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The Book of Lost Things

the global bestseller and beloved fantasy

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The Book of Lost Things

By: John Connolly
Narrated by: Nick Rawlinson
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Once upon a time, there was a boy who lost his mother ...' As twelve-year-old David takes refuge from his grief in the myths and fairytales so beloved of his dead mother, he finds the real world and the fantasy world begin to blend. That is when bad things start to happen. That is when the Crooked Man comes. And David is violently propelled into a land populated by heroes, wolves and monsters, his quest to find the legendary Book of Lost Things.

(P)2007 ISIS Publishing Ltd©2006 Bad Dog Books Limited Fantasy Fiction Genre Fiction Horror Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction Scary Stories Science Fiction & Fantasy Heartfelt Wolf
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The Land of Lost Things By: John Connolly

Critic reviews

Here Connolly steps directly into the enchanted forest, and the journey along its twisting path is as sinister and unsettling as anything invented by the Brothers Grimm . . . Connolly's control of this material is superb; tension, terror and gallows humour make the book a gripping read. But this allegorical coming-of-age story also cleverly shows the way that traditional stories have been used to reflect the sometimes harsh concerns of our world. (Eithne Farry)
It's imaginative, funny, sad and profound - fairy tales within a fairy tale, a child's adventure, a fantasy journey; it's about growing old and has the last word on dying . . . Each re-reading still brings a sigh and a moment of reflection.
A moving fable, brilliantly imagined, about the agony of loss and the pain of young adulthood.
Connolly imagines the emotional cave-in of puberty intelligently, even perceptively
Engaging, magical, thoughtful read
A new interpretation of old fairy tales, it is imaginative and beautifully written.
This is no saccharine fairytale, but an eerie fable that's perfect for long winter nights
All stars
Most relevant
Not usually my cup of tea but gave it a chance as I’d heard about it. I think I enjoyed this book most by how the narrator brought it so alive. Incredible job. Best narration I’v come across so far on audible

Narrator was incredible

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Anyone who enjoyed fairy tales as a child will love this, and it's performed beautifully.

Wonderful stuff!

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A great book that can be shared with the kids , well the older ones anyway . Well written and well performed .

Excellent retake on the old fairytales

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I loved this story. A proper curl up by the fire and listen to someone telling you a fantastic tale type audio book.
As a Stephen King fan I was thrilled that John Connolly was also inspired by the same Browning poem that gave us King's Dark Tower series - it was great meeting g a Roland in this story.
The figure of the 'trickster' was truly frightening - all the more so as his evil was revealed.
The lesson within the story was also inspirational and strangely up lifting - the final chapter actually made me tear up.

Not a children's fairy story it's far better that.

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I've loved Fairytales since my childhood, where every book I took out from the library and read, transported me into different worlds of wonder, magic and mystery. I lived for the next book and the next and would become so engrossed in the tales, my imagination working overtime, conjuring up all the magical places and characters and leave me gasping for more. I've never really grown out of Fairytales as an adult and have returned to them in many different guises. As adult fiction, young adult fiction, supernatural, fantasy and sometimes, even delving back, into childhood stories from long ago.
This Fairytale was dark and gruesome, frightening and shocking. A grown up Fairytale with adult themes. I found it very dark and sometimes zoned out of the gloom, wishing for daylight to reappear. It did eventually in a grown up way. But it didn't leave me with that euphoric feeling of good having won over evil, that I used to feel when coming to the end of a Fairytale as a child. Have I become too old and lost my imagination or become cynical and sceptical with age. I don't really know. All I know is this book was too dark for my liking and really did scare me in places with it's graphic horror scenes. What I did enjoy was spotting all my favourite fairytales popping up throughout the book, retold and re-imagined, but still true to life and legend.

A Dark and Scary Fairytale

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