The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell on May 3, 2022
Genres: Fiction / Thrillers / Crime, Fiction / Thrillers / Psychological, Fiction / Thrillers / Suspense, Fiction / Women
Pages: 416
Format: Paperback
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“People are easier to deal with if they underestimate you.”
The novel follows young parents Tallulah and Zach, who are thrilled to have the chance to enjoy a rare night out on the town. But when the couple still hasn’t returned by the next morning, Tallulah’s mother Kim is rightfully worried. But with no clues, the case goes cold, and a year goes by. Then, when Sophie, a mystery writer, moves in nearby, and clues start to surface, it seems like Kim will finally get the answers she’s been searching for. The Night She Disappeared starts off as a slow burn with a chilling atmosphere and multiple points of view, which soon all converge into a gripping and unputdownable story.
This story starts slowly, partly because of the three points of view which take place across different timelines. Then, once everything starts to come together and we get hit with twist after twist, I just can’t look away. I read a lot of books in this genre, so it’s pretty hard to surprise me. And the way the twists are laid out, you do see them coming from a few chapters before. But there was one twist in there that got me good, and it was a delightful surprise. The story has a contemporary look at domestic abuse, teen moms, dangerous friendships, and the tantalizing call of wealth. Jewell really has a way with digging up sensitive topics.
I gave this book a four-star rating! I just could not put it down. I had to know how it would all end! I like to think of myself as an avid thriller reader so it does take a lot for me to be shocked and this book did not disappoint. She has a special knack for taking seemingly unrelated plot threads and weaving them together into a seamless, cohesive story by the end.