The Secret Garden of Yanagi Inn

In Logan’s gothic mystery, a modern retelling of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden, U.S. photographer Mari Lennox, who is grieving her mother, accepts a grant to travel to Japan to photograph the Yanagi Inn. Upon arrival, Mari is surprised at the derelict state of the inn. While exploring the inn and its grounds, Mari hears ghostly crying, sees strange visions, and is unsettled by memories resurfacing from her past. Soon she discovers an overgrown, neglected garden on an abandoned island. The haunting atmosphere of the inn prompts Mari to delve into her past, and soon she realizes that her family’s long-buried secrets may be connected to the hidden garden. Though it’s billed as a ghostly mystery, the novel’s main focus is Mari’s journey as a grieving daughter and how she can move on with her life. Emily Ellet fits her narration to Mari’s internal dialogue, sensitively giving voice to her many emotions and conveying her inner turmoil. Listeners will delight in the beautiful descriptions of Japanese nature and culture, which provide a strong sense of place.