Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #76 in Books
• Published on: 2008-06-06
• Released on: 2008-05-29
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 350 pages

Choice Magazine
'A haunting story of the search for identity...is packed with memorable characters and evocative settings. '

Daily Express
'A beautifully written and satisfying novel.'

Waterstone's Books Quarterly
'The Forgotten Garden weaves its powerful spell slowly and beautifully.'

Customer Reviews

Disappointing
Like most readers who have reviewed this - I loved The House at Riverton and couldn't wait to read Forgotten Garden. My oh my - was she paid by the page? I found that it was really drawn out - too descriptive for my tastes (I like to use my imagination and don't want the author to explain what a tree looks like - thanks!) The writing wasn't up to the same standard and I had "guessed" the answer to the "mystery" well before the end. I also found the constant hopping around from London, Brisbane, Cornwall, 1907, 1913, 1975, 2005 (where are we now?) confusing and unnecessary. Being a pedant, it also annoyed me when Cassandra said she was looking through her "grandmother's scrapbooks" (Rose's) when actually Nell was her grandmother and Rose was her GREAT grandmother - at least that's what she should have been at this point in the story. All in all - I wouldn't really recommend buying it unless you are a die-hard Morton fan.

Good old fashioned storytelling
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
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.