This was a fantastic follow on from Gone however if you haven’t read that it does work fine as a standalone but does features spoilers about Gone so ideally best to read both in order. This is very pacy read, twisty and definitely not short of action. The characters are intelligent, very good at what they do but still flawed which makes them people you want to read about. The story has a lot of extremes but they feel believable and adds to the unexpected in this. It’s hard to guess ahead and keeps you well on your toes but it’s also very engrossing.

I had not read the previous book, so did not realise that this was a series. However I throughly enjoyed the book and read it almost all in one day.
Good story, it did get rather far-fetched towards the end, similar to a James Bond type story, but on the whole the story kept my attention and I felt it was good.,
Interesting characters.

Great book, can be read as stand alone but the previous title was also excellent and you get to know the characters. Would highly recommend reading anything by Leona Deakin

A good thriller with a lot of action and some great characters.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

I really enjoyed Leona Deakin’s first novel, Gone and I have been really looking forward to this novel since reading the first chapters as a preview. The main characters - Dr Augusta Bloom and Marcus Jameson have been hired to help a friend of Bloom’s, but will
Jameson help after what happened in Gone with Seraphina.
I really enjoyed this book and since half of it was based in the area I grew up in it was great to be able to actually visualise what was happening in those places. Another great read and I’m looking forward to Bloom and Jameson’s next book!

I hadn’t realised this book was the 2nd in a series when I requested it. But despite this I did enjoy the book. It was well written and interesting to read. But I definitely want to go find no 1 now so I can appreciate it properly

A gripping, intelligent psychological thriller with a military twist.

Captain Harry Peterson is at a military ball when a bomb explodes. The casualties are taken by ambulance to hospital, but Harry goes missing. Minutes before, Karene, Harry’s girlfriend had just waved at him when she arrived at the ball, so she knew that he had been there.

When Karene feels overwhelmed and helpless, she calls on her friend Dr Augusta Bloom to assist her in finding Harry. But, Harry is found three days later and is left without memory following the blast. He has no recollection either that Karene is his girlfriend. At this point the plot becomes densely folded in complex layers, making for a riveting read. Deakin obviously did her research on how the brain and memory work. Insight into how the military operates gives another tense exploration of unfolding thought-provoking events, which could be based on some truth.

Augusta has a colleague, Marcus, working with her, and when Harry’s ex-wife and children come into the plot, the relationship dynamics add intrigue to the mystery unfolding.

It is difficult to put this book down, so make a bubble of time to sit and read until the end.

BonnieK

Elite Reviewing Group received a copy of the book to review.

After reading ‘gone’ I was every excited to read this! I will admit I struggled to get into this book as first, it did take me till about halfway to really get on board with it! It was a slow paced book which I did enjoy but for me it wasn’t as good as ‘gone’.

I'm sorry but I could not get into this one. I loved the first in the series but unfortunately I could not engage with the story of Harry, and the far-fetched links back to the previous book.

Fast paced thriller with great characters. I suggest you read these in order, so start with 'Gone', which I also loved. Engaging, but you have to give it your full attention as the plot moves swiftly. I hope for more in this series.

I was really surprised by this book, and not in a good way.

The plot is a convoluted, unbelievable, hot mess and even after I read the explanation chapter twice I still didn't fully understand what happened.

I'm struggling to match the characters in this book with the ones we saw in book 1, to me they bear little resemblance.

This book is supposed to take place three months after book 1 so either Seraphina has accomplished an awful lot in that time or she had access to these resources during book 1 and if that was the case book 1 should have been a very different story.

Given how much I loved book 1, if there is a book 3 I will probably read it but for me it needs to return to the realms of possibility book 1 lived in.

Another intriguing plot by Leona Deakin, the second in a series following Marcus Jameson and Augusta Bloom as they work together to solve yet another mysterious disappearance.
After an explosion at a military ball the casualties are rushed to hospital in eight ambulances, but only seven vehicles arrive. Captain Harry Peterson is missing.

The book begins with the pair barely on speaking terms after the devastating conclusion of the last novel.  However when Bloom is contacted by an old friend Karene, Harry’s girlfriend, to investigate his disappearance and she enlists Jameson, knowing he owes her a favour after their last case.
However when Harry is found, something is terribly wrong. He cannot remember the last four years of his life. As Marcus and Bloom unravel more information about Harry's disappearance and subsequent injuries it becomes clear that this is just one part of a much bigger picture and once again someone is using these crimes to get closer to Bloom and Marcus.

With the unwelcome reappearance of Seraphanie, the psychopath from the last book, I put this novel down. She played a large role in the last book and i didn't really enjoy her as a villain so bringing her back into this novel sort of ruined it for me. I decided not to finish this book because I wasn't prepared to read about Seraphanie for the remaining 75% of the novel.
For anyone who read the first novel and is interested in reading the second, message me and tell me after you've finished if you found it exceptional and I might give it another crack!

Another triumph for Leona Deakin. I loved her debut novel ‘ Gone ‘, and ‘ Lost ‘ does not disappoint. Well written, great characters, good storyline, what’s not to love!

Captain Harry Peterson is attending a Navy ball with his girlfriend Karene Harper. There is an explosion and a few people are injured, Harry being one of them. He is taken to hospital via ambulance but doesn't arrive there until a few days later. It is a different hospital than they expected and it is much further away.

Karene enlists the help of old university friend, and private investigator, Dr Augusta Bloom, to find out what happened to Harry in his missing hours. Bloom, alongside her old partner, ex-spy Marcus Jameson, discover that Harry is missing his memories from the last four years and assume that he was the specific target at the ball and someone messed with his memory. But why?

It was great to see Dr Bloom and Jameson working together again and although this probably could be read as a standalone as some parts are explained, I would definitely recommend reading 'Gone' by Leona Deakin beforehand so you are familiar with the supporting characters and Bloom and Jameson's relationship.

I struggled a bit with this one. It didn't grip me as much as 'Gone' did and I felt like it was easy to set it down to go and do something else.

Leona Deakin is a fantastic writer, there is no doubt about that, there just wasn't enough of a chase for me. I would have liked it to be a little more fast-paced. The story was very good and you could tell that it had been meticulously planned and well researched.

I read Leona Deakin’s debut novel Gone and was floored by how great it was. Lost, I found was a little slower and found it took me until halfway to really become invested into the storyline.

By the time I’d familiarised myself who all the characters were I was fully committed to finding out exactly what had happened to Harry!

Great follow up to the first novel in the series!

Lost is the second book in the Augusta Bloom series and I was extremely appreciative to be given the opportunity to read an ARC, thanks to the publisher. If you’ve read Gone, then I promise you won’t be disappointed and if not then you really must. The investigative duo of Augusta Bloom and Marcus Jameson is shaping up nicely as a partnership and proving to be a real treat. Complex and full of intrigue,their latest investigation centres around Captain Harry Peterson, an esteemed naval officer and his partner, Karene, a psychologist like her university friend Augusta.
When a bomb explodes during a function at Devonport, a military base in Plymouth, Harry is one of only twelve casualties amongst a few hundred. Karene is relieved that he seems to have only suffered minor injuries but when she fails to locate him at the nearby hospital where all the other victims have been taken, she contacts Augusta, fearful for his safety.

Is this the work of a terrorist organisation or is it a conspiracy? Why has Harry disappeared and why is Karene receiving anonymous one line emails? Although his disappearance is short lived and Harry is found alive in another hospital,the investigation is really only just beginning. Augusta, Marcus and Karene are convinced there’s something sinister afoot especially as Harry’s injuries have resulted in severe memory loss. Four years of his life have been completely wiped out which is strange given he didn’t seem to have suffered a brain injury at the time of the explosion. How did he end up so far away from the scene of the event and who could be targeting Harry and why? As an experienced serviceman Harry has seen plenty of action in his illustrious career but it could be his involvement during the migrant crisis that is the key to solving Harry’s disappearance and memory loss. Whilst having witnessed horrific events during active service Harry is depicted as a caring individual believing all lives matter. Could his actions in an operation to rescue so many migrants off the coast of Libya now be causing repercussions? The name Alina Maree keeps cropping up but who is she and what part does she play in what appears to be a plot to destroy Harry and his loved ones?
Drawing Harry’s ex wife Caroline and their two children as well as his cousin Julian into the murky world of the secret services where information is exchanged for a hefty price (and I don’t mean in terms of money) this is a complex storyline that will have you tied up in knots.

Flashbacks to the beginning of Harry and Karene’s relationship provide some light relief from the more unpleasant aspects of the novel giving the author scope to develop both their characters and heighten the suspense and tension. My heart went out to Karene unwittingly caught up in all the drama.

I love the pairing of Augusta and Marcus. A criminal psychologist with an incisive mind and an ex MI6 agent with experience and contacts in the field make these two a formidable duo.
Although Augusta is an intensely private individual it’s easy to deduce from her personality that’s she’s cold, calculating, single minded, driven and highly professional. Does that make her a high functioning psychopath as Marcus is beginning to believe?? Draw your own conclusions on that one! Suffice to say it’s a miracle these two are back working together since Marcus REALLY has not forgiven Augusta for the role she played in their previous investigation which saw Marcus lose his heart and very nearly his life. Despite their protestations to the contrary I think they secretly have a soft spot for one another and given they do compliment each other professionally I hope this is going to be a long term partnership.

The beauty of creating a series like this means the author has ample opportunity to fully develop the main characters so that over time they become as familiar to us as if they were living, breathing people. This is a great way to draw the reader into wanting to know more about these characters in the future, relishing the opportunity to reacquaint themselves with individuals that are as familiar as friends. For me it’s discovering more about Augusta and Marcus that will keep me committed to this series, although if Lost is anything to go by then we are also in for some fantastic storylines. No pressure then! My only very slight criticism is that because there’s so much reference to the previous book I think it’s imperative to read in order. The good news is that as this is only the second in the series it won’t take long to catch up. I’m excited to see how Augusta and Marcus’s relationship will evolve over time.

With action set in various parts of the world Lost is full of intrigue and mystery offering the reader a porthole into an alien world of the secret services. This novel begs the question who are your allies and who are your enemies as various factions struggle for power in a game where there are no rules? There’s no point in trying to second guess the outcome. Rest assured you will meet some very nasty individuals in a storyline crammed full of terrorist bombs, mind altering surgery, torture and kidnap,all taking place amidst the backdrop of the migrant crisis. The inclusion of the psychopathic Seraphine to either help or hinder this investigation I thought was a stroke of genius. There’s no way I expected this character to make an appearance but I sense we may not have seen the last of her. I couldn’t help wondering if this woman is going to plague Augusta and Marcus forever more.

You definitely need your wits about you reading the last 20% of this book. The author ups the ante with tension reaching its peak amid some torturous scenes for all those involved. If you’re at all squeamish or faint hearted then the boat scenes will make you shudder with horror. Plus the author has obviously been meticulous in her research or else she’s working for MI6 herself!! It really is writing to keep you on edge of your seat as all the pieces of this complex puzzle slot into place. ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT ending to a first class storyline which had me completely flummoxed and then flabbergasted trying to understand the final pieces that bring this investigation to a close. I have no idea how many books are planned for this series but I cannot wait to join Bloom and Jameson for the next instalment. I wonder if we will also have the pleasure of Seraphine’s company??
If you favour an intelligent thriller that exercises your brain cells then Lost is perfect for you!
My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.

Last year I really enjoyed Leona Deakin's thrilling debut novel Gone which introduced us to the dynamic duo, psychologist Augusta Bloom and ex-spook Marcus Jameson, and now they're back with another complex case to resolve - a missing naval officer following an explosion. One minute he was seen leaving in an ambulance but he never arrived at hospital, so what has happened to him?

Having just finished reading Lost the first thing I will say is that if you've not already read Gone, and are planning to, then I would recommend that you do read it first. Not only will it give you an insight into the working dynamics between Augusta and Marcus but also there are a few mentions within the pages of this latest book as to what happened previously that might spoil your enjoyment of the book.

When her old friend Karene calls her about her missing boyfriend, Augusta finds herself caught in another cat-and-mouse case which is anything but straight forward. But first she needs to make amends with Marcus, as she'll need his professional expertise as well as her professional know-how, as nothing is as it seems and the more they try to put the pieces together the less anything makes sense. This is an investigation that will take them on a journey into dangerous territories, no stone is left unturned as they try to figure out exactly what what is going on, who is behind it and what their motive is.

I can't even begin to imagine what Harry must have felt like, waking up in a hospital not knowing where he is, who the people around him are and with no memory of events from the last four years. But at the same time I had a niggling doubt at the back of my mind that this was all a bit too convenient and there was something he was hiding but only time would tell whether my suspicion was right.

Lost was a cleverly written, complex thriller that had just the right amount of twists and intrigue to keep readers hooked until we reached the final conclusion which did cause me to have a slight eye roll in disbelief, but that aside I did enjoy the story as a whole so I'm looking forward to seeing what is in store for Augusta and Marcus next.

I remember when author Leona Deakin's debut Gone was published. I was so blown away by her incredible start to a new series....I sang about it from the rooftops, well to anyone that would listen to me really.
So you can imagine what the wait was like for me for her second book Lost.
Would it live up to her debut Gone I wondered....
What I love about this series is that it steps away from the usual police procedural type series. It's a very different series to others out there..
We met Dr Bloom (Augusta), a psychologist and Marcus Jameson, ex MI6, secret service.
An unusual pairing but friends who decide to work together in a professional, private and investigative role..
Well they are back. Albeit, somewhat differently for sure....
A strange, new case for them..
When an old friend of Dr Bloom turns up on their doorstep looking for help in finding her partner Captain Harry Peterson, who has gone missing after an explosion, Augusta and Marcus must put their differences, their hurt and upset that appeared towards the end of book one aside and try work together to solve the disappearance...
The author has created two very different but brilliant characters in this series.
You can almost feel the tension and hurt between them both throughout the story..
I couldn't help wondering at times was their professional relationship over before it had really started and I so didn't want it to be...
A fast paced and quite a complex thriller from this author this time.
Having everything you would look for in a psychological thriller, Leona Deakin writes with passion, flair and a knowledge that makes her stand out from the crowd...
Now if she could just tell me a little about book three, I'd be a happy camper..
So well worth your time 💕

Lost begins with Captain Harry Peterson attending a military ball with his partner, Karene. But he is called away urgently into the building and then a bomb explodes.

Karene rushes to find Harry, she finds him unconscious but breathing so he is taken away by ambulance.


He doesn’t arrive at a hospital for three days but he has no memory of any events for the past 4 years, including his relationship with Karene.

She asks her friend, Dr Augusta Bloom, for help. Dr Bloom enlists the very reluctant help of her business partner, Marcus. He’s still wary about her motives after the events in the previous book, Gone.

They soon find much more than a terrorist attack, something that puts them all in danger.

Lost is full of tension, with a few shocks and surprises on the way. A fast paced, utterly compelling thriller, with great characters, that will have you hooked from the very start.

Thank you to The publishers and NetGalley for an eARC of the book. This is my honest, unbiased review

Last year I read Leona Deakin’s debut novel ‘Gone’ and I absolutely loved it so was thrilled to receive an ARC of Lost from @netgalley.

The book begins with a bang, quite literally as a bomb goes off during a military ball. Captain Peterson is injured during the bomb and is taken away, only to disappear completely! Deakin then takes us on a well written journey, with a plot woven brilliantly with lots of twists and turns.

Deakin’s insight into the workings of the brain and psychology is fascinating and she includes it in her books well. She uses it to her advantage to make her thrillers unique, but also writes about it in a way that is easy for the readers to understand. I love how she keeps the reader on edge and just when you think you have something figured out, she changes the whole thing and you are left speechless!

I really enjoyed Lost, but felt that it was lacking a little something compared to Gone. Nonetheless, this is a brilliant novel and Leona Deakin has definitely put herself up there as one of my favourite new thriller authors!