Then She Was Gone, Lisa Jewell

Then She Was Gone opening line: Those months, the months before she disappeared, were the best months.

My blurb

Not knowing had held Laurel back from living. Her daughter left for the library one day and never came back. It’s been ten long years of not knowing and then one day there are answers. And shortly after that she starts living again. But the man she’s just recently met has a child. And this nine-year old is the spitting image of Ellie.

Then She Was Gone

THEN – She was fifteen, her mother’s golden girl. She had her whole life ahead of her. And then, in the blink of an eye, Ellie was gone. NOW – It’s been ten years since Ellie disappeared, but Laurel has never given up hope of finding her daughter. And then one day a charming and charismatic stranger called Floyd walks into a cafe and sweeps Laurel off her feet. Before too long she’s staying the night at this house and being introduced to his nine-year old daughter. Poppy is precocious and pretty – and meeting her completely takes Laurel’s breath away. Because Poppy is the spitting image of Ellie when she was that age. And now all those unanswered questions that have haunted Laurel come flooding back. What happened to Ellie? Where did she go? Who still has secrets to hide?

My verdict

This is one of the most well written novels I’ve read. The story as told from each defining character is well told with the then and now blending seamlessly together. And even though I knew how Poppy came to be, I could never have imagined the end.

About the author:

Lisa Jewell’s first novel, Ralph’s Party, was published in 1999 and was the best-selling debut novel of the year. Since then she has published another twenty-three novels, most lately a number of dark psychological thrillers, including Then She Was Gone, The Family Upstairs and None of This is True. Lisa is a number one New York Times and Sunday Times author who has sold over ten million books worldwide and been published in more than thirty languages. She lives in north London with her husband, two daughters, Daisy, a Romanian rescue dog, and a mad orange cat called Ivy.

Publishing information

Inspiration published on Lavender and Lime November 19:

• • 2015 – Chocolate And Orange Gelato
  • 2014 – Route 57
  • 2013 – Home Made Raisin Filled Rusks
  • 2012 – Sun Dried Tomato Pesto
  • 2010 – Open Mushroom Lasagna

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