I haven’t given a 5 star review for ages. It’s been that long I had to question what a 5 star book meant to me... The Missing Years has all the good ingredients for a thriller/horror. I found myself wanting to continue reading the book searching out little pockets of time to find out what happened next. Elliot managed to bring the world of the manse to life. It felt eerie and spooky and very Scottish. The suspense was high throughout and I found myself trying to work out who was responsible for the awful things that were happening. Isn’t that what a thriller novel is all about?
📝Story: Ailsa has arrived at her Childhood home following the death of her mother- a foreboding Scottish manse in the secluded Scottish Highlands. Although most childhood homes are filled with happy memories Ailsa is haunted by her father who went missing and was never found. Many of the locals believed he had stolen diamonds from his workplace and fled the country leaving a lot of animosity behind him. Once settled in the manse things are not as they seem. The manse doesn’t want her there and when animal cadavers appear on the doorstep Ailsa wonders whether it is just the manse who wants rid of her or someone else...
❤️What I loved?
I really enjoyed this book. I found the interludes between the chapter interesting where Ailsa would express her own account of what her imagination thinks happened to her father. Some were incredibly poignant others witty. I enjoyed the banter between Ailsa’s new found ‘friends’ Ben, Jamie, Ali and Fiona created a realistic friendship group who you couldn’t help but relate to. I loved Callum (Fiona’s son) and his innocence and connection with Ailsa. Lastly the history of the manse tied all the characters and the story together and made the place almost mythical. A place where anything can happen.
❌What I didn’t love?
There wasn’t much I didn’t like about this book. Part of me thinks that the ending was wrapped up a little quickly but overall it was incredibly enjoyable.
📝Story: Ailsa has arrived at her Childhood home following the death of her mother- a foreboding Scottish manse in the secluded Scottish Highlands. Although most childhood homes are filled with happy memories Ailsa is haunted by her father who went missing and was never found. Many of the locals believed he had stolen diamonds from his workplace and fled the country leaving a lot of animosity behind him. Once settled in the manse things are not as they seem. The manse doesn’t want her there and when animal cadavers appear on the doorstep Ailsa wonders whether it is just the manse who wants rid of her or someone else...
❤️What I loved?
I really enjoyed this book. I found the interludes between the chapter interesting where Ailsa would express her own account of what her imagination thinks happened to her father. Some were incredibly poignant others witty. I enjoyed the banter between Ailsa’s new found ‘friends’ Ben, Jamie, Ali and Fiona created a realistic friendship group who you couldn’t help but relate to. I loved Callum (Fiona’s son) and his innocence and connection with Ailsa. Lastly the history of the manse tied all the characters and the story together and made the place almost mythical. A place where anything can happen.
❌What I didn’t love?
There wasn’t much I didn’t like about this book. Part of me thinks that the ending was wrapped up a little quickly but overall it was incredibly enjoyable.