All the Lost Things: A Novel is a haunting work of psychological suspense told through the keen, vivid voice of seven-year-old Dolly. When her father suddenly whisks her away on a promised adventure through the American South, she is thrilled to finally have his attention all to herself.
At first, the journey feels magical. Dolly and her beloved plastic horse, Clemesta, revel in milkshakes, theme parks, shopping sprees, and all the junk food usually off-limits under her mother’s watchful eye. Every pit stop offers a new thrill, and the open road seems full of possibility.
But as they drive deeper into unfamiliar territory, the mood shifts. Her father’s behaviour becomes erratic, paranoid, and increasingly unsettling. The fun drains away, replaced by a growing sense of danger, while home slips farther and farther out of reach. Dolly begins to question not only where they are going, but whether she will ever return.
This slow-burning family drama explores the fragile bonds between parent and child and the ways love, truth, and memory can collide. Readers who appreciate intimate character studies, road-trip narratives, and simmering tension will find Dolly’s journey gripping and unforgettable.