Then She Was Gone: A Novel

Ellie, fifteen, is smart, in love, and preparing for her exams. She convinces her reluctant but indulging mother she needs a tutor for her maths exams. Little does she know, hiring that tutor will change everything, and not in a good way. The tutor brings little treats and tries hard to make Ellie like her, but Ellie soon tires of the tutor and convinces her mother to let the woman go. Soon after, Ellie disappears. The story picks up ten years later. Ellie’s parents have divorced, and her mother, Laurel, hasn’t accepted that Ellie is really gone. But one day while in a coffee shop, Laurel is approached by a man, Floyd, who sweeps her off her feet. When Laurel meets his ten-year-old daughter, Poppy, Laurel is stunned by the resemblance Poppy has to Ellie.

Author Lisa Jewell has written a story with lots of mystery and plenty of twists and turns that will keep readers turning the pages. It all comes together at the end, but there is something of a cheat at the ending that will disappoint many. Still, it’s an interesting look at how a family can be affected by a terrible event.