On 15th April
1912, RMS Titanic sank and 1500
people lost their lives. But what if it had stayed afloat?
When the ill-fated maiden voyage of the Titanic leaves thirteen-year-old Olivia
Davenport orphaned, she’s sent to live with her guardians, the Fairchilds, in
their huge Jacobean mansion – Merriford Manor. But the Fairchilds have more to
worry about than a grieving young girl – with war in Europe imminent and four
sons to protect.
Olivia feels alone and friendless. That is, until she
hears a voice from behind the wall in her tower bedroom. A voice from a man
called Seth. At first she thinks he’s a ghost. But it soon becomes clear that
he lives in an overlapping world that is just a shudder in time away from her
own. A world where the Titanic never
sank… And everything since has been just slightly… different.
All Olivia wants is to find a way into his reality. And
not just to see the faces of her beloved parents once again. But also to meet
Seth. Who might just be the love of her life…
An utterly unforgettable
reading group historical novel, that is part romance, part gripping mystery,
and part completely heartbreaking First World War historical fiction. Perfect
for fans of Titanic, In Memoriam and Lucinda
Riley.
Imagine being a young girl and suddenly losing your parents on the tragedy that was The Titanic. Then imagine being uprooted from your home and going to live in very opulent surroundings with your now legal guardians who happen to live in a mansion. This exactly what happens to poor Olivia who finds herself orphaned and living with what appears to be an emotionally stunted family which includes four boys!
While living at Merriford Manor, Olivia tries to find a way to move on with her life. She retreats into her imagination and being the daughter of an author she finds ways to live new lives, go on new adventures and try to put her grief behind her. She's considered a bit of an oddity at the manor but she doesn't care. As a young teenage girl she becomes quite smitten with the under gardener Seth. For Olivia, her life is a tumultuous mess of emotion, grief and trying to find her place amongst the Fairchild family. However, when she moves into the tower bedroom, her life takes a new, supernatural turn when she hears a voice from behind the wall. Never in million years could her imagination have lead her to an alternate world to her own where her parents never died and the Titanic never sank. But, is it the imagination of a poor grief-stricken girl or does such a world really exist?
Let me start by saying I am one of Jenni Keer's biggest fans. Her stories draw me in time and time again and I adore the supernatural element to them. I'm intrigued by The Titanic, given that I'm from Belfast and my husbands family worked in Harland and Wolff where she was built. We even have framed plans of the Titanic in our bathroom! Anyway, I digress. The House of Lost Whispers has all the elements that I love in a book. It has romance, it features The Titanic, it has a supernatural time-slip element and it features the First World War. Oh and lets not forget a ginormous country estate with a mansion just crying out for a ghost. What's not to love? I probably would have liked The Titanic to feature a little bit more but that's just me. I'm a bit obsessed by the ship!
I enjoyed how Olivia's character grew throughout the novel and in turn she helped the Fairchild family grow too. Olivia is a demonstratively affectionate person but the Fairchild's are the typical upper class family of the day. Handshakes and slaps on the back. No hugs, even as their sons go off to war. Its a little sad.
The idea of parallel worlds really intrigues me and the idea that destinies are different for the same person on two different planes. One little ripple can cause lives to change forever, for better or good. The relationship between Olivia and Seth and Ms Davenport and Tanner and the desperation to push through the divide between the worlds was quite emotional. Imagine falling in love with a whispered voice and never having the opportunity to physically reach out to that person. And for that love, friendship, companionship and desire to span years.
Jenni Keer's description of the grief and horror of war was moving and shocking too. Her research into this era jumps out from every page. It seems that Olivia's life is continually shaped by circumstances outside her control yet she bounces back time and time again. Her desire to have a life worth living is an example we should all follow. A highly recommended read and one I simply could not put down. Loved it!
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