BOOK REVIEW

THE ORPHAN'S DREAM

DILLY COURT

Dilly Court's latest novel, The Orphan's Dream, is set in London at the end of the nineteenth century.

Her vivid and accurate descriptive detail immerses her readers into an intriguing story centred on heroine, Mirabel Cutler, who lives with her widowed father.

Life is relatively easy for Mirabel until her father marries again to Ernestine who is essentially a gold digger.

Mirabel is forced to leave the family home and is taken to a place of refuge by a charismatic sea captain, Jack Starke.

The refuge turns out to be a brothel and there she meets Hubert Kettle, an old gentleman, whom she marries.

The story transfers to a plant finding trip in Florida with many incidents on the way, and finally reverts to London.

This book is a must read for all lovers of Victorian historical novels.

It has been well researched and very true to life for many Londoners living at that particular time.

I thought that the time Mirabel spent travelling came across as rather boring in the story. However I could understand its relevance and it did provide some exciting incidents. Overall it was a nice easy read and provides a marvellous new saga for all Dilly Court fans.

BARBARA DAVIS