Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell @penguinrhuk @lisajewelluk #ThenSheWasGone #LisaJewell #BookReview

Penguin Random House 2017

Book Description

She 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.

Ten years on, Laurel has never given up hope of finding Ellie.  And then she meets a charming and charismatic stranger who sweeps her off her feet.

But what really takes her breath away is when she meets his nine-year-old daughter.

Because his daughter is the image of Ellie.

Now all those unanswered questions that have haunted Laurel come flooding back.

What really happened to Ellie?

And who still has secrets to hide?

Having thoroughly enjoyed Lisa Jewell’s last two books I had very high expectations for this one and boy! it did not disappoint.  Lisa Jewell has done it again, this story is brilliant.

In four sections this book tells the story of Ellie’s disappearance.  Starting with Ellie on that fateful day she disappears, the story then moves on to Laurel, her mother’s story as her life continues without her beloved daughter.  Capturing the impact on her marriage and other children the ripples of Ellie’s disappearance are long lasting and with no closure, Laurel remains in limbo.  The charming and suave Floyd provides a welcome distraction and hope for the future for Laurel, but his daughter is the image of missing Ellie and thus a seed is sown…  a very comprehensive plot, authentic and harrowing in equal parts.

Lisa Jewell has once again written a superbly detailed mystery enshrouded within a warm and healing story.  At it’s heart a missing girl and a mother trying hard to continue.  Through meeting a man she heals and in healing she mends bridges she hadn’t realised were broken within her family.  But through meeting a man she finally learns the facts of Ellie’s disappearance.  Not a happy ending and not really a happy story but captivating nonetheless and the skill of the author in creating human interactions and growth prevent the story from being dark.

It’s official Lisa Jewell is now a pre order author from me.  Her most recent three books have been brilliant and having read her first book Ralph’s Party, many years ago when it came out I can safely say, her writing has matured with her, and me.

Highly Recommended for fans of contemporary mystery stories, in the vein of Lianne Moriarty.