It is with great pleasure that I take part in the blog tour for Kathleen McGuirl's novel, The Forgotten Secret. Set in Ireland over two time periods, it covers a tumultuous time in Irish history.
A country at war
It’s the summer of 1919 and Ellen O’Brien has her whole life
ahead of her. Young, in love and leaving home for her first job, the future
seems full of shining possibility. But war is brewing and before long Ellen and
everyone around her are swept up by it. As Ireland is torn apart by the
turmoil, Ellen finds herself facing the ultimate test of love and loyalty.
And a long-buried secret
A hundred years later and Clare Farrell has inherited a
dilapidated old farmhouse in County Meath. Seizing the chance to escape her
unhappy marriage she strikes out on her own for the first time, hoping the old
building might also provide clues to her family’s shadowy history. As she sets
out to put the place – and herself – back to rights, she stumbles across a
long-forgotten hiding place, with a clue to a secret that has lain buried for
decades.
For fans of Kate Morton and Gill Paul comes an unforgettable
novel about two women fighting for independence.
My Thoughts
This is a well written novel which deals with two separate timelines with skill and insight. The two central female figures are both well- drawn and we see them develop as they gain a sense of their own self worth and ability to speak out and stand on their own two feet. Ellen is a young Irish girl who shows initiative and courage in her actions to support the fight for a free Ireland. At the beginning, she is under the thumb of her father and we see her branch out and mature. Clare maybe an older woman but she has been controlled by her husband and dominated by him. In her story, we see her wake up and begin to see the possibility that there is for an independent life.
The background to the Irish Question has been well researched and you feel the authenticity behind the descriptions of events. Told from the perspective of those fighting for Irish independence, you get a sense of the desperation that was felt. You really do feel that you are looking through a peephole into the past. The central theme which emerges however is the force of family and friendship which can cross borders and uncover common ground.
In short:Secrets from the past are uncovered.
About the Author
KATHLEEN MCGURL lives near the sea in Bournemouth, UK, with
her husband and elderly tabby cat. She has two sons who are now grown-up and
have left home. She began her writing career creating short stories, and sold
dozens to women’s magazines in the UK and Australia. Then she got side-tracked
onto family history research – which led eventually to writing novels with
genealogy themes. She has always been fascinated by the past, and the ways in
which the past can influence the present, and enjoys exploring these links in
her novels.
Thanks to Kathleen McGurl, HQ Digital and Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.
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