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The Keeper of Lost Things

By: Ruth Hogan
Narrated by: Jane Collingwood, Sandra Duncan
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Publisher's Summary

Winner of the Richard and Judy autumn book club 2017.

One of the Mail on Sunday's 'Best books for the beach this summer'

Meet the Keeper of Lost Things.... 

Once a celebrated author of short stories now in his twilight years, Anthony Peardew has spent half his life collecting lost objects, trying to atone for a promise broken many years before.

Realising he is running out of time, he leaves his house and all its lost treasures to his assistant Laura, the one person he can trust to fulfil his legacy and reunite the thousands of objects with their rightful owners.

But the final wishes of the Keeper of Lost Things have unforeseen repercussions which trigger a most serendipitous series of encounters....

And if you loved The Keeper of Lost Things, don't miss Ruth Hogan's second novel The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes, which is out now.

©2017 Ruth Hogan (P)2017 John Murray Press

Critic Reviews

"One of the most charming novels either of us has read. Don't lose it. Keep it." (Richard & Judy

"The first book I read in 2017 - and if another as good comes along in the next 12 months, I'll eat my special gold reviewing spectacles." (Daily Mail)

"Captures perfectly and heartbreakingly the small moments on which a life can turn." (Kirsty Wark, author of The Legacy of Elizabeth Pringle.

What listeners say about The Keeper of Lost Things

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Simply perfect

I want a cup of the lovely tea made by Sunshine! It’s delicious from start to end & already on my top ten list - thank you so much for sharing such a lovely book with us all.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Contemporary Fairytale

This contemporary fairytale, with its cast of appealingly imperfect characters, is quietly enjoyable.
The gentle narrator's voice draws the listener into a journey through interwoven lives to a fitting conclusion.
Reminded me of 'Love Actually' and 'Four Weddings and a Funeral'.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Couldn't Stop Listening

Loved every minute of this beautiful story... I was so invested in the characters that I couldn't help but shed a tear when it ended.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great novel, poorrecording quality

I really enjoyed this very clever and multilayered story. it was a comforting read that never felt boring. Unfortnately you could often hear the readers swallow or make 'mouth noisea' which are very normal but personally gross to listen to. I found that distracting.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Was enjoying the story but it took a turn

Unfortunately this story weaved in the occult and supernatural themes, which was not mentioned in the book description. For some reason audible did not give me an option to return the book so my only option now is to delete it from my device. What a shame as I was enjoying the story until these themes were introduced.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Good premise falls flat

The story was enjoyable, but…
I have to agree with other listeners, the end happens abruptly with only one of the storylines resolved, the other is left hanging with no resolution. Perhaps the author envisaged us “imagining” a predictable ending, which is a bit presumptuous and, well, predictable and dull.
I didn’t appreciate the many multitudes of references to being “old” by the female protagonist, who was what 35, 37? That irked me a lot! And then not so subtle references to Eunice, in her 60’s being old, make up your mind, is a woman in her 30’s or 60’s old? In my career in health, neither are old!! I felt there was a very ageist theme running through the story which I did not appreciate at all. We recently had a seminar at work on how not to employ ageist prejudices in the workplace, perhaps the author needs to attend one. It’s not as if women have enough to concern themselves with that we need to be told we’re old too, when in actual fact we’re not!
And then the supernatural themes, were they really necessary?
Also the characters could have been developed much more, like who was Freddie, apart from a gardener, who once had a fiancée and an IT firm? Who was Eunice? Who were any of them really? Boomers sister??
I’m going to stop here because obviously it wasn’t as enjoyable as I thought it was, and it took me a couple of weeks to get through such a short audiobook with podcasts in between so it obviously didn’t hold me enthralled and I needed breaks from it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautifully read and great story

loved it! A great story line with the intertwining of the little stories within. highly recommend

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Jo
  • 24-04-2023

Started off great but it lost me

The little stories within the story were just beautiful and I thought that’s what the story would deliver but sadly, it deteriorated into a cliched plot line of middle-aged love. This part was completely unnecessary.

It felt like a book of two parts. I’d have given the first part five stars but wouldn’t have bothered with the rest of the story.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Nice story

I didn’t like the way it ended abruptly and left a few things unresolved. The story was entertaining enough.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story

Lovely story beautifully read. I loved the intertwining of the characters and their lives. Thanks

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