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Paula Maguire #1
The Lost
Not everyone who's missing is lost...
When two teenage girls go missing along the Irish border, forensic psychologist Paula Maguire has to return to the hometown she left years before. Swirling with rumour and secrets, the town is gripped by fear of a serial killer. But the truth could be even darker.
Not everyone who's lost wants to be found...
Surrounded by people and places she tried to forget, Paula digs into the cases as the truth twists further away. What's the link with two other disappearances from 1985? And why does everything lead back to the town's dark past- including the reasons her own mother went missing years before?
Nothing is what it seems...
As the shocking truth is revealed, Paula learns that sometimes, it's better not to find what you've lost.
When two teenage girls go missing along the Irish border, forensic psychologist Paula Maguire has to return to the hometown she left years before. Swirling with rumour and secrets, the town is gripped by fear of a serial killer. But the truth could be even darker.
Not everyone who's lost wants to be found...
Surrounded by people and places she tried to forget, Paula digs into the cases as the truth twists further away. What's the link with two other disappearances from 1985? And why does everything lead back to the town's dark past- including the reasons her own mother went missing years before?
Nothing is what it seems...
As the shocking truth is revealed, Paula learns that sometimes, it's better not to find what you've lost.
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
809 people are currently reading
4396 people want to read
About the author
Claire McGowan
43 books2,058 followersClaire McGowan grew up in a small village in Northern Ireland. After a degree in English and French from Oxford University she moved to London and worked in the charity sector. THE FALL is her first novel, which is followed by a series starring forensic psychologist Paula Maguire. She also writes as Eva Woods.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 313 reviews
August 4, 2017
I really enjoyed The Lost Paula Maguire 1 by Claire McGowan the characters were well developed & likeable, its set in Northern Ireland . The first half was very slow which at times lost my attention but by half way in it picked up dramatically, the only negative about this is the pronunciation of words used had to keep highlighting the word to see what it was but that is just a minor thing.
NOT EVERYONE WHOS LOST IS MISSING!!
Forensic Psychologist Paula Maguire returns to her home town of Bally terrin to help the local PD solve the case of two teenage girls who went missing Cathy Carr & Majilla Ward. She seeks the help of Guy Brooking her former lover to help with the investigation.
AS the case deepens Paula finds a link that connects 2 other missing girls years earlier they all went to the mission at St Bridget's convent Eventually Cathy is Found in the lake with her hands bound BUT WHY DID IT TAKE A WEEK TO REPORT MAJELLA MISSING?
What happens from here on in is a race against time to find the killer this is a really good read I really didn't like Cathy Carr's father Eamonn he was a shady character who had his own agenda being a councillor of the local council.
If you haven't read this series give it a go 4 stars.
NOT EVERYONE WHOS LOST IS MISSING!!
Forensic Psychologist Paula Maguire returns to her home town of Bally terrin to help the local PD solve the case of two teenage girls who went missing Cathy Carr & Majilla Ward. She seeks the help of Guy Brooking her former lover to help with the investigation.
AS the case deepens Paula finds a link that connects 2 other missing girls years earlier they all went to the mission at St Bridget's convent Eventually Cathy is Found in the lake with her hands bound BUT WHY DID IT TAKE A WEEK TO REPORT MAJELLA MISSING?
What happens from here on in is a race against time to find the killer this is a really good read I really didn't like Cathy Carr's father Eamonn he was a shady character who had his own agenda being a councillor of the local council.
If you haven't read this series give it a go 4 stars.
August 31, 2020
'Je moet niet alles willen vinden wat verloren is gegaan..'
https://elinevandm.wordpress.com/2020...
https://elinevandm.wordpress.com/2020...
January 13, 2018
Paula McGuire is a forensic pathologist sent to her hometown in Northern Ireland to work on a case involving missing girls. The fictitious border town is not unlike the author's home town of Newry. Paula is also home to help her ailing father, a retired RUC officer. As a Catholic member of the RUC, jer father was a target of the IRA during the Troubles, and Paula's mother disappeared one day never to be seen again.
What is riveting about this story is that it takes place at the time that Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are working together to find the many people who like Paula's mother, disappeared during the Troubles. Some were undoubtedly disappeared by paramilitaries, but it was often assumed they'd run away. Perhaps the most infamous story, and one that has been in the news in the past couple of years is the kidnapping and subsequent murder of the Belfast mother-of-ten, Jean McConville.
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-i...
In this novel, Paula's family is not the only ones who "lost" a loved one. Paula's former boyfriend, from her teen years, Aidan, single handedly runs the local paper. His father, the former editor and owner was murdered by the IRA because they were unhappy with some of the stories in his newspaper.
Paula 's first job is to find the missing 15-year-old daughter of a local councilman and real estate developer. Around the same time, another girl, a 14 year old girl from the local Travelers community also turns up missing. Paula recalls 2 cases years ago of 2 girls from the town who disappeared. In a small town, she reasons, it is not feasible that the disappearances both now and in the past of teenage girls are unrelated. Paula digs and digs to the great displeasure of her superiors. They ignore the fact that as a "home town" girl, she is likely to be able to make connections they can't.
There is more than one case that involves girls under the age of 16 having sex with men. UK law defines statutory rape as sex with a child under the age of 13.Under American law, this is statutory rape and a sex crime, regardless of whether the underage girls consented. In this story, cases involving underaged are not pursued, and in one case it is even said the girl gave consent.
There is a bit of a cliff hanger at the end and I am going to read the next in the series as soon as possible.
I just reread this for my book group and it stood up well to a second reading.
What is riveting about this story is that it takes place at the time that Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are working together to find the many people who like Paula's mother, disappeared during the Troubles. Some were undoubtedly disappeared by paramilitaries, but it was often assumed they'd run away. Perhaps the most infamous story, and one that has been in the news in the past couple of years is the kidnapping and subsequent murder of the Belfast mother-of-ten, Jean McConville.
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-i...
In this novel, Paula's family is not the only ones who "lost" a loved one. Paula's former boyfriend, from her teen years, Aidan, single handedly runs the local paper. His father, the former editor and owner was murdered by the IRA because they were unhappy with some of the stories in his newspaper.
Paula 's first job is to find the missing 15-year-old daughter of a local councilman and real estate developer. Around the same time, another girl, a 14 year old girl from the local Travelers community also turns up missing. Paula recalls 2 cases years ago of 2 girls from the town who disappeared. In a small town, she reasons, it is not feasible that the disappearances both now and in the past of teenage girls are unrelated. Paula digs and digs to the great displeasure of her superiors. They ignore the fact that as a "home town" girl, she is likely to be able to make connections they can't.
There is more than one case that involves girls under the age of 16 having sex with men. UK law defines statutory rape as sex with a child under the age of 13.Under American law, this is statutory rape and a sex crime, regardless of whether the underage girls consented. In this story, cases involving underaged are not pursued, and in one case it is even said the girl gave consent.
There is a bit of a cliff hanger at the end and I am going to read the next in the series as soon as possible.
I just reread this for my book group and it stood up well to a second reading.
July 27, 2021
Oooh so THIS is why people like crime fiction.
I couldn’t tell you why I got the urge to pick this book up in the first place, as I typically find this genre too bleak and gritty with cliché riddled writing.
Anyway, this was such a good one that dodged those sticking points and I’m glad.
Of course, the subject matter is disturbing, being about abduction and murder of teen girls in Northern Ireland, but it was handled well and written somewhat delicately.
It also helped that our protagonist, a forensic psychologist named Paula who is personally invested in the cases, is extremely sympathetic and likable (another thing I rarely find in crime fiction).
The writing style flowed so well I was sucked in and couldn’t put this down, and it kept me guessing.
I’m excited that this seems to be a pretty big series, so I can follow Paula on many more adventures!
I couldn’t tell you why I got the urge to pick this book up in the first place, as I typically find this genre too bleak and gritty with cliché riddled writing.
Anyway, this was such a good one that dodged those sticking points and I’m glad.
Of course, the subject matter is disturbing, being about abduction and murder of teen girls in Northern Ireland, but it was handled well and written somewhat delicately.
It also helped that our protagonist, a forensic psychologist named Paula who is personally invested in the cases, is extremely sympathetic and likable (another thing I rarely find in crime fiction).
The writing style flowed so well I was sucked in and couldn’t put this down, and it kept me guessing.
I’m excited that this seems to be a pretty big series, so I can follow Paula on many more adventures!
February 25, 2017
The Lost is an exciting start to a new series by Claire McGowan. It is Claire McGowan’s second novel - her first novel, The Fall, being a standalone thriller - and with the Dr Maguire series I think I have found a new favourite to add to my reading list.
In Northern Ireland, a new task force, dedicated to finding missing people has been set up in the small town of Ballyterrin. Dr Paula Maguire has joined the new team after returning home after spending time in London. Paula is a forensic psychologist but she has a habit of throwing herself into investigations and isn’t good at following orders. But Paula gets results, and I imagine that she makes most of the police officers who are working on cases jealous and that these officers would like to see the back of her which I’m sure the police in London are glad to be seeing.
There are many themes in this book which feature heavily in the South of Ireland and Northern Ireland’s dark, modern history. The IRA and the recent scandal of the Catholic Church form the basis of the investigations which the new team are overseeing. I thought the idea of using a forensic psychologist was an interesting one and I was intrigued to see how that would work. In the many crime novels I have read, psychologists are often met with a great deal of skepticism and I was interested to see, from Paula’s point of view, how she gets on with her team.
Paula is a troubled character and it is clear that something has happened in her past, something dark that she has tried to forget. Claire does not reveal Paula’s back story until we are quite a way in and it added an interesting element to the current investigations that were taking place. Paula’s character really grew on me and Claire has left me wanting to find out more about her, so much so that I think I’ll be starting the second book straight away. I still can’t get that ending out of my head and it made me race to download book two.
If you love a good mystery that’ll keep you guessing, this is a book for you. I really liked the plot and how Claire slotted everything into place. The Lost made for a gripping and pacy read; I would definitely recommend this one. Five stars from me!
In Northern Ireland, a new task force, dedicated to finding missing people has been set up in the small town of Ballyterrin. Dr Paula Maguire has joined the new team after returning home after spending time in London. Paula is a forensic psychologist but she has a habit of throwing herself into investigations and isn’t good at following orders. But Paula gets results, and I imagine that she makes most of the police officers who are working on cases jealous and that these officers would like to see the back of her which I’m sure the police in London are glad to be seeing.
There are many themes in this book which feature heavily in the South of Ireland and Northern Ireland’s dark, modern history. The IRA and the recent scandal of the Catholic Church form the basis of the investigations which the new team are overseeing. I thought the idea of using a forensic psychologist was an interesting one and I was intrigued to see how that would work. In the many crime novels I have read, psychologists are often met with a great deal of skepticism and I was interested to see, from Paula’s point of view, how she gets on with her team.
Paula is a troubled character and it is clear that something has happened in her past, something dark that she has tried to forget. Claire does not reveal Paula’s back story until we are quite a way in and it added an interesting element to the current investigations that were taking place. Paula’s character really grew on me and Claire has left me wanting to find out more about her, so much so that I think I’ll be starting the second book straight away. I still can’t get that ending out of my head and it made me race to download book two.
If you love a good mystery that’ll keep you guessing, this is a book for you. I really liked the plot and how Claire slotted everything into place. The Lost made for a gripping and pacy read; I would definitely recommend this one. Five stars from me!
September 9, 2016
A good, solid crime fiction read. McGowan seems steeped enough in crime fiction to use that genre's tropes to her advantage: the complicated, intelligent forensic psychologist, driven by her own history and that of her culture and country, the supportive "sidekick," the spotlighting of a social ill, and enough red herrings to keep the pace and the plot moving. It took me a little while to warm up to the novel; it seemed as though McGowan was going to stick too close to the tried and true, but I admire how she developed the major characters, so that what I first thought about each of them wasn't an apt portrait at all. I'll be curious how McGowan develops this series, and I will likely read the subsequent novels, but without the sense of urgency that I have for my favorite series. A 3.5 star read
September 22, 2013
Thank you kindly to the publisher and to Claire Mcgowan for the unexpected pleasure of a copy of this book to review.
Not everyone who's missing is lost
When two teenage girls go missing along the Irish border, forensic psychologist Paula Maguire has to return to the hometown she left years before. Swirling with rumour and secrets, the town is gripped by fear of a serial killer. But the truth could be even darker.
This is the second novel from Claire McGowan (I have not yet read "The Fall" although it is on my Kindle) and the first in a new series featuring Forensic Psychologist Paula Maguire. In this the first instalment, she reluctantly returns to her hometown to assist in the investigation of two missing teenage girls - her job, to profile the girls, find connections and help point the investigation in the right direction. Paula however, as we discover early on, is very much her own woman and you are unlikely to find her behind a desk if she feels her skills are better served elsewhere. This immediately puts you right on her side. After all, surely getting a child back alive is far more important ultimately than any future prosecution. Well so you would think...
The crime fiction genre is very overcrowded these days. To be able to write something intriguing enough to hold the interest of a reader who has seen it all several times over takes a certain skill...and the further I headed into this story the more I realised that Ms McGowan does indeed have this skill...in spades. Ok so you are not going to find anything unique - it really has all been done before one way or another in this particular field, but that does not matter one iota if the next book you pick up immediately puts you "on the scene" and holds you there until the final page. This one did just that...
Set against the backdrop of Northern Ireland, in the aftermath of "The Troubles" and with a clear and concise sense of where it is going, I would have to agree with Ken Bruen's assessment that Claire might well be Ireland's answer to Ruth Rendell. There is a certain flair for the dramatic here, an absolute psychological darkness, that is also very grounded in reality. Everything Paula discovers seems to lead her back to a very dark time in her hometown's history - and that history is well imagined and it seems, factually based despite the fictional setting. Paula herself has a very good reason for wanting to find The Lost even if it seems as if they do not want to be found...and her very real hopes and fears are what makes this book a cut above the average. Quite a large cut...
So, with a main character you want to get behind, what about the rest. Its all just as good. The story moves along apace and keeps you wanting more - the supporting cast of characters are brilliantly written and important to the whole - and best of all the end will make you want more. I am very much looking forward to finding out what happens to Paula et al in the next book...
Some of it is hard to read for the best of reasons and may bring a tear to your eye - I have a far better understanding of what freedom of choice means and what can happen when that freedom is taken away - apart from that I say no more..spoiler free to the ninth degree!
Intelligent pacy writing, a definitive knowledge of what she is talking about and an ability to wrap it all up in a terrifically compelling tale means that Claire McGowan is one to watch in the field of Crime Fiction. You heard it here first. (Ok you probably didnt but give me my moment to be smug!)
Happy Reading Folks!
Not everyone who's missing is lost
When two teenage girls go missing along the Irish border, forensic psychologist Paula Maguire has to return to the hometown she left years before. Swirling with rumour and secrets, the town is gripped by fear of a serial killer. But the truth could be even darker.
This is the second novel from Claire McGowan (I have not yet read "The Fall" although it is on my Kindle) and the first in a new series featuring Forensic Psychologist Paula Maguire. In this the first instalment, she reluctantly returns to her hometown to assist in the investigation of two missing teenage girls - her job, to profile the girls, find connections and help point the investigation in the right direction. Paula however, as we discover early on, is very much her own woman and you are unlikely to find her behind a desk if she feels her skills are better served elsewhere. This immediately puts you right on her side. After all, surely getting a child back alive is far more important ultimately than any future prosecution. Well so you would think...
The crime fiction genre is very overcrowded these days. To be able to write something intriguing enough to hold the interest of a reader who has seen it all several times over takes a certain skill...and the further I headed into this story the more I realised that Ms McGowan does indeed have this skill...in spades. Ok so you are not going to find anything unique - it really has all been done before one way or another in this particular field, but that does not matter one iota if the next book you pick up immediately puts you "on the scene" and holds you there until the final page. This one did just that...
Set against the backdrop of Northern Ireland, in the aftermath of "The Troubles" and with a clear and concise sense of where it is going, I would have to agree with Ken Bruen's assessment that Claire might well be Ireland's answer to Ruth Rendell. There is a certain flair for the dramatic here, an absolute psychological darkness, that is also very grounded in reality. Everything Paula discovers seems to lead her back to a very dark time in her hometown's history - and that history is well imagined and it seems, factually based despite the fictional setting. Paula herself has a very good reason for wanting to find The Lost even if it seems as if they do not want to be found...and her very real hopes and fears are what makes this book a cut above the average. Quite a large cut...
So, with a main character you want to get behind, what about the rest. Its all just as good. The story moves along apace and keeps you wanting more - the supporting cast of characters are brilliantly written and important to the whole - and best of all the end will make you want more. I am very much looking forward to finding out what happens to Paula et al in the next book...
Some of it is hard to read for the best of reasons and may bring a tear to your eye - I have a far better understanding of what freedom of choice means and what can happen when that freedom is taken away - apart from that I say no more..spoiler free to the ninth degree!
Intelligent pacy writing, a definitive knowledge of what she is talking about and an ability to wrap it all up in a terrifically compelling tale means that Claire McGowan is one to watch in the field of Crime Fiction. You heard it here first. (Ok you probably didnt but give me my moment to be smug!)
Happy Reading Folks!
May 13, 2013
I really liked Claire McGowan’s debut novel The Fall, especially for the way it drilled in the lesson that if you have have the misfortune to be found near a crime scene the police, the prosecution, and the press will do everything they can to fit you up as guilty. (See also Alex Marwood's The Wicked Girls.) I also liked how a character who seemed to be a superficial airhead learns from her fiance’s predicament to get serious, and her unlikely friendship with a girl from the criminal classes.
Unfortunately I did not enjoy The Lost anywhere nearly as much. My distaste may be my fault, not the author’s. The setting on the border of Northern Ireland was oppressive for its reminders of “the troubles” and sectarian hatred, and the religious atmosphere poisonous. I don’t know which were less attractive, the American evangelical Protestant hypocritical sexual abusers or the superstitious Irish Roman Catholics. I was appalled but fascinated by the mother of the teenage girl who was found hanged. The mother is terrified lest the coroner bring in a verdict of suicide, which would mean daughter is in hell. (Being a coroner in Ireland must be a tricky and exacting job, what with having to spare God the effort of deciding who goes to heaven or to hell.)
Paula Maguire, the principal character, is a forensic psychologist who has returned to her home town to work on cold case disappearances of teen girls--as well as new hot cases--with a cross border team of gardai and PSNI officers, who are still carrying their sectarian baggage around with them and fail to function well together. She has brief sexual encounters with Guy, her boss, and with Aidan, her boyfriend from her teenage years. I disliked both. Guy tries to thwart Paula’s efforts to find the girls who disappeared. He’s a familiar type in crime fiction, the obstructive superior, but we don’t come to know him well enough to decide if he’s just an obnoxious incompetent (like Sophie Hannah’s Proust) or simply has zero insight and intuition (like Tana French’s Scorcher Kennedy). The ex-boyfriend is editing a provincial newspaper and drowning his failed career in Jack Daniels. (Why drinkers in countries that make superb whiskies would want to import an American concoction that tastes like what a Victorian bounder would put on his hair mystifies me, but it’s true. I just read in a newspaper that Maker’s Mark sells very well in the UK!)
Anyway, we are left in this end of the novel with a plethora of villains, both American and Irish, exposed, and some major personal matters involving Paula still unresolved. So though I was disappointed with The Lost, I shall give Claire McGowan’s sequel a read. I see from her acknowledgements at the end that her helpers included three of the brightest stars in the crime-fiction firmament--S. J Bolton, Erin Kelly, and Elizabeth Haynes, and I’d love to see Claire McGowan join their ranks.
Unfortunately I did not enjoy The Lost anywhere nearly as much. My distaste may be my fault, not the author’s. The setting on the border of Northern Ireland was oppressive for its reminders of “the troubles” and sectarian hatred, and the religious atmosphere poisonous. I don’t know which were less attractive, the American evangelical Protestant hypocritical sexual abusers or the superstitious Irish Roman Catholics. I was appalled but fascinated by the mother of the teenage girl who was found hanged. The mother is terrified lest the coroner bring in a verdict of suicide, which would mean daughter is in hell. (Being a coroner in Ireland must be a tricky and exacting job, what with having to spare God the effort of deciding who goes to heaven or to hell.)
Paula Maguire, the principal character, is a forensic psychologist who has returned to her home town to work on cold case disappearances of teen girls--as well as new hot cases--with a cross border team of gardai and PSNI officers, who are still carrying their sectarian baggage around with them and fail to function well together. She has brief sexual encounters with Guy, her boss, and with Aidan, her boyfriend from her teenage years. I disliked both. Guy tries to thwart Paula’s efforts to find the girls who disappeared. He’s a familiar type in crime fiction, the obstructive superior, but we don’t come to know him well enough to decide if he’s just an obnoxious incompetent (like Sophie Hannah’s Proust) or simply has zero insight and intuition (like Tana French’s Scorcher Kennedy). The ex-boyfriend is editing a provincial newspaper and drowning his failed career in Jack Daniels. (Why drinkers in countries that make superb whiskies would want to import an American concoction that tastes like what a Victorian bounder would put on his hair mystifies me, but it’s true. I just read in a newspaper that Maker’s Mark sells very well in the UK!)
Anyway, we are left in this end of the novel with a plethora of villains, both American and Irish, exposed, and some major personal matters involving Paula still unresolved. So though I was disappointed with The Lost, I shall give Claire McGowan’s sequel a read. I see from her acknowledgements at the end that her helpers included three of the brightest stars in the crime-fiction firmament--S. J Bolton, Erin Kelly, and Elizabeth Haynes, and I’d love to see Claire McGowan join their ranks.
March 19, 2014
I received a copy of this via Bookbridgr.com in exchange for an honest review.....
This is Claire McGowan's second novel, but my first time coming across her work. An Irish author, she has based her novel around the border between the North and South of Ireland, and as I live very close to this area, I was curious to see how the atmosphere would be captured.
Paula Maguire, a forensic psychologist, has been living and working in London for many years helping the police with their missing persons cases. When she pushes her luck too far with her bosses she agrees to take on a secondment position back in Northern Ireland. She has avoided the return to her homeland for many reasons, of which she would rather forget. However, when two teenage girls disappear without trace, Paula finds herself back in her family home, driving through familiar streets and digging up secrets from the past.
The cross border tensions are still present as Paula sets to work within a team of police officers and detectives from both sides. There are rumours of a link with previous cases of missing teenage girls in the 1980s and despite being told to concentrate on the recent disappearances, Paula decides to enroll the help of a local journalist to aid her investigation. The fact that he is an ex makes the request all the more difficult.
This is a multi layered story of lost loved ones, bitter memories and the longing to uncover truths. All through this novel is the backround story of the tensions in Northern Ireland and the reprecussions of the troubles. Ireland is one of the few countries where a simple statement, like where you went to school or what your surname is, can identify your religion and this is the cause of a lot of the bitterness within the cross-border police units. Claire has seen and felt the tremors throughout her home town since childhood and now her new caseload includes the clashing of the Traveller community and the NI police force aswell as the usual problems.
I found this book gripping from the very first chapter. The main story line of the missing girls is not a new one, but is handled extremely well by combining it with the sub plots. Paula is a great protagonist and the supporting cast are equally well researched and cleverly used to strengthen the story. The writing is done at a nice pace, with lots of twists and turns along the way. I understand that this is first of a series of Paula Maguire novels, and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next instalment.
Claire McGowan is well able to hold her head up high in the world of crime fiction. Perfect for fans of Louise Phillips and Julie Parsons. Just don't expect to be able to put it down for any length of time!
This is Claire McGowan's second novel, but my first time coming across her work. An Irish author, she has based her novel around the border between the North and South of Ireland, and as I live very close to this area, I was curious to see how the atmosphere would be captured.
Paula Maguire, a forensic psychologist, has been living and working in London for many years helping the police with their missing persons cases. When she pushes her luck too far with her bosses she agrees to take on a secondment position back in Northern Ireland. She has avoided the return to her homeland for many reasons, of which she would rather forget. However, when two teenage girls disappear without trace, Paula finds herself back in her family home, driving through familiar streets and digging up secrets from the past.
The cross border tensions are still present as Paula sets to work within a team of police officers and detectives from both sides. There are rumours of a link with previous cases of missing teenage girls in the 1980s and despite being told to concentrate on the recent disappearances, Paula decides to enroll the help of a local journalist to aid her investigation. The fact that he is an ex makes the request all the more difficult.
This is a multi layered story of lost loved ones, bitter memories and the longing to uncover truths. All through this novel is the backround story of the tensions in Northern Ireland and the reprecussions of the troubles. Ireland is one of the few countries where a simple statement, like where you went to school or what your surname is, can identify your religion and this is the cause of a lot of the bitterness within the cross-border police units. Claire has seen and felt the tremors throughout her home town since childhood and now her new caseload includes the clashing of the Traveller community and the NI police force aswell as the usual problems.
I found this book gripping from the very first chapter. The main story line of the missing girls is not a new one, but is handled extremely well by combining it with the sub plots. Paula is a great protagonist and the supporting cast are equally well researched and cleverly used to strengthen the story. The writing is done at a nice pace, with lots of twists and turns along the way. I understand that this is first of a series of Paula Maguire novels, and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next instalment.
Claire McGowan is well able to hold her head up high in the world of crime fiction. Perfect for fans of Louise Phillips and Julie Parsons. Just don't expect to be able to put it down for any length of time!
September 2, 2015
Paula McGuire is a forensic psychologist, working with law enforcement, and asked to return to her hometown to assist with the puzzle of why teenage girls seem to go missing in that area.
Paula is greeted by her past, her father, and her old boyfriend, now owner of the local newspaper. Her work colleagues view her with suspicion, as she sees the patterns that most don't. And when there is a church and very wealthy people involved, they don't want to know.
The disappearances are classified as runaways .... but the truth is much more different. And what about all those 'runaways' from 20 years before? And those they find dead .. are they really and truly suicides?
I have a love of Brit Crime books .. and this is one of the better ones. Paula is a multi-faceted character with lots and lots of layers. She has her own secrets, and as the series progresses, those secrets will be revealed.
I gave it 5 stars .. the book definitely held my interest throughout. The mystery portion is well thought out and although I had a hint about halfway through the book, I would not have placed a bet on it.
Paula is greeted by her past, her father, and her old boyfriend, now owner of the local newspaper. Her work colleagues view her with suspicion, as she sees the patterns that most don't. And when there is a church and very wealthy people involved, they don't want to know.
The disappearances are classified as runaways .... but the truth is much more different. And what about all those 'runaways' from 20 years before? And those they find dead .. are they really and truly suicides?
I have a love of Brit Crime books .. and this is one of the better ones. Paula is a multi-faceted character with lots and lots of layers. She has her own secrets, and as the series progresses, those secrets will be revealed.
I gave it 5 stars .. the book definitely held my interest throughout. The mystery portion is well thought out and although I had a hint about halfway through the book, I would not have placed a bet on it.
December 20, 2015
Within a group of fine Irish writers jumps Claire McGowan. I found this book was intelligent and thought-provoking; although the author writes in a way you become at ease with her style, her subject matter is challenging and routed in the past. Set in the fictional town of Ballyterrin, Northern Ireland, it is still a place that is quickly identifiable and a location that seems so real, close to the Irish border and where Paula Maguire grew up.
With her Dad incapacitated after a fall she takes the offer of a job secondment to join a newly established missing persons team in Ballyterrin and in the process to look after her Dad. She has an overseeing role regarding analysis and formulating strategy as a forensic psychologist. She left her home town some 12 years earlier going off to university and never wishing to return for a number of reasons.
I loved the various aspects of lost within the book. It concerns young women who go missing and initially they have 2 missing girls. This has a resonance with the people from the times of The Troubles and the 'disappeared' as well as the The Magdalene Laundries throughout Ireland. It encompasses established religion, both Catholic & Protestant and an evangelical church in the book that perhaps borders on a cult, The Mission - Seek and you shall Find; Lost but now I'm saved.
The writing is an investigation into missing teenagers and broadens into suicide and the things done to conceal the truth. For Paula there is also the loss of her own Mum who one day when she was 13 years old wasn't at home when she came home from school. After so long would she want to know the truth or is it best to be conceal with the passage of time; this becomes an issue as the missing persons team are ask to look at historical cases.
It is never boring or confusing; the author tells a story; chilling at times but always compelling. It covers a vast area of previous events as well as the current crimes being investigated. Mysteries are solved often with the past unsettling the present but the greatest journey is seen in the life of Paula herself who after a gap of adulthood and 12 years where perhaps she has remained an outsider unable to put down roots returns to her family home. At times it appears she has never been away as she wakes up in her old bedroom and is remembered for good or ill by neighbours and friends.
What a book you will read it and wonder how it wasn't over 700 pages as it seems to cover so much and engage with the reader. The great thing though is it leaves loose ends and is part one of a successful series that means there is more to come in the life of Dr Maguire and the people she knows - I can't wait.
With her Dad incapacitated after a fall she takes the offer of a job secondment to join a newly established missing persons team in Ballyterrin and in the process to look after her Dad. She has an overseeing role regarding analysis and formulating strategy as a forensic psychologist. She left her home town some 12 years earlier going off to university and never wishing to return for a number of reasons.
I loved the various aspects of lost within the book. It concerns young women who go missing and initially they have 2 missing girls. This has a resonance with the people from the times of The Troubles and the 'disappeared' as well as the The Magdalene Laundries throughout Ireland. It encompasses established religion, both Catholic & Protestant and an evangelical church in the book that perhaps borders on a cult, The Mission - Seek and you shall Find; Lost but now I'm saved.
The writing is an investigation into missing teenagers and broadens into suicide and the things done to conceal the truth. For Paula there is also the loss of her own Mum who one day when she was 13 years old wasn't at home when she came home from school. After so long would she want to know the truth or is it best to be conceal with the passage of time; this becomes an issue as the missing persons team are ask to look at historical cases.
It is never boring or confusing; the author tells a story; chilling at times but always compelling. It covers a vast area of previous events as well as the current crimes being investigated. Mysteries are solved often with the past unsettling the present but the greatest journey is seen in the life of Paula herself who after a gap of adulthood and 12 years where perhaps she has remained an outsider unable to put down roots returns to her family home. At times it appears she has never been away as she wakes up in her old bedroom and is remembered for good or ill by neighbours and friends.
What a book you will read it and wonder how it wasn't over 700 pages as it seems to cover so much and engage with the reader. The great thing though is it leaves loose ends and is part one of a successful series that means there is more to come in the life of Dr Maguire and the people she knows - I can't wait.
October 31, 2015
There are a lot of good things about Claire McGowan's second novel, but I think it has some serious flaws, too.
McGowan is a good writer of generally straightforward, easy-flowing prose. The story is based on a very decent idea based around the search for two missing teenagers in Northern Ireland and she creates an excellent sense of place. The Northern Irish setting is where she grew up and it shows in her fine evocation of the physical landscape and townscapes, the depiction of the attitudes of the society and her ear for the local speech.
The characters are quite well depicted, but it is here that I begin to have my problems with this book, because they tend to be stereotypes from Police Procedural Central Casting. I say police procedural, but of course the central character, forensic psychologist Paula Maguire, is a feisty individualist who consistently breaks all rules of procedure, has unprofessionally inappropriate relationships with people involved in the investigation...and so on. She isn't a police officer but constantly indulges in police work by interviewing suspects, turning up on raids, following leads on her own...and so on. She, naturally, has reasons why This Is Personal. And surely there must be a police unit somewhere in the world which isn't threatened by powerful local interests, which doesn't have a bigoted and hostile sergeant and a boss who forbids Our Heroine to follow up important leads...and so on.
Add to this the plot absurdities and clichés and I really did begin to get provoked. I won't give a list (it would be long), but I offer this quote in evidence: "She'd told Guy she'd be following up some leads. Dropped hints that she'd have to switch her phone off, interview policy, etc, so don't ring. She tried not to remind herself that this was what had gotten her into trouble in London, going off on her own. But it could be nothing - she'd tell him if she found something. It would be OK." I hate spoilers so I won't tell you whether it was OK or not and I'm certain you can't guess.
Plenty of other people do silly things for implausible reasons, too. Oh, and naturally Paula (not a police officer, remember) has a Climactic Confrontation With A Suspect In Which She Is At Mortal Risk While The Suspect Explains Everything. Twice. On Halloween for a convenient Colourful Backdrop.
I'm sorry to be so grumpy about it. It's just that Claire McGowan is a decent writer and there is a good book here which she devalues with all this stale, overblown stuff. Writers like Tana French and Susan Hill have shown that a thriller can be brilliant without it, and I think that writers with serious aspirations need to leave the clichés behind and just write something at least half-way believable. Could Do Better.
McGowan is a good writer of generally straightforward, easy-flowing prose. The story is based on a very decent idea based around the search for two missing teenagers in Northern Ireland and she creates an excellent sense of place. The Northern Irish setting is where she grew up and it shows in her fine evocation of the physical landscape and townscapes, the depiction of the attitudes of the society and her ear for the local speech.
The characters are quite well depicted, but it is here that I begin to have my problems with this book, because they tend to be stereotypes from Police Procedural Central Casting. I say police procedural, but of course the central character, forensic psychologist Paula Maguire, is a feisty individualist who consistently breaks all rules of procedure, has unprofessionally inappropriate relationships with people involved in the investigation...and so on. She isn't a police officer but constantly indulges in police work by interviewing suspects, turning up on raids, following leads on her own...and so on. She, naturally, has reasons why This Is Personal. And surely there must be a police unit somewhere in the world which isn't threatened by powerful local interests, which doesn't have a bigoted and hostile sergeant and a boss who forbids Our Heroine to follow up important leads...and so on.
Add to this the plot absurdities and clichés and I really did begin to get provoked. I won't give a list (it would be long), but I offer this quote in evidence: "She'd told Guy she'd be following up some leads. Dropped hints that she'd have to switch her phone off, interview policy, etc, so don't ring. She tried not to remind herself that this was what had gotten her into trouble in London, going off on her own. But it could be nothing - she'd tell him if she found something. It would be OK." I hate spoilers so I won't tell you whether it was OK or not and I'm certain you can't guess.
Plenty of other people do silly things for implausible reasons, too. Oh, and naturally Paula (not a police officer, remember) has a Climactic Confrontation With A Suspect In Which She Is At Mortal Risk While The Suspect Explains Everything. Twice. On Halloween for a convenient Colourful Backdrop.
I'm sorry to be so grumpy about it. It's just that Claire McGowan is a decent writer and there is a good book here which she devalues with all this stale, overblown stuff. Writers like Tana French and Susan Hill have shown that a thriller can be brilliant without it, and I think that writers with serious aspirations need to leave the clichés behind and just write something at least half-way believable. Could Do Better.
March 24, 2022
Once I got through the slightly clumsy opening paragraph, set in London and designed to establish the main character, Paula Maguire as an expert in missing persons, and she returned to her home town in Northern Ireland to join a new task force to trace people who have disappeared over the years, I slipped easily and totally into the audiobook version of 'The Lost'. The cadence and the structure of the speech took me back to the way my father and grandfather spoke. The history, bloody and painful as it is, was familiar to me. I've never spent time in a Northern Ireland border town but Claire McGowan quickly had me feeling as if I knew it well - how small it is, how long people's memories are and all the things in its history that people would like to forget.
If you're looking for a book that weaves some of the unpleasant parts of the history of Northern Ireland, the sectarian violence, the Magdalene Laundries, keeping abortion illegal when it was legal everywhere else in the UK, the presence of Christian Evangelical cults and the reputation of the RUC for corruption and bias, then you'll find it all in 'The Lost'. Claire McGowan weaves these threads into Paula Maguire's history and into the disappearances that she's investigating.
If you're looking for a strong police procedural novel, then 'The Lost' isn't it. It requires a significant suspension of disbelief to see Paula Maguire, a consulting forensic psychiatrist, do more of the investigating that the police officers around her. Of course, that made for a more exciting story and Claire McGowan provided some credibility based on the structure of the inexperienced task force, the absence of a senior officer for much of the story and Paula Maguire's ill-judged and inappropriate relationship with her boss.
If you can roll with that and get engaged with the characters and the town then the story will sweep you along and give you twist after twist until all is revealed.
'The Lost' is the first of what is now a seven-book series about Paula Maguire. I had fun with it and I'm certainly up for reading the next one and seeing where Claire McGowan takes it.
August 13, 2017
Paula Maguire is a forensic psychologist who returns to her hometown after two girls go missing. There are eerie similarities to two other girls who disappeared back in 1985 as well. Paula comes to suspect it's all linked to The Mission, a religious organisation that has set up shop in Ballyterrin that is particularly attractive to the town's young teenage girls. This sect has ties to a different organisation from the 80s, thus creating a connection between now and the cold cases.
This was another book where I appreciated how well the plot was put together, but unfortunately, that did not stop it being a fairly "meh" experience. Basically, it all felt a bit flat! The plot doesn't exactly race from one turn to the next! Also, despite the main character being a forensic psychologist, this sticks very carefully to the standard tropes of a police procedural, and I am simply not a fan of the police procedural subgenre! Well, not the British/Scottish/Irish ones anyway. When the antagonism between police and journalism cropped up, with a journalist seemingly dead-set on discrediting the police, I very nearly put the book down! It's one trope I am well and truly over .
There is also lots of extraneous information about political and religious tensions that exist in Ireland. In fact, this book paints the place in such a negative fashion that I've completely ruled out traveling there (should I ever have the funds to travel, but anyway). I found myself questioning the character of Paula. While I believe Paula is free to shag whoever she likes, the fact that she sleeps with 3 different people in the course of the book, two of whom she works with, makes me feel she isn't making the sort of ethical and responsible decisions a person in her profession should be! It was disconcerting.
I forced myself to read it reasonably quickly, because I knew that if I didn't, it would likely take me two weeks or more to get through it! When you're reading out of obligation, rather than enjoyment, it's not a good sign. There's something like four more books after this one, but , I won't be around for them.
This was another book where I appreciated how well the plot was put together, but unfortunately, that did not stop it being a fairly "meh" experience. Basically, it all felt a bit flat! The plot doesn't exactly race from one turn to the next! Also, despite the main character being a forensic psychologist, this sticks very carefully to the standard tropes of a police procedural, and I am simply not a fan of the police procedural subgenre! Well, not the British/Scottish/Irish ones anyway. When the antagonism between police and journalism cropped up, with a journalist seemingly dead-set on discrediting the police, I very nearly put the book down! It's one trope I am well and truly over .
There is also lots of extraneous information about political and religious tensions that exist in Ireland. In fact, this book paints the place in such a negative fashion that I've completely ruled out traveling there (should I ever have the funds to travel, but anyway). I found myself questioning the character of Paula. While I believe Paula is free to shag whoever she likes, the fact that she sleeps with 3 different people in the course of the book, two of whom she works with, makes me feel she isn't making the sort of ethical and responsible decisions a person in her profession should be! It was disconcerting.
I forced myself to read it reasonably quickly, because I knew that if I didn't, it would likely take me two weeks or more to get through it! When you're reading out of obligation, rather than enjoyment, it's not a good sign. There's something like four more books after this one, but , I won't be around for them.
June 8, 2016
I'll be honest. I love murder mysteries. My To-Read shelf is piled with hundreds of them. I love British mysteries, too. Books that take me to the UK, where I was fortunate enough to visit one time, are a great escape for me. I picked up this book recently when it came through in a daily email and had dropped to 99 cents. I never would have found it otherwise.
I also wouldn't have read it as soon as I did, except I needed to read a book about something lost for a challenge here. I almost didn't read it then, either, because I groaned out loud when I realized it's book #1 of yet another series!
All the series I have going or have yet to start are killing me under the weight of guilt!
But it would have been a loss for me not to have read this one. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I learned more about the Irish Troubles, and the despicable practice of imprisoning young unwed mothers and selling their babies to wealthy adoptive parents overseas. The characters were engaging, and you could feel empathy for even the "guilty" ones. They were "human" without being book-perfect, if that makes sense.
The only issue I have with this is, as I said, another series. This book, as well as books #2.5, 3 and 4 are all available as Kindle books. Book #2 is not! This book ended on a serious cliffhanger and it would mess with the continuity to skip to book #3. I have checked with my two local libraries (in Texas, US). They don't have any Claire McGowan books. I checked with the Brooklyn library, to which I have an annual paid membership - they don't have it either.
I will have to purchase a used paperback from Amazon. *Sigh* Because I need to know what happens next. Of course.
I also wouldn't have read it as soon as I did, except I needed to read a book about something lost for a challenge here. I almost didn't read it then, either, because I groaned out loud when I realized it's book #1 of yet another series!
All the series I have going or have yet to start are killing me under the weight of guilt!
But it would have been a loss for me not to have read this one. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I learned more about the Irish Troubles, and the despicable practice of imprisoning young unwed mothers and selling their babies to wealthy adoptive parents overseas. The characters were engaging, and you could feel empathy for even the "guilty" ones. They were "human" without being book-perfect, if that makes sense.
The only issue I have with this is, as I said, another series. This book, as well as books #2.5, 3 and 4 are all available as Kindle books. Book #2 is not! This book ended on a serious cliffhanger and it would mess with the continuity to skip to book #3. I have checked with my two local libraries (in Texas, US). They don't have any Claire McGowan books. I checked with the Brooklyn library, to which I have an annual paid membership - they don't have it either.
I will have to purchase a used paperback from Amazon. *Sigh* Because I need to know what happens next. Of course.
August 9, 2013
There’s a lot to like about The Lost. Paula Maguire is an engaging character with a strong personality and interesting personal history, and Ballyterrin, a fictional Irish border town, has its fill of sectarian ghosts and secrets. The support characters are a little clichéd, but generally well realised, and the story has a nice swirl of main plot and subplots. In particular, the contextualisation with respect to the role of the mission and the history of the treatment of young women by families and the Church is well done. That said, the story is a little overwrought at times, veering towards melodrama (especially in the last quarter), and it’s hard to believe that Paula wouldn’t have been reined in more tightly by her police colleagues given her propensity to stray (she’s not a police officer and she’s in Northern Ireland, the most officious and rule bound police force in the UK). Nevertheless, it’s an engaging read that I sense might be the first in a series; if so, I look forward to the next instalment. Both Paula Maguire and the storytelling reminded me quite a bit of Elly Griffiths ‘Ruth Galloway’ series and I suspect if you like those books you’ll enjoy The Lost.
August 25, 2015
For someone who has her roots in Belfast this author has a few inaccuracies in this novel. A pity as otherwise a good read.
July 23, 2017
Due to the fact that I have read many many books in this genre it really has to be excellent to grab my attention so this may be a bit of a harsh review.
Overall the story was sound and the execution pretty interesting...but...Paula is soooooooo annoying.
She should not have anything to do with the police because she will not follow procedure and she is far too emotionally involved in the cases.
Professionalism is not somethng that Paula is in the least familiar with.
There are lots of explanations as to why this would be but frankly I thought her behavour was outrageous - she has no business in protecting vulnerable people - she is like a bull in a china shop - wtf!
All her instincts were correct but her implementation of action was cringe-worthy and child-like.
And what is her problem with sleeping with everybody??
I have bought the second one in this series already so I will give her another go but I am a bit reluctant. She needs to sort out her shit asap!
Overall the story was sound and the execution pretty interesting...but...Paula is soooooooo annoying.
She should not have anything to do with the police because she will not follow procedure and she is far too emotionally involved in the cases.
Professionalism is not somethng that Paula is in the least familiar with.
There are lots of explanations as to why this would be but frankly I thought her behavour was outrageous - she has no business in protecting vulnerable people - she is like a bull in a china shop - wtf!
All her instincts were correct but her implementation of action was cringe-worthy and child-like.
And what is her problem with sleeping with everybody??
I have bought the second one in this series already so I will give her another go but I am a bit reluctant. She needs to sort out her shit asap!
November 2, 2023
3.75 rounded to 4
April 29, 2023
A well written story with some great characters. Definitely good enough to read the next book in the series (this is Book 1 of 6).
June 18, 2024
Good story, well written. Happy to read the next one in the series.
January 3, 2018
This series takes place in Northern Ireland. Lots of history of the political issues of the North and South of Ireland in the 80's. Characters are well-drawn and the story of the missing girls is well-plotted with lots of twists that kept things interesting.
March 20, 2013
This is Claire McGowan’s second book (‘The Fall’ being the debut) and is the first in a new series featuring forensic psychologist Paula Maguire. Set in Northern Ireland, the storyline covers missing girls, teenage pregnancy, suicide, a church Mission with a suspicious past attracting the young people of the town and all against the backdrop of the IRA troubles of the past.
Paula has been seconded from London, much against her better judgement, to the Missing Person’s Review Unit in her home town of Ballyterrin to investigate reports of missing teenagers. She has a troubled past and is in no hurry to return to the place of so much unhappiness. Despite being on home territory, she encounters prejudice and hostility from some of her colleagues and old friends and battles against authority in trying to get her voice heard and her theories taken seriously. Add in the complications of an old flame and a new English boss with issues of his own and Paula’s life could become very difficult indeed.
Despite the dark nature of the book, this is certainly not a depressing story and is well plotted with well drawn characters and a sense of foreboding throughout. There are twists and turns and red herrings, all of which make for an interesting read. Paula is a loose cannon who acts very much on her instincts and her impulsive nature often gets her into trouble, both with her superiors and dangerous situations.
This was a compelling read which appeared to be very well researched and the cruel nature of some aspects of Irish history was an eye opener. I certainly look forward to reading more in the series.
Paula has been seconded from London, much against her better judgement, to the Missing Person’s Review Unit in her home town of Ballyterrin to investigate reports of missing teenagers. She has a troubled past and is in no hurry to return to the place of so much unhappiness. Despite being on home territory, she encounters prejudice and hostility from some of her colleagues and old friends and battles against authority in trying to get her voice heard and her theories taken seriously. Add in the complications of an old flame and a new English boss with issues of his own and Paula’s life could become very difficult indeed.
Despite the dark nature of the book, this is certainly not a depressing story and is well plotted with well drawn characters and a sense of foreboding throughout. There are twists and turns and red herrings, all of which make for an interesting read. Paula is a loose cannon who acts very much on her instincts and her impulsive nature often gets her into trouble, both with her superiors and dangerous situations.
This was a compelling read which appeared to be very well researched and the cruel nature of some aspects of Irish history was an eye opener. I certainly look forward to reading more in the series.
August 28, 2016
2.5 stars. This had real potential at the beginning -- intriguing main character and interesting themes. It just fell short for me on two points. One, I found the 'love story' element annoying and infantile. Secondly, something just didn't come together for me with regards to the 'whodunnit' plot. I thought the police made some very stupid mistakes in the first part of the story, and the last bit of the book dragged on (not to mention I'd already guessed the killer). This is the first I have read of the author and I see this is the first of a series of six so I will give the others a try.
April 25, 2013
I know Claire personally, so you could argue this is a biased review, but the truth is I loved The Lost. I found the backdrop of Northern Ireland very interesting, loved the strong female lead and read it in just two sittings. Crime is not my usual favoured genre, but this book might change my mind. Really can't wait for the next one.
June 26, 2016
4,5 stars
July 7, 2023
Meine Meinung von 2014
Die forensische Psychologin Paula Maguire kehrt aus London in ihren Heimatort Ballyterrin zurück. Aber der Besuch ist kein fröhlicher, sondern beruflicher Natur. Zwei Schulmädchen sind verschwunden und die dortige Polizei fordert ihre Hilfe an. Bei den Ermittlungen stellt sich heraus, dass in Ballyterrin und der Umgebung schon seit Jahren immer wieder junge Mädchen und Frauen spurlos verschwinden.
Paula wird mit ihrer Vergangenheit konfrontiert. Als sie sechs Jahre alt war, verschwand ihre Mutter. Das Verschwinden wird der IRA zugeschrieben, weil Paulas Vater bei der Polizei arbeitete. Mit 18 Jahren flüchtete Paula regelrecht aus Ballyterrin und hat sich seitdem nur noch selten bei ihrer Familie und Freunden gemeldet. Dementsprechend gibt es viel aufzuarbeiten.
Am Anfang hat es mich gestört, dass Paula gleich mit drei verschiedenen Männern ins Bett geht. Aber das ist bei männlichen Ermittlern oft nicht anders, also was solls. Woran ich mich nicht gewöhnen konnte, sind ihre Ermittlungsmethoden. Sie hört auf niemanden: nicht auf Kollegen und nicht auf Vorgesetzte. Das hat oft Erfolg, aber sie verletzt damit leider auch sehr oft Angehörige und Freunde der Opfer.
Der Fall der verschwundenen Mädchen zieht sich. Gerade, als die Beamten anfangen, in der Vergangenheit zu graben, springt die Handlung oft hin und her. Stellenweise kam es mir so vor, als ob sich die Autorin selbst nicht sicher war, welchen Weg sie einschlagen sollte. Dadurch verliert die Geschichte unnötig an Spannung. Schade, denn sie hat vielversprechend angefangen.
Meine aktuelle Meinung
Dass ich diesen Krimi schon einmal gelesen habe, hatte ich völlig vergessen, aber nach neun Jahren ist das zu entschuldigen. Wenn ich mir meine alte Rezension durchlese, stelle ich fest, dass mich wieder die gleichen Dinge gestört haben. Trotzdem bewerte ich das Buch besser als beim ersten Lesen. Vielleicht liegt es daran, dass ich in diesem Jahr ein Sachbuch der Autorin gelesen habe, das sich mit verschwundenen und/oder ermordeten Frauen in Irland beschäftigt und ich vieles davon hier wiedergefunden habe. Vielleicht war einfach auch der bessere Zeitpunkt.
Die forensische Psychologin Paula Maguire kehrt aus London in ihren Heimatort Ballyterrin zurück. Aber der Besuch ist kein fröhlicher, sondern beruflicher Natur. Zwei Schulmädchen sind verschwunden und die dortige Polizei fordert ihre Hilfe an. Bei den Ermittlungen stellt sich heraus, dass in Ballyterrin und der Umgebung schon seit Jahren immer wieder junge Mädchen und Frauen spurlos verschwinden.
Paula wird mit ihrer Vergangenheit konfrontiert. Als sie sechs Jahre alt war, verschwand ihre Mutter. Das Verschwinden wird der IRA zugeschrieben, weil Paulas Vater bei der Polizei arbeitete. Mit 18 Jahren flüchtete Paula regelrecht aus Ballyterrin und hat sich seitdem nur noch selten bei ihrer Familie und Freunden gemeldet. Dementsprechend gibt es viel aufzuarbeiten.
Am Anfang hat es mich gestört, dass Paula gleich mit drei verschiedenen Männern ins Bett geht. Aber das ist bei männlichen Ermittlern oft nicht anders, also was solls. Woran ich mich nicht gewöhnen konnte, sind ihre Ermittlungsmethoden. Sie hört auf niemanden: nicht auf Kollegen und nicht auf Vorgesetzte. Das hat oft Erfolg, aber sie verletzt damit leider auch sehr oft Angehörige und Freunde der Opfer.
Der Fall der verschwundenen Mädchen zieht sich. Gerade, als die Beamten anfangen, in der Vergangenheit zu graben, springt die Handlung oft hin und her. Stellenweise kam es mir so vor, als ob sich die Autorin selbst nicht sicher war, welchen Weg sie einschlagen sollte. Dadurch verliert die Geschichte unnötig an Spannung. Schade, denn sie hat vielversprechend angefangen.
Meine aktuelle Meinung
Dass ich diesen Krimi schon einmal gelesen habe, hatte ich völlig vergessen, aber nach neun Jahren ist das zu entschuldigen. Wenn ich mir meine alte Rezension durchlese, stelle ich fest, dass mich wieder die gleichen Dinge gestört haben. Trotzdem bewerte ich das Buch besser als beim ersten Lesen. Vielleicht liegt es daran, dass ich in diesem Jahr ein Sachbuch der Autorin gelesen habe, das sich mit verschwundenen und/oder ermordeten Frauen in Irland beschäftigt und ich vieles davon hier wiedergefunden habe. Vielleicht war einfach auch der bessere Zeitpunkt.
December 29, 2021
it was a good post-Christmas read, when you want to just lie around being a blob and reading a mystery. I guessed "who done it" but then I often do and as my sister pointed out there is a limit to what writers can do without being so "out there" that the experience is ruined. Most of the book was paced to be engaging and with enough little revelations to keep me interested (not so much that it became cluttered).
I struggled to respect the love-triangle, aspects of it were very Agatha Christie (which I could deal with, without enjoying) but at the end it got into some unnecessary, annoying tripe which I suppose will be continued in the next book and which unmotivates me to seek the next one. It's odd to me that a sex-positive woman-of-the-world like Paula has never heard of safe sex and is not on the pill and neither have either of her swains (condoms?). I guess it's a throw back Catholic idea that sex always produces a baby.
The Irish factor (both politically, culturally and even religiously) was interesting and as far as I know accurate (or at least convincing to an Aussie like me). The gun toting stuff at the end was a bit much- there was a fair bit of action scattered throughout and not always written really well. It was better than an Evanovich or something but it was a bit OTT.
I'd like to know more about Paula's mother. If it wasn't for the other tiresome development I'd be seeking out the next book for that.
I struggled to respect the love-triangle, aspects of it were very Agatha Christie (which I could deal with, without enjoying) but at the end it got into some unnecessary, annoying tripe which I suppose will be continued in the next book and which unmotivates me to seek the next one. It's odd to me that a sex-positive woman-of-the-world like Paula has never heard of safe sex and is not on the pill and neither have either of her swains (condoms?). I guess it's a throw back Catholic idea that sex always produces a baby.
The Irish factor (both politically, culturally and even religiously) was interesting and as far as I know accurate (or at least convincing to an Aussie like me). The gun toting stuff at the end was a bit much- there was a fair bit of action scattered throughout and not always written really well. It was better than an Evanovich or something but it was a bit OTT.
I'd like to know more about Paula's mother. If it wasn't for the other tiresome development I'd be seeking out the next book for that.
January 12, 2025
Wow! What a brilliant start to a series. I have thoroughly enjoyed The Lost as part of a buddy read with some of my lovely Bookstagram friends. It isn’t a series I was aware of before so I’m glad it was brought to my attention.
Paula Maguire is a forensic psychologist from Northern Ireland but has been living in London for some years now. She has, however, been called back to her hometown to help with the investigations of two missing local girls. Have they simply run away? Could there be a serial killer on the loose? Are there any links to missing girls from years before who were never found? There are a lot of unanswered questions for the team to find answers to and fast.
This is a fast-paced police procedural featuring a forensic psychologist who sometimes ignores orders in her quest to find the truth. Paula Maguire is an interesting and likeable character who has her own backstory to tell. I like that we learn more about her past as the story progresses. I love her passion for her job and her determination to help these girls.
This is a story full of suspense and intriguing characters. It kept me guessing throughout and keen to find out how it was all going to end.
Shocking, heart-breaking, but brilliant!
I have already bought book 2!
** I bought the paperback edition of The Lost on the 27th of December for the purposes of our buddy read **
https://chataboutbooks.blog/2025/01/1...
Paula Maguire is a forensic psychologist from Northern Ireland but has been living in London for some years now. She has, however, been called back to her hometown to help with the investigations of two missing local girls. Have they simply run away? Could there be a serial killer on the loose? Are there any links to missing girls from years before who were never found? There are a lot of unanswered questions for the team to find answers to and fast.
This is a fast-paced police procedural featuring a forensic psychologist who sometimes ignores orders in her quest to find the truth. Paula Maguire is an interesting and likeable character who has her own backstory to tell. I like that we learn more about her past as the story progresses. I love her passion for her job and her determination to help these girls.
This is a story full of suspense and intriguing characters. It kept me guessing throughout and keen to find out how it was all going to end.
Shocking, heart-breaking, but brilliant!
I have already bought book 2!
** I bought the paperback edition of The Lost on the 27th of December for the purposes of our buddy read **
https://chataboutbooks.blog/2025/01/1...
March 9, 2018
This novel is the first of a planned series featuring forensic psychologist Paula Maguire - and a very promising debut it is too. A wonderfully visual, action-packed and thought-provoking novel with a complex, troubled, yet extremely likeable central character.
It is set in the fictional town of Ballyterrin on the border between Armagh (Northern Ireland) and Louth (Irish Republic). As with Brian McGilloway's novels set on the opposite end of that national border, the long-running sectarian conflict euphemistically called The Troubles looms large; the mistrust and bitterness between Catholics and Protestants still an everyday reality.
The main plot centres around teenage girls who have either gone missing or committed suicide. All the fingers of suspicion point to an American-based religious cult and a local property developer who is the son of a late IRA warlord. Eventually Paula and her colleagues manage to unravel the central mysteries, although there are a few hints dropped in the final chapter about what might await us in the next book in the series. Needless to say, I'll definitely be reading that.
It is set in the fictional town of Ballyterrin on the border between Armagh (Northern Ireland) and Louth (Irish Republic). As with Brian McGilloway's novels set on the opposite end of that national border, the long-running sectarian conflict euphemistically called The Troubles looms large; the mistrust and bitterness between Catholics and Protestants still an everyday reality.
The main plot centres around teenage girls who have either gone missing or committed suicide. All the fingers of suspicion point to an American-based religious cult and a local property developer who is the son of a late IRA warlord. Eventually Paula and her colleagues manage to unravel the central mysteries, although there are a few hints dropped in the final chapter about what might await us in the next book in the series. Needless to say, I'll definitely be reading that.
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