--- product_id: 3573533 title: "What She Left Behind: A Haunting and Heartbreaking Story of 1920s Historical Fiction Paperback – December 31, 2013" brand: "ellen marie wiseman" price: "R594" currency: ZAR in_stock: true reviews_count: 11 url: https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/3573533-what-she-left-behind-a-haunting-and-heartbreaking-story-1920s store_origin: ZA region: South Africa --- # What She Left Behind: A Haunting and Heartbreaking Story of 1920s Historical Fiction Paperback – December 31, 2013 **Brand:** ellen marie wiseman **Price:** R594 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** What She Left Behind: A Haunting and Heartbreaking Story of 1920s Historical Fiction Paperback – December 31, 2013 by ellen marie wiseman - **How much does it cost?** R594 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.za](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/3573533-what-she-left-behind-a-haunting-and-heartbreaking-story-1920s) ## Best For - ellen marie wiseman enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted ellen marie wiseman brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Full description not available ## Images ![What She Left Behind: A Haunting and Heartbreaking Story of 1920s Historical Fiction Paperback – December 31, 2013 - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91i57-TwytL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars Great Story line.... Well worth reading. *by C***A on Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2024* Great author keeps you from putting the book down until and after it has been read. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.0 out of 5 stars Just might keep you up past bed time... *by C***R on Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2015* "What She Left Behind" reminded me of being in high school and reading "Flowers in The Attic". A real nail biter of a book, that is hard to put down. Fortunately, I was only fifteen when I read "Flowers In The Attic", and it was a grand experience for a young person like myself who had not read that many novels yet. At 45, I can appreciate the page turning aspects of a book like "What She Left Behind", but must also point out that it is hardly elevated literature. In no way am I trying to sound snobby. I finished this book in less than a week, which is unusual for me. It is indeed a compelling read, and hard to put down. It flows along nicely, and never gets off track. This author has a flare for writing suspenseful chapters. I admired the subject matter of the book very much, and always appreciate even the slightest bit of light being shed on anything that has to do with mental illness. So I indeed recommend this book.Having said that, I must confess that there are issues here that may be problematic for some. I will not go so far as to say this book is amateurish, but will say that it probably would appeal more to a younger female audience than any other. Both of the main characters are young females. One of them has her story portrayed in the 1930's, and the other the 1990's. This formula is starting to get tiresome at this point, as it seems nearly every other book I read has two separate stories taking place with decades in between them. Orphan Train, The Pieces We Keep, Water For Elephants, Sarah's Key, Those Who Save Us, to name a few. Often times one of the stories will be great but not the other, which is confounding to me, as a good story does not need to be anchored with a happy ending that takes place fifty years later, at least not to me.Clara, the main character from the 1930's has a big problem. She's been wrongfully committed to an asylum. This nightmarish experience is riveting, and at times gasp inducing. I was on the edge of my seat and sincerely experienced the "cringe" factor on numerous occasions while reading about her experience in such a God awful place. How authentic of a story this is I couldn't say. I know that the portrayal of asylums through most of the twentieth century are not usually ones that will make you think about butterflies resting on newly opened daffodils. This story does not break any new ground in that I believe most of us have had numerous encounters with reading or viewing a story about someone being trapped in an asylum against their will. Still, it is compelling to read about if for no other reason than to help purge our own fears about such a horror happening to us. The nature of what seemingly occurred at one time in these places, is truly unfathomable to me, but then, so is what happened during the Holocaust. Though sometimes certain subjects can become redundant, I believe that these Evil's that human beings are capable of need not be forgotten, as I'm a true believer that we are in fact doomed to repeat such atrocities if we don't keep reminding ourselves. Though Clara's story is not written in the most skillful fashion, it is written in a manner that keeps your interest, and stirs your emotions.Meanwhile the story of Izzy in 1995 is not quite as interesting, nor is the connection between her and Clara. However, a different set of life circumstances is pondered during Izzy's story, albeit not particularly original either. Izzy has grown up in foster care trying to survive with the knowledge that her Mom killed her Dad when she was a young girl. She wrestles with knowing that her Mom is committed to a psychiatric facility, and subsequently lives fearful of mental illness, what might cause it, and if she eventually may fall victim to it. This had the potential to be explored much further than it was, and I believe is a relatable fear to many people, but the author steers away and instead focuses too much on Izzy's experience with trying to fit in at a new school and make new friends, and the crush that she has on a boy that is in a relationship with a "mean girl". Again, the author's talent for writing suspenseful scenes is on full display, and in fact a scene where a group of kids who get together at night and scope out an abandoned asylum will have you hard pressed to stop reading.For me wanting to keep reading is first and foremost as to if a book is good. This book is good. The other elements, writing style, language use, etc..I can ignore if I feel like I'm learning something, and I'm being entertained. I feel that a letter grade or star grade is not possible for this novel. For me it deserves and A for storytelling, and C for not rising above the many cliche's contained in these two characters stories. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful read, well researched, very interesting. *by M***Y on Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2024* Loved this book. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/3573533-what-she-left-behind-a-haunting-and-heartbreaking-story-1920s](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/3573533-what-she-left-behind-a-haunting-and-heartbreaking-story-1920s) --- *Product available on Desertcart South Africa* *Store origin: ZA* *Last updated: 2026-07-07*