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'Lost' is the second book in the series about the Field Researchers of the Golden Fleece Society; horror novels loosely inspired by the world created by H. P. Lovecraft.
With Field Researcher Team C2 fragmented and not existing anymore, Carl has gone back to his regular job as a child victim interviewer. Even though he is part of a new Field Researcher Team, he hasn't been involved in a project since the one with C2 two years ago. When the news reaches him of a terrorist attack targeting a regular food store in town, he feels devastated as he realizes that people he know might have been in the store during the attack. Fighting with the sorrow over his lost friend, he desperately tries to find a way to continue on with his every-day-life. When he gets assigned to a serial killer case, his life takes a new turn in a way he could never predict.
'Lost' contains scenes of consent sex, as well as violence, including sexual violence.
With Field Researcher Team C2 fragmented and not existing anymore, Carl has gone back to his regular job as a child victim interviewer. Even though he is part of a new Field Researcher Team, he hasn't been involved in a project since the one with C2 two years ago. When the news reaches him of a terrorist attack targeting a regular food store in town, he feels devastated as he realizes that people he know might have been in the store during the attack. Fighting with the sorrow over his lost friend, he desperately tries to find a way to continue on with his every-day-life. When he gets assigned to a serial killer case, his life takes a new turn in a way he could never predict.
'Lost' contains scenes of consent sex, as well as violence, including sexual violence.
449 pages, ebook
First published July 30, 2015
3 people want to read
About the author
A.E. Hellstorm
11 books29 followersI'm a writer and a photographer, and thus I walk in my late father's foot prints. However, instead of involving myself with the mafia, I do some less exciting things with my life than what he did. I do fun things - and less fun things - with my children, I take care of my four cats, I dance in this life long dance together with my husband, and even in the dark times I'm happy to be alive.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 23, 2016
When the author was working on this novel, I remember her posting comments expressing her disbelief in how much "romance" was in this book. She declared that she writes horror and macabre, not romance (I'm paraphrasing, from memory, which is a horror story in and of itself). My thoughts as I read the book were very similar. I read fantasy, science fiction, and horror with little to no "romance", but I found myself reading a story with romance right in the middle of it all...and loving it. I mean, I'm not planning on going out and picking up any outright full-blown romance novels, but the way the author wove it into the story, blending it with the horror elements, was unique and thoroughly enjoyable.
Again, I found myself consuming rather than simply reading Hellstorm's work. Whatever addictive additive it is she sprinkles on her pages, I'm a fan.
And the ending. Much more satisfying than the first book, but I would have preferred just a tiny bit more. Even just an epilogue. But that's really just my preference in endings showing through.
The best for last - as soon as I finished I checked her website, and there's going to be another one. Yes! I'll definitely be looking out for that one.
Again, I found myself consuming rather than simply reading Hellstorm's work. Whatever addictive additive it is she sprinkles on her pages, I'm a fan.
And the ending. Much more satisfying than the first book, but I would have preferred just a tiny bit more. Even just an epilogue. But that's really just my preference in endings showing through.
The best for last - as soon as I finished I checked her website, and there's going to be another one. Yes! I'll definitely be looking out for that one.
October 23, 2016
It took a while for me to get through this book, mainly because I started it in the middle of summer and realized that sunny days were the very wrong time to be trying to get into a creepy, dark, and disturbing mood. So I put it away again until fall and I'm glad I did. Darkness plays a big role in this installment of the Field Researchers series, and yet, there was a lot more to it.
I'll be brutally honest: I'm not big fan of romance and there was a lot of relationship drama in this book. I admit to breezing past the sex scenes to get to the creepy. And the oh how creepy it was! I'd have loved to see a lot more of the Night Porter and the other realm. In fact, if the author were to write a whole book about that realm, I would read the heck out of that!
I'm curious to see what horrors pop up next for the Star Students.
I'll be brutally honest: I'm not big fan of romance and there was a lot of relationship drama in this book. I admit to breezing past the sex scenes to get to the creepy. And the oh how creepy it was! I'd have loved to see a lot more of the Night Porter and the other realm. In fact, if the author were to write a whole book about that realm, I would read the heck out of that!
I'm curious to see what horrors pop up next for the Star Students.
November 10, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Richer and deeper than the previous book, it held my interest throughout. The element of romance was unexpected, but very welcome, and the ending was superb. Brilliant imagery and fully realized characters made for a gripping read. This story transcends its nominal genre to occupy a higher plane altogether, and I eagerly look forward to the next book.
September 25, 2015
I am very intrigued by this series. This book is also creepy. I enjoy the characters and the author does a good job keeping my attention with this book. I think this is a series to check out if you like to read books that remind you of Stephen King. I think this is worth checking out this series for yourself. * I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
May 25, 2017
Many thanks to the author, who provided a free copy of Lost in exchange for an honest review.
Lost is the sequel of In the Hands of the Unknown, where we were introduced to Carl and Miri. They, along with others, are Field Researchers for the Golden Fleece Society, which is a branch of the FBI concerned with paranormal activities. After the terrifying events of the first book, their former team is broken, and its members reassigned. Carl and Miri have begun a relationship, which is still in its early stages.
This book swings right into the action when Miri is caught in the bombing of a local grocery store. Despite extensive searching, her body is not found at the site, but witness reports place her there. Carl is devastated, and continues searching the rubble until he is forcibly reassigned. He is placed on an assignment with Ali, a brilliant profiler. Together they identify and capture a brutal serial killer. As time passes the two become closer, but Miri's strange disappearance caused both a hole in Carl's heart and a mystery in his head.
We are not left in suspense, for soon we are given Miri's side of the story. Yes, she was in the bombing, but woke up not in our world, but in a strange nightmarish dimension. Injured from the blast, she makes her way to a town, which is empty and always on the verge of darkness. The town is ruled by a strange creature known as the Night Porter, who wears a human body, but gives the impression of being much more. He's truly creepy, and made my skin crawl more than once. He is located at the hotel in the empty town, which is where Miri eventually secures a room. She knows that she is trapped, but lacks the strength to find a way out until she can recover from her wounds.
Eventually the portal leading to this dimension is found underneath the rubble of the bombed store. Carl and a team of researchers enter the portal, hoping to find and rescue Miri, or at the very least recover her body. When they stumble upon Miri and the hotel the Night Porter cannot hide his delight - now he has even more people to play with. And play with them he does.
This book is a monster, and I've only hinted at half of the story. What really gets the ball rolling is what happens when the rescue team tries to escape - and what escapes with them.....
This author knows how to make your skin crawl right off your bones and run away screaming into the night. The sense of unreality and inability to know what is real and what is not makes for a very tweaky read. I was also not expecting the romance angle that wound up happening in this book, but it was well done indeed, kudos for romance without an over abundance of sap. It didn't detract at all from the action and the mystery.
Lost is the sequel of In the Hands of the Unknown, where we were introduced to Carl and Miri. They, along with others, are Field Researchers for the Golden Fleece Society, which is a branch of the FBI concerned with paranormal activities. After the terrifying events of the first book, their former team is broken, and its members reassigned. Carl and Miri have begun a relationship, which is still in its early stages.
This book swings right into the action when Miri is caught in the bombing of a local grocery store. Despite extensive searching, her body is not found at the site, but witness reports place her there. Carl is devastated, and continues searching the rubble until he is forcibly reassigned. He is placed on an assignment with Ali, a brilliant profiler. Together they identify and capture a brutal serial killer. As time passes the two become closer, but Miri's strange disappearance caused both a hole in Carl's heart and a mystery in his head.
We are not left in suspense, for soon we are given Miri's side of the story. Yes, she was in the bombing, but woke up not in our world, but in a strange nightmarish dimension. Injured from the blast, she makes her way to a town, which is empty and always on the verge of darkness. The town is ruled by a strange creature known as the Night Porter, who wears a human body, but gives the impression of being much more. He's truly creepy, and made my skin crawl more than once. He is located at the hotel in the empty town, which is where Miri eventually secures a room. She knows that she is trapped, but lacks the strength to find a way out until she can recover from her wounds.
Eventually the portal leading to this dimension is found underneath the rubble of the bombed store. Carl and a team of researchers enter the portal, hoping to find and rescue Miri, or at the very least recover her body. When they stumble upon Miri and the hotel the Night Porter cannot hide his delight - now he has even more people to play with. And play with them he does.
This book is a monster, and I've only hinted at half of the story. What really gets the ball rolling is what happens when the rescue team tries to escape - and what escapes with them.....
This author knows how to make your skin crawl right off your bones and run away screaming into the night. The sense of unreality and inability to know what is real and what is not makes for a very tweaky read. I was also not expecting the romance angle that wound up happening in this book, but it was well done indeed, kudos for romance without an over abundance of sap. It didn't detract at all from the action and the mystery.
May 12, 2016
Lost: The Field Researchers Book 2 by A.E. Hellstorm is one of the best books in its genre I have read for some time. Carl is a field researcher and child interviewer for the FBI, but when his partner Mira goes missing, presumed dead in a bombing, all kinds of horrible flashbacks begin to haunt him, her loss just another link in a chain of devastation. Carl has seen more than his fair share of horror and tragedy, but nothing which could compare to what he is about to face. Days are lost searching for Mira, his hope fading, just as he fears he can take no more fate intervenes and offers a distraction. A young child has been found and his services are enlisted by Allie, a confident, sweet, and outgoing woman investigating a serial killer. He loses himself in the investigation, still holding on to the hope Miri is still alive, but his search leads him to places beyond his imagination and he soon finds himself pulled into a strange dimension. A horrific place basked in everlasting night where every aspect of the realm seems somehow warped and geared towards destroying the fragile psyche of all those who cross into its domain and once it has its claws in someone it will never let go.
Whether you like crime, thrillers, or horror Lost: The Field Researchers Book 2 is for you, it expertly combines several genres in an involved, intricate plot. There is so much to this book that any aspect could make a brilliant standalone novel, but the combination creates a tense, emotionally driven tale. A.E. Hellstorm creates an imaginative world where the reader’s own imagination, in a very Lovecraftian style, conjures the true horror. It is a rare balance between not enough information and too much, and A.E. Hellstorm has expertly achieved this. Eerily terrifying, and hauntingly horrific. A fully immersive read that will keep you on the edge of the seat. The characters are real, diverse, and well-developed. You can’t help but be pulled into their plight, their joy is yours, and their terror equally shared. The character development is clear, from when we first meet Carl, Miri, and Allie there is progressive growth based on their experiences. Relationships change and alter, not only between them but other characters. As a reader of H.P. Lovecraft I couldn’t resist this book and it not only met but surpassed my every expectation. Immensely gripping, riveting, truly a must read.
Whether you like crime, thrillers, or horror Lost: The Field Researchers Book 2 is for you, it expertly combines several genres in an involved, intricate plot. There is so much to this book that any aspect could make a brilliant standalone novel, but the combination creates a tense, emotionally driven tale. A.E. Hellstorm creates an imaginative world where the reader’s own imagination, in a very Lovecraftian style, conjures the true horror. It is a rare balance between not enough information and too much, and A.E. Hellstorm has expertly achieved this. Eerily terrifying, and hauntingly horrific. A fully immersive read that will keep you on the edge of the seat. The characters are real, diverse, and well-developed. You can’t help but be pulled into their plight, their joy is yours, and their terror equally shared. The character development is clear, from when we first meet Carl, Miri, and Allie there is progressive growth based on their experiences. Relationships change and alter, not only between them but other characters. As a reader of H.P. Lovecraft I couldn’t resist this book and it not only met but surpassed my every expectation. Immensely gripping, riveting, truly a must read.
July 29, 2020
We are proud to announce that LOST by A.E. Hellstorm is a B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree. This tells readers that this book is well worth their time and money!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews