Why She Left: Gripping and suspenseful women's fiction full of family secrets

· Bookouture
4.2
10 reviews
Ebook
350
Pages

About this ebook

Fifteen years ago, her daughter vanished. Now, she’s back.

 

Ruth has spent every day of the last fifteen years grieving for her daughter Isobel who left the family home as a teenager and completely disappeared. Walking around the school to which she has given her life, every child she sees reminds her of her daughter’s bright future and of a happy family destroyed in an instant.

 

So when Ruth opens the door to find Isobel and a grandson she never knew existed, she feels a rush of joy. Isobel tells her that they need a safe place to stay whilst she gets back on her feet. Having lost her daughter once, Ruth is determined to keep her family together and enrols her grandson at the school, in the hope that they stay for good.

 

But as mother and daughter begin to heal the wounds of the past, a violent attack brings old secrets to the surface once more. It is clear that someone is prepared to destroy everything Ruth holds dear. Can Isobel confront her darkest secret before it is too late?

 

An absolutely unputdownable and emotional page-turner about devastating family secrets and the ties that bind. Perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty, Jodi Picoult and Imogen Clark.

 

Readers love Why She Left:

 

‘This story had me glued to my chair! You will not believe the twists and turns as you devour the pages! It has secrets, fear, strength, mystery and suspense!… Do yourself a favor and put aside a day to read this novel. It is so good! Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

‘I'm famished and sleepless from staying awake through the night to read it! Leah Mercer is a fantastic storyteller… There are several layers to this story and I completely enjoyed the alternative chapters of the mother and daughter… Very addictive and compelling, I swallowed the book whole over a night.’ @swatz2809

 

‘A stunning read-heartbreaking and gripping in equal measure, this family drama had everything I needed… I was hooked from the very first pageI love it when a book evokes such strong emotionsHighly recommended by me!’ Mychestnutreadingtree, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


I was immediately sucked into the story… The secrets just keep spilling out and will shock and startle you. Very well written and it kept me hooked the entire time! Highly recommend!’ @lindzanne1_bookworm, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


‘This book kept me on my toes the entire readJust when you start “getting” one subplot the author says WHAM look over here! I couldn’t put it down because I had to find out what happened.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


Sucks you in so well you think you are in the story… I adored this story, I adored the characters… The ended was unpredictable and pulled on my heart strings. This is a suspenseful, gripping novel that still invokes emotions from the reader. So well done!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

A fabulous triumph… one of those books that kept me guessing and waiting with bated breath till the very end!… This book will keep you up all night and stay with you long after.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

A psychological thriller with more than a dash of family drama… The twists and turns in this book were something else. Just when I thought I had it sussed then the twists and turns lead me down a totally different path… set aside a day to read this because once you start you won't want to put it down.’ Linda Strong Book Reviews

Ratings and reviews

4.2
10 reviews
Marnie Harrison
December 13, 2021
A family drama with secrets to hide. Sign me up please! Isobel doesn’t share her mother Ruth’s love for the school, which Ruth runs carrying on the family legacy. The same school which Isobel fled when she left her home and her family 15 years prior. Now she is forced to confront her past as she flees again, this time from an abusive relationship. With Isobel’s son now at the same school, Ruth wants nothing more than to see her beloved school succeed, but also she hopes to understand why her daughter left so suddenly, cutting the family off. Will the long hidden secrets stay buried or will Ruth learn a hard lesson in the truth. Why She Left is a compelling page turner that had me hooked right away. Each chapter left me wanting more and I was desperate to know the secrets buried deep within the walls of a prestigious upperclass school, that is a character within itself. Duel narrated, the reader gets great insight into Isobel and Ruth’s points of view, building up the suspense along the way in the lead up to its outcome..A beautifully written piece of work, Why She Left is a must read.
Sheri Steuben
December 13, 2021
Leah Mercer has a knack for writing stories that tug on your heart. Isobel returns home because she has no where else to go. Home is not a happy place for her. There are several smaller stories within the story. I enjoyed the characters and how they developed throughout the story. It’s not a light read but a story of overcoming and letting go of your past.
Carla Kovach
December 13, 2021
This psych thriller had me turning those pages. What a hook! Girl runs away from home and suddenly turns up at mother’s house many years later with a teenage son. How can a reader not want all the answers to that conundrum? I loved Ruth’s perspective and I followed it intently as she tried to work it all out. Then there was Isobel - the returned. She let us into her secret and once that had happened, the wheels started turning. Then there’s the unknown factor, the lurking menace that really ramped up the pace. Why were these sinister occurrences happening? This book was a little eerie. There was something about the school that gave off that vibe, like it’s history seeped from the walls. The tone was set from the start. As the action ramped up and the revelations burst out, an exciting finale provides that gosh moment. Loved ‘Why She Left.’ Fantastic and intriguing read!

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