Echo Hall - Virginia Moffatt

Set against the backdrop of three wars - the 1991 Gulf War, World War 2 and World War 1 - the novel follows the fortunes of three women who become involved with the Flint family, the owners of Echo Hall.Phoebe Flint visits Echo Hall in 2014, where she follows in her mother's footsteps to uncover the stories of a house 'full of unhappy women, and bitter, angry men'.Ruth Flint arrives at Echo Hall in 1990 - newlywed, pregnant, and uncertain of her relationship with her husband, Adam. Ghostly encounters, a locked door, and a set of photographs pique her curiosity. But Adam and his grandfather refuse to let her investigate. And her marriage is further strained, when Adam, a reservist, is called up to fight in the Gulf War.In 1942, Elsie Flint is already living at Echo Hall with her children, the guest of her unsympathetic in-laws, whilst her husband Jack is away with the RAF. Her only friend is Jack's cousin Daniel, but Daniel is hiding secrets, which when revealed could destroy their friendship for good.Rachel and Leah Walters meet Jacob Flint at a dinner party in 1911. Whilst Leah is drawn to Jacob, Rachel rejects him leading to conflict with her sister that will reverberate through the generations.As Ruth discovers the secrets of Echo Hall, she is able to finally bring peace to the Flint family, and in doing so, discover what she really needs and wants.Echo Hall is a novel about the past, but it is very much a novel of the now. Does history always have to repeat itself, or can we find another way?