The Lost

by Jonathan Aycliffe

Tired of his life as a prep school teacher in England, Michael moves to Romania to reclaim his grandparents' land, discovers that he is a titled lord, and learns of an ancient evil.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Vampires, Gothic, Paranormal, Fantasy, Supernatural

166 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

aka Daniel Easterman

Jonathan Aycliffe (Denis M. MacEoin) was born in Belfast in 1949. He studied English, Persian, Arabic and Islamic studies at the universities of Dublin, Edinburgh and Cambridge, and lectured at the universities of Fez in Morocco and Newcastle upon Tyne. The author of several successful full-length ghost stories, he lives in the north of England with his wife, homeopath and health writer, Beth MacEoin. He also writes as Daniel Easterman, under which name he has penned nine bestselling novels.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Michael Feraru returns to his father’s homeland, Romania, where he hopes to claim heritage to the family castle, Vlaicu. This short novel is told through letters, diaries, and tapes, giving a modern and interesting slant to the vampire novel and giving more than a nod to “Dracula.”

In the beginning, Michael’s adventure seems to involve form filling, and queuing, but he is soon joined in his quest by beautiful lawyer, Liliana Popescu and feels he has a real chance of success. It is also clear that Liliana has her own agenda, but soon Michael finds he has unleashed something disturbing and dangerous. As Michael becomes more involved in life in Romania, changing his name to Mihai Vlahuta, he is driven onwards to try to understand his family and their past.

The author uses the remote countryside of Romania, and eerie castle atmosphere, well. There is a real sense of menace and danger as events unfold – strangely these are made even more eerie when told from the point of view of Michael’s down to earth girlfriend, Sophie, the Headmaster at the school he worked at, or his worried mother, Rosemary, who runs a guest house in Harrogate. The normality of these people, and their lives back home, contrast well with Mihai’s adventures in Romania. This is a creepy and atmospheric read. 3.5

[Addy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very unique tale of vampires. I loved it and especially how it was told through journal entries.

[Paulo "paper books only" · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's more three and half stars but... Review to come.

This is how a Victorian/Gothic horror novel should be written. I try to read some old Victorian novels and most of them are a boring. This one has some of the feeling of that period of time, even if it set just after 1990 in Romania.

The book consists in passages from his journal or letters by Michael Ferraru (Mihai Vlahuta) and from time to time we have some letters of his girlfriend, friends, family and employees.

The story is about a man, around 30, who is trying to open an orphanage in Romania, just after the fall of the communist period they were. The reason of this endevour comes from his mysterious father and grandfather that were romanians. After arriving there he learns that his family were something akin of nobles, before the communism and they had a castle in Transylvania. With the help of a romanian she-lawyer he learns about his heritage. From that moment on we start seeing some changes on Michael as he turns into a romanian noble (I know - it sounds weird) but everything has a reason.

I really enjoy the setting, the pace and the characters.

The tag Horror is almost honorary. This is not horror was we nowadays understand. It's not gore but the changes of Michael and the secret his family have made the book horror-ish. Victorian horror-ish.

Advisable to anyone who wants to read a victorian/gothic horror novel but thinks they are boring as hell. Or anyone who wants to read a fast-paced book with an interesting main character.

[Ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

With inspiration from Bram Stoker’s classical Dracula, this is the story of a family’s twisted and morbid legacy.

At times eerie and macabre, there’s a wonderful sense of foreboding from the beginning. Even though you are well aware of what is happening behind the scenes, you can’t help but be fascinated, waiting for the final moment when you will come face to face with the monster(s).

The ending leaves you with an idea of what is to come, and never to conclude for Michael, Count Mihai Vlahuta.

It’s a fast and easy read—and thoroughly enjoyable.

[Steven · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eventually the novel does start to explain itself, if quite elliptically thanks to the epistolary nature of the thing, but I'm not sure it's worth wading through far enough to get to the explanation of what's going on, and the final pages wherein the presumed point of all of this finally comes out. The writing is fine, but the thing is rather leaden (and it's not a long book!) and feels rather like a shortish novella padded out with a rather static travelogue.

[Sue Bridehead (A Pseudonym) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mr. Aycliffe is such an assured writer that I almost don't mind that this book was so anticlimactic.

[Roanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book over the course of one evening, so obviously I liked it a great deal. A variation on the Dracula theme: castles in Romania, wolves in the woods, coffins in the bowels of the castle. A young-ish man travels to Romania to claim the castle of his ancestors, one that was taken from his family during WW2. The story is told via an interesting array of letters, diary transcriptions, news clippings, and research papers. I found the end shocking and intriguing and really rather spooky. A fun, entertaining, quick read.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Lost follows Michael who is trying to reclaim his family estate in Romania. However, as he delves deeper into his history, he discovers more and more terrifying revelations.

The story is told through journal entries, tapes, letters and articles which made it a quick easy read. I found the story slow and boring and things only started getting creepy in the last 40 pages or so.

[Brittney Gibbon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t take a single note as I read this book and I’ve now left it so long to write the review, I can hardly remember what actually happened 🤦🏻‍♀️

I do remember being bored though, so I guess that kind of explains it.

After reading (and LOVING) Naomi’s Room, I was so excited to find another Jonathan Aycliffe in my book buying adventures last month. Unfortunately, this one definitely did not live up to my expectations.

Very obviously heavily influenced by Dracula, The Lost has a lot of spooky potential; Romanian castles, hauntings, family secrets and dark pasts, all discovered and laid out for the reader in a series of letters, interviews and journals. But I’ve gotta say, this has to be the LONGEST 248-page book I’ve ever read!

Yes, there were some scenes that were almost creepy, and probably would have been had I been more immersed in the tale, and I guess once the book actually reached the peak it was climbing to, that was kind of cool too, but after so many pages of filler (seriously, I don’t know how you even fit that many pages of nothing in such a short book), it was all very anticlimactic and nowhere near worth the investment.

Two and a half stars because it did start strong, and the intrigue was real, but man, what a let down.

[Mari Biella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, how could I resist? A twisted little gothic tale, with more than the occasional nod to Dracula, that is largely set in Transylvania? In a half-ruined castle that contains some dark and deadly secrets, no less? This is catnip to me, the kind of book I'd happily read and reread over the course of years.

Did The Lost live up to my expectations? Largely, yes. It is set in the 1990s, shortly after the fall of the Iron Curtain, but before the Internet age had dawned, in a time when, presumably, someone might feasibly disappear into the wilds of Romania (today, even crumbling Carpathian castles probably have Wi-Fi). A half-Romanian, half-British teacher, Michael Feraru, sets off to Transylvania to reclaim his family's property, which was confiscated by the Communist authorities, and for which Feraru now has big plans. Feraru is a modern-day Jonathan Harker, in a way, not least in his passion for writing long and incredibly detailed diary entries and letters – but, unlike Harker, he has a large dark side lurking just beneath his mild-mannered exterior. In fact, in The Lost this Harker figure actually becomes a little like Count Dracula; discovering just how noble and important his family was in pre-WW2 Romania, he starts to adopt his proper title, Count Mihai Vlahuta, and sets off to stake his claim to his own Transylvanian castle.

The remote and (at the time of writing, at least) mysterious terrain of Transylvania is used to good effect here. Aycliffe does a great job of building both atmosphere and tension; the sense of dread and foreboding deepens with almost every page turned. It's also a fairly quick and easy read, the kind of thing you can charge through in an evening or two (even though, according to Goodreads, I actually started reading this in June!). My only gripe (and it's a slight one) is that the ending seemed a little anticlimactic, but the process of getting there was so much fun that I'm prepared to overlook that. I think I’ll be reading more from Mr Aycliffe...

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, unfortunately this was another disappointment, like my last read from this author. I've enjoyed some of his other novels, though it's been so long that I remember little of them. I do wonder if my tastes have changed, but based on other readers' reactions, it seems that those other books likely are objectively superior to these.

I did like this marginally better than The Silence of Ghosts, but given how I felt about that book, saying so is only the faintest of praise. There are some eerie moments, and it felt like there was the potential for something satisfying, but it never quite made it. Ultimately, it bored me! Even though this is a novella, it still manages to feel slow and repetitious. The occasional creepy moments never fully deliver.

The format (journals, transcriptions of tapes, translated letters, etc.) was a mixed bag for me. I tend to like the epistolary format, but sometimes it can strain credulity. The main character sometimes writes things in great detail when he couldn't/shouldn't have time to waste in writing. Other times, he's speaking into a voice recorder when the person he's talking about would probably overhear... It's just odd and doesn't always work or make much sense.

Towards the end, there's insufficient explanation as to why certain characters behave as they do, which adds to the frustration (and my "meh, who really cares what happens to these people?!" reaction). Sure, I'm willing to do some "work", and I can read between the lines, but I dislike it when writers can't be bothered to tell a full story. The plot-- such as it is-- just plods along until it fizzles out with a conclusion that's probably supposed to be shocking, but is instead disappointingly predictable and unimpressive.

This one gets 2.5 stars, rounded down. Too short on chills!

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Normally I love Aycliffe's books, but despite not being a big book it took me a while to finish. I could easily put it down and not be fussed to pick it up again. It is laid out like Stoker's 'Dracula' in the form of letters and journals, which did not bother me. The first part is very good and quite creepy. I stalled during the second half of the book when Michael arrives at Castel Vlaicu. Although I did enjoy the ultimate twist on the last page, the climax felt a little rushed and the deaths in Cambridge from the first half of the book appeared to be forgotten about. Aycliffe is superb at suspense and conveying a chilling atmosphere. I would point any newbie to his work in the direction of 'Naomi's Room', 'The Matrix' and 'The Shadow on the Wall'. All are brilliant, this one just didn't hit the spot for me.

[Simon Finnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly gripping; spooky; intelligent; and stays with you for days afterwards.

There are dozens of books I have read twice, but only a few that I have come back to for a third read - The Lost is one of these few. I originally read it when it was released in the mid-90s, and having just finished it again, it is still a work of absolute genius.

It is by no means perfect (the 'Headmaster' subplot doesn't work, the ending is rushed, it is a little on the short side, etc.), but it is one of the best books in the contemporary gothic horror genre. It grips you from the start and once again it left me with a shiver down the spine that lasted for days after.

If you love the gothic and are looking for a well written thriller that will keep you on your toes, then look no further.

[Gypsi · Rating 2 out of 5]

After his Romanian father's death, Englishman Michael discovers that he is the heir to a castle in Romania. A series of frightening events follow him, as well as his friends back in England, as he makes his way to the castle. Once there, he discovers the terrible secret of his family.

Excellently written in the epistolary style, The Lost mirrors Dracula in some ways. Like the original, it builds in suspense slowly, given the reader an increasing sense of unease. Unlike the original, though, it falls flat with it's climax. In addition, there were several unexplained circumstances and loose ends. Overall, I found it to be quite disappointing.

[Raymond Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

You expect nothing less from Jonathan Aycliffe than a good atmopheric horror well told and again he does the job. In this strange reworking of the dracula tale a british school teacher inherits his family home in romania after the collapse of communism and returns there leaving his fiance at home. He intends to start an orphanage but as events take thier course his fiance begins to realise that some darkness has overtaken her beloved.... and the darkness has.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the way this book is presented to the reader, it's presented as letters, memoirs, telegrams, newspaper cuttings & edited transcript of tape recorded notes. They are presented in order of date, to and from various people building it's story to be a journal.
The book is the journal. Very cleverly presented and written.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. Super quick classic horror novel. Aycliffe writes so many traditional English ghost stories that his "modern" voice (well, '80s voice!) is kind of jarring to me.

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Imagine reading a book styled after Dracula, except nothing really happens for most of the book and then it is settled up rather stupidly in 20 pages. There you go, you have The Lost.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shades of Bram Stoker's DRACULA, written in the similar style of letters, journal entries, and recorded transcripts. Slow and creeping terror in Gothic
tradition.

[Celia · Rating 2 out of 5]

very disappointed with it

[bepassersby · Rating 1 out of 5]

Garbage. Nothing happens until the last 30 pages, and then it’s too little for it to be worth it. Some of the journal entries are written like a novel, which is amateur. Skip it. DNF.

[Goddess Of Blah]

The story started off ok but then became predictable and there's a massive anti climax.

Didn't like what happened to Constin otherwise couldn't care less about any of the other characters.

[Caroline Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story premise is rather far-fetched, however, there is a growing sense of unease and pending doom within this novel, and an element of mystery, which kept me hooked until the very end.

I liked the way the author presented chapters in the form of letters, articles, historical documents, tape recordings and the like. This helped to give a sense of the characters' voices; their personalities. The changes they undergo are reflected through these devises: Lilliana's observations of Michael/Mihai; the nature of his recorded messages. I think the author could have developed this further. There is a sense of detachment at a time when more could have been made of each character's reflections: a greater sense of suspense and fear, which would draw the reader deeper into the story. The exact nature of the threat, I found distasteful. I don't usually go for books of this genre but read it out of curiosity. It is by no means classic literature, but relatively enjoyable nonetheless.

[Maria's Rinconcito Oscuro · Rating 3 out of 5]

🙂🙂😀.😜 3.5 🌟
La novela The Lost de Jonathan Aycliffe es una historia gótica de horror que sigue a Michael Feraru, un joven profesor británico que viaja a Rumanía para reclamar la herencia de su familia: el castillo Vlaicu en los Alpes de Transilvania. Lo que comienza como una aventura se convierte en una pesadilla cuando descubre secretos oscuros sobre su linaje y una antigua maldición relacionada con los strigoi, criaturas no muertas más aterradoras que los vampiros tradicionales. La narrativa, presentada a través de diarios, cartas y grabaciones, intensifica la atmósfera inquietante y el descenso de Michael hacia la oscuridad. Es una novela corta, lenta, pero con buena atmósfera. Lo q mas me gusto es q el terror es sutil, me recordo a Dracula y al Orla. El poder de la sangre q hace q perdure el linage familiar.
ps. 3 pendiente de mi TBR

[Mark Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the short chapters and energetic style. The concept of the story was intriguing enough, but none of the characters ever felt that distinctive or compelling, except for maybe Lilliana, and so the epistolary format never offered much that was unique. The epistolary approach also seemed somehow to put the action at a distance, filtered through the rather flat narrative voices, and the book never had that much suspense. A decent attempt at updating the idea of the vampire, but nothing all that exciting or surprising ever came from it. It was a fun read, but there isn't much here to think about or remember. A forgettable book.

[Djordje · Rating 3 out of 5]

UKUPNA OCENA ★★★ 3/5
1. Ideja ★★★✫ 3.5
2. Priča ★★★ 3
3. Stil ★★★ 3

UTISAK - interesantna ideja o nemrtvima (Strigoi) koji nisu uopšte tipični vampiri beć varijanta spektri. Nažalost ideja nije dobro realizovana do kraja, mnogo stvari nije objašnjeno i razrađeno i zbog toga je knjiga prekratka. Autor je napravio dobru horor atmosferu ali pri kraju je sve zbrzao i previše stvari je ostalo nerazjašnjeno.

[Ian Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Naomi’s Room some years ago and thought it one of the best ghost stories that I had ever read. It was beautifully written and had a wonderful sense of eeriness. Written as a series of letters and journal entries, The Lost has all the qualities that made Naomi’s room so memorable. Unfortunately, this book is let down by the ending, which is okay but a little underwhelming. However, it is an enjoyable read, but I would recommend you read Naomi’s Room first.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5 stars)

The story is told through letters and journal entries which is a wonderful vehicle for this type of story. Once you make your way through a slow start, the typical Aycliffe talent for setting the stage and providing the atmosphere for scares on top of scares finally kicks in. Once inside the castle and we know there is no escape, there is also no escape from the feeling of dread that will follow you to the ending.

[Rakie Keig · Rating 4 out of 5]

DRACULA has a lot to answer for, not least encouraging people to write books in the form of letters and journal entries. Anyway, THE LOST is a pretty good, pretty spooky novel set mostly in rural Romania. It's slow to get going but at about a third of the way through, the scariness starts arriving and the story gets good, so hang in there.

[Bea De · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it.The feeling of doom and inevatability steadily grows till the stunning climax scene is reached.I loved how the normal English main character slowly goes through a total change of personality.Very fast and fine writing.Best horror in a long time plus a new element in Rumenian Strigoi mythology is shown us in this fantastically written book.