The Mermaid Garden by Santa Montefiore is written in two narratives, one set in Tuscany and the other in a small coastal village in England. For most of the novel, the reader is wondering how these two stories relate to each other.

The setting is beautiful, the characters interesting, the writing is good, and I was enjoying the story and the mystery, all the way until the end of the book.

Montefiore ruined her own wonderful tale by giving it such a happily ever after ending. I am in no way opposed to happy endings, but this was all a bit too cliche.

An enjoyable, yet forgettable read.