I reckon Cilla Black would have loved Margaret too. Elements of the story are challenging, though Neil Alexander's lightness of touch ensures that the messages are imparted, but cushioned by humour. Do listen to the Note From The Author at the end, for further information regarding the inspiration for the book and research sources.

The audiobook narration by Annie Aldington is superb! She handles some very challenging accents very well. I will be seeking out more of her work and I can't wait to see what Neil Alexander comes up with next!

I loved this audiobook! It is uplifting, it is quite moving, it is heart rendering and it throws a highlight onto people who have lived in institutions long term. I believe the author, Neil Alexander, uses the voices of people first hand with learning difficulties to help create his debut! And what a debut it is! I was so invested with Margaret and her story and the mystery that develops. You see Margaret is in her 70’s when we meet her and lives in Whitstable and has lived most of her life in a home. Her main passion is Cilla Black. One day she starts receiving little letters and money - the notes always are signed with C. Who is C? Margaret sets out to find out who the mystery letters are coming from. The narrator is Annie Aldington (one of my favourites) and she just brings Margaret to life and makes this book a total joy to listen to. Thank you Bonnier UK Audio Books and Netgalley for my gifted copy.

This is such a heart breaking story and even more so when you hear what inspired it. It was however such a fitting ending and I am so glad it finished how it did as I was starting to worry but what this poor young girl/woman went through in her life locked up in an institution and never given a proper chance at life for so many years just breaks your heart but the fact that she showed so much resilience and eventually built a life out of the home of her own is just awe inspiring. Loved this audio but keep the tissues handy.

4.25⭐️

I had the audiobook of this debut novel narrated by Annie Audington and Rachel Atkins. The narrator who does the majority of voices has a great voice for Margaret, she does an excellent job keeping my interest with the slow moving pace.

This is Margaret’s story looking back at her life, starting with when she was ‘vanished’ to a long stay institution for children with learning disabilities at the age of 7, sent by her grandmother. In the present she is 75 and is assisted by her support worker Wayne.
The reader doesn’t get to know Margaret’s diagnosis, just that she is a slow learner. I think it works well that she isn’t given a ‘label’.

A very character driven emotionally charged novel. The writing style and narration style suit Margaret’s character. The pace is very slow, I expected the plot to be predictable but the author manages to get some twists in there. It’s an enjoyable easy listen, quite emotional at times.
I really took to Margaret, she is very endearing, I like Wayne too, he’s a good friend as well as a carer. There are some hateful characters too.
There seems to be several books centralised around quirky characters at the moment. This holds up well against the others. I think it’s one where the narrator adds to the appeal and rating for me, as I’m not great with slower paced books as a rule.