What do you think?
Rate this book
Rachel's Garden
Can something so perfect really be poisonous?
When Rachel and her husband Adam move to Maple Cottage in remote Cheshire, it should be the fulfilment of their dream to start a family.
Haunted by her past and challenged by events around her, Rachel finds that her home is not the sanctuary she envisaged–and neither is her marriage. Adam’s temper rages when he discovers he is infertile. She seeks solace in the arms of her gardener and falls pregnant.
Dreams become reality—and a garden grows, but as every gardener knows, even the most beautiful plants can be toxic.
Can Rachel find the happiness she craves, or will the toxic past take root and lead her down a dark path?
Rachel's Garden is a brilliantly dark and moving psychological thriller. It's the perfect read for fans of authors like S.E. Lynes, Clare Mackintosh and Lisa Jewell, Rachel's Garden will have your pulse racing and your heart in your mouth from start to finish.
When Rachel and her husband Adam move to Maple Cottage in remote Cheshire, it should be the fulfilment of their dream to start a family.
Haunted by her past and challenged by events around her, Rachel finds that her home is not the sanctuary she envisaged–and neither is her marriage. Adam’s temper rages when he discovers he is infertile. She seeks solace in the arms of her gardener and falls pregnant.
Dreams become reality—and a garden grows, but as every gardener knows, even the most beautiful plants can be toxic.
Can Rachel find the happiness she craves, or will the toxic past take root and lead her down a dark path?
Rachel's Garden is a brilliantly dark and moving psychological thriller. It's the perfect read for fans of authors like S.E. Lynes, Clare Mackintosh and Lisa Jewell, Rachel's Garden will have your pulse racing and your heart in your mouth from start to finish.
259 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 31, 2021
238 people are currently reading
190 people want to read
About the author
Louise Worthington
7 books55 followersLouise Worthington writes literary gothic thrillers set in the rural landscapes of Shropshire and the Welsh borders. Her novels blend domestic noir, psychological suspense, and atmospheric horror, featuring morally complex female protagonists who reclaim power through dangerous means.
Worthington's distinctive voice combines poetic prose with visceral violence, where ancient yew trees contain bodies, poisonous gardens become instruments of revenge, and Victorian institutions harbour supernatural horrors. Her work explores the darkness beneath domesticity, the violence embedded in landscape, and the thin line between victim and perpetrator.
With degrees in literature and psychology, and experience as an English teacher, Worthington brings psychological depth and literary craftsmanship to genre fiction. Her novels include "Rosie Shadow," "Rachel's Garden," "The Entrepreneur," "Doctor Glass," and "Forgotten Dark."
She lives with her family in Shropshire, UK—the landscape that haunts her fiction.
Follow this page for updates on new releases.
Worthington's distinctive voice combines poetic prose with visceral violence, where ancient yew trees contain bodies, poisonous gardens become instruments of revenge, and Victorian institutions harbour supernatural horrors. Her work explores the darkness beneath domesticity, the violence embedded in landscape, and the thin line between victim and perpetrator.
With degrees in literature and psychology, and experience as an English teacher, Worthington brings psychological depth and literary craftsmanship to genre fiction. Her novels include "Rosie Shadow," "Rachel's Garden," "The Entrepreneur," "Doctor Glass," and "Forgotten Dark."
She lives with her family in Shropshire, UK—the landscape that haunts her fiction.
Follow this page for updates on new releases.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
February 15, 2021
Rachel and Adam move into Rachel's deceased cottage in Cheshire ... hoping to make a new start with their marriage. Both want to be parents, but nothing has happened yet. The longer Rachel doesn't gt pregnant, the more abusive Adam gets. When Adam learns that HE is infertile, he goes crazy and tries to strangle his wife. Only the appearance of the gardener saves her.
Adam leaves immediately after, leaving a note telling Rachel that he will be gone a couple of months ... he's working overseas. They will talk when he gets backs.
Rachel is deathly afraid of Adam ... but what happens when she falls for the gardener?
And what will happen when Adam returns to a unfaithful wife ... and the secret she carries?
This is a well-written psychological drama involving lies, secrets, abusive behavior, manipulation and a marriage at the cusp of no return. It's a slow starter but the suspense steadily builds and then explodes with tension and emotional strain leading to a very surprising, unexpected conclusion.
Many thanks to the author / Bloodhound Books for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Adam leaves immediately after, leaving a note telling Rachel that he will be gone a couple of months ... he's working overseas. They will talk when he gets backs.
Rachel is deathly afraid of Adam ... but what happens when she falls for the gardener?
And what will happen when Adam returns to a unfaithful wife ... and the secret she carries?
This is a well-written psychological drama involving lies, secrets, abusive behavior, manipulation and a marriage at the cusp of no return. It's a slow starter but the suspense steadily builds and then explodes with tension and emotional strain leading to a very surprising, unexpected conclusion.
Many thanks to the author / Bloodhound Books for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
February 7, 2021
Actual rating 3.5 stars
In Rachel’s Garden we meet our protagonist as she is moving into her childhood home Maple Cottage, under sad circumstances. With both parents dead and having previously rented the cottage out she now feels it is time to come home where she feels she truly belongs. Her husband Adam, away much of the time working in China, is happy for this move to go ahead in the hope that a fresh start will also translate into a new beginning for them both as parents,a longed for baby yet to make an appearance. Will precious but bittersweet memories overshadow Rachel’s homecoming or will her love of the outdoor life and project to create her garden of rooms, her homage to those she loves be the beginning of a more hopeful future?
Whilst this thriller sets off on a slow and unusual path I was expecting good things to come from what potentially has the makings of a dark and menacing storyline. Although details of the shape of Rachel and Adam’s marriage trickle down to the reader slowly I couldn’t visualise a more unlikely pair and this unsettled me. They appear to have nothing in common and I can only describe Adam’s character as noxious bindweed that threatens to strangle the life out of their marriage. The relative isolation of the cottage, with only elderly neighbour Shirley nearby and the amount of time Rachel spends alone adds to a sense of foreboding, although the presence of gardener Ollie goes some ways to alleviate these troubling feelings. Exactly how this character will slot into place takes time to understand, his role perhaps the only one shrouded in a (thin) veil of mystery. Still, my trepidation at what may befall Rachel was further exacerbated by the backdrop of Peckerton woods which contain their own hidden threats. As a self confessed scaredy cat, woods give me the heebie jeebies so I gradually immersed myself in this storyline anticipating being frightened out of my wits. That Rachel is also desperate to become a mother, her friend Jen already pregnant with her fourth child, overrides any rational thinking on her part, her heart ruling her head, ultimately leading to a surprising revelation.
Undoubtedly this is very well written. Either the author is a keen horticulturist or has really done her research. From the opening you can tell this is going to be an atmospheric thriller in which nature and wildlife play a crucial role. I loved how the author brings the outside in, heightening the readers sense of setting, vividly recreating the sense of colour and smell redolent of the outdoors and the changing of the seasons. The importance of the garden at Maple Cottage to our protagonist Rachel is striking and with death and the creation of new life all part of this natural world I loved the analogy between the emergence of Rachel’s garden of rooms and the potential for new life to blossom within her. However for a thriller, the pace is agonisingly slow and my hope for a dark and menacing storyline never really materialises. Frightened I was not! The author attempts to create tension and unease with unexpected gifts left in the garden for Rachel to discover, suggesting she is being watched but by whom? For me these attempts felt half hearted, never leading anywhere except a dead end and the former tenant of Maple cottage element, a minor subplot, didn’t work in my eyes; it was like an ill fitting piece of a jigsaw puzzle. It is the toxic relationship between husband and wife that is real cause for alarm and although there are times you fear for Rachel’s safety the author failed to entirely convince me of the threat he poses to his wife. Perhaps it’s because Rachel remains in situ despite his unforgivable behaviour that I felt this way.
The strength of this thriller lies in its descriptive prose of Rachel’s surroundings and I found the portrayal of her relationship with both her mother and father beautifully written and quite moving. Unfortunately I wouldn’t describe this as a thriller, it’s more along the lines of a dark domestic drama. Given the circumstances of Rachel’s father’s death it is perhaps inevitable how this thriller will conclude and whilst it might be a satisfying outcome there’s no element of shock or surprise. I’m incredibly hard to please when it comes to psychological thrillers hence my average rating but I did appreciate the quality of the author’s writing. On this occasion I think the descriptive scene setting overshadowed a weak plot. My thanks to Bloodhound books for giving me the opportunity to read.
In Rachel’s Garden we meet our protagonist as she is moving into her childhood home Maple Cottage, under sad circumstances. With both parents dead and having previously rented the cottage out she now feels it is time to come home where she feels she truly belongs. Her husband Adam, away much of the time working in China, is happy for this move to go ahead in the hope that a fresh start will also translate into a new beginning for them both as parents,a longed for baby yet to make an appearance. Will precious but bittersweet memories overshadow Rachel’s homecoming or will her love of the outdoor life and project to create her garden of rooms, her homage to those she loves be the beginning of a more hopeful future?
Whilst this thriller sets off on a slow and unusual path I was expecting good things to come from what potentially has the makings of a dark and menacing storyline. Although details of the shape of Rachel and Adam’s marriage trickle down to the reader slowly I couldn’t visualise a more unlikely pair and this unsettled me. They appear to have nothing in common and I can only describe Adam’s character as noxious bindweed that threatens to strangle the life out of their marriage. The relative isolation of the cottage, with only elderly neighbour Shirley nearby and the amount of time Rachel spends alone adds to a sense of foreboding, although the presence of gardener Ollie goes some ways to alleviate these troubling feelings. Exactly how this character will slot into place takes time to understand, his role perhaps the only one shrouded in a (thin) veil of mystery. Still, my trepidation at what may befall Rachel was further exacerbated by the backdrop of Peckerton woods which contain their own hidden threats. As a self confessed scaredy cat, woods give me the heebie jeebies so I gradually immersed myself in this storyline anticipating being frightened out of my wits. That Rachel is also desperate to become a mother, her friend Jen already pregnant with her fourth child, overrides any rational thinking on her part, her heart ruling her head, ultimately leading to a surprising revelation.
Undoubtedly this is very well written. Either the author is a keen horticulturist or has really done her research. From the opening you can tell this is going to be an atmospheric thriller in which nature and wildlife play a crucial role. I loved how the author brings the outside in, heightening the readers sense of setting, vividly recreating the sense of colour and smell redolent of the outdoors and the changing of the seasons. The importance of the garden at Maple Cottage to our protagonist Rachel is striking and with death and the creation of new life all part of this natural world I loved the analogy between the emergence of Rachel’s garden of rooms and the potential for new life to blossom within her. However for a thriller, the pace is agonisingly slow and my hope for a dark and menacing storyline never really materialises. Frightened I was not! The author attempts to create tension and unease with unexpected gifts left in the garden for Rachel to discover, suggesting she is being watched but by whom? For me these attempts felt half hearted, never leading anywhere except a dead end and the former tenant of Maple cottage element, a minor subplot, didn’t work in my eyes; it was like an ill fitting piece of a jigsaw puzzle. It is the toxic relationship between husband and wife that is real cause for alarm and although there are times you fear for Rachel’s safety the author failed to entirely convince me of the threat he poses to his wife. Perhaps it’s because Rachel remains in situ despite his unforgivable behaviour that I felt this way.
The strength of this thriller lies in its descriptive prose of Rachel’s surroundings and I found the portrayal of her relationship with both her mother and father beautifully written and quite moving. Unfortunately I wouldn’t describe this as a thriller, it’s more along the lines of a dark domestic drama. Given the circumstances of Rachel’s father’s death it is perhaps inevitable how this thriller will conclude and whilst it might be a satisfying outcome there’s no element of shock or surprise. I’m incredibly hard to please when it comes to psychological thrillers hence my average rating but I did appreciate the quality of the author’s writing. On this occasion I think the descriptive scene setting overshadowed a weak plot. My thanks to Bloodhound books for giving me the opportunity to read.
November 24, 2023
Lovely book! Very descriptive about flowers and birds. Loved all the characters except for Adam. Would have loved for the story to go on. I think it would be very easy for the author to write a sequel to this book! Will definitely check out more books by this author!
February 14, 2021
I loved everything about this book, and for me it is one of those books that will take hold of you and keep hold of you until its end. Infact I read it in a day as I just couldn’t put it down.
Some reviews have said it was a “slow starter” or “a little wordy” in the beginning, but I didn’t find this at all.
After moving back to her family home, Maple Cottage. She hopes it will be a completely new start for her and hudband Adam. But it’s not long after Adam returns from China that she realises he will never change.
He controls everything. Even things that she is not even aware of. But when one of the things he threatens, her beautiful Maple Cottage with plans to change it, and with yet another threat to her life, she knows she can’t stay with him any longer. Enough is enough!
But leaving him will not be easy.
As if dealing with Adam isn’t enough, in the background, since her return, someone is trying to scare her and upset her. Who is doing this to her, and why? and does Adam have something to do with it.
Without her heavily pregnant best friend Jen, and her “surrogate mum” Shirley I don’t think she would get through what is going on around her.
This is an emotional read that had me going through a range of emotions myself. To the point in parts I shed a tear or two.
I loved the character of Rachel, and through the authors words, I felt like I was walking in her shoes.
For Rachel the fear of the constant threats against her, the grief one feels at the loss of one’s parents, and the love and friendships of others. It will have you fighting her corner all the way to the end.
This is my first book by this author, and will definitely not be my last.
I wish I could give it a sixth star just for mentioning my home town of Frodsham.
Some reviews have said it was a “slow starter” or “a little wordy” in the beginning, but I didn’t find this at all.
After moving back to her family home, Maple Cottage. She hopes it will be a completely new start for her and hudband Adam. But it’s not long after Adam returns from China that she realises he will never change.
He controls everything. Even things that she is not even aware of. But when one of the things he threatens, her beautiful Maple Cottage with plans to change it, and with yet another threat to her life, she knows she can’t stay with him any longer. Enough is enough!
But leaving him will not be easy.
As if dealing with Adam isn’t enough, in the background, since her return, someone is trying to scare her and upset her. Who is doing this to her, and why? and does Adam have something to do with it.
Without her heavily pregnant best friend Jen, and her “surrogate mum” Shirley I don’t think she would get through what is going on around her.
This is an emotional read that had me going through a range of emotions myself. To the point in parts I shed a tear or two.
I loved the character of Rachel, and through the authors words, I felt like I was walking in her shoes.
For Rachel the fear of the constant threats against her, the grief one feels at the loss of one’s parents, and the love and friendships of others. It will have you fighting her corner all the way to the end.
This is my first book by this author, and will definitely not be my last.
I wish I could give it a sixth star just for mentioning my home town of Frodsham.
February 1, 2021
A well-written book, if rather strange in subject-matter for this reader. The author has researched well into the different flora and fauna of the isolated garden and woodland, and put this knowledge to good use. The opening passage is particularly evocative of this, with a sense of foreboding threaded through it for what is to come.
I had worked out something of what was to come at the end, through the clues left by Ms Worthington, and also been taken off on some red herrings by her work. I thought for a time that Rachel’s parents being so much older was a flaw, and that the various dates and ages didn’t add up, and put my investigative ‘Whodunnit’ search for clues to some use there, but the author had done her work with meticulous precision and things added up. Was this a significant part of the plot, though? You’ll have to find out for yourself.
I have to admit, though, that I found Rachel rather irritating. Even given the way that human emotion gets in the way of sensible behaviour, I couldn’t forgive her for not taking decisive action when left alone for some months; but then books of this ilk don’t work around people acting sensibly, do they? Nevertheless, I still found some of the behaviour odd, unreal and downright incautious, to say the least. Obviously I can’t expound on that, in case of spoiling things; but the book loses a star thereby, from me. A good read, though.
I had worked out something of what was to come at the end, through the clues left by Ms Worthington, and also been taken off on some red herrings by her work. I thought for a time that Rachel’s parents being so much older was a flaw, and that the various dates and ages didn’t add up, and put my investigative ‘Whodunnit’ search for clues to some use there, but the author had done her work with meticulous precision and things added up. Was this a significant part of the plot, though? You’ll have to find out for yourself.
I have to admit, though, that I found Rachel rather irritating. Even given the way that human emotion gets in the way of sensible behaviour, I couldn’t forgive her for not taking decisive action when left alone for some months; but then books of this ilk don’t work around people acting sensibly, do they? Nevertheless, I still found some of the behaviour odd, unreal and downright incautious, to say the least. Obviously I can’t expound on that, in case of spoiling things; but the book loses a star thereby, from me. A good read, though.
February 24, 2021
Rachel's garden by Louise Worthington.
When Rachel and her husband Adam move to Maple Cottage in remote Cheshire, it should be the fulfilment of their dream to start a family.
Haunted by her past and challenged by events around her, Rachel finds that her home is not the sanctuary she envisaged–and neither is her marriage. Adam’s temper rages when he discovers he is infertile. She seeks solace in the arms of her gardener and falls pregnant.
Dreams become reality—and a garden grows, but as every gardener knows, even the most beautiful plants can be toxic.
Can Rachel find the happiness she craves, or will the toxic past take root and lead her down a dark path?
A very good read. Great story and some good characters. I did find this slow to begin with. 4*.
When Rachel and her husband Adam move to Maple Cottage in remote Cheshire, it should be the fulfilment of their dream to start a family.
Haunted by her past and challenged by events around her, Rachel finds that her home is not the sanctuary she envisaged–and neither is her marriage. Adam’s temper rages when he discovers he is infertile. She seeks solace in the arms of her gardener and falls pregnant.
Dreams become reality—and a garden grows, but as every gardener knows, even the most beautiful plants can be toxic.
Can Rachel find the happiness she craves, or will the toxic past take root and lead her down a dark path?
A very good read. Great story and some good characters. I did find this slow to begin with. 4*.
July 14, 2021
Audio edition
So initially I thought what am listening to- the start didn't appeal and the narrator didn't appeal. Then it really got going and I loved it. It was typical Louise Worthington and I knew what was gong to happen but now how and who- so many red herrings. I listened to this at all available opportunities. The narrator's voice really fitted in with the story but also with the area that it is set in, when the story got going so did her narration. This is the first book in a while that I would like to see as a film.
Fully recommend - but get over the first 10 minutes or so, it gets really really good.
I was given an advance copy by the author but the review is entirely my own.
So initially I thought what am listening to- the start didn't appeal and the narrator didn't appeal. Then it really got going and I loved it. It was typical Louise Worthington and I knew what was gong to happen but now how and who- so many red herrings. I listened to this at all available opportunities. The narrator's voice really fitted in with the story but also with the area that it is set in, when the story got going so did her narration. This is the first book in a while that I would like to see as a film.
Fully recommend - but get over the first 10 minutes or so, it gets really really good.
I was given an advance copy by the author but the review is entirely my own.
February 9, 2021
A really descriptive book that creates an uneasy atmosphere around Maple Cottage, the main setting for this story. The garden of rooms was an interesting way of developing the characters in the book and relating the present to Rachel's life as a child living in the cottage. What seems to be an idyllic life soon starts to unravel when it becomes apparent that Rachel's marriage is marred by domestic violence. It was a relief when she eventually, with the help of an old family friend,stood up to Adam, her husband, although that did call for drastic action on her part and led to a shocking ending.
Thank you to Bloodhound Books for an ARC.
Thank you to Bloodhound Books for an ARC.
February 15, 2021
Moving back to the home you grow up in sounds idilic until this story begins to highlight the loneliness and creepiness of being surrounded by woods with only one elderly lady neighbour. Rachel seems haunted by her past and as the story opens up the not so healthy relationship with her husband, you begin to wonder why she wants to stay living there. Any hope for happiness is dragged from under Rachel’s feet with shocking revelations but the ending was pleasing to read, I might even have giving a cry of ‘go on girl!’
A very enjoyable if emotive read, some of the story felt as if it needed a bit more from it. The descriptive prose was excellent.
February 16, 2021
I enjoyed this suspenseful thriller. This is a story that is well written and the author's attention to details made me feel as if I was right there with the characters. They are are connectable and made the story engaging. The twists and turns had me turning pages to the end. This is a story about Rachel and her husband. She has a past that haunts her and her current life is not as it seems. She made the story fun and easy to read. She made a great characters and I loved her. I highly recommend this book.
March 4, 2021
Rachel's Garden: spell binding!
This is a cleverly thought out storyline and well researched information about plants. However most of all it is a clever description of the human condition and all its it's weakness and strength. It is a triumph of love over hate and a great revelation of revenge on a misogynist, as anyone who has been on the receiving end of a mean spirit, will rejoice in!
This is a cleverly thought out storyline and well researched information about plants. However most of all it is a clever description of the human condition and all its it's weakness and strength. It is a triumph of love over hate and a great revelation of revenge on a misogynist, as anyone who has been on the receiving end of a mean spirit, will rejoice in!
February 17, 2021
From the opening pages, there is a tension in this book that grips you. A tense, psychological thriller, it is distinguished by its seriously classy writing - this author not only has a strong feel for narrative, she also has fabulous way with language. I'd urge anyone who wants a literate, compelling novel in which to lose themselves to read it.
May 29, 2021
This is a story that about a woman Rachel, and her husband who a real piece of work. Rachel and her husband moved to new area, a cottage try to work on their marriage, and make a family her husband had problems, he was infertile, and wanted children badly, he became a man that dangerous and upset over things, especially with Rachel. It a story that so worthwhile to read.
February 5, 2022
Wow
What a suspense thriller. The characters so real & unforgettable. I recommend this book to anyone who loves psychological thrillers. This one you will not be able to put down.
What a suspense thriller. The characters so real & unforgettable. I recommend this book to anyone who loves psychological thrillers. This one you will not be able to put down.
April 24, 2021
Brilliant
I absolutely loved this book. The suspense set against such a beautiful backdrop is so powerful. A real tribute to a mothers love .
I absolutely loved this book. The suspense set against such a beautiful backdrop is so powerful. A real tribute to a mothers love .
February 27, 2021
Not really a thriller
So I had a bit of a like/hate feeling with this book. First off, it is not a thriller. Not once was my heart rate accelerated by any aspect of this book. There were no twists i didn't see coming, no on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen. It was all fairly predictable. The book itself was very well written, BUT, it was overly descriptive of every tiny thing. Don't get me wrong, the descriptions were beautiful, made me feel like I was standing there in the garden or the woods, etc, but I feel it was a bit excessive. Every single page was half taken up by some description of some random thing. It was a little too much. Overall it is a nice story about a woman finding herself and her courage to overcome many obstacles so she can stand on her own two feet and be proud. Just not what I thought it was going to be
So I had a bit of a like/hate feeling with this book. First off, it is not a thriller. Not once was my heart rate accelerated by any aspect of this book. There were no twists i didn't see coming, no on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen. It was all fairly predictable. The book itself was very well written, BUT, it was overly descriptive of every tiny thing. Don't get me wrong, the descriptions were beautiful, made me feel like I was standing there in the garden or the woods, etc, but I feel it was a bit excessive. Every single page was half taken up by some description of some random thing. It was a little too much. Overall it is a nice story about a woman finding herself and her courage to overcome many obstacles so she can stand on her own two feet and be proud. Just not what I thought it was going to be
April 4, 2021
Incredible!
I have never read anything by this author before today.
I could not put this book down!!!? I could see the seasons change and smell the flowers. I garden and I could feel the soil in my hands and the sun drenched days. I felt like crying everytime a plant died.
I cried because I know the pain of being a frightened abused woman and I understand the choices of staying or leaving with an infant.....
I LOVED THE ENDING... THOUGH I DIDN'T WANT IT TO END!
I can't wait to read more from Louise Worthington.
I have never read anything by this author before today.
I could not put this book down!!!? I could see the seasons change and smell the flowers. I garden and I could feel the soil in my hands and the sun drenched days. I felt like crying everytime a plant died.
I cried because I know the pain of being a frightened abused woman and I understand the choices of staying or leaving with an infant.....
I LOVED THE ENDING... THOUGH I DIDN'T WANT IT TO END!
I can't wait to read more from Louise Worthington.
July 1, 2023
This was a book with untapped potential. The premise was intriguing. At the heart of it, there's a good story. However, the execution is lacking. I never felt invested in the characters. I didn't even seem to be able to distinguish among them - very weak characterization overall. I almost DNF this one, but I slogged through, and I must say, it got better toward the end, but I wouldn't recommend it. There were so many plot holes, and I frankly didn't care about any of the characters.
November 15, 2021
A Garden and Dark Secrets
A gripping saga full of suspense that reveals dark secrets. Grief and loss gives way to beauty and remembrance in a garden at the same time. Surprising twists and conclusion although the ending could have been a better one.
A gripping saga full of suspense that reveals dark secrets. Grief and loss gives way to beauty and remembrance in a garden at the same time. Surprising twists and conclusion although the ending could have been a better one.
February 22, 2021
Disappointed
Have to say was really looking forward to reading this after reading all the reviews but was sadly disappointed. Found the beginning a bit confusing but stuck with it .
Have to say was really looking forward to reading this after reading all the reviews but was sadly disappointed. Found the beginning a bit confusing but stuck with it .
March 3, 2021
Life in a garden
I love plants. I worked 17 years in a Garden Center. This was not just a mystery and suspense, but a garden and nature tour😁🌹
I love plants. I worked 17 years in a Garden Center. This was not just a mystery and suspense, but a garden and nature tour😁🌹
May 24, 2021
A fast read, good descriptions of the woods and gardens surrounding Rachel’s home. Plot was a little predictable, but the book was enjoyable.
July 14, 2021
I thought the end was a little too predictable but it was a good book. I would recommend it.
August 13, 2021
Lyrical. Very Good.
March 25, 2023
Very good read!
June 15, 2023
Rachel's Garden is a well written domestic suspense novel; I'm not sure it ever crosses fully into thriller in honesty, despite the tag. Focusing on the relationship between Rachel and Adam, I suspect the author intended for there to be a more intense feeling of threat from the novel. Yet, it didn't really hit me that way. In some ways I'm glad; but in others, this could have done with something more in honesty.
It's also a remarkably slow moving novel. It's only 270 pages odd, so it's a short novel. You'd expect it to be fast and punchy. Instead it's slow and meandering, and it takes Rachel a God awful amount of time to realise that her husband is actively abusive. Despite the description therefore, this is not a book that will have your heart racing. It's slow and gradual, and yes, there is an element of threat but it seemed at a remove for most of the novel.
So, all in all, not a bad book. But it also doesn't do what it says. It's not a fast paced, heart-clenching thriller. It's a slow, meandering wander through a toxic relationship and the challenge it is to get out of one. It's not bad. But it's not great.
It's also a remarkably slow moving novel. It's only 270 pages odd, so it's a short novel. You'd expect it to be fast and punchy. Instead it's slow and meandering, and it takes Rachel a God awful amount of time to realise that her husband is actively abusive. Despite the description therefore, this is not a book that will have your heart racing. It's slow and gradual, and yes, there is an element of threat but it seemed at a remove for most of the novel.
So, all in all, not a bad book. But it also doesn't do what it says. It's not a fast paced, heart-clenching thriller. It's a slow, meandering wander through a toxic relationship and the challenge it is to get out of one. It's not bad. But it's not great.
July 31, 2024
I was completely hooked by the 25% mark.
January 29, 2021
TW: Domestic violence
Rachel has what appears to be a life back on the right track after her parents’ deaths: a loving husband who makes good money and she’s returned to live in Maple Cottage, the home where she grew up. But when her husband receives news that he is infertile, making the baby they both long for out of reach, his anger rages out of control and Rachel ends up turning to a local gardener who has treated her well since her return to the area. Meanwhile, she’s dealing with strange, cryptic messages left for her in the garden.
This book starts slow, then builds to a heightened pace, as Rachel uncovers exactly what she’s dealing with. It’s hard to describe things without giving too much away, but I’m going to try the best I can. The author does a good job of throwing some twists in there right when things seem so straightforward and you think you have everything figured out nicely. It keeps things interesting right up until the very end.
Rachel as a character was really well done, and she’s flanked by some equally amazing secondary characters. Shirley and Jen really add such great levity to what is generally a heavy storyline, and they also provided valuable secondary storyline which made things more clear for Rachel and helped her through her situation.
Overall, this was a good book, and it was a quick read. Anyone looking for a tense, but emotional, domestic thriller, would really enjoy this book.
Rachel has what appears to be a life back on the right track after her parents’ deaths: a loving husband who makes good money and she’s returned to live in Maple Cottage, the home where she grew up. But when her husband receives news that he is infertile, making the baby they both long for out of reach, his anger rages out of control and Rachel ends up turning to a local gardener who has treated her well since her return to the area. Meanwhile, she’s dealing with strange, cryptic messages left for her in the garden.
This book starts slow, then builds to a heightened pace, as Rachel uncovers exactly what she’s dealing with. It’s hard to describe things without giving too much away, but I’m going to try the best I can. The author does a good job of throwing some twists in there right when things seem so straightforward and you think you have everything figured out nicely. It keeps things interesting right up until the very end.
Rachel as a character was really well done, and she’s flanked by some equally amazing secondary characters. Shirley and Jen really add such great levity to what is generally a heavy storyline, and they also provided valuable secondary storyline which made things more clear for Rachel and helped her through her situation.
Overall, this was a good book, and it was a quick read. Anyone looking for a tense, but emotional, domestic thriller, would really enjoy this book.
February 25, 2021
I wouldn't call this a suspense novel and it was fairly easy to work out how the dark little tale would end. However, it has wonderful characters and beautiful descriptive writing, which made it a pleasure to read. Part of the enjoyment was knowing what was going to happen and the delicious anticipation I felt whilst reading. And that's not to say there isn't a nice twist which caught me off guard at one point. An author to look out for.
February 7, 2021
A good read. Very slow start and the style of writing needed to get used to. I had a few tears of emotion 😢 at times. 3 ⭐⭐⭐ from me 📖📚
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews