This is a mystery, told from two timeline views
Concerning a couple and dreadful news.
They’re young parents who’ve left their one year old son
And no one is saying just where they have gone.

Two years later Sophie moves to a new home
And in nearby woods she chooses to roam.
That’s where she discovers a sign on a tree
With instructions to “Dig Here” - what will she see?

Initially the timelines confused, but keep turning pages
The story develops especially in the later stages.
It is a slow build story, a real chiller,
With lots about Tallulah, its a cold case thriller.

Thanks to Random House and NetGalley, too
For my copy of this book, this is my honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up.
Review of the audiobook narrated by Joanne Froggatt, known for her Downton Abbey fame!
The narration was great, Froggatt captured the tension and drama perfectly.
This was a mixed bag for me, I was immediately drawn into the story of Kim and Tallulah, and then Sophie in the later timeline. It was a gripping and captivating start and I was so intrigued to see where the book would take me.
The dual timeline was great at first, but in the second half of the audiobook I began to lose track. There were more characters introduced that I forgot their role in the story, and although I enjoyed the ending I did have to keep rewinding it to follow what was happening.
I definitely enjoyed this more than Jewell's previous book and I would definitely recommend it to thriller fans!

OMG !
Her best one yet !
It had me on the edge of my seat the whole time !! SO many twists and more twists and some turns just for good measure.
5⭐️‘S

Another well written and plotted novel by Lisa Jewell; one of my favourite authors. Young parents, Tallulah and Zack take a night off from caring for baby Noah. They leave him in the care of Kim, Tallulah's mum, but they never come back. Kim, knowing how much Tallulah loves her son, is convinced they would never run off. The couple are still missing a year later, when Shaun and his partner Sophie, move to the town where Shaun is taking on the role of Head Teacher at the exclusive Maypole House Boarding School. Sophie, a crime writer, becomes very invested in the mystery of the disappearances. When some strange incidents occur she begins her own investigation.

The story is told from a number of viewpoints and through three timelines. They cleverly ramp up the tension and you soon learn that some people know more that they are saying. The slow development of the plot is just right for the gradual reveal of the fate of Tallulah and Zack. The characters are really well drawn, in particular Kim with her determination to find her family. The depiction of the relationships between the characters is very realistic.

There is a real skill in the way the author leaves you wanting more at the end of each chapter. I was gripped by this twisty tale.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Random House for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow 👏what a book. I absolutely loved this one. I was completely gripped and struggled to put it down, I could easily have binged this in a couple of sittings.
To me, this is everything a thriller should be. The multiple time lines and points of view that keep you guessing and reading on well into the night, and the way the story slowly unfolds, as the pieces come together was perfect. 100% reccomend this one.

Lisa Jewell has quickly become a must read author for me. This book begins with the disappearance of a pair of young parents one night leaving no clues behind. The community is rocked by this disappearance as even though the parents are only 19, the dote on their baby. A year after the disappearance, a mystery writer moves into town and finds clues that link one of her books to the disappearance.

I loved this book from the very beginning and each chapter leads you into the plot more and more. The story is really well-written with a fast pace. There are multiple timelines and multiple points of view but they are blended into the book really well and it doesn't get confusing.

There are lots of twists in this book and I didn't see most of them coming. The characters in it are brilliant and I thought they were relatable. The book was impossible to put down and its really hard to review without giving the whole thing away so you'll just have to read the book for yourself.

When you start a new Lisa Jewell you know you are in for a great read (in my experience) and this one was no different. What a treat! Different timelines take you between the shocking reality and emotional torment of a missing couple of teenagers & the background and gradual build up to the disappearance itself. I was equally enthralled to follow each timeline as they made compelling reading.
Throw in a variety of POV giving different angles to the story and I was hooked, reading every second I could snatch.
The characters were really well-developed, particularly Kim, the distraught mother left literally holding the baby, facing the desperate unknowing. It took its toll on Kim which was depicted cleverly throughout the development of the story.
This story was emotionally heart breaking, resonating with the ‘normal’ battles young people are faced with: wanting to stay in the background; trying to fit in; wanting to be loved; family life, growing up; turbulent relationships and carrying secrets. Throw in other characters such as a novelist who writes detective stories, comfy village settings, deserted ancient houses with history, a school for privileged children and you have a heady mix!
There was never a moment when I wasn’t racing through, desperate to find out what happened to Tallulah and Zach, her controlling boyfriend; or enjoying the amateur sleuthing of Sophie, and screaming inside at the spoilt behaviour of Scarlett & her cronies, whilst also wondering what had happened to Scarlett to make her that way.
I particularly enjoyed the way the author skilfully wrapped up all the loose ends in the book and didn’t leave me wondering.
A brilliant read!

Lisa Jewell has a way of weaving together a story that draws the reader in so wholly that they don't want to put the book down because you need to know what happens next.

In The Night She Disappeared you think you know where the story is going, you think you've got it all sussed out then...hello twist! This is a book that keeps going all the way to the final paragraph. Written in a close dual timeline the story gets slowly revealed as the past & present come slowly to their dramatic conclusion. The mix of characters across the timelines works really well too as you follow the action & question who you can really trust.

This is a fantastic story, excellently narrated.

Another gripping psychological thriller from the excellent Lisa Jewell. She has the knack of writing a story which grabs you from page one and never lets up. A young couple go missing and there is no trace of them until a crime writer moves in to the local school house ans starts to investigate. Brilliant!

3.5 Stars

A slow moving and suspenseful mystery featuring family, secrets and entitled teenagers

3 POVs, featuring Tallulah, her mother Kim, and Sophie, an author who relocated to live with her headmaster boyfriend at a private school,
3 timelines,
2 missing teenagers.

What happened to Tallulah and Zach? Where are they? Will Kim ever find out? What has Sophie found in the woods, and who left it?

The Night She Disappeared was a well written mystery, which kept me turning the pages, wanting to find out what really happened to Tallulah and her boyfriend Zach. The different timelines wove together well, and kept me hanging, as we switched between them and the different character's POVs. There were a few good red herrings, and I was engaged in the mystery.

I loved the setting with the creepy house and the surrounding woods, most villages have both so I could really visualise it, and feel the atmosphere!

The character's POV I related to the most was Kim's, Tallulah's mother. I loved Kim, she was a great character, and I really felt for her as she struggled to deal with not knowing what happened t her beloved teenaged daughter. I could feel her pain, grief and frustration; she was stuck in limbo, not knowing, her own life on hold whilst she looked after her grandson (Tallulah and Zach's son). he definitely stood out as the most fully fleshed out and relatable character.
Sophie's POV was fine, I liked her, and she was necessary in order to move the plot on, to reopen the cold case and discover hidden secrets. However I was a bit surprised that she had forgotten THAT detail from her own cosy mystery books..
Tallulah's POV was interesting, and showed the most. I felt for her, and the situation she was in, and was shouting at her to confide in her lovely strong mum.

I had heard that this book read a bit YA, and I have to agree. Being in a 17-19 year old's head for most of the book made it feel that way. I do like reading YA every now and then, but this had way too much teenage relationship drama in it for me. All Tallulah's backstory did slow down the first half of the book, in fact the whole book felt quite long!

In the last part of the book, the pace picked up, and the plot quickly moved along, but I found some of the events a little unbelievable and implausible if I'm honest!

So a mixed bag for me. Whilst I enjoyed the mystery, the setting and some of the characters, wanting to find out what had happened, I didn't connect with other characters, and I wasn't sure about the ending.

I am a big fan of Lisa Jewell and yet to discover a book of hers that I do not like! The Night She Disappeared is no exception and I literally could not put it down.
A completely absorbing read that had me glued to the couch for the day as I was completely addicted and not willing to budge until I had finished reading this one. (The grocery shopping did not get done, but I mean priorities, right?). It all comes down to knowing when to start a book like this because, trust me, you will not be able to stop turning those pages!

The story is a bit of a slow burn but it reads at a fast-flowing pace and is so captivating, you will never lose interest. It is told in multiple timelines from three POV’s, providing a well-built backstory and building the suspense with clues to keep you guessing!

It’s 2017, nineteen-year-old Tallulah is heading out on a date with boyfriend Zach, leaving her mother Kim to babysit their baby. Tallulah and Zach never make it home! They were both last seen leaving the pub and heading to a pool party at house in the nearby woods called The Dark Place.

In 2018, Sophie just moved into a cottage on the grounds of Maypole House in the area Tallulah and Zach went missing. While walking in the woods behind the boarding school where her boyfriend has just started as a head teacher, Sophie sees a sign nailed to the fence! A sign that says: Dig Here… Soon the cold case on the disappearance of Tallulah and Zach has been re-opened in full force because Sophie has just found a vital piece of evidence!

What did Sophie find? And will this be enough to find out what really happened the night Tallulah and Zach disappeared? Shock and disbelief will cloud your mind as revelations and situations are brought to light! A MUST read for all the thriller fans out there!

I am such a fan of Lisa Jewell and I was so excited to get to read this. What a page turner. Lisa's books are best started earlier in the day, particularly if you want to get any sleep. Once you start you just want to carry on until you know what happens. That's the mark of a skilled writer right there! Thank you to Net Galley and to Random House for the advance copy in exchange for a review.

This was such a enjoyable read. It had everything a good thriller should have – interesting characters, an emotional storyline, and numerous twists and turns throughout to keep the reader guessing as to the outcome.

I thought the character of Kim was particularly well written, the way the author describes her utter desperation in the search to find her daughter and granddaughter were filled with such emotion. Despite being emotionally and physically exhausted, she never gives up.

The storyline was written in several timelines – before the night they disappeared, the present, and as it comes to conclusion the truth unfolds as to what happened on the night they disappeared. Also throughout the book there were snippets of the night which was an excellent inclusion that kept me engaged throughout.

Overall, an excellent thriller and one that I highly recommend.

Many thanks to Random House UK, Lisa Jewell and NetGalley for the review copy.

Really enjoyed this, some nice twists but it was the character development that fascinated me. Peeling away the layers from artifice to truth.

Another hit by Lisa Jewell. Keeps you guessing to the end. Teenage mum disatisfied with her relationship ,under the spell of the in group. But how do they disappear? Are they alive? Have they run off? No spoilers but the emotions and cirumstances totally grip you.
I would defitnely recommend this book for a good suspence with a twist.

This is my first Lisa Jewell novel - how ever have I missed her writing before?? This was a wonderful read: such a page turner; I found myself slipping away and losing hours to read on and find out the answer to this mystery!
The book starts in 2017 with a young teenage mum, Tallulah, and her baby, Noah. Tallulah had fallen pregnant by accident but as her character is revealed she seems to be in control of her unexpected situation and is depicted as a loving mother who is trying to get an education around the demands of young motherhood. Tallulah still lives at home with her mother, Kim, and also Noah’s father: Zach. One night Zach and Tallulah go out to dinner and are invited to a pool party at a big house locally – they never return home, and no-one seems to take Kim seriously that her daughter would not simply abandon her son. The police case investigating the disappearance seems lacklustre at best.
Two years later, Sophie and Shaun move into Maypole House together, which is a private school for pupils who, quite frankly, seem spoilt and over-indulged. It appears to be a modern equivalent of an unmarried mother’s home: somewhere to send your children when they fail in mainstream education to avoid the shame of admitting it! Sophie is a published author of detective novels and her move soon throws her into her very own mystery: solving the disappearance of Tallulah and Zach.
There are so many characters to get to know. Trust no-one, even the most minor characters have a part to play. I did think Sophie’s ‘Miss Marple’ investigation was a little too convenient at times, how can a published author find out answers to questions the police seem never to have even asked. The friendship between Kim and Sophie seemed slightly contrived. However, I loved the twists. There were so many characters that were multi-faceted. I guess Sophie’s history as an author allows her some slack in detective measures.
It’s difficult to talk about this in too much detail so that the plot is not spoilt. Wonderfully woven with unexpected shifts. The dual timeline allows details the narrative to be tightly controlled and gradually learn the relationships that lead to this disappearance.
Don’t miss this read or you will regret it!

I first discovered Lisa Jewell last year and swiftly devoured all her available titles and loved them, so when I seen her latest release "The Night She Disappeared" was available for review on netgalley, I haven't hit the request button as fast in my life!

This book is Lisa Jewell at her best and doesn't disappoint!! I was hooked from the very first page and I loved the way the story was told in different POVs from before and after Tallulah disappeared!

As per usual when reading one of Lisa's books, I thought I knew where it was going then she kept slipping in more bits of information and the story was unfolding before me in a way I didn't think was possible!!

Great story, loved the ending and I absolutely LOVED the epilogue! In true Lisa Jewell fashion the epilogue just gives you that wee bit more that shocks you!

I would definitely give this book 5/5 stars and would 100% recommend it to anyone. Great thriller.

A great book that has a lot of twists and turns. Set between 2017 when teenager Tallulah disappears with her boyfriend Zach, leaving her young son Noah at home with her mum, and 2018 when Sophie who has moved to the school cottage with her boyfriend, the new Headmaster, finds a sign saying Dig Here.

Sophie unravels a mystery that has lasted over a year and keeps you on the edge of your seat trying to work out what happened to Tallulah and who was responsible!

A fast paced thriller by a great author.

The Night She Disappeared is the latest novel by bestselling author Lisa Jewell. The plot centres around the disappearances of local teenagers, Tallulah Murray and Zach Allister. They are parents to one-year-old Noah and have recently reconciled after a break-up. When they vanish one June evening after attending a pool party held by Tallulah’s wealthy college friend Scarlett Jacques, their families are left wondering what happened to them.

The story is told by multiple narrators: Kim Knox, Tallulah’s mother, Sophie Beck, the partner of the new headteacher at a nearby private school, and Tallulah herself. Tallulah’s timeline begins months before her disappearance and shows how she developed a friendship with the charismatic and privileged Scarlett. Although the timelines and narrators change frequently, the story never becomes disjointed or confusing. The multiple points of view blend seamlessly with one another and improve the pace.

I really enjoyed the style of this book. The characters were realistic and well-developed, even the minor characters. The attention to detail in the scenes made me feel as though I was in the story, witnessing the events alongside the narrators.

I felt as though the story gave a realistic depiction of teenage motherhood. I liked how the author described the challenges that Tallulah faced when navigating life as a teenage mother and how she had to balance college and new friendships with her relationship and responsibilities. The friendship between Tallulah and Scarlett was very well described, as it portrays how Tallulah’s desire to be a carefree teenager conflict with her role of being a mother and a girlfriend to Zach.

Kim’s point of view accurately portrays the devastation of a loved one going missing and the anxiety of not knowing what happened to them. She is constantly trying to find answers about Tallulah’s disappearance. Her journey leads her to the Jacques family’s isolated mansion, Dark Place, in a bid to find out. I found the house very atmospheric – both in the past and in the present day timeline, when it has been left abandoned. It gives the story an unsettling undertone with the contrast between the lavish lifestyle the Jacques family used to live and the complete neglect they left behind.

I would recommend this book for fans of twisty mystery stories. It explores themes of family, sexuality, teenage motherhood, privilege and controlling relationships. I enjoyed it very much and it kept me guessing right until the end.

I am a huge fan of Lisa Jewell and I was delighted to be approved for her latest, addictive, page-turning thriller. I didn’t even need to read the synopsis to know that I would get completely lost in it.

In 2017, 19-year-old parents Tallulah and Zach left their baby son with Tallulah’s mum Kim and went on a night out to a local pub. When they didn’t return home the next morning, Kim starts to ring round the friends that they were with but no one seems to know anything. A year later, detective novelist Sophie’s boyfriend Shaun has taken a job as headteacher at a prestigious boarding school in the Surrey Hills. While out walking, Sophie comes across a strange sign nailed to the fence post saying ‘dig here’ with an arrow pointing to the ground.

Sophie is a Londoner, who is settling into a new rural life. Like many young, creative, city kids, the picturesque location and slower pace of life is highly appealing to her. At first glance, the peacefulness and strong community vibes in the area might not make it seem like a crime hotspot but anyone who reads or watches crime dramas will know that it’s exactly these kinds of places where the worst crimes often take place. Sophie takes it upon herself to learn everything she can about a local cold case involving the disappearance of two teenage parents but she becomes involved in a way that she probably never envisaged.

There are highly suspicious characters all over this book and that’s one reason why I kept turning the pages. I had theories involving pretty much every inhabitant of the area and I was desperate to discover which one was the truth. From my previous experience of reading Lisa Jewell books, I knew to consider the most meek, unassuming characters as the most likely suspects. I found myself analysing almost every throwaway comment that was made and had so much fun in the process!

Dark Place is the house at the centre of the mystery and I think I fell a bit more in strange, morbid love with it every time I visited. I love big, old houses anyway because they spark my curiosity and sense of adventure but Dark Place has an aura around it that it owes to its incredibly dark, violent history. In some ways, Dark Place felt like a character itself. A beautiful, bewitching character who has a million secrets that I wanted it to reveal.

Sophie attends a welcome dinner at Maypole House, the very exclusive boarding school that now has Shaun at its helm. She is taken aback by the gloss of the students and how removed their world is from the one that she knows. We know that this is the school that Tallulah’s friends attended and this further reinforces how Tallulah, a young single mum, was taken in by the stunning, unstable Scarlett Jacques and her gang. Through Tallulah’s own chapters, we see how this happens and how her friendship with Scarlett escalates. The mystery surrounding the Jacques family makes Scarlett another prime suspect in her friend’s disappearance.

In Tallulah’s chapters, we also see what’s really going on between her and Zach. Their relationship made me so uneasy and I was willing Tallulah to listen to her gut and leave. However, we know that they went missing together, so I suspected that their break-up wasn’t going to happen. I had no idea how this dangerous, possessive situation was going to come to a head but the tension and flow of the narrative was pushing me there. I was being pulled towards the unknown and it genuinely made my heart race.

Of course because this is a pretty intricate thriller with plenty of twists, I can’t talk too much about the actual plot without stumbling on spoilers. The Night She Disappeared is the definition of a page-turner. There were so many possibilities as to what the conclusion was that I simply had to get to the end and find out what had happened. I guessed a little bit of the truth but certainly not the full extent of it, which is truly shocking. If you’re looking for a compulsively readable, wild ride of a thriller, you need look no further than this one.