Book Review – THE FORGOTTEN LETTERS OF ESTHER DURRANT BY KAYTE NUNN

I was first drawn to this book due to its stunning cover. It shows shells, butterflies and flowers set on an ocean blue background. The images are significant, as the book tells the stories of two women whose lives are intertwined on England’s Scilly Isles near Cornwall. In 1951, Esther Durrant is sent to one of these islands to recover from her depression, staying at a remote house with damaged ex-soldiers, under the guidance of revolutionary psychiatrist Dr Richard Creswell.

In 2018, Australian marine scientist Rachel Parker moves to the islands to research a rare clam. While there, she uncovers a suitcase containing mysterious love letters, and sets out to uncover the people behind the letters.