The Lost Hours

#TheLostHours #NetGalley 
A phenomenal psychological thriller. 
Annie and David Crayce have it all. A loving marriage, three beautiful children and a thriving family business. Life couldn’t be better. Until the unthinkable happens…   
A perfect crime? A piece of damning DNA evidence has arisen, placing David as the prime suspect of a murder committed twenty-years ago. Annie is sure her David is innocent. But if he isn’t guilty, then either his father or brother must be. 
As the police investigate the cold case, so does Annie.
I loved it very much. I would recommend this to everyone. 
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK Harper Fiction for giving me an advanced copy.

My thanks to NetGalley and publisher HarperCollins UK, Harper Fiction, for the ARC.

WOW!  I feel as if I've just binge-read/watched a fabulous TV series.  I didn't want to put it down at all, but this certainly is a very long read - not, I hasten to add, that it was unnecessarily padded-out - it wasn't, the writing is excellent and, although the main characters, especially Annie do a lot of thinking, this purposefully feeds into the plot.

It's December 2019 and the reader is taken into the heart of the Crayce family on Hanley Court Estate, high on Exmoor.  Annie and David, together with their three children, have a thriving shooting school and entertainment facility.  David's widowed father Dickie lives in the gatehouse cottage and David's brother Henry and wife Julia live further over the moor. with Henry and Dickie working with the shooting school and organised moorland shoots across the country and Julia running stables and a donkey sanctuary and helping Annie with the business administration.  Annie's parents live not far away, as do Julia's mother and aunt (I'm deliberately describing this family because there are a lot of characters to get to grips with as central to this complex plot).
This is a very close and loving family on the surface but gradually insecurities within relationships begin to surface, so perhaps all is not what it seems.
Their world is blown apart by a familial DNA match being made by the police between the unsolved murder of Karen Lomax, a promiscuous 17yr-old whose body was found 20 years previously, and one of the Crayce men.  David is subsequently dramatically arrested but, until individual DNA swab results are returned in a period of 2 weeks - well, was it Dickie, Henry or David?
Amidst the inevitable questioning and recriminations within the family Annie is determined to find proof that David couldn't be responsible, whilst DS Natalie Rundle is equally determined to prove that he was.  Can they remember what they were all doing 20 years previously when Karen disappeared?  David has problems with that stemming from his days in the Army and realises there would be no way to prove his innocence.  How can Annie help him?  Why can he not explain himself?

I loved the way the characters are brought to life; the frenetic business and family life - even the dog, Cassie.  DS Natalie Rundle has her own insecurities to confront, as well as an attraction to her boss DCI Gould.  She's a no-nonsense go-getter, but she's got a heart.
Now, I know some may say that, following the conclusion of this explosive story with all it's twists and sensational revelations, the final chapters may not be necessary - oh, but they are, because this is what Susan Lewis does so well  - there are no loose ends, everything is physically and emotionally tidied away.

This book is an emotionally-exhausting roller-coaster ride of a thriller.
A-maze-ing!

I love Susan Lewis and her books and wait eagerly for the next one to be published.

This one starts with a cold case from 20 years ago being reopened after DNA is taken from the teenaged daughter of a local businessman after a “prank” goes wrong. When her DNA enters the police system it is found to have a familial match with a crime from a generation ago, when a 17 year old was found murdered. This link puts the businessman, his brother and father all firmly in the spotlight as the murderer...leaving an extended family distraught and at loggerheads whilst they try to get their heads around this news.

I couldn’t put this book down and even when 3/4 of the way through I couldn’t see how it would be resolved - but Susan does it again and wraps up the book in style. Would recommend.

The Crace family are a close-knit tribe.  David, Henry and Julia run a hunting and shooting business on their Exmoor estate, while their parents live nearby. One day, a policewoman knocks on the door and David is led away under armed guard, accused of the historic murder of a local barmaid, Karen. Then a childhood friend, Chrissie, arrives on the scene, claiming to have been a witness.. Strong characters, a twisty plot and the lovely descriptions of Exmoor scenery make this a great read.

Great writer great book, 

A whodunit that keeps you guessing only it doesn't because you think well it obvious but is it thats mainly but the detectives a bit as well but mainly Annie's. What kept me hooked was if they did it how and why. David his Brother or Dads DNA is identified as being on the clothes of Karen a 17 year old girl or lady (depends how you look at it), who was murdered and her body was dumped 20 years before our story starts. The story is told from Annie's view she is Davids hard working wife with a comfortable life or it was. They have three children and a close family both the 5 of them and the wider family with all the living parents loving each other as well as the rest if them you get the picture. There is also a big gun lawyer that's on the family's side and very good at his job who happens to be a family friend. Can I say it doesn't come across as sickly sweet probably because of the ordeal facing them and the skills of  the author Susan Lewis whose books are always with reading. 

Why did I like this book? Why i did i give it 5 stars 🌟 because it genuinely had my attention i didn't want to put it down and I felt for the main characters, i was able to escape into their world and forget about mine. I don't have a bad life but it's good to wander without hurting any others and good books or rather writers let you do that. This is one of those so I really recommend it and hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

This is a captivating and intriguing read, you won't want to put it down. I love how the story wove itself around each chapter, at the end of the chapter it leaves you hanging, so I felt as though I had to read on. The storyline is a good one where you never really know what is going to happen and is full of mystery. David is suspected as the prime suspect of a murder that happened several years back, DNA evidence shows it, his wife can't believe her husband did it? but is David guilty or is someone else from his family guilty? webs of lies and betrayals surface to make one hell of a ride to find out who the murderer is. Will it be David? I think this is my most favourite of Susan's books yet. Though all of her books are brilliant.

Another hit for Susan Lewis!
David and Annie Crayce seem to have it all. Three children, a beautiful home, a successful shooting business and an enviable lifestyle. Following a police incident involving daughter Sienna, DNA is taken which links David to the murder of 17 year old Karen Lomax 20 years earlier. As police investigate the cold case Annie doesn’t doubt her husband’s innocence but her belief in him doesn’t stop the occasional fleeting thought of ‘could he have done it’. Familial DNA also means either David, his brother or his father are guilty which inevitably causes tension and friction within the wider family. Annie finds her diary from that year to try to find answers but a few hours are unaccounted for. 
After a few chapters I thought I’d figured out ‘whodunnit’. I should have known better with a Susan Lewis  read. Many twists and turns meant I was wrong. The mystery isn’t solved till the last chapter meaning I just couldn’t put it down! 
Many thanks to Rachel Quin, HarperCollins and netgalley for the opportunity to read this fabulous book. I so enjoyed it

Well she's done it again! Another absolutely fantastic read which has pulled me into the pages and completely consumed me until I had read every last page.

I adore Susan's books, I know they will never disappoint and contain a gritty drama for me to figure out. I have loved this one, it has been unlike anything I've read previously. I thought I had it figured out but have been completely wrong.

Susan has built up each character in this book. They are unique, full of individual personality and relatable. I adore that we get to know them do well in this one.

This is so well written I feel as though I have been watching the events play out in front of me. I have loved everything about this book and cannot say anything negative. This might be my new favourite of Susan's books.

This has been completely different to anything I've read previously and I love how unique this book has been. This is definitely a book that will capture your attention and keep you wanting more.

This is a definite five star read, I have loved absolutely everything about this book. I'm so excited that I only need to wait until Autumn for Susan's next book. This is a must read and I'm sure will be a popular seller.

Wow! What can I say! I was invited to read this book but became hospitalised with covid for 10 days and couldn’t read or concentrate! As soon as I was home I started the lost hours as I’ve always been such a huge fan of Susan’s books and this one surpassed them all! A beautiful moorland setting,an extended generational family living and working in an establishment together that outwardly looks idyllic. Suddenly plunged into the worst nightmare imaginable from an incident that occurred over 20 years ago! Familiar DNA and all the repercussions that are associated with it turned the families lives into an unimaginable nightmare, the police procedures, reopening old cases and being reacquainted with familiar faces such as andee Lawrence makes for a fantastic, enthralling read that will grip you from start to finish! Would highly recommend to all!
Thank you net galley for this early read.

A warm and loving family, what could possibly go wrong?
Susan Lewis is a master at taking you through a whole range of emotions and twists and turns. Who could of guessed at the ending, I certainly didn’t!
My only constructive criticism is that too many characters were introduced in the beginning, which I found confusing. 
I enjoyed reading about this part of the country and catching up with Andee again. 
I only live a couple of miles away from the Lady’s Wood Shooting School which was the inspiration for Hanley Combe, it was exciting to read that in the acknowledgments. 
All in all, I highly recommend reading this book.

Susan Lewis has done it again. Couldn't put it down. Gripping from start to finish. 
David, Annie and their 3 kids, davids brother and wife and their dad are about to have their world collapse. A 20 Yr old murder is now being investigated again after a recent finding of a DNA match. Familial DNA. Can only belong to David, his brother Henry or their dad. David seems to be prime suspect. All 3 know that for them to be eliminated it means one they love is guilty.
Really enjoyed this read and wow!! The twist!!!! Excellent.
Thanks to netgalley and publishes for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another of Susan's books that had me gripped from the start. Life is good for the Crayce family until daughter Sienna is involved in a teenage prank. From there everything unravels until I had no idea  how it could all be explained.. This is a great family drama involving police procedures following familial DNA  evidence. I didn't want it to end , but it was a good ending.
Well done Susan for another great story. Highly recommended

Having read previous novels by Susan Lewis, I knew that I was in for a good read and wasn’t disappointed.
The plot involves DNA evidence being discovered which is connected to a brutal murder committed 20 years ago.   The police decide to investigate successful businessman, David Crayce and his family.
David and his wife Annie are a happy charismatic couple with three children, living close to their relatives in a beautiful moorlands setting.  The characters involved in the plot are superbly and empathetically described by Susan Lewis you feel you know and like them, though several are more complex.   The first chapters are spent introducing the characters before the police visit the family and begin questioning David, his brother and father.
I like the way the detective in charge of the investigation DS Natalie Rundle , has a past, which is hinted at and how her own past bitter experience could influence her intuition.  Dialogue is crisp and clear, and the book is well plotted, with twists and turns along the way.  Several chapters are told by other characters, which gives a more in-depth rounded picture.
The story evolves at a brisk, steady pace, keeping you interested in the developing plot, with an unexpected ending.  Susan Lewis is becoming one of my favourite authors, and can’t wait for her next book.

Thank you Netgalley for the advance copy of this outstanding thriller. The whole Crayce family are successful and well liked. When teenager Sienna gets caught up in a shop lifting incident her DNA shows a family connection to a 20 year old murder of a teenage girl. The Police open up a cold case with Dad and both sons as prime suspects. When the DNA results come back they make a arrest but have they got the right person? Slowly the case unfolds with twists and turns. Then the shocking truth is revealed. A gripping page turner I highly recommend.

Fabulous which I knew it would be all her books are it’s about a murder 20 years ago which becomes a living nightmare for the Crayce Family who live a privileged life and have everything so perfect when a teddy bear comes to light with DNA on it I hadn’t a clue who had done it  there was so many twists so great surprise when all was revealed.  I definitely recommend this gripping book and thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy.

It's been a while since I read a Susan Lewis book and I'd forgotten how much I love the tangled web she weaves.

The premise of this is that things that happen in the past never really go away and often come back to haunt us in the most unexpected ways.

It starts with a stolen teddy bear and the arrest of a sixteen year old, well it starts before that, the murder of a teenage girl over 20 years ago - but what connects the girl who stole the teddy to the murderer? DNA, that's what.

We are then given a trio of suspect as the police try to solve this cold case.

Really enjoyed this twisty tale, weird having the occasional reference to a virus on the horizon (the book is set in early 2020) and how oblivious the characters are -certainly felt true to life!

My only niggle in this book is the phrase 'cocktail me up', it just jarred slightly.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book, this is my honest opinion