The Lost Jewels by Kirsty Manning. (2020).

The Lost Jewels by Kirsty Manning. (2020).

**4.5 out of 5 stars**

In 1912 workmen in Cheapside, London uncover a cache of unimaginable valuable treasure that quickly disappears again. In the present day, respected jewellery historian Kate receives a call about the Cheapside jewels and knows she’s on the brink of the experience of a lifetime. As Kate peels back layers of concealment and deception, she is forced to explore long-buried secrets concerning her great-grandmother Essie and Essie’s life in London. Soon, Kate’s past and present threaten to collide and the truths about her family lie waiting to be revealed.

I have no idea why but I left this one on my shelf for awhile before I felt in the mood to read it. Then I completely regretted waiting so long because it was such a great book! Inspired by the true story of the Cheapside jewel find, the author has created a fictionalized explanation. I was absolutely fascinated by the descriptions of the jewels, to the point where I started googling the real story haha. This story is told mainly through dual timelines (Kate and her grandmother Essie) however there are a few other chapters which relate to the history of the jewels which I found to be enjoyable intermissions. I was totally immersed in both Kate and Essie’s respective timelines and thought they were extremely likeable women to follow. This is the first book by this author I’ve read but it will definitely not be the last.
Highly recommend this one to readers who enjoy historical fiction!