The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton is a richly layered historical mystery that weaves together the lives of three main characters: Eliza, Nell and Cassandra.
What is The Forgotten Garden about?
The story begins in 1913 when a young child is found abandoned on an Australian wharf with no memory of who she is. A childless couple raise the girl as their own and name her Nell. After years of struggling with her true identity Nell finally sets off for England in 1975 to discover her roots.
And then, after the death of Nell in 2005, her granddaughter discovers she’s inherited a Cornish cottage. Cassandra reluctantly follows in the footsteps of Nell to unravel the mystery of her grandmother’s ancestry. And in doing so she uncovers the story of Eliza Makepeace, the original owner of Cliff Cottage, its forgotten garden, and how the woman’s fate is entwined with the former residents of cursed Blackhurst Manor.
Timelines upon timelines
When I read the back cover it suggests that this multi-generational story runs along three timelines. However, this isn’t the case. The novel is much more with multiple timelines stretching back to the 1800s. And it brings in generations of women linked by the themes of secrets, memories, and identity. This intricately woven story doesn’t just explore the lives of Eliza, Nell and Cassandra but introduces us to other strong and flawed characters including Georgiana, Adeline and Rose.
Is the story easy to follow?
Kate Morton has pulled off a phenomenal trick of expertly delivering an intricate plot through emotionally strong storytelling. At over six hundred pages this is a weighty novel but it’s expertly told and I had no problem following multiple storylines.
What was the verdict?
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton is fantastic. It’s by far and away the best novel I’ve read in 2025. I’d enjoyed The House at Riverton by this author but The Forgotten Garden is far superior in my opinion. I loved the well-rounded characters, the plot, the atmospheric settings and the dark fairytales. What a phenomenal piece of writing. Ten out of ten.
If you love multi-generational dramas with plenty of twists, turns and family secrets then this is an absolute must. Thank you so much Kate Morton. This was brilliant.