The Vanishing of Margaret Small: An uplifting and page-turning mystery

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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. History Makers: Female Writers Dominate the 2023 William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award Shortlist

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. 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.

This review was written voluntarily and my rating was in no way influenced by the fact that I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel from Embla Books via NetGalley UK.

It is written in the same language and style that I imagine her talking in. Bad grammar and all. This makes the story feel authentic. I imagine the audible version would be good. There are a few characters that are a bit clichéd at the home where she grew up. But there are lots of other interesting secondary characters.Margaret tells us her story. She uses the present (2015) and the past (1947-1970) alternately. The past is very interesting, learning how she grew up. Margaret leads a hard life. But throughout it all, there are many moments of joy for her and she accepts her lot in life. She learns to live her life around her disabilities, always forging her way forward. She is so loveable for the fact that she is naive and vulnerable. But, the opportunity to make her own choices is not available to her, which affects her for the rest of her life. Margaret is such a lovely character. Not always easy to read but sadly very relevant and it has me really hoping that something good came for her by the end. So glad I read it 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. This is a very timely novel, with one of it’s key themes so relevant it has a kind of ‘ripped from the headlines’ feel about it. Margaret’s innocence is refreshing, but it is also her undoing, at least as far as her time at St Mary’s. And yet, where this could be a very bleak story, it is actually a heartwarming novel, watching Margaret navigate the relationships with various friends who enter her life, however fleeting, and seeing the way in which there are still some people around her who treat her with respect and have her very best interests in mind.