Author of the book: Lisa Jewell
Genre of the book: Suspense Thriller / Fiction
Lisa Jewell has a strong reputation in the psychological thriller genre, and Then She Was Gone is often mentioned as one of her standout novels. With so many readers praising it, I was eager to see what the hype was about. While I found it engaging and emotionally resonant, the predictability of the plot dulled some of its impact for me.
ABOUT THE BOOK
The story follows Laurel Mack, a mother still haunted by the disappearance of her teenage daughter, Ellie, ten years ago. Her life has never been the same, her marriage fell apart, and her relationship with her remaining children became strained. Just as she begins to rebuild, she meets Floyd, a charming and intelligent man who seems like a fresh start. But when she meets his young daughter, Poppy, she is shaken to her core because Poppy looks exactly like Ellie. From that moment, Laurel is drawn into a web of secrets that will force her to confront the past she never truly let go of.
MY TAKE ON THE BOOK
One of the book’s strongest elements is how it captures the emotional weight of loss. Jewell does a brilliant job portraying grief, especially through Laurel’s perspective. The pain of losing a child, the strain on relationships, and the desperate need for closure are all explored in a way that feels raw and authentic. The multiple viewpoints in the story add layers to the narrative, allowing us to see different sides of the mystery.
However, what held this book back for me was how predictable it was. Fairly early on, I found myself piecing together the mystery, and unfortunately, my guesses were mostly correct. The novel reveals key aspects of the mystery relatively soon, and while I appreciate the psychological exploration that follows, it took away some of the suspense. I kept hoping for a twist that would catch me off guard, but that moment never really came.
The second half of the book was still gripping. Instead of relying on shocking twists, it focuses on understanding the motivations behind the crime. We get insight into the villain’s mindset, which adds a psychological depth that kept me turning the pages. While the ending was emotional and well-written, I couldn’t help but feel that certain characters deserved a different fate. Some stories leave you feeling satisfied even with a tragic ending, but here, it felt like things could have unfolded in a more meaningful way.
Despite its predictability, Then She Was Gone is a well-crafted and deeply emotional thriller. If you enjoy psychological dramas that focus more on character depth than plot twists, you’ll likely appreciate this one. Just don’t go in expecting to be completely surprised.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
LISA JEWELL was born in London in 1968.
Her first novel, Ralph's Party, was the best- selling debut novel of 1999. Since then she has written another twenty novels, most recently a number of dark psychological thrillers, including The Girls, Then She Was Gone, The Family Upstairs, The Family Remains and The Night She Disappeared, all of which were Richard & Judy Book Club picks.
Lisa is a New York Times and Sunday Times number one bestselling author who has been published worldwide in over thirty languages. She lives in north London with her husband and two daughters.
BOOK DETAILS
Availability: Amazon
Publisher: Arrow
Format: Paperback / Kindle Edition
Price: 352 INR / 152.59 INR
Pages: 384