The House at River’s Edge by Rachel Burton is a beautiful dual timeline historical fiction set in 1914 and 1997.
In 1997 Barbara is living with her Mother in Oakdene, a family owned house in dire need of extensive renovations, while doing some soul searching about her plans for the future and what she really wants out of life.
When Barbara and her daughter Penny discover old photos and papers belonging to Barbara’s grandparents they are determined to unravel the mystery of Oakdene and the family secrets within.
In 1914 Grace is spending a summer in Cambridge at her friend’s family estate. The world is on the brink of war and soon everything will change.
I was intrigued by the different characters in both timelines, although my favourite was definitely Grace. The slow unraveling of her story kept me turning the page as I wanted to know about her life and how it affected the family in 1997.
The portrayal of war time Britain was interesting and included food shortages, the post war flu outbreak and soldiers returning home with shell shock. The depiction of how these young lives were forever changed was poignant to read but the romance storyline added some lighter moments to the narrative.
The House at River’s Edge is about secrets, family relationships and love and loss. It’s a beautifully written story about new beginnings after grief and allowing yourself to be open to new opportunities.
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Publisher: Boldwood Books
Format: Ebook
ISBN: 9781835338063
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Here’s the synopsis
1914: Anticipating a long summer of freedom at her friend’s family estate in Cambridge, Grace Villiers is disappointed by an unexpected addition to their party. Then the new arrival offers to teach Grace to swim, and she is forced to see there is more to Algernon Lake than his reputation. But, with war brewing across Europe, this will be a summer that changes everything.
1997: Following her father’s sudden death, Barbara finds herself living with her mother in a house that is, literally, falling down around them. As she tries to put their new home in order, she discovers a photograph of her grandfather as a young man with his friend – two soldiers at the start of the First World War. Setting aside her grief, Barbara becomes determined to uncover their story, hoping it will bring her closer to the family she feels slipping away.
But when her search for answers opens up truths she isn’t prepared for, Barbara will come to realise, some secrets may be best left alone.
What Caz Read 