The Lost Ones is a haunting tale perfect for setting the tone at Hallowe'en or curling up with on a Winter's night.

Stella Marcham has returned home from nursing duty near the French frontlines during The Great War. She witnessed many horrors in the field hospital but the events of one night broke her usually stupid spirit. After several months back in the family home being stifled, pitied and patronised she naturally leaps at a chance to escape. Her beloved sister, Madeline, is recently married and Stella is thrilled to discover that she is expecting a baby. Due to the threat of wartime bombardments in London Madeline has retreated to her husband's childhood home; the imposing Greyswick Manor. Madeline is struggling to settle there, partly due to her virago of a Mother in Law but mostly because there is something spooky going on. So the scene is set for an engaging mystery adventure reminiscent of Wilkie Collins or Susan Hill.

This is Anita Frank's debut novel which is surprising, it is very accomplished and beautifully written. Stella Marcham is a fully fleshed out character and her back story is very interesting. Her maid and reticent sidekick, Annie Burrows, is also a fascinating character. I sensed that a little door has been left open for a sequel, but perhaps that's just my wishful thinking.

A ghost story with everything you'd expect ... chilly atmosphere, imposing house, usual haunting scenarios with an added "who done it" thrown in for good measure.

A readable and well written novel but lacked suspense and the shocks I was anticipating and hoping for, nothing really 'new' when it comes to this genre.

In truth the book is quite predictable, I'd already guessed all twists and turns before they happened.

Personally I found the first half of the book just went on too long, I understand the author has to set the scene but too much time was taken up with describing the setting and characters.

Unfortunately it didnt stand out from the crowd as I'd hoped it would.

Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.

One of the best ghost stories I’ve ever read and how fitting that it’s due for publication on Halloween. Stella a VAD in the first world war, loses her fiancé. In fact he dies in the field hospital where she was stationed. She’s deemed to be unstable, even months after his death and her return to her parents’ home. She visits her pregnant sister, now staying at her in-laws’ residence, taking her strange little maid Annie.

Something awful had happened in that house. Little by little, we discover the possibilities then finally the reality. The tension mounts and little incidents from Stella Annie’s past become more important. I found this occasionally almost claustrophobic in its intensity and beautifully written. I’d recommend this book wholeheartedly.

The lost ones is a great novel with a atmospheric gothic vibe.

Set in 1917 Stella Marcham has returned from nursing in France after the sad death of her fiancé in the war, her family can not understand her all consuming grief as in their eyes her engagement wasn’t official and with many men dying in the war she should just pull her self together, so when her brother in law asks her to stay with her pregnant sister at his family home she knows she has to try to move on with her life and help her sister. But things are not what they seem at Greyswick, her sister is convinced something is wrong, she keeps finding toy soldiers and hearing a child sobbing at night and no one believes her and she is frightened for herself and her unborn baby.

Soon Stella and her maid start hearing things and Stella finds her own sanity is in doubt, can she prove to everyone what lurks in Greyswick’s past before her family have her the proof they need to have her committed.

A beautifully written novel that is perfect for a cold winters evening curled up on the sofa. Enjoy

Oh wow, I absolutely loved everything about this book, it was such a brilliant, enthralling read. After a few chapters in I'd really got into the style of writing. It is very evocative of the time. The author never slips at any point throughout the book, keeping up the style of speech and the narration completely in keeping with the era and of the aristocracy at the time. I couldn't quite remember whether it was a timeslip book when I first started it, but really hoped it wouldn't move into the present. Luckily the whole story is set in 1917 so we keep the delightful dialogue right the way through to the end. It's very Downton Abbey esque I imagine, as I have never watched it.

It is just so many genres all rolled into one, which kept me completely riveted throughout. Supernatural hauntings, a story of loved ones lost to the first World War and at such very young ages. It's a story of upstairs and downstairs, the gentry and their servants. Family betrayal, jealousy, all wrapped up in a mystery that Stella Marcham, the protagonist and narrator of the story must solve.

It's very sad and moving in parts, yet there's always the macabre, ghostly happenings to draw you in and cause shivers up the spine as you whip through the pages. It all culminates in shocking revelations and a mystery solved. There were quite a few OMG's being uttered out loud by me as I got towards the end of the book.

It really is absolutely brilliant and I would highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone, no matter what your preferred genre; I defy anyone not to enjoy this story. I would definitely read any future books by this author, but its such an amazing debut, that I just don't see it being superseded by anything better - however if a future book is as good as this, then that will be good enough for me. Fantastic!

Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.

When Stella loses her fiancé in the First World War she comes back home grief-stricken. Her sisters husband asks her to accompany her pregnant sister to his mother’s estate.

Stella takes her maid Annie with her and they discover hidden secrets and lies within the estate.

The book had me hooked from the beginning and I couldn’t put it down. Will definitely look at other books by this author.

This book has two of my favourite things! Historical fiction set in WWI with a creepy edge.

I did really enjoy this story even with the twist being predictable. Great characters that had me hooked and wanting to keep those pages turning.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

A really nice cosy book for the colder nights.
A ghost story come murder mystery, it’s the perfect winter read.

Thank you to netgalley.co.uk for giving me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I am surprised by this book, I thought it would a simple historical fiction dealing with the last year of the First World War, 1917. But there's this spooky twist throughout the novel which intrigued me, I'm telling you I could not put it down!
I think that this book is the perfect book for Hallowe'en, especially if there are readers who love to read these types of books around October time, personally I'm not a fan but reading this book really changed my perspective. I loved the characters and the fictional village, I think the author has done an amazing job giving the whole novel a spooky, gothic vibe that really sucked me in.

A very gothic and atmospheric tale. More creepy than scary but enough to make you a little spooked in the dark! I loved the setting and the era of the tale which really set the scene well. Very well developed characters - some likeable some not so much. All in all a very good read.

Stella Marcham has lost her fiance in WWI. As the war continues she is lost within her own grief. Her brother-in-law asks her to travel to Greyswick Hall to keep her pregnant sister Madelaine company. Providing her with a new focus outside herself, Stella is pleased to spend time with Madelaine. That is until it becomes obvious that all is not right within Greyswick and there are secrets which threaten the peace of the household.

This is basically a ghost story. All the usual requirements are there – imposing house, frosty atmosphere, noises in the night and so on. This book did fit the general mode of this genre quite well & there is nothing about this book to make it stand out from the crowd. Yes, it is quite well written with reasonable characters but the story itself is nothing new. It is a fairly average book of its genre.

Much of this book is quite predictable. There are some “reveals” and twists but to be honest I saw them coming. There is not a great atmosphere and I did feel the book was lacking in suspense. I wasn’t that keen on the ending. I felt the author had made it too extreme in relation to the rest of the book.

On the whole a reasonable read & a fairly average book of this genre. There is nothing special to make it stand out from the crowd.

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.

Every year as the nights turn cooler and longer, I begin looking for a wonderful new ghost story to whet my gothic appetite. This year, Anita Frank’s The Lost Ones fits the bill with perfect stylish flair.

Part ghost story, part murder mystery and part reflections on loss and bereavement, the Lost Ones immerses us in the creepy setting of sprawling English manor House, Haverton Hall, and its inhabitants- against the backdrop of the very real horrors of the World War II timeperiod. The narrator, former army nurse and grieving fiancée, Stella Marcham embarks on a quest to help her pregnant sister uncover the truth about the strange dark history of the house. With the aid of her unusual maidservant Annie, Stella must battle against those who would suppress her voice- in the shape of both the societal norms that women faced at that time and a family that has reason for wanting to keep certain secrets hidden.

The story has some very creepy chills and thrills although this ended up being less prominent than I expected going into it. The murder mystery actually comes to the fore partway through the book- which was also longer than I expected. I did find the pace lagged a little bit at one stage and I confess I was hoping for more ghost action overall. But there are some really excellent, well drawn supporting characters and Stella herself strikes the right balance in terms of being a plucky problem solver but also a vulnerable victim of her own private grief. Frank selves into some of the more subtle aspects of mourning and the grief process in a way that really lends depth and weight to the story

The ending has a nice, if somewhat predictable twist and concludes in a very satisfactory way. On the whole I found this an immensely enjoyable read, highly recommended for an afternoon with the rain lashing against the window, curled up cosy by the fire. 4.5 stars.

Really enjoyable, atmospheric mystery. Spooky but not scarily so.

Still grieving over the death of her fiancé in WW1, Stella Marcham is asked by her brother in law Hector to stay with her heavily pregnant sister at his country estate. She takes Annie, her maid with her.

When both Matilda and Stella witness some strange and unsettling events, it is clear there are something or someone has a score to settle and as Stella and Annie get closer to the truth, they place themselves in further danger.

Hector calls in an investigator, Mr Shears, to see if there could be a rational explanation for the strange goings on, or whether the events are the result of hysterical minds of his pregnant wife and her grieving sister.

Mr Shears is initially a rather stubborn character, but as the story progresses we learn more about him and he becomes more likeable.

The book ends on a note that suggests a follow up may be on the way - I do hope so, Annie, Mr Shears and Stella would make quite an interesting investigative team! I also liked the fact that by the end of the book Stella was coming to terms with her grief.

Thank you to HQ and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review.

3.5
I found that this was a bit predictable but I still really enjoyed it. The main character's grief and determination to protect her sister endeared her to me. Her struggle to keep the worst of her sadness from showing to her family because of the threat of a "country retreat" if she seemed too unbalanced I felt heightened the suspense since that was a very real worry for women in the past. If you were seemed too upset, you were a hysterical woman and needed treatment for your own good. The ghostly happenings weren't particularly scary but the added whodunit kept me hooked. The dark atmosphere mixed with the other character's disbelief about what was going on added tension though the stubborn refusal to see what was in front of their eyes did get on my nerves (especially a certain male character), I did roll my eyes a few times at some of the "explanations" he came up with. I appreciated that there was no forced romance, just the hint of something that could develop in the future. Though some of it was predictable not everything about the mystery was, it still had some twists. However there was an aspect to the ending that didn't sit quite right with me so I couldn't quite give it 4 stars. Overall if you like a spooky atmospheric read (but don't expect to get very scared) that has a interesting and sympathetic female main character give this a go..

I don’t usually read historical fiction but there was something about the synopsis for The Lost Ones that piqued my interest.

Anita Frank takes you back to 1917 and the story of Stella Marcham. Still reeling from the death of her fiancé, Stella welcomes the opportunity to travel to Greyswick, an opulent mansion and where her pregnant sister Madeleine now resides.

However soon after arriving, it’s clear Madeleine is unable to rest at the house and a series of strange incidents begin to happen during the night. Incidents Stella feels compelled to investigate.

This book totally had me hooked and I found it to be a complete page turner. It’s well written and the story moves along at a good pace.

Thank you to NetGalley, HQ and the author for the chance to review.

The Lost Ones was a fun ghost story/mystery that might appeal to whodunnit fans as much as aficionados of spooky tales.

I have to say I didn't find it particularly scary, but I was dragged along by the many mysteries of what dark acts had taken place at Greyswick, the haunted house at the centre of the story.

Regular readers of mysteries may guess where things are going pretty early on I suspect. And for those who haven't, there's a pretty clumsy Poirot-esque section near the end, where characters inexplicably start blurting out all of the answers to Greyswick's mysteries!

Good fun, but lacked a little subtlety for me.

What a great debut novel for this author, this isn't something I would normally go for but I enjoyed it. It was a book that I could keep coming back to when life got in the way. I didn't feel like I had to keep reading to find out what happened next, so it has taken me a while to get through.

The writing style was very good, although sometimes a little too descriptive. I could visualise where it was and the time it was set in (1917) and all the ghostly happenings. The characters were great, well most of them, I love Stella and her sister Annie, but you have to have at least one character you don't like and I didn't like the doctor and the way he was with Stella.

I think if this was my favoured genre, I would have probably got into it a little more, I didn't get the goosebumps or the angst that I would expect or wanted from a story like this. That being said it was a good read and for a debut, I have to say well done to Anita Frank.

It’s got all the ingredients of a Gothic ghost story: the gloomy mansion, two loving sisters, weird servants, a strict matriarch, haunting memories, a forbidden part of the house, spooky occurrences. So you may be forgiven to state “yawn, another “things-that-go-bump-in-the-night” story. But....biiig but...the author has a real knack for timing to create a graspable atmosphere: a falling ember in the grate or the rhythmic tick of an ormolu clock. Superbly fleshed-out characters in doom-laden surroundings with the reader left dangling and guessing for just the right amount of time and a truly spectacular firework of revelations at the end make this story a cracking read!
A stunning debut, waiting with bated breath for more from Anita Frank.

Loved this book it was creepy which is what you want in a ghost story but it also kept you guessing after each chapter.

I was gripped by this haunting tale perfect for fans of The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell. It's a haunting, spooky story set in a rambling old mansion in the aftermath of world war one.

Stella a grieving young woman, having returned from nursing wounded soldiers and the loss of her fiance takes her maid Annie to join her married sister Madelaine in her new marital home where the pregnant young woman is struggling to fit in, balancing a difficult mother in law, with eerie goings-on in the house, no wonder her nerves are jagged.

But Stella has to take on more than she expected and its clear Annie is hiding something as strange inexplicable occurrences lead to the conclusion the house must be haunted.

With a creepy gothic feel, it's a haunting, emotional story with lots of unsettling events, threaded with horrific memories, grief and an underlying theme of women struggling for emancipation in an era when a husbands word was law and women were expected to be obedient and biddable.
Can't fault it - a great debut.