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Изгубената девојка
Пред осумнаесет години шестмесечната ќерка на Симона Портер, Хелена, е киднапирана.
Симона и нејзиниот сопруг, Мет, едвај успеваат повторно да ги состават парчињата од својот живот, но болката од загубата на нивното дете никогаш не ги напушта. Тогаш се појавува една млада девојка по име Грејс и ѝ кажува на Симона дека има информации за нејзината исчезната ќерка.
Но, која е Грејс? И дали Симона може да ѝ верува?
Но, кога и Грејс исчезнува, Симона се вплеткува во очајна потрага по својата ќерка и по девојката што може да има клучни информации за случајот. Таа е само на чекор од вистината, но тој чекор се наоѓа на опасна и болна територија.
Симона ја загуби својата ќерка. Но дали ќе го загуби и животот обидувајќи се да ја најде?
Eighteen years ago your baby daughter was snatched. Today, she came back...
Eighteen years ago, Simone Porter's six-month-old daughter, Helena, was abducted. Simone and husband, Matt, have slowly rebuilt their shattered lives, but the pain at losing their child has never left them. Then a young woman, Grace, appears out of the blue and tells Simone she has information about her stolen baby. But just who is Grace - and can Simone trust her? When Grace herself disappears, Simone becomes embroiled in a desperate search for her baby and the woman who has vital clues about her whereabouts. Simone is inching closer to the truth but it'll take her into dangerous and disturbing territory. Simone lost her baby. Will she lose her life trying to find her?
Симона и нејзиниот сопруг, Мет, едвај успеваат повторно да ги состават парчињата од својот живот, но болката од загубата на нивното дете никогаш не ги напушта. Тогаш се појавува една млада девојка по име Грејс и ѝ кажува на Симона дека има информации за нејзината исчезната ќерка.
Но, која е Грејс? И дали Симона може да ѝ верува?
Но, кога и Грејс исчезнува, Симона се вплеткува во очајна потрага по својата ќерка и по девојката што може да има клучни информации за случајот. Таа е само на чекор од вистината, но тој чекор се наоѓа на опасна и болна територија.
Симона ја загуби својата ќерка. Но дали ќе го загуби и животот обидувајќи се да ја најде?
Eighteen years ago your baby daughter was snatched. Today, she came back...
Eighteen years ago, Simone Porter's six-month-old daughter, Helena, was abducted. Simone and husband, Matt, have slowly rebuilt their shattered lives, but the pain at losing their child has never left them. Then a young woman, Grace, appears out of the blue and tells Simone she has information about her stolen baby. But just who is Grace - and can Simone trust her? When Grace herself disappears, Simone becomes embroiled in a desperate search for her baby and the woman who has vital clues about her whereabouts. Simone is inching closer to the truth but it'll take her into dangerous and disturbing territory. Simone lost her baby. Will she lose her life trying to find her?
295 pages, Paperback
First published February 2, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,223 reviews
February 16, 2016
1.5 stars
I am clearly in the minority here when it comes to my feelings about this book...
This has to be one of the worst books I've read in a long time and should have been a DNF, but because of all the other strong reviews as well as my love of the author's first book The Girl With No Past, I forced myself to finish. I was hoping a killer ending could save this for me, but it just didn't happen.
So as not to ruin anyone else's potential enjoyment of this, I'm going to put the rest of my review in spoiler mode. If there is anyone else out there that can relate to my many issues with this book, please post your support! It sucks to be the lone critic out there, so partners in crime would be greatly appreciated. ;)
I'm not sure why no one else shares these feelings, but I at least can say I gave it an honest try.
I would still take a chance on this author again though, as her first novel was definitely a hit for me.
ARC provided by NetGalley
I am clearly in the minority here when it comes to my feelings about this book...
This has to be one of the worst books I've read in a long time and should have been a DNF, but because of all the other strong reviews as well as my love of the author's first book The Girl With No Past, I forced myself to finish. I was hoping a killer ending could save this for me, but it just didn't happen.
So as not to ruin anyone else's potential enjoyment of this, I'm going to put the rest of my review in spoiler mode. If there is anyone else out there that can relate to my many issues with this book, please post your support! It sucks to be the lone critic out there, so partners in crime would be greatly appreciated. ;)
I'm not sure why no one else shares these feelings, but I at least can say I gave it an honest try.
I would still take a chance on this author again though, as her first novel was definitely a hit for me.
ARC provided by NetGalley
February 26, 2016
This is the first book by Kathryn Croft that I've read. I've heard many good things about her previous book. When I read the description for "The Girl You Lost" I was intrigued to say the least.
***Possibly some very minor spoilers***
As the book begins we are taken back eighteen years. Simone and Matt are a young couple adjusting to life as new parents in their tiny apartment. Matt is twenty-two and studying to be a doctor and for now nineteen-year-old Simone has put school on hold to raise their six-month old daughter, Helena. They are lucky though that Matt's mother, Miriam is around to help out. She frequently takes Helena out to give the young couple a bit of a break.
Matt's mother comes to take Helena to the park one afternoon so Matt can study. The tired parents are happy to have a few moments to themselves. Just as they say how happy they are, how great everything is, the phone rings and their world is forever changed..
Helena is missing.
The book then jumps to the present. Simone Porter is now a successful journalist and is married to Matt, who is now a doctor. Their daughter, Helena has been missing for eighteen years and they are no closer to finding her then they were before. That is until one day. Simone is approached by a young woman named Grace. Grace tells her she needs to talk to her about her missing daughter. Simone is hesitant as she's been fooled before by people who claim to have information about Helena. But she decides to hear what the young woman has to say.
What Grace says gives Simone hope for the first time in years. But can she trust this woman? When Grace also goes missing Simone will do anything to find her and find out if what she says is true. However, she becomes involved with people who will do anything to keep her from finding out the truth.
I was pulled into the story very quickly. The book was narrated by Simone for the most part. But there were also chapters throughout the book from an unknown persons point of view. This person has hideous secrets and has carried out horrific acts. They tell us that are part of a group who enjoyed carrying out these truly evil deeds. (Some of these deeds can be hard to read about and could possibly be triggering for some people).
"I need to start somewhere near the beginning, to help you understand, don't I? Not that you ever truly will because what would that make you if you did?"
There were multiple story-lines and I felt they were interesting and all fit together very well. I was positive I knew what was going on one minute and then something would change my mind. It really did keep me guessing. There were many twists and turns until the final big twist that I honestly did not see coming.
"How is it that someone capable of such atrocities, can still have love in their hearts?"
An excellent psychological thriller. I thought it was well written with an exciting story and great character development.
I will definitely be reading more from Kathryn Croft.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
***Possibly some very minor spoilers***
As the book begins we are taken back eighteen years. Simone and Matt are a young couple adjusting to life as new parents in their tiny apartment. Matt is twenty-two and studying to be a doctor and for now nineteen-year-old Simone has put school on hold to raise their six-month old daughter, Helena. They are lucky though that Matt's mother, Miriam is around to help out. She frequently takes Helena out to give the young couple a bit of a break.
Matt's mother comes to take Helena to the park one afternoon so Matt can study. The tired parents are happy to have a few moments to themselves. Just as they say how happy they are, how great everything is, the phone rings and their world is forever changed..
Helena is missing.
The book then jumps to the present. Simone Porter is now a successful journalist and is married to Matt, who is now a doctor. Their daughter, Helena has been missing for eighteen years and they are no closer to finding her then they were before. That is until one day. Simone is approached by a young woman named Grace. Grace tells her she needs to talk to her about her missing daughter. Simone is hesitant as she's been fooled before by people who claim to have information about Helena. But she decides to hear what the young woman has to say.
What Grace says gives Simone hope for the first time in years. But can she trust this woman? When Grace also goes missing Simone will do anything to find her and find out if what she says is true. However, she becomes involved with people who will do anything to keep her from finding out the truth.
I was pulled into the story very quickly. The book was narrated by Simone for the most part. But there were also chapters throughout the book from an unknown persons point of view. This person has hideous secrets and has carried out horrific acts. They tell us that are part of a group who enjoyed carrying out these truly evil deeds. (Some of these deeds can be hard to read about and could possibly be triggering for some people).
"I need to start somewhere near the beginning, to help you understand, don't I? Not that you ever truly will because what would that make you if you did?"
There were multiple story-lines and I felt they were interesting and all fit together very well. I was positive I knew what was going on one minute and then something would change my mind. It really did keep me guessing. There were many twists and turns until the final big twist that I honestly did not see coming.
"How is it that someone capable of such atrocities, can still have love in their hearts?"
An excellent psychological thriller. I thought it was well written with an exciting story and great character development.
I will definitely be reading more from Kathryn Croft.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
January 14, 2016
Oh my goodness! Can Kathryn Croft's writing get any better? When Simone and Matt Porter's six month old daughter is abducted and never found, it not unnaturally changes the course of their lives forever. But 18 years later, a girl approaches Simone who thinks she may be their daughter. Now this is an intriguing start to a book for sure, but this story is so much more than that. It takes you down avenues you won't want to go, and introduces you to hideous characters you wouldn't want to meet. The suspense had me turning pages like they had a life all of their own. I knew something more needed to be revealed at the end, but I didn't quite guess what came to pass. If I had to choose one word to describe this book it would be phenomenal. Get your hands on a copy of this book if you possibly can!
* Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture, and Kathryn Croft for my ARC*
* Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture, and Kathryn Croft for my ARC*
January 11, 2016
Simone Porter is an obsessed woman. Eighteen years ago someone took her six month old baby girl Helena, and every day she dwells on who took her and why. While on her lunch break Simone becomes aware a young woman has been following closely since she left her place of work. After crossing the street several times and going inside a shop to try and lose her, Simone decides it probably was just her imagination and decides to return to the office. As Simone turns to leave the young woman suddenly appears by her side urgently tapping her arm. In a quiet voice she tells Simone her name is Grace and anxiously asks her to listen to what she has to say. They find a quiet place and the words start to spill out when the final sentence is spoken; ‘I think I’m your daughter Helena’. ‘The Girl You Lost’ is a psychological thriller taking the reader along paths both frightening and terrifying once Simone decides she must investigate Grace’s life, and determine for herself, if what she is claiming is in fact true. Kathryn Croft has written a remarkable, compelling book and one not to be missed.
*Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my free copy.*
*Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my free copy.*
January 25, 2016
Another hit by Kathryn Croft. She is absolutely on my list of authors who I will just read without question now, as I have enjoyed every single book she has written. The Girl You Lost is no exception.
Simone and Matt's daughter was taken 18 years ago. They have been dealing with the loss and grief all the years and suddenly a young woman called Grace shows up claiming she may be their daughter. Then Grace disappears. Simone must discover the shocking truth as she searches for daughter yet again.
I was totally sucked in to this novel. I sat down and started it and couldn't stop until it was devoured. As always, I really enjoyed the damaged characters and how the story slowly becomes weaved together by only giving us small parts of the it until the whole truth suddenly becomes clear. I really enjoy psychological thrillers that do this. I love not knowing what is going on or going to happen. And I LOVE a good twist!
I really enjoyed the way the book was set out, with Simone's story, and then also the narrator who we didn't know. I loved how it slowly came together.
Simone and Matt were great characters. I enjoyed their relationship and their story. I enjoyed most of the secondary characters, and I felt it had a lot of action and suspense.
I did have a few problems that brought it down from a 5 star read to a 4 star one.
Firstly, and most disappointingly, I found it to be extremely predictable. It was before I even hit halfway that I realised the twist in the story, and even though I was secretly hoping I was wrong, it became more and more clear that I wasn't. I am not sure how any seasoned psychological thriller fan could miss it. I also felt it had too many characters, especially because even though I was so engrossed in it, I still got confused a few times about who was who. It was also a bit too unbelievable, but I didn't mind this so much because I love far fetched plots that still work. And this one really did work.
These are my only problems with the book though, as always Crofts writing is superb and even though I knew what was happening before I should have, I still LOVED the ride! She does a really wonderful job of keeping you at the edge of your seat.
Even though a lot of the story had some pretty awful and graphic subject matter, I feel it was done really well, it made an impact without being TOO graphic, and I feel people who are a bit more sensitive would not find it too bad. However I am not sensitive at all...
Would I recommend The Girl You Lost?
Absolutely! I would recommend anything that Kathryn Croft has written so far and can't wait to see what she has in store for us next!
Many thanks to author Kathryn Croft via NetGalley for a copy of The Girl You Lost in exchange for my honest review.
For more reviews check out my blog
www.booksbabiesbeing.com
Twitter
www.twitter.com/BBB_Mel
Facebook
www.facebook.com/booksbabiesbeing
Simone and Matt's daughter was taken 18 years ago. They have been dealing with the loss and grief all the years and suddenly a young woman called Grace shows up claiming she may be their daughter. Then Grace disappears. Simone must discover the shocking truth as she searches for daughter yet again.
I was totally sucked in to this novel. I sat down and started it and couldn't stop until it was devoured. As always, I really enjoyed the damaged characters and how the story slowly becomes weaved together by only giving us small parts of the it until the whole truth suddenly becomes clear. I really enjoy psychological thrillers that do this. I love not knowing what is going on or going to happen. And I LOVE a good twist!
I really enjoyed the way the book was set out, with Simone's story, and then also the narrator who we didn't know. I loved how it slowly came together.
Simone and Matt were great characters. I enjoyed their relationship and their story. I enjoyed most of the secondary characters, and I felt it had a lot of action and suspense.
I did have a few problems that brought it down from a 5 star read to a 4 star one.
Firstly, and most disappointingly, I found it to be extremely predictable. It was before I even hit halfway that I realised the twist in the story, and even though I was secretly hoping I was wrong, it became more and more clear that I wasn't. I am not sure how any seasoned psychological thriller fan could miss it. I also felt it had too many characters, especially because even though I was so engrossed in it, I still got confused a few times about who was who. It was also a bit too unbelievable, but I didn't mind this so much because I love far fetched plots that still work. And this one really did work.
These are my only problems with the book though, as always Crofts writing is superb and even though I knew what was happening before I should have, I still LOVED the ride! She does a really wonderful job of keeping you at the edge of your seat.
Even though a lot of the story had some pretty awful and graphic subject matter, I feel it was done really well, it made an impact without being TOO graphic, and I feel people who are a bit more sensitive would not find it too bad. However I am not sensitive at all...
Would I recommend The Girl You Lost?
Absolutely! I would recommend anything that Kathryn Croft has written so far and can't wait to see what she has in store for us next!
Many thanks to author Kathryn Croft via NetGalley for a copy of The Girl You Lost in exchange for my honest review.
For more reviews check out my blog
www.booksbabiesbeing.com
www.twitter.com/BBB_Mel
www.facebook.com/booksbabiesbeing
January 9, 2016
Wow! A great start to my reading in 2016. Kathryn Croft has done it again with another winner of a book. This one had me fully engaged and I whizzed through it hungry for more page after page.
Love a good twist? It's here! Bloody brilliant insertion of subtle themes that got darker and darker until a reveal that knocked me off my feet, didn't see it coming. It shocked me. Fantastic!
What's good? Everything!
The plot - it will hook you from page one. The characters - all very defined, ones you will root for and ones that will make you feel ill. There are some nasty and disturbed characters in this book. The pace - this one kicks off strong and has a consistent fast pace, you won't be bored for a second. Emotional impact - there are parts of the story that stirred up many emotions, a few scenes that were hard to read too and I am pretty stoic. Be aware that there are ugly sexual scenes in this book that may trigger some people (I'm being vague so I don't spoil it).
It kept me guessing as the plot weaves and dodges, I formulated so many outcomes and was proven wrong with almost all of them. Kathryn is a very talented writer, she really does lead you on a journey then likes to spin you around a bit. You will love it!
This is a top psychological thrillerwith all the elements you need. I liked that the author tackled some dark elements of human nature that are hard to digest and "watch" but are real and happen out there. I was desperate for getting to the end of this book, simply because I had to know the truth! It was such a great twist and reveal let me tell you.
My first 5 star review of 2015. I highly recommend this one and truly love Kathyrn Croft and her talent, writing, imagination and skill. Awesome!
Many thanks to my favourite publisher Bookouture for a copy of this book to read and review.
For more of my reviews, books to win and author features: https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
To follow me on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/promotethatbook
Love a good twist? It's here! Bloody brilliant insertion of subtle themes that got darker and darker until a reveal that knocked me off my feet, didn't see it coming. It shocked me. Fantastic!
What's good? Everything!
The plot - it will hook you from page one. The characters - all very defined, ones you will root for and ones that will make you feel ill. There are some nasty and disturbed characters in this book. The pace - this one kicks off strong and has a consistent fast pace, you won't be bored for a second. Emotional impact - there are parts of the story that stirred up many emotions, a few scenes that were hard to read too and I am pretty stoic. Be aware that there are ugly sexual scenes in this book that may trigger some people (I'm being vague so I don't spoil it).
It kept me guessing as the plot weaves and dodges, I formulated so many outcomes and was proven wrong with almost all of them. Kathryn is a very talented writer, she really does lead you on a journey then likes to spin you around a bit. You will love it!
This is a top psychological thrillerwith all the elements you need. I liked that the author tackled some dark elements of human nature that are hard to digest and "watch" but are real and happen out there. I was desperate for getting to the end of this book, simply because I had to know the truth! It was such a great twist and reveal let me tell you.
My first 5 star review of 2015. I highly recommend this one and truly love Kathyrn Croft and her talent, writing, imagination and skill. Awesome!
Many thanks to my favourite publisher Bookouture for a copy of this book to read and review.
For more of my reviews, books to win and author features: https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
To follow me on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/promotethatbook
April 19, 2016
There was a crime committed here. And it actually was the book itself.
So here I stand on the edge of this cliff staring at the sky filled with 4 and 5 star reviews. My 2 stars don't seem to give off much twinkle. But I must speak in an honest voice to just how this book actually spoke to me. You can throw rocks at me later.
SPOILERS: DO NOT CROSS THIS LINE IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE BOOK YET.
This is not my first time behind the wheel of a mystery/thriller. I've read them all from light cozies to heavy, heavy subject matter. Just don't give me implausible, hole-filled, ridiculous, just for the sake of shock and awe, no-air-in-the tires, plotlines. I feel duped right about now. And, sadly, I saw it coming from the onset.
Simone Porter and her husband, Matt, have been victims of a horrible abduction of their six-month old daughter, Helena. And in walks a young woman, Grace, claiming to be the long lost girl. There is such lack of emotion upon receiving this news that I felt like I was watching a robot venue from Japan. Everything here on out was strongly contrived to support this premise. We view people junking their jobs and never calling in the police at crucial times. Cells phones are constantly dead. Sociopaths belong to fraternities called Killers Are Us. And one, solely one, character is left on the back burner throughout the storyline. Well, guess who!
Writers have dedicated themselves to their work. I have never given a 1 star review just for that reason and never will. But Ms. Croft, I have felt so let down after this one. The emperor has no clothes......and I can't "un-see" what I just saw. Sad and lonely out here.
So here I stand on the edge of this cliff staring at the sky filled with 4 and 5 star reviews. My 2 stars don't seem to give off much twinkle. But I must speak in an honest voice to just how this book actually spoke to me. You can throw rocks at me later.
SPOILERS: DO NOT CROSS THIS LINE IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE BOOK YET.
This is not my first time behind the wheel of a mystery/thriller. I've read them all from light cozies to heavy, heavy subject matter. Just don't give me implausible, hole-filled, ridiculous, just for the sake of shock and awe, no-air-in-the tires, plotlines. I feel duped right about now. And, sadly, I saw it coming from the onset.
Simone Porter and her husband, Matt, have been victims of a horrible abduction of their six-month old daughter, Helena. And in walks a young woman, Grace, claiming to be the long lost girl. There is such lack of emotion upon receiving this news that I felt like I was watching a robot venue from Japan. Everything here on out was strongly contrived to support this premise. We view people junking their jobs and never calling in the police at crucial times. Cells phones are constantly dead. Sociopaths belong to fraternities called Killers Are Us. And one, solely one, character is left on the back burner throughout the storyline. Well, guess who!
Writers have dedicated themselves to their work. I have never given a 1 star review just for that reason and never will. But Ms. Croft, I have felt so let down after this one. The emperor has no clothes......and I can't "un-see" what I just saw. Sad and lonely out here.
May 11, 2020
I am a big fan of the genre and this book gets good ratings so I expected a bit more than I got.
The premise was good - baby stolen eighteen years ago, girl claiming to be that baby turns up out of the blue, girl then disappears. It should have been good but I was constantly irritated by characters acting in foolish ways just to assist the storyline. Their excuses for not calling the police - an obvious thing to do - were hopeless.
Anyway, I got over that and became involved in the story. The author writes well and there were some intriguing sections where the narrator changed to the person who was presumably responsible for all the nasty things going on. Those bits were suitably creepy.
Sadly, for reasons I cannot explain without writing a huge paragraph in spoiler tags, I guessed who the creepy narrator was quite early in the book. Without that knowledge the ending would have come as a huge shock which is how a book like this should end.
So there were good things and bad things which means a three star rating from me.
The premise was good - baby stolen eighteen years ago, girl claiming to be that baby turns up out of the blue, girl then disappears. It should have been good but I was constantly irritated by characters acting in foolish ways just to assist the storyline. Their excuses for not calling the police - an obvious thing to do - were hopeless.
Anyway, I got over that and became involved in the story. The author writes well and there were some intriguing sections where the narrator changed to the person who was presumably responsible for all the nasty things going on. Those bits were suitably creepy.
Sadly, for reasons I cannot explain without writing a huge paragraph in spoiler tags, I guessed who the creepy narrator was quite early in the book. Without that knowledge the ending would have come as a huge shock which is how a book like this should end.
So there were good things and bad things which means a three star rating from me.
February 5, 2016
Many thanks to the author, Kathryn Croft, Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review, THE GIRL YOU LOST.
After having read the author's first book The Girl With No Past, and really enjoying it, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this second book. I didn’t know how she was going to top this…but she did. I enjoyed this book even better than the first! A real winner!
This is a gripping psychological thriller with all the features to keep you hooked right from the beginning and keep you desperate for the truth. So many twists and turns with the great reveal at the end, that I did not see coming.
Matt and Simone Porter lost their 6-month old daughter, eighteen years ago. The baby girl, Helena had been abducted in the park while under the grandmother’s care. Helena is missing…and the unknown kidnapper is still out there.
Then out of the blue, a young woman, Grace, shows up saying that she knows details about their daughter’s disappearance! Who is this person Grace? And then Grace suddenly disappears from the scene.
This was an amazing read! It was well written, and I could really connect with the characters.
Don’t miss out on reading this book. I didn’t want it to end. Can’t wait for the next book!
After having read the author's first book The Girl With No Past, and really enjoying it, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this second book. I didn’t know how she was going to top this…but she did. I enjoyed this book even better than the first! A real winner!
This is a gripping psychological thriller with all the features to keep you hooked right from the beginning and keep you desperate for the truth. So many twists and turns with the great reveal at the end, that I did not see coming.
Matt and Simone Porter lost their 6-month old daughter, eighteen years ago. The baby girl, Helena had been abducted in the park while under the grandmother’s care. Helena is missing…and the unknown kidnapper is still out there.
Then out of the blue, a young woman, Grace, shows up saying that she knows details about their daughter’s disappearance! Who is this person Grace? And then Grace suddenly disappears from the scene.
This was an amazing read! It was well written, and I could really connect with the characters.
Don’t miss out on reading this book. I didn’t want it to end. Can’t wait for the next book!
December 25, 2015
My sincere THANKS to the author / Bookouture / NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review. This is one of those books that once read, will stay in my head forever.
Eighteen years ago Matt and Simone Porter lost their 6-month old daughter. It was a parent's worst nightmare .. the baby was abducted. The kidnapper ... and the baby ... were never seen nor heard from again.
That changed today! A young woman has shown up claiming that she knows something about their daughter. But who is Grace? Is 'she' the missing daughter? And why does she suddenly disappear?
Simone becomes obsessed with finding Grace, who may or may not be her daughter.. and the closer to the truth she gets, the more questions she has...and the more danger she faces.
This is not my first Kathryn Croft book ... nor will it be the last. This is a psychological thriller that is so well-written, the anxiety, the sorrow, the emotional roller coaster, is palpable, jumping off the pages straight into your heart.
There are so many twists and turns that you never see coming... and a major twist at the end that absolutely blew me away.
I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who likes psychological thrillers and a book that grabs hold and won't let go until the very last sentence of the very last page.
Eighteen years ago Matt and Simone Porter lost their 6-month old daughter. It was a parent's worst nightmare .. the baby was abducted. The kidnapper ... and the baby ... were never seen nor heard from again.
That changed today! A young woman has shown up claiming that she knows something about their daughter. But who is Grace? Is 'she' the missing daughter? And why does she suddenly disappear?
Simone becomes obsessed with finding Grace, who may or may not be her daughter.. and the closer to the truth she gets, the more questions she has...and the more danger she faces.
This is not my first Kathryn Croft book ... nor will it be the last. This is a psychological thriller that is so well-written, the anxiety, the sorrow, the emotional roller coaster, is palpable, jumping off the pages straight into your heart.
There are so many twists and turns that you never see coming... and a major twist at the end that absolutely blew me away.
I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who likes psychological thrillers and a book that grabs hold and won't let go until the very last sentence of the very last page.
June 20, 2024
⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars. Wow, this was really good even tho I guessed who it was half way through the book or thereabouts. First time reading a book by this author and I loved it
January 2, 2016
This was an amazing read. It was gripping from the start. Any story with a child in it appeals to me, coupled with abduction and intrigue and mystery, this has it all.
Matt and Simone are a young couple who find themselves with the expectation of a baby sooner than planned. Matt is still studying but Simone is happy to find herself pregnant. The apartment they live in is not spacious but Simone says they can manage.
One day Matt's Mother offers to take the baby out to get some fresh air. Whilst out, she is taken unwell and during the time it takes her to visit the facilities in the park, she turns around and the baby Helena, only 6 months old has vanished.
Imagine this.
18 years on and of course Matt's Mother still blames herself. Simone is devastated. She never gives up hope for the return of her daughter.
Matt is trying to move on.
But one day appears Grace, she turns up telling Simone that she knows where Helena is.
Is Grace her daughter? Or does Grace know where she is?
There are twists in this story that are unexpected, I didn't guess it one little bit at the end.
Kathryn Croft has woven a story that kept me hooked to my Kindle. I didn't put it down and I never left my Kindle anywhere that day, I took it from room to room and out in the car and picked it up at each chance I got to read more. I finished this in one day.
I would love to see this as a drama or film, it really played out in my mind with such believable living breathable characters. I could see them and I could hear them.
Awesome read.
*my thanks to Bookouture via Net Galley for my copy*
Matt and Simone are a young couple who find themselves with the expectation of a baby sooner than planned. Matt is still studying but Simone is happy to find herself pregnant. The apartment they live in is not spacious but Simone says they can manage.
One day Matt's Mother offers to take the baby out to get some fresh air. Whilst out, she is taken unwell and during the time it takes her to visit the facilities in the park, she turns around and the baby Helena, only 6 months old has vanished.
Imagine this.
18 years on and of course Matt's Mother still blames herself. Simone is devastated. She never gives up hope for the return of her daughter.
Matt is trying to move on.
But one day appears Grace, she turns up telling Simone that she knows where Helena is.
Is Grace her daughter? Or does Grace know where she is?
There are twists in this story that are unexpected, I didn't guess it one little bit at the end.
Kathryn Croft has woven a story that kept me hooked to my Kindle. I didn't put it down and I never left my Kindle anywhere that day, I took it from room to room and out in the car and picked it up at each chance I got to read more. I finished this in one day.
I would love to see this as a drama or film, it really played out in my mind with such believable living breathable characters. I could see them and I could hear them.
Awesome read.
*my thanks to Bookouture via Net Galley for my copy*
January 31, 2016
Simone and Matt Porter had the unthinkable happen to them eighteen years ago, their six month old baby girl, Helena, was kidnapped while Matt's mother had taken her to the park. The young couple were then bonded together in their grief for the loss of their daughter and now years later a young woman approaches Simone claiming she just may be the missing Helena.
Simone is not sure what to think of Grace's story, it's so unbelievable that Simone is almost sure that this is another hoax preying on the grief of a mother's love for her lost child. But Grace has a stuffed animal just like the one that once belonged to Helena so Simone listens to her and insists on a DNA test but while awaiting the results Grace herself turns up missing which has Simone jumping into investigating the disappearance and her story.
Kathryn Croft has done it again. I had loved The Girl With No Past when I read it so when I saw this title available I just had to read it and see if she could keep up the twists and turns and excitement. I was not disappointed at all.
The Girl You Lost a dark and twisted tale that gives you glimpses inside the mind of the evil behind the crimes all along the way. It is an intense ride uncovering not only the disappearance of a baby girl eighteen years prior but many other horrifying crimes along the way. This book is easily a complete page turning addiction that pulls you in and you don't want to stop until you find out the entire story and how it will turn out.
I will say with this story I did guess at the overall ending but it didn't take away from the ride to get there so I will stay with a five star rating for this. The story has such a complexity to it that there were still so many whys and hows to uncover along the way that I think any fan of a good psychological thriller will be completely caught up in the story.
Overall, another great read from Kathryn Croft, an author that I'd suggest any fan of psychological thrillers should give her books a read.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Simone is not sure what to think of Grace's story, it's so unbelievable that Simone is almost sure that this is another hoax preying on the grief of a mother's love for her lost child. But Grace has a stuffed animal just like the one that once belonged to Helena so Simone listens to her and insists on a DNA test but while awaiting the results Grace herself turns up missing which has Simone jumping into investigating the disappearance and her story.
Kathryn Croft has done it again. I had loved The Girl With No Past when I read it so when I saw this title available I just had to read it and see if she could keep up the twists and turns and excitement. I was not disappointed at all.
The Girl You Lost a dark and twisted tale that gives you glimpses inside the mind of the evil behind the crimes all along the way. It is an intense ride uncovering not only the disappearance of a baby girl eighteen years prior but many other horrifying crimes along the way. This book is easily a complete page turning addiction that pulls you in and you don't want to stop until you find out the entire story and how it will turn out.
I will say with this story I did guess at the overall ending but it didn't take away from the ride to get there so I will stay with a five star rating for this. The story has such a complexity to it that there were still so many whys and hows to uncover along the way that I think any fan of a good psychological thriller will be completely caught up in the story.
Overall, another great read from Kathryn Croft, an author that I'd suggest any fan of psychological thrillers should give her books a read.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
February 4, 2016
This book was recommended to me by one of my friends who raved about it so I was intrigued and looking forward to reading it.
I wasn't disappointed, Kathryn Croft is a new author to me but I will be looking out for more of her work in the future. A reasonably quick read that grips you early on and the pace is maintained throughout.
Eighteen years ago, Simone and Matt Porter's baby girl was taken. Now she is staring at Grace who is claiming to be her daughter. Simone tries to find out who she is and in fact if she is her missing daughter. But before Simone can find out the truth, she goes missing. She searches for the answers and risks her life in doing so.
To be honest there were some hard to believe moments and co-incidences but don't let that stop you enjoying this fast actioned suspense thriller
after all it is fiction.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Bookouture for supplying me with a copy of this novel in exchange for a honest review.
I wasn't disappointed, Kathryn Croft is a new author to me but I will be looking out for more of her work in the future. A reasonably quick read that grips you early on and the pace is maintained throughout.
Eighteen years ago, Simone and Matt Porter's baby girl was taken. Now she is staring at Grace who is claiming to be her daughter. Simone tries to find out who she is and in fact if she is her missing daughter. But before Simone can find out the truth, she goes missing. She searches for the answers and risks her life in doing so.
To be honest there were some hard to believe moments and co-incidences but don't let that stop you enjoying this fast actioned suspense thriller
after all it is fiction.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Bookouture for supplying me with a copy of this novel in exchange for a honest review.
March 10, 2021
Another just ok read for me. I have a list on my audio books that I randomly choose from so my standards are slipping and I'm not being choosy.
A baby goes missing at 6 months of age, a woman turns up at age 21 claiming to be this daughter, clutching her childhood toy. This has to be the same person, surely? Simone is the long suffering mother who happens to be a journalist and finds herself in a jam when this adult woman also goes missing.
I find in these cat and mouse type missing person stories feature everyday women doing all sorts of daring and risque things for the greater good. Simone finds herself in very dangerous situations and again, I find myself reading themes about the sexual abuse of women. This book is not for you if this would be an issue. It is gruesome and awful. Very graphic.
Simone is married to an enigmatic general practitioner who works hard; they decided more children wasn't for them. And as for the poor mother-in-law who was the caregiver at the time of the abduction - poor her!
I rate this 2.5 stars and find the format of this one to be another run of the mill offering.
A baby goes missing at 6 months of age, a woman turns up at age 21 claiming to be this daughter, clutching her childhood toy. This has to be the same person, surely? Simone is the long suffering mother who happens to be a journalist and finds herself in a jam when this adult woman also goes missing.
I find in these cat and mouse type missing person stories feature everyday women doing all sorts of daring and risque things for the greater good. Simone finds herself in very dangerous situations and again, I find myself reading themes about the sexual abuse of women. This book is not for you if this would be an issue. It is gruesome and awful. Very graphic.
Simone is married to an enigmatic general practitioner who works hard; they decided more children wasn't for them. And as for the poor mother-in-law who was the caregiver at the time of the abduction - poor her!
I rate this 2.5 stars and find the format of this one to be another run of the mill offering.
February 6, 2016
Read like a detective novel and made for a great psychological thriller. Each chapter got more intense and interesting.
February 5, 2016
Well this is my first book of 2016 and I couldn't have chosen a better one as its also my first 5* read of the year as well! I have been a huge fan of Kathryn Croft since her first book and I think this is her best to date (and I am a big lover of Behind Closed Doors!!).
When baby Helena is abducted aged just 6 months old, her parents Simone and Matt are devastated especially as no clue to her disappearance is ever found. Eighteen years later they are still together but have felt unable to have more children. One day Simone is shopping during her lunch hour when she is approached by Grace who thinks she may be their missing child. Simone doesn't believe her but is then drawn into Graces world where Simone struggles to know who to trust.
This is a fine example of a psychological thriller set in London that you won't want to put down. Kathryn Croft weaves a twisty tale of abduction and murder whilst taking the reader on a mother's journey to discover the truth at all costs. It is an adrenaline fuelled hunt where a new suspect appears around every corner and you are never quite sure who the bad guys are or who to trust. This is a truly gripping suspense and I loved it. More please!!
I received a copy of the book via netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
When baby Helena is abducted aged just 6 months old, her parents Simone and Matt are devastated especially as no clue to her disappearance is ever found. Eighteen years later they are still together but have felt unable to have more children. One day Simone is shopping during her lunch hour when she is approached by Grace who thinks she may be their missing child. Simone doesn't believe her but is then drawn into Graces world where Simone struggles to know who to trust.
This is a fine example of a psychological thriller set in London that you won't want to put down. Kathryn Croft weaves a twisty tale of abduction and murder whilst taking the reader on a mother's journey to discover the truth at all costs. It is an adrenaline fuelled hunt where a new suspect appears around every corner and you are never quite sure who the bad guys are or who to trust. This is a truly gripping suspense and I loved it. More please!!
I received a copy of the book via netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
July 28, 2017
This book has very dark and gritty secrets.The last twist and suspense of the book is totally unexpected.I never ever saw it coming.The book is also heartbreaking with what happens to grace eventually and the breaking of families and trust of peoples concerned.It deals with brutal psychotic urges of a person who doesn't see what they are ruining for it.
This book shows how a person can live a 2 faced life .The book is really heart wrenching with unraveling of brutal secrets.I was really on the verge of crying from the way the world of simone exploded.
I didn't expected this one to be this suspenseful and great of a thriller.This was my first from this writer and i will surely follow her other books
This book shows how a person can live a 2 faced life .The book is really heart wrenching with unraveling of brutal secrets.I was really on the verge of crying from the way the world of simone exploded.
I didn't expected this one to be this suspenseful and great of a thriller.This was my first from this writer and i will surely follow her other books
February 7, 2016
Wow. This is a real knicker gripping, bum clencher which I devoured in a couple of days. Full of twists and turns, I didn't actually work out who did what to whom until the last few chapters. Highly recommended.
August 1, 2017
The Girl You Lost, by Kathryn Croft, is a psychological thriller that explores the reappearance of a child that was abducted many years earlier.
I enjoy novels that are written from multiple perspectives and the characterization throughout this novel was very well done.
Narrator and main character Simone Porter was wonderfully crafted. Not only could I feel every one of her emotions but I admired her determination, over many years of searching for her daughter, when the odds were against her. Being able to delve into the minds of the criminals, at times horrific and unimaginable, only added to the story and its surprising outcome.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and look forward to more of this author's work.
I enjoy novels that are written from multiple perspectives and the characterization throughout this novel was very well done.
Narrator and main character Simone Porter was wonderfully crafted. Not only could I feel every one of her emotions but I admired her determination, over many years of searching for her daughter, when the odds were against her. Being able to delve into the minds of the criminals, at times horrific and unimaginable, only added to the story and its surprising outcome.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and look forward to more of this author's work.
January 23, 2016
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I would really award this a 4 and a half if I were allowed that on these websites.
This is a brilliantly written psychological thriller. At the beginning I wasn’t sure that it would really capture my interest until I started reading the pages that were written by “someone” who was involved in the abduction. Here lived the “wolf in sheep’s clothing”, but it was difficult to imagine who it was.
This is the first book by Kathryn Croft but I will be reading her others. There was a wide range of characters here. Simone, the mother whose baby was abducted is a strong, survival driven individual. Anyone who can make it through a child abduction and go on to finish school, start and excel at a career is a rarity. She’s never given up hope that someday she will see her child again. One day she is approached by a young woman, named Grace, who later claims to be her lost daughter but who has a secret that she needs help with. When this daughter then disappears the plot gets moving.
Simone’s husband, Matt, is a physician. He has been supportive and by her side throughout their 18 years of marriage since their infant Helena was abducted. He is described as caring, dedicated and extremely understanding of Simone’s working schedule which can keep her away often into the late hours of the night. Simone is an editor at a newspaper.
When Grace goes missing, Simone and her longtime colleague Abbott, work on unraveling the mystery of where Grace is and how it all relates to some other cases that the newspaper which they work for is covering.
There are lots of other characters which are well defined. One that just felt especially real to me was Ginny, the only mother that Grace has ever known. She is willing to do anything to find Grace, even if it means sharing her “motherhood’ with Simone.
There is quite an amazing plot here which is intense, quickly paced and keeps the reader guessing. The passages written by an unknown person was a great “tool” with which to add more puzzle pieces to the mystery.
The only thing that kept this from being a 5 for me was the Epilogue. It was just a bit cliché, which left me feeling that it was just too “perfect” of an ending.
However this book was so well done that I will be hand selling this to everyone who wants a fast paced, truly psychological thriller.
This is a brilliantly written psychological thriller. At the beginning I wasn’t sure that it would really capture my interest until I started reading the pages that were written by “someone” who was involved in the abduction. Here lived the “wolf in sheep’s clothing”, but it was difficult to imagine who it was.
This is the first book by Kathryn Croft but I will be reading her others. There was a wide range of characters here. Simone, the mother whose baby was abducted is a strong, survival driven individual. Anyone who can make it through a child abduction and go on to finish school, start and excel at a career is a rarity. She’s never given up hope that someday she will see her child again. One day she is approached by a young woman, named Grace, who later claims to be her lost daughter but who has a secret that she needs help with. When this daughter then disappears the plot gets moving.
Simone’s husband, Matt, is a physician. He has been supportive and by her side throughout their 18 years of marriage since their infant Helena was abducted. He is described as caring, dedicated and extremely understanding of Simone’s working schedule which can keep her away often into the late hours of the night. Simone is an editor at a newspaper.
When Grace goes missing, Simone and her longtime colleague Abbott, work on unraveling the mystery of where Grace is and how it all relates to some other cases that the newspaper which they work for is covering.
There are lots of other characters which are well defined. One that just felt especially real to me was Ginny, the only mother that Grace has ever known. She is willing to do anything to find Grace, even if it means sharing her “motherhood’ with Simone.
There is quite an amazing plot here which is intense, quickly paced and keeps the reader guessing. The passages written by an unknown person was a great “tool” with which to add more puzzle pieces to the mystery.
The only thing that kept this from being a 5 for me was the Epilogue. It was just a bit cliché, which left me feeling that it was just too “perfect” of an ending.
However this book was so well done that I will be hand selling this to everyone who wants a fast paced, truly psychological thriller.
January 11, 2016
Oh boy... I'm really sorry to say that I just did not enjoy this book. The story has massive potential, but Ms. Croft's execution missed the mark. Perhaps it was my own expectations of this book that ruined it for me. I really enjoyed The Girl With No Past and I guess I expected it to be just as good. I will try my best to be vague and not spoil anything for you. So, here goes nothin...
For me, the plot crawled at a snail's pace. I wanted to know what was going on, but found myself growing impatient with the tedium. The plot twists were either far-fetched or predictable. And the ending?? No.. Just no. The big reveal was lackluster and I suspected it fairly early on. I had a really hard time believing this story. I even found myself rolling my eyes at times. I will say that the last 25% of this book did move along a little better, but it still fell flat.
The characters lack emotion and seem detached. I could not connect with any of the characters, especially Simone. The only character that held my interest through most of the book is the unnamed voice in several of the chapters. I wish that these characters reacted more. Everyone just seemed content to go about business as usual. There was no sense of urgency. I wanted melt downs and panic attacks and drama. I also wasn't a fan of the first-person narration in this because Simone tended to tell us about her emotions instead of acting on them. She also made some pretty bizarre decisions.
I wanted to love this book. I really did. After all, it did have great potential. I believe this story could have been spectacular if written in a different manner.
I received a complementary advance reader copy of this book from Bookouture and NetGalley in exchange for an an honest review.
For me, the plot crawled at a snail's pace. I wanted to know what was going on, but found myself growing impatient with the tedium. The plot twists were either far-fetched or predictable. And the ending?? No.. Just no. The big reveal was lackluster and I suspected it fairly early on. I had a really hard time believing this story. I even found myself rolling my eyes at times. I will say that the last 25% of this book did move along a little better, but it still fell flat.
The characters lack emotion and seem detached. I could not connect with any of the characters, especially Simone. The only character that held my interest through most of the book is the unnamed voice in several of the chapters. I wish that these characters reacted more. Everyone just seemed content to go about business as usual. There was no sense of urgency. I wanted melt downs and panic attacks and drama. I also wasn't a fan of the first-person narration in this because Simone tended to tell us about her emotions instead of acting on them. She also made some pretty bizarre decisions.
I wanted to love this book. I really did. After all, it did have great potential. I believe this story could have been spectacular if written in a different manner.
I received a complementary advance reader copy of this book from Bookouture and NetGalley in exchange for an an honest review.
November 11, 2016
I found this to be an engaging story. I enjoyed the characters and the plot. It was all very realistic, no perfect MC or stereotypical evil bad guy. There were unexpected twists and turns. At times, I expected something to happen and it didn't. Other times, I didn't expect something to happen and it did. This one is definitely worth a read.
This is the first book I've read by Kathryn Croft, but I am definitely interested in reading more of her work. I thought she had a great writing style. She weaved a fantastic story, using just enough detail to give you a picture, but not so much as to bog the story down. She kept a consistent pace throughout and I never lost interest in what was happening or going to happen.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with a free electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book I've read by Kathryn Croft, but I am definitely interested in reading more of her work. I thought she had a great writing style. She weaved a fantastic story, using just enough detail to give you a picture, but not so much as to bog the story down. She kept a consistent pace throughout and I never lost interest in what was happening or going to happen.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with a free electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 28, 2016
Thank you to Netgalley, Kathryn Croft and the publisher for a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Wow once again Kathryn Croft has written another gem! Matt and Simone are trying to get their lives back together after the loss and agony of losing their daughter Helena. Then out of nowhere comes Grace. Grace claims to have information about the disappearance of their daughter. This is where the story then takes off. Many a time I was literally holding my breath wondering if what was happening, really was. This really was a well written and thought out book. Excellent plot and characters that draw you into the story and don't let go.
I loved this book as I did Kathryn's previous book and again I had to read the end twice to make sure that what I thought had happened, had. Can't wait for the next one.
Wow once again Kathryn Croft has written another gem! Matt and Simone are trying to get their lives back together after the loss and agony of losing their daughter Helena. Then out of nowhere comes Grace. Grace claims to have information about the disappearance of their daughter. This is where the story then takes off. Many a time I was literally holding my breath wondering if what was happening, really was. This really was a well written and thought out book. Excellent plot and characters that draw you into the story and don't let go.
I loved this book as I did Kathryn's previous book and again I had to read the end twice to make sure that what I thought had happened, had. Can't wait for the next one.
August 13, 2022
2.5
Męczyłam się czytając, przewidywalna i momentami niepotrzebnie zamieszana.
Męczyłam się czytając, przewidywalna i momentami niepotrzebnie zamieszana.
May 20, 2017
Well I finally finished The girl you lost by Kathryn croft but I didn't enjoy it at all , the characters did nothing for me & was just an average read. Sometimes I felt like I was watching Days Of Our Lives they were completely over the top & flawed felt like jumping over the gap, now I have that off my chest will get to the premise all sounded good, but I found myself having no emotions shown from Simone & Grace it was just so stagnate seeing as it was such a tough subject to write about to have an infant kidnapped.
I thought the ending was okay but it didn't surprise me as Simone & Matt Porter were written as the perfect couple but as they say YOU NEVER KNOW WHO YOU ARE LIVING WITH!
Sorry for the poor review as I may be in the minority but its just my POV. Although I did love THE GIRL WITH NO PAST how ironic that 2 different books can have the opposite effect on someone go figure.
I thought the ending was okay but it didn't surprise me as Simone & Matt Porter were written as the perfect couple but as they say YOU NEVER KNOW WHO YOU ARE LIVING WITH!
Sorry for the poor review as I may be in the minority but its just my POV. Although I did love THE GIRL WITH NO PAST how ironic that 2 different books can have the opposite effect on someone go figure.
June 14, 2017
Actual rating 4.5....
Simone and mats baby girl was of ducted over 18 years ago, so when Grace shows up claiming to be there lost daughter, it leads to more questions than answers..... don't want to say too much, because definitely don't want to ruin this for anybody.... really liked Simone and enjoyed unraveling this story with her, so many twists and turns, some I saw coming and most I did not..... but best of all everything was completely plausible, there was nothing in the story that made you need to suspend believe.... this is the first book I read by this author, but definitely not the last, very well written.....
Simone and mats baby girl was of ducted over 18 years ago, so when Grace shows up claiming to be there lost daughter, it leads to more questions than answers..... don't want to say too much, because definitely don't want to ruin this for anybody.... really liked Simone and enjoyed unraveling this story with her, so many twists and turns, some I saw coming and most I did not..... but best of all everything was completely plausible, there was nothing in the story that made you need to suspend believe.... this is the first book I read by this author, but definitely not the last, very well written.....
March 21, 2016
*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, thanks again*
DNF at 73%
I wanted to DNF this at 35%.
And at 50%.
And finally at 73% I gave up. Because I wasted a day and a half on this and I couldn't stand it anymore.
Bitch, what are you talking about? This is the most boring thriller I've ever read.
The Girl You Lost starts with a couple, Simone and M-something, who have a six months old baby. They're really young and complaining about the noise, because who knew baby made noises? Unbelievable!
They decide to ask M-something's mum to take the baby - Helena - out for a couple of hours so they can have sex and stuff.
Not that I'm blaming them, I'm just using this as an example of how absurd the plot is. She literally had to specify they had sex.
Anyway, after that, M-something receives a phone call: their baby had been abducted.
Flash forward, 18 years after that, Simone and her husband are still kind of looking for her daughter Helena. One day Simone encounters a young lady that has informations about Helena and together they start to investigate.
The plot was really predictable and repetitive; a lot of thing happened again and again.
The plot twists didn't make any sense and I wasn't surprised by any of them.
For me, the worst thing about this book was the writing style.
The author thought it was a good idea to explain every single thing to us, even the stuff that was obvious. Every single action was justified.
For example: if I want to say I'm going home using my car, I'm going to say "I'm going home, with my car".
Saying "I decided to use my car to go home, because I didn't care about the traffic and also I liked my car a whole lot" would add a lot of non-important details no one cares about. Literally: no one cares.
The entire book was like that. A lot of stupid details. And a lot of absurd dialogues.
I don't think Croft should write thrillers, because she's not really good at creating something that catches you. And I'm being really nice right now...
DNF at 73%
I wanted to DNF this at 35%.
And at 50%.
And finally at 73% I gave up. Because I wasted a day and a half on this and I couldn't stand it anymore.
A sinister and darkly compelling psychological thriller
Bitch, what are you talking about? This is the most boring thriller I've ever read.
The Girl You Lost starts with a couple, Simone and M-something, who have a six months old baby. They're really young and complaining about the noise, because who knew baby made noises? Unbelievable!
They decide to ask M-something's mum to take the baby - Helena - out for a couple of hours so they can have sex and stuff.
Not that I'm blaming them, I'm just using this as an example of how absurd the plot is. She literally had to specify they had sex.
Anyway, after that, M-something receives a phone call: their baby had been abducted.
Flash forward, 18 years after that, Simone and her husband are still kind of looking for her daughter Helena. One day Simone encounters a young lady that has informations about Helena and together they start to investigate.
The plot was really predictable and repetitive; a lot of thing happened again and again.
The plot twists didn't make any sense and I wasn't surprised by any of them.
For me, the worst thing about this book was the writing style.
The author thought it was a good idea to explain every single thing to us, even the stuff that was obvious. Every single action was justified.
For example: if I want to say I'm going home using my car, I'm going to say "I'm going home, with my car".
Saying "I decided to use my car to go home, because I didn't care about the traffic and also I liked my car a whole lot" would add a lot of non-important details no one cares about. Literally: no one cares.
The entire book was like that. A lot of stupid details. And a lot of absurd dialogues.
I don't think Croft should write thrillers, because she's not really good at creating something that catches you. And I'm being really nice right now...
February 4, 2016
This certainly lives up to its description as a psychological thriller! It is a superb tale of heartbreak, deceit, double crossing, kidnapping, blackmail and so much more mixed together into an enthralling tale by a skilled wordsmith.
The characters are rarely as they initially seem. The plot has more twists and tangles than you could imagine! From the start the reader is immersed into the action packed scenarios. There are surprise revelations occurring throughout the story as the convoluted plot progresses and the final one is - wow! Talking about never really knowing someone even if you live with them has nothing on that one.
It is a real page turner, though I admit the Prologue initially had me wary about what I was about to read. The plot is full of intrigue and suspense, the discoveries often adding to the mystery rather than solving it. It isn’t a happy tale, being full of heartbreak and grief from the past and present, but it is a very moving story and a riveting read. Some of the character reactions seemed weird - until you read the ending and suddenly all becomes so much clearer, so persevere and be ready to be shocked!
If you’re not looking to be cheered up and you enjoy well crafted psychological thrillers, this is one you really shouldn’t miss!
Thanks to the author, publishers and NetGalley, too, for letting me read an ARC of this book in exchange for this, an honest review.
The characters are rarely as they initially seem. The plot has more twists and tangles than you could imagine! From the start the reader is immersed into the action packed scenarios. There are surprise revelations occurring throughout the story as the convoluted plot progresses and the final one is - wow! Talking about never really knowing someone even if you live with them has nothing on that one.
It is a real page turner, though I admit the Prologue initially had me wary about what I was about to read. The plot is full of intrigue and suspense, the discoveries often adding to the mystery rather than solving it. It isn’t a happy tale, being full of heartbreak and grief from the past and present, but it is a very moving story and a riveting read. Some of the character reactions seemed weird - until you read the ending and suddenly all becomes so much clearer, so persevere and be ready to be shocked!
If you’re not looking to be cheered up and you enjoy well crafted psychological thrillers, this is one you really shouldn’t miss!
Thanks to the author, publishers and NetGalley, too, for letting me read an ARC of this book in exchange for this, an honest review.
February 2, 2016
Special thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the chance to read and review this free electronic ARC!
Croft’s novel “The Girl You Lost” is a page turner that a reader will quickly devour. Filled with mystery, suspense and tension, it keeps you intrigued until the very end.
In “Lost”, Simone Porter is going about her daily life when she is approached by a young lady who asks for Simone’s help to cover up a murder she thinks she committed. Another surprise is thrown in the mix when the young woman reveals that she thinks she might be Simone’s daughter, the same daughter who was kidnapped from a park eighteen years ago. Simone decides to help the girl and keep her secret but in doing so, Simone must also piece together what happened to her infant daughter all those years ago and if the girl she is helping really is her long lost daughter?
“The Girl You Lost” is creatively written, each chapter ending in a cliff-hanger that brings the reader deeper into the plot. The characters are diverse and strong, and the reader confidently roots for Simone and her husband Matt throughout the novel. Endings in novels like these are generally predictable early on, and this novel plays out like this at first too. However, once the actual ending is reached, there is no reader that would not be left in shock.
With gripping plotlines, strong characters and creatively written dialogue, “The Girl You Lost” is an entertaining, edge-of-your-seat page turner recommended for all fans of psychological fiction and gripping thrillers. I will now be checking out the rest of Croft’s books!
Croft’s novel “The Girl You Lost” is a page turner that a reader will quickly devour. Filled with mystery, suspense and tension, it keeps you intrigued until the very end.
In “Lost”, Simone Porter is going about her daily life when she is approached by a young lady who asks for Simone’s help to cover up a murder she thinks she committed. Another surprise is thrown in the mix when the young woman reveals that she thinks she might be Simone’s daughter, the same daughter who was kidnapped from a park eighteen years ago. Simone decides to help the girl and keep her secret but in doing so, Simone must also piece together what happened to her infant daughter all those years ago and if the girl she is helping really is her long lost daughter?
“The Girl You Lost” is creatively written, each chapter ending in a cliff-hanger that brings the reader deeper into the plot. The characters are diverse and strong, and the reader confidently roots for Simone and her husband Matt throughout the novel. Endings in novels like these are generally predictable early on, and this novel plays out like this at first too. However, once the actual ending is reached, there is no reader that would not be left in shock.
With gripping plotlines, strong characters and creatively written dialogue, “The Girl You Lost” is an entertaining, edge-of-your-seat page turner recommended for all fans of psychological fiction and gripping thrillers. I will now be checking out the rest of Croft’s books!
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