The Keeper of Lost Things: A Novel
Written by Ruth Hogan
Narrated by Jane Collingwood and Sandra Duncan
4/5
()
About this audiobook
A charming, clever, and quietly moving debut novel of of endless possibilities and joyful discoveries that explores the promises we make and break, losing and finding ourselves, the objects that hold magic and meaning for our lives, and the surprising connections that bind us.
Lime green plastic flower-shaped hair bobbles—Found, on the playing field, Derrywood Park, 2nd September.
Bone china cup and saucer—
Found, on a bench in Riveria Public Gardens, 31st October.Anthony Peardew is the keeper of lost things. Forty years ago, he carelessly lost a keepsake from his beloved fiancée, Therese. That very same day, she died unexpectedly. Brokenhearted, Anthony sought consolation in rescuing lost objects—the things others have dropped, misplaced, or accidently left behind—and writing stories about them. Now, in the twilight of his life, Anthony worries that he has not fully discharged his duty to reconcile all the lost things with their owners. As the end nears, he bequeaths his secret life’s mission to his unsuspecting assistant, Laura, leaving her his house and and all its lost treasures, including an irritable ghost.
Recovering from a bad divorce, Laura, in some ways, is one of Anthony’s lost things. But when the lonely woman moves into his mansion, her life begins to change. She finds a new friend in the neighbor’s quirky daughter, Sunshine, and a welcome distraction in Freddy, the rugged gardener. As the dark cloud engulfing her lifts, Laura, accompanied by her new companions, sets out to realize Anthony’s last wish: reuniting his cherished lost objects with their owners.
Long ago, Eunice found a trinket on the London pavement and kept it through the years. Now, with her own end drawing near, she has lost something precious—a tragic twist of fate that forces her to break a promise she once made.
As the Keeper of Lost Objects, Laura holds the key to Anthony and Eunice’s redemption. But can she unlock the past and make the connections that will lay their spirits to rest?
Full of character, wit, and wisdom, The Keeper of Lost Things is heartwarming tale that will enchant fans of The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, Garden Spells, Mrs Queen Takes the Train, and The Silver Linings Playbook.
Ruth Hogan
Ruth Hogan is the author of several bestselling novels, including The Keeper of Lost Things. She lives north of London in a chaotic Victorian house with her husband and a much-loved pack of rescue dogs.
More audiobooks from Ruth Hogan
The Moon, the Stars, and Madame Burova: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Queenie Malone's Paradise Hotel: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Phoenix Ballroom: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related to The Keeper of Lost Things
Related audiobooks
The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Lost and Found Bookshop: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Three Wishes: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Reading List: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Nest Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Nothing to See Here Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Dutch House: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Book of Lost Names Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Ten Thousand Saints Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Women in the Castle Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Remarkably Bright Creatures: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The People We Keep Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Paris Library: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Little Bee: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Strange Journey of Alice Pendelbury Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Cloud Cuckoo Land: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Where the Forest Meets the Stars Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Anxious People: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Miniaturist: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Commonwealth Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Last Romantics: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Story of Edgar Sawtelle Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Lost Apothecary: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Lily and the Octopus Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Exiles: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Beautiful Ruins: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Literary Fiction For You
Demon Copperhead: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Remarkably Bright Creatures: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Tom Lake: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Alchemist Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Covenant of Water Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Picture of Dorian Gray: Classic Tales Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5All the Light We Cannot See: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Poisonwood Bible Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Yellowface: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Measure: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Bell Jar Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Stardust Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Man Called Ove: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Lost Bookshop Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Cloud Cuckoo Land: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Their Eyes Were Watching God Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Nothing to See Here Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Future Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Ocean at the End of the Lane: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Road Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Dutch House: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Art of Racing in the Rain Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The One Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Beneath a Scarlet Sky: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Flowers for Algernon Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Ministry of Time: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Stardust: The Gift Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Blood Meridian: Or the Evening Redness in the West Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Norse Mythology Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for The Keeper of Lost Things
1,478 ratings121 reviews
What our readers think
Readers find this title to be a lovely tale, creative, inspiring, smart, and witty. The story is beautifully written and the characters are charming. The book seamlessly interweaves multiple stories and keeps readers engaged. It has drama, romance, suspense, and a touch of the supernatural. The premise of lost items and their significance is thought-provoking. Overall, it is a delightful, heartwarming, and emotional read that exceeds expectations. The narration is outstanding and the book leaves a lasting impression. It is a unique and cleverly written story that is highly recommended.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Anthony has long collected 'lost' things, carefully labelled with where and when they were found. Laura becomes his assistant, but doesn't discover the lost things until after his death. It becomes her responsibility to try to reunite them with their owner - ably assisted by Sunshine and Freddy.Interwoven with this, rather confusingly and tenuously, is the story of Eunice and Bomber.This is an OK story, but with a strange premise, and even stranger development of the story and an obvious ending.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A curious story that presents flawed characters trying to find their path and a unique connection to lost items. Each found item has a storyline. Bittersweet and kept me wondering how the threads would come together. Well done!
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5It has all the emotions - sad, tragic, drama, funny and my favourite, hopeful.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5An easy read without much excitement or real stakes. The stories behind each of the lost items are overdone. Thanks to the character, Sunshine, the book has some memorable passages. Otherwise, pretty forgettable.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Charming, comfortable read.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This is the third book by Ruth Hogan that I have listened to, and so far, it is my favorite. Heartwarming, interesting characters, engaging story line, and very well narrated.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Gosh. 4 stars, bc it's a very good, very well-written, version of the type of book it is.... But honestly, i don't know how to express the two competing reviews that i feel for this story. It's exactly like the dispute between the two publishing houses in the book itself. (How meta!) Part of me was hooked, engaged, and listened right thru to the very end. On the team of Bruce, who says that readers don't want to have to think complicated thoughts... the clever tale with its creative, well-crafted plot and mostly endearing characters was like the lovely cup of tea. Lots of fun film references and rescued dogs. Clearly this author loves dogs. Sweet and satisfying. andddd
On the team of B&E, who relished complexity and truth- telling, the other part of me rolled my eyes quite frequently at the bright primary colors of the palette of rather clichéd story lines, including the soupy romantic "lost love" at the heart of the book (the film "Love Story" from the 70s comes to mind... i cried buckets over it *when i was 13*) -- and surfacey, almost blithe, side treatment of quite a few actually horrifiying situations. It's really a mixed bag. I think it's very British pop lit in a way that i didn't quite jive with. I lost my dad to dementia too, and wasnt allowed to speak at the funeral either... and it feels cheap to find that subject matter as an emo wrenching, but somehow humorous, plot turn in a book that's mostly young adult fluff. So I guess this just isn't a good *genre* fit for me... really more of a cat person! I still very much prefer Virginia Woolf &c, though this book was like a perfectly lovely date I'll remember fondly, with someone who's clearly really nice and smart and engagingly fun, and "it could never work for us" because of an impossible cultural divide. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This mysterious story captivated my attention with its colorful descriptive words and its excellently woven tale, which brought everything to a climax in a very unexpected way. If you like beginnings and endings that bring new beginnings, you will enjoy this tale of lost, found, death, life, faith, redemption, and love.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I loved the idea of this book. It was slow at times, but it really made me think about random things I’ve found or seen. I love the idea that everything, no matter how small has a story. I think that’s such an important thing to know.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Fantastic story. Many little stories come together in a very charming manner.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I loved this from the first page to the last. It exceeded all my expectations and is a lovely read.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5beautiful absolutely stunning has got to be one of the best books on my shelf
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Sweet book, an easy listen and felt like a little time machine. Great narrator.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book absolutely spoke to my soul I love it!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Adorable , quirky and fun novel with the right amount of “spirit” that kept me entertained throughout!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Delightful,romantic,funny, intriguing and beautifully written.I highly recommended this book. Now I will listen to another by Ms.Hogan!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Loved this book..and the narration was absolutely outstanding great book
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Excellent story!! Unique and cleverly written. I enjoyed every bit of it and will be recommending it to friends and my book clubs.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5What a great story and storytelling. The characters were great and the premise unique. It was good beginning to end.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I was a bit confused at first but now I love it, it did the thing where it comes around back at the end and had a incredible ending. A truly good story
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Without a doubt the most charming and daffy book I've ever read. It has very British humour so maybe not for everyone, but it had me guffawing out loud on trains and in other public places. It's also a ghost story and a romance set in the past and the present, all woven together with a hefty dose of imagination. I miss the characters already.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I really enjoyed this book. It was very interesting and hard to stop listening to. The reader of the book did a very good job. Enjoyed bothe very much
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Everything! A lovely tale! Creative, inspiring, smart, and witty!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Beautifully written and read! I‘m only sorry I‘ve already finished it!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The reading was beautifully executed and the story was charming!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5What a story. Witty funny and genuine drama of so many lives
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Beautiful writing. Beautiful story. Loved every minute. Very heartwarming. If you need a pick me up, read this book.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Absolutely lovely!!!!!! It makes you laugh, cry, sight in melancholy and hope. This book is definitely one TO KEEP!
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I enjoyed the characters and how they intertwined. Also makes me think a little more about “lost things”. Even a lost puzzle piece might mean something to someone.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This was a lovely story and I really enjoyed each minute of it!