The Garden

By: Nick Newman

Narrated by: Nicolette McKenzie

A darkly beautiful, eerie, hypnotic novel about two elderly sisters living alone at the edge of the world.

In a place and time unknown, two elderly sisters live in a walled garden, secluded from the outside world. Evelyn and Lily have only ever known each other. What was before the garden, they have forgotten; what lies beyond it, they do not know. Each day is spent in languid service to their home: tending the bees, planting the crops, and dutifully following the instructions of the almanac written by their mother.

When a nameless boy is found hiding in the boarded house at the center of their isolated grounds, their once-solitary lives are irrevocably disrupted. Who is he? Where did he come from? And most importantly, what does he want?

As suspicions gather and allegiances falter, Evelyn and Lily are forced to confront the dark truths about themselves, the garden, and the world as they’ve known it.

unease and uncertainty

4.25 stars for The Garden by Nick Newman - such a clever little unraveling. With statements like, "Nothing had come over the wall in a long time," the reader isn't quite sure of what is going on or where this story is going which made it so fun. Recommend for readers who enjoy uncertainty in a novel.

A scary story on many levels

Have mostly given up reading dystopian novels since the pandemic. But this was truly a different approach. The vulnerability and abilities of the characters changed for me over time. Was easy to imagine being in that place. Excellent read. Narrator was exceptional.

Interesting story and characters

I loved the book. Four stars because I would've liked more background on the storm.

Excellent Narration

Nicolette McKenzie is one of my favorite narrators. If you like a particular narrator, click on the name and you'll find other books by the same narrator. I was also intrigued by the story which is about elderly sisters who garden. It's tagged as science fiction and dystopian. The story left me with questions and a lot to wonder about. It was a pleasant listen.

A lovely, full and rich story.

Once in a while you stumble upon a book that you know you'll think back on for years to come. This is one of those.