I was given a free copy of The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton, published by Pan Macmillan and NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Kate Morton has become somewhat of a feature within my reading life. Having now published seven meaty tomes.

I first read – and loved – The House at Riverton (randomly called The Shifting Fog) when I lived in Australia. I tend to find it annoying when people use words like captivated when describing reading a book, as it can feel excessive. In this case, I was transfixed, perhaps partly because I was 22 or 23 (if memory serves), and I was a Brit living in Australia then. Hand-to-glove literature. I think I read this book either when I returned to London or at the tail-end of my time in Oz, which was quite a while ago, so revisiting this book was exciting. I had read her third, The Distant Hours, which I appreciated, but in a way that made me feel that it was great literature with an entirely unconvincing storyline. Her fourth I listened to the audiobook, which I think was a mistake. Somewhere along the line, I stopped reading her novels. There will, naturally, come a time when I keep up with those new novels – and Pan Macmillan and NetGalley have encouraged me by offering this novel to make sure I keep my eye out for her latest novels.

Now, before I begin, I’m *finally* going to Cornwall, all things going well, so this book about life in a Cornish mansion with a charming garden seemed inspired once again.

Okay, now it’s time to begin, no? Evidently, Morton is a bibliophile. Her weaving in of Agatha Christie as a guest in The House at Riverton was a subtle hint to her love of the glamour and grandeur of the 20th Century. In this book, which I’d argue was inspired in part by late-Victorian Dickens, followed by Hodgson Burnett, Morton gives us, the reader, the clues to her inspiration. I’d argue that you could say she ‘borrows’ various thematic elements of The Secret Garden. Not so much ‘spoilers’ but examples - Rose and Linus being the Colin from The Secret Garden, Linus also not wanting to visit the garden due to a character symbolising the heart of the garden, then the new character transplanted to the mysterious, gothic mansion having a natural affinity for this unloved garden with so much potential.

Fundamentally, this garden, the lynchpin of the novel, sounds wonderful. The descriptions are great and Christian, the ‘2005’ gardener, is very much Danus from The Shell Seekers-type character (I’m sure Morton read that wonderful book, too) who represents the majority soft, guileless characters that populate this family saga-esq book.

Before we get to the garden, we have a mystery told in 3 sectors. The UK in 1900-1913, Australia/the UK in 1975 and 2005. The question we’re asking is, who was Nell? Her granddaughter, Cassandra (2005), was, to all intents and purposes, abandoned by her mother (1975, also this was simply not explained very well – why her mother was so entirely useless with her but not with her half-siblings) in homage to Nell’s passing is trying to find out. From Australia, Cassandra travels to London and then Cornwall to follow in the footsteps of Nell as a girl (1913) before she was transplanted, alone, to Australia and adopted by a loving family. That’s the bare bones of the story and it is ambitious in length and scope.

People have rightly criticised some of the elements in this novel. For example, Nell is a bit of a cold fish. We’re meant to believe this is because she feels ‘abandoned’ by her birth mother. Therefore, she treats her fiance and her adopted family as disposable, ghosting them. Really, this isn’t resolved in the novel. She just wasn’t all that nice. Cassandra seems not to care. There’s a bit of sizeism as Nell was a skinny rake, while the children all suffered from genes that caused plumpness. It’s a slightly off detail. Other not-so-nice characters are the Swindells, who are wards of Nell and her brother. Very much in the style of the Thénardiers, or more apt for post-Dickensian London, the Bumbles, are greedy, heartless, and without redeeming qualities. Coupled with the wonderful descriptions of just how awful London life is without money or family, Morton is in her element here. The narrative is tight and flows wonderfully.

Doing as best as possible to keep this spoiler-free, I struggle with this book's characterisation. What Nell does, I think, isn’t explained sufficiently – although I accept that in my favourite book, Gone with the Wind, Scarlett loves Ashley and doesn’t explain it, it’s just a certifiable fact – and this gives a slight two-dimensionality to the book. Although we know the motivations for Rose’s mother, Adeline’s ire towards Eliza, again, I think it's a bit cartoonish.

So why four stars? I think Morton is a bold author ready to push the reader to new realms. She takes risks and puts an admirable amount of research into her novels to give them poise and verve. She's also an Anglophile, which I find charming.

Naturally, I’m thankful for the opportunity to return to the garden, spot where inspiration struck Morton and surrender to the majesty of historical fiction interspersed with a 'mystery' element – really more of a family saga type Who Do You Think You Are? type read.

Very well written and I enjoyed it to start with, although I found Nell's response to her father's revelation a little unbelievable. Also the search for the truth just took too long and I think the whole book could have been a lot shorter. It was an intriguing story, but took too long to tell.

I absolutely loved this.
Such a beautiful story, mesmerising and hard to put down.

I love how the story jumps between time between granddaughter and grandmother.

This is as easy read for a nice summer afternoon.

Really enjoyed this book and will be recommending it. I really enjoyed the characters, found them very likeable and will definitely be looking out for more by this author.

Many thanks

This is a beautiful story set across three generations of women, with Nell at its heart. Nell is heartbroken to learn that her parents are not truly her parents -- she was found on a dock in Australia as a young girl, with no recollection of where she came from or who her parents were. All she has as a clue is a mysterious book of fairytales. After she passes away, the task of unravelling this mystery falls to her granddaughter, Cassandra.

The author weaves together three separate timelines and several different locations with graceful ease. The locations are very well-realised -- as someone who has been to Cornwall before, it was easy to imagine the types of landscapes she was describing. The characters themselves are very well drawn, and though the novel is rather quiet, it still manages to keep you turning the page.

Another lovely read from Kate Morton - I enjoyed Homecoming in the past, so I will certainly need to seek out some of her other works!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC of the re-release of this novel.

This is a book that was originally published in 2008, it is being rereleased. There are times when it is annoying to see a book republished, but when you have missed a book the first time around, it is great to see it back in the spotlight again. I am so glad this has happened with this book, as it is a gorgeous story that I absolutely adored.

This is a story of a garden set in Cornwall, but to get to understand the garden and its importance, the author takes the reader on a very circuitous journey from Cornwall to Australia and back to Cornwall. This is done over different decades and by different people. Each adds more to the story until the mystery is finally unravelled.

Nell is devastated to learn that the people she thought were her parents found her abandoned on the dock in Australia. They took her and her case in. When she finally hears the truth, she begins to understand some of the differences and, more importantly, some of the random memories she had from her early childhood.

As she gets older, she learns more about her journey, her real mother and how she came to be in Australia. But as much as she discovers, there is still more that alludes her. Her granddaughter then takes on the mantle of trying to solve the mystery. It is far more complex than anyone realised, it is fiendishly clever but also very brutal to those involved.

This story focuses on three characters, but also those who spend time with them. The flitting between times is so well done, and I never felt lost. I adore the setting of this book, I mean, a forgotten garden is something that is always going to catch my attention. Also living in Cornwall, I have visited many gardens, so it was easy to envisage the plants, the atmosphere and the general vibe the author managed to create.

The garden is the key, but it is the story of those who come and go over the years that gives it its central position. The overlooking of Blackhurst Manor and its inhabitants set the scene for Nell as a young girl and those who came before her. Mixing in tragedy, upset, illness, and jealousy is just the top of the emotions that the author brings.

If you have a love of romance, family mysteries, gardens, Cornwall and generally a fabulous story then this is one I would definitely recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for this eCopy to review

When I first picked up The Forgotten Garden, I was drawn in by its promise of mystery, family secrets, and a sweeping historical narrative. And it delivered beautifully.

The story unfolds across three timelines: 1913, 1975, and 2005. At the heart of it is Nell, a woman who discovers at the age of 21 that she was adopted after being found alone on a ship from England to Australia as a child. This revelation shatters her sense of identity, and she spends decades trying to uncover the truth about her origins. After Nell’s death, her granddaughter Cassandra picks up the trail, traveling to Cornwall to unravel the mystery her grandmother left behind.

What I loved most was how Morton wove the timelines together. Each chapter felt like a puzzle piece, slowly revealing the tragic and enchanting story of the Mountrachet family and the mysterious Authoress who once lived in a grand estate with a hidden garden. The gothic atmosphere, the fairy tale motifs, and the richly drawn characters made it feel like I was stepping into a story within a story.


Overall, it is a haunting, lyrical novel perfect for fans of historical fiction with a touch of mystery and magic.

The Forgotten Garden is a multi generation tale of family and belonging. Told from multiple point of views and time lines it is at once beautiful, tragic, hopeful and mysterious.

I love Kate Morton’s work and this book is no exception. The characters felt very real and the circumstances they found themselves in were very believable. The fairytales which wound themselves around the story were a lovely addition.

The only downside was that I figured out a major twist very early on, I still enjoyed the telling of it though.

This book is great for all Kate Morton and fairytale fans. Highly recommend.

In 1913, a young girl was abandoned after a voyage from England to Australia. She does not know who her parents were, only that "The Authoress," a lady who was supposed to be looking after her, is nowhere to be found. This begins the search for her parents that spans decades and generations, beginning when she travels back to England in 1975 to the coastal town of Cornwall.
A real spellbinding story of secrets unearthed along the way that eventually finds the links to the family that was lost

Five stars for me, and a great read. I loved it

Many years ago a little girl was found left to travel alone from England to Australia. All she had was a small suitcase with her clothes, a book of fairy tales and a memory of a lady called the Authoress who had promised to look after her but was never seen again.
The little girl returns many years later to learn about her past and it takes her to Blackhurst Manor in Cornwall. Nell purchases a cottage intending to return but events take over her life.
After her death her grandaughter, Cassandra, inherits the cottage and the book of fairy tales so travels to England to search for the answers that have haunted the family for years.
I couldn't put it down!

This is the first book by Kate Morton I have read and I enjoyed reading it. The story covers three different time spans, starting with the arrival in Australia of Nell, as a child all alone with just a suit as elf clothes and a book of fairy stories. When grown she goes back to Cornwall to discover where she came from.
I was enchanted by the tale which is well written, blending mystery and fantasy.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc. I am sure I will now read more of Kate Morton’s books.

I usually love Kate Morton’s books. She is a fabulous author with a great writing style, however I did find this book too long, and felt that it would have been even better with a bit of judicious pruning.

The story is told in three timelines. In the present Cassandra was living with her Grandmother Nell in Australia, when her Grandmother passed away and left her a house in England. Cassandra knew that Nell was a foundling, and decided to come to the UK to research Nell’s story. In the past, Nell starts as a young girl being left on a ship and told to wait and hide, and takes you up to the point where she starts to find out a bit about her past – and then takes her Granddaughter Cassandra to live with her. In the very earliest timeline Eliza was living with her twin brother and mother in poverty in England, when she is found by her Uncle and taken to live with her Aunt and Uncle and cousin, and takes you up to the point when she decides she has to leave the country.

It's a lovely story, with a clever plot, and beautifully written in her own inimitable style – just too long.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7514361185

https://maddybooksblog.blogspot.com/2025/05/the-forgotten-garden-by-kate-morton-i.html

The Forgotten Garden weaves together mystery, family secrets, and a touch of historical fiction, not forgetting rich, atmospheric settings and complex characters that you can't help but get invested in.
The book opens in 1913, when a young child finds herself alone on an ocean liner heading to Australia. Once there, when no one turns up to rescue her, she is taken in by a kind-hearted port master and his wife. They are desperate for a child, and it seems their dreams have been answered. Newly named Nell’s only memory is that of a beautiful woman she knows as the authoress. She promised to look after Nell but disappeared on the journey. Many years later, when Nell dies, Cassandra, her granddaughter, takes on the task of unravelling the mystery of Nell’s origins that has affected their family for generations. This mystery takes Cassandra from her home in Australia across the world to a cottage on the cliffs of Cornwall.
Nell’s story, and that of her ancestry, is told across multiple timelines and perspectives, and this keeps the narrative fresh and engaging. With each chapter the reader discovers family secrets and long-buried truths spanning generations, all clues towards Nell’s true identity, only to have any theories dashed in future chapters.
This is undoubtably a book about strong women. Each of the five main characters are women, and they all show strength in their own way. Nell starts off devastated when she first discovers her early life has been a lie, but with time grows into someone who understands herself and her roots better. Her granddaughter, Cassandra, picks up Nell's quest and finds her own path to healing, gaining confidence and accepting her past along the way.
Eliza Makepeace is a key character whose story is full of hardship but also creativity. Her resilience and imagination are central to the legacy she leaves behind. Eliza's cousin, Rose, adds to the themes of family and the impact of secrets. And then there's Adeline, Rose's domineering mother, who shows how societal expectations and personal ambition can shape a person, for better or in this case, for worse.
At over 600 pages, this is a long book. However, author Kate Morton needs this long to create so many worlds. The descriptions of the harsh but beautiful Cornish landscape are vivid, painting a picture of rugged cliffs, a dramatic sea and the ever-changing weather. They bring the setting to life.
A highlight of the book for me was the occasional chapter dedicated to one of Eliza’s fairy tales. Each time the fable echoed what was happening in the main tale.
The pace is not rushed, but neither does it drag. There are so many suggestions as to the truth of Nell’s origins in the lavish descriptions, along with social commentary of the times, that I became totally immersed in the book and the time passed quickly.
This book was first published in 2008 and has been republished for a new audience. It passed me by the first time, but second time around I thoroughly recommend it and will be looking up other of Kate Morton’s books.

I've loved every one of Kate's books and this is no exception. Generational mystery meets Tye Secret Garden to create a new classic. Simply brilliant

This is a re- release and I had previous read it, but I was happy to reread it.
This multi time, multi character story is heartbreaking and sweet and equal measure.
It was a little confusing with the all the different characters and the jumping about. The changes were quite jarring and sometimes felt like it started a chapter in the middle of a thought.
While it was confusing the story was engaging enough to keep me hooked and certainly enough to make me reread it.
Grab this book for a sweet bedside read.

Another, excellent book fro Kate Morton. The story unfurls along 3 timelines, from the early 1900's, the 1970's and 2005. Who is the 4 year old girl left, seemingly abandoned on a ship bound for Brisbane? Each timeline tellus us about a different women; Eliza, Nell and Cassandra. How they are linked, what they have in common, their loves and losses. I was quickly drawn Iinto this emotional story and didn't want it to end.
I'm sure that many readers of fiction will love this book.

Such a beautifully written book with a timeline stretching over the past 120 years. I do like a story with different timelines and perspectives and this had three. It is a family saga, set in Cornwall, London and Australia. I won’t give any spoilers but I loved the inclusion of Frances Hodgson Burnett, the author of The Secret Garden, one of my favourite books.
Well worth reading, fans of Kate Morton and new readers won’t be disappointed.

There are three time lines which gradually reveal how a 4 year old girl from Cornwall found herself alone on a ship bound for Australia. The plot was satisfying with tantalising clues and characters’ destinies interwoven across the generations. But the characters were a bit too archetypal. I found it hard to imagine what motivated most of the people in this book and with so many characters, shortcuts and tropes were inevitable. However the fast-paced plot with hooks and mysteries makes this quite a compelling read. So 4 stars for plot, 3 stars for characterisation.

Engrossing family saga set in Cornwall, London and Queensland and at different times in the last 120 years. A child is abandoned on a ship by a a mysterious woman - who are they, and why is the child left? There are clues dropped throughout the book, and the mystery is solved, believably.

Like all Kate Morton book this is definitely worth reading.

With thanks to NetGalley and Pan for an ARC.

A wonderfully woven heartbreaking magical story! From the start with a little lost girl and her book of fairy tales, to a grandmother leaving a strange little cottage to her granddaughter and the key to unlocking the past, it weaves back and forth between past and present to unveil the whole complicated story of love, loss, magic, fairy tales, and a bond that can be felt even when people are separated by time and death. I loved the world of this book, from the shores of Australia to misty England, it was all vividly written so I could feel myself there. And the characters are complicated but usually easy to love, especially Eliza with her hard childhood and even harder (though different) life at Blackhurst Manor with her cousin Rose. Eliza is so fascinating and my one wish is that I could get a copy of the fairy tales that she wrote, complete with the illustrations!

I would not call this a fast book, more of a simmer until the last section when all the pieces are put together and you are hit with a whole bunch of feelings at the final destinations, some happy, some so heartbreaking. Yes, I did figure out what happened before the great reveal but it still had the same punch. I loved reading this story and getting lost in the maze to the little cottage and secret garden (that would be fun to visit). This book will definitely go on my shelf of books that I would enjoy rereading!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this lovely book!