A compulsive read that I enjoyed very much. A dark, somewhat violent mystery that keeps going to the very end. Full of emotions and family grief. I look forward to the next presentation by this author.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the chance to leave an honest and unbiased review.

I loved the David Hunter series written by Simon Beckett and now there is a new series featuring Met Fire Arms Officer DS Jonah Colley and what a series this is going to be ! The Lost is the best thriller /murder book I have read this year ,what a ride ,fast paced great characters and so well written ,all the things you want in a great read. The plot was very clever and very gripping ,I look forward to reading the next book in this series .If I could give this book 10 stars I would !!! Many thanks to the Publisher ,the Author and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.

I have no idea how someone could have come up with this plot it was completely gripping and had everything that you could imagine. From lost and kidnapped children to the underworld. If I saw anything more I am in danger of spoiling it please just read it and escape for an afternoon.

I was given an advance copy by netgalley and orion publisheds but the review is entirely my own.

Loyalties? Who to trust?
An explosive thriller that you think aha I know who the bad guy is only for it to be twisted around and around.
A great read full of suspense really make you want to read more from this author.

Simon Beckett, the author of the wonderful David Raker series, has begun a new series, it features police officer, DS Jonah Colley, of the London Met's firearms unit, SCO19. He is a man burdened by the grief and sorrow of losing his 4 year old son, Theo, 10 years ago after he fell asleep in the park. It was assumed that his son wandered away and drowned. This led to his strained marriage to Chrissie to break down, and an estrangement from his long time best friend, DS Gavin Mackinney. In the present, Jonah is drinking with colleagues from his unit at night when he gets a call out of the blue from Gavin, sounding desperate and afraid, asking for his help at Slaughterhouse Quay. Against his better judgement, he decides to go, he just cannot ignore his former friend's pleas for help.

However, he finds himself facing a nightmare, he finds the dead body of Gavin in a warehouse, along with others wrapped in plastic, including a dying woman, Nadine. Jonah himself is attacked so badly, his skull is fractured and his knees so badly damaged, that he has to walk on crutches. As the sole survivor of a night of horror, he is viewed with suspicion by DI Jack Fletcher and DS Bennet, who interview and reinterview him, looking for holes in his account of what happened that night. They are not the only ones interested in him, the lack of information from the police has the media hunting for an exclusive, and one of them, tabloid reporter Corinne Daly, inveigles her way into his hospital room, with Jonah mistaking her for a therapist. The past haunts the present when evidence that relates to a suspect that was cleared in the disappearance of his son has Jonah in deadly danger as he investigates and tries to get to the truth of what happened at Slaughterhouse Quay.

Beckett writes a brutally violent and twisted crime read, with a number of misdirections, and packed with suspense and tension. The central protagonist, Jonah makes for a sympathetic character that you root for, living under the weight of his unbearable loss, and willing to do whatever it takes to find out what happened to Theo, even if it results in his death. He lives in a flat in a tower block, where not all the residents are friendly, the threats he faces there finally push him to reconsider his living arrangements as the novel ends. This was a tense, dark and compulsive read that I think will appeal to many crime and mystery readers, I will definitely be reading the next in the series to see where Beckett takes Jonah next. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

A fast moving, often violent mystery thriller continually projecting the chief protagonist into the void and abyss of a previous tragedy . Nothing is as it appears and every incident raises more unanswered questions than answers. A fractured friendship between two policemen is renewed after an ambiguous request to meet up after a ten year gap. The reader is taken briefly back in time to the unsolved disappearance of the four year old son of one of the officers. A catastrophic scene of carnage and a brutal beating of one of the police officers starts a chain of violent events that appears to have no rhyme or reason. . Murder and mayhem ensues as the chief protagonist struggles to make sense of complex scenarios both past and present while simultaneously attempting to prove his innocence of any culpability to sceptical investigators. A story of damaged individuals each attempting to survive bleak lives exacerbated by a series of violent events towards a ruthless and barbaric conclusion. Many thanks to author, publisher and NetGalley for ARC.

I've just finished this fantastic character driven thriller and loved it.
Police officer Jonah's four year old son Theo disappears at the park when Jonah falls asleep for a few minutes whilst watching him. Jonah is led to believe he drowned but he was never found.
Ten years later Jonah has a call from an old friend that leads him to discover four bodies. Jonah is the only survivor. Jonah becomes under suspicion himself and starts to investigate. How is this new case connected to the disappearance of his son ten years ago?
This book really grabbed me from the start. The initial chapter when Jonah is led to Slaughterhouse Quays is dark and atmospheric and made me want to keep turning the pages. I was really rooting for Jonah to find out the truth. The devastation over the guilt and loss of his son was so well written and horrific to imagine.

I also enjoyed the slow build up of the story and totally didn't see the big twist near the end coming at all: It was shocking! I loved how the two crime storylines of past and present link as the mystery slowly unravels and the reader discovers the truth.
This is the first book I've read by this author but I'm really excited that this is the first in a new series, especially as I still have unanswered questions! I'll definitely be buying the next one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orion Publishing for this eARC.

The Lost is the first book by Simon Beckett which I’ve read, and I really enjoyed it. There’s an explosive opening as police detective Jonah Colley is called to the abandoned Slaughterhouse Quay by an old friend he hasn’t spoken to in years. But things take a drastic turn for the worse and Jonah ends up in hospital and his friend is killed. Jonah has no idea why his old friend called him there that night, but he suspects it might have something to do with his son, Theo, who went missing several years earlier.

This was such an intriguing read. I really liked Jonah and I felt sorry for him as I was reading this book. I was rooting for Jonah as I was reading the book and I wanted to see what steps he was willing to take next following what happens in the opening pages. Jonah feels an incredible sense of guilt over the loss of his son as he allowed himself to fall asleep while he was in his care on the day he disappeared. He has never had closure and he still continues to hold onto the belief that his son might still be alive. Like Jonah I wanted to find out what had happened to his son and there is real emotional depth as Jonah fights to uncover the truth.

There are lots of twists and turns as the mystery begins to unravel. There are some real shocking truths as Jonah comes closer to unravelling the mystery. There was one jaw-dropping revelation towards the end which turns the novel on its head. I couldn’t believe what I was reading when it became clear. I really liked the way how Simon Beckett brought everything together and I thought the motivations of each character was very clear. The tension turns up a notch as the plot thickens and the darkness in the story deepens. There are many obstacles thrown in Jonah’s path as well. I couldn’t believe the treatment he was receiving from some of the police officer’s who are working on the case. It made me root for Jonah even more.

I really liked how Simon Beckett explored the relationship between Jonah and his former wife. This adds to the emotion, and I thought it was interesting how their lives had taken different paths since the disappearance of their son. You can see how what happened has affected them both, although it is clearer in Jonah. As we are first introduced to his former partner through his memories she comes across as harsh and uncaring and I didn’t feel as though I connected with her until much later.

I’m excited to see that this is the first book in a new series featuring Jonah Colley and I am looking forward to seeing where Simon Beckett takes him next. This is definitely going to be an intriguing series to follow. The Lost is fast paced and really well done. I highly recommend it.

Just an ok read for me
The book started well but then dragged on for a great chunk of it.There were lots of loose ends which were not tied up so I guess another one is in the pipeline.. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

Jonah Colley is a serving member of the London Metropolitan police elite firearms unit. When he gets a phone call from an old friend a chain of events are set in motion that bring crashing back tragic memories and put Jonah's life at risk.

The story immediately draws you in. The description of a long abandoned area of London left to decay adds to the tension as Jonah stumbles across four dead bodies, including his friend, when he turns up to the meeting place. While there Jonah is attacked and sustains severe injuries but manages to call for police help before passing out.

When Jonah regains consciousness he's in hospital recovering from a fractured skull and a major operation to repair his kneecap which was fractured in the attack. Since only three bodies were discovered in the abandoned warehouse, and none of them are the friend Jonah agreed to meet, the police begin to doubt Jonah's version of events.

Jonah comes under suspicion so sets out to discover exactly what happened, this puts him at odds with the police. Simon Beckett builds the tension and a sense of urgency as Jonah is continually blocked in his investigation. As Jonah searches for answers nothing seems to make sense and there is a strong link to the disappearance of his four year old son ten years previously.

As the plot twists and turns the story builds to a riveting climax.

Started with some detailed and well described incidents but then the plot became very complicated and unbeliev@ble. I wasn’t aware this was a series but I wasn’t drawn enough into the characters to want to read more.

A fresh and gripping thriller this one. A firearms officer still reeling from the disappearance of his four year old son. Ten years have passed but it feels like yesterday. Add to this a call from his former best friend who he hasn't spoken to in years and who needs his help. He lures him to a deserted warehouse and.....well thats just the start of the thrills here.

This novel felt different and adventurous in many ways. Red herrings and plot twists that make you suspend disbelief. Still, a cracking novel and a series to boot!

Jonah Colley has his very own package to carry. About 10 years ago his son Theo disappeared without a trace, the whole thing was portrayed as an unfortunate accident. Jonah's marriage broke down and he still struggles with guilt. But not only his marriage failed, but contact with his best friend Gavin also broke off at the time. Now Gavin answers again unexpectedly and asks him for help. When Jonah wants to meet with him, all he finds is his body and three other dead.

The subject matter of the book and genre appealed to me, I did not realise it was part of a series, or that it had been translated. I'm not sure if it was because it had been translated and didn't flow very well, but it fell a bit short for me and the ending seemed predictable.

True to form, I've never read any of Simon Beckett's work before, but I'd been assured that his writing was great by a few of my fellow bloggers and, having devoured The Lost, I can very much see what they mean. This book drew me in from the very beginning, and led me on a journey littered with peril, jeopardy, double crossing and some very heightened emotions. Talk about being at the edge of my seat. As they story progressed, and the pacing picked up, I could feel my reading speed pick up with it, as well as the compulsion to race to the end of the book, whilst trying to savour and eek out the conclusion of this very addictive tale. It was a book where I absolutely needed to know what happened, but also absolutely didn't want it to end. That's got to be good, right?

This is a book which has two very separate, and yet most definitely intertwined storylines. First up we have the very present day, very high stakes, mystery that Jonah Colley finds himself embroiled in. The scenes near the start of the novel are really tense, nerve jangling stuff and set the tone for all that will follow. But in amongst this we have the very emotional story of Jonah's past, a past which informs the person he is today, and, to a degree, the course of the investigation he is about to find himself at the centre of. Only it's not a comfortable position he is in as he isn't the man investigating - he's the suspect.

There is a darkness about this story, and an ever present tension which kept me completely riveted. I loved the way in which Simon Beckett has developed Jonah's character, the regret that haunts him but which he is able to turn to his advantage. As readers we do have a certain knowledge that the police do not, present as we are when the real action kicks off near the start of the book, but we certainly don't have the whole picture and the author maintains that mystery, and the suspense, right to the last page. It's a very twisted story, with some dark themes and some very gruesome murders to boot, but not so dark that it alienates the readers. Simon Beckett has definitely not left us as readers with the warm and fuzzies, but he hasn't exaggerated the violence or made the story too graphic. It is just enough to keep the tempo high and make me, as the reader, start to lean further into my kindle with every turn of the page.

There is a real depth of emotion to the book too when we are faced with Jonah's grief, and guilt, over the disappearance of his son. The scenes are hard hitting and effective and I liked the way that it is woven into the core of the book rather than being a simple then and now scenario. It is no wonder that he finds himself under suspicion as they whole tale is undercut by a. feeling of secrecy and subterfuge, a kind of deception and betrayal which is so carefully unveiled that the surprises just keep coming, the biggest of all saved for that pivotal, adrenalin filled and very dramatic showdown at the end of the book.

Well ... nearly the end. Because, you see, this is just the start of our journey with Jonah Colley. This makes me quite happy. There is so much promise in the conclusion to this book. It is satisfying and yet intriguing. Full of perhaps as many questions as answers. Not about this current case. That is well and truly wrapped within this book, almost literally in fact. But I am left hungry for more and that is exactly what you want from a new series. Characters you are invested in and a story that makes you care. Nice job, Mr Beckett. Roll on book two.

I will definitely read more of this author the story is about Jonah a firearms officer who gets a call from a very old friend who he hasn’t heard from in 10 years asking him to meet him at Slaughter Quay which on hindsight he should never have gone. It goes back in time to tell you how he knew his friend and also when his son went missing which was a traumatic time for him.

Really enjoyed it and definitely recommend this book and thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read an early copy.

A good read overall, took me a while to get into the story line but once in I enjoyed it. Not an edge of seater for me but the characters were good.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orion Publishers (Trapeze) for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for an advance copy of The Lost, a thriller set in London.

Jonah Colley is a firearms officer with the Met and is still nursing the hurt from the disappearance of his four year old son ten years ago. He is surprised by a call from his former best friend Gavin whom he hasn’t seen in years asking him to come to a deserted warehouse to help him. When he gets there he finds four dead bodies and is brutally attacked. Being the only survivor arouses the suspicion of DI Fletcher and he soon finds himself being treated as a suspect.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Lost, which is a high octane thriller with a convoluted plot that links the past and the present. The opening chapters are replete with atmosphere, violence and mystery and are an amazing hook that draws the reader in. I couldn’t have wished for a better start to the novel. I wouldn’t say that the rest of the novel is a letdown, because it’s more than that with plenty of developments but it is a bit circular with Jonah fixating on one suspect and constantly being re-interviewed by the dyspeptic DI Fletcher. The big twist at the end was a surprise but the events surrounding it require a certain suspension of disbelief.

The motive behind the murders is, as I said, convoluted. I went back and re-read the explanation to make sure I understood it all and I’m not sure that I got all the intricacies of who did what and how who knew what they knew. And after all that the author laid the groundwork for a potential sequel. It could be interesting.

Jonah Colley is a very likeable protagonist. He carries a burden of guilt and sorrow, but it doesn’t stop him trying to do the right thing. He goes through the wringer in this novel, both mentally and physically and still comes out of it in a more optimistic frame of mind. Of course, he’s also indestructible, getting knocked down and getting up for more in true Hollywood style.

The Lost is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Exciting story of a policeman receiving a sudden message from an old friend leads to a nightmare series of ever escalating events. Jonah lost his son 10 years ago through falling asleep in a playground and his marriage then fell apart especially when he found his old friend having sex with his wife. Fast forward ten years and the discovery of said old friend dead in a disused warehouse along with three bodies wrapped in plastic bags and the tale builds from there. The police suspect him ,the press trick him and having been badly injured in the disused warehouse the story races on with more murders thrown in to keep it all rolling along! There’s a shock reveal at the end with the potential for another episode to come…good stuff!

A tense, thrilling book containing lots of suspense, intrigue and shocks throughout the plot. Dark and sinister in places, this book isn’t for the faint-hearted. It ended with quite a cliffhanger, leaving me wanting more.

Thanks #netgalley and #orionpublushing for my e-arc copy of #TheLost in exchange for my honest review

Wow wow wow !! Jonah Colley #1 if this is only #1 I can’t wait for #2 !!

The Lost really was an amazing book and exquisitely told. I can’t believe this was my first time reading anything by Simon Beckett.

I really was hooked from the start and this feeling continued the whole way through.

And then that twist !! One word Amazing !! I honestly did not see it coming. Making me love the book that much more. Then BAM at the end we’re left with another shocker leading it beautifully to the second book.

It’s been three months since I’ve been so enthralled and captivated with a novel that of course I have to rate it the full five out of five stars.

I’m so excited for Jonah Collney book #2