In this 5th entry of a delightful series set in 1930's Chicago, the detective duo of Henrietta and Clive become embroiled in 2 separate mysteries, one involving a friend of her younger sister, the other involving a supposed psychic scam artist. Clive is given a case to investigate, when an irate husband complains that his wife has taken family jewellery and given it to a fake psychic. Her sister has fallen in love with an older German immigrant, the caretaker at her private school. He has brought a young child with him, from Nazi Germany, in hopes of finding the child's lost mother. When it is discovered, that the mother, who suffers from fits, has disappeared in an asylum, Henrietta takes the lead. Her enthusiasm leads her into a tense cat and mouse game, after she unexpectedly encounters the real killer in a harrowing visit to the mental asylum.
At times the story seems more like an English country house mystery set in the rolling countryside rather than the gritty Chicago of Al Capone. (not really a problem for myself, since English country house mysteries are my favourite) Mansions, country life, chauffeurs, servants, private schools, giggling classmates, parents and grandparents trying to set up Elsie with the "right" partner from among her privileged classmates. Clive's family is from England. However, the author does take on various social issues of the time, some of which are still a problem. The problems immigrants have coming to a new country, especially when they don't speak the language. Problems not only finding jobs to pay for basic necessities, but also problems communicating with doctors, when they have medical issues, the horrors they face when misdiagnosed and receive wrong treatments, the abuse patients received from primitive treatment for mental health issues.
Since this book was my introduction to the series, I am looking forward to catching up on the beginning and reading the further adventures of Henrietta and Clive. ( )

A child lost 3.5 Review.
A Child lost is a gripping tale of mystery set in 1936. It was a time of great turmoil in Europe, and Gunther had to make the ultimate sacrifice as he went to America in the hopes for a future for him and Anna. A six-year-old girl, not related to himself, in the hopes to find her mother. Soon the plot became a serious of suspense as murder, theft and abuse take the front stage.
I understand this is part of the series, the last book so far, but in the end, I trust the story will continue with Henrietta and Clive’s journey. Though it began with Gunther and Anna, the point of view changed to that of the would-be private investigators in an era when it was unheard of for a woman to work or study. With this turn of events, the author introduced another character as part of the growing characters. Elsie is a young woman who is determined to find her own way. Against the advice of her mother and grandfather she enrols in the, I believe University to become a teacher.
Some topics worthy to mention are mental illness, and the devastation of treatment these poor soles had to endure while in Dunning, a mental institution. The author really had a good understanding of this and touched the topic with finesse and empathy. Miscarriage and the death of a spouse were also touched, and here we see one husband’s desperate plea to take care of his wife as fear grabbed him. In the end, both their attitudes towards their loss had built a bridge that will have a lasting effect on the marriage. PTSD, and the effects of war, was another subject the author wielded with great care.
The love of Clive and Henrietta is touching the heartstrings and the love scenes done with passionate ease. Love an important cornerstone of this couple and the story. Clive’s overprotectiveness and Harriette’s independence caused for some interesting moments.
Problems within the storyline: Too much throat-clearing stopped the story’s flow. With unnecessary dialogue that either could have been left out or cut in half.
Two other characters are also introduced and though the subject of abuse at the hand of the father is pertinent, it had no bearing on the story. Maybe it will continue in the follow-up of this book.
A cursing Clive doesn’t fit with the character he portrays, nor the period. I cannot see that a gentleman of his status will talk in this manner.
There are a few times I wondered if the book setting is in 1936. Then I had to go back to the synopsis to remind myself that it is in fact historical. Some incidents seemed more appropriate for today.
Final thoughts:
An interesting storyline with a worthy cause to generate a pleasant story filled with enough mystery to keep reading. The romance is believable and touching, which makes this a good read. The principal characters are believable and the supporting characters played their roles perfectly, filling in the gaps for the would-be detectives. ( )

Henrietta and Clive have taken on a case investigating a spiritualist. It should be easy. It should be open and shut. However, it has taken an unexpected turn when the spiritualist seems to know more than they expected.

Then there is Gunther and Anna. Gunther is Anna’s guardian by default. (There is a backstory you do not want to miss). Anna is a sweet little girl but she has seizures. She has been removed and sent to an insane asylum. Henrietta goes above and beyond to try and get the poor child out.

I enjoyed many aspects of this audible book. But my favorite part was the insane asylum. Wow! Creepy, awful and strange all at the same time. I could just picture the locked doors, the patients and the awful smell. What a great job the author did with this part of the book.

The narrator is also excellent. She did an amazing job with all the characters, especially the voices. She truly transported you to each scene and experience.

This is a story you do not want to miss. This is part of a series. I have not read the others and I did not feel lost at all. I am definitely going to go back and read the other books. I enjoy Clive and Henrietta.

Grab your copy today!

I received this audiobook from the author for a honest review. ( )

This series has enraptured me from reading the first novel, “A Girl Like You.” Each novel can be read as a stand-alone but to become completely immersed in the characters’ lives that author Michelle Cox has created for readers and how each evolves; I highly recommend reading this series in order. The series has developed from Henrietta von Harmon's first meeting Clive Howard as an Inspector on the Chicago Police force through the development of their friendship and respect of one another to courtship to wedding bells to honeymoon. As the 5th novel in the series begins, it is 1936 in the suburbs of Chicago. Now as expectant parents, Henrietta and Clive's world may encompass new dreams beyond the beginning of their own detective agency.

Reading historical fiction is enlightening as it brings a far greater understanding of past events than any amount of facts in a history book can convey. The stories utilize the past events of history as the setting and with the characters humanize how people might have made decisions and the emotions felt as individuals or as a family or in their work place. The beauty of reading is that as each reader's life story is different, each novel will resonate differently but can still open minds and hearts to interpret a historical event with a new layer of recognition and understanding.

This novel has many different threads that pull at the heartstrings but underlying all the emotions as I turned the pages was a greater understanding of what women have experienced as they coped with women's health practices and expectations that they would not work outside the home after marriage, the care of orphaned children (especially those with the need for specialized medical care), and all who live with and have varying needs of mental health services. As the characters each have their own reactions to these experiences, it was also a reminder of the significant changes that have already occurred in my parents' lifetimes and my own lifetime for women and for all who needs mental health services and yet in other ways, the long way we have yet to go.

I hope there will be more novels in this series! ( )

A Child Lost is my fourth Henrietta and Inspector Clive novel and like the three before it did not disappoint. The book opens with Henrietta’s sister Elise trying to sort out the mystery of the young girl at the house of the man she has come to care for – especially as this young girl calls him papa. As she finds out the history it seems that she might need help from her sister and brother in law to get to the truth.

Clive is very worried about Henrietta as she is not recovering from her miscarriage and he is concerned she will never smile again. Perhaps a case will divert her so when one is offered he happily accepts even though he feels it’s nothing really worth investigating. She is a little skeptical about the case he comes up with but she is very taken with her sister’s problem – especially as it concerns a child.

As Clive and Henrietta try and figure out what has happened to the young girl’s mother they find themselves learning more about how the women who are sent to insane asylums are treated than they really might care to. When the young girl, who suffers from epilepsy is then also sent to the insane asylum Henrietta acts a bit recklessly in investigating her suspicions about what might be occuring in that dark place.

A Child Lost is a multi-layered title in that Henrietta is mourning her lost child, she and Clive are trying to find the right home for the child that Elsie is concerned for and Henrietta is a bit of a lost child herself. This plays into that supposed psychic whose story does not wrap up in this book but only leaves the reader with questions which I suspect will be answered in the next.

As with the previous books, A Veil Removed, A Promise Given and A Ring of Truth, I was turning the pages wondering what was going to happen next. Clive and Henrietta are such unique and wonderful characters. Their relationship is a delight to read and I look forward to each installment of their adventures. The mystery is always a good one with lots of twists and turns. The conflict between Clive’s rich family and Henrietta’s wrong side of the tracks family makes for good reading. Overall if you would like a good mystery tale with great characters this is the book for you. Even though it’s part of a series it can stand alone. But do yourself a favor and read them all – they’re worth it. ( )