Den forsvundne datter

by Gill Paul

Fortiden smelter sammen med nutiden i Gill Pauls uforglemmelige fortælling. Den forsvundne datter er både en hjertegribende love story og et medrivende mysterium.

Rusland, 1918. Smukke, livlige Maria Romanov, den faldne zars 19-årige datter, lever i fangenskab med sin familie langt væk fra sin tidligere royale tilværelse. Hendes eneste fornøjelse er lidt flygtig og forsigtig flirten med to af vagterne. Hun har ingen anelse om at hendes uskyldige tilnærmelser kan betyde forskellen på liv og død.

Australien, 1973. På sit dødsleje gentager Val Doyles far den samme vending: "jeg ønskede ikke at slå hende ihjel!" Val bliver både urolig og nysgerrig over farens betroelser. Hvad taler han om? Da hun kortlægger sin egen mors forsvinden mange år tidligere, bliver hun trukket ind i et af verdenshistoriens største mysterier. Hvad skete der egentlig med Maria Romanov?

Den forsvundne datter er en selvstændig opfølger til Gill Pauls Zarens datter.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Russia, Historical, Romance, Drama, Romanovs

447 pages, Paperback

First published October 18, 2018

About the author

Gill Paul is the international bestselling author of thirteen novels, many of them reevaluating extraordinary twentieth-century women whom she believes have been marginalized or misjudged. Her novels have reached the top of the USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Toronto Globe & Mail charts, and have been translated into twenty-three languages.
Her latest novel, Scandalous Women (2024), is about trailblazing authors Jackie Collins and Jacqueline Susann battling their way to the top in the misogynous boys' club of 1960s publishing. A Beautiful Rival (2023) is about the infamous feud between beauty tycoons Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein. Jackie and Maria (2020) was longlisted for the Historical Writers’ Association Gold Crown. The Collector’s Daughter (2021) was named a Times ‘historical novel of the month’ and The Manhattan Girls (2022), was reviewed in The Sun as a “sweeping, evocative tale” and in The Book List as “Witty, emotional and intelligent”.
Gill also writes historical non-fiction, including A History of Medicine in 50 Objects and a series of Love Stories. Published around the world, this series includes Royal Love Stories, World War I Love Stories and Titanic Love Stories.
Gill lives in London where she swims year round in a wild pond, and speaks at libraries and literary festivals on topics ranging from Tutankhamun to the Romanovs.

Reviews

[Maja - BibliophiliaDK ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I AM COMPLETELY OVERCOME WITH EMOTION ❤️❤️

I mean... wow! I DEVOURED this book in mere hours! And afterwards I had to just sit there for a while, taking it all in and getting myself ready to move on with my life. Okay, so maybe I am exaggerating a bit, but this one really hit me hard!

"It [Ipatiev House] doesn't seem like a place where we can have fun; it's more like a mausoleum in which we have been interred."
- Anastasia

THE THINGS I LOVED! ❤️

Transported: Very few books manage to completely grab my attention and transport me out of time and place. This books did.

Research: I have read extensively on the subject of the Russian Revolution as well as the last Tsar and his family. Therefore I was able to understand and appreciate all the obvious work that Paul but into researching this era and making her story as close to reality as possible.

Alternative: I have read quite a few alternative history books, and funnily enough, many of them are about one of the Romanov girls. However, this is one of the only books that actually felt realistic and plausible to me.

Emotions: I cried. I hurt. I yelled. I laughed. I felt content. Books that do that are worth the world.

Parallel timelines: Even though this is only my second Gill Paul book, I feel comfortable hailing Gill Paul as the queen of parallel timeline stories!

Characters: There were so many characters in this book that you just have to love! Of course the two main characters, Marie and Val, who are strong and brave women in each their own ways. But also Peter and Bill won special places in my heart.

ARC provided by the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review

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[Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully-told, sweeping story of “what if.” ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

I’ve read a few books about Anastasia’s life and the “what ifs,” and The Lost Daughter is about Grand Duchess Maria, Anastasia’s sister.

In 1918, Grand Duchess Maria Romanov is nineteen and the daughter of former Tsar Nicholas II. She lives with her family in isolation and fear. She innocently flirts with the guards occasionally, which may save her life.

In the second timeline taking place in the 1970s, Val Doyle’s father confesses, “I didn’t want to kill her” as his last words. She finds clues connecting her father to Grand Duchess Maria and possibly what happened to her.

Ok, ok. Gill Paul has long been recommended to me by my friends, and now I see why. There is an enthralling quality to her storytelling that sweeps you right in and doesn’t let go.

I’m holding off on too many details because that is part of the magic. Maria is a character in three dimension, with a beating heart, and one you will adore. I loved the travels the book took me on, including Australia and China, and of course, Russia.

Overall, The Lost Daughter is an emotional and riveting story answering the “what if” we’ve all wondered. If only it were true.

I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before I start this review I have to say I absolutely adored this book and devoured every word scared that I might miss something!! How can I do this mesmerising book justice in my review?

This amazing journey starts in 1918 where the Romanov family are imprisoned. We meet Marie a chatterbox who makes friends with the guards. Sadly the family life’s lives are doomed.

In the 1970’s Val is planning to leave her abusive husband and start a new life with her daughter Nicole. She gets a call from the care home who is looking after her father , he has been ranting he didn’t mean to kill her and Val thinks he is talking about her mother who left them when she was a child.

This amazing book takes us on a remarkable journey where you are so engulfed in the story time will stand still. I loved the character Maria and her fight for herself and her family and how the two timelines connect at the end.

A must read book. Gill Paul you captured my heart and I will definitely be reading you’re other books.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

[DJ Sakata · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite Quotes:

The minutes crawled interminably, so slow she suspected the clock had been tampered with in order to torture them.

That evening, she explained to Nicole that a judge had decided she did not have to visit her daddy anymore. “OK.” Nicole nodded, quite happy with this. “Will I get a new daddy now? What do we have to do? Should we apply somewhere?”

If you can help someone without harming anyone else, then why on earth wouldn’t you do it?


My Review:


This was my first experience of being immersed in Gill Paul’s epic storytelling and I am beyond impressed. The Lost Daughter was beautifully written, lushly descriptive, and heartbreakingly realistic. Her emotive writing was taut with tension and pulled me right inside her characters’ various storylines. I felt my chest tighten as if I were fleeing with them and racing for escape while in danger of capture. The book spanned 90 years with an intriguing and enthralling fusion of fact and fiction. The story hit all the feels and I was enthralled, educated, and horrified yet highly entertained by Ms. Paul’s absorbing and well-crafted tale.

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

A telling chronicle of love and loss. Without the tough moments, the outcome of life would be different. Would you trade a heartbreak in your past if you knew that you would be sacrificing something fulfilling that you would have in your future?

1918- There were always rumors that perhaps one of the Romanov girls survived. In The Lost Daughter, the story begins with the Romanovs being taken to the Ipatiev House. Being held as captives by the Bolsheviks, we see their imprisoned state through the eyes of the third daughter, Maria. Shortly after, Maria and her family are murdered but miraculously she survives. She is met with a new changing Russia, but how can she continue without her family?

1973- In Australia, Val’s father is dying, and she knows little to nothing about his past in Russia. He continues to murmur, “I didn’t want to kill her” which leaves Val with even more questions. Her mother left her when she was only thirteen, and without any other family she knows she must dig to uncover the lost remnants of her family’s history.

Historically, Gill Paul outdid herself. Spanning from 1918-1976, the reader is propelled through Russia’s changes. Communal blocks, rations, assigned jobs, “shock workers”, banned Orthodox churches, and secret police permeate the lives of Soviets after the Romanov's are killed. Ironically, Maria’s children are raised under the watchful eyes of communism and implanted with proletariat ideals. How can the same supporters who killed her own family claim they have the best intentions for her children?

"Where was the Red Army? Stalin called himself 'father of the nation'; now was the time for him to prove it."

Within Maria’s life we see a story of forgiveness, strength, perseverance, and hope. As a character, she transforms from a vulnerable and helpless young lady into a courageous and resilient woman through times of affliction and times of joy. Gill Paul flawlessly turns suffering into something beautiful through the character of Maria Romanov. The character of Maria is a hero, and she will stay with me for a long time.

HIGHLY recommend to lovers of historical fiction and those interested in the effects of the Bolshevik revolution. Please note, there is a rape scene at the beginning. Many thanks to NetGalley, Gill Paul, and HarperCollins for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

More on this topic:
Where The Romanovs Where Murdered: The Ipatiev House
Maria Romanov and Her Demise
Maria Romanov
Stalin's Secret Police

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️

Gosh, I don’t think I can put into words how much I loved The Lost Daughter. As soon as I finished the final page, I wanted to talk to someone about it, say “Oh my god, this novel, you have to read this now!”. Then I sat down to write my review, and poof, all my words were gone. I couldn’t seem to get past “amazing”, “awesome”, “brilliant” … which are all true but I’m guessing a review should have a few more words, right?

There are a few authors for whom I’d happily drop whatever it is I’m doing or reading and Gill Paul is, without a doubt, one of them. I knew that from the second I discovered her work. Picking up one of her novels always fills me with joy and excitement because I know she will take me on the most delightful journey. High anticipations, you ask? Check! But all of them were met and then some.

In The Secret Wife, Gill Paul already introduced us to the Romanov family and their dramatic circumstances. That story was centred around Tatiana Romanova and if you haven’t yet read it, you most definitely should as it is a brilliant novel. This time around, in The Lost Daughter, the focus is on the middle child of the family, Maria. And it’s an even more brilliant novel! Yes, that’s right, I said it. And used the “brilliant” word again. I must add that I loved how Gill Paul tied these two novels together with little references to Tatiana’s story.

We meet Maria in 1918, a most turbulent time in Russia. There’s been a revolution and people have turned on the royal family. Tsar Nicholas, his wife and children are prisoners of the new regime. Their circumstances are very different from what they’re used to. Maria is nineteen years old and a lovely, bubbly chatterbox who seems to be able to make friends with just about anyone. I warmed to her from the start as she’s a truly likeable character. But what will become of her?

The other thread of The Lost Daughter has us traveling all the way to Australia, where we meet Val. When she gets a phone call from the nursing home where her father is a resident, she decides to visit him although it’s been years since they last talked. But his words “I didn’t want to kill her” leave Val with a mystery to solve and set in motion a lot of changes in her life. Who was her father really? What secrets was he hiding?

From the first page, I found myself transported into the lives of Maria and Val, both extremely realistic and believable characters. I couldn’t quite see how the two threads of the story would come together but the road to get there was just marvellous.

This exquisitely written novel had me utterly engrossed and throughout the story, I often found myself with a lump in my throat. The Lost Daughter is a story across the ages and country borders about love, family, war, loss, survival and hope. But also about the strength of women, in sometimes horrifying circumstances. It is immensely absorbing, moving and powerful and I couldn’t tear myself away. When I flipped the final page, there was a happy sigh, a “wow” and then a little bit of sadness that I had come to the end.

I can’t even begin to imagine the painstaking amount of research Gill Paul must have gone through to come up with this incredibly captivating tale. If you are a fan of this genre, I can honestly not recommend her books enough. This is undoubtedly historical fiction from the top shelf and whenever Gill Paul publishes her next novel, I will be first in line!

[Katie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I've read two other books by Gill Paul and once again I'm impressed with how she is able to take historical figures and bring them to life in her stories. It sounds like such a simple task but many historical fiction writers fall short in that area. Her writing style allows you as the reader to feel fully engrossed in the book. The Lost Daughter is heavily creative rather than a strictly fact based story and it truly was a fascinating read.

I assume most people know the fate of the Romanovs, the last imperial dynasty to rule Russia. The story follows Grand Duchess Maria in 1918 as her family is isolated and imprisoned. The author chooses a different path for Maria than what is written in the history books.

In the 1970s Val Doyle is married with a young daughter and lives in Australia. After listening to a confession from her Russian father, she develops an interest in learning more about the Romanov family.

The Author's Note provides good insight into the writing process and her reasoning behind presenting a version of Maria's life that provided a different outcome for her. I thought it was a brilliant idea. Knowing the history of what transpired, I do like what the author came up with in regards to Maria. And much of what I felt for Maria, I did as well for Val.

My apologies for not going into too much detail about the plot. It really is best to just sit down with the book and see where the author's imagination will take you.

If you are a fan of historical fiction writer Fiona Davis, I highly recommend checking out Gill Paul's books.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful book by Gill Paul. She has become a favorite author of my mine.
This is a beautiful what if story. What if Maria Romanov actually survived that fateful day when her family were executed. In this story, Maria is wounded and escapes and lives a very different life than she was accustomed to.
We also need Val in 1970 whose father tells her on his deathbed. “He didn’t want to kill her.” Val has no idea what he is talking about. Val’s Russian father never spoke of his life in Russia. After his death, Val finds photographs and a Russian jewelry box that she can’t open. She doesn’t understand why her father has possession of these items.
The two story lines were intriguing woven together. It was a beautiful story of love, loss, and secrets. I am very intrigued by the Romanov’s.
This was a very well researched book. I just loved it.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s no secret to anyone who reads my blog that Gill Paul is a much favourite author. I’ve read all her most recent books and reviewed them on the blog.

In a previous book, ‘The Secret Wife‘, we were told the ‘what if’ story of Tatiana, one of the Romanov daughters. This time, its the turn of middle daughter, 19 year old Maria. The story begins in Ekaterinburg in 1918, just at the time the Romanov family are imprisoned at what was to be their final destination, in the Impatiev House. The fate of the Romanovs is recorded in history however Gill Paul presents an alternative version.

In the 1970’s, Val is living in Australia. She is called to her father’s nursing home after the staff report that in his state of dementia he keeps repeating a phrase ..” I didn’t want to kill her” Val has no idea what he means ..her mother disappeared suddenly when she was young – is he talking about her? Unfortunately he is unable to tell her. Married to a brute of a man, she does not have a good relationship with her father but when circumstances give her the opportunity to investigate further into his background, she is amazed at what she finds. Sometimes with dual time stories, one timeline engages me more than the other – not so here. The Russian element was always going to be the main hook for me but I was also fascinated to see how Val’s story would be told and I enjoyed her part in the story too.

The link between Val and events of the past are slowly revealed but not at all in the way that I expected. The story encompasses events in Russian history from 1918, right through to the Seige of Leningrad in the 1940’s where so many thousands of Russians died from starvation and to the end of Stalin’s rule.

I don’t want to give away any more of the story. You need to read this for yourself. The Lost Daughter is a beautifully written and moving tale of love and betrayal, heartbreak and resilience. I absolutely adored it.

Gill Paul could publish a shopping list and I would read it. Her stories are captivating, with wonderfully drawn characters and situations. There were many times that I felt quite emotional, so engrossed was I in the story. The level of research into historical events and locations must be immense and this depth to the story comes across clearly.

I can’t recommend The Lost Daughter enough. If my review has tempted you at all, it can currently be downloaded from Amazon UK for just 99p. A bargain for such a fabulous book.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an amazing well-researched novel by an author who excels at historic fiction. In this novel, she brings us a story about the Romanov family in Russia who were slaughtered in 1918 by the Red Army who opposed the royal family. There has long been speculation that one of the four daughters survived. This book is a 'what if' story - what if Maria really survived the massacre.

The novel begins when the Romanov family is taken from their large estate and locked up under house arrest in a very small home. At 18 years old, Maria was still enjoying life and talked to the men who kept them under guard - some of them her age. When the family is slaughtered, Maria was wounded but not killed. Through the help of someone, she was taken away and ended up living a very different life than what she had grown up in. I enjoyed Maria's part of the story - the author had done so much research on not only the Romanov but also life in Russia during the time period of the book that it all came alive for me.

The other time line in this novel is in 1973 in Australia. Val has been estranged from her cruel, Russian father for years when she gets a call from his nurse who tells her that he has been talking about not wanting to kill someone in his past. Her first thought was that he had killed her mother who mysteriously disappeared when she was a child. As she searches for clues over who her father killed she uncovers some confusing clues that tie her father back to Russia where he grew up.

I enjoyed both time lines in this novel and really liked the characters of Maria and Val - even though their time periods were very different, their love for their families was strong in both of them. I also enjoyed the Russian setting. I was lucky enough to travel to Russia several years ago and toured the Winter Palace and the Catherine Palace of the Romanov family and Maria's memories of her life living in those places made the story even more special for me.

This wonderful novel takes us from Russia to Australia to China with well researched background on how people lived in each part of the world. If you enjoy historical fiction, you don't want to miss this fantastic novel. Now it's time for me to read some of the earlier novels by this author.

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Historical Fiction about one of the Romanov sisters who, in this story, survived her family's massacre. I liked this one. First, I loved the narration of the audio. That's always a plus.

I liked the mystery of this. It kept the story rolling and even when I knew where it was going, it felt right. Maria, the Romanov sister, was a solid character. And I loved her relationship with her husband and children. This was a feel-good story even when there was immense trauma. So 4 stars.

[Trish at Between My Lines · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely spellbinding. The alternative story to what might have happened to Maria, the middle Romanov child held me riveted to the page.

Hand on heart, I loved the characters, the setting, the plot. Basically everything. Gill Paul is rapidly becoming one of my favourite historical fiction authors as I love how vividly she portrays Russian history in an easy to digest format.

Her entire back catalogue is now on my to read.

[LaMesha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a sweeping novel. I loved every single minute of it. I needed this book in my life. Rich historical fiction at its finest!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before I start this review I have to say I absolutely adored this book and devoured every word scared that I might miss something!! How can I do this mesmerising book justice in my review?

This amazing journey starts in 1918 where the Romanov family are imprisoned. We meet Marie a chatterbox who makes friends with the guards. Sadly the family life’s lives are doomed.

In the 1970’s Val is planning to leave her abusive husband and start a new life with her daughter Nicole. She gets a call from the care home who is looking after her father , he has been ranting he didn’t mean to kill her and Val thinks he is talking about her mother who left them when she was a child.

This amazing book takes us on a remarkable journey where you are so engulfed in the story time will stand still. I loved the character Maria and her fight for herself and her family and how the two timelines connect at the end.

A must read book. Gill Paul you captured my heart and I will definitely be reading you’re other books.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

[The Lit Bitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read one of Gill Paul’s novels last year and loved it. I was so excited to see that she was writing a novel about the Romanov family that was coming out in August. Rather than pick up one of her other novels, I decided to hold off and wait for this one to come out.

The Romanov tragedy is fascinating to me. It’s one of the greatest tragedies in modern history, but while I am fascinated by it, I haven’t actually read a lot about the family and the history or politics of the time.

This was one of the big reasons I was looking forward to this one. While it’s a fictionalized account of the family, I knew there had to be a lot of history intertwined in this one so I was eager to start it. I didn’t even read the summary when I saw it, I just say that it was about the Romanov family and written bu Gill Paul, I didn’t need to know anymore than that.

As I said, I didn’t read the summary in it’s entirety. I just saw Romanov and started to read it. I actually thought with a title like ‘the lost daughter’ it would be about one of the more famous daughters, Anastasia, but it wasn’t. It was actually about Maria. The murder of the family actually happened in the first third of the book and the moments/months leading up to the death of the family were written so vividly and with such emotion, that I had to put the book down for a while after reading that section. My heart just hurt for that poor family, especially the small children. Paul is a powerful writer and I thought she did a fantastic job at that focusing on those months leading up to the murders.

While this part was only a small part in the story, it was really powerful and set the tone for the entire book and once my heart healed I was able to pick this book up again and devour it! I loved the alternating time periods in this book and the switches really kept things moving and me reading. I don’t know that I loved Val’s character (the modern character), but I liked the way that the author balanced the past with the present.

I know that a lot of other reviewers felt like this book packed an emotional punch and it left them reeling. I completely agree. This book packed so much more motion than the other novel I have read by her. This book was so emotional and well written and she should be commended for creating such a rich and powerful story. I adored this one.

See my full review here

[Cititor Necunoscut · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pe cat de mult mi-a placut Sotia secreta, pe atat m-a dezamagit Fiica pierduta. Practic autoarea a folosit reteta (de succes) a primei carti si a scris o alta, plecand din acelasi punct, Revolutia rusa, demiterea tarului si asasinarea Romanovilor. Doar ca de data aceasta, cea care este salvata este Maria, sora Tatianei.

De-a lungul povestii am trait cu sufletul la gura drama protagonistilor, dar alte fragmente pur si simplu mi s-au parut doar niste petice menite sa lege povestea.

Ancora din prezent a povestii, Val, mi s-a parut un om chinuit, pe care m-am chinuit sa il plac. Dar pur si simplu este un personaj nefericit, o drama absoluta, o viata presarata de nefericire de la un capat la altul. Sau aproape.

Mi-a fost greu sa imi imaginez ca toate aceste piese de puzzle pe care le aduni din jocul trecut-prezdnt vor forma o imagine coerenta. Stiam de la prima carte scrisa de autoare ca la sfarsit vom descoperi ca personajele sunt intr-un fel inrudite, dar pe ce inaintam devenea mai putin paluzibil cum.

[Cristina Braia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fiica pierdută este o lectură de neratat de-a lungul căreia veți fi transportați înapoi în timp pentru a asista la o poveste remarcabilă, scrisă elegant, despre dragoste, pierdere, trădare și sacrificiu. Acesta este genul de roman pe care îl vor devora fanii ficțiunii istorice, dar este la fel de atrăgător pentru cititorii care se bucură pur și simplu de o poveste de dragoste convingătoare și de epopeea familiei.
Editura Litera

https://cartideciocolata.ro/2019/09/1...

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starting in 1918, The Lost Daughter tells a story of Maria Romanov before and after the execution of the Romanov family. It also follows a story in 1973 of Val Doyle who discover her estranged father’s Russian ties upon his death. This novel is a page-turner! While most of Maria’s story is fiction, Gill Paul presents an extremely well researched image of Russia from 1918 through WWII. I was thoroughly engaged with both timelines. .

I’m so pleased that William Morrow Books introduced me to this author and look forward to reading more of her works.

[Heather Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting…THE LOST DAUGHTER tells the compelling story of what could have been for Romanov Princess Maria, had her life taken a different turn, and the way her choices rippled through time and across distance. At once richly descriptive and mysterious, Gill Paul demonstrates her extraordinary talents in this deeply affecting tale of war, forgiveness, and family legacy.

[Joanne Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG I have a NEW FAVOURITE AUTHOR!! Although I have read some of Gill Paul’s books before, it was some time ago. I’m a huge fan of stories about the Titanic and I first came across Gill when I read Titanic Love Stories which was about the 13 newlywed couples onboard the Titanic. Even though it’s on my bookcase, I have to admit to not connecting the author to her recent works of fiction. Another book blogger who lives close to me is a massive fan and has told me many times to try her books but The Lost Daughter is actually the first one that I have read. It certainly won’t be the last though because as soon as I finished The Lost Daughter, I was straight onto Amazon and ordered paperback copies of Another Woman’s Husband and The Secret Wife. And I can’t wait to read them especially as The Lost Daughter has now shot straight onto my list of favourite books of the year-I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT FROM START TO FINISH!

I found the concept of this novel fascinating as it combines factual accounts of what happened to the Romanov family with a fictional account of “what if THIS happened?” and the result is a believable storyline that flows beautifully along two separate timelines. We follow Maria, who comes across as a strong and likeable young woman, as she first attracts plenty of attention from the guards who are keeping her and her family prisoner. Then we are introduced to Val in 1970s Australia as she goes to visit her dying father in his nursing home. It’s his final words to her that start her on a journey of discovery for herself and her daughter. I become completely engrossed in both timelines and was desperate to uncover the secrets that connected them. The writing was so immersive that I became utterly involved in the story to the extent that everything around me just melted away as I became part of that narrative.

This is definitely one of the best books that I have read this year! I formed such an emotional attachment to Maria and wanted to know every little detail of the journey that she found herself on. Gill Paul pitches her story perfectly and gives her readers a vividly portrayed, sumptuous historical triumph. If you’ve never read this authors work before, make this your first-you won’t regret it!

Highly recommended by me! And at time of writing you can pick up an ebook copy over on Amazon for just 99p. Bargain!!!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with Gill Paul's writing when I read Another Woman's Husband last year and The Lost Daughter is another brilliant, extraordinary book and probably the most wonderful historical fiction novel that I've read all year. 

Give me a novel about European royalty, and I'm immediately hooked. I've always been fascinated by what happened to the Romanovs and about the people who later claimed to be surviving members of the family, so I couldn't wait to read Paul's factual account of the Romonav's last few months spent at the Ipatiev House in Ekaterinburg, their final "home" so flawlessly combined with a "what-if" alternative account of the fate of Maria Romanov, the middle daughter of Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra. According to history, the Tsar, Tsarina, and their four children were brutally murdered in July 2018, but what becomes of the sweet and lovely Maria in this alternative story?  

The story is told in two timelines, the one that begins in 1918 with the assassination of the Romanov family among all the turmoil and fighting in Russia with Lenin seizing power and then moving forward to 1970s Australia where we meet a young mother, Val, trying to find a way to leave her terribly abusive husband.

When Val gets a call from a nursing home that her father who she's estranged from has dementia, she visits. It's there he repeatedly keeps confessing that "I didn't want to kill her," which leaves her confused and shocked. Does he mean her mother who she hasn't seen or heard of in years? It's a mystery she wants to solve, especially after he dies and she finds out many things that had been hidden in his past.

 The huge amount of historical research done in the novel is quite obvious as Paul writes about the siege of Leningrad and beyond. It was hard not to read this book while in tears as you felt the character's sorrows, fears, and anguishes. It was just heartbreaking. Paul has such a striking ability to bring her characters to life; they're so realistic and I felt like I knew them intimately. 

I honestly had no idea how Val's story would link to the ongoing story in Russia and when it did, I was overwhelmed by how amazingly Paul had entwined the two storylines, both of which I loved equally. The Lost Daughter is such a powerful book about courage, hope, endurance, survival, suffering, hardship, loss, strength, and family and it's also a gorgeous love story, one that left me finishing the book just sobbing. I think when you grow to love the characters so much that you are an emotional mess, then you've truly loved and connected to the story as I did this one.

Paul is a master storyteller; she's an artist with her words, and I cannot recommend that you read The Lost Daughter more! I will most definitely be waiting to read her next book! 

**Thank you Edelweiss and William Morrow for an ARC copy. All opinions are my own.**

[Cosmina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dupa ce am citit Sotia secreta am ramas profund marcata de soarta Romanovilor. La fel e si Fiica pierduta, aceiasi soarta a Romanovilor dar cu alta poveste, despre fiica mijlocie a lor, Maria. In timpul arestului la domiciliu, Maria se imprietenise cu mai multi dintre gardieni care ii pazea, lucru care trebuia sa il evite, dar fiind o fiinta prietenoasa nu credea ca face ceva rau. Cand le suna ceasul si au condamnati la moarte, Maria a scapat ca prin urechile acului, dandu-si seama de acest lucru in drumul spre groapa unde trebuiau ingropati. Un gardian care pazea masina in care se afla raposata ei familie o vazu deschizand ochii,a luat-o in spate si a fugit cu ea in padure cat mai departe de acel loc. Zile la rand au stat cu frica de a nu fi descoperiti,dar se dovedise ca au avut noroc. Gardianul care a ajutat-o sa scape, s-a ingrijit de ranile ei pana la insanatosire si a pus-o pe picioare. Au traversat muntii Ural in cautarea unui loc ferit de bolsevici,incercand sa afle mai multe vesti despre familia sa. Dupa lungi cautari si sperante desarte au hotarat sa isi continue viata, indragostindu-se unul de altul si incepand o noua viata de famile impreuna sub nou nume, ferindu-se de ochii lumii care ar putea sa ii recunoasca.Au indurat multe greutati,dar iubirea dintre ei era mai puternica, tinandu-i impreuna crescand, 5 copii minunati,pana cand razboiul i-a despartit.


In anul 1973,in Sydney, tanara Val se casatorise cu Tony ,pentru a scapa de tatal ei ursuz si violent,un rus care emigrase in Australia dupa razboiul civil,schimbandu-si numele. Dar se dovedise ca si sotul ei era din aceiasi categorie,violent si neintelegator,lucru care o inspaimanta pe Val .Dupa ce se casatorise rupse legatura cu tatal ei,pana cand primise o scrisoare de la azilul in care se afla internat, in care i se relata ca repeta in continuare cuvintele"Nu am vrut sa o omor",lucru care i-a starnit curiozitale lui Val ,vizitandu-l la azil. La scurt timp dupa ce il vizitase,tatal ei a murit,lasand ca mostenire o casa valoroasa si un trecut misterios. Val se hotaraste sa il paraseasca pe Tony in momentul in care acesta o loveste pe fetita lor,fiind si picatura care a umplut paharul pentru Val,toate pana la fiica ei.
Mi-a placut mai mult Fiica pierduta, e o lectura emotionanta despre iubirea de mama ,despre curajul care l-a avut Maria ,tinandu-si familia aproape in timpul razboiului, a lui Val luptand pentru o viata mai buna pentru fiica ei.O poveste captivanta cu un mister pe care va invit sa il descoperiti.O recomand!⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[BookQueen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you HBG for sending me this novel!!

So it's rare that I pick up historical fiction but anything about the Romanov royal family has always intrigued me. When I was a little kid, my favourite movie was Anastasia. I know, it's just an animation for kids but as I got older, I learned that the Romanov's were a real royal family with a tragic ending and their history and deaths has always been a mystery.



Gill Paul uses historical facts and real people involved in the Romanov lives to bring together this enthralling novel. We get two perspectives from two different women decades apart and it's absolutely brilliant. Maria Romanova, a Grand Duchess of Russia is miraculously saved and goes into hiding after witnessing her entire family's massacre. She has to change her name and learn everything about normal life from her saviour and lover, Peter.

Fast forward to the 1970's we meet Val, a woman in an abusive relationship. When her estranged father passes away muttering about how he didn't want to kill "her," Val is thrust into this mission to discover who her father actually was and why he kept his life a secret from her. As Val travels to a few countries in search for answers, they aren't at all what she expects to find. Who actually was her father?

Bringing together past and present, Maria and Val both go through very difficult times of pain, suffering, and heartbreak. As the two main characters of this novel, we get see in which ways they are connected and how their stories overlap. With a refreshing look into the past, using historical facts and discoveries as a way to tell a story is absolutely amazing and Gill Paul has managed to write an exceptional story.

As someone with a fascination with the Romanov history, this novel was great and I really enjoyed how everything turned out. Maria and Val both proved to be strong protagonists who overcame horrible hardships and it is a book I definitely recommend.

[Lynda Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow !! It takes some doing but this is another 5* read by this author making EVERY one of her stories a favourite of mine ! I'm soooooooo impressed. That happens so rarely as others in my favourites' file I'm sure haven't all had 5* the whole way through !! The only other I can bring to mind is Viveca Sten. So they're in a very elite little club ! Bearing in mind, the story doesn't only need to be terrific but presentation spot on as well for me so it's no easy feat time after time.
Gill Paul again takes us into two differing timelines and back to Russia and also Australia this time. I've always been fascinated by the Romanovs and also Rasputin and that era so this one appealed to me straightaway, of course. While it is fiction, it would be so nice to think at least one of the princesses survived......let's face it, all the protagonists are long-dead now and so we'll never really know. My "favourite" has always been Olga. I've read many differing mentions of who people thought was the most attractive of the four and I've always thought Olga was. My favourite character in this was Peter-he was just lovely.
It was interesting reading about what happened to simple Russians after the family's execution......you have to wonder why it ever happened as it did nothing to help their people in the least. It sounded an horrendous time to have lived over there.....and I use THAT term very loosely !
A couple of times she had me sniffing away, especially in her Afterword.....the very last passage had me howling......I like that in this one there were a couple of photos as well.
The ONLY error I think was not having an apostrophe with enquiries' desk but I could be wrong there.
If you've not read this author you really must give her a go.......her writing is truly interesting and keeps you fascinated the whole way through. You can thank me later !

[Nancy]

I always love a good historical novel. I’ve stopped reading books on Anastasia - had she lived since I read an excellent book by Robert Massey that disabused me of any notion that she survived. What a wonderful take on the Romanovs to imagine another sister surviving and living a full life in Russia! I loved the imaginations of what her life would look like.

I want to read this author’s other book on Tatiana.

[Kimberly (kimmerthebooknerd) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. There was definitely a lot of heart in this novel. Looking forward to read more from Gill!

[Valleri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm thrilled to have won a giveaway for an ARC of this absolutely riveting book!! I found myself completely lost in the period details and wanted to know more, more, more. I couldn't bear to put the book down.

The Lost Daughter is told over two timelines. One follows Maria Romanov in Russia from April 1918, on. The second timeline follows Val in Sydney, Australia, from October 1973. Both women are going through difficulties, but for very different reasons, and both stories are heartbreaking yet fascinating to read. Honestly, I most wanted to read the chapters about Maria at the beginning - but as the book went on I found myself very interested in Val's story, as well. By the end, I loved how the two storylines dovetailed.

Rarely do I find myself as enthralled by the afterward of a novel as I did this one. I plan on rereading The Lost Daughter, immediately, and I can't wait to read more written by Gill Paul!!

(Those of you who follow my reviews know I am not one to gush over every book I read. In fact, when reviewers do that it annoys the heck out of me. How can their reviews be trusted?? Trust me when I say I'm gushing over this one.)

[Merle Dunson · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 star +++. I almost gave up on this book because I listened on audible. The accents were so thick i couldn't understand what they were saying. But then I looked at the ratings on goodreads and saw it should be a great book. So I picked up a copy at the library and oh my goodness!!! The book pulled at my heart strings! I could not put the book down during the last quarter. It's a story of endurance, sacrifice and enduring love. Riveting.! Don't miss this one... and get the book... easier to follow!

[Tripfiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

Novel set in mainly in Russia

Gill Paul is an author who can formulate good and very readable stories and this is no exception.



There has always been debate whether any of the Romanov children survived the execution in 1918. This is the fictional story of Maria Romanova, who was the first child to accompany her parents to Ekaterinburg to while away their final months under house arrest. The other children followed on a little later.

Maria seems a rambunctious young woman who is charming and friendly to some of the guards who enforce her family’s incarceration, and these friendships are the foundation for the story as it builds. As we accompany her through the murder of her family (she survives but only just) and on into her mature years as a mother through WW2 and the Soviet hard-line Communist era, she encounters further loss. The changes that befall Russia and its people are sharply depicted. But, despite harsh conditions, her determination and stoicism win through.

Forward to Australia and the 1970s, Val, daughter of a Chinese woman and an extremely abusive Russian father (from whom she has been estranged for a good 17 years) is extricating herself from an abusive marital relationship with Tony. Those were the days when women had little or no rights and as Val and her daughter Nicole finally make the break, she discovers that there is little money and she will have to make do. She hears from her mother who is back in China and also discovers that her father is nearing death. Life is turning incredibly tumultuous.

How the two stories dovetail is of course at the heart of the novel.

It is an engrossing novel that is centred largely in Russia but also diverts to China and Australia. I think the premise of the Romanov deaths is an extremely interesting one and there remain many unanswered questions, even to this day. Are there any survivors and off spring? What really happened to the Amber Room in the Romanov’s Catherine Palace at Tsarskoye Selo (looted by the Germans during WW2, its current whereabouts still remain a mystery). Anna Anderson, for example, who died in 1984 always maintained that she was Maria’s sister, Grand Duchess Anastasia of Russia…..(DNA however conclusively proved that she was not related to the Romanovs).

I felt a little dubious that Westerners – visiting Russia during the peak of the harsh Communist era, minder in tow, surveillance at every turn, the Cold War simmering – would be able to traverse the country at will (especially with a Fabergé box in tow) but no matter, I thoroughly enjoyed the read.

[Olga Kowalska (WielkiBuk) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gill Paul po raz kolejny po „Sekrecie Tatiany” zanurza się w odmęty historii rodu Romanowów i snuje ich alternatywną wersję w porywającej opowieści „Zaginiona córka”.

Gill Paul potrafi zaintrygować! Dzieje rodziny Romanowów to jej historyczny konik, literacki bzik, który wykorzystuje, by tworzyć opowieści łączące współczesne kobiece dzieje z autentycznymi wydarzeniami historii powszechnej. Po udanym „Sekrecie Tatiany”, w setną rocznicę śmierci Romanowów w 2018 roku, autorka postanowiła powrócić do ich historii i raz jeszcze wziąć na warsztat te niezwykłe dzieje. Tym razem to Maria, trzecia pod względem wieku księżniczka, posłużyła za inspirację opowieści i to jej autorka dała drugie życie, które toczy się już po egzekucji carskiej rodziny. W stworzeniu portretu Marii, Gill Paul wykorzystała źródła historyczne i fragmenty listów, dzięki którym ta młoda, najbardziej otwarta z dynastii dziewczyna ożywa na kartach powieści i dojrzewa, by zostać żoną i matką.

Chciałoby się uwierzyć w tę alternatywną wersję historii. Wrażliwe czytelnicze serce pragnie dostrzec w tym wybryku pisarskiej wyobraźni choć szczyptę prawdy. Czegoś, co przecież mogło się wydarzyć. „Zaginiona córka” ma w sobie wszystko to, czego poszukują wszyscy romantycy ze zmysłem historycznym – zakazany romans, rodzinny dramat i wreszcie życie, to prawdziwe, namacalne, przed którym już nie można uciec. Gill Paul w bardzo obrazowy sposób przedstawia Rosję po Wielkiej Wojnie, jej ogrom i ludzkie cierpienie, a także reżim, który doszedł do władzy i twardą ręką ścisnął wszystkich za gardło. Cała ta atmosfera oraz rosnące napięcie sprawią, że „Zaginioną córkę” czyta się z zapartym tchem, wzruszeniem w sercu i małym ognikiem nadziei.

Romantyczne dusze – dajcie porwać się tej opowieści!