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Lost Among the Living
England, 1921. Three years after her husband, Alex, disappeared, shot down over Germany, Jo Manders still mourns his loss. Working as a paid companion to Alex's wealthy, condescending aunt, Dottie Forsyth, Jo travels to the family’s estate in the Sussex countryside. But there is much she never knew about her husband’s origins…and the revelation of a mysterious death in the Forsyths’ past is just the beginning…
All is not well at Wych Elm House. Dottie's husband is distant, and her son was grievously injured in the war. Footsteps follow Jo down empty halls, and items in her bedroom are eerily rearranged. The locals say the family is cursed, and that a ghost in the woods has never rested. And when Jo discovers her husband’s darkest secrets, she wonders if she ever really knew him. Isolated in a place of deception and grief, she must find the truth or lose herself forever.
And then a familiar stranger arrives at Wych Elm House…
All is not well at Wych Elm House. Dottie's husband is distant, and her son was grievously injured in the war. Footsteps follow Jo down empty halls, and items in her bedroom are eerily rearranged. The locals say the family is cursed, and that a ghost in the woods has never rested. And when Jo discovers her husband’s darkest secrets, she wonders if she ever really knew him. Isolated in a place of deception and grief, she must find the truth or lose herself forever.
And then a familiar stranger arrives at Wych Elm House…
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 5, 2016
About the author
Simone St. James
11 books16.1k followersSimone St. James is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Book of Cold Cases, The Sun Down Motel, The Broken Girls and The Haunting of Maddy Clare, which won two RITA awards from Romance Writers of America and an Arthur Ellis Award from Crime Writers of Canada. She wrote her first ghost story, about a haunted library, when she was in high school, and spent twenty years behind the scenes in the television business before leaving to write full-time. She lives outside Toronto, Canada with her husband and a spoiled cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,054 reviews
April 1, 2022
Lost Among the Living by Simone St. James
Justine Eyre (narrator)
After enjoying this author's last two books I'm going back and listening to her older books. I like the way she mixes the supernatural with everyday life in such a way that I'm not always sure what is going on and if it's not really just a fluke of something natural. In this story we meet Jo Manders, mourning her loss of her husband who parachuted over Germany and was never seen again. It's England 1921, Jo is supporting her mentally ill mother in a care home and she's running out of money so she takes a job as an assistant with her husband's wealthy, condescending, demanding aunt.
After a three month stint of travel with the aunt, who increases her wealth buying and selling art, Jo settles with her aunt in the recently reopened family mansion. It's there that Jo finds out things that Alex never told her and she begins to have doubts about how honest he'd been with her throughout the time she knew him. She also starts seeing and hearing things that seem to be related to the dead. And it's obvious that the aunt wants Jo to marry her war injured son when Jo never wants to marry again. Jo has no one she can talk to and no where to go, especially when her mother's welfare depends on Jo's salary.
The story is gloomy, with a sense of foreboding. There is the feeling that nothing good lurks in the future, while so many bad things have already happened. Jo's depression is a part of her and it seems she will never be rid of it and now her memories of her husband are suspect since she thinks he lied about or omitted so much. Jo even wonders if she is mentally ill like her mother, because she has seen Alex's dead cousin, a girl that committed suicide. The gothic feel of the story, with the sense of dark dread combined with Jo's exhausted, worn down demeanor, had me doubting everyone and everything, too.
Published April 5th 2016 by Blackstone Audiobooks
Justine Eyre (narrator)
After enjoying this author's last two books I'm going back and listening to her older books. I like the way she mixes the supernatural with everyday life in such a way that I'm not always sure what is going on and if it's not really just a fluke of something natural. In this story we meet Jo Manders, mourning her loss of her husband who parachuted over Germany and was never seen again. It's England 1921, Jo is supporting her mentally ill mother in a care home and she's running out of money so she takes a job as an assistant with her husband's wealthy, condescending, demanding aunt.
After a three month stint of travel with the aunt, who increases her wealth buying and selling art, Jo settles with her aunt in the recently reopened family mansion. It's there that Jo finds out things that Alex never told her and she begins to have doubts about how honest he'd been with her throughout the time she knew him. She also starts seeing and hearing things that seem to be related to the dead. And it's obvious that the aunt wants Jo to marry her war injured son when Jo never wants to marry again. Jo has no one she can talk to and no where to go, especially when her mother's welfare depends on Jo's salary.
The story is gloomy, with a sense of foreboding. There is the feeling that nothing good lurks in the future, while so many bad things have already happened. Jo's depression is a part of her and it seems she will never be rid of it and now her memories of her husband are suspect since she thinks he lied about or omitted so much. Jo even wonders if she is mentally ill like her mother, because she has seen Alex's dead cousin, a girl that committed suicide. The gothic feel of the story, with the sense of dark dread combined with Jo's exhausted, worn down demeanor, had me doubting everyone and everything, too.
Published April 5th 2016 by Blackstone Audiobooks
July 11, 2023
In this story, Jo finds herself in a spooky house called Wych Elm. She starts feeling like she's losing her mind, seeing things that could not possibly be real. Jo is grieving for her lost husband, and to distract herself, she works for Dottie at Wych Elm House. The idea of a haunted house intrigued me, as I enjoy spooky stories. However, this book had more of a mysterious vibe than being truly creepy or thrilling. I'm a fan of Simone's books because they are easy to read and always have a well-structured plot and a satisfying ending.
March 27, 2016
Romantic suspense was just kicked up a notch in my book. When I was asked to do this review, I thought it was just another historical fiction romance with a twist of suspense. I could not have been more wrong. This book is a fabulous combination of so many genres. It is truly one that romance lovers will enjoy along with suspense and mystery lovers too. There is plenty of historical influence and so much more!
An engrossing read, this book has surprises at every chapter, it seemed. Loaded with emotion and words that grip you, this book is crafted with precise artistic flow that haunts you and make you feel every word written. An amazing blend of creepy mystery and suspense that will keep your nose buried in this book to the very end.
An engrossing read, this book has surprises at every chapter, it seemed. Loaded with emotion and words that grip you, this book is crafted with precise artistic flow that haunts you and make you feel every word written. An amazing blend of creepy mystery and suspense that will keep your nose buried in this book to the very end.
October 20, 2019
I always write shorter reviews for audiobooks but that in no way reflects how much I enjoyed this book!
This was a great mystery with lots of surprises. The setting is an English manor with a large area of forest around it, very ghostly vibes. The small town in this Sussex countryside has lots of townspeople who are more than willing to give our main character, Jo, their opinions of the Forsyth family and stories about a hidden, mad sister and a beast that ripped apart a stranger who was found in the woods.
To back up a bit the story takes place between WWI and WWII. Jo met Alex in London and after a brief romance they were married. Shortly afterwards Alex joins the Air Force and within months Jo receives bad news, he is MIA. With no means of support and having to care for her mentally ill mother, she takes a job as a companion to Dottie Forsyth. Dottie is Alex’s aunt and a difficult person to figure out. When then come back from their travels during which Dottie purchases art that she then sells, they return to the country estate.
Once there we are thrust into mysteries within mysteries. I don’t want to give away any of this wonderful plot, just go into it blind, that’s the best way. You can trust Ms.St. James to tell you one heck of a story with just the right amount of paranormal elements and some serious secrets.
I highly recommend this audiobook. The only reason I didn’t rate it a 5 is because the narrator’s voice was annoying to me. This is probably not fair to the book itself but I am rating the audiobook. I have noticed, when I checked more of her audiobooks, that there is a different narrator for the next book that I want to listen to.
I can highly recommend this novel to lovers of a good mystery with great, well developed characters.
June 2, 2024
It's 3:30 am at my part of the world right now. Am wide awake because I couldn't possibly put this book down and sleep. Finished it in one sitting. Yes, it was that good
July 23, 2022
England, 1921. Jo Manders husband Alex, was shot down over Germany three years before and disappeared. In need of money to support her and her sick mother did Jo agree to be a paid companion to Alex's wealthy albeit condescending aunt Dottie Forsyth. Now they are returning home to England, to the Forsyth family's estate in the Sussex countryside. Jo has never visited the place before and she realizes there that she doesn't know much about her husband's origin, and there seems to be something with the place, something not at peace...
This is the kind of book that I love to read. A historical mystery with a paranormal touch. I quickly connected with the story and with the characters and I enjoyed this historical mystery very much. The one thing that bothered me a bit was that I think the blurb I read on Goodreads gave away too much. So, I would advise any reader to be careful with reading about the book on Goodreads. Especially if you want to be kept in the dark about certain things in the story. Sometimes I think the less one knows about the story the better it is. And, that is why I will not reveal too much of what is going on in the book. However, I will address some of the aspects of the book that I enjoyed very much.
For instance that the book is well written, and this is one of few books with an instalove couple that I enjoy reading. I think it's because Simone St. James manages to portray both Jo and Alex so well that they come alive. You feel for Jo as she tries to live without Alex and the flashbacks to when they met and married each other are lovely. And, then we have the mystery of the book. The things Jo sees in the house aren't necessarily terrifying, but it's awfully intriguing and thrilling to read about. I wasn't surprised by some turns in the story, but I nevertheless found the book to be very engrossing.
I will keep an eye out for more books by Simone St. James!
4.5 stars
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!
This is the kind of book that I love to read. A historical mystery with a paranormal touch. I quickly connected with the story and with the characters and I enjoyed this historical mystery very much. The one thing that bothered me a bit was that I think the blurb I read on Goodreads gave away too much. So, I would advise any reader to be careful with reading about the book on Goodreads. Especially if you want to be kept in the dark about certain things in the story. Sometimes I think the less one knows about the story the better it is. And, that is why I will not reveal too much of what is going on in the book. However, I will address some of the aspects of the book that I enjoyed very much.
For instance that the book is well written, and this is one of few books with an instalove couple that I enjoy reading. I think it's because Simone St. James manages to portray both Jo and Alex so well that they come alive. You feel for Jo as she tries to live without Alex and the flashbacks to when they met and married each other are lovely. And, then we have the mystery of the book. The things Jo sees in the house aren't necessarily terrifying, but it's awfully intriguing and thrilling to read about. I wasn't surprised by some turns in the story, but I nevertheless found the book to be very engrossing.
I will keep an eye out for more books by Simone St. James!
4.5 stars
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!
April 1, 2016
I love it when a book can take me by surprise and before I know it, I'm completely immersed inside the pages.
Lost Among the Living was the perfect blend of genres. Historic with a slight touch of the paranormal and a dash of swoon worthy romance, it truly was a winner in its category.
With the right amount of mystery, creepiness, and a romance that left you longing for more, this book surprised me with how captivating it became as the story got darker and the lies and secrets thicker.
One that all lovers of the blend of genres alike, will love and when it is over, be left wanting more.
I'm so glad I took a chance on this one and tried it, I wasn't disappointed in the least with the beautiful writing and the story that slowly unfolded as the mystery was unraveled one secret at a time.
A must read for everyone.
*ARC copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Lost Among the Living was the perfect blend of genres. Historic with a slight touch of the paranormal and a dash of swoon worthy romance, it truly was a winner in its category.
With the right amount of mystery, creepiness, and a romance that left you longing for more, this book surprised me with how captivating it became as the story got darker and the lies and secrets thicker.
One that all lovers of the blend of genres alike, will love and when it is over, be left wanting more.
I'm so glad I took a chance on this one and tried it, I wasn't disappointed in the least with the beautiful writing and the story that slowly unfolded as the mystery was unraveled one secret at a time.
A must read for everyone.
*ARC copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
February 27, 2024
Yeesh
Was muddled and not engaging. I found Jo exhausting. Hoped for a wonderful Gothic novel and this was just two stars IMHO.
The ending left things on a weird note.
Full Review:
This was trying to be a take on Gothic romance novels of old and fell far far short. St. James does better I think in modern setting with ghosts floating around. This had too much paranormal activities that occurred that were not really explained and just plot holes galore. I also found the main character, Jo equal parts passive and annoying. And I never warmed to her husband Alex. If anything I wish the main focus of the book had been on her cousin and his would be bride that his mother was setting him up with. It would have had a better angle I think.
Was muddled and not engaging. I found Jo exhausting. Hoped for a wonderful Gothic novel and this was just two stars IMHO.
The ending left things on a weird note.
Full Review:
This was trying to be a take on Gothic romance novels of old and fell far far short. St. James does better I think in modern setting with ghosts floating around. This had too much paranormal activities that occurred that were not really explained and just plot holes galore. I also found the main character, Jo equal parts passive and annoying. And I never warmed to her husband Alex. If anything I wish the main focus of the book had been on her cousin and his would be bride that his mother was setting him up with. It would have had a better angle I think.
April 6, 2017
3.5 stars--somewhere between "liked" and "really liked."
If you want to read an English ghost story set during wartime (either WWI or WWII or immediately before, between, or after), Simone St. James is who you should read! She writes romantic ghost stories that will also appeal to readers of historical fiction. They're usually a bit too dark to be "cozy," but they're definitely a nice mix of suspense and romance.
In this one, the ghost was only part of the plot. I would have given this 4 stars, but one of the characters really rubbed me the wrong way. (Specifically: )
If you want to read an English ghost story set during wartime (either WWI or WWII or immediately before, between, or after), Simone St. James is who you should read! She writes romantic ghost stories that will also appeal to readers of historical fiction. They're usually a bit too dark to be "cozy," but they're definitely a nice mix of suspense and romance.
In this one, the ghost was only part of the plot. I would have given this 4 stars, but one of the characters really rubbed me the wrong way. (Specifically: )
October 22, 2018
I love Simone’s writing, so I knew this wouldn’t disappoint me. Everything about her books I love.
July 13, 2023
Приятно за четене книга, наистина ме държа на нокти в определени моменти, но - ох, дяволите да ме вземат - авторката можеше да бъде по-добросъвестна в проучването си за епохата. Само гледането на недоизпипани исторически филми н�� помага. Ще ми говори тя за испански грип в Британия през февруари 1918, когато болестта достига Европа едва пр��з април. И родителите на съпруга били починали по време на почивка в Турция, която през първото десетилетие на XX век е всичко друго, но не и туристическа дестинация.
July 14, 2019
”Ghosts, I thought. I am living with ghosts.”
I’ll say it now and I’ll say it again; Simone St. James is the Victoria Holt of our generation. She never fails to deliver deliciously Gothic romance novels that both exhilarate and frighten the reader. Her haunting scenes are some of the scariest scenes I’ve ever read, and her heroines, though living in the past are thoroughly modern. I will read absolutely anything this woman writes, and you should too.
I’ll say it now and I’ll say it again; Simone St. James is the Victoria Holt of our generation. She never fails to deliver deliciously Gothic romance novels that both exhilarate and frighten the reader. Her haunting scenes are some of the scariest scenes I’ve ever read, and her heroines, though living in the past are thoroughly modern. I will read absolutely anything this woman writes, and you should too.
February 7, 2017
Another great story by St. James! I would say this is my second favorite book of hers; the first being The Haunting of Maddy Clare. I listened to the audio of this and it was wonderful. She really knows how to evoke an eerie atmosphere. Her descriptions of Frances and Princer's 'appearances' were just chilling. I was starting to think they were real myself. : )
June 4, 2016
Starting out slowly, Lost Among the Living introduced the young, widowed Jo Manders. It was 1921 and she was responsible for her mother who had been committed to an asylum. It had also been three years since she lost her husband, Alex, during The Great War but his body was never recovered. Told with flashbacks, she loved her husband deeply.
Now 26 years old with few skills to recommend her, she worked as a companion for her husband's Aunt Dottie. The name was fitting because Dottie was a moody woman locked in an unhappy marriage. Her son, Martin, had recently returned home after battling many surgeries for a war-related shrapnel injury and a morphine addiction. Jo sensed early on that that Wych Elm House was the site of past misery.
Like Simone St. James' previous stories, Lost Among the Living had a strong gothic vibe. An unsolved murder from time-gone-by, ghosts and numerous secrets whispered through the hallways and rooms. Items that moved and eerie noises elevated the suspense. At times a little too busy, this historical mystery was a good who-done-it.
Now 26 years old with few skills to recommend her, she worked as a companion for her husband's Aunt Dottie. The name was fitting because Dottie was a moody woman locked in an unhappy marriage. Her son, Martin, had recently returned home after battling many surgeries for a war-related shrapnel injury and a morphine addiction. Jo sensed early on that that Wych Elm House was the site of past misery.
Like Simone St. James' previous stories, Lost Among the Living had a strong gothic vibe. An unsolved murder from time-gone-by, ghosts and numerous secrets whispered through the hallways and rooms. Items that moved and eerie noises elevated the suspense. At times a little too busy, this historical mystery was a good who-done-it.
October 23, 2017
I enjoyed the characters in this book, they were interesting, believable and pulled all four corners together to make this ghost story come to life. A young woman, Jo, is taken in as a companion by her husband's Aunt after he has been reported missing in the war. They establish a love hate relationship that helps them build trust that both of them desperately need at this time in their lives. After extended travel to different countries collecting art they end up at the family mansion that has not housed any family members for some time. The tragic death of the youngest daughter, that occurred in the house, has put serious stress and anger between them all for different reasons. The Aunts estranged husband is a womanizing heel who makes Jo's skin crawl and their son has recently returned home from the war, weakened injured and hiding just how sick he really is. They are all dealing with their own demons but Jo seems to be the only one being visited by the ghost of the beautiful young daughter. This is a fast paced, intriguing mystery that starts to twist and turn about half way through.
May 14, 2016
I've read all of Simone St. James's novels and my opinions vary depending on the book. There are things she does very well; creates realistic characters, gives vivid descriptions of time and place, shows the reader what the characters are seeing and feeling and does a wonderful job making ghosts believable. All of these skills pull me into her stories. But then she unravels all of that hard work by having her characters behave in ways that make no sense. In this story something unexpected happens and the protagonist has an emotional response that doesn't follow logic, isn't in keeping with the character and wasn't particularly believable. The behavior felt very contrived and was similar to the twists and turns and misunderstandings that often happen in romance novels. You know that the misunderstanding is just the author's way of drawing out the story and creating a greater feeling of suspense. Unfortunately, prolonging the suspense in this case proved to detracted from the story and made what had been an enjoyable reading experience a disappointing one instead.
March 31, 2018
I have enjoyed each book I have read by Simone St. James beginning with the Haunting of Maddy Clare. They have all been thought provoking, emotional thrillers. The characters, in some way or another, were all dealing with the aftermath of having survived and come home from WWI. It was a time period I have never read about and found tragic and moving as a backdrop. There are all excellent books. This book, "Lost Among the Living," is my favorite one to date. In this story, a widow left behind to survive in a time when women had few, if any, options to support themselves if they were alone. The breath stealing loss of a loved one, never knowing the truth, has to be devastating in any time period, all while just trying to deal with the basics of surviving in a world with few options. Add in murder and a lost spirit haunting a dysfunctional family and you have a complex, multi-leveled thriller. There were so many shocking twists and turns and kept me turning the pages well into the night. It was absolutely fantastic.
April 27, 2016
LOST AMONG THE LIVING is a wonderfully spooky Gothic novel set in the aftermath of World War I. It’s just the right blend of ghost story, mystery, suspense, romance, and historical fiction — all of my favorite elements. The heroine Jo is an unfortunate character, having lost her husband Alex in the war. With no other means of support, Jo takes a job as assistant to Alex’s snooty Aunt Dottie, which eventually brings her to their remote family home called Wych Elm House. Immediately, she knows something isn’t right. The house holds some very dark secrets about a mysterious death, and Jo soon becomes the target of a restless spirit. I enjoyed the eerie atmosphere of this book, and the mystery kept me guessing until the end. Perfect for fans of vintage Gothic romance!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 15, 2019
This is a hard book to rate. The author has crafted a well developed story that's very atmospheric. The characters are well drawn. The story with gothic roots feels original. But...
I was bored. Through most of the story I was questioning whether anything was going to happen. In fact, nothing much did happen until the very end. And even then most readers will guess the finale. No surprises.
Spoilers: it's very easy to guess that Alex was still alive. In fact, it's hard to even think of it as a spoiler. It's also not hard to pull together who he was during the war. It's pretty well laid out well before it's actually written. It's also pretty easy to guess what happened to Frances and by whom.
However, it's a well written story that for some of us, is just a little too slow and plodding.
I was bored. Through most of the story I was questioning whether anything was going to happen. In fact, nothing much did happen until the very end. And even then most readers will guess the finale. No surprises.
Spoilers: it's very easy to guess that Alex was still alive. In fact, it's hard to even think of it as a spoiler. It's also not hard to pull together who he was during the war. It's pretty well laid out well before it's actually written. It's also pretty easy to guess what happened to Frances and by whom.
However, it's a well written story that for some of us, is just a little too slow and plodding.
March 13, 2016
This was a wonderful story. I like how St. James in bringing the modern Gothic novel kicking and screaming into the 21st Century.
St. James has lovely descriptive writing that allows you to visualize what is happening in the story as you read it. I am looking forward to reading her other stories.
St. James has lovely descriptive writing that allows you to visualize what is happening in the story as you read it. I am looking forward to reading her other stories.
January 29, 2019
Another great book by Simone St James!
April 12, 2016
Horrid. Skimmed the last 2/3. Really, just terrible writing, terrible plot and character development. Ugh. The fact that writing like this gets published kind of makes me mad. Sorry so harsh.
December 7, 2021
There's something addictive about Simone St. James' post-WWI Gothic romantic suspense novels. I don't like paranormal stories with ghosts or spirits and people who can commune with them, yet I can't stop reading St. James' variations on the theme. I think it's because of the time period--early 1920s--and her treatment of the Great War and its aftermath and the psychological effect especially on soldiers but also on civilians.
The Haunting of Maddy Clare was the author's first book and is perhaps her most popular one. I have to confess to that one being my least favorite of all. The ghost element was too "in your face" and violent and the spirit too malevolent, the characters and romance and mystery not developed in enough depth. But with each new story St. James writes I see her growth as an author. The ghosts have been toned down a bit, so that one can see them mainly as the spirits of deceased persons with unresolved issues that one or two living characters are attuned to as they attempt to solve a mystery.
With each successive book the focus becomes more on the aftermath of war, soldiers and their physical and psychological injuries, and there's a better development of the romance. I'd say my favorite St. James novels have been Silence for the Dead, The Other Side of Midnight, and now this one.
In this 2016 release we have widow Jo Manders, whose husband Alex went missing during the war and is believed to be dead, left in a precarious financial situation and forced to become companion to her deceased husband's Aunt Dottie, a cold and autocratic woman who addresses her as Manders and treats her impersonally, not as a member of the family.
When Jo travels to Wych Elm House, the family estate in Sussex, she begins to learn new and puzzling things about the husband she had been married to for only three years before he left for the war. Not only that, but the dysfunctional relationship of Aunt Dottie and her husband Robert is disconcerting, and the return of their son Martin, recovering from grave war injuries and trying to wean himself off drugs, adds even more strain to the family atmosphere.
Then we also have Dottie and Robert's deceased daughter Frances, believed to have been mad and to have committed suicide some three years ago. She is said to haunt the woods near the manor house, along with her rather savage dog Pincher. Jo would prefer to ignore tales of ghosts but Frances herself appears to her and seems to want to communicate something to her.
So we have the mystery of Frances' death. Murder or suicide? We have the mystery of Alex's disappearance. Dead or MIA? And we have a very well-written story of a young grieving widow trying to cope with life without her husband and new revelations about him, and the struggles of a young soldier living with his memories and grave injuries.
This is sensitively done and not too "ghost-y" for me. There was a great cast of secondary characters here and a plot that moved along nicely. The bad guy didn't quite surprise although there were two or three others in the running, but I enjoy St. James's stories more for the atmosphere and her treatment of WWI. The mysteries themselves add interest, but of the five books I've read, only two held much surprise in that aspect. The romances are always a plus for those like me who enjoy romantic suspense, although there is always a very quick fall into love on the part of each couple.
No matter, as I've said, because it's the whole package that entertains: the historical setting, the mystery, the paranormal aspect, and the romance. And, of course, the polished writing.
The Haunting of Maddy Clare was the author's first book and is perhaps her most popular one. I have to confess to that one being my least favorite of all. The ghost element was too "in your face" and violent and the spirit too malevolent, the characters and romance and mystery not developed in enough depth. But with each new story St. James writes I see her growth as an author. The ghosts have been toned down a bit, so that one can see them mainly as the spirits of deceased persons with unresolved issues that one or two living characters are attuned to as they attempt to solve a mystery.
With each successive book the focus becomes more on the aftermath of war, soldiers and their physical and psychological injuries, and there's a better development of the romance. I'd say my favorite St. James novels have been Silence for the Dead, The Other Side of Midnight, and now this one.
In this 2016 release we have widow Jo Manders, whose husband Alex went missing during the war and is believed to be dead, left in a precarious financial situation and forced to become companion to her deceased husband's Aunt Dottie, a cold and autocratic woman who addresses her as Manders and treats her impersonally, not as a member of the family.
When Jo travels to Wych Elm House, the family estate in Sussex, she begins to learn new and puzzling things about the husband she had been married to for only three years before he left for the war. Not only that, but the dysfunctional relationship of Aunt Dottie and her husband Robert is disconcerting, and the return of their son Martin, recovering from grave war injuries and trying to wean himself off drugs, adds even more strain to the family atmosphere.
Then we also have Dottie and Robert's deceased daughter Frances, believed to have been mad and to have committed suicide some three years ago. She is said to haunt the woods near the manor house, along with her rather savage dog Pincher. Jo would prefer to ignore tales of ghosts but Frances herself appears to her and seems to want to communicate something to her.
So we have the mystery of Frances' death. Murder or suicide? We have the mystery of Alex's disappearance. Dead or MIA? And we have a very well-written story of a young grieving widow trying to cope with life without her husband and new revelations about him, and the struggles of a young soldier living with his memories and grave injuries.
This is sensitively done and not too "ghost-y" for me. There was a great cast of secondary characters here and a plot that moved along nicely. The bad guy didn't quite surprise although there were two or three others in the running, but I enjoy St. James's stories more for the atmosphere and her treatment of WWI. The mysteries themselves add interest, but of the five books I've read, only two held much surprise in that aspect. The romances are always a plus for those like me who enjoy romantic suspense, although there is always a very quick fall into love on the part of each couple.
No matter, as I've said, because it's the whole package that entertains: the historical setting, the mystery, the paranormal aspect, and the romance. And, of course, the polished writing.
February 23, 2018
After finishing two of Simone St James novels in less than a week, I was thrilled when this one came into the library and was waiting patiently in the holds section for me to pick up.
I had read a lot of great reviews for this book and was eager to see what kind of ghost and romance this story would hold. It sounded a little different than The Haunting of Maddy Clare but still within the same wheelhouse of that style, so I was intrigued.
So the last line in the description of the book, basically gave away a huge plot point….spoiler……Alex isn’t really dead. It didn’t take a genius to figure that out from the get go. The novel drops heavy hints from almost the first page. So I don’t consider this a spoiler at all.
After reading this description, I guessed that I might not like this one as much as the other books and I was right. I personally love ‘will they won’t they’ romances or ‘the thrill of the chase’ romances and this one had already happened. I felt a little disappointed because of that. Sure we got to see how they met and the reunion, but for me it just didn’t have the same impact for me.
I liked Alex just fine and I thought the backstory of his disappearance was interesting (though predictable) and almost an early era James Bond. He was dashing, charming, smart, ambitious, and loyal to the woman who stole his heart. He cut the rather dashing war hero role well.
I was a little frustrated with Jo. I didn’t know that the storyline with her mom was as necessary as St James made it out to be. Sure it added a little bit of a Gothic element, but I don’t think it was critical to the plot itself. Jo was a little too wishy washy for me. She didn’t interact with the ghost in this story in the way that I had hoped. Francis (the ghost) seemed like she was just there. I didn’t get this unfulfilled need to find out what happened to her and I didn’t see Jo connecting with her in any special way.
While this novel was very predictable, I kept reading because I wanted to know the why and how the pieces of the puzzle fit together. As I have said before, sometimes the reasons are more chilling and creepy than the crime itself. It seems to be that way with St James’s novel, some predictability but the atmosphere and reasons for the crimes are startling and surprising.
For some reason while I was reading this one, the line ‘Last night I dreamt of Manderley’ from Rebecca, kept running through my mind. Wych Elm House kind of had that same feel…it was haunting yet beautiful and for me took on a life of its own in the story. While not the focus of the novel, the woods and the mist reminded me of another famous Gothic literature house.
All that said, for me this book just simply missed the mark. Sure I liked it and I kept reading late into the night but it didn’t have the romance and creepiness that I was looking for. I have a few more St James novels to read and by no means has this book put me off of her writing, but it just wasn’t as good as some of the others in my opinion.
Other reviews I read had a much different opinion than I did which is fine, had I started with this novel I think I would have felt the same way but I already read two others by St James that I just thought were so much better than this one. A lot of other reviewers hope she writes a series about these characters (all of St James’s books are standalone which I LOVE) and I can see why people would hope that because I too felt like there was more story to tell about these two, however I don’t see their story taking on a real ghost story feel though, but rather more of a spy power couple.
I am eager to see what ghosts and romances are awaiting me in next weeks library pick up!
See my full review here
I had read a lot of great reviews for this book and was eager to see what kind of ghost and romance this story would hold. It sounded a little different than The Haunting of Maddy Clare but still within the same wheelhouse of that style, so I was intrigued.
So the last line in the description of the book, basically gave away a huge plot point….spoiler……Alex isn’t really dead. It didn’t take a genius to figure that out from the get go. The novel drops heavy hints from almost the first page. So I don’t consider this a spoiler at all.
After reading this description, I guessed that I might not like this one as much as the other books and I was right. I personally love ‘will they won’t they’ romances or ‘the thrill of the chase’ romances and this one had already happened. I felt a little disappointed because of that. Sure we got to see how they met and the reunion, but for me it just didn’t have the same impact for me.
I liked Alex just fine and I thought the backstory of his disappearance was interesting (though predictable) and almost an early era James Bond. He was dashing, charming, smart, ambitious, and loyal to the woman who stole his heart. He cut the rather dashing war hero role well.
I was a little frustrated with Jo. I didn’t know that the storyline with her mom was as necessary as St James made it out to be. Sure it added a little bit of a Gothic element, but I don’t think it was critical to the plot itself. Jo was a little too wishy washy for me. She didn’t interact with the ghost in this story in the way that I had hoped. Francis (the ghost) seemed like she was just there. I didn’t get this unfulfilled need to find out what happened to her and I didn’t see Jo connecting with her in any special way.
While this novel was very predictable, I kept reading because I wanted to know the why and how the pieces of the puzzle fit together. As I have said before, sometimes the reasons are more chilling and creepy than the crime itself. It seems to be that way with St James’s novel, some predictability but the atmosphere and reasons for the crimes are startling and surprising.
For some reason while I was reading this one, the line ‘Last night I dreamt of Manderley’ from Rebecca, kept running through my mind. Wych Elm House kind of had that same feel…it was haunting yet beautiful and for me took on a life of its own in the story. While not the focus of the novel, the woods and the mist reminded me of another famous Gothic literature house.
All that said, for me this book just simply missed the mark. Sure I liked it and I kept reading late into the night but it didn’t have the romance and creepiness that I was looking for. I have a few more St James novels to read and by no means has this book put me off of her writing, but it just wasn’t as good as some of the others in my opinion.
Other reviews I read had a much different opinion than I did which is fine, had I started with this novel I think I would have felt the same way but I already read two others by St James that I just thought were so much better than this one. A lot of other reviewers hope she writes a series about these characters (all of St James’s books are standalone which I LOVE) and I can see why people would hope that because I too felt like there was more story to tell about these two, however I don’t see their story taking on a real ghost story feel though, but rather more of a spy power couple.
I am eager to see what ghosts and romances are awaiting me in next weeks library pick up!
See my full review here
January 17, 2019
This is the second novel by Simone St. James that I’ve had the pleasure of reading. The first was The Broken Girl. It was interesting to find some of the same plot elements, an old house with a history in this novel and an old school in ‘The Broken Girls.’ Both buildings are haunted; St. James delves into the world of the paranormal to create tension and heighten suspense. It worked for me in both novels, but my familiarity with it as an element of suspense peculiar to St. James’s writing caused me to be a little more critical of it this time around. My main complaint is that main character, JoAnna Manders, was just a wee bit too accepting of her ghost sighting, but perhaps, if I actually saw a ghost, I would have no alternative other than acceptance. Jo does struggle with her visions, but moves quickly to thinking that she is supposed to solve the mystery of Francine Forsyth’s death. There was something about her thought processes that made her seem younger than age twenty-six. Was Francine’s death suicide or something more sinister? This observation did not change my enjoyment of St. James’s masterful writing style.
Written in first person POV, I was immediately absorbed by Jo’s dilemma. Her husband Alex, an RAF pilot crashed his plane behind enemy lines and his body hasn’t been found. Without a body, Jo’s status as war widow cannot be confirmed so she cannot receive any benefits from the government. She goes to work for Alex’s Aunt Dottie Forsyth as a paid companion. Dottie is a dominating curmudgeon, who collects art and resales it at a higher price. Jo would quit but feels that since she’s lost Alex, this is at least a connection to his family. It’s when Dottie returns from her travels across the continent with Jo, to Wych Elm House, that Jo is introduced to the mystery that will threaten to consume her. The other members of the Forsyth family are mostly complex, and between them, the servants and townsfolk, St. James creates a suspenseful whodunnit that is not easily solved.
The story is set mostly in England in 1921. Women did not have a lot of power over their lives; their stars rose or fell according to how they married. St. James creates credible roles for her characters in this time and place. I really enjoyed reading about Petra Jennings, a former housekeeper ar Wych Elm House, who took in washing for her income, and talked to Jo while using her steam iron. It reminded me that I had a grandmother who had made money for her family by laundering other people’s clothes; it also reminded me of my own mother sprinkling clothes with splashes of water and putting them in a plastic bag and into the refrigerator to iron later. I appreciate an author who writes these little details of a life.
Written in first person POV, I was immediately absorbed by Jo’s dilemma. Her husband Alex, an RAF pilot crashed his plane behind enemy lines and his body hasn’t been found. Without a body, Jo’s status as war widow cannot be confirmed so she cannot receive any benefits from the government. She goes to work for Alex’s Aunt Dottie Forsyth as a paid companion. Dottie is a dominating curmudgeon, who collects art and resales it at a higher price. Jo would quit but feels that since she’s lost Alex, this is at least a connection to his family. It’s when Dottie returns from her travels across the continent with Jo, to Wych Elm House, that Jo is introduced to the mystery that will threaten to consume her. The other members of the Forsyth family are mostly complex, and between them, the servants and townsfolk, St. James creates a suspenseful whodunnit that is not easily solved.
The story is set mostly in England in 1921. Women did not have a lot of power over their lives; their stars rose or fell according to how they married. St. James creates credible roles for her characters in this time and place. I really enjoyed reading about Petra Jennings, a former housekeeper ar Wych Elm House, who took in washing for her income, and talked to Jo while using her steam iron. It reminded me that I had a grandmother who had made money for her family by laundering other people’s clothes; it also reminded me of my own mother sprinkling clothes with splashes of water and putting them in a plastic bag and into the refrigerator to iron later. I appreciate an author who writes these little details of a life.
December 8, 2021
This was the first book by Simone St. James that I've read and it won't be my last. I love this book.
May 17, 2016
Set in England just after the conclusion of World War I, this modern day gothic mystery is hard to put down. Jo Manders has become the companion to her husband’s aunt, Dottie Forsyth. Jo’s husband did not return from the war. His name did not appear on any lists of those killed or any list of prisoners of war. He has been declared missing in action, and she is not able to receive a widow’s pension.
The estate where the Forsyth family lives is dreary and forbidding. Local residents have said that it is also haunted by the ghost of Dottie’s daughter, Frances, who committed suicide there. After arriving, Jo experiences some unsettling “encounters” with Frances. She becomes obsessed with discovering what actually happened to Frances. Things become even more complicated when Jo’s husband suddenly returns after being missing for three years.
As Jo tries to make sense of the events that are taking place around her, she cannot shake the feeling that something unexpected is going to happen.
The estate where the Forsyth family lives is dreary and forbidding. Local residents have said that it is also haunted by the ghost of Dottie’s daughter, Frances, who committed suicide there. After arriving, Jo experiences some unsettling “encounters” with Frances. She becomes obsessed with discovering what actually happened to Frances. Things become even more complicated when Jo’s husband suddenly returns after being missing for three years.
As Jo tries to make sense of the events that are taking place around her, she cannot shake the feeling that something unexpected is going to happen.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2017
I actually read this about three times in the past few weeks. I loved this. Might buy it, now that my library copy has expired. Stupid library copy expiring...
This is my favourite of these books. I'm still apparently super into the ghost stories. IDK. It worked for me. It really worked for me. Definitely connected to all of the characters in this. I just really enjoyed this one.
This is my favourite of these books. I'm still apparently super into the ghost stories. IDK. It worked for me. It really worked for me. Definitely connected to all of the characters in this. I just really enjoyed this one.
Want to read
December 7, 2015I can't wait for this book - every single one of Simone's books is an amazing read!!
September 24, 2023
I have read several of St. James' other novels including THE SUN DOWN MOTEL, THE BROKEN GIRLS, and THE HAUNTING OF MADDY CLARE. I have enjoyed all of these which were mostly a blend of the supernatural and a murder/suspense story. Her more recent books take place in the recent past while her earlier book, Haunting of Maddy Clare was set in the 1920s.
LOST AMONG THE LIVING was published in 2016 and is also set in the 1920s shortly after WWI. It is also a blend of the supernatural and an intriguing mystery about the death of a young 15-year old girl who was suffering from delusions and madness. The protagonist of the story is Jo who met her husband Alex while working as a secretary. Unfortunately, Alex was shot down during the war and never returned. His body was not recovered and he is considered missing in action. Jo ends up working as a paid companion to Alex's aunt Dottie who resides in the Wych Elm House in Sussex. Dottie is estranged from her husband and her son was severely wounded in the war. As Jo moves into the house she is plagued by strange happenings including seeing the ghost of Franny, Dottie's young daughter who supposedly committed suicide. But did she really do this or was she murdered? And if so, why? The local people think Wych Elm is cursed and the woods is haunted by the ghost of Franny and her vicious dog who supposedly killed a man on the day Franny committed suicide. So what's the real story? Did Jo really see Fran's ghost or is she going mad?
I enjoyed this novel quite a lot. It was a good ghost story and suspense yarn. The locale and time period of the novel were well developed as well as the characters in the story. It was also somewhat of a romance story which I normally don't really enjoy that much but the overall story made up for this. I would definitely recommend this one if you like supernatural suspense/romance stories.
LOST AMONG THE LIVING was published in 2016 and is also set in the 1920s shortly after WWI. It is also a blend of the supernatural and an intriguing mystery about the death of a young 15-year old girl who was suffering from delusions and madness. The protagonist of the story is Jo who met her husband Alex while working as a secretary. Unfortunately, Alex was shot down during the war and never returned. His body was not recovered and he is considered missing in action. Jo ends up working as a paid companion to Alex's aunt Dottie who resides in the Wych Elm House in Sussex. Dottie is estranged from her husband and her son was severely wounded in the war. As Jo moves into the house she is plagued by strange happenings including seeing the ghost of Franny, Dottie's young daughter who supposedly committed suicide. But did she really do this or was she murdered? And if so, why? The local people think Wych Elm is cursed and the woods is haunted by the ghost of Franny and her vicious dog who supposedly killed a man on the day Franny committed suicide. So what's the real story? Did Jo really see Fran's ghost or is she going mad?
I enjoyed this novel quite a lot. It was a good ghost story and suspense yarn. The locale and time period of the novel were well developed as well as the characters in the story. It was also somewhat of a romance story which I normally don't really enjoy that much but the overall story made up for this. I would definitely recommend this one if you like supernatural suspense/romance stories.
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