Review
Then She Was Gone
by Lisa Jewell
Though the writing itself could have been a bit stronger, the plot line of Then She Was Gone certainly was not lacking in twisty revelations or unexpected developments. With a plot twist I did not anticipate, the climax and resolution of this story were both quite satisfying.
Chilling in the best possible way.
★★★★✰
Elements
A twist I did not see coming.
Thoughts
First Impression
The cover of this book is wonderful. I love the pops of color against a dark background, a picture that perfectly sets the tone for this ominous story to unfold.
Criticism
The protagonist of this book, Laurel Mack, personally missed the mark with me. I felt that, as a whole, her character came across as a bit bland and dull. She was far more passive in the story than I would have liked, though I can perhaps justify some of the intention behind writing her character this way possibly as an attempt to convey Laurel’s grief.
Unfortunately, I felt that a few other elements of the story (including side characters and even sections of the plot) all seemed a bit lacking in luster. Then She Was Gone is definitely a mystery novel with suspense and intrigue, but the story seemed to be missing the element of humanity that really allows a reader to connect with a novel.
Appreciation
I haven’t read many thrillers, nor have I watched many horror movies, because I don’t particularly like to be scared. Therefore, I was a bit surprised by how much I enjoyed the process of reading this book. Right from the beginning, this story drew me in and I found myself hooked. The pacing was just right to maintain a steady level of suspense throughout the course of the novel and tension was drawn out until the novel’s final page.
The thing I loved most about Then She Was Gone was the way all of the events came together in a final synthesis that I was just not expecting in the slightest. As the story progressed, I did begin to develop an idea as to what I thought might have happened, but the actual “reveal” both satisfied my expectations and completely disproved them.
And let me just say: wow.
The way everything pulled together in the climax of the novel was so satisfying, with every little character interaction and seemingly random events interweaving until finally, the big picture came into view. I absolutely love a good twist of any variety and this book delivered exactly that.
The Last Word
If you like a good twist or a good mystery, Then She Was Gone might be the story for you.
Try and see it coming…
Rating: ★★★★✰
Age Group: Adult
Recommendation: Yes
Related Cause:
Summary: Where did she go?