Elizabeth is Missing

"Elizabeth is Missing," a debut novel by Emma Healey, has achieved critical acclaim, becoming a Sunday Times Top Five Bestseller. This remarkable book won the Costa First Novel Award in 2014 and was shortlisted for both the National Book Awards Popular Fiction Book and New Writer of the Year. Additionally, it was longlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize and the Baileys Prize for Women's Fiction.

The story introduces readers to Maud, an elderly woman whose memory is failing her. Everyday tasks become challenges, such as making tea or remembering why she went shopping. Even familiar places and faces, including her daughter Helen, sometimes feel unfamiliar. Yet, amidst the fog of her forgetfulness, Maud is convinced that her friend Elizabeth has disappeared. Despite being urged to let it go, Maud is determined to uncover the truth, believing the key to solving a seventy-year-old mystery lies within her memory, overlooked by everyone else.

The novel has drawn praise for its compelling narrative and emotional depth. Deborah Moggach, known for "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel," describes it as a haunting and unsettling page-turner. Emma Donoghue, author of "Room," highlights the compassionate core beneath the mystery. The Daily Telegraph likens it to "Memento" with an Alan Bennett twist, while Jonathan Coe calls it the "mythical beast" that captures you completely. The "Observer" and "New!" have equally lauded the novel for its gripping and mesmerizing quality. If you're seeking an unputdownable read, "Elizabeth is Missing" delivers just that.