Review: The Lost — J.D. Robb, Patricia Gaffney, Mary Blayney, and Ruth Ryan Langan
The Lost is composed of four novellas, one from each of the authors listed on the cover. Each of the stories deals with loss in one way or another — literal loss of a body, loss of self, a loved one, direction, family, connections. While loss in our own lives might not have so happy or satisfactory a solution, each story is, in its own way, gripping, fascinating, and or comforting.
The first story “Missing in Death” by J.D. Robb is, of course, an Eve Dallas murder mystery. This time Eve and Peabody are called in to investigate a missing woman and a women’s room with a deadly amount of blood on the floor on a Staten Island ferry. So with 3,000 plus possible suspects, they have their hands full. This one has a missing person, missing time, and missing body. As usual it’s a tightly woven plot with some surprising twists.
Patricia Gaffney’s “The Dog Days of Laurie Summer” is a very surprising story of a life lost and found. There are more ways to lose one’s life than dying. The Laurie we meet at the beginning of the story is definitely not the Laurie at the end. Reminded me very much of “The Christmas Carol” without Christmas and the ghosts but definitely some of the same message comes through.
Continuing the theme of redemption is Mary Blayney’s “Lost in Paradise”. A nurse, Isabelle, travels to a small island with a priest to help give medical care to the population. On the way, a storm destroys the ship, nearly killing Isabelle. Once on the island, nothing and no one is as she suspected. The Master of the island is living under a curse and Isabelle sets out to free him, but his manners and attitude certainly don’t help.
“Legacy” by Ruth Ryan Langon is one of those stories that most of us at one time or another dream of happening to us. Aidan O’Mara’s mother has died. Aidan gave up her job to nurse her mother and now learns that she has no job to go back to. Out of the blue she gets an invitation to Ireland and a note explaining that her mother was this man’s daughter and he wants to meet her. Since Aidan knew her grandparents, she’s sure there has been some mistake but a short vacation in Ireland along with a hefty sum of money for the inconvenience of the visit would certainly help with the bills and her mental health. Of course that was the plan. Her maybe-grandfather and his handsome single lawyer are much more than she expected. This one is mostly a straight story of love found in the most unexpected places. Not only love but possibly family when Aidan thought she’d lost it all. A heartwarming story, especially at this time of year.
Each story is a gem. Well told with strong central female characters who struggle with who they are and where their lives are going. What values to stand up for and willing to take the consequences.