B-

Shadow Garden

Shadow Garden is a book that is difficult to classify, but after a lot of pondering I think it’s best described as a thriller with some Gothic elements. The plotting is so excellent that I read it in one sitting, but I struggled to find a character to root for.

Former socialite Donna Pryor has moved to a beautiful assisted living community called Shadow Garden while she recovers from a broken hip. Donna’s memory is faulty, and she can’t recall why her surgeon husband, Edward, sent her there rather than care for her himself. She also hasn’t heard from her adult daughter, Penelope, which concerns her, but it seems like everyone at Shadow Garden is determined to keep her from asking too many questions.

This book utilizes the convention of an unreliable narrator to the fullest effect. We know that something is blocking Donna from remembering the events that led to her going to Shadow Garden (dementia? trauma? both?) and we watch her piece her former life together clue by clue. We also get some chapters from Edward and Penelope’s points of view that help move the narrative in the direction of the big event that led to Donna’s injury and memory loss.

Without spoiling too much, this is largely a novel about a family full of lies, secrets, and a need to appear perfect to the outside world. My issue with the book was none of the characters were likeable. This is a book about deeply flawed people, and as a result, it was hard for me to really invest myself in them. That said, the plot is so perfectly done and unwinds so beautifully, that it creates a fantastic momentum. If you’re the type of person who can read a mystery purely for the plot alone, this book will work for you. If, like me, you need a character to sympathize with, you may struggle to engage with the narrative.

– Elyse

A wealthy woman suspects something is off about the luxurious complex she lives in . . . and she is right, in this riveting domestic-suspense novel from international bestselling author Alexandra Burt.
Donna Pryor lives in the lap of luxury. She spends her days in a beautifully appointed condo. Her every whim is catered to by a dedicated staff, and she does not want for anything.
Except for news of her adult daughter.
Or an ex-husband who takes her calls.
Donna knows something is wrong, but she can’t quite put her finger on it. As her life of privilege starts to feel more and more like a prison, the facade she has depended on begins to crumble. Somewhere in the ruins is the truth, and the closer Donna Pryor gets to it, the more likely it is to destroy her.