A review by escape_through_pages
Ghosted by Jenn Ashworth

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

📖 REVIEW 📖

Ghosted is narrated by Laurie, who wakes up one morning to find her husband, Mark, missing. Instead of going to the police, Laurie carries on with life, including her job as a cleaner at a university and visits to her father who is suffering with dementia. For five whole weeks. Naturally, when the police do get involved they are wary of Laurie and her sketchy explanations for her delay.

I’d hesitate to call this a thriller, but it’s certainly laden with mystery. As well as the obvious question of Mark’s whereabouts, there is the looming question of what has happened in the couple’s past to bring them to this point. There is also the troubled relationship Laurie has with her father, suspicions of the motives of his Ukrainian housekeeper, and why is Laurie now estranged from her neighbour and prior best friend Katrina? Laurie is an unreliable narrator, adding to the uncertainty.

A good premise but I felt the delivery was off. Laurie is a hard person to like; spending over three quarters of the book with this difficult character was hard to switch off from when the reveals came towards the end and her behaviour changes, such that it’s too big of an ask to suddenly care and feel empathy. I also found the writing a little rough in places and my picky brain noted a particular fondness for the word ‘stricken’ in the narrative. (Does anyone else notice that with certain words in some books? Just me?)

That said, it is a pacey page turner with more depth and feeling in its underpinning than most novels of the same ilk. It explores what happens when we shut down after trauma and withdraw into ourselves - Laurie’s cold, detached account and odd behaviours come with an explanation.

Mid range on the rating scale.