Book Review: The Missing Years by Lexie Elliott

Title: The Missing Years
Author: Lexie Elliott
Release Date: April 23, 2019
Pages: 320
Format: ARC Paperback
Publisher: Berkley
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Mystery/Thriller/Suspense

       

An eerie, old Scottish manor in the middle of nowhere that’s now hers. Ailsa Calder has inherited half of a house. The other half belongs to a man who disappeared without a trace twenty-seven years ago—her father. Leaving London behind to settle the inheritance from her mother’s estate, Ailsa returns to her childhood home, nestled amongst the craggy peaks of the Scottish Highlands, joined by the half-sister who’s almost a stranger to her. Ailsa can’t escape the claustrophobic feeling that the house itself is watching her—as if her past hungers to consume her. She also can’t ignore how the neighbourhood animals refuse to set one foot within the gates of the garden. When the first nighttime intruder shows up, Ailsa fears that the manor’s careless rugged beauty could cost her everything.

Generally, at the top of this post, the Owls always state the genre. And usually, the genre of the book fits nicely into one category. The same is not true with this book. It's the square peg for the round hole. My instincts were also right. As soon as I read the synopsis, I had a feeling I was going to enjoy this one and I was right.

The book begins with Ailsa Calder arriving at a Scottish "manse," or manor, half belonging to her and half belonging to a father who disappeared almost three decades ago. We know that the story begins previously because we find out her mother has passed away and she's left with a half-sister who she doesn't know really well but who she'll be rooming with at the manor. Already, the place feels extremely isolated so I expected creepy things to happen around every corner (wait till you read about how she meets her neighbor!).

I've been reading several books at a time these days and some have been action-packed contemporaries, which was the opposite of this read. This is character driven and not exactly slow-paced, but just well-plotted enough that the pieces of the puzzle start to unravel themselves at the right moments. The mystery surrounding her father is at the center but then you also find out that animals won't go near this place, and odd things keep happening at Ailsa's new residence. And since this is all about the characters, Elliott did a great job. I was so drawn to each and every single one of them and enjoyed the dynamics between them.

I have a feeling that because this is a mixed genre read that it might not be for everyone but then again, it might be for everyone, but this reader can't wait to go back and read her first book, The French Girl.

As always, happy reading! And thank you so much to Berkley for providing the ARC. All opinions are my own.