The Lost Soul

by Rosie Goodwin

When a mysterious fire kills her adoptive parents, Madeleine’s worst fear comes true – she and her beloved brother Oliver are separated. Worse still, Maddie is blamed for starting the fire and, labelled a difficult child, she is sent to a children’s home. Far from idyllic, and buried deep in the countryside, the home well conceals the misery of its young occupants. Subjected to a harsh regime of abuse and degradation, Maddie makes a brave attempt to escape. But her brief weeks of freedom are thwarted when she is caught and taken back to River House. Maddie clings to her determination to one day be reunited with Oli, and it is this which gives her the strength to endure what lies ahead. For she knows she can rely only on herself – there is no one else to keep her safe...

Genres: Fiction

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Before becoming a writer, I was a Placement Support Worker and foster carer, and worked in the social services department after completing a teacher training course. Many children have joined my family over the years. I still live in Nuneaton, where many of my books are set, with my husband, Trevor, and our beloved dogs.

I was thrilled to discover that I'd become one of the top 250 most-borrowed library authors in the UK, and would like to thank all of you who have taken out my books over the last few years! I love meeting my readers and am always pleased to hear from you. I hope you will all continue to get in touch and please do sign up for my newsletter!

Reviews

[flora grace · Rating 1 out of 5]

i wrote a really long review of this but is got deleted, so here are some brief bullet points of how bad the events of this book are, and how i cannot ever recommend it.

- maddie and her brother’s adoptive parents die in a fire. maddie is blamed.
- maddie runs away from hospital where she and her brother are.
- she gets taken in by a kind old man who lets her stay with him for a week, before she is recognized.
- she is sent to live with emergency foster parents Kirsty and Andrew
- After some kerfuffel, she is sent to a residential home for troubled girls.
- at this home, she meets sickly Holly, who is diagnosed with leukaemia.
- in order to be able to help Holly with treatment, she allows herself to be raped by the pedofile teacher at the school.
- after Holly dies, she wants this to stop, so she says so.
- He refuses to stop.
- She breaks into his apartment and finds out he is trans. she goes into a whole transphobic rant that generalises.
- she decides to escape, which is remarkably easy.
- She finds her on the streets where she befriends a group of squatters, one of whom is heavily pregnant.
- this girl gives birth on christmas, and Maddie is sent to abandon the baby, but she gets caught.
- as this is happening, a bomb explodes in the squat they are all living in and everyone except for Maddie dies.
- She is sent back to the residential home, where Andy begins to visit her after divorcing Kirsty.
- She decides to confess in a letter to Andy how much abuse she has been subjected to.
- this is intercepted and Maddie is abducted in the night and sent to a brothel seemingly run by the school
- Here, she finds out that both the heads of the school are trans, and are lovers.
- this grosses her out, but she doesnt have much time to think about it before she is raped.
- andy and the school nurse decide something fishy is going on and they find out about the brothel.
- maddie escapes with their help and the two teachers who ran the school are arrested.
- maddie goes back to live with andy, and on the night of maddie’s 18th birthday he has sex with her.
- maddie becomes pregnant and runs away
- did i mention she reconnected with her disabled brother?
- maddie gives birth to twins and apparently she is a good mother.
- she and andy reconnect after their birth and get married
- the end.

i dont know how anyone could think that a story that ended in an innapropraite relationship between a care giver and what is essentially a child was a good idea.

[Jessica Peat · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's quite good actually. Would have been much better if it had ended after chapter 37 and skipped the entire ridiculous ending. I only flipped through the last few chapters tbh it was just too ridiculous. And creepy.

[Fatma · Rating 2 out of 5]

it's not bad , but alot of event happen to the same girl it's unbelivable.and in the last 100 pg you don't need them because the story finished .

[Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book that is very hard to put down!

[Garry Marlton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant. the story is flowing and you really buy into the characters. I never wanted to stop reading, great book and will read more by this author.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book. It's not the sort of book that I would usually read, I tend to read historical fiction and have read such books by this author , and that's how I came across this book. I found the book difficult to put down the story was incredibly gripping. Although some of the dreadful things that happened to Maddie seemed unbelievable it sill had a "real" quality to it. When I learned that Rosie Goodwin used to be a social worker that explained the amount of detail and understanding that when into this book. It's a story I'll remember for some time.

[Andrea Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book from start to finish, i was completely drawn in by the main character, Maddy who suffers a life no child should ever have to endure. There are a few twists & turns along the way & you are constantly hoping & wanting Maddy's luck to change...I highly recommend this book!

[Sarah Rixson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good read

With a lot of twists and turns , I thoroughly enjoyed this book , just when I thought the end was insight another twist to it, which I really loved and it lasted just the right time , really enjoyed it

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting premise but rather implausible. Nevertheless it deals with difficult issues without being graphic

[Miffy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book really quite sad, as such a young girl has to go through so much. A bit depressing and it does get a little bit odd but its a good thoughtful read.

[Margie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat hard to believe that so much could happen to one girl. But...wonderful cover. :)

[Sue Flanagan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I know I have only just started this book, but I can't get into it....it is like a chore that you have to do...I.e. ironing....so Iam moving on.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I chose to read this book because the author is quite popular in our library and this book promised to be at least in part about fostering children, a subject which I find interesting. I fear it was really more of a romance and the parts on fostering didn't strike me as being as true to life as I might have wished. On the plus side, I did want to find out what happened to the main character. I didn't really find the characters struck me as terribly realistic and some of the plot was just plain unbelievable. All the loose ends were tied up very tidily, which I suppose gives a certain satisfaction, but some of the ways they were tied up just struck me as too saccharin and rather unlikely. I can sort of see why she's popular, but I don't think I'm going to go out of my way to read more books by this author.

[Bouke Sieperda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rosie Goodwin,s [ The Lost Soul]

I red several books in this gerne ,but surely never red one like this one!
I admire the author very much for her ability to write such sensitive emotional and horrific story!
The cruelty and horror and abuse and the continuing heavy struggle through life for the girl ,Maddy! caused me several tears as well that i had stop so every now and then as then they emotion were to me! ,but still needed to rrad on till the very end!
the author told the storie as to it was expereinced by her self in detail!
I must say a brilliant plot! and so were the characters!
I do not know how to rate this book! I have a few favotie books but this go.s far beyond!
SoI,ll give it a try!
a 5star plus,plus,plus!

[Delma White · Rating 2 out of 5]

A grim tale with the main character enduring a difficult introduction to adulthood.
The author writes in a very 'matter of fact' way, which prevents the reader from really empathising with the characters. A bit like the characters in the story.
There is something lacking in the telling of this story. I think it is the nonchalant way it is written, as if for a newspaper report.
I am not encouraged to read any more books by this author

[AGilden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is only my third Rosie Goodwin book, so maybe the lame romantic ending isn't unusual for her, but I was really disappointed. The first 80 percent of the novel was absolutely great, evoking every emotion that it's possible for a reader to experience. Then, it's as if Goodwin stepped out of the room and let some pulp romantic author finish it for her. I'll rate the first 80 percent and try to forget about the rest.

[jean redmond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a few books of Rosie Goodwin all good so I knew I would like it and I really enjoyed it th a kyou

I've read few of Rosie Goodwin books so I knew I would like
It i really enjoyed this book thank you

[Rachel Paton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story wasn't to keen at first felt like a new author starting out alot of repeated sentences and phrases throughout the book, but as I got further in although it still annoyed me, I was hooked and couldn't wait to see what happened next, a few surprises along the way.

[julie johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreak and Heartwarming.

Loved this book as I do all of Rosies books. Some parts of the story had me gasping out loud and other parts had me saying out loud ' ahhh' and ' Oh no'. After all of Maddys heartbreak I was so pleased at the happy ending.

[Katie Poser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't get enough of Rosie Goodwin. I've devoured three of her books in two weeks.....if only work and sleep weren't necessary evils. My summer goal is now to read all of her work.

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cou?nt put jt dlwn

A beautiful written book heartbreak and many tears. I wanted this book to go on for ever. P?ease buy jg

[mrs diane m clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book to read

Fantastic story very emotional and heartwarming very well written, what a very strong young lady Maddie is so please with the way the book finished

[L Puntschart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

I always enjoy a book with a beginning middle and a happy ending . And this book had all three in spades . Loved it .

[Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fab read

[Ella Steptoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed it, couldn’t put it down! Glad there was a happy ending. However couldn’t help but think the ending wasn’t very realistic.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that keeps you going chapter after chapter. You think things can't get any worse. A sad, good, gutsey read. Well done Rosie Goodwin. A 1st reading your novels, won't be the last.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story that holds attention, wondering what will happen next.
Not my usual read but I had to finish it once started

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking and heartwarming all at the same time!