Genre Fiction
![Lisa Jewell - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_B001IO9ULM.jpg)
The Girls in the Garden: A Novel
"A page-turner for readers who like beach reads on the dark side" (People), this unputdownable domestic thriller from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Then She Was Gone asks the question: just how much do you trust your neighbors?
Imagine that you live on a picturesque communal garden square, an oasis in urban London where your children run free, in and out of other people's houses. You've known your neighbors for years and you trust them. Implicitly. You think your children are safe. But are they really?
On a midsummer night, as a festive neighborhood party is taking place, preteen Pip discovers her thirteen-year-old sister Grace lying unconscious and bloody in a hidden corner of a lush rose garden. What really happened to her? And who is responsible?
Dark secrets, a devastating mystery, and the games both children and adults play twist together in this unforgettable novel, packed with utterly believable characters and page-turning suspense.
Imagine that you live on a picturesque communal garden square, an oasis in urban London where your children run free, in and out of other people's houses. You've known your neighbors for years and you trust them. Implicitly. You think your children are safe. But are they really?
On a midsummer night, as a festive neighborhood party is taking place, preteen Pip discovers her thirteen-year-old sister Grace lying unconscious and bloody in a hidden corner of a lush rose garden. What really happened to her? And who is responsible?
Dark secrets, a devastating mystery, and the games both children and adults play twist together in this unforgettable novel, packed with utterly believable characters and page-turning suspense.
Editorial Reviews
Praise for The Girls in the Garden:
"Lisa Jewell's characters are so real that I finish every book half-expecting to bump into one of them. Modern, complex, intuitive, she just goes from strength to strength." -- Jojo Moyes, author of After You
"Jewell expertly builds suspense by piling up domestic misunderstandings and more plot twists than an SVU episode. It's a page-turner for readers who like beach reads on the dark side." ― People
"Full of suspense yet emotionally grounded…Fans of Liane Moriarty, Paula Hawkins, and Carla Buckley will adore this peek inside a gated community that truly takes care of its own, no matter the consequences." ― Booklist (starred review)
"Rich characterization and intricate plot development are combined with mid-chapter cliffhangers that cut from one character's point of view to the next, resulting in a riveting pace. Vivid descriptions of the bucolic park contrast with the evil lurking around the themes of teenage sexuality, perversion, peer pressure, and the desire for a complete family. Jewell adeptly creates a pervasive atmosphere of unease in this well-spun narrative." ― Publishers Weekly (starred review)
One of New York Post's "Buzziest Books to Bring to the Beach"
"Jewell expertly mines the relationships of her compelling, multilayered characters for a perfect pack-for-vacation read." ― Fort-Worth Star Telegram
"Jewell crafts another page-turner that keeps the suspense flowing…[and] sharply evades the truth while bouncing the story among multiple characters' perspectives. Recommended for lovers of mysteries built on the complexities of family and the dismantling of the idea that being part of a community keeps us safe." ― Library Journal
"An intoxicating, spellbinding read that will make readers entranced with Lisa Jewell's wicked and gorgeous prose…raw, intense, gritty, dark and suspenseful. If you are looking for a looking for a psychological thriller that will unfold secrets and truths in a shocking manner, this book is for you." ― Manhattan Book Review
"Faithful to the thriller genre, Jewell makes liberal use of red herrings and plot twists… The answer to the whodunit is a sly – and satisfying – surprise." ― New York Times Book Review
"The writing is cause for pleasant pause." ― Seattle Times
"An engaging and atmospheric read, Lisa beautifully conjures up the half-child half-adult lives of young teenagers." -- Jane Fallon, author of Skeletons
"Oh but I loved this book – a magical garden right in the center of the city, a long, hot summer simmering away, a group of young teens, lurching between boredom and passion and ripe for their lives to start. And at its cen...
"Lisa Jewell's characters are so real that I finish every book half-expecting to bump into one of them. Modern, complex, intuitive, she just goes from strength to strength." -- Jojo Moyes, author of After You
"Jewell expertly builds suspense by piling up domestic misunderstandings and more plot twists than an SVU episode. It's a page-turner for readers who like beach reads on the dark side." ― People
"Full of suspense yet emotionally grounded…Fans of Liane Moriarty, Paula Hawkins, and Carla Buckley will adore this peek inside a gated community that truly takes care of its own, no matter the consequences." ― Booklist (starred review)
"Rich characterization and intricate plot development are combined with mid-chapter cliffhangers that cut from one character's point of view to the next, resulting in a riveting pace. Vivid descriptions of the bucolic park contrast with the evil lurking around the themes of teenage sexuality, perversion, peer pressure, and the desire for a complete family. Jewell adeptly creates a pervasive atmosphere of unease in this well-spun narrative." ― Publishers Weekly (starred review)
One of New York Post's "Buzziest Books to Bring to the Beach"
"Jewell expertly mines the relationships of her compelling, multilayered characters for a perfect pack-for-vacation read." ― Fort-Worth Star Telegram
"Jewell crafts another page-turner that keeps the suspense flowing…[and] sharply evades the truth while bouncing the story among multiple characters' perspectives. Recommended for lovers of mysteries built on the complexities of family and the dismantling of the idea that being part of a community keeps us safe." ― Library Journal
"An intoxicating, spellbinding read that will make readers entranced with Lisa Jewell's wicked and gorgeous prose…raw, intense, gritty, dark and suspenseful. If you are looking for a looking for a psychological thriller that will unfold secrets and truths in a shocking manner, this book is for you." ― Manhattan Book Review
"Faithful to the thriller genre, Jewell makes liberal use of red herrings and plot twists… The answer to the whodunit is a sly – and satisfying – surprise." ― New York Times Book Review
"The writing is cause for pleasant pause." ― Seattle Times
"An engaging and atmospheric read, Lisa beautifully conjures up the half-child half-adult lives of young teenagers." -- Jane Fallon, author of Skeletons
"Oh but I loved this book – a magical garden right in the center of the city, a long, hot summer simmering away, a group of young teens, lurching between boredom and passion and ripe for their lives to start. And at its cen...
Readers Top Reviews
Stories tend to be family related and relatable or at least plausible. Tend to be page turners or at least for me.
What a build up, I could feel the heat of the summer building up as the summer was getting hotter and hotter. If you have children younger than 13 don't read it or maybe you should. I am off to buy the next book, second onI have read of Lisa jewell's books, and both so completely different and both so good!
Short Excerpt Teaser
The Girls in the Garden 1
Dear Daddy,
We moved into the new flat this weekend. It's nice. It's on a quiet street with little houses. You walk into a narrow hallway and if you turn right there are two bedrooms. I have to share with Grace but I really don't mind. You know I never liked sleeping on my own in the old house anyway. Not really. Do you remember? I don't really know how much you remember about things from before. I don't know if you've lost all your memories or if you're just the same except with all the other problems.
Anyway, our room is really cute. We put our beds in an L shape so that our feet point together and our heads are furthest apart and I can see Grace when I'm in bed. It's like this:
It's weird how I'm eleven and I should be wanting my own room and I just really don't. Remember how I used to say I wish we lived in a caravan? So we could be all snug together? Well, this is a bit like that, I suppose. Then Mum's room is next door to ours. It's quite small but she's got a little shower room attached, which is nice for her. Then on the other side of the hallway there's a kitchen which is square with white units with silver handles and white tiles and Mum says it looks like an operating theater. It kind of does. Well, it's totally different to our old kitchen, that's for sure. Do you remember our old kitchen? Do you remember those crazy tiles around the sink with the bits of fruit on them? Grapes and stuff? I sort of miss those now.
So the kitchen has a breakfast bar, which is good, I like breakfast bars, and a window that looks over the backyard. And next door is a tiny living room. It's all painted white with that kind of shiny wood flooring that's not really wood and whoever lived here before must have worn very sharp heels because it's full of little dents, like a Ryvita. There's a door in the living room that takes you into the backyard. It's teeny-weeny. Just big enough for a little table and some chairs. And maybe it's just because it's winter but it does smell a bit damp out there and there's lots of moss all over the walls.
And it has a little wooden gate and when you go through the gate there's a totally massive private park. We were not expecting it. Mum didn't even tell us about it before. I was just thinking what a cute little flat it was and then suddenly it's like Narnia, there's all these tall trees and pathways and a lawn that takes you up to all these big white houses with windows that are as tall as two men and you can see the chandeliers and the big splashy paintings on the walls. At night when you look up the hill and the houses have all their lights on it's so pretty. And in the park itself there are all these pathways and little tucked-away places. A secret garden which is hidden inside an old wall covered with ivy, like the one in the book. A rose garden which has bowers all the way around and benches in the middle. And then there's a playground too. It's not particularly amazing, just some swings and a clonky old roundabout and one of those sad animals on a spring. But still, it's cool.
This is what the park looks like.
Mum says I can't tell you the name of the park, or where it is. I totally don't know why. But it is still in London. Just a different part to where we lived.
So, all in all I quite like it here. Which canNOT be said for Grace. She hates it. She hates sharing a room with me, she hates the tiny rooms and the narrow hallway and the fact there's nowhere to put anything. And she hates our new school. (I can tell you it's a girls' school and there are two baby goats and a Vietnamese potbellied pig in the playground. But I can't tell you what it's called. I'm really sorry.) Anyway, she hates it. I don't really know why. I really like it. And also she hates the communal park. She says it's weird and scary, probably full of murderers. I don't think so. I think it looks interesting. Kind of mysterious.
I have to go now. Mum says she doesn't know if they'll give you any letters or even if you'd be able to read them anyway. But I always told you everything, Dad, and I don't want to stop now.
Love you. Get better!
Your Pip (squeak) xxxxxxx
"Look," said Adele, standing in the tall window of her living room, her arms folded across her stomach. "More new people."
She was watching a young woman with a soft helmet of pale blond hair weari...
Dear Daddy,
We moved into the new flat this weekend. It's nice. It's on a quiet street with little houses. You walk into a narrow hallway and if you turn right there are two bedrooms. I have to share with Grace but I really don't mind. You know I never liked sleeping on my own in the old house anyway. Not really. Do you remember? I don't really know how much you remember about things from before. I don't know if you've lost all your memories or if you're just the same except with all the other problems.
Anyway, our room is really cute. We put our beds in an L shape so that our feet point together and our heads are furthest apart and I can see Grace when I'm in bed. It's like this:
It's weird how I'm eleven and I should be wanting my own room and I just really don't. Remember how I used to say I wish we lived in a caravan? So we could be all snug together? Well, this is a bit like that, I suppose. Then Mum's room is next door to ours. It's quite small but she's got a little shower room attached, which is nice for her. Then on the other side of the hallway there's a kitchen which is square with white units with silver handles and white tiles and Mum says it looks like an operating theater. It kind of does. Well, it's totally different to our old kitchen, that's for sure. Do you remember our old kitchen? Do you remember those crazy tiles around the sink with the bits of fruit on them? Grapes and stuff? I sort of miss those now.
So the kitchen has a breakfast bar, which is good, I like breakfast bars, and a window that looks over the backyard. And next door is a tiny living room. It's all painted white with that kind of shiny wood flooring that's not really wood and whoever lived here before must have worn very sharp heels because it's full of little dents, like a Ryvita. There's a door in the living room that takes you into the backyard. It's teeny-weeny. Just big enough for a little table and some chairs. And maybe it's just because it's winter but it does smell a bit damp out there and there's lots of moss all over the walls.
And it has a little wooden gate and when you go through the gate there's a totally massive private park. We were not expecting it. Mum didn't even tell us about it before. I was just thinking what a cute little flat it was and then suddenly it's like Narnia, there's all these tall trees and pathways and a lawn that takes you up to all these big white houses with windows that are as tall as two men and you can see the chandeliers and the big splashy paintings on the walls. At night when you look up the hill and the houses have all their lights on it's so pretty. And in the park itself there are all these pathways and little tucked-away places. A secret garden which is hidden inside an old wall covered with ivy, like the one in the book. A rose garden which has bowers all the way around and benches in the middle. And then there's a playground too. It's not particularly amazing, just some swings and a clonky old roundabout and one of those sad animals on a spring. But still, it's cool.
This is what the park looks like.
Mum says I can't tell you the name of the park, or where it is. I totally don't know why. But it is still in London. Just a different part to where we lived.
So, all in all I quite like it here. Which canNOT be said for Grace. She hates it. She hates sharing a room with me, she hates the tiny rooms and the narrow hallway and the fact there's nowhere to put anything. And she hates our new school. (I can tell you it's a girls' school and there are two baby goats and a Vietnamese potbellied pig in the playground. But I can't tell you what it's called. I'm really sorry.) Anyway, she hates it. I don't really know why. I really like it. And also she hates the communal park. She says it's weird and scary, probably full of murderers. I don't think so. I think it looks interesting. Kind of mysterious.
I have to go now. Mum says she doesn't know if they'll give you any letters or even if you'd be able to read them anyway. But I always told you everything, Dad, and I don't want to stop now.
Love you. Get better!
Your Pip (squeak) xxxxxxx
"Look," said Adele, standing in the tall window of her living room, her arms folded across her stomach. "More new people."
She was watching a young woman with a soft helmet of pale blond hair weari...
