A gentle thriller worth reading

⭑⭑⭑⭑  Having not read Claire Douglas before I was in for a treat with Then She Vanishes. It's a strong novel that felt warm and cozy in the relationship department but packs a punch with a multi-leveled mystery that seemed an open and shut case. The likeability of the characters was top-notch. Jess, Margo and Heather were characters the reader could easily warm to and even befriend, if they were actual people. The supporting cast also offered an array of personalities that kept the story moving along at a swift clip.

I would call this a gentle thriller as the reveals weren't surprising but the extent of the damage wrought by them could be felt like a body blow. The solving of the main mystery - what happened to Flora - was a deeply penetrating shocker though a number of the smaller revelations didn't have the same powerful force behind them.

Then She Vanishes is a clean, nicely wrapped up novel that delivers a sense of satisfaction. All the random bits scattered throughout the book are explained and the full understanding of all that transpired is both touching and heartbreaking.