I first read this book when it was originally published and one scene had stayed with me all that time. I finally read it for the second time at 57%. Such a great story, full of intrigue, mystery and family. Several timelines, stories repeated from different viewpoints but all leading to a satisfying conclusion. A worthy book to be republished 25 years after its first appearance.

This was a 5 star read for me.

Cassandra has just lost her grandma who brought her up. She has suffered following a tragic accident 10 years previously and is struggling to move forward.

A mysterious bequest from her Nan, Nell, sends her to a cottage in Cornwall to find out about her grandma’s family. Interwoven in her family story is the Authoress - Eliza Makepeace - and her book of dark Victorian fairy tales.

Finding out about her past may also allow Cassandra to move forward.

A hopeful heartwarming tale.

I was asked to review this book by NetGalley

Kate Morton - I am such a fan and have just read Distant hours also on my Easter break in the sunshine.

Kate takes the reader on a journey and the reader feels as though they are there in the story which is such a gift. Kate takes the reader to different times.

In this story the protagonist is Nell a lost child where the mysteries are connected. The story beginning in England and to Australia and back to England with over a century of secrets. There are twists and turns and when the reader thinks they know what has happened the author drip feeds more mystery and twists.

A great holiday read and as always this author is so recommended boy can she weave a tale with great writing skills.

As I started reading this arc I felt I’d read something very similar before. On doing a bit of research I discovered I had read it about 10 years ago, this is a re release. It’s an interesting story interwoven with fairies, a little odd bit good nonetheless- and obviously memorable!

Thank you to Netgalley the author and publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review

Actual rating 4.5.

Only my second novel by this author, but it firmly cements her as an auto-buy author for me - this was an epic family drama set across a hundred years and between Australia and England!

I loved the strong female characters in this story, and how well the author built the mystery around Nell’s passage to Australia - I truly didn’t work it all out until the reveal, which kept me absolutely hooked. I thought the Cornwall setting was so well described and atmospheric, although I do wish we’d had more time in Australia! Overall a fantastic read that would’ve been five stars if just a little shorter, as some parts did drag a bit.

Kate Morton's The Secret Keepers is one of my very favourite books. I recommend it to everyone regularly. I am always happy to read a Kate Morton novel and was I interested that I hadn't come across The Forgotten Garden before. It being republished was the perfect chance to rectify this.
Set in three timeframes, it is about family secrets and discovery. We first meet them just before the first world war, then in the 1970s, and then in 2005. We are taken backwards and forwards as the secrets are revealed. There are fairly tales and mazes. I was intrigued.
I sometimes find it takes me a while to get into a book - but with The Forgotten Garden I was hooked on the very first page. What an opening! I was there, with the small child being left alone on a ship to Australia...
Clever, engaging and moving. I’d recommend this novel. Book clubs will love it – so much to talk about.

"The Forgotten Garden" by Kate Morton is a truly enchanting read. It follows several generations of women, trying to find out their identity or getting to the bottom of a family mystery. Peppered with fairy tale stories, that are interwoven with chapters from the lives of the women, this is not an easy, quick read but one that is very much enjoyable. Loved the cameo of Frances Hodgson Burnett, who very soon after appearing in this story wrote "The Secret Garden". Coincidence? I think not!

This is a sprawling novel that travels through time, space and generations. It explores the nature of family, of love and lack of it, of selfishness and altruism, of privilege and hardship, of profound connections and their impacts through history. It’s lengthy, and it took me a while to become immersed in it, but once I did it was compelling. The author has a knack of giving you just enough information with the promise of more to keep everything moving in a way that is engaging. There are numerous threads and people who are all woven together, but almost invariably in such a way that you can keep track and see the complete yet complex picture gradually emerging. I would imagine that some of the clues given intentionally lead the reader to realise they probably know more than the characters at the time. There was one fundamental point which I believed I knew long before it was revealed, and was proved correct. This gives a sense of connection and ownership which is satisfying. The creativity, both the fairy tales and the art (though we don’t get to see that it’s described well) add another dimension, and this is woven throughout and has weight and import that I really enjoyed. It’s emotional without descending into sentimentality. Love and suffering are woven together in a convincing and meaningful way that reflects some of the realities of life. Part mystery, part thriller, part historical novel (with some well researched facts included), part romance. I would highly recommend it.

A lovely book from Kate Morton. Part historical novel, part family saga, it really has something for everyone. I had the nagging feeling about a third of the way through that I'd read it or something similar before and a brief search revealed it is a re-release. A little annoying if you've unwittingly purchased it but definitely worth a second read as it's so good. Wonderful storytelling, great characterisation all wrapped up in a mystery of many years.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

A spell binding tale once again. A rediscovery of a family background and secrets hidden for eons annd interwoven with weird fairy tales.. expertly written to keep you guessing

I love Kate Morton's books, and this one was no exception (I am only surprised that I haven't read it before). The story is completely engrossing and whilst full of stereotypes and cliches, is as enjoyable as eating a box of chocolates by a roaring fire on a winter evening. Complete comfort reading and reliably satisfying.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for allowing me to read a copy of this book. The Forgotten Garden by is a historical fiction novel that follows three generations of women unraveling a long-hidden mystery. The story begins with a young girl found abandoned after a sea voyage from England to Australia, carrying only a suitcase and a book of fairy tales. Decades later, Nell, now an adult, travels to England in search of her true identity, leading her to Blackhurst Manor on the Cornish coast. Upon Nell’s death, her granddaughter Cassandra inherits an old cottage and a book of dark fairy tales, prompting her to complete the puzzle that has haunted their family for a century.

The novel follows multiple generations of women searching for their true origins, particularly Nell and Cassandra, who unravel long-hidden family secrets. The story also delves into the impact of past generations on the present, showing how choices made long ago shape the lives of descendants. It is built around a deep mystery involving an abandoned child, a forgotten garden, and a book of fairy tales, all of which hold clues to the past. The fairy tales play a crucial role in the novel, reflecting the characters’ emotions and histories while shaping their understanding of the truth. The characters also experience profound grief and loss, but their journeys also lead to healing and acceptance.

An exceptional historical fiction book and one i truly enjoyed reading, would highly recommend.

This was actually so much fun to read! I am usually not one to pick up many mystery books but this was wonderful!
Kate Morton has such an incredible writing style that just hooks you from the start. I really enjoyed this book and the plot.
Thank you to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for the ARC!

When Cassandra's grandmother Nell dies in their home country of Australia, she sets out to discover the significance of a beautifully illustrated book of fairy tales and a dilapidated cottage in Cornwall that she has been bequeathed. Nell arrived in Australia as an unaccompanied 4 year old with just a suitcase who was taken in by the kindly postmaster and his wife. Dark fairy stories are part of the narrative and make this an unusual and compulsive read.

A moving tale about discovering your roots. At the age of 21, Nell finds out she's not her parents' biological child and had been found on the docks, alone, after arriving in Australia on a ship from England at the age of 4. Where did she come from, who were her family? Kate Morton weaves a fantastic tale of mystery and discovery covering a century. A story of a lost child, a terrible arrangement, tragedy and a forgotten garden. Moving and beautifully told.
Thanks to Netgally, Pan Macmillan, and Kate Morton for a free copy of this re-release. All opinions are my own.

I first read this book many years ago not long after it was published and I discovered the world of Kate Morton’s books. Coming back to it now felt right as enough time had passed that all the details had left me and I could enjoy the book afresh knowing I’d enjoyed it so much before - even the big twist was a surprise to me, altho that may say more about my memory!
This is a beautiful and sweeping saga of generational family secrets and trauma.
Eliza Makepeace is an extraordinary character and her parts were my favourite. She was so vivid and vibrant and her story so compelling. I love the inclusion of her fairytales throughout the book which added to the atmosphere.
Nell was harder to connect to and at times Cassandra was quite flat but the story is compelling enough that it didn’t bother me too much.
If you are looking for a historical fiction, multiple pov story focused on the women of the same family who have all been dealt different and no less tricky hands in life, you’ll enjoy this 😊

A novel crosses multiple timelines and multi generations of a family. A buried family secret just waiting to be uncovered and explored. This was a detailed, beautifully written book which captures you from the start. The characters were rich and well developed. Very much enjoyed

Multi generational mysteries, crossing a hundred years & different continents, The Forgotten Garden is a proper, old fashioned family saga. I will confess to not realising that this was a republishing of a novel originally written in 2008 & got a bit of the way in before realising I had read it before. Not to worry, I thoroughly enjoyed the story & particularly liked Eliza & her wonderful stories.

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton is a beautifully atmospheric and compulsively readable story that weaves together family secrets, lost histories, and a journey of self-discovery. Cassandra, grieving the recent death of her beloved grandmother Nell, is thrust into a mystery when she inherits a mysterious bequest—a book of dark fairy tales written by the elusive Victorian author Eliza Makepeace, who disappeared in the early twentieth century. This unexpected inheritance leads Cassandra on a quest to uncover the truth about her family's past, revealing long-buried secrets and truths she never could have imagined.

Morton masterfully layers the narrative across different times and places, from England to Australia and back, creating a rich, immersive experience for the reader. The story revolves around Nell, the lost child whose life and disappearance serve as the key to unraveling the mysteries that bind the family. As the story unfolds, the intricate plot twists like the vines of a secret garden, and each revelation brings Cassandra closer to understanding her family’s history and, ultimately, herself.

The Forgotten Garden is a captivating tale that combines the elements of mystery, family, and love, with the kind of atmospheric detail that draws the reader deep into its world. With its intricate layers and heart-stirring themes, this is a story that will stay with you long after the last page.

3.5/5.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Kate Morton os one of those authors that you know you are getting a good read.

This is a captivating tale and I love the cross generational family drama that always seem to have just enough of everything

It is filled with drama, a little chaos and loads of wonder,

It is a book that I got sense that the author has drawn on her real life and it is very atmospheric. The story is both sad and intriguing and I did want the best outcome for the characters.. I found it an amazing read.