Then she was gone is a gripping, intriguing tale of Ellie Mack who disappears at the age of 15 and there appears to be no clue as to what happened to her or if she just up and left.

The story is told in 5 parts and alternates between then & now. It is mostly told from Ellie & Laurel's, her Mum's point of view with a few chapters thrown in from other characters.

We find out pretty early on what happened to Ellie and who is responsible but you have to really dig in deep to wait to find out what fueled the reasoning behind which this character did what they did. It is so twisted and you never know what goes on in the mind of someone who is so obsessive.

Laurel never really recovered to her former self after her daughter's disappearance. She split from her husband Paul & has a very strained relationship with her other two children Hanna & Jake. Then by happenchance she is seated next to a gentleman, Floyd while having a bite to eat and a whirlwind of romance occurs. When she meets his daughter Poppy she is taken aback by the uncanny resemblance to Ellie at the age.

Now 10 years later & Ellie's case has opened back up & there are things that have happened that Laurel finds hard to believe is just coincidence & many clues present themselves that she cannot ignore.

The very last bit of this book was the absolute perfect ending. It is heartbreaking and gut wrenching and will leave you with a bitter taste in your mouth but it could not have ended any more perfectly.

A special thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada, and Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Laurel Mack's daughter has been missing for ten years. Ellie was the perfect daughter—beloved by her family, friends, teachers, and boyfriend. She was fifteen when she disappeared, just days before school let out for summer. The case had gone cold, the police believed that Ellie ran away, that is until new evidence surfaces.

Not only did Laurel lose her daughter, but her marriage did not survive. She also has strained relationships with her two other children. To stay close to her other daughter, Hannah, she cleans her flat, and she he barely sees her son, Jake, who lives with his girlfriend in another town.

To her surprise and delight, Laurel meets a charming man in a cafe. What starts out as flirtation quickly turns into something more meaningful. Floyd is a single father of two, and before she knows it, Laurel is being introduced to his daughters. When Laurel meets Poppy, his youngest, she is stunned. Poppy looks exactly like Ellie. All of the questions Laurel has pushed down for years come bubbling to the surface. Where did Ellie go? Did she really run away? And why does this little girl resemble her missing daughter?

Told through multiple points of view, and alternating from past to present, Jewell pens some interesting and engaging characters with enough backstory to keep the reader vested and engaged. There is one minor plot flaw, but if you can suspend your disbelief, you may not be bothered.

With an incredible hook, this is Lisa Jewell's best book yet. Predictable? A little. Heartbreaking? Yes. Dark and twisty? Check and check! Although there was nothing new here, I would recommend this book for those looking for a page-turning, thrilling read.