Invisible Girl
This was really good. You know the old saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover?” That’s the mastery of Lisa Jewell’s interweaving characters in this domestic suspense. Some characters are exactly as you see them, but as the story progresses and things come out of the shadows, like the little red fox who makes occasional appearances, you realize that there’s far more than meets the eye to some others.
Who are these characters? First we have the Fours family: child psychologist, Roan, his wife, Cate, and their teenaged children Georgia and Josh, who are temporarily renting a home in Hamstead. Across the street from them, lives hapless social oddball, Owen Pick, a 33-year old teacher who has never had a relationship, sexual or romantic, with a woman and who dabbles in an online incel (involuntary celibate) community while living with his controlling aunt Tessie. Added to this mix is plucky 17-year-old Saffyre Maddox, who despite previously being under the care of Roan for three years, never revealed to him the real reason for her self harming behaviors, and who is now following his every move after being dismissed from his care.
The story is told in alternating POV’s by Saffyre, Cate and Owen, with Saffrye’s chapters being in first person and the two others in third person. The basic premise of the story is that sexual assaults are happening in and around Hamstead, and when Saffyre goes missing one day, suspicion falls on Owen Pick, who has a history of inappropriate behaviors towards women and is generally perceived as creepy by his neighbors and others. What follows is a pile-on of circumstance and media character assassination that swallows Owen in its wake. The question is: Is Owen responsible for all these attacks and Saffyre’s disappearance? That’s left to the reader to figure out, as other characters’ suspicious behaviors come to light and deepen the mystery.
I loved Saffyre. Is her behavior creepy in its own right? Absolutely. Despite this, I felt connected to her, and I really loved that her chapters were told in first person, so I could truly see things through her eyes. Cate - she’s a bit more elusive for me. I didn’t dislike her, I just didn’t entirely understand her. She’s a smart woman, but her fear and paranoia paint her in an unflattering light at times. Owen is a trainwreck, which is apropos considering how his life circumstances and choices have railroaded him in a certain direction. Despite this, his portrayal is a fairly sympathetic one, not excusing his poor behavior, but rather unfolding the layers so you can see him more clearly. The unpacking of Roan’s complicated character was also fascinating, as was finding out more about quiet, kind Josh, whose own mysterious behaviors are given focus later in the story. There really wasn’t a single character who wasn’t interesting in some way.
This book is a fantastic domestic suspense, mystery and foray into psychology, but at its heart it’s a great character study, which kept me invested to the very end. I wouldn’t say there were any profound surprises, but watching the puzzle come together was the real treat. I’d say it’s well worth a look and I’d be very interested to read more of Jewell’s books!
★★★★
Who are these characters? First we have the Fours family: child psychologist, Roan, his wife, Cate, and their teenaged children Georgia and Josh, who are temporarily renting a home in Hamstead. Across the street from them, lives hapless social oddball, Owen Pick, a 33-year old teacher who has never had a relationship, sexual or romantic, with a woman and who dabbles in an online incel (involuntary celibate) community while living with his controlling aunt Tessie. Added to this mix is plucky 17-year-old Saffyre Maddox, who despite previously being under the care of Roan for three years, never revealed to him the real reason for her self harming behaviors, and who is now following his every move after being dismissed from his care.
The story is told in alternating POV’s by Saffyre, Cate and Owen, with Saffrye’s chapters being in first person and the two others in third person. The basic premise of the story is that sexual assaults are happening in and around Hamstead, and when Saffyre goes missing one day, suspicion falls on Owen Pick, who has a history of inappropriate behaviors towards women and is generally perceived as creepy by his neighbors and others. What follows is a pile-on of circumstance and media character assassination that swallows Owen in its wake. The question is: Is Owen responsible for all these attacks and Saffyre’s disappearance? That’s left to the reader to figure out, as other characters’ suspicious behaviors come to light and deepen the mystery.
I loved Saffyre. Is her behavior creepy in its own right? Absolutely. Despite this, I felt connected to her, and I really loved that her chapters were told in first person, so I could truly see things through her eyes. Cate - she’s a bit more elusive for me. I didn’t dislike her, I just didn’t entirely understand her. She’s a smart woman, but her fear and paranoia paint her in an unflattering light at times. Owen is a trainwreck, which is apropos considering how his life circumstances and choices have railroaded him in a certain direction. Despite this, his portrayal is a fairly sympathetic one, not excusing his poor behavior, but rather unfolding the layers so you can see him more clearly. The unpacking of Roan’s complicated character was also fascinating, as was finding out more about quiet, kind Josh, whose own mysterious behaviors are given focus later in the story. There really wasn’t a single character who wasn’t interesting in some way.
This book is a fantastic domestic suspense, mystery and foray into psychology, but at its heart it’s a great character study, which kept me invested to the very end. I wouldn’t say there were any profound surprises, but watching the puzzle come together was the real treat. I’d say it’s well worth a look and I’d be very interested to read more of Jewell’s books!
★★★★
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