I loved this book! It grabbed me from the beginning and I took it away for my birthday weekend. I wondered if it might be just too unbelievable at one point but the story is handled so well that I was able to suspend my disbelief and become engrossed in Laurel's world. Laurel is a fascinating and sympathetic main character. I felt desperately sorry for her daughter Ellie and her fate. The book is structured well though - we know from near the beginning that Ellie has died so do not get our hopes up about her - and the ending is not depressing. It is, rather, uplifting and hopeful. I think this book will be very popular. Lisa Jewell just gets better and better!

A fantastic read! Thoroughly enjoyed this tale from start to finish. Excellent plot and brilliantly diverse and unique characters.

I was so excited to get a copy of this courtesy of NetGalley and RandomHouse… I absolutely love Lisa Jewell’s style and her books never cease to grip my attention. This one was finished within around two days with time allowed for actual work and sleep…Then she was gone is every parents nightmare and trust me, there’s no happy ending for this one. But the way in which Jewell gets you to the ending, the truth, and uncovers every little horrific twist and turn is just fascinating. You will be hooked as much as the main character is, Laurel, in trying to find the truth. My only tiny little criticism is I wanted to know more at the end in terms of the police investigation, whether any was prosecuted and what was the outcome… but that’s just the Criminologist in me!
Ten years ago, Laurel’s fifteen year old daughter went to the library and never came home again. Some said she ran away, a body was never found…until now. We join Laurel in her quest for the truth whilst also learning of how she has coped for the past ten years. We learn more about her other family members, her marriage, her loves and losses and I personally found my heart aching for every stone she unturned once she realised all was not as it seemed. This is partly a family drama and partly a thriller, with a twisted hint of romance thrown into the mix.

Expected Publication: 27th July 2017 (NOT soon enough!)

Fun facts: Lisa Jewell started her first novel in 1996…for a BET! That certainly paid off. Check out her other titles particularly ‘The house we grew up in!’

If you enjoyed: I think that Lisa Jewell has a fantastic style, chilling, psychological, thrilling. If you enjoyed her writing then you’ll love anything by Sophie Hannah.

Connect with the author: Website.

Lisa Jewell has done it again! Read this one in 24 hours and could barely put it down! I like how it's a little different from her usual plot style, but still has the strong sense of motherhood, family and careful plotting that make her books great. There were some formatting issues (a lot of random letter 'J's cropping up). A great story, enough clues to keep me interested.

I was hooked! Love it! This is one I will definatley be purchasing! Highly recommended read. Keeps u hooked! Very sad at times but very well written

really liked it

Then She Was Gone is the story of Laurel, a mother whose teenage daughter has gone missing and the effects this event has had in the family's life. Ten years later, Laurel meets a new man and decides to give herself another chance at life and love.

I am not really a person who reads books for its characters but Lisa Jewell is so bloody good at creating them! They are so nuanced and realistic (even the ones that strike me as slightly odd). In this new novel, Jewell has most definitely kept up to her high standards.

(Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy!)

Another great book by an amazing author. I read half the book in one sitting as I just couldn't put it down. I loved the way the characters were developed as I feel that I really got to know them. Great plot, didn't see that ending coming.

I couldn't put this book down and read it in two sittings. Very easy reading and a great (but sad story). Ellie, Lauren & Paul Mack's youngest daughter goes out to the library to study for her exams and disappears. Ten years pass but Lauren never gives up hope of finding Ellie who was the light of her life. Her life has fractured in this time, her marriage has broken up and she's never needed her other kids as much as Ellie.

She randomly meets a handsome stranger called Floyd who sweeps her off her feet. She has a whirlwind romance and meets his young daughter Poppy who looks remarkably like Ellie. She starts to question who are they and why have they come into her life right now...I found the book hard to put down as it's such an engrossing but sad and hopeful tale also. Highly recommend.

I have read some of this authors earlier books, so when this popped up as a 'read now' on Netgalley I decided to read it as I normally read romance novels but good ones of those are few and far between of late.

I read this book in one go so I would say it kept me gripped but I think I was waiting for a twist in the tale but there isn't one and there isn't really any mystery as to why Ellie went missing as we get POV's from a few characters early on and nothing is a surprise as the story progresses. I would say I was only slightly surprised by one reveal.

It was an OK read but unfortunately, I didn't really like Laurel! She didn't seem that nice a person to me. Yes I know she's been through a traumatic 10 years but the author didn't endear her to me. In fact, none of the characters were endearing apart from perhaps Poppy who is very mature for her age.

The author says she wrote the book in 10 weeks. I think she should have fleshed out some of the characters more and given them more of a personality. I didn't 'feel' anything, even for Ellie. I would say the book did have a rushed feel to it and it would have worked better if it was a longer read.

I think it could have been better if we got to know each character more but as I say, it kept me gripped, so I would recommend it but not to those looking for a 'mysterious' read.

The author has created some extraordinarily bruised and damaged characters in this book. Laurel whose favourite daughter disappeared. She feeds on negativity and loses her children's childhoods through grief. I thought that was sad as it can never be recouped. I couldn't believe she demanded £30 to clean her daughter's flat. Nor her idealistic expectations of life that had never been met. Her thought processes were intriguing but sad. I kept thinking she should get a grip as her hold on life and people was so false and tenuous. Noelle is the stranger woman but I'd give the plot away if I commented on her so I shall just say she was an odd ball. A very interesting theme that is well written and compelling. A brilliantly mastered novel. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I shall post this review on Amazon, Facebook and my blog when it is published. .

A fast, easy read but very predictable storyline. I hoped I was wrong and there would be some twist at the end but it was not to be.

I love Lisa Jewell's books and am slowly making my way through her entire back catalogue and was delighted to be given an ARC of her latest book from the publishers and Netgalley so it jumped straight to the top of my toppling TBR pile.

This book focuses on missing teenager Ellie and her distraught mother Laurel. One of this authors' many talents is breathing life into her characters and making them so real that you can totally empathise and sympathise with both Ellie and Laurel throughout the story. Then She Was Gone has a distressing and disturbing story line, but I was hooked by the first chapter.

You are always guaranteed a gripping story line from Lisa Jewell as well as also a book full of interesting characters, some humorous situations and more importantly relationships filled with plausible and realistic emotions. This was an utter page-turner for me and I thoroughly recommend it.

Then She Was Gone was a quality read as I’ve come to expect from Lisa Jewell – a beautifully twisted plot and entirely engaging characters with an emotional core that always leaves you slightly reeling

In this novel, a teenager goes missing – her parents fall apart but eventually things move on. Then a new man enters the picture with a daughter who looks incredibly like the missing girl – and things are turned upside down.

I like the way the author digs deep into the lives of her cast of characters, creating intricate relationships, many nuances and a healthy dose of reality. Laurel was a particularly sympathetic person to follow along with, she is so very human dealing with such a horrific loss and determined to find some way to come to terms with it. Lisa Jewell throws everything and the kitchen sink at her and all the way through you are rooting for her to discover the truth and some kind of peace.

Keeping things mostly unpredictable, the story flows outwards and back on itself, cleverly allowing certain things to come to light at well placed moments. It is both psychological thriller and family drama, a gorgeous mash up of the two which makes for a highly addictive read.

Overall excellent as ever and I have no hesitation recommending it.

**Review also available on Goodreads**

I have always been a fan of Lisa Jewell's writing, and this one certainly didn't disappoint. Ten years ago, 15 year old Ellie Mack disappeared and was never seen again. The story is told mainly from the view point of Ellie's mother, Laurel, but also parts are told by Ellie herself and by the person responsible for her disappearance. The plot is quite complex, and I found it quite disturbing at times. It's a real page turner and I thoroughly recommend it. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.

Then She Was Gone is the new novel by one of my favourite authors Lisa Jewell. Once again Lisa delivers a story that takes you on an emotional roller coaster and keeps you completely absorbed.

I loved this character driven riveting story and found it hard to put down, it kept me up into the early hours to finish. A compelling read from a very talented storyteller, Lisa Jewell is one of the best writers around at the moment and I can't wait for her next book. Simply brilliant, and an absolute must-read!

Thank you!

I literally don't know what to say other than WOW. This novel is breathtaking, as in I was literally holding my breath reading it, I had wept within the first 20 minutes and I read the entire thing in one sitting, ignoring the children! It was just so powerful and true, I could believe the entire book, nothing was false or overplayed - you knew just where it was going yet still couldn't believe it.

It the best thing I have read in a long time, and am going to start it all over again immediately.

So sad. Ellie was fifteen, in love and the apple of her mother's eye when she disappeared. Laurel will never stop hoping that she is found, but realises this is an unlikely dream. It's time to let go - it's already destroyed the family.

So she moves on, as one does. She meets Floyd, who seems too good to be true, and has a daughter who looks very much like Ellie.

Lisa Jewell wrote of this book - "Then She Was Gone is my fifteenth novel and probably my darkest to date. I can't tell you too much here about the genesis of the book because that would be a total spoiler, but I can tell you that I went down a few wrong turnings on the way to the finished book and that when I finally worked out where I was supposed to be going the whole thing came racing out of me pages at a time and I wrote it in just over ten weeks - which was pretty exhilarating!"

That intrigued me. And I have to say I LOVED how this book turned out. Dark - yes. Sad - I already said that. True to life - absolutely. The characters were great, and the plot exceptional. The family inter-relationships, as usual, sound as clear as bells through all the witty dialogue.

Another eminently readable unputdownable Jewell.

Excellent, excellent, excellent. I couldn't put it down and this book is going to be a hard act to follow.

Wow I absolutely loved this book. It had me gripped from the very first page to the very last. It is by far the best book I have read this year. It's a great psychological thriller with a twist and I honestly didn't see where it was going. Fantastic read

This book has been elevated into the lofty positon of being my favourite book so far this year!
I won't mention the plot because others have done that, except to say that this is a gripping mystery which does not disappoint. I found that this story was both simple and complex; comparing old relationships with new - relationships and extended family. It was riveting and heartbreaking all at once. The ending was just fabulous. I intend to buy this book as a gift for a couple of friends when it is released. Loved it.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.