Her Mother's Secret by Catherine King YORKSHIRE in the late nineteenth century provides an appropriate backdrop for Catherine King’s latest historical novel, Her Mother’s Secret.

Part one begins at Waterley Hall in South Riding, where Ruth Hargreaves’s family works for Lord Laughton, who already married, takes Ruth as his mistress. Ruth becomes pregnant and has to leave her family behind and flees the country.

Part two is far more free-flowing in style and describes the life that Lettie, granddaughter of Ivy Hargreaves lives at the manse.

Part three is a very exciting page-turning conclusion to the novel.

This is the first of Catherine King’s novels I have read, and I will certainly be very interested to read some of her previous novels.

BARBARA DAVIS