"The Lost Passenger" is told from the first-person perspective of Elinor Coombs, a young woman who grows up in the early 20th century in Great Britain as daughter of the "cotton king". Having lost her mother at a young age, Elinor has watched as her father built his entire cotton empire from the ground up and worked alongside him to learn the ins-and-outs of his business. When Elinor meets and falls in love with Fredrick Coombes, the son of a longstanding aristocratic family, she believes she's found her happy ending about getting married to him, but finds that reality is far from what she imagined. Her role is relegated to barely more than a side piece in the family, where she has no say in how her son Teddy is raised.

Elinor sees a brief respite after her father gifts tickets for the maiden voyage of the Titanic, but after the catastrophic sinking of the vessel where only Elinor and her son survive, she makes the decision to take on the name and life of Molly Mortimer, a fellow passenger on the ship who served as her son's interim nurse on the voyage. In New York City, Elinor is taken in by Molly's extended family and must learn to survive in the family's cramped apartment in the LES where they sew clothing for mere pennies each day - all under a false guise.

From the first few chapters, Quinn has crafted a convincing protagonist that I couldn't help but root for; we see her struggle as she is deemed barely more than a housewife by her husband's family, and is stripped of any autonomy, even when it comes to the time she can spend with her newborn son. Despite her upbringing in households of wealth, she willingly leaves it all behind for a chance to reclaim her own autonomy, even at the cost of immense risk and deception. Her determination and grit are made clear in the latter half of the novel as she builds a new life for herself and her son, and I appreciated just how satisfying the ending was. Quinn's writing is transportive and complex, and I found myself eagerly picking up my Kindle to dive back into this novel.

Very much a recommended read when "The Lost Passenger" is published in Feburary 2025!

Francis Quinn’s novel The Lost Passenger is a gripping, immersive tale about Elinor, a wealthy cotton manufacturer’s daughter, tricked into marrying an English aristocrat, Frederick, for her dowry. The author effectively depicts the social customs of the time, which immediately drew me into the story. I could sense and feel Elinor’s disillusionment as she realized the few rights given to her by two loving parents were so easily stripped away from her the moment she married.

This is a touching tale of disillusionment, naivete, and betrayal, in which a young woman learns to fight for what she believes would give her son a better life. When she finds herself married to a man in love with someone else, Elinor examines her life, seeking ways to change her circumstances.
Where, at first, she fights the suffocating marriage, the author slowly reveals Elinor’s innate courage via Elinor’s internal dialogue as she questions and battles her decisions throughout the story.

When the opportunity to sail to New York on the Titanic arises, Elinor uses her husband’s affair to her advantage, threatening to reveal his secret for all the world to hear. As Elinor, Frederick, her father, and her son, Teddy, set sail on the Titanic's maiden voyage, the ship’s tragic events provide Elinor with a plan to ease the horror. She assumes the identity of a girl named Molly and starts over across the Atlantic, embracing a new life in America.

This well-written and well-researched novel was easy to read, pulling me inside each character’s story the more I read. I always enjoy tales of strong women who turn adversity into advantage and tragedy to triumph despite the odds stacked against them. Francis Quinn’s recent novel does not disappoint. She has found a permanent spot in my library.

I want to thank Net Galley, the publisher, and the author, for the opportunity to read this free ARC. This review is voluntary and mine alone.

Elinor lost her father and husband on the Titanic but she and her son survived the horrific tragedy. But if she goes back to England she and her son will be at the mercy of her dreadful in-laws who only care about prestige and titles and now that her husband is gone, they have guardianship of her son. So she takes a risk and takes the identity of a woman she met on the ship who sadly didn’t make it. Once in New York she becomes Molly Mortimer and is determined to make a life for herself and her son while praying no one finds out her secret.

This is a story of survival and found family. Elinor’s determination and love for her son allowed her to make hard decisions and see that she was capable of being a strong woman. The characters were well written and the story was easy to follow. I did expect more descriptive writing of the sinking of the titanic but I think it was meant to be felt in Elinor’s dealing with the traumatic experience. Overall I enjoyed the story and will recommend.

The story of an arranged marriage that went horribly wrong teaches us that family can be found in unexpected places.19 year old Elinor Coombs had been reading about romantic love for years and she and her wealthy father believe they have found the perfect husband for her in Frederick, AKA, Lord Storton.

Immediately after their nuptials, Elinor overheard her new mother-in-law gossiping about her. She hears it repeated that Elinor was young and trainable, and that her rough edges could be smoothed out, especially her low class accent and manners. Elinor confronted Frederick, who agreed with his mother and added that her dowry would be used to shore up an aristocratic house that was leaking money.

She overhears that guardianship has been given to Frederick’s parents to ensure proper upbringing if something were to happen to Frederick, including being sent to boarding school at age seven. Elinor’s father gifts the immediate family with tickets on the newly finished Titanic. At the last minute, Elinor’s maid refuses to get on the ship, and a sudden replacement is hired.

We all know what happens next and the vivid descriptions of the sinking and the sheer terror of those who didn’t survive are unforgettable. As she and Teddy are rescued ( her maid was never found among the rescued) she realizes that she is being given a second chance to make a new life for herself and her son and so Elinor Coombs becomes Molly Mortimer.

What follows is the story of Elinor’s determination to succeed in a new world while hiding her true identity. She is welcomed by Molly’s relatives and housed with them in a dirt-poor neighborhood in New York where she must learn to help with the family laundry, survive the terrors of a shared filthy outhouse, and learn to sew to help the overcrowded family stay afloat.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and struggled to write a review worthy of this author’s talents. I highly recommend this book to all. My gratitude to Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Frances Quinn book The Lost Passenger takes place right before Titanic's maiden voyage through the months/years after. Elinor Combes is the main character who we follow throughout the course of the book. She is a young wife and mother trapped in an unhappy marriage. So when she is presented with a gift of tickets for the maiden voyage of the Titanic, she sees it as a welcomed opportunity to get away and be with her father and her son Teddy, even if its for a short while, from her husband's controlling family.

The moment the ship hits the iceberg, Elinor realizes everything around her is changing very quickly. The disaster before her has also given her a chance to start a new life with her son in New York. Taking on the identity of her maid, she begins a new life while keeping her old one buried deep down.

This was a moving book lead by a strong lead character. Quinn found a way to tell this uplifting story through a character who was determined to succeed for both her and her sons future. Elinor endured many obstacles along the way between her daily life and the lies she had to tell to make it through.

As soon as I started this book, I could not put it down. Quinn's writing has a way of captivating her audience. She was able to tell her story and also bring a part of history to life again. I would highly recommend to this book! A definite must read.

When Elinor, an upper class woman on the TItanic, finds herself a survivor of the the sinking, she takes on the persona of Molly, a lady's maid who was traveling at the same time. Elinor was so unhappy in the upper class that she was willing to become a totally new person to escape that life. This of course involves telling lies to allow her to integrate herself into this world. Very much a class reversal. The author does a great job of transporting us to the NYC of the period.

Recommended for public libraries

As a longtime admirer of historical fiction, I found myself truly captivated by this novel. The writing flowed beautifully, and the story unfolded in a way that drew me in completely. What surprised me most was the depth of the characters; I felt a genuine connection with them that I hadn’t anticipated.

Elinor’s journey is nothing short of remarkable. She embodies resilience, navigating the complexities of a marriage of convenience, enduring the harrowing experience of the Titanic's sinking, and grappling with the loss of everything she once knew. Yet, from the wreckage of her former life, she emerges with a newfound strength, determined to create a brighter future for herself and her son. Her tale is a powerful reminder that life has its seasons, and enduring the darkest moments often allows the most beautiful chapters to unfold.

This harrowing narrative explores the different shades of tragedy and the ways we learn to live through them. I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this book and wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who appreciates a well-crafted story.

This isn't the type of book I usually enjoy, but I found myself so immersed in this novel. It was well written and fascinating. I felt myself enjoying the characters as well.

Thank you to the publisher, Frances Quinn, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in advance of the release date!

The Lost Passenger may be one of the best historical novels I have ever read!
Elinor Hayward is only seventeen when she meets the aristocratic Frederick Coombes at a dinner party. A smart girl, she is still naive about society because she derives all her ideas about love and marriage from the pages of novels by Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, and Thomas Hardy. When Freddie, the heir of Lord Storton, courts her, Elinor assumes it is for love. Even her normally shrewd father, the wealthy "cotton king" of Manchester, believes she is making a good marriage.
Elinor learns too late that her new family is cash-poor and orchestrated the marriage for the sole purpose of shoring up their estate with her father's money. They do all they can to erase their plebian daughter-in-law, from correcting her table manners and accent to keeping her away from her baby son, Teddy. Elinor is wretched and too ashamed to tell her beloved father the truth.
When he surprises her with the gift of a family trip on the new ocean liner, Titanic, Elinor is thrilled to have even a few weeks away from her horrible in-laws. For the first time, she can spend as much time as she likes with Teddy and introduce him to the grandfather he never knew. An unexpected bonus is the last-minute substitution of Molly Mortimer, a Manchester girl traveling to New York to live with relatives she has never met, as her maid.
Elinor's brief happiness ends when the "unsinkable" ship hits an iceberg. She and Teddy end up on a lifeboat. Somehow Molly doesn't make it. Both Freddie and Elinor's father perish as well.
On board the Carpathia and bound for New York, Elinor makes a brave decision. She will take Molly's name and disappear.
Suddenly, the young woman who has been rich all her life finds herself living poor on the Lower East Side of New York City with her toddler son in a small tenement apartment with five strangers. How she manages to survive and thrive with her new family is a fascinating story.
Elinor is a wonderful character as are so many others in this richly detailed book. My only complaint is that the story had to end. (384 pages flew by and I still wanted more!) I would recommend The Lost Passenger to anyone who enjoyed Downton Abbey or Upstairs, Downstairs, the novels of Belva Plain or Betty Smith and those enthralled by stories about the Titanic. I will definitely look for more novels by Frances Quinn.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read a free advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Elinor Coombes lives a privileged life, enviable from afar. Her reality is a loveless marriage, a cheating husband, a household who shows only disrespect and a baby boy destined for a bleak, loveless life ahead, isolated from his mother. On a transatlantic journey aboard the Titanic fate gives her a second chance. Holding tight to her son Teddy, she survives and makes a decision that will alter the future of many. Posing as Molly, her maid, she is welcomed into the family who lives in a Manhattan tenement and finds herself working at tasks she never attempted and leading a life she never imagined. Elinor/Molly lives a lie and when she is faced with exposure, she prepares to flee. Frances Quinn’s writing is so good that one can hear, see and feel all that her protagonist experiences from the screams of the dying to the homes of the living and the fear and tension of being discovered.

If you’re a Titanic fan then you’ll probably love this one as much as I did. I’ve read dozens of historical fiction novels surrounding this fascinating (and devastating) disaster and this one had a super interesting premise. I enjoyed getting to know our main character for the first part of the book (tho not a super deep dive - this isn’t a character driven novel) & see how British aristocratic life was from her point of view. The chapters on the actual sinking were gripping and then the second half of the book about her life in New York were super interesting too. Love the good ‘ole American dream! The very last page made me cry!

Elinor’s Dad promised her first class accommodations on the new ship being built The Titanic. The only child of a self made wealthy cotton manufacturer she was conned into a marriage to a pedigree but poor upper class family who sought her out only to help save their estate and bear them a son who would carry on the family traditions.
After Elinor has her son and she quickly realizes the future is quite bleak for her. When the first class tickets arrive for her and her immediate family she skillfully talks her husband into the trip of a lifetime by using some bribery that she had been subjected to and knew that her husband would want her secrets kept.
The events leading up to the tragedy on the Titanic and the quick thinking of Elinor in the aftermath of the situation and what Elinor decides to do about her life after her and her beloved son Teddy are spared is quite heroic.
Thank you to NetGalley for ARC of this wonderful book.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Elinor was shocked to learn her partner married her for her money. When she gets a chance to travel on a ship, she is so excited. When the ship sinks, Elinor gets an idea to take another individuals identity. A nice read.

This is so much more than another "Titanic" story. Elinor only wants the kind of love she saw between her father and mother, the kind she read about in Jane Austen's novels. When a young nobleman comes courting, she thinks he is the one she's been waiting for, but after the wedding, she finds that he only married her for her money. The "Cotton King's" daughter is a smart business woman who could have run her fathers mills with ease, but in the world of her new husband's luxurious estate, she is despised and made to feel useless. The story of Elinor's heartbreak, struggles, and eventual triumph is so rich in detail, the world of the early 1900s come alive for the reader. Five enthusiastic stars.This is so much more than another "Titanic" story. Elinor only wants the kind of love she saw between her father and mother, the kind she read about in Jane Austen's novels. When a young nobleman comes courting, she thinks he is the one she's been waiting for, but after the wedding, she finds that he only married her for her money. The "Cotton King's" daughter is a smart business woman who could have run her fathers mills with ease, but in the world of her new husband's luxurious estate, she is despised and made to feel useless. The story of Elinor's heartbreak, struggles, and eventual triumph is so rich in detail, the world of the early 1900s come alive for the reader. Five enthusiastic stars.This is so much more than another "Titanic" story. Elinor only wants the kind of love she saw between her father and mother, the kind she read about in Jane Austen's novels. When a young nobleman comes courting, she thinks he is the one she's been waiting for, but after the wedding, she finds that he only married her for her money. The "Cotton King's" daughter is a smart business woman who could have run her fathers mills with ease, but in the world of her new husband's luxurious estate, she is despised and made to feel useless. The story of Elinor's heartbreak, struggles, and eventual triumph is so rich in detail, the world of the early 1900s come alive for the reader. Five enthusiastic stars.

This book gave a very interesting take on what it might have been like for someone that did survive the sinking of the Titanic. What her life was like before she left on the ship and the life she made for herself after she landed in America. It was a great fiction story surrounding a very real event.

Elinor, the daughter of a wealthy cotton manufacturer, enters marriage with an upper class husband, believing that
it is al ove match. When she discovers it is for her father's money, she does her best to hold on to her identity
bit is gradually forced to act the way her husband's stature demands. The hardest to cope with is the limited
contact she has with her son. When her father comes through with tickets for the Titanic's maiden voyage,
she sees it as a time to temporarily escape from her in-laws. A maid is hired at the last minute to help with the care
of her son Teddy. When she and her son are the only survivors from their party, Elinor decides to assume the maid's
identity. She moves in with the family and adapts to a new way of life.
A woman willing to undergo challenges and hardships to make a better life for herself and especially her son.
#TheLostPassenger #Random House #BallantineBooks #NetGalley

The Lost Passenger
I never pass up an opportunity to read a book based on the Titanic. This is an immersive and beautifully written historical fiction novel. The story of a mother’s love and the lengths she will go to protect her child. It’s a story of a strong woman who rebuilds her life to protect what she holds dear. It is also a story of family and the many forms it comes in. An unforgettable read that will stay with me.

This was a compelling, emotional read about a woman trying to escape from her previous life after surviving the sinking of the Titanic. I'm obsessed with anything Titanic, and this story took on a unique perspective from anything I've read before. Although this book was fiction, my mind kept wandering to the possibility that this story could have been real for any number of survivors who were looking to start fresh in America. The title is perfectly fitting, too, for the main character as well as for the reader. I found myself getting lost in this story, the same as Elinor, like I was a passenger navigating this terrifying journey alongside her. The writing was superb and extremely transparent. I felt all of Elinor's struggles, fears and pain. I could vividly picture being on the ship and witnessing its demise as well as being haunted by all of the lost souls who went into the water. It was like taking a step back in time to early 1900s New York, seeing the sights as they were back then, and feeling the nostalgia for how different it is today. What a fantastic story! This is my first by this author, but I will definitely be looking for more of her stories in the future. I highly recommend! I can see this being one of the top historical fiction reads of 2025.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for granting me a widget via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!

A wealthy young English woman finds herself trapped in a miserable marriage, with only limited access to her young son. She jumps at a chance to accompany her father, husband and son on the maiden voyage of the Titanic. She and her son survive and she decides to take the identity of a young maid on her way to live with her cousin's family. Though a bit melodramatic, the story is interesting, and offers a look at life in New York in the 1910s,

I have read many stories surrounding the sinking of the Titanic, yet this one is a completely different take.

Elinor Coombes dreamed of marrying the man of her dreams, unfortunately her prince was a fake, and becoming a lady of society is not anything like she imaged. Marrying into the aristocracy is beginning to choke her as she is not even allowed to care for her own child. Her father’s trip on the Titanic is the only bright light in her future, as she will be allowed to take her son with her on the maiden voyage.

When the Titanic goes down, and she is alone in the world with only her son now, she makes a brave decision to adopt another woman’s identity and escape into the wilds of the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Leaving behind her wealth, she must now work hard and struggle as the other immigrants must do. Yet, through this hard work, she realizes just how tough her is and that the love of a family can overcome any obstacles, including confronting those in her past that want to expose her lie.

Frances Quinn gives us a heroine that at first you feel sorry for, but soon you cheer on!