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Lost Girls
Twenty three years ago, Maudie Sampson’s childhood friend Jessica disappeared on a family holiday in Cornwall. She was never seen again. In the present day, Maudie is struggling to come to terms with the death of her wealthy father, her increasingly fragile mental health and a marriage that’s under strain. Slowly, she becomes aware that there is someone following a blonde woman in a long black coat. As the woman begins to infiltrate her life, Maudie realises no one else appears to be able to see her. Is Maudie losing her mind? Is the woman a figment of her imagination or does she actually exist? Have the crimes of the past caught up with Maudie’s present - or is there something even more sinister going on? Lost Girls is the new psychological thriller from Celina Grace , author of The House on Fever Street : a dark and convoluted mystery which proves that nothing can be taken for granted and no-one is as they seem.
294 pages, Paperback
First published July 6, 2012
1602 people are currently reading
1782 people want to read
About the author
Celina Grace
63 books455 followersI’ve been trying to get published as a writer since…. um… er…um…see, it was that long ago I can’t remember. A long time. I make it fifteen years and counting….
I’ve also been writing for as long as I can really remember. I wrote my first story, The Blue Ruby, when I was about seven (if I can find that deathless prose scribbled in an exercise book somewhere, I might upload it here for a bit of light relief). Throughout college and university, I experimented with screenplays and scripts (I was studying Film and English at the time at the University of East Anglia), as well as other more short stories. In my twenties, I started my first novel, finished it, then my second, then my third. In my thirties, I was slightly side-tracked by the birth of my son but, leaving aside that trifling distraction, managed to write my fourth..
I didn’t bother trying to get the first novel published as I saw it as more of a practise run at this business of being an author. With the second, I entered the 2004 Lit Idol competition and got to third place. That was my ticket to publication, I thought, surely? Hah! Just the first in a long line of disappointments, of which every writer must be familiar… hopes built up to then be smacked down again. I had an agent approach me after the competition and on their encouragement, I finished, edited and polished the manuscript, sent it off to them with happy hopes – to be told months later that they didn’t think it was quite right for them..
Gutted, but enthusiasm relatively undimmed, I started on a new novel, inspired in part by the dramatic events of 2005 – the London bombings. I also wrote a short story at the same time on the same subject – it was on my mind a lot that summer (unsurprisingly. Freedom Fighter is the story – available on Amazon as part of The Mourning After short story collection). This novel The House on Fever Street (written under my maiden name Celina Alcock) was shortlisted for the 2006 Crime Writers’ Association Debut Dagger Award. Aha, I thought, a fairly prestigious and industry recognised award. This will get me published. Did it? Did it buggery!.
The House on Fever Street was also longlisted in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award of that year, which garnered me some nice reviews and a much needed ego boost but didn’t advance my career as a published author much further..
So what next for our doughty heroine? She ups and writes her fourth novel, gains an agent and thinks now, now I have finally made it as a published author! And she waits. And waits. And waits some more. And then waits a bit more. And a bit more. Finally, for variety, she waits a bit more..
So, after two years of waiting, reading about self-publishing on Amazon and other platforms, I believe a phrase that ends in ‘…for a game of soldiers’ passed my lips and I decide to publish myself. So I did. And here I am on Amazon, making sales. No publisher. No agent. Just me..
And that makes me VERY happy.
I’ve also been writing for as long as I can really remember. I wrote my first story, The Blue Ruby, when I was about seven (if I can find that deathless prose scribbled in an exercise book somewhere, I might upload it here for a bit of light relief). Throughout college and university, I experimented with screenplays and scripts (I was studying Film and English at the time at the University of East Anglia), as well as other more short stories. In my twenties, I started my first novel, finished it, then my second, then my third. In my thirties, I was slightly side-tracked by the birth of my son but, leaving aside that trifling distraction, managed to write my fourth..
I didn’t bother trying to get the first novel published as I saw it as more of a practise run at this business of being an author. With the second, I entered the 2004 Lit Idol competition and got to third place. That was my ticket to publication, I thought, surely? Hah! Just the first in a long line of disappointments, of which every writer must be familiar… hopes built up to then be smacked down again. I had an agent approach me after the competition and on their encouragement, I finished, edited and polished the manuscript, sent it off to them with happy hopes – to be told months later that they didn’t think it was quite right for them..
Gutted, but enthusiasm relatively undimmed, I started on a new novel, inspired in part by the dramatic events of 2005 – the London bombings. I also wrote a short story at the same time on the same subject – it was on my mind a lot that summer (unsurprisingly. Freedom Fighter is the story – available on Amazon as part of The Mourning After short story collection). This novel The House on Fever Street (written under my maiden name Celina Alcock) was shortlisted for the 2006 Crime Writers’ Association Debut Dagger Award. Aha, I thought, a fairly prestigious and industry recognised award. This will get me published. Did it? Did it buggery!.
The House on Fever Street was also longlisted in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award of that year, which garnered me some nice reviews and a much needed ego boost but didn’t advance my career as a published author much further..
So what next for our doughty heroine? She ups and writes her fourth novel, gains an agent and thinks now, now I have finally made it as a published author! And she waits. And waits. And waits some more. And then waits a bit more. And a bit more. Finally, for variety, she waits a bit more..
So, after two years of waiting, reading about self-publishing on Amazon and other platforms, I believe a phrase that ends in ‘…for a game of soldiers’ passed my lips and I decide to publish myself. So I did. And here I am on Amazon, making sales. No publisher. No agent. Just me..
And that makes me VERY happy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews
April 27, 2021
A young woman with more money than brains stumbles through the book trying to figure out if she’s going bonkers. That’s basically the entire plot.
It appears as yet another one of those female powered thrillers, but power is something the all too preciously named all too preciously useless Maudie doesn’t have a surplus on. She’s one of those protagonists who doesn’t do much, an almost purely reactional person. Maudie is a woman shaped by tragedies, when she was a baby her mother died in a car crash, when she was ten, her best friend disappeared and she has been traumatized ever since. And now with her father’s death, she’s coming all sorts of undone and her dearly beloved is the one meant to hold her together. But, you know, marriages are complicated. Especially when one of the people in it does nothing all day, drinks too much and slowly goes (possibly) mad. Oh Maudie, what a mess you are.
Maudie has had her mental balance thrown off before, so now when her childhood friend suddenly reappears, it throws a gigantic guilt laden wrench into the works. Is Jessica real? Is Jessica a figment of Maudie’s imagination? What’s a girl to do?
A fairly straight forward downward spiral of a psychological thriller brought down by unlikeable characters then elevated by surprisingly decent writing then brought down again by the overall vagueness and an unsatisfactory resolution. The final plot twist is somewhat predictable, but not terribly so. Overall, it’s decent enough for a random kindle freebie and a quick read. Tried subscribing to the author’s newsletter to grab some more freebies, but her website at the time of this posting appears to be on the fritz, so that’s that. Nothing ventured. Rating this with uncharacteristic generosity.
It appears as yet another one of those female powered thrillers, but power is something the all too preciously named all too preciously useless Maudie doesn’t have a surplus on. She’s one of those protagonists who doesn’t do much, an almost purely reactional person. Maudie is a woman shaped by tragedies, when she was a baby her mother died in a car crash, when she was ten, her best friend disappeared and she has been traumatized ever since. And now with her father’s death, she’s coming all sorts of undone and her dearly beloved is the one meant to hold her together. But, you know, marriages are complicated. Especially when one of the people in it does nothing all day, drinks too much and slowly goes (possibly) mad. Oh Maudie, what a mess you are.
Maudie has had her mental balance thrown off before, so now when her childhood friend suddenly reappears, it throws a gigantic guilt laden wrench into the works. Is Jessica real? Is Jessica a figment of Maudie’s imagination? What’s a girl to do?
A fairly straight forward downward spiral of a psychological thriller brought down by unlikeable characters then elevated by surprisingly decent writing then brought down again by the overall vagueness and an unsatisfactory resolution. The final plot twist is somewhat predictable, but not terribly so. Overall, it’s decent enough for a random kindle freebie and a quick read. Tried subscribing to the author’s newsletter to grab some more freebies, but her website at the time of this posting appears to be on the fritz, so that’s that. Nothing ventured. Rating this with uncharacteristic generosity.
June 10, 2014
Celina Grace's book is an example of why readers should be reading indie authors. Well written, atmospheric and suspenseful, it has everything a psychological mystery should. Maudie Reynolds has just lost her father,the formidable Angus, and the funeral, and a return to her family home have conjured up old ghosts. Ever since her best friend Jessica disappeared at ten during a holiday in Cornwall, Maudie has blunted the edge of that reality any way she could. But after her father's death, her safe marriage to an older academic, and dilettante lifestyle prove no match for her memories. She tries to drown them in alcohol, but the secrets won't stay buried, leaving Maudie to doubt whether what she sees, learns and feels is real, or the product of a mind and a heart too damaged to go on. My only criticism is that Maudie's drinking binges got a bit repetitive, but then again, that's a realistic detail. I don't know Celina Grace, this isn't a review by a friend, I'm just a critical reader and fellow author, and this is a terrific little mystery in the tradition of the great PD James.
February 14, 2013
Two happy young girls, the best of friends, spend an idyllic holiday in Cornwall with their families. Maudie is 10 when her best friend Jessica disappeared never to be seen again. Now some two decades later Maudie is attending therapy, still haunted by the mysterious circumstances of her missing friend. Maudie has never been able to resolve the trauma of the past but is her mind damaged beyond repair or is something more menacing happening?
A delightfully crafted psychological thriller, the author writes, knowingly and with insight into the innermost workings of a tortured mind. The author gives us a perplexing story with enigmatic consequences.
Pleased to have received this as a Goodreads firstread.
A delightfully crafted psychological thriller, the author writes, knowingly and with insight into the innermost workings of a tortured mind. The author gives us a perplexing story with enigmatic consequences.
Pleased to have received this as a Goodreads firstread.
June 7, 2017
Gaslighting
Good story but my gosh Maudie is not a likable character. Matt made sense haha. I wish more had been answered, who was the Jessica, what really happened. Too much went on about Maudie's drinking.
Good story but my gosh Maudie is not a likable character. Matt made sense haha. I wish more had been answered, who was the Jessica, what really happened. Too much went on about Maudie's drinking.
November 10, 2014
I'm rather confused about the book and how it went. It wasn't how I was expecting things but it just seemed to end without explaining things. I felt all confused.
June 2, 2017
Confusing
This was just an ok book in my opinion. By the end I was confused about the story line and the ending left you hanging
This was just an ok book in my opinion. By the end I was confused about the story line and the ending left you hanging
June 4, 2017
I liked the book but it was slow at times
June 27, 2016
The premise behind this book had me excited to read it and find out what happened on "the night of Jessica's disappearance". The addition of nest friends history with mental instability should have added a huge emotional response from me but instead I felt like the author hadn't fully grasped the nature of the illness he was applying g to the character and as such I just could not get a handle of who she was. The much anticipated emotional connection I expected never happened for me as I just couldn't "feel for her in empathetic or sympathetic manner" but I stead I just felt pity for her as she was made out to be nothing more than a spoiled rich kid who didn't have to work. lied and got drunk and was always whining about oh poor me, and totally ignoring the issues of anyone else around her. Unfortunately, I feel like a book that characterizes someone with mental illness 8n this almost comical (but not funny) way does a disservice to all those people that are trying to fight the stigma of mental illness that effects them on a daily basis. I can't even fathom what it must be like to have these type of emotions, paranoia, etc taking over my life so I was truly hoping to get a better and more realistic feel for what they go through every day. Yes, I understand this isn't meant to be a medical book to teach me about various mental illnesses but even in fiction books. unless a science fi or satirical type book, I like to see certain aspects of real life portrayed more accurately so that I can try to engage more fully with the characters and I just couldn't in this instance.
Despite my low rating for this book, if the elements that bothered me aren't important to you when reading it, you may find it much to your liking as the overall pretext of the storyline was interesting and the idea of trying to figure out was she "imagining everything or was it all or partially real" is enough to keep reader on their toes.
All it would have taken for me to elevate status of rating would be more a bit more realism and to make character less of an annoying rich kid and more of a rich kid who had unimaginable mental illness so she felt more approachable and hence more likeable...or even gated would be fine but not that in between where just don't care
Despite my low rating for this book, if the elements that bothered me aren't important to you when reading it, you may find it much to your liking as the overall pretext of the storyline was interesting and the idea of trying to figure out was she "imagining everything or was it all or partially real" is enough to keep reader on their toes.
All it would have taken for me to elevate status of rating would be more a bit more realism and to make character less of an annoying rich kid and more of a rich kid who had unimaginable mental illness so she felt more approachable and hence more likeable...or even gated would be fine but not that in between where just don't care
November 15, 2013
When Maudie was ten years old, her best friend Jessica disappeared. Now over twenty years later, Maudie returns to her childhood home to bury her father and she sees Jessica. Or does she? She has a history of psychiatric problems, is she seeing things? Her husband already treats her like a fragile psych patient, so she can't talk to him. Is Jessica real?
LOST GIRLS, part mystery, part psychological thriller, is well written and kept my interest. It wasn't good enough to stay up past my bedtime, reading past midnight, but this is definitely an above average novel. Narrated by Maudie, writer Celina Grace did a good job relaying the story with an unreliable narrator. Maudie's character, however was weak and whiny, so she was hard for me to embrace fully.
LOST GIRLS, part mystery, part psychological thriller, is well written and kept my interest. It wasn't good enough to stay up past my bedtime, reading past midnight, but this is definitely an above average novel. Narrated by Maudie, writer Celina Grace did a good job relaying the story with an unreliable narrator. Maudie's character, however was weak and whiny, so she was hard for me to embrace fully.
February 23, 2013
This wasn't bad but seemed to be a book I had already read before or a film I'd seen. I even figured the plot out pretty early in basing it on others....so that was a little disappointing. There were the odd parts I didn't recognise but sadly not enough to really be a favourite or original read.
There were some lost speechmarks in parts and the odd missing word like up/to/her. A bit careless. The girl narrating was wearing sandals one minute then doing up the laces on her plimsolls the next. She was also feeling or being sick for quite a lot of the story which became a little annoying. Then bourn was written instead of borne.
All in all not terrific but readable.
There were some lost speechmarks in parts and the odd missing word like up/to/her. A bit careless. The girl narrating was wearing sandals one minute then doing up the laces on her plimsolls the next. She was also feeling or being sick for quite a lot of the story which became a little annoying. Then bourn was written instead of borne.
All in all not terrific but readable.
May 25, 2017
Slow read with an unclear ending
I wanted to love this book based on the reviews but I found it incredibly slow. The same thoughts and events seem to happen over and over, and just when you think the mystery of Jessica is going to be solved, it isn't. The situation with Angus was predictable and unfortunately the story as a whole was boring and mundane.
I wanted to love this book based on the reviews but I found it incredibly slow. The same thoughts and events seem to happen over and over, and just when you think the mystery of Jessica is going to be solved, it isn't. The situation with Angus was predictable and unfortunately the story as a whole was boring and mundane.
July 23, 2013
Good story, didn't see where it was going myself so a good surprise ending. I am noticing lately a huge increase in books with glaring proof reading/editorial errors and this book was very guilty of that. Enjoyable read nevertheless.
May 12, 2024
Melodrama upon melodrama followed by a bottle or 3 of wine. I understand this is an early piece, and whilst I didn’t particularly rate it, I do think it signals the talent emerging in her later books which I do enjoy.
May 28, 2017
Celina Grace is possibly the best indie author I've ever read. Lost Girls is a suspenseful, psychological drama. I couldn't put it down, and I'm looking forward to reading more books by this author.
January 10, 2013
As Good as the Novels by Six-Figure Authors
Celina Grace’s Lost Girls traps you on Maude Sampon’s harrowing ride from age ten when on holiday her best friend Jessica disappears to her life as Maude Reynolds, an unstable married woman in London. One must be careful not to give anything away, because the well-timed revelations make the reader gasp—especially Aunt Effie’s. Excellent characterizations of Jessica, Maude’s husband Matt, her father Angus and her best friend Becca weave a tight net around Maude. The writing is clear and the dialogue crisp. North American readers will be treated to words such as wonky, bloke, nattering and arsey. A slight confusion resulted for me at the end that I haven’t been able to resolve, but perhaps on a second reading. Lost Girls impressed me greatly. The author has a firm grip on her subject.
Celina Grace’s Lost Girls traps you on Maude Sampon’s harrowing ride from age ten when on holiday her best friend Jessica disappears to her life as Maude Reynolds, an unstable married woman in London. One must be careful not to give anything away, because the well-timed revelations make the reader gasp—especially Aunt Effie’s. Excellent characterizations of Jessica, Maude’s husband Matt, her father Angus and her best friend Becca weave a tight net around Maude. The writing is clear and the dialogue crisp. North American readers will be treated to words such as wonky, bloke, nattering and arsey. A slight confusion resulted for me at the end that I haven’t been able to resolve, but perhaps on a second reading. Lost Girls impressed me greatly. The author has a firm grip on her subject.
August 7, 2017
So Lost
Lost Girls is one of those books that grabs and holds you. Maudie, the protagonist is not particularly likable which detracts from the reader's investment in the story. Despite the less than lovable lead character I wanted to get to the resolution. The story captured my imagination. I stuck with it always looking for reason to like Maudie. The story is gripping and resolves neatly. I did not like the resolution. It is well written. I think it may just be my personal preference to like the protagonist and to like the outcome.
Lost Girls is one of those books that grabs and holds you. Maudie, the protagonist is not particularly likable which detracts from the reader's investment in the story. Despite the less than lovable lead character I wanted to get to the resolution. The story captured my imagination. I stuck with it always looking for reason to like Maudie. The story is gripping and resolves neatly. I did not like the resolution. It is well written. I think it may just be my personal preference to like the protagonist and to like the outcome.
June 29, 2017
I'm not quite sure how I feel about this book. It is quite different from others I have read by the same author. I had trouble getting into it in the beginning but refuse to quit a book so kept going. Got fairly interesting and then BOOM, I knew exactly where things were going. So the last hundred + pages were like just hurry up and get to the point already. Maybe I will feel differently after I sit with it for a bit but for now this was a mediocre read that really didn't connect with me the way the Kate Redman series did.
August 12, 2012
This really is a cracking book, gripping, tense, sinister (you might want to avoid reading it in bed last thing at night!). Grace's first book, House on Fever Street, was very good, but you can tell with this second novel, she has honed her craft and we are left with a book that is un-put-down-able! Looking forward to the next one.
June 13, 2017
The too good, the bad (drinking all the time) and the evil.
Unfortunately, a bit slow, but still full of suspense and twists. The main character is not likeable and this added the discomfort created by the author. Unfortunately, a bit slow and focus too much on the flaws of the main character.
I got the idea the end was written with a sequel in mind…
Unfortunately, a bit slow, but still full of suspense and twists. The main character is not likeable and this added the discomfort created by the author. Unfortunately, a bit slow and focus too much on the flaws of the main character.
I got the idea the end was written with a sequel in mind…
August 30, 2016
When Maudie Sampson was 10 years old her best friend Jessica disappeared when they were on holiday. Now in the present day Maudie needs to cope with the death of her father, and her increasing mental frailty, and the memories that haunt her. But who and what can she trust.
August 29, 2016
Lost girls
Good book but ended too abruptly without closure, not enough left for second book to be fulfilled. But good read til the ending. Just wanted a little more of a better ending I guess
Good book but ended too abruptly without closure, not enough left for second book to be fulfilled. But good read til the ending. Just wanted a little more of a better ending I guess
June 12, 2017
Kept reading just to find out what happened to Jessica.
Felt the book dragged on, ending made sense but didn't feel right and not in a "the author got you" way, just in a "I have no idea what I just read" way.
Just average.
Felt the book dragged on, ending made sense but didn't feel right and not in a "the author got you" way, just in a "I have no idea what I just read" way.
Just average.
December 15, 2012
Very sinister and tense. Really enjoyed it and couldn't second guess it
May 26, 2017
Reminicent of Those Old Movies
Set in modern times, but with all the suspense of an old black and white movie that I once saw. Fascinating to read a modern setting on an old plot.
Set in modern times, but with all the suspense of an old black and white movie that I once saw. Fascinating to read a modern setting on an old plot.
October 16, 2017
This book is a bit too drawn out for my liking. But it was still worth my time to read.
June 6, 2017
Just okay! Not as good as her other books!
June 6, 2017
This kept me thinking the entire read, but I was not satisfied with the ending.
June 7, 2017
Freaky
I love Celina Grace, but this book was too weird. I didn't like or really care about the protagonist, so it made it hard to enjoy. The ending was frustrating.
I love Celina Grace, but this book was too weird. I didn't like or really care about the protagonist, so it made it hard to enjoy. The ending was frustrating.
July 16, 2017
Far too confusing
This story was far too confusing. It went in every direction and was hard to understand what you were expecting with the characters. Borderline headache.
This story was far too confusing. It went in every direction and was hard to understand what you were expecting with the characters. Borderline headache.
August 4, 2017
Intriguing story but found myself confused & very frustrated sometimes.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews