FICTION

The Lost Orphan

by Stacey Halls
Mira: Harlequin. Apr. 2020. 352p. ISBN 9780778309321. pap. $16.99. F
COPY ISBN
Bess, an unwed woman in 1754 London, finds herself pregnant. Barely able to get by working as a shrimp hocker, she feels the only thing to do is give up her daughter to the Foundling Hospital, a home for unwanted children. Bess promises herself she’ll be back to claim her daughter, and she does return six years later, to find that her daughter has already been claimed. Just a short distance away, Eliza is hired as the nursemaid to a young girl, Charlotte, at the request of a doctor who works for the Foundling Hospital. Charlotte’s mother is a widow and has not left the house in a decade. As Charlotte and Eliza become fast friends, Eliza begins to unravel her employer’s long-kept family secrets and is faced with a decision that will significantly alter her and Charlotte’s worlds.
VERDICT Halls’s (The Familiars) mysterious tale is full of intrigue. The characters are quirky, and their personalities will keep readers invested. The Georgian setting also plays a huge role, as does the formidable hospital. This is a page-turner with a satisfying and harmonious ending.
Reviewed by Kristen Calvert, Dallas P.L., TX , Apr 01, 2020
Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

MEDIA

Finding Sophie
by Mahmood, Imran
FICTION

Not in Love
by Hazelwood, Ali
FICTION

Heads Will Roll
by Winning, Josh
MEDIA

The Phoenix Bride
by Siegel, Natasha
FICTION

The Year of What If
by Patrick, Phaedra
FICTION

The Sky Was Ours
by Fassler, Joe
More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?