The Memory Keeper

An Uplifting Story about Friendship, Community and Second Chances

By: Abigail Johnson

Narrated by: Charlotte Worthing

Sometimes ordinary people can make an extraordinary difference . . .

Meet Gracie. At mid-life she’s fed up with her unhappy marriage and humdrum career, so when a new housing estate threatens to sever the last connection to her late father, the oak tree he planted as a child, she decides to take a stand – only, Gracie has never stood up to anyone.

When five-year-old neighbour Tilly unexpectedly bounds into her life, she shows Gracie that you shouldn’t always take no for an answer. Despite revelations of long-buried family secrets and conflicts taking root, perhaps this could be the beginning of a new chapter, one in which Gracie finally discovers her inner strength and realises that even in the face of loss, there is hope.

Full of warmth and joyful community, this is the uplifting story of one woman’s journey towards letting go of the past and creating memories worth holding onto . . .


Fans LOVE Abigail Johnson:

'It’s not often that a book can make me cry, but this one definitely did'

'Both heart-wrenching and happy a rollercoaster of emotions'

'Very moving'

'Heart-warming with some genius touches of humour'

'Really made you feel like you knew the characters. Loved it'

'The best book I have read for ages'

Critic reviews

A very real and heartwarming story about the life-changing power of friendship and found family. A complete joy. I loved it (Alexandra Potter, bestselling author of Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up)

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)

A convincing case for how much we need friendship and community to sustain us

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)

Emotional, tense and deeply moving. Abigail Johnson is able to bring both characters - and Alfred's chaotic home - to life in a wonderful way

A touching story about grief . . . and the surprising way we can make connections

This uplifting story about friendship across generations is full of compassion and tenderness

With wonderfully relatable characters, Johnson’s debut novel is a heartwarming and poignant story of loss, loneliness and finding friendship in unexpected places

You won't want this touching story to end