Vanished -- Joseph Finder

Joseph Finder has established himself as a writer of standalone novels, but now he's got a series character, Nick Heller, and Vanished is the first novel about him. It's a good one.

Heller is a "private spy." That's Finder's term. Heller is also a kind of private-eye, working for a big D.C. firm. He has Special Forces training, and he's good at his job. He also has complex family history. His father's in a federal prison, where he's been for years, having been convicted of insider trading. His brother, Roger, has followed their father into the financial world, and now he's disappeared. Who you gonna call? Heller, of course.

Vanished is written in short chapters and short scenes, which might lead you to think it's not as complicated as it is. That's a good thing because there are plenty of twists and turns and complications. Luckily for us, Finder makes these easy to follow.

What happens in Vanished might not be realistic, but who wants a thriller to be realistic? It's fun to read, and that's what matters. A fine start to a new series, and I'm looking forward to reading the second book.