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Lost Girls: A Farrow & Chang Thriller
Not yet published
Expected 12 Mar 26When the daughter of the Swedish Ambassador disappears from her prestigious London school in broad daylight, the authorities are on high alert. There are no witnesses and no ransom thirteen-year-old Freya Sjöberg has vanished into thin air.
With the Metropolitan Police out of their depth, specialist agent DS Madeleine Farrow is called in to handle the case. As a former pupil at Wimpole Girls, she knows the school's affluent corridors only too well. But even she can't anticipate the dark secrets held within its walls.
With the clock ticking since Freya's disappearance, Madeleine must return to a place that holds painful memories to find a girl who has left no trace. For help, she calls on dogged - and occasionally maverick - young private investigator Ramona Chang. Together the unlikely pair find themselves plunged into a world of extreme wealth and dangerous secrets.
The deeper they dig, the more they uncover - exposing a tangled web of conspiracy and lies that could change everything they thought they knew about the case, and each other.
With the Metropolitan Police out of their depth, specialist agent DS Madeleine Farrow is called in to handle the case. As a former pupil at Wimpole Girls, she knows the school's affluent corridors only too well. But even she can't anticipate the dark secrets held within its walls.
With the clock ticking since Freya's disappearance, Madeleine must return to a place that holds painful memories to find a girl who has left no trace. For help, she calls on dogged - and occasionally maverick - young private investigator Ramona Chang. Together the unlikely pair find themselves plunged into a world of extreme wealth and dangerous secrets.
The deeper they dig, the more they uncover - exposing a tangled web of conspiracy and lies that could change everything they thought they knew about the case, and each other.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 12, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 5, 2025
Detective Madeleine Farrow has been assigned the case of a missing teenage girl, the daughter of the Swedish Ambassador.
The girl has gone missing from an elite school in London, the school that Detective Farrow was a former pupil.
I didn’t realise this was the second book in this series, I was confused about the characters and I would advise that you read the first book in the series before reading this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and John Murray Press for my e-book in exchange for an honest review.
The girl has gone missing from an elite school in London, the school that Detective Farrow was a former pupil.
I didn’t realise this was the second book in this series, I was confused about the characters and I would advise that you read the first book in the series before reading this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and John Murray Press for my e-book in exchange for an honest review.
November 18, 2025
This is a skilfully written story which weaves in and around several strands of plot. I took a while to get into it but some complexity made the reading more enjoyable. This is the first book of Philby’s I have read and the first of the Farrow and Chang series. The two protagonists, Madeleine Farrow, a DS in the serious crimes squad, and Ramona Chang, once a journalist before falling foul of some seriously bad people who now does the odd job helping Farrow, are opposites in methods and temperament. They are perfect foils for each other.
The central story is of Freya, the 13 year old child of a Swedish diplomat who vanishes without trace. There are no witnesses. No ransom demand. We all know that the first 24 hours after any kidnapping are crucial and so after three days of unsuccessful searching the anxiety for her safety is heightened. Her parents, especially her diplomat father seem strangely dismissive of any potential danger to their daughter. Can they be involved in her disappearance. Do they know what happened? If so what possible motive could there be? Around this central investigation are woven other strands of plot in which Ramona is also involved.
This is a cleverly plotted book with engaging central characters. I particularly like Ramona and hope to come across her again. This seems likely as there were a couple of issues that were left hanging by the end. I will certainly seek out other books by this author.
The central story is of Freya, the 13 year old child of a Swedish diplomat who vanishes without trace. There are no witnesses. No ransom demand. We all know that the first 24 hours after any kidnapping are crucial and so after three days of unsuccessful searching the anxiety for her safety is heightened. Her parents, especially her diplomat father seem strangely dismissive of any potential danger to their daughter. Can they be involved in her disappearance. Do they know what happened? If so what possible motive could there be? Around this central investigation are woven other strands of plot in which Ramona is also involved.
This is a cleverly plotted book with engaging central characters. I particularly like Ramona and hope to come across her again. This seems likely as there were a couple of issues that were left hanging by the end. I will certainly seek out other books by this author.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
When a young girl disappears it is a routine priority for the Met. If the girl is from a prominent family does that make it more or less important? When Freya Sjöberg, 13, the daughter of the Swedish Ambassador goes missing from her expensive private school, this has to be escalated to Government level. DS Madeline Farrow of the Serious Crime Investigation Department is immediately called back from a sting operation in Dubai, and put in charge of the investigation. Madeline has unique qualities for this task, because she is from an upper middle class background with experience in the diplomatic service and connections to the Home Office, but, more pertinently, because she was a pupil at the same school, albeit thirty years earlier. There is no threat, no ransom demand, which is odd. Also odd is the apparent insouciance of Freya’s parents – could be diplomatic stiff-upper-lip – could be something more.
Ramona Chang, former journalist, sometime ‘colleague’ of Madeline’s, is currently working as a P.I. while waiting for the court to decide whether the manslaughter charge against her should be mitigated on grounds of self-defence. As it happens, the SCID is short of staff so Madeline decides to employ her, off the books, for surveillance and other minor tasks, paying her from her own pocket (Madeline is quite wealthy). Ramona is on edge because the man she killed was an enforcer for an organised crime boss. Coincidentally, he is hiding out in Dubai and the subject of the sting operation in which Madeline was involved.
This is the second book in a proposed series. It references events from the first book, but you don’t need to have read it to follow this one. It is told mainly from Madeline’s point of view, but Ramona’s runs in parallel and her activities actually engender most of the tension in the plot. Both of these characters are interesting in their own right but especially in the contrast. The plot is well constructed although I did think it was a bit stretched out through the middle section, and a bit too coincidental, perhaps. However, overall it’s a neat story and the ending clearly flags that there will be another one coming along soon, and I look forward to enjoying that as much as this one. It’s not really a 5 but it’s more than a 4 so I’ll err on the generous side.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.
Ramona Chang, former journalist, sometime ‘colleague’ of Madeline’s, is currently working as a P.I. while waiting for the court to decide whether the manslaughter charge against her should be mitigated on grounds of self-defence. As it happens, the SCID is short of staff so Madeline decides to employ her, off the books, for surveillance and other minor tasks, paying her from her own pocket (Madeline is quite wealthy). Ramona is on edge because the man she killed was an enforcer for an organised crime boss. Coincidentally, he is hiding out in Dubai and the subject of the sting operation in which Madeline was involved.
This is the second book in a proposed series. It references events from the first book, but you don’t need to have read it to follow this one. It is told mainly from Madeline’s point of view, but Ramona’s runs in parallel and her activities actually engender most of the tension in the plot. Both of these characters are interesting in their own right but especially in the contrast. The plot is well constructed although I did think it was a bit stretched out through the middle section, and a bit too coincidental, perhaps. However, overall it’s a neat story and the ending clearly flags that there will be another one coming along soon, and I look forward to enjoying that as much as this one. It’s not really a 5 but it’s more than a 4 so I’ll err on the generous side.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I liked the first book in the series with the investigative duo of DI Madeleine and reporter cum private investigator Ramona and I enjoyed this one even more. I felt that it was more evenly paced than Dirty Money and enjoyed the alternating POV from the outset. Madeleine with her upper middle class backgound and Ramona from her council scheme backround are again unofficially working together but still not really trusting each other and they are definitely not friends.
This time Madeleine has been drafted in to investigate the politically sensitive case of the missing daughter of the Swedish ambassador to the UK. Freya goes missing from the private school that Madeleine previously attended and that her neice attends so that there are plenty of plot overlaps. Ramona gets to do some of the plod work of watching and following and her unorthodox nature helps the investigation in ways that more rigid Madeleine would not be able to.
Ramona’s best friend also gets drawn into the complex intrigue with strands of the plot in Dirty Money still coming to the surface. But there are never too many coincidences to become ridiculous. I liked finding out more about the backgrounds of Madeleine and Ramona as the search for Freya steadily progresses with dramatic revelations near the end.
Thanks to NetGalley and John Murray Press for the ARC.
This time Madeleine has been drafted in to investigate the politically sensitive case of the missing daughter of the Swedish ambassador to the UK. Freya goes missing from the private school that Madeleine previously attended and that her neice attends so that there are plenty of plot overlaps. Ramona gets to do some of the plod work of watching and following and her unorthodox nature helps the investigation in ways that more rigid Madeleine would not be able to.
Ramona’s best friend also gets drawn into the complex intrigue with strands of the plot in Dirty Money still coming to the surface. But there are never too many coincidences to become ridiculous. I liked finding out more about the backgrounds of Madeleine and Ramona as the search for Freya steadily progresses with dramatic revelations near the end.
Thanks to NetGalley and John Murray Press for the ARC.
October 22, 2025
Thanks to Charlotte and NetGalley for allowing me to read Lost Girls before the publication date.
This is the second book in the series and it does not disappoint.
DS Madeleine Farrow has reached the big 50 and all that entails. She has to decide whether to apply for promotion to D.I. which would mean a managerial role or remain in her role within the Serious Crime Investigation Department working in the field. The relationship between Madeleine and her bother Dominic is strained at the best of times and recent events have not helped.
Ramona Chang, a young woman who was an investigative journalist in a previous life, until she crossed the wrong gang. Now she is trying to scrape a living as a P.I. whilst awaiting trial for manslaughter.
Madeleine and Ramona met when a woman was alleged to have committed suicide, but more sinister bad actors were in play.
With Madeleine’s team depleted, she engages Ramona to help with the investigation into Freya’s disappearance.
Charlotte has written a well crafted story, taking the reader into the complex relationships between government departments.
This is the second book in the series and it does not disappoint.
DS Madeleine Farrow has reached the big 50 and all that entails. She has to decide whether to apply for promotion to D.I. which would mean a managerial role or remain in her role within the Serious Crime Investigation Department working in the field. The relationship between Madeleine and her bother Dominic is strained at the best of times and recent events have not helped.
Ramona Chang, a young woman who was an investigative journalist in a previous life, until she crossed the wrong gang. Now she is trying to scrape a living as a P.I. whilst awaiting trial for manslaughter.
Madeleine and Ramona met when a woman was alleged to have committed suicide, but more sinister bad actors were in play.
With Madeleine’s team depleted, she engages Ramona to help with the investigation into Freya’s disappearance.
Charlotte has written a well crafted story, taking the reader into the complex relationships between government departments.
October 30, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Lost Girls by Charlotte Philby
I’ve read some of Philby’s previous books and always enjoyed her observant style of writing, but this is the first book in this series I’ve read and it works perfectly as a standalone. The story opens with the disappearance of thirteen year old Freya Sjöberg from an elite London school, drawing DS Madeleine Farrow back to her previous life.
I loved the unlikely pairing of Madeleine, a seemingly straight laced professional with a strong moral code, and Ramona, the gritty and impulsive investigator whose own demons make her more empathetic to the story’s most vulnerable characters. Their dynamic adds real depth to the investigation and balances the darker moments with heart and humour.
The setting feels authentic and tightly observed. The pacing is steady with well-timed twists and a sense of moral tension running throughout. A smart, layered thriller that blends emotional insight with genuine suspense.
I’ve read some of Philby’s previous books and always enjoyed her observant style of writing, but this is the first book in this series I’ve read and it works perfectly as a standalone. The story opens with the disappearance of thirteen year old Freya Sjöberg from an elite London school, drawing DS Madeleine Farrow back to her previous life.
I loved the unlikely pairing of Madeleine, a seemingly straight laced professional with a strong moral code, and Ramona, the gritty and impulsive investigator whose own demons make her more empathetic to the story’s most vulnerable characters. Their dynamic adds real depth to the investigation and balances the darker moments with heart and humour.
The setting feels authentic and tightly observed. The pacing is steady with well-timed twists and a sense of moral tension running throughout. A smart, layered thriller that blends emotional insight with genuine suspense.
November 24, 2025
4.25 stars rounded down. Started strong, it plateaued a bit for me in the middle, then picked up with a strong ending which nicely tied together all the various strands. The plot was good and you can tell the author has done research and has her own experience within journalism.
I did find it a little hard to really connect with Ramona or Madeleine as they are both flawed characters. Perhaps this might have been slightly easier if I’d read the previous book - something to bear in mind if you’re able to start at the beginning. I would look forward to filling in my gap though, and reading more books in the series.
I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased body.
I did find it a little hard to really connect with Ramona or Madeleine as they are both flawed characters. Perhaps this might have been slightly easier if I’d read the previous book - something to bear in mind if you’re able to start at the beginning. I would look forward to filling in my gap though, and reading more books in the series.
I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased body.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is such a good thriller featuring Farrow and Chang, the second in the series, and it is very skilfully woven and well written. It is told from two points of view, which worked very well, with Chang as a former journalist assisting Farrow with the investigation of a missing 13 year old diplomat's daughter. I liked the characterisation and the writing style, which felt very realistic and the ending left it open for a third in the series. A very enjoyable read. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I have read the first book in this series so it was great to meet Madeline Farrow and Ramona Chang again. Freya the 13 year old child of a Swedish Diplomat vanishes from her Private School without a trace .This is a cleverly plotted book with some great characters .I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to reading the next book in the series .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC.
December 27, 2025
Masterfully written, but goddamnit, I couldn’t remember a thing about the first in the series (which I know I also thoroughly enjoyed). I’ll need to read the whole series in one big chunk one day, when it’s all released. Something to look forward to, init
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews