HER FATHER’S MYSTERIOUS INVENTION… A 1920s COLD CASE… CAN ALEX FOLLOW THE DOTS TO SOLVE IT?
It’s 1998, and Alex Martin’s life is falling apart. She’s fast approaching the big 3-0, with her dreams of making it as an artist in shreds. Her handsome housemate Antony’s moving on to better things while she’s stuck in a dead-end job, touch-typing for a living like a 1950s pool secretary.
Then, one grey winter morning, Alex inherits a mysterious invention from her late father that changes everything. The Finding Machine solves mysteries. But the biggest mystery of all lies deep within its wiring — the unsolved disappearance of a little girl, dating back seventy years. What happened to the girl, all those years ago? Who was she?
Alex is going to need Antony’s help if she’s to join the dots and solve the case. But as dark family secrets are revealed, will the Finding Machine bring them together…or push them further apart?
My Review
Going back to the late 90s when life was simpler and very few people had mobile phones is so relaxing and as this intriguing mystery adventure features two delightful main characters, The Finding Machine is a feel-good novel to escape into. Alex may be working in a dead end job and her mother may worry about her lack of an appropriate partner but actually there are good factors in her life. She enjoys living in Hertfordshire with her handsome, easy-going house-sharer, Anthony and occasionally she finds time to devote to painting.
But she is soon shaken out of her apathy by the delivery of a small machine invented by her deceased father. Apart from a few old family photos the machine has nothing but a green light. Eventually her investigations are aided by Anthony’s technical knowledge. It appears to be a Finding Machine which locates animals or people who have mysteriously disappeared. Alex is a brave investigator whose attempts to find missing cats and dogs have positive results but she tends to find herself in dangerous situations. Once she tries to find out about the little girl who disappeared 70 years earlier the story becomes more serious.
I really enjoyed following the trail with Alex, grateful that she sometimes allowed Anthony to help. It was heart-warming to see the prospect of a happy future and I wonder if she will use her father’s invention for more adventures.
The Finding Machine on Amazon UK
Lizanne lost in a good book 
Thank you Liz.
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