It holds your attention and is a fast read, but it lacks a substantial amount of mystery. Every plot twist is easily anticipated long before the main character recognizes it, making it predictable.

This was a DNF for me, it just didnt grab my attention what so ever. I tried and went back twice but it didnt do it for me.

Thank you Netgalley. This was a bit of painful read. The premise sounded great but the execution was bit flat. The storyline and characters were well drawn but this book left me wanting more.

I chose this as my Amazon First Reads pick and this book was tough to get through. The premise and unfolding of the story itself was good, but the writing style turned me off. All of the characters seemed to have the same basic speaking style and personality.

I really liked this book and the characters. It kept me interested but half way through the book I feel like the author could have finished the book at that point. I will definitely read the next in the series. It's a good first book in a series.

This book was soo promising for the first 50%. Then an incident happens and the book should have just ended there in my opinion. The back 50% was boring. Nothing exciting happens, there’s a minor twist but it wasn’t a 🤯, more of a 🤔. I was borderline a 2, if the beginning wasn’t as good as it was, this rating wouldn’t be a 3.

The Lost Victim. I loved this book. It was amazing. It was fantastic. It was mind numbing. And it was good.
The writer did a phenomenal job at writing a story that tapped into her readers imagination. The plot was so out there, but was terrific for our main character Ryan. Ryan did a great job as the guide that takes the readers to all those dark places, but he remains the light that guides the victim and you out with his knowledge and caring words of comfort. I loved the that the writer told the story through the victims eyes and experiences. Simply amazing.
All the characters were amazing. It was like you were right there with them as they charge on through this emotionally charged, rage, hatred and defeated investigation. The book is an easy read and a superb page turner. I give this book two snaps and a, be aware of your surroundings and always bring a friend along. Until next time my fellowship readers. Read on!
I received a copy of this book for a voluntary honest review

Firstly, I absolutely love the main character, Ryan. As a victim advocate myself, his passion for caring is very endearing. However, that’s about where the likes of this book end. The plot had a heck of a lot of potential that fell flat somewhere around a quarter of the way into the book.
Or read quick, thanks to the short chapters, but somewhere along the way it just drivels on and on towards an immaculately unbelievable plot points. Anyone with even a modicum of understanding of the FBI will realize quickly that things went wonky with this book.

The Lost Victim is author Jennifer Ryan's (pseudonym Ryan Hunter) attempt at exploring the darker side of psyche through the main character Ryan Strickland, on whom the series is based, and his connection with a traumatized victim. Ryan is a FBI consultant and psychologist; he has the ability to connect and communicate with almost any victim, which is of tremendous help to the teams he works with.

Soon after coming off a high profile case, Ryan is called in to communicate with a young woman, who seems unable to talk to anyone and is suspected to be the witness to the horrific crimes of a serial killer. Soon after he begins his communication, he begins to suspect that the victim, who is named Olivia, had been severely traumatized and hasn't had the opportunity to develop naturally. As he tries to get the information the police need out of her, he comes across a fact which forces him to face up to a previous trauma of his life.

What the reader is treated to upon further, is an account of the psychological states of the victim and her conduit Ryan, with the author delving deep into the psyche of both the traumatized person and the person who helps them. And fair warning to the readers, it got extremely dark at times. Though unsettling, I was alright with the way the story has been told. But there was little to no suspense element in the story. I must say, I also had an idea about the final twist before it happened.

And hence, though enthralling, the book didn't really stand out enough to me.

Over the past thirty years, a serial killer has been terrorizing the streets by snatching up females and then killing them. The thing though is that the FBI and law enforcement have no idea who they are looking for as they have never been able to get any solid leads. That is until now, in the form of a young female who has turned up at the police station. She has said one word - that she knows what happened to the current missing girl. Other than that, the girl has not said a single word. She has sat in complete silence and no matter how many times the police have gone at her, she remains mute. Stuck, the FBI contact Dr. Ryan Strickland for his help. Ryan is an FBI consultant and a psychologist and has been known to have a gentle touch with the younger witnesses and been able to get them to open up. Ryan meets the young female, a woman named Olivia who he finally learns, she is a victim herself and was kidnapped when she was a child and raised by the killer. He used her as a pawn and from the scars, he also abused her. For Ryan, this case is also very personal as we discover his sister Lisa was one of the killer's victims and finally, his family might be able to get closure. Can Ryan get Olivia to open up, so that they can deliver closure to lots of families, and what will happen when they learn that this killer had more victims than they ever knew? If you are looking for a good thriller then The Lost Victim is a good read, but at the same time - if you were looking for a happy-ever-after ending, then this isn't the thriller for you as compared to a lot of thrillers, this one doesn't end up happy reunions for families etc and ends in more death.

I DNF"d this book at 36% as I wasn't connecting with the plot, characters or writing style. It just wasn't for me and I didn't find myself caring what was going to happen next or wanting to pick the book back up.

The story line was done well, and the book was a thrilling ride until the end. Haven't read anything else before by this author, but will read more in future. Recommended.

Just when you think you’re at the end.. there’s more (much more). This novel follows psychologist Ryan as he tries to help solve a serial killer case that’s been happening for years by trying to build a rapport with a victim that was able to escape. Olivia has been held captive, abused both mentally and physically, tortured, and she has a wall up that only Ryan can break through. But as professional as Ryan is, this case is personal, his sister is missing and was believed to be one of the victims. This novel is a dark race against the clock to find the answers from the most fragile of victims. Full of twists and blind blowing and tragic discoveries - I couldn’t put it down. Thank you @netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC edition of this novel.

Ryan Strickland is a psychologist working on a serial killer case with the FBI. He is brought in to try to talk to a possible witness in the case but finds that she is barely able to speak and has been potentially held captive for most of her life. This was SO good for the first half or more of the book, but after the big incident, I will call it, it wasn't as engrossing. It was still good, and I will definitely read more in this series, but the first part of it had me ready to give five stars. In the end, 4 stars.

Absolutely loved The Lost Victim. I haven't read many thrillers where the main character was a man and especially not one where he was capable of being a good human being. Seeing a man be the lead character and also a psychologist that deals with victims of crime was new and, in this case, very well done. I loved that Ryan didn't let his own personal desires stop him from doing his job first like we see in so many other novels with a similar character set up. I thought the plot of the book was well thought out and I enjoyed reading about what happens after the crimes are committed versus the usual of reading it while the crimes are ongoing. I thought the twists were very well executed. Right when you thought it was over and wrapping up a small thread unraveled. I will say I appreciated the story having those little threads right up to the end, because it made it fun to read up to that very last page. I read this entire story in one sitting over the holiday weekend, and I am so glad I requested a copy of this ARC.

This book is a thrilling ride with an addictive story, unexpected twists, and a surprising ending. The bond between Ryan and Olivia is awesome, with Ryan extracting information from her without her saying much. It's a unique and captivating read that sheds light on trauma. Highly recommended! The well-written characters are interesting, complex, and entertaining. As a fan of serial killer stories, the suspense and intrigue had me hooked from start to finish. The dialogues feel real, making it an exciting, action-packed thriller that kept me up late. This amazing book is a riveting page-turner that delves into dark territory. You can't predict what happens next, and even around two-thirds in, there's still so much more to uncover. I finished it in one afternoon because I couldn't put it down. The intense subject matter had me engrossed, and I'm already eager for the next book in the series. Thanks to an advanced copy from NetGalley, I had the chance to dive into this book before anyone else, and I'm thrilled that I did.

For more detailed book reviews, visit my website: www.thejayword.com

Serial killer, kidnapping, and the domino effect on everyone involved. Multiple and connected stories and a lot of emotion.

This book took me on a wild ride! I was definitely not expecting the twists and turns. It’s very different from other books I’ve read in a good way. I did not see the twist coming, but finishing the book made me understand why it happened. It definitely shines a light on what really happens to people who experience trauma. I definitely recommend!

The Lost Victim by Jennifer Hunter has everything I crave in a thriller: a shocking, addictive story; unexpected twists that snapped off the page; and an ending that made me gasp out loud.

This is a well written book and a first read for me from this author!
The characters are interesting, complex and entertaining.
One of my favorite tropes is serial killer’s and Hunter did an excellent job at keeping the suspense and intrigue alive.
The characters are well-developed, and the dialog is believable.
A well-written, exciting, action-packed thriller.
This one kept me up long past bedtime!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

The Lost Victim is the first book in the Ryan Strickland series.

Ryan Strickland is an FBI consultant and psychologist. Ryan has spent years looking for answers to his missing sister in each investigation he has. Hoping he finds her alive but also afraid of the truth that she has died. This loss gives him insight as to how the families feel when faced with the same tragedy. Ryan is good at what he does and is able to get victims to trust him and share their experiences.

Ryan is called in when a witness has been found who can identify a serial killer. They suspect that the serial killer has committed multiple crimes but have no idea just how many he is responsible for.

When Ryan meets Olivia, she is quiet and withdrawn. As he slowly gains her trust, Olivia agrees to return to the abandoned farmhouse on the outskirts of town. At first glance the property seems to reveal no mysteries or truth of what happened. But Olivia slowly reveals hiding places that they did not see. Olivia was kidnapped at the age of four and in some ways still that age. She does not speak in sentences having learned to be quiet as not to attract attention. As she slowly reveals the horrible truth no one is ready for the unspeakable truths revealed in Olivia’s darkest memories.

This book is an amazing story. It is a riveting page-turner; it is also a deeply dark thriller. It is not predictable at all. About 2/3 of the way thru you think it is over, but there is so much more to reveal. I was able to read this in one afternoon. I did not want to put it down until I had finished it. The subject matter is horrible, but I was so engrossed in the story I knew I would be rewarded for sticking with it. Looking forward to the next book in the series.