It is the 1980s, and Kate Meaney is a serious-minded and curious young girl - who spends her time with her toy monkey acting out the role of a junior detective. She notes goings-on at the Green Oaks shopping centre and in her street, particularly the newsagent's where she is friends with the owner's son Adrian. When she disappears, Adrian falls under suspicion and is hounded by the press.

It's 2004 and thirty-something Lisa is at work in a cut-price record store, tearing her hair out at customers' bizarre requests and the even more bizarre behaviour of her colleagues. While at home, the futility of her relationship is slowly becoming apparent. Over shared fishpaste sandwiches, she strikes up a friendship with security guard Kurt - and, following CCTV glimpses of Kate, they become entranced by the lost little girl and her connections with the strange history of Green Oaks itself.

I loved this! I found this book so entertaining. Young Kate was such a great little character - I loved the extracts from her notebook, sorry her Detective notebook & showing the way that a child can misinterpret the actions of an adult. Even the tedium working in a record store was brought to life with characters & actions that I am sure we can all recognise from places we've worked.

Funny, quirky yet realistic characters, a mystery to solve....& a ghost thrown in too - a wonderful & amusing read :o)

Reserved for my 21st Century Award Winners & Shortlisters Bookbox aka "Prize" bookbox - less of a mouthfull!
Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction Best Book (nominee)
Costa Book Awards Best First Novel
The Man Booker Prize Best Novel (nominee)

Added to my "PRIZE WINNERS" Bookbox

Taken from Plum-crazy's "Prize Winners" Book Box, as my TBR is huge it may take me a while to get to this.

Like Plum-crazy and for the same reasons I really enjoyed this book. I did feel a little sad at the end, I won't give any spoilers as to why.

This is now on its way to Canada by surface mail. It was chosen from the Women in Fiction VBB, hope you enjoy it as much as I did :-)

Arrived quickly by surface mail. Thank you for sending. I look forward to reading this.

I loved it too. Young Kate is such a brilliant character. The first part of the book is written particularly well. I was a bit sad that the rest of the book was told only from the perspectives of the adults, it's not that it was not good. The plotting and characterization were great. I just loved the first part so much and wanted more. This is one of those wonderful discoveries through bookcrossing.

Congratulations. You have won the Book and Bookmark sweepstakes. Happy reading!

Woohoo, it took a while, but you'll be relieved to know it has finally arrived, along with it's friend and all the other goodies. Thanks so much mcsar, this looks like a good read :)