All That Was Lost by Alison May
Published by Legends Press on September 6, 2018
Pages: 244
Format: ARC
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Perfect for fans of Maeve BinchyIn 1967 Patience Bickersleigh is a teenager who discovers a talent for telling people what they want to hear. Fifty years later she is Patrice Leigh, a nationally celebrated medium. But cracks are forming in the carefully constructed barriers that keep her real history at bay.Leo is the journalist hired to write Patrice’s biography. Struggling to reconcile the demands of his family, his grief for his lost son, and his need to understand his own background, Leo becomes more and more frustrated at Patrice’s refusal to open up.Because behind closed doors, Patrice is hiding more than one secret. And it seems that now, her past is finally catching up with her.May thrills in this English familial mystery, adding enticing plot layers as intricate and divisive as the themes she introduces.
‘Intriguing with a cast of complex characters that keep you fascinated, this is a page-turner and surprisingly tender’ Katie FForde‘A resonant, emotional story about grief, loss and love with a complex, tragic heroine–a fake psychic reaching the end of her career. Although it’s about death, this story is never depressing, and ultimately it’s about recovery and healing’ Julie Cohen‘A beautiful and compelling story that delves into what is real, what we are willing to believe and the power of grief’ Liz Fenwick‘”All That is Lost” is a bold, beautiful thought-provoking novel, that sensitively confronts difficult themes’ Rowan Coleman‘It is a triumph. What Alison May has produced is an intimate and affecting study of loss, grief and identity that is just wonderful.’ Linda’s Book Bag‘What an interesting and unique book… a fascinating, at times heart-wrenching, look at secrets, the cost of keeping them hidden, and whether hiding them requires lies.’ Fireflies and Free Kicks
There are three main characters to All That Was Lost by Alison May: The first is Patrice Leigh who is a well-known, longstanding and celebrated medium. Then there’s Leo, who has been commissioned to write Patrice’s biography. The third is Louise whose son Kyle killed in a stabbing and she is desperate to contact him..
As implied by the book’s synopsis, the story of All That Was Lost unfolds in two time frames. As readers turn the pages, they will discover why Patrice has been lying all her life, why Leo began weaving smaller lies that evolved into huge ones, and why Louise would lie.
This is a story full of secrets as readers will learn as each of the characters’ stories are revealed. It was interesting to learn how Patience became Patrice and the secrets she’d put behind her.
Their lives intertwine as they struggle to deal with each of the grief and despair in their own situations. This was a very easy to read and gripping book to read that I would definitely recommend.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR (by the author): I’m a published commercial fiction author. I write short stories, novels and novellas. My sixth novel as Alison May, All That Was Lost, is out in autumn 2018. I won the RNA’s Elizabeth Goudge Trophy in 2012, and have been shortlisted in the RoNAs and the Love Stories Awards. I’m represented by Julia Silk (in association with MBA Literary).
I was born and raised in North Yorkshire, but now live in Worcester with one husband, no kids and no pets. There were goldfish once. That ended badly. I’ve studied History and Creative Writing, and worked as a waitress, a shop assistant, a learning adviser, an advice center manager, and a freelance trainer, before settling on ‘making up stories’ as an entirely acceptable grown-up career plan.
I’m also a qualified teacher in adult education, a member of the Society of Authors, and an experienced creative writing tutor, and I’m currently Vice-Chair of the Romantic Novelists’ Association. As a tutor, I’ve worked with authors who have gone on to be published with Head of Zeus, Bookouture, and HarperCollins, and with writers who have successfully published their work independently.
I also write as Juliet Bell, in collaboration with Janet Gover. You can connect with Ms May on social media ~
WEBSITE // FACEBOOK // TWITTER // INSTAGRAM // AMAZON
I was provided with a complimentary electronic advanced reader copy through Net Galley in exchange for my post. I was not required to post a positive review. Thank you!
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