Present of the Past

by Elizabeth Adler

Maudie Molyneux, a sprightly 80-year-old, lives in poverty-stricken style at her crumbling stately home in Connemara. Then Shannon Keefe arrives with her wild tale of murder and ghosts, and it is Maudie who unravels the past for her.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Mystery, Historical Fiction, Romantic Suspense, Suspense, Ireland

416 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Born in Yorkshire, North England, Elizabeth Adler met her husband Richard (an American) while both were working in London. They have lived in England, Ireland, France, Brazil, and the United States and have traveled extensively. They have one daughter and live in Palm Springs, California. Her first novel, Private Desires (also titled Leonie), launched an enormously successful writing career, she also wrote as Ariana Scott. She has now written over twenty internationally acclaimed bestsellers.

Reviews

[Stacy Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was my all time favorite that I have read! It intertwines what starts out as two people that turns into at least ten. I love when stories involve different people with different backgrounds and brings them together for the ultimate ending. Maude is the main character that takes you through her mother and aunt's life story. Maude's aunt, Lilly has her life handed to her on a silver spoon while her sister, Ciel has to watch it and not recieve the same amenities that Lilly gets. Everything changes for Lilly when she goes after a man that doesnt want her but only wants sex. She ends up with a life changing decision that ends up coming back to haunt her. Shannon is another character that comes into the story along with Eddie and they are ultimately the ones who unbeknownst them are from the same line of heritage. I would reccomend this book to anyone that loves this author. She is amazing at what she does and how she writes!

[Analu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me parece una historia muy buena, aunque algunos datos al final no se me hicieron tan creíbles. De lo que más me gusto fue el tema de los inmigrantes irlandeses a Estados Unidos.
Volveré a repetir a la escritora en algún momento.

[Serban Georgiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cand am cumparat aceasta carte,nici nu stiam la ce sa ma astept avand in vedere ca nu am mai citit nimic scris de Elizabeth Adler si ca aceasta carte este scrisa in anii 90.
Cartea a stat ceva timp pe raftul bibliotecii mele pana cand m-am hotarat sa o citesc.Adevarul este ca aceasta carte se citeste destul de greu.
Nu ma intelegeti gresit,nu este minic in neanregula cu ea,dar este plina de detalii asupra carora trebuie sa reflectezi.
Mi-ai placut in mod deosebit finetea detaliilor.Indiferent ca vorbim despre personaje si hainele lor,sau despre peisajele si casele in care se desfasoara actiunea.
Nu stiu daca acesta era trendul anilor 90 in materie de carti,sau daca acesta este stilul autoarei,important este faptul ca mie mi-au placut aceste descrieri.
Personajele si povestea lor este destul de alambicata,si din acest motiv nu voi intra in detalii,doar atat voi spune :trecutul si prezentul sunt prezente,iar autoarea a facut o treaba minunata prin imbinarea lor.
Punctajul meu este de 4 stele.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whew, I believe this would make a good movie! The characters were colorful and identifiable, morally speaking. It made me think about how utterly selfish any of us could be if we aren’t careful and intentional. I’m tired of regrets. Want to life better and less self centered.
Really have enjoyed this authors other novels too!

[V.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE,LOVE this book. Read this book about 20 years ago, found it in a used book store. I think I love it more now, than the first time!! It has history, love and mystery...all wrapped up in one book.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I have read in years, couldn't put it down.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this one a while back but liked it alot.

[D.C.A. Savia dcAsLeer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Es bastante pesado. No tiene nada de romance. Ya lo había leïdo y no quiero reincidir en ningún otro tampoco.
Esta autora me aburre. Nunca descubre los misterios por perspicacia sino porque alguien confiesa o porque alguien sabe todo o está en un diario.

Es un misterio acerca del asesinato del padre de la protagonista y todos los giros alrededor de distintos sospechosos que confluyen en el primero de todos y que muy ingenuamente habia sido descartado. Ya había matado a su madre y todo se descubre cuando él, por supuesto, confiesa todo.

Es la del hermano bastardo desaparecido que terminó siendo el antepasado del asesino rencoroso. por la fortuna que debió pertenecerle.

Es la del hombre que se hace de abajo y que hace ricos a muchos y termina “suicidado”, dejando a su amada y consentida hija en la ruina a pesar de haber sido tan inteligente y dispuesto a recuperarse de las caídas como siempre lo había hecho.

Es la del asesino rencoroso que mata a su madre por no tener clase como su abuela, que extorsiona a los socios de su mentor y se alía para robarle todo y apoderarse de su “legado” a pesar de que su primo jamás había recibido su fortuna como herencia.

Es la que el asesino había intentado seducir a la hija de su mentor y ella lo despreció. Luego, estando ella en la ruina espera que ella acepte para poseer todo lo que tenía su primo.

Es la que la viejita Maudie es engañada por el asesino diciéndole que no cuente nada, que le entregaría la evidencia de que la víctima había sido asesinada. La intenta llevar a lo alto para simular un suicidio, pero llega la hija de la víctima y a pesar de disparos y caídas, sobreviven.

[Carol N · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth Adler is one of my favorite authors. Her ability to take several individual characters, with a story to tell, and put them together in a variety of plots always amazes me, She's done it once again with Legacy. One always expects certain dips and rises in the pathway to the climax of her story, and she does so with this book. She does have a main character, Lily, but my favorite is Maudie, the eighty something Irishwoman who narrates this enthralling tale sending the reader forward and backward in time as she shares this riveting tale of Irish elite in their homeland and the Irish peasants struggling in America. It is a tale of passion, revenge and a modern day murder that bares the secrets of three generations before it is solved. This brilliantly plotted book with memorable characters and many unforgettable events is one of Alder’s older books, but is a must read for fans of family sagas.

[Jacqui H. Travis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked Elizabeth Adler's earliest books much more than her later ones, but of her earliest books, this is my favorite.
A testament to how thoughtless, self-centered and hurtful acts can have destructive, disastrous results, sometimes down through generations.
Maudie Molyneaux, the narrator of this family saga, is as delightful and intriguing as her grandmother, the selfish and destructive Lily Molyneaux, is despicable.
Great descriptive writing of life in the late 1800's of privileged estate life in Scotland, and the lives of the rich in New York City, Long Island, Boston, and Back Bay in the first part of the 20th century.
Wonderful period mystery and romance.

[Marie Phillip · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I personally don't like stories that flip-flop from past to present repeatedly or present a new character in each chapter, and then expect the reader to remember them all at the end of the story. For readers with this same dislike, I would recommend taking notes on each character.

[Irene Azuaje · Rating 5 out of 5]

Les advierto que se manejan dos líneas de tiempo, así que es normal que se pierdan al principio, pero una vez que ya se aclare la Xunto el resto es más sencillo de seguir.
También les tengo que advertir que Lili los va a sacar de quicio más de una vez.

[AmnahKhanum · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favourite lovey dovey books. The main character resembles a little of ‘Scarlet’ in ‘Gone with the wind’.

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Every page of it.

[J Jahir · Rating 5 out of 5]

un libro muy bueno de la autora, prácticamente uno de mis favoritos. Nunca voy a olvidar a la abuelita maudie, y cómo el peso de la historia de sus antepasados se conecta de forma sorprendente con el caso de Shannon, quien junto con edi, investiga el asesinato de su padre. Es Maudi quien a través de sus ojos nos llevará por la historia de aquella casa y lo que ha representado, siendo icónico un personaje conocido como Lily Molineux. ¡qué chica tan más imprudente! Pero aún así, estuvo muy bueno. lo recomiendo.

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Read it on vacation so I hardly put it down. The story was interesting and I loved the setting. Towards the end, it did seem to going in a hundred different directions in order to tie all the story together.

[Cws]

FAdler

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lily Molyneux drove men to madness and revenge. Her secrets would scar generations to come.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun book to read. It was many stories that interlaced about the various characters and how they affect the current time. It would be a great book to read on vacation!

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

we spent a delightful four days at a charming cottage at bodega bay and this was a perfect beach read. ...good characters, a good story line and a happy ending.

[ASLReader Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book plotted with hot, betrayal, revenge, lust, and scandal.

[Gloria]

the best I've ever read.

[Odette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Un long très long roman, on commence à embarquer dans l'histoire à la moitié du livre. Au final, un beau roman.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Involving generations of Irish families. The story told by a wonderful enchanting character. Proving revenge is not sweet!

[Rosa Branca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Historia romantica, com suspense e dramatismo. Óptima para ler na esplanada junto ao mar, entre mergulhos no mar...

[Saleh MoonWalker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Onvan : Legacy of Secrets - Nevisande : Elizabeth Adler - ISBN : 440216575 - ISBN13 : 9780440216575 - Dar 624 Safhe - Saal e Chap : 1993

[Heather love · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story! Had me flipping thru the pages quite quickly!

[Kitty Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply delightful

A wonderful, spellbinding story. Characters to love and hate. You will gasp at Lily's thoughtless behavior and feel sorry for this that fall victim to her scheme's. The mystery will keep you turning the pages until the conclusion you never expected.