INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERNominated for a 2018 Goodreads Choice Award“An acutely observed family drama with bone-chilling suspense.” —People“Jewell teases out her twisty plot at just the right pace, leaving readers on the edge of their seats. Her multilayered characters are sheer perfection, and even the most astute thriller reader won’t see where everything is going until the final threads are unknotted.” —Booklist, starred review“Sharply written with twists and turns, Jewell’s latest will please fans of Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train, or Luckiest Girl Alive." —Library JournalEllie Mack was the perfect daughter. She was fifteen, the youngest of three. She was beloved by her parents, friends, and teachers. She and her boyfriend made a teenaged golden couple. She was days away from an idyllic post-exams 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 ten 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 café, no one is more surprised than Laurel at how quickly their flirtation develops into something deeper. Before she knows it, she’s meeting Floyd’s daughters—and his youngest, Poppy, takes Laurel’s breath away.Because looking at Poppy is like looking at Ellie. And now, the unanswered questions she’s tried so hard to put to rest begin to haunt Laurel anew. Where did Ellie go? Did she really run away from home, as the police have long suspected, or was there a more sinister reason for her disappearance? Who is Floyd, really? And why does his daughter remind Laurel so viscerally of her own missing girl?
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Then She Was Gone: A Novel
By Lisa Jewell
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERNominated for a 2018 Goodreads Choice Award“An acutely observed family drama with bone-chilling suspense.” —People“Jewell teases out her twisty plot at just the right pace, leaving readers on the edge of their seats. Her multilayered characters are sheer perfection, and even the most astute thriller reader won’t see where everything is going until the final threads are unknotted.” —Booklist, starred review“Sharply written with twists and turns, Jewell’s latest will please fans of Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train, or Luckiest Girl Alive." —Library JournalEllie Mack was the perfect daughter. She was fifteen, the youngest of three. She was beloved by her parents, friends, and teachers. She and her boyfriend made a teenaged golden couple. She was days away from an idyllic post-exams 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 ten 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 café, no one is more surprised than Laurel at how quickly their flirtation develops into something deeper. Before she knows it, she’s meeting Floyd’s daughters—and his youngest, Poppy, takes Laurel’s breath away.Because looking at Poppy is like looking at Ellie. And now, the unanswered questions she’s tried so hard to put to rest begin to haunt Laurel anew. Where did Ellie go? Did she really run away from home, as the police have long suspected, or was there a more sinister reason for her disappearance? Who is Floyd, really? And why does his daughter remind Laurel so viscerally of her own missing girl?
Popular Reviews(11)
Reviewed by Michelle Garloved the story but didn't like the writing
Reviewed by Rosa Nalian This book completely pulled me in from the start. After the disappearance of fifteen-year-old Ellie Mack and the devastating impact it has on her family, her mother, Laurel, begins uncovering new connections tied to Ellie's case and the mystery only gets deeper. Every time I thought I knew where the story was going, something happened that made me question everything. The way the pieces slowly come together kept me turning pages late into the night. It's heartbreaking, suspenseful, and one of those books that stays on your mind long after you finish it. If you enjoy mysteries that keep you guessing and stories that make you emotionally invested in the characters, this is definitely one I'd recommend.
Reviewed by lisaHOLY SHIT!!!
Reviewed by evaFinally my first read for 2026 is here. To be frank i think this’s a good start for this year reading journey still i don’t know what exactly I’m feeling towards this book or more rather which feelings i have First i didn’t give it a full 5 stars because of two things : - the LGBTQ characters - the weird conversation about it’s okay being naked and there’s no purpose of life and whatever ( it felt stupid to be honest ) First i’ll talk about the pace of the book, it was a reasonable medium-paced, even the chapters were short not that long taken chapters. And for the writing style i actually enjoyed it surprisingly, the way the author was able to make me feel the characters emotions throughout the book was really interesting and delivering. I did predicted the plot twist but here’s the thing, i think the author intentionally made it the ORIGINAL plot twist easy to see but just to hit you with the fact you didn’t see the whole thing. And the ending? Yeah i don’t know what i should feel for that one, yeah it’s a bittersweet ending that for sure but was what happened to that character necessary? Ig it was
Reviewed by Carrie DionidoI DNF-ed this book for a year and a half. I enjoy mystery novels, which is why I picked this one up. The synopsis intrigued me, but I just couldn’t stomach it knowing a child was involved. As an INFJ, I tend to deeply empathize with every character — sometimes even giving the antagonist the benefit of the doubt. But in the end, she’s just a purely twisted psychopath. This was bone-chilling, even for me. It’s my first Lisa Jewell book, and to be fair, it’s a good one — just not my cup of tea.