The Garden of Lost and Found

Beautifully written and intricately plotted dual narrative novel which is told partly from the perspective of Juliet, an unhappy mother of three and from the previous generations of her family. When Juliet, an art historian inherits a house unexpectedly from her grandmother, she decides to separate from her husband and move into the dilapidated house with her disgruntled children. Domestic life is very well portrayed, almost painful to read. Juliet is related to the famous artist Ned Horner, creator of The Garden of Lost and Found, a painting of his children that has subsequently disappeared. The historical parts tell the story of Lydia, his wife, her sister Mary and their children. This begins with Lydia's dreadfully unhappy young adulthood after the death of her mother and its effect on her life. I thought the plot was gripping with both stories as the secrets of Lydia and Mary's lives unfold alongside Juliet coping with domestic tribulations and her new job with an old university adversary. Her grandmother is is a rather complicated character with secrets and the Juliet parts of the narrative are added to with her diary entries giving advice about the house and garden. Juliet finds herself renewed by working on the garden and there are lovely descriptions. Overall, a really enjoyable book that got me hooked.