Beautiful and captivating read

This novel takes us to the streets of modern day Paris, Communist Prague and post-Cold War Berlin and Prague. What really drew me in is the hauntingly beautiful idea for a museum of 'broken promises' - all the items have been donated by people who have experienced great loss or betrayal through a broken promise. Items such as a ticket stubs, a wedding veil, shoes and clothes for a young child, and a black antique phone hold stories of a wealth of hidden promises. Buchan lets us glimpse the weight of the losses behind these objects: telling us little stories within the bigger story. While the love story running throughout the novel captivates us with its passion and danger, it was these little windows into a heartbreaking moments that really stole my heart. I actually could have done with more of those stories, and the story therefore meandered a bit for me after the strong, intriguing start.

All in all though, this is a beautiful and captivating read.