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.

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton.

A dual timeline , so many generations but the book is so beautifully wrote and a gem to read , a real page turner.
The difference between the 1900's and modern times were wonderfully interwoven and I took to the characters immediately.
This book has everything you want, family connections , love, , guilt, twists and turns and I could not put it down.

I think this is one of those books that you never tire of - I loved it first time round and now reading it again made me fall in love with it once more! I first read it in 2008 so reading it again in 2025 was a wonderful walk down memory lane!

Kate Morton has a wonderful way of creating such absorbing stories! From the characters to the settings, she just throws herself fully into the worlds and you get taken along for the ride and it's just delightful! The way she sets up the secrets of the past and then changes the timelines so you can go back in time and see how the story unfolds is just a master class in storytelling!

the story centres around Cass and her grandmother Nell, and the secrets she left behind when Nell passes. There's a house in England to get to the bottom of, alongside a book of dark fairy tales, which you get to read as well and add a nice little 'extra' to the storyline! Just wonderful!

Oh and the brand new cover - I approve!! It's a beauty!

I read this book years ago and loved it. I jumped at the chance to read it again and I loved it even more. I always enjoy Kate's books so I'm looking forward to a new one coming out in the future. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Loved this book the first time I read it and loved it just as much the second time. .
Would definitely recommend this.