thehouseplantlibrarian 's review for:

Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

4.0

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Ellie Mac, a seventeen year old with her whole life ahead of her and the golden child of her family, disappears one day without a trace. Her mother, Laurel, then spends the next ten years unable to move on from the loss of her child, the unknown of it all, even after Ellie’s remains are found. Then Laurel meets Floyd, a seemingly perfect partner to bring her out of her despair. But Floyd is carrying secrets of his own, secrets that have something to do with his charming 9 year old daughter, who looks uncannily like Ellie. What has been happening right under Laurels nose for the past ten years? What has she overlooked?

Now I really didn’t feel much suspense. It is rather a mystery than a thriller. I felt like there was one fucked up (yes I literally can’t find another way to describe it) “twist” that you had to endure slowly, agonizingly. Genuinely, I almost couldn’t make it through. The rest was predictable and fell into place after that. I didn't find that I was on the edge of my seat as much as I was tempted to be by the edge of the toilet seat getting ready to toss my cookies.

If you can stomach the gruesome, stomach turning retelling of a horrific crime, you’ll find the true theme is one of closure and rebirth as well as the enduring bonds between mother and child.