The Forgotten Garden

By: Kate Morton

Narrated by: Caroline Lee

Length: 20 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

A foundling, an old book of dark fairy tales, a secret garden, a maze, an aristocratic family, a love denied, a mystery - The Forgotten Garden is a captivating, atmospheric, and a compulsive listen about the past, ghosts, family, and memories from best-selling author Kate Morton.

Thirty-eight year old Cassandra is lost, alone, and grieving. Her much loved grandmother, Nell, has just died and Cassandra, her life already shaken by a tragic accident 10 years ago, feels like she has lost everything known and dear to her.

But an unexpected and mysterious bequest from Nell turns Cassandra's life upside down and ends up challenging everything she thought she knew about herself and her family. Inheriting a book of dark and intriguing fairytales written by Eliza Makepeace Rutherford - the Victorian authoress who disappeared mysteriously in the early 20th century - as well as a cliff-top cottage on the other side of the world, Cassandra takes her courage in both hands to follow in the footsteps of Nell, on a quest to find out the truth about their history, their family and their past; little knowing that in the process, she will also discover a new life for herself.

©2008 Kate Morton (P)2008 Bolinda Publishing

Critic reviews

"This debut page-turner...recounts the crumbling of a prominent British family as seen through the eyes of one of its servants....Morton triumphs with a riveting plot, a touching but tense love story and a haunting ending." ( Publishers Weekly)

A mystery spanning generations.

Like other reviewers have said, if you want a 5 hour quick thrill mystery, this is not it. The story covers three different timelines, and uses each to weave more suspense and intrigue into the others. The writing is superb. While the book is long, you will not mind, especially with the voice of Caroline Lee narrating for you. She is the best Audible has!

I am giving 4 out of 5 stars for story because there are so many characters to hate, and I feel like none really had the ending I hoped for them. The protagonists suffer throughout their lives with little to no reprieve. I also solved the biggest mystery before the latter half of the book, but waited and waited for the characters to come to the same realization.

Long but worth it

Got this in a sale and thought it a good deal for a 20+ hour book. The listen was well worth the story of solving a family mystery. If you like convoluted tales you will like this one

I especially appreciated the piano riffs between chapters. Narrator was good on the main characters but not much inflection on the others. Her American accent could use a little work.

Captivating

This well written novel weaves together multiple time periods, life stories, and "mysteries" with well developed characters, plausible twists and turns, and great intrigue. I didn't want this story to end; I hated to part with the characters!

Great book

A very good story with lots of suspense,mystery
And intrigue. I loved it so much I will listen to it again.

awesome read

very enjoyable story, very difficult to put down. sorry it's finished! loved the reader too!!

Draws you in

I really enjoyed this story and the narration. It did seem a bit too long to come together for me, but it was such an easy listen that I found I didn't mind too much. I need to relax and enjoy a book. I have so many to listen to, I find I'm impatient. This is truly a lovely story.

Loved the story

It was an interesting story with cross generation timelines that led to a slightly expected end but worth the listen

suspenseful plot twists and turns,

What did you love best about The Forgotten Garden?

story line was very engaging, as was the writing and narration

What did you like best about this story?

the plot twisted and turned in unexpected ways.

Which scene was your favorite?

many come to mind. Nell on the ship, Eliza writing her fairy stories and Nate illustrating them

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Sammy's accident

Any additional comments?

I gave the book 5 stars for everything. The author reads her own words very well. The story is quite unexpectedly good and toward the end I certainly didn't want to put it down. I think the characters, in some instances, did what the author needed them to do rather than what was in keeping with their defined attributes, and some of the characters are so narrowly colored to one end of the spectrum, rather than some grays. It's a good book, without swear words and graphic sex, which is a plus nowadays.

The Forgotten Garden

A really good mystery novel without the murder and mayhem in the books I usually listen to. Spanning several generations, it's a wonderful story about finding your roots, searching your ancestry...one of the best books I've ever listened to.

A GENTLE CREATIVE STORY

Wonderful story! It spans the time of three generations of women, it makes you wonder if your own family tree could be as interesting if pen were put to paper.