top of page

Vanishing Act by Mark Love is a book worth reading, especially for mystery readers #mystery #romanticmystery #bookrec #nnlbh

N. N. Light


Title:  Vanishing Act

 

Author Mark Love

 

Genre Mystery/Romance

 

Publisher Inkspell Publishing

 

Book Blurb

 

When Jamie’s best friend vanishes, she’ll do anything to find her and bring her home.

 

A new year marks new beginnings for Jamie Richmond. Not only has she moved into a cozy new house, but she’s brought Malone along with her to fan the flames of their growing romance. When Jamie’s best friend, Linda Davis, enters the picture, she thinks everything is right with the world.

 

Linda begins a May-September romance with Vincent Schulte, Jamie’s doctor and good friend. But while Vince is sweeping Linda off her feet, she unknowingly has captured the attention of a stalker. The idyllic life suddenly takes a very bad turn when Linda disappears without a trace on a cold and snowy day. The police are scrambling to find a clue that will lead them to Linda.

 

Malone does his best to comfort Jamie and encourages her to let the professionals do their job. But if there’s one thing he’s learned in their time together, it’s that nothing will stop this stubborn redhead from solving this mystery.

 

Jamie turns all of her attention on figuring out who took Linda and where she might be, regardless of the dangers she may face. Her efforts once again put her in harm’s way. But will she find her best friend?

 

Excerpt

 

Talking quietly, trudging through the clumps of snow and ice, neither one of us heard him at first.

 

“It’s getting to the point where I just want to stay home,” she said quietly.

 

“You can’t hide, Linda. If you become a prisoner in your own home, then he wins. And you are much too strong a person to let that happen.”

 

She gave me a wan smile. “I know, it’s just…”

 

“Hey!” a gruff voice snapped at us from only a couple of feet away.

 

Linda let out a shriek of surprise. She lost her footing on the ice and crashed to the pavement. Looking over my shoulder, I saw a blocky shape, hidden in the shadows beyond the reach of the overhead lights, gliding close to the back end of a parked car. He took a menacing step forward, one hand clutching something tightly and extending it towards us.

 

“Run!” I screamed at Linda for all I was worth.

 

“Hey,” he snapped again, still reaching for us.

 

I took a step toward him and planted my left foot on one of the few dry patches of pavement. Then I swung my right foot as hard as I could, as if I was about to nail a fifty-yard field goal to win the Super Bowl. Without realizing it, I braced for the impact. To this day, I’d swear I was aiming for his crotch. But I missed.

 

Maybe the pavement wasn’t dry after all. Or maybe suddenly shifting my weight to make that kick caused me to lose my balance. Or maybe subconsciously I couldn’t really kick a guy in the balls. Or maybe he sensed what was happening and took a step back. I’ll never really know.

 

In my peripheral vision, I could see Linda scrambling to her feet, already racing toward her car, clicking the remote control to unlock the doors. My leg continued its arc and just before making contact, my left foot shot out from underneath me.

 

My right foot slammed into the bulky guy. I caught him square in the chest. With my body going horizontal, it must have looked like some kind of ninja move. Whatever it was, it was enough to take him off his feet. He went down with a thud. I couldn’t be sure, but it looked like his head bounced off the pavement.

 

I landed on my side and scrambled immediately to my feet. I was crouched in a fighting stance, anger and adrenalin churning in my gut. The guy let out a low groan. He made no move to get up.

 

Suddenly lights flared around us. Linda managed to start her car and pull it into the aisle. She lay on the horn, a long deep-throated wail that cut through the night. A few people who had been moving across the parking lot came running over.

 

Illuminated by the headlights, I looked down at the attacker. He was an older man. His left hand was pressed against his chest, roughly in the spot in which I’d kicked him. Slowly he raised his right hand in my direction as our eyes locked. His voice made a throaty rasping noise as he spoke.

 

“She dropped her glove.”

 ***

Malone was not happy. The look on his face told me everything I needed to know. I’d stepped over some kind of line.

 

 “Jamie, I told you I’d take care of this. You can’t be taking matters into your own hands.” His voice was tense. There was none of the tenderness, the humor or the calm that I usually associated with Malone.

 

“But I can’t leave it alone. We’re talking about my best friend.”

 

“I know who we’re talking about! But you can’t go running around like some renegade in a movie, trying to see that justice is done. This whole thing could have blown up in your face.”

 

“But I…”

 

“No buts, Jamie.” He leaned forward, looming over me. “You put an innocent old man in the hospital, attacking him like that.”

 

“But Malone…”

 

He threw up his hands in disgust. “You just don’t get it! You have this notion that you’re right and to hell with everyone else.” I couldn’t remember Malone ever swearing before.

 

“I’m sorry, Malone.” My voice was little more than a whisper.

 

“Sorry might not be enough, Jamie. You could have killed that guy. And what if he’d really been after Linda? What if he was armed? Instead of just getting in your car, and calling for help, you could have been putting yourself in harm’s way.”

 

It was hours after the incident, yet he was still pissed. I leaned against the desk in the small office he shared with the other duty sergeants, waiting for my punishment.

 

“Is he still in the hospital?” Malone asked quietly.

 

I nodded. “It’s just a precaution. Apparently he has a history of heart problems. I swear to God, Malone, I really thought he was the guy who has been stalking Linda.”

 

Malone came over and leaned against the desk beside me. “So when a stranger approaches, your first reaction is to kick the guy in the chest?”

 

“Actually, I was aiming lower, but I slipped on the ice. I really am sorry, Malone. I told the hospital that I’ll pay for whatever charges there are for the poor guy.”

 

“What happened to the precautions I told you both to take? Staying together, being observant of your surroundings, understanding that it’s all right to call for help. What about all that?”

 

I kept my eyes on the floor. There was no way I could look at him. It was all I could do to shrug my shoulders.

 

“No more heroic moves, Jamie. I’ll get you each a canister of pepper spray. But until this thing is settled, I expect you to behave. And keep your cell phone in your hand.”

 

“I promise to never kick you like that.”

 

Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author Biography

 

Mark Love lived for many years in the metropolitan Detroit area, where crime and corruption are always prevalent. A former freelance reporter, Love honed his writing skills covering features and hard news. He is the author of the Jamie Richmond mysteries, Devious, Vanishing Act, Fleeing Beauty and Chasing Favors, along with the novella Stealing Haven. His short story, Don’t Mess with the Gods, was written with Elle Nina Castle and included in the Magic & Mischief anthology.  Love also writes the Jefferson Chene mystery series, WHY 319?  Your Turn to Die and The Wayward Path.

His latest mystery, “Rules of Desperation” was released in 2024.

 

Love resides in west Michigan with his wife, Kim. He enjoys a wide variety of music, books, travel, cooking and exploring the great outdoors.

 

Social Media Links

 

©2015-2025 BY N. N. LIGHT. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. (2015-17 on Wordpress) 

bottom of page