The Unseen by Katherine Webb

The Unseen

by Katherine Webb

From the author of the acclaimed debut THE LEGACY comes a compelling tale of love, deception and illusion.

England, 1911. When a free-spirited young woman arrives in a sleepy Berkshire village to work as a maid in the household of The Reverend and Mrs Canning, she sets in motion a chain of events which changes all their lives. For Cat has a past - a past her new mistress is willing to overlook, but will never understand . . .

Then her husband invites a young man into their home, he brings with him a dangerous obsession . . .

During the long, oppressive summer, the rectory becomes charged with ambition, love and jealousy - with the most devastating consequences.

Your favourite authors love Katherine Webb's sweeping historical dramas:

'An enormously talented writer' Santa Montefiore

'Webb have a true gift for uncovering the mysteries of the human heart and exploring the truth of love' Kate Williams

'Katherine Webb's writing is beautiful' Elizabeth Fremantle

'A truly gifted writer of historical fiction' Lucinda Riley

'Katherine's writing is rich, vivid and evocative' Iona Grey

Reviewed by Sarah Says on

5 of 5 stars

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*** The synopsis does not mention any of the 2011 characters; it only refers to the historical 1911 ones, Cat, Hetty, Robin & Albert.***

The Book starts of in 2011 when the body of a WWI soldier is found near Ypres, in Belgium. Leah is a freelance writer and her ex Ryan works for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, he contacts Leah thinking she might be interested in it for a story.

With the dead soldier, there are two extremely well preserved letters. Leah is intrigued immediately. After reading, the letters she wants learn more about the dead soldier and get as far away from Ryan as possible. This sets her off researching the Canning’s of Cold Ash Holt, where the letters were sent from and starting the whole story in motion.

The synopsis gives a look into the things that Leah uncovers.

It took me a bit to settle into the 1911 to 2011 jump the story kept doing, but enviably I was drawn in and it turned out to be a real page turner. I was rather angry at the book when my favourite character was murdered, I knew it was going to happen, I pleaded with the book that it would not, then was shocked by how it was done. I loved the 1911 world, and at first thought, I would have been happier to be reading the whole novel in that time. In the end I ended up growing to really like Leah.

So my fave 1911 character is killed off (and I am still giving the book 5 stars), at least my fave 2011 character gets a happy ending.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 21 September, 2014: Finished reading
  • 21 September, 2014: Reviewed