Customer Reviews
Good old fashioned storytelling - By: Laura D, 07 Oct 2008 
I must admit that I was attracted to this book as it mentioned Richard & Judy's Bookclub. Not that I read all they recommend but they are usually worth a look. Then I found out that it was the author's previous book that was referred to "The House at Riverton" so I read that first.
It was good, but for me this one is better. It is setin Australia & Cornwallin the past & present. It starts with a puzzle & a rather heart rending one at that. A four year old girl is left on a steamer heading to Australiain 1912, apparently abandoned & unnoticed by the authorities. Who would do such a thing, & why?
There follows a well written multi layered story that untangles the complexities of the girls life. We see Edwardian society from the viewpoint of the rich & the poor. In the present day we see the girls granddaughter coming to terms with her true heritage. A fine mystery that keeps you guessing.
It is a wonderful adventure, reminding me of Daphne du Maurier & even the Famous Five, butin spirit only.
Thoroughly recommended.
Not bad but a bit long-winded - By: T. Roy, 05 Oct 2008 
I, like many others who reviewed this book, read & really enjoyed 'The House at Riverton'. This book was also good, up to about two-thirds of the way through. It then became a bit laborious when the answer to the mystery became predictable. The skipping back & forth between time zones was O.K. at first but then became confusing. Nevertheless, not a bad read but expected better after the author's first book.
Dull, derivative, souless and unsatisfactory - By: Alan J. Crowley, 01 Oct 2008 
A dull read, probably good for a dull day. The plot is straight from Mills & Boon. Little characterisation - people are either good or very bad. A long book which could have been edited to half its length without loss. Each chapter covers a specific time & place - 1900, 1913, 1975, 2005 - butin each chapter there is no sense of time or place. The characters behave the same & use the same vocabulary regardless of era.
It does try to be a modern classic but sadly fails.
Don't bother.
Hard to put down.. - By: Book Worm, 28 Sep 2008 As soon as I saw the back of the book I knew I had to read the book!
It was so hard to put down once I'd started reading it.
There were so many surprisesin it. Just when you thought you'd worked it out, there was another twist to the story.
I will definitely be buying her other book.
Magical Mystery. - By: Ann Murphy, 26 Sep 2008 I found this to be a highly readable book. Kate Morton writesin such a way that it is easy to stay connected to the book. Many books tend to make me drift but this one kept me with it.
My only difficulty was the change of time within the book. Every chapter is eitherin the present or the past of either Nell, the main character, Eliza, the authoress, or Nell's daughter who discovers the truth behind the mystery of Nell's childhoodin Cornwall. But, I became used to this format &in the end I felt it had actually been a good way to write it as it added to the mystery.
I generally find it difficult to read books if they are written to a formula but this one didn't feel like that. Her writing style also is lovely to read, nearly poetic but not overdone. I loved too the way the story interweaved with the Authoress's fairy tales. Clues all!
Allin all I would highly recommend it. In fact, on the strength of it, I might just read her previous one too!
