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The Last Lost Girl
Unravelling the past can be dangerous . . . On a perfect July evening in the sizzling Irish summer of 1976, fifteen-year-old Festival Queen Lilly Brennan disappears. Thirty-seven years later, as the anniversary of Lilly's disappearance approaches, her sister Jacqueline returns to their childhood home in Blackberry Lane. There she stumbles upon something that reopens the mystery, setting her on a search for the truth a search that leads her to surprising places and challenging encounters. Jacqueline feels increasingly compelled to find the answer to what happened to Lilly all those years ago and finally lay her ghost to rest. But at what cost? For unravelling the past proves to be a dangerous and painful thing, and her path to the truth leads her ever closer to a dark secret she may not wish to know. 'A haunting, mesmerising first novel with a chilling secret at its core. It will grip and surprise you to the very last page’ RTÉ Guide
450 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2017
About the author
Maria Hoey
7 books17 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author with this name on GR
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
August 18, 2017
Thank you to Library Thing and Poolbeg Press for providing me with an e-copy of the The Last Lost Girl by Maria Hoey in exchange for an honest review. This sensitive family drama, set in Ireland, deals with the young lives of the three Brennan sisters: Lilly, Gayle and Jacqueline. The book alternates between two time periods: the early years and thirty-some years later. The plot reveals the disappearance of fifteen-year-old Lilly and the impact this has on her parents and siblings, for the rest of their lives. What makes the story interesting are the young voices of the sisters, alternating with their adult voices. The book does not develop as expected and the reader is taken down a road with many turns. Just when you think you understand what happened, new details are revealed to change your mind. This novel is intriguing and haunting. Highly recommended if you enjoy family dramas with quite a bit of mystery.
July 5, 2017
THE LAST LOST GIRL by Maria Hoey is a dark and deeply emotional story about the complexities of family life, and how one act can change everything.
The night that Lilly Brennan disappears, forever alters the Brennan family and as the years pass by, the cracks in their once strong unit, slowly widen and eventually shatter what was once a content family home. Thirty-seven years after that fateful night where many people continue to hold onto their own guilt, Jacqueline, the youngest of the Brennan's returns home to Blackberry Lane to visit with her dad, who is all alone. But when her father suddenly passes, Jacqueline struggles with letting him go and this fresh grief builds upon the grief she has always carried for her missing older sister, Lilly. When Jacqueline finds a clue among her father's belongings that may lead to the discovery of what happened to Lilly all those years ago, Jacqueline jumps at this opportunity to find answers and heads off to the UK. With the help of some unexpected friends, Jacqueline soon begins to piece together some of the puzzle, but as the truth starts to unfold, secrets and betrayals will make Jacqueline question everything...
THE LAST LOST GIRL by Maria Hoey is not an action-packed, fast-paced, search for answers, but rather a slower-paced, hypnotic, emotional account of the changes and heartbreaking destruction of a family when something terrible like this occurs.
The narrative moves from the past to the present which makes this novel come alive in a way that makes you feel like a part of the story. We get to really experience everything firsthand through the eyes of a typical eleven-year-old, Jacqueline, as we see sibling rivalry, jealousy, love, and simple naivety at its finest. But we are also a witness to a child watching her family disintegrate when her sister vanishes into thin air and everyone in this small community start to point the finger of blame.
When it moves back to the present, we see Jacqueline the adult, who still struggles with the not-knowing, who leads a solitary life, who has lost the sparkle she once had, but who is also determined to find out what happened to Lilly, and whose strength pushes her to keep looking for answers, to never give up on the sister she envied so much as a child. As secrets begin to spill forth, I had my suspicions about what had happened to Lilly that night but I was completely wrong (I love it when that happens!!), and nothing prepared me for the shocking truth.
THE LAST LOST GIRL by Maria Hoey is a marvellous debut and I look forward to more from this impressive author.
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the Publisher
The night that Lilly Brennan disappears, forever alters the Brennan family and as the years pass by, the cracks in their once strong unit, slowly widen and eventually shatter what was once a content family home. Thirty-seven years after that fateful night where many people continue to hold onto their own guilt, Jacqueline, the youngest of the Brennan's returns home to Blackberry Lane to visit with her dad, who is all alone. But when her father suddenly passes, Jacqueline struggles with letting him go and this fresh grief builds upon the grief she has always carried for her missing older sister, Lilly. When Jacqueline finds a clue among her father's belongings that may lead to the discovery of what happened to Lilly all those years ago, Jacqueline jumps at this opportunity to find answers and heads off to the UK. With the help of some unexpected friends, Jacqueline soon begins to piece together some of the puzzle, but as the truth starts to unfold, secrets and betrayals will make Jacqueline question everything...
THE LAST LOST GIRL by Maria Hoey is not an action-packed, fast-paced, search for answers, but rather a slower-paced, hypnotic, emotional account of the changes and heartbreaking destruction of a family when something terrible like this occurs.
The narrative moves from the past to the present which makes this novel come alive in a way that makes you feel like a part of the story. We get to really experience everything firsthand through the eyes of a typical eleven-year-old, Jacqueline, as we see sibling rivalry, jealousy, love, and simple naivety at its finest. But we are also a witness to a child watching her family disintegrate when her sister vanishes into thin air and everyone in this small community start to point the finger of blame.
When it moves back to the present, we see Jacqueline the adult, who still struggles with the not-knowing, who leads a solitary life, who has lost the sparkle she once had, but who is also determined to find out what happened to Lilly, and whose strength pushes her to keep looking for answers, to never give up on the sister she envied so much as a child. As secrets begin to spill forth, I had my suspicions about what had happened to Lilly that night but I was completely wrong (I love it when that happens!!), and nothing prepared me for the shocking truth.
THE LAST LOST GIRL by Maria Hoey is a marvellous debut and I look forward to more from this impressive author.
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the Publisher
July 13, 2017
4.5 stars.
Review to follow...
Review to follow...
September 4, 2017
My Rating ~ 4.5*
'One hot summer,
One dark secret,
Unravelling the past can be dangerous….’
The Last Lost Girl is the debut novel from Irish writer Maria Hoey. Spanning thirty-seven years it tells the story of missing Festival Queen, Lilly Brennan in 1976 and the repercussions of this traumatic event on the lives of those closest to her.
1976
‘Even the tar on the road is sweating. Daddy says this is the hottest month of the hottest summer in living memory. Lily’s radio is playing “Young Hearts Run Free”'
The nostalgic atmosphere strikes the reader right from the opening page. The Last Lost Girl is the story of the Brennan family and how their world changed forever during the Summer of 1976. Three sisters, Gayle, Lilly and Jacqueline are all so very different. Gayle, the eldest, is only interested in running, Lilly is a self obsessed young lady on the cusp of those teenage years and Jacqueline, at eleven, looks on with envy and with a very inquisitive mind. Their parents, Frank and Stella are happy, with the usual challenges faced by any parents with three daughters. Life is good for the Brennans.
Lilly is a teenage fireball, completely self-absorbed, as many a teenager is, with her image, with boys being top of her agenda. A handful for her parents and at times quite snippy with her younger sister Jacqueline, Lilly pushes the boundaries. But one fateful evening, these boundaries get pushed a little too far and Lilly disappears.
What happened to Lilly remains a mystery. For Jacqueline, her life has passed her by in a blur. Her parent’s marriage disintegrated under the strain of Lilly’s disappearance and her sister, Gayle, married and moved to the UK. As the years moved on, her mother, Stella, passed away and Frank’ s life spiraled into a cycle of alcohol and loneliness. Jacqueline now lives in a remote part of Donegal and has chosen a life away from people, away from crowds. The once vivacious eleven-year old now lost to a different time.
Jacqueline comes home on a very rare visit to her father. She spends a few very special days with him before his untimely passing. As she struggles to deal with her loss, she happens upon an unexpected piece of information that takes her right back to that fateful day in 1976 when Lilly disappeared.
So begins a journey for Jacqueline and she follows a trail that takes her to unexpected places. She meets some fascinating characters along the way as she slowly unearths the truth. But digging up old memories has it’s consequences and is Jacqueline willing to face up to a truth that has remained hidden for so long?
The Last Lost Girl is an enthralling read that takes the reader on an almost hypnotic journey. Being a child of the Seventies, the descriptions from that era evoked such strong personal memories. I closed my eyes and I was there. To me, as a reader, that is the sign of a powerful story. To be able to arouse such feelings from the written word is a wonderful talent for any writer to hold and Maria Hoey has this talent in abundance.
The pages of this novel are packed full with nostalgic imagery of a time past. One of the elements I personally loved throughout this trip down memory lane were the constant references to Lilly’s radio and the music playing on it. It was very easy to remember back and for that Maria Hoey…I thank you.
The story of Lilly and Jacqueline is a very emotional-filled pilgrimage. The title of the novel, The Last Lost Girl, will have many different interpretations for readers I’m sure, but for me this is Jacqueline’s story.
A soul-searching journey for the truth, that is packed full of nostalgia, with a heartfelt yearning for a life free from the baggage of the past…
I highly recommend…
'One hot summer,
One dark secret,
Unravelling the past can be dangerous….’
The Last Lost Girl is the debut novel from Irish writer Maria Hoey. Spanning thirty-seven years it tells the story of missing Festival Queen, Lilly Brennan in 1976 and the repercussions of this traumatic event on the lives of those closest to her.
1976
‘Even the tar on the road is sweating. Daddy says this is the hottest month of the hottest summer in living memory. Lily’s radio is playing “Young Hearts Run Free”'
The nostalgic atmosphere strikes the reader right from the opening page. The Last Lost Girl is the story of the Brennan family and how their world changed forever during the Summer of 1976. Three sisters, Gayle, Lilly and Jacqueline are all so very different. Gayle, the eldest, is only interested in running, Lilly is a self obsessed young lady on the cusp of those teenage years and Jacqueline, at eleven, looks on with envy and with a very inquisitive mind. Their parents, Frank and Stella are happy, with the usual challenges faced by any parents with three daughters. Life is good for the Brennans.
Lilly is a teenage fireball, completely self-absorbed, as many a teenager is, with her image, with boys being top of her agenda. A handful for her parents and at times quite snippy with her younger sister Jacqueline, Lilly pushes the boundaries. But one fateful evening, these boundaries get pushed a little too far and Lilly disappears.
What happened to Lilly remains a mystery. For Jacqueline, her life has passed her by in a blur. Her parent’s marriage disintegrated under the strain of Lilly’s disappearance and her sister, Gayle, married and moved to the UK. As the years moved on, her mother, Stella, passed away and Frank’ s life spiraled into a cycle of alcohol and loneliness. Jacqueline now lives in a remote part of Donegal and has chosen a life away from people, away from crowds. The once vivacious eleven-year old now lost to a different time.
Jacqueline comes home on a very rare visit to her father. She spends a few very special days with him before his untimely passing. As she struggles to deal with her loss, she happens upon an unexpected piece of information that takes her right back to that fateful day in 1976 when Lilly disappeared.
So begins a journey for Jacqueline and she follows a trail that takes her to unexpected places. She meets some fascinating characters along the way as she slowly unearths the truth. But digging up old memories has it’s consequences and is Jacqueline willing to face up to a truth that has remained hidden for so long?
The Last Lost Girl is an enthralling read that takes the reader on an almost hypnotic journey. Being a child of the Seventies, the descriptions from that era evoked such strong personal memories. I closed my eyes and I was there. To me, as a reader, that is the sign of a powerful story. To be able to arouse such feelings from the written word is a wonderful talent for any writer to hold and Maria Hoey has this talent in abundance.
The pages of this novel are packed full with nostalgic imagery of a time past. One of the elements I personally loved throughout this trip down memory lane were the constant references to Lilly’s radio and the music playing on it. It was very easy to remember back and for that Maria Hoey…I thank you.
The story of Lilly and Jacqueline is a very emotional-filled pilgrimage. The title of the novel, The Last Lost Girl, will have many different interpretations for readers I’m sure, but for me this is Jacqueline’s story.
A soul-searching journey for the truth, that is packed full of nostalgia, with a heartfelt yearning for a life free from the baggage of the past…
I highly recommend…
July 1, 2017
I was frustrated by this book. I didn't guess the whole truth about Lily, so that was a plus. Unfortunately, though, the big reveal was made in a disappointing manner. Not only was it a bit anticlimactic, but it seemed to render other sections of the book pointless.
My biggest problem with this book was that the characters were unlikeable, even before that fateful night. I couldn't sympathize with them, so I couldn't feel their grief. I was just an indifferent observer. Admittedly, by the end of the book Jacqueline appeared to be changing and maybe becoming a better person, but if only I could have liked her as a child, this book would have had a much greater emotional impact.
This was a quick read, though, and held my attention well enough.
Thank you to LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program for this ARC
My biggest problem with this book was that the characters were unlikeable, even before that fateful night. I couldn't sympathize with them, so I couldn't feel their grief. I was just an indifferent observer. Admittedly, by the end of the book Jacqueline appeared to be changing and maybe becoming a better person, but if only I could have liked her as a child, this book would have had a much greater emotional impact.
This was a quick read, though, and held my attention well enough.
Thank you to LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program for this ARC
March 15, 2020
A twisty tale full of turns
Five stars for the first time in a long time! A lot of books tend to let you down with the predictability but I can safely say this ending was a total shock. The story turns and moves so many times that it kept me enthralled. The start was a bit slow, but maybe I'm just a bad reader. It took me about a month just to get through the first 20% of the book but then I sped through the last 80% in a matter of days. Once it starts it doesn't let up. And for the first time in a long time, I found all the main characters to be likeable, which really adds to how the plot twists and turns.
Five stars for the first time in a long time! A lot of books tend to let you down with the predictability but I can safely say this ending was a total shock. The story turns and moves so many times that it kept me enthralled. The start was a bit slow, but maybe I'm just a bad reader. It took me about a month just to get through the first 20% of the book but then I sped through the last 80% in a matter of days. Once it starts it doesn't let up. And for the first time in a long time, I found all the main characters to be likeable, which really adds to how the plot twists and turns.
November 11, 2017
Lost girls
What a melancholy story. Lost girls, lost summer days, lost chances and choices - sad and still hopeful. I did enjoy it very much. The ending was twisty, but still satisfying. I will definitely read more of Ms. Hoey's tale.
What a melancholy story. Lost girls, lost summer days, lost chances and choices - sad and still hopeful. I did enjoy it very much. The ending was twisty, but still satisfying. I will definitely read more of Ms. Hoey's tale.
November 29, 2020
This was somewhere on Bookbub recommendations for me at some point, then showed up as a Bookbub $1.99 deal. There are a LOT of "missing girl" books out there right now and I like them when they aren't predictable.
This was not...unpredictable. But my biggest issue was that it was SLOW.
The book goes back and forth in time. To present day Jacqueline who is 50s or 60s and lives a pretty solitary life, flashing back to 10-11 yr old Jacqueline growing up with her sisters. The first third is present day Jacqueline visiting her dad and trying to help him in his hermit-like lifestyle, alternating with 10 yr old Jacqueline describing the dynamics in her family. She's a nosy, whiny brat, her oldest sister Lily is obnoxious and entitled, their dad is super strict with Lily and doesn't want her dating. This first third is not especially captivating. I didn't like any of the characters and found Gayle to be written inconsistently between past and present.
We know all along that past day Lily goes missing, but it takes until close to the end for her to actually go missing. The second third of the book flashes between more family drama in the past with Jacqueline launching a not-very-well defined meander for the truth in the present. She finds an inn with an unusual older lady in a small town populated by a few other unusual characters. She drinks a lot and mopes and her sister Gayle blows up her phone. She eats food and drinks wine and doesn't really make friends but learns some things about people. That's kind of it.
The last third Lily finally goes missing. Jacqueline finally sort of stumbles onto a lead that's maybe interesting. The whole thing wraps up really quickly in a way that wasn't surprising and doesn't feel very fulfilling. Jacqueline maybe sort of makes friends. The end.
For this type of novel, I preferred the fast paced "Emma in the Night" and the creative story telling methods in "All the Missing Girls."
This was not...unpredictable. But my biggest issue was that it was SLOW.
The book goes back and forth in time. To present day Jacqueline who is 50s or 60s and lives a pretty solitary life, flashing back to 10-11 yr old Jacqueline growing up with her sisters. The first third is present day Jacqueline visiting her dad and trying to help him in his hermit-like lifestyle, alternating with 10 yr old Jacqueline describing the dynamics in her family. She's a nosy, whiny brat, her oldest sister Lily is obnoxious and entitled, their dad is super strict with Lily and doesn't want her dating. This first third is not especially captivating. I didn't like any of the characters and found Gayle to be written inconsistently between past and present.
We know all along that past day Lily goes missing, but it takes until close to the end for her to actually go missing. The second third of the book flashes between more family drama in the past with Jacqueline launching a not-very-well defined meander for the truth in the present. She finds an inn with an unusual older lady in a small town populated by a few other unusual characters. She drinks a lot and mopes and her sister Gayle blows up her phone. She eats food and drinks wine and doesn't really make friends but learns some things about people. That's kind of it.
The last third Lily finally goes missing. Jacqueline finally sort of stumbles onto a lead that's maybe interesting. The whole thing wraps up really quickly in a way that wasn't surprising and doesn't feel very fulfilling. Jacqueline maybe sort of makes friends. The end.
For this type of novel, I preferred the fast paced "Emma in the Night" and the creative story telling methods in "All the Missing Girls."
July 23, 2017
This is a beautifully written exploration of grief and loss. Jacqueline is determined to find out what happened to her sister, Lilly, who went missing years ago. Still a young child at the time, she has in many ways been frozen at that point time, unable to move forward until she discovers the truth. This story is as much about what happened to Lilly, as it is Jacqueline's journey to find herself. Alternating between the past and present, the story slowly unfolds to reveal a psychological study of a family that is struggling with the normal pressures of family-life before and after a shattering loss.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in a LibraryThing giveaway, in exchange for a fair review.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in a LibraryThing giveaway, in exchange for a fair review.
July 26, 2017
Amazing Story
This is the sort of story I love, a compelling family story , a decades old mystery, characters I care about, a real page turner. I almost hated to finish it. I loved it that much.
This is the sort of story I love, a compelling family story , a decades old mystery, characters I care about, a real page turner. I almost hated to finish it. I loved it that much.
September 7, 2017
This novel kept me guessing until the final chapters. As a first time author, Maria Hoey, has captured the formula for an enticing mystery. I can't wait for her next book to see how she develops. This lovely Irish author has won a fan in me.
August 12, 2017
Really enjoyed reading this book, a real page turner, I couldn't put it down.
August 17, 2017
The Last Lost Girl by Maria Hoey is a highly recommended family drama and mystery set in Ireland during two time periods.
In the summer of 1976 Jacqueline Brennan's fifteen-year-old sister, Lilly, disappeared. Of the Brennan girls, Lilly is the beautiful older sister, Gayle is the middle sister, and eleven-year-old Jacqueline is the youngest. During 1976, Lilly is chaffing under her father's rules and is secretly seeing a boy who works at the carnival. Much like any younger child, Jacqueline secretly watches her older sister, trying to capture clues about what she is doing, thinking, and planning.
Jumping thirty seven year later, now Jacqueline is returning to her childhood home in Blackberry Lane to visit her father for several weeks. Gayle is usually the one who regularly visits him and takes care of him, especially during the anniversary of Lilly's disappearance, but she has other pressing needs with her own family so it falls to Jacqueline to stay with him. While in her old home events happen that lead her to search for the truth about what happened to Lilly. Jacqueline has always believed that Lilly ran away and may still be alive somewhere today. The police never found a body and there were no arrests. After finding an old postcard at her father's house, she sets off to see if it holds a clue to Lilly's whereabouts.
The Last Lost Girl is a well written family drama with a narrative that jumps back and forth between the two time periods and what was happening in the Brennan family, including the increasingly rebellious behavior of Lilly. While the question of the mystery is captivating, it also drags out a bit when Jacqueline takes off for England in hopes of clues or information about what happened to Lilly. This section is more a time of self-discovery for Jacqueline more than any in-depth fact-gathering mission.
While the character of Jacqueline and the fifteen-year-old Lilly are well developed, neither are particularly sympathetic characters. Young Jacqueline is portrayed as a typical younger sister snooping on her older sister, who resents her and her snooping. Sibling rivalry, and secrets, abound, as does some favoritism by the parents. Jacqueline does grow as a person, which is a plus.
The ending provides closure for the mystery, but I found it to be too abrupt and a little unbelievable. The Last Lost Girl is really more about Jacqueline growing as a person than a thrilling mystery. What happened to Lilly is supposedly the big question, but Jacqueline's sudden search almost seems too contrived. As a single, independent woman she could have searched for her sister long before this and, after asking a few questions, would have visited the same place in England without the discovery of the postcard. Read this one for the great writing, and the self-discovery rather than the mystery.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of the publisher/author via Library Thing.
In the summer of 1976 Jacqueline Brennan's fifteen-year-old sister, Lilly, disappeared. Of the Brennan girls, Lilly is the beautiful older sister, Gayle is the middle sister, and eleven-year-old Jacqueline is the youngest. During 1976, Lilly is chaffing under her father's rules and is secretly seeing a boy who works at the carnival. Much like any younger child, Jacqueline secretly watches her older sister, trying to capture clues about what she is doing, thinking, and planning.
Jumping thirty seven year later, now Jacqueline is returning to her childhood home in Blackberry Lane to visit her father for several weeks. Gayle is usually the one who regularly visits him and takes care of him, especially during the anniversary of Lilly's disappearance, but she has other pressing needs with her own family so it falls to Jacqueline to stay with him. While in her old home events happen that lead her to search for the truth about what happened to Lilly. Jacqueline has always believed that Lilly ran away and may still be alive somewhere today. The police never found a body and there were no arrests. After finding an old postcard at her father's house, she sets off to see if it holds a clue to Lilly's whereabouts.
The Last Lost Girl is a well written family drama with a narrative that jumps back and forth between the two time periods and what was happening in the Brennan family, including the increasingly rebellious behavior of Lilly. While the question of the mystery is captivating, it also drags out a bit when Jacqueline takes off for England in hopes of clues or information about what happened to Lilly. This section is more a time of self-discovery for Jacqueline more than any in-depth fact-gathering mission.
While the character of Jacqueline and the fifteen-year-old Lilly are well developed, neither are particularly sympathetic characters. Young Jacqueline is portrayed as a typical younger sister snooping on her older sister, who resents her and her snooping. Sibling rivalry, and secrets, abound, as does some favoritism by the parents. Jacqueline does grow as a person, which is a plus.
The ending provides closure for the mystery, but I found it to be too abrupt and a little unbelievable. The Last Lost Girl is really more about Jacqueline growing as a person than a thrilling mystery. What happened to Lilly is supposedly the big question, but Jacqueline's sudden search almost seems too contrived. As a single, independent woman she could have searched for her sister long before this and, after asking a few questions, would have visited the same place in England without the discovery of the postcard. Read this one for the great writing, and the self-discovery rather than the mystery.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of the publisher/author via Library Thing.
June 11, 2023
I am really glad I stuck with this book and finished it to the end. I got off to a rocky start, finding the content of the plot hitting a little too close to home. Not referencing to the missing sister Lilly, but to the caretaking by the protagonist Jacqueline of her aging father. Having just lost my own father a few months ago, I found the author’s depiction of the day to day administrations and care by the daughter to be too sad and too fresh in my own mind. I shed many tears through that passage of the story, but found it a bit comforting at the same time…grief and processing it is so personal and sometimes unexplainable.
So, after steeling myself through that and getting on with the story, I found I really enjoyed it. The author’s words provided me with an excellent visual of the family home on Blackberry Lane, as well as the magic of the local fair and the English beach town, somewhat remote, but also filled with life and characters of interest.
The story was well laid out and the ending was unexpected to me, but also provided again for a very deep human story…leaving me reflecting on the mess we humans get ourselves into.
So, after steeling myself through that and getting on with the story, I found I really enjoyed it. The author’s words provided me with an excellent visual of the family home on Blackberry Lane, as well as the magic of the local fair and the English beach town, somewhat remote, but also filled with life and characters of interest.
The story was well laid out and the ending was unexpected to me, but also provided again for a very deep human story…leaving me reflecting on the mess we humans get ourselves into.
March 11, 2022
In 1976, the disappearance of Lilly Brennan, eldest of the three Brennan girls at 15 alters the course of her family's life forever. Thirty-seven years later, youngest sister Jacqueline embarks upon a journey to find out what happened to her sister when she stumbles upon a clue in her childhood home.
Each chapter of the book alternates between that fateful summer when Jacqueline was 11 and the present day when she is in her late 40's. Through her child's eyes, we see life in the Brennan house that summer. Jacqueline, the youngest is more interested in reading books than anything else, apart from coveting Lilly's radio.
Jacqueline and middle sister Gayle, who is into running, are overshadowed by Lilly's popularity and the ongoing conflict between Lilly and their strict father as he attempts to keep her away from the attention of teenage boys.
In the 1976 chapters, we see a glimpse of who Jacqueline might have become, had her sister not vanished, leaving the family in turmoil, their lives never to be the same again. In the chapters titled After, we follow that altered and changed Jacqueline as she navigates her way through discovering her sister's fate, meeting along the way some curious and endearing characters.
I very much enjoyed this book, it is written so well as to have me feel as if I was there, particularly a favorite part describing a day at the seaside with Jacqueline, a young boy called Jimmy and an eccentric character known as Magpie. I felt as if I was walking beside them it was that vivid in my mind.
Each chapter of the book alternates between that fateful summer when Jacqueline was 11 and the present day when she is in her late 40's. Through her child's eyes, we see life in the Brennan house that summer. Jacqueline, the youngest is more interested in reading books than anything else, apart from coveting Lilly's radio.
Jacqueline and middle sister Gayle, who is into running, are overshadowed by Lilly's popularity and the ongoing conflict between Lilly and their strict father as he attempts to keep her away from the attention of teenage boys.
In the 1976 chapters, we see a glimpse of who Jacqueline might have become, had her sister not vanished, leaving the family in turmoil, their lives never to be the same again. In the chapters titled After, we follow that altered and changed Jacqueline as she navigates her way through discovering her sister's fate, meeting along the way some curious and endearing characters.
I very much enjoyed this book, it is written so well as to have me feel as if I was there, particularly a favorite part describing a day at the seaside with Jacqueline, a young boy called Jimmy and an eccentric character known as Magpie. I felt as if I was walking beside them it was that vivid in my mind.
October 5, 2018
This book pretty much had me hooked from the beginning. I found myself really wanting to know what was going to happen and if anybody was ever going to see Lily again. I had many thoughts of what was going to be the outcome, but none of them proved to be correct. I was a little indifferent about how it did end, however, I wasn't disappointed. I did feel that there were a few things that didn't really need to be added to the story, but it was an enjoyable read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2020
An easygoing read with a punch
The two timeline story with such interesting characters just meanders along. You know there is a hidden story, but are just too engrossed in what is happening in the here and now to worry about the past, and you are not even sure if what happened was the most important part. Then, boom, in a quick coup de grace, it all comes out in a surprise reveal. A very satisfying read,
The two timeline story with such interesting characters just meanders along. You know there is a hidden story, but are just too engrossed in what is happening in the here and now to worry about the past, and you are not even sure if what happened was the most important part. Then, boom, in a quick coup de grace, it all comes out in a surprise reveal. A very satisfying read,
October 27, 2019
Terrific Novel
This is a fast paced and beautifully written book. Not truly a mystery, more than that, it is a family story of secrets withheld and the repercussions. The author is wonderfully talented. Her descriptions of scenery and people are dead on... so well imagined. I loved it.
This is a fast paced and beautifully written book. Not truly a mystery, more than that, it is a family story of secrets withheld and the repercussions. The author is wonderfully talented. Her descriptions of scenery and people are dead on... so well imagined. I loved it.
November 10, 2019
I guess I’m in the minority on this one. It wasn’t bad, but it certainly wasn’t good. I just didn’t like any of the characters. The young Jaqueline is not anymore like able than the adult version. I felt this way about the entire family. Overall, the entire story and atmosphere is depressing and hopeless. If you’re looking for an enjoyable read to escape the day, this is not it.
December 21, 2017
Interesting. Intriguing. A fine read for wasting a weekend avoiding responsibility. Not my favorite for the year but certainly not my least favorite. It had a few irritating quirks for me, like the excessive use of first names. The secrets and mystery seems a bit convoluted but not bad.
January 3, 2020
Unpredictable & Mesmerizing
Suspenseful & filled with unexpected twists & turns, I was unable to put this book down & stayed up two nights until 3 am to finish it.
Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys a good thriller.
Suspenseful & filled with unexpected twists & turns, I was unable to put this book down & stayed up two nights until 3 am to finish it.
Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys a good thriller.
May 18, 2020
Sisters: With love till death do us part.
An unusual mystery with a even more unusual discovery. The flashbacks made it somewhat difficult to realize how typical family relationships could become an entwined search for the lost sister.
An unusual mystery with a even more unusual discovery. The flashbacks made it somewhat difficult to realize how typical family relationships could become an entwined search for the lost sister.
August 31, 2020
I read “On bone bridge & The last girl Lost”. I loved them both. These novels are so captivating & keeps you in supple season until the end.
BRILLANT Author. Both books are a must read. Rating should be higher than a five.
BRILLANT Author. Both books are a must read. Rating should be higher than a five.
May 4, 2019
This book was dark. There was mystery and paranoia in each character you meet. There is closure by the end but the trail is long and your boots are heavy by the time you reach your answer.
August 7, 2019
This is an extremely well written story and delivers on plot and character.... It's so evocative of Ireland, family relationships, teenage years and how the past clings to us. Highly recommend.
December 6, 2019
Slow with disappointing ending. Family is even more dysfunctional than you might think.
January 8, 2020
This was a very interesting story. It was a bit drawn out in places, but overall good. The ending was a bit of a surprise. Didn't see that coming at all!
August 25, 2020
I liked the twist!
October 9, 2020
I loved this book. Written over two timescales it tells the story of a missing girl. Twisty and satisfying
January 9, 2021
I thought the story with the 2 timelines was good
But the twist about the sisters actual death was bizarre
But the twist about the sisters actual death was bizarre
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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