After Our House, my favourite of my own novels (that sounds very self-regarding, as if I re-read them in constant rotation, but let's go with it) is probably The Disappearance of Emily Marr. It’s the story of a scandal that erupts when a lonely young woman has an affair with a married neighbour and sets in motion a chain of tragic events she could never have anticipated. In despair, she leaves her life in London and heads to France – to atone, to grieve, to hide.
Having researched extensively the outcomes of missing persons enquiries, I decided that this was a novel that might bear an open ending. More often than not we don't get an answer in reality, so why must we have one in fiction? Boy, did I come to regret this! In my clever nod to authenticity, I forgot that readers like a proper ending. It doesn’t have to be a happy one (and rarely is with me), just the right one for the characters. Before long, I’d received thousands of emails asking me what happens next – and I duly supplied notes. Many readers enjoyed the game, but others most assuredly did not: ‘I am disgusted!!! 'I HATE this author!’ In cutting a long story short, I had, it seemed, Ruined Lives. So now, with this reissued version, there is an ending. It was a joy to write, because, by now, I’ve needed the closure as much as the next person. There’s also a new cover, which I absolutely love. So, if you enjoyed Our House, let me introduce you to Emily Marr – and I promise you’ll find out exactly what becomes of her.
4 Comments
Briegeen Girvin
6/9/2020 12:15:07 am
Dear Louise. I am just getting into your books and can't wait to read them all. Our House was my first and it was fabulous. I've also read and loved The Second Husband. Now I'm lying up in bed having just finished the Disappearance of Emily Marr. I totally loved this book but like your other readers I desperately want an ending as the version I have ended so abruptly . Is there any chance of you please emailing me the epilogue? I'm about to hand the book over to my elderly mum who also loved Our House but she will totally want the ending chapter too. So grateful if you could please help thanks Briegeen
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Alice Round
22/10/2021 02:04:18 pm
I, too, would love to read the epilogue. I loved the book but the ending left me disappointed and frustrated. Instead of being invigorated by the reading of a great new book, I am dispirited and haunted about what might have happened to Eve. I have ordered another book from Amazon but cannot count on it including the epilogue. Could someone PLEASE email it to me? Thanks in advance
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Bella Grimaldi
19/3/2022 01:11:38 am
I guess I know what happened to Emily. She and Arthur moved to the countryside near Leeds and lived behind locked gates. I know what happened to Eve. She was a schizophrenic who committed suicide. What puzzles me is why Sylvie had the boys with her when she crashed. I believe she was rushing home to speak with Arthur, but why not leave the boys in Sussex with their aunt? Was she simply cutting her vacation short? For Alexander and Hugo, too? I understand Sylvie had been drinking and had taken a sedative. But even with all this, I don't understand why she took Alexander and Hugo with her. That's what puzzles me and keeps me up at night. I do love your books, and I love the darkness of them. Sometimes I don't want a happy ending, not if it comes off as artificial, and in EMILY MARR and OUR HOUSE it would have. I will read everything you write. Bella
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February 2022
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