May settled. She married Fred who runs her father's grocery business in Sacramento. She's always been the 'spare'...her sister June was always prettier, smarter, more vibrant. After receiving a letter from June, who had been missing for over a year, May leaves Fred behind to meet her sister at an artist colony in Southern California.

May arrives and is instantly in awe of the wealth of the colony. The mansion is full of luxury and beautiful things, including a pet lion. Rex and Ruth are the married couple who run the colony/cult. June, however, is nowhere to be found. May is instantly drawn into the folds of the community. They promise to provide what was once lost. In May's case, it was her daughter who died soon after birth.

May is sent on a small mission, which later leads to an angry husband of another colony member showing up, drunk and screaming. Soon after, that man is dead. And so is May's husband.

May continues to wait for June and digs around the colony's inner workings, finding dark secrets and parlor tricks. The longer she stays, the more she wants to leave. But May will not leave without June, no matter what.

Kelsey James did an excellent job of creating the seaside atmosphere and of May's inner thoughts and desires. May wanted to be taken seriously. She wanted to turn her ideas for the grocery store into reality but settled for what was acceptable at the time. It's a good characterization of women during the 1930s.

I did find some things odd about the story - the 1930s are famously known as The Great Depression and Prohibition. So the gas usage of the cars stood out. (Maybe I think too much?) Also, a LION?? What does this lion eat? Where does it sleep? WHERE DOES IT GO TO THE BATHROOM????

Still, the overall story was great and the end was satisfying. May really came into her own and found the happiness she desperately needed.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Quite creepy, atmospheric and evocative. I enjoyed May’s evolution. The weakest point in the story, in my opinion, was the romance, which felt forced. The book would’ve been better without that character and that element.

May is a young woman who has lived her entire life in the shadow of her smarter, prettier, braver, and more charming sister, June. A compulsive people-pleaser, adept at swallowing her true feelings, May has never been happy. Even her miserable marriage to an older man was an attempt to please her late father. When she receives a brief letter from June (who disappeared without a word two years ago) inviting her for to visit, May steals her husband's car and as much cash as she can find and takes off for the the Kinima Theosophical Society. June is said to be on a mission for the group and the charismatic leader, Rex, invites May to stay with them until her sister returns. With nowhere to go and nothing to do, she accepts and soon becomes a member. Unfortunately, the welcoming "society" turns out to be both more and less than she expected. The Colony of Lost Souls is set in Prohibition era California. This was a smart choice as the events might have been less plausible in a world that included cell phones, television and the Internet.

I am fascinated by cults and fully expected to enjoy this book. While the ideas were interesting, I found the story clumsily written and I could not relate to the main character. May seems both dim and unimaginative. When asked what her "art" is, she spends a happy afternoon listing the items in her father's store! I also had trouble connecting with a woman who was almost instantly attracted to any good-looking man who paid her any attention. Her constant self-doubt and longing for her sister became annoying. Also, I guessed the big "surprise" too early to be impressed by it and felt like I was wading through mud for too many hours afterwards. This book was not unreadable, but I would not have bothered finishing it if I did not feel obliged to write a fair review.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher, John Scognamiglio, for the opportunity to access a free advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was left contemplating miracles long after turning the final page—not just their possibility, but the desperate human need to believe in them. Set against Depression-era California's sun-drenched backdrop, this gothic historical fiction explored how desperation can transform faith into something dangerous.

The sister relationship formed the novel's beating heart. May, the "spare" who chose stability, and June, the family favorite whose free spirit captivated everyone around her, saw each other through lenses of admiration rather than jealousy. Their dynamic felt refreshingly nuanced—June consistently acknowledged May's intelligence while May envied her sister's confidence. This complex foundation made May's journey to find her missing sister all the more compelling.

What awaited beyond those tall iron gates intoxicated me as much as it did May. James created an atmosphere thick with foreboding through meticulous details—beach huts constraining residents within uniformity, the mansion looming atop the cliff symbolizing unattainable salvation, prescribed clothing erasing individuality. The setting became a physical manifestation of the cult's psychological grip.

The patriarchal structures felt historically authentic yet chillingly relevant. Men like May's husband and Rex, the cult leader, viewed women as tools rather than humans. May's transformation from dutiful wife to someone questioning miracles reflected the nascent stirrings of female agency against overwhelming societal pressure. I tensed with each step of her awakening.

Most impressive was how James made May's choices understandable despite their growing danger. The psychological pull of belonging, of finally being seen, created a spiral that was difficult to escape. I found myself simultaneously urging May to flee and comprehending why she couldn't.

This dark exploration of blind faith and sisterhood kept me riveted—a blend of historical detail with psychological suspense that questioned what miracles truly cost.

Thank you, Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for my E-ARC for review. Opinions are my own.

The Colony of Lost Souls is an interesting 1930's historical novel that focuses on the topic of cults. People who felt like they never fit in anywhere else would usually join because the leaders were so welcoming and used a classic brainwashing technique to make the vulnerable person know that they understood the pain they were going through. However, one they realized the true nature of these places it was too late because they were locked in and the only way out was death. This story tells ones woman's journey to uncover the truth and live to tell the tale.
Our story begins with a young woman named May who receives a letter from her sister June who disappeared a couple years ago inviting her to come to The Colony as it is believed to help people with miracles and realize their worth. May who is tired of the life that she has decides to go. She backs up a bag and leaves her husband.
When she arrives her sister June is supposedly off on a retreat in another state. She meets some other members who swear that this cult is truly a miracle for them. However, an encounter with the charismatic leader Rex opens her eyes to something else. Overtime May realizes that there is something evil about the cult and vows the get to the bottom of it. However could uncovering the truth come at the cost of her own life?
I was very impressed by this novel. Before this I had never read any fiction involving cults and this book really opened my eyes.
I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.

"A young woman searching for her missing sister in 1930s California is drawn into a dark and dangerous cult in this intoxicating binge of sacrifice and obsession, strange rituals, alluring promises, and a beautiful prison for readers of Silvia Moreno Garcia, Nicola Harrison, Laura Purcell, California Golden by Melanie Benjamin, and Emma Cline's The Girls.

Born a year apart, May and June Anderson were once as close as twins. Time and a loveless marriage changed the once vibrant May into June's timid counterpart. Now, two years after June abruptly disappeared, May receives a letter from her sister, inviting her to visit a mysterious colony in southern California. Eager to match June's boldness for once, May doesn't hesitate.

The Colony is located in a magnificent Spanish Revival-style mansion perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific, and is presided over by the group's charismatic leader, Rex. Colony members believe in an afterlife where departed souls mingle, and that the truly enlightened can even summon back the spirits of lost loved ones. May is told that June has recently left on a mission, and she's intrigued enough to accept Rex's invitation to stay until her sister's return.

Drawn deeper into the group, and under Rex's seductive spell, May undergoes their initiation ceremony. Yet her questions grow more urgent with June's continued absence - and the warnings of a presumptuous but charming undercover investigator. May has longed for the daring, adventurous life her sister pursued, but her arrival has sparked a dangerous unraveling within the Colony, where nothing and no one is quite as it seems.

Gripping and atmospheric, The Colony of Lost Souls immerses readers in a world of secrets, deception, and unexpected redemption."

Oh, her sister is SO dead. That's the "mission" she one FOR SURE.

“‘I’m so sorry, Rosa,” she said, dread coursing through her veins like a drug. “But this place is no refuge.”’ - June, The Colony of Lost Souls

THE COLONY OF LOST SOULS is a gothic thriller set in a remote Spanish Revival-style mansion overlooking the Pacific Ocean in the 1930’s. The story follows May Anderson, a woman whose older sister, June, has mysteriously disappeared. Two years pass before May receives a brief letter from June who encourages May to come visit her at the Kinima Theosophical Society where she promises to explain everything.

When May arrives at the mansion she is greeted by Rex, the spiritual leader, his wife, Ruth, an artist, and her lion, Matilda. Rex explains June just left on a secret mission and May is invited to stay until she returns. Ruth initially takes May under her wing and begins to explain the Society’s beliefs and rituals. Due to May’s own recent life events, she readily buys into the program and its rhetoric. However, it doesn’t take May long to start questioning what she is told and observes. With the help from Vito, a skeptical private detective, May begins to investigate this mystic community, uncovering secrets as well as piecing together the truth about June.



This novel is a great example of how setting can act like a character in the story. The Spanish Revival-style mansion, where the Society lives, shares traits that would apply to any character: larger-than-life, enigmatic, hiding truth, and deceiving in appearance. The mansion amplifies the menacing dark tone of the story.


Rex is the best drawn character in the book. He is perfectly charming at first and as the story unfolds, his character becomes more complex and defined. May, on the other hand, was not impressive. Her determination to figure out the truth about her sister and her loyalty towards certain members in the Society is admirable. However, her emotional struggle to separate herself from the close relationship with her sister felt off. Readers might struggle to connect with her. At times, her inner angst around this was repetitive and slowed the pacing of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Colony of Lost Souls by Kelsey James is a cult fiction mystery in which a woman sets out to find her lost sister and ends up trapped in a dangerous cult in this eerie tale.

In 1930s California, May is searching for her lost sister June, when she is summoned by her to The Colony, an idyllic home for the lost. With nothing meaningful keeping her tethered to her boring and safe life, May decides to go to The Colony and bring her sister back home. Once there, May realizes that The Colony is a spiritual society led by the charismatic Rex, who believes in the afterlife and reincarnation. It isn't long before May becomes seduced by the colony's promise of reuniting with the souls of the deceased, which keeps her trapped unable to escape the nefarious grip The Colony now has over her life. Strange rituals and ceremonies threaten May's freedom and search in finding her lost sister.

The Colony of Lost Souls was a propulsive mystery with the dark glamour of a cultish read, enough to put me into its thrall of promises and lies. May was an interesting character, repressed and tightly wound until her desires were awakened through the manipulation of her emotions and fears. I don't think she was written to be a likeable character, and that's why I think she was a strong protagonist- she toed the line of making me feel both sympathetic and repulsed by her actions. Ironically she had to lose herself in order to find herself which she did in risky and questionable ways. I would have liked more background information on Ruth since she ended up playing an important role in the story. I'm not sure if the ambiguous supernatural elements were intentionally unresolved, but a little more clarity as to May's visions would have been helpful. I enjoyed the 1930s California setting as it was an interesting juncture in its history with the golden age of Hollywood mingling with the Depression, a time of shattered dreams. The author did a great job at creating an unnerving atmosphere in The Colony, with the predatory personality of Rex and spooky vibe of the mansion creating a locked room type of feel. The rituals, ceremonies, and occult beliefs seemed realistic or at least well researched.

The Colony of Lost Souls by Kelsey James is recommended for fans of historical fiction and occult mysteries.

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

For fans of historical 1930s fiction with a gothic atmosphere and a touch of the supernatural, look no further than The Colony Of Lost Souls. After missing for two years, June reaches out to her younger sister May, asking her to visit. When May arrives she finds that June is not currently in residence and has been sent on a mission trip for the colony. Soon, May realizes this is a cult and finds herself trapped within the gates. As mush as she yearns to escape from the colony, she can’t leave without saving June as well.

This was my first time reading anything by the author and I have to say it was really well written. It felt like I was right there with May through her journey.

'The Colony of Lost Souls' is a historical suspense novel with a touch of romance. We enter the story the day that May receives a letter from her once close-as-a-twin sister, June. June has been missing for the last two years, but May has steadfastly believed that her sister would pop back up at some point. When June's letter urges May to leave her husband and travel down the coast to the Kinima Theosophical Society where June will explain her whereabouts for the last few years. Upon arrival, May is disappointed to find out that she has just missed her sister, but the leaders of the society, Rex and his wife, Ruth, offer to let May stay until June's return in a few weeks. It doesn't take May long to realize that everything is not as it seems at the compound. With the help of a dubious policeman with his own ulterior motives for his presence at the society, May looks to uncover the truth about June's whereabouts while trying to keep her own life out of danger.

This book is a historical time capsule of the Prohibition era. It was so refreshing to read a book where it was not so simple for the bad guy to get the upper hand - no cell phones, no internet. People had to be taken at their word, because there is no super information highway to fact check what you've been told. This makes it easier for both the 'good' and the 'bad' guys to weave their own webs of deception. It comes down to whoever is the quickest at thinking on their feet to find out who will win in this game of wits, and who will be a guest of Kinima permanently.

This was my first novel by Kelsey James and I was immediately sucked into it. It has themes of found family and secret cults, and it explores the depths that a person will go to for acceptance. Add a dash of the paranormal, some romance, and a main character with an exciting and well-developed story and you have all the ingredients for a novel that will keep you up reading late into the night.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for giving me an eARC to read and review.

What could make a total whimp read thrillers? Kelsey James. The Colony of Souls is another incredible thriller from an author who has become a “must read” because of her atmospheric style and captivating g settings. Get ready for another page-turner!

May leaves the unhappy home she has with her husband in Sacramento and drives to Southern California in search of her sister June. June has been at a cult commune and May decides to stay there until her sister returns from a trip on the group’s business. She quickly sours on the community and teams up with a government agent to take the cult down.

There are parts where the reader wonders if something supernatural is happening right along with May. The first person narrative helps make what May experiences even more disturbing as she discovers unusual practices and signs of violence. Vito, the agent, is a mysterious character at first, but he becomes a supportive partner for May.

While there is a soft landing for May and Vito, few characters have a settled ending, but this is to be expected from this genre! There were some uncomfortable moments (again, I’m not a regular reader of thrillers), but I found myself itching to get back to reading this every time I put it down. Kelsey James does it again!

<I>The publisher provided advanced access. The opinions in this review are my own.</I>

4.5 Stars

May and June Anderson have always been the closest of sisters, born just a year apart. When May receives a letter from June, who she hasn't seen for two years, inviting her to The Colony, May doesn't hesitate to set out and leave her disappointing husband behind. The Colony is in Southern California and when May arrives, she meets Rex, the charismatic leader and learns that June is out on one of The Colony's missions. After living a life of low self esteem, May is quickly drawn to Rex and into the fold of The Colony. But she soon begins to discover that Rex's "miracles" are not what they seem and that there are more sinister workings taking place behind the peaceful facade of The Colony.

The Colony of Lost Souls is the second book I've read by Kelsey James, and she is quickly becoming one of my new favorites authors. I love the rich, dark atmosphere she creates with her writing, and The Colony of Lost Souls did not disappoint. I was initially intrigued by the time period (California early 1930s) and dangerous cult synopsis for this book, and Kelsey did a fantastic job showing the inner workings of how a cult leader preys on people's insecurities, exerts control through threats and sexual abuse, and extorts money from its members. Rex was well-written and made for a chilling villain in the story.

May was an intriguing character, and I loved the way Kelsey used her family background to show her character growth throughout the story. She has always felt like she lived in June's shadow, and never received the attention she longed for from her parents. This set her up for an unfulfilling marriage, so it's no surprise to see how easily she was taken in by Rex and his irresistible charm. I also enjoyed getting to know more about June's character through the short flashback chapters from her POV.

The atmosphere of the book is done so well, and there is a great sense of suspense and feeling trapped, along with May. I enjoyed seeing how the mystery of The Colony's purpose unfolded and the secrets that were being covered up by Rex and his closest followers. There is also a really great supernatural element to the story, and I loved how it created just the right spooky vibe to fit along with what Rex was trying to accomplish in his "visits" to the Ocean of Light.

If you love gothic atmosphere, with a touch of historical fiction, the supernatural, complicated family relationships, finding your own identity, and a frightening look at the control behind cults, then I would highly recommend The Colony of Lost Souls.

To me this is a like a gothic thriller cult type book. I like story line but I found myself just wanting to skip ahead in a few parts. It was a good book I just didn't understand why the lion was in the story and the end was kind of a let down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for an eARC of The Colony of Lost Souls by Kelsey James.

Kelsey James’ The Colony of Lost Souls is a mesmerizing, slow-burn gothic thriller that weaves together themes of sisterhood, identity, and belief with an intoxicating dose of suspense and spiritual intrigue. Set against the moody, sun-drenched cliffs of 1920s Southern California, the story follows May Anderson, a woman long overshadowed by her daring sister, June, as she journeys into the heart of a mysterious spiritual commune in search of answers—and herself.

The novel’s strength lies in its rich, atmospheric setting. The Spanish Revival mansion that houses the Colony feels as much a character as any of the people within it—grand, isolated, and humming with secrets. James paints the surroundings with cinematic detail, creating a world that feels both alluring and faintly sinister. It's the perfect backdrop for a tale of hidden motives and blurred realities.

May's character arc was not what I really wanted it to be. While her conviction to find her sister is admirable, her inconsistancy with her actions turned me off from her and whatever growth she did achieve at the end of the novel. Most readers may not be able to relate to her or connect in a way that is worth while.

Rex, the enigmatic leader of the Colony, is equal parts charming and chilling. James does a masterful job of keeping readers—and May—off balance, never quite revealing the full extent of his influence until the stakes are at their highest. The spiritual elements, especially the promise of communing with lost souls, are handled with a delicate ambiguity that enhances the novel’s mystery rather than over-explaining it. Which, in my mind makes Rex the best character in the book.

The pacing builds gradually but purposefully, culminating in a tense and dramatic final act. Just when you think you've grasped the Colony’s secrets, James delivers twists that force you to reevaluate everything. The addition of a skeptical, undercover investigator adds a welcome tension and a flicker of romance that doesn’t overpower the central themes.

The Colony of Lost Souls is a haunting exploration of what we’re willing to believe in when grief and longing take hold—and what we risk losing when we follow someone else’s path to enlightenment. Fans of historical thrillers, cult psychology, and gothic fiction will find themselves spellbound.

This story tried to be a gothic, creepy thriller, but it fell short for me. I never cared for the main character, and while the setting was dark and foreboding, I found myself bored throughout most of the story.

Overall, while this wasn't my cup of tea, there's definitely an audience for it. If you're into gothic psychological thrillers, then this may be something you'll enjoy.

A beautiful and haunting story with such a distinct atmosphere alongside some truly compelling characters. I felt like I could see everything so vividly. The setting and attention to detail all interwoven in the historical fiction era of the 1930s is just such a gem. Every character had their own motives, nuances, flaws, and strengths to make them feel rooted and real. They feel like people you know in your daily life, so as the reader I was very invested to see where the story would go. All of that adds to the relationships that you dive into wholeheartedly - sisterhood, family ties, friendships, romances, this book has it all.

I almost DNF’d this book multiple times, but something kept me turning the pages. It certainly wasn’t the main character, who I think most readers are not going to relate to whatsoever.
Things I did like:
The setting was unique and the book did have an eerie atmosphere.

The action in The Colony of Lost Souls takes place in post depression 1930s California. May and June Anderson are sisters born less than a year apart who have been separated. May goes looking for June at a mysterious location dubbed The Colony where members believe in reincarnation, the magic of the sea and are overseen by complex leader Rex. Bothered by Rex’s hold of the group, May gets initiated then tries her hardest to uncover the cults true intentions.

I found this book very difficult to get through. I will always pick up a story that heavily involves cults in its plot, but this one really dragged and left me wanting more a more defined plot line. Because of this I am rating it 2.75 (3) stars.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and feedback.

This was a quick and easy read. The storyline was interesting and nicely paced throughout the read, and the characters were enjoyable.