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The Girl Who Left

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The Girl Who Left

By: Jenny Blackhurst
Narrated by: Charlotte Worthing
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About this listen

Twenty-five years ago, a local girl went missing. Now, another girl comes back…

When five-year-old Elsie Button was snatched from a garden in a sleepy town on the Welsh island of Anglesey, and a local man later confessed, it sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community. How could one of their own do such a thing? Especially when his own little girl was the same age – and the victim's best friend.

Kathryn and her family left under the cloak of darkness one night, unable to bear the shame, and the anger of their neighbours. She hardly remembers that time. Now, she suffers the consequences of living under an assumed name, always looking over her shoulder. Her dad has not spoken a word to her since he went to prison. She is haunted by the question: why did he kill Elsie?

When another child is taken from the same garden, twenty-five years to the day of Elsie's murder, Kathryn is determined that this time she'll be on the right side. She'll join the search and atone for her father's deed, and maybe, just maybe, get the answers she wants. But she's not prepared for the long memory of the locals, nor the risks of going back. Not everyone on the island wants the truth to come out, and they'll go to extreme lengths to stop that from happening.

A gripping must-listen psychological thriller from the #1 bestselling author Jenny Blackhurst. Unmissable for fans of K. L. Slater, C. L. Taylor and S. E. Lynes.

©2025 Jenny Blackhurst (P)2025 Audible Ltd.
Crime Thrillers Family Life Genre Fiction Psychological Small Town & Rural Thriller & Suspense

What listeners say about The Girl Who Left

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Solid story with a not so solid ending

Who dunnit wasn’t that hard to work out. And a little unbelievable. Great performance though and worth a listen

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Twists and turns

A good listen with characters that are well rounded and believable. Lots of plot twists to a great finish! An excellent listen!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

engaging story

the idea was good and the story was engaging, however the ending was quite disappointing which was a shame.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Mystery until the end!

Loved the main characters, the setting and the suspense of mystery until the end. Great narrator.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Good Story with a twist

Enjoyed listening to this book. it was well written with a couple of unexpected twists at the end

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Great read!

I slept 3-4 hours a night for 2 nights because I couldn’t not listen to this book and had to get it in. Twists, turns and a few tears. Thoroughly enjoyed. Thank you

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Never would have guessed the ending

Good story and narrated well. One major hole in the story is the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars. I usually figure out the plots and can pre guess the ending but this one I didn't and I audibly gasped a few times as plot twists were revealed.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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the originality

I thought this was a great book with a really diverse and unique story. It kept me interested right till the end and I really didn't see the ending coming. Will definitely read some more of this Author again.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Good story the ending lost sight of reality

I really enjoyed it up until the ending which made everything that came before it seem so unbelievable

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Loved it!

So well written. I was positive I had the end worked out, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. It was so sad and with children of my own, it really tugged at my heart, so I couldn’t possibly listen to it again. But as a one time read, it was very well done.

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