The Finding of Martha Lost by Caroline Wallace
Genre; Contemporary
She’s been lost since she was a baby, abandoned in a suitcase on the train from Paris. Ever since, she’s waited in station lost property for someone to claim her. It’s been sixteen years, but she’s still hopeful.
In the meantime, there are mysteries to solve: secret tunnels under the station, a suitcase that may have belonged to the Beatles, the roman soldier who appears at the same time every day with his packed lunch. Not to mention the stuffed monkey that someone keeps misplacing.
But there is one mystery Martha cannot solve. And now the authorities have found out about the girl in lost property. Time is running out – if Martha can’t discover who she really is, she will lose everything…
My thoughts:
I adored this book.
Martha Lost is 16 years old and has never stepped foot outside Lime Steet Station. She’s a foundling. A phrase I’d never heard, meaning someone who has been abandoned and found by someone at birth. She believes that if she steps foot outside of Lime Street Station it will collapse in on itself.
Her world is extremely narrow and yet she is a beautiful soul.
Wallace has done an absolutely magnificent job of creating Martha and her world without making it feel twee. You want to read on, you want to know what happens to her. To her friends. And even though you know Lime Street Station couldn’t possible collapse if she set foot outside, you hold your breath, because – could it?
It’s set in the 1970’s heatwave and it’s magical, beautifully drawn and I didn’t want to put it down. I didn’t want Martha Lost’s world to end.
It’s a book I’d highly recommend if you fancy a change from all the death and destruction of the crime reads.
With thanks to the publisher, author and NetGalley for my copy. I’m thrilled to have been able to read it.
dandeliongirl01 says
Ohhh sounds intriguing!
Rebecca Bradley says
It’s fabulous!
readingwrites says
Totally agree, such a wonderful book. I love the cover as well. X
Rebecca Bradley says
It’s a beautiful cover isn’t it?!
Margot Kinberg says
What an intriguing premise, Rebecca! And I’m glad you thought the characters well done and so on. This sounds like one of those books that young people might enjoy, but that adults would, too. Very glad you thought it was so good.
Rebecca Bradley says
I do think it suits all ages because of the era it’s set it. One thing I didn’t mention was the strong Beatles theme running through it as well which does endear it to the adult readers 🙂