Book Review - The Lost by Claire McGowan (first in the Paula Maguire series)

This is the second of Claire McGowan’s books, but the first featuring forensic psychologist Paula Maguire.  The book’s been endorsed positively by writers including Peter James, Lee Child and even Ken Bruen, who I regard as one of the kings of Emerald Noir, so, let’s find out more!

Paula is a successful forensic psychologist, specialising in tracking down missing people, but as expected somewhat of a maverick.  She returns to her home town of Ballyterrin, close to Northern Ireland’s border with the Republic, working as a specialist advisor to a new missing person’s team.  Maguire is soon deeply involved in two cases – the daughter of a local councillor and a traveller girl that have both gone missing.  There are also clues leading to a new evangelical mission in town and the recent suicide of another teenage girl in the locality.  As the investigation progresses, we start to find out more about Maguire’s past, particularly her missing mother and the reason she left Ballyterrin.  

I liked the way that McGowan develops the backstory, particularly the way she captures the small town atmosphere where everyone seems to either be related to everyone else or know them closely.  There’s also a sense that although “the Troubles” are over, the legacy of that conflict is still there, with mistrust and menace simmering away under the surface.  I liked the “cult” theme too, its links to the past and how it leads to the big reveal which ends up being more surprising than you think it will be. 

Overall, I think this is a good book and a good start to a series.  I’ll happily recommend it and am putting Maguire No2 on my reading list.

Romancrimeblogger