The River Between Us

Liz Fenwick

Jun 2021 · Sold by HarperCollins UK

About this ebook

A forgotten house and a secret hidden for a century...

'Wonderfully evocative’ Judy Finnigan

'An absolute delight!' Hazel Gaynor

‘Wonderful escapism’ Tracy Rees

’A lovely story' Erica James

‘Gloriously rich’ Rachel Hore

‘Sublime storytelling’ Cathy Bramley

‘Emotional’ Kate Ryder

Following the breakdown of her marriage, Theo has bought a tumbledown cottage on the banks of the river Tamar which divides Cornwall and Devon. The peace and tranquillity of Boatman’s Cottage, nestled by the water, is just what she needs to heal.

Yet soon after her arrival, Theo discovers a stash of hidden letters tied with a ribbon, untouched for more than a century. The letters – sent from the battlefields of France during WW1 – tell of a young servant from the nearby manor house, Abbotswood, and his love for a woman he was destined to lose.

As she begins to bring Boatman’s Cottage and its gardens back to life, Theo pieces together a story of star-crossed lovers played out against the river, while finding her own new path to happiness.

The River Between Us beautifully explores the mystery and secrets of a long-forgotten love affair, and will be loved by fans of Kate Morton.

Praise for The River Between Us:

'Wonderfully evocative’ Judy Finnigan

'Full of delicious atmosphere and intrigue, and with a compelling mystery flowing through its pages ... an absolute delight!' Hazel Gaynor

‘Wonderful escapism ... a relaxing, evocative read’ Tracy Rees

'A lovely story that blends the past and the present beautifully' Erica James

‘I enjoyed sinking into this gloriously rich novel, so laced with secrets. What a vivid cast of characters!’ Rachel Hore

‘Sublime storytelling’ Cathy Bramley

‘A compellingly atmospheric and emotional rollercoaster of a read’ Kate Ryder

‘Beautifully descriptive, unashamedly romantic and evocative’ Veronica Henry

‘A captivating and romantic Cornish story that explores the tangle of relationships connecting us through time’ Susanna Kearsley

‘Captures the magical atmosphere of Devon and Cornwall’ Rosanna Ley

‘I had THAT feeling when you've been away to a lovely place for a while and don't want to come back’ Nicola Cornick

Ratings and reviews

Theo is in her mid-50s, although divorced from a highly successful man she is nevertheless fairly destitute (because she couldn't be bothered to fight for half of what she helped him to build) and has bought a small derelict Boatman's cottage on the banks of the river Tamar, which divides Cornwall and Devon, sight unseen. As she restores the cottage and gardens she discovers a pile of unopened love letters dating from World War 1 written by a male servant who was spurned by his lover. Gradually Theo pieces together the story of forbidden love and secrets of one hundred years earlier, centred on the cottage and the nearby manor house, Abbotswood. I enjoyed reading this very much, but now I have finished the novel I am struck by the ridiculous number of similarities that link three separate generations and the amazing coincidences necessary to bring it all together, and it has just kind of fallen apart in my hands. Also the inter-relationships are so convoluted that I am left with the sneaking suspicion that someone might be their own father (well you know what I mean). Strangely this is the second book in a few weeks which reminds me of those family sagas we used to read in the 1980s, where generation after generation made the same mistakes in love. Maybe its just that this book is set mostly in the present day and in the 1910s but also partially in World War II and the 1980s. Overall, an enjoyable read, provided you can suspend disbelief. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

About the author

Liz Fenwick lives in Cornwall with her husband and two mad cats. She’s been a global nomad, starting life in Massachusetts before moving to London, Canada, Moscow, Houston, Jakarta and Dubai. But Cornwall holds her heart. For more information visit lizfenwick.com. Or find her procrastinating on Twitter @liz_fenwick.