All That Was Lost
'A page-turner and surprisingly tender' Katie FForde
by Alison May
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Pub Date 6 Sep 2018 | Archive Date 9 Oct 2018
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Description
In 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.
‘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
Advance Praise
‘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
‘All That is Lost is a bold, beautiful thought-provoking novel, that sensitively confronts difficult themes’ Rowan Coleman
'A beautiful and compelling story that delves into what is real, what we are willing to believe and the power of grief' Liz Fenwick
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9781787198746 |
| PRICE | A$8.99 (AUD) |
| PAGES | 288 |
Featured Reviews
Rhoda B, Reviewer
All That Was Lost is an exploration of loss and grief and the lies that we have to tell ourselves to get through the days afterwards. There is a running theme of untruths - Patience learns to lie and slowly discovers about the lies that keep wheels turning in her family, Patrice's whole life is a lie, Leo lies in tiny ways at first, Louise's life revolves around the untrue belief. Running alongside is the thread about loss.
The characters are vividly drawn and their grief, and in one case, mental illness is described so realistically that at one point I was practically shouting at Louise not to misinterpret something. Alison May captures the stifling nature of being an adolescence in a northern sea side town perfectly.
This book is very different to Alison May's other novels. It's not a romance. Whilst it's not a jolly book, but it is deeply moving. It was compelling enough to keep me reading until 2 o'clock in the morning. I really enjoyed it.
Jayne H, Reviewer
Who is the real Patrice Leigh and what is her true story? How far will people go to speak to their dead loved ones? What a rollercoaster! I found it difficult to put this book down as I lived the story along with the characters. It made me question what is real, what we portray to the world and what we keep hidden. We are all living an internal and an external life and they are not always the same. The book examines the complex subjects of belief, grief and how these impact on relationships. Thought provoking five star read.
Amanda G, Reviewer
I love when you read a description and you are cynical whether it’s the book for you, then you start the story and you are blown away and completely in its spell!!!
Patrice is a well known medium who hosts evenings where people pay for her to speak to their deceased relatives.
Leo has been commissioned to write her book but she is reluctant to talk about her past and Leo has a secret of his own.
Louise has recently lost her son Kyle and is not coping, she hopes she will be able to communicate with him through Patrice.
This book is full of secrets and deals with grief and despair. I am very cynical of psychics and was hoping Patrice would be the real deal. It was interesting to read about her past and why she became a psychic.
A very easy gripping book to read that I would definitely recommend.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
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