Customer Reviews: Read 82 more reviews...
 Good old fashioned storytelling October 7, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I must admit that I was attracted to this book as it mentioned Richard and Judy's Bookclub. Not that I read all they recommend but they are usually worth a look. Then I found out that it was the author's previous book that was referred to "The House at Riverton" so I read that first.
It was good, but for me this one is better. It is set in Australia and Cornwall in the past and present. It starts with a puzzle and a rather heart rending one at that. A four year old girl is left on a steamer heading to Australia in 1912, apparently abandoned and unnoticed by the authorities. Who would do such a thing, and why?
There follows a well written multi layered story that untangles the complexities of the girls life. We see Edwardian society from the viewpoint of the rich and the poor. In the present day we see the girls granddaughter coming to terms with her true heritage. A fine mystery that keeps you guessing.
It is a wonderful adventure, reminding me of Daphne du Maurier and even the Famous Five, but in spirit only.
Thoroughly recommended.
 Not bad but a bit long-winded October 5, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I, like many others who reviewed this book, read and really enjoyed 'The House at Riverton'. This book was also good, up to about two-thirds of the way through. It then became a bit laborious when the answer to the mystery became predictable. The skipping back and forth between time zones was O.K. at first but then became confusing. Nevertheless, not a bad read but expected better after the author's first book.
 Dull, derivative, souless and unsatisfactory October 1, 2008
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
A dull read, probably good for a dull day. The plot is straight from Mills & Boon. Little characterisation - people are either good or very bad. A long book which could have been edited to half its length without loss. Each chapter covers a specific time and place - 1900, 1913, 1975, 2005 - but in each chapter there is no sense of time or place. The characters behave the same and use the same vocabulary regardless of era.
It does try to be a modern classic but sadly fails.
Don't bother.
Hard to put down.. September 28, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
As soon as I saw the back of the book I knew I had to read the book!
It was so hard to put down once I'd started reading it.
There were so many surprises in it. Just when you thought you'd worked it out, there was another twist to the story.
I will definitely be buying her other book.
Magical Mystery. September 26, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I found this to be a highly readable book. Kate Morton writes in such a way that it is easy to stay connected to the book. Many books tend to make me drift but this one kept me with it.
My only difficulty was the change of time within the book. Every chapter is either in the present or the past of either Nell, the main character, Eliza, the authoress, or Nell's daughter who discovers the truth behind the mystery of Nell's childhood in Cornwall. But, I became used to this format and in the end I felt it had actually been a good way to write it as it added to the mystery.
I generally find it difficult to read books if they are written to a formula but this one didn't feel like that. Her writing style also is lovely to read, nearly poetic but not overdone. I loved too the way the story interweaved with the Authoress's fairy tales. Clues all!
All in all I would highly recommend it. In fact, on the strength of it, I might just read her previous one too!
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