I started reading The Little Shop of Found Things with certain expectations, but as I proceeded, I found that it was entirely different from what I thought it would be. At times lyrical and poetic, this book was a certainly a found treasure.
The premise is simple: Xanthe and her mom, Flora, are both getting past some rough years, and have moved to a new town to open an antique (“found things”) store. Xanthe has a unique ability when it comes to found items; they “sing” to her. She gets a sense of what they meant to previous owners…a supernatural provenance, so to speak. The action really starts when Xanthe comes upon an item that affects her like nothing ever has. What follows is a plot that spans centuries. Without giving too much away, Xanthe finds herself having to balance concerns in the present while trying to solve a mystery of the past.
The author sets all of this up nicely, without being over the top about the supernatural aspects. Introducing supporting characters and their interests also bolsters the foundation of the plot. The tavern owner’s particular interest in Ley lines (for example) gives Xanthe a deeper understanding of events that influence her decisions. The feeling of “small town support” is evident in her
interactions with the townspeople, particularly the handsome mechanic, Liam. As Xanthe moves through the early 1600s and the reign of King James I, the overarching mystery is investigated, secrets are revealed and kept, and deep relationships are formed. The descriptions of this time period are detailed and accurate, especially when it comes to the Protestant/Catholic strife that was prevalent during the Tudor era.
The action of the story moved along at a nice pace and events unfolded in a very natural manner. Nothing seemed forced or false. However, I did find the ending to be a little bit abrupt. After all of the build-up, and everything that Xanthe had experienced, I would have expected a better resolution of both the historical and present time lines. As a person whose livelihood depended on found things, and whose life was certainly influenced by one, I think that Xanthe would have been more pro-active about resolving a few of the historical aspects. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it.
(The Little Shop of Found Things by Paula Brackston. Published by St. Martin’s Press. Historical Fiction,Women’s Fiction. Publication Date: Oct 16, 2018)
Review by JeAnne McAvoy