The Lost Passenger

An immersive historical drama about a young mother who starts a new life with her son in New York after faking their deaths on the Titanic--the U.S. debut of acclaimed British novelist Frances Quinn.

"A compelling examination of the cost of dreams, delusions of the heart, and the unbreakable bond of mother and child."--Shana Abé, author of The Second Mrs. Astor

Sometimes it takes a disaster to change your life.

Marrying above your social class can come with unexpected consequences, as Elinor Coombes discovers when she is swept into a fairy-tale marriage with the son of English aristocrats. But she realizes too late that it was the appeal of her father's hard-earned wealth rather than her own pretty face that attracted her new husband and his family. Ground down by rigid social rules that include her being allowed to see her nanny-raised infant son for only moments each day, Elinor faces a lonely future. But a present from her father--tickets for the maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic, a luxurious new ocean liner--offers a welcome escape from the cold, controlling atmosphere of her husband's ancestral home, and some precious time with her little son, Teddy.

After the ship goes down, Elinor grasps at the chance to take Teddy and start a new life in America: They can disappear completely if they are listed among the dead. After stealing another woman's identity, a now penniless Elinor must put that terrible night behind her and learn to survive in a brash new world that couldn't be more different from her own. And when a face from the past appears, she must risk everything to keep her secret--and her son.

An absorbing historical drama set between the hidebound traditions of the English aristocracy and the opportunities of a bustling young city, The Lost Passenger is a gripping and dramatic story about grabbing your chances with both hands, and being brave enough to find out who you really are.

Author: Frances Quinn
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Published: 02/25/2025
Pages: 384
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.60lbs
Size: 8.00h x 5.10w x 1.00d
ISBN: 9780593973035


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 02/01/2025
Booklist 02/01/2025 pg. 48
BookPage 02/01/2025

About the Author
Frances Quinn grew up in London and studied English at King's College, Cambridge. She became a journalist, writing for magazines including Prima, Good Housekeeping, She, Woman's Weekly, and Ideal Home, and later branched out into copywriting. Upon winning a place on the Curtis Brown Creative novel writing course, she started work on her first novel, The Smallest Man. Her second novel is That Bonesetter Woman and The Lost Passenger is her third. She lives in Brighton, England, with her husband and three Tonkinese cats.