Closing The Circle
The Forgotten Palace by Alexandra Walsh is a marvellous dual timeline novel that delighted my senses as the past explodes to life.
The story links events in 1900 with present day and the dawn of time, as the reader accompanies the characters to an archeological dig in Crete. In both time periods the characters stay in the same house and visit the dig of Arthur Evans who was a real life person. Fact and fiction collide to weave a terrific tale.
In both time periods the leading ladies are escaping lives in Britain to heal from trauma. Both have been either physically and/or mentally abused and duped by men. In modern day we see the leading lady believing that the abuse is somehow her fault and that he will not do it again. There are some hard to read scenes as the reader realizes the state of the relationship before the character.
Both leading ladies are linked by dreams as voices from the past call to them.
We see the importance of closing the circle that has remained open for a hundred years. We applaud the returning home.
Family is important. We see that love helps to heal broken lives.
Alexandra Walsh has woven a beautiful tale, capturing the exotic locations of the dig. The heat, light and dazzling beauty of the landscape all spring to life as we ‘experience’ the dig in 1900 and revisit the site in present day.
The Forgotten Palace is a read that awakens the senses and emotions in the reader as we lose ourselves for a few hours between the pages.
I received a free copy from Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
JULIA WILSON
In an underground labyrinth a lost soul wanders, waiting for revenge, waiting for love…
London 1900
Alice Webster has made the worst decision of her life. When her Aunt Agatha offers her the chance to go on a Grand Tour she jumps at the opportunity to get away from the glare of scandal. Heading off to see the world as the century turns, Alice begins to believe her broken heart can be healed, and a chance encounter on a train bound for Paris changes everything. When their journey takes them to a Cretan house thick with history, and the world-famous dig at Knossos, stories from the past begin to echo through Alice’s life.
London Present Day
Eloise De’Ath is meant to be a grieving widow. But if people knew the truth about her late husband, they’d understand why she can’t even pretend. Needing to escape, Eloise heads to Crete and the house her father-in-law Quinn left her, and slowly Quinn’s home begins to reveal its mysteries. In his office Eloise discovers his life’s work: the study of the Victorian excavation to find the Minotaur’s labyrinth. Fascinated by the diaries of a young woman from the dig, Eloise is drawn into Alice’s tale of lost love and her growing obsession with Ariadne, the princess of the labyrinth.
Three women divided by time but connected by the long-hidden secrets of the past. As their stories join in a golden thread, a terrible injustice might finally be undone…
Purchase Link – https://amzn.to/3kbJCiI
Author Bio –
Alexandra Walsh is the bestselling author of dual timeline historical mysteries, previously published by Sapere. Her books range from the fifteenth century to the Victorian era and are inspired by the hidden voices of women that have been lost over the centuries. Formerly a journalist, writing for national newspapers, magazines and TV, her first book for Boldwood will be published in Spring 2023.
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