The Missing Years

By: Lexie Elliott

Narrated by: Elizabeth Knowelden

When Ailsa returns to her childhood home, an eerie sense of danger overwhelms her. Her unease only grows when she notices small things out of place and the odd fact that no animals will step foot on the grounds of the house…

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, Ailsa returns to the manor, nestled amongst the craggy peaks of the Scottish Highlands, joined by the half-sister who's practically a stranger to her.

Ailsa can't escape the claustrophobic feeling that the house itself watches her—as if her dramatic past hungers to consume her. When the first nighttime intruder shows up and the locals in the isolated community pry into her plans for the manor, Ailsa grows terrified that escaping the beautiful old home will cost her everything.

Critic reviews

Praise for The Missing Years

“Uncannily creepy.”--The Guardian

“Begins with a Gothic hint that rapidly segues into a suspenseful thriller with a breathless twist of denouement.”--New York Journal of Books

“Elliott follows up her well-reviewed debut, The French Girl (2018), with an equally atmospheric novel that keeps the reader intrigued and off-balance all the way through.”—Booklist

Praise for The French Girl

“You shouldn’t have any trouble picking up Lexie Elliott’s debut novel, The French Girl. It comes with a warning, though, because you will definitely have trouble putting it down.”—Richmond Times-Dispatch

“The French Girl commands attention. The author provides the perfect dose of character development before unveiling eerie details from her cast's past, ensuring that we're properly unnerved when their lives begin to unravel.”—Associated Press

“The shifting dynamics within the group will keep the reader guessing until the end. First novelist Elliott has done a phenomenal job of combining a whodunit with a Big Chill vibe.”—Library Journal (starred review)

“A gripping mystery that delves into the past and the darker side of friendships, this book will have you questioning everything you think you know. The French Girl is a fantastic debut about tangled relationships, shifting perceptions, and the memories—and people—that haunt us. I was completely captivated from beginning to end.”—Megan Miranda, New York Times bestselling author of The Perfect Stranger

“Scottish debut novelist Elliott, who holds a doctorate in theoretical physics from Oxford, launches a fiction-writing career with a smart, suspenseful thriller.”—Booklist

“A maelstrom of complicated friendships and shifting alliances. This addictive debut will keep you up late into the night!”—Karen Dionne, author of The Marsh King's Daughter

Loved it!!

I listen to mostly mysteries and thrillers and am always searching for one with more depth - this fit the bill. It was such a refreshingly different story. Creepy but not cheesy, relatable characters, keeps you guessing type of plot. I’m not a critic but I can appreciate good writing and this was a good one. Loved every bit!! That said, the end left me with a few questions but did not take away from the overall awesomeness. Definitely worth a credit!!! 🙂👏

The story felt suspenseful but enjoyable

The reader of this audible is great! The story kept me guessing till the very end.

bland

One good twist but not enough to keep interests up. Not horrible but long from great.

Engaging moments but easy to zone out

I enjoyed the story but it didn’t always keep my attention. I found myself zoning out and suddenly the story caught my attention when something interesting happened. I liked the last part the best when things finally came together.

Loved

WOW! What a great book! It had just the right amount of suspense and supernatural. It was one of those books that I thought wow what a great use of my audible credit! I would highly recommend this to anyone who likes suspense genre. The narration was incredible.