First off, if you don't read past the first line, READ THIS HEAVENLY, SUBLIME and UTTERLY GORGEOUS book!!!!!
Worth at least TWENTY stars 🌟 I am privileged to have had the opportunity to read this book via two different platforms, Pigeonhole and Netgalley.
This debut novel is a heart-warming, often very emotional, and extraordinarily funny journey of self discovery for Dot Watson, tucked away behind the counter at Transport for London's Lost Property Office, with her Dijon labels, shaeffer pen and felt uniform. Dot is lost, very lost, and it is much safer for her to live her life reuniting people with their possessions, within the familiar order and routine of her job, than to live her life out in the big wide world.
For anyone who struggles to feel comfortable in social situations, for anyone who is trapped in a snow globe of hurt, and for anyone trying to escape the guilt of the past, this will be a journey of self discovery for you too.
Never have I felt so moved by a book (except perhaps when I read Anna McPartlin's Below the Big Blue Sky, which isn't better, but on a par with) and it was an honour to discover just how Dot, through a series of encounters, adventures and a rather horrible episode, learns to be brave again.
This is a book that made me laugh, made me cry, shocked me, tore me apart emotionally and rebuilt a better version of me! The challenging topics of loss and guilt are written about with such exquisite tenderness, I found myself wanting to write down virtually every line I read in an attempt to capture the fragile beauty and never let it go.
A TOP Top read for me and one which I will treasure. I need to buy a physical copy so that I can keep it close by and use it as a guide, not for travelling, in the way that Dot collects travel guides, but a manual for my emotions, an inspirational reminder that no matter what life throws at us in terms of hardship, there is always a glimmer of hope worth reaching out for and following.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s been a while since I’ve read a book I didn’t want to put down. It isn’t fast paced but the story of Dot’s life gradually revealed in well written prose. The story starts in a Lost Property Office and shows how the various staff members regard the lost property and the owners who come to retrieve their mislaid items. Some of the descriptive passages in the book are so moving.
A lovely read.

This is one of the most moving novels I have read in a long time. It was beautifully written with some humour and also thought provoking and heart breaking paragraphs.. A story of hope, sibling rivalry, guilt and a mother's love. Dot, the main character, works at the London Transport Lost Property Office. She loves her job receiving and cataloguing the many various items that come in. Mr Appleby comes in one day asking if a holdall had been handed in.. Dot listens to his story and apologises that it hadn't come in. Dot has taken this elderly gentleman into her heart. Her mission is to reunite the bag with Mr Appleby as soon as it comes in. Like the title of the book, Dot is also lost. Her life consists of going to work, going to visit her mum in a home and then bed. Whilst trying to reunite Mr Appleby with his beloved holdalll Dot starts to find herself. Dot is a loveable character who is living with the guilt of her father's death. It is only if she is able to put her ghosts to rest that she can move forward. Praise for Helen Paris for taking me on an incredible journey of life, making me laugh and cry. Everyone jshould oin Dot on her bumpy journey and probably be able to relate to some of her tales. Congratulations Helen and wish you very success with the book.

Lost Property is the first novel by British author, Helen Paris. When she was eight years old, Dot Watson had life all planned out: “First I’ll be a librarian, read all the books on the shelves, then I’m going to learn to speak five languages and travel all over the world, and then I’ll open my detective agency and solve complex international jewel heists.”

Decades later, her job at the Transport for London’s Lost and Found Department near Baker Street Station seems far removed from those early ambitions. However, the Lost and Found is a bit like a library, items catalogued and stored: “Lost Property itself has something of the past about it, like a museum, a depository of memories, a library of loss. I think that is why I have always felt at home here”.

Dot does get to vicariously travel the world via the many travel guides left behind; and, with ten years’ experience, she knows how to employ the detective skills her father inspired to track down an item or an owner. And when she does reunite an owner with their possession, it’s immensely satisfying, so there’s that.

In her own time, Dot peruses her travel guides and visits her mother, Gail, newly resident at The Pines Care Home, compliments of worsening dementia and a fractured hip. Her bossy older sister, Philippa is making noises about selling Gail’s maisonette to cover costs, a move that will see Dot homeless.

At work, Dot has been successfully fending off advances from Neil Burrows, the obnoxious and self-important holder of the keys to the Valuables cage, but with the boss’s retirement, Neil’s promotion makes this more difficult. And, in the interests of cost covering and efficiency, Neil introduces two measures that prove unpopular with both customers and staff: a reduction in the holding period before an item is sent to auction; and an increase in the (previously nominal) holding fee.

When Mr Appleby, clearly a true gentleman, comes looking for the holdall that contains his late wife’s purse, Dot immediately understands the importance of restoring this item to its owner. “Joanie’s purse, Dad’s pipe, Mum’s record –ordinary objects, extraordinary objects, objects that contain in their bodies a memory, a moment, a trace of a life lived, a person loved. Portals that we hold in our hands, willing them to transport us back to those we have lost, if only for a moment”

By the time it is handed in, Dot finds herself going to extremes to return it, despite being jobless and virtually homeless.

Throughout the story, snippets of Dot’s life, her family, her time in Paris and her work slowly build the picture of her life, and exactly why she has foregone the career she had planned is gradually revealed. Her grief at her father’s death is apparent from the start, but her guilt, and the reason for it, and her need for her safe words (sellotape, safety pin, superglue), are less obvious.

Each chapter is headed with a Dijon (mustard-coloured) tag bearing the details of an item lost or found. “Lost: Holdall Details: Leather (golden syrup) Woman’s purse (bluey-lilac) Bulbs (tulip) Trowel Place: 73 bus.” But of course not every loss is a physical item; people and abstract concepts can also be lost.

Paris populates her tale with a cast of characters for whom the reader cannot help but care (with one notable exception), and even those initially less appealing redeem themselves by the final pages. She gives them wise words and insightful observations; and she somehow manages to include line-dancing, absinthe visions and bullying.

Her description of Gail Watson will strike a chord with many who care for elderly or demented parents with clueless siblings who don’t recognise what is important. With gorgeous prose that will have the reader laughing out loud and choking up, often on the same page, this is an accomplished debut novel.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Random House UK.

I found this book quite slow to get into, which I think that is mainly down to the protagonist, Dot. In order to enjoy reading a book I think that it is important to be able to visualise the characters. Dot was an enigma, it was difficult to work out how old age was,. The only real description of her to begin with was her felt suit that she considered to be her uniform. It was difficult to relate to her because of this in the first half of the book.
I didn't enjoy reading this book as much as I expected to, despite liking other books in similar genres.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for my ARC.

This is a book that I liked. It is essentially a story about Dot Watson, who works in the lost property department of Transport London. She catalogues, files and organised the many many items that are handed in daily. There is a good mix of items from the basic lost glove or umbrella to more personal items such as clothing, jewellery and bags.

The story is a mix of her cataloguing and keeping things in order. But it is also one about her life and things she has missed out on. She has an older sister, the smart one who has bigger aspirations for Dot than Dot herself does.

Dot is a character who I feel comes across as much older than her years. She has that old soul feel to her. The author has portrayed a woman who kind of plods along in life going through the motions and sticking to a routine. She comes across as being invisible.

This invisibility doesn't mean she is a complete loner, she does have work colleagues who she seems to get along with. In some ways, Dot is similar to the items that are forgotten about and left on a seat as the owner rushes off to their meeting, work or getting home.

Part of me really enjoyed this story, but there was something that didn't quite make it more than an "I liked this" book. It does delve into sibling rivalry, loss and also an attack on Dot.

It is a book that I would recommend, but I do feel it may be a marmite book. A mix of contemporary fiction that does border on literary fiction.

I highlighted so many phrases and sentences in this book which is always a good sign of beautiful writing and a way with words. This book is all about love and loss. Lost Property tells the story of Dot who works in TfL’s lost property office in Baker Street. She spends her days logging lost items and trying to reunite them with their owners. Dot herself is lost and carrying an enormous amount of baggage and I empathised with her many emotions; guilt, sadness, grief, despair then as she comes to terms with her past, hope and joy for her future. I thought from the cover this would be a lighthearted chick lit type read but it is so much more than that. To say I loved it is an understatement! Dot I will miss you!

Review posted on Goodreads.
Unable to post a review on Amazon.

What a delight of a book! Dot works in Lost Property for all of Transport for London and has been there six years. She has her own system and makes sure everything is properly labelled with a specific luggage tag - dijon mustard coloured not yellow! She takes pride in doing her best to reunite people with their lost possessions and gets frustrated when her colleagues do not seem to have the same dedication!
She gets annoyed with her sister Philippa, who seems to always be telling her what to do or boasting about her own life. She feels guilty about their mother who is in The Pines Nursing Home with Dementia and she believes she is responsible for their father's suicide.
Dot has a lot on her plate and Lost Property is what keeps her going. We follow Dot on her journey of hopes and dreams and life and loss and you are routing for her throughout the story!!
The books is beautifully written with brilliant descriptions of how Dot feels and what she is going through. I would definitely recommend..

With many thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this truly wonderful book.

Dot works in the Lost Property department of London Transport helping reunite lost items with their owners. She is a stickler for the rules and likes everything just so. As we learn more about Dot we find that she herself has lost something very precious to her and that there is a reason for her stringent ways.

I can’t even begin to put into words how beautifully written this book is. I sat for a good part of the last half with tears running down my face. I can’t actually remember the last time I was moved so much by a book. Dot and her story will stay with me for a long time. Helen Paris is a gifted author and I’m looking forward to the next book.

Dot works in a lost property office, appropriate as she is somewhat a lost soul herself, with not much of a life outside her work. She lives by herself in the family home, but her sister Philippa needs to sell it to pay their mother's care home fees. With her low-paid job, how will Dot afford to live elsewhere? She comes up with an ingenious, highly secret, solution, including a quest to reunite an important missing item with its owner. Helen Paris writes with a poetic turn of phrase, full of light-hearted quips, making what could be a sad story both touching and amusing. Love the chapter headings with their own lost luggage tags!

This was a wonderful, unexpected read!
I was expecting a ROM-COM style book, and there were certainly elements of this, but Paris delivers so much more. There were very funny moments, but the humour was needed, and it was provided at just the right time.
The job at Lost Property could not have been more perfect for Dot. It was fascinating to see how her story played out through the items that were handed in or searched for.
This book was utterly heartbreaking at times, Dot's relationship with her parents and sister made for very painful reading, and these have impacted Dot's life in so many ways. The guilt she feels since her father's death is palpable, and this spoke to me so much. My eldest sister passed away last year, and Dot's feelings echoed my own in so many ways.
It was a truly life-affirming read, and I have adored championing Dot and cheering her on through her journey.
Poignant and heartbreaking, I feel like I have lost a friend now I have finished the book.
The audiobook was acted brilliantly, and the narrator was perfect to portray Dot, capturing the humour and pain expertly.
Thanks to Random House UK and NetGalley for the ARCs to review.

Dot works in the Lost Property office of TfL and she has strict rules she imposed on herself - she always wears a uniform, even though it’s not required, she has at least one pen in her pocket and a handkerchief safety pinned to the inside of the jacket. The tags and forms for each lost or found item must be filled in correctly, and she gets frustrated when her colleagues don’t follow these rules to the letter.
When an elderly gentleman comes in looking for a hold-all containing his late wife’s purse, Dot is determined that she will find it and reunite him with it.
There is so much more to this story though - the back story of Dot’s dad is both moving and tragic, and hints of knock-on effects on herself, her mum and sister are very well dealt with. It’s the little touches that really made it for me, such as the detail about the hanky and the safe words that Dot uses when she feels panicked
I absolutely loved this book, it was very emotional and beautifully written. I look forward to reading more from Helen Paris.
As always, many thanks to Netgalley and Doubleday for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book in return for my honest review.

I was sent a copy of Lost Property by Helen Paris to read and review by NetGalley. What a wonderful book! Beautifully written with just the right balance of humour and emotion. Written in the first person, Dot, the protagonist is a very likeable character which meant I was totally invested in her story from the outset. Brilliantly observed, this is a journey through memories, love and loss but is such a joy to read I recommend it wholeheartedly. I will certainly be on the look out for any future publications from this very accomplished writer.

Dot Watson used to have a very different life. She lived in Paris, an interesting career ahead of her and in a loving relationship, She now works in the London transport lost propery office, a little lost herself, cataloging items and dealing with her demented mother and her annoying sister in her personal life.
Dot's life is painfully uneventful, until Mr. Appleby, a widower, comes looking for his late wife's purse. Dot is touched by his predicament and goes on a mission to locate the lost purse. What will happen to Dot if she finds it, and how will it change her life?

This is a very enjoyable, feel good novel.. Dot is an endearing character, if a little folorn, but it's easy to root for her and will her on her way to happiness. It put me in the mind of 'Eleanor Oliphant is completely fiine' - if you enjoyed that, then Dot will also steal your heart.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in return for an honest review.

Unfortunately this book didn’t wow me. I couldn’t work out the age range Dot was in from the book so I felt I couldn’t really visualise the character as well as I would have liked. The book isn’t what I expected either as I was expecting a book about a person finding themselves as they happily reunite people with their lost property, but this book was darker than I expected.
Dot works in Lost Property for TFL and Dot wants people to be reunited with their property, she genuinely cares. Unfortunately I couldn’t warm to her character though and although I felt sorry for her I didn’t really feel I liked her very much.
The storyline regarding the impact her Dad’s suicide had on her and her Mum’s dementia I felt was handled sensitively but again didn’t see that coming and I think when reading a book you feel will be uplifting it could be a shock for people.
I also felt that the way the book explored differing memories of events was well explored, how Dot felt that her Sister was doing one thing when in reality she was doing something different and that it is only in times of grief that perhaps these things surface and give you the change to say how you feel, and to allow the other person to understand their reasons for doing what they have done.
Sorry just not for me.

I really hate doing this but I had to give up on this at 55% through. I just found the whole character and life of Dot so depressing and strange, but without the charm of Eleanor Oliphant. Someone who stays overnight at any workplace, never mind a lost and found, to get drunk and hide away from her depressing life just wasn’t enjoyable to read about. I didn’t feel empathy, and the other characters I found irritating and uninteresting. Just not for me, too many sad themes and depressing situations!

This is an interesting read and beautifully written with wonderful descriptions of places and people. It is about a woman called Dot Watson. Dot had an illustrious career in front of her as an interpreter. She is living in Paris and thoroughly enjoying life when her father commits suicide for reasons which unfold as the story progresses. Dot idolised her father and is totally devastated. She leaves France and heads home blaming herself for leaving her family. She ends up living with her mother and working at the lost property office in Baker Street, London. Eventually her mother has to go to a care home because of dementia. The story begins with Dot’s routine at lost property. She is totally conscientious and fully involved with the minutiae which represents her working life. Highly respected by the rest of the staff she is happy in her job until the hateful Neil Burrows is promoted and changes the rules regarding lost property. Dot is fixated on returning a bag containing a purse belonging to the dead wife of an elderly man, John Appleby. The pursuit of finding this bag and returning it becomes a large part of the story but we realise that what Dot really needs to find is herself as she has become lost in the misery of losing her father. The book dealt with sensitive issues such as dementia, mental health and suicide very well and generally I enjoyed reading it. I wanted there to be a happy ending but I did feel that the story itself got lost from time to time and was sometimes slightly drawn out. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

Very poignant, the protagonist is also lost, not in the conventional sense, but in a million other ways without even realising it. Enjoyed, and would recommend.

Dot enjoys her job in the lost property office but her life is dull and boring, trying to cope with her mother's dementia and also the effect of her fathers suicide which changed her life. Brilliantly written, each chapter starts with either lost or found property, a totally different theme. Can events change Dot's life to a rewarding one with friends and romance?- Loved it.

Wow what a Book i read this book in a day and am still thinking about this book a week after finishing it .

This book tells the story of Dot who works in Lost Property for TFL who job it is to reunite people property to them if its found .

This book without giving any spoilers away touches on lots of different subjects

With thanks to Netgalley & the publisher's for the arc of this book in exchange for this honest option