This book was a DNF for me. I got to 30% and decided it was not for me. Hopefully it will be a good fit for someone else!

This is the first book I have read by this author and I enjoyed it. Fiction mixed with true life history in a clever interesting story. Duel timeline which I enjoyed, and was easy to follow. The 1912 timeline tells the story of the titanic disaster and the other timeline is modern day. Both was good and fascinating but I think I preferred the 1912 part of the story. Very well written. The story line is gripping and interesting. I will definitely read more from this author.

This is such a fantastic read, Kathleen McGurl has done it again!

The story has lots of twists and turns, but the best part of it all are the incredible characters who feel as though they come to life on the page.

With lots of history, this is a story you can really lose yourself in and escape the real world for a while - just what reading is there for.

Thank you to HQ STORIES for an advanced copy of this title. Anything in the historical fiction genre is right up my street - add in The Titanic and you’ve won me over. I really enjoyed the duel timelines throughout this book, and the level of description given to each character’s experiences, although I think I preferred the 1912 chapters. Each woman - Madeleine and Jackie - were incredibly strong, forthright, passionate and incredibly human so they were very vivid for me. The only thing for me, was Jackie’s partner really annoyed me at times, which I found a little distracting. This book is out today, so if you’re a historical fiction buff, you’ll enjoy this.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story which is set in two time frames with the most interesting being that set in 1912 following events during the aftermath of the Titanic disaster. It was interesting to hear about The Carpathia and its role in the rescue of the survivors.
Whilst the modern day characters are not quite as interesting, the stories are woven together by artifacts from the Titanic and two central characters of past and present who both want a child of their own.
An exciting read.

1912. Ten week old twins, Frederick and Norah are separated with their parents when disaster strikes on the Titanic.

Frederick gets into a lifeboat with his Mother and Norah's life is saved by her Father handing her to a female crew member on the final lifeboat and sacrificing his own life as he realises there's no room for him, and no more lifeboats.

When Frederick and Lucy are later rescued by the Carpathia, Lucy is distraught to learn her husband hasn't made it, but is convinced that her daughter is still alive.

2022. Post Pandemic. Tim and Jacqui want the same thing. One last adventure before they settle down in to adulthood. Marriage, babies etc.

When Jacqui finds out she is pregnant, it puts their final trip in jeopardy. Believing that Jacqui got pregnant on purpose Tim is resentful towards his partner, unable to feel any excitement for his future parenthood.

A tragic miscarriage drives the couple further apart, and Tim ultimately makes the decision to go on the planned trip without her.

Realising that they may want different things in life, Jacqui lets him, and suggests that they take a break from each other for a while.

When tragedy strikes in the most unexpected way, Jacqui throws herself further in to her work to take her mind of things that she cannot control. As an archivist, she works for a man who has more than a passing interest in the titanic, and his latest purchase at auction may just be more than either of them bargained for.

Amongst the items is a notebook, containing first hand stories from the Carpathia of those rescued from the Titanic, and those lost. It is there that she comes across Lucy's name for the first time, and is determined to find out how that story ended.

This a beautiful story and love, loss and hope, and I hope to read more from this author.

Two stories nicely interweaved although I found the 1912 one the more interesting and engaging. I liked trying to pick out the fact from the fiction.

the story is told from two women, set over a hundred years apart, Jackie in 2022 and Madeleine in 1912.
Both women have the loss of a baby in common and
they were introduced to a titanic survivor, Lucy Watts.. both women tried to find Lucy's baby
I highly recommend this book by
Kathleen is McGurl.

A most enjoyable story. The two time periods kept me reading non stop. The Titanic is a well known event, but I haven’t read as much about the Carpathia. It was interesting to see the view of the aftermath of the sinking of the Titanic. Thanks for the ARC

Another brilliantly crafted story from McGurl. The more I read of this author, the more I enjoy her books. I definitely want to try and read all of her back catalogue!

This book is similar to a previous read from this author, in the fact that we are focusing on the time of the Titanic. I have a fascination with this devastating event and have always enjoyed reading fictional accounts of this fateful night. This time, it is more about the after math when the Carpathia ship comes to rescue the survivors. Madeleine is on the ship, welcoming the survivors and, with her journalist husband’s persuasion, talking to them and understanding their experiences. Madeleine and her husband work together, piecing together the survivors stories to create the informative newspaper article that the world is waiting for. It was interesting to observe how the Carpathia‘s captain refused to pass on this story when they reached closer to New York and this was a reflection of the time. As a result, newspapers were simply providing the awaiting public with speculation and false news.

The author’s end note again reflected the research undertaken and this made the story even more enjoyable. Whilst some elements were fictionalised, I liked how McGurl fused fact with fiction, especially when the after note helped you identify what was truth. Finishing this book made me feel even more informed about this event.

Like so many of McGurl’s stories, this is a dual timeline and in the present day, Jackie stumbles upon Madeleine’s notebook that had some of the interviews from the Titanic survivors. Jackie starts piecing together the information she has to find out more about a lost baby that was reported by Madeleine. It is this that brings the two time periods in almost perfect parallel.

The title of the story has so many layers to it and they impact a range of characters. Not only does it refer to the baby whom was lost after its mother arrived on the Carpathia, but also what it means to be a mother. Both Madeleine and Jackie share similar experiences and I felt the writer addressed this in a sensitive manner. Furthermore, it is not just the women that have been affected and I thought this made the characters more vivid and enriched.

Despite the story of the Titanic being so well-known, McGurl offers a new perspective and I hadn’t even considered before what the rescue ship went through, let alone the passengers that found themselves heading back to New York with the survivors. The reporting black-out was interesting to consider, as well as the rumours that swirled around the fate of the Titanic, showing that this is still relevant in today’s modern world, where communication is instant but not always accurate. The tales of Madeleine and Jackie were emotional and provocative and I enjoyed reading how they are also survivors of their own, personal tragedies.

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

Both heartwrenching and heartwarming this a beautifully told story or tragedy, loss and love.
If all history lessons were told like this I might have got better grades in my history exam 😹
Blending mainly facts with fiction the story is told from two women, set over a hundred years apart, Jackie in 2022 and Madeleine in 1912.
Both women have the loss of a baby in common so when both women are introduced to the story of Titanic survivor, Lucy Watts, both women are touched by her story and her missing daughter, and both go about trying to find out what happened to the little missing baby girl.
Madeleine is aboard the ship Carpathia and witnesses the rescue of the survivors of the sunken Titanic and it is as she is helping the survivors board the Carpathia that she is handed a bundle from one of the Titanic’s stewardess, only to have the bundle which contained a baby snatched straight back out of her arms.
Madeleine’s husband is a journalist and sets her the task of interviewing some of the women survivors to get their story of what really happened to the Titanic which is how she learns of Lucy’s lost child and vows to help her finding her missing baby.
Jackie is a research assistant to a wealthy businessman who is an avid collector, so when he buys a box of miscellaneous items from the ship, Carpathia, she discovers Madeleine’s notebook containing the interviews she carried out, one of which is Lucy’s story.
She is immediately drawn to the story still feeling her own recent loss and begins digging into the story.
Both women’s stories are equally as compelling and both storylines draw you into their worlds and lives as it follows their own personal losses along with the huge disaster and loss of live from the sinking of the Titanic.
It is beautifully written, full of compassion for the tragedy and it is a story that will haunt you, in a good way!, long after you have finished the last page.
I was completely invested in both storylines and loved all the nonfictional elements of the book. It is a book that once you start reading you cannot put it down.
I highly recommend reading this book to anyone and everyone, and I would go so far as to say it is one of the best books I have had the pleasure of reading this year.

Another great read from the queen of dual time line books!
These books I find so hard to put down as you just want to find out what happens next, but then you are in the other time and also want to know what’s happening there, so you just keep reading one more chapter after another.
Both timelines were interring and worked well and the story merged together effortlessly.
Can’t wait to see what comes next.

Historical fiction written in a dual time line. Both stories are fantastic and I enjoyed them very much, I usually find myself preferring one story over the other, but not this time. Another great story by a wonderful author. Thank you netgalley and publisher for the arc in exchange of an honest review.

Thank yo to Netgalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

Another dual time-line book done right. This book takes place in 1912 and 2022. In 1912, our main character, Madeleine Meyer is aboard the Carpathia, on the fateful night that the Titantic sinks. She is there when the survivors are brought aboard and helps out as much as she can.. Madeleine's husband Ralph is a journalist and he asks his wife to try to get the stories from the survivors to get their story out and so the lost won't be forgotten. Madeleine finds a woman who is looking for her lost baby and she wonders if the child she saw being brought aboard earlier belonged to her, but they cannot seem to locate the child. In 2022, we find Jackie, who works for an antiquities dealer who is interested in the White Star Line. Jackie also wants to start a family with her partner, but starts to worry that they are not on the same page. meanwhile, Jackie comes across a journal that appears to tell the soties of Titantic survivors, initialed MM and finds herself diving into the story and wanting to kow more about the story of Lucy, the lady who lost her baby. Such a good story, so heartfelt and well written.

I love Kathleen McGurl's books. The stories always pull me right in. Her charcters are real and honest, she always sets a great scene and I do love a dual timeline story. Looking forward to many more books by this author.

I really enjoy historical fiction books and this one was no exception. It was a fast and easy read told through dual timelines. The jump between Madeleine’s experience onboard the Carpathia in 1912 and Jackie’s story in recent years was refreshing and kept me engaged throughout. Each of their stories was equally compelling and I loved the full circle moment at the end.

I really enjoyed this story. The two different time periods kept me enthralled. We hear so much about the Titanic, but not much about the Carpathia (at least I haven't), so it was interesting to see the view of the aftermath of the sinking of the Titanic. A great read!

The Lost child
HQ Digital
Publication 30/1/24
By Kathleen McGurl

1912. As the steamship Carpathia takes the survivors of the Titanic to New York, Lucy desperately searches the decks for her baby, thrust into the arms of another woman as a lifeboat left, and now nowhere to be found.
Madeleine is helping her journalist husband to interview the survivors, and when she meets Lucy, she promises she will do anything she can to help her find her lost child.
2022. When archivist Jackie finds a notebook containing the stories of women saved by the Carpathia amongst an auction lot, she learns the story of the missing baby.
Desperate to start a family of her own, she feels compelled to dig further. And her search will lead her to a century-old mystery.

So being obsessed with Titanic , I have read a number of books about it. I liked how this was about characters from the Carpathia. The ship that saved so many lives that night.

Also this was a dual timeline, which is also a favourite of mine.
This book was well written and I followed the dual time no problem. You will go through a range of emotions but who doesn’t love a happy ending. Though don’t take that as a sign that this book is predictable. It absolutely isn’t ! Enjoy!

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I loved this novel! There is a great interplay between the past and present, with.a range of interesting and relevant themes touched upon. I particularly enjoyed the historical backdrop of the Titanic disaster, along with the many sub plots regarding children. I was gripped throughout and highly recommend this book.

The Lost Child is a well-written story of love and loss, but also hope and survival.

An engaging read with a good pace and a plot that flows well across the dual timelines. The author has done an excellent job of creating the many parallels between the 1912 characters and the 2022 characters.

I have read and enjoyed other Titanic historical fiction stories, but The Lost Child provides a different perspective for readers in that the 1912 storyline is told from the viewpoint of a Carpathia passenger, rather than a Titanic survivor.

This is the second novel by Kathleen McGurl that I have read; I recommend it and would be happy to read further novels from this author.

Thank you to the publisher, HQ Digital for a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Kathleen McGurl’s latest novel, The Lost Child, is a poignant and gripping tale that spans over a century, weaving together the tragic true story of a baby lost in the aftermath of the Titanic disaster and a modern-day woman’s quest to uncover the mystery behind the child’s disappearance.

McGurl hooks readers from the very first page, bringing us aboard the Titanic’s sister ship, the Carpathia, in the emotional hours following the Titanic’s sinking. We meet Madeleine, a woman who helps others despite dealing with her own grief and young mother Lucy, frantically searching for the infant daughter she handed to a stranger amid the lifeboat chaos. McGurl does an excellent job conveying both the panic of that dreadful night and Lucy’s visceral pain at being separated from her child.

The narrative then switches to 2022, as archivist Jackie discovers mention of the missing Titanic baby amongst documents she’s cataloging for auction. Unable to get Lucy and her lost little one out of her mind, Jackie decides to play amateur detective. As a woman struggling with infertility, she feels a special kinship with the long-ago mother and becomes obsessed with unearthing out what happened to the child.

As the tales of these two women weave together across the decades, McGurl keeps the intrigue high and emotions authentic. The stories connect in profoundly moving ways, building towards reveals and resolutions that pack a serious punch. Thoroughly researched and vividly told, The Lost Child offers the perfect melding of mystery, family drama, and illuminating history. Readers will devour this book quicker than a Titanic survivor would have wolfed down their first hot meal aboard the Carpathia. I highly recommend giving The Lost Child a read—just have some tissues at hand!