Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “Then She Was Gone” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

Then She Was Gone

Lisa Jewell (Goodreads Author)

4.04 · Rating details · 248,270 ratings · 20,649 reviews

THEN
She was fifteen, her mother's golden girl. She had her whole life ahead of her. And then, in the blink of an eye, Ellie was gone.

NOW
It’s been ten years since Ellie disappeared, but Laurel has never given up hope of finding her daughter.

And then one day a charming and charismatic stranger called Floyd walks into a café and sweeps Laurel off her feet.

Before too long s ...more

Get A Copy

Hardcover, 359 pages

Published April 17th 2018 by Atria Books

More Details... Edit Details

Featured Notes & Highlights

Lisa - author, thrillers

11 notes & 11 highlights

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Then She Was Gone, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

Psychological Suspense for 2018 (Part 1)

134 books — 268 voters

Best Books of 2018

1,439 books — 2,712 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

Showing 1-30

Average rating 4.04 ·

Rating details

· 248,270 ratings · 20,649 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of Then She Was Gone

Apr 30, 2018 Chelsea Humphrey rated it it was amazing

Recommended to Chelsea by: Simon & Schuster Goodreads

Shelves: from-publisher

Apologies for republishing this, but apparently some haters thought it would be funny to report my review and get it taken down because they have nothing better to do.

4.5 STARS

"If she could unwind the timeline, untwist it and roll it back the other way like a ball of wool, she'd see the knots in the yarn, the warning signs. Looking at it backward it was obvious all along. But back then, when she knew nothing about anything, she had not seen it coming. She had walked straight into it with her ey Apologies for republishing this, but apparently some haters thought it would be funny to report my review and get it taken down because they have nothing better to do.

4.5 STARS

"If she could unwind the timeline, untwist it and roll it back the other way like a ball of wool, she'd see the knots in the yarn, the warning signs. Looking at it backward it was obvious all along. But back then, when she knew nothing about anything, she had not seen it coming. She had walked straight into it with her eyes open."

Lisa Jewell has quickly become one of my favorite authors, and for good reason. Her writing is addictive and appeals to a wide variety of readers; not too light, not too dark, but just right. Her characters are full bodied and bloom like a spring flower by the end of her stories. Also, who doesn't like to read books by genuinely nice people? If you've been active in the book community at all this month then you're sure to have noticed that Then She Was Gone is an April Pick by Book Of The Month, so naturally this is one that's being hyped for a reason-it's just that good! If you haven't managed to get your hands on a copy yet, then you'll want to make it a priority and here's why...

Lisa Jewell knows how to take a classic storyline and make it her own. Most of her plots are traditional tales that have been told before in some form, but the difference is that she knows how to take something that could be predictable and put her own spin on it. The atmosphere, characterization, and raw emotion that is infused into each of her novels elevates their status to something that few suspense novelists have attained. The blending of multiple genres in each of her books really creates a unique reading experience; readers of every gender and walk of life have been able to connect with her writing and I feel that's a sure sign of the highest quality of writing.

I'm positive you've noticed that I haven't mentioned the plot yet, and that's for good reason. You really truly want to go as blind into this one as you can. I'm going to avoid any details here, as I want you to have the most fabulous reading experience with this one possible, so I'll stick to describing it with some buzz words. Breathtaking. Compulsive. Suspenseful. Poetic. <--- But Chelsea, how can you describe something thrilling as poetic? Trust me, once you experience Jewell's writing, you'll understand.

Gang, this one is more than just a a beautiful shell of a cover. But that cover IS stunning, amiright? You definitely want to add this to your reading schedule ASAP, especially if you're looking for a read that is so gripping you'll fly right through it. To say I'm waiting with bated breath for Lisa's next novel would be an understatement, and I hope you enjoy this story as much as I did. <3

*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy. ...more

flag 777 likes · Like · see review

May 01, 2018 Emily May rated it liked it

Shelves: botm, mystery-thriller, 2018

This was a fairly average experience for me. It's a very quick read - I read it in a single day - and it goes down smoothly and easily, but it is so easy to predict everything that will happen. I was always several chapters ahead of the characters and it sapped a lot of tension out of the story.

I can see why, with a better plot, Jewell is a great writer. The relationships and characters were fleshed out and interesting. Laurel’s pain over her missing daughter is palpable and realistic. The loss ...more

flag 994 likes · Like · see review

Mar 29, 2018 Holly B rated it really liked it

Shelves: had-to-finish, net-galley, couldn-t-put-down, read-in-2018

4.5

Edgy, Dark and Addictive

This turned out to be quite a stunner. I’ve read lots of psychological thrillers and this one caught me off guard. Much more than your typical missing daughter plot. Scattered with hints of some shocking revelations to come.

This is my fourth Lisa Jewell novel and I’m a huge fan. I love her writing style and how she keeps me totally absorbed in the story line. The more I read, the more invested I became and started to care about some of the key characters. Told in multi ...more

flag 376 likes · Like · see review

Jun 28, 2018 Julie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: e-book, british-mystery, 2018, overdrive, scribd

Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell is a 2018 Atria Books publication.

Well, this was certainly different!

Missing persons tropes are common in mysteries and thrillers, and the theme has been written and explored in many predictable ways, but also in many clever, even shocking ways. But, no matter how it is presented, it is a scenario that never fails to draw me in. But, I must say, this novel puts an entirely new and fresh spin on the missing persons mystery-

The story begins like so many others-

El Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell is a 2018 Atria Books publication.

Well, this was certainly different!

Missing persons tropes are common in mysteries and thrillers, and the theme has been written and explored in many predictable ways, but also in many clever, even shocking ways. But, no matter how it is presented, it is a scenario that never fails to draw me in. But, I must say, this novel puts an entirely new and fresh spin on the missing persons mystery-

The story begins like so many others-

Ellie, a conscientious teenager, and the apple of her mother's eye, left to visit the library and was never seen or heard from again. Laurel, Ellie's mother, couldn’t understand how her other children and her husband were able to move on with their lives without knowing what happened to Ellie. Laurel's life stalled, her marriage fell apart and the relationship with her two remaining children is strained.

But, finally, after years of just going through the motions of life, Laurel meets Floyd, a single dad with a young daughter named Poppy. The connection between Laurel and Floyd is immediate and heady. But, when Laurel finally gets to meet Poppy, she is unnerved by the uncanny resemblance to her daughter, Ellie. She even smells like Ellie, which kicks Laurel's natural maternal instincts into high gear. This and another small coincidence, puts new thoughts into Laurel’s head, prompting her to do a little amateur sleuthing.

She never in a million years could have predicted the shocking revelations her inquiries would uncover or the personal epiphanies that would change Laurel's life forevermore. Is it possible that Laurel could, at long last, find all the answers about her daughter’s disappearance?

This story was very dark, gloomy, and creepy, but also quite emotional and poignant. Laurel's voice is so realististic, raw, and sympathetic, she nearly had me believing she was a real person and that this was a true story. Her emergence from a tortuous state of limbo and her fierce determination to get to the truth, and begin truly living life again was an amazing transformation.

I think Lisa Jewell has written a chilling novel of suspense, but it is also a book about the power of maternal love, forgiveness and healing and never giving up.

This could be Jewel’s first tentatives steps towards advancing up to the literary thriller category. I was impressed with this novel as it held my rapt attention from start to finish. It gave me goosebumps in more ways than one.
4.5 stars ...more

flag 238 likes · Like · see review

Jun 30, 2018 Matthew rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2018, audio, library, book-a-book-club, gr_awards_2018, mystery

Missing with a twist - this is quite a popular book genre right now. I feel like saying it has a "twist" is no longer a spoiler. It reminds me of when M. Night Shamalan first made movies and everyone was surprised by the shocking twist. Now, when you see one, you are sitting there not wondering if there will be a twist, but when.

So, yes, Gone Girl-ers, this is another book for you!

Now, this doesn't tend to be a favorite genre of mine. Because of this, it has to be creative and well written to k ...more

flag 225 likes · Like · see review

May 04, 2018 Meredith ( on Semi-Hiatus until February) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Gripping psychological thriller about the disappearance of 15-year-old Ellie Mack. Then She was Gone is not about what happened to Ellie, it’s more about the how and the why she disappeared, as well as the after-effects of her disappearance on her family.

One morning, Ellie Mack heads to the library. At 10:43 am, she was never to be seen again. The police’s investigation never turned up any clues to what happened to her, but believe she ran away. Her mother, Laurel, believes otherwise. After ...more

flag 209 likes · Like · see review

May 02, 2018 Elyse Walters rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Totally enjoyable .....
As a couple of friends said - (Diane & Esil) - they were pretty sure ‘what’ happened to Ellie who had gone missing early in their reading — me too - but I didn’t know ‘why’.
All I knew was that Ellie was a bright girl - an excellent student - and that her mother - Laurel had a ‘special’ love for her ( in ways she definitely didn’t her other two children) —

Much about this story felt real.

While on the way to the library— a child is never to be seen again. It gives me chill ...more

flag 205 likes · Like · see review

Mar 08, 2018 James rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 1-fiction, 7-netgalley

I read a Lisa Jewell novel last year and connected immediately with her writing style, tone, and voice. When Then She Was Gone showed up on NetGalley last month, I immediately requested it and added it to my reading queue for April. I really find myself enamored with Jewell's characters, plots, and settings, so much that I've added ten of her other books to my TBR and hope to read a few more later this year.

Domestic drama is the best sub-genre to describe this book. A 15-year-old girl goes missi I read a Lisa Jewell novel last year and connected immediately with her writing style, tone, and voice. When Then She Was Gone showed up on NetGalley last month, I immediately requested it and added it to my reading queue for April. I really find myself enamored with Jewell's characters, plots, and settings, so much that I've added ten of her other books to my TBR and hope to read a few more later this year.

Domestic drama is the best sub-genre to describe this book. A 15-year-old girl goes missing, resulting in her family falling apart. Ten years later, her mother finds new love (divorced her ex-husband though they still remain friends) and slowly learns of connections to her missing child who was feared dead. The description in the Goodreads or Amazon summary says it all, so I don't need to add to it here. The book alternates between "Then" and "Now" to tell the story of what happened to Ellie, who kidnapped and hurt her, what the new love interest for Ellie's mother, Laurel, has to say transpired over all the years, and where things really fell apart.

This book read itself. I intended to spend 90 minutes reading on a weekend afternoon to have a relaxing break from some outside chores. Three (3) hours later, I'd finished it. The book was so good that I lost track of time and read so quickly, everything just disappeared, but I was absolutely connected and attached to every part of the story and characters. Jewell clearly knows how to lead readers on a path where investment is deep and shock is wide. I'm sure a few readers will sideways glance at a couple of plot twists, and I can understand it. You have to suspend a tiny bit of your disbelief or questions as to how the kidnapping was truly pulled off. But it's fiction and it's part of a story and that's why it worked -- the writing supports it and carries you off into a world you cannot leave.

I normally figure out what's really going on. But Jewell uses some clever disguises regarding timing that make it complicated, and when you do figure it out about 2/3 of the way thru, you have to stop for a few minutes and think about all the repercussions, Then, it all adds up. How did I miss it??? But for me, that's what makes an incredibly gifted writer. One who transports you into the story that you forget to try to solve it because you're just so stunned by its beauty. I can't wait to pick up another Jewell book this summer. So many to choose from! But this one gets at least 4.5 stars. ...more

flag 200 likes · Like · see review

Dec 26, 2017 Debra rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley

4.5 stars

Ellie Mack was 15 years old when she went missing. She was the youngest of three children who left the house one day to go to the library and never returned. Her Mother, Laurel Mack, fell apart after her daughter's disappearance, as most parents would. Her daughter's disappearance forever altered her life. Her marriage fell apart, her other daughter, Hanna became distant and withdrawn from her Mother,her son moved away. Throughout it all she never gave up hope on finding her daughter. W 4.5 stars

Ellie Mack was 15 years old when she went missing. She was the youngest of three children who left the house one day to go to the library and never returned. Her Mother, Laurel Mack, fell apart after her daughter's disappearance, as most parents would. Her daughter's disappearance forever altered her life. Her marriage fell apart, her other daughter, Hanna became distant and withdrawn from her Mother,her son moved away. Throughout it all she never gave up hope on finding her daughter. Was Ellie a runaway as the police suggested? Was she kidnapped? Was there an accident? So many questions without answers can wear a person down, can leave a hole, and can prevent a person from fully moving on with one's life.

Then ten years after her daughter's disappearance, she goes into a bakery after getting her hair cut, and meets a man named Floyd. He compliments her hair and offers her a bite of his carrot cake. Laurel usually doesn't take chances, but after the last clue in Ellie's case was discovered, Laurel is ready to put her life back on track.

Soon Laurel and Floyd are a couple and she has met his two daughters. She is shocked to see that his youngest daughter, Poppy has a strong resemblance to her daughter, Ellie. As Laurel gets to know the entire family, she begins to learn about coincidences, there is a certain individual who ties both of their lives together.

I read this book in one day. I literally could not put this book down. Lisa Jewell has written a very good psychological thriller/mystery. I enjoyed all the characters even the bad ones. The bad ones were good characters in so much that they were creepy and sinister while at the same time being damaged. This book was a very well thought out and developed plot. The story moves at a very good pace. There were no dull moments. There were moments when I wanted to yell at Laurel "Ask more questions!" and "come on, put it together". Is the book a little predictable? Yes, yes, it is a little predictable. I figured the "mystery" out but that did not spoil the book for me, as I kept turning the pages to see who else was going to figure the book out. The suspense builds as some questions get answered. Do you need to suspend some disbelief? Sure, a little...but that didn't affect my enjoyment of this book at all.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
...more

flag 193 likes · Like · see review

May 27, 2020 jessica rated it liked it · review of another edition

wow. okay. maybe i wont be playing the whole ‘predict what happens based on the synopsis only’ game because it turns out i only got 1 out of 4 guesses right and its not a good look for my ego. lol.

also, i was super into the version of the story i had imagined before reading this and what actually happened feels… disappointing? i dunno how to describe it. everything just fell flat for me about 100 pages in. even though my original guesses were wrong, its VERY obvious what will happen early on in ...more

flag 173 likes · Like · see review

Apr 16, 2018 Diane S ☔ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2018-read

Ellie was fifteen eager to take her exams. Now that she had been tutored in math she was sure she would do well. On her way to the library one evening, she disappears. Her disappearance takes a huge toll on the family, a family that breaks apart as many families in this type of situations often do. Now ten years later, Laurel is willing to take a shot at having a life and love again a series of events will send her reeling. Would she finally find out what happened to her daughter?

A very suspense ...more

flag 177 likes · Like · see review

Apr 03, 2018 Dorie - Cats&Books :) rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery-thriller, netgalley-feedback

***One of my favorite Lisa Jewell books, her new book The Family Upstairs

will publish in September***

This is the third Lisa Jewell thriller that I have read and she has penned another winner! After finishing this book I really had to wait a few days to sort of “SETTLE ME DOWN” as this mystery touched some very delicate feelings in me, more so than her first two books. Call me a snob but in my experience with thrillers, it has been hard to find many with the combination of great writing, past and present POV’s that flow seamlessly together, and create emotions that well up inside of you and really stay with you.

The main character in this novel is Laurel who has three children, two of whom are daughters whom she adores and they have great family dynamics. On a seemingly “normal” day, her youngest daughter Ellie leaves for the library and never returns. There are no clues or hints to explain her disappearance and the police keep coming up empty handed. Laurel however still feels that her daughter is alive even though many years go by. It is hard to read the despair and feelings of inadequacies that the family members encounter and at one point it was a little hard for me to continue. Not because the plot was stagnant but quite the opposite, it was speeding along so fast and with an outcome that seemed too terrible that I just had to stop, just until the next day when I furiously turned the pages to find out the mystery.

I won’t go over the plot, I rarely do that, you all read the blurbs on the books I know you do! This is a true thriller to me as it contains an extremely deviant sociopath who is so mentally ill that it’s painful to read her thoughts. You know where it’s going but you just can’t stop it.

I love strongly character driven novels, including thrillers and that is what Ms. Jewell does so so well. I became invested in the feelings of Eliie’s mother, and as a mother of four daughters, I wanted so badly for things to somehow turn out that this poor woman didn’t have to continue without knowing what happened to her missing beautiful, intelligent, golden girl!

If you loved “Girls in the Garden” and “I Found You” you will definitely love this book. For me this one was a little difficult to read because the behavior of this probable psychopath was just so twisted and ugly. After starting this novel I couldn’t quit, her writing is just so compelling, those of the words I would use to describe it!

I received a ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss, thank you, will post to public media upon publication. ...more

flag 163 likes · Like · see review

Apr 15, 2018 Susanne Strong rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: traveling-sister-read, netgalley

4.25 Stars (rounded down)

Spellbinding and Completely Irresistible.

Ellie Mack went missing 10 years ago. Her mother, Laurel has never given up hope of finding her. Ellie was fifteen years old, full of life. The world was, in fact, her oyster. No one knew what happened to Ellie. The police have never found a trace of her. My interest was piqued from the very beginning. My breath caught in my throat - nerves jangled.

Now, Laurel Mack’s life is very different: her marriage fell apart years ago and 4.25 Stars (rounded down)

Spellbinding and Completely Irresistible.

Ellie Mack went missing 10 years ago. Her mother, Laurel has never given up hope of finding her. Ellie was fifteen years old, full of life. The world was, in fact, her oyster. No one knew what happened to Ellie. The police have never found a trace of her. My interest was piqued from the very beginning. My breath caught in my throat - nerves jangled.

Now, Laurel Mack’s life is very different: her marriage fell apart years ago and her relationship with her remaining children is tenuous. Somehow, she meets Floyd - a devastatingly handsome man and she is immediately swept off her feet. Then Laurel is introduced to his little girl: Poppy, and she is dumbfounded to discover that Poppy bears a striking resemblance to Ellie, her Ellie. Of course, this isn’t possible - it’s a coincidence, right? And if it’s not, what ever does it mean? Laurel begins questioning everything and those questions take her on a dangerous path, one she never envisioned.

Can you feel the hair on the back of your neck stand up? Mine did. What unfolds thereafter is brilliant, stunning and packs one heck of an emotional punch. Lisa Jewell’s “Then She Was Gone” is a phenomenal psychological thriller that kept me enthralled throughout. Though I knew where it was going early on, I still truly enjoyed it and simply could not put it down! The character development was stellar and the writing was spot on. This is the second Lisa Jewell novel I’ve read (I Found You, being the first) and I can’t wait to read more of Ms. Jewell’s novels.

This was a Traveling Sister Read, which we all really liked. For full Traveling Sister Group reviews, please see Brenda and Norma’s blog: https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com

Thank you to NetGalley, Ariele Friedman, Atria Books and Lisa Jewell for a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Published on NetGalley, Goodreads and Twitter on 4.15.18.
*Will be published on Amazon on 4.17.18. ...more

flag 162 likes · Like · see review

Apr 18, 2018 Kaceey rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: traveling-group-read, netgalley

4.5*

Brilliant! I completely lost myself in this book from beginning to end!

Laurel is doing her best to move on with her life. Her teenage daughter went missing years ago, triggering an avalanche of misfortune. The family splintered. Laurel and Paul divorcing. And now, their two remaining children are leaving home at the first chance they get - anxious to live their own lives, away from the oppressive tension within their home.

When laurel meets Floyd she’s quickly swept off her feet. She’s fina ...more

flag 176 likes · Like · see review

Oct 16, 2018 BernLuvsBooks rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: adult-reads, 2018

👩‍👧Then She Was Gone was dark, gripping and absolutely addictive! 💔

Ellie Mack was vibrant, happy, smart, in love and only fifteen when she disappeared without a trace. Authorities ruled her a runaway but her mother, Laurel Mack, could never fully accept that. There were too many unanswered questions and she just knew that Ellie wouldn't simply walk away from the life she loved.

Laurel's life is put on hold with the disappearance of her daughter. She is simply stuck, unable to move on with life w ...more

flag 166 likes · Like · see review

Mar 07, 2018 Tucker rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Another winner from Lisa Jewell!

Laurel Mack’s smart and beautiful teenage daughter Ellie disappeared 10 years ago. Now divorced and distant from her other two children, Laurel is attempting to move on and begins dating a handsome and kind man. Then unusual coincidences related to Laurel’s new boyfriend and also to Ellie begin occurring and things start to get unsettling for Laurel. I don’t want to say more because part of the excitement of the book is discovering how the various plot lines inter ...more

flag 140 likes · Like · see review

Apr 15, 2018 Norma rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley-edelweiss-approved, traveling-sister-reads

THEN SHE WAS GONE by LISA JEWELL is a breathtaking, thrilling, unputdownable, and suspenseful psychological thriller novel that had me totally engrossed and interested right from the very first page. I was so intrigued in finding out what happened to Ellie Mack that I was racing through those pages as fast as I could!

LISA JEWELL delivers a well-written story here with flawed, believable, and compelling characters that was told in alternating points of view and short chapters to make this a quic ...more

flag 136 likes · Like · see review

Dec 16, 2018 Christina - Recipe & a Read rated it liked it

Shelves: library

3, I’ve binge read too many of these types of novels at this moment in time but I still really enjoyed this stars!!!

Full review featured on my blog Recipe & a Read!

So I want to start this off by saying that my feelings about this novel are in large part due to the sheer number of missing children books I’ve read over the past year. I’ve talked to some of my fellow Traveling Sisters about how it seems when one type of trope becomes popular you’re bound to see and read six million more of the same ...more

flag 122 likes · Like · see review

Jun 16, 2018 Sandy *The world could end while I was reading and I would never notice* rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-fiction, 5-star, family-drama, mystery, netgalley-arc, 2018, audio

EXCERPT: She had no one to call, no one to ask 'Have you seen Hanna? Do you know where she is?' Her life simply didn't work like that. There were no connections anywhere. Just little islands of life dotted here and there.

It was possible, she thought, that Hanna had met a man, but unlikely. Hannah hadn't had a boyfriend, not one, ever. Someone once mooted the theory that Hanna felt too guilty to have a boyfriend because her little sister would never have one. The same theory could also be applie ...more

flag 123 likes · Like · see review

Nov 03, 2018 Larry H rated it liked it

I'm about 3.5 stars here.

"When her children were small they'd sometimes say, 'What would you do if I died?' And she would reply, 'I would die too, because I could not live without you.' And then her child had died and she had found out that somehow, incredibly, she could live without her, that she had woken every morning for a hundred days, a thousand days, three thousand days and she had lived without her."

Ellie Mack was a golden child—beautiful, smart, popular. At 15, she was the apple of her I'm about 3.5 stars here.

"When her children were small they'd sometimes say, 'What would you do if I died?' And she would reply, 'I would die too, because I could not live without you.' And then her child had died and she had found out that somehow, incredibly, she could live without her, that she had woken every morning for a hundred days, a thousand days, three thousand days and she had lived without her."

Ellie Mack was a golden child—beautiful, smart, popular. At 15, she was the apple of her family's eye, well-liked by all, with a handsome boyfriend and a life full of possibility waiting for her. Then one day, Ellie was supposed to go to the library and be home by lunchtime, but she never made it there, and she never returned.

For 10 years, Ellie's mother Laurel has held out a small sliver of hope that Ellie might have simply run away for some reason and she might come back, even though in her heart she knows her daughter is probably dead. This combination of despair and irrational hope has left Laurel's life a shambles, leading to the end of her marriage and straining her relationship with her two older children.

But when a discovery helps provide some answers, Laurel decides it is time to get her life back. She meets a handsome man, Floyd Dunn, in a neighborhood cafe, and for the first time in 10 years, she realizes she can live for herself. She is surprised at how quickly she and Floyd fall for each other, and how quickly their connection deepens into a real relationship, and before she knows it, she is even meeting his daughters and spending weekends at his home.

Laurel is immediately taken with Floyd's youngest daughter, Poppy, who is beautiful and wise beyond her years, truly an old soul. But Laurel cannot shake just how similar Poppy looks to Ellie, and how at times, when Poppy speaks, it is like she's in the same room with her daughter. As questions start to form in her mind about Floyd and what secrets he might be hiding, more and more her questions about Ellie's disappearance begin surfacing again. Did Ellie run away, or did she run into danger somehow? And why do Poppy and Ellie seem so similar?

I'll admit, I figured out the plot of Then She Was Gone fairly soon into the book. While it did detract a bit from my enjoyment of the book as the story continued to unfold, I was still captivated by the way Lisa Jewell teased out the suspense, making you wonder what surprises might pop up. Having never read any of Jewell's books before, I worried she might throw in some outrageous or melodramatic plot elements, and I was pleased that she didn't do that.

Jewell is a terrific storyteller, and I raced through this entire book on a flight. While I certainly would have loved a little more surprise, I still thought this was a captivating and compelling read, and if you like thrillers, you may very well enjoy this one.

See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com, or check out my list of the best books I read in 2017 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2017.html. ...more

flag 119 likes · Like · see review

Apr 15, 2018 Lindsay - Traveling Sisters Book Reviews rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, traveling-sister-read

4 stars! This was a spine-tingling and addictive story!

This novel follows Laurel whose teenage daughter, Ellie, went missing ten years ago. Laurel has been battling her grief since the day Ellie disappeared with the hope that she may one day come home. After Ellie’s disappearance, being swallowed up in her sadness and grief, Laurel’s marriage falls apart and she loses her connection with her two other children.

The story is narrated by various characters in Laurel’s life through a Now and Then pe ...more

flag 118 likes · Like · see review

Apr 07, 2018 Theresa Alan rated it liked it · review of another edition

This novel is creepy—in a good way. Fifteen-year-old Ellie disappears on her way to the library one day. Ultimately, since police can’t find anything, they suspect she’s a runaway despite the fact she had a boyfriend she loved and was looking forward to taking the exams she’d been studying hard for.

When we meet up with her mother Laurel ten years later, Laurel’s relationships with her other daughter, her son, and her now-ex-husband have all suffered greatly because they’d never found a body or a ...more

flag 116 likes · Like · see review

Jan 17, 2019 Lisa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: thrillers

Ellie Mack went missing when she was 15 years of age the youngest of three children she left her house to go to the library & was never seen again, Ten years later her mother Laurel is finding it hard to adjust after Ellies disappearance, she feels hopeless & her world just stopped.

Its not until she meets Floyd Dunn she has finally found happiness or has she? Paul her husband has moved on so does Laurel Floyd introduces his daughter Poppy & S J to her , Laurel is very close to Poppy she looks li ...more

flag 106 likes · Like · see review

Feb 28, 2019 Liz rated it liked it

Shelves: audio

Maybe I’m getting bored by psychological thrillers. Maybe the narrator’s voice just irritated me, especially when she was channeling Poppy’s voice or when her attempt at Floyd’s voice changed with each chapter. Or maybe I could see where it was going way too early in the book. Or maybe I’m just jaundiced by the idea of a perfect man showing up at the table next to an older divorced woman. Regardless, I wasn’t as enthralled with this one as the majority. Don’t get me wrong, it was okay. I just di ...more

flag 105 likes · Like · see review

May 07, 2018 Linda rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: psychological-thriller, mystery-thrillers

"People try and make out there's a greater purpose, a secret meaning, that it all means something. And it doesn't."

Loss is like that. There's no justifying it. There are no words of wisdom that can ever buffer the pain. It becomes a life sentence worn like the weight of a sack cloth far into eternity and beyond.

Laurel Mack is a grieving mother. Period. Her beautiful daughter, Ellie, disappeared one day on her way to her weekly lesson with her math tutor. There is no evidence, no clues, no remnan "People try and make out there's a greater purpose, a secret meaning, that it all means something. And it doesn't."

Loss is like that. There's no justifying it. There are no words of wisdom that can ever buffer the pain. It becomes a life sentence worn like the weight of a sack cloth far into eternity and beyond.

Laurel Mack is a grieving mother. Period. Her beautiful daughter, Ellie, disappeared one day on her way to her weekly lesson with her math tutor. There is no evidence, no clues, no remnants of a missing Ellie even after ten years. The police have leaned toward labeling this case as a teenage runaway. Nothing could be farther than the truth in Laurel's eyes.

As time passes, the deep love imprint of the missing Ellie has left its mark on the Mack family. Laurel and her husband, Paul, have divorced. Grief sometimes forces a wedge between individuals who are saturated in its unspeakable sorrow. Their now adult children, Jake and Hanna, have carved out separate lives that interact briefly with their parents now and then. Different directions with different intentions.

But Laurel has met an attractive man in a coffee shop that she frequents. She and Floyd seem to hit it off well with unexpected humor as the draw. Floyd has two daughters: the more serious Sarah Jade and the vivacious young Poppy. But it is Poppy with her rich brown hair and strategic dimple that makes Laurel do a double take. She envisions her lost Ellie in the persona of Poppy. Coincidence or merely a longing of the soul?

Lisa Jewell presents a storyline that begins with the tragedy of a missing daughter and a family's downward spiral in its aftermath. But she doesn't allow you to sit with this reality too long in your lap. The chapters will occasionally revert from the present to "Then" as the rough edges of Ellie's story come to light. There will also be moments of celebration as Laurel slowly removes layer upon layer of her self-imposed isolation and begins a life with Floyd.

As readers, we will note that Lisa Jewell tends to stretch the borders of reality in some scenes. But the main thread is captivating and it tugs at us to delve deeper into this story. As in a fine-tuned musical piece, there will be quite the crescendo at the end even though you may have a sense of where all this is leading. High interest, unusual characters, breadcrumbs into the fire will all make this a must read when you long for something to take you out of the doldrums. Looking forward to more from this author. ...more

flag 99 likes · Like · see review

Sep 24, 2018 Dem rated it really liked it

Shelves: psychological-thrillers, recommended

Oh! I did love this clever and compelling, taut psychological thriller which kept me up until the wee hours the morning. My fist Lisa Jewell novel and lucky me as she appears to have a list of thrillers which I cant wait to try.

I listened to this one on audible and it was just so well narrated, the voice of Noelle Donnelly was just so perfect and she sent shivers down my spine. Well paced and not too dramatic this just works beautifully on audible.

Jewell writes wonderfully engaging characters, f ...more

flag 94 likes · Like · see review

Nov 30, 2018 Brandice rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Then She Was Gone was my first Lisa Jewell read and it won’t be my last! I was intrigued right from the start.

15 year old Ellie Mack leaves home to study one day and never returns. Understandably, her disappearance alters the life of her mother, Laurel. She has changed with the loss of her daughter. Distance builds between her and her other two children, Hannah and Jake. Her marriage to Paul also falls apart. Years later, Laurel meets an attractive man, Floyd, and begins a relationship with him ...more

flag 93 likes · Like · see review

Apr 30, 2018 Luffy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Then She Was Gone is a very mild title compared to the volcanic torment and angst behind the cover. Teenage daughter Ellie goes missing and blah blah blah...except that it's not so clear cut or cliched.

The action takes place in multiple points of view, and it's a treat to be fed factoid after factoid to try and make sense. It's deliciously excruciating how the info builds up to shape up the final solution.

Lisa Jewell is part of the latest generation of writers. The latter have bypassed Chaucer, ...more

flag 90 likes · Like · see review

Oct 24, 2017 Ova - Excuse My Reading rated it it was ok · review of another edition

This book started really well but then turned to a bore for me. The score on Audible and GoodReads is really high, suprisingly!I think the writer wanted to create a twist, shocking ending, however when you think about the whole thing, the story is just too illogical. Thinking about science and biological possibilities...

The plot was dragging after the second half of the book, I really got bored at one point. As a usual suspense reader it is easy to put two and two together and the story is very ...more

flag 87 likes · Like · see review

Jul 21, 2020 Nilufer Ozmekik rated it really liked it

A golden girl, favorite daughter with a brilliant future ahead of her: Ellie tells her mother save the last piece of lasagna for her and she is going to the library but it will not take long for her to come back. BUT SHE NEVER COMES BACK!

Laurel is adamant to bring her daughter back. She never gives her hopes up and fixated to find her in expanse of tearing up her own family, parting her ways with her husband, estranging with her two other kids. But ten years later she finally stops because her ...more

flag 85 likes · Like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Plot holes	14	447	Feb 23, 2021 01:00PM
Goodreads Librari...: Add a book cover for The Ukrainian edition	9	38	Jan 14, 2021 02:38PM
Bookworm Bitches : July 2020: Then She Was Gone	9	117	Dec 05, 2020 10:27AM
YA Buddy Readers'...: Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell - Restarting November 6th 2020	133	120	Nov 26, 2020 04:29AM
Different ending	18	684	Oct 15, 2020 09:13AM
Books on Tap: October 5th Meeting will be on Zoom	1	8	Aug 24, 2020 12:46PM

Readers also enjoyed

See similar books…

Genres

Mystery

1,646 users

Thriller

1,304 users

Fiction

1,183 users

Thriller > Mystery Thriller

649 users

Audiobook

554 users

Suspense

403 users

Adult

209 users

Mystery > Crime

209 users

Adult Fiction

150 users

Thriller > Psychological Thriller

141 users

See top shelves…

About Lisa Jewell

Lisa Jewell

33,720 followers

Lisa was born in London in 1968. Her mother was a secretary and her father was a textile agent and she was brought up in the northernmost reaches of London with her two younger sisters. She was educated at a Catholic girls’ Grammar school in Finchley. After leaving school at sixteen she spent two years at Barnet College doing an arts foundation course and then two years at Epsom School of Art & De ...more

Books by Lisa Jewell

More…

Articles featuring this book

6 Great Books Hitting Shelves This Week

Need another excuse to treat yourself to a new book this week? We've got you covered with the buzziest new releases of the day. To create our...

Trivia About Then She Was Gone

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

Quotes from Then She Was Gone

“When I read a book it feels like real life and when I put the book down it's like I go back into the dream.” — 58 likes

“As the father of your children, as a friend, as someone who shared a journey with you and as someone who loves you and cares about you. I don’t need to be married to you to be all those things. Those things are deeper than marriage. Those things are for ever.” — 23 likes

More quotes…

See a Problem?

Preview — Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

Then She Was Gone

Get A Copy

Friend Reviews

Reader Q&A

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

Readers also enjoyed

Genres

About Lisa Jewell

Books by Lisa Jewell

Articles featuring this book

Trivia About Then She Was Gone

Quotes from Then She Was Gone

See a Problem?

Preview — Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

Then She Was Gone

Get A Copy

Friend Reviews

Reader Q&A

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topicDiscuss This Book

Readers also enjoyed

Genres

About Lisa Jewell

Books by Lisa Jewell

Articles featuring this book

Trivia About Then She Was Gone

Quotes from Then She Was Gone

new topic
Discuss This Book