As a young woman, Laurel witnesses a shocking crime, even more shocking is that it is her mother who commits it. She keeps what she seen to herself and escapes her home and becomes a well-known actress. During a birthday party for her mother, Laurel begins investigating her mother's past and soon discovers a dark secret her mother kept all these years. The story shifts to Dorothy's life as she lives through World War II as she meets Vivian and James by chance. Their stories become one, and intertwine with Laurel's until the secret is revealed, one that would change how Laurel views her mother.I had read another novel by Kate Morton The Forgotten Garden and i fell in love with it, but this one I had a hard time getting into. It took me a little longer to read this one because i kept putting it down every so often after getting bored. The concept I found to be interesting, but for some reason I couldn't get into it. Morton has a beautiful way of writing and masterfully crafts her words into an exquisite story, this is way I fell in love with The Forgotten Garden. This book had a different quality of mystery to it. It was another story about heritage and learning who one is, but I think Morton might have taken too long to reveal the truth behind who Dorothy's past.
The order that everything happens is interesting as is that the story keeps switching from Dorothy to Laurel. It gives us more insight into Laurel as she discovers more about her mother or rather tries to figure out her mother's past. It is hard for the reader to be able to pinpoint how this story will end, and that might be one of the things that redeemed this book for me. I know there are people who have enjoyed Morton's work and love this book, but i admit that it did not engage me as much as other books have done nor as much as Forgotten Garden did.
Will I recommend this novel to others? Yes, because I know there are people who would enjoy reading it. As for a rating, I give it a 3.5 out of 5. Pick it up and see what you think about it.
