I've read a few books by Kate Morton which I have really enjoyed and when this book pop up it was a must read. For me this was a lovely book but just slightly too long....it was a lovely time jumping book and well developed storyline. A must read if tour a Morton fan.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.

This is, as the author says, a book about families and their secrets. It is the first one of Kate Morton's book I have read and it is a good read. There are three timelines, the three main characters Eliza, Nell and Cassie are sympathetic and believable and the plot is more or less believable too. Some of the other characters such as Rose and Adeline are also well drawn but in the most modern timeline there are a number of women such as Ruby and Robyn and I was inclined to forget just exactly who they were. Uncle Linus is an odd bird and I felt there was an underlying menace about him which was not developed.

The secrets are fairly easy to guess although the author throws the reader off the scent on a number of occasions making you wonder if you are right after all! At one point I wondered if Nell did in fact have a connexion to Maryborough. Generally it is a good and enjoyable read. It took me quite a while to read it so it would be good to take on a holiday if you don't like ebooks and don't want to carry too many books.

I particularly liked the mention of Frances Hodgson Burnett (although I am not a fan of her books) as one of the guests at the hall and her fascination with the secret garden - a nice little touch.

My main issue is that I feel that the book is too long. It doesn't drag exactly but it does go on a bit and we take a long time to get to the resolution.. I think it could have been more tightly edited without losing anything of the enjoyment.

Absolutely loved this book. Such a beautifully written story , I didn’t want it to end and now Kate Morton has another fan. I won’t give any spoilers, you just need to read this, it will stay with me for a long time I am certain.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to give a review and to the author for such a lovely book.

My first Kate Morton, and I finish with a feeling of 'meh'. This is a LONG Book, over 600 pages, and I think it could have lost 100. I didn't really care what happened to the characters, I'd just lost interest...

I have read Kate Morton’s books before and she dells a good story. A family drama which visits different characters between 1900 and 2005. Whist reading I was reminded of The Secret Garden and was then not surprised when Frances Hodgson Burnett was a visitor in the story.
I enjoyed the mystery but felt that it was a bit long. It’s an easy read which sometimes is no bad thing!

Over complicated, long drawn out investigations; the Fairy Stories are stunning 3.5/4

There is much to enjoy in this long drawn out tale of a wealthy family’s bad deeds across generations, incorporating various literary classics from children’s literature, including Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden, which this book rather alludes to, and the bringing of everything up to date in the first decade of the 21st century. However, the convolutions of the plot do rather rely on a few too many coincidences for this reader to comfortably suspend disbelief.

What did make me raise my somewhat withheld fully surrendered appreciation was the inclusion of some beautiful and potent dark and Gothic fairy stories, by one of the somewhat mysterious central characters, Eliza.

The long time line of this starts in 1900, but the book itself begins shortly before the First War. A young girl has been secreted away on a ship about to set out for Australia. The rather mysterious adult who left the little girl, instructing her to stay hidden and whom the little girl expected was also aboard, playing a rather exciting game with he, turned out to be nowhere.

The small child arrives alone and abandoned in Australia. We will discover some of her history in due course, in part through her own journals, written as an adult

In 1975 Nell, an antique stall owner, in Australia, is pretty cross when her rather feckless adult daughter Lauren dumps her reserved and rather shy young daughter Cassandra upon her, as she wants to take off with her latest paramour.

Decades later we meet Cassandra riven by adult grief, and at the bedside of Nell, now dying.

It is so very nice to read a story that is just nice. Not to mention that I've lived near the Paddington Antique market and in London and have also spent time in Maryborough. For me it was moving because I know the locations and I'm missing my grandparents a lot at the moment - though thankfully, our history isn't quite so tangled.

4* The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton - a story of intriguing family secrets across continents and generations.

In the early 20th century a little girl is found on the Brisbane docks by the postmaster. With no one to claim her, he takes her home and she is raised as a beloved daughter in a doting family.

In the early 21st century Cassandra’s grandmother dies leaving her a legacy that comes as a huge surprise - a cottage on the Cornish clifftops.

Told across 3 timelines and pulling on the strands of several families, the Forgotten Garden is a complex and hugely entertaining family saga. Each family brings its own darkness and a host of secrets that someone is trying to bury. Almost impossible to unravel and bound together by a book within a book. If you like a chunky read to really get your teeth into you will love this.

I adored the characters, good and underhand, and there were plenty of mysterious happenings to keep me going. I thought it was a little long and ultimately I had unraveled the ending well before the end but that didn’t spoil my enjoyment.

This is my second Kate Morton book (I loved Homecoming) and I will be doing the back catalogue.

Thanks to Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for a copy of this reissued gem.

A beautifully written novel, crossing back and forth in history, telling the story of Nell, Cassandra and Eliza - three women, separated by time but connected by the mysteries of family secrets.
This isn’t the type of story I usually go for but I was intrigued by the description and it certainly did not disappoint. It is a long novel but don’t be daunted by this - the story pulls you in immediately and you’ll be tempted to keep on reading ‘just one more chapter’.

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton is a republication of an older novel. When I requested to read an ARC via Netgalley I didn't realise I had a physical copy sitting unread on my bookshelf 😂 thank you to Pan Macmillan for granting my request and providing a complimentary digital copy.

I found The Forgotten Garden to be a captivating historical mystery which follows three generations of women across a century as they uncover long buried family secrets. The story is laced with gothic charm, fairy tales, and richly drawn characters. Kate Morton weaves an exquisitely layered story about identity, belonging, and the power of the past.

Although I found this slow paced, the emotional depth and intricate plot make it a very satisfying read. I would definitely recommend this book for fans of historical fiction and literary mysteries.

Based on an intriguing back story about the arrival of a little girl in Australia on a boat from England, abandoned and apparently travelling by herself, this story traces the family history of that little girl, her descendants and how it all type into a place on the Cornish coast.

Engaging story telling from Kate Morton means that this book will be a welcome addition to her work for her many fans. Worth reading, especially for fans of historical stories. It gets 3.5 stars

A slow and gentle read of a multi-generational saga with each character extending the unravelling of the mystery at the centre of the book. There is an inevitability that the truth will finally be known but it comes right at the end of the story by way of the importance of identity, deep family love and small glimpses of hope after despair.

The Forgotten Garden is a multi-generational mystery that weaves together the lives of three women across continents and centuries.

Rich with atmosphere, layered storytelling, and a touch of the gothic, it’s the kind of book that gradually pulls you in until you’re completely immersed and reluctant to leave.

At its heart are three interconnected stories: Eliza, a spirited young woman born into hardship in Victorian London, who finds herself tangled in the secrets of a wealthy Cornish estate; Nell, a child found abandoned on a ship bound for Australia in 1913, whose entire identity is cast into doubt; and Cassandra, Nell’s granddaughter, who decades later picks up the pieces and embarks on a journey to uncover the truth.

Each woman’s story is compelling in its own right, and Kate Morton weaves them together with a deftness that makes the frequent shifts in time and perspective feel natural, rather than jarring.

Morton’s writing is evocative and precise, and each character has a distinct voice that makes the timeline shifts easy to follow. There’s a quiet magic to her prose the kind that wraps around you like a blanket and doesn’t let go.

Eliza’s fairy tales, scattered throughout the narrative, add a particularly enchanting dimension to the book.

These dark, lyrical stories are not only beautiful in their own right but are also laced with symbolism that illuminates the mystery at the heart of the novel.

They give the story a timeless, almost mythical quality, while also offering insight into Eliza’s psyche and her tragic past.

While the pacing starts slowly, the reward for sticking with it is immense.

The narrative unfolds gradually but purposefully, layering detail upon detail until the full picture comes into view.

Yes, some of the revelations are guessable before the end — but that doesn’t diminish the emotional impact.

If anything, it speaks to how carefully the groundwork is laid. The conclusion is both dark and poignant, underscoring themes of identity, loss, and belonging.

It’s not all gentle nostalgia there are sinister characters, emotionally fraught decisions, and moments of genuine heartbreak.

But the overall tone is hopeful, with a strong emphasis on the healing power of truth and the strength found in forging one’s own path.

The Forgotten Garden is a richly woven tale full of mystery, heartache, and hope.

With its blend of historical fiction, family secrets, and a touch of fairy-tale whimsy, it’s a book that rewards a patient reader with a deeply satisfying journey.

Highly recommended for those who enjoy emotionally resonant, character-driven historical mysteries.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It was a pleasure to revisit this novel, and I enjoyed it the second time as much as the first time many years ago. It is a captivating and multi layered story spanning three generations. I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of the ‘fairy tales’. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for allowing me to revisit this beauty.

A family saga travelling from Australia to Cornwall. A gem of a story, engrossing and captivating; mysteries unravelling chapter by chapter. Another success for this author. Thoroughly enjoyable.

This is an anniversary edition of an older book by a writer I enjoy. I hadn’t actually read The Forgotten Garden’ before so I was looking forward to reading it. Yet again Kate Morton didn’t disappoint. Easy to read but with lots of great characters, the story kept me hooked until the end.

The Forgotten Garden absolutely captured my heart 💕 I felt utterly enchanted and enthralled by this book. This is a multi-generational mystery that just keeps you hooked.

The story starts with a little girl who is found at a dock in Australia by herself. She’s come across from England but has nobody with her, just a tiny suitcase with no clues as to who she is. Then we meet Nell, a grandmother who is travelling to England to try to find the truth about her identity. And finally, we journey with Cassandra who has inherited a house in England from her grandmother Nell. But who was Nell? And why did she own a house in England?

This book has taken up a lot of space in my head over the last few weeks. When I haven’t been reading I’ve been thinking about it obsessively. I genuinely have not loved a book this much in so long. The characters have so much depth, the mystery is so intriguing, and the way it’s written is delectable. I cannot wait to read more from this author!

A beautifully written story told over several timelines, via three women within the family. The book is full of intrigue from the very start. It’s definitely a very slow book wish I struggled with a little but it’s definitely worth pushing through.

I adore a family saga and The Forgotten Garden is an absorbing tale spanning 1900 to 2005. It has such a heart rending start as a little girl is hidden on a ship bound for Australia in 1913. She is told to hide and wait until the lady returns for her but when she does not return the little girl’s life changes forever. I was immediately hooked and as the story unfolds the reader meets an array of interesting characters. A theme running through the book are the stories told in a book by a Victorian authoress, Eliza Makepeace, Magical Tales for Girls and Boys. This book is found by Cassandra, Nell Andrew’s granddaughter in 1976 and then rediscovered when her Grandmother dies in 2005 along with the news that Cassandra has inherited a house in Cornwall. Is there a connection between Eliza Makepeace and her family?
As Cassandra goes to Cornwall to see the house and try to find out more about her heritage I loved how the timeline switches to various events and how historical evidence found in Blackhurst Manor, now an hotel, will eventually give Cassandra most of the answers she is seeking as many secrets are revealed. What a delightful book.

What an intriguing book this is! Covering several time periods over the twentieth century and just nudging over into the twenty-first this tells of the mystery of an a young child abandoned on a ship heading for Australia when her older travelling companion goes missing. A small child’s white leather suitcase and a book of fairy tales her only possessions. Weaving its way back and forth between Australia , London and Cornwall this is a fascinating read and highly recommended.