Below is a summation of the members' reactions to this work.
The Ashford Affair by Lauren Willig, like Kate Morton's The Forgotten Garden, structures its narrative around a woman in modern times searching for answers surrounding her family history. The story shifts back and forth between early 20th-century England/Africa and modern-day New York City as the granddaughter attempts to untangle the mystery of her orphaned grandmother, who was brought up by her uncle and aunt who favored their own children and resented the task of raising this offspring of bohemian parents.
The group thoroughly enjoyed the story, which contains elements of both mystery and romance. The discussion delved into the personalities of the characters and how the culture of the times as well the micro-culture of family impacted their choices. Some areas in the plotting left room for speculation and members all had theories about these areas. Everyone said they would highly recommend this novel and appreciated reading something a bit lighter in tone and substance after the first quarter's selections.
