The Moon Gate by Amanda Geard is a sweeping mystery filled with plots about love, war, and family secrets spanning three generations, moving between Tasmania, London, and County Kerry, and set in three different timelines. If you’re a fan of the likes of Kate Morton, you might enjoy Tasmanian-born Geard’s writing.
I had to look up what a ‘moon gate’ is to understand the metaphor in the title and its role in the search for truth. As it pans out, a moon gate is a circular opening in a garden wall that acts as a pedestrian passageway and is a traditional architectural element in Chinese gardens.
In 1939, a young English heiress, Grace Grey, travels from London to the wild coasts of Tasmania for her safety in the wake of the Second World War. Shy and with low self-esteem, Grace slowly comes out of her shell when she forms a bond with her uncle, starts writing poems, and meets the Irish boy, Daniel, from the neighbouring farm. But when Australian forces are called to the frontline, and Daniel with them, he leaves behind a devastating secret that will forever bind them together.
Artist Willow Hawkins, and her new husband, Ben, inherit a house on the remote Tasmanian coast from an anonymous benefactor in 1975. Confused and delighted, the couple sets out to unmask the previous owner of their new home, Towerhurst. And thereby, as they say, hangs another tale.
In the 2004 timeline, we meet Libby Andrews, who has always sought the truth about her father Ben's death and who he really was. When she travels to London and claims her father’s belongings, she discovers photographs and various names and leads that compel her to continue the investigation her father started but never completed.
Although it is a long, layered and complex story, Geard expertly weaves together the various threads, all of which are filled with secrets and family mysteries to make for an intriguing, enjoyable read. Her vivid descriptions of the various locations, especially of Tasmania, are beautifully crafted, and her characters are interesting and full-rounded.
The Moon Gate not only explores the themes of identity, love, and the passage of time but also pays homage to Australian literary heritage through its incorporation of poetry, most notably the works of Banjo Paterson, including Waltzing Matilda and The Man from Snowy River. The author’s ability to intertwine these elements seamlessly results in an engrossing and satisfying read that resonates long after the final page. Whether uncovering the mysteries of bygone eras or exploring the yearnings of the present, Geard's The Moon Gate stands as a testament to her skilful storytelling and narrative expertise, hinting at a bright literary future indeed.
