Reviewed by Daylin M. for Readers' Favorite

Lost Innocents, written by Jean Rowden, is an enticing, thrilling ride that will take you through the experience of being a detective. Eighteen-year-old Virginia discovers a secret hidden beneath the enlightened veneer of Victorian England. Young children are vanishing from their homes, but the upper class of England refuses to even contemplate the idea that child prostitution could exist in their world. The crimes go undetected as citizens simply turn a blind eye toward the situation at hand. Virginia, determined to get to the bottom of these heinous crimes, finds herself among the most cruel and dangerous criminals in all of England. She encounters greed, cruelty, and fear when pitted against these violent criminals. But will the power of love save her, or submit her to her ultimate peril?

Jean Rowden's novel seemed at first like something I would not enjoy, being a fan of love stories and happily-ever-afters. However, I found myself not wanting to put the book down because it always kept me on the edge of my seat, never quite giving me all the answers. What I liked most about Lost Innocents was that I had to use clues to figure out what was really happening, instead of being flat-out told. This gripping mystery brought me to love the genre and recommend to people ages 18 and older, due to violence and language. In the end, I got the love story I wanted! So if you're contemplating reading this novel, but don't think it's your type of book, think again! You will be surprised!