Who Would Like This Book:
If you love your thrillers dark, twisty, and utterly absorbing, this one’s for you! "Then She Was Gone" hooks readers with its multi-layered mystery, following a mother's desperate search for answers a decade after her daughter vanishes. Lisa Jewell keeps the suspense high with shifting perspectives and a slow unveiling of clues, all wrapped in emotional family drama. Perfect for fans of psychological thrillers, missing person mysteries, or those who crave novels that combine intriguing plots with deeply flawed, realistic characters.
Who May Not Like This Book:
This book might not be for you if you prefer action-packed plots, airtight realism, or uplifting stories. Some readers found the pacing uneven - particularly at the start - and thought the multiple narrators muddied the flow. Others struggled to connect with the main character, Laurel, or felt unsettled by the story’s darker elements and the plausibility of certain plot points. If predictable twists or intensely grim subject matter aren’t your speed, you might want to pick up something lighter.
About:
'Then She Was Gone' by Lisa Jewell is a psychological thriller that follows the story of Laurel Mack, a mother whose daughter, Ellie, goes missing at the age of 15. The novel delves into the aftermath of Ellie's disappearance, the impact it has on her family, and Laurel's journey towards closure. Through alternating timelines and multiple perspectives, the book explores themes of loss, grief, family dynamics, and the unsettling truth behind Ellie's disappearance. Lisa Jewell's writing style is described as compelling, suspenseful, and emotionally engaging, with well-defined characters and a plot that keeps readers on edge with unexpected twists and turns.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Triggers include missing children, grief, trauma, mental illness, and emotional abuse.
Has Romance?
A developing romance between Laurel and Floyd occurs, adding emotional complexity to the story.
From The Publisher:
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
From the New York Times bestselling author of Invisible Girl and The Truth About Melody Browne comes a "riveting" (PopSugar) and "acutely observed family drama" (People) that delves into the lingering aftermath of a young girl's disappearance.
Ellie Mack was the perfect daughter. She was fifteen, the youngest of three. Beloved by her parents, friends, and teachers, and half of a teenaged golden couple. Ellie 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 café, 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?
Ratings (224)
Incredible (23) | |
Loved It (107) | |
Liked It (52) | |
It Was OK (25) | |
Did Not Like (12) | |
Hated It (5) |
Reader Stats (414):
Read It (239) | |
Currently Reading (2) | |
Want To Read (135) | |
Did Not Finish (5) | |
Not Interested (33) |
2 comment(s)
I liked it, but it dragged. And at least less than 20 chapters in I had the whole thing figured out.
Meh.
What can you read after
Then She Was Gone?
About the Author:
Lisa Jewell is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of nineteen novels, including The Family Upstairs and Then She Was Gone, as well as Invisible Girl and Watching You. Her novels have sold over 5 million copies internationally, and her work has also been translated into twenty-nine languages. Connect with her on Twitter @LisaJewellUK, on Instagram @LisaJewellUK, and on Facebook @LisaJewellOfficial.
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