The Night She Disappeared by Kevin O’Brien

Well written and potentially intriguing but not for me. Within the first few pages I realized I probably would not be willing to read this book word for word. Why? The fact that the introduction to the main character, Anna, had her hungover, receiving a phone call from her married lover and the lover was asking Anna if she had seen his wife or heard from the wife after the three had dinner together the night before…well…that left a bad taste in my mouth. I decided to keep reading and the more I read the less I wanted to continue reading so I read the end, skimmed the chapters in between, and knew for sure I didn’t like and could not relate to any of the characters.

Did I like this book? Not really
Would I read another book by this author? It would depend on the synopsis
Who do I think might enjoy this book? My guess is that many would like it even though it was not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

2-3 Stars ( )

How much do I love Lisa Jewell.....she keeps you turning the pages and always has an ending that is satisfactory yet you don't see it coming.

This mystery has three different timelines and narratives. 2017: Twenty year old Tallulah and Zack have a child and they live with Tallulah's mother Kim in an English suburb. You read this from Tallulah's perspective and learn she isn't in love with Zach anymore. Zach had abandoned her after she told him she was pregnant. After months of handling things alone her feelings have changed when he insinuates himself into her life again. This tension charged situation is well written. One evening when the two are out on a "date" Scarlett Jacques appears at their table and invites them to a party at her house.
Tallulah contacts her mother Kim and asks if she minds watching the baby longer as she has been invited to a party with college friends. By morning there is no sign of them. Tallulah and Zach have disappeared into thin air.

In the 2018 timeline Kim is still frantically trying to find her daughter with zero help (or concern) from Zach's mother Megs. A year passes and the disappearance of the two becomes a cold case. You read about Kim's life handling her grandson, always sad and hoping someone will come forward about her daughter's disappearance.

In 2019 thirty-four year old Sophie, a mystery novelist, moves into the head master's quarters at Manton College with her boyfriend Shaun. While Shaun is dealing with the responsibilities of his new position at Manton college, Sophie explores the wooded area around their living quarters. She comes upon a cardboard sign with the message Dig Here and a downward arrow attached to a post. Sophie does dig and comes up with an engagement ring still in the box. This is the thread which starts the naturally curious Sophie to research the missing couple and leads her to Kim.

There are many supporting characters in this novel and the author fleshes them out so you can visulaize them quite clearly. As you turn the pages and chapters lands you back into 2017 a dangerous game of deception is revealed.

The ending - it all comes together and it most certainly was not what I expected. Well done.

Publication date September 7, 2021 by Atria Books. Genre: Mystery, Thrillers.
Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced reader's copy of this book. I was not compensated for the review, all opinions are mine.

Sharing with Joy for British Isles Friday. ( )