The Girl in the Garden    by Kamala Nair Order:  USA  Can Grand Central, 2011 (2011) Hardcover, e-Book     Reviewed by Bob Walch Why would a mother take her ten year old daughter and suddenly leave her husband and home in Minnesota and fly off to visit her ancestral home in India? You'll find the answer to this question as you read this powerful and unforgettable novel. Rakhee Singh was that child and now, on the verge of her own marriage, the young woman is on a redemptive journey to revisit the memory of that childhood summer which had such long lasting repercussions. During the scorching summer in rural India, Rakhee not only met her cousins but she also learned the devastating truth about why her mother fled from her childhood home. In the jungle behind the family house the young girl discovered a walled-up garden which held a terrifying secret. Once again it is time to confront this forbidden place, the family's skeletons that influenced her beliefs about fidelity and love. In her debut as a novelist, Kamala Nair has created a story that not only features a lush exotic setting and a passionate, beguiling central character but also a captivating coming of age tale with some surprising, memorable twists. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Contemporary books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews