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A review by rbharath
Garden of Secrets by Suzanne Kelman
5.0
I was taking a break from WWII historical fiction, but well - with Suzanne Kelman’s books I would always make an exception! While all her novels I have read so far had a WWII setting, each has been very different – exploring different places, characters and situations. This is a heart-warming read, though there is not much which you cannot anticipate.
In the present time, Laura is trying to move on from a fractured relationship after she comes to know of her partner’s infidelity. She also has painful memories of a family tragedy. She has taken up the task of restoring a garden in Norfolk for friends. She accidentally discovers a small box with a message and a key under a willow tree. As she pursues this mystery, it leads her to references to Annie - a land girl who worked there and disappeared suddenly. Laura also meets with Jamie and it looks like a new relationship may be blossoming.
The story switches between another timeline during WWII in 1940 starting from the time when Russia & Germany had reached a pact, which was to break-down very soon later. Anya and Nikolai are spies sent to England to pass back information to Russia. They both have personal circumstances which force the choices they make, at least initially, on taking up this assignment.
As with her other books, the character development and writing are excellent. I loved the imagery the writing conjures, and the understated emotional play between the characters. The brief love-at-first-sight sequences between Laura and Jamie come across as contrived and silly though. A set of lovely characters and a story which moves very smoothly.
My rating: 4.5 / 5.
In the present time, Laura is trying to move on from a fractured relationship after she comes to know of her partner’s infidelity. She also has painful memories of a family tragedy. She has taken up the task of restoring a garden in Norfolk for friends. She accidentally discovers a small box with a message and a key under a willow tree. As she pursues this mystery, it leads her to references to Annie - a land girl who worked there and disappeared suddenly. Laura also meets with Jamie and it looks like a new relationship may be blossoming.
The story switches between another timeline during WWII in 1940 starting from the time when Russia & Germany had reached a pact, which was to break-down very soon later. Anya and Nikolai are spies sent to England to pass back information to Russia. They both have personal circumstances which force the choices they make, at least initially, on taking up this assignment.
As with her other books, the character development and writing are excellent. I loved the imagery the writing conjures, and the understated emotional play between the characters. The brief love-at-first-sight sequences between Laura and Jamie come across as contrived and silly though. A set of lovely characters and a story which moves very smoothly.
My rating: 4.5 / 5.