The Lost Daughter

by Sylvia Broady

[Lynn]

A heart-wrenching story about a woman who lost her daughter and the determination to never give up searching for her.

After a car hits her, Alice Goddard regains consciousness but suffers from amnesia so can't recall any thoughts from before her accident despite experiencing vivid dreams about a man and a little girl. Over time, she regains her memory but after her long recovery and convalescence, her abusive husband has disappeared and so has her small daughter. Homeless and without means to support herself, she's given a lifeline and accepts a live-in position at Faith House, a home for fallen girls. However, as she re-builds her life, she never gives up hope of finding her daughter, Daisy. 

It's the first time I've read a novel where I can fully relate and visualise the setting. Born and brought up in Hull, I'm very familiar with the area and places mentioned within the narrative, which added extra relatable interest for me. This coupled with a fascinating story full of heart-break and emotion gives a riveting insight into life during the depression and the second world war. 

I appreciate how the author included and stressed the devastation to Hull during Luftwaffe air raids during WWII and the resulting bomb damage to the city; a point only knew by those with local knowledge, thanks to the wartime press bias towards mostly reporting news about London. It helps to paint a more accurate picture of the effects of war for those in other parts of the country 

Now I've discovered Ms Broady, I'll definitely pick up other works by her. The Lost Daughter has it all; an intriguing plot, a romance, a lost child and a villain, plus a host of likeable secondary characters. It's the first time I've delved into a historical novel linked to my home city and it's certainly heightened my interest to seek out more such books both fiction and non-fiction.

***review copy generously received courtesy of the publisher Allison & Busby***