This is a poignant and beautifully layered historical novel that uncovers long-buried family secrets through a dual-timeline mystery. With emotional depth and a haunting sense of time, it explores how the echoes of World War I continue to ripple through generations.
The House at River's Edge by Rachel Burton
Genres: Historical Fiction, Womens Fiction

1914:Anticipating a long summer of freedom at her friend's family estate in Cambridge, Grace Villiers is disappointed by an unexpected addition to their party. Then the new arrival offers to teach Grace to swim, and she is forced to see there is more to Algernon Lake than his reputation. But, with war brewing across Europe, this will be a summer that changes everything.

1997: Following her father’s sudden death, Barbara finds herself living with her mother in a house that is, literally, falling down around them. As she tries to put their new home in order, she discovers a photograph of her grandfather as a young man with his friend – two soldiers at the start of the First World War. Setting aside her grief,
Barbara becomes determined to uncover their story, hoping it will bring her closer to the family she feels slipping away.
But when her search for answers opens up truths she isn’t prepared for, Barbara will come to realise, some secrets may be best left alone.

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Review

A deeply moving historical narrative, this book intertwines the lives of two generations—one navigating the idyllic yet shifting world of 1914, and another uncovering its secrets from the lens of 1997. Initially, I found the story a bit challenging to follow due to its large cast and shifting timelines, but once the threads began to weave together, I was completely immersed.

The past timeline, filled with the golden haze of a pre-war summer at Cambridge, captured the urgency and innocence of young adulthood before the Great War changed everything. I was especially drawn to Grace and Winn, whose determination to shape their own futures in a time of restrictive gender roles was inspiring. The present-day mystery—sparked by a house clearance, an old trunk, and a photo—was equally engaging, grounding the story in personal discovery and generational grief.

Burton handles the emotional resonance of war, loss, and legacy with sensitivity and grace, creating strong parallels between the past and present. As the layers peeled back and truths were revealed, I found myself as invested in Grace and Winn’s fate as I was in Barbara and Penny’s search. With beautiful writing, a compelling mystery, and powerful themes of remembrance and reconciliation, this book is a must-read for fans of historical fiction that lingers in the heart long after the final page.

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