Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell Published by Atria Books on April 17, 2018
Pages: 359
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Helen Duff
Length: 10 hrs and 12 mins
Genres: Mystery
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THENShe was fifteen, her mother's golden girl. She had her whole life ahead of her. And then, in the blink of an eye, Ellie was gone.
NOW It’s been ten years since Ellie disappeared, but Laurel has never given up hope of finding her daughter.And then one day a charming and charismatic stranger called Floyd walks into a café and sweeps Laurel off her feet. Before too long she’s staying the night at this house and being introduced to his nine year old daughter. Poppy is precocious and pretty - and meeting her completely takes Laurel's breath away.
Because Poppy is the spitting image of Ellie when she was that age.And now all those unanswered questions that have haunted Laurel come flooding back.
What happened to Ellie? Where did she go? Who still has secrets to hide?
Then She Was Gone is unlike any other mystery I’ve read. The premise is fairly ordinary. Ellie, a seemingly happy teenage girl with a bright future ahead of her, disappears suddenly without a trace, and her family is torn apart in the aftermath. The “girl gone missing” storyline has been done many times before. However, it’s the complex execution that makes this mystery so unique. I think it would be a great book club selection.
The story is very much character driven. A decade passes and the case is still cold, offering no closure for her mother, Laurel, who cannot shed the devastating weight of grief. The loss of Ellie causes a ripple effect in Laurel’s life that she continues to work through as the story unfolds. Some may guess what happened to Ellie. I certainly had my suspicions; however, the plot is filled with whys (versus hows). Putting all the intricate pieces and personalities together makes for a fascinating and thrilling puzzle. Expect some creepy and disturbing aspects to add suspense. The impact on familial relationships is also explored. All these features combined create a storm of intrigue that fuels the reader’s interest.
The story is told in the third person from multiple points of view—some of which are startling—and it vacillates between various timeframes. For the most part, the story is relayed to the reader, but occasionally the exposition is directed toward a specific character in what feels like a diary entry or letter of confession. It should be confusing and choppy as heck, but for some reason it works well here and is something that distinguishes the unusual writing style. Then She Was Gone is the first book by Lisa Jewell I’ve read, and I’m curious if this is indicative of her overall style. I will definitely be checking out more of her work.
Helen Duff’s fluid and rich narration is simply spectacular and tips the book into 5-star territory. She embodies each character with vivid distinction. It is particularly impressive that she manages to pull off several accents—British, American, Irish—quite successfully overall. I think it’s safe to classify her delivery as a vocal performance. Brava!
Recommended for fans of:
Mystery
Suspense
Life after loss storylines
About Lisa Jewell
Lisa Jewell was born and raised in north London, where she lives with her husband and two daughters. She is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA TODAY bestselling author of over fifteen novels, including Then She Was Gone, I Found You, The Girls in the Garden, and The House We Grew Up In.
I’m glad to see you enjoyed this one! I have yet to try this author, but I do want to. I don’t know what it is, but I find a missing child story so riveting. My favorite is Cry No More by Linda Howard.
Great review! 🙂
I like Linda Howard and I haven’t read Cry No More. I need to add that to my TBR! Thanks for the recommendation!