Louise Douglas always weaves a great book to read but this one had so much more diamonds shining in the pages than a ring on a finger. The depths and twists within this book really had my mind whizzing.

Loved the place that it was set in so I’m aware of that part and could envision certain scenic type of mentions in my minds eye.

Very compelling read.

There is much more to this book than I expected (in a good way).

This book starts as a slow burn. It is intriguing and full of mystery. The plot is very interesting. I liked the characters.

Louise Douglas weaves a suspenseful and atmospheric tale in "The Lost Notebook," earning this gripping novel a solid four stars. Set against the idyllic backdrop of the Brittany coast during summer, the story takes readers on a journey filled with mystery, dark secrets, and the haunting specter of malevolent forces.

The narrative begins with a series of unsettling events, starting with the suspicious death of an old traveler woman and the apparent suicide of another victim under the influence of a hate campaign. Douglas skillfully builds a sense of foreboding, drawing readers into a world where the picturesque surroundings of Morranez hide a dark and enigmatic undercurrent.

Mila Shepherd, the protagonist, adds depth to the story. Taking care of her niece Ani after a tragic accident at sea, Mila finds herself entangled in a web of secrets and hidden truths. Her role in a missing persons agency, combined with the arrival of new recruit Carter Jackson, sets the stage for an intriguing exploration of the mysterious events unfolding in Morranez.

The author excels in creating a vivid sense of place, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the beauty and mystery of the Brittany coast. The atmosphere is richly depicted, enhancing the suspenseful nature of the plot. The juxtaposition of the serene summer setting with the ominous occurrences adds a layer of complexity to the narrative.

As Mila and Carter dig deeper into the mysteries of Morranez, the tension escalates, and the reader is kept on the edge of their seat. Douglas skillfully crafts a plot that combines elements of psychological suspense and traditional mystery, keeping the pages turning with unexpected twists and revelations.

While the pacing is generally well-maintained, there are moments where the narrative feels slightly rushed, potentially sacrificing some opportunities for further character development. Additionally, a more nuanced exploration of certain themes, such as the dynamics within the missing persons agency, could enhance the overall depth of the story.

In conclusion, "The Lost Notebook" is a compelling and atmospheric thriller that captures the essence of summer on the Brittany coast while delving into the shadows that lurk beneath the surface. Louise Douglas succeeds in creating a mysterious and suspenseful tale, making this novel an engaging read for fans of psychological mysteries with a touch of the supernatural.

This was a good read with a good storyline but it was a little slow for me and the ending was just too abrupt. At times I felt engulfed by the story and characters but I just wish it was like that all the way through.

Thank you NetgalleY

After her step sister and her husband die in tragic circumstances, Milla temporarily moves to France to look after her teenage niece. While there she works at her step mother’s investigation agency and becomes involved in solving the mysterious death of a homeless woman.
This is book could have been so much better. There were many storylines, some related to each other and some completely random. The relationships between characters are not fully developed nor are some of the more interesting narratives. I have enjoyed previous Louise Douglas books, but this was definitely not as good.

The summer season has started on the idyllic Brittany coast, where holidaymakers are flocking. But everything changes when an old traveller woman dies in suspicious circumstances and then a campaign of hate seems to drive another victim to suicide.

Mila Shepherd has moved into her family home to look after her niece, whose parents Sophie and husband Charles were lost at sea.

She has taken her sister's place in an agency that specialises in tracking down missing people.

Mila's suspicion grows that something sinister is happening in this idyllic location.

A great read that starts slowly and builds to a thrilling conclusion.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange fir an honest review.

Rating edit: 2.5

Honestly, I was not so intrigued by the blurb, but there was something about the cover and the title that I requested this book.

Thankfully, I really liked the writing style ―it was neat and engaging. The bonding of Mila with her dead step sister, Sophie was endearing. I loved their silent conversations. I liked all of this, despite the slow pace of the story. I thought it would pick up the pace, but after 22 chapters, the slow pace began to bother me; I started to lose interest. The slow, little revelations didn't pique my curiosity.

The characters don't have any striking features ―not even the traveler woman (that character demanded something striking). Even Carter's introduction seemed dull.

Overall, I expected it to be an interesting read when I started, but I am disappointed.

Thank you Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC.

After having reviewed The House by the Sea, and The Scarlet Dress, I was eager to get into The Lost Notebook. I found the beginning to be slow, but I liked gradually getting to know the characters.

I did feel like there were too many characters introduced at once at this point in the book, but I felt the setting was a good choice as the coast of Brittany (an area I visited a lot on vacation as a child) has some remote areas perfect for thrillers and the sense of mystery started very early which made me want to keep going with the book. I’m glad I did because the book is really great.

I love mentions of lost notebooks and secrets.

Louise Douglas never fails to impress me with her excellent aattention to detail and ability to create settings and characters to keep me hooked all the way through the novel.

Thanks to Louise Douglas, Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

4.5 stars

I highly recommend clearing your schedule to read this. It's beautifully written and cleverly orchestrated. From the beginning to the end I was immersed. Mystery, love and a heart stopping ending.

This is a story of hunting war criminals. Not sure what I thought in the beginning but the story was wonderful. Set in France, a old woman in a small trailer helps Ani after a fall from her bike. Her Aunt Mila finds the two camped out at the side of the road and Mila thanks her for helping Ani. The old woman and Ani had chatted while waiting for Mila and she tells Ani about her notebook and her quest. Finding the last Nazi who killed her young friend during the war. Now the old woman is dead and her trailer was set on fire. Carter and Mila are convinced the last criminal killed her but the police are not convinced. A well written mystery with lots of clues spread out. Starts slow but picks up the pace.

A solid read which transports you to the French Coast and the mysteries it holds. There was a slow start but soon the pace picked up. I would definitely read more by this author. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

I Have to preface by saying this is not my usual genre. While there were elements of this book I did like, it really wasn't for me. There is no doubt that the writing is brilliant and I did enjoy the twist at the end. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reading copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Because of other commitments after I started this book I had to put it aside. I knew it needed reviewing so I made up my mind to finish it before the end of this weekend and I am so glad I did. I gave it 4 stars and really did enjoy it. This was my first Louise Douglas book and I know that I am going to read others of hers in the future. This was a very cleverly crafted book and beautifully written. So much in one book to wade through. Mystery, thriller, romance, psychological thriller, history and so much more made this an epic read for me. Very complicated but wonderful characters and a plot that kept me interested. It wasn't typical in any way. Only thing that disappointed me a little was the end and the reason I could not give this 5 stars. I would have like a complete resolution at the end. Is there perhaps going to be a sequel?? I am sure fans of Louise Douglas are thrilled to read this and if like me this is your first introduction to her I hope you get the same enjoyment from this book that I did. Thank you again NetGalley and Boldwood Books.

This book started off a little slow but developed into a great summer read. The characters are well developed and interesting.

Award-winning author Louise Douglas is back with The Lost Notebook, a brooding, captivating and haunting new novel readers will struggle to put down.

Morranez, a seaside town on the Brittany coast, is a little slice of paradise which sees tourists from across the world flocking to this idyllic part of the world every summer. With its breath-taking landscape, friendly atmosphere and majestic beauty, Morranez is as close to perfect as it is possible to get, however, the town’s dark secrets that have been buried for so long are dragged out into the light when an old traveller woman is found dead in suspicious circumstances and a campaign of hatred forces another victim to take their own life. Just what is going on in Morranez?

Mila Shepherd has come to France to look for her niece, Ani, after a tragic accident had resulted in Ani’s parents being lost at sea. Mila has moved into her sister Sophie’s family holiday home and taken her place working in an agency specialising in tracking down missing people. It immediately becomes clear to Mila that sinister forces are at play, yet the police choose to always look the other way. Why are the police refusing to investigate? Why are they so determined to keep burying their head in the stand? With new agency recruit Carter Jackson, Mila vows to uncover the truth. But is she ready for what she is about to find out?

Somebody is willing to do whatever it takes to keep Morranez’ secrets dead and buried. Will Mila and Carter manage to uncover the town’s dark truths and vanquish its demons once and for all? Or will Morranez end up claiming more victims?

It’s impossible not to fall under Louise Douglas’ spell and in The Lost Notebook, she has written a mesmerizing tale full of twisted secrets, dangerous deceptions, community tensions and insidious lies that will keep readers glued to its pages. Packed with atmosphere, suspense and juicy twists and turns, Louise Douglas’ The Lost Notebook is a superb page-turner readers will devour in a single sitting.

I was fortunate to receive a copy of this ARC from NetGalley and Boldwood Books. This was a really interesting mystery, I enjoyed how it was interwoven, and I enjoyed the setting of the novel.

Mila Shepherd has travelled to the idyllic Brittany coast where
She's staying so for her orphaned teen niece, Ani, she can care.
She's also taken her sister's role in the agency
Helping tracking down missing persons, as you'll see.
However, she doesn't plan to stay
Once Ani has gone to boarding school, she'll also go away.

A story filled with family drama and mystery
With links to the past and tragic history.
The tragic death of an old lady has Mila perplexed
And no one else interested has her feeling vexed.
The old lady's notebook has disappeared
Where is it now? Lost forever Mila feared.

As mischief and mayhem come into play
Can Mila stay safe, keep danger away?
A slow start leads to a riveting read and so
I highly recommend you give this fascinating book a go!
For my complementary copy of this book, I say thank you,
I throughly enjoyed reading it and this is my honest review.

I really struggled to get into this French mystery by Douglas. This is my second read by this author but I certainly did not connect with the narrative like I did previously. I also thought that the cover was quite misleading: it portrays a stormy, brooding narrative, despite the fact this takes place in the height of summer and there are lots of positive references to the warm weather.

From the beginning I thought that something felt ‘off’ with the narrative and I think I could put this down to two reasons. Firstly, I did not understand Mila’s obsession with connecting with Gosia’s son after her unexpected death. It seemed rather rash and inexplicable because Mila barely knew the woman and I thought she was becoming unnecessarily involved in a stranger’s affairs. Secondly, I quickly disliked Mila and her attitudes towards her family. She treats her niece with disdain: she is a burden that is preventing Mila from returning to England; she dislikes her step-mother and is exasperated by being the interim carer for Ani.

I would have preferred if Douglas had developed Gosia’s character throughout the narrative because Mila’s investigations made it all seem rather one-sided. Incorporating some flashbacks would have helped me understand this absent character a bit more and likely sympathise with Mila’s caring approach. Instead, it felt like all the revelations came in the last ten or so chapters; this is when I felt the story was most interesting and picked up a pace that was largely lethargic and slow.

I found it interesting how Mila is haunted by her sister. Throughout the story, Mila “hears” Sophie’s responses in her head. Not only does this represent Mila’s raw grief, but also the isolation she feels. Reinforced by looking after Sophie’s daughter, I think it demonstrated how detached Mila had become to everyone around her – symbolised by how few friends she has and the suspicions she has of so many. Furthermore, I was saddened about how Mila treated her niece, particularly with regards to her future plans, and I think this added to my dislike of the protagonist.

This was a very slow-burner of a mystery that I found I cared less and less about. I persevered because I wanted to see how Mila’s character would change and, when some action started to happen, was keen to understand the motives driving this. However, it was largely a struggle to read this book and I found it quite disappointing overall.

With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn’t expecting such a great mystery! I thought this might be a cheesy, cozy little mystery but the mystery aspect was really laid out well and I found myself thoroughly enjoying the characters! A pleasant surprise!

This was quite a gripping read with a lot to take in at first as we familiarise ourselves with the characters and the main story threads. However, the pieces of the puzzle do all start to link and make sense pretty quickly. The setting Morannez is excellent, and described in quite a beautiful way, which really contrasts well with the tense and twisty narrative. I particulary enjoyed the way in which the deceased Sophie added to the story telling through Mila, her sister. This added quite an eerie element.