What Was Lost
Catherine O'Flynn
‘What Was Lost is a beautifully structured and entirely believable ghost story about discovering small, precious things in lonely, large places. This funny, insightful story about the alienation of bewildered souls in public spaces speaks volumes about our obsessions about gain, and our fear of loss. In the end, it is what is found that brings this book to its redemptive conclusion. This is a wonderful debut voice.’
Alice Pung
The 1980s. Kate Meaney – with her ‘Top Secret’ notebook and Mickey her toy monkey – is busy being a junior detective. She observes goings-on and follows ‘suspects’ at the newly opened Green Oaks shopping centre and in her street, where she is friends with the newsagent’s son, Adrian. But when this curious, independent-spirited young girl disappears, Adrian falls under suspicion. Then, in 2004, Adrian’s sister Lisa – stuck in a going-nowhere relationship – is working as a deputy manager at Your Music, a cut-price record store. Every day she witnesses the bizarre behaviour of her customers and colleagues. But together with security guard Kurt, she becomes entranced by the little girl they keep glimpsing on the centre’s CCTV. As their after-hours friendship intensifies, they investigate how these sightings might be connected to the unsettling history of Green Oaks itself.
Reviews
‘Hugely compelling and inventive, it pulls the rug from under your feet from the very first page — O'Flynn reveals her clues tantalisingly in this poignant story of love and loss.’
Judges comments, Costa Book Awards
‘This debut novel, nominated for the Man Booker Prize, is part mystery, part ghost story, and altogether wonderful … Heartbreaking, hilarious and immensely rewarding.’
Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
» All reviews for this title‘It’s hard to believe that this is a first novel. O'Flynn writes with the assured confidence of a veteran, and her book is funny and profound, intriguing and emotionally satisfying.’
Alison Pressley, Good Reading
