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Lost in Darkness (Of Monsters and Men) by Michelle Griep - Amelia Balfour is making a name for herself as a travel writer, as unusual as the profession was for a single woman during the Regency. Shortly before she is to leave for Cairo - her travel writing dream come true - word arrives of her father's death, and that she will need to travel to Bristol to settle affairs. Her father had arranged a treatment and surgery for Amelia's brother Colin, who has a rare condition that causes abnormal growth. Colin has lived most of his life hidden away because his condition has disfigured his face. Despite mixed feelings about the treatment, Amelia and Colin eventually agree to allow the surgeon to begin treatment, and Amelia plans to leave for Cairo as soon as Colin has recovered.
Graham Lambert has boldly negotiated a partnership with a well-known surgeon Mr Peckford as a desperate attempt to get his own medical career back on track. Very soon, he begins meeting with Peckford's newest patient, Colin. Graham develops a friendship with Colin and his beautiful sister, even as he begins questioning the effectiveness of the treatment Peckford has prescribed to prepare for the surgery. As Graham's friendship with the Balfours grows, he finds he can no longer ignore his skepticism of Peckford's methods. Graham grows more alarmed by what he is discovering about Peckford's treatments, and when Colin's surgery doesn't go as expected, he must make difficult decisions about how to help Colin and Amelia and what to do about Peckford.
As a backdrop to the drama of Colin's treatments and the developing relationship between Graham and Amelia, there are a couple of secondary storylines that add perspective and intrigue. Graham helps a very poor patient and is encouraged by her faith. Amelia strikes up an acquaintance with a new neighbor, aspiring author Mary Godwin (Shelley).
There is plenty of suspense as Graham pieces together the truth about Peckford and must decide what to do with the information, and then races to help with Colin's surgery. There is more suspense and tension during Colin's recovery period after the surgery as he suffers and Graham and Amelia do their best to help him. A desperate race against time and evil brings the tale to its climax in true Gothic style.
Although the plight of Colin and many of the other patients is often disturbing to read about, Colin's intelligence and humanity makes him a beautifully lovable character. The difficult decisions and dilemmas faced by Amelia and Graham are dramatic but struggling through those choices is told in a compelling way. There are several twists and turns along the way, and it's a bittersweet story that I think will stay with me for some time.
From the Publisher:
Even if there be monsters, there is none so fierce as that which resides in man's own heart.
Enchanting Regency-Era Gothic Romance Intertwined with Inspiration from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
Travel writer Amelia Balfour's dream of touring Egypt is halted when she receives news of a revolutionary new surgery for her grotesquely disfigured brother. This could change everything, and it does . . . in the worst possible way.
Surgeon Graham Lambert has suspicions about the doctor he's gone into practice with, but he can't stop him from operating on Amelia's brother. Will he be too late to prevent the man's death? Or to reveal his true feelings for Amelia before she sails to Cairo?
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
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