Book Review - The Gates of Rutherford

The Gates of Rutherford: A Novel of Rutherford Park

By: Elizabeth Cooke
Publisher: Berkley Trade Paperback
Publication Date: September 2015
ISBN: 978-0-425-27719-5
Reviewed by: Mary Lignor
Review Date: July 22, 2015

The Gates of Rutherford is book three in the 'Rutherford Park' series by Elizabeth Cooke, and like the others in this collection, this book delivers a very satisfying read.

Book one in the series, Rutherford Park, tells of the estate of the Cavendish Family in Yorkshire, England. It’s really a dreamy setting if you are only looking from a distance, with all the money and manners of the family. However, if you look a little harder, you will find that not everyone is happy. The family consists of William, the head of the family, his wife Octavia, who is making the best of her loveless marriage and learns to live with it as William has to have her money in order to keep the place the way he wants it. They have a son, Harry, who wants to be a pilot and doesn’t want to run the house. Daughter Louisa is the spoiled daughter looking for a husband and youngest daughter, Charlotte, has a secret that would definitely shock the family. In the second book, The Wild Dark Flowers, Harry joins the Royal Flying Corps and the family must deal with the ravages of war.

On to book three, The Gates of Rutherford. This book begins with Charlotte’s wedding day. The year is 1917 and Charlotte is a very young nineteen years old. The war is still violently raging and her brother, Harry, is still in the Royal Flying Corps. Her parent’s marriage is in danger of ending and her mother has fallen in love with an American living in London.

Charlotte’s groom is Preston, a blind soldier who she nursed back to health. Her parents are very happy about the marriage as Preston comes from a good family and might be able to get rid of some of Charlotte’s wildness. The two do marry but Charlotte begins to see that she is not really happy and doesn’t know quite why at the start. When she does understand her feelings, she cannot tell her family, or anyone for that matter. The writer gives readers much to think about as this series draws to a close and readers will begin to know just what is going on with Charlotte. The Gates of Rutherford, is a great summer book to take to the beach.

Quill says: Just think of Downton Abbey and Upstairs, Downstairs and enjoy.