The Lost Daughter

Love and War Series #1

by R.P.G. Colley

England, 2001. Elizabeth has always suspected her mother harbours a secret from her time as a young woman in Nazi Germany. But her mother, suffering from dementia, is lost to her now. When Elizabeth stumbles across a Nazi certificate amongst her parent's paperwork, it forces her to question the very foundations of her 1950s childhood and her first love. . . Elizabeth's quest to find the truth leads her to Germany where she's met with a wall of silence.

Germany, 1944. 18-year-old Hannah, beautiful and naive, volunteers to work in a home for evacuated children. But Doctor Heinkel, a loyal Nazi, decrees that there's a better way for Hannah to serve the Fatherland. Drawn further into the doctor's distorted world, Hannah only realises what's expected of her when it's too late. Confronted with evil, Hannah is faced with an impossible choice. . .

Genres: Historical Fiction, World War II, Historical

Audible Audio

Published November 1, 2024

Reviews

[Suzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple, yet complex, humbling and poignant—a no spoiler review

I have read every book by this author and each one outshines the previous one. Mr. Colley weaves a spell with his descriptions, conversations and characters with depth. This book came out today and downloaded itself into my library; I love the preorder option!

As I have written in previous reviews, do not expect a synopsis within this review. One good thing about a new book is the suspense created by not knowing what will happen, right? So, if you need a hint, check out the blurb above.
One thing is for sure in Colley’s books; reading them is an emotional journey within the tension of living during WWII anywhere in Europe. This book is set in England and Germany during the later years of the war and the tension seeps through throughout the story.
If you enjoy historical fiction which is written as if it were true, this is a surefire pick for you. Add to that an appreciation of a well-written book and you will be well-pleased when it’s ending is revealed. I recommend this newest offering from R.P. Colley without any reservation!

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A WWII historical novel. Normally the books I read deal with the holocaust, but this one is strictly about the German people. It is about the program the wacko Nazis set up to sire as many Aryian babies as they can so the pure race can continue for a thousand years. (eyes rolling as I type).
The lost daughter, as you can guess, was part of that program but didn't know until she finds a letter in her mother's things (mom has dementia) and begins her search.
Some of the chapters confused me because it said the date but in the beginning I was confused over who exactly was talking.
But otherwise good story.

[Sandy Korom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the suspense in the search for the truth. There are very few books about the Lebensborn program to produce more "Aryan" babies for the Nazi Third Reich.

[M.K. Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although there were no shocks or twists, this was an enjoyable read. You felt empathy with both Hannah and her experience as an attractive young woman in Nazi Germany, and for Elizabeth dealing with an elderly mother with dementia, and trying to find out what happened to her mother during the war. I would have liked to have known how Elizabeth's parent got together as they were chalk and cheese, but the lack of knowledge doesn't detract from the story.

[Jean]

Great read. Such a tragic story but happy ending

[Margarita Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lost Daughter is a wonderfully moving novel about the Lebensborn programme in Nazi Germany, one of the more bizarre social experiments carried out during that horrific time. Rupert Colley has a particular gift for creating warm and interesting characters that you feel invested in. This book is skilfully plotted with three time periods (the latter years of the war, the 1950s, and the present day) which helps to create a real sense of suspense. Highly recommended.

[Mel Richmond · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw this on my daily @bookbub emails with heavily discounted E-books (saviours) and I’m an absolute sucker for WW2 historical fiction. The good thing about the Kindle is that I don’t really take much notice of the book cover and focus more on the synopsis because in all honesty, if I saw this book cover in a shop I probably wouldn’t buy it...

The story itself explores the latter years of WW2, focusing in particular on the Lebensborn programme: an extreme idea product of Himmler in order to ‘create a strong Aryan race’.

This story is split into three different time periods and has different narratives, but the main protagonist is Elizabeth who we follow through her childhood in the 1950’s and her adult life between 2001 and 2002. There is also the story of Hannah during the Second World War which ties importantly to Elizabeth’s story.

This was a very easy read, not as informative as I would have liked in regard to the actual history factor of it all but nevertheless an interesting and lovely story. I’m so bias when it comes to historical fiction because it’s one of my favourite genres and I haven’t yet found a book within this genre that I don’t like. This story is part of a set series set in the war which I am definitely going to look into!

[Lorraine Forget · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard of the Lebensborn program a sick idea that Himmler designed so he could create many blonde and blue eyed children for a pure German Aryan race. He didn't give a hoot about the people like Bruno and Hannah that were very deeply hurt because their daughter was given up for adoption. Many children weren't as blessed because they never saw their birth parents again . Girls were made to mate with German elite Gestapo men even if he was a cruel young officer. For me I would have been absolutely terrified. Girls were never allowed to leave the Lebensborn grounds alone. They had to be accompanied by a German elite officer before staff would let her leave. Some tried to get away and if they did escape and were caught would face dire peril. Hannah and Bruno had a second chance at happiness many years later on

[PAMpublish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I tend to avoid Nazi related stories that typically result in nightmares, this mesmerizing story that flipped back and forth over the decades caught my attention from the very beginning. Involving a daughter who found a mysterious Nazi-related birth document while cleaning out her dementia mother's household, Elizabeth in England begins her journey of finding out who she was and where she came from. Parallel lives of her separated husband (Barry) and daughter (Tess) are also depicted throughout the story, although her relationship and tolerance of his mistress seemed a bit unrealistic at times. The book was very informative about Hitler's Aryan birthing program to produce his pure race which Elizabeth's birth mother was involved in. This full-length novel maintained my attention from beginning-to-end, where the mystery eventually unravels.

[Amy Bright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Rupert!

Thank you, Rupert, for opening my eyes to other sides of the Nazi Regime, and the different types of relationships involved back then. I really enjoyed the novel, because it showed how one family dealt with its issues, and may help other families deal with theirs. I appreciate the time and research it must've taken you to put this together, and it's a very interesting book. I hope you'll read this too, other readers, and leave a review as well. Reviews not only assist the prospective readers, but they also assist the authors because it helps them get their words out. Thank you for taking the time to read my review.☺

[Ann Marie Littlejohn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will stay with me its so good

This book never stopped holding my attention, Every night I struggled to put it down so that I could sleep. The characters were both believable and interesting. It flowed well and held my attention to the last page. The subject matter was fascinating even though it was grotesque. It happened and many children were born as a result . This is what makes the book so good its an old story, that has never to my knowledge ,has been covered before. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys history or a well rounded book. I will continue to read more of ghis authors books as he writes so well.

[Monica Mac · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be a complex story, told from multiple points of view. At times, I got a bit lost as to which one of the characters I was following, but it all came together in the end and the overall story was really well written and quite shocking and poignant as well.

There hasn't been a lot written about the program that the author discusses in the book (I don't want to mention the name of it because that will be quite a big spoiler!) but I knew about it because I am a bit of a WWII nerd.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I am looking forward to reading the next one.

[Gayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tessa is dealing with a mother that has dementia and a husband who has walked out of their marriage for a much younger woman. How does she deal with a daughter who has left for University and feeling alone. Tessa finds a German "birth certificate" in her mother's belongs with a swastika on it. She travels to Germany to piece together her past and to try and understand a mother that was distant to her growing up and find out more about her birth father.

[Debra George · Rating 5 out of 5]

I generally avoid historical novels about WW II because I have read so many and didn’t think there was anything I hadn’t already heard about this era of history. I was wrong. I had never heard of the Lebensborn program. This books weaves together the stories of many different characters surrounding a young woman of WW II Germany and a girl in 1950s England in such a compelling way that I read it straight through in two days.

[Chris Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lost Daughter

I related to many parts of this book, having been born in 1944 and losing my father in ,,1959 when he too was fifty and I didn't realise how young it was to die at 50. The story enlightened me a great deal on how the people of Germany suffered as I've always focused on what I know happened to my own family and other's in England. I did cry reading this heartfelt book.

[Jane Binkley · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE LOST DAUGHTER

I rated this book at 5, because the story is well worth sharing. It's a piece of history that many people have never known. I think anyone who doubts what evil, deranged minds were carrying out activities on human beings like animals needs to read some of thories of what went on behind the scenes during the war. I think its imperative that young people learn the proof of what could happen again in this day and age if we aren't vigilant.

[CarolJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Secrets of War

This book captivated my interest with the WW2 connection throughout. I loved the way the author wove the story back and forth in time to bring the complete picture. I chuckled trying to figure out some of the words used, words not in the American vocabulary, which only added to the story.😃

[Hazel Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

War

Being aware of this programme before reading this book, following the storyline somehow made it all more real. Prostitution by any other name. The shame these women felt was highlighted by the mother in the story.While I found the story harrowing I nonetheless enjoyed the book.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this author’s style. This is the second book I’ve read by him and plan to read more. This (and other books) is described as part of a “series”. My experience with “series” has been continuing stories and characters. The two I’ve read have been stand alone. Nothing to detract from the content as I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

[Sherelyn Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!

This is an emotional book to read but I couldn't put it down! I had heard about the pure Aryan babies but had never read anything about them. So many things wrong with the procreation of these precious babies..thank you for this book and the light you shed on this time in history.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking

I truly enjoyed reading this book. It is very well written and you can feel the love it was written with. One of my grandmothers was Polish and came from “the old country” to the USA when she was young. She spoke some English but preferred Polish. Books of this generation make me wonder what she and her family went through.

[Patty A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page turner

I found myself not wanting to do anything but finish this book. What people went through during the war was devastating. Some were forced to do things just to stay alive. The author tells the story in a way that makes you want to keep reading to find out what happens. I look forward to the next book in this series.

[Mary Cutter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fascinating story of World War II on the German side. I found it very interesting how far the Reich had gone in trying to create a perfect Aryan world. It is also amazing just how many lives are touched and changed by one tiny infant. The characters are all believable and relatable. I am looking forward to starting the next book in the Love and War Series.

[Carol Daigle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't want to give anything away ,but it is a great story. I love the way it went from present day back to days during the war. The ending was very special and I had it figured out before the end! A five star rating for sure!!

[Deseree · Rating 5 out of 5]

An ending worth it

I liked this book very much. The characters seemed real and the political background very real. It was quite readable . I will read something else by this author in the future.

[Margaret Wray · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an interesting book. The Nazi regime had this policy of breeding the perfect race but this program did have it flaws in lots of ways. Being a fiction novel I did follow up on the historical parts. Would recommend

[Linda A, · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully balanced between present and WW2 era

The characters are so real. The situations relate able. No gory depictions of Nazi torture. No need of that to depict how awful they were. Loved it.

[Darlene Webster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Germany World War II

This is such an interesting and exciting read. I felt I was there, going through the trials that Hannah and others endured, under Hitler. There were many good German people caught up in that mad man's control. Hannah was one who was used and abused.

[ann betts · Rating 4 out of 5]

The lost daughter

An interesting story about the German program . I had read about the Women who had to give their babies up for adoption. In fact some who knew who their fathers were

[nan hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to believe and hard to put down

I was captivated by the war story intermingled with different memories. Such good writing made the characters charming and believable. Read this.