Lost in The Shadows by Sydney Bristow: A Book Review

Lost In The Shadows
Author: Sydney Bristow
Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery and Suspense, Thriller
Publisher: CreateSpace
Release Date: 2015
Pages: 286
Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: Imagine a time when love was not only discouraged, but also considered irrelevant. When women had no legal rights. When the only way for women to secure a bright future was by taking “the dark leap” into marriage. Sound far-fetched? Welcome to Boston on the eve of the Revolutionary War. 

     Grace Galloway always regretted never finding time to meet prospective suitors. She was too busy caring for her siblings. Until she meets a wealthy politician who makes her realize that romance is truly worth fighting for. But then someone plunders her financial assets, leaving her family bankrupt. And when the lone suspect turns up dead, the authorities target Grace for the crime. Now she is forced to prove her innocence while in pursuit of the true thief. 

     After her husband’s ship explodes, Lorelai Loudon saves her spouse from a lynch mob. The result: he abandons her, plunging Lorelai into a lifetime of debt she cannot repay. So she seduces someone who can help with that endeavor…the same man that Grace has fallen in love with. Meanwhile, Lorelai pursues the criminal who destroyed her husband’s ship in an effort to regain her wealth. But she has no idea that the guilty individual is one of her closest allies.

     Infatuated with a charming smuggler, but forced to marry a man she loathes, Hannah Halliwell uncovers evidence that either man could be the one who murdered her mother. Consumed with vengeance, she sets off a series of events that force all three women to rely on one another to rebuild their lives, search for true love, and identify the mastermind who triggered their misfortunes.

     My Review: Three friends in Boston are experiencing their own misfortunes. Grace finds that someone has stolen her family’s money and is bankrupt. It is assumed that the person who did this is dead, and that Grace is the suspect for the crime. Lorelai’s husband's ship explodes, leaving her with many debts. Hannah’s mom has been murdered. Soon they realize that each of their misfortunes are connected, and together they find out who is the true mastermind.

     I really tried to like this book. With the main character whose name is very similar to mine, a historical mystery, and a thriller, how could I not? Sadly, it was not for me. I did not like the main characters, and a lot of them made ruthless actions to each other. It felt like a historical version of Mean Girls. I felt their rivalry to be unnecessary. I really didn’t understand their weird friendship. If they were sincerely wanting to be friends with each other, then why did they have to do mean things to the other and to themselves? One of the example is that Lorelai married Grace’s true love for money, not only stealing happiness from Grace, but also for herself knowing that her husband would never love her in return because his heart belongs to another.

     Overall, this book was a depressing and frustrating read. There were also some disturbing scenes in this novel. One example is Hannah’s husband frequently abuses her. As for the mystery part, it was a disappointment. There was not much suspense and mystery build up that made it thrilling. I felt the plot dragged so that I really did not care who the suspect was. Instead, I just wanted the book to end. I did think that the author painted a good setting of the city of Boston on the brink of the Revolutionary War. Other people who are into historical thrillers may like this book. However, this book was not for me. With immature and dislikable characters and a slow dragging plot, this novel will be easily forgettable.

Rating: 2 ½ out of 5 stars