When the Past Refuses to Stay Buried: A Review of “Then She Was Gone”

When the Past Refuses to Stay Buried

Imagine this: you’re going about your life, barely holding it together, and then—bam—the past shows up wearing a new face. That’s exactly what happens to Laurel Mack when she meets Poppy, a young girl who looks way too much like Ellie, her daughter who vanished years ago. It’s not comforting—it’s jarring, like seeing a ghost.“

From there, Lisa Jewell pulls us into Laurel’s world with a narrative that zigzags through time and shifts perspectives like a well-edited documentary. It’s clever and immersive, layering the suspense while digging deep into themes of love, grief, and the raw human instinct to keep going, even when everything hurts.

Finding Light in the Rubble

Then She Was Gone isn’t just about a missing person—it’s about what’s left behind. When Ellie disappears, Laurel’s life doesn’t just crack; it shatters. Her marriage fizzles out. Her connection to her other kids frays. And slowly, quietly, grief turns into something heavier—guilt, numbness, isolation.

Jewell doesn’t sugarcoat any of it. Hanna, Laurel’s other daughter, ends up in Ellie’s shadow, feeling like an afterthought. Their strained relationship is a tough read, mostly because it feels so real. And then there’s Paul, Laurel’s ex, doing his own quiet unraveling.

And yet—there’s a turning point. Finding Ellie’s remains is devastating, but in a strange, painful way, it gives Laurel something she hasn’t had in years: closure. And through Poppy—this eerie mirror of Ellie—Laurel begins to see a path forward, however uneven.

Carrying the Weight—and Letting Go

Guilt plays a huge role in Laurel’s story. Not the dramatic, shouting kind—but the quiet, everyday sort. She cleans Hanna’s apartment every week, not just to help, but maybe to make up for being emotionally absent. Hanna, meanwhile, lives like she’s afraid to take up space, as if feeling happy would be a betrayal.

But Jewell doesn’t leave her characters stranded in misery. There are flickers of healing. When Laurel finally apologizes to Hanna, it’s not just a line of dialogue—it’s a moment where the emotional walls start to crack. Their reconciliation might feel a little quick, considering their history, but even so, it hits the heart. Sometimes, forgiveness isn’t tidy. It just happens.

Jewell’s Signature Style

Jewell writes with this clean, unpretentious style that somehow still packs a punch. Her characters feel like real people—not just because they’re flawed, but because they’re trying. Laurel’s grief and guilt are messy and complicated, and that honesty makes her journey feel all the more meaningful.

And here’s something worth mentioning: the short chapters. They keep the pacing tight, the tension sharp. You tell yourself, just one more chapter—and suddenly it’s 2 a.m.

Why This One Sticks With You

If you love thrillers with a pulse but also want a story that hits you emotionally, Then She Was Gone delivers. Jewell doesn’t just build suspense—she balances it with quiet, tender moments that sneak up on you.

At its core, this isn’t just a mystery—it’s a story about loss, healing, and how people try (and sometimes fail) to move on. It’s haunting, yes—but also strangely hopeful. And that mix? That’s what makes it unforgettable.

A Personal Reflection

This book had been on my TBR pile for a while, and with so many rave reviews floating around, I went into it with pretty high expectations. Jewell definitely knows how to create a moody, suspenseful atmosphere.

Right off the bat, I’ll say the premise is gripping. It pulls you in fast—there’s that aching mystery of a lost child and the quiet devastation that lingers in a family left behind. Jewell’s writing is accessible and emotional, and there are some genuinely chilling moments.

So far, I’ve been talking a lot about the good stuff. But now, let’s get into something a bit more uncomfortable.

Here’s the thing—there were quite a few scenes that felt totally unnecessary and just slowed everything down. Instead of building tension, they kind of pulled me away from what really mattered. Honestly, I caught myself skimming through, just itching to get back to the main mystery.

Then there’s Laurel’s relationship with Hannah, her surviving daughter. I get that they were moving toward reconciliation, but it happened way too fast to really ring true. I wish they’d taken more time with it—what could’ve been a powerful, emotional journey just felt kind of rushed and surface-level.

If you enjoy character-driven thrillers and don’t mind a few plot conveniences, Then She Was Gone is worth a read. Just go in knowing that not every thread is tied up as believably as you might hope.

If You Couldn’t Put Down Then She Was Gone, These 3 Books Belong on Your Nightstand

If Then She Was Gone pulled you in with its dark secrets and emotional layers, these three will keep your heart racing and your mind spinning. They all have that same addictive mix of mystery, suspense, and very human grief running just under the surface.

1. The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena

This one kicks off with a missing baby and a set of parents who are instantly under suspicion. What follows is a spiral of unraveling trust—not just between the couple, but between neighbors, friends, and even themselves. Like Then She Was Gone, it’s a story about what people will do to protect (or destroy) the ones closest to them.

It’s punchy, compulsively readable, and ideal if you want something to fly through in a weekend.

2. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

This one’s pretty different. A famous painter shoots her husband and then just… goes silent. No talking at all. Then there’s this psychotherapist who gets totally hooked on figuring out what’s really going on. It’s slower, more about the mind than action, way more psychological than Then She Was Gone. But the payoff? Worth it.

3. Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson

Imagine waking up every morning with no memory of who you are or who the man next to you is. That’s Christine’s life, and as she begins piecing things together—writing in a secret journal, questioning what she’s told—things get dark fast. Like Then She Was Gone, this story messes with memory, perception, and the horrifying idea that you may not really know the people closest to you.

It’s unsettling in all the best ways.