The Last Camellia by Sarah Jio
Publisher: Plume
Pages: 320
Format: eARC
Buy the Book: Amazon
Goodreads: On the eve of the Second World War, the last surviving specimen of a camellia plant known as the Middlebury Pink lies secreted away on an English country estate. Flora, an amateur American botanist, is contracted by an international ring of flower thieves to infiltrate the household and acquire the coveted bloom. Her search is at once brightened by new love and threatened by her discovery of a series of ghastly crimes.
More than half a century later, garden designer Addison takes up residence at the manor, now owned by the family of her husband, Rex. The couple’s shared passion for mysteries is fueled by the enchanting camellia orchard and an old gardener’s notebook. Yet its pages hint at dark acts ingeniously concealed. If the danger that Flora once faced remains very much alive, will Addison share her fate?
Kritters Thoughts: Two story lines collide in a manor outside of London as two women are trying to find out the full story behind the misshappenings in this large English home. One story takes place in the 1940s as World War II is beginning while the other is a current story, but the run parallel and intersect in the most fascinating ways!
My first book I have read by Sarah Jio and now I will be running very quickly to read her other two books, I was swept into this story so quickly and just wanted to know what would happen to both Flora and Addison. Neither of their stories dominated and I appreciated how the mysteries unfolded in both of their story lines. Only after I finished and thought about it did I find the hints in one story that would have helped me uncover a clue or two in the other - it was pieced together so well!
I can not rave enough about this one! I read it in two sittings and absolutely loved it. Even though it has a historical flare to it, I would recommend it to any reader who may dabble in the historical fiction realm.
Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel
Ebook 2013 Challenge: 43 out of 50
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one copy of this book free of charge from TLC Book Tours. I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I'd been avoiding this one because I assumed it was just another WW2 story (and I've read enough of those to last me a lifetime), but I see from your review it's so much more. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you had a chance to race through this book in two sittings - it sounds like a great read!
ReplyDeleteThanks for being on the tour.