The Secret Collector

De: Abigail Johnson

Narrado por: Tom Allenby

'Wonderfully drawn characters you really root for . . . a delightfully uplifting story' - Mike Gayle, author of All the Lonely People

When an elderly eccentric collector and a troubled teen become each other's only hope of getting their lives back on track, what can possibly go wrong?

Alfred is an elderly widower who uses antiques and collectibles to fill the hole in his heart left by his late wife. Kian is a lost teen who has been let down by the care system and finds it difficult staying on the straight and narrow.

After Kian throws a brick through Alfred's window, the shock sends Alfred to hospital and a social worker to his home, where his hoarding becomes impossible to ignore.

Begrudgingly, and at the request of the authorities, they both agree to enrol Kian on a restorative justice programme, helping to make Alfred’s home liveable again. The only problem: Alfred doesn't want to throw any of his treasures away, and he certainly doesn’t want Kian for company.

What unfolds is a surprising and delightful journey of two characters who help each other more than they ever could have anticipated and, along the way, form the unlikeliest of friendships.

An uplifting and warm story about friendship across generations, the power of community and finding hope where it had been lost. Perfect for fans of Sally Page’s The Keeper of Stories and Evie Woods's The Lost Bookshop.

'A complete joy' - Alexandra Potter, bestselling author of Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up

'Full of compassion, warmth and insight' - Laura Barnett, author of The Versions of Us

©2025 Abigail Johnson (P)2025 Macmillan Publishers International Limited

Reseñas de la Crítica

A lovely, beautifully executed novel, full of compassion, warmth and insight. An immersive, uplifting read for these troubled times (Laura Barnett, author of The Versions of Us)

With wonderfully drawn characters you really root for and plenty of twists and turns, The Secret Collector is a delightfully uplifting story about hope, redemption and the transforming power of friendship (Mike Gayle, author of All the Lonely People)

This is a treasure of a story. Told with humour and heart, the writing is so beautifully skilful that it appears effortless. I loved Alfred and Kian, loved their dynamic, and was genuinely moved by the growing bond between them. A must-read (Fiza Saeed McLynn, author of The Midnight Carousel)