What Was Lost

"An off-beat quirky little mystery which punches way above its weight. Set in Birmingham in the mid-eighties, adolescent loner Kate aspires to be a great detective, spending days on stake-out at her local shopping centre. The narrative then jumps 20 years, when the ghost of a little girl starts appearing in service corridors. The author's achingly astute observations on consumerism make this far more than a generic mystery and the icing on the cake is a twist in the tail which I really didn't see coming."--Marian Keyes, author of "Anybody Out There?" and "Angels"

""What Was Lost" is a delight to read--poignant, suspenseful, funny and smart. . . . [It] is a moving novel, bespeaking not only the energy and inventiveness of its author but also the power of good old realism."--Jane Smiley, "LA Times Sunday Book Review"

"The bravest and most appealing adolescent this side of "The Lovely Bones," aspiring detective Kate Meaney vanishes partway through Catherine O'Flynn's mesmerizing debut novel, "What Was Lost," . . There are many ways to feel invisible, we learn from this gentle, sharp-sighted tale of love and loneliness. And there are many ways to be found."--"O," "The Oprah Magazine"

"Engrossing. . . With a sure hand for both suspense and satire, O'Flynn is a masterful writer, and her book a delicious mash-up of "Nancy Drew" and "High Fidelity"--teary and tart in the right proportions."--"Marie Claire"

"At once moving and wickedly funny, ["What Was Lost"] is one dazzling debut."--"People" (four stars)

“"What Was Lost" is a terrific, wonderful book and I loved every page of it.”—Douglas Coupland, author of "The Gum Thief"

“An off-beat quirky little mystery which punches way above its weight. Set in Birmingham in the mid-eighties, adolescent loner Kate aspires to be a great detective, spending days on stake-out at her local shopping centre. The narrative then jumps 20 years, when the ghost of a little girl starts appearing in service corridors. The author’s achingly astute observations on consumerism make this far more than a generic mystery and the icing on the cake is a twist in the tail which I really didn’t see coming.”—Marian Keyes, author of "Anybody Out There?" and "Angels"

“"What Was Lost" is a delight to read—poignant, suspenseful, funny and smart. . . . [It] is a moving novel, bespeaking not only the energy and inventiveness of its author but also the power of good old realism.”—Jane Smiley, "LA T

""What Was Lost" is a terrific, wonderful book and I loved every page of it."--Douglas Coupland, author of "The Gum Thief"

"An off-beat quirky little mystery which punches way above its weight. Set in Birmingham in the mid-eighties, adolescent loner Kate aspires to be a great detective, spending days on stake-out at her local shopping centre. The narrative then jumps 20 years, when the ghost of a little girl starts appearing in service corridors. The author's achingly astute observations on consumerism make this far more than a generic mystery and the icing on the cake is a twist in the tail which I really didn't see coming."--Marian Keyes, author of "Anybody Out There?" and "Angels"

""What Was Lost" is a delight to read--poignant, suspenseful, funny and smart. . . . [It] is a moving novel, bespeaking not only the energy and inventiveness of its author but also the power of good old realism."--Jane Smiley, "LA Times Sunday Book Review"

"The bravest and most appealing adolescent this side of "The Lovely Bones," aspiring detective Kate Meaney vanishes partway through Catherine O'Flynn's mesmerizing debut novel, "What Was Lost." . . There are many ways to feel invisible, we learn from this gentle, sharp-sighted tale of love and loneliness. And there are many ways to be found."--"O," "The Oprah Magazine"

"Engrossing. . . With a sure hand for both suspense and satire, O'Flynn is a masterful writer, and her book a delicious mash-up of "Nancy Drew" and "High Fidelity"--teary and tart in the right proportions."--"Marie Claire"

"At once moving and wickedly funny, ["What Was Lost"] is one dazzling debut."--"People" (four stars)

"What Was Lost" is a terrific, wonderful book and I loved every page of it. "Douglas Coupland, author of The Gum Thief"

An off-beat quirky little mystery which punches way above its weight. Set in Birmingham in the mid-eighties, adolescent loner Kate aspires to be a great detective, spending days on stake-out at her local shopping centre. The narrative then jumps 20 years, when the ghost of a little girl starts appearing in service corridors. The author's achingly astute observations on consumerism make this far more than a generic mystery and the icing on the cake is a twist in the tail which I really didn't see coming. "Marian Keyes, author of Anybody Out There? and Angels"

"What Was Lost" is a delight to read--poignant, suspenseful, funny and smart. . . . [It] is a moving novel, bespeaking not only the energy and inventiveness of its author but also the power of good old realism. "Jane Smiley, LA Times Sunday Book Review"

The bravest and most appealing adolescent this side of "The Lovely Bones," aspiring detective Kate Meaney vanishes partway through Catherine O'Flynn's mesmerizing debut novel, "What Was Lost." . . There are many ways to feel invisible, we learn from this gentle, sharp-sighted tale of love and loneliness. And there are many ways to be found. "O, The Oprah Magazine"

Engrossing. . . With a sure hand for both suspense and satire, O'Flynn is a masterful writer, and her book a delicious mash-up of "Nancy Drew" and "High Fidelity"--teary and tart in the right proportions. "Marie Claire"

At once moving and wickedly funny, ["What Was Lost"] is one dazzling debut. "People (four stars)""

"What Was Lost is a terrific, wonderful book and I loved every page of it." --Douglas Coupland, author of The Gum Thief

"An off-beat quirky little mystery which punches way above its weight. Set in Birmingham in the mid-eighties, adolescent loner Kate aspires to be a great detective, spending days on stake-out at her local shopping centre. The narrative then jumps 20 years, when the ghost of a little girl starts appearing in service corridors. The author's achingly astute observations on consumerism make this far more than a generic mystery and the icing on the cake is a twist in the tail which I really didn't see coming." --Marian Keyes, author of Anybody Out There? and Angels

"What Was Lost is a delight to read--poignant, suspenseful, funny and smart. . . . [It] is a moving novel, bespeaking not only the energy and inventiveness of its author but also the power of good old realism." --Jane Smiley, LA Times Sunday Book Review

"The bravest and most appealing adolescent this side of The Lovely Bones, aspiring detective Kate Meaney vanishes partway through Catherine O'Flynn's mesmerizing debut novel, What Was Lost. . . There are many ways to feel invisible, we learn from this gentle, sharp-sighted tale of love and loneliness. And there are many ways to be found." --O, The Oprah Magazine

"Engrossing. . . With a sure hand for both suspense and satire, O'Flynn is a masterful writer, and her book a delicious mash-up of Nancy Drew and High Fidelity--teary and tart in the right proportions." --Marie Claire

"At once moving and wickedly funny, [What Was Lost] is one dazzling debut." --People (four stars)