The Walled Garden by Robin Farrar Maass

I listened to the unabridged audio version of The Walled Garden by Robin Farrar Maass and narrated by Elizabeth Klett earlier this month. I must admit I was initially captivated by cover art for The Walled Garden, which I think is a lovely book cover. 

When I looked past the cover art for The Walled Garden and read the summary for this novel, I knew I wanted to read this novel! I enjoy reading novels that fall into the historical fiction and mystery genres that also contain a touch of romance in them. 

The Walled Garden has a lovely premise and storyline. However, I didn't like three of the minor characters and some of the over the top, dramatic behavior of a few of the other characters in this novel. I also suspected what the 'mystery' was well before it was revealed at the end by the author. Otherwise, a decent read for the most part.

Listening time for The Walled Garden by Robin Farrar Maass is 10 hours, 22 minutes and is well read by Elizabeth Klett.

Below is the summary for The Walled Garden by Robin Farrar Maass from Goodreads:

American grad student Lucy Silver arrives in England hoping to solve a longstanding literary mystery, write her dissertation, and finish her graduate studies in a blaze of academic glory. But as Lucy starts to piece together the correspondence between her late grandmother and Elizabeth Blackspear, the famous poet and garden writer who’s the subject of Lucy’s dissertation, she discovers puzzling coded references in the letters—and when an elderly English aristocrat with a secret connection to Elizabeth offers Lucy access to a neglected walled garden on his estate, the mystery deepens.

As spring turns to summer in Bolton Lacey, Lucy finds herself fighting the Blackspear Gardens’ director’s attempt to deny her access to vital documents in the archives . . . and trying not to fall in love with an attractive Scottish contractor.

In the midst of this turmoil, she stumbles upon an illicit plot to turn the historic gardens into a theme park, and becomes determined to stop it. As she races against time to save the gardens, Lucy’s search for the truth about Elizabeth’s life leads her to a French convent where she uncovers explosive evidence that will change her life and the lives of everyone around her, ultimately revealing a home—and an inheritance—more incredible than anything she could ever have imagined.

I am giving The Walled Garden by Robin Farrar Maass a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next, post happy reading!!