Book Review: The Girl in the Maze by Cathy Hayward

I think historical fiction has absolutely blown all other book genres out of the park this year. Every time I pick one up, I fall in love with it, and The Girl in the Maze was no exception. Read on for my full review.

REVIEW

Travelling across three generations of women all torn apart by family trauma, The Girl in the Maze was a powerful story of the challenges among mother-daughter relationships.  Emma has always had a difficult relationship with her Mother. They have just never seem to have got on, but it isn’t until her Mother’s death that Emma discovers a shocking secret that may explain their distance over the years. She also discovers some letters between her Mother and Grandmother and it confirms her belief that her Mother has always been difficult. The more Emma starts to uncover about her Mother’s past, the more she feels like she didn’t know her Mother at all, but she is determined to get answers and uncover her secrets at whatever cost.

This story had me hooked from the very start. If a book can grab my emotions from the off then I know I am going to enjoy it. The duel timelines, the revelations and each of the women’s stories. It also highlighted how far we have come in regards to the standards we held against women back in the 30’s through to now and how little it took for a woman to become an outcast. It shocked and angered me at the treatment Emma’s Grandmother and Mother received.

Cathy Hayward has quickly become a favourite writer of mine. She really captured every emotion, every detail, every time line so well.

A powerful and engaging read. Cathy is an impressive new voice in fiction and I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next.

 

Part of The Girl in the Maze Blog Tour