The first in a series with Oonagh O'Neill, an investigative journalist based in Glasgow. An investigation into the Magdalene Institutions sets off a horrific chain of events with Oonagh's life at risk. The book flits between 1958 and the year 2000 The story unfolds like a jigsaw and the twists and turns kept me guessing until the end. I hope there is more to come from Oonagh and Detective Alex, I loved the touches of humour in a harrowing read. Well written and excellent characterisation. I would recommend this book to lovers of crime thrillers. Thanks to Net Galley for my copy. I reviewed on Amazon, Goodreads and Facebook.

How investigative journalism can uncover terrible deeds.

Oonagh O’Neil is an investigative journalist who fronts her own TV programme. She is 36, highly intelligent and attractive and people listen to what she says.

The story begins with the death of Father Kennedy which originally seems to be from natural causes but with the help of Oonagh’s detective friend, DI Alec Davies, they discover that it was murder but by whom and why? Father Kennedy had asked to meet with Oonagh shortly before his death claiming that he had found a letter with pertinent details regarding Oonagh’s latest investigative programme that she is hoping to make.

The Magdalene laundries were homes both in Dublin and Glasgow where young unmarried girls were taken to have their babies. Once born the babies were sold to various, rich American families without any formal or legal adoptions taking place and the girls were left to get on with their lives. We are told in graphic detail about one such young girl. Irene Connolly, who is raped repeatedly by her own father and becomes pregnant twice by him. Her first child is taken from her and her second child dies shortly after birth. Irene is told that everything is her own fault as she is so wicked and her whole subsequent life is devoted to trying to find her first child, a son, and explain to him why she was not allowed to be a mother to him.

Oonagh is determined to find out the truth behind the Magdalene girls and knows that it is linked to the Catholic Church and in particular to Father Watson, who is now working in Glasgow. Despite the danger to herself, including being attacked in her home, Oonagh is stubborn and will not give up her determination to bring the guilty parties to justice.

The story is made more poignant since it is based on truth and it is almost unbelievable that such things were allowed to happen. There are various other characters that bring the story to life and shocks and twists to the plot that kept me turning the pages to see what happens.

The reason I have deducted a star from my review is because I had problems relating to the main character. She did not seem real to me and I did not feel that I knew enough about her past life to paint a complete picture. She is a 36-year-old famous TV star but manages to get pregnant by her married lover and this just did not seem feasible for such a sensible hard-working journalist. I also felt I did not find out enough about how she knows DI Davies so well. I actually thought to begin with that this was the second book in a series and that maybe the first book would have set the scene better. However, I would certainly like to read the next book in the series as this author has a lot of promise.

Dexter

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review

A fantastic first in a series from Theresa Talbot. Rather than seeing this mystery/thriller through the eyes of law enforcement, instead we see through Oonagh's eyes - a journalist who is looking into the Magdalene children and how they were forced into asylums by their family and the Catholic church where they were tortured, stripped of their dignity and suffered for their "sins"... mostly created by their own families. Sweep them under the rug. Sell their children. Out of sight. Out of mind. But what happens when they rebel and secrets come out YEARS later.

This definitely does not shed a good light on the Catholic church, priests and the means that people went to in the 1950s (really not that long ago) to put problem children in their place. There were some harrowing moments and hard reads in which we see the children abused, physically and sexually, by their own families. Tossed aside like bad meat. Told they were the sinners. How many times do you have to hear such things before you begin to believe it's true? Can you ever forget and let go of the torture that you went through - both mentally and physically?

Oonagh herself is going through her own issues - pregnant with her married boyfriend's baby. Unwanted, she questions her own decisions and remember how her father told her she'd know the Devil when she saw him. I personally love Oonagh - her tenacity, her flaws, her inability to back down and let go of this story - even almost at the cost of her own life.

Looking forward to book two and continuing on in this series.

A gripping and enthralling story, relating to events in the not too distant past. Parts of which were heart rendering with a surprising end.

The thrills and chills comes thick and fast in The Lost Children, the first book in an outstanding new series of crime novels featuring a wonderful new heroine set to become a huge favourite with readers of the genre: Oonagh O’Neill.

Pulling the wool over investigative journalist Oonagh O’Neill’s eyes is an impossible feat which is why she is immediately suspicious when an elderly priest is found dead on the altar of a Glaswegian church. Oonagh can sense that there is more to this death than meets the eye and she would bet money on the fact that there is a connection between the priest dying and the shocking expose she has been working on revealing the scandalous truth behind the closure of a Magdalene institution. The Church has done its utmost to suppress the harsh and cruel reality of what happened to decades of forgotten women. But is there somebody else – somebody far more sinister – also covering their tracks? Oonagh will not rest until she gets to the bottom of this impossible mystery, but her quest for the truth might just end up costing her the highest price of all…

DI Alec Davies is the officer in charge of the investigation into the death of the elderly priest. Digging deeper into this mystery leads him down a path riven with secrets, lies, anger and anguish beginning in the fifties and stretching to the beginning of the 21st century. Alec’s investigation also forces him into close contact with a familiar face – investigative journalist Oonagh O’Neill! As they get swept up into this baffling mystery, they find themselves wondering what really happened behind the doors of this derelict Magdalene Institution all those years ago. Who was behind the three day riot that had closed it once and for all? And whatever happened to the girls who had once lived inside this frightening building?

Will Alec and Oonagh’s investigation lead them to the truth? Or are some secrets meant to stay buried forever?

The Lost Children should come with a warning: do not start reading this book at night because you will not get any sleep whatsoever. A wonderfully written and brilliantly plotted thriller that will keep you on tenterhooks, The Lost Children is a sensational tale full of richly drawn characters, nail-biting suspense and jaw-dropping twists and turns that I absolutely loved.

Oonagh and Alec are a brilliant double act whose witty repartee, investigative prowess and intelligence is sure to have you cheering them on to get to the bottom of a seemingly unsolvable mystery.

The Lost Children is a pacy, intelligent and fast-paced crime novel fans of Rachel Abbott and Katerina Diamond are going to love. Theresa Talbot is a writer to watch out for and I cannot wait for the next installment of the Oonagh O’Neill series!

4☆ A Gripping Read

The Lost Children is a story about the Magdalene Children and the connections between the Church and the vulnerable young girls forced into the laundry rooms.

I have read and seen the films about the Magdalene Children and the abuse and torture the young girls suffered at the hands of the Nuns and church.

This story was a little different.
Journalist Oonagh O’Neil was working on uncovering the truth behind the Institutions.

 When Father Kennedy died suddenly questions were raised as to what his involvement was with the Institutions.

The story is written in two timelines. Present day and then the stories of the young girls in the past.

I preferred reading about the stories of the young girls. It was raw and heartbreaking and very real. The stories drew me in and I felt there pain.
I was eagerly flipping through pages to see what would happen next.

The present timeline stories seemed a little disjointed at times and it seemed to skip around the storylines.
I didn't particularly like Oonagh she came across as spoilt and a little self obsessed.

Father Tom Findlay is Father Kennedy's stand in. But there is something not quiet right about him. Was he involved in Kennedy's death as it was suspicious?
He has secrets.

I did really enjoy this book I just thought the past stories strengthened the plot so much.
It was gripping, thrilling, exciting, lots of secrets and lies to uncover.

The Lost Children is a book that thrilled with its mystery and made me feel more than a little sad about the abuse. The writing was succinct and the dialect added a certain effect to bring the world of Glasgow alive in its pages. What The Lost Children does do in great effect is shine light on the world of all those who've suffered at the hands of the society, the religion and the people whom they believed and trusted.

THE LOST CHILDREN (Oonagh O’Neil: #1) Written by Theresa Talbot
(also published as Penance)
April 1st, 2018; 466 Pages (Head of Zeus, Aria)
Genre: mystery, historical, Scotland, fiction, religion, journalism, adoption

​​​​(I received an ARC from the PUBLISHER via NETGALLEY​)​

RATING: 3 Stars

This is journalist, Theresa Talbot's first novel, and it is set in Scotland/Ireland 2000, and alternates between 1958. I really liked the characters, Oonagh, Alec and Tom, and am hoping we see more of the latter two in the next book. My only issue with this book and the writing was that it was too much filler and detail. There were chapters that could have been whittled down or deleted. Instead of building suspense it just slowed the book down. We have stuff going on in the past and "present day" in the novel but at times instead of tying together you feel like you aren't sure where it is going. The ending comes to the reader a bit sooner but that is because Talbot unpacks and ties of ending in a linear way - which was not a bad thing. I am ready for book two (slated for September 2018) and see what comes Oonagh's way. So much happened to her book one, you only hope things look up for her, but not too much for the sake of the story, lol.

The Lost Children is a stunning read; not only good but really great! Theresa Talbot writes beautifully, drawing the reader in to this multi-faceted crime thriller bit by bit until, before you realise, it completely absorbs you.

Oonagh O'Neil is a tv journalist; well-liked, well respected and working on a story of her own. Her investigations uncover some really unsavoury stuff regarding the Catholic Church and it's involvement in the Magdalene Laundry scandal of the 1950's. The Scottish setting of this novel allows for some typical humour which is attached to the city, and the Glasgow 'patter' brings some lighter moments to the story. Although I was familiar with the locations dotted around the city, I was unaware that there had been a Magdalene Laundry situated there and was quite enthralled with the tale.

This is a debut novel, re-titled and re-packaged and it's one which should do well. The creation of Oonagh O'Neil is extremely well done - she is a real life character with flaws and a career which should lend itself to many more volumes to come. The pairing of Davies and McVeigh as 'polis' partners adds to the humour, and I really hope they continue to feature in the series. This is a terrific read - one which I would fully recommend to those who enjoy a crime novel which unfolds piece by piece and retains it's secrets until the end. A thoroughly satisfying book, and definitely an author I shall be watching for more from!

My thanks to publishers Aria for pre-approving my requests on NetGalley. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.

Unsure if this is a re-published book but being set in 2000 really brings home how much the world has changed in recent years.
A clever and well written novel based on harrowing true experiences.

The Lost Children by Theresa Talbot
Originally published in 2015 as “Penance”

Forced work has existed for centuries in most countries of the world. It exists today as well. Whether a child or an adult, being forced to work in poor conditions without pay or for minimal wages is not a nice topic to hear or think about. This story deals with the Magdalene Asylums or at least is based on the fact that they existed and is based on the difficult lives those sent to such places endured.

This book flips between scenes from the 50’s to those in the present. The past details parts of the lives of three women in one of the asylums and the horrors they faced. The present storyline is about a journalist that will be doing a presentation on the asylums as part of a series. The story begins with the death of a priest. As his death is explored it becomes partially a police procedural.

Oonagh, the TV journalist, was to interview the priest before he was killed. She is in the midst of an affair that is deteriorating and has a few issues of conscience to deal with in relationship to the affair. Her partner is someone that is not a very nice person, or so we learn later, and his backstory is intriguing as it unfolds.

Charlie Antonio, a journalists that is on the outs, makes money on the side in rather nefarious ways…he is someone everyone should stay far away from.

Tom Findlay, a priest, is about ready to leave the priesthood…he thinks…his part as friend to Oonagh and liaison between her and the church as she writes about the asylum is…interesting. I wondered at the end of the book what his life would be like in the future.

DI Alec Davies is a seasoned investigator and rather interesting. He was a bit grumpy and typical of inspectors of a certain type. I believe he could show up in future books if a series were to be written.

The three women that are in the 50’s asylum portion have rough lives, horrific issues to contend with and endings that are not happy in the least.

This book includes: incest, abuse, child stealing-selling, slavery, blackmail, homosexuality, murder, mystery, self-punishment, mental instability, an affair between a woman and a married man,…and more. It is not an easy read but it is an impactful one. I enjoyed it but did not find it “new” though there were some unexpected twists, turns and revelations that were intriguing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4 Stars

Review: I would like to thank Aria for asking me to be apart of the blog tour for this book. As soon as I saw the word Broadchurch in the description I knew I had to give this ago. 

I was not disappointed this was a very interesting read. Normally, if a book has a mention of religion in the plot I don't always get excited about reading the book, but upon reading this book I looked past that and really enjoyed the mystery. I was pleasantly surprised.

I enjoyed the mystery and crime involved in the plot. The plot is complicated but I found that as I kept reading I got used to the author's style and towards the end all the pieces of the puzzle falls into places. This book is also well written with depth to the characters.

I real page turner!

The night before he dies,Oonagh O'Neill is due to meet a priest who is helping her uncover the story of the Magdalene Institute in Glasgow. Was his death from natural causes or is there a cover up? Being an investigative journalist, Oonagh is going to find out...
A fabulous read. Really enjoyed this and can't wait for the next one

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the Publisher, Aria for this review copy given in exchange for an honest review.  Also thank you to Melanie from Aria for organising the Blog Tour.

An elderly priest dies on the altar of his Glasgow church.  He asked to meet with TV journalist Oonagh O’Neil the night before he died to discuss something important.  Oonagh feels there is something suspicious about his death as she was about to expose the truth behind the closure of a Magdalene institution.  She ropes in the help of DI Alec Davies.  Can they uncover the secrets behind the institution’s derelict walls?

My first book by this author.  The book immediately caught me with the blurb and the cover, but when I started it, I have to admit, the book started quite slowly and I wasn’t sure whether I was really getting into it.  As the book went on, the story began to pick up pace and I felt myself enjoying it more.  I liked Oonagh’s character.  She was obviously used to getting her own way and wasn’t opposed to throwing a tantrum to get it, but she was also a determined and gritty investigator and coupled with her old friend DI Alec Davies they began to undercover the shocking truth of what happened in the former home run by the Catholic Church.

The book can be a bit complicated, with lots of twists and lots of characters.  It is also told over two timeframes so, at times, you need to concentrate to make sure you didn’t miss anything.  It is a very interesting storyline though, involving the sensitive subject of the Catholic Church.

Although beginning with a shaky start, the book carried on into a powerful crime story with a great storyline and some interesting characters.  You can certainly tell that the author is herself a journalist by trade as it is so well researched.  My first by this author, but will definitely look out for more.

The inhumane things done in the name of religion. Probably not the first thing you think about when you choose a mystery book. Yet that’s what #TheLostChildren is about. It’s written by #TheresaTalbot an author I have never heard about but definitely have now put her at the top of my favorite author list. This book is so well written and the subject is handled in such a manner that you don’t hate it even if you are a Catholic which I am but you embrace it and hopefully learn from it. I was totally surprised when I saw that one reviewer had only given this a 2 star rating. It has been a long time since I have across a book of this magnitude and I without any reservations give it the five stars it so richly deserves. I thank #NetGalley and especially Theresa Talbot for giving me the chance of reviewing this book. The subject matter is how unwed mothers get put in homes run by the Catholic Church and the babies then either placed in homes or actually sold. The mothers who in the reality are very young children without too much education are then pretty much put into slavery to help the nuns who run the homes. Eventually as all things do this practice comes to an end when it gets discovered by the outside. The book switches between 1958 and 2000 and is being told by a reporter Oonagh O’Neil and Irene Connolly one of the mothers. I don’t want to get into details about the plot because it needs no explanation. This is a very well written book about a troubled time in history. I totally recommend it.

TV journalist Oonagh is investigating the Magdalene Institution in Glasgow - the laundries where unmarried mothers were sent to have their babies - she is all set to interview Father Kennedy who she is convinced knows more than he is letting on, when he drops dead at the alter - was this death the result of his cancer or is there a more sinister reason? As her research continues is she putting her own life in danger?

A good story on a very interesting subject, the writing is very good and there is plenty of action and twists and turns to keep your interest - I will definitely read more books by this writer

A very interesting thriller with an interesting plot. It's well written and it's a real page turner.
Recommended.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Aria

Loved loved loved this, so many head line issues dealt with, the church, abortion, murder, this book has it all, I loved the way it was told both in the past at the Magdalen Home to the present with Oonagh trying to figure it all out, who dunnit! Well that was a twist & a half, will definitely be reading more of There's Talbot going forward. Thank you to #netgalley #aria #theresatalbot for the opportunity to read an advanced copy, all opinions expressed are my own.

When elderly priest, Father Kennedy drops dead on the altar Oonagh suspects a murder, because he was about to tell her something important relating to her investigation into the Magdalene laundries scandal in 1958, where hundreds of Irish Catholic girls were sent to have their babies, before the babies disappeared.

The plot is very complicated and there are so many suspects that it was difficult at times to keep track, particularly as the book swapped between two timelines, however, near the end of the book all the pieces start to slot into place and the ending was great and tied all the loose ends up for me.

The Police and their investigation which Oonagh helped and hampered in equal measures, together with her involvement with several of the aspects, added to the tense atmosphere for me and I warmed to Oonagh and Father Tom by the end.

It is a very difficult subject, especially as the Catholic Church was so heavily involved, however, the Author stays away from getting too political and just deals with a handful of girls who were affected and how their lives were destroyed by these barbaric Institutions of the 1950's.

A must read for anyone who loves detective crime thrillers based loosely on true events.

This is a gripping new series by Theresa Talbot but it didn't do anything for me. I just did not connect to the characters at all and could not finish the book. Thank you for this complimentary copy of this book from Aria through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.