Author: Catherine Hokin
Publication Date: January 28, 2021
Book Description
She looked at the empty cradle where her baby had been. Her heart felt tattered and empty, like the hollow streets of Berlin after its people began to live in fear.
Berlin, 1934. Homes once filled with laughter stand empty as the Nazi party’s grip on the city tightens. When AnnaTiegel’s beautiful best friend catches Reich Minister Goebbels’ special attention, an impulsive act to save her brings Anna under his unforgiving scrutiny. First, she loses her job, then slowly, mercilessly, she finds her life stripped away. After her father is killed by the Nazis, Anna’s final hope is to escape to America with her boyfriend Eddy, but when she reaches his apartment on the agreed date, she finds it deserted. Alone and pregnant, the future feels terrifying, but she must try to protect the life inside her.
Rhode Island, 1957. Peggy Bailey stares in shock at the faded photograph of two laughing women which her beloved adoptive mother struggled to pass on to her before she died, whispering ‘It was inside your baby blanket when we brought you home’. As Peggy continues to stare, she realises that she has seen one of the girls before, in the most unlikely of places… Bursting at the realisation, she embarks on a mission which takes her across America to find the truth behind her heritage. Nothing, however, could prepare her for the tragic story her actions uncover…
A poignant and beautiful World War Two story about survival and a mother’s enduring search for her child against all the odds. A heart-breaking read for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, We Were the Lucky Ones and The Alice Network.
Book Review
The Lost Mother by Catherine Hokin is an interesting World War II novel focusing on survival, overcoming fear and motherhood.
On her mother’s deathbed, Peggy is handed a picture of two German girls and told the picture was in her blanket when Peggy was brought home. Peggy recognizes one of the girls as a famous French actress. Peggy embarks to Hollywood to find the truth. Peggy uncovers secrets and finds unlikely help. Is Peggy’s mother still alive? Does Peggy’s mother want to be found?
The Lost Mother is a great World War II novel that focuses on so much more than the war. Some parts of the book take place in Germany starting in 1934, around World War II and leading throughout the war. There are other parts taking place in 1957 when Peggy is looking for her mother. Peggy will do anything to find her mother. Peggy gets scared and frustrated but doesn’t let that stop her. Peggy is always questioning who she can trust to help, but quickly realizes she has to trust someone or she won’t get very far. The parts in Germany with Anna are heartbreaking and unique perspectives from World War II. Anna is very hard working and is forced to make some hard choices. There are many situations where Anna is forced to do something she doesn’t believe in but is always fighting for her goals. I liked the variety in this story.
I recommend The Lost Mother to World War II fans and fans of stories about mother daughter relationships.
Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for The Lost Mother.
About the Author
Catherine Hokin is the author of two World War Two inspired novels set in Berlin, her favourite city. Following a History degree at Manchester University she worked in teaching, marketing and politics, while waiting for a chance to do what she really wanted which was to write full time. Her short stories have been published by iScot, Writers Forum and Myslexia magazines and she was the winner of the 2019 Fiction 500 Short Story Competition. She is a lover of strong female leads and a quest.
Catherine now lives in Glasgow with her American husband. She has two grown-up children – one of whom lives, very conveniently, in Berlin – and a life long addiction to very loud music.
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Just Reading Jess 
This sounds like an emotional read. Great review!
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Thank you so much!
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