Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Vanishing Act
    Vanishing Act
    Vanishing Act
    Audiobook10 hours

    Vanishing Act

    Written by Thomas Perry

    Narrated by Joyce Bean

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Jane Whitefield is a Native American guide who leads solitary outcasts through hostile territory to escape the vengeance of their enemies. But the shaded forest paths her Seneca ancestors might have followed on such missions have all been converted to superhighways, and now the safest way stations are crowded urban buildings that offer the camouflage of anonymity. Still, the supply of runaways-and the need for a woman who will take great risks to save them-have never been greater.

    Jane knows all the tricks; in fact, she has invented several of them herself in the ten years she has been teaching fugitives to live with new identities. Many of her clients have been innocent people whom the institutions of society have been too slow and cumbersome to protect, but an increasing number have been like the gambler Harry Kemple: people who aren't especially admirable but who aren't bad enough to deserve to die prematurely.

    Jane opens her door to find in her house an uninvited visitor named John Felker, the latest to run to her for sanctuary. Felker is not like the others Jane has helped, and everything about him is disquieting. He doesn't even know whom he is running from-only that whoever is framing him as an embezzler has already circulated an open contract in the prison system for his death. Maybe his problems began years ago, when he was a policeman; a good cop makes an enemy with each arrest. But perhaps he is still a policeman and has invented precisely the right story to entrap Jane. Or perhaps he is something even worse.

    The unexpected guest draws this exceptional woman into an adventure of mystery, love and sacrifice, betrayal and vengeance, and propels her on a pursuit that takes her from the night streets of Los Angeles and Vancouver to the dark, unexplored regions of her own mind. There is no way for Jane Whitefield to survive this particular vanishing act except to uncover the hidden meanings of violent events that have kept police forces and criminal syndicates equally mystified for years. She must see beyond the cement and steel of the cities and learn to see as her Indian ancestors did.

    Vanishing Act is Edgar Award winner Thomas Perry at the top of his form, pitting a heroine like no other against a cunning, implacable enemy in a world where mercy and brutality exist in equal measure and the only way to survive is by one's wits.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateMay 14, 2009
    ISBN9781400180257
    Vanishing Act
    Author

    Thomas Perry

    Thomas Perry is the New York Times bestselling author of nearly thirty novels, including the critically acclaimed Jane Whitefield series, The Old Man, and The Butcher's Boy, which won the Edgar Award. He lives in Southern California. Follow Thomas on Facebook at @ThomasPerryAuthor.

    More audiobooks from Thomas Perry

    Related to Vanishing Act

    Titles in the series (9)

    View More
    View More

    Related audiobooks

    Suspense For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Karin Slaughter

      Jul 2, 2020

      This American crime author has sold more than 35 million copies of her books globally. This month she’s celebrating the release of her 20th novel in as many years. It’s also the 10th book in special agent Will Trent’s series. “It feels really great a

      1 min read

    • Article

      Running Away

      Feb 22, 2021

      Leaving London behind her, Millie drove faster, picturing thousands of crazed fans in pursuit, desperate for what – a lock of her hair? Or Julian; except after the last gig, somehow she knew he wouldn’t follow. She knew from bitter experience that di

      5 min read

    • Article

      The Straw Hat

      Aug 2, 2018

      The Straw Hat
      6 min read

    • Article

      Whose Life Is It

      Dec 10, 2023

      “What the hell?” Danny jumped up and tore out of the kitchen where he’d been reading his mail and enjoying a quiet lunch with his sister, Elaine. Startled, she looked up from the newspaper. “Danny?” He ran through the foyer, out the front door, and t

      7 min read

    • Article

      Cristina Rivera Garza

      Jun 15, 2018

      She would remember everything, out of the blue and in full detail. She would see the jade ring wrapped around her ring finger and, immediately, she would see the other jade ring. She would open her eyes wide and, without knowing why, would fall silen

      13 min read

    • Article

      The Chicken Line

      Mar 4, 2024

      The Chicken Line
      14 min read

    • Article

      Cruel Means, Bitter Ends

      Nov 10, 2021

      “In order for this speech to mean anything to me, I’ll need to dispense with the usual demagoguery and, instead, make an attempt at honesty. With this in mind, there is one thing I have to make clear. I’m not in this race to serve your interests, but

      12 min read

    • Article

      Lech

      Feb 8, 2022

      Lech
      4 min read

    • Article

      Something About Her

      Feb 2, 2019

      Something About Her
      5 min read

    • Article

      The Way Things TURN OUT

      Jun 3, 2020

      The Way Things TURN OUT
      7 min read

    • Article

      Human Contact

      Aug 10, 2022

      Beer tasted like wet money—or maybe just bad beer did. Viola had never tried any other kind. She preferred white wine, but there was no white wine at this party. “Drink it like medicine,” the guy manning the keg said. “It’ll loosen you up.” He wore a

      18 min read

    • Article

      O Fortuna, Velut Luna

      Sep 15, 2018

      What is Miss Treece’s trouble, according to a popular notion? The man A has failed to show up. Arousing herself at the restaurant, she fixes her lipstick when her solo supper concludes and takes herself down the stairs situated behind the bar. There,

      3 min read

    • Article

      Winter Sun

      Feb 6, 2020

      Winter Sun
      4 min read

    • Article

      Fitting In

      Oct 1, 2021

      Fitting In
      6 min read

    • Article

      Gabriel & Holly

      Feb 8, 2021

      The first day was the most daunting. It helped that she’d arrived last night to settle herself in the cottage annexe before first contact this morning. Still, nerves attacked her as she stood before the door of the imposing but charming ivy-covered 1

      6 min read

    • Article

      Racy Bedtime Reading!

      Feb 7, 2021

      Racy Bedtime Reading!
      9 min read

    • Article

      A Quick Thrill

      May 20, 2021

      A Quick Thrill
      4 min read

    • Article

      Decluttering

      Dec 9, 2020

      Decluttering
      6 min read

    • Article

      Winter SUN

      Oct 4, 2022

      Winter SUN
      4 min read

    • Article

      A Double Life

      Dec 7, 2020

      Sadie is in the kitchen, already dressed in school uniform, fastening the clips on the violin she chose for her most recent birthday, when Gabriela heads downstairs the following morning. Seven years old: how the hell did that happen? Briefly, she wo

      6 min read

    • Article

      Come with Me

      Dec 1, 2022

      Come with Me
      12 min read

    • Article

      Ann Beattie

      Sep 15, 2017

      I’d started to visit Olivia more often because it was obvious she was lonely. The ALS lady who’d been moved to Hopkins had been Aunt Olivia’s closest friend, leaving aside Merton Hillstead, who actually went home. Even the friendly paperboy who somet

      23 min read

    • Article

      The Plagues Steph Cha

      Sep 29, 2020

      The Plagues Steph Cha
      9 min read

    • Article

      Interlude

      Mar 28, 2022

      Interlude
      10 min read

    • Article

      Night Flying

      Aug 2, 2018

      Night Flying
      10 min read

    • Article

      A Temporary Arrangement

      Oct 2, 2023

      A Temporary Arrangement
      19 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Vanishing Act

    4/5

    258 ratings24 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 2/5
      Sure. Some parts interesting. Unbelievable. Pure vengeance
    • 4/5
      Great series starter. I'll read more of Jane Whitefield.
    • 5/5
      Thrills! Chills! Suspense! Fear! Action! ... You get 'em all in Vanishing Act, the first in an entire series dedicated to the novel's heroine Jane Whitfield, the Native-American protagonist with a unique ability: she can help you disappear.

      Jane is a one-woman Witness Protection Program, providing refuge to fugitives seeking new identities. And this would include a peculiar former cop named John, who's on the run from an embezzlement charge for which he's been framed.

      Vanishing Act was my very first Thomas Perry novel. And after reading it, I was immediately a new fan. From beginning to end, the pace is swift; the plot, thick with action and suspense; the characters, memorable?especially Jane. Vanishing Act is one of those novels that will keep you up way late into the night reading, as it is truly hard to put down.
    • 4/5
      Another great book by Thomas Perry. This is the first book in the Jane Whitefield series. The author beats the "Native American" drum a little to much but still a good story. I'll read more in this series.
    • 5/5
      Book 1 of the Jane Whitefield series. I read the newest book, The Left-Handed Twin, not knowing it was part of a series. So, between my 2 libraries and Abe Books, I have all the previous books in this series! Highly recommended!
    • 4/5
      BOTTOM-LINE:A great first book in the series, Whitefield is awesome.PLOT OR PREMISE:Jane Whitefield is a Seneca woman living in NY state. She honours her ancestors and helps those who are in trouble to disappear and start a new life..WHAT I LIKED:The premise of the main character's "job" of helping people escape bad situations and start a new life -- serving as their guide -- is a fantastic premise, and the first half of the book is primarily about how she goes about doing her job. While some clients are eased into the process a bit more gradually, her latest client is all-in from day 1..WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:You know as the story unfolds that something is going to go wrong, you just don't know what or when. Despite some initial success, some of it seems even TOO easy for her to do with a minimum of fuss. Mid-book, the type of story changes considerably, as the hunted becomes the hunter, and it isn't as good as her other books that have a bit more mystery to them rather than action..DISCLOSURE:I received no compensation, not even a free copy, in exchange for this review. I am not personal friends with the author, nor do I follow him / her on social media.
    • 4/5
      Recommended by a good friend. My first foray into Thomas Perry's books and I thought it quite well done. Will look for more, especially in this series.
    • 3/5
      Jane Whitefield is a Native American guide who leads solitary outcasts through hostile territory to escape the vengeance of their enemies Jane knows all the tricks; in fact, she has invented several of them herself in the ten years she has been teaching fugitives to live with new identities Many of her clients have innocent people whom the institutions of society have been unable to protect, but an increasing number have been people who aren't especially admirable but who aren't bad enough to deserve to die prematurely. The latest to run to her for sanctuary, John Felker, is not like the others Jane has helped, and everything about him is disquieting. He doesn't even know whom he is running from - only that whoever is framing him as an embezzler has already circulated an open contract in the prison system for his death. The unexpected guest propels Jane on a pursuit that takes her from the night streets of Los Angeles and Vancouver to the dark, unexplored regions of her own mind. There is no way for Jane Whitefield to survive this particular vanishing act except to uncover the hidden meanings of violent events that have kept police forces and criminal syndicates equally mystified for years.
    • 4/5
      If you haven't read the Jane Whitefield series, you are so lucky. They're all ahead of you. Since Perry doesn't write them as fast as I want, I have started over with this, his first. Actually, they get better. I've been a Perry fan since "The Butcher's Boy" and "Metzger's Dog," which were terrific. So this talented craftsman decides to write a series about a smart, brave, resourceful, Seneca woman who helps desperate people disappear. Really? Life is good.
    • 4/5
      I felt I had to give Thomas Perry another chance. At the same time I felt I had plenty of reason not to. Despite a glowing-but-carefully-worded introduction by Michael Connelly to Perry’s first book, The Butcher’s Boy (Random House, 2003), it remains the only novel--off the top of my head--that I’ve rated 2 Stars. In fact, I found the introduction much more interesting than anything that followed it. But I closed the review with: “. . . there is something here. I find myself wanting to read more. Neither can I deny I was disappointed.” Perhaps that’s the reason I jumped to Perry’s sixth book, the first in the acclaimed Jane Whitefield series. I was greatly rewarded for doing so.Jane, who lives in upstate New York near the Canadian border, is half Seneca Indian by blood and completely so in spirit, at least as much as the modern world will allow. Perhaps that is why, when it comes to her life’s work, she thinks of herself as a guide. She helps people disappear. Not criminals, unless there is a greater good involved, but decent people who are forced by circumstances to give up their lives as they know it. She works unofficially, without government knowledge, and has access to an extensive network of people who work outside the law. She fits among them, a thorough professional playing her part. Unfortunately, not knowing this would be her calling, she was sloppy in the beginning and now too many people not only know of her existence, but actually know her physical address. A man suddenly showing up at her house and referencing a previous, successfully-relocated “client” begins our introduction to Jane. What follows is a mix of Indian lore, Jane’s skill at her profession, and pursuit from those trying to kill the man she is attempting to help. A murder results when things go wrong, and though the killer is obvious I believe that was always the author’s intention because he never makes Jane look stupid, not an easy thing to avoid when the reader knows more than she. Eventually it comes down to a one-on-one confrontation, which Jane can only win because of who she is and what she believes. It reaffirms everything we’ve come to know about Jane and her world. Nothing can be more satisfying than that.
    • 4/5
      Audio- i guessed who was the bad guy pretty quickly. Didn't she get that there where just too many questions ? Well surprise, surprise, that wasn't the big mystery. The real mystery comes after we know who and then why. ARGUH, I was on the edge of my seat screaming for her. The pacing of the book, the action, the intrigue- all top notch mystery.
      Jane Whitefield, a Native American type of guide, a strong independent women, steeped in her families traditions. She thanks her ancestors,she thinks of the lessons taught to her, and uses them in her everyday life. I loved the Native American heritage that she respected and remembered. She brought her tribes history with her and did not sway from who she is to fit. Her fight to right what was done is dangerous and she never thinks to quit, this path is to the death.
      Excellent narration - I will continue on with the series.
    • 5/5
      Jane Whitefield, a Senecca is a guide who helps people escape those pursuing them. A man she is aiding, John Felker, is not who he says he is. There is tension and action in this book as well as a splattering of Senecca life. This is a great read and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
    • 4/5
      Intro to a great series of books. Alot of Indian lore.
    • 5/5
      An outstanding book. Ostensibly a thriller but not your average sort of plot line. Firstly the central character, the heroine, "hides" people for a living. She's also a Native American who hales from near where I live! The native content is prominent in the book - where she reflects on what things were and to a lesser degree what is, the dreams (at first I wasn't so keen but gradually got the context), the way she at times emulates the indians of yore in the story (I won't spoil this). It also made me think of this other culture and ethnicity is N America and genuinely gave me new context and appreciation.The plot is often intricate and forces one to read carefully. Not your average cop/bad guy killer but highly recommended.
    • 4/5
      How I love reading a book with a strong, smart, clever woman as the protaganist. Jane Whitefield encounters the mob, ex-cons, ghosts(?), and some romance in this fast moving mystery thriller. It's not often a writer reveals his respect for women, and Mr. Perry does it marvelously. I'm so looking forward to reading more Jane Whitefield novels. Bravo (and Brava to Jane)!
    • 4/5
      This book is the first I have read in the Jane Whitfield series. She specializes in helping to hide people who need to disappear from abusive husbands, gangsters, whatever. I don’t know about the other books in the series - yet - but the man she is helping in Vanishing Act has no trouble finding her, has lots of skills that would appear to help him hide himself, and comes with bags of cash. This one however, turns out to be the opposite of her usual client.

      One criticism of the book might be that it waffles between being an escape thriller and a didactic lecture (hmmm, is that redundant) on Native American culture and history. Whitfield is Seneca and while I found the discourses and snippets of Indian language interesting, they seemed totally out of place with the rest of the book. On the other hand, once you get past some of the dream sequences, which reveal ALL of the rationale and motivations of the other character (that was a bit much,) her use of Indian lore and skills to overcome her adversary in the woods, was intriguing. Loved that part.
    • 2/5
      First in the Jane WHitefield series. The main character is a guide who helps people " disappear". The author includes a lot of details about native Americans and the new York area but sometimes all the details slow down the plot.
    • 3/5
      The Native American frame adds an extra element to this, although it was clear pretty much from the beginning that something was not quite right with the situation surrounding John Felker. I also really enjoyed the puzzle element where Jane was trying to piece together the sequence of events. I'll probably read the rest of these eventually, but not right away.
    • 4/5
      A very different type of mystery/thriller. Jane Whitefield, the main character, helps people disappear into another identity. Her clients are not always of stellar character but have some evil menacing person out to locate them. Jane is of Seneca Indian heritage and that plays a part in the narrative but mostly in understanding Jane and her reason for doing what she does so well. The book is slow to start but then takes off and the reader is on a riveting ride to the finish. I thoroughly enjoyed this book because the writing is very good and the characters are well designed and explained. Jane is a strong persona but she has her own flaws to deal with. A well written and entertaining read.
    • 3/5
      The first of the Jane Whitefield series. After reading the Buther's Boy novels I was hopeful that this would be a series that I would enjoy as much. So far, so good. An unexpected but interesting premise for the central character. I will read more.
    • 5/5
      Different kind of mystery. Jane Whitefield makes people vanish and is herself an enigma. I chose this since it was recommended by reader's advisory expert, Joyce Saricks, who loves this series. Jane is a combination of shaman, survivalist and is also traditional: she lives in her childhood home and has a touching relationship with her older next door neighbor. Very enjoyable read.
    • 3/5
      It's a nice taut mystery with an (almost) unsuspected twist, and well-thought out planning/plotting/devices. It's fast enough paced that it keeps the pages turning... of course, this is assuming you keep turning through the many many pages of Native American "theme".This "exposé" of Jane's background and the Native American (American Indian) "lifestyle" doesn't advance the plot, or give any important insight into Jane's personality and feels a bit too preachy. Whether or not it's realistic is beside the point - I wanted to read a mystery/thriller, not a social commentary or a history lesson on Native Americans.
    • 5/5
      . . . in the one-woman business of helping the desperate disappear. Thanks to her membership in the Wolf Clan of the Seneca tribe, she can fool any pursuer, cover any trail, and then provide her clients with new identities, complete with authentic paperwork. Jane knows all the tricks, ancient and modern; in fact, she has invented several of them herself. But when Jane opens a door out of the world for an attractive fugitive named John Felker, she walks into a trap that will take all her heritage and cunning to escape. . . . A unique heroine, an ultracompetent woman attuned to the ancient ways of her ancestors and to the harsh realities of the modern, bureaucratic world.
    • 3/5
      This was OK. The Native American themes were a little heavy handed at times. Do modern American Indians commune with nature and their dead ancestors quite this much? Is that really the way they cope with the America of the 21st century? Seems a little iffy. Also her ability to survive in the woods with only a knife – that seems like a stretch too. There were also some things that Jane did that seemed weird – like sleeping with John a few days into their knowing each other. For such a strong, almost man-hating type (never said outright but seemed to be an underlying characteristic), she seemed awfully willing to put herself into his power. The end where she kills him wasn’t the payoff I was looking for either. He just dies. He doesn’t get a chance to talk or beg or be pissed off or tell us anything more about his true self. She doesn’t get a chance to lord it over him that she’s won either. It’s just the end and she buries him, burns most of his possessions and takes off.