From the New York Times bestselling author of Always and Blackberry Winter: “An intoxicating blend of mystery, history and romance, this book is hard to put down.”—Real Simple
On the eve of World War II, the last surviving specimen of a camellia plant known as the Middlebury Pink lies secreted away on an English country estate. Flora, an amateur American botanist, is contracted by an international ring of flower thieves to infiltrate the household and acquire the coveted bloom. Her search is at once brightened by new love and threatened by her discovery of a series of ghastly crimes.
More than half a century later, garden designer Addison takes up residence at the manor, now owned by the family of her husband, Rex. The couple’s shared passion for mysteries is fueled by the enchanting camellia orchard and an old gardener’s notebook. Yet its pages hint at dark acts ingeniously concealed. If the danger that Flora once faced remains very much alive, will Addison share her fate?
Fans of Downton Abbey should rush to pick up this novel.
I receied an ARC of this novel through the GoodReads First Reads programme. The Last Camellia is a solid drama and mystery; I couldn't put it down until I found out what became of Flora and Addison and their respective stories. I was really drawn to Flora's story and the events that led her to Livingston Manor. Her predicament is a tricky one and adds a layer of danger to her storyline on top of the mystery surrounding Lady Anna and her garden. Addison's story was also interesting as she tries to piece together Flora's story and her time at the manor.
Between the two stories, Addison's definitely felt more like a thriller but I felt a bit more invested in Flora's story as there was a lot more going on in her story. I also wished we learned more about the ring of flower thieves but given the structure of the story, it made sense we only learned as much as we did.
Fans of Kate Morton, Downton Abbey, novels about flowers and a good drama/mystery should check out this novel. My complete review of the novel was originally posted at eclectictales.com: http://www.eclectictales.com/blog/2013/05/09/review-the-last-camellia/
