Secrets, humour, love and mystery abound in this uplifting novel from the bestselling author of The Remarkable Truths of Alfie Bains.
Phyllida Banks has long been the heart of the tiny village of Brookbank in the Southern Highlands outside Sydney. Known for her curiosity and wisdom, her shadowy antiquarian bookshop, and her role in the village garden club, she is adored by all.
So, when Phyllida suddenly slips away, leaving her granddaughter, Lottie, only a letter and a request to ‘find Francis’, the community is left reeling—and Lottie is left with far more than grief.
Set to inherit a fortune of unknown origin, Lottie uncovers a trail that leads to a centuries-old manor house in Cambridgeshire, England, and a forgotten second bookshop that is central to the mystery left unsolved for fifty years.
It soon becomes clear that several people have gone to great lengths to keep the past buried—and that dear Phyllida is where everything begins and ends. Spanning continents and decades, The Bookshop of Buried Pasts is the story of two bookshops, an abandoned boy and a woman who refused to forget him.
(5/5)
Between the beautiful covers of this book, is a slow burn tale of family secrets, intrigue and the ties that bind us.
A beautifully written story that shows us that the past and present are entwined in ways that are beyond our control and understanding at times
(4/5)
What a fantastic read! From the first page I was transported into the lives of a fascinating and relatable menagerie of characters connected across continents by unpredictable circumstances and fateful decisions. The central character Phyllida, owner of a bookshop in the southern Highlands of NSW, unsuccessfully tries to end her life and leaves a note and request for her granddaughter, Lottie to discover, unravel and resolve her past.
With the help of friends and family, Lottie sets out to unlock the real story of Phyllida Banks and her son and Lottie’s father, David. They discover an untold story and, in the process, understand the ways we grow through grief and reshape ourselves.
I loved the layers of this story and how it weaved between settings, times and perspectives to provide a beautiful book about motherhood, family and the importance of fighting for truth and what is right. Everyone has a bookshop of buried pasts!
(2.5/5)
The Bookshop of Buried Pasts is a warm, engaging mystery that blends small‑town charm with long‑hidden secrets. When beloved bookshop owner Phyllida Banks unexpectedly fades away, her granddaughter Lottie is left with a cryptic letter that leads her from the Southern Highlands to a mirrored village in England. As Lottie uncovers a decades‑old mystery, Phyllida’s past slowly unravels and Lottie is left to make sense of the life and hardship her grandmother has faced throughout the years.
This book was challenging to begin with. There were multiple characters introduced and it wasn’t until half way through the book that they could be pieced together, and the story started to fall into place. Being written over multiple decades, through the eyes of different characters, did not lend itself to an easy read. It felt somewhat tiresome to keep track of who was who and the character point of view in each chapter.
Aside from this, The Bookshop of Buried Pasts was an enjoyable read. I would recommend it to anyone who likes multigenerational family mysteries with a bookish theme.
(5/5)
Love, secrets, mystery and heartbreak, this book had it all. Set between the 60’s, 70’s, 90’s and present time, with chapters devoted to each person or era, this book flowed smoothly. It was a pleasure to step into the pages and feel like I was spending time with family and their foibles, with the exception of one particular obnoxious individual. The twist was wrenching as was the fallout.
The book is set between Cambridgeshire and the Southern Highlands and also has interesting glimpses into Celtic mythology. The humour, warmth and mystery made this book hard to put down. I loved it.
(5/5)
Loved this book. Such a layered tale that draws you in from the first chapter.
Lovers of books and bookshops especially [and who isn’t] will enjoy the mystery of Phyllida’s interesting life and the mysterious English connection.
A great read!
(3/5)
The Bookshop of Buried Pasts is at its best when it evokes the charm of the Southern Highlands. The cosy bookshop, small‑town rhythms and gentle tone create a lovely sense of place, and Sarah Clutton captures that atmosphere with ease. The premise – a family mystery centred on an old bookshop and long‑buried secrets – sets up an inviting, comforting read.
I didn’t always connect deeply with the characters, and some of the relationship threads felt a little hard to hold onto. The light folklore elements may appeal to readers who enjoy a touch of mysticism, though they weren’t quite my preference. Even so, there’s plenty of warmth here, and readers who enjoy small‑town mysteries and bookshop‑set stories will likely find much to enjoy. For me, it was a pleasant three‑star read.
(4/5)
The story opens with Phyllida, a bookshop owner from a fictional town in the Southern Highlands preparing to take her own life. As the story unfolds, we discover the terrible secrets and trauma that have led her to this point. The narrative switches between characters and various decades as the mystery of Phyllida’s past are revealed.
I struggled at first with the changing timelines of this novel but after the first few chapters I got the hang of things and then became engrossed with the characters and the story.
I loved the Southern Highlands setting and as I have visited this area many times, I could picture places vividly and enjoyed engaging with an area I know so well.
The characters are beautifully written and as the story unfolds we discover that all have secrets and some are carrying a great deal of trauma.
This story was funny, sad and confronting all at the same time yet the author dealt with some fairly heavy issues in a sensitive and compassionate way.
I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it.
(4/5)
For lovers of the delightful Alfie Bains of Sarah’s previous novel, this book brings more of the same warmth as well as intrigue!
Initially I was drawn to this book because of its setting in an antiquarian bookshop in the Southern Highlands of NSW, with links to a similar bookstore in Cambridgeshire, England. And then the prologue, with its rich language and narrated by the Bookstore itself, brought a smile as I anticipated the possible stories such a shop would hold!
The chapters were short and easy to read, each told from one character’s viewpoint. They crossed between settings, as well as time periods – each chapter tantalising the reader with another clue as to Phyllida’s Buried Pasts, and the identity of the mysterious Francis, whom she urges her granddaughter Lottie to find.
The author employs beautiful language and imagery, often using references to books, e.g. “She, the girl, is the spine of the story” and “trees straight out of an Enid Blyton novel”. The cast of characters, though quirky and likeable, is perhaps too lengthy, as I sometimes grappled to recall where some fitted into the saga.
A worthwhile read to be sure.