19 year old Tallulah and her boyfriend live together with their baby son at Tallulah mother’s house.
Tallulah goes out on a date - a rare occurrence. At 11pm, Tallulah messages her mum to say that they were going to a friend from college house and would be an hour. At 4am, they hadn’t returned and their disappearance reported to police. Despite an investigation, the couple have disappeared without a trace.
Fast forward 15 months, Sophie moves into a cottage that belongs to the school where her boyfriend is headteacher. She is the author of detective novels and her interest is piqued when she spots a sign that says ‘Dig Here’.
The book moves easily between current day with Sophie’s life and discovery’s to the happenings in 2016/2017 leading up to the night she (Tallulah) disappears.

It’s a gripping mystery of the evolving relationships of teenagers living in a quiet cul-de-sac and the the very rich bohemian family living in a mansion known as Dark Place and the proximity of the school where Sophie now resides.

It’s not a book to relate to (well I’d hope not) but pure escapism involving twists, death and mystery, slightly dark but definitely gripping sucking you in and wanting more. I had to finish the last few chapters quickly and bring it to a close, to the point that I became irritable with anyone who dared interrupt me!

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a gripping mystery. It’s a real page turner.

The end is satisfying because just as you think it is all wrapped up, there is a surprise tying up that loose end adding revenge to close the mystery.

I would like to thank #NetGalley for this preview read in return for an honest review.

This review has also been shared with Goodreads.

It took my breath away it was so good it’s about a couple Tallulah and Zach who go on a night out and don’t come home they have a baby so very unusual behaviour as they adore being parents the baby is being looked after by Kim Tallulah’s mum. It appears they went to a party at a place called Dark Place and never returned home it is a very gripping story and a real page turner I loved it. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy.

Thank you to Netgalley, Random House and Lisa Jewell for this ARC in return for my honest review. This book had me hooked from the start. I loved that it was told from multiple perspectives over three different timelines. This definitely helped to build the tension. I enjoyed how the story slowly unravelled. The only downside is having to wait another year for Lisa's next book.

In the end, I enjoyed The Night She Disappeared. It is the first Lisa Jewell I have read and while I thought there were some very good things about it, I had some reservations.

The narrative is in three timelines: it opens with Sophie moving to live next to a boarding school in the country where her partner is starting as Headteacher. I emerges that two young people went missing 18 months earlier and Sophie, a writer of cosy detective fiction, becomes involved in trying to solve the mystery of their disappearance. The other time frames are immediately after the disappearance and, intermittently, events leading up to it.

It’s a decent story, well told. Lisa Jewell writes well and unfussily, and she is especially good at creating believable characters and relationships. For example, I thought her depiction of an increasingly controlling partner was very good and seemed fresh, even though it’s a pretty well-worn idea in fiction now. The psychology and motivation of her characters was good, too, and far more plausible than is often the case. No-one came up with absurd reasons for not going to the police, nor went into obvious danger without telling anyone, which was another big plus.

The thing is, I almost gave up about a third of the way through because I got pretty bored and it seemed like some rather tired tropes were being introduced to build up tension. In fact, I went back to the book, which had picked up very well by half way, and I enjoyed the second half very much; it was thoughtful, tense, plausible and involving

So...overall a good read, but be prepared for a bit of a turgid start.

(My thanks to Century for an ARC via NetGalley.)

I have read several Lisa Jewell novels and this is an author I follow more and more. Her writing is clever, well plotted and original in every sense.

In 2017, Tallulah and Zac live with Tallulah’s mum, Kim, and head out for a ‘date night’ leaving Kim to look after their baby. Kim receives a message at 11pm telling her the two of them are heading to a friend’s house for a party.

Neither Tallulah nor Zac return and Kim begins the search for her daughter who she knows would never abandon her baby boy. It leads her to a house called Dark Place which is owned by the Jacques family and their daughter Scarlett knew Tallulah from the college they both attend.

In 2018 a new head teacher arrives at the public school which backs onto the same woods as Dark Place. His girlfriend sees a sign in the woods saying ‘Dig Here’ and she finds a ring. Sophie is a detective fiction novelist.

There are so many aspects to the story and it is cunning, tense and, as always, an excellent ending.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House UK, Cornerstone and Lisa Jewell for my ARC of The Night She Disappeared in return for my honest review.

Super read and highly recommended.

Lisa Jewell’s latest offering The Night she disappeared is another great gripping thriller with a tangled web of secrets and lies.
2017 Nineteen-year-old Tallulah Murray is a young mother to 1 year old Noah. She decides to go out on a date night with Noah’s father Zach and leaves Noah with her mother Kim who she lives with. They decide to go out for a meal at the local pub.
But when Kim wakes up in the morning the pair still has not come home and when Kim investigates, she hears that they have gone to a Pool party at a House called The Dark Place. Kim thinks they might be sleeping it off somewhere, but the pair never come home.
2019 Sophie a Cosey Crime mystery writer moves in with her friend who starts a job as the new headmaster at the local school. Sophie decides to go for a walk in the woods behind the cottage that she has must move into and comes across a sign that say Dig here. When she delves into the earth, she comes across a ring that when investigated was brought by Zach. This new lead opens the investigation up again, on his and Tallulah disappearance.
I had read several books by Lisa Jewell and you know when you hear a new Lisa Jewell books comes out you know you are in for a ride. Her quality of her writing is immense. This has a great multi layered story line, told in several points of view that is cleverly concluded at the end that will keep you turning the pages to the end. I really enjoyed The Night she disappeared except for the ending I thought it could have been more than it was. 4 stars from me.

An expertly crafted mystery, that will have you hooked from the moment you pick it up.

High praise for Lisa Jewel! What a read! I just loved this book. I was utterly gripped from the moment I started right until the last word. So much so, I read all the acknowledgements too because I didn’t want to ‘let go’.

The plot is seamlessly played out over 3 timelines: before she disappeared, when she disappeared and a year on. Each timeline is told from a pivotal characters point of view which really lends itself to the way in which the story unfolds. You’d automatically assume having 3 character perspectives you’d gain further insight and quickly figure out the plot... but no! These characters are just puppets in Jewel’s portrayal of a heartbreaking storyline.

Lisa’s writing has such depth and quality, the characters (love them or despise them) are beautifully developed and really make you question just how well you know anybody?

The plot has many unforeseen twists and whilst, as a reader, you know it’s all adding up to the timeline of ‘when she disappeared’ you can’t help willing things to play out differently. Whilst the ending becomes obvious towards the final chapters, I can’t help being impressed that Lisa kept me guessing ‘how’ and ‘why’ right up to the end. To the point that I was literally spoon fed the answers as I just didn’t see it coming!

Love, love, love it!! Buy it now and you’ll receive a fast, page turner if a book that’ll shock AND entertain.

Thank to NetGalley for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

i so love this author have read all her books each one addictive never lets her readers down this one is twisty and once you start you wont want to stop .Kim is looking after her grandson as her daughter Tallulah and Zach have a night out both are young and they both live with Kim but Zach wants to move out buy a flat but Tallulah does not all is not as it seem s Tallulah has a secret friend Scarlett . but the night they went out Tallulah and Zach never come home and Kim is still waiting for answers a year later . then a new arrival s move to the village Sophie the writer and Shaun the new head teacher of Maypole house someone puts a cardboard sign dig here that night there was other people there the night Tallulah and Zach went missing what are they not telling and what are they hiding and protecting so so recommend

Excellent read. Very real characters. Following the case of a missing couple lots of twists and turns on the way. Zach's parents lack of concern felt very strange and led me incorrectly down a line of questioning outcomes .

When Kim’s daughter Tallulah and her boyfriend don’t return from their date night she’s worried. Any other 19 year old, it’d be a normal occurrence, probably sleeping off a hangover at a friends house, but not these teenagers. Tallulah and Zach have a son, they’re not like most teenagers so staying out all night doesn’t make sense. Where could they be?

Over a year later Shaun and his partner Sophie are moving into the cottage at the school Shaun will be the headmaster of. When Sophie spots a sign saying dig here, she thinks it’s from the external residential course that’s happening, little does she know what that sign will point to and the journey it will take her on.

I’m a fan of Lisa Jewell’s books having read a few before so I’m not surprised at all that it is an amazing read. Wow, what a storyline. The story is set in different timelines following the story from different perspectives, it initially looked like it might get confusing but it’s not at all, everything is relevant to that piece of the story. It was a story like none I’ve read before and it had plenty of plot twists that kept me turning the page. Another five star read.

Simply one of the best. I couldn’t put it down. Exciting, gripping, and totally compelling.

One of the best Lisa Jewell novels I have read.

4.5 *

The first of many books in yet another Covid isolation for me!

LOVED IT.

Tallulah is a complex character and deals with her toxic and abusive relationship in a realistic way. Being a teen mum myself (many years ago) it was interesting to see how opinions have changed (or not) in the last 25 years... Tallulah's intense relationship with Scarlett is captivating and exciting. The twists and turns in the plot mean that cliches are avoided. The setting of the old house and the Guernsey estate is thought out brilliantly and the intrigue makes you keep turning the pages long after you should be asleep! I like the dark elements to this tale...It would make a fabulous Netflix series! (Isolation brain working again there!)

Thank you to Lisa Jewell, Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for a fair and honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Almost 4 stars but not quite. Having read and loved a lot of the author’s previous books, maybe this was why I was a bit disappointed with this one.

Quite slow going, unlikeable and/or unengaging characters meant I found it hard to really invest in the story.

It started strongly and I was intrigued by the clues of what happened but overall it plodded to the end

4+

Young mother 19 year old Tallulah and partner Zach leave their baby Noah with Tallulah’s mum Kim while they have a rare night out. They don’t return home that night and are last seen at ‘Dark Place’ a large property owned by Scarlett Jacques parents. Just over a year on, Shaun takes up the headship at Maypole House, a private boarding school whose grounds border onto Dark Place. Shaun moves into a cottage in the grounds with his partner Sophie, a writer of cozy mysteries. The story is told in several different timelines and from several perspectives which works very well with the narrative flowing seamlessly between then and ramping up the tension.

In my opinion, Lisa Jewell doesn’t let her readers down! This is a well written, carefully plotted story with a good pace and plenty of interesting twisty turns in the storytelling. The settings are good, in particular Dark Place (I mean, even the name!) which adds an atmosphere all of its own as do the surrounding woods which offer up some creepiness and a spot of chill. The characters are good, Kim’s emotions are very well expressed and it’s obvious that she is a wonderful caring mother and grandmother. Tallulah’s perspective is probably the most interesting as it’s the most revealing particularly about the various relationships involved. Scarlett is flippant at times, friendly then dismissive at others and it seems as if she is a very damaged young lady. The only characters that don’t chime but you definitely get off notes from them are Zach's parents especially his mother Meg who is a cold fish. The contrast between the wealthy Maypole group with Scarlett as it’s Queen Bee and the world of Tallulah works well and leads to some lively, colourful scenes. I particularly like how the author uses Sophie as the vehicle for moving the story forward and through her we get some very weird games being played which tests Sophie’s intuition but which leads to several breakthroughs in a case that has stalled.

Overall, a compelling, absorbing read which I really enjoyed.

With thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone, Century for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Lisa Jewell .. wow!! First of all wow I was even accepted and secondly wow what a book! She’s done it again :) another book I didn’t want to put down.

It was clever, kept me hooked and had me on edge the whole time. I liked how the story slowly unfolded throughout the chapters which were told by different characters.

And the ending!! Amazing .. I wasn’t really expecting it!

I loved trying to guess what had happened and who was responsible.

A very clever thriller!

Thank you NetGalley and Random house UK for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Another absolutely fantastic mystery from Lisa Jewell! A teen mom, Tallulah, disappears during a rare night out with her boyfriend to celebrate completing her college exams. They were last seen at a late night pool party at a mansion in the woods called "Dark Place". 18 months later a cozy mystery writer moves to a remote boarding school where her boyfriend is the new head teacher, and discovers a sign that says "Dig Here". With a start like that, who wouldn't be hooked? On a personal note, I've been a huge fan of Lisa Jewell's writing since a friend gave me a copy of her first book and said, "This book is so good!" After enjoying it thoroughly I was disappointed to find that it was her only published book at the time! Luckily this is no longer a problem as there are now plenty of Lisa Jewell stories for us to enjoy, which span several genres and continue to get better and better! I think this is her best one yet, from the beginning to the end I was thoroughly enthralled with the story and trying to solve the mystery. I was surprised to find that I enjoyed the Acknowledgements section at the end of the book as much as the story itself as it tells another entertaining story.. of how the author survived lockdown, COVID, writer's block, and wrote a fantastic story, all in a truly exceptional year!

Another corker by Lisa Jewell, involving Sophie, an author of cosy murder mysteries who comes to an elite boarding school when her partner is appointed headmaster.
She soon becomes embroiled in a real-life mystery, involving the disappearance of Tallulah, a single mother, and her boyfriend Zack, who both lived with Tallulah’s mother. Add in a controlling relationship, a rich spoilt manipulative girl, and various damaged teens, and the scene is set for a roller-coaster ride.
Moving between several close timelines, Sophie uncovers the truth about what has happened to Tallulah, and makes some big decisions about her own future.
I enjoyed the read but found some sections far-fetched – an author forgetting something significant about her first book, and the police search at the end of the book seemed to not uncover/ignore significant items.
So, four starts, but I’ll look out for her next book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for the opportunity to read this book.

I have read quite a few Lisa Jewell books and really enjoyed them so had high expectations of 'The Night She Disappeared' and wasn't disappointed. During the same time period that I read it on my Kindle, I was also concurrently listening to the audiobook of 'Before I met you' and noticed the nod to this earlier title with the Guernsey house by the sea!

Lisa has a wide repertoire and manages to comes up with plots which are both compelling and satisfying. Her characters vary in age and usually include teenagers, about whom she writes with conviction. 'The Night She Disappeared' covers a theme that has featured in a number of previous novels, that of a missing person (two people in this case!) and shifts between differing viewpoints and times. Once you start reading, you will want to continue and discover the secrets surrounding the disappearances. I was caught up in a particularly stressful house move during my reading of the book, so it took me longer than usual to complete but I looked forward to the moments when I had the opportunity to read. Lisa's writing is so good that I had no problem immersing myself in the novel again; no struggling to remember what had happened, who was who etc which sometimes happens with other writers.

Lisa does a brilliant job of describing how the relationship between Tallulah and Scarlett develops and sucessfully conveys Tallulah's struggles with Zach. She is young and her responses to his behaviour reflect that and make her a plausible character. The reader is able to empathise immediately with Kim as her weariness and despair is conveyed so brilliantly. Manipulative individuals like Scarlett exist in real life too of course and her influence on those she meets, no matter age or status, is believable. However, it was only due to the testament of other characters that I found her credible. As a stand-alone character, I didn't feel the magnetism of her personality and so found this aspect of her a little less convincing but it in no way marred my enjoyment and is just a personal observation.

I highly recommend this book and it is one that I would have no hesitation in gifting to family and friends. Thank-you for this Advance Reader Copy.

This is exactly what you'd expect from a novel by Lisa Jewell: a gripping story that is difficult to put down. I loved it. The only thing that didn't quite ring true to me and disturbed the flow of my reading somewhat was when Sophie, one of the protagonists who is a crime novelists, remembers an incident that she'd written in one of her earlier novels but forgotten all about. Given that this incident has just happened to her in real life, it seems totally unbelievable that she would have forgotten. Even if she'd forgotten, her memory would surely have been stirred when it happened to her. She wouldn't have had to retrieve a copy of the book to read it. This bit was just so implausible but I loved it otherwise.

Interesting premise and I loved the setting. I usually love Lisa Jewell’s books, but this one disappointed me somewhat. In my opinion, the plot was full of holes and the characters were implausible puppets, moulded and remoulded to fit the storyline as it progressed. I wish I could give this a better review, and as I say there were some redeeming features, but it wasn’t one of the author’s best.