A Dive into Heartbreak: My Thoughts on "Then She Was Gone" by Lisa Jewell
When I picked up Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell, I was drawn in by its premise—a gripping narrative centered around the unthinkable tragedy of a missing child. As someone who has often pondered the fragility of family bonds, the pitch caught my attention from the beginning. However, as the story unfolded, I was left with a mix of intrigue and exasperation—much like when a twist in a TV show feels both pivotal and contrived.
A Heart-Wrenching Premise, But…
The novel begins with the heart-wrenching disappearance of teenage Ellie Mack, which leads her mother, Laurel, on a harrowing journey of loss and discovery. Laurel’s tenacity is palpable, as she struggles against the indifference of law enforcement and her own spiraling despair. However, when Ellie’s remains are finally discovered years later, Laurel begins to piece her life back together. This is where things truly take a bizarre turn. Enter Floyd, a man who seems the perfect balm for Laurel’s wounds, paired with his little daughter, Poppy—who looks eerily like Ellie.
As I navigated through the story, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of déjà vu. The twist—while likely shocking to some—felt too familiar to me. I recalled a similar plot from an old Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode nearly a decade ago. The episode had tackled the subject matter with a certain believability that Jewell’s plot often fell short of. Whereas this audacious twist may have startled some readers, I’d argue that UK standards for shocking diverge greatly from their American counterparts.
Character Misfires and Tropes Galore
Jewell introduces us to a roster of characters that often felt contrived and, at times, hard to root for. Laurel is your quintessential grieving mother, but I found her more frustrating than relatable. Noelle, the needy math tutor, epitomizes the stereotype of a woman who feels incomplete without a man—the kind of trope that leaves a sour taste in my mouth. Sure, jealousy and desperation can lead us down dark paths, but Noelle’s actions felt overly exaggerated, bordering on ridiculous.
Then there’s Floyd, who becomes a caricature of the sensitive man with a troubled past. His constant fawning over Laurel felt creepier than romantic. Why can’t we have beautifully flawed characters instead of these one-dimensional portrayals? And Laurel’s daughter-in-law Blue, with her New Age vibes warning Laurel against Floyd, felt more like a cliché than a credible advisory voice. Why not have her trust her instincts instead?
A Quick Page-Turner, But…
Despite these frustrations, I cannot deny that Jewell has a knack for pacing. The short chapters and cliffhanger endings kept me invested, even if I was rolling my eyes at the characters’ decisions. Still, the implausibility of their motivations left me grappling with disbelief. I found myself shaking my head more than nodding in agreement, and while this was a quick read, it’s not one I’d champion wholeheartedly.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, if you’re looking for a light thriller with a dash of melodrama and don’t mind tropes that lean into the realm of the fantastical, then Then She Was Gone might captivate you. However, for readers like me who crave depth and relatability in characters, this may not be your cup of tea. If you’re seeking a truly compelling narrative, perhaps revisit Law & Order: Special Victims Unit—now in its 19th season—where the drama is more believable, and the stakes feel profoundly human. Happy reading!