Excellent twisty thriller! Enjoyed this more than I initially believed I would. Will definitely be reading more from this author!

Now I remember why I stopped reading this in 2018. Ughhhh. This book gave me such an icky feeling that I just couldn't finish it. But I always feel badly when I don't review a NetGalley book, so I'm going back and reviewing the 5 or so books that I didn't read / finish for whatever reason. This one was very readable, but the feeling it gave me. Newp.

Then She Was Gone is, I believe, Lisa Jewell's first book. And she really came out of the gate hard. It's about a young daughter who goes missing, and her mother's desperation to get her back. As well as how the family dissolves in the wake of the grief. At least, that's the first part. It quickly switches to batshit territory. And it very quickly tells you the ultimate fate of Ellie, the daughter. I thought that was one of the largest missteps, because it made me just... not care about the rest of the book. Sure, I wanted to know how she ended up where she did, but it would have benefited the narrative greatly to have that remain a mystery until near the end.

What happened to Ellie is so uniquely upsetting and gross that I... IDK. I felt so adjacently awful even having read it. The description of [her crying for her mother over and over in the end was so terrible that it made me feel like I'd bathed in grime. Even though it's fictional, of course, this happens more than we'd like to think. And the fact that she died in that room, starving to death, alone, without her mother...never knowing her mother searched and searched for her, never gave up hope. The fact that Ellie believed she was alone in the world... it was just so needlessly horrendous. (hide spoiler)]

I love thrillers, I love mysteries, but I need a little hope. I know that's what Jewell thought she achieved with Poppy, but imo [women aren't replaceable with their children. Poppy's existence did not bring Ellie back or make the grief and unfairness go away. I couldn't stand that part. (hide spoiler)]

A good, compulsive read but not to my taste. It's funny - I'll read brutal Scandi mysteries all day long. But there was just something about this one that made me furious and sad. I suppose that's a testament to Jewell's writing.

Wow, this book took me a minute to get into but once I did I could not put it down. I thought about all the scenarios of what had happened and I was shocked by the ending.

This book hurt my soul. I had guesses over what had happened to Ellie, but the total reveal was a surprise. The pacing was good and I liked the different points of view. All of the characters felt real and my heart broke for Laurel and Ellie. Jewell is a great writer and knows exactly how to hook you into a story.

Listened and Loved!! I LOVE British narrators & stories of missing people so this book was perfect for me on every level. Helen Duff narrates, there’s alternating perspectives and a then & now timeline which was an excellent way to tell this story of missing 15 year old Ellie. I thought this was not only well written and plotted but had excellent characterization. And that last page...the literal last page of the book was like a sucker punch that definitely made me cry. If you like your mysteries with that something extra give this a try

Another incredibly suspenseful and well written book for Lisa Jewell. One this that Lisa often does for her reader is leaves them at the edge of their seat, and this story does just that.

The premise of the book is great and the author really delivers. Great read. Highly recommended. .Need to read more from this author!

3.5 stars

Thank you to Net Galley and Atria Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I found this to be a intriguing story that kept me turning the pages, I only wish that I wasn't able to figure out the mystery halfway through the book. It didn't stop me from finishing the book, but made it a little less enjoyable. However, it was still an engaging book and a very quick read.

This book of suspense was quite enjoyable even though I figured a few things out before they were revealed. That did not take away from my enjoyment of the book, however. Jewell’s characters were satisfying, and the plot moved along, keeping me engaged throughout the book.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book had so many twists and turns that kept me turning the pages. The author had a way of writing that made you love the characters you should and absolutely hate and or feel sorry for the ones that you should. The characters all felt real and it showed the many different faces and effects of a tragic event. The effects it has on a marriage, siblings, mothers, fathers, etc.

I thought it was a good read and I would recommend it for fans of suspense/mystery.

Ten years have passed since Laurel Mack's daughter Ellie has disappeared, and although she has never stopped hoping that one day she would find Ellie again, Laurel is ready to start living again. Then a chance encounter stirs up unanswered questions, suspicions and doubts, threatening Laurel's tenuous hold on her new life.

Another magnificently dark, tragic and heartbreaking read which has made Lisa Jewell my go to author for taught, psychological women's fiction. Her characters are always so well developed and her storyline's compelling, that the reader becomes entirely engrossed, briskly turning pages towards the inevitably emotional conclusion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing a digital copy in return for an honest, unbiased review.

Then She Was Gone is an incredibly gripping novel from Lisa Jewell, and she is definitely one of my favorite authors.

I managed to figure out the majority of the book, but that didn't put a damper on my excitement or take way from how fast-paced and interesting it was. I love Jewell's writing style and at this point I'd literally read anything she wrote even if it's not a book. Then She Was Gone is disturbing and it will make you angry (especially with wondering why the cops would have missed looking into certain people), but it was an intriguing read that will keep you on your toes, especially if you don't figure out the book like I did!

I love the way this author can tell a story and I think that's the reason I liked this book so much. Plus the chapters switching between 'then' and now' on top of them being super short made the book even more captivating. I read it in basically one day and I can tell you it's a hard book to put down.

Then She Was Gone is very suspenseful and creepy, and a lot of readers will probably appreciate that it isn't gory. The book definitely makes you wonder about what surprises are in store for you. While I generally like books more twisty than this was, it was still a fantastic read that I will be recommending!

Thank you to the publisher for my advance review copy via NetGalley. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

I would have liked this book more before I became a mother. I've pretty much stopped reading thrillers that involve children these days, but I really like Lisa Jewell, so I decided to give it a try. I read it really quickly and thought the twists and turns were clever. Overall, it was a solid thriller.

This was an interesting story. It was a bit predictable, but it's still good and makes a nice beach read.

Downright addictive. This is the second book I have read by the author and I love the way she develops the characters as well as the plot.

I so enjoyed Watching You by Lisa Jewell that I had to read Then She Was Gone. In this novel we meet Ellie, a promising fifteen-year-old young woman who goes missing. Her mother, Laurel, can't give up the search for her youngest daughter, not even ten years later. When remains are found that indicate it is time to move on from the search, Laurel does the best she can to find a way to start her life again. That is when she meets Floyd and his young daughter Poppy; she is charmed and hoping for a little happiness again. But there is something not quite right about Poppy. Or Floyd.

There is almost nothing I can imagine that would be more horrific than one's child disappearing without a trace. Laurel has a hard life and doesn't always give the rest of the family the attention they need, but it isn't hard to feel for her.

She'd once viewed her perfect life as a series of bad smells and unfulfilled duties, petty worries and late bills.
And then one morning, her girl, her golden girl, her lastborn, her baby, her soul mate, her pride and joy, had left the house and not come back.

This was a very good book: plenty of twists and turns, lots of mysteries uncovered and perspectives explored. It makes a mother wonder if she has taught her children well enough how to keep themselves safe and it makes a reader wonder how she would be able to cope. This book was creepy and dark, but without shutting out all light entirely. Some of the characters are sweet and wonderful adding balance to those who are horrible and frightening. Not all mysteries/ thrillers have the depth for a good book club discussion, but that was not the case with this one. We had a great discussion and everyone enjoyed the book. I hope you will, too.

I have found myself reading everything Lisa Jewell since reading I Found You. I love Jewell's writing style and her stories always have a nice twist. You can sometimes predict the direction the story is heading in and then right in front of your eyes Jewell will surprise you when you least expect it. There are lots of "missing person" mysteries out there but Jewell just takes us on a path less traveled. I wouldn't say this is my favourite novel but I was hooked from the first chapter and read it pretty quickly. I will continue to read anything by Lisa Jewell as she is one of my favourite authors.

I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars.

I'm so glad Jewell has found her niche in thrillers although I did enjoy her early novels.
Another home run!

It was good, the plot was really entertaining. It kept me going from beginning to end and I struggled to read it in two days since I had to work!

I really liked the twists and utterly intriguing. Slow start, but the twists were fantastic.

Because of this book I’m doing a deep dive into her backlist works.

You can Google Laurel Mack and find out all about her, all about her family. Laurel was the mother of the beautiful, smart Ellie Mack, the sixteen-year-old who went missing one day on her way to the library. Laurel used to have a big happy family. Now she lives alone. Her husband has moved on to another woman. Her other children have grown up and moved out. Her mother is in a home.

Years have passed since Ellie went missing. But Laurel can’t completely move on. She wants to know what happened to her daughter. She needs to know what happened to her daughter. She feels like she can’t connect with life again until she does.

Then she meets Floyd, a nice guy in a cafe willing to share his slice of carrot cake with her. And after a couple of nice dinners together, she finds herself feeling better. But when she meets his nine-year-old daughter Poppy, Laurel is thrown for a curve again. Poppy looks just like her Ellie, her daughter who has been missing for ten years. How could that be possible?

As Laurel puts together the pieces of her lost daughter’s life, what she really finds are the parts of herself that she had lost and the ability to reconnect to the people who matter the most to her.

Lisa Jewell’s Then She Was Gone is in turn heart-warming and incredibly distressing. Moving from past to present, telling the story from the viewpoints of several different characters, and finding the grace in even the most spirit-destroying of circumstances, this novel took me from the depths of despair to a genuine feeling of hope and faith in life.

I listened to this book on audio, and I was captivated by narrator Helen Duff’s performance. I don’t think all the character voices were successful, but the most prominent ones were, and it took me into the story in a way that the words on a page couldn’t do.

This is not a novel for everyone. There are scenes that are especially dark and painful to read (or listen to), so if you are sensitive to hearing the voice of a truly despicable human being, then I would recommend you skip this book. Because Jewell’s ability to bring all her characters to life means that not everyone is likable, or even palatable, but they are all so real you could imagine them as genuine individuals, whether you want to or not.

I struggled with this book because of that. I almost stopped listening because of the depths of evil. But I pushed through and found a truly redemptive story here. It’s not a story I’ll be able to walk away from easily, but I am glad that I made it to the end. It was powerful and moving, and one that will stay in my heart for a long time.

Galleys for Then She Was Gone were provided by Atria Books through NetGalley, but the I purchased the audiobook myself through Audible.