Lost Among the Living

I loved this! The winning formula that the author uses in all of her stories (mystery/supernatural/dash of romance) is at its best here. The gothic atmosphere is eerie and tangible, and a great reminder of the one from Silence of the Dead (there is even a fun reminder of this title in LATL plot).The main character blew me away she was so real. Jo was a woman of contrasts, a kind heart hidden under tough and cynical layers, a fragile rose protecting herself with thorns, a woman always so close to giving up on herself yet she never did. I felt for her, bled for her, cheered for her.The romance takes second place to the mystery here, but I won't say more in case I throw a spoiler in the works.I liked each and every character, they all had flaws and qualities. Dottie inspired many feelings in me, as she too was a multi-faceted character with a contradicting personality. I loved to hate her at first, but she revealed some wonderful unexpected layers. I have a soft spot for Martin, Dottie's sick son, and I clapped in happiness with how the author wrapped his story. He deserved it. Shoot, that was a spoiler, wasn't it?The mystery threw me: I never guessed any of it, which is unusual for me, though in retrospect, the guilty party was the only logical choice. Oh, I don't care, I LOVED, LOVED it, and stayed until 1.30am to finish it. It's now part of my favourite titles from this author. Can't wait for the next one!

Kept my interest throughout, easy reading, great story with good twist at the end. Good balance between narrative and descriptive text.

An interesting and strange read. Started off as an evocative story of loss after WW1, changed into a ghost story complete with spectral hound and developed into a whodunnit with a romantic twist. Beautifully written but the use of Americanisms to describe life in 1920’s England kept pulling me out of the narrative.

Atmospheric and creepy but without the gore.Excellent central character look forward to more.

England, 1921. Jo Manders husband Alex, was shot down over Germany three years before and disappeared. In need of money to support her and her sick mother did she agree to be a paid companion to Alex wealthy albeit condescending aunt Dottie Forsyth. Now they are returning home to England, to the Forsyth family's estate in the Sussex countryside. Jo has never visited the place before and she realizes there that she doesn't know much about her husband's origin...This is the kind of book that I love to read. A historical mystery with a paranormal touch. I quickly connected with the story and with the characters and I enjoyed this historical mystery very much. The one thing that bothered me a bit was that I think the blurb I read one Goodreads gave away too much. So, I would advise any reader to be careful with reading about the book there. Especially if you want to be kept in the dark about certain things in the story. Sometimes I think the less one knows about the story the better it is. And, that is why I will not reveal too much of what is going in the book. However, what I will address some of the aspects of the book that I enjoyed very much.The book is well written, and this is one of few books with an instalove couple that I enjoy reading. I think it's because Simone St. James manage to portray both Jo and Alex so good that they come alive. You feel for Jo as she tries to live without Alex and the flashbacks to when they met and married each other are lovely. And, the mystery of the book. The things Jo sees in the house isn't necessary terrifying, but it's awfully intriguing and thrilling to read about.I will keep and eye out for more books by Simone St. James!4.5 starsI want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!

I don't normally read books with ghosts in them and picked this up because we are all currently remembering the hideousness of the First World War and the impact on most people's lives. So as this was set in its immediate aftermath I was interested in immersing myself in that period.The book is very well written and from the perspective of Dottie, who is neither a widow nor a free woman, in a scary post war world. At first, the other characters don't make much of her as she is a young woman from a poor and difficult background. She is having to pay the nursing home fees fro a vile mother who has gone mad. And she has no income as her husband has been declared missing rather than dead so no widows pension for her. There must have been many others in this grim position. She is no fool as the story unfolds and we are on her side and are happy when she falls deeply in love with Alex, even though he seems rather above her station in life. This sounds snobby, but it is how it is written....yet it all becomes clear as the story progresses her and we realise that her tough childhood has given Jo a strength to survive what happens to her.Without wanting to spoil the plot, the central mystery of the book concerns the inexplicable but apparent suicide of a disturbed young girl - whose ghost she and she alone begins to encounter. As Jo herself is treading water in her own life, the details of the mad young girl gradually come to light, and literally to haunt her. Frances’s possible murder and the disappearance of her husband in France are the main themes of the book, but the background characters like Dottie, the controlling aunt and Martin, the shell-shocked wounded soldier, along with the mad aunt, are all interesting.I don't think you have to believe in ghosts to find this book worth reading....I didn't think I did, but maybe I do have an open mind...Or, as she says towards the end, did she imagine it all herself. Is she also a little bit disturbed like her mother, and the sad dead child?