Review: THEN SHE WAS GONE, by Lisa Jewell

THEN SHE WAS GONE, by Lisa Jewell (Audio Book)

Dreamscape Media LLC - 2018
Narrated by Helen Duff

My Rating (out of 5)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Beautifully layered and expertly woven. Answers start coming fairly early, but there are a lot of pieces to fit together before the story is complete.  

Ellie Mack was fifteen years old when she vanished. While the disappearance affected the whole family, it was especially hard on her Mother - Laurel Mack.

In the years after Ellie went missing, Laurel's struggling marriage ended and her husband Paul left. He goes on to find someone new, and her other children have moved on with their lives as well.

Ten years after Ellie's disappearance, events transpire which finally convince Laurel it is time for her to move on as well. She meets a charismatic man and is soon dating him.  When she meets his daughters though, she is struck by how much the younger one, Poppy, reminds her of Ellie. And now all the emotions and questions she thought were quieted are now consuming her thoughts once again.  What did happen to her daughter?  Laurel is determined to find the answers, but what she learns is far beyond anything she could have imagined.

The author carefully weaves in the answers a little at a time, and keeps you hanging on every word. The depth of family bonds and rebuilding relationships form a beautiful backdrop to this otherwise emotionally charged story. 

Narration is very good.  Duff switches seamlessly between accents, personalities and emotions.  I enjoyed every minute. 

Happy Reading, 
Christine