"The Missing Years" is Lexie Elliott's second novel after her success with "The French Girl".
Blurb - 'Ailsa Calder has inherited half a house. The other half belongs to her father who disappeared without a trace twenty-seven years ago. She returns to the childhood home, nestled amongst the craggy peaks of the Scottish Highlands and is joined by her half-sister Carrie, who’s almost a stranger to her. Ailsa can’t escape the claustrophobic feeling that the house itself is watching her. She also can’t ignore how the neighbourhood animals refuse to set one foot within the gates of the garden. When the first night time intruder, Jamie, shows up, Ailsa fears that the manor could be fatally dangerous.'
The author did a very acceptable job in the first chapter of the book in conveying the description of 'The Manse' in a dark and foreboding manner. The house itself is a prominent character in the story, that stands out in such a rugged but beautiful landscape setting. I adore anything to do with the Scottish Highlands and found the atmospheric surroundings perfect. "The Missing Years" is billed as a suspenseful mystery with all the characters having secrets and at times there are some spooky moments when Ailsa is alone in the house. However, this is a slow burn thriller, very much so in fact and I have to admit that I found the first three quarters quite laborious with regards to the plot and although the denouement was fairly entertaining in general, this story was just too slow for my personal enjoyment. I also found the filler regarding Jonathan and his news reports boring and unnecessary and the story rather disjointed as a whole.
It is still a decent mystery with a supernatural element for the right reader and if your preference is exceedingly slow moving thrillers, then you should enjoy this book.
These are just my personal thoughts and feelings and by no means what the next reader may find.
2 stars
Blurb - 'Ailsa Calder has inherited half a house. The other half belongs to her father who disappeared without a trace twenty-seven years ago. She returns to the childhood home, nestled amongst the craggy peaks of the Scottish Highlands and is joined by her half-sister Carrie, who’s almost a stranger to her. Ailsa can’t escape the claustrophobic feeling that the house itself is watching her. She also can’t ignore how the neighbourhood animals refuse to set one foot within the gates of the garden. When the first night time intruder, Jamie, shows up, Ailsa fears that the manor could be fatally dangerous.'
The author did a very acceptable job in the first chapter of the book in conveying the description of 'The Manse' in a dark and foreboding manner. The house itself is a prominent character in the story, that stands out in such a rugged but beautiful landscape setting. I adore anything to do with the Scottish Highlands and found the atmospheric surroundings perfect. "The Missing Years" is billed as a suspenseful mystery with all the characters having secrets and at times there are some spooky moments when Ailsa is alone in the house. However, this is a slow burn thriller, very much so in fact and I have to admit that I found the first three quarters quite laborious with regards to the plot and although the denouement was fairly entertaining in general, this story was just too slow for my personal enjoyment. I also found the filler regarding Jonathan and his news reports boring and unnecessary and the story rather disjointed as a whole.
It is still a decent mystery with a supernatural element for the right reader and if your preference is exceedingly slow moving thrillers, then you should enjoy this book.
These are just my personal thoughts and feelings and by no means what the next reader may find.
2 stars