The Hidden Beach by Karen Swan
Published by Harper Collins
4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
In the oldest part of Stockholm, Bell Everhurst is
working as a nanny for an affluent family. Hanna and Max Mogert are parents to
7 year-old Linus, and 5-year old twins Ellinor and Tilde, and Bell has been
with the family for over two years.
One early Spring morning, as she’s rushing out to
take the children to school, she answers the phone – and everything changes. A
woman from a clinic she’s never heard of asks her to pass on the message that
Hanna’s husband is awake.
Bell is confused. She clearly just saw Max walking
out of the house a few minutes earlier, but the woman mentioned Hanna by name.
But soon the truth comes tumbling out: Hanna’s
first husband fell into a coma seven years earlier, following an accident. Now
he’s awake. And he wants his family back.
I completely loved the main character of the book,
Bell who is completely devoted to the children in her care, although sometimes
I despaired with the Mogert’s who I felt took advantage of her lovely
personality. Hanna on the other hand…well, I just wanted to tell her a few home
truths – all the way through the book I couldn’t warm to her, and thought she
was selfish, even where her children were concerned – she certainly put herself
first.
I loved the description of the countryside, the
boats coming in and out of the waterways, and I never knew the traditions
associated with Midsommer so it was really nice to find out about them- and it
was a lovely coincidence that I read that part of the book on actual Midsommer,
so in a way I felt like I was there with them, wearing a flower wreath in my hair,
and looking forward to spending a hot,
sunny summer on the islands.
A really enjoyable read and Karen Swan never
disappoints her readers with such stylish writing.
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