Last year I was buying books for my mother-in-law to read whilst she was recovering from a stroke. As I perused the book shelves I saw Savage Garden by Mark Mills and was attracted by both the front and back cover. I’m not sure if I bought the book at the time (I must ask) but in the year since I have spied the book repeatedly on book shelves and in shop windows. It seemed that the book was calling to me, reminding me that it had piqued my interest all those months ago.
On a roam through Waterston’s last month I felt the pull again with a 3 for 2 offer on at the time, I felt at last that I should take the plunge and buy the book.
After such a long time I felt no need to start the book immediately. I’m sure there was some reason why the book was placed on the shelf until another time (probably the other 2 books in the offer) but a few weeks ago I finally picked it up, and I’m glad to have done so.
Within the first few pages I felt an attraction to the characters laid out before me. References to art, literature and history seem to lay a foundation on which multiple mysteries from differing times have been woven. Beautifully written, this book kept my interest throughout and as I lay the book down I felt satisfied.