A cache of unsent love letters from the 1950s is found in a suitcase on a remote island in this mysterious love story by top ten bestselling author, Kayte Nunn
1951. Esther Durrant, a young mother, is committed to an isolated mental asylum by her husband. Run by a pioneering psychiatrist, the hospital is at first Esther’s prison but soon becomes her refuge.
2018. Free-spirited marine scientist Rachel Parker embarks on a research posting in the Isles of Scilly, off the Cornish coast. When a violent storm forces her to take shelter on a far-flung island, she discovers a collection of hidden love letters. Captivated by their passion and tenderness, Rachel determines to track down the intended recipient.
Meanwhile, in London, Eve is helping her grandmother, a renowned mountaineer, write her memoirs. When she is contacted by Rachel, it sets in motion a chain of events that threatens to reveal secrets kept buried for more than sixty years.
Published August 2019 by Orion Books
A secret love affair, a dual timeframe and an incredible setting – this book ticked all my boxes!
When Rachel is marooned on an island off Cornwall, she discovers the most romantic unsent love letters dating back seventy years. Determined that the intended recipient should finally receive them, she tracks down the impressive Esther and her Grandaughter Eve. But the letters reveal a hidden past and family secret…
I say this over and over, but I absolutely adore dual timeframes, and Kayte Nunn gets it perfect in this gorgeous book. She mingles past and present beautifully and I enjoyed both timeframes equally
Told from the perspective of three strong women, themes of independence, self belief and autonomy ripple across the decades. In fact, although she doesn’t have her own narrative, a fourth woman, Leah, cements the theme. But the women are also linked by their realisation that reaching out to others can also make them stronger
The prose is atmospheric and the setting beautifully imagined. I loved the romance in this story, it’s full of heartache and missed chances. The Forgotten Letters of Esther Durrant is a charming book from beginning to end, it’s one to get completely swept away in and I adored every page
Thank you @orionbooks for the #gifted copy
