Author: Amanda Geard
Publisher: 13th June 2023 by Hachette Australia
Pages: 500 pages
Genre: historical fiction, mystery
My Rating: 5 cups
Synopsis:
A mesmerising story of love, war, and a mystery that ensnares three generations, moving between Tasmania, London, and Kerry in 1939, 1975 and 2004. Perfect for fans of Natasha Lester, Kate Morton, and Lucinda Riley.
1939: On the eve of war, young English heiress Grace Grey and her companion, the strikingly beautiful - yet impossibly distant - Rose Munro, must travel to the far side of the world to stay with Grace's eccentric uncle. Coaxed out of her shell by the extreme wilderness of Tasmania - and helped by the attentions of her Irish neighbour, Daniel McGillycuddy - Grace finally learns to live. But when Daniel is called to the war in the Pacific, he unwittingly leaves behind a terrible secret which will forever bind them together.
1975: When an anonymous benefactor leaves artist Willow Hawkins a house on Tasmania's remote and treacherous west coast, she and her new husband, Ben, can't believe their luck. Confused and delighted, they set out to unravel the identity of Towerhurst's previous owner and in doing so uncover a mystery that will alter the course of their lives.
2004: Libby Andrews is living in the shadow of her mother's grief. Willow has sheltered Libby from the truth behind her father's death for her whole life. But, when she discovers a faded photograph of a house emblazoned with the name 'Towerhurst', it unlocks a long-buried memory. As Libby follows in the footsteps of the investigation her father could never complete, she realises that some secrets are best left buried . . .
My Thoughts
The Moon Gate is a rich, multi-layered story with an intricate tale spanning three generations. Complex characters in three evocative locations and with a plot that testifies to Amanda’s mastery in storytelling.
“Come on, tell me. An old house in the rainforest, a secret legacy, some hidden history her mum wouldn't talk about.”
This is a book that I can’t even begin to imagine how it was possible to weave it all together into such a riveting and successful story. There is 2004 as Libby searches for answers about her father, Ben’s, death. There is 1975 when Ben is alive and seeks to unravel the mystery and identity of Towerhurst - an old house on the rugged Tasmanian west coast. Finally, there is 1939 when two young women, Grace and Rose, are sent away from London and the advancing threats of Nazi Germany to a distant relative in the house called Towerhurst.
‘… the moon gate … stepping through it was like walking into another life. A rebirth … he'd realised just how circular human existence was, and that no matter how hard you tried to shake off the past it was always there, coiling round the years, holding them tight.’
Three timelines - I don’t think I have ever attempted a read such as this. All related, all linked - intricate puzzle pieces in a slowly unfolding mystery. Now this did mean I had to pay attention - closely! This interwoven, multigenerational mystery will be a challenge but well worth it for the end result. The characters both main and secondary and the locations from west coast Tasmania, to London, to Ireland's county Kerry are rich and inviting. The writing ties it all wonderfully well in a masterclass of historical fiction.
‘It seems silly, doesn't it, that we spend all this time in life not saying things to people that we should, and then it's too late?’
The Moon Gate is definitely in the category of a sweeping saga inclusive of all the romance, heartbreak with family drama and mystery. The twists and turns will unfold in this highly ambitious tale, with some definite surprises. A wonderful and encapsulating read for lovers of this genre.
‘Everything that happens to us, everything we do, weaves into the future as though we're sewing ourselves together with invisible threads.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
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