Mystery suspense thriller that sets the stage for an upcoming series about a woman, Nora Watts, who suffers from past traumas, working for an investigative agency. Nora is an assistant to the two owners but serves the role of investigator in the storyline. The plot revolves around the search for a missing teenage girl with personal connections to Nora.

Nora spends a good deal of time informing the reader of her background and experiences. It’s almost as if she is talking directly to the reader. I thought it was an entertaining, easy-to-read story that suffers from several of the usual difficulties with mystery-thrillers. There are a couple of large holes in the plot, key breaks in the case conveniently provided, and a series of extremely unlikely events. It requires a massive suspension of disbelief. It reminded me of one of those “detective shows” on television, where the mystery is explained and wrapped up in a half hour time slot. On the plus side, the author touches on several environmental and immigration issues in Canada (with parallels in the U.S.), and has attempted to give her protagonist an unusual voice, which I thought it was somewhat effective in transcending the usual tropes of this genre.

Contains sex and violence, including rape. If you don’t mind unlikeable characters and enjoy thrillers, you may like this book.
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Listened to the audiobook and LOVED the narration. Also enjoyed the book because I’ve visited Vancouver and could appreciate the description of places. Have this book a 5 because I love Nora’s character. She’s authentically flawed and honest about it. ( )

4.5 stars.
The Lost Ones by Sheena Kamal is a rather gritty but surprisingly humorous mystery about recovering alcoholic and somewhat troubled Nora Watts' efforts to locate missing Vancouver teenager Bonnie Walsh.

With an uncanny ability to tell when someone is lying, Nora's job as a research assistant and receptionist for a journalist and private investigator is the perfect fit for her. She initially believes Everett Walsh is reaching out to her for assistance in locating fifteen year old Bonnie due to her employer. Needless to say, she is shocked when Lynn Walsh blurts out the truth-Bonnie is the daughter Nora gave up for adoption immediately after giving birth. Her first instinct is to refuse their request, but given her firsthand experience as someone who has been easily overlooked due to her heritage and bad decisions, she knows all too well that the police will not take the Walsh's concern seriously. The discovery that someone has the Walsh home under surveillance is Nora's first inkling that Bonnie's disappearance might be more than just a troubled teenager running away from an unhappy home. She is also very concerned when someone from her own dark past starts immediately tries to make contact with her. Not knowing whom to trust, Nora continues investigating Bonnie's disappearance but it soon becomes quite clear that someone is willing to go to any lengths to ensure that she does not locate the missing teenager.

Nora survived an incredibly violent and horrific ordeal and her scars run deep. A rough around the edges loner with trust issues, she does not like being in the limelight and she is most comfortable in the underbelly of society. She is long estranged from her sister Lorelei who does not temper her contempt for Nora or the mistakes she has made. Nora's sobriety is hard won but the temptation to blunt her emotions is a daily battle that she wins only because of her beloved canine companion, Whisper. When Nora hits a brick wall in her investigation, she turns to her former AA sponsor and police detective Jon Brazura for assistance but she has plenty of misgivings about trusting him.

The Lost Ones is a dark mystery with an engaging and unpredictable storyline that is quite compelling. Despite her gruff exterior and dubious choices, Nora is a surprisingly sympathetic protagonist that is very easy to root for. Her investigation into Bonnie's disappearance takes some very unexpected twists and turns and Sheena Kamal brings the novel to an adrenaline filled, nail biting conclusion. A stunning debut fans of the genre are going to thoroughly enjoy. ( )

After finishing this novel, I have to really think about my feelings about it. I really liked Nora Watts, although she is an alcoholic, a loner, a rough girl. Yet something about Nora has you rooting for her. She is a survivor with a BS meter and a love for a stray dog, Whisper. She is loyal and hates abusing a trust.
15 years ago, Nora was drugged, raped, beaten, and left for dead. The consequences of that night have haunted her for years. When Nora receives a desperate call, the nightmare of that event returns full force.
Nora takes on a search for a missing teenager, and her world is turned upside down. People aren't to be trusted, and her faith in them is shaken. The trail to find the girl uncovers corruption, greed, and danger in Vancouver, Canada. Some of the details and the characters became confusing as it uncovered a web of corruption. Nora is a force- and her character will stay with me. If there is another Nora Watts book, I will try it.
#TheLostOnes #SheenaKamal ( )