The Lost and the Found by Cat Clarke

The Lost and the Found by Cat Clarke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



LOST.
When six-year-old Laurel Logan was abducted, the only witness was her younger sister. Faith's childhood was dominated by Laurel's disappearance - from her parents' broken marriage and the constant media attention to dealing with so-called friends who only ever wanted to talk about her sister.

FOUND.
Thirteen years later, a young woman is found in the garden of the Logans' old house, disorientated and clutching the teddy bear Laurel was last seen with. Laurel is home at last, safe and sound. Faith always dreamed of getting her sister back, without ever truly believing it would happen. But a disturbing series of events leaves Faith increasingly isolated and paranoid, and before long she begins to wonder if everything that's lost can be found again...



This is the second Cat Clarke book I have read and it was very different to the first. I really enjoyed the way this story flowed, the writing is very smooth and the book although over 400 pages, was quick to read. I also think that Cat Clarke's books are quite vivid and I find it very easy to be able to picture the characters and the setting.

The Lost and Found is about a girl Laurel, who went missing thirteen years ago. One day she just arrives back near her old family home. Faith is her sister, it is her story that we read and we live Laurel's story through hers. I really enjoyed reading it from Faiths perspective, it was not the obvious choice but it worked well and you could really see the impact this would have on the sister, who has been the only child for the past thirteen years.

The characters are wonderful in this story, they felt very real and believable. Even less prominent characters were developed well and bought a lot to the story. I liked the way the press was conceived and that you could really sympathise with the family. It was as if the press fed on the story and wouldn't let them have any privacy throughout the ordeal.

I was gripped throughout the story, however towards the third part of the book I twigged what was going on. What I really enjoyed though was that I was not proved wrong with my thinking but there was an added twist to the end. I thought it was cleverly constructed and worked very well, this is a shocking story that develops over time but one that will stay with you for some time.

I think there were a few points that were not as developed as they could have been and left me with a few questions, the main question was Thomas, things about him were never fully explained and I would have liked to have known more. (I don't want to say too much in case you haven't read it yet.) I also was a little disappointed with Faith's final response, however I understand exactly why she did this. I would definitely say though this book is a slow burner that builds up and explodes, this is a great thriller and if you don't read YA, you should.

After reading two Cat Clarke novels I am extremely impressed and will be looking into getting the others she has written. I would go as far as saying this has been my favourite YA book this year.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

This story was real, deep and emotional.