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Oonagh O'Neil #1
The Lost Children
First in a gripping new thriller series featuring investigative journalist Oonagh O'Neil. If you love Broadchurch you'll be completely hooked.
TV journalist and media darling Oonagh O'Neil can sense a sinister coverup from the moment an elderly priest dies on the altar of his Glasgow church. His death comes as she is about to expose the shocking truth behind the closure of a Magdalene Institution. The Church has already tried to suppress the story. Is someone also covering their tracks?
DI Alec Davies is appointed to investigate the priest's death. He and Oonagh go way back. Oonagh now faces the biggest decision of her life. But will it be hers to make? What secrets lie behind the derelict Institution's doors? What sparked the infamous three-day riot that closed it? And what happened to the three Maggies who vowed to stay friends forever? From Ireland to Scotland. From life to death.
TV journalist and media darling Oonagh O'Neil can sense a sinister coverup from the moment an elderly priest dies on the altar of his Glasgow church. His death comes as she is about to expose the shocking truth behind the closure of a Magdalene Institution. The Church has already tried to suppress the story. Is someone also covering their tracks?
DI Alec Davies is appointed to investigate the priest's death. He and Oonagh go way back. Oonagh now faces the biggest decision of her life. But will it be hers to make? What secrets lie behind the derelict Institution's doors? What sparked the infamous three-day riot that closed it? And what happened to the three Maggies who vowed to stay friends forever? From Ireland to Scotland. From life to death.
466 pages, ebook
First published April 1, 2018
147 people are currently reading
380 people want to read
About the author
Theresa Talbot
6 books23 followersTheresa Talbot is a BBC broadcaster and freelance producer. A former radio news editor, she also hosted The Beechgrove Potting Shed on BBC Radio Scotland, but for many she wil be most familiar as the voice of the station's Traffic & Travel. Late 2014 saw the publication of her first book - This Is What I Look Like - a humorous memoir covering everything from working with Andy Williams to rescuing chickens and discovering nuns hidden in gardens. She's much in demand at book festivals, both as an author and as a chairperson. Penance is Theresa's debut crime novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
April 17, 2018
4☆ A Gripping Read
The Lost Children is a story about the Magdalene Children and the connections between the Church and the vulnerable young girls forced into the laundry rooms.
I have read and seen the films about the Magdalene Children and the abuse and torture the young girls suffered at the hands of the Nuns and church.
This story was a little different.
Journalist Oonagh O’Neil was working on uncovering the truth behind the Institutions.
When Father Kennedy died suddenly questions were raised as to what his involvement was with the Institutions.
The story is written in two timelines. Present day and then the stories of the young girls in the past.
I preferred reading about the stories of the young girls. It was raw and heartbreaking and very real. The stories drew me in and I felt there pain.
I was eagerly flipping through pages to see what would happen next.
The present timeline stories seemed a little disjointed at times and it seemed to skip around the storylines.
I didn't particularly like Oonagh she came across as spoilt and a little self obsessed.
Father Tom Findlay is Father Kennedy's stand in. But there is something not quiet right about him. Was he involved in Kennedy's death as it was suspicious?
He has secrets.
I did really enjoy this book I just thought the past stories strengthened the plot so much.
It was gripping, thrilling, exciting, lots of secrets and lies to uncover.
Thank you to Aria for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my blog website:
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...
The Lost Children is a story about the Magdalene Children and the connections between the Church and the vulnerable young girls forced into the laundry rooms.
I have read and seen the films about the Magdalene Children and the abuse and torture the young girls suffered at the hands of the Nuns and church.
This story was a little different.
Journalist Oonagh O’Neil was working on uncovering the truth behind the Institutions.
When Father Kennedy died suddenly questions were raised as to what his involvement was with the Institutions.
The story is written in two timelines. Present day and then the stories of the young girls in the past.
I preferred reading about the stories of the young girls. It was raw and heartbreaking and very real. The stories drew me in and I felt there pain.
I was eagerly flipping through pages to see what would happen next.
The present timeline stories seemed a little disjointed at times and it seemed to skip around the storylines.
I didn't particularly like Oonagh she came across as spoilt and a little self obsessed.
Father Tom Findlay is Father Kennedy's stand in. But there is something not quiet right about him. Was he involved in Kennedy's death as it was suspicious?
He has secrets.
I did really enjoy this book I just thought the past stories strengthened the plot so much.
It was gripping, thrilling, exciting, lots of secrets and lies to uncover.
Thank you to Aria for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my blog website:
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...
March 30, 2018
This is a gripping new series by Theresa Talbot but it didn’t do anything for me. I just did not connect to the characters. I tried, I really did. Thank you for this complimentary copy of this book from Aria through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
June 5, 2018
Most people catch up on their reading on holiday. I never have time to read on mine so I bought this to read on plane journeys. It’s set in Glasgow in 2000 so I enjoyed knowing all the locations (although some have either moved since or been demolished) and really enjoyed the Glasgow humour. The dry wit of the hard-boiled lead detective, Davies, had me often laughing out loud, although he is a bit of a caricature and it was hard to stop him morphing into Taggart at times!
The storyline centres on the Magdalene Laundries, now infamous for their abuse of the young girls sent there, and particularly on Glasgow’s Magadalene Institution (for the Repression of Vice and for the Reformation of Penitent Females) in Lochburn House, Maryhill, and the riots that led to its closure in 1958. The underlying theme of the book is challenging and emotional. As a crime thriller / murder mystery it had plenty of twists to keep me interested. I really enjoyed it and will look forward to the author’s next book.
The storyline centres on the Magdalene Laundries, now infamous for their abuse of the young girls sent there, and particularly on Glasgow’s Magadalene Institution (for the Repression of Vice and for the Reformation of Penitent Females) in Lochburn House, Maryhill, and the riots that led to its closure in 1958. The underlying theme of the book is challenging and emotional. As a crime thriller / murder mystery it had plenty of twists to keep me interested. I really enjoyed it and will look forward to the author’s next book.
March 8, 2018
(Previously published under the title PENANCE (UK)
First in a gripping new thriller series featuring investigative journalist Oonagh O'Neil. Travel from Ireland to Scotland.
When an elderly priest drops dead on the altar of his church, it is thought to be a heart attack. But the medical examiner finds that the priest had in his body a substance that he was highly allergic to. Was it an accident? Suicide? Murder?
Oonagh O'Neil is a TV journalist looking into the truth behind the closure of Magdalene Institution. The priest had called her the night before he died ... so did someone want him silenced before he could talk to her?
With a little nudge from Oonagh, DI Alec Davies is leading an investigation into the priest's death. He and Oonagh share a history, but will they be able to work together to expose some long-standing secrets?
The author, herself, is a journalist, so what you get is a very credible story line with believable characters. Oonaugh is a complicated woman with some personal issues that need some work. She's intelligent and knows what she wants ..and usually always gets it.
The book moves from the present to the past and back again. It's written in such a way that it is easily followed and not confusing.
This is the beginning of a new series and I look forward to seeing Oonagh's adventures in the future.
Many thanks to the author / Aria / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
First in a gripping new thriller series featuring investigative journalist Oonagh O'Neil. Travel from Ireland to Scotland.
When an elderly priest drops dead on the altar of his church, it is thought to be a heart attack. But the medical examiner finds that the priest had in his body a substance that he was highly allergic to. Was it an accident? Suicide? Murder?
Oonagh O'Neil is a TV journalist looking into the truth behind the closure of Magdalene Institution. The priest had called her the night before he died ... so did someone want him silenced before he could talk to her?
With a little nudge from Oonagh, DI Alec Davies is leading an investigation into the priest's death. He and Oonagh share a history, but will they be able to work together to expose some long-standing secrets?
The author, herself, is a journalist, so what you get is a very credible story line with believable characters. Oonaugh is a complicated woman with some personal issues that need some work. She's intelligent and knows what she wants ..and usually always gets it.
The book moves from the present to the past and back again. It's written in such a way that it is easily followed and not confusing.
This is the beginning of a new series and I look forward to seeing Oonagh's adventures in the future.
Many thanks to the author / Aria / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
December 1, 2020
I’m sorry that it took me so long to get to this book. I was riveted from start to finish and I’ve already loaded the second and third book in the series on my Kindle.
The dual timelines were inextricably linked in a fashion that was believable and interesting. I was consumed by the story of the Magdalene girls and although it was difficult to read of their plight, it was a part of history that shouldn’t be forgotten. I learned that the Magdalene Institution was not only in Ireland, but in Glasgow, Scotland as well.
The series protagonist, Oonagh O’Neil, was a character that I immediately bonded with. For some reason she put me in mind of Susie Steiner’s character, Manon Bradshaw. From me, that is high praise indeed.
This well written crime novel touches on some difficult themes of domestic abuse, self-harm, journalistic ethics, and the corruption within the Catholic Church.
Highly recommended to those who enjoy well written crime fiction with a hefty dose of history thrown in for good measure. This was an impressive series debut!
The dual timelines were inextricably linked in a fashion that was believable and interesting. I was consumed by the story of the Magdalene girls and although it was difficult to read of their plight, it was a part of history that shouldn’t be forgotten. I learned that the Magdalene Institution was not only in Ireland, but in Glasgow, Scotland as well.
The series protagonist, Oonagh O’Neil, was a character that I immediately bonded with. For some reason she put me in mind of Susie Steiner’s character, Manon Bradshaw. From me, that is high praise indeed.
This well written crime novel touches on some difficult themes of domestic abuse, self-harm, journalistic ethics, and the corruption within the Catholic Church.
Highly recommended to those who enjoy well written crime fiction with a hefty dose of history thrown in for good measure. This was an impressive series debut!
April 21, 2018
A fantastic first in a series from Theresa Talbot. Rather than seeing this mystery/thriller through the eyes of law enforcement, instead we see through Oonagh's eyes - a journalist who is looking into the Magdalene children and how they were forced into asylums by their family and the Catholic church where they were tortured, stripped of their dignity and suffered for their "sins"... mostly created by their own families. Sweep them under the rug. Sell their children. Out of sight. Out of mind. But what happens when they rebel and secrets come out YEARS later.
This definitely does not shed a good light on the Catholic church, priests and the means that people went to in the 1950s (really not that long ago) to put problem children in their place. There were some harrowing moments and hard reads in which we see the children abused, physically and sexually, by their own families. Tossed aside like bad meat. Told they were the sinners. How many times do you have to hear such things before you begin to believe it's true? Can you ever forget and let go of the torture that you went through - both mentally and physically?
Oonagh herself is going through her own issues - pregnant with her married boyfriend's baby. Unwanted, she questions her own decisions and remember how her father told her she'd know the Devil when she saw him. I personally love Oonagh - her tenacity, her flaws, her inability to back down and let go of this story - even almost at the cost of her own life.
Looking forward to book two and continuing on in this series.
This definitely does not shed a good light on the Catholic church, priests and the means that people went to in the 1950s (really not that long ago) to put problem children in their place. There were some harrowing moments and hard reads in which we see the children abused, physically and sexually, by their own families. Tossed aside like bad meat. Told they were the sinners. How many times do you have to hear such things before you begin to believe it's true? Can you ever forget and let go of the torture that you went through - both mentally and physically?
Oonagh herself is going through her own issues - pregnant with her married boyfriend's baby. Unwanted, she questions her own decisions and remember how her father told her she'd know the Devil when she saw him. I personally love Oonagh - her tenacity, her flaws, her inability to back down and let go of this story - even almost at the cost of her own life.
Looking forward to book two and continuing on in this series.
May 8, 2018
That was one very complex ride
I just finished the story and I am sitting here kind of stunned wondering how to review it. It's emotional, depressing and quite disturbing. Just the thought of what those 'Magdalene ' girls went through is enough to blow your mind. I was raised Catholic and the whole question of Limbo and baptism was a part of that curriculum. I was taught that. I didn't know it had changed. This story takes you on a roller coaster of emotions ranging from disbelief to anger. There are parts that drag and quite honestly I still have questions that were not answered and small plot holes that have me bewildered. But I totally loved it. I honestly did not really see the twist coming. I was clueless. It was a maze of stories that didn't really come together until the end and when it did it broke my heart. Those poor women. This book has to be experienced first hand. I will definitely read this author again.
I just finished the story and I am sitting here kind of stunned wondering how to review it. It's emotional, depressing and quite disturbing. Just the thought of what those 'Magdalene ' girls went through is enough to blow your mind. I was raised Catholic and the whole question of Limbo and baptism was a part of that curriculum. I was taught that. I didn't know it had changed. This story takes you on a roller coaster of emotions ranging from disbelief to anger. There are parts that drag and quite honestly I still have questions that were not answered and small plot holes that have me bewildered. But I totally loved it. I honestly did not really see the twist coming. I was clueless. It was a maze of stories that didn't really come together until the end and when it did it broke my heart. Those poor women. This book has to be experienced first hand. I will definitely read this author again.
May 30, 2018
Glasgow investigative reporter Oonagh O'Neil takes on the sordid history of the Magdalene Institute and the Catholic church back in 2000 when many revelations came out. Taut thriller with good characters that I hope to see in further books.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 3, 2018
The first in a series involving journalist Oonagh O'Neil and detective Davies this was a very emotional read. I had read about the Magdalene homes and laundries and thought this was a horrific way for the Church to behave. There are no excuses when it is said it was symptomatic of their times. Compassion or sympathy as a human being was never part of these places and this story revolves around the children who were born, forcibly adopted and lost forever.
Oonagh knows that something is not quite right when Father Watson collapses on the altar of his church. A cranky priest with whom she has had run ins before, Oonagh is perturbed because she was to have an interview with him on the day he died and she just has an instinct that he was about to go out on a big reveal. Was his death a cover up. When attacks escalate and Oonagh herself is a victim narrowly escaping death the Inspector does know that things are not what they seem. Having to tackle an influential church is a daunting task and one that could get him buried as well.
The story tracks girls in general and one in particular - and the ramifications and trauma to the mind decades later. Unraveling it so that justice of some kind could be obtained for even one woman and some peace of mind is Oonagh's own aim. When her own convoluted love life gets in the way, it adds to the emotional roller coaster she is on.
Brilliant novel.
Oonagh knows that something is not quite right when Father Watson collapses on the altar of his church. A cranky priest with whom she has had run ins before, Oonagh is perturbed because she was to have an interview with him on the day he died and she just has an instinct that he was about to go out on a big reveal. Was his death a cover up. When attacks escalate and Oonagh herself is a victim narrowly escaping death the Inspector does know that things are not what they seem. Having to tackle an influential church is a daunting task and one that could get him buried as well.
The story tracks girls in general and one in particular - and the ramifications and trauma to the mind decades later. Unraveling it so that justice of some kind could be obtained for even one woman and some peace of mind is Oonagh's own aim. When her own convoluted love life gets in the way, it adds to the emotional roller coaster she is on.
Brilliant novel.
October 30, 2018
THE LOST CHILDREN
(Also published as PENANCE)
(Oonagh O’Neil: #1)
Written by Theresa Talbot
APRIL 1st, 2018; Head of Zeus/Aria (466 Pages)
Genre: series, fiction, mystery, historical, Scotland, religion, journalism, adoption
RATING: 3 Stars
This is journalist, Theresa Talbot's first novel, and it is set in Scotland/Ireland 2000, and alternates between 1958. I really liked the characters, Oonagh, Alec and Tom, and am hoping we see more of the latter two in the next book. My only issue with this book and the writing was that it was too much filler and detail. There were chapters that could have been whittled down or deleted. Instead of building suspense it just slowed the book down. We have stuff going on in the past and "present day" in the novel but at times instead of tying together you feel like you aren't sure where it is going. The ending comes to the reader a bit sooner but that is because Talbot unpacks and ties of ending in a linear way - which was not a bad thing. I am ready for book two (slated for September 2018) and see what comes Oonagh's way. So much happened to her book one, you only hope things look up for her, but not too much for the sake of the story, lol.
***I received an eARC from the PUBLISHER via NETGALLEY***
My Novelesque Blog
(Also published as PENANCE)
(Oonagh O’Neil: #1)
Written by Theresa Talbot
APRIL 1st, 2018; Head of Zeus/Aria (466 Pages)
Genre: series, fiction, mystery, historical, Scotland, religion, journalism, adoption
RATING: 3 Stars
This is journalist, Theresa Talbot's first novel, and it is set in Scotland/Ireland 2000, and alternates between 1958. I really liked the characters, Oonagh, Alec and Tom, and am hoping we see more of the latter two in the next book. My only issue with this book and the writing was that it was too much filler and detail. There were chapters that could have been whittled down or deleted. Instead of building suspense it just slowed the book down. We have stuff going on in the past and "present day" in the novel but at times instead of tying together you feel like you aren't sure where it is going. The ending comes to the reader a bit sooner but that is because Talbot unpacks and ties of ending in a linear way - which was not a bad thing. I am ready for book two (slated for September 2018) and see what comes Oonagh's way. So much happened to her book one, you only hope things look up for her, but not too much for the sake of the story, lol.
***I received an eARC from the PUBLISHER via NETGALLEY***
My Novelesque Blog
April 25, 2018
Mysteries linking present crimes to dark chapter in human history have always had a strange appeal for me, perhaps because it is interesting how the echoes of the past still reverberate and affect people today. In The Lost Children, Talbot bravely tackles one of the darkest chapters in Ireland and Scotland’s history – that of the Magdalen institutes, asylums for “fallen women”, girls pregnant out of wedlock or troublesome for society or the church in other ways. It is frightening to know that there were several hundred of these terrible institutions in England alone, and that the idea was so appealing to society that several other countries soon followed suit! Although I have read previous novels with similar themes, Talbot has a very unique voice and seamlessly weaves her tale into the present in a way that was both intriguing and chilling.
As expected, the theme of the Magdalen women and their lost babies was heartbreaking and infuriating, especially knowing that these events were still occurring in living history. According to the history books, the Magdalen Institution in Glasgow operated unchecked until 1958! Irene’s fate made me want to weep and wail in anguish, with anger welling at the unfairness of it all and the smug attitude of other characters in regards to her plight. It is always a credit to an author for being able to evoke such a visceral reaction in her readers!
I liked Oonagh O’Neill, Talbot’s gutsy and complex heroine – even though her taste in men was terrible! Perhaps this was one of the reasons the plight of the Magdalen women was so close to her heart. Unlike our typical fictional detective, Oonagh is an investigative journalist who is not easily intimidated or put off her scent. With a sometimes abrasive and secretive manner that hints at secrets of her own, Oonagh makes for an interesting main protagonist for other books to come in the series. I also expect to see her friend Tom back in future books, who provides quite a unique POV that made for interesting reading, giving the subject manner.
Talbot’s career as a journalist stays her in good stead as she provides a solid background to her story, and her passion for her subject is obvious in the sensitivity with which she presents Irene’s chapters. In an interview about her novel, Talbot stated that she finds it distressing that no one was ever brought to trial over the injustices inflicted on the innocent women incarcerated in the Magdalen Institutions, and that society turned a blind eye on the crimes committed to them. Even though her characters are fictional, she has used her book to give those victims a voice and to bring their plight to our attention. The paragraph about baby Patricia had me in tears and I felt like my heart was bleeding! Due to the subject matter, The Lost Girls is a somewhat sad and bleak story that prompts reflection about crimes committed in the past and how they affect generations to come. Tying this historical component to a present day murder gave it an extra twist that lovers of crime fiction will enjoy.
Whilst somewhat bleak and tragic, The Lost Children will appeal to lovers of crime with a historical context and readers who enjoy a strong female protagonist with a passion for justice and the courage to stand up for the underdog.
3.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and Aria for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
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As expected, the theme of the Magdalen women and their lost babies was heartbreaking and infuriating, especially knowing that these events were still occurring in living history. According to the history books, the Magdalen Institution in Glasgow operated unchecked until 1958! Irene’s fate made me want to weep and wail in anguish, with anger welling at the unfairness of it all and the smug attitude of other characters in regards to her plight. It is always a credit to an author for being able to evoke such a visceral reaction in her readers!
I liked Oonagh O’Neill, Talbot’s gutsy and complex heroine – even though her taste in men was terrible! Perhaps this was one of the reasons the plight of the Magdalen women was so close to her heart. Unlike our typical fictional detective, Oonagh is an investigative journalist who is not easily intimidated or put off her scent. With a sometimes abrasive and secretive manner that hints at secrets of her own, Oonagh makes for an interesting main protagonist for other books to come in the series. I also expect to see her friend Tom back in future books, who provides quite a unique POV that made for interesting reading, giving the subject manner.
Talbot’s career as a journalist stays her in good stead as she provides a solid background to her story, and her passion for her subject is obvious in the sensitivity with which she presents Irene’s chapters. In an interview about her novel, Talbot stated that she finds it distressing that no one was ever brought to trial over the injustices inflicted on the innocent women incarcerated in the Magdalen Institutions, and that society turned a blind eye on the crimes committed to them. Even though her characters are fictional, she has used her book to give those victims a voice and to bring their plight to our attention. The paragraph about baby Patricia had me in tears and I felt like my heart was bleeding! Due to the subject matter, The Lost Girls is a somewhat sad and bleak story that prompts reflection about crimes committed in the past and how they affect generations to come. Tying this historical component to a present day murder gave it an extra twist that lovers of crime fiction will enjoy.
Whilst somewhat bleak and tragic, The Lost Children will appeal to lovers of crime with a historical context and readers who enjoy a strong female protagonist with a passion for justice and the courage to stand up for the underdog.
3.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and Aria for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
*blog* *facebook* *instagram*
March 13, 2018
I would like to thank Netgalley and Aria for an advance copy of The Lost Children, the first novel to feature Glasgow based investigative journalist Oonagh O'Neill.
When elderly priest, Father Kennedy, dies at the altar Oonagh suspects foul play because he had something to tell her about, she thinks, her investigation into the Magdalene laundries and he has refused to co-operate with her before. Oonagh's friend, DI Alec Davies, takes charge of the investigation.
I enjoyed The Lost Children, not least because it is set in my hometown and it adds a certain something to the read when you can identify the streets and locations named. The plot is fairly complicated with a host of suspects and different motivations. It may just be my mood but I found disentangling some of the twists difficult, if not incomprehensible at times. It does, however, have a well disguised perpetrator and an unusual motive.
The narrative and timeline slip between Oonagh's present day account, well near enough as it is set in 2000, and Irène Connelly' experiences in the Glasgow Magdalene laundry in 1958. Without overly politicising the subject Ms Talbot does an excellent job of describing the conditions there - horrifying is being kind about them and the Church's desire to cover it up as much as possible, including the usual excuse of times were different. It makes for very interesting, if repulsive, reading.
I must admit that I did not find Oonagh a particularly likeable protagonist. She is a bit of a princess, prone to hissy fits when things don't suit her, and extremely secretive for various reasons. On the plus side she can be empathetic to victims but I never knew if it was genuine.
The Lost Children is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
When elderly priest, Father Kennedy, dies at the altar Oonagh suspects foul play because he had something to tell her about, she thinks, her investigation into the Magdalene laundries and he has refused to co-operate with her before. Oonagh's friend, DI Alec Davies, takes charge of the investigation.
I enjoyed The Lost Children, not least because it is set in my hometown and it adds a certain something to the read when you can identify the streets and locations named. The plot is fairly complicated with a host of suspects and different motivations. It may just be my mood but I found disentangling some of the twists difficult, if not incomprehensible at times. It does, however, have a well disguised perpetrator and an unusual motive.
The narrative and timeline slip between Oonagh's present day account, well near enough as it is set in 2000, and Irène Connelly' experiences in the Glasgow Magdalene laundry in 1958. Without overly politicising the subject Ms Talbot does an excellent job of describing the conditions there - horrifying is being kind about them and the Church's desire to cover it up as much as possible, including the usual excuse of times were different. It makes for very interesting, if repulsive, reading.
I must admit that I did not find Oonagh a particularly likeable protagonist. She is a bit of a princess, prone to hissy fits when things don't suit her, and extremely secretive for various reasons. On the plus side she can be empathetic to victims but I never knew if it was genuine.
The Lost Children is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
April 10, 2018
The Lost Children is a stunning read; not only good but really great! Theresa Talbot writes beautifully, drawing the reader in to this multi-faceted crime thriller bit by bit until, before you realise, it completely absorbs you.
Oonagh O'Neil is a tv journalist; well-liked, well respected and working on a story of her own. Her investigations uncover some really unsavoury stuff regarding the Catholic Church and it's involvement in the Magdalene Laundry scandal of the 1950's. The Scottish setting of this novel allows for some typical humour which is attached to the city, and the Glasgow 'patter' brings some lighter moments to the story. Although I was familiar with the locations dotted around the city, I was unaware that there had been a Magdalene Laundry situated there and was quite enthralled with the tale.
This is a debut novel, re-titled and re-packaged and it's one which should do well. The creation of Oonagh O'Neil is extremely well done - she is a real life character with flaws and a career which should lend itself to many more volumes to come. The pairing of Davies and McVeigh as 'polis' partners adds to the humour, and I really hope they continue to feature in the series. This is a terrific read - one which I would fully recommend to those who enjoy a crime novel which unfolds piece by piece and retains it's secrets until the end. A thoroughly satisfying book, and definitely an author I shall be watching for more from!
My thanks to publishers Aria for pre-approving my requests on NetGalley. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.
Oonagh O'Neil is a tv journalist; well-liked, well respected and working on a story of her own. Her investigations uncover some really unsavoury stuff regarding the Catholic Church and it's involvement in the Magdalene Laundry scandal of the 1950's. The Scottish setting of this novel allows for some typical humour which is attached to the city, and the Glasgow 'patter' brings some lighter moments to the story. Although I was familiar with the locations dotted around the city, I was unaware that there had been a Magdalene Laundry situated there and was quite enthralled with the tale.
This is a debut novel, re-titled and re-packaged and it's one which should do well. The creation of Oonagh O'Neil is extremely well done - she is a real life character with flaws and a career which should lend itself to many more volumes to come. The pairing of Davies and McVeigh as 'polis' partners adds to the humour, and I really hope they continue to feature in the series. This is a terrific read - one which I would fully recommend to those who enjoy a crime novel which unfolds piece by piece and retains it's secrets until the end. A thoroughly satisfying book, and definitely an author I shall be watching for more from!
My thanks to publishers Aria for pre-approving my requests on NetGalley. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.
March 10, 2018
This is a superior crime novel that I tore through as I couldn't wait to find out who did what and why! Theresa Talbot has produced a great character in Oonagh O'Neil, a gutsy and determined journalist with heart. In 'The Lost Children', she is investigating the stories of young girls who were housed at the Magdalene Institute, a former home run by the Catholic church. The horror stories Oonagh hears from past residents compel her to continue with her plans to expose the dreadful events that occurred there, even when her very life is at risk! With the help of kind but conflicted priest Tom and old friend DI Alec Davies, she is in a race to reveal the long hidden secrets before it is too late.
The twists and turns in the story were excellent and recollections from the institutes past residents truly heart-wrenching. The characters were especially well written and I now have a soft spot for Father Tom; I hope he makes an appearance in the next book which I am already looking forward to! Mostly though, I'm excited to see how Oonagh's character progresses and what her next investigation will be. A first-rate start to a new series!
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The twists and turns in the story were excellent and recollections from the institutes past residents truly heart-wrenching. The characters were especially well written and I now have a soft spot for Father Tom; I hope he makes an appearance in the next book which I am already looking forward to! Mostly though, I'm excited to see how Oonagh's character progresses and what her next investigation will be. A first-rate start to a new series!
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 27, 2018
My initial thought on finishing reading this book was ‘oh my days what a fantastic, but sometimes traumatic, read this was’. Well actually, my initial reaction used ruder language but the sentiment is the same. I absolutely LOVED reading ‘The Lost Children’ but more about that in a bit.
I absolutely loved the character of Oonagh O’Neill and took to her from the start. She is a television and investigative journalist, who is the darling of the media world. It’s obvious from the start that she is keeping something back and that she has been through a hell of a time of it. As the book continues, we learn more and more about her, which helps to fill in her back story and helps to explain why she is the way she is. She is one feisty lady, who is like a dog with a bone when she gets a sniff of a story. If something doesn’t seem right to her, then she investigates until she has satisfied her own curiosity. She isn’t afraid to stick up for herself. She has a chequered love life. She has been having a fling with a married man, who is still sniffing around even after she has told him that she wants nothing more to do with him. Oonagh recently lost her father and she is still grieving for him. Oonagh is loyal and trustworthy but she doesn’t not like being made to look a fool. If somebody upsets her then she is sharp quick to tell them. Oonagh has some strong friendships and one such friendship is that which she enjoys with Detective Inspector Alec Davies. They work closely together to investigate the case of the lost children and how appallingly young girls were treated in the Magdalene Institutions of Galway and Glasgow. This links into the disturbing case of a priest, who dies in suspicious circumstances. How are the cases linked? Was the priest killed and if so, who by? Will Oonagh and Alec get to the bottom of what happened to the lost children and will they expose the appalling treatment that was dished out in the Magdalene Institutions? Are Oonagh and Alex in danger and if so, from whom? Well for the answers to those questions and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
I have to say that this has to be one of THE stand out books of 2018 for me. (‘The Lost Chlidren’ was released under the title ‘Penance’ in 2015). As soon as I started reading this book, I couldn’t put it down and because I needed to know if Oonagh and Alec solved the case and if the victims of the Magdalene Institutions got justice, I became addicted to reading it. I was so mesmerised by the story that I didn’t notice how quickly either the time was passing or the page numbers were flying by. I found myself feeling for the victims of the Magdalene Institutions and I was rooting for them. I felt as though I had been through the emotional wringer after I had finished reading this book because I found myself feeling all sorts of different emotions. I felt sad, angry, upset, irritated, hopeful and well you get the picture. There were several times that I wanted to jump into the pages of this book to sort out certain characters. I won’t say exactly which characters as that might be giving away a bit too much. I have to say that reading this book was one heck of a rollercoaster ride.
‘The Lost Children’ isn’t entirely a work of fiction as the book is actually based on real life events. I am a passionate supporter of abuse survivors and I used to work in safeguarding. I am not usually affected by what I read but I have to say that some of the descriptions in this book actually moved me close to tears. I couldn’t believe how badly some of the children were treated both at home and in institutions. I was also horrified to realise that this abuse was ignored, swept under the carpet or even sometimes condoned by certain people and by certain members of the Catholic Church. This just made me even angrier and I felt a huge amount of injustice for those who suffered. Sorry for my little rant there.
In conclusion, it seems wrong to say that I enjoyed reading this book as it deals with some pretty horrendous subjects and there are only a small number (thankfully) of people who would get pleasure from reading such things. What I will say is that I found it a fascinating and heart breaking read, in equal measure. I would definitely recommend this author and this book to other readers. This book is an important lesson in what really happened in these institutions and highlights the mistakes from the past that should never be repeated. I look forward to reading what comes next from this fantastic author. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is 5* out of 5*.
I absolutely loved the character of Oonagh O’Neill and took to her from the start. She is a television and investigative journalist, who is the darling of the media world. It’s obvious from the start that she is keeping something back and that she has been through a hell of a time of it. As the book continues, we learn more and more about her, which helps to fill in her back story and helps to explain why she is the way she is. She is one feisty lady, who is like a dog with a bone when she gets a sniff of a story. If something doesn’t seem right to her, then she investigates until she has satisfied her own curiosity. She isn’t afraid to stick up for herself. She has a chequered love life. She has been having a fling with a married man, who is still sniffing around even after she has told him that she wants nothing more to do with him. Oonagh recently lost her father and she is still grieving for him. Oonagh is loyal and trustworthy but she doesn’t not like being made to look a fool. If somebody upsets her then she is sharp quick to tell them. Oonagh has some strong friendships and one such friendship is that which she enjoys with Detective Inspector Alec Davies. They work closely together to investigate the case of the lost children and how appallingly young girls were treated in the Magdalene Institutions of Galway and Glasgow. This links into the disturbing case of a priest, who dies in suspicious circumstances. How are the cases linked? Was the priest killed and if so, who by? Will Oonagh and Alec get to the bottom of what happened to the lost children and will they expose the appalling treatment that was dished out in the Magdalene Institutions? Are Oonagh and Alex in danger and if so, from whom? Well for the answers to those questions and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
I have to say that this has to be one of THE stand out books of 2018 for me. (‘The Lost Chlidren’ was released under the title ‘Penance’ in 2015). As soon as I started reading this book, I couldn’t put it down and because I needed to know if Oonagh and Alec solved the case and if the victims of the Magdalene Institutions got justice, I became addicted to reading it. I was so mesmerised by the story that I didn’t notice how quickly either the time was passing or the page numbers were flying by. I found myself feeling for the victims of the Magdalene Institutions and I was rooting for them. I felt as though I had been through the emotional wringer after I had finished reading this book because I found myself feeling all sorts of different emotions. I felt sad, angry, upset, irritated, hopeful and well you get the picture. There were several times that I wanted to jump into the pages of this book to sort out certain characters. I won’t say exactly which characters as that might be giving away a bit too much. I have to say that reading this book was one heck of a rollercoaster ride.
‘The Lost Children’ isn’t entirely a work of fiction as the book is actually based on real life events. I am a passionate supporter of abuse survivors and I used to work in safeguarding. I am not usually affected by what I read but I have to say that some of the descriptions in this book actually moved me close to tears. I couldn’t believe how badly some of the children were treated both at home and in institutions. I was also horrified to realise that this abuse was ignored, swept under the carpet or even sometimes condoned by certain people and by certain members of the Catholic Church. This just made me even angrier and I felt a huge amount of injustice for those who suffered. Sorry for my little rant there.
In conclusion, it seems wrong to say that I enjoyed reading this book as it deals with some pretty horrendous subjects and there are only a small number (thankfully) of people who would get pleasure from reading such things. What I will say is that I found it a fascinating and heart breaking read, in equal measure. I would definitely recommend this author and this book to other readers. This book is an important lesson in what really happened in these institutions and highlights the mistakes from the past that should never be repeated. I look forward to reading what comes next from this fantastic author. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is 5* out of 5*.
Read
March 31, 2018Loved loved loved this, so many head line issues dealt with, the church, abortion, murder, this book has it all, I loved the way it was told both in the past at the Magdalen Home to the present with Oonagh trying to figure it all out, who dunnit! Well that was a twist & a half, will definitely be reading more of There's Talbot going forward. Thank you to #netgalley #aria #theresatalbot for the opportunity to read an advanced copy, all opinions expressed are my own.
March 28, 2018
I was very disappointed in The Lost Child by Theresa Talbot. Right from the start I thought the novel was way to confusing. There was no real backstory, it just jumped into the storyline. It was almost expected that the reader know who the characters were. I think what is most frustrating is the ideas and overall story could have been really good but the way it was presented was so flustered.
Thanks to Aria and Theresa Talbot for providing me with an advanced reading copy.
Thanks to Aria and Theresa Talbot for providing me with an advanced reading copy.
November 16, 2016
Time taken to read - < 1 day
Pages - 315
Publisher - Strident
Blurb from Goodreads
TV journalist and media darling Oonagh O'Neil faces danger and chaos when an elderly priest dies on the altar of his Glasgow church. His death comes as she is about to expose the shocking truth behind the closure of a Magdalene Institution.
The Church has already tried to suppress the story. Is someone covering their tracks?
What secrets lie behind the derelict Institution's doors? What sparked the infamous three-day riot that closed t? And what happened to the three 'Maggies' who vowed to stay forever friends?
My Review
We open in Glasgow 1958 to a chilling scene in a Magdalene institution, the next chapter flips to present day, the year 2000 and a priest dies on the altar. We are swiftly introduced to Oonagh O'Neil, a TV journalist and favorite with the people who is doing a tv piece on the Magdalene Institution with the help of her friend and younger priest Tom Findlay. Oonagh has relationship issues, particularly her boyfriend being a married man, Tom is having a crisis with his faith and the priest who died on the alter's death may not be as it first appeared.
Oooh this is a busy wee book, the scenes that briefly visit the Magdalene institution are quite upsetting and disturbing. I think mostly because we know, whilst this is a fiction book that these places existed and the thought of these poor women being exploited, beaten and used is heartbreaking. In current events, the younger priest is having faith issues which may not sit well with some readers of a religion background. The issue of infidelity and extramarital sex may also prickle with some audiences, however all that aside we have some other hot topics. Murders, lies, violence, blackmail, extortion and secrets are just some of the themes covered in this story.
A strong debut, (Talbot has written another book although that is non fiction), a page turner and an opening chapter that will have the hair on the back of your neck standing. This is my first time reading this author, I would certainly read more of her work if and when she brings out another. 4/5 for me this time, Penance is available to buy from all good retailers, go check it out.
Pages - 315
Publisher - Strident
Blurb from Goodreads
TV journalist and media darling Oonagh O'Neil faces danger and chaos when an elderly priest dies on the altar of his Glasgow church. His death comes as she is about to expose the shocking truth behind the closure of a Magdalene Institution.
The Church has already tried to suppress the story. Is someone covering their tracks?
What secrets lie behind the derelict Institution's doors? What sparked the infamous three-day riot that closed t? And what happened to the three 'Maggies' who vowed to stay forever friends?
My Review
We open in Glasgow 1958 to a chilling scene in a Magdalene institution, the next chapter flips to present day, the year 2000 and a priest dies on the altar. We are swiftly introduced to Oonagh O'Neil, a TV journalist and favorite with the people who is doing a tv piece on the Magdalene Institution with the help of her friend and younger priest Tom Findlay. Oonagh has relationship issues, particularly her boyfriend being a married man, Tom is having a crisis with his faith and the priest who died on the alter's death may not be as it first appeared.
Oooh this is a busy wee book, the scenes that briefly visit the Magdalene institution are quite upsetting and disturbing. I think mostly because we know, whilst this is a fiction book that these places existed and the thought of these poor women being exploited, beaten and used is heartbreaking. In current events, the younger priest is having faith issues which may not sit well with some readers of a religion background. The issue of infidelity and extramarital sex may also prickle with some audiences, however all that aside we have some other hot topics. Murders, lies, violence, blackmail, extortion and secrets are just some of the themes covered in this story.
A strong debut, (Talbot has written another book although that is non fiction), a page turner and an opening chapter that will have the hair on the back of your neck standing. This is my first time reading this author, I would certainly read more of her work if and when she brings out another. 4/5 for me this time, Penance is available to buy from all good retailers, go check it out.
May 8, 2018
Oonagh O'Neil is an investigative journalist in Glasgow. She has been researching for a programme about the infamous Magdalene Girls and the dreadful things done to them mostly (but not exclusively) the Catholic Church. When Father Kennedy dies suddenly after he had been in touch with her investigative instincts kick in, little realising what danger it will put her in.
The story switches from Glasgow in 2000 where Oonagh is and to the horror stories of the Magdalene Girls. Full of interesting diverse characters I found this book impossible to put down. I'm really looking forward to more in this series if this first one is anything to go by.
Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this terrific book!
The story switches from Glasgow in 2000 where Oonagh is and to the horror stories of the Magdalene Girls. Full of interesting diverse characters I found this book impossible to put down. I'm really looking forward to more in this series if this first one is anything to go by.
Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this terrific book!
August 29, 2019
Kind of disturbing, echoes of the Magdalene laundries, corruption in the church - all the good stuff. great first book in a new series.
September 15, 2018
How investigative journalism can uncover terrible deeds.
Oonagh O’Neil is an investigative journalist who fronts her own TV programme. She is 36, highly intelligent and attractive and people listen to what she says.
The story begins with the death of Father Kennedy which originally seems to be from natural causes but with the help of Oonagh’s detective friend, DI Alec Davies, they discover that it was murder but by whom and why? Father Kennedy had asked to meet with Oonagh shortly before his death claiming that he had found a letter with pertinent details regarding Oonagh’s latest investigative programme that she is hoping to make.
The Magdalene laundries were homes both in Dublin and Glasgow where young unmarried girls were taken to have their babies. Once born the babies were sold to various, rich American families without any formal or legal adoptions taking place and the girls were left to get on with their lives. We are told in graphic detail about one such young girl. Irene Connolly, who is raped repeatedly by her own father and becomes pregnant twice by him. Her first child is taken from her and her second child dies shortly after birth. Irene is told that everything is her own fault as she is so wicked and her whole subsequent life is devoted to trying to find her first child, a son, and explain to him why she was not allowed to be a mother to him.
Oonagh is determined to find out the truth behind the Magdalene girls and knows that it is linked to the Catholic Church and in particular to Father Watson, who is now working in Glasgow. Despite the danger to herself, including being attacked in her home, Oonagh is stubborn and will not give up her determination to bring the guilty parties to justice.
The story is made more poignant since it is based on truth and it is almost unbelievable that such things were allowed to happen. There are various other characters that bring the story to life and shocks and twists to the plot that kept me turning the pages to see what happens.
The reason I have deducted a star from my review is because I had problems relating to the main character. She did not seem real to me and I did not feel that I knew enough about her past life to paint a complete picture. She is a 36-year-old famous TV star but manages to get pregnant by her married lover and this just did not seem feasible for such a sensible hard-working journalist. I also felt I did not find out enough about how she knows DI Davies so well. I actually thought to begin with that this was the second book in a series and that maybe the first book would have set the scene better. However, I would certainly like to read the next book in the series as this author has a lot of promise.
Dexter
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
Oonagh O’Neil is an investigative journalist who fronts her own TV programme. She is 36, highly intelligent and attractive and people listen to what she says.
The story begins with the death of Father Kennedy which originally seems to be from natural causes but with the help of Oonagh’s detective friend, DI Alec Davies, they discover that it was murder but by whom and why? Father Kennedy had asked to meet with Oonagh shortly before his death claiming that he had found a letter with pertinent details regarding Oonagh’s latest investigative programme that she is hoping to make.
The Magdalene laundries were homes both in Dublin and Glasgow where young unmarried girls were taken to have their babies. Once born the babies were sold to various, rich American families without any formal or legal adoptions taking place and the girls were left to get on with their lives. We are told in graphic detail about one such young girl. Irene Connolly, who is raped repeatedly by her own father and becomes pregnant twice by him. Her first child is taken from her and her second child dies shortly after birth. Irene is told that everything is her own fault as she is so wicked and her whole subsequent life is devoted to trying to find her first child, a son, and explain to him why she was not allowed to be a mother to him.
Oonagh is determined to find out the truth behind the Magdalene girls and knows that it is linked to the Catholic Church and in particular to Father Watson, who is now working in Glasgow. Despite the danger to herself, including being attacked in her home, Oonagh is stubborn and will not give up her determination to bring the guilty parties to justice.
The story is made more poignant since it is based on truth and it is almost unbelievable that such things were allowed to happen. There are various other characters that bring the story to life and shocks and twists to the plot that kept me turning the pages to see what happens.
The reason I have deducted a star from my review is because I had problems relating to the main character. She did not seem real to me and I did not feel that I knew enough about her past life to paint a complete picture. She is a 36-year-old famous TV star but manages to get pregnant by her married lover and this just did not seem feasible for such a sensible hard-working journalist. I also felt I did not find out enough about how she knows DI Davies so well. I actually thought to begin with that this was the second book in a series and that maybe the first book would have set the scene better. However, I would certainly like to read the next book in the series as this author has a lot of promise.
Dexter
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
April 10, 2017
When Father Kennedy drops dead in the middle of mass, there are repercussions that echo back decades.
I thoroughly enjoyed Penance. What I loved about it was the quality of the plotting. I really appreciated the way in which all the strands were drawn together to a highly satisfactory conclusion and I was especially impressed by the way I thought I had it all worked out but had only managed partially to guess what was really going on. The events set in the 1950s made for very uncomfortable reading and gave me a real insight into the lives of unmarried mothers at the mercy of society and the institution of the church at the time. I was so drawn in to the story that I simply put life on hold and read the whole book in one sitting. Without spoiling the plot, there is one incident that made me feel we haven’t moved on much since Thomas Hardy wrote Tess of the d’Urbervilles and I felt there were echoes of his writing in Penance.
I thought the characterisation was excellent. Whilst Oonagh belongs to an environment with which Theresa Talbot is familiar so that there is credibility to her, Oonagh is not an idealised version of the author. Oonagh has flaws, deviousness and a stubborn streak that means she doesn’t always behave well or even rationally, but every one of her actions is absolutely believable and the writing draws in the reader so comprehensively that I went from from finding Oonagh an unattractive character at the start to one for whom I had the highest regard at the end as if she were real.
Whilst both character and plot deserve high praise, what most appealed to me about Penance was the range of themes, and moral and social issues, raised by the narrative. The story is highly entertaining but it also made me think. Our desperate need to belong and be loved as individuals is there, as is the right to life and abortion debate. Theresa Talbot explores what is morally justified and how history can be manipulated and distorted so that sometimes we can lose sight of what makes a crime and what is forgivable. Other themes include adultery, homosexuality, the media, religion and prostitution so that there is much to ponder whilst enjoying a cracking story.
As a result of the easy and flowing style, Penance is a thoroughly entertaining read and I heartily recommend it – I just wish I’d read it sooner.
I thoroughly enjoyed Penance. What I loved about it was the quality of the plotting. I really appreciated the way in which all the strands were drawn together to a highly satisfactory conclusion and I was especially impressed by the way I thought I had it all worked out but had only managed partially to guess what was really going on. The events set in the 1950s made for very uncomfortable reading and gave me a real insight into the lives of unmarried mothers at the mercy of society and the institution of the church at the time. I was so drawn in to the story that I simply put life on hold and read the whole book in one sitting. Without spoiling the plot, there is one incident that made me feel we haven’t moved on much since Thomas Hardy wrote Tess of the d’Urbervilles and I felt there were echoes of his writing in Penance.
I thought the characterisation was excellent. Whilst Oonagh belongs to an environment with which Theresa Talbot is familiar so that there is credibility to her, Oonagh is not an idealised version of the author. Oonagh has flaws, deviousness and a stubborn streak that means she doesn’t always behave well or even rationally, but every one of her actions is absolutely believable and the writing draws in the reader so comprehensively that I went from from finding Oonagh an unattractive character at the start to one for whom I had the highest regard at the end as if she were real.
Whilst both character and plot deserve high praise, what most appealed to me about Penance was the range of themes, and moral and social issues, raised by the narrative. The story is highly entertaining but it also made me think. Our desperate need to belong and be loved as individuals is there, as is the right to life and abortion debate. Theresa Talbot explores what is morally justified and how history can be manipulated and distorted so that sometimes we can lose sight of what makes a crime and what is forgivable. Other themes include adultery, homosexuality, the media, religion and prostitution so that there is much to ponder whilst enjoying a cracking story.
As a result of the easy and flowing style, Penance is a thoroughly entertaining read and I heartily recommend it – I just wish I’d read it sooner.
April 9, 2018
The Lost Children by Theresa Talbot
Originally published in 2015 as “Penance”
Forced work has existed for centuries in most countries of the world. It exists today as well. Whether a child or an adult, being forced to work in poor conditions without pay or for minimal wages is not a nice topic to hear or think about. This story deals with the Magdalene Asylums or at least is based on the fact that they existed and is based on the difficult lives those sent to such places endured.
This book flips between scenes from the 50’s to those in the present. The past details parts of the lives of three women in one of the asylums and the horrors they faced. The present storyline is about a journalist that will be doing a presentation on the asylums as part of a series. The story begins with the death of a priest. As his death is explored it becomes partially a police procedural.
Oonagh, the TV journalist, was to interview the priest before he was killed. She is in the midst of an affair that is deteriorating and has a few issues of conscience to deal with in relationship to the affair. Her partner is someone that is not a very nice person, or so we learn later, and his backstory is intriguing as it unfolds.
Charlie Antonio, a journalists that is on the outs, makes money on the side in rather nefarious ways…he is someone everyone should stay far away from.
Tom Findlay, a priest, is about ready to leave the priesthood…he thinks…his part as friend to Oonagh and liaison between her and the church as she writes about the asylum is…interesting. I wondered at the end of the book what his life would be like in the future.
DI Alec Davies is a seasoned investigator and rather interesting. He was a bit grumpy and typical of inspectors of a certain type. I believe he could show up in future books if a series were to be written.
The three women that are in the 50’s asylum portion have rough lives, horrific issues to contend with and endings that are not happy in the least.
This book includes: incest, abuse, child stealing-selling, slavery, blackmail, homosexuality, murder, mystery, self-punishment, mental instability, an affair between a woman and a married man,…and more. It is not an easy read but it is an impactful one. I enjoyed it but did not find it “new” though there were some unexpected twists, turns and revelations that were intriguing.
Thank you to NetGalley and Aria for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4 Stars
Originally published in 2015 as “Penance”
Forced work has existed for centuries in most countries of the world. It exists today as well. Whether a child or an adult, being forced to work in poor conditions without pay or for minimal wages is not a nice topic to hear or think about. This story deals with the Magdalene Asylums or at least is based on the fact that they existed and is based on the difficult lives those sent to such places endured.
This book flips between scenes from the 50’s to those in the present. The past details parts of the lives of three women in one of the asylums and the horrors they faced. The present storyline is about a journalist that will be doing a presentation on the asylums as part of a series. The story begins with the death of a priest. As his death is explored it becomes partially a police procedural.
Oonagh, the TV journalist, was to interview the priest before he was killed. She is in the midst of an affair that is deteriorating and has a few issues of conscience to deal with in relationship to the affair. Her partner is someone that is not a very nice person, or so we learn later, and his backstory is intriguing as it unfolds.
Charlie Antonio, a journalists that is on the outs, makes money on the side in rather nefarious ways…he is someone everyone should stay far away from.
Tom Findlay, a priest, is about ready to leave the priesthood…he thinks…his part as friend to Oonagh and liaison between her and the church as she writes about the asylum is…interesting. I wondered at the end of the book what his life would be like in the future.
DI Alec Davies is a seasoned investigator and rather interesting. He was a bit grumpy and typical of inspectors of a certain type. I believe he could show up in future books if a series were to be written.
The three women that are in the 50’s asylum portion have rough lives, horrific issues to contend with and endings that are not happy in the least.
This book includes: incest, abuse, child stealing-selling, slavery, blackmail, homosexuality, murder, mystery, self-punishment, mental instability, an affair between a woman and a married man,…and more. It is not an easy read but it is an impactful one. I enjoyed it but did not find it “new” though there were some unexpected twists, turns and revelations that were intriguing.
Thank you to NetGalley and Aria for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4 Stars
April 16, 2016
Penance tells the story of the infamous Magdalene institutions and switches between Ireland in the 1950s and Glasgow in the year 2000.
Oonagh O'Neil is a TV journalist who is working on an expose of the truth behind the closure of a Magdalene institution in Glasgow when an elderly priest dies on the altar of a Glasgow church. DI Alec Davis is investigating the death of the priest - Alec and Oonagh know each other from way back but their friendship is about to be tested as Oonagh's married lover falls under suspicion.
This was a 5 star read for me, I thought the switching between the 50s and the present worked well, the horrors of the Magdalene institutions was heart wrenching but not overly graphic. I was gripped from the opening pages. The book is different from crime procedural as the focus was on the characters and what happened in the institutions in the 1950s and the devastating impact this had on the lives of those affected. I loved Oonagh - she is fascinating and funny at the same time - I had her clearly pictured in my head. I hope that this isn't the last we hear of her and I look forward to reading more by Theresa Talbot
Oonagh O'Neil is a TV journalist who is working on an expose of the truth behind the closure of a Magdalene institution in Glasgow when an elderly priest dies on the altar of a Glasgow church. DI Alec Davis is investigating the death of the priest - Alec and Oonagh know each other from way back but their friendship is about to be tested as Oonagh's married lover falls under suspicion.
This was a 5 star read for me, I thought the switching between the 50s and the present worked well, the horrors of the Magdalene institutions was heart wrenching but not overly graphic. I was gripped from the opening pages. The book is different from crime procedural as the focus was on the characters and what happened in the institutions in the 1950s and the devastating impact this had on the lives of those affected. I loved Oonagh - she is fascinating and funny at the same time - I had her clearly pictured in my head. I hope that this isn't the last we hear of her and I look forward to reading more by Theresa Talbot
April 5, 2018
Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read the book.
The Lost Children is the story of an investigator's determination to uncover the truth behind Glasgow's Magdalene Institution. In her search for information about the women mistreated and abused there and the lost babies, she finds herself intertwined with sinister occurrences which may or may not be related. In parallel, the book tells the story of one of the young girls abused severely and brought to the institution as punishment for something she had no blame in at all.
This is a good mystery with many unexpected twists. There are heroes and villains and several who fit somewhere in the middle. There are friendships tested, found and made stronger. It keeps you turning pages the whole time. And it is also one of those stories difficult to read because although it's fiction, you know it's based on truth and girls and women really suffered these injustices.
The Lost Children is the story of an investigator's determination to uncover the truth behind Glasgow's Magdalene Institution. In her search for information about the women mistreated and abused there and the lost babies, she finds herself intertwined with sinister occurrences which may or may not be related. In parallel, the book tells the story of one of the young girls abused severely and brought to the institution as punishment for something she had no blame in at all.
This is a good mystery with many unexpected twists. There are heroes and villains and several who fit somewhere in the middle. There are friendships tested, found and made stronger. It keeps you turning pages the whole time. And it is also one of those stories difficult to read because although it's fiction, you know it's based on truth and girls and women really suffered these injustices.
April 17, 2018
The Lost Children is a book that thrilled with its mystery and made me feel more than a little sad about the abuse. The writing was succinct and the dialect added a certain effect to bring the world of Glasgow alive in its pages. What The Lost Children does do in great effect is shine light on the world of all those who've suffered at the hands of the society, the religion and the people whom they believed and trusted.
For the entire review, visit Frost At Midnite.
For the entire review, visit Frost At Midnite.
July 18, 2018
THE LOST CHILDREN is a stunning read! Complex, emotional and ultimately gripping, I read this in a day! I didn't want to put it down, despite promising myself "just one more chapter". The topic is a harrowing one, dealing with the Magdalene institutions in Scotland and Ireland in the 1950s and the forcible adoptions, baby selling and cruelty to young teenage girls who found themselves in this situation and shunned from society. Whilst not a true account (as stated in the Author's Note), Theresa Talbot used the Magdalene as a basis for her brilliant debut.
Set predominantly in the year 2000 in Glasgow, the story unfolds between the years 1956, 1958 and 2000 from Galway, Ireland to Glasgow, Scotland. Oonagh O'Neil is an investigative journalist delving into and uncovering the secrets of the Magdalene institutions in the then present day whilst we also alternately follow the story of young Irene Connolly from 1956 in Galway.
It begins with a Prologue of a young girl Sally seemingly wrapping dead babies in cloth and securing them into little boxes of makeshift coffins...and then she hears the little cries from within one of the sealed boxes. Now I have to say, this was an exciting prelude to the story but sadly I was disappointed to find there was nothing mentioned relating to burying the baby heard crying alive - or whose it was - later in the book once the whole story came out. So I did kind of feel what was the point of mentioning it?
So when Father Kennedy dies suddenly in the middle of Mass, questions are raised as to just what his involvement in the Magdelenes was and to what extent. Then a post mortem reveals a substance in his system he was highly allergic to. So was it an accident? Suicide? Or was he murdered? The fact he had an appointment scheduled with Oonagh for that day leads her to think something is amiss. Did Father Kennedy know too much that would put the Church at risk? Was he silenced to prevent him from talking to her?
Oonagh calls in friend DI Davies to look into the priest's death. But while this is an investigative story delving into the past and its secrets, we don't see as much as the DI as Oonagh herself. This is from her perspective as a journalist uncovering the truth rather than from a police perspective. I wasn't sure I would like it but it was written in such a way that it just drew you into its secrets and you wanted to stay to discover the truth yourself.
Despite this, I didn't like Oonagh as much as I have another protagonists. She seemed a little spoilt at times, particularly in the confrontation with her mother after discovering she has a boyfriend. Oonagh feels she should still be grieving for her father who passed away 2 years before, as Oonagh adored her father and still feels his loss deeply. That bit of selfishness aside, it did make her a dogged investigator and good at her job. I didn't NOT like her. I'm sure she will grow on me as the series and her character develops.
Then there is Father Tom Findlay. He worked alongside Father Kennedy at St Patricks before his demise. I liked him, despite his faults. But was he all that he appeared to be? He has secrets too.
I really enjoyed reading the developing story of Irene Connolly, which began in 1956 in Galway. It was sad, horrific and traumatic to say the least. As if the church and Father Kennedy weren't bad enough, what her parents did was despicable! They are supposed to love and cherish her. Instead she was systematically raped by her father, bearing not one but TWO babies, and all she got was "Irene, why are you doing this to us?" and shipped off the the Magdalene institutions. Absolutely disgraceful. She was then given ECT and declared sexually deranged and insane. Her babies were ripped from her and never seen again. But she was just one of thousands. Seeing her story develop, I knew she had a part to play in the current storyline and began to suspect just who she was now.
There are many other characters equally horrible that pepper the story and, in a sense, complete it. They are just not worth mentioning until you meet them.
I love books that switch between the past and present, as I find it helps strengthen the plot as a whole as the two timelines merge into one. And it is done in such way that is easy to follow and not confusing.
THE LOST CHILDREN is a gripping and thrilling read with so many secrets to uncover. Perfect for fans of this genre.
Set predominantly in the year 2000 in Glasgow, the story unfolds between the years 1956, 1958 and 2000 from Galway, Ireland to Glasgow, Scotland. Oonagh O'Neil is an investigative journalist delving into and uncovering the secrets of the Magdalene institutions in the then present day whilst we also alternately follow the story of young Irene Connolly from 1956 in Galway.
It begins with a Prologue of a young girl Sally seemingly wrapping dead babies in cloth and securing them into little boxes of makeshift coffins...and then she hears the little cries from within one of the sealed boxes. Now I have to say, this was an exciting prelude to the story but sadly I was disappointed to find there was nothing mentioned relating to burying the baby heard crying alive - or whose it was - later in the book once the whole story came out. So I did kind of feel what was the point of mentioning it?
So when Father Kennedy dies suddenly in the middle of Mass, questions are raised as to just what his involvement in the Magdelenes was and to what extent. Then a post mortem reveals a substance in his system he was highly allergic to. So was it an accident? Suicide? Or was he murdered? The fact he had an appointment scheduled with Oonagh for that day leads her to think something is amiss. Did Father Kennedy know too much that would put the Church at risk? Was he silenced to prevent him from talking to her?
Oonagh calls in friend DI Davies to look into the priest's death. But while this is an investigative story delving into the past and its secrets, we don't see as much as the DI as Oonagh herself. This is from her perspective as a journalist uncovering the truth rather than from a police perspective. I wasn't sure I would like it but it was written in such a way that it just drew you into its secrets and you wanted to stay to discover the truth yourself.
Despite this, I didn't like Oonagh as much as I have another protagonists. She seemed a little spoilt at times, particularly in the confrontation with her mother after discovering she has a boyfriend. Oonagh feels she should still be grieving for her father who passed away 2 years before, as Oonagh adored her father and still feels his loss deeply. That bit of selfishness aside, it did make her a dogged investigator and good at her job. I didn't NOT like her. I'm sure she will grow on me as the series and her character develops.
Then there is Father Tom Findlay. He worked alongside Father Kennedy at St Patricks before his demise. I liked him, despite his faults. But was he all that he appeared to be? He has secrets too.
I really enjoyed reading the developing story of Irene Connolly, which began in 1956 in Galway. It was sad, horrific and traumatic to say the least. As if the church and Father Kennedy weren't bad enough, what her parents did was despicable! They are supposed to love and cherish her. Instead she was systematically raped by her father, bearing not one but TWO babies, and all she got was "Irene, why are you doing this to us?" and shipped off the the Magdalene institutions. Absolutely disgraceful. She was then given ECT and declared sexually deranged and insane. Her babies were ripped from her and never seen again. But she was just one of thousands. Seeing her story develop, I knew she had a part to play in the current storyline and began to suspect just who she was now.
There are many other characters equally horrible that pepper the story and, in a sense, complete it. They are just not worth mentioning until you meet them.
I love books that switch between the past and present, as I find it helps strengthen the plot as a whole as the two timelines merge into one. And it is done in such way that is easy to follow and not confusing.
THE LOST CHILDREN is a gripping and thrilling read with so many secrets to uncover. Perfect for fans of this genre.
May 5, 2020
When a Priest that Oonagh O’Neil, an investigative journalist, is meant to be meeting dies suddenly on the altar in his Church, she realises there might be more to it than meets the eye. She’s been looking into the brutal world of the Magdalene Institution and the Churches involvement and is about to uncover it when this happens. What did he know?
Oonagh, along with DI Alec Davies start looking into the death, and Oonagh continues to try to get the information she needs to do her exclusive on the Magdalene Institution. Her and the other local Priest, Tom grow close and share secrets with each other than no-one else knows – but then things start to happen, and more people are getting hurt. Who is behind it and what are they trying to hide or uncover? And will Oonagh finally discover what happened to the lost babies and the surviving women of the Magdalene Institution – and will she get her story, or is the price too high to pay……?
I thoroughly enjoyed this harrowing story and was completely sucked in from chapter 1! The story bounces between present day and 1958, and the sad and tragic life of Irene Connolly. But it was easy to follow and read, and I really enjoyed that I was learning bits from the past, to make the present situation make more sense.
The characters are fantastic. Oonagh is a strong protagonist with her own secrets. She just wants to uncover the wrongs that have happened to these women and is dead set on it, despite the costs. She drove me nuts at certain points as I didn’t agree with some of the decisions she was making, but that only added tension to the story which was fab. I love Alec – he’s brilliant and you can see how much he cares about Oonagh. I’m secretly hoping they get together at some point!! And Tom is also a brilliant character. Again, with his own secrets, he struggles with what he should do and whether he’s on the right path himself. There are also lots of brilliant supporting characters in this – some you will love, some you will hate and some you will be surprised by!
The storyline is gripping. There are a number of stories going on which will have you turning the pages! There are some sensitive aspects that readers should be aware of, such as rape, abuse and child deaths, but these are all important parts of the story. It did make me feel really sad and gobsmacked that some of these things actually would have taken place, but really nothing surprises me with humanity anymore.
The plot is fast paced, there is never a moment to get bored! And there are plenty of twists in here, ones that you will have no idea are coming. There were most definitely some OMG moments in here for me!
If you’re looking for your next crime thriller, then this could be for you! Recommended by me!
Oonagh, along with DI Alec Davies start looking into the death, and Oonagh continues to try to get the information she needs to do her exclusive on the Magdalene Institution. Her and the other local Priest, Tom grow close and share secrets with each other than no-one else knows – but then things start to happen, and more people are getting hurt. Who is behind it and what are they trying to hide or uncover? And will Oonagh finally discover what happened to the lost babies and the surviving women of the Magdalene Institution – and will she get her story, or is the price too high to pay……?
I thoroughly enjoyed this harrowing story and was completely sucked in from chapter 1! The story bounces between present day and 1958, and the sad and tragic life of Irene Connolly. But it was easy to follow and read, and I really enjoyed that I was learning bits from the past, to make the present situation make more sense.
The characters are fantastic. Oonagh is a strong protagonist with her own secrets. She just wants to uncover the wrongs that have happened to these women and is dead set on it, despite the costs. She drove me nuts at certain points as I didn’t agree with some of the decisions she was making, but that only added tension to the story which was fab. I love Alec – he’s brilliant and you can see how much he cares about Oonagh. I’m secretly hoping they get together at some point!! And Tom is also a brilliant character. Again, with his own secrets, he struggles with what he should do and whether he’s on the right path himself. There are also lots of brilliant supporting characters in this – some you will love, some you will hate and some you will be surprised by!
The storyline is gripping. There are a number of stories going on which will have you turning the pages! There are some sensitive aspects that readers should be aware of, such as rape, abuse and child deaths, but these are all important parts of the story. It did make me feel really sad and gobsmacked that some of these things actually would have taken place, but really nothing surprises me with humanity anymore.
The plot is fast paced, there is never a moment to get bored! And there are plenty of twists in here, ones that you will have no idea are coming. There were most definitely some OMG moments in here for me!
If you’re looking for your next crime thriller, then this could be for you! Recommended by me!
September 13, 2025
Theresa Talbot’s The Lost Children is a curious and ambitious novel, one that situates itself within the well-worn territory of crime fiction but then grafts onto that familiar structure the far heavier weight of historical atrocity. It is not just another Glasgow-set thriller with a plucky protagonist and an unfolding mystery. It is, at its core, an attempt to give fictional voice to real events: the abuse and degradation of women in the Magdalene homes of mid-twentieth-century Ireland. Talbot’s debut thereby promises more than entertainment; it promises a confrontation with institutional trauma, one that reaches from the 1950s into the turn of the new millennium.
The narrative structure is double-layered. In the late 1950s, we see young women consigned to Magdalene institutions, where their lives are stripped bare, their labour exploited, their dignity annihilated. In 2000, investigative journalist Oonagh O’Neil attempts to uncover the truth of these homes in Glasgow, hoping to bring into public discourse the abuses that others prefer to keep hidden. The time shifts back and forth, creating a rhythm of belated revelation, each flashback layering context onto Oonagh’s present-day investigation. The story is thereby not just about the crimes of the past but about the difficulty of narrating them, of overcoming decades of silence and denial.
Michel Foucault is the obvious guide here. In Discipline and Punish and The History of Sexuality, he showed how institutions exert power not simply through brute force but through the regulation of bodies, the orchestration of silence, the demand for confession that paradoxically functions to suppress as much as to reveal. The Magdalene homes were precisely such institutions: they converted women deemed deviant into docile bodies, erased their names, and produced them as objects of charity and penitence. They did not just punish; they reconfigured subjectivity itself, turning women into cases, into examples of moral lesson.
Talbot’s novel dramatises this Foucauldian reality by refusing to let the 1950s remain in the past. Every scene in the present is haunted by a flashback; every attempt to narrate the contemporary mystery is disrupted by memories of institutional brutality. The institution is never left behind. That is as it should be: institutions like the Magdalene homes survive precisely through their silencing of testimony, and the novel is an attempt to break that silence. The figure of Oonagh O’Neil, the journalist, embodies this: she is the one who insists on confession, not in the sense of penitence but in the sense of testimony. Her task is to give voice, to restore narrative to those whose stories were effaced.
But here enters trauma theory, particularly Freud’s notion of Nachträglichkeit (deferred action) and Cathy Caruth’s elaboration of trauma as belatedness. Trauma is not experienced and resolved at once; it returns, belated, in fragments, in flashbacks, in repetitions. The Lost Children is structured according to this logic. The abuse of the 1950s is only truly registered in 2000, when it resurfaces through Oonagh’s investigation. The flashbacks are not mere exposition but dramatise the way trauma insists, the way the past erupts into the present demanding recognition. This makes Talbot’s use of the dual timeline more than a narrative trick. It is, whether intentionally or not, a representation of trauma’s temporal structure.
And yet, for all this, the novel is uneven. The sections set in the 1950s are powerful, moving, disturbing. They convey the brutality of the institutions without sensationalising them, showing how ordinary cruelty — the withholding of dignity, the casual erasure of personhood — can devastate. But the sections set in 2000, though compelling in plot, are tonally uneven. Oonagh is a plucky, often funny protagonist. Talbot clearly delights in her sharpness, her wit, her refusal to bow to authority. At times this works beautifully: Oonagh’s humour prevents the novel from collapsing into unrelieved darkness. But at other times the juxtaposition jars. The banter and lightness sit awkwardly alongside flashbacks of systemic abuse. The tonal registers clash, and the result is disjointed.
This disjointedness is not fatal to the novel — it is still compelling, still readable, still often moving — but it prevents it from reaching greatness. There are passages where I felt pulled in two directions: urged to laugh at Oonagh’s irreverence while also being asked to weep at the flashbacks. It is possible to do both, but the transitions here are not always seamless. The balance between humour and horror is delicate, and Talbot does not always strike it.
This is why I ultimately settled on three stars. Not because the subject matter is unworthy — it is essential. Not because the protagonist is uninteresting — Oonagh is genuinely engaging. But because the narrative itself cannot always carry the weight of its material. It is torn between crime-thriller pacing and institutional testimony, between banter and atrocity. The result is a book that is often very good but not consistently so.
Here is where the comparison with Shari Low’s Another Day in Winter becomes illuminating. At first glance, the two novels could not be more different. Low’s is a piece of contemporary “chick lit,” humorous, sentimental, centred around family secrets and reconciliation over the course of a single winter day. Talbot’s is a crime debut rooted in historical atrocity. Yet both are Glasgow novels, and both revolve around the eruption of the past into the present, around secrets that demand to be acknowledged.
In Low’s book, grief and reconciliation are handled with a comic lightness that never trivialises. Her characters stumble, laugh, misunderstand each other, and yet their grief feels authentic. The ordinariness of their lives is the ground on which meaning is made. In Talbot’s novel, by contrast, the past is heavy, brutal, resistant to narration. The attempt to weave humour into that weight is admirable, but the balance is never fully achieved. In Another Day in Winter, humour becomes a vehicle for authenticity; in The Lost Children, humour sometimes collides with horror, destabilising rather than enriching the narrative. Both novels ask the same question: how do we narrate trauma without spectacle, without sentimentality? Low’s answer is to embrace the ordinary; Talbot’s answer is hesitant, caught between the demands of genre and the gravity of history. This is why Low’s ostensibly lighter book ultimately felt more convincing in its handling of grief than Talbot’s more ambitious but tonally uneven debut.
And yet, even in its unevenness, The Lost Children deserves recognition. It introduces Oonagh O’Neil, a character who may grow into one of the more interesting protagonists in contemporary crime fiction. It insists on giving narrative presence to the Magdalene homes, refusing to let them sink into silence. It shows how institutions shape lives across generations, how trauma resists closure, how the past insists on returning. It is not a flawless book, but it is an important one.
Three stars, then: a recognition of its strengths, a critique of its weaknesses, and an acknowledgement that while it is not the definitive reckoning the Magdalene homes deserve, it is nonetheless a step toward exposing silence. Talbot is to be admired for her ambition, even if the execution sometimes falters.
The narrative structure is double-layered. In the late 1950s, we see young women consigned to Magdalene institutions, where their lives are stripped bare, their labour exploited, their dignity annihilated. In 2000, investigative journalist Oonagh O’Neil attempts to uncover the truth of these homes in Glasgow, hoping to bring into public discourse the abuses that others prefer to keep hidden. The time shifts back and forth, creating a rhythm of belated revelation, each flashback layering context onto Oonagh’s present-day investigation. The story is thereby not just about the crimes of the past but about the difficulty of narrating them, of overcoming decades of silence and denial.
Michel Foucault is the obvious guide here. In Discipline and Punish and The History of Sexuality, he showed how institutions exert power not simply through brute force but through the regulation of bodies, the orchestration of silence, the demand for confession that paradoxically functions to suppress as much as to reveal. The Magdalene homes were precisely such institutions: they converted women deemed deviant into docile bodies, erased their names, and produced them as objects of charity and penitence. They did not just punish; they reconfigured subjectivity itself, turning women into cases, into examples of moral lesson.
Talbot’s novel dramatises this Foucauldian reality by refusing to let the 1950s remain in the past. Every scene in the present is haunted by a flashback; every attempt to narrate the contemporary mystery is disrupted by memories of institutional brutality. The institution is never left behind. That is as it should be: institutions like the Magdalene homes survive precisely through their silencing of testimony, and the novel is an attempt to break that silence. The figure of Oonagh O’Neil, the journalist, embodies this: she is the one who insists on confession, not in the sense of penitence but in the sense of testimony. Her task is to give voice, to restore narrative to those whose stories were effaced.
But here enters trauma theory, particularly Freud’s notion of Nachträglichkeit (deferred action) and Cathy Caruth’s elaboration of trauma as belatedness. Trauma is not experienced and resolved at once; it returns, belated, in fragments, in flashbacks, in repetitions. The Lost Children is structured according to this logic. The abuse of the 1950s is only truly registered in 2000, when it resurfaces through Oonagh’s investigation. The flashbacks are not mere exposition but dramatise the way trauma insists, the way the past erupts into the present demanding recognition. This makes Talbot’s use of the dual timeline more than a narrative trick. It is, whether intentionally or not, a representation of trauma’s temporal structure.
And yet, for all this, the novel is uneven. The sections set in the 1950s are powerful, moving, disturbing. They convey the brutality of the institutions without sensationalising them, showing how ordinary cruelty — the withholding of dignity, the casual erasure of personhood — can devastate. But the sections set in 2000, though compelling in plot, are tonally uneven. Oonagh is a plucky, often funny protagonist. Talbot clearly delights in her sharpness, her wit, her refusal to bow to authority. At times this works beautifully: Oonagh’s humour prevents the novel from collapsing into unrelieved darkness. But at other times the juxtaposition jars. The banter and lightness sit awkwardly alongside flashbacks of systemic abuse. The tonal registers clash, and the result is disjointed.
This disjointedness is not fatal to the novel — it is still compelling, still readable, still often moving — but it prevents it from reaching greatness. There are passages where I felt pulled in two directions: urged to laugh at Oonagh’s irreverence while also being asked to weep at the flashbacks. It is possible to do both, but the transitions here are not always seamless. The balance between humour and horror is delicate, and Talbot does not always strike it.
This is why I ultimately settled on three stars. Not because the subject matter is unworthy — it is essential. Not because the protagonist is uninteresting — Oonagh is genuinely engaging. But because the narrative itself cannot always carry the weight of its material. It is torn between crime-thriller pacing and institutional testimony, between banter and atrocity. The result is a book that is often very good but not consistently so.
Here is where the comparison with Shari Low’s Another Day in Winter becomes illuminating. At first glance, the two novels could not be more different. Low’s is a piece of contemporary “chick lit,” humorous, sentimental, centred around family secrets and reconciliation over the course of a single winter day. Talbot’s is a crime debut rooted in historical atrocity. Yet both are Glasgow novels, and both revolve around the eruption of the past into the present, around secrets that demand to be acknowledged.
In Low’s book, grief and reconciliation are handled with a comic lightness that never trivialises. Her characters stumble, laugh, misunderstand each other, and yet their grief feels authentic. The ordinariness of their lives is the ground on which meaning is made. In Talbot’s novel, by contrast, the past is heavy, brutal, resistant to narration. The attempt to weave humour into that weight is admirable, but the balance is never fully achieved. In Another Day in Winter, humour becomes a vehicle for authenticity; in The Lost Children, humour sometimes collides with horror, destabilising rather than enriching the narrative. Both novels ask the same question: how do we narrate trauma without spectacle, without sentimentality? Low’s answer is to embrace the ordinary; Talbot’s answer is hesitant, caught between the demands of genre and the gravity of history. This is why Low’s ostensibly lighter book ultimately felt more convincing in its handling of grief than Talbot’s more ambitious but tonally uneven debut.
And yet, even in its unevenness, The Lost Children deserves recognition. It introduces Oonagh O’Neil, a character who may grow into one of the more interesting protagonists in contemporary crime fiction. It insists on giving narrative presence to the Magdalene homes, refusing to let them sink into silence. It shows how institutions shape lives across generations, how trauma resists closure, how the past insists on returning. It is not a flawless book, but it is an important one.
Three stars, then: a recognition of its strengths, a critique of its weaknesses, and an acknowledgement that while it is not the definitive reckoning the Magdalene homes deserve, it is nonetheless a step toward exposing silence. Talbot is to be admired for her ambition, even if the execution sometimes falters.
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