The Forgotten Gift
The Forgotten Gift is a multi-period novel set in England. In the present day, Cassie is researching her family history, a quest that uncovers the story of George Britten, an ancestor who was imprisoned for murder. In the 19th century we read George’s diaries, his own account of the murder that changed his life, and his subsequent imprisonment. Meanwhile Cassie has issues and dilemmas of her own to tackle, some relating to much more recent family history. The story follows a series of twists and turns as Cassie pieces together George’s history while trying to make sense of her own life.
There are parallels between the two strands of the story: ancestry, knowing your roots and imprisonment all play a part. Unfortunately, I felt that the plot was often predictable and that issues were resolved too easily. And I didn’t get much sense of the historical background. Apart from the big house with servants, and the brutal prison conditions, there wasn’t much to place George’s story in the Victorian period. As a reader, I was never challenged, and I didn’t really learn anything from reading this book. I had seen good reviews of this author’s work and was expecting more, but it seemed more like a chick-lit story than a historical novel. However, it was very readable, and would be fine for anyone seeking a light and undemanding read.
