Hardback: 602 pages
Genre: Literary Fiction
Publisher: Mantle (Macmillan Publishers) 2012
Source: Tywyn Library, Wales.
First Sentence: Rural England, a farmhouse in the middle of nowhere, a summer's day at the start of the nineteen sixties.
Review Quote: ‘Kate Morton excels in this enthralling novel about desires and divided loyalties’ Good Housekeeping
Favourite Quote: “It's a terrible thing, isn't it, the way we throw people away?”
My Opinion: A captivating tale of mysteries, secrets and enduring love.
Kate Morton has a great talent for blending her novels themes across time and 'The Secret Keeper' is no exception as the story takes us from the present day, back to the protagonists childhood in the sixties and further back to the years of her mother's youth.
As a teenager in the sixties Laurel Nicholson witnessed a terrifying scene while spending some time alone with her dreams in the tree house at Greenacres Farm where she has spent a happy childhood, until that moment. The secret stays with her until the present day when facing her Mother's forthcoming ninetieth birthday celebrations she finds herself overwhelmed by her old memories of that day. She decides it is time to find out the truth before it is too late as her mother Dorothy is failing fast; with the help of a few clues she manages to obtain from her Laurel's research begins. As a reader we are able to follow this not just in the present day but with the characters concerned as they lived through the events, helping our understanding of all they were experiencing in real time. The characters are all very complex and no one is as they first seem, but it is these characters their relationships and the secrets that are revealed that will keep you reading.
I will say no more but recommend this captivating tale of mysteries secrets and enduring love, especially to those of you that like a really long novel to curl up with.
Kate Morton talking about The Secret Keeper.
The two previous titles that I have read by Kate Morton were before the advent of this blog, but you can find brief reviews on my BookCrossing Account by clicking on the titles.
The House at Riverton The Forgotten Garden
Author Profile
Kate Morton grew up in the mountains of south-east Queensland, Australia. She has degrees in Dramatic Art and English Literature and is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Queensland. Kate lives with her husband and two young sons in Brisbane.
Her books have been published in 31 countries. The House at Riverton was a Sunday Times bestseller in the UK in 2007 and a New York Times bestseller in 2008. Her second book, The Forgotten Garden, was a bestseller in Australia and a Sunday Times bestseller in the UK in 2008.
The biographical information and photo used in this post are with thanks to the following websites, where you can also find more information about the author and her writing.
Goodreads Author Profile Kate Morton - Amazon Official Author Website - Kate Morton
Facebook - Kate Morton YouTube Video
I read this one a while back. I liked it but not as much as others she wrote!!
ReplyDeleteI am intrigued by how the book begins, with something secret seen from the top of a tree! Sounds like a good story.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely loved The House at Riverton and The Forgotten Garden, so I'm really looking forward to this one ! I bought it in hardback as soon as it was published and also gave it to a couple of friends for Christmas pressies and they loved it. Great review , as always, Linda.
ReplyDeleteWow. Sounds very very interesting :)!
ReplyDeleteThis is the only Morton novel I haven't read and I loved her others!
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My apologies for not responding to your comments individually above as I would do under normal circumstances. As most of you will know the last few months have been very stressful for me, but I am now trying to get back to my book reviewing and will start to respond to your comments again.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your continuing support here it is appreciated.