Then She Was Gone: A Novel

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars | 115,305 ratings

Price: 2.99

Last update: 12-01-2024


About this item

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

From the New York Times bestselling author of Invisible Girl and None of This Is True 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?

From the Publisher


Top reviews from the United States

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read!
Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2024
Intriguing from the start. Well written. Very good character development. It was, intresrtingly enough a feel good book for being a very dark story. I recommend it for a weekend read.
Kate
4.0 out of 5 stars If you like a slow burn...
Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2024
This book is good, but man it sure could have been better. The build up to the actual story was more than half the book. It felt like I was being told the same thing over and over again.
The being said, it was an imaginative plot and I did enjoy reading it. It just wasn't as much of an exciting page turner as I hoped it would be. Very well written for the Missing White Girl genre.
Jeanette
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, thrilling and disturbing
Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2024
I am American so it took me a sec to figure out they were English, and then some of the lingo. But nothing I couldn’t follow along. The book kept you in suspense the whole time, but it was about 1/3 until it got really juicy. It really touched my heart in the end and I did shed a tear. I do recommend this book!
Shelly F. D.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read, amazing characterization, well written
Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2024
Lisa Jewell's "Then She Was Gone" is a gripping and haunting psychological thriller that really digs deep into the complexities of loss, grief, and the harrowing mysteries that lie beneath seemingly ordinary lives. While it is not hard to figure out the who (at least not all of the time), the what and why are always being questioned. I feel that the characters are truly well developed with rich layers of the natural complexities of inherent human cognition. You can relate or at least sympathize with each character at one point or another in their storyline.

The novel centers around the disappearance of Ellie Mack, a bright and promising fifteen-year-old girl who vanishes without a trace. The narrative unfolds through multiple perspectives and timelines, weaving together the perspectives of Ellie's family members, investigators, and those connected to her life. The novel is littered with unexpected twists and turns that kept me guessing until the final pages. The author adeptly builds tension and suspense, revealing clues and revelations that challenge perceptions and turn the story on its head over and over again.

This book delivers a compelling exploration of loss, secrets, and the haunting aftermath of tragedy but it also shows the resiliency of the human spirit and how there can always be more...you just have to be open to it.
Ashlynn
3.0 out of 5 stars Then She Was Gone
Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2024
This was my lowest ranked book all year!

This book was our Book Club read of the month. I finished it in two days..

Now, while this book was a fast read, it did not engage me as well as I thought. I love a good thriller but I had it all figured out about 40% of the way in.
I felt for Laurel in that she lost a child as well as the rest of her family. However, she really caused more pain to herself by the comments she made and the additional hurt she caused to herself other children with those words. I also really felt for Hanna - in some ways. I too would resent my mother if she made the same comments. But at times it seemed like Hanna was just trying to be more of a problem to Laurel. Toward the ending, the inner child of Hanna was healed by Laurels comment. I just don't see why it took so long. Noelle really gave me the ick. Her thought process for things were messy and I don't see how the police didn't catch on a lot quicker and/or make more of an effort to investigate. Honestly, Floyd and Poppy were my favorite characters. Though Floyd knew the truth about Poppy, he still cared for her, stayed to be loyal to her, and kept her safe. Poppy was just a happy kid who loved everyone (except for that one person... obviously!).

Don't get me wrong, this book was well written and the thought behind the book was good. For me, it wasn't the best...
Joseph J. Truncale
5.0 out of 5 stars An interesting but also somewhat disturbing novel you may want to check out.
Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2024
As someone who loves all kinds of books from the many fascinating sciences to the often strange esoteric. I also like unusual thrillers that force you to turn the page to hurry and find out what happens next. While browsing on Amazon I came across this unusual and interesting 384-page soft cover book (Then she was gone by Lisa Jewell) book. This story takes place in Great Britain, but it could have been anywhere.

I admit to finding this to be a page turning compelling read that was difficult to put down once I started the book. As someone with a law enforcement (many years ago) background I immediately suspected the person who is mentioned early in this thriller; however, I also found this book disturbing for reasons I am not going to reveal in this review. You will find out soon enough if you read this book.

Unlike some reviewers who seem to enjoy giving too much information, which in my opinion may spoil it for those who are thinking of reading the book, I will just say, that if you like mysteries with an unusual theme with some strange and sometimes disturbing results, you may want to read this book. This is also a book about family who must deal with various issues.

Rating: 5 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Use of the Monadnock Straight Baton).

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