I don't usually read Literary Fiction books but I did really enjoy this one. I loved the dysfunctional family trope, I think it is one that is relatable for so many people. It felt a bit bleak at times but the story was really moving.

This is beautifully written. The writing is so lyrical. The characterisation is wonderful. It is very emotional. The ending was perfect.

I have read and and enjoyed another book by Tish Delaney which made me want to read this.

The book is part a life history of Lindy (Belinda) McCready and part her family's past and present. I can tell that it is well written with a rolling narrative that is easy to follow. However the word that comes to mind whilst reading it is "Driech". I know i have strayed from the Irish to the Scottish vernacular but can think of no more adequate word to describe the Setting , characters or narrative of this book or the way it made me feel whilst reading it. For the most part I just wanted to be done. quite why anyone would want to read a book that is so doom laden is beyond me. The hate that spiraled throughout this book could perhaps be said to be due to art of the storyteller and her ability to create this atmosphere. For me that hate just lodged in me and meant that I took little else from the book

Not one to send you into a soothing sleep

Unfortunately I really did not connect with this book and despite numerous attempts, I have had to mark as dnf.

I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It had a perfect blend of elements that captivated my attention and stirred my emotions. The dark humor was especially impressive and added a unique twist to the story. The heartbreak it evoked was also quite poignant, and it made me reflect on the impact of a specific period in Irish history. Overall, I found this book to be an excellent read that was both thought-provoking and entertaining.

This was so breathtaking !
I honestly cannot recommend highly enough, I was captivated from the first page to the last.
Thank you so much to the author and publishers for this wonderful read

Well written and a well delineated plot, a novel in a long line of family drama novels so for me it had few surprises, but a good way to pass the time.

The download date was unfortunately missed, I would be happy to re-review if it became available again. I have awarded stars for the book cover and description as they both appeal to me. I would be more than happy to re-read and review if a download becomes available. If you would like me to re-review please feel free to contact me at thesecretbookreview@gmail.com or via social media The_secret_bookreview (Instagram) or Secret_bookblog (Twitter). Thank you.

This book is grim, devastating and brutal but also beautiful and heart warming in its own way.
The behaviour of the grandad is shocking and made me feel so angry but the women show strength they shouldn’t have to show.
Beautiful writing.

I loved Tish Delaney's last book: Before My Actual Heart Breaks. Similarly to her previous novel, there is an Irish woman at the centre of the story. I loved Lindy Morris who has been described as an 'unlikely heroine' which I agree with. It's a great read because she writes writes so beautifully.

DNF - I couldn't get into this story though the premise had sounded so promising & the cover art so lovely. I'm sure there are ample readers out there who will love this book.

I absolutely adored this book. It was darkly comical, heartwrenching and thought provoking, a vignette of a particular time in Irish history and it's repercussions. It was darkly comical

⭐️ 4 ⭐️

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC, in exchange for an honest, unbiased review..

Oh how I loved the story of Lindy Morris and her ‘freaky deaky’ smile.

I really enjoyed Before My Actual Breaks by Tish Delaney so I was very excited to read The Saint of Lost Things — I wasn’t disappointed.

Beautifully written by Delaney — her prose is lyrical, almost poetic and a total joy to read. The characterisation is wonderful and I had a vivid image of Lindy and her supporting cast in my mind’s eye.

The Saint of Lost Things is an emotive read and I certainly shed the odd tear, but I also laughed out loud at the dark humour that flows throughout. The ending was the cherry on the cake for me — perfect!

A memorable book — Lindy isn’t a character I’ll forget in a hurry.

Although I tried over and over again to read this book, I simply could not connect to the writing and for that reason it fell flat for me, That being said, I would recommend reading this book because the premise itself was quite intriguing and someone else’s taste in prose might differ from mine.

This was an intriguing book. Set in rural Northern Ireland, Lindy is trapped in a life that makes her miserable and feel oppressed. Ruled by her Grandfather from whom she can not escape this is far from a happy, joyful or light read. Yet the writing style and mysteries as they unravel keep you reading on. This is definitely a book that makes you explore the past and the present day, to appreciate the freedoms we have now and reflect on where society can still further change.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Tish Delaney writes so beautifully, it's impossible not to be swept up into her prose. Just like in her previous book, Delaney tells the story of a Northern Irish woman who overcomes significant obstacles of misogyny, pregnancy outside of wedlock, domestic violence and mental health issues to finally triumph. Delaney sucks you into the story by drip-feeding the family history, and Lindy is a fascinating narrator as she often seems to be completely unreliable. An instant classic.

This was a quiet, moving, funny book that I savoured from start to finish. You’ll laugh and cry in equal measure, but I guarantee you won’t be bored.

I did enjoy Tish Delaney’s first book so I was intrigued to see if I would enjoy the second book also. This was a bleak, and sometimes tense dysfunctional family novel. I found the grandfather and, at times, the aunt incredibly cruel, and it was frustrating how trapped Lindy was through no fault of her own. However, overall, it was an enjoyable read.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy of this book to read.

I had previously enjoyed 'Before my heart actually breaks' by the same author so knew I was probably going to enjoy this before I turned a page. And so it turned out.

Tish Delaney is superb at depicting those quiet corners of rural Ireland, and I mean the highest praise possible when I mention Donal Ryan's recent ' The queen of dirt island', which also features generations of women living in a house of 'unfulfilled dreams and secrets.'

Lindy lives with her Auntie Bell in deepest darkest Tyrone, up near the border with Donegal. The book is narrated by Lindy, and she is supposed to be grateful to her Granda Morris for tolerating them at the edge of his land.

Like Mary Rattigan from the book previously mentioned, Lindy uses humour and is full of some great 'spakes' that kept me smiling throughout. But along with the dark humour there are issues such as abandonment and abuse, with the Catholic Church looming in the background.

At times depressing, for me the humour kept it afloat. I loved the character development and Tish is a writer of great talent. I look forward to what she does next.

As bleak and dour as the shack in Carnsore to which Lindy and Aunt Bell have been exiled by the cruel Granda Morris, The Saint of Lost Things is a meditation on the depths of dysfunction, generational trauma, and secret keeping that haunt families left to their own devices. The book, though set in contemporary Northern Ireland, feels out of time - the story could just as well have happened at nearly any point in the last 200 years. I would issue a content warning for self harm, suicidal ideation, and domestic violence. Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for access to this digital ARC.