The Legacy of Eden
Reviewed on Friday, January 6th, 2012 by Carol Custer
Rating: 
Lies, deceit, secrets, mysteries – - all these things were promised to me as a reader within the first few pages of this book. I was hooked! And the author does not disappoint. She doles out bits and pieces of the story, just enough to keep the reader guessing right up to the very end.
I’ve always been a fan of family sagas that tell the stories of several generations of a family, and this story certainly fills the bill. The family is the Hathaways, the location is Iowa on a farm they call Aurelia (why the name of the book isn’t ‘The Legacy of Aurelia’, I have no idea!)
The story is told through the eyes of one of the last surviving members of the family, Meredith Pincetti. She left Iowa years ago and now is an artist living in New York City. She is estranged from her two sisters and even took her Mother’s maiden name to further distance herself from the Hathaway family. And yet, it is Meredith who agrees to return to Aurelia to take care of what’s left – - both physical possessions and memories – - when the last owner dies.
The story begins with the story of Cal and Anne-Marie (who was renamed Lavinia) and their scandalous beginning. When Cal’s father dies, the brother who had remained on the farm is passed over and Cal inherits. He makes the farm his home along with his sister Piper and his daughter Julia – - and Lavinia. Cal and Lavinia have two sons, Ethan and Theodore (who is Meredith’s father). We’re taken on a journey through the years of scandals and heartbreak and questions – - until we finally receive the answers at the very end.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s a great read!