I first discovered the work of Sheena Kamal when I read Eyes Like Mine, which was previously published in the UK. Now that book is being published in North American under the title The Lost Ones and I am thrilled that #cjsreads decided to read this for one of our July picks.
Not only is this book amazing, but it also features tons of Canadian content- which- let’s get real- I am completely biased about!
The book, which appears to be the first in a series, introduces a brand new anti-heroine with flawed, recovering addict, Nora Watts. Working as a PI and journalist, Nora finds herself caught up in the case of her missing daughter. Along with the help of her ex-sponsor, her employers and her sister, Nora begins the hunt for her daughter and gets wrapped up a parallel crime when one of her co-workers is murdered. This one had me glued to the pages and flipping rapidly to understand how all these moving pieces fit together.
My original review of this book can be found HERE, but since this is a #cjsreads title, keep reading to see what Jessica and Chandra thought of this one!
What Jessica Thought:
Overall, if you want a great mystery and psychological thriller with a lovable anti-heroine, then this is the book for you!
What Chandra Thought:
Nora hasn’t had the easiest life. She lives a solitary existence, trusting no one and working for an investigative company where she puts her talents to use. In one of her interviews, she finds out that the girl she gave up for adoption 15 years ago has gone missing. In her search for her, the past creeps up on her, her sobriety gets shaken and she has to confront the man that almost killed her. Just how much more can this poor woman take? I’m so blessed to have read so many GREAT debut novels this year and this is no different! It especially spoke to me after reading the author’s essay on how she came to write this book and how she incorporates her own experiences into this. I highly recommend you read this if you can (I have posted it on my blog). The nuances she brings to Nora and her experiences made me fall in love with this flawed protagonist. For me this was more of a character driven book and I was hooked. The further you read, the more layers you find to Nora’s characters and to see her progress, decline and try to come to terms with things far buried was quite the ride. The other members of the “cast” were hard to like (which is fine by me!). Nora’s sister is deplorable (though I can almost see her point of view), Brazuca (her AA sponsor) is a bit out there and does this stay-away-from-me but I’m-here-because-I-care thing, her bosses are lovable and trusting and the only stability in her life outside of her dog, Whisper, who chose her one day and became her lifeline. Whisper is quite the character herself with her own issues and I LOVE her! Overall a fantastic debut from Sheena. Not only does she weave a tale, but she really integrates the history of Canada and the social issues involved, giving the reader a full sense of her knowledge. I truly look forward to more of Sheena’s work as I only see great things coming our way. And if you haven’t interacted with her via social media, you really should – she’s quite the delight!
