Jessie Else disappeared the summer the Lambs came to Magpie Beach. Not that the two events were connected at all, in reality; only in my own head, in my own world. They marked for me the end of a certain quiet time and the start of a more complicated living.

Magpie Beach is a quiet seaside town – full of small-town prejudices and small-town cliques. Meg, Rosemary and Lily are all outsiders. Meg and Lily because they came to Magpie Beach to escape their former lives, Rosemary because her upbringing was the subject of much local gossip and upturned noses. The three women come together as friends, partly because their homes are so close together on the outskirts of town – and partly because their neighbours treat them with such suspicion.

When Jessie Else, all of 9 years old, goes missing – it’s easy to see why this small band of outcasts are first on the list of suspects – but what they didn’t realise is that Jessie’s disappearance is only the beginning of their troubles. Soon all those secrets they’ve been trying to hide are going to be uncovered – and nothing will ever be the same again.

My Thoughts:

I loved the sound of this mystery, it was a slow burner to start with but I didn’t mind that as it meant I appreciated the story even more. I didn’t know what to expect at each chapter let alone each page, it also kept me guessing until the end. The story is set at Magpie Beach which is a quiet seaside town and Meg, Rosemary and Lily are all outsiders, the story follows on them to see if they are accepted into the community but when a child goes missing, all the secrets come tumbling out. I found it such a captivating and powerful read. It is a thought provoker too, what would you do in that situation? I wasn’t expecting the ending either so good. I was sad to finish but I look forward to reading more of Louise’s books.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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