The Lost Girls by Lindsey Hutchinson
Published: 1st September 2017
Publisher: Aria
Pages: 442
Available in Paperback and on Kindle
Rating: 5/5
Blurb
Orpha Buchanan and Peg Meriweather had a very different start in life. Orpha surrounded by wealth and riches, Peg dumped on a doorstep as a baby with nothing to her name but a scruffy blanket and tatty clothes. But one thing they had in common from their very first day, was a mother who despised them and wished them gone. Hortense Buchanan wasn't made to be a mother. Bullied herself when she was a child, she continues the tradition with her own children, loving money and finery more than her own flesh and blood. When her daughter Orpha runs away from home, Hortense celebrates, never once worrying for her safety.
Circumstances bring Orpha and Peg together, and before long they're as close as family, making their way in the hustle and bustle of a booming Birmingham and the smoke-filled Black Country. But before long, Hortense realises that her daughter stands in the way of the one thing she really cares about, and the bitter legacy of the Buchanans looks set to destroy them all...
Review
The Lost Girls by Lindsey Hutchinson is just the type of
family saga that I love to read, it was one where after just a few pages I was
completely immersed in the story of the Buchanan’s.
Hortense Buchanan was not a woman cut out to be a mother,
bullied by her own mother she has no love for her first born daughter. She
takes the poor baby and leaves her on a doorstep in a neighbouring town, then
claimed that gypsies took the little girl. When she is blessed with a second
child Hortense is no different and makes poor Orpha’s life a misery. Until one
day when Hortense so jealous of her own daughter throws her out and says she’ll
kill her if she returns.
For many girls of fourteen this would have been a disaster
and they probably would of ended up in the workhouse or worse but for Orpha
it’s a relief to be away from her dreadful mother. Luck shines on the young
girl and she finds herself taken in by some kind people who give her a roof
over her head, money in her pocket and a taste for the delights of chocolate
making.
Eventually Orpha decides that she must try to be reunited
with her father who she misses very much, but this time fate decides to throw
Peg Merriweather in her path. Peg is a little older than Orpha but the
resemblance between them is unmistakable, both sharing sparkling emerald eyes.
Having found her long lost sister, Orpha finds a home at last but it’s not long
before thoughts turn to her father once more. Again Orpha sets off to reunite
her family but this time she unravels more drama and secrets surrounding the
Buchanan family.
I loved this book, I’ve read quite a few family saga books
this year and this one is my favourite so far. I just loved the way that just
when you think everything has all settled down for the characters another twist
occurs and there’s more drama. I loved all the drama, even the bits which are a
little far-fetched were thoroughly enjoyable. Despite being a long book I never
felt the story dragged as so much was going on with the many characters.
This book has to have one of the worst mothers ever written
about, Hortense Buchanan is a disgrace! Never have I known someone stoop so low
just to get some money, she was a truly horrible character with little or no
remorse for her actions. Saying that I thought she was very well written and a
great character to have in the book. I like Orpha and Peg but Hortense was the
one I enjoyed reading about the most.
The Lost Sisters is a book about revenge, families, murder,
redemption, secrets and lies and even a little romance. It has a darker tone
than many family saga books and there is a lot of violence so it may not appeal
to all readers. For me it was a winner and not just because of the chocolate.
Thank you so much to Aria and Netgalley for the review copy
and for inviting me to be part of the blog tour. I’m looking forward to reading
more books from Lindsey in the future.
About the Author
Lindsey lives in Shropshire with her husband. She has a son
and a daughter and three beautiful grandchildren. She is the daughter of
million-copy bestselling author Meg Hutchinson.
Follow Lindsey
Twitter: @LHutchAuthor
Facebook: Lindsey Hutchinson
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