Happy Friday! I’m linking up with Reading is My Superpower for First Line Friday and featuring The Finder of Forgotten Things by Sarah Loudin Thomas.
Kline, WV
Late May 1932“Sulley tore a rag into strips and wrapped each coin before tucking it into the bib pocket of his overalls. Wouldn’t do to jingle as he made his way out of Kline after the sun went down.”
The Finder of Forgotten Things by Sarah Loudin Thomas
The Basics
Title: The Finder of Forgotten Things
Author: Sarah Loudin Thomas
Publication Date: December 7, 2021
Genre: Historical Fiction
My Rating: 5 Stars
From the Back Cover:
It’s one thing to say you can find what people need–it’s another to actually do it.
It’s 1932 and Sullivan Harris is on the run. An occasionally successful dowser, he promised the people of Kline, West Virginia, that he would find them water. But when wells turned up dry, he disappeared with their cash just a step or two ahead of Jeremiah Weber, who was elected to run him down.
Postmistress Gainey Floyd is suspicious of Sulley’s abilities when he appears in her town but reconsiders after new wells fill with sweet water. Rather, it’s Sulley who grows uneasy when his success makes folks wonder if he can find more than water–like forgotten items or missing people. He lights out to escape such expectations and runs smack into something worse.
Hundreds of men have found jobs digging the Hawks Nest Tunnel–but what they thought was a blessing is killing them. And no one seems to care. Here, Sulley finds something new–a desire to help. With it, he becomes an unexpected catalyst, bringing Jeremiah and Gainey together to find what even he has forgotten: hope.
My Review
The Finder of Forgotten Things tells the tragic story of the Hawks Nest Tunnel disaster with endearing characters and powerful spiritual truths. Like many other readers, I had never heard of this dangerous industrial project that killed hundreds of poor workers in the 1930s. While the true story of what happened is tragic, this was still a sweet, enjoyable book. The author did a wonderful job of presenting the historical facts while still sharing a message of hope, forgiveness, and redemption. I loved watching Jeremiah and Gainey’s unexpected romance unfold, and Sulley’s journey to finally finding a place to belong. This book is sure to please fans of historical fiction and those who enjoy rich, character-driven stories.
Now it’s your turn! Please share the first line of the book you’re reading in the comments below. Don’t forget to head to Reading is My Superpower to see what first lines other bloggers are sharing, or to share your own!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Happy Friday, Jen. Sounds like an interesting book, I had never heard of the Hawks Nest tunnel disaster either. It’s amazing what we can learn through historical fiction. https://cindysbookcorner.blogspot.com/2021/12/first-line-friday-29-lights-out.html
It’s fun to be able to learn while enjoying a good story!
I adore Sarah Loudin Thomas’s books! This one is still on my to-read list though. Looking forward to it!
I have this one on my TBR list. I’m reading Silver Lining by Pam Hillman tonight: “August 1880, Silver Lining, Kansas Maggie O’Toole’s heart sank as the ragtag band of covered wagons rolled into Silver Lining, Kansas. Or what was left of it.”
I posted the first line from Heidi Chiavaroli’s Where Memories Await: https://daniellegrandinetti.com/2021/12/10/first-line-friday-where-memories-await/
Oh Jen! I received Sarah’s book as a surprise in the mail. Anxious to start reading it.
My first line comes from Elinor by Shannon McNear:
“In the beginning was the sea.” She murmured.
I hope you enjoy it! 😊