I freely admit that I love Lauren Willig's writing. I've enjoyed her wonderful "Pink Carnation" series for years and I liked her first two stand alone titles, THE ASHFORD AFFAIR and THAT SUMMER very much. That said, I wasn't expecting my reaction to her latest non-series book, THE OTHER DAUGHTER. While this book contained all of the trademarks of Willig's fine style, it also felt a bit deeper and darker than much of her previous work.
The plot involves a young women who is serving as a governess in France. I admit, I love a good governess tale, so I was hooked early on. Rachel Woodley was raised by her widowed mother after her father dies when she is quite young. Returning home from France after her mother's sudden death, she stumbles onto the fact that her father is still very much alive and everything she believed about her parents is suddenly called into question. When she finds out that her father is not only alive, but flourishing as a member of an old, aristocratic family and also has additional children, another daughter and a son, Rachel assumes that she is illegitimate. Angered by her beloved parent’s apparent betrayal, Rachel decides to attempt to get close to her father and his new family with some vague hope of revenge for his deception. Assisting Rachel in her quest is a suave and sophisticated aristocrat named Simon Montfort. Simon has his own ax to grind with Rachel's father, so he is happy to help with her scheme. After assuming a false identity as Simon's sophisticated cousin, so that she can be introduced into the smart set of British, post WWI, society, Rachel finds herself confused by the fact that nothing is as she assumed and everyone is dealing with their own secrets and lies. Surprisingly, she finds herself sympathetic to her half sister and even her father, and has to struggle with what she really wants from them; revenge or acceptance.
While the set up is obviously mysterious, there isn't really a mystery here. The suspense is more along the lines of what one finds in a classic Mary Stewart or Catherine Gaskin novel where a young female protagonist encounters a family secret and has to work to unravel the deception. That said, Willig provides many surprises for both Rachel and her readers as the truth concerning Rachel's family unfolds. The plotting is strong and steady and keeps the reader moving along to find out what the next little truth bomb might be. The solid plotting is complemented by many finely drawn characters. Willig, per usual, has done her historical homework well and her descriptions of the "bright young things" adds wonderful depth and texture to the story she is weaving. The supporting cast in this book was so strong, that several of those characters stayed with me long after I finished the book. The post WWI period was one of turmoil and upheaval on both a societal and a personal level for many and Willig does a masterful job of showing the impact of that war on her characters and the world in which they lived.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent in post WWI England with the characters in Willig's book. It was a challenging time for many and I was pleased that the tone of this work captured some of the darkness and despair that most were living with in the late 20s. Having read everything Lauren has written, I felt like this was her most mature and confidant book. With her Pink Carnation series wrapping up soon, I'm hopeful that we will be getting more of this sort of work to enjoy. I am always on the look out for a worthy successor to Mary Stewart or Catherine Gaskin and if The Other Daughter is an example of what we have to look forward to from Lauren Willig, then I think I may have found her. Excellent characterization, strong plotting, solid historical detail all serve to make The Other Daughter a truly satisfying read.
The plot involves a young women who is serving as a governess in France. I admit, I love a good governess tale, so I was hooked early on. Rachel Woodley was raised by her widowed mother after her father dies when she is quite young. Returning home from France after her mother's sudden death, she stumbles onto the fact that her father is still very much alive and everything she believed about her parents is suddenly called into question. When she finds out that her father is not only alive, but flourishing as a member of an old, aristocratic family and also has additional children, another daughter and a son, Rachel assumes that she is illegitimate. Angered by her beloved parent’s apparent betrayal, Rachel decides to attempt to get close to her father and his new family with some vague hope of revenge for his deception. Assisting Rachel in her quest is a suave and sophisticated aristocrat named Simon Montfort. Simon has his own ax to grind with Rachel's father, so he is happy to help with her scheme. After assuming a false identity as Simon's sophisticated cousin, so that she can be introduced into the smart set of British, post WWI, society, Rachel finds herself confused by the fact that nothing is as she assumed and everyone is dealing with their own secrets and lies. Surprisingly, she finds herself sympathetic to her half sister and even her father, and has to struggle with what she really wants from them; revenge or acceptance.
While the set up is obviously mysterious, there isn't really a mystery here. The suspense is more along the lines of what one finds in a classic Mary Stewart or Catherine Gaskin novel where a young female protagonist encounters a family secret and has to work to unravel the deception. That said, Willig provides many surprises for both Rachel and her readers as the truth concerning Rachel's family unfolds. The plotting is strong and steady and keeps the reader moving along to find out what the next little truth bomb might be. The solid plotting is complemented by many finely drawn characters. Willig, per usual, has done her historical homework well and her descriptions of the "bright young things" adds wonderful depth and texture to the story she is weaving. The supporting cast in this book was so strong, that several of those characters stayed with me long after I finished the book. The post WWI period was one of turmoil and upheaval on both a societal and a personal level for many and Willig does a masterful job of showing the impact of that war on her characters and the world in which they lived.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent in post WWI England with the characters in Willig's book. It was a challenging time for many and I was pleased that the tone of this work captured some of the darkness and despair that most were living with in the late 20s. Having read everything Lauren has written, I felt like this was her most mature and confidant book. With her Pink Carnation series wrapping up soon, I'm hopeful that we will be getting more of this sort of work to enjoy. I am always on the look out for a worthy successor to Mary Stewart or Catherine Gaskin and if The Other Daughter is an example of what we have to look forward to from Lauren Willig, then I think I may have found her. Excellent characterization, strong plotting, solid historical detail all serve to make The Other Daughter a truly satisfying read.
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