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Book Review of Lisa Jewell's "Then She Was Gone"


Lisa Jewell's novel, Then She Was Gone, is a riveting suspense novel circled around the disappearance of an adolescent girl. The story line follows a mother, Laurel Mack, who's life has shattered after her daughter, Ellie, has disappeared without a trace. The timeline takes place both leading up to the disappearance and ten years after, when her remains are finally discovered and her parents put her to rest. Laurel and her husband, Paul, end up divorcing in light of everything and she ends up finding a new man in her life. This man, Floyd, changes Laurel's world in more ways than one--more so than her daughter's devastating disappearance. Laurel's life is turned upside down when secrets are revealed, from over ten years ago and up to the very moment of her discovering them. Characters interweave throughout the novel, exposing both past and present relationships. Laurel uncovers the truth of what happened to her daughter years ago, which also impacts her present day relationship in such an unexpected way that readers are left wondering what the hell just happened. Jewell's writing style is both riveting and steady. Readers are able to follow the story line closely without veering to far off the beaten path of the novels' impossible truth. Details are delicate, descriptions are visceral, and character development is vital to the overall picture. I'd highly recommend, 5 stars! :)

**SO FAR, I've read two and I've become entirely obsessed. Currently onto #3 with a review coming soon...**

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