The Lost

If the romantic character study is a genre, this fascinating contemporary novel is its exemplar. McCade digs deep into the difficult topics of rape, incest, and sexual abuse via the remarkable voice of Clarissa Leigh VanZandt. She’s a 26-year-old runaway from the glamorous but vacuous and superficial world of extreme wealth and privilege. She lives by her wits and sleeps wherever her considerable sex drive takes her; she keeps her emotions to herself, sharing them with no one. Not even Gary, the avuncular tavern owner who gives her occasional work and lets her use his washing machine, is allowed in. He introduces Leigh to former Marine Gabriel Hart, and it soon becomes clear that Gabriel is a perfect match for her, because he too is broken. Piece by painful piece, McCade graphically reveals the acts of abuse and degradation that brought Leigh to her present state. Then, buoyed by her fondness for Gabriel, she begins to take baby steps toward redemption. McCade’s trigger warnings are warranted, but the explicit flashbacks add depth to the intriguing story. (BookLife)