Valerie S. (VolunteerVal) - reviewed on 10/12/2021 + 594 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

I listened to The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell and it was delightful to have actor Joanne Froggatt (Downton Abbey's Mrs. Bates) read this story to me. She was very skilled at conveying the emotions of the story as well as the multiple characters.

While the author has written in a variety of genres, this is a mystery rather than a thriller. I haven't read many of her novels so I didn't begin this with any expectations.

Told in two close timelines (2017 and 2019), the novel centers around 22-year-old Tallulah who is easily influenced by the people in her life. Her plans to pursue education beyond high school are derailed by an unplanned pregnancy with her long-term boyfriend Zach. Her mother Kim is very supportive, providing the couple a place to live and often babysitting her infant grandson. When the couple doesn't return after an evening at the local pub, Kim pursues every available source of information, including a mystery author who recently moved to the area and discovers a surprising object buried under a handwritten "Dig Here" sign.

I felt parts of the storyline were believable and well done while others seemed unnecessary. Overall, this set the mood for my 'spooky stories' reading for October.

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