Catherine O'Flynn’s warm and witty debut novel is a tender and sharply observant story about a missing young girl.

In the 1980s, Kate Meaney is busy being a junior detective. She observes goings-on and follows ‘suspects’ at the Green Oaks shopping centre and in her street, where she is friends with the newsagent’s son, Adrian. But when this curious, independent-spirited young girl disappears, Adrian falls under suspicion and is hounded from his home by the press. Then, in 2004, Adrian’s sister Lisa and security guard Kurt become entranced by the little girl they keep glimpsing on the centre’s CCTV…

Longlisted
The Man Booker Prize 2007
Published by
Tindal Street Press
Publication date
Catherine O'Flynn

Catherine O'Flynn

About the Author

Catherine O’Flynn’s What Was Lost was hailed on publication as a potent examination of the hollowness of contemporary life - something she had witnessed in her many previous jobs.
More about Catherine O'Flynn