THE #1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER! Ellie Mack was the perfect daughter. She was fifteen, the youngest of three. She was beloved by her parents, friends, and teachers. She and her boyfriend made a teenaged golden couple. She 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 … 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?
“Jewell teases out her twisty plot at just the right pace, leaving readers on the edge of their seats. Her multilayered characters are sheer perfection, and even the most astute thriller reader won’t see where everything is going until the final threads are unknotted.” —Booklist, starred review
“More than a whiff of The Lovely Bones wafts through this haunting domestic noir…Skillfully told by several narrators, Jewell’s gripping novel is an emotionally resonant story of loss, grief, and renewal.” —Publishers Weekly
“Sharply written with twists and turns, Jewell’s latest will please fans of Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train, or Luckiest Girl Alive.” —Library Journal
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Great read. Kept me up at night. A real life turner.
This was a new to me author. I spotted this book in the bookstore and the excerpt intrigued me to buy it. The prologue pulled me in.
Ellie Mack is your average teen. A good student, with a wonderful boyfriend, and the center of her family. One day, Ellie walks out the door and doesn’t return. Laurel, Ellie’s mom, loses interest in cooking, her marriage, being a mother to her other children. Laurel and Paul divorce. Laurel goes about her mundane life, until she meets Floyd Dunn at a cafe. They develop a relationship, and meets Floyd’s nine year old daughter, Poppy, who has an uncanny appearance to her daughter Ellie. Laurel has a nagging feeling, but can’t put her finger on it. When Blue, the girlfriend of Laurel’s son, tries to warn Laurel, it doesn’t go over well. Laurel does a bit of digging and now wonders just who Floyd really is.
Ten years later, did Ellie really run away like everyone believes she did? Laurel can’t stop the nagging feeling, and does some inquires which only open the door to more questions.
A great read with interesting twists!
I loved this book. I think the author is a very good writer. This book had a good storyline, good characters, and easy to read. I started it late Saturday night and finished it Sunday afternoon. I have read a couple of her other books too and they were good also. Read it…I think you will like it.
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. This 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.
I listed to the audiobook, and 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!
The writing was disjointed and getting into the story was difficult. It was dry and predictable. Disinterested.
From the first chapter I was hooked! Could not stop reading ! The characters were all interesting and the story kept unfolding. The ending kept me in suspense and it will for you too!
It was great nothing like I usually read
Great read. Really held my interest
Couldn’t put this book down!
Interesting story, no graphic violence.
I couldn’t even get threw the 3rd chapter. THEN I tried reading it again and…… Wow what a great book. I never would of guessed how it would play out. I really couldn’t quit listening. Kidnapping Jealousy insecurity love family sadness happiness it was all in this book .
Omg wow!!!! This book just torn into my soul. I couldn’t stop reading I couldn’t guess anything and just wow!!!
It was a very interesting story. I gave it 3 stars rather than 4 because I pretty much had the entire plot figured out 1/3 of the way into the book. There was only 1 incident that was a surprise.
loved it!
The story takes twists and turns and leaves you wanting more at the end!
I was unable to put it down! While not optimally original, the twists and turns made it interesting and kept me guessing. The ending was a definite surprise. Main characters were well written and new information was constantly being brought to light. Their inner lives unfolded before my eyes. This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I will definitely be reading more of her books.
I thought the book had string characters. Predictable in parts but so bizarre and twisted that it surprised. The very ending heart rending.
A mystery but not a page turner for me. The last thing written by Noelle did not seem plausible. I wonder if others would agree – or perhaps I misunderstood. That being said, I have to give it 5 stars because of the last 34 words of the book. Those words impacted me more than I would have imagined. Don’t think I have ever read anything like it before.
This was the first book I ever read from this author – I couldn’t put it down. Thoroughly entertaining.
It was a page turner. It was interesting trying to figure out what happened and how everyone is connected, and then it got creepy, sad and heartbreaking. Great characters, bizarre story, easy to read, I recommend it as a must read.