Elizabeth Is Missing

by Emma Healey

In this darkly riveting debut novel—a sophisticated psychological mystery that is also a heartbreakingly honest meditation on memory, identity, and aging—an elderly woman descending into dementia embarks on a desperate quest to find the best friend she believes has disappeared, and her search for the truth will go back decades and have shattering consequences.

Maud, an aging grandmother, is slowly losing her memory—and her grip on everyday life. Yet she refuses to forget her best friend Elizabeth, who she is convinced is missing and in terrible danger.

But no one will listen to Maud—not her frustrated daughter, Helen, not her caretakers, not the police, and especially not Elizabeth's mercurial son, Peter. Armed with handwritten notes she leaves for herself and an overwhelming feeling that Elizabeth needs her help, Maud resolves to discover the truth and save her beloved friend.

This singular obsession forms a cornerstone of Maud's rapidly dissolving present. But the clues she discovers seem only to lead her deeper into her past, to another unsolved disappearance: her sister, Sukey, who vanished shortly after World War II.

As vivid memories of a tragedy that occurred more than fifty years ago come flooding back, Maud discovers new momentum in her search for her friend. Could the mystery of Sukey's disappearance hold the key to finding Elizabeth?

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Book Club, Contemporary, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook

320 pages, Hardcover

First published March 13, 2014

About the author

Emma Healey grew up in London where she studied for her first degree in bookbinding. She then worked for two libraries, two bookshops, two art galleries and two universities, before completing an MA in Creative Writing at the University East Anglia. Her first novel, Elizabeth is Missing, was published to critical acclaim in 2014, became a Sunday Times bestseller and won the Costa First Novel Award. Her second novel, Whistle in the Dark will be published in May 2018. She lives in Norwich with her husband, daughter and cat.

Reviews

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 70 year old unsolved mystery lies at the heart of 'Elizabeth Is Missing'. It's not your conventional crime novel, but it certainly is compelling. The main protagonist is an 82 year old lady suffering from dementia. The way the author has dealt with the subject of dementia is quite remarkable. She's captured brilliantly the anxiety, the confusion, and the fear associated with it, so much so, that it's hard to believe she's not yet thirty herself! It's beautifully written, hilarious at times, heartbreakingly sad at others, and it maintains its suspense right the way through. Emma Healey is a wise, intelligent and perceptive writer, and this is a really good debut novel. Can't wait to see what she has to offer in the future.

[Kelly (and the Book Boar) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/

WARNING: I’M GOING TO SPOIL SOME OF THIS ONE, SO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK

I finished Elizabeth Is Missing all the way back in September, but never wrote a review. Those of you who know me are already aware that I’m always behind when it comes to posting reviews, but this one fell off the radar for a different reason . . . A reason I like to call the “meh factor.”


^^^^selfie of my reaction upon finishing this book^^^^

However, after having a conversation about this book earlier today I figured I might as well yak up some kind of nonsense to finally get this one off of the “read but not reviewed because I suck list.”

The synopsis is that Maud MAUDE! I LOVE MAUDE!!! , an elderly grandmother, is falling victim to dimensia and has become a bit obsessed with finding her friend Elizabeth who has gone missing. In her state of confusion, Maud also begins to remember another person who went missing in her life decades ago, her sister Sukey.

Here’s the problem . . . it’s pretty obvious from the jumpstart that Elizabeth is NOT missing – she’s either in a nursing home or dead. Wasting TONS of pages and doing the ol’ wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey back and forth through different era narration in order to cover both Elizabeth and Sukey’s disappearances doesn’t work when half the book is wasted on such an obvious “mystery.” I also figured out the deal with Sukey super-early as well (but I read a lot of mystery/thrillers so this happens on the regular for me and might not for you). The blurb promised me this book would be “darkly riveting” – but unfortunately it was not. It was simply the sad (and sometimes frustrating) story of an elderly woman as she succumbs to dimentia. I’m still trying to wrap my brain around the fact that this was nominated as a Best Debut on the Goodreads Choice Awards. If this is on your “to read” list (along with 500 other books, if you’re anything like me) I’d say bump it to the back of the line.

[Alejandro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elizabeth is missing!!!

This novel is quite creative and an unusual mix of several genres, since while the mystery is the lead genre, you also can find humor, romance, drama, even horror, maybe on this last one, not as you can expected but certainly it has elements truly horrific and creepy.

Elizabeth is... mmh... is... mmh... what was I saying?

Trying to explain what you can expect here, this is like "Memento" meets "Manhattan Murder Mystery" with some elements present on other films like "The Lady Vanishes" and any Mrs. Marple-type mystery.

BUT with a totally unexpected twist. You won't see it coming!

Also, beside the strong mystery angle on the storyline, Emma Healey, the author, was able to construct a wonderful portrait of the time when people reach old age, they have memory troubles, and after a whole life of being independent, they need to rely on the help of others, younger than them and even their offspring are giving them orders and telling them what they can do and where they can go.

If younger people tend to critize and not being patient to their elders, just try to be in their places and maybe you will understand better how they may be feeling about the whole situation of getting older.

Elizabeth is Missing! Isn't she? Mmh... who are you?! Why are you reading my review?! Why am I writing a review?! Let me check my pockets, it seems that I have some notes... give me a moment.

A kinda downside point is that while is a quite short novel with like less than 250 pages, even so, I think that this story could work even better in a short story setting. It's not like that each episode is boring or anything, quite the contrary, and even some side-plots proved to be totally essential to the main storyline. However, even with the possitive impact left at the end of the reading, I do believe that in a short story development this could be a real masterpiece worthy of 5-stars rating. So, I think that taking out a star from the rating is enough to show my "feeling" that this could be better as a short story regardless that it's still a narrow novel.

If you decide to read it, you won't regret it... or forget it! ;)

Elizabeth? Which Elizabeth are you talking about?! I was here for a reason, right? Was I writing something? Was it something about a book? Did I read a book? Really? I don't think so! You must be confused! If I'd read that novel "Elizabeth is Missing" that you are talking about, I would remember it, right?

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maude is 82 yrs.old and no longer lives solely in the present day. Her memories of the past and the disappearance of her sister Sukey have become confused with the disappearance of her friend in the present day, Elizabeth. Suffering from dementia, her days have become a jumble of things, images and thoughts that don't seem to fit.

I would imagine how challenging writing a book from the perspective of a woman suffering from this malady , but the author has done a wonderful job. At times humorous, at times poignant, one cannot help feeling so very sorry for Maude, as a character she is very likable. Her present is not all there and even her past becomes hard to hold on to, so she relies more and more on her pocket full of sticky notes. She has two recurring thoughts, "Elizabeth is missing" and "Where is the best place to grow summer squash." Now you will have to read this to find out the answers. You won't be sorry.

ARC from publisher.

[Baba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maud, 82, living alone in suburbia - she makes cups of tea, and forgets them; she goes out and forgets what for, she often doesn't recognise her own daughter; but there's one thing that she keeps remembering... "Elizabeth is missing"!

How do you solve a mystery when, you can't remember when it happened and to whom? The extremely unreliable narrator of her own story is Maud as she seeks to find out the truth about Elizabeth, and her own past, whilst suffering from not-named memory /dementia condition. Emma Healey's darkly comedic mystery thriller is a genre busting debut fully worthy of all the Costa Book Award, Best First Novel, 2014 generated best selling hype. A book that keeps you invested from the very first page to the last, as well as giving some huge insight and empathy to those with similar conditions. A masterclass in unreliable narration storytelling, that is not to be missed! 9 out of 12.

[Mandy · Rating 1 out of 5]

What in the hell did I just read? I feel lost, much like Maud did in this book.

There's two stories going on here... Maud an 82 year old woman who has dementia and then young Maud, who is desperately searching for her sister who has just vanished.

I will say the author was spot on with dementia. I worked with my grandmother for a full year before she passed this January and she acted a lot like Maud. That's all I can say because it is still a touchy subject for me and the wound from grandma passing is still fresh.

The young Maud is close to her sister and then one day Sukey or Susan vanishes. Her husband also goes awol but then reappears later in the story to ask where his wife was and Maud continues to look for her, therefore overlapping into the older Maud who is searching for Elizabeth her friend.

The two stories do intersect but I felt so confused at the end. I guess I was expecting more of a crazy ending than there was.

Not the best book and I wish I would have quit but I wanted to find out what happened... I wouldn't recommend... Sorry! Just a big let down for me.

[F · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this!
Funny and sad.
So different from that sort of perspective.
Really well done. Loved Maud.
I knew there would be a connection between the 2 time line stories and I really liked the ending.

[Jessi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did I read the same book as other reviewers?!?!?! This book was horrible, annoying, repetitive and wayyyyyy too drawn out. I love a good mystery and found myself not even caring what happens to Elizabeth, or Sukey, or ANY character in this book, because this book was just boring. I read the whole thing waiting for the aha-moment that just never came. Thought this book told from the view point of an elderly women with dementia would be unique, but I just found it frustrating.

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Cuban mother — God bless her soul — used to lament, “Ivonne, ¡llegar a viejo es lo último!” (Ivonne, getting old is the absolute worst!) Still in my 30s, I nodded sympathetically, but I really had no idea at all. Emma Healey’s Elizabeth Is Missing brought those memories back for me — rather ironic for a novel about the gradual fading of memory.

Elizabeth Is Missing ostensibly recounts how Maud Horsham, a tenacious 80-plus-year-old Englishwoman battling dementia, tries to investigate the abrupt disappearance of her longtime best friend, Elizabeth Markham. But it was a very, very different novel to what I imagined. (To say any more would be to spoil it.) However, I can say that this bittersweet novel, in addition to examine Maud’s obsession to the very end with finding Elizabeth, unblinkingly examines the indignities, small frights, embarrassments, patronizing remarks and attitudes, and limitations that come with aging. Whether humorous, cringe-worthy, or poignant, these episodes ring so true to life. This exploration of the fragility of memory and identity, coupled with two fabulous mysteries, will keep you glued to Healey’s amazing debut novel.

Maud calls Elizabeth repeatedly, then repeatedly visits Elizabeth’s home, then visits her church, and Maud keeps on relentlessly investigating. Recognizing her slipping mind, Maud scrupulously jots down her every discovery and clue on slips of paper she squirrels away in her purse.Although her daughter Helen, granddaughter Katie, caregiver Carla, and just about everyone else presumes that Maud is merely indulging a senile obsession, Maud knows that something has gone terribly wrong — no matter what Peter, Elizabeth’s tightfisted, unpleasant, foul-mouthed son, tells the world.

As Maud investigates Elizabeth’s disappearance, she finds herself increasingly thinking about another disappearance nearly 70 years ago, when her beloved older sister, Susan “Sukey” Gerard, vanished in the autumn of 1946. Both cases contain remarkable parallels. Investigating one disappearance reopens that earlier case in Elizabeth’s mind, which she re-examines in a fresh light. As the novel progresses, Maud remembers less and less about the now and more and more about then.

Readers will find themselves embracing proud, vulnerable Maud, who writes herself notes on the case for when her memory fails. They’ll also find themselves sympathizing with Maud’s beleaguered daughter Helen and enjoying Maud’s cheerful bohemian teenage granddaughter Katie. A loyal friend to the end, Maud doesn’t want to let go until she gets to the truth — and you’ll find you can’t let go of Maud Horsham long after you’ve devoured the last page and unraveled both mysteries, the new and the old.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have ever wanted to understand a person with dementia and/or Alzheimer’s disease, this is the novel for you. I am amazed at how Emma Healey got into the mind of a women declining into full-blown dementia. Healey writes Maud as the narrator of this novel. Through Maud’s musings the reader comes to understand how individuals suffering from dementia perceive the world. Healey’s stunning ability as a writer allows the reader to understand the anger and confusion of dementia sufferers. What the world sees as inappropriate behavior in the demented is actually justifiable if one could go inside the head of the dementia person. The character of Maud is written with such sensitivity and compassion, that the reader will be hard pressed not to be far more compassionate in future dealings with elderly dementia sufferers. This is the strength of the novel.

Healey weaves a mystery which is secondary to the novel’s strength. Maud’s best friend, Elizabeth is missing. No one in Maud’s life responds to her need to find Elizabeth seriously. Maud continues to be frustrated with quest to find Elizabeth. Compounding Maud’s problem is her memory. She needs notes to remind herself of her daily agenda. In Maud’s case, her notes become more frequent and are necessary for more than agenda purposes. She needs to be reminded NOT to eat lunch because she already ate lunch and she forgets when she eats. She must be reminded NOT to use the stove. It’s sad, her mental decline. While she’s trying to find Elizabeth, her memory is triggered about her sister Sukey who went missing in 1946. Healey shows how memories confuse the elderly, which causes them to live in the past.

Although this novel is billed as a mystery, I found it to be an amazing read on the decline of the mind. How this young novelist achieved creating this remarkable character is amazing. I highly recommend it.

[Sonja Rosa Lisa ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ich war mir so sicher, dass ich dieses Buch mögen würde. Es klang so berührend, so anders.
Leider hat mich die Geschichte von Maud aber nicht erreichen können. Sicher, die Geschichte an sich ist sehr bewegend. Maud, eine alte Dame über 80, an Alzheimer erkrankt, vermisst ihre Freundin Elizabeth und zugleich auch ihre Schwester, die vor Jahren verschwand.
Dafür, dass die Geschichte aber eigentlich so ein berührendes Thema hat, hat sie mich seltsam kalt gelassen. Sie hat mich nicht erreicht.
Erst zum Ende hin wurde es emotionaler für mich, aber davor fand ich es stellenweise eher langweilig und auch ein wenig wirr.
Ich habe das Buch als Hörbuch gehört; mag sein, dass es daran lag. Vielleicht hätte mich die Geschichte, hätte ich sie selbst gelesen, mehr packen können.

[Dem · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elizabeth is missing was an emotional story about an elderly lady who is living with dementia.

I liked the story as I found it extremely effective at highlighting how difficult the illness is on family members; I found the character of Helen so real in this story and I am sure there are daughters and sisters and family out there reading this book and can identity with the character of Helen as she tries to look after and understand the world in which her mother finds herself struck in. Interestingly... we don't get the story from Helen's prospective and yet I sympathised so much with her character and I think the reason for this was that I became Helen and Maud became my mother while reading the novel


I found the author's use of language very effective throughout the book and her descriptions of situations very real. Maud is such a convincing character in this novel and I could have rated it 5 stars alone for how well Maud's voice stands out in this story.
I did however find many holes in the plot and the book became rather repetitive half ways through. I didn't find it a compelling psychological thriller as it was described but I did find it and emotional and interesting read and it really did highlight how difficult life is for families living with Alzheimer's or any form of memory loss.

[Annet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely book! And of course.... sad.

[Emily B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was hooked from the start however felt I could feel where the book was heading early on. Despite this it was still an enjoyable read and has stuck in my mind many months after reading.

[Ines · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve finished reading this book and the first thing I can think ofit is: disorder.
Yes, confusion and disorder in exposing a story even brilliant but absolutely exhausting for the structure given: the Maud's first-person narrative with senile dementia, the perpetual forgetting and repeted maybe 20 things in a page, I swear, it destroys the reader.... I am ashamed but I felt only annoyance for this poor old woman. The finish is so limp that it only brings embarrassment to those who resist until the end of the reading. " so much noise for nothing". I did not like it.


Ho finito di leggere questo libro e la prima cosa che mi viene in mente è: disordine. Si, confusione e disordine nell' esporre una storia anche geniale ma assolutamente sfiancante per la struttura data: la narrazione in prima persona di Maud con demenza senile. Il perpetuo dimenticare ogni cosa, giuro, distrugge il lettore.... Mi vergogno ma provavo solo fastidio per questa povera anziana. Il finale poi è così floscio che porta solo imbarazzo a chi resiste sino al termine della lettura. " tanto rumore per nulla" Si è capito che nn mi è piaciuto??

[Blair · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've had a copy of Elizabeth is Missing since last year, but wanted to leave it until closer to the release date to read it so I could be part of what I felt was sure to be an interesting conversation surrounding the book. I must say, my expectations were high given its early hype. Originally titled Strange Companions, it was much remarked upon for drawing global interest and sparking a bidding war between nine publishers at the London Book Fair; a year before it was due to come out in the UK, translation rights had already been sold in five countries. Bearing that in mind, I was expecting something really remarkable.

It's not remarkable. It's just... okay.

Narrator Maud is in her eighties and suffering from Alzheimer's. Her narrative is coherent, but presented as a continuous inner monologue, so on one page she may remember who someone is, or what she's supposed to be doing in that moment, but the next she has forgotten; an effective way to create a voice for someone with severe short-term memory problems while avoiding too much repetition or disorder. The main plot hinges on Maud's conviction that her closest friend, Elizabeth, has disappeared, a belief that nobody else will listen to or take seriously, particularly as Maud can't remember when she last saw Elizabeth or how long she has been 'missing'. Interwoven with this is the story of Maud's older sister Sukey, who really did disappear, in the aftermath of the Second World War. Maud frequently goes back to memories of Sukey and her own youthful efforts to find out what happened to her sister, in passages that often merge with Maud's pursuit of the truth about Elizabeth. Both threads slowly build to connected revelations.

Much has been made of how brilliant an idea it is to have Maud as the main character but, in my opinion, it's a bit of a trick, a clever device that easily covers up other flaws. It's impossible to say you dislike or don't sympathise with an elderly woman suffering from dementia without sounding like a terrible person. (Incidentally, I didn't dislike her or fail to sympathise with her, but I didn't feel like I cared about her anywhere near as much as I should have done, either. The character is supposed to be unforgettable but I'm pretty sure I will have forgotten all about this book very soon.) Equally, the fact that Maud is suffering from memory loss and mental confusion can be used to explain away a plethora of issues with the story, from muddled parts of the narrative and endlessly repeated phrases ('I can't think'), to the unbelievable neatness of the ending.

Earlier this year I read The Night Guest by Fiona McFarlane, another debut novel with an ageing, mentally addled protagonist in which memories may or may not be reliable; the past bleeds into the present; there is a mystery which might only exist in the character's head, etc. I found The Night Guest to be a much more complex, nuanced and effective exploration of these issues than Elizabeth is Missing. Despite the hype and fuss about the central conceit, the thing that really stood out to me was the authenticity and compelling nature of the post-war scenes. Given the fact that Healey is a young debut author who hadn't been published at all prior to this book, it's amazing how effortless these parts of the narrative feel, and I found the Sukey plotline much more gripping than the Elizabeth one.

While I enjoyed this novel, I was left slightly disappointed that it didn't live up to its status as one of the most anticipated debuts of 2014. I don't know how to recommend it, really - I can't imagine this being the type of book that anyone would absolutely love rather than just like, yet I've already seen numerous glowing reviews, and it seems that I'm in the minority by not adoring it. I think my problem with it was that I enjoyed the story more than the characterisation, but the book is really all about characterisation, which means the conclusions of the two plotlines turn out to be somewhat pedestrian. While a good, solid debut, Elizabeth is Missing failed to ignite any particular spark in me.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma Healey did an extraordinary job of putting me into the mind of 82-year old Maud who was suffering from Alzheimer's disease. From paragraph to paragraph, you never knew if you would be in Maud's past where her older sister, Sukey, disappeared or in her present trying to find her close friend, Elizabeth, who she believes to be missing. Yes, I wanted to know what happened to Elizabeth and Sukey, but I got so involved in Maud's thinking process that I felt like I was reading three novels at once.

"Elizabeth is Missing" had a very interesting storyline which kept me engaged throughout, but I couldn't help wish I had read this book before I watched this disease take a close friend and my beloved aunt away from me. It was a clever approach for a mystery but was also an unexpected lesson in compassion.

I would definitely recommend this book.

[Aditi · Rating 5 out of 5]

An old woman, whose memory is fading away slowly, is caught in the web of a mystery surrounding her missing best friend and her missing sister. Elizabeth is Missing written by Emma Healey is a thoroughly intriguing and a highly compelling novel.

Thank you Penguin for providing me with an ARC.

Maud is a 82years old woman, suffering from dementia. She is getting forgetful hence she writes notes to remind herself of petty things and to keep up with her own life. She couldn't reach her best friend Elizabeth, so she assumes something terrible has happened to her and keeps repeating that Elizabeth is missing. She chants those words to everybody around her, to her daughter, Elizabeth's sons, police-men, but nobody pays heed to her. She tangles the present situation of Elizabeth with her own sister, Sukey, who disappeared after the end of the war in London.

The author has woven the story in a very beautiful way by giving two angles to the plot, one is the mystery with the right elements of twists and turns and the other is the old age, memory-loss. Her story-telling is wonderful; it's more like she manages to bring this drama into our rooms, as if every detail is unfolding right in front of her eyes. The story is so gripping that it'll completely hook you from its very first pages. Maud's character totally justifies and fits perfectly with the plot, a woman whom no one pays attention to, as it’s getting harder for her to remember things. We can feel her frustration and pain and the author gives us a thorough insight into the life of an old woman suffering from dementia and how she manages to unravel a mystery surrounding her best friend and her sister.

It’s one of the most anticipated novels of this year, undoubtedly the best and the most intense one.

[Beata · Rating 4 out of 5]

If this novel was a debut by the author, it is definitely worth praising. An interesting story and a very intriguing narrator.

[Julian Lees · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Unsettling, moving, and tender....I couldn't put it down.

[Malia · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, I've finally read it, and can confirm, it is worth all the fuss. I can hardly believe this is a debut! It is written with such confidence and eloquence, but then Healey did study creative writing.
The story centers around Maud, an 81 year-old woman descending ever deeper into dementia. The book is told both from Maud's present and her past, and as the story moves along, the line between these times becomes ever more blurry, disintegrating slowly as Maud grows more confused. While Maud is the kind of character you want to hug and make a nice cup of tea, she isn't portrayed as this vision of perfection. From the flashbacks into her past, we see a willful young woman who isn't always the easiest to sympathize with. But taking that into consideration, Healey manages to create very real character for us. A person with flaws, but a good, kind heart and you cannot help but be drawn into her world, as much as you might actually want to escape it.
I was truly impressed with the thoughtfulness and level of dignity in this book, and the handling of a subject that is often dismissed or misunderstood. Growing old is, in today's society especially, treated as an illness in itself, but the alternative is nothingness. Maud's story emphasized the fact that old age is deeply deserving of respect. What happened to her to get through her 81 years was no walk in the park, and what she, and surely other sufferers of dementia, are faced with is terrifying, for them and also for the families having to watch their loved ones get lost and being unable to do much to prevent it. Maud had a kind daughter and granddaughter, who were overwhelmed, but helpful, and seemed quite realistic. This is certainly well worth reading. But read it when the sun is shining, before winter swoops in and everything is gray and too bleak to read such a sad story.

Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com

[Frona · Rating 3 out of 5]

As in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, the story is told through the lenses of a certain mental condition that only few have access to. In this case, it is Alzheimer’s that disables the protagonist from reaching what her mind has set before her: solving a disappearance of a beloved one. But whilst providing an old lady with countless obstacles, the disease does more; through forceful emergence of what was trying to be forgotten, it opens the sheer possibility of the task. The past takes lead and shapes present, or what it needs from it, in tailored patterns.

The book shows credibly how losing a hold over continuity of the present necessarily leads to strengthening of an inner world and enforcing its persistence to act out regardless of everyday barriers that slow down a healthy person: fears, others, physical obstacles. The gap between inner and outer, past and present, is sometimes lost in the narrative, but the author reinstates them with the help of a mystery, which gives the protagonist some focus and unity. What would otherwise remain dispersed and hidden from the outer world, is in this way made sensible and given a logic of its own.

As in The Curious Incident as well, it seems that only a peculiar state of mind is not itself enough to make the story interesting. The mysterious hook is needed to lighten up the matter and show the disease in broad spectrum. The tool with which both stories are told is similar to the psychological test where you need to make a castle out of a sheet of paper – what is assessed isn't the final result itself as much as all the characteristics that one reveals unconsciously by focusing on the result: interactions with others, forethought or rashness, working under time limit etc. So, if all you care about mysteries is who's done it, you'll probably be disappointed by the book's predictability, but that was never really the point.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I feel as though I'm failing to catch something precious." This is a line taken out of context from the stunning debut Elizabeth Is Missing. Ultimately this is how I feel, that the few words I can say will fail to catch its essence.

Told in alternating time frames, it is the story of an elderly woman suffering many losses including friends, family, youth and memory. Described as both psychological and mystery fiction it is that but so much more. I found it touching and well plotted. As a woman over sixty it portrays possibilities of aging that are hard to contemplate and read.

Ms. Healey is twenty-nine and should be on the 20 under 40 to watch list. She's a very accomplished writer telling this story poignantly and with wisdom gleaned I know not where (well actually the dedication may provide a clue). It is a story that is easy to spoil so you must read it and interpret it yourself. Very satisfying for me.

[Evelina | AvalinahsBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I got this book from NetGalley back in 2014, I put it away for a long time because I didn't even know what NetGalley was all about back then. But now I know I should have read it much sooner. It is a great book. It has really been an emotional experience to read it.

The book tells a story of an old woman, slowly sinking into senility (perhaps Alzheimer's? It's never pointed out). She seems to be stuck on the fact of her friend Elizabeth being missing, and although she's heard the answer before, she can never seem to remember it, nor can she let it go. Perhaps it's because something similar has happened to her 70 years ago, when her older sister disappeared. So we watch the old lady's efforts to bring back her friend, whilst seeing how she gradually loses her memory, all of her current life, making her past more real than the present. The story of her sister's disappearance is gradually uncovered as she looks for her missing friend, and the ending is satisfying and meaningful. In a way, it's a psychological story which makes you relate to the old and suffering, as well as a passive sort of suspense story where you have to keep guessing at what happened to her sister 70 years ago. This book is really touching in many ways, as you start relating to the problems of old age and memory loss, and you it helps you understand what you could have never pondered, especially if you're young. The author really did well trying to put you in the position of someone who is slowly losing their world, and it's really easy to sympathise with the main character and understand her position, same as everyone else in the story. This book will teach you compassion for the old, the weak, it will also make you understand the fragility of time and your own life. I strongly recommend it.

I thank the publisher for giving me this copy for free in exchange for my honest review.

[Hannah Greendale (Hello, Bookworm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

📢 THIS BOOK IS INCREDIBLE AND YOU NEED TO READ IT!

👉 Check out my Best books of 2024 on BookTube. 👈



"Elizabeth is the only friend I have left; the others are in homes or graves."

Elizabeth is Missing is a riveting, psychological mystery unlike anything I’ve read before. I went into this book knowing very little about it, and you should too.

Here's all that you need to know about this book (the rest you should discover yourself by reading it, or better yet, listening to the audiobook): It follows the first-person perspective of a woman named Maud whose memory is a little slippery these days, but the one thing knows for sure is that her friend Elizabeth is missing. Moreover, Maud suspects that Elizabeth is in great danger, but no one will listen to her or take her concerns seriously.

What follows is the story of a woman trying to piece together the truth while the clues keep slipping from her mind. How do you solve a mystery when you keep forgetting the clues?

This whole story is so masterfully constructed that I could not stop listening. I cannot recommend the audiobook highly enough!

Elizabeth is Missing is a riveting mystery and a tender meditation on memory. DON'T MISS THIS ONE! Avoid reading the blurb and just pick it up and start reading. For the ultimate experience, listen to the audiobook. Enjoy!

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healy is a 2014 Harper Publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

For me this was a stunning novel, not only as a mystery but one that gives an unique insight into the mind of someone dealing with dementia and the effects it has on them and their family.

When Maud who is 82 years old, realizes her friend Elizabeth is gone, she desperately tries to convey this to her daughter, Helen, who is her sole care taker. No one takes her seriously, which frustrates and agitates Maud even more. But, this turn of events has jarred loose a torrent of memories regarding the disappearance of Maud's sister “Sukey” when she was much younger. She tends to confuse the two events in her mind and of course is fighting so hard to keep things straight and communicate to those around her who are totally clueless about what is really going on in Maud's head

When her sister disappeared, Maud was driven nearly mad by it . Slowly, Maud's mind sketches together the events of the past with the present day vanishing of her friend Elizabeth. It's a slow moving realization and the saddest thing of all is Maud's inability to hold on to her train of thought long enough to enjoy some kind of peace of mind or obtain closure in any way for herself.

I found myself feeling intensely angry with Helen and the police and Elizabeth's son, Peter. While I know it is so difficult to deal with a parent suffering from dementia, and I am certainly not making light of that burden, I couldn't help but feel irritation at Helen's making faces at Maud behind her back or dismissing her symptoms with the doctor or a thousand other ways she was rather unkind to her mother. I mean, this was her mother!! She resented every single thing she had to do for her and blamed her brother for not helping out more, which of course I would have to agree with that, and realistically this happens more often than people realize among siblings. Helen performs her duties admirably, but it's seldom she shows any real empathy or tenderness for her mother.

The two mysteries, the cold case, if you will, and the current mystery of Elizabeth's disappearance is compelling mostly because we know that there is something twisted up in Maud's mind and our frustration is as deep as hers. We know on one level that Elizabeth's disappearance is more of a catalyst for the deeply buried trauma of Maud's memories regarding her sister, but there is also a feeling of foreboding in regards to Elizabeth, mainly because Maude simply can not turn the idea loose. She is like a dog with a bone when it comes to her great concern over her friend's absence.

I think at times there are books placed in a rather generic genre classification, like mystery, suspense or psychological thriller, and that fits in this case, no doubt, BUT, it also leads people to draw a certain expectation of what to expect, and then perhaps, as could be the case with this book, the reader isn't quite sure what to think. The mystery is certainly understated, but I'm afraid many missed the poignancy of the story and the truly remarkable thing the mind really is. While, Maud was mostly unaware of what she has ultimately revealed by insisting Elizabeth was missing, it is astounding what she has managed to accomplish here. No, this is not exactly a whodunit in the traditional sense. Yes, it is difficult to read, and is very emotional and yes, it is slow moving without many of the elements most mysteries employ. So, I suppose it might have been best to have added this one to the literary fiction or contemporary fiction category along with mystery/ suspense to give the potential buyer an idea of what lay ahead. I thought this was a well thought out novel that maybe went over the heads of some who perhaps are not in any way familiar with dementia other than what they see on television. If you know someone with this disease, I can think you would look at this book with a different perspective. If you are interested in reading the typical mystery novel, police procedural, detective, forensic, sort of thing, then keep going. But, if you are looking for something that digs a little deeper into the human psyche and examines the long term emotional effects of loss, crime, guilt and in some ways even redemption, give this one a look. 4.5 stars rounded to 5

[sAmAnE · Rating 2 out of 5]

متاسفانه ارتباط نگرفتم

[Supratim · Rating 3 out of 5]

“How do you solve a mystery when you can’t remember the clues”

Let me introduce you to Maud. She is in her early 80s and suffers from dementia – the poor woman forgets everything: her caring daughter and granddaughter become total strangers, her home is unrecognizable and the list goes on. But, she is the only person to realize that her friend Elizabeth is missing.

Maud’s repeated claims are ignored and ridiculed as the imagination of a feeble mind. She receives mockery even from the police. Despite the humiliation Maud soldiers on with her sleuthing.
There is a 70 year old unsolved mystery running alternately with the present. It deals with the mysterious disappearance of Maud’s elder sister during WW2.

This is not your typical “high octane, adrenaline pumping” thriller. It is a touching account of a “forgetful woman’s” fight to find out what happened to her friend.

Throughout the novel the author has portrayed how difficult life is for a patient of dementia. At times they do understand that the world or rather certain obnoxious people are ridiculing them. But, there is nothing that they can do.

Observer called the book “poignant and darkly comic.” I agree with the “poignant” but didn’t find it funny – dark or not.

I had read somewhere that we are a sum of our memories. Just imagine how terrible it is to lose your memory – forgetting your own identity; being unable to recognize your loved ones; and ultimately losing your dignity.

Helen, Maud’s daughter did so much to care for her mother. Hats off to her.
On the flip side the book tests your patience. It rambles on and on – it is difficult to concentrate at times.

Overall, a commendable effort, only, the execution could have been a bit better.

[Connie Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit let down, review to come.

I finished this over a week ago and still am a bit ambivalent about it. Something for me, besides Elizabeth, was missing. I loved the concept of this story. Maude is creeping into the world of the unknown. She is kept adrift with sticky notes and routines. That in itself is terrifying, (as I look at all the reminders to myself tacked to the desk on a sticky note!) The author did a wonderful job of conveying that teetering on the edge feeling that so many elderly must have. What is current, what is from the past, how do the two relate? Are you slowly going mad? Why doesn't anyone understand you?

That said, I felt that this story just went on, and on, and on. Which is what Maude must have felt. I was anxious to get to a resolution.....about Elizabeth as well as the disappearance of Maude's sister so many years ago. I was hoping for a bit more and was left with a bit of a confused, "that's it" feeling. An OK read for me, though I think it could have been so much stronger.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maud has not heard from her friend Elizabeth for some time. She tells her concern to her daughter and Elizabeth's son. But no one believes Maud when she tells them that Elizabeth is missing. So Maud starts to look for her. We also learn about Maud's sister, Sukey who went missing seventy years ago. Maud has early on set dementia.

Thus is quite an emotional and thought provoking read. Thenstory jumps back in time to when Maud was a teenager 5o Maud now with early signs of dementia. What a wonderful character Maud is.