Review of 'The Lost Child' by author Kathleen McGurl

Review of 'The Lost Child' by author Kathleen McGurl

Publish date: January 30th, 2024

Publisher : HQ

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What the book is about: (Author’s Blurb)

1912. As the steamship Carpathia takes the survivors of the Titanic to New York, Lucy desperately searches the decks for her baby, thrust into the arms of another woman as a lifeboat left, and now nowhere to be found. Madeleine is helping her journalist husband to interview the survivors, and when she meets Lucy, she promises she will do anything she can to help her find her lost child.

2022. When archivist Jackie finds a notebook containing the stories of women saved by the Carpathiaamongst an auction lot, she learns the story of the missing baby. Desperate to start a family of her own, she feels compelled to dig further. And her search will lead her to a century-old mystery…

Inspired by true events, bestselling author Kathleen McGurl weaves history and fiction together in this captivating, deeply moving story.

Pre-Review

I've been sitting here with my computer trying to express how much I was affected by ‘The Lost Child’. There really are no words to describe the emotions I felt from page one. When I first received a copy of this novel from Kathleen McGurl, I was so excited and leaped into the Prologue with an eager mind. I was immediately engulfed in tears from what I read. I knew then this was going to be a story I would never forget (on Carpathia-- the ship that rescued Titanic survivors). And was keen to continue but had to set the book down to attend another activity. 

Later when I was free, I picked up ‘The Lost Child ‘to start once more. This time, I went back to the front pages, then saw the dedication. To say I was stunned and honoured at the same time is an understatement! I certainly never expected that. The Author’s Notes states how I told Kathleen about Jay Ludowyke's non-fiction book 'Carpathia'. When reading it, I kept thinking of Kathleen and that there was an inspiring story to be told from all this amazing research and that she was the writer to create it. It is no secret that I'm a huge fan of her dual timelines. She has a special gift in relating historical events and persons in fiction and tying them in to worthy topics and themes that are relevant to future generations. When I cross back and forth between past and present timelines in her stories, I never feel jolted by the switch over. There’s no harsh break or interruption but always a seamless flow between the two.

Family ancestral connections are at the heart of her novels. These are the things that matter to all of us and help us connect to our families’ pasts. Reading her stories is truly like walking a mile in another person’s shoes as we feel their struggles, empathise with their emotions and harbour and glean from their secrets. They are beautifully spun tales that flow as naturally as the waves rolling in to the shore. And this one, ‘The Lost Child’ (focusing on Carpathia – the ship that picked up Titanic’s survivors) is a worthy companion to one of her previous novels ‘The Lost Sister’ about the Titanic. I loved that novel but this one goes even deeper and has even more layers in plot, thought and action. The details are meticulously and reverently utilised.

We will never grow tired of Titanic stories and all those that encircle the unsinkable ship (like Carpathia) for it carried the hopes and dreams of so many passengers from all walks of life. Their stories will never be lost beneath the waves as long as salvagers, researchers and writers keep digging through the buried debris and keep unearthing more and more personal ties to the living. This was a horrible tragedy that begs to be remembered. So, the lost voices will keep rising up from the deep through the waves and centuries. And continue to speak to hearts that are open to listen.

My full review will follow soon (Christmas is at hand so a busy time!). But I encourage all who are moved (like myself) by Titanic's loss and the stories that surround her and the rescue ship, to put this on your TB list: Out 30th of Jan. 2024!!

5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Kathleen and publisher HQ for my review copy.

 

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REVIEW

What a moving and epic novel by Kathleen McGurl! The Lost Child exudes creative skill and exhibits amazing depth and stunning insight. From the start of the sensitive prologue, tears began forming in my eyes and the flow never shut off until after the last chapter. I was held captive by this beautifully written story and its characters. I truly had difficulty holding my emotions together in both timelines (1912 and 2022) as I could relate so well to the topics covered and the anguish experienced by the victims. Both threads tugged equally at my heart. I was reminded of the scars and long term effects of the loss of children. Whether it be the souls from the Titanic or anyone past or present who has suffered death of a child inside or outside the womb. Loss is loss. The pain is real. Both Madeleine and Jackie have experienced it in one form or another. While they each try to process that disappointment in their own era, new events occur that give them both another chance to channel that grief in a more positive direction. But although their husbands/partners mean well in trying to help them, they don’t quite understand the magnitude of their suffering.

As shown in the historic timeline, during the sinking of Titanic, a number of children died. In fact, of the one hundred and nine travelling, only fifty-three survived. One in First Class and fifty-two in steerage. A tragic day. Then you have the parents who have been rescued by Carpathia and separated from their child or children. Unable to find their little one(s) among the survivors (as shown in the story), severe panic sets in. What a horrible feeling that would be! And then there are other means of loss—including miscarriage (explored compassionately in The Lost Child). So as noted, the common theme in both 1912 and 2022 is loss of children in different ways. But it all spells tragedy whether it is the epic disaster of the Titanic hitting an iceberg and sinking or a much wanted child that never gets to be born. Either way, the waiting parent drowns in waves of fear, anguish and grief. It feels to each of them (seen in past and present timelines) as if their child has been taken by the cold Atlantic waves.

I’ve read a number of interesting Titanic inspired stories but Kathleen’s are truly extra special. The descriptions are vivid as she takes you on an unforgettable journey through time. Fresh, unique perspectives and important relatable topics are always sewn into the core. The Lost Sister was based on the tragic ‘unsinkable’ Titanic but The Lost Child focuses on Carpathia—the hero rescue ship. And with this historical story thread, the unknown survivor child—that ship stewardess Violet Jessop brings on board when she is rescued—comes into focus. We go on quite a journey trying to match child and parent. Then in the 2022 timeline, Jackie, working as a research assistant to a wealthy businessman who has an obsession with buying boxes of memorabilia from various sources, stumbles across a unique find. It becomes somewhat of a treasure hunt but while exploring the items from Carpathia, Jackie discovers a note book owned by a woman named Madeleine that contains testimonies of the survivors. One of which is a woman named Lucy who has a sad but intriguing story that unfolds.

While Jackie studies and researches this discovery and what it means, we are transported to 1912 to learn of the events in motion. We are put in the shoes of these characters who witnessed or were part of the rescue and this provides us with a strong emotional connection. One couple on the hero ship, is Madeleine and Ralph. She has experienced loss and tries to help with the survivors who board Carpathia. He is a journalist and keen to obtain the survivors’ stories and asks his wife to help. This takes them and us on a very personal journey through the heart of each person who was there. There’s nothing like first-hand accounts but this journalist’s hands are tied. The captain does not want to see the survivors utilised for news purposes. But is that really why Ralph wants their stories told? Is there a promotion in it for him? Or is he more concerned about getting the truth out to their families who have a right to know?

The novel in the historic timeline covers some fascinating information on the Marconi radio equipment that brought about the Titanic rescue. (Guglielmo Marconi invented radio communication in the 1890.) Without this fairly new apparatus, there probably would never have been any survivors as Carpathia could not have received the message and speeded forward to help rescue those left in the life boats.

The Lost Child expresses many areas that circled around the Titanic rescue. Carpathia is a hero. It also allowed the author to explore other emotionally charged topics that some women have experienced. This is a strong and sympathetic story that wrapped around my heart and squeezed out many tears. There are numerous tender and insightful moments. As always, there is a fascinating mystery to solve that begins in the historical timeline and is explored and solved in the modern one. A breathtaking read, that is powerful, passionate and perfect. Loved every page—including the cover that is just as stunning, atmospheric and haunting as the novel. 5 epic stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Kathleen McGurl and HQ for my review copy.