Legacy of Secrets

by Elizabeth Adler

Book Overview

Two people set out to uncover their family's complex history and discover a tangled web of romance, secrets, and mystery in the life of their ancestress willful Irish beauty banished by her aristocratic family because of scandal.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385309198
• ISBN13: 9780385309196
• Release Date: June 1993
• Publisher: Delacorte Press
• Length: 454 Pages
• Weight: 1.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.5" x 6.4" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Couldn't put this book down

I can not say enough about this book - it is a story within a story and I could not put it down. If you like family sagas with a touch of mystery, then this book is for you.

Spellbinding Novel of Secrets That Span Generations

You won't meet a more delightfully original narrator than Maudie, the eighty-something Irishwoman who weaves an enthralling tale that had me turning the pages as fast as I could. Her story centers on her aunt, Lily Molyneux, a beautiful woman of 19th century Ireland who drove men to madness. Because of a brutal rape, Lily becomes pregnant. Afraid that her wealthy father will make her marry her attacker since he comes from a "good" family, she names the lowly stableboy on the estate as the father of her child seeing that as a way to stay single. As with every decision in her life, Lily acts before she thinks and lives to regret her impulsive actions. Not only is she thrown out of her home, but the stableboy and his brother must also flee for their lives. Thus begins a multi-layered tale that takes the reader from the slums of Boston to the mansions of Beacon Hill and the magnificent skyscrapers of Wall Street. Three men will spend their lives hoping to marry Lily, each amasssing fame and fortune while dreaming of the day Lily will be his wife. A fourth man will marry her and a fifth will give his life for her sins. Two children will call her mother and their lives will be tormented by her actions. This is a riveting tale of the Irish elite in their homeland and the Irish peasants struggling in America. It is a tale of passion, revenge, and a modern day murder that must lay bare the secrets of three generations before it can be solved. Brilliantly plotted with memorable characters and unforgettable events, this is a must read for fans of family sagas.

Lily was such a coward!

A REAL PAGE TURNER! This book was so great that I just could'nt put it down! I read it straight for 2 days without stopping! I feel that lily was stupid, she complicated things that could have been simpler. She was raped by this guy and it was no fault of hers and she should have told the truth, but what her fault was that she blamed it on Finn.She was supposed to be his friend, and she betrayed him. This broke his heart and also forced him to leave Ireland. I also think that lily was rather selfish and a coward, for she was never ready to face the conscequences of her own actions and would rather have someone else take the blame. She had been doing this all her life and kept doing it till the end of her days. She only thought about herself and never about anyone else, be it Ciel, Dan, Ned, Mr.Adams, Finn or her son Liam. Also what she did to her other son was wrong and I blame her for what he became. Lily lived in a world of lies, that in the end caught up with her.What makes me really angry is that she always used people who were supposed to be her friends, for her own personal gains. She only saw what she wanted to see and thus never realised her own mistakes.P.S. : DOES'NT FINN SEEM TO BE SUPER CUTE!?!

Very good

This is the fourth book I read by Elizabeth Adler and I think all her books are great. This book is one of the best book I've read - it has suspense, drama, romance, humor, and many many more. The plot was very well thought out and organized. I recommend this book to everyone.

Excellent! One of my favorites!

I have enjoyed reading this book a few times. It is my first by Adler but I'll be sure to check out some of her other works. I would also love to see this made into a movie, although sadly it may have to be shortened to do so. I highly recommend this book!