A Child Lost: Henrietta and Inspector Howard Novel by Michelle Cox
Publisher: She Writes Press (April 28, 2020)
Category: Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Romantic Suspense
Tour dates: Feb-March, 2020
ISBN: 978-1631528361
Available in Print and ebook, 408 pages
Description Child Lost by Michelle Cox
A Child Lost – Excerpt
“Please, sit down,” Msgr. Gaspari said with a gesture, closing the door behind them and gingerly taking a seat behind the desk. “Now, what’s this all about? Father Moran informs me that you are a private detective,” he said carefully, glancing down at Clive’s card, which had somehow found its way to a spot on the desk in front of him. “Is something wrong?” he asked, his eyes piercing each of them in turn. He had an air of shrewdness about him that reminded Henrietta of her grandfather.
“No, no one’s in trouble,” Clive answered. “It’s a very simple matter. I’m sure someone else could have answered it for us, but your Father Moran was quite insistent that we speak directly with you.”
“Yes, Father Moran is very exacting in his duty. And he was quite right to bring this to me,” he said dismissively. “Now, perhaps you’d tell me what this is all about?” he repeated with what seemed to Henrietta to be a rather insincere smile.
“We’re looking for a young woman,” Clive said, sitting back in his chair and crossing his legs smoothly. “We believe she is employed here as a cleaner of some descript. Her name is Miss Klinkhammer. Liesel Klinkhammer. Ring a bell?”
Henrietta noticed the priest’s right shoulder stiffen slightly. “Hmmm,” he said calmly as he pressed his hands together, the tips of his two index fingers forming a steeple that rested against his pursed lips. A large ruby ring adorned one of his fingers, but Henrietta was instead mesmerized by his eyes, as if he could see through people and any lies they might be telling. She forced herself finally to look over at Clive, who, on the other hand, seemed amazingly unruffled by the priest’s scrutiny. Indeed, he was returning it in kind.
“There are a great many staff members, you know,” Msgr. Gaspari went on. “I’m afraid I don’t know all of their names.” He gave a small shrug. “Cigarette?” he offered Clive, as he reached for a silver cigarette case on top of his desk. He smoothly flipped it open and held it out.
Clive declined the offer with a wave of his hand, and Henrietta
watched as the priest took one himself, lit it, and then inhaled deeply.
“You might recall her,” Clive said. “German immigrant? Not
much English, apparently.”
Msgr. Gaspari let out a big stream of smoke through his nostrils. “Oh, her?” he said slowly. “Yes, I do recall her, as a matter of fact. Unfortunate case,” he tried to say with a smile.
“Why is that?” Clive asked.
“She’s no longer with us, I’m afraid.”
“But she was employed here?”
“Yes, if we’re talking about the same person.”
Clive gave him a wry look. “What happened?”
Msgr. Gaspari inhaled again and sat back in his chair. “She was working here for quite some time, I believe, and then she suddenly became ill. Quite seriously, as I remember. Fits or some such thing. Obviously not something we are particularly adept at unraveling here, so after one particularly bad episode, we called an ambulance to take her to the hospital.”
“Which one?” Clive asked, his eyes narrowed.
“Probably Victory Memorial,” he said blankly. “I’m not really sure, to be perfectly honest.”
“And then?”
“I don’t know,” he said, inhaling. “She didn’t come back.”
“She didn’t come back? Didn’t you find that odd?”
“Not really,” Msgr. Gaspari said, flicking some ash into an ashtray perched off to the side on his desk. “Happens all the time. It’s quite commonplace, actually.”
“For a staff member to go to the hospital and never come back?”
Msgr. Gaspari looked intently at Clive with his piercing gaze. “For the staff to quit. Especially the cleaners.”
“Why is that?”
Msgr. Gaspari gave another shrug. “You know immigrants.
Always scrambling for something better.”
Clive let out a sigh. “So no one followed up? No one went to
see her?”
“Not that I know of. Not in an official capacity. It wouldn’t have been seemly.”
“For a priest to visit a sick woman in the hospital?”
“For the administrator of a college to go to the bedside of one of the cleaning women,” he said, his eyes narrowing as he inhaled deeply. “I’m a very busy man, detective.”
“So I’ve been told. A number of times now.” Clive stared at him coolly, but Msgr. Gaspari did not flinch.
“She had a friend, I believe,” Henrietta said quietly, deciding finally to speak.
Msgr. Gaspari’s eyes traveled to her as if he had forgotten she was there.
“By the name of Teresa Wolanski,” Henrietta said tentatively, her heart already sinking at the realization that they would most probably not find Liesel Klinkhammer today. “She wrote a letter for Miss Klinkhammer and mailed it to Germany for her. Perhaps she went to see her in the hospital and might be able to tell us something. Might we speak with her? If she still works here . . . that is?”
“Like I said, Mrs. Howard,” Msgr. Gaspari said, looking at her with a touch of derision, “There’re a great many staff members. I’m not familiar with each one. However, Mrs. Middleton can find that information for you. Now, if that’s all, I’ll wish you good day. I have an appointment coming up. You were fortunate that I was able to give you even this much time.”
Henrietta judged his smile to be genuinely false now as he stood up, signaling them to do the same. He inclined his head slightly at Henrietta and held out his hand to Clive, which Clive gripped tightly.
“We may have more questions,” Clive said thinly.
“Then I’m sure you’ll be kind enough to make an appointment next time.”
“Yes, thank you for seeing us on such short notice.”
“And who did you say you were hired by?” Msgr. Gaspari asked, looking down at the ashtray as he snuffed out his cigarette.
“I didn’t say. And it isn’t pertinent, actually.”
“Ah, I see. So you’re not operating in any official police capacity?” he said slowly. “Just so I understand the whole picture.”
“Oh, I think you understand well enough, Monsignor. And I’m well connected, you should know.”
“Is that a threat?”
“Not at all. Just so you understand.”
My Review: 
I really think I should have read the previous books in the series before I started this one. I believe I would have enjoyed this more with the back story of the main characters. It took me a while to get into the book because I was often wondering what had happened previously and how some of the relationships came to be.
The writing is very good in this novel. I thought the beginning was a bit slow, but it has been a while since I read a good mystery novel, so it could have just been me being impatient. The characters were well developed with unique personalities. I found myself really liking some of them and this kept me reading to find out what happened even more so than the storyline. The storyline was multifaceted, with several things going on at once, which makes it even more engaging. I was caught up in Gunther's search from the beginning, as well as emotionally invested in Henrietta and how she was getting through such a horrible thing as losing a baby.
I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a good historical fiction book. I enjoyed reading a tale set in this time period and would like to read more. I will definitely be looking into the first books of this series.
Praise Child Lost by Michelle Cox
“A Child Lost is undoubtedly a novel that should not be missed—the story is genius, flawlessly written, and wildly entertaining! A thrilling five stars!” — The Red Headed Book Lover
“Once again, Cox delivers the passion and intrigue of Henrietta and Clive with a story that leaps right off the page. A Child Lost is a true thrill… — Paperback Paris
“…vivid descriptive prose and historical accuracy – Publishers Weekly
“"There is not a dull moment in this book. Cox's characters are so well portrayed in their physical traits, their manner of speech, their actions, their personalities as well as through their dilemmas and moments of joy. Cox sure knows how to create characters that are memorable and distinct." - Library of Clean Reads
About Michelle Cox
Website: http://michellecoxauthor.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/michellecox33
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michellecoxwrites/
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/michelle-cox-610476432
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I am glad you enjoyed 'A Child Lost'. After reading the first book, I had to read the entire series, I found it addictive!
ReplyDeleteThanks for featuring and reviewing A CHILD LOST, Amanda! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!!
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