The Lost Kings

Tyrell Johnson takes his readers along on an insightful journey into one woman’s life and psyche, as she works to overcome her demons and take back the control she thought she’d lost forever.

Jeanie King lost her mother very young, when a car accident claimed her life while Jeanie watched on helplessly from the back seat. She’s only twelve when tragedy strikes again, and her father disappears – and takes her beloved twin brother Jamie with him. Suddenly abandoned, she finds herself falling into a spiral of impulse decisions and self-isolation, until a visitor from her past appears and offers her the chance to confront and conquer her darkest fears.

I had a slightly rocky start with this book – it took me a while to warm up to Jeanie, as she’s an intentionally confronting character. But when I settled into the story and got to know her better, I was pleasantly surprised; Tyrell Johnson has written a wonderfully complex character and takes a thoughtful approach to telling the story of the trauma and experiences that shaped her. Side characters were equally three dimensional and realistic, and The Lost Kings grew on me quickly.

Despite the title, this is really Jeanie’s story, told in alternating timelines between her present self and the child who went through so much. The author takes his time, and before long the journey overtook the destination as the important part in my eyes. I did want to see Jeanie have the chance to find the brother and father whose absence so shaped her life – but I was also happy just to enjoy the process of getting there, as Tyrell Johnson worked his magic and created a story that completely captivated me.

I came away from this book uplifted, and more than a little bit emotional. The Lost Kings is an excellent thriller, but it’s those memorable characters who will really stay with me.