The Colony of Lost Souls, Kelsey James
The Colony of Lost Souls, Kelsey James
List: $19.99 | Sale: $13.99
Club: $9.99

The Colony of Lost Souls

Author: Kelsey James

Narrator: Sarah Welborn

Unabridged: 10 hr 32 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 06/24/2025


Synopsis

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.

About Kelsey James

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 debut novel, The Woman in the Castello, was an Indie Next Pick and a LibraryReads selection. A graduate of Dartmouth College with a degree in creative writing and classical studies, she currently lives with her family outside New York City and can be found online at kelseyjamesauthor.com.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Heather~ Nature.books.and.coffee on July 09, 2025

This is a sisterly, fast paced historical fiction with all the Gothic vibes. I really enjoyed it! I loved the mystery, atmosphere, and suspense. Taking place in the 30’s, May and June Anderson are sisters and have always been close. June has been missing for two years, when she finally gets in touch......more

Goodreads review by Amanda on April 22, 2025

Kelsey James is one of my favorite new writers - a master of historical gothic. I enjoy all her books and was lucky enough to snag an early copy of this one. The 1930s California setting is so vivid you can almost feel the sea air on your skin. The story is packed with suspense, fascinating characte......more

Goodreads review by Kayla_Wilson on April 15, 2025

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review. For fans of historical 1930s fiction with a gothic atmosphere and a touch of the supernatural, look no further than The Colony Of Lost Souls. After missing for two years, June reaches out to her younger sister M......more

Goodreads review by Hester on February 23, 2025

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 Penn......more

Goodreads review by Heather on July 19, 2025

BOOK✢REVIEW #ad much love for my finished copy @uplitreads #partner πŸ†ƒπŸ…·πŸ…΄ πŸ…²πŸ…ΎπŸ…»πŸ…ΎπŸ…½πŸ†ˆ πŸ…ΎπŸ…΅ πŸ…»πŸ…ΎπŸ†‚πŸ†ƒ πŸ†‚πŸ…ΎπŸ†„πŸ…»πŸ†‚ I don’t know what is up with the books that UpLit has me reading - but we might have to have a chat because I don’t know if my heart can take it anymore. Haha soooooooo freaking good! Another book I devoured! A......more