Another great story by this author with the dual timeline working perfect between the past and present. Great characters and storyline keep your interest throughout and it was a book I found hard to put down, especially with historic part. Definitely recommended

I love reading stories about the Titanic and when I saw this story I just had to read it.
This dual time story. The Carpathia picks up passengers from the Titanic. A journalist wants to tell the wold the truth and his wife helps by interviewing the women. During an auction her notebook and other Carpathia stuff is discovered and Jacky has to investigate it for her employer. Will the truth about a lost child ever by found?
I really enjoyed this story, it has so much that kept me reading. The storyline is great and at the end all lines come together. While reading you discover that the title of the story has more than just one meaning. A must read for fans of historical fiction.

A dual timeline that flows effortlessly between the eras.
1912. Madeline and Ralph Meyer are sailing on the Carpathia when the ship receives a mayday message from the Titanic. When they are transferring passengers from the titanic to lifeboats it’s women and children first. The Watts family have twins, so mother Lucy has Frederick in her arms and dad Arthur has Norah, so when he can’t go with his wife he begs another woman to take Norah. Will the family be reunited ?
Madeline does all she can to help Lucy in her search.
Present day. Tim and Jackie Summers have been together a long time and are content. They both like adventure holidays.
Jackie is ever aware that time is passing by for her to be having a baby but Tim always finds an excuse to delay when they will start a family. Then they reach a compromise of one last holiday so Tim gets to organising it. Is Jackie as content as she makes out and why is Tim so reluctant, could it be fear!
The similarities between Madeline and Jackie! This story will keep you glued. The ending, well I didn’t see that coming!

I absolutely loved this book!

I really enjoyed the dual timeline and thought both stories were really well written.

I slightly preferred the 1912 storyline, it felt more exciting, probably because it was based around the most famous shipwreck in the world. I like some of the characters were real people Abbs that others were based on real people.
I've never heard of Violet Jessop, but will definitely be looking to read her book in the future.

I thought the 2022 timeline was slower paced, which balanced brilliantly with the Titanic one. Setting it just after covid and lockdown made it so relatable. That feeling that nothing happened for 2 years, so plans need to be delayed while we catch up.

I'm also fascinated by the difference in reporting of news stories and disasters over the years. We're so used to instant news and constantly being in contact these days that the horror of not knowing who, if anyone, would come back from the Titanic seems unimaginable.

Big thanks to both #HQDigital and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of The Lost Child! The expected publication date is January 30, 2024.

"A sweeping dual-timeline novel from the bestselling author of The Girl from Bletchley Park.
All she wanted was a child of her own…"

I REALLY liked The Lost Child! The dual timelines featured Madeline, who was traveling aboard the Carpathia in 1912, and Jackie, who is an archivist in 2022 and finds a notebook from the Carpathia. Both were both interesting, although I enjoyed the 1912 timeline story the best. The parts of the book about the Titanic were heartwrenching - followed by others that were heartwarming. Both the book and the afterword were utterly fascinating, especially finding out how much of the story was true.

I recommend The Lost Child!

#KathleenMcGurl #Carpathia

This story is told in dual timelines. First we go back to the year 1912 and the ship Carpathia hears a distress call from the nearby ship Titanic. The ship turns to help rescue many survivors.

The Lost Child, tells the gut wrenching story of a few of the Titanic survivors. It's a story of three women, past and present trying to solve a one hundred year old mystery.

First, there was Madeleine a survivor, aboard The Titanic. She meets another survivor named Lucy Watts who is crying for her baby Norah. Both of them search for Norah, but the question remains, with all of the shock and devastation Lucy has suffered, is there really a baby to find?

Fast forward one hundred years to 2022 and we meet Jackie Summers. Jackie is an Archivist and antiques collector. Her employer Henry has recently acquired a box labeled "Carpathia". He was looking for medals that were awards to the ship's crew who answered the Titanic's distress call. But when Jackie comes across a notebook she is now determined to find out what has happened to the passengers Lucy Watts and Madeleine Meyer.

This was a compelling story both past and present. In fact, I truly enjoyed both timelines as I ended up rooting for Jackie to find out any information she could find regarding Lucy and Madeline.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves the genre of Historical Fiction!

Fascinating story lines - both historical and current day stories are awesome!

Historical side - Madeleine and her husband, a writer/reporter, are on the Carpathia when Titanic sinks and they go to it's rescue. Madeleine is helping the survivors when Ralph has her write down their stories hoping to get them to his newspaper before they land in NYC. She finds some very interesting stories.

Current day side - Jackie and her boyfriend find out their pregnant and have problems, he leaves for a break and she is left at work, unpacking a historical box of items from the Carpathia. Where she finds Madeleine's notebook and writes her own story.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

The Lost Child by Kathleen McGurl is a gripping tale about three women who were a hundred years apart yet they are all trying to solve the same mystery, while also having similar life struggles. I absolutely loved this book. So much so that I read it in one sitting (while eating an occasional meal). Flip flopping each chapter from 1912 to 2022 kept my interest. This story is well written and highly entertaining.

Cruise with the Carpathia, her crew, and guests as they sail for Europe until a distress signal from the Titanic is received. As the ship turns to help the fatally wrecked ship, the passengers are forever impacted by the turn of events. The Lost Child, by Kathleen McGurl, tells the heart-breaking story of some of the Titanic survivors. Because the Carpathia’s captain would not allow the journalist on the boat to send his article, “Fake News” was being published in. New York. This dual timeline story is a great read based on good research. I was able to read an ARC on #NetGalley.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of The Lost Child by Kathleen McGurl. This book grabbed me from the beginning and it was hard to put down. An emotional read that I can't stop thinking about. It was beautifully written and I am seriously considering reading some of this author's other books. I would definitely recommend this book to others. I loved it. I gave it a 5 star rating.

I really enjoy historical fiction books, especially ones with a dual timeline, and have never read one about the titanic before so this book was great to find out more about that. The writer cleverly works the two dual timelines together which was really enjoyable and I loved learning more about the Titanic.

I found that there was a bit of replication in parts especially in the speech between the characters, but overall the book was really enjoyable and I would love to read more of this authors work.

This story explores the Titanic tragedy and focuses on the ship, the Carpathia, that rescued the survivors. It centres on the rescue and the misinformation generated after the Titanic's demise. It's an emotional, often heartbreaking story of compassion and loss. The family focus connects the contemporary and historical story. Jackie is an archivist working for a man interested in Titanic memorabilia. When she discovers a notebook full of interviews, it sparks her interest, and the connection with events in 1912 is made. Both stories are engaging and immersive. I like the characterisation; it brings the historical events to vibrant life, the poignant emotions evoked and the believable connections in the stories.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

This book caught me immediately and did not let go! It was so exciting and I was wondering what was going to happen next. I cried at the tragedy of the Titanic, as I do when I hear about it, but the author made all the emotions so real.

Not for me. All the fear of Covid was enough for me to put it down.

I’m sorry, but I just don’t understand the need for politicizing literature.

A woman, a baby and a secret hidden for a hundred years...

I simply adore Kathleen McGurl's dual timeline tales and although I didn't her previous two quite as much, THE LOST CHILD is the author at her tear-jerkingly best. What I also loved about this story was that she incorporated a couple of previous characters from "The Lost Sister" which also featured Titanic and beyond. I was thrilled to see Violet Jessop (who was a real person an stewardess on Titanic) and Emma Higgins (the main character in "The Lost Sister" ) searching for her missing sister Ruby, also a stewardess. I recognised them at once and was endeared to see them included, albeit briefly.

1912: Onboard the transatlantic steamship Carpathia, Madeleine and Ralph Meyer are on a three month sojourn after the tragic loss of their baby and any chance of motherhood. Their destination is Gibraltar, a far cry from the freezing climes of New York. Ralph is a journalist but all Madeleine wanted to be was a mother. The couple are finding the crossing somewhat tiresome with little to do other than drink, play cards and watch the ocean pass by and wish for something a little more exciting to fill their days with.

Be careful what you wish for...

In the early hours of 15th April, Madeleine is awoken from her sleep by Ralph shaking her. He tells her the engines are now running at capacity and they appeared to have changed direction, for the pole star which should have been to their left is now ahead of them. Why have they changed course and what's the hurry that all engines are chugging heavily away to get them there? And then they hear whispers on deck that Titanic has hit an iceberg on its maiden voyage and has transmitted a mayday call. The crew think that those on Titanic have jumped the gun and they will arrive to find they are not needed after all...after all, the ship was said to be unsinkable.

But when Carpathia arrives at the coordinates given, all they see are lifeboats laden with people with many more in the water crying and calling for help, debris all around them. But there was no sign of Titanic.

Madeleine assists the crew with the survivors as they are brought aboard by giving them blankets and leading them to where a doctor awaits their arrival to check them over. Many are freezing cold, most are in shock. As one woman is brought on board with a swaddled baby in her arms, she thrusts the child at Madeleine but before she could react, another woman exclaims "My baby!" and grabs the bundle, disappearing into the crowd.

Meanwhile, young mother Lucy Watts is brought aboard with her own bundle swaddled in her arms crying for her baby. The other women dismiss her as being doolally as the child is clearly in her arms. But as Lucy searches for baby Norah, her story touches Madeleine who begins to search the ship for her too. But is Lucy confused and in shocks as a result of the trauma she has suffered? Or is there a second baby that no one, except Lucy and Madeleine, is looking for?

2022: Archivist Jackie Summers has worked for an antiques collector for several years. It began as a short term job sorting some of her employer's old books and has morphed into collating his vast collection of antique everything. Having just acquired a box labeled as "Carpathia", Henry is hopeful of finding a medal that was awarded to all crew of the only ship that answered Titanic's distress call. But when Jackie comes across a notebook, what she unearths is a mystery that pulls at her heartstrings so much that she endeavours to uncover the truth behind what happened to Lucy Watts and her baby, and that of Madeleine Meyer.

In her mid-thirties herself and her desire to start a family with long term partner Tim, Jackie feels a kinship with Madeleine despite the years that separate them. Through Lucy's story in the notebook, Madeleine's own pain surfaces. And when Jackie discovers she's pregnant, she's thrilled. But is Tim really as excited as he says he is?

Through both women's stories the reader is drawn into their worlds - both on Carpathia and in the present day. McGurl draws on her research and uses factual details from the pages of history to draw her fictional characters and sweeping tale that spans one hundred and ten years. She has incorporated factual happenings, such as the news blackout as ordered by Carpathia's captain and the rumours that brewed back in New York as to Titanic's fate, into this fictional story and put her own stamp on it. Whilst not losing the emotions, the feeling of devastation and helplessness, the shock and trauma, the reality of the world's most famous maritime tragedy ever seen.

THE LOST CHILD is a tragic yet beautiful story that, while it is heartbreaking and bittersweet, is also an emotional and compelling read. If you enjoyed "The Lost Sister" , you will love this one even more.

A definite five star read I highly recommend.

I would like to thank #KathleenMcGurl, #Netgalley and #HQDigital for an ARC of #TheLostChild in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I enjoyed reading this book, I couldn’t put it down.

It’s a dual timeline story, the first part takes place in 2022, where Jackie, wants to plan a family with Tim, they’ve been together for a long time. But he’s not that keen to take that step and asks her to wait until they’ve been on their summer holiday.

In the second timeline which is set in 1912, we meet Madeline, she’s recently had a miscarriage and has had to have a hysterectomy. She’s trying to come to terms with the fact that she’ll never have a baby.

Along with her husband, who is a journalist, they’re passengers on board the cruise ship Carpathia.

It’s informed to help save the passengers on the ship Titanic.

Throughout the story, there’s a lot happening and both timelines do come together.

I highly recommend this book.

A very interesting and heart warming, dual timeline story!
The British author has researched and written to truly make you ponder about the lives affected by the absolute tragedy of the fate of the Titanic and what everyone on board would have went through. The writer was inspired by a true event of a twin baby being passed desperately onto the last lifeboat leaving the sinking ship by the father, hoping it would be passed on to his wife and other twin baby who had left on an earlier boat however this didn't come about and the child may have been taken by someone else. 110yrs on, we follow a couple in their journey to become parents where a tragedy also is involved but a happier out come results. Set upon the steam ship Carpathia that comes to the rescue of the Titanic survivors and later New York, it's a truly interesting book if you like history, romance and children.

This is a dual timeline story beginning in 1912 with the tragic sinking of R.M.S Titanic and the efforts of those on board Carpathia, the rescue ship. Meanwhile in 2022, Jackie one of the main characters is given the task of cataloguing a collection of items from the time and it's there she discovers a notebook filled with personal stories by those caught up in the tragic event, one of which includes a missing baby. Enjoyable and sad at times this is another great offering by Kathleen McGurl.

The Lost Child is the seventh Kathleen McGurl book I have read and I have found that she consistently tells a beautiful story that I cannot put down; this book is no different - I loved it! A dual timeline novel, the first timeline takes place in 2022 and tells the story of Jackie, a 35-year-old woman who wants to start a family with her longtime love - she and her Tim have been together for 13 years but he is hesitant to take that leap, bargaining with her to wait to begin trying for a baby until after their summer vacation in Italy. The second timeline takes place in 1912 and is that of Madeleine, a married woman who has just tragically lost a pregnancy and had a hysterectomy, so she is coming to terms with never being able to give birth. She and her husband, a journalist, are on the cruiseship Carpathia when it is called to rescue the stranded passengers from the doomed Titanic. There is so much going on and the two timelines do connect but no spoilers. I enjoyed it and recommend it! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Like many people, I have an insatiable curiosity about the Titanic tragedy so I was excited to read this latest book. Told in dual timelines, we learn the details of the rescue ship, the Carpathia, and the Titanic survivors through a Carpathia passenger, Madeleine Meyer. In 2022, an archivist, Jackie, has found Madeleine's notebook with interviews of the female survivors. In both timelines, these two women have each suffered the loss of a pregnancy and are struggling with the consequences. I found both timelines to be equally compelling, which surprised me because I usually have a preference. I didn't expect the surprise twist at the end of the book, either, but it was perfect. This one is well-researched and fast-paced, a great addition to the Titanic genre. I thoroughly enjoyed it.