A Child Lost: A Henrietta and Inspector Howard Novel

Description

A spiritualist, an insane asylum, a lost little girl . . . When Clive, anxious to distract a depressed Henrietta, begs Sergeant Frank Davis for a case, he is assigned to investigating a seemingly boring affair: a spiritualist woman operating in an abandoned schoolhouse on the edge of town who is suspected of robbing people of their valuables. What begins as an open and shut case becomes more complicated, however, when Henrietta-much to Clive's dismay-begins to believe the spiritualist's strange ramblings. Meanwhile, Elsie begs Clive and Henrietta to help her and the object of her budding love, Gunther, locate the whereabouts of one Liesel Klinkhammer, the German woman Gunther has traveled to America to find and the mother of the little girl, Anna, whom he has brought along with him. The search leads them to Dunning Asylum, where they discover some terrible truths about Liesel. When the child, Anna, is herself mistakenly admitted to the asylum after an epileptic fit, Clive and Henrietta return to Dunning to retrieve her. This time, however, Henrietta begins to suspect that something darker may be happening. When Clive doesn't believe her, she decides to take matters into her own hands . . . with horrifying results.

Michelle Cox is the author of the multiple award-winning Henrietta and Inspector Howard series as well as Novel Notes of Local Lore, a weekly blog dedicated to Chicago's forgotten residents. She suspects she may have once lived in the 1930s and, having yet to discover a handy time machine lying around, has resorted to writing about the era as a way of getting herself back there. (Her books have been praised by Kirkus, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and many others, so she might be on to something.) Unbeknownst to most, Cox hoards board games she doesn't have time to play and is, not surprisingly, addicted to period dramas and big band music. Also, marmalade.

Awards: 2021 Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY Awards): Gold Winner in Book Series - Fiction 2021 Independent Press Awards: Winner, Romantic Suspense AND Distinguished Favorite Audiobook 2021 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards: Gold Winner in Fiction: Mystery & Thriller AND Silver Winner in Audiobook: Fiction 2021 Illinois Women's Press Association Winner for Adult Fiction 15th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards, Finalist in Mystery AND Finalist in Regional Fiction/Midwest 2021 Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award: Finalist 2020 Best Book Awards Winner in Mystery 2020 Shelf Unbound Indie Book Awards, Longlisted 2020 Foreword Book Awards Gold Winner in Mystery 2020 Best Book Awards Winner in Romantic Suspense 2020 CIBA Mystery & Mayhem Book Awards First Place Winner 2020 CIBA Clue Book Awards Semi-Finalist 2020 CIBA Chatelaine Book Awards (Romance) Finalist 2020 Readers' Favorite Book Awards: Mystery (Sleuth) Finalist 2020 American Fiction Awards: Historical Mystery/Suspense Winner; Romantic Suspense Winner 2020 International Book Awards: Cross Genre Finalist 2019 Next Generation Indie Book Awards: Best Series Finalist Zibby Owens Book Awards: Best Acknowledgements Finalist Reviews: " A Child Lost is undoubtedly a novel that should not be missed--the story is genius, flawlessly written, and wildly entertaining! A thrilling five stars!" --The Red Headed Book Lover "Once again, Cox delivers the passion and intrigue of Henrietta and Clive with a story that leaps right off the page. A Child Lost is a true thrill . . ." --Paperback Paris "Cox writes masterfully in bringing to life in vivid detail a well-researched historical fiction story. The characters' depth and complexity is beautifully written . . . this is a truly enjoyable and addicting series." --Nurse Bookie "Cox's delightful storytelling has a bewitching charm that will keep readers glued to their seats with a perfect blend of absorbing historical facts, intriguing mystery, and thrilling romance." --Readers' Favorite "Cox has created an authentic and fascinating world in Chicago between the world wars. It is evident that the period and the city have been meticulously researched . . . excellent writing and characters." --Smorgasbord Book Reviews "There is not a dull moment in this book. Cox's characters are so well portrayed in their physical traits, their manner of speech, their actions, their personalities as well as through their dilemmas and moments of joy. Cox sure knows how to create characters that are memorable and distinct." --Library of Clean Reads "Having already won myriad awards for her novels, this book is, in my opinion, the author's best written yet. The action/suspense at the end of A Child Lost sizzles, and Cox's ability to capture love in many of its varied, authentic forms is mesmerizing. Cox has knocked it totally out of the park." --Carolyn Breckinridge, author of Kaleidoscope Jane: & Other Stories "There are several different plots progressing within the story, and they wonderfully weave themselves through and around each other. Through the variety of stories, readers get a taste of the paranormal, mystery, crimes old and new, and plenty of passion. In addition to the well-edited text, what is also done exceptionally well is characterization." --Hall Ways Book Blog "Michelle Cox's Henrietta and Inspector Howard series is a delightful mix of historical fiction and intrigue with a bit of saucy lovemaking tossed in. In A Child Lost, the fifth book, she adds spooky. Right away, we're swept into the story . . ." --Book Trib ". . . vivid descriptive prose and historical accuracy." --Publishers Weekly