Kathleen McGurl

"The Lost Diamond" held my attention right from the start. The prologue was especially strong and instantly drew me into the story, leaving me wondering what events led to the fatal plane crash.

The first chapter then took the reader to 2023 where Lisa and her friend, while on a hiking holiday in the Alps, stumble across a briefcase containing the extraordinary gem. I loved the premise of a priceless, ‘cursed’ diamond and the air of intrigue surrounding who actually owned the jewel.

The show more story unfolded across two timelines - Agra, India in 1942 in the final months before India’s Independence, and London in 2023 - and I thought the pacing was steady throughout. The dual narrative was neatly woven together, with each timeline adding depth and context to the other. The historical sections were vividly written and I enjoyed learning about India. The atmosphere, cultural tensions, and sense of impending change as independence approaches were brought to life nicely without ever being heavy handed.

The novel explored secrets, betrayal, mystery, romance and friendship, and it balanced these elements well. I found the characters engaging overall. In the modern timeline, I really liked Lisa and enjoyed following her determination to uncover the truth. In the 1942 timeline, young Celia could be occasionally annoying, but I could understand her reluctance to leave India for England after living there all her life. She was determined and strong-willed, and I particularly liked her friendship with Vijay, the Maharajah’s son. Their strong connection added warmth and emotional depth to the story.

The two timelines come together satisfyingly, and I appreciated the ending, which felt fitting and well thought out. Overall, a compelling and atmospheric read that blends historical detail with an engaging modern mystery. show less

I am a sucker for a great cover and it was that along with the tag line ‘For fans of Kate Morton’ that drew me towards this book and I am so glad it did. The cover also had the same feel to it as Laura Madeleine’s brilliant book The Secrets Between Us and Nikola Scott’s My Mother’s Shadow. Both outstanding novels by authors in the same stratosphere as Kate Morton and now Kathleen McGurl will be another worthy author to add to that list.

If you have never read either of those books show more and you enjoy this one I highly recommended adding all three to you TBR lists, just be prepared to lose a lot of sleep! I have now lost another night of beauty sleep to this little beauty of a book, I literally read it in one sitting right through the night.

Set in Ireland switching between Clare in 2016 and Ellen in the 1920’s it is two women’s stories of love, loss, hope and courage in two very different ways and two very different times yet converging to an ending that would make a grown man weep!

Ellen’s story by far and away is the star of the show for me, her character dances off the pages and is instantly relatable, we have remember what it is to be young and in love for the first time, and that is how we first meet her, meeting up with her childhood sweetheart after his return from boarding school.

The history of Ireland is also brought to life through Ellen’s story, a lot of which I hadn’t known and was presented in a non glorified interesting way that shows both sides of the ‘Troubles’ in Ireland at that time.

Clare’s story at times had me shaking my head in disbelieve and others chuckling to myself but didn’t grab me quite as fully, but I was still rooting for her and her new-found independence. Her husband makes my ex husband seem like a prince and that’s saying something 😂 And I dare you to read the word ‘eejit’ without doing it in the voice of Agnes Brown! (Mrs Brown’s Boys) Her voice kept creeping in through some of the dialogue! Sorry if I have now put that voice inside your head too as you read this book!!

A clever page turner of a book that will whisk you away to Ireland and leave a part of your heart back there with it.

The Forgotten Secret: A heartbreaking and gripping historical novel for fans of Kate Morton will be published in the UK on 01 March 2019 and can be pre ordered now from Amazon UK

A big thank you to the author Kathleen McGurl, publishers HQ Digital and NetGalley for my digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest and independent review.

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An entertaining book flipping between 1935,before the fictional village of Brackendale Green is submerged by a new Machester Corporation water reservoir, and contemporary times. Laura, a granddaughter of a former resident of Brackendale, decides to go on holiday to the Lake District and explore the village ruins which have emerged during a drought. She uncovers secrets long hidden. The 1935 events seem quite authentic and shocking by today's standards, in the way the village was wiped off show more the map. show less

A tale of love and tragedy, weaving both past and present in this gloriously sumptuous book that both delights and despairs.

I live close to the boarder between Devon and Dorset so it was like reading about home, making the descriptions of our beautiful countryside that bit more vivid, but even if I lived in a city I would still have been swept away to the seaside alongside Tilly and Ted with the writing that brings the words to life.

The characters are all brought to life before your eyes and show more as Tilly gets swept away with Ted’s story it is impossible not to get swept away with her. Both Ted and Tilly are extremely likeable so you become emotionally invested in both their stories and I will confess, I may have shed a tear or two!

Tilly is 39 which I really liked the fact she is a bit older and found her a lot more relatable being the ripe old age of 40 myself! (There may still be some life in these old bones yet 😂) Finding herself at her age back living with her father after the brutal ending of her marriage is not how she had envisioned her life turning out but with the help of her father she slowly begins to carve out a new life for herself. She takes on some research of the old railway station and its employees from 1930’s to take her mind off her troubles and finds old diary written by the old stationmaster, Ted.

Ted has worked on the railways his whole life and has been stationmaster for years, his job is his life. He was happy with being a 40 year old bachelor and a quiet life and then he met Annie. She is beautiful, clever and for Ted it was love at first sight. One major issue, he’s never spoken more than a handful of words to her! The other issue, she has just become engaged to someone else, and if that wasn’t bad enough for poor old Ted the train lines will no longer be running come the end of summer so he will have no job and no house.

This is a definite emotional rollercoaster of a read that will make you both cry and smile turning the pages at breakneck speed. It is a perfect summer holiday read for all fans of historical romances and other writers as Kate Riordan and Lucinda Riley, just remember to pack a handkerchief alongside it!

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