<b><i>”When it came to darkness, you could succumb and let it consume you . . . or you could invade it with light of your own.”</b></i>

I was overwhelmed with the beauty of this book. There were times when I had to just stop reading and let it all soak in. While this book definitely has a dark setting (a Victorian asylum) and a distinctly Gothic feel, Vivienne brings such an unexpected light into this dark space. At the beginning of the story she has some definite feelings about asylums and the people inside them, and it’s lovely to see her thoughts change as she realizes they are still people, people who deserve compassion and comfort, respect and understanding. While she is bringing her own brand of light to the asylum’s inmates, Dr Turner (who oversees the care of many of them) is quite taken with her. Their own midnight dances and collaborations lead to a forbidden relationship that weighs heavily on their hearts. I loved the burgeoning romance between them, the presence of God in such a dark place, the music and music therapy, the workers and inmates. There were some difficult aspects but the satisfying ending makes all that they endured worthwhile. I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to write a review.

A haunting mystery of a novel. Vivienne finds herself in an asylum, with unpleasant conditions, when she is really a concert pianist. The story of how she came to be there under an assumed name is gradually told. Set in Victorian times this is well written, as one would expect from this author and the main character is well drawn. I will not say any more about the plot for fear of spoiling the novel. Well worth a read. I enjoyed it.

Oh man, this book is So. Good.

A perfect October read, given its asylum setting—spooky, eerie, sad, heart wrenching, not for the faint of heart at bedtime, heh. It deals with some really hard topics and doesn’t shy away from a hard but very real aspect of history—placing people in asylums often more because the “patient” (victim, really) and their condition were misunderstood more than anything. Menopause. Deafness. And much more. Conditions not known about much, if at all, at the time. Terrible…but true.

The author does an amazing job at bringing all of this to light—as well as weaving the gospel in throughout. God is bigger than all of these things, than any of us, and is at work even—especially—when we cannot see it. It is beautiful in the brokenness and one I absolutely recommend.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

"I was a Chopin nocturne–surprising, complex, and impossible to master.”

Classical music combines with inspirational gothic romance in Joanna Davidson Politano’s The Lost Melody. My father trained as a classical concert pianist. Most of my childhood, I was lulled to sleep by the echoes of music in the night, as inspiration drove him to play at all hours. And as a former student of music myself, I connected deeply with the heroine’s unique way of viewing the world through melody.

Vivienne was born with a gift. From childhood, she is forced to hone her talent and suffer her father’s abuse, until she becomes a premier concert pianist. Her life is not hers until her father’s untimely death, and she is finally mistress of her own life again. Not only can she continue to perform for the elite of society and use her wealth to aid others, but she can finally marry her childhood best friend.

There’s only the mysterious matter of her father’s ward, locked away for years in an insane asylum for paupers. Only the hospital denies ever having such a patient. Was her father duped into sending money all those years, or is something more sinister underfoot? Unable to perform during her mourning period, Vivienne decides to uncover the truth by changing her name and investigating the matter herself.

The Lost Melody has just about everything you could want in a historical gothic romance. A strong-willed heroine, a creepy asylum, and lovely men in cravats. While romance plays a hand, it is not the loudest note in the story, but remains a bright spot in an otherwise grim setting. I loved the way Vivienne’s perspective weaves the story in such a way that we begin to question whether she is going mad or not.

If you haven’t already clued into the gothic elements, this is a darker novel and Politano is unafraid to address difficult subject matter. While mental health issues in Victorian England are handled as poorly as you might expect by most characters, the author infuses light throughout Vivienne’s story through scripture and music. Perfect for fans of Jane Eyre and Beethoven alike, The Lost Melody guarantees to haunt the reader long after the final stanza.

**I was provided with a copy of The Lost Melody by the publisher and this is my voluntary and honest review.**

After his death, Vivienne is unable to locate her father’s elusive ward, Rosamond Swansea, either by direct inquiry or by gaining employment at the asylum as an aid under an assumed name. Someone knows Vivienne for who she is, though, and does not wish her to succeed in finding Rosamond. Darkness soon seems to overtake her as she finds herself deemed mad by the powers that be at the asylum, held there against her will with what appears to be no hope of escape.
But trapped in circumstances she cannot control, Vivienne soon begins to see the women around her at Hurstwell not just as broken, irredeemable bodies, but as people. And even in the darkness, music finds a way – to reach her; to reach Doctor Mitchell Turner, struggling since the death of his wife while in the asylum’s care; to reach the patients who have been cast off by society, forgotten, considered to be broken and worthless.

Politano does a marvelous job of weaving Scripture throughout the book. The story of the apostle Paul in prison figures significantly in Vivienne’s gradual realization that maybe – just maybe – she IS right where she belongs, and that God DOES have a purpose for her there. I love how one of the other patients at the asylum reminded Vivienne, when she was talking about how she had to get back to her life outside the asylum, to what she was meant to do, that “not right now you ain’t, because you’re here. And nothing happens without the Almighty’s say-so.”

There are a lot of tense moments in the story, and Politano pulls no punches in her descriptions of the conditions inside the asylum. The superintendent of the asylum rules with a heavy hand, consumed by fear and hatred stemming from a painful event deep in his past. But even he comes to see that the darkness he carries cannot blot out the radiance that God shines into hidden corners through Vivienne and her music.

“For all the locking up he’d done, all the patients he’d managed to control with cells and restraints, there was one thing those walls could not contain.

“Light.”

And at its heart, that’s what the story is about: the triumph of light over darkness. Vivienne determined what she thought her path should be. But God disrupted her plans and put her into the darkest place she could envision so that, if she would let it, His light could shine through her and touch lives in ways she had never imagined.

“We’re all of us told to walk in the light, but we don’t. We simply wish to drag the light over to where we’re already standing, so we may better see the path we’ve set out for ourselves. I dearly wished to set my own path. To take control for once in my life. But perhaps I wasn’t meant to – not in the way I’d tried it, anyway.”

In the end, The Lost Melody is a fascinating, well-researched peek into the beginnings of music therapy and the treatment of mental health issues in the late nineteenth century, a clean romance in an unexpected setting, and a testament to God’s ability to take all things and work them together for good for those who are called according to His purpose, to bring beauty from what we see as only ashes. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness does not overcome it. It’s a five-star read for me.

A Tender and Haunting Historical Novel

Joanna Davidson Politano has become one of my favorite authors. She has a knack for writing incredibly immersive and atmospheric Gothic Victorian fiction with threads of light that leave the reader feeling hopeful at the tale’s end. The Lost Melody is her best yet.

Politano writes a story that paints a picture of Victorian asylums without being too macabre. We show how mistreated those committed to insane asylums were, and the surprisingly vast variety of reasons people were institutionalized. Yet we are also shown the compassion of some characters who had the best interest of the people in the asylum at heart, and the wonders music therapy could do for them. The growth shown for the heroine Vivienne throughout the novel is beautiful. While at first she looks on those committed to the asylum in disdain, she comes to see things differently as she spends time there herself, seeing their plights and feeling their pain. Add in a mystery and a beguiling hero, and you have an absorbing novel that I loved.

Fans of Victorian fiction with a Gothic flair and inspirational historical fiction alike won’t want to miss The Lost Melody.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Lost Melody is a story that begins as one woman's quest to discover a mysterious patient within a madhouse with possible ties to her and her family. The main character is quickly in over her head when she is forcibly admitted to the hospital she has tried to infiltrate and you see a glimpse into the awful world of mental institutions of the past. As riveting as it is horrifying, this book was a wonderful exploration of the humanity and personal growth that can happen in the darkest of places.

This wasn't a quick read but was deeply satisfying in its conclusion with an unexpected happy ending where instead of a heroine finding her hero, she found a new purpose for herself. With beautiful musical imagery and compassion for those characters whom society would brush aside, the Lost Melody is a must-read and can be summed up in this beautifully written quote:

"Perhaps God saw fit to break down who you were becoming and help you build back up the right way. To prepare you for something even greater."

I have a lot of mixed emotions about this book. The writing itself is beautiful as Politano's writing always is. The subject matter is depressing in many ways as one would expect of a story set in a Victorian era asylum. The injustices bring forth great angst. Politano is a masterful storyteller who pulls deep emotions from her readers. Yet, this story did seem to have an exceptionally slow pace, dragging just a bit. I am glad that I did not let my impatience get the better of me, for the ending was truly worth waiting for.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Lost Melody from Revell via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Joanna Davidson Politano has created a beautiful masterpiece and she’s now an auto-buy author for me.

Set in Victorian England this is a story about Vivienne Mourdant, a concert pianist who has recently lost her father and trying to solve a mystery regarding his estate. She ends up in an asylum to find answers but her sanity begins to blur as she spends time there.

The author was inspired by her studies on music therapy and it’s origin. This book is heavy with music references such as Bach, Beethoven and Liszt. I loved that I could create a playlist with the songs mentioned throughout the book and enjoy them while I read.

More than anything this story is about finding and being light in the darkness. It’s about shining where God places you and not waiting for your own plan to work out before sharing His light to the ones around you. Nearly every word on these pages point to the beauty of the Gospel ✨

5/5 ⭐️ - I loved it!

Unfortunately I never finished reading this book. I found it wasn't what I was expecting and as I read for pleasure, I felt it wasn't worth continuing. I m sure it will appeal to others as it was well written.

*Book Blurb: When concert pianist Vivienne Mourdant's father dies, he leaves to her the care of an adult ward she knew nothing about. The woman is supposedly a patient at Hurstwell Asylum. The woman's portrait is shockingly familiar to Vivienne, so when the asylum claims she was never a patient there, Vivienne is compelled to discover what happened to the figure she remembers from childhood dreams. The longer she lingers in the deep shadows and forgotten towers at Hurstwell, the fuzzier the line between sanity and madness becomes. She hears music no one else does, receives strange missives with rose petals between the pages, and untangles far more than is safe for her to know. But can she uncover the truth about the mysterious woman she seeks? And is there anyone at Hurstwell she can trust with her suspicions?*

One of my most anticipated releases of 2022!

This book is slightly “darker” than her previous books but it never goes too far. The themes of light in the darkness, hope for those that have lost hope, and being willing for God to redirect your life and allow him to lead you in the way he wants you to go makes this book encouraging in the end. If you like Jaime Jo Wright’s books, I’ll think you’ll like this one. As usual the setting is so atmospheric. She always is able to write in such a way that the history comes alive and the gothic vibes are so thrilling. Since main character Vivienne is a talented pianist, with a passion for music, she has this special thing where when she sees certain people she can hear music. Certain instruments or a certain classical piece. I found that really interesting and looked up some of the mentioned pieces to get more of an idea of what she heard when she saw them. Characters from her last book “A Midnight Dance” make an appearance which made me smile; though you don’t have to have read that book to understand what’s happening.

This is a novel about an asylum so trigger warnings for those that are sensitive to that kind of thing and to topics of harsh treatment.

I give this book 5 stars and highly recommend it!

I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley. All opinions are my own. I was not required to give a positive review.

I think I have read every book by Joanna and liked them all but I think this might have been my favorite. For some reason I enjoy books that take place in asylums. I’m not sure what that says about me…

Joanna did a great job of making me even question Vivienne’s sanity at times. I started to wonder am I being tricked? I won’t tell you if I was or not.

There were so many layers and different connections as well, even to the previous book. But that is somewhat subtle and won’t matter if you haven’t read the previous one.

Overall, an excellent read that I had to see how it ended.


A copy of this book was given to me by the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Intriguing and harrowing story about a gifted young musician in Victorian England who becomes trapped in a mental asylum while trying to unravel a mystery after her father's death. Some parts were hard to read because of the terrible circumstances of the patients, but that was offset by a hopeful ending.

This story was a little different from the other novels this author has penned. I love her writing style, the depth she goes with her characterizations and the unique situations readers get to be part of.

It begins in 1886 England, where we meet a famous concert pianist, Vivienne Mourdant. Her father has just passed (no love loss there) and she finds out she is responsible for a woman in the Hurstwell Asylum. Vivienne has never heard of this woman. She has to uncover the secret behind this ward situation. So, she goes to work for the Asylum to gain information the average person cannot find. The Hurstwell Asylum is the last place she wanted to be, but her desire to find this mysterious woman is strong, she pushes on and gets more than she bargains for.

The author says in notes to readers, the research about the Victorian asylums was hard to read about, and didn’t want to spend time there. She decided to join the Asylum setting with an intriguing story idea. The author was enthralled at how music therapy came about. She says, “Music therapy syncs with the natural rhythm at the core of all humans and taps into the beauty and personhood found there."

Although the narrative inside the Asylum is dark in parts, hope and courage flicker inside through the thoughtfulness of the inmates and the music only Vienne Mourdant can express. Vienne showed and felt kindness was never a waste of time.

I did enjoy the encouragement and natural spiritual thread sprinkled throughout the story, and through the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. Like this one, “The language of music is common to all generations and nations; it is understood by everybody, since it is understood with the heart.” byGioachino Rossini

Parts of this story were spooky, and eerie, yet hopeful. It gave the reader insight into that time, which included a few surprising plot twists. This is a good read for the Halloween season and one that would work for your next book club pick. There is so much to discuss.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book by Revell through Interviews & Reviews. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins! https://psalm516.blogspot.com/
The Book Club Network blog

I look forward to reading Ms. Palitano’s books because of her weaving of faith with excellent plots and fascinating characters. The research she has done for this particular story is evident in the details of the inmates of an asylum and their treatment. What a twist of fate that Vivienne finds herself a part of when she is trapped alongside the women who she once scorned. I also found an intriguing part of the story was using music therapy to help the patients.

As usual, Ms. Palitano gives the reader things to think about not only while reading, but long afterward as well. Here are a couple of my favorite quotes:
“We’re all of us told to walk in the light, but we don’t. We simply wish to drag the light over to where we’re already standing, so we may better see the path we’ve set out for ourselves.”

“What God has set ablaze, no man can extinguish.”

I highly recommend this book to readers. I received a copy of this book from Revell through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Net Galley and Revell for the chance to read and review this book. The opinions expressed are my own.
I liked this story. It is a haunting, gothic story that takes place mostly in an asylum. JDP is a very talented author who can create a story atmosphere that brings the reader right into the story. At times, I felt like I was right there with the main character-I could feel her hopelessness. This was an interesting story based on a topic I did not know much about-using music therapy to help mental patients. Highly recommend if you like stories with a gothic feel.

WOW! Poignant, and powerful, The Lost Melody by Joanna Politano is a journey of finding light in the darkness. This gripping story includes the difficult life in an asylum in England in the 1880's, and the power of music. I savored every moment of this compelling story!

"Man had come up with many wretched ways to punish one another, and this barbaric entrapment had to be one of the worst. In the depths of pain, nothing served the sufferer less than being alone."

"You," he said, in a slow, intentional way, "pierce the darkness with light. Did you know that?" "A light such as yours should be taken into the utmost darkness, you know."

In 1886, in England, concert pianist Vivienne Mourdant learns upon her father’s death of a mysterious ward that she is now responsible who resides at the Hurstwell Pauper Lunatic Asylum. Vivienne thought this person was a figment of her dreams during childhood. After her solicitor gets word from Hurstwell that no such person is there, Vivienne gets a job there to see what she can find out.

"The line between truth and imagination, laced with exhaustion, grew fuzzy."
"But what sort of blessings can a person find in an asylum?" "I could be of some use. It wasn't my life purpose, but while I was here.....well, kindness was never a waste of time." "What might God be orchestrating in this place?"

"The language of music is common to all generations and nations; it is understood by everybody, since it is understood with the heart." Gioachino Rossini

"Dr. Turner, I play the pianoforte, I cannot hold a tune to save my life."

“I see the wisdom in your restraint, though. I do. Therefore, I will not push you in your pursuit of her.” “Thank you.” “I’ll merely let your desires hurtle you toward her in spite of yourself.”

Vivienne's character growth and emotional journey were captivating. The way she is changed by the broken people she encounters, and the difficult circumstances she lives through, told with a touch of humor, a touch of mystery, and a touch of romance, made this book unputdownable!

I highly recommend The Lost Melody! Thank you to the author for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own!

I was first attracted to this book by its title - The Lost Melody. Then I was captured by the beautiful cover, and completely captivated as I began reading.

This is the story of Vivienne Mordant, a concert pianist whose father has recently died, leaving her with the care of someone she has never met is a resident at Hurstwell Asylum. As Vivienne seeks to discover the identity of this person, she eventually ends up there as a resident herself.

This a compelling story, beautifully written, which gives us an insightful look into the Victorian Era. A combination of mystery, romance, and a little humor make this one hard to resist!

I particularly enjoyed all the allusions to music, which perfectly fit with a book about a concert pianist. As an example, Vivienne referred to herself (chapter 1) as a “Chopin nocturne - surprising, complex, and impossible to master.” The sections of the book are divided into “movements”, much like a sonata or a concerto. And each chapter begins with a quote from a famous musician.

“The language of music is common to all generations and nations; it is understood by everybody, since it is understood with the heart.” - Gioachino
Rossini (quote from chapter 23). Joanna Davidson Politano has certainly given us the language of music in this book, and it is beautiful! 5 stars for sure!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Interviews and Reviews and Net Galley. The opinions expressed here are my own.

"Pierce the darkness with light". Enchanting, gothic, and creepy, pushing through to read the end of this book was worth every goosebump, heart pounding, and tear, definitely a mystery. Every scene caused me to doubt the sanity of nearly every character, I question even my own. Each character is unique and their stories will tug at your heartstrings. And the interesting plot twists that I didn't see coming.

After Vivienne's Father's passing, she is shocked to discover that she is responsible for her father's ward, a patient at Hurstwell Asylum, when Vivienne inquires about her, the asylum insists she doesn't exist. Vivienne decides to take a position as an aid at the Asylum to find out who is this woman. you will experience every battle, frustration, and despair, that Vivienne goes through.

I highly recommend reading this book! Her writing is just beautiful as Vivienne's Lost Melody. will sink deep down and pierce your soul. you will feel encouraged and blessed, and remember that God always has a plan, even in your darkest moments.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. A positive review was not required but happily given.

"There is no such thing as hopeless cases. Only those who have lost hope."

Once again, Joanna Davidson Politano captures a haunting, melodic first person voice of a concert pianist and melds it beautifully with a soulful, hurting third person voice of a doctor in a memorable tale of faith, justice, and the power of music set in a Victorian asylum of 1886 England. It is more gothic than her previous novels and the setting of an asylum is not an easy one but it's so worthwhile to read. The undercurrent of mystery woven through the book is seamless and well-done; though not a suspense or mystery, per se, the plot will definitely have you turning the pages with anticipation as pieces click into place. If you enjoy historical Victorian fiction with a dash of romance, you will absolutely love this book.

Vivienne's musically-centered heart and soul were fascinating to learn from and her passion for helping the oppressed women was admirable. Mitchell's broken yet hopeful spirit was quite the drawing point for this wonderful hero. Their spiritual journey was rocky and painful, but the growth it produced was remarkable. And there were some surprises, for sure - in cameo appearances of characters from a previous book and also in the ending where we find all the answers.

I received the book from the publisher via NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.