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    Disappearing Act
    Disappearing Act
    Disappearing Act
    Ebook125 pages1 hour

    Disappearing Act

    By Dayle Campbell Gaetz

    3/5

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    About this ebook

    At age twenty, Leena O'Neil walked away from her old life. Anything to avoid becoming a lawyer like her mother and older sister, Georgia. Three years later, Georgia contacts her, convinced that her husband is trying to kill her rather than divorce her. Reluctantly, Leena agrees to help. But the stakes go up when Georgia’s husband, Mark, is murdered. Now she wonders if the person who killed Mark is out to get Georgia as well. Armed with several online courses in criminology and investigative strategies, Leena considers herself "almost a private investigator" and she sets out to uncover the truth.

    Disappearing Act is the first in a series of mysteries featuring rookie private investigator Leena O'Neil.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherOrca Book Publishers
    Release dateFeb 15, 2015
    ISBN9781459808249
    Disappearing Act
    Author

    Dayle Campbell Gaetz

    Dayle Campbell Gaetz has worked as a creative-writing instructor, book editor and columnist but now devotes her time to her own writing. Gaetz is the author of over twenty books for young people and adults. Gaetz grew up in Victoria, British Columbia, and now lives in Campbell River. For more information, visit www.daylegaetz.com.

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    • 4/5
      Three years ago Colleen, now Leena, left home and deliberately disappeared to escape her lawyer mother and older perfect sister, Georgina. Her mother and sister have never contacted her so she is very surprised when her sister, now Georgia, phones and leaves a panicked message asking for help which Leena reluctantly agrees to give.When her sister arrives, Leena discovers that her sister believes her husband, Mark, is trying to kill her on order to get her house and move into it with his girlfriend but when Mark is found beaten to death Georgia becomes the prime suspect.Leena, who considers herself "an almost private investigator",finds her sister a safe hiding place before setting off to track down the real killer at very real risk to her own life.This is the third book I have reviewed from the "Rapid Reads" series. "Disappearing Act" has a fast moving plot with well developed characters which are keymarks of this series designed for ESL and Literacy programmes.This book is an excellent addition to the series.
    • 4/5
      I liked this little book. It's no "War and Peace" and at this time in my life, a little book suits me just fine. It really is a novella rather than a novel. I enjoyed that it was small and easy to carry around so I could read it when I had a few minutes without it weighing down my purse. Sometimes a quick, easy read is just what you need.That story isn't very deep since the book is short but I found it enjoyable. It centers around Leena who had walked away from her family and disappeared a few years ago. That idea intrigues me because I think it should be hard for someone to just disappear. As it turns out, she really didn't disappear and her sister finds her easily enough when she needs her. Leena is "almost" a private detective, having taken classes on line to be one. I found that interesting too. As Leena investigates for her sister, the story moves quickly but I found the atmosphere to be believable and the characters to be likeable which is important to me. I'll be happy to read more in the future about Leena and I won't mind if they are short, like this one, or full length. I received this book through Librarything's Early Reviewer Program.
    • 3/5
      More of a novella than a book. An ok read but it felt rushed and unfinished.
    • 2/5
      This was a quick read and not always believable. Then the story just sort of ended. I felt the author had some loose ends that never were connected. I appreciate LibraryThing selecting me to read this book, but I would not recommend it.
    • 2/5
      A mystery novel about an amateur P.I. It is apparently a "rapid reads" book, which means it is under 150 pages in large font. However, you can get good character development and a good mystery in a novella, so that doesn't actually justify any of the book's failings. I feel bad saying it, but there's really nothing worth reading in this book. It starts awkwardly, the characters are uninteresting and the way they act is unbelievable. The only part I liked was the setting in the Pacific Northwest.
    • 4/5
      Disappearing Act is an entertaining and engaging story that really deserves to be developed into a full-fledged novel vs. the a relatively short story. The character and plot development screams to be expanded upon. In the mood for a fun and quick read (147 pages) then try Disappearing Act. It is worth your time.
    • 2/5
      Disappearing Act is the story of a young directionless woman who is unexpectedly thrust into the role of amateur sleuth in order to prove her estranged sister is not guilty of murdering her husband. This is a novella rather than a novel, and the forced brevity of the Rapid Reads format guarantees that the books in this series will have no chance of plot expansion or character development. If the author had been given more room and time the book would have been slightly more satisfying.
    • 3/5
      I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review. I have to admit that I was taken aback when I saw it since it looked like the books that my 9-year old reads - it was very thin with huge font and very few pages. Perhaps it was meant for a teen or pre-teen market? The story was about a young woman's first foray into private investigation, hoping to uncover the truth about her sister's husband's violent death. It wasn't a great book, but it wasn't a bad one either. It entertained me well enough while it lasted (which was just a couple of hours), but it didn't really leave any impression on me and I don't think I would seek out other books in this series. That being said, perhaps I am older than its intended audience, so it might be more satisfying for a younger market.
    • 3/5
      Disappearing Act – A Leena O'Neil Mystery by Dayle Campbell Gaetz is a 2015 Rapid Reads publication. I was provided a copy of this book from the librarything early reviews program in exchange for an honest review. Colleen- now calling herself Leena left home three years ago and never looked back. Now, out of the clear blue sky, her sister Gina, now calling herself Georgia, has contacted her. It would seem Georgia is in a bind and needs Leena's help. Georgia explains she needs to lay low at Leena's for awhile because her husband, Mark, has been having an affair and she is sure he is trying to kill her. But, things are much more complicated than that. Leena soon learns Mark is dead and Georgia is a considered MIA. So, the question is who killed Mark? Did Georgia kill him? What about his new girlfriend? Did he have enemies? In her very first case as an “almost private detective”, Leena will put herself in danger to clear her sister's name, and uncover the truth of who killed Mark and why. This is a super fast and easy read in which the author sets the stage for future mysteries featuring PI Leena O'Neil. I did like Leena, but at times the author tried too hard to affect a present day Kinsey Millhone style character. While the story is a little predictable, in the end, Leena manages to solve the case, to make a new friend, and heal some family issues as well. If you enjoy light, clean, mysteries this is one you might want to give this one a chance. 3 stars
    • 4/5
      Disappearing Act (A Leena O’Neil Mystery)By: Dayle Campbell GaetzOcra Book Publishers 2015 Pages.159Copy Courtesy of Librarything Early ReviewersReviewed by: tkThrilling Ride!!!Leena an aspiring Private Investigator left her childhood home to become her own independent person… three years ago. She is enjoying the life she has made for herself. Until a call from Georgia, her sister. Georgia pleads with Leena to help her. Someone is trying to kill her…A novelette of huge proportions. Although a quick read, the narrative is amazing in detail. I plot driven by greed, betrayal and love are the ingredients of this suspenseful mystery. If you love who-done-its, you won’t be disappointed. I look forward to more Leena O’Neal Mysteries in the future. 4/5

    Book preview

    Disappearing Act - Dayle Campbell Gaetz

    NOTE

    ]>

    ONE

    Anything to do with private investigations grabbed my interest. Always has. That’s why I stood staring at a sink full of grungy dishes, waiting for an important interview on my radio. Should I start washing or sit down and take notes?

    "How to disappear." A deep male voice broke into my thoughts. "I spent twenty years as a private detective tracking down fugitives. I know every trick in the book."

    "And you’ve explained them all in your new book, Without a Trace," the female interviewer said with a laugh.

    I could write my own book, I muttered, turning on the tap. "I’d call it Disappearing for Dummies." Because seriously, if I could do it, anyone with half a brain could too.

    "It’s not easy," the detective said, contradicting me. "You’ll spend the rest of your life glancing over your shoulder, hiding from all those people trying to track you down."

    I glanced over my shoulder. No one peering through the window, no one lurking in the shadows.

    "People get caught because they get sloppy," the detective continued. "They can’t let go of old habits, like eating sushi every Friday night, hanging out at the racetrack or collecting rare books. Change your lifestyle and they won’t know where to look."

    Or be like me—change nothing and no one bothers looking, I said.

    "In my experience, most folks are relieved to get caught," he went on. "They often thanked me for finding them because they were so tired of running."

    "But if someone seriously wants to disappear? the interviewer asked. You know, because they’re being stalked or something? What advice do you have for them?"

    "Okay. Number one. Plan ahead. Know exactly where you’re going, and take enough money to get there."

    So, I said to the radio. I wiped the countertop and dropped my damp sponge in the cluttered sink. Turned off the tap. Three years ago I walked out the door with a backpack, a shoulder bag and sixty-seven dollars and twenty-three cents. How’s that for planning ahead?

    "Two. Set up a new identity ahead of time, so you can find a job, open a bank account, that sort of thing."

    I wandered over to the table. "I hitched a ride to the island, changed my name from Colleen, which I hate, to Leena, which feels like me, and that’s it. Kept my old bank account and got a job under my own name. How am I doing so far?"

    "Three. Cut off all ties, ditch your smartphone, get rid of your Facebook and Twitter accounts, wipe out your email addresses."

    At least we agree on something. I stopped using Facebook and changed my email address when I switched providers, but I kept my old phone. Because you never know, one day my family might try to find me.

    So far, no one had reported me missing. But to be fair, they may not have noticed I was gone. Mother always said I was too quiet for my own good. Maybe she was right.

    "Four, the detective continued. Never call your mother, girlfriend, sister or anyone else from a traceable phone. Never."

    Okay. Got that covered. I knew what would happen if I called my mother. She’d put me on hold. Either that or ask me to call back later. Same for my sister. Been there. Done that.

    My back pocket blared out a Rhino ring-tone. I grabbed my phone on the second ring. Stared at the screen. Gina! Typical. I say my sister would never talk to me, and two seconds later she’s proving me wrong. Gina was always the perfect one. The sister who could do no wrong, who was never too quiet. Gina was the smart one with the perfect career, the perfect husband, the perfect life. If Gina went missing, everyone would notice.

    The phone rang again, shivering in my hand. My finger hovered over the screen. Push up to answer. Push down to decline. I dropped the phone on the table and sprinted over to the radio. Switched it off.

    My phone rang a fourth and final time. I remained by the radio—tense, waiting. Finally, I sauntered back. Picked up the phone. Checked for voice messages.

    Colleen? The voice sounded too uncertain to be Gina’s. My older sister was always confident. Always in charge. Never quite approving of me. Gina looked and acted so much like our mother, I used to tell my friends she was a clone. I never mentioned that I came from another planet, but for a while there, I believed it. Must have been all that science fiction I read before getting hooked on crime novels.

    Are you there? the voice asked. It’s me, Georgia.

    Georgia? Who the hell was Georgia?

    Your sister, she added. Georgina.

    My sister changed her name too?

    After a pause she continued, so softly I strained to hear. The only word I caught was Colleen and it grated on my nerves. I had almost forgotten Colleen. The girl I never wanted to be. The girl I left home to escape.

    I shuffled to the window, folded my arms across my stomach and stared out at my garden. One lonesome lawn chair, maples turning golden on top while brilliant yellow chrysanthemums clustered at their feet. I thought of the chrysanthemums I’d planted in my mother’s garden. Had anyone watered them? Were they blooming now too? Yellow chrysanthemums were my favorite autumn flower.

    I replayed the message with the phone pressed tight to my ear. "Please, Colleen, I need your help. Call me. Please." Her voice faded to nothing.

    I sank onto the nearest chair. So, you finally call me because you need help? I asked aloud. Please tell me why I should care.

    Leaving my phone, I slammed out of the house. But her voice followed me down the long, winding driveway, sounding more desperate with every step. I need your help. Call me. Please.

    I stopped. Turned around. Started back. I’d

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