Then She Was Gone

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• Then She Was Gone answers many questions, or at least provides clues, far earlier than most mystery novels do. At what point did you first suspect what really happened to Ellie? How did this affect your enjoyment of the novel?
• Which of the novel’s characters did you find the most and least likable? Why?
• How does this book compare to others by Lisa Jewell (such as Watching You) and/or to other novels in the mystery genre (such as The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, which Ellie mentions in a diary entry)?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• Many of the novel’s characters make rash decisions. Choose two characters and reflect on the morality of their actions and decisions.
• How does one of the book’s themes, the human need for love, relate to your personal views or experiences?
• Consider how Laurel’s journey transforms her relationships with Hannah, Ellie, and (later) Poppy throughout the novel. Do you see any connections between your life and Laurel’s experiences in terms of how accepting loss can strengthen families?
• Both Floyd and Noelle exhibit obsessive tendencies. What are other similarities between their characters and backgrounds? How are they different? Did you have empathy for either character?
• Throughout the novel, Laurel often feels that something is not right but doubts her intuition. Have you ever dismissed your own concerns? How do you know when to trust your intuition?

3. Societal and Cultural Context

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

• Analyze how the book reflects current societal issues such as the pressure to build a family and the “othering” of people who struggle socially.
• Laurel and Floyd talk about the unpleasant aspects of their childhoods, yet both seem relatively optimistic about Poppy’s ability to thrive. How realistic is their optimism in today’s society? 

4. Literary Analysis

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

• The book uses alternating timelines and perspectives. What is the impact of this structure on the plot?
• Why does the author use first-person perspective for Noelle and Floyd’s narration but third-person perspective for Laurel and Ellie’s narration?
• The novel contains five parts. What is the significance of this structure, and what distinguishes each part?
• Discuss the development of Ellie, Laurel, Hannah, and Poppy. What techniques does the author use to characterize them?
• How does Ellie’s emphasis on blame contributes to the book’s tone?
• How do the novel’s major symbols and motifs (mother-daughter relationships, smells, and clothing) relate to its primary themes (which concern the relationship between upbringing and identity, how grief and healing affect families, and the human need for love)?

5. Creative Engagement

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• Imagine that your reading group has been charged with adapting Then She Was Gone were into a movie or a miniseries. Would you alter the storylines? Who would you cast in the roles of Lauren, Ellie, Floyd, Noelle, Poppy, and Hannah?
• Create a playlist that captures the book’s mood, themes, or characterizations.
• Imagine a sequel or continuation of the story. Where might the characters go next?

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