Michelle's books are hit or miss for me hear lately and this one was a miss. The story itself was good but to me it was too dark. But I knew that going in, I guess it just this time of year I don't want something too dark and heavy. But die hard fans of Michelle's books will love this one. And while I didn't love it, I don't regret reading nor will it keep me from picking up Michelle's next book.

It’s the summer of 1815, and Amelia Balfour learns not only of her father’s death, but also that she is now responsible for her younger brother, Colin. Furthermore, her father has arranged for a surgeon to undertake a never performed procedure on her brother. Initially, she’s all for it while Colin is reluctant but eventually comes around. Meanwhile, the surgeon’s younger partner has his own suspicions but doesn’t want to alarm the siblings.

Lost in Darkness is a true gothic romance set in Bristol during the Regency era. It leans heavily on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and includes Mary as a neighbor of the Balfour family who is partially inspired by the stories surrounding Colin. While Shelley’s Frankenstein is an obvious influence, I also saw in Colin a resemblance to Joseph Merrick the so-called Elephant Man of the late 19th century. The horrifying surgeon, meanwhile, reminded me of Digory’s Uncle Andrew in CS Lewis’s The Magician’s Nephew.

The romance, thankfully for this reader, is not overwhelming. I was more interested in the gothic nature of the tale, and the feeling the siblings had of being watched. Why did they keep finding small toys in a house without children? Who is the strange neighbor not Mary) reaching out to Amelia? This is a tale that will leave readers as it did me: breathless until the very end.

<i>Disclaimer: Although I received an electronic advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, the opinions above are my own.</i>

As much as we claim that certain things are not important, they are in a way part of who we are and make up a greater part of our relationship with the people around us. Looks for example.
This book takes on the challenge of trying to answer that question do looks really matter and also deals with the issues of mental health and does so delicately but also with enough truth to understand.
Both Amelia and Graham are dealing with issues respectively that seem to hold them back. She's put her life on hold for Colin and he's weary and just wants a fresh start. There's love bleeding through the pages of this book and darkness that will soon be overcome by light as they learn that although people judge by what they see on the outside it's who God says you are that truly matters.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. All opinions expressed are solely mine

Lost in Darkness
by Michelle Griep
Pub Date 01 Nov 2021 |
Barbour Publishing, Inc., Barbour Fiction
Christian | Historical Fiction | Mystery & Thrillers



I am reviewing a copy of Lost in Darkness through Barbour Publishing, Inc, Barbour Fiction:



Amelia Balfour’s a travel writer who dreams of touring Egypt is halted when she receives news of a revolutionary new surgery for her grotesquely disfigured brother. This could change everything, and it does in the worst possible way.




Graham Lambert Is a surgeon who has suspicions of the doctor he’s gone into practice with, but he can’t stop him from operating on Amelia’s brother. Will he be too late to prevent the man’s death? Or to reveal his true feelings for Amelia before she sails to Cairo?



I give Lost In Darkness Five out of five stars!

I am one of those weird people that enjoyed the story of Frankenstein when I was in High School but this rendition of the story was spectacular. She has turned it into a fantastic Gothic tale that keeps you engaged the entire time. The characters were superb. They were all different but all contributed to the story in a great way. The way the author weaves the element of faith and hope throughout this story had me in awe. I definitely cannot give it enough praise. I won't tell you the story because you have to read it but there is even a surprise appearance that completely tied the book for me.

The book was completely different than any other Michelle Griep story I have read but it was good to see this different style of writing from her. I will also say that this is not your happy go lucky story but neither was Frankenstein which if you have read you will immediately know this. I know some people may not like this book because it is so different from what they are used to from this author but I look forward to reading whatever she writes very soon. If you are fan of Gothic style type books you will definitely enjoy this one!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

This book I have been waiting with great anticipation since I saw that beautiful cover. I know that you should not judge a book by its cover, but if I didn't already know the author's writing, I would have picked it up in an instant.

And this story delivered with an engrossing tale of a brother and sister who are reeling from their father's unexpected death. A father who really wasn't a good father, who was reeling after their mother's death. A broken family to be sure who is trying to live the rest of their lives with the many shards of their brokenness.

And Colin, Amelia's younger brother, also suffers from a disfiguring disease that has made him grow in what many people would call a grotesque monster. On top of that he suffered an accident that did not help his appearance, so he was just trying to live his life in seclusion. I like that we got his point of view as well as his sister's and the doctor Graham Lambert's who is helping to treat him. Colin had a wonderful heart and a beautiful soul that if others looked past his appearance would find a true and genuine friend.

Amelia is charged with caring for her brother, and she loves him dearly. She is also running to every sort of adventure she can find in her travels to escape the prison she is in. She was a woman in the early 1800's dealing with broken familial relations and just trying to escape. I felt for her and all the pressure she was under.

Graham was the knight in shining armor with some armor that needed polishing. He blames himself for his past and has a heart for the poor and sick whom he desperately tries to help and save whether they will accept the help or even if they cannot pay. He sees in the Balfour sibling's true kinship and friendship and possible love with Amelia. His protective instincts kick in now and again with Amelia but also with Colin.

Now the doctor he partners with is a strange man with even stranger ideas. He is creepy and his secret dealings and hidden agendas is something that Graham feels immense alarm. A couple of descriptions makes one wonder if he is the true monster in this story.

There was an ominous feeling throughout this story. Strange stirrings were happening in and around their home. And their neighbors were an interesting bunch as well.

I look forward to every book by author Griep and this one with its foreboding title, gothic feel, "monsters", and beautiful cover was a joy to read.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

It's not every day I get a chance to read a story like this. With Frankenstein as an inspiration and Michelle Griep's amazing prose, I knew from the very beginning that Lost in Darkness would be a book that I could not turn down. I was absolutely amazed by this tale. From her deep insights into human nature and our need to be loved, to Amelia's striving to gain perfection, this book took me on a journey that I'll be thinking about for years. It's one of the few stories I wish I could forget so that I'd have the pleasure of reading it for the first time all over again. The gothic vibe lent itself well to the story, and though it has the darkness of a chilling tale, there is hope and love evident throughout. I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

“We all have monsters within. Is it not time you slay this particular dragon?”

Wow, Michelle Griep brings more Gothic elements into this book than in her previous books and it is chillingly delicious. Set in Regency England, the backdrop is eerie and mysterious, the characters are surprisingly refreshing and delightful, and the faith lessons woven throughout the story are so applicable. Loosely based on Frankenstein, the plot involves a sister desperate to help her younger brother overcome a medical condition to fit into society and a former navy surgeon trapped in a professional partnership that he is regretting. What I wasn’t expecting was the point of view from the malformed brother, who has a heart of gold and unswerving loyalty, and a faith that bolsters hope and imparts wisdom. The sibling love is palpable, the regret and remorse and shattering loneliness felt by the characters are heartbreaking, and the villains are human at heart. This is a historical fiction that has it all - suspense, mystery, romance, heartfelt emotion and medical history in 1815 England.

I received the book via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are solely my own.

Beautifully written and fascinating, Michelle Griep’s Lost in Darkness tells the tale of what could have been the inspiration for Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.

Travel writer Amelia Balfour reluctantly agrees to return to her childhood home after her father’s passing to support her younger brother as he considers undergoing life-changing surgery. Colin has acromegaly- a growth condition complicated by a severe facial burn he suffered as a child. He hides himself away because as a gentle, loving, giant of a man, scaring people is something he wishes to avoid at all costs. Promising restoration to society, a respected surgeon pushes for Colin and Amelia to honor their father’s wish that Colin undergo a radical procedure.

Former naval surgeon Graham Lambert feels a rush of success when he convinces well-respected Mr. Peckwood to accept him as a partner in his surgical practice. But just what does the doctor think he can do to magically cure Colin Balfour? As Graham grows increasingly alarmed by Peckwood’s methods, he does all that he can to support Colin, who is quickly becoming a friend, and Amelia, who has started to capture his heart.

I loved Colin’s character and I enjoyed watching the romance develop between Amelia and Graham. All the happy things were definitely my favorite parts, including the interactions between Colin and Nemo. Mr. Peckwood unsettled me. He was manipulative and simply awful. It made me so grateful for all the laws today that protect people from such treatment! I was intrigued by all the medical information in the novel and learned a lot. Definitely with a gothic feel, it felt like the perfect novel to read on a rainy evening under a blanket. The story was well-written and enthralling, although not the book to read if you’re looking for something light with a happy ending.

I received a complementary copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley. My opinions are my own.

From the moment I saw the name “Mary Shelly” in the description, I knew I had to read Lost in Darkness.

When I first read Frankenstein back in high school, I knew that the poor monster had to be more than just an evil combination of some mad man desperate for solutions. Michelle Griep gave me the satisfaction of seeing what that might have looked like.

The poor Belfour family had endured more than enough, but then they are subject to the abuse of the true monster. I couldn’t help but wonder what Amilia and Colin’s father might have known that the mad doctor wasn’t as genius as he let on. Since it is fiction, I guess we will never know.

One character had a front row seat to the madness and was more than caught between a rock and a hard place. He was bound by commitment to his boss but the bond with the Belfour family just couldn’t seem to strengthen fast enough. I was more upset with him than Amilia was, in my opinion.

I was entranced in this story and couldn’t seem to put it down. It was chilling, heart breaking, and captivating —I couldn’t get enough. Of course, Michelle Griep is one of my favorite gothic writers.

***I was given a copy of this book from the publisher through CelebrateLit. Opinions are my own and a positive view was not required

This was a fascinating regency era tale with some Frankenstein elements (including an appearance or two of Mary Shelley herself!). This book follows Amelia Balfour, a travel writer making her way in a man's world - just after her father dies. His final wish was that she would oversee a revolutionary surgery for her brother to make him more "normal". Her brother Collin had my heart from the get-go. His kind nature and trust in God even when people treated him as a monster was so wonderful. I also adored Graham Lambert, the assistant surgeon for Collin's procedure. The romance between Graham and Amelia was sweet and the story line and character development was wonderful. This book also had some great spiritual depth as well. There were elements of humor, of sorrow, of good and evil, and a solid faith thread. There was a great deal of mystery surrounding the story as well as a sweet romance. All in all, it had all of the makings of a great book! I would recommend this one to fans of historical novels and to anyone who enjoyed Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Special thanks to Barbour Publishing and Netgalley for an e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

Add another Michelle Griep book to my "most likely to re-read" pile. 😊

5 stars

This book had everything that I've been missing for a while now: an engaging storyline that kept a pretty good pace, and wonderful characters that I truly came to care for (bawled like a baby at the end). I was at least a quarter of the way in before realizing this was a re-telling of "Frankenstein." Looking forward to reading more of the books that will be coming out in this series.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked the overall story. It was so sad, sweet and startling at times. I love Michelle’s stories, but this one was a little harder for me as it seemed to take a while to get to the main story. I did feel like her character development was strong and appreciated that I knew the characters and how they felt at any given moment. The ending is definitely not what I had expected so she got me there! A good read overall!

Delightfully creepy and yet wonderful in all the best ways. Loved the dialogue, the characters and the plot. I definitely felt some Frankenstein and Beauty and the Beast vibes from this wonderful story. I was absolutely appalled at the medical experiments and "treatments" that went on but was so pleased with how Amelia and Graham worked so hard to take care of her brother. I also loved the swoony kisses and the slow revelation of what would happen. Such a great read and one I certainly recommend reading on a cold winter night.

I received this temporary complimentary E-book from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley. I am not required by anyone to write a positive review but am pleased to do so. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

Amelia Balfour’s dream of traveling to Cairo with her maid and writing a book about her travels has come true. No small feat for a woman during the Regency era in England. When her father passes away unexpectedly, Amelia must choose between fulfilling her dream or fulfilling her father’s last wish.

Her father, an austere and emotionally distant man, has arranged for Amelia’s younger brother, Colin, to receive a surgical procedure. The novel procedure promises to change the course of Colin’s life. Their father made arrangements for the surgery to continue in the event of his death—but Amelia will need to return to the home in Bristol she escaped from seven years ago.

When people see Colin Balfour, they react with screams, shouts, threats, or fainting. An anomaly has caused him to grow prodigiously tall, with a misshapen head. While his outward appearance frightens people, his keen intelligence and kind spirit endear him to those who can see past his physical oddities.

When Amelia chooses family over her dreams, she has no idea what she will discover.

Graham Lambert, a naval ship’s surgeon, has returned to Bristol to join forces with a respectable surgeon after his administrative discharge from His Majesty’s Navy. He chooses Mr. Peckwood, an elderly surgeon with a thriving practice and dreams of making a name for himself with medical advances.

Graham has no idea his quest to redeem his career will lead him to discover the depths of depravity in a well-respected surgeon. His moral dilemma increases when he realizes Mr. Peckwood’s actions have put Graham’s new friends, Amelia and Colin Balfour, in grave danger.
What I Loved About This Book

Griep masterfully creates a gothic setting filled with secret passages, stormy cliff-side scenes, and foreboding institutions. Each chapter starts with an epigraph from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Shelley has a cameo role in Lost in Darkness (she moves into lodgings near the Balfour house). Readers quickly infer the inspiration for Frankenstein’s horrible experiment comes from Colin Balfour.

Fans of gothic classics such as Jane Eyre or Louisa May Alcott’s lesser-known A Long and Fatal Love Chase will enjoy this book. Fans of Abigail Wilson will also love Lost in Darkness.

“I have learned never to be quick to judge, for not all are as they appear at first meeting.”

Nobody writes Regency romance quite as eloquently as Michelle Griep. And now Michelle Griep adds Gothic to her expertly crafted subgenres as well. We start Lost in Darkness, #1 Of Monsters and Men, in 1815 London. There we discover Amelia Balfour, a travel journalist, hoping to leave for her dream trip to Egypt. Instead, she unexpectedly finds herself caring for her brother, Colin, whose physical deformities cause him to be a recluse from society. Few make the effort to see past the outer man to discover the gentle soul inside.
Will the two doctors who claim they can help Colin, be able to do such an incredible surgery as to make Colin's form and visage passable to society? Or will there be unexpected problems on this quest for healing?

Griep is an Anglophile with a great love for the historical literature of the period. Rather than retell Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Griep imagines a scenario that would inspire Shelley’s masterpiece. And what an intriguing and suspenseful novel Griep pens! I love all the philosophical questions Griep raises while keeping the reader enthralled with the romantic, gothic atmosphere. How far can a doctor experiment on humans before he has crossed an ethical line? When has one stopped trying to help, and started trying to gain power and prestige at a deep cost to others? “If one could mend the mind, one could bend the mind…” At what cost does one desire success? Many characters must wrestle with this issue.

I loved seeing Graham Lambert progressively develop a spine. Will he actually continue to exert the new muscle he has developed, or shrink back when push comes to shove?

I enjoyed the inclusion of a certain waif. I am a sucker for children in stories, and this one doesn’t fit the mold waifs are usually relegated to.

One more note: I love when slightly dark or suspenseful books have some comic relief. Griep includes this with notes of humor from the maid, off-setting the seriousness and tragedy being presented. Bravo!!

Hard to pick just a few Notable Quotables!

“If houses had souls, this one was clearly bound for Hades.”

“Do not live your lives looking over your shoulder, wondering what others think of your behaviour. It is God you will answer to one day, not society.”

“…the most holy band of society is friendship.”

“There was no cure for fear or despair, leastwise not in his bag of tools.”

“Trust must ultimately rest on God, not in folklore, which is flimsy at best and malignant at worst.”

“Yet I find it is not justice so much as mercy that makes all things right.”

“Family, no matter the size of it, is precious. Never leave a loved one behind.”

“He was soon borne away by the wave and lost in darkness and distance.” Mary Shelley, Frankenstein

As the nights grow colder and the days shorter, there is nothing better than curling up by the fire with a gothic novel full of eerie characters that will send shivers down your spine. In her latest release, Lost in Darkness, Michelle Griep channels Mary Shelley’s famous novel, Frankenstein, for a prequel-like story that will battle the forces of light and darkness until a champion is declared.

Amelia Balfour has created a successful career as a travel writer; however, just as she receives the opportunity to travel to Cairo, a city she’s always dreamed of visiting, her plans are brought to an abrupt halt after the sudden death of her father. Forced to return to the home she loathes to fulfill her father’s final request, Amelia is reunited with her monstrously-sized younger brother, Colin. Will the revolutionary surgery her father organized truly restore her brother’s appearance, giving him a life outside of the shadows, or will the risk prove more deadly than anyone realized? And, what of Amelia’s ticket to Cairo? Will she make it to her ship in time, or will being home shift her prospects in ways she hadn’t anticipated?

"Everything shook. Her legs. The letter. The tickets to Cairo. In one hand she held her future. In the other, her past. And between lay the present’s ugly decision of who to disappoint—her editor, herself, or the man she’d called Father." ~ Michelle Griep

Graham Lambert is a surgeon with a reputation to rebuild. After sowing all of his life’s savings into a partnership with the renowned surgeon, Mr Peckwood, Graham is given a peek behind the curtain and begins to wonder if he’s made the right choice. In a never-ending tug-of-war struggle with his heart and a past that continues to haunt him, Graham tries not to make any hasty decisions; however, as he assists with Colin Balfour’s pre-operation treatments, Graham’s reservations continue to grow. Will Graham take action before it’s too late, or will the darkness of his heart continue to cloud the light that is trying to seep in?

"Danger may be real, but fear was a choice." ~ Michelle Griep

Lost in Darkness is the perfect Fall/Winter novel. Though there is an air of spooky darkness that films the pages, hope and light push through the seams, creating an inward battle that only increases the further into the novel you travel. Pulling on the themes of faith, mistakes, love, loss, and family, Michelle Griep beautifully narrates this haunting tale.

While I applaud the author for her spectacular vocabulary and how she immersed her readers into the time era, I must admit that I had a hard time connecting with the story. Unlike her previous release, The Thief of Blackfriar’s Lane, I did not become as absorbed with this story or characters. Nevertheless, there is still a lot to admire and praise about Lost in Darkness. If you are a fan of gothic novels, you’re going to thoroughly enjoy this story! There is a book for everyone, and this might be the one for you!

*Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with a pre-release copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own!*

Definitely, Michelle Griep's best book yet, Lost in Darkness delves into the horrifying world of mental and physical medical care in the early nineteenth century.
Griep pulled me in from the first pages with descriptive imagery, a cast of immediately beloved characters, and a story that grabs you and won't let you go, even when you want it to. She writes of a woman who still hadn't lost the desire to be loved and accepted for who she was. How could anyone not find it gripping and heart-wrenching at the same time? Then there are three men trying to reverse the past in three very different ways.
As the story rushed to a conclusion I didn't want to read and couldn't put down, deep lessons of faith threaded stitches into my heart. Only a master storyteller could make me WANT the end that I knew I didn't want at the same time.
All of which is told with just enough of a nod to gothic horror to make it feel authentic but written so that those who don't care for horror can still enjoy it.
Am I glad I received a free review copy from the publisher? Oh, yeah. Am I glad I ordered my own copy as well when I forgot I requested one? Yep.
Recommended for lovers of gothic novels, historical fiction, and redemptive stories with a strong faith element. Not recommended for... someone. I'm sure someone won't like it for reasons I can't fathom. :)

Have you ever read a book inspired by Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein? I had not…until now. And wow, what a story Michelle Griep weaves in Lost in Darkness.

This book has so much depth to it. From Colin’s tender and kind heart despite the way others view him because of what they see on the outside to Amelia’s love for her brother and her desire for him to experience life to the fullest, Griep pulled me into this gothic tale. The balance between light and darkness, between healing and madness, between hope and heartbreak is so well done.

There are some hard moments in this book (have some tissues handy) but also some beautiful ones. The journey Amelia, Graham and Colin take is a memorable one that I’m sure I will return to again as the author explores the state of the heart that makes a man a monster or a hero.

Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

I have read a lot of Michelle’s books and this one ranks at the top of them.

I loved that gospel message in the book and I loved the characters. I was so concerned about Colin and what would happen when Dr. Peckwood got his hands on him. I kept hoping something would delay his surgery and then the truth about the doctor would come light (whatever that is exactly, it isn’t revealed for a while).

Amelia and Graham are both great characters that you will easily come to care for and be cheering them on in a romance that doesn’t seem possible.

If you like historical romance you will not be disappointed in this book.

A copy of this book was given to me through Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.