It Could Have Been Her – Hardcover by Lisa Jewell

Why We Shelved It:

Lisa Jewell is a reigning master of domestic suspense and psychological dread. It Could Have Been Her delivers an intricate, multi-timeline investigation that bridges past trauma, gothic house imagery, and relentless tension. It slots naturally into our darker psychological mystery lineup, alongside The Housemaid and The Silent Patient, offering readers an addictive, twist-laden narrative that digs into the lingering ghosts of our choices.

The Story:

While walking her dogs across the grounds of her crumbling family estate, Jane Trevally discovers an abandoned white terrier—with no sign of the young woman who was staying nearby. When the girl is officially reported missing, Jane offers to return the dog to its registered address hours away in London.

Arriving outside a decaying property named Thornwood on the edge of Hampstead Heath, Jane freezes. Twenty-five years earlier, she barely escaped that exact house with her life. The cagey man answering the door denies knowing the missing girl, but a fleeting glimpse of a haunted-looking woman through an upstairs window confirms Jane's worst fears: Thornwood's dark history is still unfolding, and uncovering the truth means facing the terrifying realization that it easily could have been her.