My Review of The Lost Ones by Anita Frank

The Lost Ones by Anita Frank is the perfect book for Halloween but would be a joy to read at any time. The story takes place in England in 1917 and Stella Marcham is grieving the loss of her love, Gerald. Frank immerses the reader into the existence of the wealthy in 1917 and has obviously meticulously researched the etiquette of the day. Stella is perceived by others to be grieving too much as Gerald was not her fiance. Her wearing of black is frowned upon as if it's somehow indecent for her to grieve publicly for so long. You can't help but step into Stella's shoes and feel her plight for how can there be a time limit on grieving and how can it possibly be decided by others as to the depth of feeling one person has for another? Stella's grief is perceived by some as madness and her precarious position as a female is expertly exploited by Frank to have the reader concerned for Stella's welfare on several levels. Despite being a nurse in France, Stella is not regarded as capable of making her own decisions and it was painful to read of sense of powerlessness. 

Madeleine, Stella's pregnant sister, is another seemingly powerless female. Stella is sent to stay with Madeleine at Greyswick, her husband Hector's family home. Annie Burrows, a maid, goes with Stella and is yet another female but this time at the whim of her so called social betters. I particularly enjoyed Frank's portrayal of Annie, there's a real sense of her as being an outsider even amongst her own 'kind'. These three women form a triangle of support for each other at Greyswick as they find themselves disparaged and disbelieved as to the strange events that take place. Franks's creation of atmosphere is superb with spluttering candles, dark corridors and an eerie attic. Throw in a sceptic, Tristan Sheers a wounded soldier, determined to prove a natural explanation and the scene is set for a fantastic mystery that will haunt the reader long after the final pages.

The Lost Ones by Anita Frank is a book that I have no hesitation in recommending. Frank leaves us wondering just who are the 'lost ones'? I have my own ideas but I'll leave you to form your own opinions.

Thanks to Joe Thomas and HQ Stories for my gifted copy.