The Lost Daughter by Gill Paul

 This heat-wrenching novel covers a sweeping range of historical eras and settings, from the Russian Revolution to 1970s Sydney. Some historians think that some of the Russian Royal family may have escaped execution, and Gill Paul bases this novel on the premise that Grand Duchess Maria escaped with the help of a sympathetic guard. She later marries him, and lives a traumatic life of poverty and hardship. She also lives with through the Siege of Leningrad (now called St Petersburg). Things get better, and she has a happy marriage, but it is all quite miserable.

In 1970s Australia, Val manages to get away from her abusive husband, and sets out to find the truth about her Russian father who would only read Russian newspapers, and attends the Russian Orthodox church. Her father was extremely secretive, and also treated her badly, so she has a hard time getting away from him in the first place, only to find that she is married to someone even worse.

What is the connection between these two courageous and likeable women? This book certainly keeps you interested! However, I found it extremely miserable. It seems to be the fashion to write miserable novels these days, which is realistic, of course, but perhaps we have enough bad news from the TV and the newspapers? 

I received this free ebook from Edelweiss in return for an honest review.