Very interesting mystery. Would I consider it a thriller? Not really…I didn’t get a thrill while reading it. It was more eerie domestic mystery. Gothic romantic suspense. With an interesting twist. Lisa Jewell crafted a beautiful story that gets you thinking who the real victim is. Or maybe, unfortunately, everyone is a victim in The Night She Disappeared.

The story unfolds through three perspectives: flashbacks from Tallulah’s point of view that shows the events leading up to the night the teenagers disappeared, present day point of view of grieving mother Kim in the aftermath of the disappearance, and the point of view of mystery writer Sophie who has been the recipient of clues that ultimately reopens the cold case.

Points I Loved

• The “Dark Place”: home of the elite, mysterious Scarlett Jacques and her family. The place is as mysterious as the family who resides there. Very classic, gothic, romantic suspense setting with its hauntingly beautiful description and rich history. It carries a lot of dark secrets that will ultimately lead to solving the disappearance of Tallulah and Zach on that fateful night.
• Kim and Sophie working together to bring attention back to this cold case. I mean the grief, pain, sorrow and stress that Kim goes through, not knowing where her beloved teenager daughter has gone to and hearing people say that she ran away to escape her responsibilities, breaks my heart. I felt Kim’s anguish. The uncertainty. The growing doubts that she’ll ever find out what happened to her daughter. And the fact that Tallulah had a baby who didn’t get to spend time with his mother for a year, just makes this story so much more tragic. Thank goodness to the high heavens above, Sophie takes initiative to help Kim reignite the search. And here’s the sad reality that was highlighted in the book: without further evidence, police don’t give a shit about your individual case, because they are so packed with other cases to manage. It’s really up to the family to keep searching for their missing loved ones and keep their memory alive. It’s a nightmare unfortunately many have experienced in their own lives. Raw emotion. Relatable. Tragic.
• The ending. I cried, period. Like the rush of relief that shook through me when the case was finally solved a little over a year later was cathartic. After the grief and stress that everyone went through during the whole ordeal, that ending was well deserved. So satisfying and relieving!
• I loved how every character was morally ambiguous. Everyone has secrets. Some secrets though…may cost you your life.
• The atmosphere and descriptions of the various settings. Just gorgeous! Each setting was its own character and had an enchanting personality. Seriously, I am more and more convinced to go to the U.K.

A sad, suspenseful story about the consequences of twisted love, particularly on identity. But that through hardship (twisted love), we become stronger people (self-love).

The alluring, intriguing and rebellious Scarlett, with her luxuries, artistic talent and poster-girl-for-a-broken-teen image, can charm anyone to her beck and call. And have them stay loyal to her.

But at what price? Each person she has come across seems to act out of character the more time they spend with her. Or rather does she help draw out the secret parts of them they were too afraid to accept before? So really, is Scarlett a bad influence or a good one? We get to see her effect on others through all her friends, particularly Tallulah, Liam, Mimi and Lexie.

The poor broken Scarlett…I truly do wonder if she truly loved and cared for the people she said she cared for…? Or if she was selfish and self-serving in everything she says and does…? Does she deserve my sympathy? I don’t know. Because I didn’t feel compassion or pity for the girl. Hell, I felt at least some compassion for Zach but nothing for Scarlett.

My whole heart goes to poor Tallulah. Truly the main victim in this awful predicament. She’s young and became an unexpected mother so young. She’s a mother, girlfriend, a daughter, a student. But outside of her responsibilities, who was Tallulah Murray? That’s something she needed to figure out as well. She’s been in a relationship for the most transformative years of her life when she needed that time to gain clarity on her identity. Her most significant relationships with Zach and Scarlett, have screwed up the time she needed to understand her personal needs, goals and priorities. Though through this journey, Tallulah learns how to stand up for herself. Learns that she’s not at the mercy of others.

And like I said, the ending is a jaw-dropper as much as it is satisfying!