THE MYSTERY OF THE FOOL AND THE VANISHER

Beautiful photographs are juxtaposed against subtly quiet text in this unusual fantasy. While rambling on the Downs, the narrator discovers a chest containing documents of a strange occurrence. The chest belonged to an Isaac Wilde: a photographer who, after taking employment on an archaeological site, stumbles upon the fairy world after the dig disrupts their mound. He sets out—and manages—successfully to photograph a fairy but, to his chagrin, he is mocked by his employer and peers and is then accused of presenting a forgery. After giving Wilde a ruthless taunting, his boss mysteriously vanishes, and only Wilde—and now the readers—knows the ultimate truth behind his disappearance. An open-ended conclusion and a collection of “evidence” leave readers to discern the characters’ fates. A naturalistic slant to the photography helps make the fantasy concept plausible. Visually interesting, but the slow pace and vagueness may not hold the interest for some. However, fans of the fairy realm will most likely be enchanted by this subdued tale. (Fantasy. 10 & up)