Long Lost

by David Morrell

Brad Denning is a successful architect living a perfect life in Denver with his loving wife and son. Or so it would be, if not for the haunting memory of his brother Petey who disappeared while under Brad's supervision when they were kids. Now, a man claiming to be his sibling has mysteriously appeared and Brad is eager to take him in, despite the man's haggard appearance and reluctance to reveal anything about his past. "Petey" is a welcome addition to the family, until a camping trip goes terribly wrong and Brad returns home to find that his devoted wife and son have been abducted. Certain that Petey -- or whoever he may be -- is responsible for the horrible crime, Brad sets out to recover his family. Travelling alone through America's heartland, it's a race against time as Brad struggles to get to his family before the terrible secret of what really happened long ago destroys everything he cares about.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Crime, Canada

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

David Morrell is a Canadian novelist from Kitchener, Ontario, who has been living in the United States for a number of years. He is best known for his debut 1972 novel First Blood, which would later become a successful film franchise starring Sylvester Stallone. More recently, he has been writing the Captain America comic books limited-series The Chosen.

Reviews

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Twenty-five years ago, Brad Denning was 13 years old when his nine year old brother Petey disappeared while bicycling home. Now Brad has a very successful business as an architect in Denver. After national publicity for his home designs, a man approaches him and claims to be Petey. This man knows details that only Petey would know. I was skeptical, so why wasn't Brad?

Anyhow, Brad and wife Kate welcome Petey into their home with open arms. Oh, this is making my stomach cramp. A couple weeks in, Brad, Petey and son Jason decide to go camping. Turns out to be the camping trip from hell. And if that's not horrific enough, wait til Brad gets home.

This book from 2002 turned out to be complex. The author does a good job of showing Brad's survival skills, his panic over his situation, and then how he took charge. The story seemed implausible at times but there wouldn't be a story otherwise. The pace of the book was fast.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast-paced action novel. Had me quickly turning the pages until the very end. Entertaining and exciting.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had an interesting premise, but Morrell lost me as he described the heroes ridiculous method of tracking down the bad guy. Not simple careful investigation, but guess and by golly and maybe we'll get lucky....

At the opening of the novel, the hero has lived a successful life, but recalls with shame rejecting his younger brother, who was kidnapped and never heard from again. However, his brother shows up, now an adult, and tells the hero things that only his brother could know. A family reunion takes place as he seeks to help his brother get a job and improve his life.

Then the moment of betrayal. His brother, (or is it really his brother) disappears, taking with him the hero's wife and son. From that point on its a chase to determine if it really is his brother. Our hero, an architect, (which does figure into the solution of the mystery, believe it or don't) begins to try to succeed where the FBI and local authorities failed. This is where the story delves beyond belief-- but hey, the author is the creator of Rambo who could take on the National Guard and destroy a town all by his little lonesome, so is it really to much? For me, it was.

Morrell is a competent enough writer-- one of those really brief chapter writers, much like Robert Parker, that keeps you moving through the story, so even the worst of his writing is a short read. I give Morrell credit for creating an adequate bad guy, some neat perils for the hero, and a riveting plot. He just took it off the deep end far too early for me.

[Pisces51 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this novel by David Morrell years ago, and I loved it. I had stayed up all night reading Morrell's sensational First Blood prior to reading Long Lost. I read the hardback edition of First Blood, and I am thinking I listened to Long Lost as an audiobook when I was still driving for my job. I would recommend either book since those two of his works I feel are outstanding.

[Mark Pearce · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent story and I enjoyed reading it.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

A damn good story written by a damn good writer. It was a tad wordy at times but well worth the read. It stars Brad Denning and a man claiming to be his long lost brother Petey. Petey went missing when he was nine years old and Brad always blamed himself for not protecting his younger brother. Fourteen years had passed without a word, then...

[itchy · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is the last of my hard morrells;
i'm not sure if i can acquire more this year;
this seems more of a short novel than a fast-paced one as most readers find;

i wonder why the authorities vehemently condemn vigilantism

[Zoë · Rating 2 out of 5]

Either I've read too much David Morrell or this book was predictable. I'm guessing a little bit of both.

[Sonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading "Long Lost" by David Morrell. It was a good mystery thriller that kept me interested. It's a fairly clean book with very few strong words, which I can't remember. It goes into the horrors of how a person can be changed from good to evil when one continually receives physical and mental abuse in a very deranged way. In addition, what a determined person is willing to do and will do to stay alive, find their loved ones and the consequences that follow. One never knows what's deep inside them until they are confronted with their deepest, darkest, unimaginable, nightmares. The author does a great job of describing the workings of the mind.

I want to mention, when Brad took control of his life after he realized that the police and FBI couldn't or wouldn't do more to find his kidnapped wife and son, the author did write that the authorities did check into every bit of information they received before finally giving up. But, only a desperate and dedicated person determined to find the truth and hope for the best, can look beyond the surface. A person that lost everything that was important to him/her.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

As author's go this author is one to follow. I like his books because they are stand alones and you never know how the book will end. The antagonist in the story had me going back and forth feeling sorry for him. Brad and Petey were brothers when one day Petey disappears on his ride home after his brother rather spend time with his friends than his younger brother. Family falls apart moves away. Brad now is married a successful architect with a family of his own. He can never forgive himself about what happened to him brother so many years ago. All at once an unknown man shows up outside of Brad's work claiming to be his long lost brother Petey. Brad's wife and child disappear without a trace but did Petey take them and where. It takes over year for Brad to find out the truth about the man claiming to be is brother.

[Jeff Fernandes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fast read. The last 200 pages will go by in a flash, but this is in part to a great storyline that really makes you feel like you are in the same search the main character is in. I think the ending was probably just OK, but overall a very good read.

[Tom S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good thriller from Morrell.

[Michael Owens · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with other Morrell books the opening acts can be a bit slow and uninteresting. Until around pages 150-200 the story was rather dull. The plot twist was ok and the final climax was what you’d expect. Not a huge fan of first person writing.

[Piglet · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very easy to read and I read it very fast, as I wanted to know what happened. I wouldn't say that it was exceptionally good, but it was still the kind of book that you keep on reading because you want to know how it ends. The chapters were short too, which helps to make you read on and on as you think "just one more chapter".

The main character is a man called Brad Dennings, who is a successful architect with a lovely wife and a wonderful son. In short, his life is great, except for the fact that he feels bad about something that happened when he was a kid ... His brother Petey disappeared one day after Brad had sent him home, as he was annoying his friends. The family never knew what became of Petey, but the assumed that he was dead. But after TV has made a program about Brad, he's contacted by a man who says that he is Petey ...

Brad is thrilled to have his brother back, and he's welcomed into the family. But then one day Petey tries to kill Brad and disappeares with his wife and son. A desperate hunt to save his family and to find out who Petey really is starts for Brad ...

This is not among my favourite of Morrell's books, but it was worth reading

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up at a distant ALA when I was still enthralled with Morrell's Brotherhood of the Rose series. He explained to me why he couldn't continue the series. It was a excellent reason but I was so disappointed I never wanted to read this. More fool I. The story is non-stop action from the very first. Brad's younger brother went missing when he was nine. Brad has always blamed himself because he had shooed his little brother away and then he was never seen again. Brad is successful adult with a wife and son. And one day a homeless drifter comes up to him and tells Brad that he is his brother and shares details that only his brother could know. Isn't this great? Until his brother tries to kill him. And disappears with Brad's life, his wife and son. Getting them back becomes his sole reason for existence. It is tightly written, tense, and fascinating. I even liked the supporting characters.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuing my year of Re-Reading I can honestly say that my memory of first reading LONG LOST is in itself long lost. This had to be well over a decade ago and then I believe I'd filed this as a Top 5 favorite. That will be modified now:

While this is certainly not a terrible novel it's definitely not up to the tension we are used to from Morrell. The first 80% of the story is perfectly cadenced and takes the reader through every emotion of the narrative. Generally in these novels we're along for the development of the hero from a corporate payroll number to a renegade vigilante.

Not the case here. Close but no. It is the underwhelming and watered down conclusion that makes me believe someone or something else took the drivers seat from Morrell.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is and incredible read --- a little boy, Petey, disappears at the age of 9 and comes back 20 years later as Lester --- His older brother is delighted to have him back and so very thankful, he introduces to his wife and son and all hell breaks out from there! What little Petey had turned into is an absolutely horrible monster – psychotically doing what he wants, to get ever or because of what happened to him! Morrell rights a book you just can’t put down, it totally stopped my heart and in the end felt sorry for the whole human race! A wonderful get your heart started horror novel, well written and well plotted!

[Rick · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really like David Morrell, but this wasn't one of his better efforts and was ultimately very forgettable. It was written in the first person, and unless that's done really well, it usually annoys me. If you're stuck in an airport it'll provide a quick read, but apart from that, there's not much there.

[Christian · Rating 1 out of 5]

In my opinion one of David Morrell's weaker novels.

[Mo · Rating 3 out of 5]

For some reason, I keep on reading murder/ kidnapping books on accident. I think that it starts out interestingly: a kidnapping occurs, a "long lost" brother shows up, vigilante justice ensues. I'm probably not the demographic the author was intending to relate to, but I still thought the book was pretty good for a quick read. I think that "Petey's" (ugh, I hate spelling it like that) motivation seemed weak, ever for a disturbed man, and I kind of guessed the ending by the time Brad talked to the first pastor. I also had zero idea of what any of the characters looked like, and I found Brad kind of creepy. Believe me, I'd want to do whatever I could to help my family, but Brad kind of went over the line. He also isn't very sympathetic. When the various women Brad met described the trauma they went through, he kind of just brushes them off. There was also a lot of deus ex machina occurring. Overall, it wasn't a bad book, it was just a little too testosterone-filled for me to take seriously.

[Hazel Bright · Rating 3 out of 5]

A competent if rather predictable tale. What interested me most was the sort of bifurcation of religious doctrine. It presents cultist Christianity in a very negative light, while showing the protagonist and his friends and the people providing him with leads - more traditional religious folks - as saintly and righteous. I wish the author had examined this dichotomy further and introduced one or two good cult people and also a couple of bad traditional people; it would have deepened the book substantially. There's a real good guys/white hats thing going on here, and like all stereotyping, it kind of didn't ring quite true. The godliness of the main character and a whole lot of the other characters surrounding him came off more as a way to placate the religious people who might have taken offense at making the evil characters Christian zealots. I've seen books rated a full two stars higher because of such pandering, but the ratings on this one don't seem to have been moved by it.

[Frederick Tan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A long lost brother suddenly appear out of the blue. Brad Denning was guilt stricken about losing his kid brother 25 years ago. He kept blaming himself for Petey disappearance all this while and wad relieved to find him again. Trying to make up for lost time He didn't realise that Petey is no longer the same person. Soon Petey was gone again but not before he kidnapped Brad's wife and son. Brad have to put himself in Petey deranged mind as he try to retrace Petey footsteps in order to find his family again. The final encounter will be bloody as a determined husband try anything to get his family back safe and sound.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

In no way am I suggesting Morrell is a formulaic author however this book does that thing that a few of his books I have read have done....it is steeped in someone's last returning to haunt them.
I'm this case it's not the shadows of Vietnam or a previous life as a assassin...it's the guilt of the disappearance of a younger brother and his likely reappearance.
Of course things aren't what they seem and ..well ...things go bad quickly..however like his other books I enjoyed this one it's just a good page turner really...in some ways maybe not an intense or thoughtful book but a great yarn..and for that..I salute it..

[Kierloyd Schofield · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great read. Had me formulating some theories about the real identity of Lester Dant through the story. I gathered the book is ultimately about identity, trauma, and how it shapes and changes a person. An innocent kid might turn into a violent, insane man due to various circumstances. I feel bad for Petey but man, did he do some real f*cked up things. Brad is a strong man. He's been through a lot. Great read!

[Gautam Baba · Rating 3 out of 5]

An nice storyline, but not a great title. If David Morrell had written it under a pseudonym it would have been a success as it was written from a first person POV which is not normally found in Morrell's earlier books. The Conclusion seems to be in a much hurry and towards end the climax seems predictable.

[Harry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read by David Morrell - suspenseful, gripping, hard to put down. The rage at having your family kidnapped reminds somewhat of the Taken movie series - without Liam Neeson of course.
Morrell plays with your mind. Is the kidnapper really Brad's brother, Petey, or is it Lester who is totally unrelated. The author worked in Brad's architectural skills to help him solve the mystery.

[Rodney Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had no clue David Morrell created the "Rambo" series. This thriller was especially poignant, in that the main character's bullying of his younger brother got him kidnapped and he was never found until almost 30 years later or is it just someone pretending to be his brother. I won't spoil it for you but it's definitely worth your time if you like the thriller genre.

[Scott Breslove · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting premise, and well written, but definitely not one of my favorite Morrell novels, which in no way means it wasn't good. It was an enjoyable, suspenseful read, that was thoroughly infused with the action I've come to expect from a Morrell novel.

[Shahrukh Shaikh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mediocre book with too many obvious elements. I was confused whether to rate it two or three, but decided on 3 since I was able to finish it. Write anything more and I'm afraid I'd be spoiling what little bit of suspense is there in that book, so this is it for my review

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this book is quite the thriller. The long lost brother returns after 25 years only to abduct his brothers wife and kid. The hunt is on to find his wife and son after law enforcement has given up the chase. The plot is not particularly suspenseful, but for some reason is really creepy!