ICYMI: Morton masterfully weaves together timelines, threads of family history, and long-held secrets now revealed, while her main protagonist forges a new life path.
Cassandra's beloved grandmother Nell has recently passed away, and Cassandra is reeling.
The terrible accident from a decade earlier still looms over Cassandra, and with the loss of Nell, she feels as though everything is lost. But an odd bequest in Nell's will turns everything on its head for Cassandra.
Nell has left her a book of dark fairy tales by the reclusive Victorian author Eliza Makepeace, who mysteriously disappeared in the early 1900s.
As Cassandra follows the trail Nell has laid out for her, she discovers more about her family's history, uncovers secrets, and may just find a new path for her own future.
Morton is masterful at weaving together several timelines, rich family history, intriguing discoveries, an overarching mystery, and a female protagonist who discovers she's made of stronger stuff than she knew.
The Forgotten Garden is over 500 pages long, and I was engrossed the whole way through. In many ways this felt like a Secret Garden (a book I was obsessed with as a child) for grown-ups, with intertwined, mysterious stories from 1900, 1975, and 2005 and a vivid setting, interesting characters, and enough twists to keep you guessing. This was such a great read!
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Morton is also the author of Homecoming, The Clockmaker's Daughter, The Secret Keeper, The House at Riverton, The Lake House, and The Distant Hours.