The Act of Disappearing: A Novel

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars | 373 ratings

Price: 22.04

Last update: 12-23-2024


About this item

"Hauntingly beautiful.”
—Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue

“A thrilling story, remarkably told.”
—Lara Prescott, New York Times bestselling author of The Secrets We Kept

Julia White is struggling: her bartending job isn’t cutting it, and her first book has sold hardly any copies. She’s broke, barely able to make ends meet while drowning in her late mother’s medical bills and reeling after a one-night stand with her ex-boyfriend, who’s now completely ghosted her. Enter Johnathan Aster, world-renowned photographer, with a proposal: he has a never-before-seen photograph of a woman falling from a train bridge, clutching what appears to be a baby. And he wants Julia to research the story.

Alternating between present-day Brooklyn and Kentucky as it enters the 1960s, the story unfolds as Julia races to find answers: Who was the woman in the photograph? Why was she on the bridge? And what happened to the baby? Each detail is more propulsive than the last as Julia unravels the mystery surrounding the Fairchilds of Gray Station and discovers a story more staggering than anything she could have imagined.


Top reviews from the United States

  • Keith Nixon
    5.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite Read of the Summer!
    Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2024
    “The Act of Disappearing” by Nathan Gower is my favorite read of the summer. The balance in the storytelling, specifically the point of view, was brilliantly expressed. It provided a well-rounded reading experience, blending the intimate details of the main character’s journey of self-discovery with the broader context and events of the story. I also loved the way the writer turns a phrase in the narrative. The way the writer employs the elements of mystery and intrigue constantly keeps the reader wondering what will happen next. Each character is thoughtfully developed with complexity, depth, and empathy. The pacing, style, and structure of the novel made this a unique and memorable read with a satisfying ending. “The Act of Disappearing” is one of the best new novels of 2024, and Gower is one of the best, if not the best, new narrative voices of the year. I highly recommend this one for your reading pleasure!
  • Erin E. Newell
    4.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommend for mystery and historical fiction buffs
    Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2024
    4.5!
    Is this the fastest I've ever read 400 pages? Probably! After the first 50, I couldn't put it down. Even though Gower tells you what happens at the end, I couldn't wait to find out HOW it all happened.
    Gower does an amazing job giving voice to the women in this book. I identified with them all on some level. I felt what they were feeling, their highs and lows. Even after I would pause in reading, I couldn't stop thinking about the book. When I finished in the wee hours of last night, I laid awake thinking about his characters, which to me is the sign of a great book.
    I also loved the short chapters and traditions in time and location. I would recommend this to anyone who loves mystery and historical fiction.
  • Alyssa
    5.0 out of 5 stars Hauntingly Beautiful Tale
    Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2024
    A fantastic debut novel; a must read! It doesn’t get much better than this. I will be taking this story with me for a very long time.

    I was hooked from the synopsis and it did not disappoint for a single second!

    I have too many emotions and not enough words to perfectly describe how I’m feeling. This is one of the best books I’ve ever read. It’s such a simple story when you boil it down, but it also is so complex, there aren’t enough ways to describe it. I could talk about it for hours. I cannot wait to reread it as much as it will hurt me.

    I cried on and off for the last 20 pages of the book, and was full on sobbing by the end of it.

    The characters. Oh my the characters. Some I hated, most of them I loved.

    I fell so deeply in love with Kathryn. My heart aches so badly for her, and despite everything she went through she had so much love in her heart. She means so much to me, I really don’t think words can describe.

    I loved Sammy too so much. I was expecting him to be a stuck up jerk, but he was such a good man like Kathryn thought, and it killed me. I wish he could have had a happier ending, but that’s not how life is. Jack had a special place in my heart too. You really grow to love him extremely. I think that has to do with how much Katheryn loved him.

    I loved Julia and Kyle together, which I wasn’t expecting! I honestly could have used more of them, but that’s not the point of the story. Quinn was such a fun character too, I’m glad she was in it as much as she was!

    Slight spoilers here so skip this next paragraph if you haven’t read the book: I was surprised that so much of the story was not about Edith, but about Kathryn. Edith was the catalyst, but not the main plot, which I thought she would be. I wish we got more of her because what we got..wow was that a strong woman! The last scene we got of her, chills at the thought of it. She had such a tragic story though, my heart aches for her as well.

    I could see where it was leading to, but I don’t even care because it was that good. The payoff was excellent. But there were also so many other things that I didn’t expect that made the story that much more exciting!

    The amount of hatred I felt for a character in this book was like no other. I know that was the point, but I felt so much rage every time he spoke or did something. He doesn’t even deserve me to write his name.

    You can’t help but wish things didn’t end the way they did as you are reading, especially from how much I fell in love with Kathryn. I didn’t want to believe that she jumped in the end. But it was still such a hopeful story too.

    I feel like this would make an incredible movie. Horribly sad, but incredible. As I was reading I could picture everything vividly in front of me like I was these characters.

    I will recommend this to anyone and everyone who will listen.

    A perfect novel. No notes.

    Thank you to Netgalley!
  • Pat Martin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very Satisfying
    Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2024
    I consumed this book in 2 days. The pacing was excellent, moved right along. The dual timelines were clear and both stories were compelling. Some twists I anticipated but the revelations were still satisfying. Thankfully, the author gave a clear ending with some loose threads knotted. I loved the ending. So, great story, great editing, great ending. Decided to follow this author.
  • Bill Cassell
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Historical Fiction and a Mystery Reader’s Mystery!
    Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2024
    As a fan of historical fiction, I loved this book! As a big fan of mystery, Nathan Gower did not disappoint! I can usually figure out the plot before it’s revealed. Not this one. The story held my attention until the end.
    The characters have depth and the description of events were detailed and I could easily picture them in my mind’s eye.
    It’s a wonderful read and worth every minute of your time. I’m looking forward to his next book.
  • Angie Frakes
    4.0 out of 5 stars Poignant and beautifully written take on generational mental health struggles
    Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2024
    Writer Julia is approached by a famous photographer to find the backstory to a photo of a woman jumping off of a bridge. Since she is struggling with her own personal issues at the same time, Julia agrees to his offer, and travels to Kentucky to find out the truth behind the heartbreaking photograph. This book is told in two timelines - Julia in present day, and in 1960, where Readers slowly learn about the woman in the photograph and her tragic backstory.

    This book was equal parts beautiful and heartbreaking. It is a poignant look at generational mental health, and the stigma and shame that was often associated with mental health struggles in the 1960s and 1970s. I loved this book. I found myself dying to know the story behind the photograph, and I had to re-read different parts of the book at times because I was so shocked by the revelations from the past. The premise of this book is so unique and intriguing, and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes mystery or suspense novels!

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