The Lost Ones

The Lost Ones

Some beginnings remind you of endings as the past and a Garth realty faces Nikki once again. The murder of a teen who pretended to be her sister Caitlin coping to the house where she grew up is the catalyst for this third novel. The girl that impersonated her sister was found dead and the history of her upbringing lets you know the possible reasons why she ran away but why the impersonation unless she thought she’d profit. Her parents were oblivious, and dud does not seem to have a positive word about Laurie and neither cared about finding the killer or the whereabouts of their other 3. Why didn’t anyone report child neglect or abuse? Why not call ACS to investigate?

Then Nikki and Alex think through several different things about why this is happening and why the person who met Laurie at the mall with her friend looked like Nikki. Working with the state trooper on the case Nikki has to hope it will work out better than the other case before this one.

Going back to Huntsville brought out the hostility and wrath of the chief of police because one of his officers was killed accusing him of being a serial killer. Then coming back and attacking a reporter in her motel room brought down her boss and many more as an article in the paper slanted viewpoint by the reporter brought the attention to the FBI why did Lehrer boss allow her to stay and when she gets the sketch of the girl pretending to be her sister this changed it all .

Laurie Redick pretended to be Caitlin and someone else was with her that looked like Nikki but events turn ugly when a reporter breaks into her, she tackles him calls then police and the story get twisted in the papers by the national investigator. Then Nikki meets Shirley Hunsaker who went shopping with Laurie claiming she came into money but who was the woman with her at the mall and why a rose tattoo. With the help of the state trooper and another couple Nikki was still at a dead end. Someone knew information about her sister, and someone wanted Nikki gone. Then the chief of police oh Huntsdale made it clear he wanted her gone but not before saying some awful things about her father. Another body found no name and the rose. Not until

She found a tattoo artist that showed her the signature on a document did it became clear it was linked to her sister in some way. Linking it back to book one the author helps readers debate and question what happened to Caitlin and what was her father hiding?

As the murders increase and the circumstances behind them differ why do they connect them all to Nikki and her sister? Someone able to change appearances, someone pretending to find a body with a girl pretending to be her daughter and a relentless reporter striking out at Nikki and doing his best to undermine in public why? When Alex gets hurt and an ambush fails to a point where will this take the case and will young girls ever be safe in Huntsdale, Columbus or Dorchester? Lives are hanging the balance and the title the list ones have multiple meanings.

There is another murder stated like the rat and another note to Nikki baiting her to find him or is he in plain sight? Then the reporter backstopped the state trooper she was working with and gave him information she should not have shared. The files her father had were now in the possession of the ME who can she trust? Another death other notes and will Nikki finally get the killer?

Then motive and threats focus on someone in the singles slayer killings, but it was a set up by the killer leaving hints and clues, but Nikki had it all wrong.

The ending might bring closure to the deaths, but a revelation and last sentence lets you know it’s far from over. Lies, betrayals, a major deception and cover up as all those dead girls and even Nikki plus Caitlin are just what the title says: the lost ones. Author Dana Perry created so many blockades, unexpected twists and an ending that leaves you with one word: Caitlin

Fran Lewis just reviews