Shelley Burr delivers an atmospheric and unsettling mystery in Vanish, the third instalment in the PI Lane Holland series. Set in the remote and eerie expanse of rural Australia, Vanish blends psychological suspense with a gripping investigation into long-buried secrets and missing persons.

Burr masterfully captures the isolation of the outback and uses it to amplify the tension. The setting becomes a character in itself, claustrophobic, vast, and unnervingly quiet. Lane remains a compelling lead, and his personal flaws and sharp instincts make him both unpredictable and deeply human. The supporting cast is vividly drawn, each harboring their own shadows.

The pacing is steady but deliberate, allowing the suspense to build gradually. While some readers might find the resolution foreshadowed, others will appreciate the careful layering of clues that lead to a satisfying and emotional conclusion. Burr explores themes of grief, justice, and the desperate need for answers with nuance and empathy.

Vanish can be read as a standalone, though there are 2 books before this I didn't struggle to understand the plot, though I'm sure there were some nuances I missed having not read the rest of the series.

Dark, intelligent, and full of quiet intensity, Vanish is a wonderful contemporary Australian crime fiction.

Vanish
Shelley Burr

'Everyone comes to this farm for a reason. Sometimes those reasons are dark.’

Lane Holland is back and I’m so grateful for that, he’s a favourite character of mine. I read Wake years ago and it’s still an absolute favourite of mine with its gripping mystery, outback setting and unforgettable characters.

“Careful. Thinking they can’t manipulate you is a dangerous assumption. Whatever’s going on here, they’ve been sharpening their axe for twenty years.”

Vanish is book three and unfortunately Lane Holland’s crime solving career officially ended the day he went to prison. With his parole hearing approaching, he faces the grim reality that an ex-con can never work as a private eye. Yet the unsolved disappearance of Matilda Carver two decades ago draws him in. Lane is not one to follow the rules and chases up a lead at a mysterious farm community lead by the enigmatic Samuel Karpathy. With the farm attracting lost souls or possibly people hiding from their pasts, this is too good a lead to pass by.

Lane goes undercover at the farm to unveil its dark secret. More digging shows there are some people who have gone to the farm and seemed the vanish without a trace. Is this a commune? A cult? Or the grounds of a serial killer?

‘Simply show up, and there would be a job, a bed and three meals a day waiting for you. He’d met men who had committed crimes to get that kind of security, without the promise of their own tiny house dangling in the future.’

I was hooked from the start and simply adore the writing style. It’s straight to the point and captivating without any extraneous details that bog you down.

Lane is smart and leaves no stone unturned, making this so easy to keep reading. I love the authentic Australian setting and also the short chapters always ending on the right note, leaving you wanting more.
The mystery was captivating and dare I say it believable.

'Obviously, you'd refuse to take no for an answer and trample every boundary between yourself and the truth.’

(Review posted 28th April 2025).

Lane Holland is a former PI, currently doing time in prison for murdering a notorious child killer, his father. With his parole rapidly approaching, Holland is struggling with the reality that he won’t be able to work as a PI once released and there’s still one case that he needs to solve.

Matilda Carver disappeared two decades ago on the remote Karpathy farm and hers isn’t the only disappearance. With the farm seen as a safe haven for lost souls and those hiding from their past, Holland is left wondering what really goes on at the farm.

I’m a big fan of Lane Holland and I love the idea of a former PI solving crimes from within the prison, just unable to resist that one piece of himself that likes to solve a puzzle. The cult like feel of the farm along with the eco vibes and the remote area makes it the perfect scene for a possible serial killer with many possible motives.

I also really enjoyed the connection with Hollands past and I think the background given in this book allows for the reader to take it as a standalone without reading the rest of the series, although I would definitely recommend starting with the first book.

Thank you to Hachette Australia, Netgalley and the author for my copy of this book in exchange for a review

ARC Review – Vanished by Shelley Burr – 4.5 Stars

Vanished is the third instalment in Shelley Burr’s PI Lane Holland series, and I’m thrilled to say it’s a strong return to the brilliance of Wake. After feeling a little let down by Ripper, I went into this one cautiously — but Burr has absolutely delivered.

Lane Holland’s crime-solving career ended the day he was sent to prison. With his parole hearing approaching, one case still haunts him: the long-unsolved disappearance of Matilda Carver. When a new lead surfaces — an isolated farm run by the enigmatic Samuel Karpathy — Lane goes undercover, posing as a work-release study participant to investigate. Karpathy’s farm promises a new life to lost souls… but those who go there seem to vanish without a trace.

Is it a commune? A cult? Or something even more sinister? Lane is determined to find out — but living amongst the farm’s residents, he risks being seduced by the same dream he’s meant to expose.

It was a real highlight to see Mina and Echo from Wake return — their absence in Ripper was definitely felt, and their reappearance brings warmth and tension back into the story. While some say Vanished can be read as a standalone, I would strongly recommend reading Wake first to fully appreciate Lane’s emotional drive and his complicated bond with Mina. (Ripper can probably be skipped, though it sets up small pieces of this case.)

The story starts a little slowly, revisiting key backstory, but it builds beautifully into a tense, twisty mystery full of layered characters, dangerous secrets, and moral ambiguity. The short chapters and eerie NSW farm setting kept the tension simmering, and the constant question of who to trust had me hooked.

The one small weakness for me was the inclusion of the prologue-style chapters woven throughout — they were intriguing but felt disjointed until their significance was finally revealed, and I found myself skimming them at times.

Still, Vanished absolutely delivered on suspense, atmosphere, and emotional depth. I loved seeing old characters evolve, meeting new ones, and the way Burr challenges the idea of clear-cut good vs evil. I’m still holding out hope for more Lane Holland — and more of Lane and Mina’s complicated relationship too.

If you love thrillers with cultish undertones, plenty of twists, and deeply flawed but compelling characters, Vanished is a must-read.

Huge thanks to Shelley Burr, Hachette Australia & New Zealand, and NetGalley for the ARC. Vanished will be published on April 30th, 2025 — make sure to grab a copy!

I really enjoyed reading this eARC Australian murder mystery book. I found that it was captivating and that it drew me in right from the start. The story of Lane Holland drew me in right from the start.

This is the third book in this trilogy and even though I haven’t read the first two books, it was easy to follow along and to grasp at understanding what has happened in the first two books.

The Author Shelley Burr has written about Australian life and has really covered a few different aspects of it, such as the bush fire season and flash flooding that can happen without much notification.

Overall this was an enjoyable book to read and if you’re a lover of Australian murder mysteries you will love this book

Vanish is a compelling crime novel that will have you page turning until the end.

The third book in the lane Holland's series were lane is nearing his parole date to be released from prison but one thing still plays on his mind that he has to solve. To do that tho he has to go undercover on a farm to see what really happened.

This book had me grasping to find out what happened and I love that in a twisty mystery crime book, the characters including lane gave it that edginess that has you questioning everyone about the things they do. I can see a new book series in the future for burr as lane and another character really hit it off.

Thank you so much HachetteAustralia and Netgalley for gifting me an advance earc .for an honest review

If you like a cult story, this one definitely leans into that (though they are not a cult if you ask them).

I love the premise - investigator who got himself in hot water and is now in prison has been given the task of finding any information on a missing daughter of someone working in the prison

Which is how he ends up at The Farm.

It’s a little slow at times, but I like that it was a mystery without much gore that actually got you thinking and I was definitely surprised by the ending!

Shelley Burr's Vanish is a masterfully crafted crime thriller that delves deep into the haunting aftermath of a child's disappearance. Set against the backdrop of the Australian outback, the novel follows Lane Holland, a private investigator with a troubled past, as he takes on a cold case that has baffled authorities for years.

Burr's storytelling is both poignant and gripping, weaving together themes of grief, obsession, and the relentless pursuit of truth. The narrative unfolds through multiple perspectives, offering a comprehensive view of the emotional toll such tragedies take on families and communities.

The characters are richly developed, with Lane's personal demons adding depth to his relentless quest for justice. The atmospheric setting enhances the story's tension, making the reader feel the isolation and desolation of the outback.

While the pacing is deliberate, it allows for a thorough exploration of the characters' psyches and the complexities of the case. The climax delivers a satisfying resolution that underscores the novel's emotional weight.

Vanish is a compelling read that combines psychological depth with a suspenseful plot, solidifying Shelley Burr's place in the realm of contemporary crime fiction.

I had not read any of Shelley Burr’s books before but dived into this one straight away. The story starts with a prisoner Lane assisting Carver, who runs the prison, to find his daughter. Carver assists Lane to get onto a work program prior to his release from prison and he is sent to the farm where his daughter was last known to be.
The story kept me captured however at times was a little trippy. That may be because of the whole cult like theme of the farm. Lane meets some interesting characters on the farm and tries to solve the disappearances that he has researched that are all linked to the farm. Including working alongside someone who he is not meant to be near based on his own crime he is imprisoned for.
While I won’t do any spoilers the ending where they solve what has happened can be either predictable or a surprise, it all depends on the reader. I try not to think too hard about the story as I am reading and like to have it be a surprise which it was.
I have given this book a four stars rating. It just did not give enough for me to get to five stars but is still a good read. I am not sure if it would have helped to read the first two instalments of this series but it seemed I could pick this one up and read as a standalone. Love reading stories that are based in Australia as I can picture the scenery that is described as I am reading. Overall a good book and an easy read, will look to read more books from this author, and I will share my review on Goodreads and Amazon.
Thank you to NetGalley and Shelley Burr for an opportunity to read this book and provide an honest review.

This was book three of the PI Lane Holland series. It’s been so enjoyable reading the series and getting to know Lane Holland. This book also brings back a character from the first book in the series.

Lane is in prison but that doesn’t stop him from investigating the disappearance of the warden’s daughter over 20 years ago. He finds a link to other missing persons and him and the warden devise a plan for Lane to go undercover to the Karpathy farm as part of a prisoner training program. Once there, Lane finds the farm to be filled with strange people, especially the owner. He also discovers that other farm workers have gone missing from there, never to be seen again. As he tries to discover what is happening it’s a race against time as the farm is in the path of a major bushfire that threatens to destroy everything and everyone in its path.

I really enjoyed the pace, the characters and the twists! If you enjoy a crime thriller with cult vibes then you should pick this one up. Although this can be read standalone without a problem, I would recommend starting with the first book, Wake.

I also picked up on the clue for a potential sequel in this series. Sounds like Lane may get a partner in order to continue his PI business?

Thanks to @hachetteaus and @netgalley for the ARC. This one will publish on 30 April 2025.

‘Lane worried at the cuff of his shirt, rubbing it between the fingers and thumb of his other hand.’

Lane Holland is in prison. As a convicted criminal, he will never be able to work as a private investigator again. His parole hearing approaches, and a set of quite fortuitous coincidences see Lane Holland going undercover under the guise of a prison training scheme to investigate a disappearance. The Karpathy farm is a remote and mysterious farm community, one where some people seem to disappear.
There is plenty of tension in this story, and more than one mystery.

I had to suspend a little disbelief to accept Holland’s placement on the Karpathy farm but once I did so I quickly became caught up in the story. Holland has plenty of questions for the residents at the farm but must be careful not to arouse suspicion. Most of the residents keep their distance, but Holland finds help from a surprising source.

And I will stop right there so as not to spoil the story.

While you could read this as a standalone, I would strongly recommend reading the three novels in order. Several characters appear in the earlier books, and both backstory and character development add value to this instalment.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Australia and New Zealand for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

I love Shelley Burr's books so much, she is definitely on eof my most favourite authors. I devoured Wake and Ripper and was so excited for this early copy of Vanish.

Vanish is the third book with private eye Lane Holland. If you have read Shelley's previous 2 books, you'll remember that Lane is currently in prison. Being in prison doesn't stop him from investigating or asking questions and when he finds a link between the prison warden's missing daughter and some other missing young people, he finds himself undercover at a farm under the guise of a prison rehabilitation program. Despite the cold reception from the tight lipped residents of Karpathy, Lane isn’t one to back down from asking hard questions. Something about the place doesn’t sit right with him. It has a strange, almost cult like atmosphere. It’s the silences and the things left unsaid that truly unsettle him. Lane is relentless and even as danger creeps closer, he refuses to walk away.

This book is amazing like her others - a great setting, lots of twists and turns and short chapters (which I love as I can always squeeze a few more in!).

Thanks Netgalley. One of my favs for this year!

This is the book that got me out of my reading slump. I was very impressed with the first in the series Wake and this, the third Lane Holland outing is just as good.
Lane a former Private eye is in jail for murdering his father. (Read Wake and Ripper to appreciate the backstory here). One unsolved case haunts him, the disappearance of Matilda Carver 20 years ago, who also happens to be the daughter of the Governor of the prison Lane is incarcerated in. He has carried on covertly looking into Matilda’s disappearance while inside and comes to the conclusion that Karpathy Farm, a remote, commune like farm is at the centre of not just Matilda’s disappearance but others as well. He does a deal to go to the farm, with an escort, under the pretence of an outreach program for offenders who want to learn about farming.
It’s a really good read with a few twists and intriguing characters.

#Vanish #NetGalley

Thanks to NetGalley and Hatchette Australia for this advanced electronic copy of Shelley Burr’s upcoming third novel featuring Lane Holland.
Having read the previous two novels, I was excited to be approved for this and dove in right away. I was then immediately hooked by the themes - undercover, mystery, Australian rural setting and cult vibes. Highly recommend this when it is published- and go back and read the previous two novels if you haven’t already!

Vanish is the third book in Shelley Burr’s Australian crime series that started with her debut, the award winning Wake. Investigator Lane Holland is back, still in prison when the book opens but is soon investigating again, in a limited capacity. Also back in this book are characters from earlier books including Lane’s sister and the person he went to prison for Mina McCreery. Once again Burr manages to deliver an Australian rural crime novel that does not quite follow the mould of many of her contemporaries.
Carver, the head of the prison where Lane is serving his sentence is still keen to find his daughter Matilda, missing for twenty years. And it turns out that Lane has become a little obsessed with the case also, continuing to investigate with a contraband phone and finding out that Matilda was last scene at a farm in the Riverina where another young person went missing. That farm, run by a family called Karpathy, is more of a commune and Lane suspects some sort of cult. Carver uses a prison outreach program to get Lane placed at that farm (together with one of the guards) in the hope that he can uncover what happened to Matilda. On the day Lane arrives a member of the community at the farm dies in a car accident and he soon finds that there has been at least one other mysterious disappearance.
Burr does a great job in Vanish in slowly building the pressure. Lane can see all of the techniques used by Karpathy to control the people on the farm but on the other hand, can not quite seem to be able to prove that that control is coercive. She keeps both Lane and the reader off balance as the clues build but fail to make a coherent picture. Meanwhile, Lane as always, goes slightly beyond his remit, potentially making himself a target and putting his chances of parole at peril.
While it opens with flooding, bushfire has become the existential threat that seems to make an appearance in every Australian rural crime novel at the moment. And Vanish is no exception, adding an extra layer of jeopardy to the climax.
While part of a trilogy, Vanish it is more of a sequel to Wake, bringing many of the hanging threads from that novel to a satisfactory resolution. Vanish is another great crime novel from Burr, showing an ability to continue to bring new insights and approaches and stand out in the crowded Australian rural crime genre.

Lane Holland went to prison years ago, paying for his crimes. But as his parole approaches, he is approached to help investigate a missing persons case. He needs to go to a farm community led by Samuel Karpathy, one that attracts lost souls, some of whom are never seen again. As he goes undercover at the farm, the circumstances surrounding him become complicated and it is impossible to know who to trust.

This one was filled with suspense and mystery. It was one of those books where you see people heading straight into danger and it kept me on the edge of my seat. The author's writing was brilliant and this is my favourite novel by her yet. 4.5*

I absolutely loved Wake and Ripper so when I received the ARC for Vanish I was thrilled! i am happy to say that it had me hooked from the very start and lived up to my now high expectations from Shelley Burr. I seriously couldn’t put this book down. There was so much tension and mystery that I just had to know how it was going to end. Just brilliant stuff.

This is book 3 featuring PI Lane Holland. Now if you have read the first 2 books you will know that he is currently in prison. This doesn’t stop him from working cases though, far from it. When he finds a link between the disappearance of the wardens daughter years ago, and other missing persons, he finds himself going undercover on a farm under the guise of a prisoner training program.

Lane is not afraid to ask questions, even though the other residents of Karpathy are not the talkative type. There is something strange going on at this place, which feels a bit cultish to Lane. It is what people are not saying that worries him., but he won’t give up, even when his life is once again in danger.

Shelley Burr has done it again with Vanish. It is dark, suspenseful and so so addictive. She is an absolute must read author for me and should be for everyone.

Thanks so much to Hachette Australia for my early copy of this book to read. Out on April 30th.

This is the third book in the PI Lane Holland series. They go as follows: Wake, Ripper and Vanish.
This one is interesting as Lane is coming up for parole, if you haven’t read the series, Lane is in jail, which adds a real difference to these books. He is offered to go and stay on a farm for an agriculture certification so he has something to do after jail. When people are going to the Karpathy farm and never returning or are seen again, Lane is tasked to figure out why. There is more to this but I won’t spoil it as this plot runs through the three books.
The farm feels like a cult but is it really? Is it a just a group of people working towards a common goal?
I didn’t like this one as much as the other two books. It was missing something that made me want to devour it. I think I had guessed a lot of it early on. It was still a great read.

An engrossing and captivating crime fiction story, that is frighteningly plausible as it is inspired by a true criminal case.

I have enjoyed the previous stories featuring Private Investigator Lane Holland – Wake (#1) and Ripper (#2). Vanish (#3) is another engaging story by Shelley Burr, with beautifully interwoven subplots, a creeping sense of unease, with complex characters and connections.

This story opens with a gripping prologue, that hooked me completely. Then we get re-acquainted with Lane Holland who is still in prison and haunted by the cold case disappearance of Matilda Carver, over twenty years ago.

Ex-PI Lane is not a rule follower, so despite no longer having a PI licence, he finds a link between the disappearance of Matilda and the mysterious Karpathy farm. It appears to be a place that collects lost souls of the desperate and vulnerable. Is it a commune, or cult, or simply an alternative community? Could it be something much darker?

Lane ends up going undercover at Karpathy farm through a prisoner training programme, to attempt to find how it is linked to multiple missing person cases. What follows is a building tension, untangling character connections and backstories, plenty of plausible suspects and an abundance of unexpected twists.

I appreciate the short chapters, as it made it so easy to keep reading long into the night.

With special thanks to Hachette Australia, Shelley Burr and NetGalley for this e-ARC to read and review.

Shelley Burr continues as an auto-read for me, as her stories are an enjoyable Australian crime fiction read. I am excited to read what she creates next!

Vanish by Shelley Burr is another gripping installment in the Lane Holland series, and it certainly lives up to the high expectations set by its predecessor. With a chilling blend of suspense, mystery, and dark secrets, Burr weaves a narrative that pulls you in from the first page and doesn't let go until the very end.

What stands out most in this book is Burr's exploration of cult elements. The psychological tension and eerie atmosphere surrounding the cult add a layer of complexity to the plot that is both fascinating and unsettling. The way Burr gradually reveals the depth of the cult’s influence is masterful, building a sense of dread while keeping the reader hooked with constant twists and revelations.

Highly recommend!!