Only predictable in that it’s another Lisa Jewell smash, Invisible Girl feels like a bit of a rollercoaster as you try to work out what’s going on, and who did it. A fantastic ending too!

Why do we trust some people and not others? And are we necessarily wrong to act on our first instincts? What does it mean to be weird and when is it OK to be so and when should we take responsibility for our weirdness? This is what the new thriller from Lisa Jewell, Invisible Girl, is all about.

Invisible Girl is bookended (and bookstarted?) by two Lisa Jewell trademarks: a first person narrative from a strong teenage female lead, and a punchy twist in the last sentence that serves us right for lazily thinking that the final chapter denotes a happy ending. In between, there is a rollercoaster exploration of various power imbalances, presentations of abuse (both physical and emotional), a fairly incompetent police investigation and several betrayals of trust.

As usual with Jewell, we are presented with a rich cast of three-dimensional and flawed characters. Saffyre, the 17 year-old who goes missing; Cate, whose world revolves around her family and who finds their temporary home in swanky Hampstead discombobulating; Roan, the healer who pounds the local pavements; Georgia, teenager who ‘arrives with news and moods and announcements and atmospheres’; Owen, who everyone agrees is a creep, the antithesis of Roan except in that their names rhyme, a man who understands the inadequacies of London snow. They’re all good, solid characters: Owen is perhaps the most interesting as Jewell goes out of her way to make us sympathetic towards him, even when he is working through what we believe to be injustice by spending time on incel websites and meeting an incel activist. We can judge none of them on first impressions.

There’s a bit of a dip in the middle - probably necessary to prepare us for later on - but the longer the novel goes on, the more we realise its cleverness. We change our mind about each of the characters, in some cases more than once. People lie, some obviously, but some lie to themselves (which is handy given the device of first-person narration) and some of those whom we assume are lying are not, and vice versa. Occasionally we get to see both sides of a story and recognise that the truth is more complex. We continually question ourselves and we don’t get to sit smugly and assume that we are better and more sophisticated than some of the more gullible who sit within the novel’s pages. No one is who they seem. Are you, dear reader, asks Jewell.

There’s a lot of stalking: Saffyre in particular is watching Roan as did Cate ’til it all went wrong - I dig out my review on previous Jewell mystery Watching You and note that the clues there, as here, are all available to us. On that occasion, I used the phrase ‘hidden in plain sight’. It’s a phrase we often use, don’t we, when we’re talking about mysteries when the clues are really there, but that’s easy to say when we have everything set out for us on the page. Is it true to say that Saffyre (the eponymous girl) is hiding in plain sight? If you’re behind a hoodie or a balaclava, or looking out from a building site, your physique is not really obvious. No: what Lisa Jewell seems to be more interested in this time is our willingness to take things at face value. It’s why so much abuse has been done by people holding positions of trust, both formal positions in our community but also people who are meant to provide care. No spoilers, and all that, but my word Owen’s father and aunt are a disgrace. And there is darkness in this novel: not as much as in The Family Upstairs but there are a few pages which are more detailed than they might be, in particular as Saffyre’s back story is spelled out.

By the way, I don’t know what Camden Council has done to Lisa Jewell. She has both Cate and Roan visit the Branch Hill estate in Hampstead, a council estate built in the 1970s both notorious (even its defenders say it was probably the most expensive council housing ever) and gloriously modern. ‘A failed experiment’ say both Cate and Roan, which probably proves they deserve each other after all.* But this book is all about other sides to the story, so here is the counter-argument.
And we should acknowledge the role that the villages of north London play, as a usually-neutral, occasionally-malevolent backdrop.

For this is a book that requires there to be a community. Without that, we can’t organise media pile-ons, or wreck each other’s reputations. Reputations are all. Jewell gets us to question the means through which that happens.

The ending is good: there is redemption for most, though it has to be earned. But did I mention that final twist…?





* An obviously tongue-in-cheek statement. Don’t @ me.

INVISIBLE GIRL is an intense, absorbing, character-driven domestic psychological thriller. The narrative, told through the experiences of three viewpoint characters, concerns sexual assault, infidelity, suspicion, trial by media and social media. The 'action' takes place in the largely dark, claustrophobic streets of a village-like district of London.

Cate Four, mother of two teenagers, wife to psychologist, Roan, lives with her family in the temporary accommodation of a flat in Hampstead, as the family home in Kilburn is renovated. It should be an adventure, the desirable and affluent area known for intellectuals and artists. But Cate, who came close to separating from her husband when he had an affair suspects that Roan may be wandering but, having accused him of infidelity a year previously, buries her fears.

Owen Pick, a strange, socially awkward teacher, who lives opposite the Fours, is suspended from his job following accusations of sexual harassment from female students. When Cate's daughter, Georgia, is followed home along dark streets and her friend Tilly claims she was assaulted by a stranger, the Fours wonder about their neighbour.

Saffyre Maddox is a 17-year old former patient of Roan Four, whom she saw because she was self-harming, caused by something which happened to her when she was 10. Having developed an attachment to her psychologist, she misses her regular appointments and secretly follows Roan, frequently spying on the Fours' home. When Saffyre goes missing, and is found to have been near the Fours, suspicion naturally falls on their neighbour, Owen Pick.

Lisa Jewell draws her characters so well conveying emotions through their actions and reactions. We see the trauma caused by a lack of communication, the married couple tiptoeing around each other, the mother unable to confront her children, suspicions growing in relationships because people are afraid to ask questions. Owen Pick is adjudged guilty by the media and, as other sexual attacks are revealed in the area, we begin to question whether his embarrassment and discomfort around women is hiding more dangerous traits.

The story's shifts in viewpoint and timelines keeps the reader on edge throughout. In reality, not an awful lot happens, the action largely in the minds of her characters, but Jewell ramps up the tension expertly and we never really fully know any of the protagonists. There is some wonderfully descriptive writing too, particularly in the sections narrated in the first person by Saffyre, an incredibly perceptive 17-year old. One particular passage, as Saffyre describes Roan Four's consulation room, is among the best, most atmospheric scenes I have read this year, but throughout there are little touches that make INVISIBLE GIRL a joy to read. The story is tense and oppressive, the underlying subject matter harrowing and distasteful, none of the characters truly what they initially seem, but the Lisa Jewell skilfully holds this all together and delivers a satisfying mystery while raising questions which will stay with the reader long after the story is done.

Invisible Girl is one of those rare specimens of fiction where you simply cannot skip to the final chapter to find out what happened. You will itch to do that, but going to the end won’t give you many answers. The complexity of this book is hidden in every sentence and every chapter as you press on, page after nail-biting page. You cannot it blink or you will miss another nuance or vital clue which will only make sense later. This book is booby-trapped with twists, secrets, suspicions, misdirection and complication.
Last night, before midnight, I started on 68%, thinking I wouldn’t be able to finish it in one sitting. How wrong was I! I read into the early hours of the morning.
The story is told from the point of view of three main characters, diametrically different from each other, but closely interconnected. Owen is a socially inept, 33-year old virgin who loses his teaching job because of allegations of sexual nature made by his students. Cate Four is a wife of a respected psychotherapist, a mother to two teenage children, a woman given to suspicion and guilt about being suspicious. A troubled teenager with a past that affects her mental health, Syffire Maddox is the psychotherapist’s erstwhile patient who develops unhealthy obsession with the man and starts following him around. At first sight the only thing they have in common is their postal code in Hampstead, London. Soon, it becomes clear that much more binds them together as several themes are being dissected by the author: the deception of appearances, the veneer of respectability, the suffocating effect past trauma has on a person’s life, the restraints of morality the society places on people and what happens when some of us give themselves a respite from sticking to them. and much, much more.
Invisible Girl is a psychological thriller at its best.

I found this to be an interesting read. It started off slowly and at times I wondered where it was going. It then soon picked up the pace and at the end of each chapter it left me wanting to know more. I soon found myself hooked in the story and I read the last 50% in one sitting.
I loved the way the plot came together, it is written very well, has a good storyline and has lots of twists to keep you guessing until the very last page.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher Random House UK, Cornerstone for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Invisible Girl is Lisa Jewell’s latest psychological thriller and boy does it pack a punch. It looks at the vilification of those the police and public rush to judgement on and then social media becomes involved further exacerbating the situation. Owen Pick’s life is falling apart. In his thirties, a virgin, and living in his aunt’s spare bedroom, he has just been suspended from his job as a geography teacher after accusations of sexual misconduct, which he strongly denies. Searching for professional advice online, he is inadvertently sucked into the dark world of incel—involuntary celibate—forums, where he meets the charismatic, mysterious, and sinister Bryn. Across the street from Owen lives the Fours family, headed by mom Cate, a physiotherapist, and dad Roan, a child psychologist. But the Fours family have a bad feeling about their neighbour Owen. He’s a bit creepy and their teenaged daughter swears he followed her home from the train station one night. Meanwhile, young Saffyre Maddox spent three years as a patient of Roan Fours. Feeling abandoned when their therapy ends, she searches for other ways to maintain her connection with him, following him in the shadows and learning more than she wanted to know about Roan and his family. Then, on Valentine’s night, Saffyre Maddox disappears—and the last person to see her alive is Owen Pick.

This is a brilliantly gripping read in which secrets, lies, deceit and deception abound and the many twists will have you shocked as the narrative shifts one way and then another. The plot burns at a steadier pace than many thrillers but this allows time to be spent on the characterisation, which is superb here, and is well-crafted in a detail-oriented fashion. I love that Jewell writes intelligent, thought-provoking and sophisticated thrillers with a cast of the most engaging characters: societal misfits, oddballs, outcasts and ”weirdos” who, because they behave a little different to others, are perceived as being dangerous despite showing no such negative tendencies. It makes for disturbing and unsettling reading. Jewell knows exactly how to draw the reader in at the very beginning and skilfully manages to hold your attention throughout. Amongst the topics it addresses are: perception, fear of the unknown, trauma, revenge, mental health, injustice, redemption, and the fact that, just as you should never judge a book by its cover, you should never judge a person by how they look as appearances, especially in this book, can be deceptive. This is tense, suspenseful, drama-filled, satisfying and intense fiction at it's absolute finest. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Cornerstone for an ARC.

Told from three alternating points of view Invisible Girl centres on two houses in one street in London. The Roan family have temporarily relocated while their house is being refurbished and they move in opposite a loner called Owen. We follow the events of Valentine's night and the disappearance of 17 year old Saffyre.

Throughout twists and with one unreliable point of view we move back and forth between narrators who weave the story together in an interesting and hard to put down way.

I appreciated all three characters we read from and think the character of Owen was written very well to be an unlikeable character with often offensive and hard to read viewpoints that still managed to evoke pity and compassion at times from me as a reader.

Lisa Jewell has written another great thriller - I was hooked from the beginning, although it did take me a while to become attached to the characters, but once I did I was totally engrossed in the plot. Very much more of a slow reveal rather than a twist as such but it was still a surprise to me. Both Saffyre and Owen are interesting characters - you can not help to feel empathy towards them even though they both have their faults. Very much a tale of you never know whats going on inside of people, even if they look / seem perfectly normal from the outside. As this is written from many different characters view points, this is an angle of the book that is written really well and shines throughout the pages. Definitely a book to put your feet up to, settle down and have a good long read, you wont want to move.

This book follows three characters; Owen the 33 year old loner who still lives in his Aunt’s flat. People find him creepy and odd. He just feels misunderstood. Then there is Saffyre, a teenager who has had a rough time and has been in therapy following a traumatic event in her life when she was younger but has an uncle who tries to look out for her. Then we have Cate who lives on the same road as Owen and always tries to avoid him when she can as she finds him quite strange. Cate lives at home with her husband Roan who is a therapist and her two children, Josh and Georgia. She appears to have a happy home but is it really all just a front?

All three of those characters stories intertwine when Saffyre goes missing and you are then drawn into the story trying to work out what happens to her and who is responsible. I changed my mind I don’t know how many times about who the culprit was! Then another twist would happen and I again was left baffled about how it was all going to play out.

Lisa’s style of writing is just fantastic. She builds the story up slowly but as each chapter passes by the tension increases. You also get to know each character in just enough depth to pass judgement on them. It is clever how the author makes you think about how much you make assumptions about someone due to their appearance. A person may look happy, popular and attractive on the outside and you assume they are a normal, good person. But underneath they could be tackling many intrusive thoughts and it could all be a pretence. Or there is someone who is seen as odd and different to others and it is assumed they are some kind of criminal or a freak when they are just perfectly normal. What exactly does a criminal look like? Appearances are very deceptive.

I read this book in two sittings, I just could not put it down. I was completely invested in the characters and I just had to know what had happened to Saffyre especially as she grew to be my favourite character. She was just brilliant! I was so full of anger at some of the male characters in this book and the things Saffyre went through. The way most of the women are treated in this book is just horrendous and this is exactly how the author wants you to feel whilst reading this thriller.

I think I prefer this more than Then She Was Gone, it is an intelligent read and the plot felt realistic enough. You are kept on your toes throughout the story and it is quite an easy story to read due to the author’s wonderful writing style and its short chapters. This will definitely be another successful book for Lisa Jewell and the majority of readers will not be disappointed. I am going to have to make sure I read more of her books in future!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What an incredible book this is! A nice slow burning start while the reader gets to know the characters - all superbly drawn and believable, gripping psychological drama aplenty, a plot full of unexpected twists and turns and even at the end, just when you think everything is all resolved, another dark question emerges - this reviewer is in awe of the skill and imagination Lisa Jewell must have to write this mindbendingly brilliant thriller.

Saffyre Maddox is a troubled teenager, and Roan Fours her therapist, who lives and outwardly perfect family life with his family in a London street also inhabited by strange Owen Pick. When Saffyre goes missing all are drawn in to her story, which unfolds with mesmerising questions, wrongful arrests, horrifying incidents from the past, numerous dead needs, and a whole host of other brilliant literary devices which keep the reader absolutely hooked until the final word.

Now this is a real psychological treat! My mind has twisted one way and then the other ..

Saffyre Maddox is a young woman surrounded by a loving family, but one by one they are diminishing. Outwardly confident, she has clear memories of what happened to her as a ten-year old and there is no doubt it affects her to this day. Owen Pick, on the other hand, has little love in his life and society doesn't give him the same options it offers to Saffyre. But should we all judge by what we see?

Definitely a novel which will make you think! How many times have you seen an accused person on tv and thought 'look at him, definitely guilty' without digging into the facts? This is a realistic story with plenty of food for thought. I had no idea who was guilty due to the very clever writing. Lisa Jewell's novels are such a treat to read! There is so much happening that the reader is kept on their toes and at one point I wasn't entirely sure who had done what - and to who! Gripping, exiting and offering a wonderful sense of satisfaction when the final page is reached, I loved everything about this one and cannot recommend it highly enough. Without a doubt, a full five star read!

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
After experiencing a bit of a reading slump, I received this book at the perfect time. From the first page I was gripped and sped through the book in a matter of hours. The writing style is easy to follow and I really liked the short, snappy chapters all of which help add to the suspense of the novel.
The storyline was well-plotted and it does keep you guessing with plenty of red herrings along the way which help to create some very satisfying twists and turns. A psychological thriller which touches on a lot of relevant contemporary themes and topics, it was refreshing to read as it wasn’t your stereotypical thriller.
I was slightly disappointed in the ending as I felt the logistics of it were a bit too far-fetched and so felt slightly rushed but it didn’t detract too much from the overall enjoyment of the book.
Overall, it was an immensely satisfying read which will be sure to delight any thriller fan.

REVIEW OF INVISIBLE GIRL 👀

Read this if you:
📖 Are looking for a gripping storyline
🔪 Enjoy domestic thrillers
📚 Want pulling out of a book slump

Lisa Jewel has done it again! She’s back with another gripping thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end. When Saffrye Maddox was 10 something terrible happened and she carried the pain throughout her teenage years. Her therapist Roan Fours failed to heal her and now at 17, she follows him around, hiding in shadows, learning his secrets. She is the Invisible Girl. Owen Pick is invisible too. A 33 year old, awkward, single man who has never had a girlfriend. Nobody cares about him. Nobody sees him. When Saffrye suddenly goes missing from outside his house on valentines night suddenly the whole world sees him. Accusing him. Because he’s the type - isn’t he?

I really enjoyed the pace of the book, the chapters are relatively short and propelled me to keep reading. The story is told from the POV’s of Cate, Saffyre and Owen in three timeline parts: Before, After and Now. I worried this may overwhelm me but it really helps keep the story moving and each character has their own clear voice. Saffyre is a compelling character, the fact we learn so much about her childhood makes her real and vulnerable.
The books is full of suspense, @lisajewelluk writing is so creepy and atmospheric at times my heart was pounding in my chest. There’s enough twists and secrets to keep hooked till the very end.

Overall this is the perfect read for any thriller fan, there’s definitely potential for a TV drama here! I recommend picking this one up when you’ve got a few hours of solid reading time because you won’t want to put it down! // ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.💫

Trigger warnings: Rape, Self Harm

First and foremost, i want to say thank you to netgalley for the opportunity to read another of the amazing Lisa Jewell books.
I really enjoyed this book, and the content was pretty interesting. I will admit that i got a bit confused at first, because the story seemed to go from one person to another, and i didnt see the relevance to the story, but the more i read, the more i realised how it all tied in together and it turned out to be a great read. All the twists and turns came nearer the end of the book, but i didnt actually guess any of them. It was very well written, as i expected from Lisa Jewell. Another to add to her collection as i really did enjoy it

I’m a huge Lisa Jewell fan having read all her books so I was super happy and appreciative to receive an ARC of Invisible Girl.

Essentially the plot centres around three main characters. Saffyre Maddox, Roan Fours and his family and Owen Pick.
Saffyre Maddox has been self harming since an incident that happened when she was ten years old. Her link to Roan Fours is that he is the child psychologist dealing with her case.
Roan is married to Cate and together with teenagers Georgia and Josh they are currently renting a property in Hampstead.
Across the road from them lives thirty something year old college lecturer Owenwho is single, having never had a girlfriend.
All these characters lives are connected by their proximity to each other and more importantly their possible roles in the disappearance of Saffyre one Valentines Day night. The plot line focuses on finding this vulnerable young girl whilst simultaneously offering further insight into each character, exposing the dark side of human nature.

One of the things I love most about this author’s writing is that the plot line is so cleverly constructed that she doesn’t need to resort to (in my own parlance) big bangs and whistles. Her writing speaks for itself, her subtle approach to tackling a subject makes the reader think beyond the fiction whilst still packing an almighty punch. Quite frankly that’s why this psychological drama stands heads above other titles vying for a readers attention. Invisible girl is not fast paced or adrenaline filled heart pumping fiction, rather the writing slowly works its magic drawing you into quite a dark storyline, so you are compelled to keep turning the pages.

Exploring the dark side of the male psyche forms the backbone of this novel, with an emphasis on how individuals in society can hide beneath a cloak of respectability, literally hiding in plain sight, able to continue their predatory behaviour unchecked. Incel forums where individuals who identify as involuntary celibates can rant and rage against women opened my eyes to a platform I was naively unaware existed, allowing and perpetuating dangerous and vile attitudes so the subject matter is something that will make you sit up and think. Appearances can be so deceptive which is evident in this storyline and helps challenge the readers own preconceived ideas. Society as a whole can be quick to judge based on these outward appearances so I was constantly thinking about the unfairness and its damaging effects on anyone wrongly accused of a crime. It isn’t only Saffyre then who is ‘invisible’, as she watches waits and bides her time , the impact of past events almost impossible to handle. It’s also about individuals left on the margins of society, overlooked by the rest of us.

I did feel intense anger towards some of the male characters in this novel which I think is inevitable given I’m a woman. My overriding feelings of dismay and disappointment were never far from the surface. That girls and women at some point will experience and/or tolerate male prejudices, can be subjected to vile,derogatory comments thanks to ingrained insidious behaviour is sickening. However through the lives of these fictional characters this toxic masculinity is addressed in such a way to make the reading experience palatable rather than off putting. So it’s hardly surprising my sympathies wholeheartedly lay with the female characters.

I’m not convinced my review can do this novel justice so I’d simply urge fellow readers to see what they think for themselves. With a Lisa Jewell book you’re guaranteed to be treated to
a masterpiece in storytelling, everything is believable and no detail is superfluous. I was effortlessly engrossed from beginning to end and although there’s plenty of reasons to despise some of these characters I was still entertained. I loved how all the strands connecting everyone came together with a satisfying and surprising conclusion. Overall Invisible Girl is a clever intelligent read that I highly recommend.
My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.

You can always rely on a good yarn from Lisa Jewell !
Roan is a child psychologist living in temporary accommodation with his wife and kids whilst their house is being renovated. Across the road from them lives Owen -a college lecturer who lives with his Aunt. -doesn't have much of a social life -and is viewed by most as being a bit of a creep .
Sapphyre is 15 years old and has had a troubled childhood which resulted in her seeing Roan as a patient for 3 years . She has since developed a bit of a fixation on him and takes every opportunity to stalk him and hang around his home. Then she disappears . And as she was last seen near Owen's house -and he is a bit creepy -well he must have something to do with it -mustn't he ???
A bit predictable in parts -but still good

Thankyou NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review

Lisa Jewell never disappoints! Another well written and beautifully executed psychological thriller from one of my favourite authors. This isn't just a thriller, but also an exploration of the human psyche - misfits and outsiders, the consequences of our actions, and the real monsters who walk in the light disguised as your neighbour, your husband, your friend.

I loved the writing style, the twists and turns were deftly managed, and I was invested in the characters. This is one I'll be thinking about for some time, and will be on my Christmas gift-buying list for sure!

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley who provided me with a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When a child experiences trauma and that trauma is not resolved, it has the power to infiltrate every part of their being. Something happened to Saffyre when she was 10. It led to her self-harming and when therapy did not allow her to resolve the trauma, she lived her life as a shadow, as an invisible girl.

But when a series of sex attacks begin happening in her local area, she is forced to confront her past, and she is determined to protect others from the predator who is at large.

Owen also experienced trauma as a child, and it has left him a loner, a self-professed freak who has never had a girlfriend and is angry at the world.

Roan, Saffyre's therapist is a married father of two. He has been unfaithful to Cate before, and is currently embroiled in another affair. His wife Cate is trying to hold things together but is also deeply worried about the events unfolding around her, and she is desperate to protect her two children.

Saffyre goes missing, and as the police investigate, everybody seems to have something to hide. Owen is arrested, but when new information comes forward it's clear that the truth lies elsewhere. As the real sexual predator is arrested and convicted, Saffyre is able to lay her past to rest. But is the nightmare really over? Or is there another shadow hiding in the dark?

Thank you so much @netgalley and @randomhouse for and advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I love Lisa Jewell books very much. I have probably read like 5 of them and I have never given them less than 4 stars.

This one wasn't an exception and, although it took me a little bit to get into the story, once I did, I flew by!

I liked the story straight away. I liked the fact that there were two storylines somehow connected and I liked that connection and what added to the story.

I liked Cate, one of the main characters. I liked how she was very much. I really enjoyed her chapters, how she reacted to some events, how she described her marriage life, how paranoid she was and how she coped with all this and everything else.

I also liked Saffyre, the other main character, and how obsessed she was with her therapist. It was kind of weird and a bit inappropriate but that took us on a great adventure!

Then we have Owen, a very creepy thirty-something guy that lives nearby Cate and that has committed a crime? Or not?

In this book, things started happening straight from the beginning and they kept happening until the end.

I loved the writing style. Lisa Jewell always makes the reading experience very easy and enjoyable and, although this book took me longer to read than I expected, the last 10% of the book was a wild ride that made it all worth it!

A very well deserved 4/5⭐ for that final twist that I did not see coming!

I struggled with this one a bit, not because it’s not a good book but because I felt it suffered by comparison by Lisa Jewell’s previous book, The Family Upstairs. This didn’t have quite the creeping uneasiness of The Family Upstairs which roped me in from the start and kept me turning the pages. Invisible Girl tackles some very topical themes but I didn’t find it quite as tight and gripping as The Family Upstairs and without offering spoilers, the sections round court proceedings didn’t seem match how these actually play out in the media.