An intriguing novel
The Sea Gate by Jane Johnson takes readers to Cornwall where Becky Young sets out to help her elderly relative, Olivia Kitto. It is a dual timeline novel that takes readers from the present day back to World War II. I thought The Sea Gate was well-written with developed characters and a complex storyline. The author is extremely detailed in her descriptions. While this allows readers to visualize the scenes, I did find it to be too much information because it greatly slowed down the pacing of the story (needed a better balance). I liked how the past storyline provided details on Olivia and what happened in the house. World War II was a dangerous time in Cornwall. There was fear that the Germans would try to invade and there was the constant threat of bombings. The mystery was quite intriguing and multifaceted. There were some unique characters in this story. Olivia is a cantankerous woman who has been shaped by the past. She is quite a character along with her parrot, Gabriel. I liked seeing Becky develop as the book progressed. The ending nicely wrapped up the novel. There is foul language as well as intimate situations in the novel. The Sea Gate has a mysterious artist, beautiful paintings, a lovely bracelet, a hidden tunnel, and much more. A few little tweaks, and The Sea Gate would have been a home run for me. The Sea Gate is a fascinating story about courage, secrets, war, forbidden love, danger, and perilous secrets.
