Having recently read and loved Kate Morton's latest 'The Secret Keeper', I was eager to read another one of her books. Going by reviews The Forgotten Garden seemed to be the most loved of her other titles, so I was very excited to get stuck into it. And what a treat it was - again Kate Morton has created a literary masterpiece in the historical fiction genre she has made her own.
In 1914 a young girl is found abandoned on a ship recently docked in Maryborough, Australia. The kindly wharf master takes the girl home and despite his best efforts to locate her family, he can find no trace of them. To complicate matters the young girl insists she does not know her own name or offer any kind of information about her family. Growing to love the child, the wharf master and his wife (who have battled infertility) decided to move to Brisbane and make a fresh start, unofficially adopting the young girl they name Nell.
Fast forward almost a century to 2006 and Brisbane woman Cassandra is grieving the death of her beloved grandmother Nell. Although not an affectionate or overtly loving woman, she has nurtured Cassandra through some terrible times and she wonders how she will cope without her presence in her life. It is with great shock that she learns Nell has bequested her a cottage on the wild, Cornish coast in England. Having never heard of its existence, Cassandra is plunged into a century old mystery that engulfs her life.
As is her style, Morton weaves seamlessly between past and present, using the multiple POV method to spin out the mysterious tale. As always she does this flawlessly, while also building the momentum and suspense that make The Forgotten Garden so compelling to read. Each chapter brings the reader ever closer to solving the mystery of Nell's identity, while introducing other elements that tease and intrigue without overcrowding the storyline.
The characters in the book are well rounded, the detail in time and place is spot on and the prose is delicate and beautiful. While I don't have a great knowledge of English history of the early 20th century, it certainly comes across as scrupulously authentic as does the dialogue and social customs described.
Having never especially enjoyed historical fiction before, Kate Morton's books are leading me down a new path as a reader - one I hope to explore further.
Overall a fabulous read that leaves you satisfied yet sad that the adventure is over.
This book, despite its predictability and the sometimes frustrating era jumps, pulled me in and I did a weekend readthrough. I have not done that in a LONG time.
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