Overview
When a woman discovers a rare book that has connections to her past, long-held secrets about her missing sister and their childhood spent in the English countryside during World War II are revealed.
In the war-torn London of 1939, fourteen-year-old Hazel and five-year-old Flora are evacuated to a rural village to escape the horrors of the Second World War. Living with the kind Bridie Aberdeen and her teenage son, Harry, in a charming stone cottage along the River Thames, Hazel fills their days with walks and games to distract her young sister, including one that she creates for her sister and her sister alone—a fairy tale about a magical land, a secret place they can escape to that is all their own.
But the unthinkable happens when young Flora suddenly vanishes while playing near the banks of the river. Shattered, Hazel blames herself for her sister’s disappearance, and she carries that guilt into adulthood as a private burden she feels she deserves.
Twenty years later, Hazel is in London, ready to move on from her job at a cozy rare bookstore to a career at Sotheby’s. With a charming boyfriend and her elegantly timeworn Bloomsbury flat, Hazel’s future seems determined. But her tidy life is turned upside down when she unwraps a package containing an illustrated book called Whisperwood and the River of Stars. Hazel never told a soul about the imaginary world she created just for Flora. Could this book hold the secrets to Flora’s disappearance? Could it be a sign that her beloved sister is still alive after all these years?
As Hazel embarks on a feverish quest, revisiting long-dormant relationships and bravely opening wounds from her past, her career and future hang in the balance. An astonishing twist ultimately reveals the truth in this transporting and refreshingly original novel about the bond between sisters, the complications of conflicted love, and the enduring magic of storytelling.
Review
Hazel is about to start a dream job at Sotheby’s. Just as she is about to say goodbye to everyone at her old job in a rare bookstore, a new, rare book comes across her desk. It throws her life into complete disarray. She actually steals this item and takes it home. She knows she has to find who wrote this because no one knows about this story except her and her long, lost sister.
Hazel has struggled her whole life with the loss of her sister. And now she thinks she has her chance to actually find her! I love the emotion this author creates telling this tale. And Hazel breaks my heart in so many places! Add in the twist at the end and you have a family drama not to be missed.
I love the way this story is formatted. I love the change in time periods. Hazel and her sister were sent away during the bombings in London. So, it fluctuates between the 1940s and the 1960s. You must read this to find out all the drama.
Need a great historical, family mystery…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
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