CWA Dagger Award - Grace is Gone

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced readers copy. This book was a real hoot. I don’t want to spoil but it is based on a fairly well-known real life story put through the British psychological thriller formula, and it is quite a bumpy ride. If you’re familiar with the story, you will figure out much of it before the twist, however there was a lot of joy discovering along the way All the ways the author subverts and flushes out the banality of real life. I was sad when it was over – this was one of the more readable thrillers over experienced this year

A genuine page-turner based on real events, and the twists keep coming. One or two you may suspect, but others .........
Would thoroughly recommend this to anyone who likes a good thriller and most of the important characters are women!! So a definite plus. Lots of modern dilemmas are addressed, and the characters are realistic.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Sphere for an advance copy.

17-year-old Grace went missing. The same day her mother was murdered. What the heck happened? This was a very interesting look into a real-life story about a mental disorder. I was drawn to so many aspects that made the story stand out, especially Grace’s character. Oh, what a character. And then I got to the reveal 70% in, and I couldn’t stop turning the pages until I found out what happened the night of the murder in the crazy final chapter.

The story’s told from the perspectives of Grace and the characters that are endeavoring to find her - Her next-door neighbor/friend Cara and Jon, a journalist. So much tragedy and evil in this book.

Engaging, well-plotted and deserves a read!

Grace is gone, first there's Megan, devoted Mum to Grace and the late Danny. Brutally murdered in her own home.

Grace who's been a sickly child since having meningitis years ago, goes missing the night her Mum was murdered.

Cara, neighbor/Graces friend, as time passed found her friendship more difficult due to Cara not wanting to appear thoughtless going on about her life, which moves on, whilst Grace's illness restricts her from going out.

Jon, reporter who previously interviewed the family, but due to an article/incident after, at Megan's home, had a restraining order against him, hears about body being taken by police from a friends text.
Endeavouring to salvage his own marriage, when job/time keeping, potentially ruining any chance.

Cara discovers Megan's body, but there's no sign of Grace, but Grace kept a diary which Cara found. Then came an unlikely pairing where Jon and Cara join together in efforts to help find Grace, using the diary to try and find her. it turns out there are many secrets, do you ever really know your neighbors?

The chapters alternate between Jon and Cara's perspective of how events unfold. For Jon, wondering whether his original article was accurate or was his judgement clouded by his personal troubles.

All is not as it first appears. This book is well written, the fact that it is inspired by true events I don't feel it appropriate to say a great read, but a poignant read. Addictive reading, definitely a page turner.

A real mystery, a great 'who done it' book, a page turner that will leave you shocked and asking many questions. Great characters, great storyline. I will be recommending.

This story is all the more shocking because it was inspired by real events. Everyone believes Meg is nothing less than an angel, caring for her chronically ill daughter, Grace. Everyone in town knows the family and cares deeply for them. Then Meg is found brutally murdered and Grace is nowhere to be found. Did someone kill Meg and kidnap Grace? The truth, when it finally comes out is even more shocking and says a lot about how we see and deal with mental illness

WOW, OMG and WTAF are the 3 main thoughts I had whilst reading Grace is Gone and the day after I finished the book my feelings haven’t changed that much except I realise that YOU will expect a little more detail from me in my review so bear with me.. I might start rambling:

Grace is Gone is inspired by a shocking true story, however I didn’t know that when I started reading it, so I went in “oblivious” to what the story is based on and started reading without a clue what was to come.

Grace is a 17 year old wheelchair bound, seriously ill young lady who is cared for by her devoted single mother Megan. They are both adored and respected in the small community they live in. With an absent and violent father and a tragic past Grace and Meg are protected and supported by their neighbours, so when Cara, their next door neighbour discovers Meg’s battered body and Grace’s empty wheelchair the town is left in turmoil and the race to find Grace begins.

This story has several narrators which I personally LOVE, because the story starts to unfold layer by layer. We find out more about Meg and Grace through a disgraced and ostracised journalist Jon, who published an article on the family and was publicly shunned and issued with a restraining order against the family. Jon is now estranged from his beloved wife and son and becomes obsessed with finding out where Grace has gone.

Cara, the young neighbour and one of Grace’s only friends is still in shock after discovering Meg’s murder and becomes focused on discovering the truth about the family even if it means her own life is in danger.

With Grace’s diary to help Cara and Jon dig deeper into the murder and missing teenager, Grace is Gone tells a sad and disturbingly dark tale of mental illness. I will admit that because I wasn’t aware it was based on a true event I thought I was extremely clever to “work out the twist” almost immediately, however this didn’t spoil my enjoyment of this addictive and brilliantly written story.

I love the unlikely duo of Cara and Jon. They both make a great investigative team and being able to see each of their thought processes and narratives was so gripping and enjoyable for me. The writing was superb and did justice to the character of Grace.

This was a wonderful story about Grace and her mother Megan.
Megan will do anything to protect her daughter, anything. And Grace adores her mother for looking after her so well.
But when Grace disappears a journalist and Cara discover facts about Grace that do not add up.
The story really gets exciting and found it difficult to put down.
Well done Emily Elgar for this great book, and thank you net galley for giving me the opportunity to give an honest opinion about Grace is Gone.
Do read this book it’s a subject I have not read before.

I picked up this book because it's based on the story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and I am glad I did. While it's weird reading a story based on facts you know already, Emily Elgar absolutely nailed making this into a thriller that has some twists and turns that the real life version doesn't.

This fiction version isn't just the story of the ill daughter and the overbearing mum though, we have other characters involved, a complicated but well written so easy to follow storyline and my favourite 'OHHHHHH of course how did I miss that?!' moment.

This book kept me engaged from start to finish and after reading this, I'll definitely be looking up the author and seeking out more of their work. 5/5.

Based on a true story a book that plays with your mind keeps you guessing till the last page.Will be highly recommending a very well written entertaining read.#netgalley#littlebrownuk.

As good as a thriller gets with every page turning you away from where you think the story is going to a place that becomes darker each time. As the plot unveils each new interpretation of what has happened, you begin to doubt not just the characters' judgement but also your own.

Oh my god I just loved this book it’s brilliant and so damn hard to describe without giving anything away. It’s based on a true story which in itself is just gobsmacking and it’s a read that lives up to all expectations with lots of OMG moments it really is a cracking read and I am in serious danger of just going on and on about just how much I loved it so read it, read it, read it !!!
So you have maybe read the blurb and know a bit about the premise of the book so I’m not going to rehash all that, the writing and the characters are incredibly well done all credit to Emily Elgar for making this a book I just couldn’t put down.
So just grab a copy and once again read this book!! don’t miss out because I’m pretty sure this is going to be a big hit and a well deserved one at that , 100% well recommended.
My thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a well plotted thriller filled with twists and turns to keep you guessing. When Cara begrudgingly agrees to go around to her old friends house to drop some clothes off, she doesn't expect to walk in on a scene that will haunt her nightmares. A low ominous buzzing pulls her toward the bedrooms after finding Grace's wheelchair askew, but even then she can't expect the brutal murder she walks in on. With Meg dead and her severely disabled, wheelchair bound daughter missing, the hunt is on. It is not known how long Grace will survive without her vital medications, but it adds a time constraint that the police cannot avoid.

You get the story from the perspective of Cara who found the body and Jon, a reporter who lost his career over an article he wrote about Meg and Grace six months previously, and is now struggling to keep his marriage together. Both of them are fighting with the guilt they feel over how they have previously treated Grace or Meg; Cara from how she abandoned the younger girl to spend so much time with her boyfriend, Jon for his behaviour following the article. Both characters have their own reasons for wanting to find and help Grace and as they begin to work together, the missing links start to unravel before them. I admit, I guess what was going on quite a way before the big reveal but it touches on psychological issues that I have been interested in since I was a teenager and so have quite a breadth of knowledge to begin with. This is obviously helpful in terms of putting together the pieces.

Even knowing what was going on though, I still really enjoyed the rest of the novel. Elgar writes clearly and you can't help but engage with the narrative and with the characters. In fact, the reason for my knocking a star off has nothing to do with the fact that I figured out what was going on. Instead, it is more down to how two dimensional many of the background characters are. There could have been significantly more depth to several of these and this would have added an additional layer of complexity to the novel and potentially increased the suspect pool. Instead, whilst there is a wide range of individuals, the only real suspect thrown out for consideration is the father. This does make the narrative rather linear and there could have been significantly more depth here.

Nevertheless, this is an enjoyable and fast paced read that kept me on the edge of my seat. I was invested in knowing what happened with Grace and interested even when I had a good idea what the big reveal was going to be.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my free ARC copy of this title.

As an addict of the Gypsy Rose case, I was anxiously awaiting this book! And it didn’t disappoint. A great story with a few twists I didn’t see coming. Excellent!

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a free copy of this ebook. I enjoyed this well written thriller very much, although it isn't the sort of book I'd normally read. Based on real events the book is written in a pacy style and the characters are well developed. It's a shocking story, well told without sensationalism. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good story well told.

‘Grace is Gone’ is a very moving book. It’s a page turner for sure and will keep you interested until the very end. You need to be emotionally prepared to pick up this book but it is so worth it!

This is apparently based on a true story. One which I had never heard of - or I think I haven't as I did manage to guess something quite key early on which did shape the way that I read the rest of the book. I can't say how much that affected my enjoyment though as it was never a given that I was right!
So, single parent Meg lives with her sick daughter Grace. They are pillars of the community and very well respected therein. One day, their neighbour Cara pops round to drop something off and what she finds is shocking. Meg is found brutally murdered and there is no sign of Grace. This shock ripples through the community and the police go all in trying to find out both what happened to Meg and where Grace is as she is wholly dependent upon serious medication to survive. Meanwhile, disgraced journalist Jon hears the news and rushes to the scene despite the order preventing him from doing so. His downfall is attributed to an article he wrote about Grace and her estranged father who the police believe may be connected to what is happening. Together with Cara they peel back the layers of grace and Meg's life and what they find there is astonishing and threatens everything once understood about their past...
This was an interesting and intriguing story. As already mentioned it stems from a real case which I am not going to mention here as it might spoil things. I guess that if you are familiar with this case then the book may fall a little flat for you. I wasn't and I still managed to guess - not sure how or why - lucky maybe. But even though I guessed THAT, I wasn't fully aware of everything else that went around and about so there was plenty to keep me hanging and reading on. Told from the POVs of both Jon and Cara, with diary entries from Grace interspersed throughout, the story gets on with itself very nicely indeed. Enough was withheld to keep me interested and sufficient divulged to satisfy along the way.
All in all, a good solid read. I have already read this author's debut, If You Knew Her, so I am now playing the waiting game to see what she serves up next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I was intrigued by the stunning cover and the premise of the book. I was aware of the real life case this book is based on and so saw the twist coming. Initially I was apprehensive this would deter from my reading however the characters were so emotionally compelling and I felt so invested in their arcs that the predictability of it didn’t matter. Also the book is well plotted that I couldn’t wait to see how things would unfold and was excited to see that the author decided to add her own take to the story.
This follows two protagonists: Jon, a journalist who wrote a scalding story about Megan and her 17-year daughter, Grace, who’s been sick since infancy, that got him into trouble and he’s also trying to bounce back from his temporary separation with his wife; Cara, a 20-year old, neighbour to the single mum and her sick teenage daughter, discovers Megan’s body - her head has been caved in and Grace is missing. Without her medications Grace will die...Driven by her guilt of not being a better friend to Grace Cara is drawn into the mystery of her disappearance and working with Jon, who’s looking for a story that will redeem him in the eyes of his wife and community.
I highly enjoyed this and could not put this down. Cara and Jon are so realistic and well-drawn, that I found myself invested in their story. This was a pacy read, and despite being familiar with the real life story this is based on I couldn’t stop reading. I loved the setting of Cornwall and the sense of community so vividly painted. My only gripe was that the surprise second antagonists felt like plot device and weren’t as fleshed as the other characters.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for an honest review. 4/5

Grace lives with her mum Meg in a small
community in Cornwall. Meg and Grace are loved and supported by everyone within the community as Meg single-handedly looks after Grace her disabled daughter. Then one day Meg is discovered having been brutally murdered and Grace is gone. The countdown now begins to not only find Meg’s murderer but to find Grace who will only have days to
live without her medication...

The story is told in the voice of Cara a family friend and neighbour who makes the discovery and Jon a down on his luck journalist who has been vilified by the community for a previous story in the paper about Meg and Grace. This is an addictive fast paced psychological thriller and one of the best I have read for a while. I think what makes this book particularly good is that it sticks to the story without any unnecessary subplots or too many characters needing attention. I read this book in one sitting as I needed to keep up with the story. I’m still waiting for heart rate to slow down especially after discovering this is inspired by a true story!

his is a book about Meg and her daughter Grace who is in a wheelchair. Meg is found murdered in her house and Grace is missing. This is the story of what happened to Meg and the search for Grace.

This book is beautifully written and is a page turner. There are some back stories within this book. It is also creepy in places. The ending is so good and was not what I was expecting.

This is a well paced enjoyable read and kept me on the edge of my seat.

If you only read one book in 2020 make it this one
I was hooked from the beginning
twists and turns are in abundance
it's emotional and intriguing
keeps you reading through the night
excellent characters, brilliant writing
will definitely be recommending this book

Thank you netgalley, Emily Elgar and Little Brown Book Group UK

Firstly I want to thank Net Galley and Emily Elgar for sending me this to read, it was on my ‘wish list’ so I was delighted! I haven’t read anything by this author before but the description of the plot had me hooked as soon as I read it and now that I have finished reading it it did not disappoint!

From reading the first couple of pages I knew this was my kind of book and I was excited to read it. There are twists all the way through this story and just when I thought I had it worked out, something else came along. It kept me gripped from beginning to end and I couldnt wait to finish whatever I was doing to sit down and read some more!

I will definitely be watching out for more books by this author and if you want something that gets you thinking and keeps you guessing, this book is for you.

This is a book that definitely has your mind racing as you’re frantically trying to piece the story together. I hadn’t appreciated that it was based on a true story, and haven’t read any newspaper articles, so don’t know how true to life the novel is. It was well written and had me intrigued. The way the novel was written from two different perspectives was really good. A recommended read

Well written, tense, and shocking! This was a very spine tingling story, especially since it’s a fictional story inspired from a true crime story. I think the author did an amazing job of turning a true account into a work of fiction, because I’m sure it’s not as easily done as some may think! The writing was above average, in fact unputdownable, with characters developed in a manner that made sure you had to find out exactly what happened and when! Grab your copy today, it’s one you’ll not want to miss!
Will make sure to buzz this book up on the different platforms!

What a brilliant read!

I was familiar with the case that this was based on (no spoilers here) so I guessed how this storyline would play out but not for one minute did it detract from the enjoyment I got from this book.

Meg is the mother of chronically ill Grace, a full time carer and wonder mum by all accounts, so who would want to kill her and abduct Grace? Told from the perspective of Grace, her next door neighbour Cara, and persistent journalist Jon we learn exactly how events unfolded and why.

The storyline whipped along and had twists and turns galore. A thoroughly good read.

Thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

'Grace is Gone' is a true-life crime refracted through the lens of a psychological thriller. For the author attempting to turn a real life story into fiction, this is a harder task than it sounds. The book will certainly not write itself; there has to be a narrative, the story still needs to hold true to real life events, and the plot has to truly engage the reader. Few authors are capable of authentically straddling these boundaries, whilst maintain the integrity of the story. Emily Elgar is an exception to this rule. This novel is a true tour de force, written by an author of immeasurable talent. I was simply in awe of Elgar's pitch-perfect plotting and sparklingly, arresting prose. This book lives up to its billing as a 'gripping psychological thriller inspired by a shocking real-life story', and then some. It is a psychological thriller, yes, but when almost all thrillers come with prefix of 'psychological', it does not necessarily mean much in the context of actually engaging with the psychological, or those by-products of mental processing. 'Grace is Gone' does, and in a number of ways that really give the book an edge over similar novels of this type. This is a story of facts, yes. Facts: Meg is murdered and her daughter, Grace, is missing. Irrefutable. of course, but in the multiple points of view through which the story is told, the narrative splits in a way where we as readers literally go down the rabbit hole of multiple truths and human subjectivity. Facts as Elgar reminds us, are rarely undisputed - different people see things in different ways, and so it is with 'Grace is Gone' Indeed, this is what makes this story great - a must-read, even. 'Grace is Gone' is not a simple story told simply. What it is, however, is a sophisticated page-turner that really engages the mind of the reader. A true psychological thriller that lives up to its name.

A definite hit for 2020.

What an incredible story! This was just outstanding and I really couldn’t put it down. I don’t want to say anymore in fear of spoilers. Just incredible xx

Grace Is Gone is inspired by a true story - what the? This is a sick and shocking story and to think that this actually did happen is terrifying. Exploring some deep themes, this was a quick, page turner of a book that I couldn't wait to see how it was going to end.

Meg and her daughter Grace are well loved and known in the community. So who would murder Meg? Next door neighbour and Grace's friend Cara finds Meg, brutally murdered - and Grace is nowhere to be seen. Grace is very ill and in a wheelchair, and without her medications she could die in days. But where is she? Who has taken her and why? The community work together to try to find the teenager. Cara teams up with Jon, a journalist to dig into Meg and Graces lives to find the clues to what has happened. The fin al few chapters are nuts! And it was great.

Thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.

A difficult and harrowing thriller based on a shocking true story. This is a difficult and horrifying read, but is masterfully written and definitely keeps you intrigued whether you know the true story or not.

Synopsis: Meg and Grace are adored by their town; the devoted mother with a severely disabled but ever smiling daughter are at the centre of their neighbours lives. So, when Meg is found murdered in her own home and Grace is found to be missing, the whole town bands together to try and find her.

With severe illnessess that are fatal without Grace’s medication, the race is on to find her before it is too late.

As the town remains horrified at the notion that someone could take away the life of such a loving mother and kidnap her daughter, taking her away from her medication, they search for the truth about what happened. But the truth may be much darker than they first realised. Will Grace be saved before it is too late?

— Masterfull And Immersive —
The Writing Style And Narrative. Emily Elgar’s writing style is masterfull and immersive, even after I realised what story this was based on, and therefore knew the twists, I continued reading because the writing was just incredible. The writing really made me feel the emotions of the characters, the pain (physical and emotional) and the heart-break and horror the people felt. Though immersive, it really connects you with the difficulties of the story making it in and of itself quite a difficult read- but in a way that makes you want to keep reading.

The narrative is a dual one, mainly focusing on Cara (Grace’s friend) and Jon’s (a journalist) view of the crime. It follows them both as they try to unravel the truth behind what happened so that they can save Grace. The dual narrative worked very well to show the impact of this on two rather different people, and also made the revelations more harrowing.

The narrative structure also allows for the tension to be built up and maintained very well, as both of the characters learn different things at different times, slowly allowing you to piece together the true story. I love a well done dual narrative, and this did not disappoint.

— Harrowing And Heart-breaking —
The Story/Plot. I hadn’t looked at any reviews of this book before reading it, I only knew that it was based off of a true story and was about a murder/kidnapping. Usually, I would avoid stories like this one, the true story, because it is quite a difficult read but I was unaware of its basis before starting, and by the time I realised I thought I might as well see it through.

The story is one I was already familiar with, so I knew what was coming so it was easier to read and the story itself is actually very interesting. Elgar did a brilliant job in turning this story into a thriller/mystery. Despite being known to me it was still a tense, and heart-breaking read that I couldn’t put down.

The story follows the townspeople as they try to find and save Grace who has been kidnapped and thus taken away from all of her much needed medication, alongside this her mother was murdered in the process. It was incredibly interesting following the people as they try to work out who would kill the devoted mother and why, and kidnap such a sickly child. And incredibly horrifying to watch as the truth unfolds before them, as they have to come to terms with it.

The story also takes an in-depth look at Grace’s conditions, from a weakened heart, to muscles to needing a wheelchair and a feeding tube. It was devestating to see the effects of this on her, especially as you learn more about it.

— Realistic And In-depth —
The Characters. The characters in this story are realistic and in-depth, very well written as they are based on real people. The cast is relatively big but I will be focusing on the four main characters.

Grace. The main character of the story. Grace is disabled, she uses a wheelchair, needs a PEG (a feeding tube that enters through, and feeds directly in to, the stomach), has a weakened heart, and has limited to no use of her legs due to a severe and rare case of muscuar dystrophy. Grace is a very smiley young girl who is extraordinarily close with her mother. She is sweet, docile and loves to see her friend Cara. Everyone in the town adores her and her mother, and when she goes missing the town feel it deeply. Grace’s character is an interesting one, and grows even more so as the story develops. Reading about her was incredibly intriguing but likewise difficult when she was sufferring. As a central character she is incredible, and it is completely understandable as to why people dote on her. By the end you feel conflicted, and her character does not diappoint.

Meg. Loving mother and full time carer to her daughter, Grace. Meg is a saint, she will drive from their little town to London to ensure her daughter has the best possible care and will do anything to help her. She is meticulously organised, which she has to be in order to adminster medication, and is incredibly sociable and friendly in the community. Her death, unsuprisingly, brings about horror and devestation. Meg’s character is another interesting one that, as you learn more about, you become both interested and shocked. She was definitely a well-crafted character, and a well crafted person.

Jon. The journalist. Jon is a character that you my start off with either neutral towards or you will dislike him. He starts off disliked by the town, due to a poorly targeted article and is sufferring the consequences. Upon hearing about the murder/kidnapping, Jon takes it upon himself to find out the truth, to rescue Grace, and hopefully restore his reputation. I likd this character and his development over the course of the story, the workaholic, headstrong journalist is definitely good at what he does.

Cara. Grace’s friend and neighbour. Cara is rightly devestated when she learns of the crime. Having not seen Grace as often as when they were younger, due to having moved away temporarily, Cara is determined to find Grace and help her. Cara is headstrong and determined, driven lso by guilt for not having seen her friend in a while. I liked her character overall, her development is interesting to watch play out.

— Difficult And Horrifying —
Overall. This is a difficult and horrifying story of loss, pain, illness and tragedy. I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would when I realised its truth, and the writing is just stunning. It is definitely worth the read.

Perfect for thriller lovers, real life crime lovers and those who know the true story and want a myster/thriller twist on it.

Content warnings/may contain small spoilers. Severe Chronic Illness and disability-distressing scenes of symptoms, murder, suicide references, abuse, domestic abuse (spoken of), severe child abuse, severe mental health issues/illnesses, violence, death of a child/drowning, drug abuse/addiction. So sorry if I have missed any.

*I received an eARC of #GraceIsGone by #EmilyElgar from #Netgalley @LittleBrownUK in exchange for an honest review*

Review will be posted on my blog/Goodreads and twitter on the 6th of February and links will be provided on this date.

A scary book which shook my insides, based on real life incidents.

Meg and Grace, mom and seriously ill daughter were the darling of the town when one night Meg was murdered brutally, and Grace vanished, probably kidnapped or killed. It took a journalist Jon and neighbor Cara all their skills to find her.

My first book by author Emily Elgar, the story brought a sinking tumoil in me. I had read enough to realize where the story was going, but the author's writing did its magic on me, and I was entranced to kerp reading.

Told to me in dual POV, I got to know how Jon and Cara investigated along with their personal lives, there was also Grace's voice, as excerpts from her diary, interweaved into the story which had a strong hold on it.

The story, all true, brought out the dark human psyche. It was quite a page turner that kept me engrossed all through. A perfect breakfast read, I would say. The darker, the better.

This book was so addictive to read, I really couldn't put it down. Although based loosely on real life events, I was still shocked by the twists and turns within. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and would definitely recomend it.

When Cara comes to her neighbours’ house, she’s got a guilty conscience, she hasn’t seen Grace as often as she could have and the girl hardly has contact to anybody apart from her mother. Suffering from multiple diseases, she is confined to the house and needs a wheelchair to move around. What Cara finds, however, is not Grace and her loving mother Meg, but a horrible crime scene: the mother has been slaughtered and the daughter is gone. Who would do such a thing to the most beloved family of the small Cornish city of Ashford? Haven’t they suffered enough with the daughter fatally ill and their son who drowned a couple of years earlier? Together with journalist Jon, who published a not so pleasing portrait of mother and daughter a couple of months before, Cara starts to investigate and soon realises that the public picture of Grace and Meg differs a lot from reality.

Emily Elgar’s novel is a real page turner which offers some unexpected twists. The author has well dosed the revelations about Grace and Megan’s past to keep the reader hooked and curious to find out who they really were. What I liked most was the fact that – set aside the murder of Meg – most of what is told about them could be true and surely happens every day. This makes the suspenseful psychological thriller also a very sad story and leads the reader to ponder about the question how such a story could take place.

It is quite difficult to talk about the characters or the plot without giving away too much of it and spoiling the fun for other readers. I liked having alternate narrators who tell the events from their respective point of view and I also rarely find crime stories where the police and their investigation only play a minor role, or rather: none at all. Even though I had the correct idea of why and how the scheme was set up, I enjoyed reading the novel thoroughly.

A really good read with lots of twists and turns and shocks. Well written and well thought out and a compelling read.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

This book is based on a true story, that of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, which took place in the United States, an absolutely mind-blowing, harrowing event that scarred a whole community. I was mesmerised by the whole case. There is also another book to be published next month too with the author's own twist on it.
The author does disclose that this is her take on the true-life case but set in the UK. There are some additional characters used and a twist at the end but the flux of the story remains the same. If you know the story or have read the book coming out next month then there won't be a great deal of surprises for you in this.
The author's characters are well developed and I really enjoyed the added spin-offs of the fictional characters such as Jon. The story is gripping in every way and it is heartbreaking to know that this happened. Grace's mum was a force to be reckoned with where the health care system was concerned. I mean how could so many doctors have fallen for all this, but they did.
A stunning story, if you have no knowledge of the real case. It is the shock element that makes this.
I wish to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.

A brilliant story, chilling and gripping.
I couldn't put it down and it kept me on the edge till the last time.
It's well written and the author did an excellent job of turning a true crime into fiction.
Strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

What a gripping, engaging and tense read. Not your standard, run of the mill thriller. I really liked it how the outcast journalist and former best friend of the now missing Grace are your lead characters as their story and investigation unfolds. There’s plenty of misdirection but plenty of twists to keep you on your toes. I guessed the big reveal, but this didn’t detract my enjoyment of this book. And added to the fact that this is based on true events, this makes this story even more horrific. (WARNING: don’t research the true basis of this story!!) This book does take you to some dark places; including mental ill health and suicide. Having said all that, this was a brilliant read!!

Twisty psychological thriller inspired by true events

A psychological thriller that will keep you guessing and captivated until everything is resolved at the surprising end. Inspired by a true story.

Megan is found murdered and her disabled daughter, Grace, missing. Can Grace be found before her need for medication turns this into a double tragedy? Simon, a journalist who had previously written an unpopular piece about Megan and Grace, sees finding Grace as his chance to redeem himself in the eyes of the local community, but will the personal cost to him be too great?

Wow this thriller kept me guessing. Its about secrets and lies, and about relationships and friends looking out for each other. But mostly its about Grace and the race to find, and save, her. Great characters with fast moving action.

5*s from me because this is a great fast moving story, which, being based on a true story, gave me plenty to think about. Sections that I found a little far-fetched, turned out to have actually happened. I was not aware of the original case before googling it; don’t ruin the story by reading about it until you’ve finished the book. The Author’s Note at the end gives the name of the true case (and includes spoilers).

Suspense filled, intriguing and gripping, I couldn't put it down! The main characters are well written and have a depth that makes you want to find out more.

Really good thriller that sends the shivers down your spine because it's based on real events.
The pace is really good, with engaging writing and a few twists that make the journey really good.

thanks a lot to NG and the publisher for this copy.

Ooh an interesting book with an ending I didnt quite see coming! I liked how it was split between 2 people that weren't really the main characters, just the side liners who happened to be involved! Really well written and I'm excited to tell everyone about this book!

Meg and Grace, the mother and daughter admired by all in the village of Ashford. Meg and Grace, devoted single mother and disabled, wheelchair bound daughter. Meg and Grace, mother and daughter beneficiaries of many fundraisers, special grants and donations. Meg and Grace…do you really know them? Meg and Grace, murdered and kidnapped.

As Grace is Gone, based on a true story, opens, Meg is found beaten to death by her neighbor Cara. Grace is gone. The mystery unravels as different voices narrate information and provide clues. Cara, a college student whose mother was Meg’s best friend, wants to find her fragile friend Grace. Jon, a journalist who made a near career ending move when he wrote an article mildly criticizing Meg, wants to reunite with his estranged wife and son. He hopes to do that by finding Grace. Graces’s words also drive the story by the diary she left behind and the secret diary she hid.

While you may guess some of the truth as the story races to a thrilling conclusion, author Emily Elgar always stays ahead of you, tossing clues and revealing secrets. Grace is Gone will keep you thinking long after you’ve finished the last page. 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley, Little, Brown Book Group UK and Emily Elgar for this ARC.

This ook is based on a true story. Grace is seventeen years old. She's dependent on her mother, Megan as she has several health issues. Megan has suffered abuse from her husband. Megan decides to take Grace and start a new life together. Their neighbour, Cara crops round to drop something off and discovers Megan, who's been brutally murdered. Grace is missing. Caras partner, Jon is a journalist. He goes to the scene even though theres an order preventing him from doing so.

What an intriguing read this book was. I was hooked from reading the blurb. I hadn't heard of the case that this story is based on. Its told mainly by Cara and Jon's point of view though we do get entries from Grace in the form of diary. The book is well written. My first book by the author but it wont be my last.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Little Brown Book Group UK and the author Emily Elgar for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.