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The Path to the Sea
'Atmospheric, emotional and full of mystery – an absolute pleasure from page one' Veronica Henry
‘The Queen of the contemporary Cornish novel’ The Guardian
Sometimes going home is just the beginning…
Boskenna, the beautiful, imposing house standing on the Cornish cliffs, means something different to each of the Trewin women.
For Joan, as a glamorous young wife in the 1960s, it was a paradise where she and her husband could entertain and escape a world where no one was quite what they seemed – a world that would ultimately cost their marriage and end in tragedy.
Diana, her daughter, still dreams of her childhood there – the endless blue skies and wide lawns, book-filled rooms and parties, the sound of the sea at the end of the coastal path – even though the family she adored was shattered there.
And for the youngest, broken-hearted Lottie, heading home in the August traffic, returning to Boskenna is a welcome escape from a life gone wrong in London, but will mean facing a past she’d hoped to forget.
As the three women gather in Boskenna for a final time, the secrets hidden within the beautiful old house will be revealed in a summer that will leave them changed for ever.
The Path to the Sea beautifully evokes the mystery and secrets of the Cornish coast, and will be loved by fans of Kate Morton and Rachel Hore
PRAISE FOR THE PATH TO THE SEA
'Atmospheric, emotional and full of mystery – an absolute pleasure from page one' Veronica Henry
'A wonderfully evocative story, packed with secrets and emotion’ Judy Finnigan
‘With wit and skill, Fenwick illuminates the small, often overlooked moments that shape and define a life. These are tales that draw you in and keep you engaged until the last page is turned’ Deborah Harkness
‘Evocative and compelling, a glorious tale of the choices women make for love. I adored it’ Cathy Bramley
‘Vivid and beautifully written, Liz Fenwick is a gifted storyteller’ Sarah Morgan
‘A warm and feelgood romance that will have you pining to feel sand beneath your feet’ Woman’s Weekly
‘Full of emotion and mystery’ HELLO!
‘Sweeping, romantic and gorgeously evocative of Cornwall’ BEST
‘The Queen of the contemporary Cornish novel’ The Guardian
Sometimes going home is just the beginning…
Boskenna, the beautiful, imposing house standing on the Cornish cliffs, means something different to each of the Trewin women.
For Joan, as a glamorous young wife in the 1960s, it was a paradise where she and her husband could entertain and escape a world where no one was quite what they seemed – a world that would ultimately cost their marriage and end in tragedy.
Diana, her daughter, still dreams of her childhood there – the endless blue skies and wide lawns, book-filled rooms and parties, the sound of the sea at the end of the coastal path – even though the family she adored was shattered there.
And for the youngest, broken-hearted Lottie, heading home in the August traffic, returning to Boskenna is a welcome escape from a life gone wrong in London, but will mean facing a past she’d hoped to forget.
As the three women gather in Boskenna for a final time, the secrets hidden within the beautiful old house will be revealed in a summer that will leave them changed for ever.
The Path to the Sea beautifully evokes the mystery and secrets of the Cornish coast, and will be loved by fans of Kate Morton and Rachel Hore
PRAISE FOR THE PATH TO THE SEA
'Atmospheric, emotional and full of mystery – an absolute pleasure from page one' Veronica Henry
'A wonderfully evocative story, packed with secrets and emotion’ Judy Finnigan
‘With wit and skill, Fenwick illuminates the small, often overlooked moments that shape and define a life. These are tales that draw you in and keep you engaged until the last page is turned’ Deborah Harkness
‘Evocative and compelling, a glorious tale of the choices women make for love. I adored it’ Cathy Bramley
‘Vivid and beautifully written, Liz Fenwick is a gifted storyteller’ Sarah Morgan
‘A warm and feelgood romance that will have you pining to feel sand beneath your feet’ Woman’s Weekly
‘Full of emotion and mystery’ HELLO!
‘Sweeping, romantic and gorgeously evocative of Cornwall’ BEST
449 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 6, 2019
312 people are currently reading
1025 people want to read
About the author
Liz Fenwick
25 books579 followersAward winning author of ten novels and two novellas. The latest is The Secrets of Harbour House out in the UK in July 2025. There are translated editions of my novels available in Dutch, German, Portuguese, French, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Estonian, Latvian, Turkish, Serbian, Czech, Hungarian, Italian, and Finnish.
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June 6, 2021I've just discovered that I don't have to use stars, which I've disliked from the first. Yay! Unless a book is hands-down incredible, amazing, and worthy of a major prize (in my 'umble opinion, of course), I prefer just to jot down my thoughts. In the case of this novel, it's very light reading but nonetheless enjoyable. I picked it up because I have two books set in Cornwall and I wanted to read this author's take on an area of England that I dearly love. The story was good. Largely, it's a romance novel with elements of suspense in that there is a mysterious death the cause of which we come to learn during the course of the novel. The setting is a large family home in Cornwall, above the sea. There are three narrative perspectives--grandmother, mother, granddaughter-- and two periods of time. This is a good book for a plane ride, for sitting on the beach beneath an umbrella, or for lazing in the park.
June 6, 2019
The Path to the Sea is another wonderful read by one of my all-time favourite authors.
I loved the characters, and was completely engrossed in the story. I couldn’t read it quick enough, eager to solve the mystery.
This is a tale of family, motherhood, mystery, secrets, lies, love and lust. And one I highly recommend to others.
I loved the characters, and was completely engrossed in the story. I couldn’t read it quick enough, eager to solve the mystery.
This is a tale of family, motherhood, mystery, secrets, lies, love and lust. And one I highly recommend to others.
June 6, 2019
I was fortunate enough to receive an advance copy of "The Path to the Sea" in exchange for an honest review.
The Path to the Sea is Liz Fenwick’s seventh novel and her longest. It’s a change of genre, although, as ever, personal relationships lie at its heart, and, as ever, the quality of the author’s writing gets better with every book.
Overlaid against the Cold War Era and with three cleverly interwoven story-lines, the tales of Joan, a diplomat’s wife, her daughter Diana, and her Granddaughter Lottie explore the decisions people have to make to protect the ones they love.
Beautifully observed, with a real evocation of the times, with some stark contrasts between the life that Diana has made, as a war correspondent in Afghanistan, and Lottie’s, as a young vulnerable and trusting artist. A glorious mix between the late Rosamunde Pilcher and John le Carre.
As usual, with Liz Fenwick’s novels, the story revolves around a house. Boskenna was formerly a lively family home but is now reduced to an empty shadow of its former glory, occupied by Joan and her husband, as she approaches her end.
Will she die with her secrets untold?
Another outstanding Liz Fenwick book, and highly recommended.
The Path to the Sea is Liz Fenwick’s seventh novel and her longest. It’s a change of genre, although, as ever, personal relationships lie at its heart, and, as ever, the quality of the author’s writing gets better with every book.
Overlaid against the Cold War Era and with three cleverly interwoven story-lines, the tales of Joan, a diplomat’s wife, her daughter Diana, and her Granddaughter Lottie explore the decisions people have to make to protect the ones they love.
Beautifully observed, with a real evocation of the times, with some stark contrasts between the life that Diana has made, as a war correspondent in Afghanistan, and Lottie’s, as a young vulnerable and trusting artist. A glorious mix between the late Rosamunde Pilcher and John le Carre.
As usual, with Liz Fenwick’s novels, the story revolves around a house. Boskenna was formerly a lively family home but is now reduced to an empty shadow of its former glory, occupied by Joan and her husband, as she approaches her end.
Will she die with her secrets untold?
Another outstanding Liz Fenwick book, and highly recommended.
May 10, 2019
The Path to the Sea is certainly a book that drew me in and kept my on my toes throughout.
The narrative is from three main characters points of view, Joan, who we see in her role of hostess of Boskenna one fateful weekend in 1962. There is Diana, her daughter, and we see life through her eyes as an 8 year old in 1962, as well as a woman in her 60s in the present day. Finally there is Lottie, Joan's granddaughter, and mostly we see her in the present day.
All three generations of women are brought under Boskenna's roof, for a very sad reason, and through it we see how fractured this family really is. There are many secrets to uncover, and just what happened in 1962 to Diana's father.
Joan clearly was living an extraordinary life, and some of it went a bit over my head, but I got the gist of the key plot points, not that I can see what they were as that would spoilt it for you. It really was quite fascinating to read sections set in the 60s.
I really enjoyed getting to know all three ladies and seeing just how everything would resolve itself. The writing as I would expect from Liz Fenwick is accomplished, and really does describe everything incredibly well. I loved how the plot moved forward, and how the book took place over such a short space of time.
Thankfully each chapter is titled not only with which character, but also the date and time, so you can properly follow the timelines, and watch everything unfurl properly. And with the chapters being relatively short, it was a rather more-ish book where I kept saying just one more chapter!!
This is the first book I've read from the author for ages, and I am convinced that I need to not leave it so long before I read another, as I really did enjoy this story.
Thank you to HQ for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
The narrative is from three main characters points of view, Joan, who we see in her role of hostess of Boskenna one fateful weekend in 1962. There is Diana, her daughter, and we see life through her eyes as an 8 year old in 1962, as well as a woman in her 60s in the present day. Finally there is Lottie, Joan's granddaughter, and mostly we see her in the present day.
All three generations of women are brought under Boskenna's roof, for a very sad reason, and through it we see how fractured this family really is. There are many secrets to uncover, and just what happened in 1962 to Diana's father.
Joan clearly was living an extraordinary life, and some of it went a bit over my head, but I got the gist of the key plot points, not that I can see what they were as that would spoilt it for you. It really was quite fascinating to read sections set in the 60s.
I really enjoyed getting to know all three ladies and seeing just how everything would resolve itself. The writing as I would expect from Liz Fenwick is accomplished, and really does describe everything incredibly well. I loved how the plot moved forward, and how the book took place over such a short space of time.
Thankfully each chapter is titled not only with which character, but also the date and time, so you can properly follow the timelines, and watch everything unfurl properly. And with the chapters being relatively short, it was a rather more-ish book where I kept saying just one more chapter!!
This is the first book I've read from the author for ages, and I am convinced that I need to not leave it so long before I read another, as I really did enjoy this story.
Thank you to HQ for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
April 23, 2019
Liz Fenwick writes beautiful novels and The Path to the Sea is no exception. The Cornish setting is stunning and the structure of the novel - which divides between three generations of one family - is very effective and involving. This family has secrets, kept from the younger generations, but now it's time for them to emerge. The intrigue is fascinating and heads off into spy novel territory at times, which I especially welcomed. There are some emotional and painful scenes here as a family gathers to say goodbye to one of its loved ones. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights.
July 7, 2019
I was lucky enough to meet Liz Fenwick in Lostwithiel on my way back from my holiday in Cornwall, so I bought this book and had it signed by the truly talented and lovely lady herself.
This book is so amazing, it is written with so much passion and the story line is full of twists and turns in a way that only Liz can write.
The story starts when Joan (Mother of Diana and Grandmother of Lottie) is sadly on the verge of passing away and the family arrive to gather around her bedside. Diana arrives at " Boskenna" the family home, high up on a Cornish cliff top and having a few issues with her Mother, desperately seeks to find out the truth of what happened to her Father Allan, back in 1962. Lottie arrives later hiding a secret tragedy, which has turned her world upside down.
Each chapter alternates between 1962, when Diana was 8 years old to the present day being 2018. As usual Liz's descriptions of the stunning Cornish coastline are just breathtaking (I felt like I was there) and you really feel the heartache and emotions of all the characters. A truly wonderful book which will surely become a classic! Liz is just the best!
This book is so amazing, it is written with so much passion and the story line is full of twists and turns in a way that only Liz can write.
The story starts when Joan (Mother of Diana and Grandmother of Lottie) is sadly on the verge of passing away and the family arrive to gather around her bedside. Diana arrives at " Boskenna" the family home, high up on a Cornish cliff top and having a few issues with her Mother, desperately seeks to find out the truth of what happened to her Father Allan, back in 1962. Lottie arrives later hiding a secret tragedy, which has turned her world upside down.
Each chapter alternates between 1962, when Diana was 8 years old to the present day being 2018. As usual Liz's descriptions of the stunning Cornish coastline are just breathtaking (I felt like I was there) and you really feel the heartache and emotions of all the characters. A truly wonderful book which will surely become a classic! Liz is just the best!
May 15, 2019
Secrets of the past echo in the present as Diana and Lottie head home to Joan.
The Path to the Sea is just fabulous. I loved every word. Liz Fenwick held me entranced throughout to the extent that I thought about the characters and events when I wasn’t reading, couldn’t wait to get back to the story and yet didn’t want it to end. This is glorious storytelling at its very best.
I love the manner in which Liz Fenwick evokes a sense of place. Cornwall and Boskenna House are as much a living presence as any of the people so that there is a cinematic feeling. Everything from sea salt on skin, through agapanthus flowering in borders, to the taste of brandy adds richness and texture to an already captivating read. The attention to detail is so deftly written that it feels as beautifully smooth and polished as the sea-glass on the beach, bringing The Path to the Sea alive in the reader’s mind.
I thought the plot was wonderful. There’s deep, deep love, intrigue and guilt beating at the very heart of the narrative in a way that I found spell-binding. The blending of events in 1962 and 2018 is superb, with a sense of history and politics underpinning a very personal and touching story so that I could feel the emotions physically in my own body. I’m desperate to say more about the imagery but I can’t spoil the story for other readers. Just believe me when I say Liz Fenwick transports the reader to her time and place completely. It’s the poise of her writing that has such an incredible effect. The party at Boskenna has a glamour that is balanced and complemented by the more ordinary aspects of life in 2018. There are surprises too that make The Path to the Sea such a satisfying and riveting read.
Much as I thought the plot was outstanding, it is the characters who entranced me most. Joan, Diana and Lottie are so distinct and yet in many ways are so similar that what happens to them touched my heart. Their interactions, their guilt, their omissions – all combined to sweep me into their lives so that now I’ve finished reading The Path to the Sea I can’t let them go. They are reverberating in my mind.
I don’t feel I’ve done justice to The Path to the Sea. It is a phenomenal read that I adored because Liz Fenwick transported me to her world so completely I forgot my own time and place. I didn’t just read The Path to the Sea, I lived it and feel bereft now I’ve finished reading it. It is, quite simply, wonderful.
The Path to the Sea is just fabulous. I loved every word. Liz Fenwick held me entranced throughout to the extent that I thought about the characters and events when I wasn’t reading, couldn’t wait to get back to the story and yet didn’t want it to end. This is glorious storytelling at its very best.
I love the manner in which Liz Fenwick evokes a sense of place. Cornwall and Boskenna House are as much a living presence as any of the people so that there is a cinematic feeling. Everything from sea salt on skin, through agapanthus flowering in borders, to the taste of brandy adds richness and texture to an already captivating read. The attention to detail is so deftly written that it feels as beautifully smooth and polished as the sea-glass on the beach, bringing The Path to the Sea alive in the reader’s mind.
I thought the plot was wonderful. There’s deep, deep love, intrigue and guilt beating at the very heart of the narrative in a way that I found spell-binding. The blending of events in 1962 and 2018 is superb, with a sense of history and politics underpinning a very personal and touching story so that I could feel the emotions physically in my own body. I’m desperate to say more about the imagery but I can’t spoil the story for other readers. Just believe me when I say Liz Fenwick transports the reader to her time and place completely. It’s the poise of her writing that has such an incredible effect. The party at Boskenna has a glamour that is balanced and complemented by the more ordinary aspects of life in 2018. There are surprises too that make The Path to the Sea such a satisfying and riveting read.
Much as I thought the plot was outstanding, it is the characters who entranced me most. Joan, Diana and Lottie are so distinct and yet in many ways are so similar that what happens to them touched my heart. Their interactions, their guilt, their omissions – all combined to sweep me into their lives so that now I’ve finished reading The Path to the Sea I can’t let them go. They are reverberating in my mind.
I don’t feel I’ve done justice to The Path to the Sea. It is a phenomenal read that I adored because Liz Fenwick transported me to her world so completely I forgot my own time and place. I didn’t just read The Path to the Sea, I lived it and feel bereft now I’ve finished reading it. It is, quite simply, wonderful.
June 12, 2019
A beautifully written family drama that draws you in from the beginning.
Three generations of women, a beautiful house, a plot that moves effortlessly through the different time lines makes for a compulsive read.
Wonderful characterisation, well written and a fantastic setting.
Would definitely recommend this book.
Three generations of women, a beautiful house, a plot that moves effortlessly through the different time lines makes for a compulsive read.
Wonderful characterisation, well written and a fantastic setting.
Would definitely recommend this book.
August 20, 2025
Myspysbok. Lagom spänning och bra när man går fram och tillbaka i tidsepokerna med samma karaktärer. Man får sakta men säkert reda på sanningen…
March 28, 2019
Although I'm already a Liz Fenwick fan, I wasn't prepared to be swept along by this book in the way I was. It's a fabulous read - totally engrossing and also surprising. It's still very much a Fenwick book, with a historical thread set in 1962 running side by side with a present day story. What set this apart for me was the surprising and I think different elements to the story, and what kept me immersed was that I cared what happened in these characters' lives. I should add that the house that features in this book 'Boskenna' is almost a character itself and I WANT TO LIVE THERE! Loved it.
June 6, 2019
Visit the locations in the novel
The Path to the Sea is a remarkable story and novel. It’s from the pen of Liz Fenwick so you know you’re going to get a quality story with excellent writing, but this goes beyond that and more.
Cornwall is of course at the heart of this story. It comes to glorious life from the page. The crash of the waves, the salt in the sea air, the flora and fauna – all can be seen, tasted and heard with the skill of Liz’s pen. It’s a setting she’s written about before, but this time it seems even more authentic, raw and breathable. Boskenna House comes live so vividly. I so desperately wanted to live there for real by the end of the first few chapters.
The Path to the Sea is a very unique read due not just the story, but the time frames and the characters explored. Joan, Diana and Lottie are all fascinating and strong women. Their stories are compelling individually but together, they are something else . So much so, that I was bereft at leaving them behind when I’d finished the novel. Their lives and stories intertwines in ways I didn’t expect and it’s a fascinating world Liz introduces us to.
The story involves these three women but it was the way their narrative was woven together, from the same Cornish house across the years, was a technique which completely enthralled me. It was a simply brilliant way to ground all three characters and to explore the world around them. Doors closing on one time period and opening out onto another.
It was Joan’s story which provided the most fascinating setting for me and the most surprising too. No spoilers here, but I think this section of the story is very special indeed and gives a new angle to the events of history. It was compelling and so emotional to see how one woman’s role at one time would have such effects on others later on. As I read, the other woman and that house at Boskenna were just waiting off the page for me to visit again. The story about the events of the cold war and the role of women during it is something I’ve going to mention very little of here as it’s so intriguing to find out about on your own. Believe me when I say it’s an insightful and compelling story and I was totally and utterly drawn in.
A spellbinding novel of family secrets and war time intrigue. I didn’t want this wonderfully woven story to end.
June 6, 2019
This lovely book surpassed my expectations in so many ways – my goodness, it was wonderful! I really hadn’t expected a story quite like this, or the complexity of its construction. I will admit it did wrong-foot me at first – after two short attempts to read, I was finding it difficult to grasp the different timelines and found that frustrating (and not really like me at all). But I then managed to carve out an uninterrupted afternoon, an opportunity to immerse myself, and this book delivered so very much more than I’d ever dared to hope for.
Liz Fenwick is a very skilled story teller, and this book draws you in and manipulates your thoughts and feelings in a way I’ve rarely experienced. The shifts in time that I’d been struggling with became entirely natural, a perfect ebb and flow, the dates and relative ages of the women quite evident even without the dates and names in the chapter headings, as the story slipped smoothly backwards and forwards between the timeframes of its settings.
There are three main characters – diplomat’s wife Joan, revisited as the end of her life approaches; Diana, Joan’s young daughter in the earlier part of the story, in her 60s and with an interesting history as she returns to Boskenna House; and Lottie, Diana’s daughter and Joan’s granddaughter, who previously departed under a cloud and returns with secrets of her own. There are points in the story when you take each of them to your heart, and times when their behaviour can make you waver between love, sympathy and anger. The character development is quite breathtaking, the relationships between the women deeply convoluted at an emotional level, their individual stories tied up with the political and historical context – the Cold War, all its smoke and mirrors, the intrigue and suspense, its contemporary impact and its legacy – and the layering of family secrets that follows.
The whole book is an immensely satisfying sensory experience, the author’s descriptive powers quite exceptional – whether it’s the house that so effectively ties the story and its characters’ lives together, the Cornish surroundings of gardens and shore, or the many richly detailed and textured moments that make up the detail of the story. She makes you feel that you’re living in every moment with the characters – whether it’s a dramatic scene on a clifftop, events seen through young Diana’s eyes at a party, or at Joan’s bedside struggling to understand her words as she loses her grip on life.
The story itself consumes you, and its emotional impact is so powerful – guilt at so many levels and for so many reasons, that all-consuming love that makes you ache, the sense of waste and the agony of loss, with the hope of redemption through forgiveness and understanding. I cared so much for this book’s flawed characters, and felt an immense sense of loss when my reading experience was over. A really wonderful read – and very highly recommended.
Liz Fenwick is a very skilled story teller, and this book draws you in and manipulates your thoughts and feelings in a way I’ve rarely experienced. The shifts in time that I’d been struggling with became entirely natural, a perfect ebb and flow, the dates and relative ages of the women quite evident even without the dates and names in the chapter headings, as the story slipped smoothly backwards and forwards between the timeframes of its settings.
There are three main characters – diplomat’s wife Joan, revisited as the end of her life approaches; Diana, Joan’s young daughter in the earlier part of the story, in her 60s and with an interesting history as she returns to Boskenna House; and Lottie, Diana’s daughter and Joan’s granddaughter, who previously departed under a cloud and returns with secrets of her own. There are points in the story when you take each of them to your heart, and times when their behaviour can make you waver between love, sympathy and anger. The character development is quite breathtaking, the relationships between the women deeply convoluted at an emotional level, their individual stories tied up with the political and historical context – the Cold War, all its smoke and mirrors, the intrigue and suspense, its contemporary impact and its legacy – and the layering of family secrets that follows.
The whole book is an immensely satisfying sensory experience, the author’s descriptive powers quite exceptional – whether it’s the house that so effectively ties the story and its characters’ lives together, the Cornish surroundings of gardens and shore, or the many richly detailed and textured moments that make up the detail of the story. She makes you feel that you’re living in every moment with the characters – whether it’s a dramatic scene on a clifftop, events seen through young Diana’s eyes at a party, or at Joan’s bedside struggling to understand her words as she loses her grip on life.
The story itself consumes you, and its emotional impact is so powerful – guilt at so many levels and for so many reasons, that all-consuming love that makes you ache, the sense of waste and the agony of loss, with the hope of redemption through forgiveness and understanding. I cared so much for this book’s flawed characters, and felt an immense sense of loss when my reading experience was over. A really wonderful read – and very highly recommended.
July 5, 2019
Not as good as Liz Fenwicks previous books. Story didnt really get going and there were threads not tied up or explained properly.
June 8, 2019
https://www.jerasjamboree.co.uk/histo...
The format of this story works so well. I loved the suspense and intrigue of the split timelines. Joan (1st person) leads us up to the tragedy in 1962, Lottie narrates what happened 10 years ago in 2008 and what is happening in 2018 and Diana’s narration – she has very few memories of her father Allan and her childhood impacts on her ability to parent and engage on an emotional level.
Information we’re given in one narration clicks into place in another. For me, this makes a story a page turner as I’m trying to work out the information I don’t have. I had plenty of questions that needed answers and I wanted to know the motivation behind untruths. One of my questions was answered from a character from a previous story. 🙂 I’m jumping in right now with the fact that Chapter 68 is a shocker. Brilliant! Such a tangled mess …
It goes without saying that the setting is the perfect backdrop for the events that unfold but there’s something else too. The story evokes a sense of foreboding and feels alive. That glamorous life in the 60’s? I was there. I stood in the pantry with my hands covered in chocolate. I made sure my guests needs were being met. It didn’t matter the age of the character. I was that character. Talking of characters, it was great to see Tom as a younger man too.
Liz Fenwick is so very skilled at stripping back emotions, layer after layer, until the core of the pain is exposed. And there are many layers in The Path to the Sea. Two cataclysmic events mean that family members rely heavily on themselves, not reaching out, not sharing, but keeping the pain buried. The story mirrors life in that emotions don’t stay buried for ever … Such a poignant but beautiful ending.
The Path to the Sea would make a fabulous film or TV series! Would love to see this story acted out.
Highly recommended. This is my favourite Liz Fenwick novel of all time.
The format of this story works so well. I loved the suspense and intrigue of the split timelines. Joan (1st person) leads us up to the tragedy in 1962, Lottie narrates what happened 10 years ago in 2008 and what is happening in 2018 and Diana’s narration – she has very few memories of her father Allan and her childhood impacts on her ability to parent and engage on an emotional level.
Information we’re given in one narration clicks into place in another. For me, this makes a story a page turner as I’m trying to work out the information I don’t have. I had plenty of questions that needed answers and I wanted to know the motivation behind untruths. One of my questions was answered from a character from a previous story. 🙂 I’m jumping in right now with the fact that Chapter 68 is a shocker. Brilliant! Such a tangled mess …
It goes without saying that the setting is the perfect backdrop for the events that unfold but there’s something else too. The story evokes a sense of foreboding and feels alive. That glamorous life in the 60’s? I was there. I stood in the pantry with my hands covered in chocolate. I made sure my guests needs were being met. It didn’t matter the age of the character. I was that character. Talking of characters, it was great to see Tom as a younger man too.
Liz Fenwick is so very skilled at stripping back emotions, layer after layer, until the core of the pain is exposed. And there are many layers in The Path to the Sea. Two cataclysmic events mean that family members rely heavily on themselves, not reaching out, not sharing, but keeping the pain buried. The story mirrors life in that emotions don’t stay buried for ever … Such a poignant but beautiful ending.
The Path to the Sea would make a fabulous film or TV series! Would love to see this story acted out.
Highly recommended. This is my favourite Liz Fenwick novel of all time.
January 6, 2020
Wonderful book set in a beautiful old house- Boskenna, in rugged Cornwall. Liz Fenwick writes so beautifully that I can easily imagine myself in the house and countryside. It follows a grandmother, mother and daughter, all with secrets and issues to work through. I always get totally engrossed in the story and can't wait to read more. The housework has to wait.
June 8, 2019
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the Publisher
Gripping, fresh, and completely unputdownable, THE PATH TO THE SEA is my favourite novel by Liz Fenwick thus far.
Boskenna is a stunning house on the Cornish cliffs that calls back three generations of women to face their pasts and their future. Joan is dying and wants to make amends to her strong, tough daughter for secrets that have kept them at a distance for far too long but she worries that the past will make things even worse between them.
Diana knows what it is like to have your heart destroyed when you lose someone so has kept up her walls with her mother and even her own daughter, Lottie. But Diana feels ready to face the haunting feeling that she gets when she is in Boskenna and she wants answers about the death of her father. But is she ready for the truth?
And then there is Lottie whose life is upside down but she feels she cannot burden her grandmother whom she adores and her mother who always judges her too harshly. Lottie loves coming back to Boskenna even though it will break her heart to say goodbye to her grandmother who raised her. But a blast from the past in the form of her first love brings back that awful night ten years when everything started to fall apart for Lottie. Is she brave enough to deal with what happened?
Switching from past to present and between the different characters was a genius way of opening up Boskenna and all of the people that have lived and loved there. There are secrets and subterfuge, love and friendship, heartache and tragedy all encased among the walls, and as I got to know each and every character, I felt like I was there, a part of it all, experiencing the whole thing alongside them which is no easy feat for an author. All of the characters are excellently portrayed but it was Joan and Lottie's characters which stood out as just that extra bit special.
THE PATH TO THE SEA by Liz Fenwick is brimming with strong women who make life-changing decisions, wanting to protect those they love even though it may not seem like it at the time, and I completely fell under the spell of this captivating story that broke my heart at times.
THE PATH TO THE SEA by Liz Fenwick is bewitching from beginning to end and is one of the best books I have ever read in this genre.
Gripping, fresh, and completely unputdownable, THE PATH TO THE SEA is my favourite novel by Liz Fenwick thus far.
Boskenna is a stunning house on the Cornish cliffs that calls back three generations of women to face their pasts and their future. Joan is dying and wants to make amends to her strong, tough daughter for secrets that have kept them at a distance for far too long but she worries that the past will make things even worse between them.
Diana knows what it is like to have your heart destroyed when you lose someone so has kept up her walls with her mother and even her own daughter, Lottie. But Diana feels ready to face the haunting feeling that she gets when she is in Boskenna and she wants answers about the death of her father. But is she ready for the truth?
And then there is Lottie whose life is upside down but she feels she cannot burden her grandmother whom she adores and her mother who always judges her too harshly. Lottie loves coming back to Boskenna even though it will break her heart to say goodbye to her grandmother who raised her. But a blast from the past in the form of her first love brings back that awful night ten years when everything started to fall apart for Lottie. Is she brave enough to deal with what happened?
Switching from past to present and between the different characters was a genius way of opening up Boskenna and all of the people that have lived and loved there. There are secrets and subterfuge, love and friendship, heartache and tragedy all encased among the walls, and as I got to know each and every character, I felt like I was there, a part of it all, experiencing the whole thing alongside them which is no easy feat for an author. All of the characters are excellently portrayed but it was Joan and Lottie's characters which stood out as just that extra bit special.
THE PATH TO THE SEA by Liz Fenwick is brimming with strong women who make life-changing decisions, wanting to protect those they love even though it may not seem like it at the time, and I completely fell under the spell of this captivating story that broke my heart at times.
THE PATH TO THE SEA by Liz Fenwick is bewitching from beginning to end and is one of the best books I have ever read in this genre.
July 3, 2019
A fabulous Cornish drama set in stunning surroundings over two time periods, 1962 and the present day. Essentially it's a story of three women's relationships and how they adapted and changed over time. Though one of these women's time is coming to an end, the repercussions of her past has a huge impact on the happiness of those left behind. I adored Boskenna which is based on a real house - Porthpean House, not too far away from where I live. Liz evokes the early sixties living in this magnificent house so skillfully, I could picture every scene as if I were watching instead of reading. The Boskenna parties were legendary. Drinks on the sweeping lawn overlooking the sea, the tinkling of laughter on the breeze and the clinking of cocktail glasses, all conjure the perfect scene of the privileged classes having fun. Everyone seems happy, relaxed and carefree , enjoying the hospitality of the host and hostess, Joan and Allan. However, just scratch the surface and all is not as it seems. Are Joan and Allan who they appear to be? Or are they hiding dark secrets that could have terrible consequences reaching far beyond Boskenna and Cornwall? You'll have to read it to find out. Highly recommended.
September 15, 2024
Loved the setting of this one & the descriptive writing but the storyline didn’t capture me for some reason. I was listening on audio so maybe I’d have been more gripped if I’d read it- the narrator was very monotone. The characters, although believable, all had issues and secrets & I just found it all a bit depressing with little light relief.
June 25, 2022
3.5 stars. This book definitely didn’t go in the direction I expected and it took a long time to get there! But I would probably read this author again.
June 6, 2019
This is a beautifully written tale of three women, of their love, interaction, relationships and history. Mother, Daughter and Granddaughter all have pasts, secrets and issues to face.
The story centres around Joan, a diplomat’s wife in the Cold War era, her war correspondent daughter Diana, and her artist granddaughter Lottie and explores the decisions made to protect those they love and the consequences of those actions. Joan is dying and everyone is gathering as her life draws to a close.
Liz Fenwick has long been one of my favourite authors and she just gets better with every novel. This was number seven and I was soon engrossed in such clever interweaving of their stories, using the historic and modern-day threads to gradually reveal the secrets at the heart of the book.
There is a fourth main character at the heart of the story, the wonderful Boskenna, the cliff top Cornish House to which the three women are drawn and where so much of their history took place. The house was brought to life by the descriptive powers of the author. I love Cornwall and I was transported to the cliffs and the views from the windows and, of course, the agapanthus. Liz posted pictures from the house on which Boskenna was based and it was exactly as I had imagined it – down to the furnishings and the flowers!
Liz really is a master of description and in giving her novels a marvellous sense of time and place. I really cared about the characters, living in the hope that the secrets would be shared and the decisions and the past forgiven. This is wonderful writing from the Queen of the contemporary Cornish novel (I agree with the Guardian) and I am already looking forward to seeing what Liz does next.
Thanks to Liz, Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of the novel. It is going to make the ideal birthday present for my Mum, who also loves Liz's books and Cornwall, almost as much as I do!
The story centres around Joan, a diplomat’s wife in the Cold War era, her war correspondent daughter Diana, and her artist granddaughter Lottie and explores the decisions made to protect those they love and the consequences of those actions. Joan is dying and everyone is gathering as her life draws to a close.
Liz Fenwick has long been one of my favourite authors and she just gets better with every novel. This was number seven and I was soon engrossed in such clever interweaving of their stories, using the historic and modern-day threads to gradually reveal the secrets at the heart of the book.
There is a fourth main character at the heart of the story, the wonderful Boskenna, the cliff top Cornish House to which the three women are drawn and where so much of their history took place. The house was brought to life by the descriptive powers of the author. I love Cornwall and I was transported to the cliffs and the views from the windows and, of course, the agapanthus. Liz posted pictures from the house on which Boskenna was based and it was exactly as I had imagined it – down to the furnishings and the flowers!
Liz really is a master of description and in giving her novels a marvellous sense of time and place. I really cared about the characters, living in the hope that the secrets would be shared and the decisions and the past forgiven. This is wonderful writing from the Queen of the contemporary Cornish novel (I agree with the Guardian) and I am already looking forward to seeing what Liz does next.
Thanks to Liz, Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of the novel. It is going to make the ideal birthday present for my Mum, who also loves Liz's books and Cornwall, almost as much as I do!
Read
June 22, 2019As with all of Liz Fenwicks books, the passion she feels about her writing show in her characters and flows from every word, line and chapter.
The Path to the Sea set in Cornwall, takes us on on a journey most unexpected.
The story of three women, Joan, Diana and Lottie exposes secrets, lies and love. I loved each one of them but for me Joan was the most interesting, with her life of being a Russian spy, while also being a wife and mother, she just exudes glamour and intrigue. but..she also has to sacrifice the most in order to keep her daughter safe and herself alive.
Of course the emotion the reader feels for each woman will differ with the changing scenes. There are a few shocks, I felt for the young Diana, her coming of age is truly devastating for a young girl whose only worry is having enough to eat. Her love for her parents is evident and her naivety only confuses her.
The setting is wonderful. I love reading about Cornwall, having grown up there I always feel my heart pull and always long to be back there. My imagination does not need much help to know and see the places the author describes.
I adored this read. it is a story beautifully told and one I was lost in.
The Path to the Sea set in Cornwall, takes us on on a journey most unexpected.
The story of three women, Joan, Diana and Lottie exposes secrets, lies and love. I loved each one of them but for me Joan was the most interesting, with her life of being a Russian spy, while also being a wife and mother, she just exudes glamour and intrigue. but..she also has to sacrifice the most in order to keep her daughter safe and herself alive.
Of course the emotion the reader feels for each woman will differ with the changing scenes. There are a few shocks, I felt for the young Diana, her coming of age is truly devastating for a young girl whose only worry is having enough to eat. Her love for her parents is evident and her naivety only confuses her.
The setting is wonderful. I love reading about Cornwall, having grown up there I always feel my heart pull and always long to be back there. My imagination does not need much help to know and see the places the author describes.
I adored this read. it is a story beautifully told and one I was lost in.
June 21, 2019
Wow, wow, wow!
OMG, this book is just amazing. I have read all of Liz Fenwick's books, and every time they blow me away; but, this one was totally unputdownable (if there's such a word).
This story is of three generations of women, each with their own story to tell, and set in three different timelines. It is full of closely guarded secrets and lies of the past and present.
I have put this book down as my best read for a very long time.
So well written, and of course, set in Cornwall, my favourite county.
OMG, this book is just amazing. I have read all of Liz Fenwick's books, and every time they blow me away; but, this one was totally unputdownable (if there's such a word).
This story is of three generations of women, each with their own story to tell, and set in three different timelines. It is full of closely guarded secrets and lies of the past and present.
I have put this book down as my best read for a very long time.
So well written, and of course, set in Cornwall, my favourite county.
May 5, 2020
Prachtig verhaal 3 generaties, geheimen en leugens. Liefde en de vraag wie deed wat...heerlijk
June 9, 2019
All reviews can be found at sarahsvignettes.wordpress.com
Most visitors to this blog or to my social media pages will know that I am a huge fan of Liz Fenwick's work, having read and reviewed the majority of her books (The Cornish House, A Cornish Affair, Under a Cornish Sky, The Returning Tide) and was absolutely bowled over last year by One Cornish Summer. I was curious to see where she was going to take her writing next. Well, Liz really has done it again with The Path to the Sea. Crikey, it is stunning and I fear that this review will not do this beautifully told story justice.
The Path to the Sea truly is a thing of beauty and this starts with the cover. Photos really do not do the blue justice. It is so vivid and evocative of those summer days by the sea. The hardback cloth is a lighter shade of blue and the writing on the spine under the jacket shines bright in silver. Is the story as beautiful as the packaging? Oh, yes! The Path to the Sea really does have the whole package.
A Liz Fenwick story would not be complete without a house and the Cornish coastline, both of which are characters in themselves. Liz Fenwick's sense of place is perfect and it is evident that she has thoroughly researched the setting. No detail is left unturned - I don't want to say too much for fear of ruining it but trust me, Liz has captured everything! Her rich description of Boskenna, a gorgeous house sitting on a cliff, looking out to St Austell Bay, its gardens and the coast transported me right into the story.
The Path to the Sea is told in and around Boskenna over one weekend in August 2018 and goes back and forth between the same weekend in 1962. I do love a dual time frame story and this one certainly doesn't disappoint. Liz has included the date and time at the beginning of each chapter so it helps the reader to follow the story. As we progress through the weekend and learn more about the 3 women's stories, we are aware it is leading to a decision which has ramifications that will span the generations. My goodness me. As I was reading through, I could feel this happening. Each chapter is fairly short and it really kept me on my toes. At each turn of the page, Liz slowly reveals details of what has brought Joan, Diana and Lottie to be in Boskenna that weekend and you can feel it bubbling away under the surface. My heart was racing by the crescendo!
Although the story is told from the three women's points of view, there are 5 voices in total: Joan in her thirties in 1962 and elderly Joan in 2018, Diana as an 8-year old in 1962 and in her sixties in 2018, and 29 year old Lottie in 2018. Each voice is so distinct that I am sure that if I had opened the book at any page, I would have been able to identify which of the women was telling their story. That's clever.
There is one character who I have to give a special mention to and that is Tom. For those who have read The Cornish House, this is the divine Old Tom as a 36 year old. He is just as delightful as a younger man and it was great to find out about his past. If you are yet to read The Cornish House, don't worry. Not having met Tom as an older man will not spoil your enjoyment of The Path to the Sea at all. Liz has been very skilful here to make sure this works for all readers.
There is a depth to this story that is new to Liz's writing. On the surface, this is a multi-generational love story. Underneath, it is a story of love, loss, guilt, acceptance, forgiveness, and the result of what happens when you choose one path over another. This coupled with the rich detail and research I mentioned earlier, really do show what a talented storyteller Liz Fenwick is.
What Liz Fenwick has achieved with The Path to the Sea is simply wonderful and I am in awe.
*I received a proof copy of the book in return for my honest review*
Most visitors to this blog or to my social media pages will know that I am a huge fan of Liz Fenwick's work, having read and reviewed the majority of her books (The Cornish House, A Cornish Affair, Under a Cornish Sky, The Returning Tide) and was absolutely bowled over last year by One Cornish Summer. I was curious to see where she was going to take her writing next. Well, Liz really has done it again with The Path to the Sea. Crikey, it is stunning and I fear that this review will not do this beautifully told story justice.
The Path to the Sea truly is a thing of beauty and this starts with the cover. Photos really do not do the blue justice. It is so vivid and evocative of those summer days by the sea. The hardback cloth is a lighter shade of blue and the writing on the spine under the jacket shines bright in silver. Is the story as beautiful as the packaging? Oh, yes! The Path to the Sea really does have the whole package.
A Liz Fenwick story would not be complete without a house and the Cornish coastline, both of which are characters in themselves. Liz Fenwick's sense of place is perfect and it is evident that she has thoroughly researched the setting. No detail is left unturned - I don't want to say too much for fear of ruining it but trust me, Liz has captured everything! Her rich description of Boskenna, a gorgeous house sitting on a cliff, looking out to St Austell Bay, its gardens and the coast transported me right into the story.
The Path to the Sea is told in and around Boskenna over one weekend in August 2018 and goes back and forth between the same weekend in 1962. I do love a dual time frame story and this one certainly doesn't disappoint. Liz has included the date and time at the beginning of each chapter so it helps the reader to follow the story. As we progress through the weekend and learn more about the 3 women's stories, we are aware it is leading to a decision which has ramifications that will span the generations. My goodness me. As I was reading through, I could feel this happening. Each chapter is fairly short and it really kept me on my toes. At each turn of the page, Liz slowly reveals details of what has brought Joan, Diana and Lottie to be in Boskenna that weekend and you can feel it bubbling away under the surface. My heart was racing by the crescendo!
Although the story is told from the three women's points of view, there are 5 voices in total: Joan in her thirties in 1962 and elderly Joan in 2018, Diana as an 8-year old in 1962 and in her sixties in 2018, and 29 year old Lottie in 2018. Each voice is so distinct that I am sure that if I had opened the book at any page, I would have been able to identify which of the women was telling their story. That's clever.
There is one character who I have to give a special mention to and that is Tom. For those who have read The Cornish House, this is the divine Old Tom as a 36 year old. He is just as delightful as a younger man and it was great to find out about his past. If you are yet to read The Cornish House, don't worry. Not having met Tom as an older man will not spoil your enjoyment of The Path to the Sea at all. Liz has been very skilful here to make sure this works for all readers.
There is a depth to this story that is new to Liz's writing. On the surface, this is a multi-generational love story. Underneath, it is a story of love, loss, guilt, acceptance, forgiveness, and the result of what happens when you choose one path over another. This coupled with the rich detail and research I mentioned earlier, really do show what a talented storyteller Liz Fenwick is.
What Liz Fenwick has achieved with The Path to the Sea is simply wonderful and I am in awe.
*I received a proof copy of the book in return for my honest review*
June 5, 2019
First things first, look at that cover… I am in love with it and feel I could just walk out onto one of the beaches. Now to try and convey how much I loved this book…
The story is one that tells of 3 generations of women at Boskenna House.
Within the first few chapters, I was struck by the wonderful skill this author has. Her descriptions for the Cornish scenery, the house, the gardens is sublime. It was so easy to visualise everything from the perfect choice of words she used. These descriptions kept flowing wonderfully throughout the story and kept building on what I could already imagine. The lavish parties given in the 60’s with jewellery, clothes and sumptuous food was an absolute delight to read.
The 3 women are Joan, Diana and Lottie, they are very different in character and also temperment. But within these differences I saw some subtle similarities. Joan the Grandmother tells her part of the story in1962, a summer of boats, buffets, sailing, beaches and friends. Diana, Joan’s daughter, was a child in 1962 and through her she told of her days with her father and her adventures. She also has a present day part to play, I disciovered her fears, guilt and some secrets that had been hidden over the years. Lottie is in the present, she is daughter to Diana, she is desperate to find out what is haunting her mother and why her Gran is so cryptic about the past and desperate to keep what she see’s as a failure hidden.
Combining a mix of history, Cold War Politics and family secrets, I felt an ominous shadow surrounding the story and it’s characters. I love stories that build up intrigue and a sense that some people are not willing to share what they know. The mystery, the secrets and also intrigue that is added made this a book that was hard to put down for even a moment. It made me wonder all the while about the “who’s” and “why’s” while I was avidly turning pages.
The chapters alternates between not only the 3 women but, also between their respective timelines. It did not take me long to recognise the time changes or the characters. I soon found that I didn’t pay heed to the headings for these changes as I immediately knew when I was and who I was reading.
There is a great pace to this book and while I wanted to take my time I was also so eager to discover the truths. I found it emotional and by the end I had shed a couple of tears. I found it was so easy to get caught up and to become invested in the characters.
This is a beautifully written contemporary fiction story, that is full of lavish and gorgeous descriptions with a story that gradually reveals it’s secrets.
The Path to the Sea by Liz Fenwick
gets a Highly and Absolutley Recommended from Me!
The story is one that tells of 3 generations of women at Boskenna House.
Within the first few chapters, I was struck by the wonderful skill this author has. Her descriptions for the Cornish scenery, the house, the gardens is sublime. It was so easy to visualise everything from the perfect choice of words she used. These descriptions kept flowing wonderfully throughout the story and kept building on what I could already imagine. The lavish parties given in the 60’s with jewellery, clothes and sumptuous food was an absolute delight to read.
The 3 women are Joan, Diana and Lottie, they are very different in character and also temperment. But within these differences I saw some subtle similarities. Joan the Grandmother tells her part of the story in1962, a summer of boats, buffets, sailing, beaches and friends. Diana, Joan’s daughter, was a child in 1962 and through her she told of her days with her father and her adventures. She also has a present day part to play, I disciovered her fears, guilt and some secrets that had been hidden over the years. Lottie is in the present, she is daughter to Diana, she is desperate to find out what is haunting her mother and why her Gran is so cryptic about the past and desperate to keep what she see’s as a failure hidden.
Combining a mix of history, Cold War Politics and family secrets, I felt an ominous shadow surrounding the story and it’s characters. I love stories that build up intrigue and a sense that some people are not willing to share what they know. The mystery, the secrets and also intrigue that is added made this a book that was hard to put down for even a moment. It made me wonder all the while about the “who’s” and “why’s” while I was avidly turning pages.
The chapters alternates between not only the 3 women but, also between their respective timelines. It did not take me long to recognise the time changes or the characters. I soon found that I didn’t pay heed to the headings for these changes as I immediately knew when I was and who I was reading.
There is a great pace to this book and while I wanted to take my time I was also so eager to discover the truths. I found it emotional and by the end I had shed a couple of tears. I found it was so easy to get caught up and to become invested in the characters.
This is a beautifully written contemporary fiction story, that is full of lavish and gorgeous descriptions with a story that gradually reveals it’s secrets.
The Path to the Sea by Liz Fenwick
gets a Highly and Absolutley Recommended from Me!
June 26, 2019
Novel set in CORNWALL, overlooking Porthpean
Three generations of women in the Trewin family have gathered together at the crumbling and ramshackle pile that is Boskenna, overlooking Porthpean and not far from St Austell, with views across to the tower on Gribben Head (built 1832 to distinguish Gribben Head from Dodman Point). It is set in mature gardens full of flowering blooms, it has stables and outhouses and the sea is only a short distance away…
Grandmother Joan is dying of cancer and she is in palliative care at home. She is only fractionally available to those around her as she drifts in and out of consciousness. Diana, her daughter, is back from her war reporting and has been summoned to the bedside, together with her daughter and granddaughter Lottie. Lottie, as a child, was cared for by Joan and Grandmother and Granddaughter have a very strong bond. Diana, with her peremptory manner and journalist’s search for the truth, slices into any conciliatory mood in these last remaining days. She knows that truth has been withheld from her and she is determined to root out the circumstances of her father’s death. Her anger in the book is palpable and belies a hurt and lost inner child who felt pushed out to Boarding School when her father died. She was only 8 years old. She has snapshot memories of the horror of his death and her adult, investigative nose tells her there is quite a story to uncover…..
Joan and Allan (husband and father to Diana) spent a great deal of time in Moscow and Christmas and Summer breaks at Boskenna. Remember, this was the 1960s, the height of the Cold War and of course any Westerner based in Russia had perhaps another, nefarious agenda. And certainly Joan – glamorous, multilingually gifted Joan – had her secrets.
The chapters in the book rotate between the three women, variously set in 1962 and 2018. At first it took me quite some concentration to sort the different characters and the time periods and get them all straight. However once I got into the rhythm I found this to be a poignant and well observed novel about family dynamics and how death triggers all kinds of behaviours, resentments and an ultimate quest for closure. The various strands come together well to form a cohesive and very readable novel.
It is a particularly good read for anyone who likes books set in Cornwall. The Guardian calls Liz Fenwick “The Queen of the contemporary Cornish novel” and a well deserved epithet that is too!
Porthpean House is the inspiration for Boskenna.
Three generations of women in the Trewin family have gathered together at the crumbling and ramshackle pile that is Boskenna, overlooking Porthpean and not far from St Austell, with views across to the tower on Gribben Head (built 1832 to distinguish Gribben Head from Dodman Point). It is set in mature gardens full of flowering blooms, it has stables and outhouses and the sea is only a short distance away…
Grandmother Joan is dying of cancer and she is in palliative care at home. She is only fractionally available to those around her as she drifts in and out of consciousness. Diana, her daughter, is back from her war reporting and has been summoned to the bedside, together with her daughter and granddaughter Lottie. Lottie, as a child, was cared for by Joan and Grandmother and Granddaughter have a very strong bond. Diana, with her peremptory manner and journalist’s search for the truth, slices into any conciliatory mood in these last remaining days. She knows that truth has been withheld from her and she is determined to root out the circumstances of her father’s death. Her anger in the book is palpable and belies a hurt and lost inner child who felt pushed out to Boarding School when her father died. She was only 8 years old. She has snapshot memories of the horror of his death and her adult, investigative nose tells her there is quite a story to uncover…..
Joan and Allan (husband and father to Diana) spent a great deal of time in Moscow and Christmas and Summer breaks at Boskenna. Remember, this was the 1960s, the height of the Cold War and of course any Westerner based in Russia had perhaps another, nefarious agenda. And certainly Joan – glamorous, multilingually gifted Joan – had her secrets.
The chapters in the book rotate between the three women, variously set in 1962 and 2018. At first it took me quite some concentration to sort the different characters and the time periods and get them all straight. However once I got into the rhythm I found this to be a poignant and well observed novel about family dynamics and how death triggers all kinds of behaviours, resentments and an ultimate quest for closure. The various strands come together well to form a cohesive and very readable novel.
It is a particularly good read for anyone who likes books set in Cornwall. The Guardian calls Liz Fenwick “The Queen of the contemporary Cornish novel” and a well deserved epithet that is too!
Porthpean House is the inspiration for Boskenna.
June 10, 2019
Set in the rugged beauty of Cornwall, a family drama, that is both heartbreaking and heartwarming, unfolds through the eyes of a dying grandmother, a driven daughter and a dutiful granddaughter. Each woman loves the house on the Cornish cliff, even though it is the scene of tragic events that have marred their lives.
Joan has a secret, kept hidden for most of her adult life, but now she is dying, she wants forgiveness and understanding. Told from her point of view as a young, mother in 1962, her secret life and the terrible events of the last family holiday at the house are revealed.
Diana has never forgiven her mother for taking her away from the house she loved, and leaving her to a soulless boarding school when as a grieving child all she needed was her mother’s love and presence. In her mother’s final days, she returns to her childhood holiday home, wanting answers, but most of all wanting to make sense of her life. We learn her story in 1962, as she discovers the answers she seeks in 2018.
Lottie lurches from crisis to crisis, seeking something that only her mother could give her, but never did. She doesn’t understand her mother’s coldness, and is grateful for the love and support her grandmother gives her. Returning to the house where she spent many happy childhood days, she finds more questions than answers, and is determined to confront her mother, about the father she refuses to discuss.
The plot moves effortlessly between 2018, 2008 and 1962, as the love, pain and secrets are uncovered and revealed. The three outwardly successful women, all hide emotional pain, that has damaged the part of their lives that should be the most precious.
The parts of the plot set in 1962 are rich in historical detail and are notably atmospheric, the fear surrounding the escalation of the cold war is tangible, and adds to the family drama that unfolds. The plot has many twists and the complex characters are authentic. You become engrossed in their lives and as the truth reveals itself, the true poignancy of the situation is breathtaking.
‘ The Path to the Sea is enthralling to read, it takes you back to another world, but lets you see how the problems and fears are just as relevant today. The family dysfunction, and the events that precipitated it is very sad, it perfectly illustrates how personal sacrifice can facilitate a greater good. The ending is hopeful, speaking of forgiveness, and lessons learned.
The perfect Summer read.
I received a copy of this book from HQ in return for an honest review.
Joan has a secret, kept hidden for most of her adult life, but now she is dying, she wants forgiveness and understanding. Told from her point of view as a young, mother in 1962, her secret life and the terrible events of the last family holiday at the house are revealed.
Diana has never forgiven her mother for taking her away from the house she loved, and leaving her to a soulless boarding school when as a grieving child all she needed was her mother’s love and presence. In her mother’s final days, she returns to her childhood holiday home, wanting answers, but most of all wanting to make sense of her life. We learn her story in 1962, as she discovers the answers she seeks in 2018.
Lottie lurches from crisis to crisis, seeking something that only her mother could give her, but never did. She doesn’t understand her mother’s coldness, and is grateful for the love and support her grandmother gives her. Returning to the house where she spent many happy childhood days, she finds more questions than answers, and is determined to confront her mother, about the father she refuses to discuss.
The plot moves effortlessly between 2018, 2008 and 1962, as the love, pain and secrets are uncovered and revealed. The three outwardly successful women, all hide emotional pain, that has damaged the part of their lives that should be the most precious.
The parts of the plot set in 1962 are rich in historical detail and are notably atmospheric, the fear surrounding the escalation of the cold war is tangible, and adds to the family drama that unfolds. The plot has many twists and the complex characters are authentic. You become engrossed in their lives and as the truth reveals itself, the true poignancy of the situation is breathtaking.
‘ The Path to the Sea is enthralling to read, it takes you back to another world, but lets you see how the problems and fears are just as relevant today. The family dysfunction, and the events that precipitated it is very sad, it perfectly illustrates how personal sacrifice can facilitate a greater good. The ending is hopeful, speaking of forgiveness, and lessons learned.
The perfect Summer read.
I received a copy of this book from HQ in return for an honest review.
June 5, 2019
This is exactly my kind of book and I loved it. It tells the story of three generations of women all with strained relationships brought together by the imminent death of Joan, the grandmother. In her younger days, Joan lived and worked in Russia before the death of her first husband. Her daughter, Diana, a successful journalist, has always felt very distant from her mother and can't understand why she can't remember more about her father. Lottie was brought up by her grandmother and so in turn is distant from her own mother. As Joan lies dying, she begins to talk about times gone by and seems to have something to confess.
I loved the way the secrets from the past were gradually revealed during this story. I really enjoy books where the story moves from past to present and this book switches smoothly between 1962 and 2018. It was so intriguing wondering just what had happened over the course of those couple of days back in 1962. The author lifts the veil from what has happened through the perspectives of Joan and a young Diana as well as revealing the present through all three women.
The relationships in this book were just fascinating. First there was Joan and Allan who seemed like the golden couple but what secrets were they hiding? Then following Allan's death, Joan marries George but there is mystery over how they met. The mother and daughter relationships between both generations were so intriguing, as was the relationship between Diana and the father who she didn't seem able to recall. Lottie and Alex were so much in love ten years ago so what happened to drive them apart? Another storyline simmering away under the surface is that about the relationship between Lottie and Paul - where is he, what happened, why doesn't she want her family to know about him?
All this takes place within the walls of Boskenna, the grand old house on the cliff. Although it a place they all seem to have fled at various times it is also a constant, a place of refuge for all the women, even though they may not realise it. It's always there, always welcoming. The house and its grounds are appealingly described with the sea below mirroring life: sometimes calm, sometimes stormy, dangerous, or beautiful.
The air of mystery and suspense is maintained throughout the book, as the various mysteries are unravelled and resolved. The Path to the Sea is a compelling, beautifully told story of secrets from the past and their effects on the present. A story of a family who found it hard to express love because of those secrets, and with plenty of intrigue and surprises, this book was an absolute joy to read.
I loved the way the secrets from the past were gradually revealed during this story. I really enjoy books where the story moves from past to present and this book switches smoothly between 1962 and 2018. It was so intriguing wondering just what had happened over the course of those couple of days back in 1962. The author lifts the veil from what has happened through the perspectives of Joan and a young Diana as well as revealing the present through all three women.
The relationships in this book were just fascinating. First there was Joan and Allan who seemed like the golden couple but what secrets were they hiding? Then following Allan's death, Joan marries George but there is mystery over how they met. The mother and daughter relationships between both generations were so intriguing, as was the relationship between Diana and the father who she didn't seem able to recall. Lottie and Alex were so much in love ten years ago so what happened to drive them apart? Another storyline simmering away under the surface is that about the relationship between Lottie and Paul - where is he, what happened, why doesn't she want her family to know about him?
All this takes place within the walls of Boskenna, the grand old house on the cliff. Although it a place they all seem to have fled at various times it is also a constant, a place of refuge for all the women, even though they may not realise it. It's always there, always welcoming. The house and its grounds are appealingly described with the sea below mirroring life: sometimes calm, sometimes stormy, dangerous, or beautiful.
The air of mystery and suspense is maintained throughout the book, as the various mysteries are unravelled and resolved. The Path to the Sea is a compelling, beautifully told story of secrets from the past and their effects on the present. A story of a family who found it hard to express love because of those secrets, and with plenty of intrigue and surprises, this book was an absolute joy to read.
May 26, 2019
Three women, Grandmother, Mother, Daughter and one house - Boskenna almost like the fourth women in this story of secrets and lies and the mystery that can arise from one action and subsequent reactions.
It is the 1960s, the world is still very much in the throws of the Cold War, there is much going on. To get a break from that Joan and her diplomat husband have arrived to spend time in Cornwall, at their home, Boskenna. However it seems that you are never alone.
One weekend, to celebrate her husband's birthday a house party is underway but there is some undercurrent between the walls, between the guests and between Joan and her husband.
Events take a rather interesting and dangerous course and it is one weekend that no one will ever forget.
Especially Joan's daughter, Diana.
She witnesses many things, she is apart of everything but is unseen in the shadows as she watches the glamourous people at her fathers party. But some things she sees are forever indelibly seared on her brain and she can always see them, she can always feel the guilt for the events that happened.
She has hardly ever returned to Boskenna but now forced to because of the ill health of her mother, she is going to have to confront her past.
This forces, Diana to be rather distant with her own daughter, Lottie.
Escaping from the disasters of her life in London, Lottie returns to Boskenna to see her grandmother in her final days. Her grandmother apologises, reminiscent of a deathbed confession and Lottie, intrigued by what has happened in the past and very much affected by what has happened to her tries to find out the truth.
This novel is told from all the three main character points of view, to help with your understanding and timeline, chapters are dated so we go between present day and the past.
The writing is so subtle that I was immediately drawn into the house party of Boskenna and the mystery that continued to build around the events and the house had me in mind of Rebecca.......I was convinced that Mrs Danvers was going to appear. Whilst of course she doesn't the secrets that are tied up in the house and the family are going to have to come out.
In present day telling, the mystery that Lottie was trying to unravel was fascinating and the discovery of diaries and pictures added to it all.
The Cornish setting added to the atmosphere and the author has an uncanny knack of making it all three dimensional away from the page. I could taste the salt in the sea air and feel the heat of the sun.
The Path to the Sea works on so many levels and is a book to escape right into and immerse yourself in secrets of history, of life, of family and of love.
It is the 1960s, the world is still very much in the throws of the Cold War, there is much going on. To get a break from that Joan and her diplomat husband have arrived to spend time in Cornwall, at their home, Boskenna. However it seems that you are never alone.
One weekend, to celebrate her husband's birthday a house party is underway but there is some undercurrent between the walls, between the guests and between Joan and her husband.
Events take a rather interesting and dangerous course and it is one weekend that no one will ever forget.
Especially Joan's daughter, Diana.
She witnesses many things, she is apart of everything but is unseen in the shadows as she watches the glamourous people at her fathers party. But some things she sees are forever indelibly seared on her brain and she can always see them, she can always feel the guilt for the events that happened.
She has hardly ever returned to Boskenna but now forced to because of the ill health of her mother, she is going to have to confront her past.
This forces, Diana to be rather distant with her own daughter, Lottie.
Escaping from the disasters of her life in London, Lottie returns to Boskenna to see her grandmother in her final days. Her grandmother apologises, reminiscent of a deathbed confession and Lottie, intrigued by what has happened in the past and very much affected by what has happened to her tries to find out the truth.
This novel is told from all the three main character points of view, to help with your understanding and timeline, chapters are dated so we go between present day and the past.
The writing is so subtle that I was immediately drawn into the house party of Boskenna and the mystery that continued to build around the events and the house had me in mind of Rebecca.......I was convinced that Mrs Danvers was going to appear. Whilst of course she doesn't the secrets that are tied up in the house and the family are going to have to come out.
In present day telling, the mystery that Lottie was trying to unravel was fascinating and the discovery of diaries and pictures added to it all.
The Cornish setting added to the atmosphere and the author has an uncanny knack of making it all three dimensional away from the page. I could taste the salt in the sea air and feel the heat of the sun.
The Path to the Sea works on so many levels and is a book to escape right into and immerse yourself in secrets of history, of life, of family and of love.
July 29, 2019
The book is set in Boskenna, a beautiful, rundown cliffside in Cornwall and covers one weekend in August in 2018 and the repercussions of events that happened that same weekend in 1962. Three generations of women come together when the oldest, Joan is dying. She lives at Boskenna with her second husband George and her estranged daughter Diana, a troubled, successful journalist who wants answers from her mother about her past. Then there's Diana's daughter, Lottie, who is dealing with her own private issues.
The story travels back in time and as each of them deal with the inevitable we discover the reason why Joan and Diana's relationship is strained, we learn of Lottie's troubles and the ghosts in her past that she's learning to deal with. Diana's past is one of glamour, mystery and heartache and it fascinated me. I don't want to give any spoilers, but will say that I was completely absorbed by this book and that there were a lot of surprises along the way.
I loved this beautifully written book. Although not always likeable, Diana and Joan's stories are fascinating. I loved Lottie's determination to delve into their secrets and discover the truth about what happened that August weekend in 1962. An unputdownable, perfect holiday read.
The story travels back in time and as each of them deal with the inevitable we discover the reason why Joan and Diana's relationship is strained, we learn of Lottie's troubles and the ghosts in her past that she's learning to deal with. Diana's past is one of glamour, mystery and heartache and it fascinated me. I don't want to give any spoilers, but will say that I was completely absorbed by this book and that there were a lot of surprises along the way.
I loved this beautifully written book. Although not always likeable, Diana and Joan's stories are fascinating. I loved Lottie's determination to delve into their secrets and discover the truth about what happened that August weekend in 1962. An unputdownable, perfect holiday read.
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