Chained in Darkness

Leigh Fletcher wakes in a dark, unfamiliar room, chained to a radiator, disoriented and terrified. She cannot remember how she got there, only that she's been drugged and abducted. The room is sterile, bare, and anonymous, with only a bucket for a toilet and a boarded-up window. Her mind races through panic, confusion, and horror as she realizes the unthinkable has happened to her. She tries to call for help, but no one comes. Instead, a typewritten note is slid under the door: "I am not the villain here." The chilling message sets the tone for her captivity, as she struggles to understand who has taken her and why. The sense of isolation and helplessness is overwhelming, and Leigh's only company is her own fear and the cryptic, taunting notes from her unseen captor.

The Perfect Family Illusion

Leigh is a devoted stepmother to two boys, Oli and Seb, and wife to Mark, a widower. She works as a management consultant, balancing a demanding job with the pressures of family life. Despite outward appearances of happiness, cracks show: her stepsons, especially Oli, struggle with her role as their mother, and Mark's late wife Frances is a constant, unspoken presence. Leigh feels like an outsider in her own family, always striving to be enough but never quite succeeding. The family's routines, rituals, and small resentments are revealed, painting a picture of a woman who is both indispensable and invisible, always on the edge of belonging.

A Chance Encounter

Years earlier, Leigh—then known as Kylie—meets Daan, a charismatic Dutchman, in London. Both are at crossroads: she is reeling from her father's death and a sense of rootlessness, he is wealthy, confident, and unattached. Their chemistry is immediate and electric, leading to a passionate affair. Daan is everything Mark is not: glamorous, spontaneous, and offering a life of luxury and excitement. The affair is intoxicating, and Kylie is swept up in the thrill of being desired and seen in a way she never has before. This encounter sets in motion the double life that will define her future.

Becoming Leigh

After her affair with Daan begins, Kylie makes the fateful decision to marry Mark, becoming Leigh Fletcher. She steps into the role of wife and mother, adopting Mark's sons and building a new life. Yet, she cannot let go of Daan, and the two worlds begin to overlap. Leigh is meticulous in her planning, creating separate identities, routines, and even wardrobes for each life. She tells herself she is giving her best to both men, but the strain of living two lives begins to take its toll. The boundaries between Leigh and Kai (her name with Daan) blur, and the risk of exposure grows ever greater.

The Second Wife

Daan, believing Kylie to be single, proposes, and she marries him under the name Kai. She constructs an elaborate fiction: a sick mother in the north of England, a flexible consulting job, and frequent absences that allow her to shuttle between husbands. Daan's world is one of privilege and sophistication, a stark contrast to the chaos and warmth of Mark's home. Kai is everything Daan wants: independent, mysterious, and unattached. The double life is exhilarating but precarious, and Kylie becomes increasingly adept at compartmentalizing, even as the emotional cost mounts.

Vanishing Act

When Leigh fails to return home, Mark and the boys are bewildered and increasingly anxious. The police are called, and Detective Clements begins to investigate. At the same time, Daan reports his wife Kai missing, claiming her messages have become strange and impersonal. The investigation reveals that Leigh and Kai are the same person, and the shocking truth of her bigamy comes to light. Both husbands are devastated and furious, each grappling with betrayal and the possibility that they are suspects in her disappearance.

The Investigation Begins

Clements and her team dig into Leigh/Kai's background, uncovering her two marriages, multiple identities, and the web of lies she has spun. They interview friends, family, and both husbands, piecing together the timeline of her disappearance. The investigation is complicated by the lack of evidence, the pandemic backdrop, and the emotional volatility of everyone involved. Clements is both fascinated and frustrated by Leigh's audacity and the psychological complexity of the case.

The Other Life

Through flashbacks and investigation, the reader sees Kai's life with Daan: the luxury apartment, the glamorous parties, the carefully curated image. Daan is charming but controlling, and their relationship is passionate but fraught. Kai's absences are explained away by her devotion to her supposedly ailing mother, but cracks begin to show as Daan becomes suspicious. The contrast between her two lives becomes more pronounced, and the tension mounts as the risk of discovery increases.

Kai's Story Unfolds

As Leigh/Kai endures captivity, she reflects on her childhood, her parents' divorce, and the origins of her need to please and to belong. She rationalizes her choices, insisting she was a better wife and mother because of her double life, but also acknowledges the loneliness and exhaustion it brought. The narrative delves into her motivations, fears, and the ways she justified her actions to herself. The psychological portrait is nuanced and sympathetic, even as her actions are revealed to be deeply flawed.

The Double Life Revealed

The police inform both Mark and Daan of Leigh/Kai's bigamy, and the fallout is immediate and devastating. Mark is humiliated and enraged, Daan feels betrayed and vengeful, and the boys are left reeling. Leigh's best friend Fiona is also shocked, realizing she never truly knew her. The community is scandalized, and the media seizes on the story. The investigation intensifies, with both husbands under suspicion and the search for Leigh becoming increasingly urgent.

The Husbands Collide

The two men, each grappling with loss and betrayal, meet face-to-face. Their encounter is tense, charged with anger, jealousy, and a desperate need for answers. They compare notes, search for clues, and each wonders if the other is responsible for Leigh's disappearance. The police, meanwhile, are unsure which man to trust, as both have motive and opportunity. The psychological stakes are high, and the question of who is the true villain remains unresolved.

The Best Friend's Secret

Fiona, Leigh's lifelong friend, is revealed to have her own secrets. She has been involved with Daan, unaware of his marriage to Leigh, and her feelings of betrayal and jealousy simmer beneath the surface. As she becomes more involved in the investigation, her actions grow increasingly erratic and desperate. Fiona's perspective adds another layer of complexity, as she struggles with her own sense of loss and the desire for justice—or revenge.

The Captor's Identity

As Leigh weakens in captivity, she pieces together clues about her captor. The food, the notes, the knowledge of her habits—all point to someone close. She vacillates between believing Mark or Daan is responsible, but the evidence is ambiguous. The psychological torment is as intense as the physical deprivation, and Leigh is forced to confront the consequences of her choices. The narrative builds to a fever pitch as the police close in and the truth is finally revealed.

The Truth About Frances

The investigation uncovers that Mark's first wife, Frances, did not die of cancer as he claimed, but from a fall down the stairs. This revelation casts new suspicion on Mark and adds another layer of tragedy to the story. The boys, already traumatized by Leigh's disappearance, must now grapple with the truth about their mother's death. The theme of secrets and the damage they cause is underscored, as the past refuses to stay buried.

The Final Choice

In a moment of clarity, Leigh is forced to confront her feelings for both men and to make a final, irrevocable choice. The psychological tension is at its peak as she weighs love, loyalty, and survival. The narrative explores the impossibility of having it all and the cost of trying. Leigh's decision is both inevitable and heartbreaking, a culmination of all that has come before.

Fiona's Betrayal

In a stunning reversal, it is revealed that Fiona is Leigh's captor. Driven by jealousy, betrayal, and a twisted sense of justice, Fiona orchestrated Leigh's abduction, framing Daan for the crime. Her actions are methodical and chilling, a testament to the corrosive power of envy and the desire to punish. The narrative shifts as Fiona's perspective is revealed, and the true extent of her involvement becomes clear.

The Last Walk

Fiona lures Leigh to the edge of a cliff under the guise of helping her escape. In a final confrontation, Leigh confesses her love for Mark and her regret, but Fiona, consumed by rage and resentment, pushes her over the edge. The act is both a literal and symbolic end to Leigh's double life, and Fiona's triumph is as hollow as it is complete.

Aftermath and Justice

With Leigh dead and Daan framed, Fiona returns to London, confident she has covered her tracks. The police investigation continues, but the truth remains elusive. Mark and the boys are left to pick up the pieces, and Fiona positions herself as their savior. The novel ends on a note of ambiguity and unease, as the true cost of secrets, lies, and betrayal is laid bare.

Characters

Leigh Fletcher / Kai Janssen / Kylie Gillingham

Leigh is the protagonist, a woman who lives a double life as the wife of two men, Mark and Daan, under different names. Her psychological complexity is rooted in childhood trauma, a desperate need to belong, and a compulsion to please. She is both loving and deceitful, capable of deep empathy and profound betrayal. Her relationships with Mark, Daan, her stepsons, and her best friend Fiona are fraught with tension, longing, and guilt. Leigh's journey is one of self-discovery, as she is forced to confront the consequences of her choices and the impossibility of having it all. Her development is marked by increasing isolation, exhaustion, and ultimately, tragedy.

Mark Fletcher

Mark is Leigh's first husband, a widower with two sons. He is solid, dependable, and devoted to his family, but haunted by the loss of his first wife and the challenges of blending a new family. Mark's love for Leigh is genuine, but he is also emotionally reserved and sometimes oblivious to her needs. The revelation of Leigh's double life shatters his sense of self and security, exposing deep wounds and unresolved grief. Mark's journey is one of betrayal, anger, and ultimately, resilience as he struggles to protect his sons and make sense of the chaos.

Daan Janssen

Daan is Leigh's second husband, a wealthy Dutchman who offers her a life of luxury and excitement. He is charming, confident, and used to getting his way, but also emotionally distant and controlling. Daan's relationship with Leigh is passionate but transactional, and he is ultimately undone by her deception. His psychological arc moves from infatuation to suspicion, rage, and a desperate need for vindication. Daan's inability to truly know or possess Leigh is both his tragedy and his undoing.

Fiona Phillipson

Fiona is Leigh's lifelong friend, a successful but lonely woman who becomes entangled in the web of lies. Her initial role as confidante and support shifts dramatically as she discovers Leigh's betrayal and becomes consumed by jealousy and resentment. Fiona's psychological unraveling is one of the novel's most compelling arcs, as she moves from victim to perpetrator, orchestrating Leigh's abduction and murder. Her actions are both shocking and, in the context of her pain, disturbingly understandable.

Oli Fletcher

Oli is Mark's teenage son, struggling with the loss of his mother and the complexities of adolescence. He is resentful of Leigh's role in the family and increasingly rebellious. Oli's discovery of Leigh's affair adds another layer of trauma, and his silence and anger are both a shield and a cry for help. His psychological journey is one of confusion, betrayal, and a desperate need for stability.

Seb Fletcher

Seb is Mark's younger son, more open and affectionate than Oli. He is deeply attached to Leigh and devastated by her disappearance. Seb's innocence and vulnerability highlight the collateral damage of adult secrets and lies. His attempts to find his mother are both heartbreaking and a testament to the resilience of children.

Detective Constable Clements

Clements is the lead detective on Leigh's case, methodical, empathetic, and determined to uncover the truth. She is both fascinated and frustrated by Leigh's duplicity, and her investigation is hampered by the pandemic, lack of evidence, and the emotional volatility of those involved. Clements' psychological insight and persistence drive the narrative forward, even as she grapples with her own doubts and limitations.

Frances Fletcher

Frances is Mark's late wife, whose death casts a long shadow over the family. Her memory is both a comfort and a source of pain, and the truth about her death adds a layer of complexity to the story. Frances represents the unattainable ideal, the standard by which Leigh is always measured and found wanting.

Alfonso

Alfonso is the concierge at Daan's apartment building, a minor but significant character who observes the comings and goings of the residents. His presence adds a layer of surveillance and suspicion, and his actions inadvertently aid the investigation.

Paula Cook

Paula is Frances's sister and Mark's sister-in-law, fiercely protective of her nephews and suspicious of Leigh. Her revelations about Frances's death and her support for the boys add depth to the family dynamics and underscore the theme of loyalty and loss.

Plot Devices

Dual Narrative Structure

The novel employs a dual (and sometimes triple) narrative structure, alternating between Leigh's captivity, her past as both Leigh and Kai, and the perspectives of Mark, Daan, Fiona, and the detective. This structure allows the reader to piece together the mystery alongside the characters, heightening suspense and emotional engagement. The use of flashbacks, shifting timelines, and multiple points of view creates a mosaic of truth and deception, mirroring Leigh's fractured identity.

Foreshadowing and Red Herrings

The narrative is rich with foreshadowing—cryptic notes, suspicious behavior, and ambiguous clues that keep the reader guessing about the captor's identity and Leigh's fate. Red herrings abound, with suspicion cast on both husbands, the best friend, and even the children. The psychological tension is maintained through the interplay of memory, guilt, and the ever-present threat of violence.

Symbolism of Confinement and Freedom

Leigh's physical captivity is mirrored by her emotional and psychological imprisonment in her double life. The motif of chains, locked doors, and boarded windows symbolizes the consequences of secrets and the impossibility of escape. The eventual breach of the wall and the open window represent both hope and the limits of agency, as true freedom remains elusive.

The Typewriter Notes

The captor's use of typewritten notes is a chilling plot device, serving as both a means of control and a psychological weapon. The notes are taunting, accusatory, and ambiguous, keeping Leigh (and the reader) in a state of uncertainty and fear. They also serve as a narrative device to reveal the captor's knowledge and motivations.

The Pandemic Backdrop

The story unfolds against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic and impending lockdown, heightening the sense of isolation, fear, and societal breakdown. The pandemic serves as both a literal and metaphorical barrier to rescue and resolution, amplifying the characters' sense of helplessness and the difficulty of uncovering the truth.

Analysis

Woman Last Seen is a masterful exploration of the ways in which people construct and maintain false identities to survive, belong, and be loved. Through the character of Leigh/Kai/Kylie, the novel interrogates the myth of "having it all" and the psychological toll of living a double life. The narrative is both a gripping mystery and a nuanced character study, delving into themes of marriage, motherhood, friendship, and the corrosive power of lies. The use of multiple perspectives and shifting timelines creates a sense of disorientation and suspense, mirroring the protagonist's fractured sense of self. The ultimate revelation—that the best friend, not either husband, is the true villain—serves as a commentary on the dangers of envy, the

Last updated: May 26, 2025