Book Review: The Memory of Lost Senses by Judith Kinghorn

When a mysterious countess arrives late in life to live in a large, deserted house on the edge of a sleepy Hampshire village, the local tongues start wagging. No one is more intrigued than Cecily Chadwick, idling away the long, hot summer of 1911 with nothing much to do. Cecily is fascinated by the exotic elderly lady, and as she gets to know her, is riveted by her tales of expatriate life on the continent.
But the countess is troubled: by her memories, her name, and by anonymous threats to reveal a ruinous secret... it is, she has decided, up to her close friend, a successful novelist who has come to stay for the summer, to put the record straight.
For aspiring writer Cecily, the novelist's presence only adds to the intrigue and pull of the house. But it is the countess's grandson, Jack, his unanswered questions about his grandmother's past and his desire to know the truth, that draw Cecily further into the tangled web of the countess's life, and the place known as Temple Hill. 

The Last Summer was one of the best books that I read last year so I had very high hopes for The Memory of Lost Senses. Judith Kinghorn has delivered another intricate tale with believable characters and secrets all the way.
It took me a little longer to get into The Memory of Lost Senses but once I had a good idea of the characters and their pasts, I was hooked.
Cora is the mysterious countess who has returned to England to watch over her grandson Jack who is about to start university. She is an extremely private woman and we are left wondering why she has returned, why she's stayed away for so long, why so many husbands and where was her childhood spent?
These questions and many others are answered as we flit between the past and the present. Sylvia is Cora's novelist friend who is there to supposedly write Cora's memoirs. Yet how can she when Cora is keeping secrets and Sylvia has her own memories of the past which differ to that of her friend. Cecily lives in the village and is intrigued by Cora and in love with her grandson. Can Cecily finally uncover the truth or will Cora's memories always remain private?
Judith Kinghorn closely looks at love in this book; love in a relationship, love between friends, what we do to protect those we love but also the ways in which we choose to hurt them.
I felt that Cora and Sylvia were quite tragic figures; Sylvia has been living vicariously through Cora and so has not actually created her own life and Cora has spent so much time keeping secrets that she hasn't had time to enjoy what really matters.
The Memory of Lost Senses will appeal to fans of historical fictio
n; the story is extremely absorbing and will keep you guessing all the way.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 4.75/5

Publisher: Headline Review

Pages: 400

Many thanks to Headline for sending me a copy of the book to review, it is out now! 

Book Review: The Last Summer by Judith Kinghorn

A PERFECT LIFE
Clarissa is almost seventeen when the spell of her childhood is broken. It is 1914, the beginning of a blissful golden summer- and the end of an era.
A CHANGING WORLD
Deyning Park is in it's heyday, the gardens filled with the scents of roses and lavender, the colours of the earth rich and vibrant, the large country house filled with the laughter and excitement of privileged youth preparing for a weekend party. When Clarissa meets Tom Cuthbert, home from university and staying with his mother, the housekeeper, she is dazzled. Tom is handsome and enigmatic; he is also an outsider. Ambitious, clever, his sights set on a career in law, Tom is an acute observer, and a man who knows what he wants. For now, that is Clarissa.
AN UNDENIABLE LOVE
As Tom and Clarissa's friendship deepens, the wider landscape of political life around them is changing and another story unfolds: they are not the only people in love. Soon the world- and all that they know- is rocked irrevocably by a war that changes their lives forever.

I know that I am extremely late to the party for this book but I completely fell in love with it. Clarissa and Tom's story will stay with me forever.
I don't want to ruin the plot for anyone else so I shall be careful what I say but I really want to emphasise just how wonderful the story is that Judith Kinghorn has written.
Clarissa and Tom's story begins in the summer of 1914. They come from very different worlds; Clarissa has grown up at Deyning Park surrounded by wealth and luxury whereas Tom is the son of the housekeeper. Although their lives are very different, their connection is instant, a connections they will never lose.
Judith Kinghorn brilliantly captures the change taking place at the time. The world is at war, men are fighting alongside each other; it doesn't matter where you came from, just which side you're on. Clarissa and Tom are caught up in these changes. Clarissa's mother forbids her relationship with Tom; however much she can see a future, Clarissa will not disobey her mother and this leads to devastating consequences. Clarissa is very young and this leads her to make so many mistakes. She comes from a world where you behave in a certain way and you marry certain people. There were so many times when I could see her going down the wrong path out of her sense of duty and I just wanted to drag her back!
The Last Summer explores the aftermath of war, the way it changed society, the way men were damaged both physically and mentally. Women gained a lot of independence during the war, many worked for the first time and this caused problems during peace time.
I did fall in love with Tom Cuthbert. He is besotted with Clarissa and is determined to make something of himself. However, whatever he does always comes back to Clarissa, it's all for her, whether she is his or not.
Judith Kinghorn has an excellent writing style. I really liked the way she used concise sentences and repetition to get her point across. The dialogue between Clarissa and Tom was particularly realistic, it often felt like you were eaves dropping on a personal conversation.
I know many of you have already read this beautiful book  but for those who haven't then please, please do. The Last Summer is a superbly written, poignant read, I simply loved it.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 5/5

Many thanks to Headline for sending me a copy to review.