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Lost Innocents
Maddy Blake is a wife, a mom, and a stained-glass artist who is just getting over a very bad year. Her husband Doug, a high school teacher, has been acquitted of sexual misconduct with a student, but the trial has left the Blakes depleted of their finances and their self respect. When a 15-year-old babysitter turns up dead and the toddler she was watching is nowhere to be found, all eyes look to Doug. Plagued by doubts of Doug's innocence and intrigued by a priest for whom her feelings are anything but spiritual, Maddy is all too preoccupied with her efforts to keep her life from falling apart, and realizes too late that she is in mortal danger.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1997
1561 people are currently reading
701 people want to read
About the author
Patricia MacDonald
70 books553 followersLibrarians note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Patricia MacDonald is the author of several psychological suspense novels set in small towns. MacDonald grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut and has a master's degree from Boston College. Before writing her own novels she was a book editor and was once an editor for a soap opera magazine in New York. She is married to writer Art Bourgeau. They live in Cape May, New Jersey and have one daughter.
Her first novel, The Unforgiven, published in 1981, received an Edgar Award nomination from the Mystery Writers of America. Secret Admirer (1995) won the literary prize at the 1997 Deauville Film Festival in France, where MacDonald is consistently a number one bestseller. She’s also been awarded the prize for literature at the International Forum of Cinema and Literature in Monaco.
Patricia MacDonald is the author of several psychological suspense novels set in small towns. MacDonald grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut and has a master's degree from Boston College. Before writing her own novels she was a book editor and was once an editor for a soap opera magazine in New York. She is married to writer Art Bourgeau. They live in Cape May, New Jersey and have one daughter.
Her first novel, The Unforgiven, published in 1981, received an Edgar Award nomination from the Mystery Writers of America. Secret Admirer (1995) won the literary prize at the 1997 Deauville Film Festival in France, where MacDonald is consistently a number one bestseller. She’s also been awarded the prize for literature at the International Forum of Cinema and Literature in Monaco.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
January 22, 2019
je suis émue. cet l'un des romans inoubliables .
Cet roman me marquée non seulement par la debut simple et plus au moins ordinaire, jeune fille baby-sister de 15 ans" Rebbeca "et un enfant se trouve dans un parc.
Rebbeca bavarde prudemment avec des gens,puis elle disparue avec " Justen" après trouvée assasinee.
mais aussi des messages de l'écrivain : sur la réaction de chacun de nous face à une tragique ,soit perte d'enfant ou rejet de société ou même un accident change notre vie ou la peur et le non acceptation.
blâmer l'autre et dépression nerveuse ou même comportement d' un pervers lors d'une tragédie chacun réagit selon son coutume,et ses principes.
une excellente roman psychologique et policier.
لقد تأثرت بهذه الرواية التي لا تنسى.ليس بسبب بداية عادية.ريبيكا فتاة تعمل مربية بدوام وقتي،15 سنة
هي و الصغير جاستين في حديقة .
ربيكا الحذرة التي لا تتحدث مع اخرين.تختفي ثم نجدها مقتولة و تبدأ رحلة البحث عن القاتل و الرضيع.
لكن بسبب رسائل التي ذكرتها.
ماهي رد فعل كل منا في مواجهة حادث تراجدي،موت طفل،او رفض مجتمع لك، او الخوف او تعرضت لحادث غير حياتك.
هل نلقي بالللوم على اخر؟ ام نغوص في حالة اكتاب؟ او انحراف في سلوك.
في حوادث العصيبة كل بتصرف حسب مبادئه و عاداته.
او حتى لا نعد نعرف كيف نتصرف و ننسى اسياسيات سلوك سوي؟
رواية نفسية و بوليسية بالامتياز
Cet roman me marquée non seulement par la debut simple et plus au moins ordinaire, jeune fille baby-sister de 15 ans" Rebbeca "et un enfant se trouve dans un parc.
Rebbeca bavarde prudemment avec des gens,puis elle disparue avec " Justen" après trouvée assasinee.
mais aussi des messages de l'écrivain : sur la réaction de chacun de nous face à une tragique ,soit perte d'enfant ou rejet de société ou même un accident change notre vie ou la peur et le non acceptation.
blâmer l'autre et dépression nerveuse ou même comportement d' un pervers lors d'une tragédie chacun réagit selon son coutume,et ses principes.
une excellente roman psychologique et policier.
لقد تأثرت بهذه الرواية التي لا تنسى.ليس بسبب بداية عادية.ريبيكا فتاة تعمل مربية بدوام وقتي،15 سنة
هي و الصغير جاستين في حديقة .
ربيكا الحذرة التي لا تتحدث مع اخرين.تختفي ثم نجدها مقتولة و تبدأ رحلة البحث عن القاتل و الرضيع.
لكن بسبب رسائل التي ذكرتها.
ماهي رد فعل كل منا في مواجهة حادث تراجدي،موت طفل،او رفض مجتمع لك، او الخوف او تعرضت لحادث غير حياتك.
هل نلقي بالللوم على اخر؟ ام نغوص في حالة اكتاب؟ او انحراف في سلوك.
في حوادث العصيبة كل بتصرف حسب مبادئه و عاداته.
او حتى لا نعد نعرف كيف نتصرف و ننسى اسياسيات سلوك سوي؟
رواية نفسية و بوليسية بالامتياز
February 7, 2016
I found no suspense or thrills and to even mention her name in the same breath with Mary Higgins Clark is a crime!! It was just another ho-hum predictable quick read. I only finished it because it was a cold rainy afternoon!!
November 9, 2013
A sad story filled with a bunch of pathetic characters. I could have done without Father Nick, I think he slowed down the flow of the book.
December 2, 2024
What happens when a babysitter and the child she is watching vanish? where are they and who took them? All questions Maddy Blake asks herself. When the police show up to her door asking for her husband she defends him. Did he have something to do with it? Excellent characters and a page turning mystery.
November 21, 2024
I enjoyed this psychological thriller where trust is a precarious thing.
The characters suited the plot, while the plot has plenty of twists and turns.
Well-written and fast-paced, this was an engaging story.
Recommended.
The characters suited the plot, while the plot has plenty of twists and turns.
Well-written and fast-paced, this was an engaging story.
Recommended.
June 29, 2019
Entertaining suspense. The characters were ok for me, but this was quick to read.
June 19, 2022
A Heart Pounding Book!
Deep dark secrets, twists and turns, lies, deceit, an unbelievable ending. This book touched a lot of emotions in me. I was shocked by the ending. It was totally unpredictable. My only complaint is taking God’s name in vain. It doesn’t improve the book it just makes me cringe.
Deep dark secrets, twists and turns, lies, deceit, an unbelievable ending. This book touched a lot of emotions in me. I was shocked by the ending. It was totally unpredictable. My only complaint is taking God’s name in vain. It doesn’t improve the book it just makes me cringe.
February 8, 2014
Clearing my bookshelves of mediocre books and here's my first. It was entertaining enough, fairly predictable and very Mary Higgins Clark. Perfect for a cold day when there's a head-cold brewing.
January 2, 2023
Family drama YES ...psychological thriller with twists and turns NOT.
Read
June 11, 2019Rebecca est une jeune baby-sitter qui disparaît soudainement en plein jour dans un parc alors qu’elle gardait Justin, un petit garçon de six mois. Dès lors, tout le monde y va de ses suspicions concernant cette affaire dans la ville de Taylorsville. Les uns vont accuser Doug, déjà condamné pour harcèlement sexuel dans un lycée, alors que d’autres vont soupçonner, Ellen, une femme ayant perdu son enfant. Les relations entre les personnages se dévoilent peu à peu au fil de l’histoire et l’auteure nous fait vite comprendre qu’ils ont tous des liens, rendant encore plus difficile pour le lecteur de trouver le coupable…
Si le résumé m’intriguait beaucoup, ce n’était pas la meilleure lecture que j’ai pu faire parmi tous les romans de Patricia MacDonald. Bien au-delà du thriller, qui est assez simpliste, l’auteure met en avant surtout différentes facettes de femmes à travers ses personnages. Ainsi nous avons Rebecca la jeune fille qui a été kidnappé, Heater une lycéenne qui avait accusé Doug, un professeur de son lycée de la harceler mais que personne ne prenait au sérieux, Donna la mère du bébé qui a été kidnappé, Ellen qui n’a jamais réussi à vivre le deuil de son fils…
« Personnes disparues » ne m’a donc pas vraiment conquis ce roman s’apparente plus à un thriller psychologique, qu’à un thriller sombre.
https://celitteratureofficiel.wordpre...
Si le résumé m’intriguait beaucoup, ce n’était pas la meilleure lecture que j’ai pu faire parmi tous les romans de Patricia MacDonald. Bien au-delà du thriller, qui est assez simpliste, l’auteure met en avant surtout différentes facettes de femmes à travers ses personnages. Ainsi nous avons Rebecca la jeune fille qui a été kidnappé, Heater une lycéenne qui avait accusé Doug, un professeur de son lycée de la harceler mais que personne ne prenait au sérieux, Donna la mère du bébé qui a été kidnappé, Ellen qui n’a jamais réussi à vivre le deuil de son fils…
« Personnes disparues » ne m’a donc pas vraiment conquis ce roman s’apparente plus à un thriller psychologique, qu’à un thriller sombre.
https://celitteratureofficiel.wordpre...
November 17, 2025
This book should have been a DNF (didn’t finish)
Not only is the writing in the amateur style of a 12 year old with chat gpt and a thesaurus, but it’s really just all over the place. There’s no character development, (and speaking of characters, there are way too many that serve no purpose at all) there is no depth to the storyline, no build-up that you come to expect in domestic thrillers. It’s a very predictable plot from the start, and even the editing is terrible. I kept reading thinking that it had to redeem itself at some point, but I was even more irritated at the end, when the one character who drew me in (Father Nick), is left a simpering, whiny, and frankly, manipulative character who reveals his patriarchal nature by begging for Maddy to be his tradwife and gave me the serious “ick” by the end.
That was 4 hours of my life that I could have spent reading something with substance.
Not only is the writing in the amateur style of a 12 year old with chat gpt and a thesaurus, but it’s really just all over the place. There’s no character development, (and speaking of characters, there are way too many that serve no purpose at all) there is no depth to the storyline, no build-up that you come to expect in domestic thrillers. It’s a very predictable plot from the start, and even the editing is terrible. I kept reading thinking that it had to redeem itself at some point, but I was even more irritated at the end, when the one character who drew me in (Father Nick), is left a simpering, whiny, and frankly, manipulative character who reveals his patriarchal nature by begging for Maddy to be his tradwife and gave me the serious “ick” by the end.
That was 4 hours of my life that I could have spent reading something with substance.
April 23, 2023
I quite enjoyed this read. Although there were quite a few characters each vying for their own spotlight, their presence and fight for protagonist/antagonist made for a complex mixture of plot lines and themes.
A high school teacher freshly acquired of sexual assault charges against a student is once again a the centre of police investigation when a young babysitter and the infant under her care disappear. A priest struggling with upholding his vows in the presence of a parishioner. A love story between a falsely accused prisoner who pen pals and marries a “fan”. The desire to have a child, the loss of a child. The desire to be loved by another. A complex weaving of lives, a deranged individual, and you have yourself a fast paced story of kidnapping, murder and hostage taking.
Good read!
A high school teacher freshly acquired of sexual assault charges against a student is once again a the centre of police investigation when a young babysitter and the infant under her care disappear. A priest struggling with upholding his vows in the presence of a parishioner. A love story between a falsely accused prisoner who pen pals and marries a “fan”. The desire to have a child, the loss of a child. The desire to be loved by another. A complex weaving of lives, a deranged individual, and you have yourself a fast paced story of kidnapping, murder and hostage taking.
Good read!
February 29, 2024
Maddy and Doug are struggling to get back on their feet after a teenage girl accused Doug of sexual misconduct. Then they are in a car accident. The husband in the other car is injured and taken to the hospital. The wife and baby have nowhere to go and Maddy offers to let them stay at their house for a few days. Then a teenage girl babysitting a baby goes missing. Cops come to Maddy and Doug’s house again. They suspect Doug is responsible for the missing girl and baby.
I liked this, liked Maddy. And I liked the beginning of the book, thought it was suspenseful and kept me guessing. But, I would have liked to hear more details about Maddy. How she hooked up with Doug. We heard about Doug’s back story but not Maddy’s. I could have done without the whole Father Nick part. It just wasn't really even needed for the plot.
I liked this, liked Maddy. And I liked the beginning of the book, thought it was suspenseful and kept me guessing. But, I would have liked to hear more details about Maddy. How she hooked up with Doug. We heard about Doug’s back story but not Maddy’s. I could have done without the whole Father Nick part. It just wasn't really even needed for the plot.
March 18, 2023
Whenever a storyline begins in such a way that immediately causes my mind to play out all sorts of possible scenarios for the ending, I relax, unwind, and happily float wherever the tale takes me.
While the many twists and turns of this story were not entirely unpredictable, each bend was thoroughly enjoyable.
What moved me from rating this dramatic tale with four stars rather than three was the way that author continuously layered in details that made the characters come to life.
Right now, as I just finished reading, List Innocents, my imagination is still running as I’m hoping that the fictitious so and so ended up doing this or that, and that’s what I call, a Good Read.
While the many twists and turns of this story were not entirely unpredictable, each bend was thoroughly enjoyable.
What moved me from rating this dramatic tale with four stars rather than three was the way that author continuously layered in details that made the characters come to life.
Right now, as I just finished reading, List Innocents, my imagination is still running as I’m hoping that the fictitious so and so ended up doing this or that, and that’s what I call, a Good Read.
March 22, 2023
A Page-turner!
When a babysitter and infant go missing, and the babysitter is found dead, Maddy’s husband, Doug, is (once again) under suspicion. After a car accident, Maddy takes in the family of the other car - a husband, wife, and infant - and the plot thickens.
Other than my usual bone to pick, with the dialogue generously peppered with “she cried,” “he bellowed,” and “he thundered,” this author was true to form in her amazing ability to develop well-rounded characters that the reader can cheer on or boo for. I don’t believe that I’ve ever rooted more for a love match between a priest and a married woman!
When a babysitter and infant go missing, and the babysitter is found dead, Maddy’s husband, Doug, is (once again) under suspicion. After a car accident, Maddy takes in the family of the other car - a husband, wife, and infant - and the plot thickens.
Other than my usual bone to pick, with the dialogue generously peppered with “she cried,” “he bellowed,” and “he thundered,” this author was true to form in her amazing ability to develop well-rounded characters that the reader can cheer on or boo for. I don’t believe that I’ve ever rooted more for a love match between a priest and a married woman!
April 20, 2023
I'm bingeing Patricia MacDonald books right now, having just discovered the author on Hoopla. I've been enjoying them for the mystery/thrillers that they are. I'm not finding them too predictable, which is good. I'm not done with Lost Innocents on audio, but the narrator's attempt to imitate a male voice in a "Boston accent" is driving me insane. I wish she would just read normally (I like her regular reading voice) and not try to mimic the accent. Born and bred in Mass, it's almost offensive to me, to the point where I just want to pick up the book and finish reading it rather than listening to the audio.
March 3, 2024
Too many characters introduced early on; took awhile to actually get into the story. A child is kidnapped while out with the babysitter (who is found murdered). The story is intertwined with the tale of a high school teacher who was accused of improper contact with a student (who happens to be the chief of police’s daughter). Throw in a Catholic priest, a prisoner just released from jail, an older couple whose child perished many years ago, the wife I. This couple who spent time in a hospital after a breakdown, and a car accident. This is the only book by this author that took me longer than 2 days to read.
July 5, 2022
suspenseful!
A mother and father at the end of the rope! Who took their child? A woman desperate for the life she tragically saw slip away! Another couple thrown in the middle! How does it all tie together? You’ll be shocked, surprised, saddened, and much more! There are some people that want a child, the perfect family, so badly they will do anything to get it! Don’t stand in their way!
A mother and father at the end of the rope! Who took their child? A woman desperate for the life she tragically saw slip away! Another couple thrown in the middle! How does it all tie together? You’ll be shocked, surprised, saddened, and much more! There are some people that want a child, the perfect family, so badly they will do anything to get it! Don’t stand in their way!
December 14, 2023
4 strong stars
Having read a few of the authors previous offerings, I had a feeling this would be good and I wasn’t disappointed. This held my attention throughout with all the possibilities of what could have happened to that baby sitter and her charge and wondering about who the culprits could end up to be. The characters were well fleshed out, easy to relate to.
For anyone that likes mysteries with a bit of psychological suspense, this will easily fit the bill. MacDonald is quickly becoming a favorite, and fortunately for this fan, she has many out there. Happy to recommend.
Having read a few of the authors previous offerings, I had a feeling this would be good and I wasn’t disappointed. This held my attention throughout with all the possibilities of what could have happened to that baby sitter and her charge and wondering about who the culprits could end up to be. The characters were well fleshed out, easy to relate to.
For anyone that likes mysteries with a bit of psychological suspense, this will easily fit the bill. MacDonald is quickly becoming a favorite, and fortunately for this fan, she has many out there. Happy to recommend.
May 23, 2022
Really a 4.5
Lost Innocents is very well written. It is the story of several families who go through terrible times and unhappiness. How they deal with these times is different for all of them. It's A very moving story. I would have given it a five but for the lack of an ending for a few of the characters.
Lost Innocents is very well written. It is the story of several families who go through terrible times and unhappiness. How they deal with these times is different for all of them. It's A very moving story. I would have given it a five but for the lack of an ending for a few of the characters.
May 28, 2022
Outstanding Book!
This story is a rollercoaster ride. You won't see it coming. Crazy, emotional, suspense, thrill ride. It's crazy how our past shapes our future if we let it.
Patricia MacDonald, is a great writer! You won't be disappointed with this book!
Looking forward to her next book!
This story is a rollercoaster ride. You won't see it coming. Crazy, emotional, suspense, thrill ride. It's crazy how our past shapes our future if we let it.
Patricia MacDonald, is a great writer! You won't be disappointed with this book!
Looking forward to her next book!
January 20, 2023
I really enjoyed the different layers to this book, I also enjoyed that it was written in a time before mobile phones and technology.
I found that the different tangents of the story kept me hooked and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. I finished in 4 days! Will definitely be looking up more of Patricia MacDonald's books to enjoy in the future.
I found that the different tangents of the story kept me hooked and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. I finished in 4 days! Will definitely be looking up more of Patricia MacDonald's books to enjoy in the future.
February 4, 2023
Interesting storyline. More like 3.5 stars.
Very complex, intertwined plot that kept me reading long into the night. Also tragic and sad. Sometimes, however, the heroine once again made to be too dumb? too passive? to trust her instincts or believe what's obvious, was annoying. Overall enjoyed it a lot.
Very complex, intertwined plot that kept me reading long into the night. Also tragic and sad. Sometimes, however, the heroine once again made to be too dumb? too passive? to trust her instincts or believe what's obvious, was annoying. Overall enjoyed it a lot.
September 5, 2025
Not great. Of its time I know (the 90s, which were last week in my head), the protagonist puts up with and justifies the awful behaviour of her husband, he's just dreadful in how he treats her, yet she justifies and excuses it constantly. Also long, protracted action scenes at the end just don't do it for me.
August 19, 2017
A teenage baby-sitter is found murdered, and the baby is nowhere to be found. A local married teacher who had been accused of being inappropriately involved with his students becomes the focus of the investigation...
May 25, 2022
Great read
The story revolves around Maddy and her family, spouse Doug and little girl Amy. Doug has just been found not guilty of molesting a student and they are celebrating but plans go awry when the rest of the town has problems also!
I highly recommend this book.
The story revolves around Maddy and her family, spouse Doug and little girl Amy. Doug has just been found not guilty of molesting a student and they are celebrating but plans go awry when the rest of the town has problems also!
I highly recommend this book.
June 12, 2022
Patricia Macdonald does it again!
This book wasn't so much of a whodunit, it was more of a how the heck is this going to work out so they live happy ever after. I was not nor have I ever been disappointed in a Patricia Macdonald book!
This book wasn't so much of a whodunit, it was more of a how the heck is this going to work out so they live happy ever after. I was not nor have I ever been disappointed in a Patricia Macdonald book!
July 1, 2022
Wow!
Loved this book so much. It takes a lot to keep me interested in a story and this one certainly did! I'm about to go read all of Patricia's books now. I'm hooked. Finally a unique story.
Loved this book so much. It takes a lot to keep me interested in a story and this one certainly did! I'm about to go read all of Patricia's books now. I'm hooked. Finally a unique story.
September 21, 2022
Amazing!
I've read three of her books so far. They have all been hard to put down amazing books! Even with working up to12 hours a day, I usually finish them within three days. Highly recommended!
I've read three of her books so far. They have all been hard to put down amazing books! Even with working up to12 hours a day, I usually finish them within three days. Highly recommended!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews