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dogscoffeewinebooks's review
dark
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
Because I love anything newer by Simone St. James, I'm in the midst of going back to her older work. I've read a few now, and it definitely lacks the complexity and depth of her newer writing. However, it's still enjoyable enough that I plan to finish up with all of them.
I enjoyed the premise of this one, and I enjoyed the relationship between Jo and the aunt, as well as Jo and the cousin. I also loved the commentary on what it must have been like to be a war widow, or simply a war wife. There are some interesting gender themes in this one. However, some of the romantic scenes came off as creepy and problematic to me, which is unfortunate.
The plot was fine. The characters were fine. The ending was fine. It all fell just a bit flat.
That said, I did enjoy it, and again, it's enough to go back to some of her other work.
I enjoyed the premise of this one, and I enjoyed the relationship between Jo and the aunt, as well as Jo and the cousin. I also loved the commentary on what it must have been like to be a war widow, or simply a war wife. There are some interesting gender themes in this one. However, some of the romantic scenes came off as creepy and problematic to me, which is unfortunate.
The plot was fine. The characters were fine. The ending was fine. It all fell just a bit flat.
That said, I did enjoy it, and again, it's enough to go back to some of her other work.
rachel_reads_it_all's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
kdurham2's review against another edition
3.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
A historical fiction tale with a fantastic ghost story embedded inside. If you have followed this blog for awhile you know I love a good historical fiction and I am not usually a fan of fantasy things, but for some reason this ghost story inside the historical fiction worked so well for me!
First, the historical fiction tale of the story was full and could have been the full story by itself but it would have been like a lot of other tales. What set it apart was the clever inclusion of the ghost story/murder mystery and they complimented each other. The historical part - a semi war widow because his body hasn't been found she is taken in by their family and there is where the ghost story entered.
A historical fiction tale with a fantastic ghost story embedded inside. If you have followed this blog for awhile you know I love a good historical fiction and I am not usually a fan of fantasy things, but for some reason this ghost story inside the historical fiction worked so well for me!
First, the historical fiction tale of the story was full and could have been the full story by itself but it would have been like a lot of other tales. What set it apart was the clever inclusion of the ghost story/murder mystery and they complimented each other. The historical part - a semi war widow because his body hasn't been found she is taken in by their family and there is where the ghost story entered.
blogginboutbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I've enjoyed everything I've read by St. James and this book is no exception. I loved its creepy Gothic vibe, complete with ghosts and a haunted wood. The characters are sympathetic, complex, and interesting. While the plot is a bit predictable, it was compelling enough to keep me turning pages. I definitely wanted to know what was going to happen next. In addition, the supernatural aspects of the book feel perfectly balanced—they add an intriguing layer to the story without overwhelming it. LOST AMONG THE LIVING may not be the most memorable of novels, but it's a shivery, engrossing, and entertaining book that I quite enjoyed.
marilynw's review against another edition
4.0
Lost Among the Living by Simone St. James
Justine Eyre (narrator)
After enjoying this author's last two books I'm going back and listening to her older books. I like the way she mixes the supernatural with everyday life in such a way that I'm not always sure what is going on and if it's not really just a fluke of something natural. In this story we meet Jo Manders, mourning her loss of her husband who parachuted over Germany and was never seen again. It's England 1921, Jo is supporting her mentally ill mother in a care home and she's running out of money so she takes a job as an assistant with her husband's wealthy, condescending, demanding aunt.
After a three month stint of travel with the aunt, who increases her wealth buying and selling art, Jo settles with her aunt in the recently reopened family mansion. It's there that Jo finds out things that Alex never told her and she begins to have doubts about how honest he'd been with her throughout the time she knew him. She also starts seeing and hearing things that seem to be related to the dead. And it's obvious that the aunt wants Jo to marry her war injured son when Jo never wants to marry again. Jo has no one she can talk to and no where to go, especially when her mother's welfare depends on Jo's salary.
The story is gloomy, with a sense of foreboding. There is the feeling that nothing good lurks in the future, while so many bad things have already happened. Jo's depression is a part of her and it seems she will never be rid of it and now her memories of her husband are suspect since she thinks he lied about or omitted so much. Jo even wonders if she is mentally ill like her mother, because she has seen Alex's dead cousin, a girl that committed suicide. The gothic feel of the story, with the sense of dark dread combined with Jo's exhausted, worn down demeanor, had me doubting everyone and everything, too.
Published April 5th 2016 by Blackstone Audiobooks
Justine Eyre (narrator)
After enjoying this author's last two books I'm going back and listening to her older books. I like the way she mixes the supernatural with everyday life in such a way that I'm not always sure what is going on and if it's not really just a fluke of something natural. In this story we meet Jo Manders, mourning her loss of her husband who parachuted over Germany and was never seen again. It's England 1921, Jo is supporting her mentally ill mother in a care home and she's running out of money so she takes a job as an assistant with her husband's wealthy, condescending, demanding aunt.
After a three month stint of travel with the aunt, who increases her wealth buying and selling art, Jo settles with her aunt in the recently reopened family mansion. It's there that Jo finds out things that Alex never told her and she begins to have doubts about how honest he'd been with her throughout the time she knew him. She also starts seeing and hearing things that seem to be related to the dead. And it's obvious that the aunt wants Jo to marry her war injured son when Jo never wants to marry again. Jo has no one she can talk to and no where to go, especially when her mother's welfare depends on Jo's salary.
The story is gloomy, with a sense of foreboding. There is the feeling that nothing good lurks in the future, while so many bad things have already happened. Jo's depression is a part of her and it seems she will never be rid of it and now her memories of her husband are suspect since she thinks he lied about or omitted so much. Jo even wonders if she is mentally ill like her mother, because she has seen Alex's dead cousin, a girl that committed suicide. The gothic feel of the story, with the sense of dark dread combined with Jo's exhausted, worn down demeanor, had me doubting everyone and everything, too.
Published April 5th 2016 by Blackstone Audiobooks
amibunk's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
This is an older book from Simone St. James- and it shows. It lacks some of the polish and depth that her more recent books have.
I still thought that Ms. St. James' blend of mystery, ghost story, and romance worked well. And this novel is set after WWI- which is a time period that the author excels at portraying. But not all of the characters felt fully rounded out and real. Additionally, the story wasn't quite as satisfying as some of her books. It was a good novel and I'm glad that I read it, but it wasn't great and Simone St. James is quite capable of great books.
This is an older book from Simone St. James- and it shows. It lacks some of the polish and depth that her more recent books have.
I still thought that Ms. St. James' blend of mystery, ghost story, and romance worked well. And this novel is set after WWI- which is a time period that the author excels at portraying. But not all of the characters felt fully rounded out and real. Additionally, the story wasn't quite as satisfying as some of her books. It was a good novel and I'm glad that I read it, but it wasn't great and Simone St. James is quite capable of great books.
amibunk's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
This is an older book from Simone St. James- and it shows. It lacks some of the polish and depth that her more recent books have.
I still thought that Ms. St. James' blend of mystery, ghost story, and romance worked well. And this novel is set after WWI- which is a time period that the author excels at portraying. But not all of the characters felt fully rounded out and real. Additionally, the story wasn't quite as satisfying as some of her books. It was a good novel and I'm glad that I read it, but it wasn't great and Simone St. James is quite capable of great books.
This is an older book from Simone St. James- and it shows. It lacks some of the polish and depth that her more recent books have.
I still thought that Ms. St. James' blend of mystery, ghost story, and romance worked well. And this novel is set after WWI- which is a time period that the author excels at portraying. But not all of the characters felt fully rounded out and real. Additionally, the story wasn't quite as satisfying as some of her books. It was a good novel and I'm glad that I read it, but it wasn't great and Simone St. James is quite capable of great books.
macrosinthemitten's review against another edition
5.0
Three years after her husband has been shot down over England and is presumed dead, Jo Manders takes up with her husband’s aunt Dottie as her “paid companion” to help her with her correspondence and running of her household. When they arrive at Wych Elm House, Jo begins to get the sense that the house is haunted by the ghost of Frances, Dottie’s daughter who died by suicide. What follows is a twisted tale of family drama, post war disillusionment, and the sadness of unfulfilled dreams. This was one of my favorite Simone St. James books!
mjwerts's review against another edition
3.0
While normally a fan of St. James's novels, this one did not grip me as her others have. I had trouble connecting with the protagonist, and the ghost story also wasn't as chilling or spooky as I've found the others to be. I enjoyed it, but not as much as I would have hoped.