January 20, 2022

Review by Alanna

The Lost, written by New York Times bestselling author Natasha Preston, is a fantastic young adult thriller and a gripping tale of a small-town case that must be cracked from the inside out.

The novel follows Piper, a teenage girl interested in mysteries and puzzles, on an amateur sleuthing adventure. With secrets thickening the air, teenagers in her hometown continue to disappear one by one and are labeled by the town as runaways. However, after one of their own classmates vanishes, Piper and her best friend Hazel become increasingly doubtful of the town’s assumption and most determined to uncover the truth about the disappearances. Ultimately, their discoveries lead them directly to the missing teens… and, less fortunately, to their captors. Can they all escape?

Preston weaves an incredibly suspenseful story filled with twists and turns in every chapter.  Her vivid descriptions and perfectly-set scenes amplify the novel’s intensity. Her strong cast of characters with their vastly different personalities create a psychological complexity as they navigate through constant cliffhangers and terrifying twists on their journey toward an unpredictable ending. 

Perfect for any reader who enjoys a good mystery, I strongly recommend this book to readers searching for a non-stop page-turner. The story’s fast pace helps build mounting tension and the unique situations create heightened suspense throughout, filling the reader with intrigue. The memorable characters introduced are relatable and trigger the reader’s own sense of dread for them. Well worth the read and re-read!