The Butterfly Cabinet    by Bernie McGill Order:  USA  Can Free Press, 2010 (2010) Hardcover, e-Book Read an Excerpt      Reviewed by Barbara Lingens The death of four-year-old Charlotte, found tied up in a closet where her mother Harriet had left her for a punishment, is the pivot around which this story turns. Sent to prison for a year, Harriet writes a diary, which is later found by Maddie, a servant of Harriet and her family. Much later, as Maddie hands the unread diary over to Anna, granddaughter to Harriet, she unlocks many secrets. This is a strange story because the characters seem so distant from each other. We get a sense of abiding attraction between Harriet and her husband, but at the same time not only are their day-to-day lives completely separate, but there is little evidence of them as ever being together, except for the family they produce, a pack of boys and one girl. It is hard to imagine a father ignoring a house full of boys as he does. Maddie's struggle is more palpable, but even her troubles seem distant. Perhaps this comes about because we are getting the story indirectly - through Harriet's diary and Maddie's reflections years later. Nevertheless the author has done a good job getting inside of both characters. How Harriet comes to terms with the loss she has suffered and how Maddie is able finally to confront her actions in a way that will give Anna the best understanding of her heritage makes for a very interesting read. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Historical books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews