I was pleased to have this one approved as it's one I have wanted to read for a while. I have seen the Hitchcock film a few times and enjoyed it but wanted to see how the book compared. I really enjoyed it. I liked the way the tension builds and the pace is good. While I picked upon a few points (having seen the flms) this didn't afect my enjoyment . I loved the sense of time and place and enjoyed the story.

This was first published in 1936 and was, of course, made into a popular film (although I have never seen it). However, , I was interested to read it and enjoyed it very much.

Iris Carr is a young woman, who has been on holiday with a group of friends. She is an independently wealthy orphan, but somewhat disenchanted by her frivolous lifestyle. As such, she decides to allow her friends to leave for England without her and to travel back alone. However, once on her own, she is somewhat at a loss and feels slightly daunted by her lack of language skills. The other hotel guests are pleased her large group of noisy, unconventional and thoughtless friends are gone and Iris is both embarrassed, and annoyed, at the realisation that they were looked down upon.

On her train journey home, Iris meets a kindly, older lady, Miss Froy, who takes her under her wing. When Iris wakes from a nap though, she finds that Miss Froy has gone and everyone denies that she has ever existed…

I am old enough to have seen this film on Saturday-afternoon TV in my kidhood. I liked it fine. I still like it fine.

It shows its age, though, as much as I show mine. Creaky turns of phrase, deeply offensive-to-21st-century norms stereotypes and assumptions, and the fidelity of Hitchcock's adaptation all conspired against my finishing the read. Still worth your time and cash if you've never read a Golden-Age writer of top caliber, haven't seen the film multiple times, or are deeply curious about how good work turns sour with time through no fault of its own.

Pushkin Vertigo thinks $9.99 is the right price. Not quite so sure, me.

I will start this review by saying I love a good crime book, as a big Agatha Christie fan so I thought I would love this book. I thought I would use this book as a way to expand the authors I read but honestly I feel the story wasn’t for me.

It was written well and the story as a whole was good I just personally felt that it could have been shorter as there was a lot of unnecessary backwards and forwards.

Don’t let it discourage you though! I surprised myself with reading this book, whether it didn’t translate well to kindle I don’t know .

Many thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Origin of a Hitchcock classic, classic who-(or rather how and why?)-dunnit.

Hitchcock's film is one of my favourites of his, and such a classic of the genre - I had to read the source novel.

Even standing alone, this is a great read, fast-moving and full of intrigue and an interesting narrative style. The film saves (from recollection anyway!) the reveals until the end, whereas the book gives away some of the twists and plotting as we go along, which I wasn't expecting.

The book also introduces key characters surprisingly late in the day and makes protagonists less likeable than I remembered from Hitchcock's adaptation.

One such is Iris. Wealthy socialite, abroad with friends and causing other hotel residents disquiet, she is left alone after they return to England without her, to the relief of all. Iris's own reputation is thus polluted by association, which is important for what follows. Waiting her own return train and suffering sunstroke, she meets a kindly older lady in her full compartment, humours her lively chat and dull life story and rests her eyes. Only to find when awakening that the governess, Miss Froy, has vanished and nobody else even admits she was there in the first place.

Against her lazy/selfish instincts the young Englishwomen tries to rally help, from other passengers, from anyone who will listen to her, but the reader and Iris herself are left wondering just why everyone would so firmly argue that Miss Froy is not real...

The reader though is given perspectives on Miss Froy's parents, insights into the motivations of other passengers, and given even further evidence that Iris is not in fact mistaken... but why can she not find Miss Froy on a moving train?

The ending is decidedly abrupt, the explanation actually comes partway through which Hitchcock at least corrected for film, but I really enjoyed the twisty nature and off-kilter perceptions of the not-quite-loveable Iris and working our way towards the solution through multiple viewpoints.

A very different style of narrative, and ever a favourite film. Great to see the origins.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.

I had seen and enjoyed the film of this novel years ago and luckily for me I had forgotten how it ended. The book is, of course, even better. This was originally published in 1936 and I very much enjoy classic crime books. This is one of the best thrillers of the time.

Traveling alone on a train through Europe, Iris befriends Mrs. Froy, an elderly woman. When Mrs. Froy disappears it seems that Iris is the only person who remembers her. How does a woman completely disappear from a moving train and why do other passengers claim to have no memory of her? Is Iris going mad? This was very enjoyable and an absolute classic.

This story was a little disappointing to me as I liked the film and other books of this era. However the pacing is too slow as it seems to take forever to even get on the train. Also the main character Iris is unlikeable and annoying which made it harder for me to care about her trials and tribulations, and the side character's were not much better than her. While I realise it is an old book and was showing it's age I still expected to like the people involved and I just didn't. Also the solution to the mystery was fairly obvious from the beginning which again might have not been the case in it's day. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

One of those books I have heard about but have never got around to reading until now. This is a well-written, fast-paced book and the mystery here is every bit as gripping as it is in the movie. If your a fan of Agatha Christie and Whodunnit stories, then pick up this book. An interesting story of a young woman on vacation who claims a woman has Vanished on the train. But there is no trace of her and no one believes her.

I really enjoyed the characters and the mystery and for a classic it was actually quite easy to understand as well and I think would be a great story for people who are new to classics.

Being a fan of classic crime means that I am almost predisposed to finding enjoyment in most mystery novels from the first half of the twentieth century. I love the casual comments which give away the period the novel was written, the ‘unusual’ turns of phrase and descriptions which speak of the cultural and sociological views of the protagonists (and authors) and the rather more formal use of language which somehow seems much more civilized than what we are used to today. (For example, see previous sentence).

Of course, this will only get you so far: the story still has to be good, the writing has to be of a quality and most importantly, the plot has to have the right elements to make it a genuine mystery.
Happily, (and not surprisingly) all these elements are present in “The Lady Vanishes”. It is an interesting puzzle (although I had it sussed from the presentation of the key scene, but maybe that comes with reading far too many mystery novels…) told with genuine tension and foreboding.
Characterisation is also very well handled, explaining enough to make sense of plot and actions but without giving away too much, too soon.

It really is no surprise that "The Lady Vanishes" has been made into various movies in the years after its publication, it’s a great example of a mystery novel from this era, or indeed any era.

1936 Miss Iris Carr, wealthy, shallow, and spoilt has come to the end of a holiday in a remote part of Europe, a day after her friends have already departed. Alone on the train to Trieste she meets governess Miss Winifred Froy, who then goes missing. But no-one will believe her. Can she find her before the end of the journey.
An entertaining and well-written historical mystery. It was interesting to read as I could compare the book to the original 1938 film.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Unlike most reviewers I haven't seen the Hitchcock film, although I have seen a stage adaptation of the book which was originally published as The Wheel Spins.

So I knew the story, but even so the book was exciting and my heart was racing as the train sped towards Trieste, hoping that Iris solved the mystery and that there would be a happy ending. I particularly enjoyed the parts of the story where Mr and Mrs Froy and their charming dog Sock are waiting for their daughter's safe return.

A recommended read for lovers of Golden Age mystery thrillers.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Lady Vanishes coming out September 3, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This book was published as The Wheel Spins in 1936. I’ve watched the Hitchcock version of this movie and loved it, so I was excited to read the book. I love classic books. I think the story was action packed for the time. There was a lot of mystery. Train stories were definitely big during the time. I loved it.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys classic 1930s books!

I loved the 1938 Hitchcock film, The Lady Vanishes. Agatha Christie is my gold standard when it comes to classic mysteries. So by all accounts, I should love this golden age mystery on which the film is based. Unfortunately, I didn’t.

The story is incredibly dated with a whole lot of references to 1930s British events. The pacing is slow. It takes half the book to even get on the train. However, the ending, which was the best part of the story, feels rushed. The main character is annoying. The side characters are either stereotypes, boring, or both. The book’s short length should not be its best characteristic.

I would recommend The Lady Vanishes only to golden age mystery completists. Or maybe Hitchcock fans, who want to appreciate his skill at turning a mediocre, at best, book into a fantastic movie. 2 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Pushkin Vertigo for providing me with an advanced review copy.

When Alfred Hitchcock decided to make a movie of The Wheel Spins (renamed as The Lady Vanishes for the big screen) by Ethel Lina White in 1938, it became his ticket to Hollywood greatness.

Even though almost 90 years have passed since it was first published, the story, plot and writing of the book doesn't feel dated at all. Flip the narrative to a modern setting with a few tweaks (even Hitchcock made a few changes to the plot for the movie version) and I am sure it will be as gripping as I found reading the original.

The setting of the fast moving train travelling on dangerous terrain, the close set compartments and the sense of time slipping away helps to bring forth the sense of urgency, fear and desperation Iris Carr feels--both in her quest to locate Miss Froy who she knows exists and is in danger and to prove that she is not hallucinating. It is also shared by Miss Froy, who locked and hidden away in a compartment, still holds out hope to be rescued while her parents and dog in a small country cottage anxiously wait for her to return home.

Agatha Christie is the most famous name of the Golden Age of Mysteries era but I am looking forward to getting introduced to other writers who were equally popular at the time.

This reissue by Pushkin Press/Pushkin Vertigo is due to be out on September 3, 2024. My thanks to the publisher for the e-Arc of the book which I received via NetGalley.

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Iris Carr remains a bit longer after her friends depart from their holiday and she hasn't exactly made herself popular with the other guests at the hotel. So, she finds herself travelling alone on the train back to England. On her journey, she makes the acquaintance of a Miss Froy who, while kindly, can be a rather difficult companion. When she wakes from her sleep, she finds Miss Froy has disappeared and when she makes enquiries of the other passengers, all claim no knowledge of the woman's existence. It's up to Iris to discover what's happened before it's too late.

I was delighted to find this book available even though I have never seen any of the film or tv adaptations of it. The first part of the book sets us up for what happens later, with much description of Iris and other remaining guests of the hotel after her socialite crowd leaves before her. Then later on the train, we meet these people again, along with the characters of other passengers and staff. Iris is beside herself when Miss Froy disappears and then she is essentially gaslighted so that she feels she has lost her mind. Every time we think some progress is being made in finding Miss Froy, things take a step backwards until things reach the climax of the book as the train is reaching Trieste.

Overall, it was a thoroughly enjoyable book, and I was on the edge of my seat for much of the latter part of it. I rate it four stars and highly recommend to anyone desiring a mystery/thriller. Thank you to Netgalley and Pushkin Vertigo for giving me a free copy of the book, I have reviewed this voluntarily.

The Lady Vanishes is a golden age mystery/suspense story that is better known for the Alfred Hitchcock film of the same name. A purposeless young Englishwoman meets a bland middle-aged Englishwoman on a train back to England, and when the latter goes missing, is the only person who claims to know anything about her. It's a long exercise in gaslighting by the entire train, whether for relatively innocent or nefarious purposes, which is the main trigger for the building suspense (a la Gaslight), even more than the train's increasing proximity to a bad outcome in Trieste.
The main character, in spite of her indolence and lack of direction, is sympathetic and likable for her tenacity in hunting for the missing woman. The bad guys are appropriately suspicious and forbidding, and the deputized men are satisfyingly useless and credulous. There are a few side characters whose arcs are given a chapter or two's attention, and it's only too bad that they don't play a more active role in the solution. Given that this is the origin of a well-known film, this reissue will play well with library fans of classic mysteries.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

Set in the 1930's, The Lady Vanishes, originally published as The Wheel Spins, is a classic telling of a young woman on vacation who makes a claim of another vanishing on a train. However, there is no proof to be found, no trace of the woman, and no one believes what the vacationer claims to have saw.

While the book started out slowly, and admittedly I put it down more than once, I'm glad that I picked it back up and kept going. The pace picked up for me with the setting of the train, the plot was complex with psychological and thrilling elements and the cast of characters were interesting... all of these things added up to make it an engaging and enjoyable read.

"The ingenious classic thriller behind Hitchcock's famous film, set on a steam train travelling across 1930s Europe and boasting "intrigue, mystery, and spine-chilling horror." (Saturday Review)

First published as The Wheel Spins in 1936 and adapted for the screen by Alfred Hitchcock in 1938, Ethel Lina White's The Lady Vanishes established the author as one of the greatest crime writers of the Golden Age.

After a summer holiday in a remote corner of Europe, the glamorous socialite Iris Carr is looking forward to returning to the comforts of home. But having stayed on at the resort after her friends' departure, Iris now faces the journey home alone. On the train to Trieste, she is pleased to meet a kindly governess, Miss Froy, and strikes up a conversation. Iris warms to her companion, and is alarmed when she wakes from a sleep to find that Miss Froy has suddenly disappeared from the train without a trace. Worse still, she is horrified to discover that none of the other passengers on the train will admit to having ever seen such a woman.

Doubting her sanity and fearing for her life, Iris is determined to find Miss Froy before the train journey is over. Only one of her fellow passengers seems to believe her story. With his help, Iris begins to search the train for clues to the mystery of the vanished lady at the center of this ingenious classic thriller."

I am in love with this beautiful reissue of this classic mystery. How classic? I once tried to get an Iris Carr inspired haircut... It did not end well.

As someone who appreciates the mystery genre, reading a classic mystery is always enjoyable. When I discovered this new edition of the classic novel, I decided to check it out.

The book seemed to drag at times, and there were a few pointless descriptions that made the plot go more slowly. Despite being a standard, old-fashioned mystery, I found the mystery to be sufficiently entertaining. Though not particularly novel, the twists and turns made the book enjoyable to read.

The characters were great, especially Iris. Her participation was convincingly depicted by the author, and the inclusion of the supporting cast increased the humor of the narrative. The author's skill definitely resides in bringing vivid speech to life and crafting a number of amusing moments with colorful characters.

An enjoyable read, for sure, but I have to said that I enjoyed Hitchock's movie more. Still if you are of fan of the classic, mystery books, I would recommend reading this one.

I love the movie and the book does not disappoint. Lots of action and enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat. Great story.