Then She Was Gone

by Lisa Jewell

"Ten years after her teenage daughter disappears, a woman crosses paths with a charming single father whose young child feels eerily familiar, in this evocative, suspenseful drama from New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jewell--perfect for fans of Paula Hawkins and Liane Moriarty. Ellie Mack was the perfect daughter. She was fifteen, the youngest of three. She was beloved by her parents, friends, and teachers. She and her boyfriend made a teenaged golden couple. She was days away from an idyllic post-exams summer vacation, with her whole life ahead of her. And then she was gone. Now, her mother Laurel Mack is trying to put her life back together. It's been ten years since her daughter disappeared, seven years since her marriage ended, and only months since the last clue in Ellie's case was unearthed. So when she meets an unexpectedly charming man in a cafe, no one is more surprised than Laurel at how quickly their flirtation develops into something deeper. Before she knows it, she's meeting Floyd's daughters--and his youngest, Poppy, takes Laurel's breath away. Because looking at Poppy is like looking at Ellie. And now, the unanswered questions she's tried so hard to put to rest begin to haunt Laurel anew. Where did Ellie go? Did she really run away from home, as the police have long suspected, or was there a more sinister reason for her disappearance? Who is Floyd, really? And why does his daughter remind Laurel so viscerally of her own missing girl?"--

• ISBN10: 1501154648
• ISBN13: 9781501154645
• Publish Date: 17 April 2018 (first published 27 July 2017)
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Imprint: Atria Books
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 368
• Language: English

Reviews

[Kim Deister]

I love anything by Lisa Jewell, anything! And this book was no exception. There is a perfect balance of emotions, secrets, twists, and creepiness. Laurel’s family fell apart after her daughter Ellie disappeared without a trace. Her other daughter has become distant, and her ex-husband, although still her best friend, has found a new life without her. And Laurel is left drifting, unsure of how to move forward in her new reality. But then she meets a man, and she soon finds herself realizing that maybe there is something else out there for her.

I absolutely love Lisa Jewell’s writing. She pulls the reader into the story and keeps them there. The atmosphere that the author creates is dynamic. The characters are full bodied, interesting, and so diverse. And the twists and turns take the reader on a journey. The “missing girl” storyline isn’t a new one, but the author puts such a creative spin on it, one that descends into madness.

This will be a short review as I don’t want to spoil the plot in any way. This is one of those books a reader need to just dive into blindly, with no preconceived notions!

My recommendation: If you love a thriller, this is a fantastic one to read!

[maggiefan]

A predictable one, won't remember it for long.

I’m rounding up to 4 stars but it’s more like 3.5. I found it to be a quick read which I needed. I was in the mood for something that I could get into right away and this was it. It had some twists which I love although I figured them out early on which I never do which is why I didn’t give it four stars. I liked how the book was structured with different parts and how those parts were told from a different character’s points of view. I enjoyed the characters, it made me feel uneasy at some points but I enjoyed it and in the end that what I look for in a book.