Summary

The prologue of the novel tells the story of Ellie Mack, a few months before she disappeared. The narrator explains that these "were the best months" (1), presumably of Ellie's life, and goes on to explain that she had started dating her first boyfriend. The prologue then finishes by explaining that she had been the victim of a series of grave misdeeds.

Chapter 1 opens on Laure Mack, who has let herself into her daughter Hanna's flat, in order to clean it. Hanna's flat had been an impulse buy, and she does not care to take care of it or fill it with furniture. She leaves money for her mother to clean it for her once a week. On this day, it is obvious to Laurel that Hanna did not come home the prior night, causing her to panic irrationally, drawing ties to the...