Lost Property - Helen Paris

 

Description

Dot Watson has lost her way.

Twelve years ago her life veered off course, and the guilt over what happened still haunts her. Before then she was living in Paris, forging an exciting career; now her time is spent visiting her mother's care home, fielding interfering calls from her sister and working at the London Transport Lost Property office, diligently cataloguing items as misplaced as herself.

But when elderly Mr Appleby arrives in search of his late wife's purse, his grief stirs something in Dot. Determined to help, she sets off on a mission - one that could start to heal Dot's own loss and let her find where she belongs once more...

Review

Strong trigger warning - scenes of attempted suicide, suicide, dementia, sexual assault

This book wasn't quite what I was expecting. Whilst a lovely read in places, it is also very, very dark in a lot of others. I listened to the audio version of this book.

Dot works in lost property at TFL and is, shall we say, a little uptight in her role. She's fastidious, a stickler for the rules and even wears her own felt uniform, even though one isn't required in the job. At first I thought she was small minded and had no life experience. How wrong I was. She'd had a life, but she'd lost it.

Once Dot began the trail after Mr Appleby's purse I did like the hunt she went on, not only for the purse but for the people Dot and her family members once were. The narrator was brilliant with wonderful accented voices for the different characters. The book touches on so many important life choices and experiences and was richly written with evocative phrases. 

I refer to the trigger warnings, and that it may at times be a little too realistic for some to cope with. Although Dot goes to some dark places along the way ultimately the book has a good and satisfying ending. 

I did enjoy this book. I'm giving it 4 out of 5 stars. My thanks to netgalley for the audio book to review.