Enjoyed this book, even though I am no gardener. I enjoy gardens aesthetically, but have no interest in immersing myself in the soil. The hero, a retired college professor, Lawrence Kingston, has been hired to help a young American women restore the gardens of an estate she inherited in England. The professor, who admits to being overly interested in other's people's business, becomes consumed with trying to figure out why Jamie, the young American, has inherited an estate from some one she didn't even know. At least he seems to have a better reason to become involved in trying to unravel the mystery, unlike many stories I've read where the amateur detective thinks he/she can solve a murder better than the professionals. He becomes involved, not to solve the body in the well, as much as to learn more about the former owner of the estate and things progress from there. Other mysteries arise to complicate matters - a body in a well, missing valuable paintings that may have been stolen during WWII, sudden accidents - its sounds a bit confusing, but it all unravels evenly and was a very interesting read. I look forward to investigating more - and learn if Jamie and Kingston relationship may develop, as is hinted at the end of this book.
What do You think about The Lost Gardens (2006)?
Review of The Lost Gardens by Anthony Eglin, St. Martin’s Paperbacks, 2005The Lost Gardens is an interesting book, reminiscent of the horrors of World War II even if set in modern times. It starts a bit slow with plenty of botanic details and the description of some famous gardens but the pace picks up as the story unfolds. Lawrence Kingston, a retired professor of botany, and Jamie Gibson, the new owner of a once-upon-the-time renowned garden team up to bring new life to the run-down estate. Then the grisly discovery...human bones in a well! As they patiently work together to restore the grounds, suspicious deaths occur, making the reader more and more curious about the past of Wickersham Priory and the life of its previous owner.Written by Rene Natan, author of Fleeting Visions, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HNG53LU
—Rene Natan
