This book was a brilliant read. I loved the way the way main character, Laurel did not give up hope about finding out what happened to her daughter, Ellie. The story was filled with so much mystery and tension, I genuinely could not put the book down. The ending was fabulous and was not something that I was expecting at all but a good end to an even better start!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

Having spent much of my twenties reading books by writers such as Lisa Jewell, Jane Green and Mike Gayle I was keen to see if Lisa Jewell could pull off anything other than the contemporary chick-lit I expect from her.

I was instantly absorbed in this emotionally-charged psychological rollercoaster. It was dark in parts, whilst still keeping a definite sense of plausibility which is usually absent in books of this genre. It was well written and the alternating points of view kept me on the edge of my seat. I was intrigued by the constantly evolving relationships between the characters, especially the reserved exchanges between Laurel and her daughter, Hannah.

The ending was perfect. There was no other way this book could have ended and I feel Lisa Jewell pulled it all together beautifully.

I was interested in reading this book as I couldn't remember if I read it when it was first published! As so many others have said, it has a brilliant opening line that sucks the reader in with the promise of a wonderful story, but I must admit I felt cheated by the ensuing tale with its complicated flashbacks and timeline. I still can't remember if I've read it before, but I won't be reading it again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for sending me an ARC of "Then she was gone" by Lisa Jewell.
This book is written with a slightly different perspective than the usual psychological thriller template. You know from quite early on where the plot is heading. However this doesn't make the book any less of a page turner, as with each page turn, the story unravels slowly along with the intreague of the whys and hows.. There were a couple of instances where the story went into some chilling detail which really drew the reader into the sombreness of the situation.
I particularly liked the epilogue, a brilliant finishing touch.

The narrative goes back and forth between the present day and the past, and is told from the perspective of four different characters, at different times throughout the book, although mainly from the pov of Laurel and Ellie. As a reader it's not at all difficult to keep on track, the perspectives don't keep changing continually, but rather gently weave in and out.

Other than that, Then She Was Gone, is an enjoyable suspenseful read, filled with characters with shady secrets and questionable pasts. There are many emotional parts with plenty of moving moments. The book has some twists and turns, but I think I may have read so many books of this genre, that I was able to see where the story was going. However, I shouldn't let this detract from the fact this is a well written book, it certainly didn't drag, each time i picked my kindle up I was looking forward to reading it. It just wasn't "omg that was original" or "well I never saw that coming".

I don't mean to put a downer on the book, I do think it's well worth a read, even if you have read a lot of this genre of late.

Excellent well written read. I was drawn in immediately and couldn't put it down. Lisa Jewell is definitely a go to author. Very consistent work.

Wow this was good. Twists and turns, but all very readable and exciting. Highly recommended

Then She Was Gone is a masterful blend of chilling human cruelty, suspense, tenderness, sadness and even hope. It's fresh, in that it isn't gory or violent, but gripping in a shockingly horrible way yet still shows signs of redemption too. Completely unexpected. I was touched by the ending and cried. Ok, that may sound pretty random but I've just finished the book and feel very close to it, so let's start from the beginning...

Then She Was Gone follows two tracks; current day happenings in the life of Laurel, mother to Ellie who disappeared without a trace 10 years ago, and the events that unfolded 10 years ago that brought us to Ellie's vanishing act. The dynamic between the characters is presented in a wholly authentic way and makes the reader really appreciate the family structure and the struggles they face. All characters are thoroughly likeable (ah, excluding the baddie, that is!) but earnest Laurel is my favorite. She's a lovely lady who carries more pain than any one person should bear having never really recovered from her daughter's disappearance. Laurel's life changes when she meets Floyd. She comes back to life but soon realizes things may not be as they seem and starts to question what happened 10 years ago and what that means in current day for her and her family.

I really don't want to say anything more as the story, and how it unfolds, needs no spoiling from me. It is a roller coaster ride of suspicion and intrigue that will lead you to guess at the whos, hows, whys and whats behind it all. It's great stuff and I eagerly look forward to more books from this writer.

Thank goodness I can always rely on Lisa Jewell. I have been in a reading slump, not really enjoying anything I am reading for a while. Knew I could pick up Lisa's latest and get straight into it and I was right. Fantastic read that gripped me from the first page and did not stop until I had devoured the whole thing. I have always loved this author and she never disappoints. Every book is better than the last!

This is the first Lisa Jewell book I have read – and it was rather good.

Laurel's 15 year old daughter Ellie had disappeared between her home and the library some 10 years earlier. Laurel's perfect life was never the same after that. She never believed that Ellie had simply run away just before her exams. Ellie was a good student, seemed happy.

She now lived alone, her grown up children living their own lives, her husband had moved out and was now living with a new partner. Ellie's disappearance had a devastating effect on the whole family and Laurel's relationships with her husband and remaining children.

However one day a man enters a cafe where Laurel is having lunch. They exchange a few words and eventually Laurel goes on a date with Floyd. He's polite, clever and charming and Laurel finds herself swept off her feet by him. He seems just perfect and Laurel is starting to enjoy life again. However when she eventually meets his young, rather precocious and unusual daughter Poppy she is struck by how much Poppy resembles Ellie at that age and she starts to question her daughter's disappearance again.

But is the charming Floyd just too perfect. Is he hiding something? Laurel's son's girlfriend thinks he is. She says she gets bad vibes from him and that there is something dark and hidden. But Laurel doesn't really approve of Jake's girlfriend.

The story is told by several characters, including Ellie at the time she disappeared, and the person who was involved in that disappearance (who is revealed quite early on in the book).

It's a pretty good psychological thriller/ family drama. It got quite 'dark' in parts and there are some very good twists. Although it jumps from past to present and between characters, it is well written and isn't difficult to follow. The characters are good although you might not like all of them.

I really enjoyed it and got very engrossed. I found it hard to put down.

I've read all of Lisa Jewell's books and have enjoyed them all. This one did not disappoint. There were so many twists and turns throughout this book and I really enjoyed how the story grew and developed. I didn't want to put it down until I got to the end.

A page-turning read and I couldn't put it down. Through enjoyed this book and would highly recommend this author.

A gripping psychological thriller that will have you reeling at the end. I couldn't put this one down and I loved the dark sinister tone of the book. If you are a fan of Gone Girl then this book is definitely for you.

So gripping! Really enjoyed this book and have recommended it to lots of people already. Kept me guessing all the way through and I whizzed through it very quickly. Looking forward to the next book from Lisa...

This book should come with a tissue warning...... as in you will need a lot of them!

Wow - what a story - this was such a fascinating read! I couldn't put it down but then in parts i had to as I couldn't see the words through my tears! Every parents nightmare and the trauma of it all........ a real rollercoaster! I thought as i was reading it that i kind of knew where the story was going but gosh - i did not expect the ending i got.

Really well written and a definite thought provoker!

A gripping, tense read that kept me guessing. Many thanks for the ARC.

Then She Was Gone is a much darker novel by Lisa Jewell than I think she has written before. In parts it is quite harrowing at times which is certainly a move away from the 'chick lit' title that she was once branded with - no one could call this book 'chick lit'.

Our central character is Ellie, a teenage girl with her whole life ahead of her. One day Ellie disappears and no one knows where or why she has gone. Her family live in hope of finding her, but as the years go by, this hope begins to fade. When they find her bag buried in woodland they know that they must accept the truth that Ellie won't be coming back. Ellie's mum is Laurel, a woman who built her whole life around Ellie, her perfect child. Her relationship with her other children is strained and her marriage has ended. One day she meets Floyd in a café and they start talking. They immediately decide to meet again and soon a relationship begins. Floyd has a nine year old daughter, Poppy, a precocious little thing, but who reminds Laurel so much of Ellie.

I don't want to give too much away here but there is another story that runs alongside this one of Laurel and Floyd and as you read on, it soon becomes clear how these two paths are intertwined with each other. There are lots of questions to be answered as you read on, and you wonder if Laurel will ever find out what happened to Ellie. Lisa Jewell will keep you turning the pages long into the night as you attempt to join all the threads together.

A sneaky story that that starts off normally and gradually gets more twisted in both the story-line and the characters' behaviour.
It takes some elements from news stories and uses them to great advantage by turning them into something different.
Loved it!

This is the first book I have read by Lisa Jewell and it certainly won't be the last. Why it has took me so long to read anything by this author I will never know. Hooked from the start. The disappearance of Ellie Mack, daughter of Laurel and Paul Mack contributes to the breakup of their marriage. Laurel meets Floyd Dunn, in a chance meeting in a coffee shop. What developed from this chance meeting, I had no idea where this storyline was going and was astounded as to where it went!
Very creepy psychological thriller.

I could not get enough of this book and I'm pretty devastated that I've finished it. I'm new to Lisa Jewell books but I definitely will be seeking out more after reading "Then She was Gone".

Laurel is a mum who is grieving over the disappearance of her daughter ten years ago. Her life has been stagnant and full of sadness until the arrival of the mysterious Floyd who sweeps her off her feet but a mystery is about to be unravelled. Upon meeting his daughter, Poppy, she cannot help but see the resemblance between Poppy and her missing daughter Ellie. Poppy is so like Ellie is so many ways and initially Laurel does not see this a problem but as the true facts of Poppy and Floyd's home life come to light a very sinister turn starts to emerge. How is it linked to her daughter's disappearance? Is she just being paranoid? How is Poppy's mother involved with this?

As I previously mentioned I could not get enough of this book. I just wanted to know what had happened to Ellie and if Laurel would get her happy ending. The ending was truly astounding and heartbreaking at the same time.

Would I recommend this to anyone else? Absolutely.