The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton is an epic novel in size and scope that explores the mysterious past of a woman named "Nell", placed alone on a boat headed from England to Australia when she was just four years old. 

When Nell arrives on the wharf with just a white suitcase and no memory of even her name, a ship worker finds her and brings her home to his wife. The two loving people raise Nell as their own, only to devulge the secrets of her origins to her when she grows into a young woman. Thus begins Nell's search in to the truth of her past. 

The novel swings from past to "present" time and from character to character as we explore the story from multiple viewpoints. This makes the story an interesting read but hard to follow and become absorbed in, at least at times. I found this book to be a slow read, despite my best efforts at keeping up the pace.I couldn't lose myself in the characters and plot line. 

The story line really is delicious though - a mystery of these proportions woven in such a way that you glimpse snippets of truth one morsel at a time does make for a suspenseful read. I also love the underlying message the book carries about self-discovery. Nell's grandaughter, who takes up the search once Nell passes away, is on her own quest of self-discovery and she accomplishes this by solving Nell's mystery. In turn learning about her own history.

I had a hard time getting into this book, and staying engaged, but the slow reveal of the truth about Nell was a satisfying payment for my time and effort. Finally being able to piece together the large and complicated tale of her beginnings.

This is an inventive work by an author I long to know more about - and read more of. I just wish I had been able to get into this book more fully, to not be bothered by the continual shifts in time, place and character. Maybe I needed a sandy beach someplace tropical with just this book and a cool drink!

Comment to win your very own copy of The Forgotten Garden. We will draw 5 lucky winners from comments posted by November 15, 2010. What do you think of storylines that shift in time, place and voice?