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The Lost Ones
England, 1917: Reeling from the death of her fiancé, Stella Marcham welcomes the opportunity to stay with her pregnant sister, Madeleine, at her imposing country mansion, Greyswick – but she arrives to discover a house of unease and her sister gripped by fear and suspicion.
Before long, strange incidents begin to trouble Stella – sobbing in the night, little footsteps on the stairs – and as events escalate, she finds herself drawn to the tragic history of the house.
Aided by a wounded war veteran, Stella sets about uncovering Greyswick’s dark and terrible secrets – secrets the dead whisper from the other side…
In the classic tradition of The Woman in Black, Anita Frank weaves a spellbinding debut of family tragedy, loss and redemption.
Before long, strange incidents begin to trouble Stella – sobbing in the night, little footsteps on the stairs – and as events escalate, she finds herself drawn to the tragic history of the house.
Aided by a wounded war veteran, Stella sets about uncovering Greyswick’s dark and terrible secrets – secrets the dead whisper from the other side…
In the classic tradition of The Woman in Black, Anita Frank weaves a spellbinding debut of family tragedy, loss and redemption.
462 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 31, 2019
About the author
Anita Frank
10 books154 followersA farmer’s daughter from Shropshire, Anita Frank studied English and American History at the University of East Anglia before moving to London to work in media analysis and communications. Frank currently lives in Berkshire with her husband and three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 573 reviews
October 17, 2019
An intriguing book, The Lost Ones draws you in from the start and doesn't let go until you've turned the final page. We have Stella, grieving from the death of her fiancé in WW1, who, with her maid Annie, goes to stay with her pregnant sister Madeleine at her husband's country estate.
Madeleine is growing increasingly anxious, she's hearing a child crying in the night where there is no child, and toy soldiers keep appearing in her bed. Her mother-in-law and the estate staff don't believe her, and when Stella and her maid start hearing the child too, it's quickly dismissed as hysteria. Madeleine's husband brings an expert in the paranormal down from London to debunk the women's theory, and it seems that everyone is against them.
Yet who is the crying child that the women so clearly hear? Where are the toy soldiers coming from? Things start to escalate, and it seems that the house is indeed haunted, and a malevolent spirit is determined to get revenge...
A gripping read, full of nasty, unsympathetic characters, yet it suited the book. Even the main character Stella I couldn't warm to, but you could clearly see her point of view and growing desperation. The one I felt sorry for was Annie, the maid, who seemed to bear the brunt of everything. However having said that I found The Lost Ones a compelling read, and have no hesitation in recommending it to lovers of historical mysteries and things that go bump in the night.
My thanks to HQ Fiction for an ARC to read and review. The opinions are entirely my own.
Madeleine is growing increasingly anxious, she's hearing a child crying in the night where there is no child, and toy soldiers keep appearing in her bed. Her mother-in-law and the estate staff don't believe her, and when Stella and her maid start hearing the child too, it's quickly dismissed as hysteria. Madeleine's husband brings an expert in the paranormal down from London to debunk the women's theory, and it seems that everyone is against them.
Yet who is the crying child that the women so clearly hear? Where are the toy soldiers coming from? Things start to escalate, and it seems that the house is indeed haunted, and a malevolent spirit is determined to get revenge...
A gripping read, full of nasty, unsympathetic characters, yet it suited the book. Even the main character Stella I couldn't warm to, but you could clearly see her point of view and growing desperation. The one I felt sorry for was Annie, the maid, who seemed to bear the brunt of everything. However having said that I found The Lost Ones a compelling read, and have no hesitation in recommending it to lovers of historical mysteries and things that go bump in the night.
My thanks to HQ Fiction for an ARC to read and review. The opinions are entirely my own.
November 18, 2020
. 3.5 Stars
. . Some houses are never at peace.
An atmospheric and enjoyable gothic tale, unnerving and entertaining in equal measures.
November is my month for good old fashioned ghost stories and this year in particular I have been indulging more than normal but its a case of “ a little of what you fancy does you good”.
The Lost Ones by Anita Frank is set in 1917 England. Stella Marchan welcomes the opportunity to stay with her pregnant sister after the death of her Fiancé. Madeleine resides at her imposing country mansion Greyswick. She arrives to discover a house of unease and her sister gripped by fear and suspicion. Stella is determined to unravel the Mansion’s secrecy past regardless of who it upsets.
A page turner and easy read and I enjoyed the suspense that went with this one. Well formed characters that are likeable and dislikable and just a good old fashioned ghost story. As debut novels go this was very well written and I look forward to more from this author.
I think readers who love books like The Silent Companions or The Familiars may well enjoy this one too.
I purchased a hard copy of this one and its another to squeeze onto my real life bookshelf.
. . Some houses are never at peace.
An atmospheric and enjoyable gothic tale, unnerving and entertaining in equal measures.
November is my month for good old fashioned ghost stories and this year in particular I have been indulging more than normal but its a case of “ a little of what you fancy does you good”.
The Lost Ones by Anita Frank is set in 1917 England. Stella Marchan welcomes the opportunity to stay with her pregnant sister after the death of her Fiancé. Madeleine resides at her imposing country mansion Greyswick. She arrives to discover a house of unease and her sister gripped by fear and suspicion. Stella is determined to unravel the Mansion’s secrecy past regardless of who it upsets.
A page turner and easy read and I enjoyed the suspense that went with this one. Well formed characters that are likeable and dislikable and just a good old fashioned ghost story. As debut novels go this was very well written and I look forward to more from this author.
I think readers who love books like The Silent Companions or The Familiars may well enjoy this one too.
I purchased a hard copy of this one and its another to squeeze onto my real life bookshelf.
November 5, 2019
3 - 4 stars.
I thought this was an impressive debut novel but I did have some reservations. The year is 1917, the central character is Stella Marcham who is grief stricken following the death of her fiancé in the war. Her brother in law Hector asked her to go to his family home Greyswick because her pregnant sister Madeline is struggling. Stella takes the family maid Annie Burrows with her and so begins a series of unsettling events.
The characters in the story are well portrayed and easy to picture though some are not likeable such as Hectors mother although she thaws a bit at the end of the book. Dr Mayhew is easy to dislike especially as he characterises Stella’s behaviour as that of an hysterical woman. The housekeeper Mrs Henge seems to be everywhere at once and is austere and humourless. She seems to me to be a version of Mrs Danvers in Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier but not as menacing in my opinion. Stella, her sister and Annie are likeable characters and I like the spirit that all these women show as they face opposition to their claims that the house is haunted. There are some very good descriptions such as that of Greyswick, of society and it’s values especially attitudes to women and it is written in a style that is appropriate to the times which I like very much. The contrast between the pre war days (‘halcyon days’) and the horror of the war is well done too.
Although there is much to praise I feel that there is too much description at times, it’s overlong and it detracts from the story telling which led to some feelings of impatience! Although some events in the story are good such as the exorcism I can’t say that I felt great menace or suspense. However, it’s very clear that Anita Frank has a lot of talent and so I would definitely be interested to see what she produces next.
I thought this was an impressive debut novel but I did have some reservations. The year is 1917, the central character is Stella Marcham who is grief stricken following the death of her fiancé in the war. Her brother in law Hector asked her to go to his family home Greyswick because her pregnant sister Madeline is struggling. Stella takes the family maid Annie Burrows with her and so begins a series of unsettling events.
The characters in the story are well portrayed and easy to picture though some are not likeable such as Hectors mother although she thaws a bit at the end of the book. Dr Mayhew is easy to dislike especially as he characterises Stella’s behaviour as that of an hysterical woman. The housekeeper Mrs Henge seems to be everywhere at once and is austere and humourless. She seems to me to be a version of Mrs Danvers in Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier but not as menacing in my opinion. Stella, her sister and Annie are likeable characters and I like the spirit that all these women show as they face opposition to their claims that the house is haunted. There are some very good descriptions such as that of Greyswick, of society and it’s values especially attitudes to women and it is written in a style that is appropriate to the times which I like very much. The contrast between the pre war days (‘halcyon days’) and the horror of the war is well done too.
Although there is much to praise I feel that there is too much description at times, it’s overlong and it detracts from the story telling which led to some feelings of impatience! Although some events in the story are good such as the exorcism I can’t say that I felt great menace or suspense. However, it’s very clear that Anita Frank has a lot of talent and so I would definitely be interested to see what she produces next.
August 18, 2019
It’s 1917 Stella Marcham has lost her fiancé in the war and is struggling to come to terms with her grief. Her pregnant sister Madeline is struggling with her pregnancy so her brother in law Hector asks her to stay at his family home at Greyswick. Accompanying Stella is the family’s maid Annie.
Soon after arriving at Greyswick strange events occur, toy soldiers appearing in their bedrooms and sounds of crying in the night!!
This is a great supernatural book. What secrets is this house keeping?
Everybody from Lady Brightwell (Hector’s mother) to the housekeeper Mrs Henge, have secrets that they are desperate not be revealed.
A very gripping story, I was swept along with this and the larger than life characters and I really did not want it to end.
I would definitely recommend this and will be looking forward to Anita Franks next book. Can not believe this her debut!!
Make yourself comfortable and let this haunting novel transport you to Greyswick, where things go bump in the night!!
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
Soon after arriving at Greyswick strange events occur, toy soldiers appearing in their bedrooms and sounds of crying in the night!!
This is a great supernatural book. What secrets is this house keeping?
Everybody from Lady Brightwell (Hector’s mother) to the housekeeper Mrs Henge, have secrets that they are desperate not be revealed.
A very gripping story, I was swept along with this and the larger than life characters and I really did not want it to end.
I would definitely recommend this and will be looking forward to Anita Franks next book. Can not believe this her debut!!
Make yourself comfortable and let this haunting novel transport you to Greyswick, where things go bump in the night!!
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
December 28, 2019
I have just turned the last page of The Lost Ones and it’s up there with my top reads for 2019! Anita Frank has written an amazing story which kept me enthralled from the very first page.
It was 1917 and England was reeling from the impact of the war; Stella Marcham had returned home from her nursing position at the front after losing her fiancé and her grief was all encompassing. The fact that the family doctor wanted to commit Stella to an institution was partly what convinced her to join her sister Madeleine at the home of her husband, Hector’s family, Greyswick. Madeleine was pregnant; her mother-in-law was an imposing woman, and Madeleine would welcome her sister’s company.
The elderly Lady Brightwell and her companion, Miss Scott, along with the housekeeper, Mrs Henge, Cook and Maisie were the only permanent occupants of the old home. When Stella and her maid Annie arrived to join Madeleine, they immediately sensed the unrest and tremor of dark secrets in the walls, and it wasn’t long before the fear Madeleine felt rubbed off on Stella. But when strange, inexplicable incidents began to occur, Stella knew she had to find answers before her sister was harmed. What were the secrets that the house held – secrets that had been buried for the past thirty years?
The Lost Ones is a blend of genres – historical fiction with a mix of supernatural – and it worked extremely well. Anita Frank is a new author to me, and I’ll be looking at more of her work. Intriguing, breathtaking, heartbreaking, stunning – Some houses are never at peace Highly recommended.
With thanks to Harlequin Fiction AU for my uncorrected proof copy which I won.
It was 1917 and England was reeling from the impact of the war; Stella Marcham had returned home from her nursing position at the front after losing her fiancé and her grief was all encompassing. The fact that the family doctor wanted to commit Stella to an institution was partly what convinced her to join her sister Madeleine at the home of her husband, Hector’s family, Greyswick. Madeleine was pregnant; her mother-in-law was an imposing woman, and Madeleine would welcome her sister’s company.
The elderly Lady Brightwell and her companion, Miss Scott, along with the housekeeper, Mrs Henge, Cook and Maisie were the only permanent occupants of the old home. When Stella and her maid Annie arrived to join Madeleine, they immediately sensed the unrest and tremor of dark secrets in the walls, and it wasn’t long before the fear Madeleine felt rubbed off on Stella. But when strange, inexplicable incidents began to occur, Stella knew she had to find answers before her sister was harmed. What were the secrets that the house held – secrets that had been buried for the past thirty years?
The Lost Ones is a blend of genres – historical fiction with a mix of supernatural – and it worked extremely well. Anita Frank is a new author to me, and I’ll be looking at more of her work. Intriguing, breathtaking, heartbreaking, stunning – Some houses are never at peace Highly recommended.
With thanks to Harlequin Fiction AU for my uncorrected proof copy which I won.
February 13, 2020
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The Lost Ones by Anita Frank. (2019).
It's 1917 in England. Stella is struggling after the death of her fiancé and welcomes the opportunity to stay with her pregnant sister Madeleine at her country mansion, Greyswick. However Stella arrives to a house of unease and Madeleine gripped by fear. Quickly, strange incidents disturb Stella - sobbing in the night, little footsteps on the stairs - and she is drawn to the tragic history of the house. Stella is aided by a wounded war veteran to uncover the mansion's dark and terrible secrets...
This was quite the creepy haunted house story! It's very clear that Stella and Madeleine aren't imagining things, so it really made me ponder on why the others in that house couldn't notice anything unusual. I wish I could have read this in bigger time sections instead of here and there over several days because the atmosphere felt like it could have been really intense if I didn't have to keep putting the book down (my life getting in the way of my reading, again haha). It was a very well written and engaging novel, kudos to the author on such a great debut book. I'd happily recommend this for those that enjoy supernatural fiction and/or those that are looking for something a little different to their normal reads.
*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr
The Lost Ones by Anita Frank. (2019).
It's 1917 in England. Stella is struggling after the death of her fiancé and welcomes the opportunity to stay with her pregnant sister Madeleine at her country mansion, Greyswick. However Stella arrives to a house of unease and Madeleine gripped by fear. Quickly, strange incidents disturb Stella - sobbing in the night, little footsteps on the stairs - and she is drawn to the tragic history of the house. Stella is aided by a wounded war veteran to uncover the mansion's dark and terrible secrets...
This was quite the creepy haunted house story! It's very clear that Stella and Madeleine aren't imagining things, so it really made me ponder on why the others in that house couldn't notice anything unusual. I wish I could have read this in bigger time sections instead of here and there over several days because the atmosphere felt like it could have been really intense if I didn't have to keep putting the book down (my life getting in the way of my reading, again haha). It was a very well written and engaging novel, kudos to the author on such a great debut book. I'd happily recommend this for those that enjoy supernatural fiction and/or those that are looking for something a little different to their normal reads.
November 18, 2019
So this was exactly what I have been after lately, a gothic read that sucked me right into its intriguing narrative almost instantly and this one had all the gothic feel's attached, a tragic backstory with an almost ominous sense of looming dread overshadowing all.
This is set in 1917 and our Protagonist returns home from her duties as a nurse after the death of her fiancee Gerald in the war.
Struggling with her lingering grief a change is most definitely needed so when her brother in law asks her as a favour to join her pregnant sister at his family seat and keep her company in his absence Stella is only too happy to comply with his wishes.
She also takes Annie a servant along to act as her maid.
Annie also has a strange way about her that makes others uncomfortable.
So Greyswick is a house of secrets and its apparent from the start that Stella's sister is not quite herself and even seems scared.
A child crying in the night, toy soldiers being left in beds, things breaking and doors spontaneously opening all by themselves there is something unseen watching in this house of shadows.
Something that defies all logical explanations except maybe the obvious no matter how outlandish it may initially appear.
This was such a suspenseful and thrilling mystery a complete page-turner.
I enjoyed this massively and raced through in record time.
I also believe this is a debut author and they have done such an amazing job, very impressive indeed.
I did guess some stuff here but it didn't take away any of my enjoyment this really is one I recommend highly.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of The Lost Ones.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
October 20, 2019
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
‘Some Houses are Never at Peace’
I absolutely adore gothic fiction. The Lost Ones, by first time novelist Anita Frank, is an example of one of the finest novels I have read from this branch of the historical fiction genre. The Lost Ones contains gentle waves of the supernatural, and it represents an excellent study of grievances of war. Anita Frank’s debut novel proved its worth and more, The Lost Ones was a five star read all the way for me.
Beginning in the year 1917, Britain is still at war, but Stella Marcham, a nurse on the front lines in France, returns bereft after the loss of her fiancé. In a bid to overcome her grief, Stella travels to Greyswick, a sprawling country abode, to see her beloved sister, who is pregnant. Soon after her arrival, Stella encounters much more than she bargained for. She finds a household of staff and family members rocked by suspicion, intrigue and anxiety. The presence of an unworldly spirit seems to haunt the halls of this opulent country mansion. The spirit attracts those above and below the stairs, gripping those in fear as odd events occurs. From children’s cries, to footsteps, unexplained rocking cribs and the strange placement of toys, there doesn’t appear to be an explanation for these spiralling events. Eventually, the man of the house, Stella’s brother in law, takes matters into his own hands. He calls on an injured soldier, a man who has a semi professional understanding of ghostly apparitions to help. Along with Stella and her perceptive maid Annie, all those who reside at the hall hope to put this restless spirit to rest.
The Lost Ones skipped the review queue when it landed in my mailbox in late July. With a release date set a few months away in October, I couldn’t resist taking a peak at this book. Before long, one page turned into two, then a chapter, and eventually the whole book. For me, The Lost Ones is exactly why I love to read, this book was exhilarating. I am just so pleased I have found a new author to watch thanks to this reading experience.
Set in 1917, one of my favourite historical time periods, Anita Frank does an absolutely superb job of setting her scene. The language is rich and clearly situated in the time period. We get a very good feel for the impact of war, especially on the home front. Frank zones in on those left behind to pick up the pieces, the senseless loss of life, and the dedication of those who signed up to fight for their country. Frank also looks at the balance between women gaining their voices and testing the waters of their new found freedom, in contrast to the opposite end of the spectrum. In Stella, a woman clearly severely heartbroken and unable to cope with her grief, we see a woman who is incorrectly labelled as insane and full of hysteria. Frank extends this impression of women as anxious, full of paranoia and hysteria when Stella’s pregnant sister (also suffering the loss of an unborn child) and maid Annie begin to see things out of the ordinary. Unable to assign a logical explanation to these sightings, it is easier to label these women as delusional, rather than take their claims seriously.
The Lost Ones has been compared to the popular classic ghost story The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins, and a recent book from this genre, Laura Purcell’s The Silent Companions, which are both supernatural themed stories. I am always a little sceptical of the supernatural and the unexplained. I am quite logical and fearful of what believing in these forces might mean. However, in the context of The Lost Ones, this side narrative thread perfectly complimented the story at hand. The ghostly appearances were portrayed well on the page and served a strong purpose, leading the mystery element of the novel.
Anita Frank knows a thing or two about the gothic thriller genre. In The Lost Ones, she has crafted an excellent novel, where we see Greyswick, the iconic stately home in this novel, as a character in its own right. The overwhelming presence of this property and the secrets it holds is one of the best areas of this novel.
Another aspect of the novel that I need to mention are the sequences involving Stella’s war time flashbacks. I was so impressed by the clarity, vivid detail and the heartbreak of what occurred. Stella’s story seemed to unfold in a very visual way and I did feel like I was right there with Stella as the terrible loss of her fiancé occurred. It was utterly heartbreaking and there were tears, but I feel the reader needed this information to fully comprehend the story at hand. Stella’s character growth plays a significant part in the novel and we bear witness to her difficult grief process. Eventually, Stella comes to the realisation that although she has lost her beloved fiancé forever, life does go on. This is aided by characters such as Annie, the maid and an injured war veteran.
I was taken aback when The Lost Ones reached its inevitable conclusion. I did not foresee the eventual conclusion and the final key turn which unlocked the central mystery of the novel. Thanks to the very astute and carefully plotted writing of Anita Frank, I was utterly at the mercy of the author until the bitter end of this spellbinding novel.
I am very in tune to the fact that I could go on and on about The Lost Ones, but I am sure you are now aware that I loved this novel. It is a blessing this reading game, to uncover new authors to follow, such as Anita Frank. I look forward to many more stories from this bright spark in the literary world. Anita Frank, I just adored your debut novel, The Lost Ones.
*I wish to thank Harlequin Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
‘Some Houses are Never at Peace’
I absolutely adore gothic fiction. The Lost Ones, by first time novelist Anita Frank, is an example of one of the finest novels I have read from this branch of the historical fiction genre. The Lost Ones contains gentle waves of the supernatural, and it represents an excellent study of grievances of war. Anita Frank’s debut novel proved its worth and more, The Lost Ones was a five star read all the way for me.
Beginning in the year 1917, Britain is still at war, but Stella Marcham, a nurse on the front lines in France, returns bereft after the loss of her fiancé. In a bid to overcome her grief, Stella travels to Greyswick, a sprawling country abode, to see her beloved sister, who is pregnant. Soon after her arrival, Stella encounters much more than she bargained for. She finds a household of staff and family members rocked by suspicion, intrigue and anxiety. The presence of an unworldly spirit seems to haunt the halls of this opulent country mansion. The spirit attracts those above and below the stairs, gripping those in fear as odd events occurs. From children’s cries, to footsteps, unexplained rocking cribs and the strange placement of toys, there doesn’t appear to be an explanation for these spiralling events. Eventually, the man of the house, Stella’s brother in law, takes matters into his own hands. He calls on an injured soldier, a man who has a semi professional understanding of ghostly apparitions to help. Along with Stella and her perceptive maid Annie, all those who reside at the hall hope to put this restless spirit to rest.
The Lost Ones skipped the review queue when it landed in my mailbox in late July. With a release date set a few months away in October, I couldn’t resist taking a peak at this book. Before long, one page turned into two, then a chapter, and eventually the whole book. For me, The Lost Ones is exactly why I love to read, this book was exhilarating. I am just so pleased I have found a new author to watch thanks to this reading experience.
Set in 1917, one of my favourite historical time periods, Anita Frank does an absolutely superb job of setting her scene. The language is rich and clearly situated in the time period. We get a very good feel for the impact of war, especially on the home front. Frank zones in on those left behind to pick up the pieces, the senseless loss of life, and the dedication of those who signed up to fight for their country. Frank also looks at the balance between women gaining their voices and testing the waters of their new found freedom, in contrast to the opposite end of the spectrum. In Stella, a woman clearly severely heartbroken and unable to cope with her grief, we see a woman who is incorrectly labelled as insane and full of hysteria. Frank extends this impression of women as anxious, full of paranoia and hysteria when Stella’s pregnant sister (also suffering the loss of an unborn child) and maid Annie begin to see things out of the ordinary. Unable to assign a logical explanation to these sightings, it is easier to label these women as delusional, rather than take their claims seriously.
The Lost Ones has been compared to the popular classic ghost story The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins, and a recent book from this genre, Laura Purcell’s The Silent Companions, which are both supernatural themed stories. I am always a little sceptical of the supernatural and the unexplained. I am quite logical and fearful of what believing in these forces might mean. However, in the context of The Lost Ones, this side narrative thread perfectly complimented the story at hand. The ghostly appearances were portrayed well on the page and served a strong purpose, leading the mystery element of the novel.
Anita Frank knows a thing or two about the gothic thriller genre. In The Lost Ones, she has crafted an excellent novel, where we see Greyswick, the iconic stately home in this novel, as a character in its own right. The overwhelming presence of this property and the secrets it holds is one of the best areas of this novel.
Another aspect of the novel that I need to mention are the sequences involving Stella’s war time flashbacks. I was so impressed by the clarity, vivid detail and the heartbreak of what occurred. Stella’s story seemed to unfold in a very visual way and I did feel like I was right there with Stella as the terrible loss of her fiancé occurred. It was utterly heartbreaking and there were tears, but I feel the reader needed this information to fully comprehend the story at hand. Stella’s character growth plays a significant part in the novel and we bear witness to her difficult grief process. Eventually, Stella comes to the realisation that although she has lost her beloved fiancé forever, life does go on. This is aided by characters such as Annie, the maid and an injured war veteran.
I was taken aback when The Lost Ones reached its inevitable conclusion. I did not foresee the eventual conclusion and the final key turn which unlocked the central mystery of the novel. Thanks to the very astute and carefully plotted writing of Anita Frank, I was utterly at the mercy of the author until the bitter end of this spellbinding novel.
I am very in tune to the fact that I could go on and on about The Lost Ones, but I am sure you are now aware that I loved this novel. It is a blessing this reading game, to uncover new authors to follow, such as Anita Frank. I look forward to many more stories from this bright spark in the literary world. Anita Frank, I just adored your debut novel, The Lost Ones.
*I wish to thank Harlequin Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
February 19, 2023
A great ghostly read.
May 30, 2023
Supernatural and chillingly pleasing, The Lost Ones totally surprised me.
This is not merely a gothic novel about some random ghosts.
Tangled mysteries, monstrous obsession, the fear and cries in the night, the grievance, struggles and cruelty of what the war has brought us.
Past is past.
But secrets and desires always lurk behind the shadows of forgotten past, and some souls are never at peace.
How do we love?
How do we forgive?
How do we forget, yet also remember, all of these we have lost?
This is not merely a gothic novel about some random ghosts.
Tangled mysteries, monstrous obsession, the fear and cries in the night, the grievance, struggles and cruelty of what the war has brought us.
Past is past.
But secrets and desires always lurk behind the shadows of forgotten past, and some souls are never at peace.
How do we love?
How do we forgive?
How do we forget, yet also remember, all of these we have lost?
October 27, 2019
England 1917. Stella Marcham is in mourning following the death of her fiancé, Gerald, during The Great War. Stella's brother-in-law asks her to visit Madeleine, (Stella's sister), who is "out of sorts". Madeleine had been sent to stay at her mother-in-laws house. Lady Brightwell is a widow. Stella and Madeleine experience strange happenings in the house. Are these happenings supernatural? Or is it human interference?
There are some characters you will like and some you will loathe in this story. My favourite was Annie who had second sight. With the descriptive writing, you could picture yourself there. The tension builds the more you read. Not my usual type of read but I loved it from beginning to end.
I would like to thank NetGalley, HQ and the author Anita Frank for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
There are some characters you will like and some you will loathe in this story. My favourite was Annie who had second sight. With the descriptive writing, you could picture yourself there. The tension builds the more you read. Not my usual type of read but I loved it from beginning to end.
I would like to thank NetGalley, HQ and the author Anita Frank for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 5, 2020
Visit the locations in the novel
Best book I've read this year - in a while actually.
Spooky, chilling, great twisty plot, lyrical writing, excellent dark female characters and the most atmospheric gothic mansion of all...
I spent the BEST day ever reading this - slowly getting accustomed to the house and those strange sounds of a baby crying, doors closing, shadows passing by windows and things moving....
I LOVED this book. There's no locations as such as it's a fictional mansion in a fictional village but OMG this book is good. The servants, the strange maid, Mrs Henge......gloriously dark characters!
Out for Halloween - order it now! Then sit back and wait for the film that must surely come
AND it's a DEBUT! HUGE congrats Ms Frank.
May 10, 2020
This was enjoyable, despite its kind of slow middle. I liked this gothic story of old family secrets and terrible deeds. The historical details were good, and I liked the way Stella's grief and very slow recovery were so difficult for her family to understand, and as was a the case then, and still, trauma and depression were not only dismissed, but not seen, except as irritating for everyone else.
Though I figured out a few of the secrets, I still liked this book.
Though I figured out a few of the secrets, I still liked this book.
September 4, 2020
This book is sort of hard for me to rate. I think that I probably would have rated it higher if I had been able to read big chunks of it at a time instead of small bits and pieces... I still say that the story, main character and the house in this story gave me feelings of reading Victoria Holt. I would recommend this to anyone who loves gothic novels with a touch of the paranormal. Honestly, I found this book to be a hidden jewel and hope theat Anita Frank writes a new novel soon!
November 4, 2019
Originally published on The Nerd Daily | Review by Annie Deo
The Lost Ones takes the typical haunted house trope and elevates it to the next level with an atmospheric historical setting, smart lyrical writing, refreshingly unexpected plot developments, and compelling characters that the reader will invest in.
Our protagonist Stella has been in mourning for her fiance and is valiantly resisting attempts by her mother and family doctor to incarcerate her in an asylum for hysterical women over her ongoing display of grief. When she has the opportunity to stay with her pregnant sister at the Greywick mansion to help ease her stress, it seems like the perfect getaway – except that Madeleine is convinced there is paranormal activity taking place…and before long, Stella herself begins to witness inexplicable events.
The 1917 time period works well for juxtaposing the old-fashioned values and morals of the majority of the cast against Stella’s more modern attitude with her sense of independence and bold behaviour justified by her background as a battlefield nurse during World War 1. It’s easy to feel her frustration and outrage at having her opinions dismissed and her feelings treated as an inconvenience because she’s not conforming to expectations and allowing men to speak for her or determine her path. This is part of a larger theme in The Lost Ones which focuses on women fighting to regain their agency and the struggle to express their true selves without being punished for it, but also highlights women who are comfortable in enforcing the status quo and the harm it causes those in less privileged positions.
What’s very refreshing about this story is that most of the main characters are women and each is portrayed with a multi-faceted personality, complex backstory and hidden motivations with ambiguous secrets and desires that drive them to interact with each other in a myriad of ways. Occupying Greywick is its domineering matriarch, Lady Brightwell, with her faithful bubbly companion, Miss Scott, and sombre coolly efficient housekeeper, Mrs Henge, as well as Madeleine, the beleaguered sister experiencing spooky phenomenon. And for her sojourn to the country, Stella brings along Annie, a mysterious maid with very odd personality quirks that hint at secrets in their shared past. These ladies shift back and forth between being antagonists to allies or vice versa as the mystery deepens and Stella’s investigation ruffles feathers in the household.
While the menfolk mostly occupy the background, there are still notable male characters present in Gerald, whose courtship of Stella we see in sweet romantic flashbacks, and Mr Sheers who is brought in to debunk the idea of ghosts and hauntings. I appreciated that the dead fiance wasn’t merely contrived to saddle Stella with an angsty backstory and that he was present in her thoughts throughout the story to give us an idea of the man who shaped her character and show her growth as she moves through the grieving process. Mr Sheers is yet another ambiguous character who vacillates between being friend or foe; his agenda at Greywick is to help resolve the heightened emotions and ‘hysteria’ over spirits supposedly wreaking havoc, but obviously his skeptical viewpoint conflicts with Stella and Madeleine who were already fighting a losing battle to convince the family they aren’t going insane. Stella investigating the mysterious goings-on with the skeptical Mr Sheers and sullen close-mouthed Annie is a recipe for much tension and drama!
The Lost Ones intermittently surprised me by eschewing a few of the usual horror genre cliches and choosing to quickly wrap up or outright subvert certain plot points to pursue lesser common paths. That made this story feel fresh and exciting due to its unpredictability, such as deciding to combine ghostly shenanigans with a mystery thriller plot – it’s like if Agatha Christie co-wrote with Susan Hill! The ghost story is the main attraction, but equally engrossing is its exploration of the complex relationships between the main characters and those secrets they keep hidden, whether out of love or fear or guilt. This beautifully written tale will transport you to the gloomy ominous mansion in the 1900s, anxiously peering down its murky hallways and brain working furiously as you attempt to puzzle out the mystery at its dark rotten core.
For a haunting gothic story perfectly timed so you can enjoy it over the spooky season, you really must pick up this book!
The Lost Ones takes the typical haunted house trope and elevates it to the next level with an atmospheric historical setting, smart lyrical writing, refreshingly unexpected plot developments, and compelling characters that the reader will invest in.
Our protagonist Stella has been in mourning for her fiance and is valiantly resisting attempts by her mother and family doctor to incarcerate her in an asylum for hysterical women over her ongoing display of grief. When she has the opportunity to stay with her pregnant sister at the Greywick mansion to help ease her stress, it seems like the perfect getaway – except that Madeleine is convinced there is paranormal activity taking place…and before long, Stella herself begins to witness inexplicable events.
The 1917 time period works well for juxtaposing the old-fashioned values and morals of the majority of the cast against Stella’s more modern attitude with her sense of independence and bold behaviour justified by her background as a battlefield nurse during World War 1. It’s easy to feel her frustration and outrage at having her opinions dismissed and her feelings treated as an inconvenience because she’s not conforming to expectations and allowing men to speak for her or determine her path. This is part of a larger theme in The Lost Ones which focuses on women fighting to regain their agency and the struggle to express their true selves without being punished for it, but also highlights women who are comfortable in enforcing the status quo and the harm it causes those in less privileged positions.
What’s very refreshing about this story is that most of the main characters are women and each is portrayed with a multi-faceted personality, complex backstory and hidden motivations with ambiguous secrets and desires that drive them to interact with each other in a myriad of ways. Occupying Greywick is its domineering matriarch, Lady Brightwell, with her faithful bubbly companion, Miss Scott, and sombre coolly efficient housekeeper, Mrs Henge, as well as Madeleine, the beleaguered sister experiencing spooky phenomenon. And for her sojourn to the country, Stella brings along Annie, a mysterious maid with very odd personality quirks that hint at secrets in their shared past. These ladies shift back and forth between being antagonists to allies or vice versa as the mystery deepens and Stella’s investigation ruffles feathers in the household.
While the menfolk mostly occupy the background, there are still notable male characters present in Gerald, whose courtship of Stella we see in sweet romantic flashbacks, and Mr Sheers who is brought in to debunk the idea of ghosts and hauntings. I appreciated that the dead fiance wasn’t merely contrived to saddle Stella with an angsty backstory and that he was present in her thoughts throughout the story to give us an idea of the man who shaped her character and show her growth as she moves through the grieving process. Mr Sheers is yet another ambiguous character who vacillates between being friend or foe; his agenda at Greywick is to help resolve the heightened emotions and ‘hysteria’ over spirits supposedly wreaking havoc, but obviously his skeptical viewpoint conflicts with Stella and Madeleine who were already fighting a losing battle to convince the family they aren’t going insane. Stella investigating the mysterious goings-on with the skeptical Mr Sheers and sullen close-mouthed Annie is a recipe for much tension and drama!
The Lost Ones intermittently surprised me by eschewing a few of the usual horror genre cliches and choosing to quickly wrap up or outright subvert certain plot points to pursue lesser common paths. That made this story feel fresh and exciting due to its unpredictability, such as deciding to combine ghostly shenanigans with a mystery thriller plot – it’s like if Agatha Christie co-wrote with Susan Hill! The ghost story is the main attraction, but equally engrossing is its exploration of the complex relationships between the main characters and those secrets they keep hidden, whether out of love or fear or guilt. This beautifully written tale will transport you to the gloomy ominous mansion in the 1900s, anxiously peering down its murky hallways and brain working furiously as you attempt to puzzle out the mystery at its dark rotten core.
For a haunting gothic story perfectly timed so you can enjoy it over the spooky season, you really must pick up this book!
September 11, 2021
Having lost her fiancé in the First World War, Stella is packed off to stay with her sister Madeleine, accompanied by her maid, the artless and slightly unearthly Annie Burrows. Madeleine lives at her husband’s ancestral home, a grotesquely gaudy pile called Greyswick, which quickly proves to be unwelcoming – not least because the sisters can hear a child crying every night. Their notions of a haunting are dismissed as hysteria, and with a suspicious mother-in-law, imposing housekeeper, Annie’s strange intuition and, later, the arrival of a paranormal researcher, they have lots more to contend with. Is there a ghost at Greyswick, or something even more sinister?
The Lost Ones is an excellent historical ghost story with lashings of period detail and atmosphere to spare. Writing about it now I realise there is an awful lot going on in the book, which could feel messy, but somehow it doesn’t. Instead it kept me consistently engaged. And even the climax and ending, normally the weakest parts of this kind of story, are pretty good. I’m not quite sure how this slipped off my radar when it was first published, but I’m glad I picked it up. Recommended for all your creepy autumnal reading needs – fans of The Silent Companions and This House is Haunted should enjoy.
TinyLetter | Linktree
The Lost Ones is an excellent historical ghost story with lashings of period detail and atmosphere to spare. Writing about it now I realise there is an awful lot going on in the book, which could feel messy, but somehow it doesn’t. Instead it kept me consistently engaged. And even the climax and ending, normally the weakest parts of this kind of story, are pretty good. I’m not quite sure how this slipped off my radar when it was first published, but I’m glad I picked it up. Recommended for all your creepy autumnal reading needs – fans of The Silent Companions and This House is Haunted should enjoy.
TinyLetter | Linktree
June 16, 2021
Um 4 a puxar para os 4,5! Um livro muito envolvente, que felizmente consegui devorar rapidamente tal era a ânsia em perceber como terminava a história. Gostei bastante, não sendo um típico thriller, diria que dá ares de mistério negro, com uns toques de agatha christie pelo meio e umas pinceladas de fantástico e sobrenatural ☺️☺️
January 13, 2020
A historical ghost story with such feeling! The characters were superbly drawn, the world building rich and imaginative and the story absolutely compelling. I would highly recommend to fans of Susan Hill.
October 23, 2020
Turns out my review for this never saved! I can't really remember what I said about it now!!
I enjoyed the book, its sense of creaping menace and the fact its an actual ghost story helps no end.
Well written and greatly enjoyed!
I enjoyed the book, its sense of creaping menace and the fact its an actual ghost story helps no end.
Well written and greatly enjoyed!
January 16, 2020
If you like Downton Abbey and ghost stories, then this mix of historical fiction, a grand old English estate setting and supernatural happenings should be right up your alley!
THE LOST ONES takes part during the dark days of WWI, which has robbed our main protagonist Stella of her fiancé. Even though her grief seemed very justified to me, her family have decided that enough time has now passed to put up a stiff upper lip and get on with her life again, and the family doctor even threatens to have her committed to a local asylum if she doesn’t snap out of it soon. Stella is relieved when she gets the opportunity to rush to the aid of her pregnant sister Madeleine, who is unhappily ensconced at her husband’s grand old family home, Greyswick. Even though she doesn’t admit it to Stella (British stiff upper lip and all), she is becoming increasingly scared of the house, which seems to have an unhappy spirit residing on its upper floor. Madeleine has heard pitiful sobbing at night, and unexplained bumps from upstairs that set her teeth on edge.
Wonderful! And herewith the scene is set. Spooky old mansion – tick! Unhappy main protagonist with a tragic past – tick! An antagonistic mother-in-law (Madeleine’s) – tick! And dark family secrets that threaten to come to light. I was really looking forward to finding out what was going on here.
I loved the blend of historical fiction and ghost story, which is always a hit for me, especially when the setting includes an old gothic mansion. I could vividly picture Greyswick and was glad that I didn’t have to spend the night there! Also interesting was the author’s portrayal of her female characters, and their standing in society at the time, which added depth to the tale. Imagine being threatened with a mental asylum because you are grieving your lover’s terrible death in the trenches – hmmmph! The only character I found lacking was Tristan, who remained quite shallow and underdeveloped for me. I thought that this particular character had more potential to feature in the story, and I would have liked to get to know him a bit more deeply. I also think that the book would have been more scary for me had the supernatural activity been experienced by Stella rather than filtered through Alice, a character I found difficult to engage with.
That said, THE LOST ONES was an entertaining read that should appeal to both lovers of historical fiction as well as those looking for a ghost story that is not overly gruesome or frightening. Lovers of truly scary supernatural tales may find it a bit tame, however. Personally, I loved the atmospheric setting most of all, and the Du Maurier vibes that infused the story. I am interested to see what the author comes up with next.
*blog* *facebook* *instagram*
THE LOST ONES takes part during the dark days of WWI, which has robbed our main protagonist Stella of her fiancé. Even though her grief seemed very justified to me, her family have decided that enough time has now passed to put up a stiff upper lip and get on with her life again, and the family doctor even threatens to have her committed to a local asylum if she doesn’t snap out of it soon. Stella is relieved when she gets the opportunity to rush to the aid of her pregnant sister Madeleine, who is unhappily ensconced at her husband’s grand old family home, Greyswick. Even though she doesn’t admit it to Stella (British stiff upper lip and all), she is becoming increasingly scared of the house, which seems to have an unhappy spirit residing on its upper floor. Madeleine has heard pitiful sobbing at night, and unexplained bumps from upstairs that set her teeth on edge.
Wonderful! And herewith the scene is set. Spooky old mansion – tick! Unhappy main protagonist with a tragic past – tick! An antagonistic mother-in-law (Madeleine’s) – tick! And dark family secrets that threaten to come to light. I was really looking forward to finding out what was going on here.
I loved the blend of historical fiction and ghost story, which is always a hit for me, especially when the setting includes an old gothic mansion. I could vividly picture Greyswick and was glad that I didn’t have to spend the night there! Also interesting was the author’s portrayal of her female characters, and their standing in society at the time, which added depth to the tale. Imagine being threatened with a mental asylum because you are grieving your lover’s terrible death in the trenches – hmmmph! The only character I found lacking was Tristan, who remained quite shallow and underdeveloped for me. I thought that this particular character had more potential to feature in the story, and I would have liked to get to know him a bit more deeply. I also think that the book would have been more scary for me had the supernatural activity been experienced by Stella rather than filtered through Alice, a character I found difficult to engage with.
That said, THE LOST ONES was an entertaining read that should appeal to both lovers of historical fiction as well as those looking for a ghost story that is not overly gruesome or frightening. Lovers of truly scary supernatural tales may find it a bit tame, however. Personally, I loved the atmospheric setting most of all, and the Du Maurier vibes that infused the story. I am interested to see what the author comes up with next.
*blog* *facebook* *instagram*
June 20, 2021
#leituraconcluida
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Neste livro conhecemos Stella, que está a sofrer pela morte do seu noivo.
Stella está com uma depressão e para mudar a sua rotina, vai com a sua empregada Annie, para casa da sua irmã Madeleine que está grávida.
É nesta casa sinistra que tudo se desenrola, Madeleine ouve uma criança a chorar durante a noite e nesta casa não existe criança nenhuma.
Ninguém acredita nela, começam a acusá-la de histeria, mas não é a única que consegue ouvir.
Quem é a criança que estas mulheres ouvem claramente???
Muitas pessoas estão envolvidas, têm segredos ocultos, um passado sombrio, mortes por resolver...
Até um especialista em paranormal veio de Londres, para desmascarar a teoria destas mulheres.
Ao longo da leitura, todas as peças do puzzle começam a se encaixar... Os berlindes... Os soldadinhos de chumbo... A falta de luz... Os choros... O berço a abanar... Tudo tinha o seu significado.
O ectoplasma, para quem não sabe, é um termo usado no espiritualismo para definir a energia espiritual externizada pelos mediums.
Tive pena da Annie, que apesar do seu dom, suportou o peso todo desta casa, foi acusada várias vezes mas, no fim conseguiu que lhe dessem o devido valor pelo que era, sem críticas ou julgamentos.
"É frequente desvalorizarmos o impacto profundo que os acontecimentos trágicos podem ter sobre nós, sobre o funcionamento da nossa própria mente."
Recomendo ❤️
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Neste livro conhecemos Stella, que está a sofrer pela morte do seu noivo.
Stella está com uma depressão e para mudar a sua rotina, vai com a sua empregada Annie, para casa da sua irmã Madeleine que está grávida.
É nesta casa sinistra que tudo se desenrola, Madeleine ouve uma criança a chorar durante a noite e nesta casa não existe criança nenhuma.
Ninguém acredita nela, começam a acusá-la de histeria, mas não é a única que consegue ouvir.
Quem é a criança que estas mulheres ouvem claramente???
Muitas pessoas estão envolvidas, têm segredos ocultos, um passado sombrio, mortes por resolver...
Até um especialista em paranormal veio de Londres, para desmascarar a teoria destas mulheres.
Ao longo da leitura, todas as peças do puzzle começam a se encaixar... Os berlindes... Os soldadinhos de chumbo... A falta de luz... Os choros... O berço a abanar... Tudo tinha o seu significado.
O ectoplasma, para quem não sabe, é um termo usado no espiritualismo para definir a energia espiritual externizada pelos mediums.
Tive pena da Annie, que apesar do seu dom, suportou o peso todo desta casa, foi acusada várias vezes mas, no fim conseguiu que lhe dessem o devido valor pelo que era, sem críticas ou julgamentos.
"É frequente desvalorizarmos o impacto profundo que os acontecimentos trágicos podem ter sobre nós, sobre o funcionamento da nossa própria mente."
Recomendo ❤️
October 15, 2019
It’s 1917 Stella Marcham is grieving over the loss of her fiancé Gerald who died due to the war. When brother in Law Hector visits her and asks her if she can visit her sister Madeline and their country estate Greyswick. Her sister is struggling, and she is pregnant. So, she agrees and takes her maid Annie Burrows with her.
When she arrives, her distraught sister tells her of a baby crying in the night and Stella herself witness toy soldiers left in her bed and other mysteries start happening. Then they realise a ghost child is haunting the manor. Annie is thought to be able to see dead people. But the other members of the family don’t believe them, and they think that the women are just been hysterical and making things up. Even bringing someone in to investigate and prove them wrong.
I really enjoyed the lost ones. This is an addictive, gripping read. I love historical novels. This reminded me a bit of Laura Purcell and Bone China and the corset. This had a great storyline, characters and the story flowed easily. Very good for a debut novel. Can’t wait to see what Anita Frank does next.
When she arrives, her distraught sister tells her of a baby crying in the night and Stella herself witness toy soldiers left in her bed and other mysteries start happening. Then they realise a ghost child is haunting the manor. Annie is thought to be able to see dead people. But the other members of the family don’t believe them, and they think that the women are just been hysterical and making things up. Even bringing someone in to investigate and prove them wrong.
I really enjoyed the lost ones. This is an addictive, gripping read. I love historical novels. This reminded me a bit of Laura Purcell and Bone China and the corset. This had a great storyline, characters and the story flowed easily. Very good for a debut novel. Can’t wait to see what Anita Frank does next.
February 10, 2020
4.75 Stars
First off, I was contemplating not finishing this for me it seemed that it did not start picking up till about page 130. I guess I am too impatient hoping that a book will hook me immediately and some do, but sometimes it takes a little time to build up like this one did for me. Thankfully I was rewarded with a fantastic read of a well written plot, suspense and sometimes a chill or two up my spine. Recommended.
First off, I was contemplating not finishing this for me it seemed that it did not start picking up till about page 130. I guess I am too impatient hoping that a book will hook me immediately and some do, but sometimes it takes a little time to build up like this one did for me. Thankfully I was rewarded with a fantastic read of a well written plot, suspense and sometimes a chill or two up my spine. Recommended.
December 1, 2021
Descrito como um livro cheio de suspense que, no entanto, me fez esperar por mais. Apesar disso, gostei muito da escrita e da premissa. Foi uma leitura rápida e cativante.
September 29, 2024
This book has been on TBR for a while now, but how can you resist this synopsis? Some houses are never peaceful... Perfect for a rainy autumn afternoon, The Lost Ones has an aura of mysticism and gothic tempered with a Victorian mystery. Filled with suspenseful and at least some truly frightening moments, Anita Frank manages to capture the reader in an absolute way!
In 1917, Stella, a nurse during the Great War, is in mourning and feels overwhelmed by this feeling, immersed in anguish. When her beloved sister asks her for help, she doesn't hesitate... and enters Greyswick accompanied by her maid Annie.
Anita Frank demonstrates how mental health, particularly women's, was treated at this time. It was defined as hysteria and it wasn't right for a young girl to remain silent or cry "for too long".
At Greyswick Manor, Stella encounters events that will make her doubt her own sanity.
The beginning of the book is slower given the introduction of the characters and setting, but once the plot begins to develop it's almost impossible to put it down. A gothic thriller with some "jump scares" that really makes us wonder if there's peace beyond death. The ending is unequivocally, not as surprising as I was expecting, however, I loved the whole atmosphere that the author created.
I'm now curious about Anita Frank's other works.
-------------------------
Este livro estava na TBR há algum tempo porém, como resistir a esta sinopse? Algumas casas nunca têm paz... Perfeito para uma tarde chuvosa de Outuno, The Lost Ones, tem uma aura de misticismo e gótico temperado com mistério vitoriano. Povilhado com momentos de suspende e pelo menos, verdadeiramente assustador, Anita FranK consegue captar o leitor de forma absoluta!
Em 1917, Stella, uma enfermeira da Grande Guerra, está de luto e sente-se assoberbada por este sentimento, estando mergulhada na angústia. Quando a sua adorada irmã lhe pede ajuda, ela não hesita... e entra em Greyswick acompanhada da sua criada Annie.
Anita Frank demonstra como a saúde mental particularmente, das mulheres, eram tratada nesta época. Era definida como histeria e não era correcto para uma jovem ficar em silêncio ou chorar " demasiado tempo".
Na Mansão Greyswick, Stella depara-se com acontecimentos que a fazem duvidar da sua própria sanidade mental.
O início do livro é mais lento dado introdução das personagens e cenário mas, assim que o enredo se começa a desenvolver é quase impossível de o largar. Um thriller gótico com alguns "jump scares" que nos faz realmente pensar, se existe paz além da morte. O final é inequivocamente, não tão surpreendente como estava à espera porém, adorei toda a atmosfera que a autora que criou.
Fiquei curiosa com os restantes trabalhos de Anita Frank.
In 1917, Stella, a nurse during the Great War, is in mourning and feels overwhelmed by this feeling, immersed in anguish. When her beloved sister asks her for help, she doesn't hesitate... and enters Greyswick accompanied by her maid Annie.
Anita Frank demonstrates how mental health, particularly women's, was treated at this time. It was defined as hysteria and it wasn't right for a young girl to remain silent or cry "for too long".
At Greyswick Manor, Stella encounters events that will make her doubt her own sanity.
The beginning of the book is slower given the introduction of the characters and setting, but once the plot begins to develop it's almost impossible to put it down. A gothic thriller with some "jump scares" that really makes us wonder if there's peace beyond death. The ending is unequivocally, not as surprising as I was expecting, however, I loved the whole atmosphere that the author created.
I'm now curious about Anita Frank's other works.
-------------------------
Este livro estava na TBR há algum tempo porém, como resistir a esta sinopse? Algumas casas nunca têm paz... Perfeito para uma tarde chuvosa de Outuno, The Lost Ones, tem uma aura de misticismo e gótico temperado com mistério vitoriano. Povilhado com momentos de suspende e pelo menos, verdadeiramente assustador, Anita FranK consegue captar o leitor de forma absoluta!
Em 1917, Stella, uma enfermeira da Grande Guerra, está de luto e sente-se assoberbada por este sentimento, estando mergulhada na angústia. Quando a sua adorada irmã lhe pede ajuda, ela não hesita... e entra em Greyswick acompanhada da sua criada Annie.
Anita Frank demonstra como a saúde mental particularmente, das mulheres, eram tratada nesta época. Era definida como histeria e não era correcto para uma jovem ficar em silêncio ou chorar " demasiado tempo".
Na Mansão Greyswick, Stella depara-se com acontecimentos que a fazem duvidar da sua própria sanidade mental.
O início do livro é mais lento dado introdução das personagens e cenário mas, assim que o enredo se começa a desenvolver é quase impossível de o largar. Um thriller gótico com alguns "jump scares" que nos faz realmente pensar, se existe paz além da morte. O final é inequivocamente, não tão surpreendente como estava à espera porém, adorei toda a atmosfera que a autora que criou.
Fiquei curiosa com os restantes trabalhos de Anita Frank.
May 23, 2022
It’s been a long time since I’ve read a decent ghost story that made me want to sleep with the lights on! Set in an old Manor House in 1917, this is a creepy, gothic thriller with lots of atmosphere and mystery. I’d recommend to fans of Stacey Halls, Laura Purcell and Michelle Paver.
(Would have been 5 stars but the second half was overly long which took the edge off the suspense - still a cracking good read though!).
(Would have been 5 stars but the second half was overly long which took the edge off the suspense - still a cracking good read though!).
October 25, 2019
This is an excellent and extremely atmospheric haunted house story set in 1917, a time stricken by loss due to the First World War. In this atmosphere of loss, grief, worry and traumatic memories, ghosts thrive. But what is it they're trying to say? I loved the characters and I really enjoyed exploring the house. I did guess the outcome and there was some predictability but nevertheless this novel is beautifully written and evocative of time and place, just what you need for these long dark evenings. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights.
May 26, 2024
I loved this book so much!<3
November 29, 2019
I love a ghost story, but I am very picky when it comes to picking up new ones, because I was spoiled at a very young age when I read the work of a wonderful array of authors in the Virago Book of Ghost Stories and two more collections that followed that one.
This is a rare case of a new ghost story catching and holding my attention.
I was intrigued by the setting and by the central character.
The story is set in England, towards the end of the Great War; a time when so many people were haunted by the deaths of young men far from home. Stella Marcham was one of those people. She had been a VAD nurse, she had worked hard and well, but she had been sent home after she was stricken by grief over the death of her fiancé Gerald.
Stella's parents were sympathetic, but as time passed they found it hard to deal with and they failed to understand why she couldn't come to terms with what had happened and start to live again. They began to wonder if their daughter was mentally ill.
They thought that a change of scene might help her, and an interesting opportunity presented itself. Stella’s sister Madeleine was pregnant, and her husband had insisted that she left London for the the safety of the countryside. He had left her in the care of his mother, Lady Brightwell, st his family's country home, Greyswick while he continued his war work in the city. Stella would be a companion for Madeleine, and Madeleine would be a distraction for Stella.
The two sisters were delighted to be reunited; but Stella was concerned about her sister. Madeleine was unsettled, unhappy, and inexplicably fearful. Lady Brightwell said that she was foolish, that nothing could be wrong, but Stella knew her sister too well to believe that and she tried to work out what the problem might be.
It wasn't long before she saw the first signs.
And then there was a noise in the night: Stella and Madeleine - and no one else - heard the clear and inexplicable sound of a child crying ....
The story is captivating, the prose is lovely and nicely understated - I loved that it left space for me to think and to ponder. The description of the house and its grounds brought the setting to life; and the period, the place and the mood were wonderfully evoked.
The ghost story works well; there are times when it is genuinely frightening, and there are times when it is clear that there is a desperately sad story behind the haunting of Greyswick.
The human story wrapped around this ghost story had much to say.
It spoke of the position of women in a world where men govern society and determine how they should live; and of how that could make women victims, and of how women might use the little power that had for good or for bad.
It spoke of that society's treatment of grief and of mental disturbance; and of how those things could make a person terribly vulnerable.
Most of all it spoke about love and loss, through Stella's story and through other plot strands. As Stella strove to help her sister and to uncover the secrets of the house, she knew that she had to be strong; and though she would always grieve for Gerald she began to find a little comfort in the memory of him and of the time they had spent together. That was beautifully and sensitively done,
Of course, all of this only works if there is a cast of characters who are real and believable. This book has that. I was particularly taken with Stella, with her maid, Annie, who came from a family said to have psychic powers, and with the way their relationship moved from the traditional one mistress and servant to a very different one where the servant was superior to her mistress. Annie brought something different and distinctive to this tale, as did the three women who had lived in the house for many years - its mistress, her companion and her housekeeper. A wonderfully diverse cast of women!
I worked out how the story would play out a little earlier that I feel I should have, I found it predictable and a little contrived in places, and I think that this would have been a better book if certain of the story-lines had been pruned a little; but I was captivated from start to finish.
I could easily believe that the author had read and loved and learned from the work in those collections of ghost stories that I love and remember so well.
This book isn't that good, but it is very good; beautifully written, evocative of time and place, and holding a story that has much to say and much to haunt its readers.
This is a rare case of a new ghost story catching and holding my attention.
I was intrigued by the setting and by the central character.
The story is set in England, towards the end of the Great War; a time when so many people were haunted by the deaths of young men far from home. Stella Marcham was one of those people. She had been a VAD nurse, she had worked hard and well, but she had been sent home after she was stricken by grief over the death of her fiancé Gerald.
Stella's parents were sympathetic, but as time passed they found it hard to deal with and they failed to understand why she couldn't come to terms with what had happened and start to live again. They began to wonder if their daughter was mentally ill.
They thought that a change of scene might help her, and an interesting opportunity presented itself. Stella’s sister Madeleine was pregnant, and her husband had insisted that she left London for the the safety of the countryside. He had left her in the care of his mother, Lady Brightwell, st his family's country home, Greyswick while he continued his war work in the city. Stella would be a companion for Madeleine, and Madeleine would be a distraction for Stella.
The two sisters were delighted to be reunited; but Stella was concerned about her sister. Madeleine was unsettled, unhappy, and inexplicably fearful. Lady Brightwell said that she was foolish, that nothing could be wrong, but Stella knew her sister too well to believe that and she tried to work out what the problem might be.
It wasn't long before she saw the first signs.
And then there was a noise in the night: Stella and Madeleine - and no one else - heard the clear and inexplicable sound of a child crying ....
The story is captivating, the prose is lovely and nicely understated - I loved that it left space for me to think and to ponder. The description of the house and its grounds brought the setting to life; and the period, the place and the mood were wonderfully evoked.
The ghost story works well; there are times when it is genuinely frightening, and there are times when it is clear that there is a desperately sad story behind the haunting of Greyswick.
The human story wrapped around this ghost story had much to say.
It spoke of the position of women in a world where men govern society and determine how they should live; and of how that could make women victims, and of how women might use the little power that had for good or for bad.
It spoke of that society's treatment of grief and of mental disturbance; and of how those things could make a person terribly vulnerable.
Most of all it spoke about love and loss, through Stella's story and through other plot strands. As Stella strove to help her sister and to uncover the secrets of the house, she knew that she had to be strong; and though she would always grieve for Gerald she began to find a little comfort in the memory of him and of the time they had spent together. That was beautifully and sensitively done,
Of course, all of this only works if there is a cast of characters who are real and believable. This book has that. I was particularly taken with Stella, with her maid, Annie, who came from a family said to have psychic powers, and with the way their relationship moved from the traditional one mistress and servant to a very different one where the servant was superior to her mistress. Annie brought something different and distinctive to this tale, as did the three women who had lived in the house for many years - its mistress, her companion and her housekeeper. A wonderfully diverse cast of women!
I worked out how the story would play out a little earlier that I feel I should have, I found it predictable and a little contrived in places, and I think that this would have been a better book if certain of the story-lines had been pruned a little; but I was captivated from start to finish.
I could easily believe that the author had read and loved and learned from the work in those collections of ghost stories that I love and remember so well.
This book isn't that good, but it is very good; beautifully written, evocative of time and place, and holding a story that has much to say and much to haunt its readers.
January 17, 2020
Maybe horror and ghosts are not my genre but I thought this book was much too long and needed a good edit and was rather poorly written in a haphazard style that took away from any potential story line of interest, if there was one. Didn't care about any of the characters and just basically thought the book was silly and immature and, to be honest, dumb.
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