Invisible Girl

by Lisa Jewell

NOW AVAILABLE: from the #1 bestselling author of THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS and THEN SHE WAS GONE comes an engrossing, twisty story of dark family secrets and betrayal.
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YOU DON'T SEE HER. BUT SHE SEES YOU.

MIDNIGHT: In an area of urban wasteland where cats hunt and foxes shriek, a girl is watching...

When Saffyre Maddox was ten, something terrible happened, and she's carried the pain of it ever since. The man who she thought was going to heal her didn't, and now she hides, learning his secrets, invisible in the shadows.

Owen Pick is invisible too. He's never had a girlfriend; he's never even had a friend.
Nobody sees him. Nobody cares.

But when Saffyre goes missing from opposite his house on Valentine's night, suddenly the whole world is looking at Owen.

Accusing him. Holding him responsible for Saffyre's disappearance...

INVISIBLE GIRL: an engrossing, twisty story of how we look in the wrong places for bad people while the real predators walk among us in plain sight.
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'I've really struggled with reading during lockdown but this weekend I finished Lisa Jewell's gripping Invisible Girl and it was such a joy not to be able to put a book down. Her best yet.' JOJO MOYES

'A masterclass in how to write with pace and tension.' HARRIET TYCE

'An engrossing and compelling read.' MIRROR

'Another twisty, turny and tangled thriller from Lisa Jewell, which also manages to deliver a really satisfying and shocking denouement.' RED

'She isn't afraid of plunging an icy blade into her readers' hearts whilst examining the cruel realities of the world.' ADELE PARKS

'Compelling and surprisingly moving - Lisa Jewell never lets you down.' CLARE MACKINTOSH

'A masterclass in character... A wonderful slow-burn gripper - I loved it.' LOUISE CANDLISH

'An up-all-night gripping story with characters who feel as real as you and me.' ERIN KELLY

'Not only is her plotting masterful, Lisa has the rare ability to make you care - passionately - about all her characters... Invisible Girl is quite brilliant in every way.' JANE CASEY

'Dark, gripping, emotionally intense. My heart hurt from being squeezed so tight.' TAMAR COHEN

'I loved it. Every damn word.' AJ FINN

'A breathtakingly brilliant novel by an author at the absolute top of her game.' JENNY COLGAN

'Once again, Jewell deliversa story with characters you care about and enough twists to keep you hooked' GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

'Gripping, disturbing and acutely observant; Jewell is an extremely special writer.' ALEX MARWOOD

• ISBN10: 1982137339
• ISBN13: 9781982137335
• Publish Date: 13 October 2020 (first published 6 August 2020)
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Atria Books
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 368
• Language: English

Reviews

[Kim Deister]

I love Lisa Jewell, and while I enjoyed this book, it’s fair to say I have a complicated relationship with it. There were some things I really loved about, but there were also some things I questioned. And there were other things that I wished had been more a part of the story.

The book is told from the alternating perspectives of Saffyre, Owen, and Cate. Saffyre and Owen are alike in a lot of ways, both very complex, lonely, tormented characters, both outcasts in different ways. Cate lives a very different life from both of them, but her story, too, is emotional, and lonely, in its own way. Their stories weave together in a twisty and engrossing way, creating a book that is incredibly thought-provoking. There are a lot of triggering moments (abuse, infidelity, rape, sexual assault, gaslighting), but none overly graphic. It is definitely a story that sticks with you long after you’ve read the last page.

The character development was, for the most part, excellent. The author was successful at painting Owen as a predator. However, there were aspects of his story that I wish had been a bigger part of it, especially since it was something mentioned in the book’s blurb, the connection to the incel community. I think more of that, while a reprehensible community, could have added another layer to the story. And Saffyre… she, too, was one with whom I had a complicated relationship. She was tragic to be sure, but she was also a bit on the creepy side, which often made her a little on the unlikable side.

While I liked the actual whodunit portion of the conclusion, there was, at least for me, a feeling that the entire thing wrapped up a little too easily, that the connections made were a bit too convenient, that everyone moved on to happier things a little too quickly. There were some moments in there that I had a hard time suspending belief for. But despite this, I did enjoy the book. It was a bit of a slow burn at first, but there came a point at which I couldn’t put the book down. It was just so twisty, and I NEEDED TO KNOW!

[Quirky Cat]

I received a copy of Invisible Girl in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Lisa Jewell is diving back into the world of thrillers with Invisible Girl. If you haven't read any of her previous works, I cannot recommend them enough!

A woman has gone missing, assaults are happening within their neighborhood, and the Fours family is in the center of it all. Cate has begun to notice a pattern, while Roan seems determined to convince everyone that it is all fine.

Even his patients. Saffyre Maddox didn't feel ready to stop her treatment, and now look at how her life has turned out. Then there's Owen Pick, a man whose life has been turned upside down, whose proximity to the Fours cannot be ignored.

“I have a dark past, and I have dark thoughts. I do dark things, and I scare myself sometimes.”

If you're looking for a new thriller worth diving into, Invisible Girl is it. It's richly detailed and intense, showcasing everything that makes Lisa Jewell a master of mystery. It's an intense psychological thriller, with an infusion of family drama.

This is a novel completely full to the brim of twists, turns, and other shocking surprises. Jewell weaves in multiple narratives, concepts, and worlds in order to bring this story to life. The multiple perspectives serve to carry the story along, all while increasing the tension.

I respect that she didn't shy away from darker elements, such as the inclusion of incels, adultery, and more. Together it makes for a complicated tale – one that takes effort to work through (as intended, I'm sure).

The tone is where Invisible Girl really shines. It's truly creepy, with this lingering sense that at any moment, everything can and will go wrong. It's beautifully done, and is a vital element to this psychological thriller.

All of that being said, I don't think that this was my favorite Lisa Jewell novel. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't bad! It just didn't live up to my expectations based on her previous works. Maybe that's just me? I'm not sure.

Now that I've read Lisa Jewell's latest novel, I can't help but find myself looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next. I just know that it is going to be more thrilling than ever! (Pun mostly intended).

Check out more of my reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks