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The Lost Kings cover art

The Lost Kings

Written by: Tyrell Johnson
Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld
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Publisher's Summary

A NEW YORK TIMES BEST CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR

“The plot folds into a brilliant twist.”—The New York Times

“A novel in disguise. You could easily (and happily) mistake it for a stellar psychological thriller, bristling with surprises and packed with secrets; but listen closely and you’ll hear the beat of a dark, full heart, strong and loud. This is deeply moving fiction.”—A.J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window

Twins Jeanie and Jamie King are inseparable. Stuck in a cabin in rural Washington with their alcoholic father, they cling to one another for safety and companionship. Until one night, when their father comes home covered in blood. The next day, he is gone ... and so is Jamie. Jeanie’s whole world is turned upside down. Not only has she lost her beloved brother, but with no family left in Washington, she is ripped from everything she knows, including Maddox, the boy she could be learning to love.

Twenty years later, Jeanie is in England. She keeps her demons at bay by drinking too much, sleeping with a married man, and speaking to a therapist she doesn’t respect. But her old life catches up to her when Maddox reappears, claiming to have tracked down her dad. Stunned, Jeanie must decide whether to continue running from her past or to confront her father and finally find out what really happened that night, where her brother is, and why she was the one left behind.

At once a propulsive, heart-pounding mystery and an affecting exploration of love and the familial ties that bind us, The Lost Kings will transport, move, and shock you.

©2022 Tyrell Johnson (P)2022 Random House Audio

What the critics say

A NEW YORK TIMES BEST CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR • A New York Times Editors’ Choice

“Absence and loss permeate Tyrell Johnson’s THE LOST KINGS in a way that surprised and moved me multiple times over the course of the novel. . . . I loved how the twists felt psychologically true, a reflection of the way buried trauma always resurfaces, inflicting damage and then lancing the wounds.”—Sarah Weinman, The New York Times

“Excellent. . . . As the chapters shift back and forth in time, the tone switches from lyrical and atmospheric in the past to spiky and acidic in the present. . . . Both her therapist and her father are complicated, slippery characters, and through Jeanie’s relationships with them, and her relationships with her married lover and her missing twin brother, the plot folds into a brilliant twist.”The New York Times Book Review

“Johnson channels a bit of Tana French for a decidedly American story that starts on a high note and never falters as it reaches an intriguing finale. . . . The Lost Kings is a real find.”The South Florida Sun-Sentinel

What listeners say about The Lost Kings

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Gripping Book. Brilliant Writing.

A gripping psychological thriller, heartbreaking coming-of-age, and compelling family drama all in one—The Lost Kings is a must-read!

This well-crafted story and writing are brilliant: beautiful prose and vivid descriptives bring these well-developed characters and their lives to life. Johnson expertly tackles themes such as loss, abuse, trauma, pain, murder, survival, overcoming, hope, and redemption, making readers ponder deeper issues while immersed in an intense page-turning novel. The author draws you in for the long journey; you won’t want to let go. It’s a mesmerizing ride you won’t soon forget.

Moreover, the narration by Saskia Maarleveld is stellar. She delivers the strong female protagonist, Jeanie King, with boundless energy, adding personality and nuance to her every word.

The Lost Kings is a tour de force in storytelling, a rich, layered story with thought-provoking themes that stay with you long after the intriguing and surprising plot twist finale!

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A must-read!

Brilliant story that just kept getting better and better with each chapter. I immediately wanted to start it again as soon as I had finished. You wont regret buying this one!

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an engaging and emotional tale

I knew that Tyrell Johnson's first book was spec, and I picked this up expecting something along the same lines. however this story goes in a completely different direction. it's a super interesting story about the long-lasting impacts of childhood trauma and how it can follow us into our adult lives and perceptions. lots of humanity and intriguing insights in these pages.

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