#BookReview: THE MISSING YEARS by Lexie Elliott @elliott_lexie @CorvusBooks

Publication: 6th June 2019 – Corvus Books

She thought she would never go back…

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 her mother’s estate, Ailsa returns to her childhood home nestled amongst the craggy peaks of the Scottish Highlands, accompanied by the half-sister she’s never taken the time to get to know.

With the past threatening to swallow her whole, she can’t escape the claustrophobic feeling that the house itself is watching her. And when Ailsa confronts the first nighttime intruder, she sees that the manor’s careless rugged beauty could cost her everything…

**********

The French Girl, Lexie Elliott’s gripping debut, was one of my favourite novel last year so I was really excited to get my hands on her second novel, THE MISSING YEARS, and I wasn’t disappointed.

The author takes us in a small village in the Scottish Highlands where everyone knows the protagonist, Ailsa Calder, even though she hasn’t lived in there for almost thirty years. After Ailsa’s father suddenly disappeared when she was seven years old, her mother packed their things and left. Now her mother is dead and Ailsa’s is back for the first time to claim The Manse, the family’s manor she’s inherited. For Ailsa is time to figure out what really happened to her father, but it seems that a few people don’t want Ailsa there.

Once again Lexie Elliott managed to keep me glued to the pages. There are mysteries to solve, loyalties to prove, and an element of supernatural that fits perfectly with the story. The Manse, the manor belonging to the Calder family, has a life of its own. The house is surrounded by legends and a dark and haunted atmosphere that keeps the animals away. How much of the legend is true? Is the house really trying to say something to Ailsa or is someone entering the house uninvited?

For me, THE MISSING YEARS is a must-read. I liked the characters who are so well-crafted and intriguing that until the end I couldn’t figure out who to trust. The plot is engrossing and thrilling, the tension slowly rises, and the creepy and evocative atmosphere gave me the chills. Highly recommended!!!

Many thanks to Corvus and NetGalley for an early copy of the book.