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The Night She Disappeared

Review

The Night She Disappeared

Lisa Jewell has a unique style all her own, and you never know quite where you stand with any of her novels --- they have a way of sneaking up on you in unexpected ways. THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED is no exception. In fact, the entire truth of what is going on is held back until the final pages, keeping readers on the edge of their seats throughout.

Just prior to the start of the book, Jewell writes a short passage about arachnophobia, the fear of spiders. She concludes the section by stating, “Tallulah suffers from arachnophobia. Tallulah is in the dark.” This odd bit of writing will end up being quite telling once all is revealed.

"THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED is filled with...varied clues and red herrings that seemingly point to some answer --- an answer that only Lisa Jewell knows and is saving right up to the bitter end of this pulse-pounding thriller."

Sophie, the girlfriend of the head teacher at a boarding school, is out for a walk with students and colleagues when she uncovers what she initially thinks could be a time capsule. Upon closer inspection, it appears to be a bit of cardboard nailed to a wooden fence that contains two words --- “DIG HERE” --- in black marker pen. This bizarre occurrence also will help tie together the pieces of this unnerving psychological thriller.

The timeframe for the novel is 2017-2018. Kim is far too young by modern standards to be a grandmother. Kim’s teenage daughter, Tallulah, became pregnant before completing her schooling and has had to rely heavily on her mum to help raise her baby, Noah. The father, Tallulah’s boyfriend Zach, is still very much in the picture. Tallulah is convinced that Zach plans to propose to her, but she no longer has feelings for him and thus has no desire to marry him.

One night during the middle of summer 2017, Tallulah asks if Kim could watch Noah while she, Zach and some of their college friends go out. She checks in throughout the evening and indicates that they are heading over to a pool party at a home deep in the woods known as Dark Place. Tallulah never returns. It is in 2018 when the group mentioned earlier finds the DIG HERE sign --- which potentially is a connection between the missing teens from the prior summer, or it could be something else entirely.

Rumors abound that Zach is responsible for whatever happened to Tallulah, not so much because she was planning to reject his marriage proposal but because of something he heard regarding her and a girl named Scarlett.

THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED is filled with moments like these, varied clues and red herrings that seemingly point to some answer --- an answer that only Lisa Jewell knows and is saving right up to the bitter end of this pulse-pounding thriller.

Reviewed by Ray Palen on September 17, 2021

The Night She Disappeared
by Lisa Jewell