Awesome Regency gothic!

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Lost in Darkness (Of Monsters and Men) by Michelle Griep        

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


Colin Balfour is a monstrous sight. Disfigured by a “disease that causes abnormal growth.” 
His sister Amelia is a journalist and has just landed her dream assignment, a paid trip to Cairo to write a travel journal. Unusual for 1815. Strong minded and forthright, yet she carries a black tipped ibis feather. A talisman? A superstitious journalist it seems.
At the same time as the Cairo trip news, she receives notice of her estranged father’s death and a letter from him charging her with the guardianship of her brother, seeing to the continuation of his treatment.
Colin’s doctor “Uriah Peckwood, [is] a prominent and—as some claimed—rather provocative surgeon.” 
Graham Lambert, an ex naval surgeon and now Peacock’s partner, is troubled by Peacock’s treatment regime leading up to and including the operation. A procedure set in motion by the Balfour’s unlovely father.
Strange experimental hints and charlatan asylums add to the atmosphere.
For all Amelia’s compassion and strength of character, I can’t quite understand why she let Colin go ahead with the procedure. The silent Amelia does get into troubling situations as the tale progresses. Graham Lambert, first met accidentally when Colin arrives, becomes an important part of their lives.
I feel a deep sympathy with the tragedy that is Colin’s life. I felt quite bereft when Nemo and Colin are parted. Nemo is the lost abused boy Colin discovers squatting in the empty house next door. He develops a mentor type friendship with him. Nemo is not frightened by Colin’s face—he’s seen worse. Their relationship is an innocent source of acceptance for them both. The poignancy of them both exploring freedom under the cover of darkness, walking in the park, is heartbreaking. A five star compassionate optic.
I loved the inclusion of Mary Shelley as their next door neighbour. An unexpected yet intriguing inclusion. Delicious ‘What If’ possibilities of fact intruding into fiction! If Mary Shelley had based Frankenstein on Colin Balfour, what then? If she’d actually been the Balfour House neighbor what would she have garnished?
As usual Griep has woven her Christian faith throughout the story, never raucous, just abiding.
A Regency gothic tale that works with a fractured Beauty and the Beast tale twist, pointing towards who the monster really is, in the Frankensteinain depiction of Dr. Peacock as he reveals his true colors.

A Barbour Publishing ARC via NetGalley 
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change

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