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Amazon.co.uk Review
Lucy Wadham's debut novel, Lost, begins simply, horribly enough. A young wealthy widow, Alice Ayron arrives on a Mediterranean island with her two small children. Within hours her oldest son, Sam, has gone missing, presumably kidnapped. The prose is acute and observational, full of light and precision, but the atmosphere is closed in, intense with emotional and physical claustrophobia. There is the island, lush with eucalyptus and heat, and there are the islanders, poor and insular, with a penchant for violence that was "no longer the simple language of grievance and revenge". There are the images of a small child being held captive: "Sam was there huddled, with fear ... like a curled fossil." And there is the mother's panic: "Each time she called his name, the knowledge of his absence seemed to deepen within her." The tension builds steadily as the morose and unpopular detective Antione Stuart begins his investigation. Like many of the characters he has lost his way, beset by the past, unequal to the future: "He would encounter memories like little pebbles in his shoes and he would have to stop and wearily bend down and retrieve the pebble and throw it away." Stuart believes Coco Santini, an island crime lord, to be responsible for the kidnapping and much of the other corruption that is part of the island's sub-culture. Lucy Wadham controls everything beautifully, giving the characters emotional resonance as the intricacies of the plot are worked through. It is a striking literary thriller, where the ache of love and loss and belonging are as important as the power play. --Eithne Farry
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"'This excellent debut novel hints at the skill of past masters of the thriller genre such as Chandler and Leonard, both in its text and its texture.' The Times"
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The text of this book is bleached by the sun and encrusted with sand and sea water. And like any story of worth it is the contrasts that highlight the form of the narrative. We only know what we have when we have lost it, and the pure power of a parent's love for a child is most ably demonstrated when that child is gone. This book has been likened to Raymond Chandler and Elmore Leonard in it's style, but I don't think it really is ; it has a far more European feel to it and whilst it is dark and violent it does not have the nihilism of a dying empire to inspire it. I was thrilled by the tone the plot and the execution and highly recommend this - a good buy ; and good bye.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
2 reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
intensity and grit...
22 Dec 2003
Format:Paperback
Overall, LOST is a very compelling, dark thriller with real, intense characters and a few unique plot twists. The dialogue is for adults, very hard edge, and utterly lacking in quick quips. Reminiscent of COPLAND, LOST gets involved in the gritty realities of small town (or in this case small island) politics, filled with long-standing jealousies that the author does a wonderful job of illuminating. The structure is tight, though menace could be added to two of the villains in order to heighten tension.
The premise-- that a beautiful widow's child is kidnapped by thugs on a Mediterranean isle, and only a scarred police chief, who is already embroiled in a life long battle with the island mafia, can help her-is so well- conceived and executed that even the seeming cliches seem fresh and new. There are two protagonists, Stuart and Alice, and each are deeply flawed individuals who must overcome their personal demons to find Alice's son. The progression of their romantic relationship is subtle and believable though ultimately tragic. On the whole, a great read.
3 of 5 people found the following review helpful
A Nuanced Thriller
7 Nov 2000
Format:Hardcover
I was quite surprised that I was the first to review this title considering the favorable reviews it received in the mainstream press. (At least Ms. Wadham will have one review to read when she checks Amazon!) First, I enjoyed the book, although having grown up near Corsica, where this novel is set, adds a star to my review. The charcters are well drawn out, and the action well paced and realistic. The book is a subtle page turner that you will want to read in one sitting as it races to its conclusion. It details every parent's horror -- a child kidnapped by criminals -- in this case extremists. There is an earnest police detective and the usual assortment of village characters he deals with to solve the crime. But this isn't a detective novel. There are times when it's difficult to tell who in the book is "good or bad", but it doesn't detract from the tale. I was interested in the story because of the foreign locale and I wasn't disappointed.
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