Book Review: A Child Lost by Michelle Cox

A Child Lost: Henrietta and Inspector Howard Novel by Michelle Cox

Publisher:  She Writes Press (April 28, 2020)
Category: Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Romantic Suspense
Tour dates: Feb-March, 2020
ISBN: 978-1631528361
Available in Print and ebook, 408 pages

Description

A spiritualist, an insane asylum, a lost little girl . . .

When Clive, anxious to distract a depressed Henrietta, begs Sergeant Frank Davis for a case, he is assigned to investigating a seemingly boring affair: a spiritualist woman operating in an abandoned schoolhouse on the edge of town who is suspected of robbing people of their valuables. What begins as an open and shut case becomes more complicated, however, when Henrietta—much to Clive’s dismay—begins to believe the spiritualist’s strange ramblings.

Meanwhile, Elsie implores Clive and Henrietta to help her and the object of her budding love, Gunther, locate the whereabouts of one Liesel Klinkhammer, the German woman Gunther has traveled to America to find and the mother of the little girl, Anna, whom he has brought along with him. The search leads them to Dunning Asylum, where they discover some terrible truths about Liesel. When the child, Anna, is herself mistakenly admitted to the asylum after an epileptic fit, Clive and Henrietta return to Dunning to retrieve her. This time, however, Henrietta begins to suspect that something darker may be happening. When Clive doesn’t believe her, she decides to take matters into her own hands . . . with horrifying results.

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Guest Review by Sal

Wow! That’s all I have to say about this stunning novel from Michelle Cox. Take a dash of history, add some intrigue and mystery and splash in some romance and you get ‘A Child Lost,’ the most recent addition to Cox’s ‘Henrietta and Inspector Howard’ series.

What begins as a normal mystery for Clive and his wife Henrietta, develops into something much more sinister, and before the end of the novel, both characters begin to wonder if they will be able to solve this mystery with their safety intact.

But lets back things up to the beginning. This series is set in 1930’s Chicago, a time that we probably all associate with brutal mobsters, a rapidly industrializing city, and a tough life for many normal people.

Clive Howard is a private detective, a past a soldier, who is married to Henrietta, a woman who is his match in cleverness and curiosity. In the previous books in the series, the two have often solved crimes together in fun and interesting ways.  Although I haven’t read the other books in the series, I was able to enjoy this one as the author did an excellent job summarizing everything that you need to know as you go along.

This time, Henrietta and Clive are tasked with solving a mystery about a spiritualist who appears to be stealing from people. However, since Henrietta is in a delicate emotional state because of the recent loss of their unborn child, she quickly gets pulled in by the spiritualist’s routine and Clive begins to regret involving her in this case. Meanwhile, another case that a friend asks them to look into involves a mental institution, dark family secrets and an injustice that has permeated for years.

I recommend this to anyone that loves historical romance with a mystery. I had a great reading experience with this one and I think you will too! Now I have to back track and read all the books in the series! I highly recommend it and give it all 5 stars!

Praise for A Child Lost

“Michelle Cox’s delightful storytelling has a bewitching charm that will keep readers glued to their seats with a perfect blend of absorbing historical facts, intriguing mystery, and thrilling romance.” – Readers Favorite

A Child Lost is undoubtedly a novel that should not be missed—the story is genius, flawlessly written, and wildly entertaining!  A thrilling five stars!” — The Red Headed Book Lover

“Once again, Cox delivers the passion and intrigue of Henrietta and Clive with a story that leaps right off the page. A Child Lost is a true thrill… — Paperback Paris

“…vivid descriptive prose and historical accuracy – Publishers Weekly

““There is not a dull moment in this book. Cox’s characters are so well portrayed in their physical traits, their manner of speech, their actions, their personalities as well as through their dilemmas and moments of joy. Cox sure knows how to create characters that are memorable and distinct.” – Library of Clean Reads

About the Author

Michelle Cox is the author of the multiple award-winning Henrietta and Inspector Howard series as well as Novel Notes of Local Lore, a weekly blog dedicated to Chicago’s forgotten residents. She suspects she may have once lived in the 1930s and, having yet to discover a handy time machine lying around, has resorted to writing about the era as a way of getting herself back there. (Her books have been praised by Kirkus, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and many others, so she might be on to something.)

Unbeknownst to most, Cox hoards board games she doesn’t have time to play and is, not surprisingly, addicted to period dramas and big band music. Also, marmalade.

Website: http://michellecoxauthor.com/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/michellecoxauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/michellecox33
Instagram: https://instagram.com/michellecoxwrites/
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/michelle-cox-ab8700193/
Bookbub: https://bookbub.com/authors/michelle-cox
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/michelle-cox-610476432

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