Lynne Golodner

Eve, a Jewish American research student working at the National Archives of Scotland, is hiking through the forests around Loch Lomond. When she shelters from the rain in a cave, she finds a leather-bound satchel half buried in the dirt. Inside the satchel are letters written by a woman named Shira to her lover, Benjamin. Eve suspects the letters are from the mid-nineteenth century and takes them home for safe keeping. Returning back from the walk, she stops by at a local pub and meets the owner, Mac, the son of a wealthy landowner, the Earl of Monteith. Eve and Mac develop a romantic relationship and fall deeply in love.  Meanwhile, Eve and her boss at the National Archives find more letters hidden in a trunk deep inside the cave. They uncover shocking evidence about Shira Levenson-Macalaster, the wealthiest woman in Great Britain in the 1870s, who was married to the Prime Minister of Great Britain. As Eve continues her research, she finds a connection between the Macalaster family and Mac’s family, the Montieth’s. The revelations could damage the reputation of the Monteith family and the whole of the British aristocracy. When Mac’s mother discovers that Eve is planning to write a book about her research, she will stop at nothing to keep the family secrets hidden.

Cave of Secrets by Lynne Golodner is a captivating novel about an ambitious American woman who discovers the dark family secrets of a British aristocratic family. While in the midst of her research, she meets a charming Scotsman who quickly sweeps her off her feet.  As their relationship develops, a family mystery slowly unravels. With an atmospheric backdrop of sweeping landscapes, rugged terrain, and cosy pubs, the book transports readers to the idyllic Scottish countryside and the beautiful city of Edinburgh.  The novel seamlessly blends the past and present, as Eve’s research threatens to shatter the pristine image of the British aristocracy.

Golodner accomplishes her goal of addressing serious topics, such as homophobia, antisemitism, social class and power in a heart-warming and engaging romance.

Star rating: 5 Stars 

Summary: A beautiful and touching tale of love, loss, and family, set in the atmospheric Scottish highlands.