Then She Was Gone: A Novel

From the New York Times bestselling creator of Invisible Girl and The Truth About Melody Browne comes a “riveting” (PopSugar) and “acutely observed circle of relatives drama” (People) that delves into the lingering aftermath of a young girl’s disappearance.

Ellie Mack was once the easiest daughter. She was once fifteen, the youngest of three. Beloved by her parents, friends, and teachers, and half of a teenaged golden couple. Ellie was once days away from an idyllic post-exams summer vacation, with her whole life ahead of her.

And then she was once gone.

Now, her mother Laurel Mack is attempting to put her life back together. It’s been ten years since her daughter disappeared, seven years since her marriage ended, and only months since the last clue in Ellie’s case was once unearthed. So when she meets an rapidly charming man in a café, no person is more surprised than Laurel at how quickly their flirtation develops into something deeper. Before she knows it, she’s meeting Floyd’s daughters—and his youngest, Poppy, takes Laurel’s breath away.

Because taking a look at Poppy is like taking a look at Ellie. And now, the unanswered questions she’s tried so hard to put to rest start to haunt Laurel anew. Where did Ellie go? Did she actually run away from home, as the police have long suspected, or was once there a more sinister reason for her disappearance? Who is Floyd, actually? And why does his daughter remind Laurel so viscerally of her own missing girl?