From the global number one bestselling author of The Family Upstairs: a missing woman, an abandoned mansion, family trauma, and deep buried secrets. It can only be Lisa Jewell!
Midsummer 2017: teenage mum Tallulah heads out on a date, leaving her baby son at home with her mother, Kim. At 11pm she sends her mum a text message. At 4.30am Kim awakens to discover that Tallulah has not come home. Friends tell her that Tallulah was last seen heading to a pool party at a house in the woods nearby called Dark Place. Tallulah never returns.
2018: walking in the woods behind the boarding school where her boyfriend has just started as a head-teacher, Sophie sees a sign nailed to a fence. A sign that says: DIG HERE . . .
A cold case. An abandoned mansion. A family hiding a terrible secret. Prepare to be hooked. Lisa Jewell’s latest thriller is her best yet.
Read some great reviews from our Preview readers here:
A cold case. An abandoned mansion. A family hiding a terrible secret. And the story begins! Taken from different timelines and perspectives, we meet Tallulah, a teenage mother who lives for her little boy Noah. Zach, her controlling and somewhat aggressive boyfriend and Scarlett, a young woman who is successful in manipulating those around her. We then have Kim, Tallulah’s mother who is struggling as Noah’s caregiver and who just wants to know what happened to her daughter. We also meet Sophie, an author who writes Detective stories. She arrives in the country from London with her partner who is the new Head Teacher at the local College. The College that Tallulah and Scarlett attend. It quickly becomes evident to Sophie that someone is trying to give her clues to help solve the mystery surrounding the disappearance of the young parents so she starts asking questions. Why did Tallulah and Zach go back to the mansion with Scarlett and her friends for a pool party on the night they disappeared? Why did Scarlett and her family leave their beautiful mansion in the days following the party? Why have all those who were at the mansion that night closed all their social media accounts? Someone, somewhere knows something but the answer is ‘who’. This book is a hell of a ride from start to finish. Lisa Jewell gives us a thriller, and a ‘who done it’ that gives Agatha Christie a run for her money. Diane, SA, ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars
Could. Not. Put. Down. Absolutely loved this book. You are drawn into the story right from the get-go and the interwoven stories worked beautifully together to give you a well-rounded view of the whole story with a host of characters that you couldn’t help but become enmeshed with. There were some surprises in there along the way that culminated in an ending that brought the whole story full circle. Would highly recommend and absolutely loved the whole reading experience of this one. Tracy, WA, 5 Stars
I have never read a book by Lisa Jewell but now I know I will be reading more by such a talented author. With every part in the book, the twists in this mystery get bigger and bigger. When I thought that I knew what the story would throw at me, it took me in a complete other direction which made this book a page turner. Up until the very last page, Lisa Jewell had me still guessing at what way her story was going to go and the words she had put down on paper. An amazing twisted read that has left all questions answered and a new fan! Jessica, VIC, 5 Stars
This is a compelling, gripping masterful thriller that grabs your attention from the first page and never lets you go. Even the final twist on the very last page is a total surprise. Tallulah and Zach are childhood sweethearts. They are now 19, have a beautiful little boy, Noah, and live at home with Tallulah’s very supportive mum, Kim. In mid-Summer 2017 they head out for a long overdue date night and Kim is more than happy to babysit. They are never seen again. Slowly, slowly details of that last evening, and their lives together emerge told through different voices and timelines. Perhaps things between them weren’t what they seemed? Finally, over a year later a clue is unearthed. Will the mystery finally be solved? I love English and European crime and am astounded I have not read Lisa Jewell’s books before. I have already ordered copies of her earlier books from my local bookstore. Her writing reminds me very much of another of my favourite authors, Helen Fielding. Don’t start this book unless you can put off everything else you think you need to do. You will not be able to put it down. Peta, NT, 5 Stars
Absolutely loved this book. At first I rolled my eyes at the timeline jumping each chapter but I soon was enveloped into this twisting tale. Tallulah, Zach and Sophie were enriching characters who just kept on giving intriguingly as the story darkened. The many twists delved into human greed, lies and deception with a conclusion I didn’t see coming. Looking forward to reading more from this author. Shelley, NSW, 5 Stars
What a read! A slow burn start but I was never bored. The end of each chapter left me wanting more. Loved the dual time line as we see the lead up to THE NIGHT through Tallulah’s eyes and present day from her mother, Kim, and Sophie, a detective novelist trying to solve the mystery of Tallulah’s disappearance. About half way through I got to the point of no return where I HAD to know what happened, and boy it was quite a ride as the end drew near. Highly recommend it! Emma, VIC, 5 Stars
A brilliantly written novel filled with mystery and suspense by Lisa Jewell. This is the first novel I have read by Lisa Jewell, from chapter one I was hooked and could not put this book down. On a warm summer’s night, a young couple Tallulah and Zach kiss their young baby goodnight before they head out for date night at the local pub, only to disappear hours later. What happened in those hours after their date? What made them end up at a party at a secluded property known as “Dark Place”. Their loved ones have no idea of their whereabouts! Don’t let quaint countryside of the Surrey Hills fool you. Here lies a trail of trauma, lies, buried secrets, mystery and a missing person. The suspense captivates you almost immediately and the only way to solve the mystery is to keep reading. The dual timelines and the different points of view consume you; the characters were so well thought out that it makes you want to keep reading! The book is so descriptive that you can visualise every scene. Lisa Jewell is such a talented writer; magnificent storyteller. The twisted plot of this psychological thriller will blow your mind. Kellie, NSW, 5 Stars
Congratulations to Lisa Jewell on a fascinating book. I just couldn’t put it down. The story drew you in and the characters evolved such an emotional response. It is filled with love, dread and deception. An enthralling read. Crime fiction at its best! Debra, VIC, 5 Stars
OMG! WOW! I Loved this book! First book of hers that I’ve read, but I will definitely be looking at her back collection! I loved the convergence of the time lines, the array of characters kept it very interesting! This book kept me gripped from the get go, to the point that I finished it at 1am on the day I started it! One of the best books I have read this year! Karina, NSW, 5 Stars
You should definitely add Lisa Jewell’s The Night She Disappeared to your reading list. It is a thrilling story that will keep you turning pages to put all the pieces of the puzzle together, just like Sophie, the “detective” character in the book. I found the characters to be well rounded and relatable, woven into the tale without the need for lengthy descriptive passages. Jewell has made this a clever combination of emotions – young love, secretive control and the heartache of a bereft mother’s loss. My heart broke for Kim, devastated by the disappearance of her beautiful daughter, Tallulah, and Tallulah’s boyfriend, Zach. Left to raise their son, Noah, alone and going through the grief of realising that as time passes, she may never know what happened on that night. Discovering along the way that there are always things we don’t know about the people we love and that, right under our very noses, things are not always what they seem. There is a rich array of ancillary characters who help to bring this tale to life, each divulging more fragments of the mystery. Not usually a fan of mixed timelines, I found the chapters flowed seamlessly from the past into the present revealing the story at precisely the right pace. Well done, Lisa Jewell, I will definitely be looking for more of your titles. Jenny, QLD, 4 Stars
Wow, this book had me engrossed from early on. It blended 2 somewhat separate stories together with great ease and led me on an interesting journey. I really liked the description of the major characters, I liked that there were many important characters who were just as pivotal to the plot as the main characters themselves. Tallulah, who was somewhat misinterpreted, as other people saw a different version of her, all the while she was having inner dialogues of her real thoughts. Then comes Scarlett, alternate but misunderstood by those closest to her. And lastly, Sophie, who is an amateur detective on the scent of a great mystery. There is Tallulah’s Mum, Kim, whose life is turned upside down. Also, there is Zach, Tallulah’s intense boyfriend, and Liam and Lexie, linked to Scarlett and her world. The delivery of the story and the style in which it was written I enjoyed, as it was a novel concept. It was a light but fast paced and kept me guessing until the very end. I would recommend this as a great read, and will be looking at what other books Lisa Jewell has written. Gillian, QLD, 4 Stars
On the cover of Lisa Jewell’s new thriller, The Night She Disappeared, it states “Her best thriller yet” and while this is the first Lisa Jewell novel I have read I do agree that this story does hold the key ingredients to captivate the audience into a good thriller. Tallulah and Zach have disappeared after a night out. When they fail to return to Tallulah’s Mum’s house and to their 12-month-old baby the alarm is raised. They were last seen at a pool party in a house called the “Dark Place”, a house that also has a history and is wrapped in mystery. Lisa Jewell, through her talented writing tells the story from multiple points of view, over three different time lines. She gives the reader little clues to unravel the mystery but also manages to leave you hanging after each chapter, making you want more. While this story had a good setting, great mystery and some good characters there were a few characters who I didn’t connect with and I found the ending a bit rushed and unconvincing. Thanks to Better Reading and Penguin Random House Australia for my advance reading copy. I did enjoy reading this book and would read another by this author given the opportunity. Ally, TAS, 4 Stars
Sophie Beck, a mystery author, and new-to-the area resident, finds herself involved in the unsolved 2017 disappearance of two teenagers, when she discovers a clue at her new home: A clue that can only have been recently. THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED is the first Lisa Jewell book I’ve read, and I thoroughly enjoyed this multiple point-of-view, multiple timeline story. I thought Jewell did a great job in setting the mood by treating locations as characters themselves, and giving them a role to play in this mystery. There’s a small wood where three different worlds converge: the tranquil village, a school for affluent, disengaged kids and a now abandoned manor house. This house is also the last location the teens were seen alive. Jewell’s writing gives each character a distinct personality, but within a group of seemingly ordinary people, it’s difficult to speculate who – and how – they might be involved; few of these characters are what they first appear to us readers. Jewell skilfully reveals a little more with each chapter, and there’s an ever-growing tension as we head into the denouement. The book certainly kept me turning the pages. I give two thumbs up to this thriller. M, NSW, 4 Stars
The moment I stepped into The Night She Disappeared, I was hooked. Lisa Jewell got straight into the story, and her descriptions of characters and surroundings made you feel like you were enjoying a movie. Sometimes the changes in time were a bit disconcerting, but in the end it added to the suspense. Sometimes you thought you knew ‘who dun it’, but the book left it right to the end to surprise you with who actually did what, how and when. This novel was an easy read for me, not too heavy, and I will definitely be looking on the bookshelves for another of Lisa Jewell’s books. Wilma, TAS, 4 Stars
Why did I take so long to discover this author? Lisa Jewell’s lockdown book, The Night She Disappeared, is a real gem. Switching between different time periods, this unexpected mystery is a page turner which keeps you on the edge of your seat. Not only a satisfying thriller which will have you scratching your head and suspecting everyone and no one, this story is also an exploration of love in its many forms. Sophie, a writer of detective novels, is my favourite character and she really carries the story, finding clues and making connections that the police seem to miss. Lacking gruesome details and having a lot of charm in the descriptions and setting, this book represents a new kind of thriller of which I would like to read more. I am now looking forward to exploring Lisa Jewell’s significant back catalogue. Michelle, VIC, 4 Stars
The Night She Disappeared is a brilliant slow paced psychological thriller set in an idyllic English village. The story centres around the disappearance of a young teenage couple Tallulah and Zach after a night out. The back and forth between timelines worked so well creating a compelling plot though not as dark as the title and the first chapter might imply. Lisa Jewell leaves the reader wanting more as each chapter leads to more intriguing threads. The introduction of Sophie a novelist and her partner Shaun, the new head teacher at the boarding school adds another vital element to the premise of story. The conclusion was not what I expected and was exceptionally executed. I highly recommend this book, could not put it down until the last page. Just had to keep reading. Ilona, VIC, 4 Stars
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