Corina Bomann’s The Moonlit Garden is one of those books I can see working for many people. I thought I would be one of those people and went in super curious to see how things would develop throughout the story, yet it ended up not working for me.

While there was an interesting story to be found within, I found it difficult to connect to this story from the start. I cannot decide if it was the way the story was told or if it was due to the translation, yet there was never the emotion or intensity I expected to feel with the story. In fact, I spent most of it disconnected from what was happening. Although there were some elements that had me curious, it was not enough to overcome my inability to connect. Add in the fact that things moved so slowly, then add the fact that things were resolved with cliched ease, and I found myself disappointed by this one. It was a story that had the chance to offer a light mystery, yet it never hooked me.

In the end, I’m putting this down as one of those cases where I did not mesh with the book in the way I anticipated. Many have clearly enjoyed it, yet it did not work for me.

The Moonlit Garden was such an enjoyable read – the mysteries within the narrative pulled me along throughout, the author gradually revealing pieces of information at the right moments. The protagonist, Lilly, is given a violin by a stranger and her journey to uncover the link between its two owners leads her to Sumatra and Italy. Along the way she falls in love and her romantic life is echoed in parts by Rose’s story, the famous violinist who was the original owner of the instrument. I appreciated the depiction of Rose’s talent and the way her identity and happiness is bound up in her creativity, along with the act of playing itself. The bond between Lilly and her best friend Ellen is authentically drawn and was one of the highlights of the story. A novel filled with warmth, intrigue, friendship and love.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Crossing for the review copy.