Louisa's secret

There is a side to history that we don't like to read about- poverty. The author began this book as a search into her genealogy and came up with a story she never could have imagined. When we imagine our ancestors, I think we like to imagine them comfortable and with enough of what they need. That's not what the author found. She followed the whole family, but ended up focusing on the mystery of what happened to the middle daughter who went to prison and reform school, the work house, and had children out of wedlock before she finally got her happy ending. This was a gripping story, but not for those who want all sunshine and roses. This book explores the side of living where the difference of a few pounds or even shillings was sometimes the difference between life and death.Heat factor mild.

More horrifying than any horror, thriller, sadistic psychopath, mass murder type of book. That's what grinding poverty is. We are not grateful enough to be living in this place at this time, where REAL poverty as is in this book does not exist. The unspeakably horrible 16 hour day working conditions that destroy the workers' lives. Thank God for the Labor Unions for ending these deplorable practices, and for our wonderful American government that passed laws forbidding them.Have a big box of Kleenex near; if you don't use it, you have no heart.

the author refers to this as a work of faction. In trying to untangle a family secret, she weaves a work that describes the lives we rarelyread about in works of fiction. She didn't locate the secret, but rather creates a work that could so well describe our own more common antecedents. Uncommon in that life endured. For a different and thought-provoking read, I highly recommend.

This book was provided to me free from Story Cartel for my honest review......I had a hard time getting started on this story, all the bad things that kept happening one after another. I finally did get into it and then finished it in 2 evenings. It was interesting to find out that most of these were real people and truly lived through these terrible events!

I. Enjoy historical romances, bit this goes ever so deep into a sadder and meaner litany. So much factual information deftly woven together with a bit of fictionI will certainly not forget the people nor their hardships of existence. Our present lifestyles would be so disrupted that a great many would cease to exist.Fantastic

After reading this book, as one who has been searching her own family history for over 10 years, this story was amazing to me.The way truth and fiction have been blended is typical to the thoughts of one who has seeked their own families secrets.Highly recommend reading.

Well written and a very enjoyable read that kept me interested from start to finish. Looking for more books by this author.

I picked up this book and could not put it down!! I love the fact that most of the book is based on fact. I recommend you read this.

This is a story about an unfortunate family set in the 19th century. I wondered while reading it why time passed quickly, with several years elapsing from time to time, but it was not until the end that I realised that it was a work of "faction" so was relating a story about an actual family. In this day and age we do read horror stories of what happens to the poor, but in the 19th century it all seemed to be much worse. This family may have been more unfortunate than most, but I suspect that there are many tales that could be written about similar families.It was not comfortable reading at times - I kept hoping that there would be light at the end of the tunnel. Indeed there was, but it took a long time coming.

First time that I have bought a book with no ratings and from a first time author, but the idea of faction - a mix of fact and fiction, caught my attention. It was well worth every penny, as I couldn't put this book down.The characters soon come to life, and you really feel that you get to know Louisa and her family and friends, as you peep into their world. This book gave me a vivid snapshot of working life in the late 1800's, but without feeling like a typical historical read.This book fascinated me and did make me cry at one point, but left me with that lovely feeling you get from a "really good read".It is the writers first novel - I do hope that there are more to come. Highly recommend this book - especially now it has a lovely new front cover.

This is a story of a rural family set in the 1800’s, and the hardships they had to face in their day today lives which are a far cry from today, made even more real by the fact that the book is a ‘faction’ and is based upon fact about a real family.The author brings to life the characters but it is a somewhat dark tale which I read with some foreboding as I came to warm to the characters as to what fate would befall them. However, although in parts a sad tale it does have some lighter moments and is a very enjoyable read. A great first book from a new author, I shall look out for the next book.

As an amateur genealogist , I am always interested in any books with a connection to family research, however this book is based of fact with the author is still searching for some answers . The book fascinated me , I read it in one sitting , it is extremely well written and researched. The whole family were brought to life along with the daily struggle to eke out a day to day living , together with the constant threat of ill health , death and the threat of life in the workhouse .I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone, it really does bring you up close to the reality of life in the late 19c, well done Chris Gough , I do hope there is another book in the making..

I enjoyed this book immensely. There's a considerable amount of speculation as to the events in Louisa's life but this was of necessity. The dates are genuine and the mystery and suspense makes this a brilliant read. It certainly leaves some tantalising questions unanswered and that is what really adds to this book. Highly recommended!