Blog tour post December 2nd 2021
A stunning novel that examines the price of loyalty, the burden of regret, the meaning of salvation, and the sacrifices we make for those we love, told in the voices of two unforgettable women linked by a decades-old family mystery at a picturesque lake house.
In 1935, six-year-old Emily Evans vanishes forever from her family's summer house on a remote Minnesota Lake.
Sixty years later, Lucy, Emily's quiet and watchful older sister, lives alone in the lake house.
When Lucy dies, she leaves the house to her grandniece, Justine. The lake house offers Justine an escape from her manipulative boyfriend and a chance to give her daughters the home she never had.
But the discovery of a notebook, in which her great aunt has written the story of that devastating summer, forces Justine to realise there may be more to her inheritance than she first imagined.
In a house haunted by the sorrows of the women who came before her, Justine must overcome their tragic legacy if she hopes to save herself and her children.
(Publisher website: https://www.vervebooks.co.uk )
Massive thanks to Hollie at Oldcastle/No Exit/Verve for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.
#TheLostGirls (the Sunday Times Crime Novel of the Month for November) is a thrilling, dramatic tale following the story of Justine, whose own life has parallels with the events of those who lived in the lake house before her, including her co-narrator, Lucy, a relative who has left the house to her after her death.
Lost in every sense of the word applies to this book - the girls themselves all those years ago, and Justine herself in terms of her life and direction; the story is a journey to see whether Justine will find the truth and save herself and her daughters from a tragic end themselves, resulting in a dramatic and fulfilling ending where everything, past and present, comes together.
The dual narrative of past and present is a clever and engaging, and the book is written in a very atmospheric and plaintive voice, especially the chapters written by Lucy as she records the devastating loss of a child. Although the 'creepy' mystery element of the book that I was expecting from the cover and blurb isn't quite the main plot - for me it was more about the character's journeys of self-discovery and the relationships between the characters - I still enjoyed the book and would recommend it as a good way to spend a cold winter's eve on the sofa!
Find out more about author, Heather Young here:
Twitter: @HYoungwriter
Thanks again to Hollie and the publicity team at Oldcastle/Verve Books (@Verve_Books) for having included me on this blog tour.
Check out what these other great book bloggers have to say at the other stops on the tour:
Review by Rich Simpson (@richreadalot) December 2021