Book Review: THE MISSING YEARS by Lexie Elliott

Title: THE MISSING YEARS

Author: Lexie Elliott
Publisher: Berkley Publishing
Read: April 2019

Expected publication: out now

My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟

Book Description:

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 from her mother’s estate, Ailsa returns to her childhood home, nestled amongst the craggy peaks of the Scottish Highlands, joined by the half-sister who’s almost a stranger to her.

Ailsa can’t escape the claustrophobic feeling that the house itself is watching her—as if her past hungers to consume her. She also can’t ignore how the neighbourhood animals refuse to set one foot within the gates of the garden.

When the first nighttime intruder shows up, Ailsa fears that the manor’s careless rugged beauty could cost her everything.

My musings:

Is there anything more compelling than a mystery featuring an old spooky mansion in the country? Few settings are as irresistible for me, and of course I added this book to my TBR list immediately when I heard that one of the starring role went to an old deserted manor house in rural Scotland.

Picture this: you have just found out that you have inherited The Manse, an old stately manor house in the country where you spent a few of your early childhood years. The place where your father went missing, and your family life totally unravelled. Which is probably why Ailsa is eager to sort through her mother’s old stuff at the house and get her affairs in order so she can put the house on the market as quickly as possible. But there is a hitch: her father, who has been missing for 27 years is still officially part owner of the property, and without his consent she cannot sell, lease or convert the old mansion. And the ghosts of the past are about to catch up with her ....

There are two things I particularly loved about this book:

1. The Manse: the old manor house is one of those settings that features almost like a character in itself and plays a huge role in the whole mystery. And it has such potential for spookiness! Doors mysteriously open and close even though there is no draught. Animals are refusing to enter the grounds, acting terrified as soon as they get near it. There are mysterious sightings of shadowy animals and people that no one else can see. It was just so perfect!
2. The mystery of Ailsa’s father’s disappearance: what really happened to him 27 years ago when he vanished without a trace, carrying a load of precious diamonds he was meant to deliver to a local jeweller. Throughout the novel we get to hear different Ailsa has made up about her father’s fate. He is living in Australia / South America / a mental hospital in the next county with a new family / a male partner / a new wife. Her theories are endless. As the story gets a bit more sinister, so do Ailsa’s theories, until .... Well, you will have to find out for yourself!

You are probably wondering: so, what’s not to love here? Alas, it was the ending that ruined this one for me. There are more plot holes than in Swiss cheese in the way this one panned out, and I didn’t get answers to some of the most important questions I had – which I will not discuss here because – you know – spoilers. *sigh* it’s the year of implausible endings for me, and the trend continues. No doubt it won’t bother many of you, so take my review with a large grain of salt. I’m trying to become more adept at suspension of disbelief, but I think this one pushed too many boundaries!

Summary:

To sum it up: great setting, very intriguing premise but a totally implausible ending for me. However, I loved Elliott’s writing style and have just bought The French Girl, and look forward to reading more from this author!

Thank you to Edelweiss and Berkley Publishing for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.