It’s 1917 and Stella Marcham, an ex-VAD, is mourning the loss of her fiancé, Gerald. She can’t see a reason to carry on her life without him now she’s lost the future she had imagined. Stella’s heartache is all consuming and she’s tried kill herself a couple of times. She is constantly watched over by her mother and her physician believes she should spend time in an asylum, so when her brother-in-law, Hector contacts her and asks her to go and stay with her pregnant sister, Madeleine, Stella jumps at the chance.

Madeleine is struggling to cope with life at the gothic mansion, Greyswick, where she’s been sent to live with her mother-in-law, Lady Brightwell away from the dangers of London. Unfortunately for Stella she is forced to take family maid, Annie Burrows with her to Greyswick. Annie makes everyone uneasy with her strange ways, but her father lost his life trying to rescue Stella’s younger sister from a house fire years before and Stella’s mother insists on employing her. Stella isn’t comfortable in Annie’s presence but has no choice but to make the best of things if she wants to get away from her family home.

Stella arrives at Greyswick and discovering the gloomy, tense atmosphere, isn’t surprised to find that her sister is finding it difficult to settle there. She soon realises though that it’s not simply Lady Brightwell’s harsh ways troubling Madeleine and that there is much more to Greyswick than she could have realised. When Lady Brightwell, her companion Miss Scott and the foreboding cook, Mrs Henge mock Madeleine for insisting that she can hear ghostly cries in the night, Stella decides to help her and when she hears them for herself, she determines to discover the secrets behind this family’s past and the imposing gothic façade of the mansion.

Hector invites amateur ghost hunter and injured army veteran, Tristan to stay at Greyswick and carry out tests to put everyone’s mind at rest. Stella initially hopes that Tristan will find proof that she and Madeleine are not imagining things, however she soon discovers that Tristan will find an explanation for even the most impossible events. Finally, though they are unable to pretend that nothing is going on and finally get to uncover the past, and the reasons behind those ghostly tears.

I did struggle to get into this book, but once I was drawn in, I could not tear myself away from it. This is an enjoyable read and as the drama heightens the twists and turns increase taking the reader to an astonishing, heart wrenching ending.
The Lost Ones reminds me a little of The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell, another enjoyable read.

My thanks to the publishers HQ and NetGalley for an arc copy in return for an honest review.

The Lost Ones tells the story of Stella Marcham, who is in mourning after the death of her fiancé, Gerald, during the First World War. She was a nurse with the Voluntary Aid Detachment in France but is sent home to Haverton Hall after Gerald’s death, where her family, including her sister, Madeleine, try to improve her spirits. Stella is, understandably, still very upset and distressed but the rather unsympathetic Dr Mayhew encourages her to take pills to ease her ‘hysteria’ and seems keen to have her sent away to a ‘country retreat’ (asylum for well-to-do women).

Later on, we discover that Madeleine is pregnant and has been sent to stay with her husband, Hector’s mother, Lady Brightwell, at the family country estate, Greyswick, for her own safety while the air raids are ongoing in London. Madeleine is struggling emotionally and physically with pregnancy and Hector visits Stella and suggests that she stays at Greyswick as company and support for her sister.

A few days later, Stella and maid, Annie, catch the train to the village of Wick and, after a chauffeur-driven ride in a Rolls Royce to Greyswick, are greeted happily by Madeleine but rather unenthusiastically by the housekeeper, Mrs Henge, and Lady Brightwell.

Stella is rather concerned by Madeleine’s pale and drawn-looking face and her sister eventually confesses that she’s afraid and not sleeping due to strange goings on at the house – people entering her room despite the door being locked, toy soldiers being left in her bed and drawers, and random crying and creaking noises at night.

Madeleine believes the house is haunted but others are rather dismissive and after Lady Brightwell’s companion, Miss Scott, phones Hector with her concerns, he returns with a man called Tristan Sheers, who was injured during the war and lost a leg. It turns out that Sheers has studied the subconscious and has been enlisted to discredit the sisters and come up with sensible explanations for what has been happening at the house.

Stella, Madeleine and Annie are convinced that the house hides dark secrets and they’re not prepared to accept Sheers’ supposition that they’ve made everything up and it’s all in their minds. What follows is an intriguing, haunting and tense investigation to uncover the truth.

This book is well-written and cleverly layered and the tension grew as the story progressed; various chilling happenings occurred and we learnt more about some shocking and dark secrets from the past.

There was a good mix of characters: the main protagonist, Stella, who was grieving and devastated but also determined to protect her sister and get to the bottom of what was happening at Greyswick. I really liked the maid, Annie, who is thought of as odd and a troublemaker but she actually has a special gift and hidden depths and I was pleased that she grew in confidence as the story progressed. Tristan Sheers was rather sceptical at first and I thought he was going to be a negative influence but then he enthusiastically helped to uncover the truth.

This deliciously spooky and haunting tale was beautifully descriptive and I could really picture the atmospheric, haunting mansion and loved the descriptions of all the characters and the strange happenings. The ending was explosive and dramatic and tied up all the loose ends nicely!

The Lost Ones was an intriguing mix of genres with elements of a ghost story, Gothic fiction, supernatural occurrings, a historical tale, murder mystery and a war story. Something for everyone!

I really enjoyed Anita Frank’s debut novel and will definitely look out for her next book.

I was curious to read this début novel -The Lost Ones - by new author, Anita Frank as I liked the interesting premise and I love to read a good historical mystery.

The story is set in Greyswick, a Gothic mansion, in 1917. Greyswick is a house full of unease, as Stella Marcham discovers when she finds herself looking to move on following the death of her fiancé. On her arrival she realises that her pregnant sister, Madeleine is gripped by fear and suspicion, the cause of which is apparently Greyswick. Aided by a wounded war veteran, Stella sets about uncovering Greyswick’s dark and terrible secrets.

Against this spooky backdrop, the narrative develops to include paranormal happenings and a murder mystery. The intriguing story-line totally captured my attention from the start as I found myself transported into Greyswick. The atmosphere of time and place have clearly been well-researched by the author and the feeling was extremely authentic and quite chilling. The plot flowed well with some satisfying twists and turns that helped to keep my interest.

The author’s writing style was very appealing, brilliantly encapsulating the core of the scenes that I was visualising whilst reading. Anita Frank’s special way with the prose made this complex and enthralling horror story very unique to me.

Overall, The Lost Ones is a very worthwhile read with loads of scary moments and plenty of atmosphere. Don’t read it in the dark, on your own!

Thanks to NetGalley, HQ and the author, Anita Frank, for my complimentary copy of The Lost Ones. My honest review is entirely voluntary.

Well that was a very enjoyable book.

Set during the First World War, Stella is asked to visit her pregnant sister, Madeleine, at her home. Madeleine’s husband is concerned about her behaviour and hopes Stella’s visit will help.

It soon becomes evident that Madeline believes her home is haunted. Stella does not believe it until she,too, hears crying during the night and noises emanating from the old unused nursery.

With the help of the maid, Annie, who can see the ghost they try to work out why the ghost has not passed to the other side and what he is trying to tell them.

Throw in a scary housekeeper, a stern mother in law and a visitor who is a non believer in the supernatural and we have a brilliant debut by a very talented author.

It kept my interest until the last revealing page!

This novel, in the style of The Woman in White, is set in Greyswick, a Gothic mansion, in 1917. Against this backdrop , the narrative develops to include paranormal happenings and a murder mystery. The atmosphere of time and place are clearly well researched by the author and feel authentic and quite chilling. The plot flows well with satisfying twists and turns that kept me reading at times when I started skim reading descriptive passages that I found over long and in need of editing.

Set in the early 1900's, After the death of her fiancé, during WW1, Stella, who is suffering from some personal mental health issues, goes to stay with her sister at Greyswick, an old and strange mansion, with even stranger goings on!

It takes a while to get to the heart of the story and it is written in quite old fashioned language, As another reviewer said, there is just too much descriptive prose which detracts from the story. The story lacked atmosphere, which was a shame and I also thought the characters were quite clichéd.

I thought this would be a good choice to read for Halloween but unfortunately it lacked the atmospheric build up I had hoped for.

I found this book hard going, I'm afraid! Just too much descriptive prose...I'm all for setting a scene, but this was over the top to the point of detracting from the story.

I don’t usually read this type of book, but I was drawn in and needed to know the ending. All is not well at Greyswick. Stella, back from nursing in the war, goes to the house to support her sister Madeleine, who seems unsettled. Are there unhappy spirits wandering the house? Madeleine’s mother-in-law dismisses the idea as nonsense, as does her companion, and the spooky housekeeper. Stella is determined to find out what is going on in this dark and unwelcoming house. Will she find out? Is she in danger? Anita Frank keeps us guessing and this book just gripped me.

This was a beautifully written story of loss, grief and spooky goings on.

Anita Frank, has a fabulous way of describing details to transport you to the books heart. Greyswick, the country mansion in this book became a character in itself.

Talking of characters there were some that you will love but, there are a few that will have you seething with anger.

I enjoyed this book, a superb debut novel.

The ending of this was quite well done, but I think it could have used a good edit and I was a bit frustrated that so much was recounted rather than being dramatic scenes.

The particular strength was in its depiction of the agency or lack thereof for women at the time, and throughout history, where any action not supported by society could be considered reason to have a lady treated in an asylum.

Anita Frank’s debut novel The Lost Ones is set during WW1. Stella Marcham is grieving the loss of her fiancé Gerald in the trenches. Her family are at a lost as to what to do with her so when her brother in law suggests she keep her pregnant sister Madelaine company at his country estate, Greyswick, while he does important war work, it seems the ideal solution.

As soon as Stella arrives at Greyswick she starts to feel uneasy, not helped by Madelaine’s tales of mysterious crying children and other ghostly occurrences, which are dismissed by her fierce mother-in-law as the delusions of a hormonal and hysterical woman. However, as Stella digs deeper she uncovers a web of dark family secrets and one particular tragic spirit who refuses to stay buried. The inclusion of psychic investigator Tristan Sheers, an enigmatic, war-wounded former soldier brought in by Madelaine’s husband to try to debunk the ghostly tales, adds a frisson of romance to the story and an element of truth to Stella and Madelaine’s assertions.

It’s a very atmospheric tale although I did think that the writing was a little flowery and over-descriptive at times. I also wondered whether there were plans for a series of books, as the friendship and respect between Stella and her maid Annie was developing well towards the end of the book and there was definitely unfinished business between Stella and Sheers.

A supernatural thriller set in 1917 with the horrors of the war affecting all families. Stella has been particularly affected by a tragic event and only a visit to her sister can alleviate her depressive state. Yet, on arrival at her sister's home, a series of troubling events suggest a house full of dark secrets.

Dialogue and setting are convincing and characters engaging, although some verge on the stereotypical. Stella is a super character, liberated in some ways by her experiences as a nurse on the front but restricted and frustrated by social conventions on her return to England.

A real page-turner and a delight to read.

(I was given an advance copy by the publisher in exchange for an honest review)

It's 1917 and Stella Marcham, grieving the loss of her fiance to the fields of France, is summoned to her sister Madeleine's side. Madeleine is pregnant and stuck in her husband's imposing country mansion, Greyswick, with only his cold mother and her few staff to keep her company. Since she's been there though odd things have been happening; toy soldiers have appeared in her bed and she can hear crying coming from the old nursery at night. Madeleine is terrified and her husband Hector thinks Stella's presence might help. Only once Stella and her strange maid Annie arrive, they begin to experience the same strange happenings too. Dismissed as hysterical women, Stella, Madeline and Annie have no-one to turn to and will have to solve the mystery themselves. Can they lay the ghosts of Greyswick to rest?

Part Downton Abbey, part Daphne Du Maurier, The Lost Ones is one of the best stories I've read this year. Though the subject matter is hard as the novel progresses and there are definitely a few triggers contained, *SPOILERS* (infant death, suicide attempts, murder, rape, the graphic nature of the horrors of war)*, at its core is a fantastic ghost story, perfect for those cold winter nights. As a mother I found certain parts hard to read but I couldn't put it down and stayed up late in to the night to finish it, it's gripping.

Stella is a fantastic female lead who always does everything you'd like her to do, never abating of faltering. I enjoyed watching her relationship with Annie develop, and her memories of her time with Gerald added an extra depth to her character. I loved the way she never backed down to Lady Brightwell or the awful Mrs Henge (I wanted to reach in and slap them both), and how she always found the strength to carry on for her sister. I felt for Madeleine but she also irritated me at times as I felt she exacerbated certain situations and was weak when contrasted with her sister.

The setting of Greyswick with its ghostly inhabitants, both alive and deceased, takes on a role all of its own and really comes alive on the pages; it's the perfect haunted house with walls full of secrets, and the ominous presence of Mrs Henge hiding in the shadows only serves to add to that. The writing is superb and you can almost feel all the supernatural goings on as if you're right there in the thick of it, it gave me goosebumps. The war related passages were really well done and Frank captured the overbearing attitudes of the time towards women perfectly too.

I can't believe this is Frank's debut novel, it's so well written and so clever with its twists and turns. To be fair I did foresee the majority of them as there were lots of little clues dropped throughout, as well as some red herrings, but I did enjoy the last little one concerning Lady Brightwell! I thought it was wrapped up really well with no stone was left unturned, and I was satisfied with the outcome for each of the chatacters. Spine tingling and heart breaking in equal measure, The Lost Ones is a tale that will grab you and haunt you for days to come.

I really enjoyed this book. The story is: It’s 1917 and Stella Marcham’s fiancé dies in the war. She’s not in good shape, being in grief. Her sister Madeline is pregnant and also struggling, so her husband Hector asks Stella to stay with them in Greyswick for a while. Her maid, Annie also goes with her. As you can imagine, after they arrive there, strange things start to happen in the house, so it’s a mystery why are these things are happening? What’s the secret?

This was a great supernatural, spooky, creepy read, perfect for Halloween! I liked the engaging writing. There were many characters with secrets, so it was a rich story rather than one dimensional.

The characters were unlikeable, very prominent and interesting, which made this book a page turner.
I would definitely recommend this and will be looking forward to Anita Frank’s next book. It was a very good debut that I was happy to discover 🙂

Thanks so much to HQ Stories and NetGalley for this copy!

This is a beautifully written book, with exacting descriptions, fully immersing the reader in the First Wold War period. Unfortunately the other worldly aspects of the story did not appeal to me. I wish it had been written as family saga or country house murder mystery instead of a ghost story. Readers who enjoy that genre should love it.

This is how you write a good ol' ghost story.
Set in 1917 in England, during one of the most devastating periods the world has gone through - the era of the Lost Generation. Husbands, sons, brothers and fathers struck down, whilst protecting their country. In an era where PTSD, shellshock were not recognised as genuine health conditions and trauma considered a weak personality trait, it's no surprise that grief is waved away as inconsiderate and inconsequential nonsense.

This is where the story starts with Stella. A brave young woman who has served her country and is drowning in grief since the loss of her childhood sweetheart. Grief that has driven her to attempt the last resort and in doing so has placed her firmly in the bracket of unstable.

To escape the prying eyes of her parents and the local head shrink she volunteers to keep her pregnant sister Madeleine company in Greyswick, the ancestral home of Madeleine's husband. She brings a maid called Annie with her - a young woman who has her own secrets.

The two of them find a distraught Madeleine, who is convinced she is being taunted or haunted by someone, which her mother-in-law and her companion find ridiculous. Is the hysteria catching or is there really something wrong at Greyswick?

That's as much information as I am willing to give, because readers should experience the read for themselves, both the creepy, the insidious and the moments that are guaranteed to make you angry at certain characters.

The story is set around the First World War, which plays a pivotal part in the characters lives and the storytelling, but for me it was also the only element of the book that was off-key in a way. Why, because it is written with the spellbinding magic of a slightly older era. The skirt-swishing Victorian era, the gothic atmosphere and sense of being taken back into time. I had to remind myself of the year it was actually set in.

It's an absolutely captivating ghost story, it's historical fiction, a plot written with a Christie crime vibe and executed with the same kind of precision. I very much hope this is the first of many stories by Frank - she is an excellent writer.

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.

The Lost Ones is a fantastic ghost story, quietly unnerving rather than bone chillingly spooky yet immensely readable. I quickly found myself caught up in the lives of Stella and her strange maid Annie Burrows who find themselves spending a lengthy stay at Greyswick, home to Stella’s sister Madeleine and her husband Hector. Madeleine is with child and her husband is concerned about the state of her mind, believing a visit from Stella is all she requires to settle her sensitive disposition. However it soon becomes apparent that buried deep within the walls of Greyswick are many secrets and lies that beg to be uncovered, starting with the death of young Lucien. Will Stella manage to lay these ghosts to rest so that Madeleine can feel at ease? Or are her fanciful observations just the ramblings of yet another hysteric, deranged from grief at the death of her fiancé????
Full of a cast of wonderful characters from inhospitable Lady Brightwell, her close companion, the seemingly sweet Miss Scott and the formidable housekeeper Mrs Henge I found this to be quite compelling, eager for Stella to uncover the history behind this haunted house.
The atmosphere and tone of the novel is perfect with the writing exuding the right amount of creepiness when strange things occur in the night. Annie’s unnerving character is crucial to the plot in making the reader wonder whether Greyswick wants to reveal its dark secrets or whether Annie is a wrong ‘un, out to make mischief.
Whilst I think it is fairly easy to deduce some of the secrets the inhabitants of this house are reluctant to divulge, that didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment and I found it difficult to put down.
Definitely recommend and thank you as always to the author and publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read in exchange for an honest review.

I love a good creepy story. Preferably one set in a spooky house and there has to be a mystery.

Voila. The Lost Ones by Anita Frank.

The Lost Ones is set during World War One. Stella Marcham has experienced sadness that no one should ever have gone through. She is sent to convalesce and grieve at her sister’s home but things seem to be getting worse rather than better. When no one believes Stella and her sister about the ghostly happenings at Greyswick, she leaves herself in danger of being sent to an asylum.

I have such a visceral response to the terrible history of women being made to appear as if they were crazy or mentally unhinged. It makes me feel physically sick. I have a genuine fear of gas lighting and especially during a period of time when women weren’t taken seriously and were treated like delicate flowers. Anita Frank’s fantastic writing made me feel so helpless and hopeless for Stella. My stomach was churning and my anxiety was peaked. If a book can make you have that much of a reaction then you know that it is written well.

As far as ghost stories go, The Lost Ones is one of the best ghost stories that I have read all year. Add in the multiple layers – war time, feminism, mental health – Anita Frank really has created a fantastic story; one that is still playing on my mind days after turning the final page.

The Lost Ones by Anita Frank is available now.

For more information regarding Anita Frank (@Ajes74) please visit her Twitter page.

For more information regarding HQ (@HQstories) please visit www.hqstories.co.uk.

Fantastic written, very enjoyable story which I highly recommend. The characterisation was superb! I will certainly look for more by this author.