Reviews

The Lost Melody by Joanna Davidson Politano

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kaylalivingston's review

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mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

ceraphimfalls's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

Let's address the elephant in the room first: I avoided reading "The Lost Melody" for a few months because I had read a review that said it best classified as "Christian Fiction". I don't have anything against Christian Fiction, per se, but I find that if God and religion aren't obnoxiously in the forefront of the story, to the point of removing agency from the characters, then it isn't usually listed as Christian Fiction. I was raised Christian but would now classify myself as agnostic, so I am both desensitized and overly sensitive to "Jesus take the wheel" happening in books. That said, was the focus on La Mano de Dios a bit much? Considering the setting, the time period, and the fact that our character was dealing with issues that many reasonably turn to a higher power to deal with (ie Alcoholics Anonymous), it certainly toed the line with an abundance of bible verses, but it was well within the understandable range for the story.

All of that aside, "The Lost Melody" is a fantastically atmospheric and well-moulded world with a bevy of characters to flesh it out. The gothic tones resound fully, making the story have proper weight. Our main character is lovable enough- she is the "light in the darkness", which got old when we were reminded of that for the tenth time in two chapters near the end of the book. But she is compassionate and kind and willing to learn and change. The mystery and the gaslighting are handled well and I was intrigued to the very end when, unfortunately, the unraveling of it all felt rushed. Finally, as someone who has worked in the mental health and music therapy fields, I was very happy with how the author handled various characterizations and the treatments discussed. It was an enjoyable readå for sure and I'd be happy to recommend it to fans of gothic fiction. Just be prepared for a rushed and a (not unwelcome) surprise ending.

Content Warnings

shealwaysreads's review

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3.0

I just finished reading "The Lost Melody" by Joanna Davidson Politano a few day ago and I have to say, it's a must-read for anyone who loves a good mystery.

The book follows the story of a young woman who is trying to uncover the truth about her past and the secrets that have been kept from her.

What I loved about this book is how it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. It reminded me of Nellie Bly's "Ten Days in a Mad House" and "Shutter Island" by Dennis Lehane, both of which are also thrilling mysteries that keep you guessing until the very end.

If you're looking for a book that will keep you entertained and engaged from start to finish, I highly recommend "The Lost Melody".

It's a beautifully written story that will leave you wanting more. So go ahead and add it to your reading list, you won't regret it!

cbear550's review

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dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Content Warnings

i_have_a_book_problem's review

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adventurous challenging emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

It was ok. A lot of references to God. A little sad in some parts. Talking about basically all the stupid reasons women were committed by men. Like oh she just had a kid and is “hysterical” better lock her up. But the ending was happy!

samanthaalis's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Beautiful and Inspiring.

The mystery of the missing ward sucked me in quickly and I couldn't put the novel down. Even though the themes and tension were so different, I was immediately reminded of Shutter Island (one of my favorite books).

The writing was beautiful and the characters were complex. I could understand why every decision was made.

My favorite part was Vivenne's faith and relationship with God throughout this novel. It was written so wonderfully and felt very real.

I'm so sad I finished it because I'm not ready to leave these characters just yet.