It Could Have Been Her - Lisa Jewell

 It Could Have Been Her - Lisa Jewell

Pub. Date: June 23, 2026

She Read

Jane Trevally encounters  a small white dog one afternoon and discovers that its owner resides deep in Hampstead outside of London. Upon returning the dog to the strange man who lives there, she recalls once being at that house in a very dangerous situation. She later learns that the dog accompanied a young woman staying near where Jane lives and the woman has disappeared. Fancying herself a private investigator, she  embarks on a quest to find the missing woman, unraveling damning secrets along the way

This is a dark and twisted tale filled with dysfunctional individuals and relationships. There is a house of horrors, life long scars inflicted upon victims of trauma, and even the presence of an evil clown. 

Jewell’s storytelling is masterful, weaving an intricate plot amidst a diverse cast of characters The timeline shifts between the present and different years in the past, and the narrative alternates between various characters’ perspectives. Due to the multi-generational nature of the characters, readers may find it helpful to jot down a brief family tree for reference to keep track of names and relationships.

Fans of Jewell’s writing may recognize Jane as a minor character introduced in the author’s Don’t Let Him In.  As Jane seems interested in becoming a private investigator with her step son, Dexter as an assistant, could this be the beginning of new series? 

Thanks to @NetGalley and @AtriaBooks for the DRC.

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