The Necklace

The Necklace is one of the best books that I have read this year. Everything about the book is fantastic: the plot, the characters, the setting, the cover, and McMillan’s writing. As the story begins in 2009, Nell Quincy Merrihew is summoned to the family farm outside of Cleveland, Ohio because her great aunt Loulou has died. Family dynamics have left Nell feeling like she is an outsider her entire life. When Loulou’s will is read, Nell discovers she has been left an enigmatic Indian necklace that starts Nell down a path to discover the secrets of her family’s past. Meanwhile, her greedy and scheming relatives begin plotting to take the necklace from Nell and to keep her from unearthing family secrets long buried.

The Necklace is show more told in a dual timeline format (the story takes place in 2009 and the mid-1920’s) which I generally enjoy though I frequently find that I like one timeframe better than the other. Thankfully, that was not the case here; both stories are very entertaining and appealing. I love the Jazz Era and was captivated by the story told in that time period. McMillan’s attention to detail and clever storytelling brought that era to life. The present day story was equally appealing, and Nell’s character is intelligent and comes into her own as the book progresses. I also loved that McMillan kept me guessing as family secrets were revealed and details emerged that completed the long-buried family history. I frequently was not sure where the story was headed and loved that I was surprised.

I highly, highly recommend this book and plan to recommend it to everyone I know. Thanks to Touchstone for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. show less

A family of snooty wealth gather for the reading of their departed aunt’s will in her home. Snark prevails (as it does throughout the book) and the era of aristocracy abounds. Nell has been named as executor and bequeathed a specific necklace, that which plays lead in this novel.

Backtrack to a younger time. The prequel, if you please. Two brothers and a sister. Both brothers in love with the same young lady, May. The sister preferring one to prevail. But he (Ambrose) takes off to tour the world after touring May’s skinscape. A series of letters from his journeys follow. There is a fire in his absence, of which his brother (Ethan) is injured. May nurses him back to better health and subsequently, a telegram arrives to Ambrose show more announcing their engagement. Obviously distraught, assuming her his, but also fond of his brother, he opts to remain at large, forgoing attending the union.

Jumping from era to era, we get the before necklace and after stories, with a generation between. But sharing that core is Ambrose, the rub against his father’s polished ideals. Returning home after his 2 years of travel, he tries to realign himself in the new trajectory of his family. Being now a bit black sheep, unable to right his place back into the flock, his welcome home party is as clumsy as first time sex. Especially with family and friends all aside watching. And complications multiply for Ambrose.

The jumping of eras tells the how, when & why of the necklace and later reveals the whom. I like Nell, tho she could have been a bit more sure of herself against the snootiness of her relatives, especially given she’s the only one to “do” anything. Side stories blend in well, giving the dynamics of both eras and their mesh of secrets and deceit. The end reveals what we’ve been told from the beginning, tho the final scene was a bit trite. show less

The past and present of the Quincy family is told as Loulou has passed away and her will is read. The necklace she gives to Nell is finally found and a search for its history brings out secrets some would rather keep hidden.

I liked how each chapter was either the past or the present. As the ancestors' love triangle story is told the present day family is struggling with greed, trying to fit in, and attempting to keep the past buried. The truth does come out and it shows the family's high opinion of themselves is only that. Each character is flawed as humans are--some more than others. I liked Nell and Emerson. Pansy and Baldwin were the pits. I am still out about May, Ambrose, and Ethan. Communication would have helped a lot there.

The show more story was well written. The author drew me into the worlds of the Quincys. I wanted to know what happened. I also wanted to know about the necklace and Ambrose's travels. I may try to find a copy of the journal the story is based upon if it is still in print. show less

After a family matriarch in Ohio dies, the cousins arrive in the present day of the book, which is 2009. The necklace in question was procured by Ambrose Quincy in the 1920's and presented to his brother's wife upon Ambrose's return from his around the world trip. The timelines going back and forth in the book both felt rushed, I wanted to know more about the past Quincy's and felt the present day Quincy's lives were a bit flat, and that the story moved almost too quickly to conclusion.

When her great-aunt Loulou passes away and names Nell Quincy executor of the estate, she is flummoxed. Nell and her mother had always been outcasts in Loulou's eyes. The will also leaves a necklace to Nell, a brilliant and expensive piece Nell later finds crammed into a whiskey bag in a drawer. The provenance of the necklace is unknown, and Nell's cousins and uncle begrudge the her the legacy.

Nell finds an old journal and is drawn into the adventures of Ambrose Quincy in the 1920s. Ambrose brought the necklace home from his travels in India to his sister-in-law May. May, Ambrose's ex-girlfriend, married his brother Ethan while Ambrose was travelling. Upon his return home and gifting the necklace to May, a torrid love affair ensues with show more terrible consequences.

This book is really a 3.5 star read. The writing is compelling enough, but the storyline is revealed ages before any of the drama plays out on the page. The telling alternates between Ambrose's life in the 1920s and Nell's life in the present. I liked the characters but felt more could have been concealed until it played out in writing. show less

Nell's great aunt Loulou has passed away and has made her the executor of the estate. Nell has never felt welcome in the Quincy house, and her cousins are not happy that Nell is the executor. When Nell is bequeathed The Necklace, and this is found to be immensely valuable, her cousins are even more agitated. Nell knows that her mother never felt welcome, and as she uncovers the back story of the necklace, she discovers why.
In a parallel story, Ambrose and Ethan Quincy, are two wealthy brothers living in the Jazz Age. Ambrose is with May, but he wishes to go on a journey to Asia. May begs him to stay, but Ambrose needs to go. While he is away, he finds that Ethan has had a bad accident and their father tells him to come home. Ethan show more persuades Ambrose to continue on his journey. Finally, their father demands that Ambrose return home, and also tells Ambrose that Ethan has married May. Ambrose is heartbroken about this.
When he returns home, he gives May the necklace that he acquired for her in India. His feelings for May are tearing Ambrose apart. He can't stay away from her. It pleases him that she wears his necklace every day. However, Ethan notes the growing tension between Ambrose and May and is unhappy about it. This leads to tragedy.
The necklace ties together two generations.
I was hoping for more from this story. I didn't feel that the characters were adequately developed. show less

This book was a really slow start but it was worth staying with it. The writing isn’t the best, but the story is really good.

The chapters alternate between the 1920’s and the present (2009). Brothers Ethan and Ambrose Quincy want the same girl – May. It is 1925 and Ambrose is driven to travel the world while his brother stays home to run the coal mines. While in India Ambrose buys an extravagant necklace for May whom he intended to marry. However, he learns that May has married Ethan. Upon his return, Ambrose still presents the necklace to May. Thus, the love triangle builds in intensity.

In the present young attorney Nell, always the outsider in the family, is called to the Quincy homestead upon the death of her great-aunt Lulu, show more the sister of Ambrose and Ethan. Nell has been designated the executor of Lulu’s will, and has been left a very unusual, and expensive, necklace. Cousins Pansy and Emerson want that necklace. Wanting to keep her inheritance, Nell researches the history of the necklace which leads to long buried family secrets being revealed.

I was disappointed with the ending. It seemed very contrived and quickly wrapped up. In my opinion, another couple of chapters to play out the ending would have been more satisfying. show less