CSFF Blog Tour: Vanished Day One

This month we're looking at Vanished by Kathryn Mackel.

I've been a fan of Mackel's writing since her Birthright Project came out. I'm still kind of in mourning that she wasn't able to completely finish that series (at least, not yet), so it was good to pick up another one of her books and look it over.

Mackel does not disappoint with this one. The town of Barcester, Massachusets, is rocked by a horrific disaster as bombs detonate all around them. The target is apparently the high-speed train that runs underneath their streets. But in the aftermath of the explosions, a strange mist has cut them off from the rest of the world. People who wander into the mist can't make it through. What happened? Where has everyone gone? And how can they find their way home?

Mackel's book starts with a bang (literally) and the excitement doesn't stop. She has created some vulnerable, believable characters (more on that tomorrow) and tossed them into an impossible situation. How can they deal with the wounded, the dying, and the dead when no outside help can make it.

Mackel also leaves enough questions unanswered to make this a great first entry in a new series. She never explains exactly what happened to Barcester. You have a good idea of what might have contributed to it, but the dilemma isn't solved. I know I wanted to keep going to find out what would happen next.

So if you're looking for an exciting ride, one with some very strong speculative overtones, you can't go wrong with this one.

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