Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

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💔 Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell – Book Review

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½ 3.5 out of 5 stars

Because when a turkey baster shows up in a thriller, things get weird.

Buy it on Audible (affiliate link)

⚠️ Spoiler Alert!

If you haven’t read Then She Was Gone, turn back now or be prepared to learn way too much about creepy basements, secret babies, and reproductive horror. You've been warned.

👩‍👧 What’s the Setup?

Ten years ago, Ellie Mack, the golden child of her family, disappeared without a trace. Her mom, Laurel, never recovered. Her marriage crumbled, her relationships with her remaining kids (Jake and Hannah) are strained, and she’s basically running on trauma and caffeine.

But then: Ellie’s remains are found, giving the family some closure… sort of. Laurel finally starts opening up to life again. She even meets a charming guy named Floyd at a café who says all the right things and has a daughter named Poppy that looks suspiciously like Ellie. Too suspiciously.

🧠 Creepy Coincidences and a Turkey Baster You Didn’t Ask For

Laurel starts dating Floyd, and as much as she wants to believe this is her second chance at happiness, her instincts keep saying, “Nope.” Because:

  • Poppy is Ellie’s clone.

  • Floyd’s ex, Noelle, is missing.

  • Noelle just so happened to be Ellie’s math tutor.

  • Noelle’s house has multiple locks on the basement door. Casual.

So Laurel starts snooping. And what she uncovers… will make you scream and gag.

🧪 So What Really Happened?

Here’s where Lisa Jewell tosses in the why-didn’t-I-see-this-coming-but-also-what-the-actual-heck twist:

  • Noelle was obsessed with Floyd and tried (unsuccessfully) to get pregnant to lock him down.

  • When that failed, she decided to kidnap Ellie, keep her in a basement (!!!), and artificially inseminate her using donor sperm. (The turkey baster moment. Yes. That happens.)

  • Ellie gave birth to Poppy, but developed a serious infection.

  • Instead of helping, Noelle ignored her until it was too late. Ellie died alone in that basement.

  • Noelle presented the baby to Floyd, claimed it was his, and Floyd was like, “I mean okay, weird, but sure.”

When Floyd finally found out the truth, he killed Noelle, kept raising Poppy as his daughter, and later sought out Laurel on purpose because he wanted Poppy to know her “real” grandmother.

🧨 The Final Twist

Floyd gives Laurel a confession letter, spills the whole horror show, and then—classic psychological thriller move—kills himself.

He also leaves Poppy in Laurel’s care.

Now Laurel has answers, closure, and a granddaughter she never knew she had.

And we, the readers, have emotional whiplash and a brand new fear of basement locks.

🧠 Final Thoughts

This book had me hooked from page one. It’s tightly written, emotionally complex, and has that Lisa Jewell magic that makes you stay up too late flipping pages.

That said… the turkey baster twist had me blinking at the wall for a while. 🦃 Like—ma’am. That was a choice.

If you can suspend a little disbelief and lean into the madness, this is a fast-paced domestic thriller with heart, grief, and a lot of messed-up people.

📚 Love Twisted Domestic Thrillers? Try These:

  • The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell – creepy mansions and culty vibes

  • The Housemaid by Freida McFadden – fast-paced and unputdownable

  • The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena – secrets, lies, and that twisty ending

🛒 Buy Now:

📘 Then She Was Gone on Amazon
🎧 Audiobook on Audible

🧬 Takeaway?

If someone disappears, always check the tutor’s house. And maybe don’t trust men who casually flirt with your grief in a coffee shop.

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