The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan (first published in 2017 by Hodder & Stoughton)
Anthony is a celebrated author, but what really consumes him is his unstructured collection of found items: a decorative hair accessory, an umbrella, a puzzle piece, a button… These have inspired him to write intriguing short stories, but he has always dreamed of reuniting them with their original owners.
When Anthony passes away, he leaves this motley gathering of unrelated items to his assistant Laura with a request that at first seems impossible: return as many of the items to their original owners as possible.
The events that unfold will enrich and complete a number of people’s unfinished business. And perhaps at last lay to rest the ghost that haunts Anthony’s house and has a taste for roses and romantic old pop songs.
Through this quirky device Ruth Hogan knits her series of vignettes together with the overarching narrative of Laura’s life, as well as that of another devoted amanuensis, Eunice. A publisher’s assistant, Eunice has spent her life pining for a man she can never have.
Hogan has an eye for the bittersweet, for loves and losses, for strained family bonds and unspoken emotions. She creates relatable characters and stories that linger in the mind like the scent of roses drifting through an open window.
WATCH: Author Ruth Hogan introduces us to her book, The Keeper of Lost Things
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