Portrait of Stella

by Susan Wüthrich

A fake birth certificate! No record of her existence in the UK data base. Jemima Ashton is desperate to discover her real identity.

With scant information and the burning question 'who am I?', she embarks on an incredible journey of detection.

On learning of her late mother Stella's disappearance during WWII, she retraces her footsteps across the globe and at a distant vineyard, unearths a family she had no idea existed.

While treading a path of narrow-minded bigotry, scandalous revelations emerge of two families inextricably linked by one woman and the drastic steps they took to hide the truth.

Genres: Historical Fiction

357 pages, Paperback

First published April 2, 2014

About the author

Raised in the United Kingdom, after spending twenty-five years in South Africa, she now lives in a picturesque village in Switzerland; an idyllic setting in which to pursue her passion.

Reviews

[J. Schlenker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I've read in a long time. The author pretty much had me on page one, and the momentum continued. In fact, I was reading a best selling made into a movie book for my book club and put it aside for this book. I finished in two days, savoring every word.

It was a mystery, a historical novel, with a smidgen of romance. In retrospect there was actually a lot of romance in that the main characters (most of them) were driven by love. By smidgen, I mean the sex parts were just in the right amount for my particular taste.

This is a well-written book, and I would highly recommend it. In fact, I have my husband reading it now.

[Aditi · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Often the right path is the one that may be hardest for you to follow. But the hard path is also the one that will make you grow as a human being.”
----Karen Mueller Coombs, author

Susan Wüthrich, an English author, has envisioned a heart-touching story in her debut book, Portrait of Stella, which is about the journey of a young woman, named Jemima searching for her real identity and roots.

Synopsis:
A fake birth certificate! No record of her existence in the UK data base. Jemima Ashton is desperate to discover her real identity.
With scant information and the burning question 'who am I?', she embarks on an incredible journey of detection.
On learning of her late mother Stella's disappearance during WWII, she retraces her footsteps across the globe and at a distant vineyard, unearths a family she had no idea existed.
While treading a path of narrow-minded bigotry, scandalous revelations emerge of two families inextricably linked by one woman and the drastic steps they took to hide the truth.

From the very first page itself, the author has tried to arrest the mind of her readers by setting the correct mood and environment in this panoptic family saga, where Jemima tries to search for her mysterious father across the globe. Along with Jemima, the author has taken her readers across various countries from South Africa to New Zealand to Britain, and not only that, the author even takes her readers back in time to an era when World War II has come to an end. In one word, I can say that it's a classic period tale filled with riveting mysteries!

Jemima is the protagonist and her mother Stella never told her anything about her background. Stella was dead when Jemima was questioned by the authorities in UK. Jemima then turns to her grandmother who finally helps her to unravel her mystery behind her background. We get to see the whole story from Jemima's POV, but at times and I can say that at the right moments, the author has introduced Stella's story in the background just in flashbacks. But that doesn't make us disconnected with Jemima's story, in fact, Stella's story help us to understand her reasons better. Moreover there is a promising love story that will only make you feel very warm.

The author has shown us some hard times in the world- the period of Apartheid in South Africa, which was painted with prominence and vividness and the whole picture looked very raw and striking to us. I was able to feel the emotions that the author created while portraying that gruesome period in history.

The whole journey of Jemima from South Africa's darkest time to glorious lands of New Zealand to the aristocratic Britain at the end of World War II will strike you as very compelling and in way quite enlightening.

The writing and the narration was smooth and articulate and that will make the readers feel more connected to the tale. The author's prose was also quite exquisite! It's not only a tale to find your roots, but also a journey to find your true identity and to grow a bit more in your soul.

Verdict: An arresting historical drama filled with puzzles and mysteries, that you can't fail to miss!

Courtesy: I'm so very grateful to the author, Susan Wüthrich, for sending me over a copy of her book, in return for an honest review.

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read a previous novel by Susan Wuthrich (Another Kind of Sunset) which i very much enjoyed, I had no hesitation in wanting to read another book by this author. 'A Portrait of Stella' was also a very enjoyable read and would say it's one of the best novels that i have read in a while.

It's a very well written book and she certainly knows how to tell a wonderful story. I seldom write what a story is about as i do not like to spoil for others, but i do highly recommend. I do hope it's not too long before there is another novel by Susan Wuthrich.

[Lee at ReadWriteWish · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free from net-galley. From the blurb, I was expecting a sweet historical romance with a touch of mystery, and I'm not sure I'd catergorise it as any of those genres. I would call it a good old fashioned sweeping family saga. (I'm sure some of you have worked it out, but I haven't yet garnered an idea of how long a book is when I view it in the ebook format.) I'm not complaining, mind you, as I enjoyed the book immensely. The book's narrator is the Stella from the title's daughter, Jemima, who sets out to discover the truth about her father when a government employee questions the authenticity of her birth certificate. The story slowly unfolds as Jemima travels to various places in England, New Zealand, and South Africa. We learn how Stella is linked to just about every other character the writer introduces. (I did like this; it annoys me when writers introduce characters for no apparent reason.) A lot of the action is told via flashbacks, with the year marked in the title of each. I did not find this distracting at all, and the placement of the flashbacks was done well enough that the story continued to flow seamlessly. Wuthrich's writing lacks pretension and is easy to read. However, I do believe, due to the scope of the plot, the book is extremely ambitious. Apart from the various characters and settings, the timeline of the plot calls for scenes set just prior to and during WW2, to just following that war when the festering illness that would eventually become Apartheid was emerging, to 1983 when South Africa was fully steeped in that same civil rights insanity. In fact, the novel could have easily been cut up into a series of separate books concentrating on just one set of characters at a time. (I especially liked the plot involving a character named Sannie, and would have happily read an entire book focusing on her life.) There were moments I thought Wuthrich could have benefited slightly from the 'show not tell' style, and think this was a direct result of her trying to cram so much in. But, for the most, I really liked the book and would recommend it. 4/5

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jemima is extremely shocked when she receives a letter from Immigration. Her birth certificate is a forgery. There is no record of her existing in the UK. She is desperate to discover who she really is. Her mum has died and she has to turn to her grandma to try and find out what her past really holds. She discovers that her dad wasn’t who he said he was.

It was a really spellbinding tale- drawing you into the mystery and willing her to find out her history. We travel from the 80’s back to wartime Britain.It is extremely well researched with lots of fascinating detail- including the troubled times in South Africa during Apartheid.

I love a great family saga- and this one so cleverly intertwines the different threads and introduces really well rounded and interesting characters.

Received with thanks from Netgallery for review.

[Catherine Byrne · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book! I usually take a week to read a book, and all was going well until the MC went to Africa, from then on I could not put it down. I have sat all day today doing nothing else. No housework done and my poor dogs have not even had a walk! The story is amazing.
I read for entertainment but I also like to learn something new. That’s probably why I like historicals and do not like fantasy or sci-fi. This story certainly educated me on the days of Apartheid, of which I knew very little.
The book is written in two time lines, Jemima, who, on discovering her birth certificate was forged and now seeks the truth, and her mother, Stella, whose story is simultaneously sad and remarkable.
I won’t say it was perfectly written as I feel it could do with a further proof read, but once you get engrossed in the story, this does not really matter. A definite five stars from me across the board!

[B.J. Tiernan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The heroic journey is never an easy one, especially when it comes to trying to solve the puzzle of one's own existence. PORTRAIT OF STELLA takes the reader on a broad sweep of three continents and a couple of generations which had me longing at times for more delicious details of the family history of some of the characters involved. Nevertheless, this rich novel not only entertains but educates the reader about a painful past in history, the political and social system in South Africa known as apartheid. The discomfort set in for me when I realized how much the hammering out of a good deal of this plot disturbingly echoes our contemporary historical events. Have we learned nothing? A stunning journey for those who love history and family. You won't be disappointed.  

[Heidi Lynn’s BookReviews]

First, I want to thank Susan Wuthrich for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review.

Portrait of Stella by Susan Wuthrich was one of the most unique books I have read. I was totally shocked when Jemima (totally loved that name) got a letter in the mail stating her Birth Certificate was fake and she was not going to be able to go to Amsterdam!! Well of course she would freak out! This starts her journey of finding out the truth of what really happened.

One thing that is interesting about the book is that it goes from modern day to back in time. We get to hear the side of the story from Mallory and some from Jemima’s Gram.

[Jacob Singer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Living in apartheid

Reading this book, and living in South Africa during the apartheid era, it hurt that I did not do more to improve the living standards of the Colourds and Blacks that worked for me.

[Aarohi Brar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Portrait of Stella is the story of a woman, from whom the knowledge of her birth was withheld for no reason other than to protect her from the ugliness of the societal conduct she would otherwise have had to endure. This book illustrates the phrase 'Desperate times call for desperate measures' in a way no other text has ever been able to.

The story has been set in two different eras. The 1950's and 1980's. An unprecedented revelation about the identity of Jemima Ashton, or lack thereof leaves her baffled, threatening to shake the very foundation of her existence on Earth. Upon learning that her birth certificate was falsified and that there are no records of her Father's identity in Archives at the repository, Jemima sets out on a journey to trace the path her mother traversed before settling down with her father in England. As with most mysteries, the unraveling of hers comes up blank initially, until she discovers she should have traveled to South Africa in pursuit of her answers.

Little by little, she learns the truth of her parents's relationship and their respective families. From the time of the war, the extermination of jews, apartheid taking root in South Africa to the 2000's, the author has explained everything in vivid detail. The main characters of the story experienced it all first hand. Forced apart on more than one occasion, be it by the laws that encouraged complete segregation of all races or the difficulty of communicating with loved ones halfway across the world or by their own people turning their back on them, caused darkness to be a constant bystander in their excursions.

And what do we see when the dots finally connect to form the true big picture? Why, the portrait of Stella of course!

For the first time in my life, I find myself at a complete loss for words. I don't know which words to use to review this book. Not because I have a problem with expressing myself, but because I have a feeling that the words I have at my disposal can in no way justify the quality of content this book offers. My respect for Susan Wüthrich is beyond words.

The writing is wonderfully clean, refined, pure and impelling. The pace of narration is steady and keeps the reader hooked. It had been a while since I read a story with a historical backdrop and I can say with complete conviction that this one alone was enough to satisfy the long standing thirst.

A MUST read guys!

[Mystica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jemima gets the shock of her life when she gets a very official letter from Immigration asking her to contact them when she applies for a passport. Apparently, her birth certificate is a forgery, there is no proof that her father was born in the UK and hence she is looked at with suspicion.

Jemima's mother has passed away and it is only her grandmother, old and frail who may be able to help Jemima to put the pieces of her life together. Unravelling it a piece at a time, Jemima comes across a puzzle spread over South Africa, New Zealand and Britain and a conspiracy on the part of several people who have kept the pieces so well hidden that it takes a lot of detective work for Jemima to find out that not only was her father not who he said he was, she has a sister, a host of relations plus the fact that she is classified as "colored" in apartheid South Africa.

Set in an era towards the end of WWII, with South Africa being at its nastiest on the apartheid question, the problems of mixed race are very clearly and bluntly described and it is horrifying. The effects of the regime which did its best to keep to a "whites only" policy were horrible and how the rest of the world despite the sanctions, just seemed to look the other way is significant. So many issues facing everyone that one tends to ignore some of them and pretend they do not even exist.

Family sagas are for me, particularly interesting. Coming from a very small unit, I love these large extended families with strong familial connections and bonds. This was one of those stories which held me enthralled right to the end. Each character was wonderful, some of them disgusting but still all connected to each other and part of the main story.

Would highly recommend this book to all lovers of a good story, well written. Never mind the family saga and the historical background.

[Anna (booksandbookends) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free eBook copy of 'Portrait of Stella' from the book's publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A passport application can change your life around - well it certainly did for Jemima. A rejected passport application leads to a near worldwide quest for her true identity. Jemima, the protagonist, finds out her mother and father aren't at all the people she thought they originally were. Her life is flipped on it's head changing everything - for better or worse! Set during World War II, there's plenty of change going on in the world and Stella, Jemima's mum, surrounded by evidence of the change around her. Finding a true portrait of Stella is key to learning the details to her identity. What secrets can a falsified birth certificate and rejected passport application lead to? You're just going to have to read the book to find out!

This book was lovely and completely exceeded my original expectations. Wüthrich has a lovely written style and uses this with flair throughout. I would have given this book five stars if it wasn't for the ending which I found to be a little well, predictable. The entire story makes good use of narrative jumps, flashbacks and the historical era which Wüthrich has set the wonderful story in. It's a good summer holiday book with a style which makes it easy to read and throughly enjoyable at the same time. The characters story lines all overlap wonderfully and there are no silly characters who seem to be simply added for effect which makes the book much more enjoyable to read. There's fab characterisation throughout and great links to the historical period with links to Nelson Mandela and apartheid, it makes the book truly fit into the era it is set in.

A lovely gripping story from beginning to end. Definitely worth a read!

[Li Or · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

If you've ever watched the TV shows "Long Lost Family" or "Who do you think you are?", this book is like an amalgamation of these two shows. The title gives the gist of the story, which is about one lady who seeks to understand her mother, Stella's, hidden past to uncover her own mysterious origins.

The story is quite an epic one, spanning over two generations. It takes you across three different continents; through World War II and into the 2000s. The details of the story are interesting and unpredictable with a few good twists, unfolding at a leisurely, steady pace. An unexpected bonus was that in reading this book you learn a little about the history of South Africa (circa 1940s-1980s) which is something I've always wanted to read more about. Story-wise, I'd give this book a solid "A" grade.

Writing-style-wise, the writing is more of a "B" grade. It explains the story clearly but it's very matter-of-fact; almost like a history report. Even the most dramatic, emotional moments felt emotionally flat. I found myself wishing the whole story was more emotionally engaging. In an ideal world, I also would have liked to have seen it written more artistically - some similes and metaphors and more text about how the characters were feeling to the very core of their beings; in their very guts, rather than just what they were saying out loud, or thinking logically.

All in all, an interesting, well-put-together story that's worth a read for those who like stories about family intrigue or who may be interested in life in South Africa. At the moment, I'd say it's a good read rather than an amazing read but I feel like the author has the potential to really be amazing if she taps into emotions more in her writing. Once she'll get to grips with that, she'll be one to watch!

- - -

*ARC copy provided courtesy of NetGalley*

[Isis Ray-sisco · Rating 3 out of 5]

Portrait of Stella by Susan Wüthrich is an interesting read that goes back and forth between the past and the present day. I have never read this author before and I would probably pick up another book by her. Portrait of Stella had some engaging characters and a decent plot line. There was a lot to enjoy about the book.

Jemima grew up living a lie. Everything she thought that she knew was a lie. Her world was rocked from the moment she got the call that her birth certificate was a fake and that there is no record of her. She wants to know everything about her mother and her past. She must find out to find out where she came from and who she is. She takes time off of work but soon realizes that it isn’t enough time. She can’t go back until she has found the truth. The more of the mystery she unwraps the more she finds out about her mother and the more she learns about herself. Her life is enriched by some of the people she meets in her journey. Will she be able to put the past behind her once she learns the truth? Or will it leave a lasting impression that echoes into her future?

Portrait of Stella was just an ok read for me. Like I said earlier there were a lot of things that I did like about the book but there were also things that I didn’t really care for. I felt that it was a bit jarring sometimes when it shifts between past and present. I liked most of the characters and felt they were very well depicted. I also thought that the author did a good job at depicting the prejudice that was present at that time in South Africa as well. The characters were memorable and Jemima’s journey to find who she was, was as well. I think that people who enjoy historical fiction would enjoy reading Portrait of Stella.

[Ariana Baxter · Rating 4 out of 5]

As others have mentioned, I wasn't sure what to expect from the blurb when I requested a copy of this book through Netgalley. I think family saga sums it up best.

Jemima needs her passport renewed for a business trip she's about to take, but instead, she receives word her birth certificate appears to be fake. This, coming soon after the death of her mother, leads Jemima across several continents and even more decades in search of the truth about who she is and details about the father she never knew.

The story is told in various periods of time, revealing hints and nibbles of the past, leaving you to keep reading to see how it all fits together. There's also a romance or two in the present time developing through the book. I think the way the story is broken up keeps it from being weighed down in any time period. Overall, it's an enjoyable read.

[Sabina Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like you to know how much I thoroughly enjoyed reading the debut novel by Susan Wuthrich called Portrait of Stella. It was hard to put down and I could have read through the night in order to find out if Jemima (the main character) finds out the truth about her birth certificate and her late mother Stella. The story cleverly weaves back and forth between the war-time Britain in the 1940's and the 1980's, and spans across several continents with twists and turns, as we follow Jemima's adventures and revelations in apartheid era South Africa.

I'm looking forward to reading Susan Wuthrich's next novel, which I'm certain will be equally page-turning!

[Babs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it very much. The story line is well-paced with well developed characters, along with the meticulous research and attention to detail which makes this a most enjoyable book. It is about a woman seeking to gain knowledge of her mother's past. Her quest leads her to several countries and to some unexpected knowledge about her family. The book also offers some insight into the social and political climate and conflicts in South Africa at the time the action takes place. I highly recommend this good read.

[Felicity Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Portrait of Stella
By Susan Wuthrich
Read 25th July 2014

I highly recommend this wonderful book. It is the story of a search by Jemima, Stella’s daughter, into her mother’s past. There is an excellent balance of fact and fiction and the factual content was well researched. The story weaves back and forth between war-time Britain and the 1980’s. A long read crammed with detail and excellent characters. I award this book 5 stars.

[Leona Oechslin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book struck the right balance of fact and fiction. The fiction captured the early life of Stella, which was pieced together by her daughter Jemima. Jemima's exploration into her mother's past was a cruel reminder of the aspects and consequences of apartheid. I found the factual content was extremely well researched. I highly recommend 'Portrait of Stella.'

[Petra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Portrait of Stella had me gripped from the beginning. Starting off in England, the protagonist travels far and wide in search of her real identity. From the rolling hills of Shropshire to the beautiful City of Wellington and on to the vineyards of South Africa, where many shocks await her.

[Dorothy Buerge · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you Combine all the components that tell the Story of Stella, it becomes a 'must read'. History, crime and a love Story to remember. Definitely m...more

[Monique.hafnerraiffeisen.ch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, great author!
A must have.......
Can't wait for the next one to appear!

[Claire Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was gripped from the beginning and just had to know about Jemima and her roots.

[Pete Hartley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite five stars but more than four.

23 November 2018
Format: Kindle Edition. Verified Purchase

If I could have given this book four and a half stars I would. It didn’t blow my mind, but it did engage, enliven, educate and uplift it.

I was looking for a read that, in a Shakespearean sense, held a mirror up to nature, and this work certainly does that, showing not only the true nature of humans but also some of the deplorably distasteful filters humans can use to redefine what they see in others.

It is evenly exposed initially, but it’s well worth staying with the story. It is a while before the major payoffs hit home, but when they do they strike hard. There has been some skilful crafting on the part of the author, and it is so adroitly done that a complex weave is unravelled with logic and complete credibility. It crosses continents and consciences and also travels to those places where we must realign our bearings with respect to those with whom we choose to share our lives.

It flips between several periods and the worst of what it reveals has now been confined to history, but sadly not everywhere, and reading it in 2018, I found there were very disturbing resonances with contemporary events and attitudes. It is especially sharp at unveiling the pain and alienation of the absurd judgements that can render a person unentitled.

I found the draw of the narrative to be steady rather than irresistible, so I was quite content to put the book down but equally happy to pick it up again. Other readers may find themselves more strongly tethered. It is a tale rooted in family peculiarities but with universal implications.

It will appeal especially to readers who want a domestic mystery mixed with social insight, containing convincing emotional interplay, and founded on worthy exposition of both the beauty and the ugliness of human inheritance.

It is an intelligent and valuable work, and like the best fiction, the behaviour that lies beneath the narrative is not fictional at all.

[William Diebold · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was introduced to Portrait of Stella by Susan Wuthrich with the claim that if I liked Wilbur Smith books, I would like this one. I found the book to have a unique plot, which I have not seen anywhere before. It is brutally honest as the narrative places you on the wrong side of the racist situation that existed in South Africa before the end of apartheid. At one point we are introduced to two sisters, one classified as white, and one non-white, from the same parents, but that is enough apparently to make you less human than others who share the same skin color as you. It is set up so that everyone can relate and understand the unreasonable cruelty of apartheid. All of this is revealed as a young woman living in England searches for her roots that take her first to New Zealand and then to South Africa. You will be surprised, and shocked at the circumstances she faces and, yet, you will believe it could happen as she unravels the mystery and seeks to find answers for the many questions she has about her mother and father. I am a history nut and thus was intrigued to examine what life was like back then in England and particularly during that period in South African history. I was engaged during the entire narrative, and I highly recommend this book to those who like to read a good story, and especially for those who like to read books comparable to Wilbur Smith.

[Dawn Brookes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story from the beginning when Gemima finds out that her birth certificate is a forgery. The story spans two different times, the first is that of Gemima searching for the truth of her birth and the second goes back in time and follows the events of her mother, Stella. At times it is sad and tragic and the history of apartheid is covered well and I learned a lot more about the era. I followed the protests about Nelson Mendela's imprisonment over many years but the experiences that people like Stella and even Gemima had were insufferable. Initially I found the moving from one time to another tricky but I think the author introduced it in a creative way and made it a good read. I think the book could have been told in two or three parts as a family saga but it was an intriguing and enjoyable read. I do agree with another reviewer that it could have done with a further proofread as there are a number of typos that, although they don't take away from the story they can be irritating from a reader's perspective. I still think this is a five star story though and loved it. It has a bit of everything included from World War II to the year 2000 and spans three generations and three continents.

[Sharone Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Englishwoman Jemima Ashton is astounded to learn her passport cannot be renewed because her birth certificate is fake. The book is about her pursuit of answers about her own identity and that of her mom, Stella. It leads her to New Zealand and then to Africa, where writer Susan Wüthrich delves into Apartheid in much details, shedding light on what life was like in Africa back then. Jemima's world is shaken quite a few times by her journey's findings.

I found part two a bit cumbersome as it introduces a few new characters and I kept on wanting to read about the characters I knew and had already felt emotionally invested in. Still, the mystery kept me going, despite the fact that I'd guessed most of it early on. One missing key component was the punishment of a certain aggressor and of the person who covered up for him.

Lastly, someone tells Jemima she's one of the bravest persons he's ever known. She's definitely that, especially in comparison to her mother, Stella, who is reserved and almost fatalistic in her acceptance of everything that happens to her. So I'd rather of think of this tale as Portrait of Jemima and her courageous journey.

[Angela Lockwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I like about Susan wüthrich’s books, is that it is historical fiction, but often not too distant history and ordinary people. Like here; when a woman in 1983 discovers during a passport application that her birth certificate is fake. Jemima is an ordinary young woman. Divorced she concentrates on her career. Then this chance discovery stops her in her tracks, suddenly work takes a back seat while she sets out to discover where she was born. With both parents dead and a period where her mother just disappeared makes it hard to find out what happened. Jemima does take some rash decisions and sets of to New Zealand on very vague information. It is a story of a woman discovering who she is and her awakening to the prejudice and injustice in South Africa. Well written in a series of flashbacks to 1945 and the following years, interwoven with Jemima story. A tragic tale of love, prejudice and courage. Recommended.

[Lucinda Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t think I was going to like this book, but I loved it. I loved it so much I spent a whole day immersed flicking the pages as fast as I could. This is an excellent story, carefully crafted, exciting and packed with lots of information. Having lived in South Africa, I was aware of the apartheid rules and regulations – if you did not experienced that, it will be a real eye-opener. The plot is quite complex but all the loose ends are tied up leading to a very satisfactory conclusion. The pace was fast, but the words flowed and I raced through the book through the eyes of both Stella and Jemima. The book grabs you from the first chapter when Jemima finds out that she is not who she thought she was and thus begins her search to discover her past. Highly recommended.

[Mark Morey · Rating 4 out of 5]

An epic saga based on one family spanning three nations: England, New Zealand and South Africa. Portrait of Stella grabbed me from the first page and despite its length I couldn't put it down. I got to half-way before I knew where I was. At that point the story changed to yet another timeline and character perspective which for me was one perspective too many. I stayed with it and eventually the story returned to the characters I was more engaged with, and revealing the big mystery too. One aspect particularly interesting in Portrait of Stella was the portrayal of the early days of apartheid in South Africa, while aspects of this tumultuous time meshed into the main mystery of the plot.

Overall Portrait of Stella was an excellent read that didn't seem as long as it really was.