Lost Property By Helen Paris

‘Lost Property’ is the latest book by Helen Paris.

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…

If you’re looking for a book that will tug at your heartstrings, then I wholeheartedly recommend this book. A story of discovery and friendship that made for emotional and reactive reading.

The story is seen through the narrative of Dot, who works in the Lost and Found and her sole goal is to reunite people with their lost goods. But when an elderly man loses his hold-all containing the purse of his beloved wife, Dot is determined to get it back to him, Dot is just as lost in real life, with her mother in a nursing home battling dementia, her father tragically died and he was the person that Dot really connected with. Her elder sister Philippa was a typical girl and was her mother’s favourite, whilst Dot loved her father and their adventures together.

Dot is a wonderful character, she’s kind with a big heart who doesn’t like change and when her sister wants to sell the ofamily home, she’s against the idea and finds herself trying to run away from reality.

The story is beautifully written and really encapsulates the concept of lost and found. Dot is lost in her life since the sudden death of her father, a man that she idolised and having that major role model in her life has left her in limbo. Her job helps reunite people with things that are genuinely important to them and this makes for tender reading in parts. Her mother is also lost, battling dementia and forgets her daughters and instead lives in the past with her husband and happier times.

A storyline that will stay with you, long after the you reached the final page, ‘Lost Property’ is a poignant and witty debut about reconnection and rediscovering your way in life.

You can buy ‘Lost Property’ from Amazon and is available to buy from good bookshops.