Reviews with content warning for Murder - Then She Was Gone

Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

322 reviews

meluelmil's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional funny mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Really, really enjoyed this book. It was hard to put down, but I also kept stopping to write my thoughts and theories so I could look back on them and see if I was on the right track. I LOVE that the story was well concluded and the loose ends were all tied. AND IT ALL MADE SENSE! There were lots of surprises and scenes that made me gasp out loud without a lazy explanation (read: “it was mental illness” or “it was all a dream” or “it was all a coincidence”). Great story, great execution, great epilogue!

Content Warnings

kimberlywilson's review

4.0

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I need to process everything I've read before giving an actual review. So many emotions.

Content Warnings

ash_cypher's review

3.5

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

nikkijeanreads's review

3.25

sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

I wanted to like this more. The setting and the characters had so much potential, but I just felt that they both fell a little flat. I felt like

for Ellie to be treated so cruelly, and to die such a tragic death, the retelling of her experience didnt trigger any emotions for me (I cry too much when reading, so I know im not emotionless haha!). The narration spoke of both Laurel and Ellies sorrow, but I didn't feel it.

I couldn't form a connection with the characters. Perhaps it was the pacing (I found it very slow, a slow burn suspense essentially), or maybe if the author had omitted Ellies initial 1st person POV near the beginning

when she encountered Noelle,

it would have been a different experience? Perhaps this little bit of info essentially made it predictable for me?

I will say that, when all is said and done, I didn't have to force myself to finish. I still enjoyed reading this book, I just don't think it hit any extraordinary notes to have me overly excited about it when I finished. I would read another of these authors' books to see if I can connect more next time around.

Content Warnings

delaney_friend's review

3.5

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Content Warnings

malloryhill10's review

4.5

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Content Warnings

allisonmaier's review against another edition

4.0

medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

zoe_o_'s review

1.0

dark medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Unfortunately, this book ranks very low for me. This was a book club pick, and as soon as I started reading it, I was disappointed with the writing and dialogue styles. As the chapters go on, other characters' POVs start getting incorporated and any attempt to distinguish their voices is disappointing (ex. the Irish character's only difference is voice is the frequent incorporation of the word "bonny"). Despite the writing, I was interested in seeing where the story went. Unfortunately it went into some hard no areas for me (I will add appropriate content warnings).
Given the intended audience ranges a little older, this book also falls prey to more traditional gender roles and the villanization of those who fall outside of them.

In the process of marking the villain as odd and "wrong" it is repeatedly emphasized that she is a virgin and that she has no mothering instinct at all.

Content Warnings