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The Bookshop of Buried Pasts
Secrets, humour, love and mystery abound in this uplifting novel from the bestselling author of The Remarkable Truths of Alfie Bains.
'Sarah Clutton has written an engaging treat of a novel. An emotive mystery involving complex relationships, heartbreaking loss and deep love all expertly woven through the shelves and pages of an enchanting bookshop.' Tricia Stringer, author of The Road Trip
Phyllida Banks is adored in the tiny village of Brookbank, nestled in the Southern Highlands outside Sydney. Admired for her curiosity and wisdom, her antiquarian bookshop is the hub of the community.
So, when Phyllida is suddenly gone, leaving her granddaughter, Lottie, a letter requesting she 'Find Francis', friends and neighbours rally as Lottie grapples with her grandmother's inexplicable actions and her enigmatic past.
Uncovering a fortune of unknown origin, Lottie discovers a trail that leads to Cambridgeshire, England, and another village bookshop with eerie similarities to their own.
As the decades unravel, she stumbles upon the key to a mystery that has baffled police for fifty years. Several people have gone to great lengths to keep the past buried, and it seems Phyllida is at the heart of everything.
Step inside The Bookshop of Buried Pasts — an exhilarating tale of an abandoned boy and the woman who refused to forget him.
'Deeply moving, haunting and so richly layered, with sentences so beautiful they had me awestruck. Sarah Clutton is an enormous talent and I just know this tender story will stay with me for such a long time.' Tess Woods, author of The Venice Hotel
'This novel draws you in and doesn't let you go, long after it's over. It is a moving - sometimes heartbreaking - story of how the bonds of love transcend time and circumstance, and how the past and the present are forever intertwined.' Sophie Green, author of Lessons in Love at the Seaside Salon
384 pages, Paperback
Published April 28, 2026
About the author
Sarah Clutton
4 books120 followers Sarah Clutton is an Australian author and former lawyer who writes contemporary fiction full of drama, suspense and humour.
Her bestselling book, The Remarkable Truths of Alfie Bains is set where she spent her early years, in beautiful North West Tasmania.
Her most recent book, The Bookshop of Buried Pasts - part mystery, part exploration of family secrets - is set in a fictional version of her own beloved village and then whisks readers across to the English countryside (she also loves armchair travel).
Sarah lives with her family in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales. The region is famous for the International Cricketing Hall of Fame, being a Book Town and having a wine trail. Two of those three make her very happy.
Her bestselling book, The Remarkable Truths of Alfie Bains is set where she spent her early years, in beautiful North West Tasmania.
Her most recent book, The Bookshop of Buried Pasts - part mystery, part exploration of family secrets - is set in a fictional version of her own beloved village and then whisks readers across to the English countryside (she also loves armchair travel).
Sarah lives with her family in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales. The region is famous for the International Cricketing Hall of Fame, being a Book Town and having a wine trail. Two of those three make her very happy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
September 8, 2026
When Lottie receives a letter from her grandmother Phyllida asking her to find someone named Francis, she has no idea who he is or why her grandmother wants her to find him. As she starts looking for answers, she quickly realises there's a lot about her grandmother's life she never knew.
The book opens with an intriguing prologue, giving us our first glimpse into Phyllida's past through the perspective of the bookshop itself. It doesn't take long for the questions to start piling up, especially around the mysterious Francis and what exactly has been kept hidden for all these years.
At the heart of the story is Lottie's search to understand a side of her grandmother she knew nothing about. The letter gives her somewhere to start without handing her all the answers, and knowing how much they both enjoy a good mystery made that feel fitting.
The Southern Highlands setting was another highlight for me, with Brookbank easy to picture as this quaint little Australian country town with an almost storybook feel. It seemed like exactly the kind of place I'd love to stop in and explore, especially with its antiquarian bookshop.
The structure was probably where I struggled most. The story moves between several timelines, different characters and locations, and while none of that would usually bother me, I found myself having to stop and remember who was who, what year I was in and how everyone connected. I think a lot of that came down to the fact that I never became particularly invested in any of the characters or individual storylines. This is definitely one where you need to pay attention to the details, but because I wasn't drawn into any one part of the story, I found myself disengaging at times rather than wanting to keep track of every piece.
While this didn't quite grab me as much as I'd hoped, there was still a lot I appreciated about it. I think this was simply one of those books where the pieces worked better for me than the whole.
3.5⭐
The book opens with an intriguing prologue, giving us our first glimpse into Phyllida's past through the perspective of the bookshop itself. It doesn't take long for the questions to start piling up, especially around the mysterious Francis and what exactly has been kept hidden for all these years.
At the heart of the story is Lottie's search to understand a side of her grandmother she knew nothing about. The letter gives her somewhere to start without handing her all the answers, and knowing how much they both enjoy a good mystery made that feel fitting.
The Southern Highlands setting was another highlight for me, with Brookbank easy to picture as this quaint little Australian country town with an almost storybook feel. It seemed like exactly the kind of place I'd love to stop in and explore, especially with its antiquarian bookshop.
The structure was probably where I struggled most. The story moves between several timelines, different characters and locations, and while none of that would usually bother me, I found myself having to stop and remember who was who, what year I was in and how everyone connected. I think a lot of that came down to the fact that I never became particularly invested in any of the characters or individual storylines. This is definitely one where you need to pay attention to the details, but because I wasn't drawn into any one part of the story, I found myself disengaging at times rather than wanting to keep track of every piece.
While this didn't quite grab me as much as I'd hoped, there was still a lot I appreciated about it. I think this was simply one of those books where the pieces worked better for me than the whole.
3.5⭐
June 3, 2026
I adore books that pull at my heartstrings and draw me deeply into not only the story, but the characters themselves. A massive drawcard for me. It’s always been this way. I love the love and the binds that bind. A story set in a bookshop always feels like it was written just for me, even the name Lottie feels like whimsy personified. I felt transported straight into the heart of the Southern Highlands.
This is a layered story spanning generations, with secrets told and kept, deep intuition and a subtle otherworldly nuance. Each timeline supports the whole beautifully, weaving together a rich and immersive narrative. I adored the characters I was meant to love, finding myself thoroughly invested, even enjoying having a few not so likeable ones to stand firmly against.
The bookshop settings across the generations felt vivid and real, from the physical spaces to the quirky customers and the deep commitment of the owners. It all added to the sense of being completely wrapped up in this world.
An epilogue that truly satisfies brought everything together, and by the end the characters were firmly lodged in my heart. A wholehearted five star read. Just be sure to go in with your heart well cared for and tissues nearby.
Thank you to the author and publisher for this lovely book, I am sorry this review is so late! It became buried in the bookshelves of Suz.
❓Can you think if a book set in a bookshop, or the publishing industry
This is a layered story spanning generations, with secrets told and kept, deep intuition and a subtle otherworldly nuance. Each timeline supports the whole beautifully, weaving together a rich and immersive narrative. I adored the characters I was meant to love, finding myself thoroughly invested, even enjoying having a few not so likeable ones to stand firmly against.
The bookshop settings across the generations felt vivid and real, from the physical spaces to the quirky customers and the deep commitment of the owners. It all added to the sense of being completely wrapped up in this world.
An epilogue that truly satisfies brought everything together, and by the end the characters were firmly lodged in my heart. A wholehearted five star read. Just be sure to go in with your heart well cared for and tissues nearby.
Thank you to the author and publisher for this lovely book, I am sorry this review is so late! It became buried in the bookshelves of Suz.
❓Can you think if a book set in a bookshop, or the publishing industry
April 12, 2026
How can you resist a book with a title like The Bookshop of Buried Pasts! I always love reading a book about books and a bookstore so I was in. Add to that family secrets galore, and the gorgeous Southern Highlands setting and my weekend was all booked.
A slightly different book for me, not a crime or thriller, although you could say that there was a little of both in there. I met Sarah at. Book festival last year and it was lovely chatting with her. I was thrilled to receive an early copy of this book to read from Good Reading Magazine and Allen and Unwin.
I wasn’t expecting to get so emotionally attached to these characters. I loved Lottie and Phyillda so much. I felt for what they were both going through and all the secrets they had from each other. It was quite a roller coaster ride of laughs and tears. I love a good mystery so this was right up my alley.
Publishes on April 28th, I think this book will appeal to a wide range of readers, and I look forward to talking about it with others when it hits the shelves.
A slightly different book for me, not a crime or thriller, although you could say that there was a little of both in there. I met Sarah at. Book festival last year and it was lovely chatting with her. I was thrilled to receive an early copy of this book to read from Good Reading Magazine and Allen and Unwin.
I wasn’t expecting to get so emotionally attached to these characters. I loved Lottie and Phyillda so much. I felt for what they were both going through and all the secrets they had from each other. It was quite a roller coaster ride of laughs and tears. I love a good mystery so this was right up my alley.
Publishes on April 28th, I think this book will appeal to a wide range of readers, and I look forward to talking about it with others when it hits the shelves.
March 9, 2026
I adored The Bookshop of Buried Pasts. Love absolutely everything about it; Lottie, Phyllida, Roddy, Sienna…all people I know and love now. Big themes are all here and I was there for it! Loved the Southern Highlands setting just as much as the Cambridgeshire, loved the epic-ness of the story..as I bookselling old book loving reader I LOVED The Bookshop of Buried Pasts. Kind of wish there’d be more bookselling scenes hahaha
This is just a gorgeous read that I’m so glad to have had the early opportunity to do (thanks Allen and Unwin) I loved Alfie Bains and knew I’d loved this one, but man know I have that much longer to wait for the next Sarah Clutton…
This is just a gorgeous read that I’m so glad to have had the early opportunity to do (thanks Allen and Unwin) I loved Alfie Bains and knew I’d loved this one, but man know I have that much longer to wait for the next Sarah Clutton…
May 23, 2026
So much to love, bookshops, book lovers, mystery and beautiful relationships.
June 6, 2026
I adored this story!
Full review to follow soon
Full review to follow soon
June 8, 2026
⭐️⭐️ 2 stars
I really wanted to enjoy this book because there were aspects of it that I genuinely liked. The characters were complex and interesting, and I found myself becoming invested in several of their stories. The mystery elements and plot twists were intriguing, and I could see how all the different storylines were slowly connecting.
Unfortunately, the structure of the novel made it difficult for me to stay engaged. The story is told from multiple points of view across several different timelines, and I found the constant switching between characters challenging to follow. Just as I felt myself becoming invested in one perspective, the narrative would jump to another character or time period.
I also struggled with the non-chronological timeline. The story moves between the present day and various decades including the 1960s, 1970s, and 1990s, often jumping back and forth. Combined with the shifts between the UK and Australia, I found myself spending more time trying to orientate myself than becoming immersed in the story.
While I understand why the author chose this structure and can appreciate the ambition behind it, I personally think the story would have been easier to follow if it had been told in a more chronological order. The plot twist was interesting, but unfortunately it wasn’t enough to keep me reading.
Overall, I can see why this book would appeal to readers who enjoy multi-generational mysteries and interconnected storylines. However, the frequent shifts in perspective, timeline, and setting ultimately made it too difficult for me to stay invested, so I decided to stop reading at the halfway mark.
I really wanted to enjoy this book because there were aspects of it that I genuinely liked. The characters were complex and interesting, and I found myself becoming invested in several of their stories. The mystery elements and plot twists were intriguing, and I could see how all the different storylines were slowly connecting.
Unfortunately, the structure of the novel made it difficult for me to stay engaged. The story is told from multiple points of view across several different timelines, and I found the constant switching between characters challenging to follow. Just as I felt myself becoming invested in one perspective, the narrative would jump to another character or time period.
I also struggled with the non-chronological timeline. The story moves between the present day and various decades including the 1960s, 1970s, and 1990s, often jumping back and forth. Combined with the shifts between the UK and Australia, I found myself spending more time trying to orientate myself than becoming immersed in the story.
While I understand why the author chose this structure and can appreciate the ambition behind it, I personally think the story would have been easier to follow if it had been told in a more chronological order. The plot twist was interesting, but unfortunately it wasn’t enough to keep me reading.
Overall, I can see why this book would appeal to readers who enjoy multi-generational mysteries and interconnected storylines. However, the frequent shifts in perspective, timeline, and setting ultimately made it too difficult for me to stay invested, so I decided to stop reading at the halfway mark.
August 27, 2026
2.75 🌟🌟💫
Thank goodness that’s over! This book had so much promise, but I almost DNF’d it. I actually put it down for a week before picking it back up.
I liked the story, but it felt very flat. Despite the multiple perspectives and flashbacks, there were no real ups and downs. The story was predictable, which meant there was little tension or anticipation.
I did love the meet-cute between Roddy and Francis. It was so sweet and a lovely reminder that love can be found at any age.
Thank goodness that’s over! This book had so much promise, but I almost DNF’d it. I actually put it down for a week before picking it back up.
I liked the story, but it felt very flat. Despite the multiple perspectives and flashbacks, there were no real ups and downs. The story was predictable, which meant there was little tension or anticipation.
I did love the meet-cute between Roddy and Francis. It was so sweet and a lovely reminder that love can be found at any age.
August 22, 2026
I loved this book a beautiful story of love and loss with an ending that closed off every loose thread. Brilliant characters who you felt you grew to know. Great storyline and very well written
September 14, 2026
A sweeping family saga set in the Southern Highlands of NSW and the UK. Despite the serious aspects of this story of suicide, domestic violence and PTSD, ultimately this is an upbeat tale with mostly likeable characters. However I did find the multiple character perspectives and timeframes hard to follow at times. 3.5 stars
June 13, 2026
A cosy mystery set in the Southern Highlands of NSW and the Scottish Highlands.
Lots of fun and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
I listened to the audiobook in June 2026, as part of a Library "Book of the month"
Lots of fun and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
I listened to the audiobook in June 2026, as part of a Library "Book of the month"
April 28, 2026
Big thanks to Allen & Unwin for sending us a copy to read and review.
Sarah Clutton’s delightful book The Remarkable Truth Of Alfie Bains was a winner among many last year and for me was one of my favourites for the year.
Now there’s a new book hitting the stores today.
The Bookshop Of Buried Pasts is a family saga with a curious mystery thread.
A charming, exhilarating and enticing read with secrets and plenty of turmoil.
In the Southern Highlands outside Sydney in the small town of Brookbank, Phyllida Banks is loved by the locals.
She owns the little bookshop that is popular among the community.
But then she disappears leaving behind a letter for her granddaughter Lottie.
Inside she asking her to ‘Find Francis’.
So then begins a pursuit with friends and family, past and present and across the seas to uncover the truth.
Sarah has done it again with another welcoming and engaging narrative.
Once I got my head around everything at the beginning, it was full steam ahead with all the drama and family dynamics.
With much emotion, a bunch of varied characters, a tender plot and diverse secrets, readers get an entertaining read.
Sarah Clutton’s delightful book The Remarkable Truth Of Alfie Bains was a winner among many last year and for me was one of my favourites for the year.
Now there’s a new book hitting the stores today.
The Bookshop Of Buried Pasts is a family saga with a curious mystery thread.
A charming, exhilarating and enticing read with secrets and plenty of turmoil.
In the Southern Highlands outside Sydney in the small town of Brookbank, Phyllida Banks is loved by the locals.
She owns the little bookshop that is popular among the community.
But then she disappears leaving behind a letter for her granddaughter Lottie.
Inside she asking her to ‘Find Francis’.
So then begins a pursuit with friends and family, past and present and across the seas to uncover the truth.
Sarah has done it again with another welcoming and engaging narrative.
Once I got my head around everything at the beginning, it was full steam ahead with all the drama and family dynamics.
With much emotion, a bunch of varied characters, a tender plot and diverse secrets, readers get an entertaining read.
May 18, 2026
The Bookshop of Buried Pasts by Sarah Clutton is the Australian author's second book and I very much enjoyed her first
The Remarkable Truths of Alfie Bains ,
giving it a rare 4.5 star rating. I confess I didn't love this quite as much as her debut (I'm a sucker for a child narrator - ie. Alfie) but I enjoyed it a lot. She delivers the perfect measure of bittersweet sadness and hope. It's themed around families - those you're born into and those you find along the way and it offers a reminder of the lengths we go to, in order to protect those we love and hold dear.
When 80yr old Phyllida decides to take her life, her one regret is that she won't reunite with Francis. The problem for those left behind is that no one knows who Francis is... which takes her granddaughter and the friend of her long-dead son on a journey into a past they know nothing about.
I was certainly intrigued by Phyllida's story here, but in some ways the strength of this book is its characters. We don't spend much time with Phyllida in the present but she's a delight. I loved Lottie and Roddy. We also meet Sienna, the teenage daughter of another of David and Roddy's childhood besties. Sienna's the quintessential self-absorbed teenager but offered a different path by Roddy and Lottie.
Relationships also underpin this. We learn Phyllida has been Lottie's mother figure, as her relationships with her own mother (Miriam) is fractious. And Dorothea 'mothered' the children of her friend after her death. I also appreciated the intergenerational cycles of people (often women) stepping up when it mattered.
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
When 80yr old Phyllida decides to take her life, her one regret is that she won't reunite with Francis. The problem for those left behind is that no one knows who Francis is... which takes her granddaughter and the friend of her long-dead son on a journey into a past they know nothing about.
I was certainly intrigued by Phyllida's story here, but in some ways the strength of this book is its characters. We don't spend much time with Phyllida in the present but she's a delight. I loved Lottie and Roddy. We also meet Sienna, the teenage daughter of another of David and Roddy's childhood besties. Sienna's the quintessential self-absorbed teenager but offered a different path by Roddy and Lottie.
Relationships also underpin this. We learn Phyllida has been Lottie's mother figure, as her relationships with her own mother (Miriam) is fractious. And Dorothea 'mothered' the children of her friend after her death. I also appreciated the intergenerational cycles of people (often women) stepping up when it mattered.
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
June 13, 2026
The Bookshop of Buried Pasts is a contemporary mystery and family saga set between rural Australia and England.
Phyllida Banks is the beloved owner of an antiquarian bookshop in the small village of Brookbank in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales. When she suddenly disappears from her community’s life, she leaves her granddaughter, Lottie, with a cryptic instruction: “Find Francis.”
Lottie begins investigating her grandmother’s hidden past and discovers that Phyllida possessed an unexplained fortune and had kept many secrets for decades. Her search leads from Australia to Cambridgeshire, England, where she finds another village bookshop that seems strangely connected to her grandmother’s story.
As the narrative moves between different decades and locations, long-buried family secrets emerge. The mystery involves an abandoned boy named Francis, unresolved events from fifty years earlier, and people who have spent decades concealing the truth. Through letters, memories, and clues hidden among old books, Lottie uncovers a story of loss, sacrifice, friendship, and enduring love.
It’s all about :
* Family secrets and hidden histories
* The power of books and bookshops as keepers of memories
* Love that transcends generations
* Forgiveness and redemption
* The lasting impact of choices made in the past
The overall impression is that : The novel combines a cozy bookshop setting with a multi-generational mystery. It is less a thriller than an emotional journey about family, belonging, and uncovering truths that have been hidden for decades. Readers who enjoy novels such as The Lost Bookshop or other bookshop-centered mysteries are likely to appreciate its blend of suspense, warmth, and historical secrets. I would give the book 4 stars.
Dr. Javed Rasheed
Phyllida Banks is the beloved owner of an antiquarian bookshop in the small village of Brookbank in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales. When she suddenly disappears from her community’s life, she leaves her granddaughter, Lottie, with a cryptic instruction: “Find Francis.”
Lottie begins investigating her grandmother’s hidden past and discovers that Phyllida possessed an unexplained fortune and had kept many secrets for decades. Her search leads from Australia to Cambridgeshire, England, where she finds another village bookshop that seems strangely connected to her grandmother’s story.
As the narrative moves between different decades and locations, long-buried family secrets emerge. The mystery involves an abandoned boy named Francis, unresolved events from fifty years earlier, and people who have spent decades concealing the truth. Through letters, memories, and clues hidden among old books, Lottie uncovers a story of loss, sacrifice, friendship, and enduring love.
It’s all about :
* Family secrets and hidden histories
* The power of books and bookshops as keepers of memories
* Love that transcends generations
* Forgiveness and redemption
* The lasting impact of choices made in the past
The overall impression is that : The novel combines a cozy bookshop setting with a multi-generational mystery. It is less a thriller than an emotional journey about family, belonging, and uncovering truths that have been hidden for decades. Readers who enjoy novels such as The Lost Bookshop or other bookshop-centered mysteries are likely to appreciate its blend of suspense, warmth, and historical secrets. I would give the book 4 stars.
Dr. Javed Rasheed
June 5, 2026
3.5*
The Bookshop of Buried Pasts, is a mystery that spans decades and continents. Phyllida lives in Brookbank, a cosy town in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, where she runs an antiquarian bookstore. The book opens with intrigue as Phyllida leaves a cryptic note for her granddaughter, Lottie, containing a simple but daunting directive: “Find Francis.” This single request propels Lottie, alongside an engaging cast of local characters, onto a historical hunt that bridges the present day with 1960s Cambridgeshire, England, eventually leading to a mirrored village bookshop and a fifty-year-old cold case.
Clutton balances the warm, comforting atmosphere of small-town life with this family drama incorporating the themes of generational trauma, devastating loss, and deep-seated secrets. The mystery slowly unravels, alternating between Lottie’s frantic modern-day search, diary entries, and the memories of past figures like Dorothea, a woman fiercely protective of vulnerable children. This narrative structure allows the reader to piece together the truth right alongside Lottie.
The pacing varies and the range of different timelines and character threads require the reader to pay attention. The characters are engaging, particularly the bond between Lottie and her grandmother. The Bookshop of Buried Pasts is solid contemporary Australian fiction, with a reminder of the lengths to which people will go to protect the ones they love. It is a recommended read for anyone who appreciates intelligent family dramas, atmospheric settings, and a satisfyingly mystery.
The Bookshop of Buried Pasts, is a mystery that spans decades and continents. Phyllida lives in Brookbank, a cosy town in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, where she runs an antiquarian bookstore. The book opens with intrigue as Phyllida leaves a cryptic note for her granddaughter, Lottie, containing a simple but daunting directive: “Find Francis.” This single request propels Lottie, alongside an engaging cast of local characters, onto a historical hunt that bridges the present day with 1960s Cambridgeshire, England, eventually leading to a mirrored village bookshop and a fifty-year-old cold case.
Clutton balances the warm, comforting atmosphere of small-town life with this family drama incorporating the themes of generational trauma, devastating loss, and deep-seated secrets. The mystery slowly unravels, alternating between Lottie’s frantic modern-day search, diary entries, and the memories of past figures like Dorothea, a woman fiercely protective of vulnerable children. This narrative structure allows the reader to piece together the truth right alongside Lottie.
The pacing varies and the range of different timelines and character threads require the reader to pay attention. The characters are engaging, particularly the bond between Lottie and her grandmother. The Bookshop of Buried Pasts is solid contemporary Australian fiction, with a reminder of the lengths to which people will go to protect the ones they love. It is a recommended read for anyone who appreciates intelligent family dramas, atmospheric settings, and a satisfyingly mystery.
May 14, 2026
The Bookshop of Buried Pasts follows Sarah Clutton’s very sweet book The Remarkable Truths of Alfie Bains which I enjoyed last year.
This book continues the theme of families linked between Australia and the UK. Phyllida Banks owns and runs a popular second-hand bookshop in a town in the Southern Highlands. She has lived here for decades, and her granddaughter Lottie has recently returned to town with a broken heart. Phyllida is a woman with many secrets and when she has a medical incident, she leaves Lottie a mysterious note which askes her to find Francis. Who is Francis and how is he connected to Phyllida? This clue sets Lottie, along with a few friends and neighbours, on a trail which leads to an unsolved murder and kidnapping in England. The story jumps between timelines - fifty years ago in England and to current times in Australia. Of course there is a mysterious bookshop in both locations.
The Bookshop of Buried Pasts does what is says on the tin. It’s a cosy, comforting read about family secrets all set in amongst bookshops. This was not a particularly thrilling mystery, but it was engaging. The love of books was a lovely theme, but the characters were perhaps a little bit overwritten for my taste and there was some convenient plot devices used. Overall though I had an enjoyable time reading it.
Thank you @allenandunwin for my #gifted copy.
This book continues the theme of families linked between Australia and the UK. Phyllida Banks owns and runs a popular second-hand bookshop in a town in the Southern Highlands. She has lived here for decades, and her granddaughter Lottie has recently returned to town with a broken heart. Phyllida is a woman with many secrets and when she has a medical incident, she leaves Lottie a mysterious note which askes her to find Francis. Who is Francis and how is he connected to Phyllida? This clue sets Lottie, along with a few friends and neighbours, on a trail which leads to an unsolved murder and kidnapping in England. The story jumps between timelines - fifty years ago in England and to current times in Australia. Of course there is a mysterious bookshop in both locations.
The Bookshop of Buried Pasts does what is says on the tin. It’s a cosy, comforting read about family secrets all set in amongst bookshops. This was not a particularly thrilling mystery, but it was engaging. The love of books was a lovely theme, but the characters were perhaps a little bit overwritten for my taste and there was some convenient plot devices used. Overall though I had an enjoyable time reading it.
Thank you @allenandunwin for my #gifted copy.
May 23, 2026
A beautifully layered story weaving together family secrets, buried histories, and the quiet magic of books across continents and generations. Moving between past and present, we follow Lottie and Phyllida - two women shaped by the expectations of their eras, both pushing against the status quo while the ghosts of the past linger close behind. With touches of myth and references to the Morrigan threaded through the narrative, the story carries an almost dreamlike quality.
I absolutely love a familial, cross-continental story that jumps between timelines, and this one delivered exactly that. The magical undertones added something special without overwhelming the heart of the story. Both Lottie and Phyllida felt wonderfully human - especially Phyllida, whose past never quite loosens its grip.
Tragic, bittersweet, and full of longing, but with as hopeful an ending as a story like this could offer. A lovely read for fans of historical fiction with a touch of myth and mystery.
I absolutely love a familial, cross-continental story that jumps between timelines, and this one delivered exactly that. The magical undertones added something special without overwhelming the heart of the story. Both Lottie and Phyllida felt wonderfully human - especially Phyllida, whose past never quite loosens its grip.
Tragic, bittersweet, and full of longing, but with as hopeful an ending as a story like this could offer. A lovely read for fans of historical fiction with a touch of myth and mystery.
May 27, 2026
In the quiet town of Brookbank, Phyllida’s beautiful bookshop is the heart and centre piece of the community.
But when Phyllida disappears, her fiercely independent granddaughter Lottie takes charge of the bookshop and finds a letter asking ‘Find Francis’
Who is Francis? And why does Phyllida want to find Francis? This charges Lottie with a plan uncover the truth. Working with neighbours and friends, Lottie sets out to piece together all the clues.
We are taken on a journey to the past in England, while weaving between present times in Australia and a mysterious bookshop in both timelines
Oh how I loved this so much, I couldn’t put it down! I loved the mystery and family secrets, unsure how everything would unravel, I was glued to the page until the last sentence
I was so excited to see Sarah had a follow up book to her wonderful 2025 release ‘The Remarkable Truths of Alfie Bains’ 🥰
And The Bookshop of Buried Pasts delivers ten fold! It is a wonderful, heartwarming story of love and family
Phyllida, Lottie, Sienna, Roddy, are beautiful characters who complement each other and the story wonderfully. While it did take me a while to place everyone, once I did, I enjoyed the character growth with each chapter. And can’t forget the gorgeous bookshop has such a homely and special feel to it
Thank you so much Allen and Unwin for my gifted copy 🫶
But when Phyllida disappears, her fiercely independent granddaughter Lottie takes charge of the bookshop and finds a letter asking ‘Find Francis’
Who is Francis? And why does Phyllida want to find Francis? This charges Lottie with a plan uncover the truth. Working with neighbours and friends, Lottie sets out to piece together all the clues.
We are taken on a journey to the past in England, while weaving between present times in Australia and a mysterious bookshop in both timelines
Oh how I loved this so much, I couldn’t put it down! I loved the mystery and family secrets, unsure how everything would unravel, I was glued to the page until the last sentence
I was so excited to see Sarah had a follow up book to her wonderful 2025 release ‘The Remarkable Truths of Alfie Bains’ 🥰
And The Bookshop of Buried Pasts delivers ten fold! It is a wonderful, heartwarming story of love and family
Phyllida, Lottie, Sienna, Roddy, are beautiful characters who complement each other and the story wonderfully. While it did take me a while to place everyone, once I did, I enjoyed the character growth with each chapter. And can’t forget the gorgeous bookshop has such a homely and special feel to it
Thank you so much Allen and Unwin for my gifted copy 🫶
July 9, 2026
This is a generous four stars from me (really more like a 3.75). I had trouble for the first half of the book connecting the dots and working out who was who. Once everything started coming together, though, I found myself much more invested and really enjoyed the rest of it.
Was it predictable? Absolutely. Was it still a good read? Yes, particularly if you enjoy multiple timelines, different points of view and gradually uncovering family secrets.
Would I recommend it? To the right reader, definitely. Especially if you’re a Kate Morton fan or simply love stories where the bookshop is almost a character in its own right.
Was it predictable? Absolutely. Was it still a good read? Yes, particularly if you enjoy multiple timelines, different points of view and gradually uncovering family secrets.
Would I recommend it? To the right reader, definitely. Especially if you’re a Kate Morton fan or simply love stories where the bookshop is almost a character in its own right.
April 2, 2026
This was emotional and mysterious, and the slow start was worth the wait. However, the slow start meant that I did struggle to get into this. I thought the opening chapter was great, but I quickly got lost and forgot who was who. In saying that, when I did catch up, and the mystery begun to unfold, I couldn’t put this it down.
The characters were engaging and it was beautifully written, with particular attention to detail around the setting. The Southern Highlands is an atmospheric place and I think Sarah Clutton did a great job at capturing this.
I recommend The Bookshop of Buried Pasts for lovers of low stakes mysteries, and emotional reads.
Thank you so much Net Galley and Allen & Unwin for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The characters were engaging and it was beautifully written, with particular attention to detail around the setting. The Southern Highlands is an atmospheric place and I think Sarah Clutton did a great job at capturing this.
I recommend The Bookshop of Buried Pasts for lovers of low stakes mysteries, and emotional reads.
Thank you so much Net Galley and Allen & Unwin for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 31, 2026
Phyllida Banks, an antiquarian bookshop owner near Sydney is much loved but takes close family and friends by surprise by attempting to end her life. Her granddaughter is left with instructions to "Find Francis" but who is this mystery person. What is the story behind Phyllida's early years when she lived in England. A good read, though a tad disconcerting at times with the constant jumping back and forth to different times and locations. Great cover and some delightful characters.
July 8, 2026
3.5 rounded up
This book was a bit of a surprise and not really my usual reading/genre.
Told from multiple perspectives over various time periods and across two continents this was a nice/feelgood read - a mystery, secrets and lies, romance and two book stores. Perhaps just what I needed after some recent tough reads. I read it in two sittings.
This book was a bit of a surprise and not really my usual reading/genre.
Told from multiple perspectives over various time periods and across two continents this was a nice/feelgood read - a mystery, secrets and lies, romance and two book stores. Perhaps just what I needed after some recent tough reads. I read it in two sittings.
May 7, 2026
Two bookshops, one in England and one in the NSW southern highlands, separated by distance and time, but linked by secrets. Beautifully written story about family, the choices we make, the people we leave behind, and how the past will always catch up to you.
July 25, 2026
Brilliant
August 14, 2026
Kate Morton vibes for sure
May 11, 2026
This is a book about hidden pasts, family connections and dreams of a better life for our loved ones.
The Morrigan an Irish death harbinger appears a number of times throughout the book.
It's the story of two/three strong women.
It is well worth the read.
The Morrigan an Irish death harbinger appears a number of times throughout the book.
It's the story of two/three strong women.
It is well worth the read.
August 1, 2026
I really enjoyed this story
August 27, 2026
A story about the past and the present. The past gradually shows itself as the story progesses. An excellent read - happy and sad parts that all come together in the end.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I love Sarah Clutton's books and I think The Bookshop of Buried Pasts is her best novel yet. Like her last book Alfie it is beautiful, funny and hopeful but this book takes the mystery and drama to a deeper more dramatic level!
The novel contains another cast of flawed, funny and loveable individuals. From the sassy and clever to casually cruel to the heartbreakingly vulnerable - the characters are rendered with such humour, whimsy and realism that you cannot help but hold your breath that they find they reap the outcomes/redemption they deserve. Though the narrative touches on trauma and heartbreak, Sarah has such a lovely light touch and manages to thread charm, humour and wisdom through every page.
Finally it is a beautiful, funny and ultimately hopeful exploration of what it means to find purpose and love amidst the ghosts of the past.
The novel contains another cast of flawed, funny and loveable individuals. From the sassy and clever to casually cruel to the heartbreakingly vulnerable - the characters are rendered with such humour, whimsy and realism that you cannot help but hold your breath that they find they reap the outcomes/redemption they deserve. Though the narrative touches on trauma and heartbreak, Sarah has such a lovely light touch and manages to thread charm, humour and wisdom through every page.
Finally it is a beautiful, funny and ultimately hopeful exploration of what it means to find purpose and love amidst the ghosts of the past.
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