Lucinda Riley’s is a House Worth Entering

November 15, 2012 12:34 am·9 comments

The Orchid House

As an avid Kate Morton fan, I was thrilled to discover an author that was rumored to be similar in style. While I had previously heard the name Lucinda Riley, it wasn’t until this comparison was made that I took the time to find out what books she had written. Even then, I was wary. Morton has a way of weaving rich tales without leaving any loose ends (an amazing feat given what she undertakes) and I wasn’t sure Riley could pull it off. But now that I have finished my first book by her ( thanks to Apocalypse Mama for her giveaway), I can definitely say that a comparison to Morton is warranted.

I would be remiss if I didn’t compare this to House at Riverton because The Orchid House is about two families (one being the “help” that are inextricably linked to the same house, Wharton Park. But, from here I will draw no more comparisons because Riley’s novel is fully capable of standing on its own merit.

Like most good literary fiction, this one starts out slow as it acquaints the reader with the main characters. Fluctuating between generations, Riley does a great job of keeping the reader in the loop and clearly distinguishing between families and lineages (many authors take this for granted and it can detract from the value of the story). The first half of the book develops pretty steadily but loses steam in the second half when it switches its focus to a new character.

The second half seems a bit scattered. It is also very well-developed, but I get the feeling that Riley enjoyed her characters a bit more in the first half. There aren’t any loose ends, per se, but the writing fell a little flat and was missing the spark that drove the first half. Despite this, the book was wonderful. It is a testament to the intricate storyline and the amazing unraveling of the story itself that even the flat writing in the second half is easily overlooked. If you are looking for a book that you can curl up by the fireplace with this winter, then I definitely recommend this book!

Buy The Orchid House!

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Tattered Cover

Click here  for Kate Morton reviews

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Allison Hiltz

Allison Hiltz

Allison is a voracious reader, Law & Order aficionado, serial napper, shark conservationist, and crazy coffee drinker. She is currently pursuing her graduate degree in Public Policy and lives in Denver, CO with her husband and two rescue dogs. She can be contacted at allison(at)thebookwheelblog(dot)com.
Allison Hiltz

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  • http://thebookmusings.com/ Melinda

    Hey, I’m totally delayed with commenting here, but I am about to read The Lavender Garden by Riley and was browsing her other work on goodreads. Saw you read this and had to come check out your review. I’ve also seen the Kate Morton comparisons and because I read The House at Riverton, I think I might enjoy this.

    Will see how I feel about The Lavender Garden, if I like her writing, I might just pick up this one :)

    • http://thebookmusings.com/ Melinda

      *were not was. yikes

    • The Book Wheel

      I’ve read two of her books and I liked this one but didn’t love the other one. I have Lavender Garden and it will be my tie-breaker!

      • http://thebookmusings.com/ Melinda

        Ofcourse you now know that I loved The Lavender Garden :)

  • Vicky

    Hi!
    I’ve recently discovered both Morton and Riley authors and love them both. As you could see thestyle similarity on them, can you recommend me other authors of the kind? Would be great.Thank you!!!
    Vicky

    • The Book Wheel

      Absolutely! It’s my favorite thing to do, so thank you for asking! I’ll break them down into little categories for you :)

      Books that have the time jumps like Morton/Riley: The Secret of Nightingale Palace by Dana Sachs (I’m halfway through it right now but it’s good)

      Other good reads: Joshua Henkin’s Matrimony, Tess Thompson’s Caramel and Magnolias, Anne Patchett’s Patron Saint of Liars, Elizabeth Kostova’s The Historian.

      Some of my favorites: Rules of Civility by Amor Towles, Vinegar Hill by A. Manette Ansay, Tigers in Red Weather by Liza Klaussmann, and Cover of Snow by Jenny Milchman.

    • http://royalwomen.blogspot.com Malena

      You could also try The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield if you like Kate Morton and Lucinda Riley.

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