The Colony of Lost Souls - by Kelsey James (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A young woman searching for her missing sister in 1930s California is drawn into a dark and dangerous cult in this intoxicating binge of sacrifice and obsession, strange rituals, alluring promises, and a beautiful prison for readers of Silvia Moreno Garcia, Nicola Harrison, Laura Purcell, California Golden by Melanie Benjamin, and Emma Cline's The Girls.

Born a year apart, May and June Anderson were once as close as twins. Time and a loveless marriage changed the once vibrant May into June's timid counterpart. Now, two years after June abruptly disappeared, May receives a letter from her sister, inviting her to visit a mysterious colony in southern California. Eager to match June's boldness for once, May doesn't hesitate.

The Colony is located in a magnificent Spanish Revival-style mansion perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific, and is presided over by the group's charismatic leader, Rex. Colony members believe in an afterlife where departed souls mingle, and that the truly enlightened can even summon back the spirits of lost loved ones. May is told that June has recently left on a mission, and she's intrigued enough to accept Rex's invitation to stay until her sister's return.

Drawn deeper into the group, and under Rex's seductive spell, May undergoes their initiation ceremony. Yet her questions grow more urgent with June's continued absence--and the warnings of a presumptuous but charming undercover investigator. May has longed for the daring, adventurous life her sister pursued, but her arrival has sparked a dangerous unraveling within the Colony, where nothing and no one is quite as it seems.

Gripping and atmospheric, The Colony of Lost Souls immerses readers in a world of secrets, deception, and unexpected redemption.

Review Quotes

Praise for The Colony of Lost Souls

"Brimming with Gothic atmosphere and dark secrets, The Colony of Lost Souls swept me away with its glittering 1930s coastal setting and easy-to-love heroine. James masterfully weaves together threads of romance, obsession, and the occult into a suspenseful story that is perfect for fans of Sarah Penner and Simone St. James." --Hester Fox, author of The Last Heir to Blackwood Library

"A captivating work of fiction that explores the dangers of obsessive charisma and the allure of the unknown, wrapped in an intoxicating gothic mystery set on the rugged California coast. Absolutely hypnotic--from the first page to the breathless ending--lyrically written, and powerful." --Paulette Kennedy, author of The Devil and Mrs. Davenport

"Evocative, fast-paced, and impossible to put down, James's latest combines a charismatic cult leader, a charming detective, an isolated mansion and creepy goings-on in a gothic novel that hits all the right notes with irresistible style." --Megan Chance, bestselling author of Glamorous Notions

"Looming on the craggy coastline of 1930s California like something Poe might dream up, The Colony of Lost Souls offers up a delicious and seductive gothic nightmare. Seances, seduction and desperate sisters are reminiscent of early Victoria Holt favorites. The setting is lush with detail, the pacing is breakneck, and it all adds up to a great nostalgic diversion for lovers of historical gothics!"--Kimberly Brock, award winning author of The Fabled Earth and The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare

"A treat for fans of historical fiction set in 1930s California. A sumptuous tale of intrigue and deceit, featuring quirky and creepy characters, that explores themes of grief, regret and the bonds of sisterhood."--Shannon Morgan, author of Grimdark

About the Author

Kelsey James is a historical fiction author and content marketer whose work has appeared in Conde Nast Traveler, Insider, ABC News, and The Huffington Post, among other outlets. Her novels include The Colony of Lost Souls, Secrets of Rose Briar Hall, and The Woman in the Castello, an Indie Next Pick and a LibraryReads selection. Born and raised in Sacramento, California, she is an alumna of Dartmouth College and now lives with her family outside New York City. Visit her online at KelseyJamesAuthor.com.