This is part of my Summer Reads series where I’ll be reviewing a series of “not just cookbooks”.
Mystery, family intrigue, romance – I’d say those are three elements that I’d consider make an excellent “Summer Reads pick! This week’s choice was one of those times that the Kindle “you might enjoy” feature offered me something that I ended up loving (much of the time it’s a bit off the mark but I guess because I have been reading more over the past 6 months it’s learning what I like).
From the publisher:
It’s been years since Zoe Fairchild has been to the small Devon village of her birth, but the wounds she suffered there still ache. When she learns that her old friend and grandmother’s caretaker has gone missing, Zoe and her fifteen-year-old daughter return to England to help.
Zoe dreads seeing her estranged mother, who left when Zoe was seven to travel the world. As the four generations of women reunite, the emotional pain of the past is awakened. And to complicate matters further, Zoe must also confront the ex-boyfriend she betrayed many years before.
Anxieties spike when tragedy befalls another woman in the village. As the mystery turns more sinister, new grief melds with old betrayal. Now the four Fairchild women will be tested in ways they couldn’t imagine as they contend with dangers within and without, desperate to heal themselves and their relationships with each other.
The book is told through the eyes of four characters – Zoe, her daughter Isabel, her mother Poppy and her grandmother, Lilian – which does take a little getting used to, especially at the start as you are unpacking the stories from the past that leads to the present day scenario, finding all the characters in the one place at the same time for the first time in many years. But once you have a broad picture of the reasons why the characters are the way they are, the story flows pretty smoothly and easily switches from narrator to narrator. I did find there were storylines I was *more* interested in reading about but don’t be tempted to skip through those that don’t interest you as much because all the different viewpoints help understand the bigger picture 😉
The setting is endearing and appealing – it’s like taking a mini break to Devon from your armchair. I loved the descriptions of the seaside town of Axetowe – the cliffs, the moors, the village – it’s the perfect setting for a mystery! That said, the mystery which brings all the women back to the village is somewhat less of a focus than I imagined it would be from the way the book started and I found myself wanting more of that particular storyline, especially as it IS “the lost girls” piece of the title.
I really enjoyed this book and it was the PERFECT summer read – easy reading but with a decent plot to keep you turning pages. I’m looking forward to checking out more of O’Neal’s books now too!
Buy The Lost Girls of Devon on Amazon (this link should bring you to the Amazon store geographically closest to you). Or, for free worldwide shipping, buy from The Book Depository.
Please note: This post contains affiliate links. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. This post also contains affiliate links from The Book Depository. This means that if you click over and purchase something, I will receive a very small percentage of the purchase price (at no extra cost to you). Thank you in advance!
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MY BOOK! In the French kitchen with kids is out now! Click here for details and how to order!
