The Lost Melody

Written by Joanna Davidson Politano

Narrated by Amy Scanlon

When concert pianist Vivienne Mourdant’s father dies, he leaves to her the care of a patient at Hurstwell Asylum. Vivienne had no idea the woman existed, and yet her portrait is shockingly familiar. When the asylum claims she was never a
patient there, Vivienne is compelled to discover what happened to the figure she remembers from childhood dreams.

The longer she lingers in the deep shadows and forgotten towers at Hurstwell, the fuzzier the line between sanity and madness becomes. She hears music no one else does, receives strange missives with rose petals between the pages, and
untangles far more than is safe for her to know.

But can she uncover the truth about the mysterious woman she seeks? And is there anyone at Hurstwell she can trust with her suspicions?

Joanna Davidson Politano casts a delightful spell with this lyrical look into the nature of women’s independence and artistic expression during the Victorian era—and now.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 11, 2022
• ISBN: 9781705067345

Joanna Davidson Politano

Joanna Davidson Politano is the award-winning author of Lady Jayne Disappears, A Rumored Fortune, Finding Lady Enderly, The Love Note, A Midnight Dance, and The Lost Melody. She loves tales that capture the colorful, exquisite details in ordinary lives and is eager to hear anyone's story. She lives with her husband and their children in a house in the woods near Lake Michigan. You can find her online at www.JDPStories.com.

Reviews for The Lost Melody

[chrirob · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Music has always been intertwined in Vivienne's life for as long as she can remember. Music is what has helped her survive her father's abuse and her mother's death. However, Vivienne never expected music to save her sanity or the sanity of others. When Vivienne is mistakenly admitted to an asylum as a patient, she will need to rely on her music more than ever to not only keep her sanity, but to survive. Something is amiss in the Hurstwell Asylum, if only Vivienne can let her music, faith, and love guide her to safety...Vivienne may discover that she has other talents beyond music to share with the world.This was a very interesting book that had many turns I was not expecting! Thank you LibraryThing for the Early Reviewers copy!It was a very interesting story and I loved the history of the asylums & the plight of its' inhabitants that was threaded into the narrative.

[lamb521 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Title: The Lost MelodyAuthor: Joanna Davidson PolitanoPages: 384Year: 2022Publisher: RevellMy rating: 5 out of 5 starsThe novel’s setting is the Hurtswell Asylum during the Victorian Era, a time that still is a mystery to me in many ways. The author places her protagonist, Vivienne, who is a well-known pianist inside the asylum first as an aide, then as a patient. The life of Vivienne has been hard and painful in many ways, with the loss of her mother before she got a chance to know her and a unloving father.When her father passes, Vivienne learns that he has been making monthly payments for the care of someone in the asylum. Vivienne first learns of this mysterious woman’s existence when the solicitor comes to notify Vivienne of the true state of her father’s estate. Since society required a year of mourning, she cannot play in any concerts, so she sets out to discover the identity of this woman by becoming an aide at the asylum.When I first started the novel, I wasn’t sure I would be able to complete the book. The asylum is a dark and sad place for Vivienne as she has known only polite society and beautiful settings, not the world of pain and brokenness. However, there is brilliance in the novel. There are layers of mysteries that slowly come to play. The faith of the main character is beautifully portrayed as she reaches depths of heartache to finally soar to really knowing the love of God.The world of music therapy is revealed in the story, showing the brilliance of how it can reach a person’s soul when words cannot. Readers will really become engrossed in the individual backgrounds of some of the residents and workers at the asylum. The author did a magnificent job of making this reader think the end was right around the corner, only to find out there was more to enjoy.Please read the novel and share it with other readers you know. It is one that will reverberate within your heart and soul long after you finish!Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility.

[ecataldi-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Loved the concept but the book was poorly executed. A young Victorian woman finds herself "liberated" after her domineering father died. She's a concert pianist and owns a piano repair shop and she is thrilled to make her own way. When a man at a concert calls her a light in the darkness and suggests she play in asylums to brighten patients life - she scoff - but it gets her to thinking. With her father gone she wants to help young women in anyway she can. While going through her father's estate she discovers that he has been making monthly payments to an asylum for a woman called Rose. When she contacts the asylum they say there is no one there by that name but something feels off. She decides to "get a job" as an aid to do a little investigating. While digging around she starts to make some enemies with the staff and doctors and soon finds herself an inmate instead of an employee. Is she really going crazy?! The story is disjointed and there are too many leaps and jumps around making it hard to follow. I just didn't care about the protagonist after a certain point.

[pamelabarrett · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A beautiful talented musician, a scary asylum in 1886 England, what could go wrong? Vivienne’s strict mean father, who was also a musician, dies and in his will she finds out that he has been supporting someone in the asylum for years. When she inquires about the person she is told that they don’t have a record of them. Further investigation leads her into a dark and dangerous place full of deception and cruelty.I have to tell you I almost stopped reading this book, because my heart was racing, and it is really difficult when you know how bad these places were, but I persevered because I’ve read all of Joanna’s books and liked them so much. This one too, once I unraveled all the mysteries, and found out that one of the characters was based on a real person. I got this ARC through Revell it should be out next month.

[jaymewill-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I was happy to receive a copy of The Lost Melody from NetGalley. I have come to rely on Joanna Davidson Politano to deliver a delicious combination of likable characters, mystery, and Christianity with a gothic feel. The Lost Melody exceeded my expectations. I actually stopped reading it at night, and finished the next day because it was scary. Yeah, I can be a big baby.Vivienne Mourdant lives and breathes music. It moves through her and she hears tunes in her head. She thinks in music and describes people using music. After a very unhappy childhood due to her very mean father, Vivienne isn't sure how to live after he dies. Upon his death, she learns that she has inherited a ward who lives in an asylum. But no one can seem to find who it is. The asylum denies any knowledge of any person connected to Vinienne's family. Vivienne must search for the mysterious ward without becoming an asylum inmate herself.I enjoyed reading this novel very much. I loved Vivienne's character. Despite her upbringing, she is a strong woman who is dependent on God. The author takes us to a very dark area of the world, but reminds the reader that God's light shines in the darkest of places. I can't say much more without giving away key plot twists, but I recommend anyone who likes Christian fiction to read this book.

[huberk-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I liked this book. Vivienne's sleuthing leads her into an asylum. But, will she escape, and will she still have her sanity if she does?I received a complimentary copy of #thelostmelody from #revell #bakerpublishinggroup I was under no obligation to post a review. #historical

[claudia.castenir · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have a lot of mixed emotions about this book. The writing itself is beautiful as Politano's writing always is. The subject matter is depressing in many ways as one would expect of a story set in a Victorian era asylum. The injustices bring forth great angst. Politano is a masterful storyteller who pulls deep emotions from her readers. Yet, this story did seem to have an exceptionally slow pace, dragging just a bit. I am glad that I did not let my impatience get the better of me, for the ending was truly worth waiting for. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Lost Melody from Revell via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

[mizroady · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Vivienne Mourdant is relieved at the death of her abusive father. His cruelty and harsh training made her into a famous, sought after pianist. Finally she was free to live her life and pursue her passion with music. That is until she found among his papers reference to a woman named Rose. For many years he had been paying for her keep at the Hurstwell Pauper Lunatic Asylum. Who was this mysterious woman? She was compelled to find her. She decided to become an employee at the asylum to gain inside information and search. Little did she know the danger she was exposing herself to.I have read several fiction books depicting the lives and treatment of those living in what was referred to as lunatic asylums during the 1800’s. I have even read Nellie Bly’s, “Ten Days in a Mad-house”. None of these books came even close to giving the true picture of what these inmate’s lives were like, but Ms. Politano captures it all in this novel. She exposes the unjust, raw nightmare conditions of those who fell victim of these establishments. Many inmates would become lifetime prisoner simply by someone’s accusation or assumption that they were mentally ill. Sadly family members were often the culprit just wanting to rid themselves of the person. Some simply suffered from health problems. I was grieved at the inhumane treatment and hopelessness of these poor souls. The story is powerful. I could not read it at long stretches and especially not before going to bed. All in the entire story is one of perseverance in the face of great hardship. Vivienne’s faith, and belief she would escape even with such physical and mental abuse was inspirational. I loved the surprise ending. I received this book from LibraryThing and Revell Publishing in exchange for an honest review. The opinions stated are my own.

[sbmc-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

"There is no such thing as hopeless cases. Only those who have lost hope."Once again, Joanna Davidson Politano captures a haunting, melodic first person voice of a concert pianist and melds it beautifully with a soulful, hurting third person voice of a doctor in a memorable tale of faith, justice, and the power of music set in a Victorian asylum of 1886 England. It is more gothic than her previous novels and the setting of an asylum is not an easy one but it's so worthwhile to read. The undercurrent of mystery woven through the book is seamless and well-done; though not a suspense or mystery, per se, the plot will definitely have you turning the pages with anticipation as pieces click into place. If you enjoy historical Victorian fiction with a dash of romance, you will absolutely love this book.Vivienne's musically-centered heart and soul were fascinating to learn from and her passion for helping the oppressed women was admirable. Mitchell's broken yet hopeful spirit was quite the drawing point for this wonderful hero. Their spiritual journey was rocky and painful, but the growth it produced was remarkable. And there were some surprises, for sure - in cameo appearances of characters from a previous book and also in the ending where we find all the answers.I received the book from the publisher via NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

[harley0326 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is one that took me a bit to get into. At first it was confusing and I was trying to figure out why Vivienne was looking for a woman at Hurstwell Asylum. When she decides to take a job there I began to understand that she needed to find this person. The author describes the place with eerie and precise words. Voices screaming in the night and darkness surrounding the hopeless. Vivienne takes a big risk working at the asylum to get answers but suddenly things start to fall apart. She doesn’t know who to trust and she somehow becomes a patient there. Someone doesn’t want her to learn the truth and will do anything to stop her, including making it look like she is unstable. The author goes deep into a place where many never escape and I began to be fully invested in Vivienne. I liked her determination and how she believed that God would save her. Into the depths of despair Vivienne tumbles as she is tortured and I began to wonder if she was really who she says she is. The author cleverly gives readers doubts about our main character as the mystery grows darker. When the one person Vivienne thinks that she can count on, turns his back on her hopelessness settles in. Richard was suppose to save her and set her free from this place of darkness and abandonment. As Richard walks away the nurse tells Vivianne, “Sometimes people who love us do what we need them to do, not what we want.” That statement made me think of those who have had to make difficult decisions for family members and how that burden weighed them down. The story has many twists that kept me intrigued and I loved the way the author illustrated how we can come out of darkness to the light to be saved. Within the pages were hope that freedom would come for those who had been prisoners for so long. The music brought happiness and a sense of belonging for those who had been forgotten. Vivienne had long wondered what God wanted her to do with her life and in those moments where she was alone in a place where darkness surrounded her, she found her calling. It is a beautiful story that brings tears, brokenness and God’s light to those who had faith. I received a copy of this book from Revell Reads Blogger Program. The review is my own opinion.

[beautyinthebinding · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In The Lost Melody, Joanna Davidson Politano weaves a story of darkness to light and despair to hope. The novel started off slow and a bit confusing due to timeline jumps (which stopped after a few chapters). I read the book in small sittings at the beginning, but the story grew on me until it was hard to put down. The Lost Melody inhabits the dark atmosphere of Hurstwell Asylum, a Victorian-era facility in the isolated English countryside. The heaviness of hope lost weighs on the asylum patients, Vivienne Mourdant (our protagonista), and the reader. Vivienne learns first-hand about the mistreatment of the asylum patients. Seeing how the lack of compassionate care adversely affects mental health reminded me of today’s nursing home abuse.Beyond the abuse and darkness, The Lost Melody offers polished prose, curated character development, and outstanding themes. Vivenne’s mindset changes quietly against the backdrop of this dark asylum, but she blooms with stunning light as she embraces God’s will and steps into her giftings. Politano does not allow her characters an easy out or rush the story’s climax. I delighted in how plot events culminated and spiritual themes bore fruit to create a beautiful ending. I recommend The Lost Melody by Joanna Davidson Politano to Christian fiction readers who enjoy a story with powerful themes set in a Gothic atmosphere. For readers who enjoyed Politano’s prior novel, A Midnight Dance, Jack and Ella cameo in The Lost Melody and I loved glimpsing their later life. Five stars.Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

[Frances O'Connor · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent! Great message, believable characters, not to predictable, or too short. A good story should never be rushed. It never grows dull either. The reader was also excellent.

[karensiddall · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wrongfully confined to a Victorian mental asylum, a former concert pianist desperately tries to convince someone she's not mad!The Lost Melody was a dark yet exciting historical Christian fiction novel about mental health care and treatment during the 1800s. The asylum storyline and setting are the stuff of nightmares: a creaking old building situated on the edge of the moors, barred doors and windows, hidden passageways, dimly-lit wards with confused and suffering patients, a crumbling tower off-limits to staff, all within view of a well-populated cemetery on the grounds. The main character must even hide in a morgue at one point!When the story opens, Vivienne is relieved by her father's death; he'd been something of a tyrant. She's an angry young woman, and with good reason. Her father had been an abusive and harsh autocrat, taking the parenting style of the time to an extreme. She's just gotten out from under his thumb only to discover she's got a manager with an agenda that doesn't align with her own. This dissonance led to a gripping novel filled with plot twists and shocking surprises that kept me turning the pages to find out how it would turn out.The author uses light and dark imagery throughout the story with beautiful results. Within the asylum setting, hope struggles with hopelessness, and dark, gaslit corridors are juxtaposed with the chandelier-bright conservatory. Candles and matches are Vivienne's only items within her control. Light and dark even plays a role in characterization, with some representing light and others darkness while still others actively suck the very light out of the lives of those left to disappear into the asylum.With its gripping plot, superb storytelling, and sympathetic and engaging characters, I recommend THE LOST MELODY to readers of historical fiction, especially those who are interested in Victorian-era asylums, the treatment and care of mental health patients in the 1800s, and the beginnings of music therapy in mental health settings.I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through NetGalley and Lone Star Book Blog Tours.

[fcplcataloger · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

'One day in late May of 1886, I found myself imprisoned in the Hurstwell Pauper Lunatic Asylum. This was unconscionable---I had never been a pauper.'This story isn't always pleasant but it's one that I couldn't put down. Author Joanna Davidson Politano delves into asylums during the Victorian England era and it's a tale of a young concert pianist enduring the dark side of these institutions. Politano shares Vivienne's pain of never having parental love and the agony of being forced to live in an asylum because of a clause in her father's will. Some of her treatment is harsh and unnerving and Vivienne is even deprived of her beloved music! And then, in her darkest times, a glimmer of light and hope is returned to her!So many emotions are explored in this poignant tale and it's apparent that the author devoted many hours to researching the subject of mental health treatment during this period. Politano shares some of her findings in her Author's Notes and they add even more depth to this story. I was especially intrigued by the use of musical therapy for these patients! The Lost Melody wasn't easy for me to read but I am so glad I had the chance!I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Revell Reads. There was no obligation for a positive review. These are my own thoughts.

[maret5g · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

1886 in Manchester Vivienne Mourdant is a concert pianist. Her father died three months ago and left her not only with debts but also with the guardianship of Rosamond Swansea. When she contacts the Hurstwell Pauper Lunatic Asylum about Rosamond, she is advised that no such patient had ever been there. To find this woman whom she remembered from her dreams, Vivienne engages herself as a staff member of the asylum under the name of Cora Fletcher. But nothing works the way she planned. Somebody set her up and she is trapped in the asylum as a patient. What a sad and heartbreaking story. I admired Vivienne for her braveness and determination. She followed her love for music and never lost hope for the people locked in the darkness of the asylum. It broke my heart how easy it was to trap a person in this secluded institution with staff who blindly followed the rules. Great book where the music will reach its crescendo. I highly recommend this book. Your heart will beat loud and hard for Vivienne and Hurstwell’s lunatic patients.I loved this book where every page revealed the truth hidden behind the dark walls.    I love Politano's books. They keep me engaged in the story from the beginning to the end.

[coverloverbookreview · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It sounds strange to say, but I love stories with an asylum setting. I suppose because it used to be common for women to be found 'unfit.' It is such a scary and lonely thought - to be mistreated life. That is why this book first pulled at me. I wasn't disappointed! Lovely cover, intriguing mystery, and satisfying end. Thank you, LibraryThing, for my complimentary early reviewers copy!

[khoyt-43756 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Joanna Davidson Politano is one of my favorite authors because of books like this. Her plots are consistently intriguing with unforseen twists and turns. Although the character's circumstances may be dismal, Joanna manages to inspire and motivate while giving rise to hope and a sense of purpose. I will reread this book to mark the statements that I need to remember and put to use in my life. Maybe even to use to help another. Thank you to Revell Books and LibraryThing for providing this ARC. I am under no obligation to give a good review. However, it is a great book and deserves a positive review.

[kmjessica · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A bit slow at the beginning but sped up fast after that and kept me glued to the page till the end.This is a subject I have read about several times and it is so interesting and always compels me to read more about.Asylums in the early years and how women and men were admitted for all the wrong reasons. They were not in need of such drastic help as this and the places were not fit for humans to live in. The author does add a bit about God through the book which to me does add to the story. And also music is one of the main topics, hence the name of the book.The main character is someone you like instantly and what she and the others go through is hard to read about. It was a compelling story, and keeps you wanting to turn the pages and get to the end.

[simmmba · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have so many good things to say about "The Lost Melody"! Joanna Davidson Politano is a new author to me, and after reading this amazing story, I'll definitely be seeking out more of her work.This is the story of Vivienne, a young woman in the 1880s who is surprised to discover she has inherited the care of an asylum patient. The problem is that the asylum claims to have no record of this mysterious person. The story addresses Vivienne's search for the truth as she begins to question her own sanity. First, I appreciated the historical accuracy of the book. The author obviously did significant research into the various locations portrayed in the story, and provided an accurate account of what those places, especially asylums, were like in the 1880s. I definitely learned some things about medical care and the treatment of the (alleged) insane that I didn't know before. As always, I appreciated the chance to discover new things.The story was very atmospheric, with plenty of quality gothic touches to add to the spooky sense and air of mystery.All of the characters was very well-drawn and detailed. They all felt like real people, and I empathized with each of them for different reasons. Vivienne herself is a fantastic character, and I also enjoyed Anna, Bridget, and Clara; each added something special to the overall narrative.Overall, this was an incredibly interesting and mysterious story. I was invested from the very beginning, and left with a sense of closure at the end.Definitely five our of five slices of perfect provolone!