It Takes One to Know One

by Isla Dewar

Charlie Gavin was abducted as a baby. He didn't know who he was or where he came from. His mission was to find himself. And when he did, he decided to spend his life finding other lost souls by opening the Be Kindly Missing Persons Bureau. Martha Walters, his assistant, has had her fifteen minutes of almost fame and failed. Now, dealing with her guilt and pain, she lives with her mum and dotes on her young daughter. Charlie appears to be a man who is a loser and dreamer, but, hey, his office is near her house, she can lie in of a morning, take her kid to school and the work isn't too heart-breaking. Or is it . . . ?

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Contemporary

406 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 5, 2018

About the author

Born in Edinburgh, Isla Dewar now lives in Fife with her husband, a cartoonist, and two sons. Her first novel, Keeping Up with Magda, published in 1995, has been followed by a string of bestsellers.

Reviews

[Albablume · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admit I'm not sure what to think of this book. It's definitely not your run of the mill romance nor mystery for that matter.

The main characters are not really loveable ones, sometimes, they're downright irritating on how they cope with their vulnerabilities and insecurities and make you want to wallop them. I suppose it makes them everyday people one should easily identify with, as opposed to perfect heroes whom we would tend to put on a pedestal and can only admire from afar.

Overall, it's a quirky enjoyable read.

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth the wait

This lovely tale is up to the usual wonderful standard of Isla Dewar. I've been waiting for a new book from her for far too long. The characters are beautifully described and her depiction of gentle and surprising everyday life is a joy.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first heard about this book when Isla Dewar appeared at the Portobello Book Festival a couple of years ago. I was naturally intrigued to hear that it was set in Portobello in a kind of private detective agency. So I was really pleased when the publishers asked if I'd be interested in reading a copy.

It Takes One to Know One features three main characters: Martha Walters, her mum Sophie and her boss Charlie Gavin. Martha is mum to young Evie and a few years back her husband literally ran off, leaving her with no idea where to find him or why he left. She moves back in to her childhood home in Portobello, where Sophie still lives. After a rather unorthodox interview, she lands a job working for Charlie who runs a missing persons agency - the 'Be Kindly Missing Persons Bureau.'

This is a gentle and very enjoyable story, with warm humour but also looks at how important ones sense of personal identity is. It is full of endearing characters, with all three of the main characters searching for something or someone, but mostly looking for themselves. The other characters - the missing or those looking for the lost - add plenty colour to the story too.

I enjoyed reading about the cases Charlie and Martha worked on and finding out the reasons why people were missing. It is set in the days before the internet so Charlie and Martha have to follow paper trails, talk to people who knew the person who is missing, and they work a lot by instinct. I was very amused by their daily ritual of buying bacon rolls from one of the local cafes - anyone on our local 'Porty People' Facebook page will understand why! I really enjoyed the local references both to Portobello and Edinburgh and, for Portobello in particular, trying to decide exactly what shop or house Isla Dewar had in mind. 

I suppose this could maybe be called a cosy mystery. It had a comforting feel to the book, a gentleness and a sense of good old fashioned civility - something we could do with more of in today's world. Having heard Isla Dewar talk at the book event I mentioned earlier, I can tell you that she is a speaker who holds her audience's attention effortlessly. This comes across well in this book, which is an enjoyable read from an accomplished storyteller. 

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! So quirky, with characters who would have me with my mouth open, gawking if I ever met them, but I’d love to try one of Sophy’s cakes and cuddle the flatulent spaniel and eavesdrop on one of Charlie and Martha’s weird conversations.

Now I’ve found Isla Dewar, I must find more of her books.

[Renita D'Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartwarming and absolutely wonderful

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely wonderful! Have always loved Isla Dewars books but this is beautifully written with a heartwarming storyline that makes you just want to keep reading.

[Karlajansenmiller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going to be missing Charlie and Martha for weeks.

[Lainey Grieve Ramsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took a wee while to get into this book, I sometimes do. I didn’t gel immediately to the characters. But once I’d become invested in it I was hooked. Martha annoyed me at times, Charlie I loved, how could you not, he was vulnerable, insecure, lacking in confidence but at the same time, strong, sensitive, caring and so open, I loved him.

I never like a review that retells the story of the book, can’t see the point. I do however want to know how well it’s been written, where it’s set, how strong the characters are, how good the story is and did the author manage to pull it all together to provide a satisfactory ending.

This book was well written, I really like Isla Dewer’s style of writing, she drew me into the setting and characters nicely. The book is authentically set in Portobello and Edinburgh. There are several detailed characters; Charlie, Martha, Sophie, Jamie, Duncan and Mhairi being the strongest all with their own tale to tell, The author developed each character throughly. I enjoyed the story and its setting along with the characters. The book did come to a realistic and satisfactory conclusion. All in all a good read.

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isla Dewar’s skill in drawing the reader into her world makes it easy to root for team Charlie and Martha. The novel’s gentle storyline, with caring at its core, fits naturally within the current trend towards up-lit fiction. Lovers of bestselling feel-good titles such as The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan or Three Things About Elsie by Joanna Cannon will enjoy its cosy feel. With Dewar in charge, the reader is in safe hands, certain that in the end all will be well.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy Isla Dewar's writing. It is some years since I last read her, but the slightly quirky and off centre chaos of her writing is heart warming, but there is enough going on to keep you wanting to go forward.
Basically this is about a group of people who are all lost, not necessarily from people, and how they are rescued by Charlie, the proprietor of the the Be Kindly "detective" agency.

[Nicki Southwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review to follow

[Susan Doherty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't find this book particularly stimulating unfortunately.

[Sónia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Não é nenhuma especialidade literária, mas "caiu" bem no momento em que o li.

Um bom livro para ler com uma manta e uma chávena de chá ao lado e que passa uma mensagem muito bonita. E foi isso que retive...

[Yerin Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tones of monologue. Strange for a thriller but enjoyable overall.

[Hilary Tesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to describe an Isla Dewar book - well, it’s not straight forward “chick lit”, nor would it fall into the category of “literary”. Her books feature imperfect characters trying to find their way through an imperfect world and handle it. This one is no exception; Charlie runs a missing person’s bureau that accepts not everyone wants to be found. He employs Martha, a single mother who lives with her cake baking mother, Sophie. All three have themselves got missing people in their lives. Charlie was abducted from his mother as a baby, Martha’s husband literally ran away from her and Sophie is long widowed but still misses her husband. A chance sighting and a particular case leads the three characters into confusion - but in a witty and snappy style. The author’s quirky writing draws you in - so much that I always think I find myself talking in the style of her characters as I read!

[Dorothy · Rating 2 out of 5]

At the beginning of this novel, we learn that Martha's husband ran off a few years ago and she dreams of finding him, so she gets a job at a Missing Persons Bureau. The owner, Charlie, has OCD and an adorable dog. As an adult, he discovered that he was abducted as a child, so that explains his desire to start the bureau.

Then nothing much happens until near the end when everything is resolved in a rather disjointed rush.

Surprisingly, I was quite happy reading the first three-quarters of the book, because it was such an easy read. I remember, at about the halfway point, looking at the book and being surprised how far I'd got. Unfortunately towards the end, I started to like Martha less and less, and I felt the plot with the wives was barely believable.

[Oana Hristea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming, this book is like sitting with a cup of tea in your hands while a cat is sleeping on your feet. You feel everything is going to be okay afterall.

The characters are all somehow flawed, and a bit unidimensional in my opinion. But don't let that get in your way. The story is simple, the writing can be quite plain, but everything is infused with warmth, compassion and humor.

This book is perfect for when you're feeling low, or you've lost your faith in life. It will take you by the hand and gently guide you towards a more wholesome perspective, of less judgement and more empathy.

I have another book by Isla Dewar lined up. With autumn and its chilly, greyish days, this will give me comfort.

[Jenny L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. Not read any Isla Dewar before, but I will look out for more of hers. Not a particularly unusual story, but just really well written and told, with some fabulous characters - both eccentric and very likeable. The only thing that was slightly odd was the era in which it was written. There is no reference to the year (that I can recall), but given it was written recently, it appears to be set in the early 1970s. Either way, a very enjoyable, heartwarming read.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

In one word - boring. This is a pleasant enough book but it takes so long to get anywhere I often went to sleep reading it. The characterisation is fine, the 'plot' is fine but it is so slow - this may suit some people but I need a reason to 'turn the page' and in this book there didn't seem to be any. Nearly gave up but persevered and the predictable ending happened anyway.

[Kitty Henning · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have given four stars here but I'm slightly miffed at this book, I don't like the ending in regards to Jamie. I thought this was the kind of book that would tie things up nicely but I feel a bit hard done by on that front, he is a stupendously horrible man yet he gets no just desserts! I liked the other characters though and the story, so I just find that the Jamie part really let it down.

[Sue Lilley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an absolute joy. The characters are so warm and quirky, I loved discovering what happened to them. It’s quite a slow burn but I was hooked before I even realised. I had to ration myself before the end as I didn’t want it to be over. Saved the last few chapters to read on the train when I was actually going to Edinburgh for the day. Loved it!

[Catarina Águas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one a lot more than I thought I would. Charlie was awesome, just all over the place, his thought process was something. Martha had a lot on her plate and she was trying to do her best, she was a good mother. All the subplots were fabulous, I loved them all. And I really liked them as a couple, they fit together, even in a strange way

[Wendy Jakob · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is what I call a "nice" book. It's easy to read, nothing bad about it but it's not a masterpiece. It provided an enjoyable interlude. Was a bit hard to follow in the middle - too many characters introduced but not detailed enough to be able to keep track of them.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book, it was light and quirky and fun, and when things started getting exciting I couldn’t put the book down. But the ‘mystery’ was disappointing and a bit far-fetched, with a too quickly wrapped up ending.

[MRS J P WELSH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming characters and a fun story line

This is the second book by Isla Dewar and both have been an enjoyable read. You feel you know the characters and wish the best outcome for them as the book progresses

[Pam Coll · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great fun. A little too long, too complicated and too many characters - but there were some delightful moments. The main characters are seriously personality-disordered but they get away with their failures in a happy way. Could make a brilliant movie.

[João Pedro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Com uma escrita diferente, acabamos por nos afeiçoar a Charlie e à sua forma de ser e de ver o mundo e queremos saber como é que a história se desenrola.
É pena que depois de tantas páginas o final seja apressado....

[June Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderfully witty, great characters, and a very enjoyable story, would recommend.

[Tilda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the characters and the quirky story of Charlie and his missing people agency. A lighthearted story to cheer the soul.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely, gentle story of 2 people finding lost loved ones. Based in Edinburgh.