Then She Was Gone

A Novel

By: Lisa Jewell

Narrated by: Helen Duff

Length: 10 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

Fifteen-year-old Ellie Mack was the perfect daughter. She was beloved by her parents, friends, and teachers. She and her boyfriend made a teenage golden couple. She was days away from an idyllic summer vacation, with her whole life ahead of her. And then she was gone.

Now her mother, Laurel Mack, is trying to put her life back together. It's been 10 years since her daughter disappeared, seven years since her marriage ended, and only months since the last clue in Ellie's case was unearthed. So when she meets an unexpectedly charming man in a cafe, she is surprised at how quickly their flirtation develops into something deeper. Before she knows it, she's meeting Floyd's daughters - and his youngest, Poppy, takes her breath away. Looking at her is like looking at Ellie. And now the unanswered questions she has tried so hard to put to rest haunt her anew...as well as some new ones about Floyd and Poppy....

©2018 Lisa Jewell (P)2018 Dreamscape Media, LLC

WOW, great book

I just finished listening to this book, and I am sad for it to be over. I found it to be very captivating. Yes, there is some dark content, but that's what psychological thrillers usually are, right?
I loved the narrator, and I got caught up in the story right away feeling like I was actually there with the family.
It was an emotional book with a satisfying ending. I hate when they end with a big question.
I don't want to leave any spoilers, but this book had great characters to hate, as well as to relate to. I loved how the book really went into detail with the characters feelings and emotional states.
5 stars from me.

Good but the end was a bit meh.

Excellent narration with lots of twists. I thought I had it figured out early on, but not quite. Interesting story but it kind of fell apart at the end where it seemed to fizzle out , dragging and becoming uninteresting for the last hour or so.

Good but sad

I thought this was a very good book but be prepared to be sad, this one hit me hard.

Compelling but predictable

I liked this book a lot but it was pretty predictable. the main character was a bit inconsistent, and unrealistic in her actions but overall I liked it.

Great Narration, So-so Story

The narration was great for this book, however the plotline wasn't the best. it was easy to see the direction it was taking, and the ending felt like the writer wanted to be done with it so just finished the book as easily as possible to shore up loose ends.

thought i had it all figured...

There were bits, that were totally predictable, but the twist was nice. I liked that I didnt figure it put entirely.

Gone, Good

May have a better read than audio book, predictable and slow for me. Plot needed more complexity.

Well written and very sad

I wouldn't recommend this book to my sisters because it's just so harrowing. At first I thought everything would turn out OK, but once I got into the book, I realized it was a reflection on grief and recovery more than a who-done-it. I don't have the heart of stomach for this sort of thing.

Also, the switching to different points of view in the second half of the book, while interesting, was confusing, especially since one person's POV left us thinking there had to be more to that storyline when it was clearly over.

The performance was masterful.

Not quite what I expected.

Overall. The book held my attention, however the story moved slowly. I was expecting the book to be more about the abduction and search for Ellie, but it was more about the results of the disappearance on her mom.

Eloquent Creepiness

"Then She Was Gone" was riveting. Jewell rendered each character with just the right amount of quirkiness, tragedy and subtlety. My curiosity was continually picqued,as I theorized about suspects and perpetrators, victims and villains. This would be a suspenseful indulgence, but for the fascinating narrative and descriptions that disclose truths and nuances without verbosity.
The narration was unobtrusive, while lending drama to the edgy narrative. The pleasant British accent enhanced the story, pairing well with the backdrop of England. Some readers were disturbed by some of the criminal behaviors portrayed. Jewell's skilled emphasis on thought provoking elements of human connections and alienation helped soften the darker details. All in all, a highly engaging, well crafted novel.