Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Bolinda Publishing (2012), Unabridged MP3; 19h54
Description
During a party at the family farm in the English countryside, sixteen-year-old Laurel Nicolson has escaped to her childhood tree house and is dreaming of the future. She spies a stranger coming up the road and sees her mother speak to him. Before the afternoon is over, Laurel will witness a shocking crime that challenges everything she knows about her family and especially her mother, Dorothy. Now, fifty years later, Laurel is a successful and well-regarded actress, living in London. She returns to the family farm for Dorothy's ninetieth birthday and finds herself overwhelmed by questions she has not thought about for decades. From pre-WWII England through the Blitz, to the fifties and beyond, discover the secret history of three strangers from vastly different worlds--Dorothy, Vivien, and Jimmy--who meet by chance in wartime London and whose lives are forever entwined. "The Secret Keeper" explores longings and dreams, the lengths people go to fulfill them, and the consequences they can have. It is a story of lovers, friends, dreamers, and schemers told--in Morton's signature style--against a backdrop of events that changed the world.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member cyderry
This is the story Dorothy Nicolson, mother of five, and her survival during and after WWII. The framework of the tale is divided into three timeframes - 1941, 1961, 2011. 1941 has Dorothy falling in love, making friends while living in London during the Blitz. Her entire family has already died
Fast forward twenty years later and you see Dorothy with 4 little girls and Baby Gerry on her hip, when a strange man comes to call. Eldest daughter, Laurel, hiding in the tree house, sees the encounter and her mother kill the man. After speaking with the police, Dorothy tells Laurel, not to ever talk about it again.
Fast forward another 50 years and Laurel, now a successful actress, returns home for her mother's 90th birthday and her impending death. But now Laurel wants answers about that afternoon in 1961, and so she begins to reconstruct her mother's life and what caused her to act the way. did.
The story was fascinating and even though the timeframes kept switching back and forth (something that normally drives me crazy), in this book, it works. The characters are rich and full-blown, grabbing your empathy, loving the good ones, hating the bad ones, wanting to knock some sense into the manipulated ones, and wishing you could tell the whiners to just get over it.
There were a few minor items that I felt were left unresolved or overlooked, but this was so engrossing it really didn't detract from the story. I have read one other book by this author and enjoyed it as well, so the third book that I have of hers, has just moved up on my TBR pile.
I would like to thank Atria Books Galley Alley at Simon & Schuster for sending me this book to read and review.
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during air attacks, and she has finds a job and place to live.Fast forward twenty years later and you see Dorothy with 4 little girls and Baby Gerry on her hip, when a strange man comes to call. Eldest daughter, Laurel, hiding in the tree house, sees the encounter and her mother kill the man. After speaking with the police, Dorothy tells Laurel, not to ever talk about it again.
Fast forward another 50 years and Laurel, now a successful actress, returns home for her mother's 90th birthday and her impending death. But now Laurel wants answers about that afternoon in 1961, and so she begins to reconstruct her mother's life and what caused her to act the way. did.
The story was fascinating and even though the timeframes kept switching back and forth (something that normally drives me crazy), in this book, it works. The characters are rich and full-blown, grabbing your empathy, loving the good ones, hating the bad ones, wanting to knock some sense into the manipulated ones, and wishing you could tell the whiners to just get over it.
There were a few minor items that I felt were left unresolved or overlooked, but this was so engrossing it really didn't detract from the story. I have read one other book by this author and enjoyed it as well, so the third book that I have of hers, has just moved up on my TBR pile.
I would like to thank Atria Books Galley Alley at Simon & Schuster for sending me this book to read and review.
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LibraryThing member dpappas
If you haven't read this book yet run, don't walk, to a bookstore and get it now. This is definitely one of the best historical fiction books of the year, if not one of the best books (in general) of the year. This is my first time reading a book by Kate Morton and I know it clearly won't be the
This book follows Laurel, a famous actress, Dorothy, her mother, and Vivien, a mysterious woman from Dorothy's past. The book also switches back and forth between 1941 and present day (it also does show events from Laurel's childhood in the late 1950's and early 1960's). Laurel comes back home for her mother's ninetieth birthday and finds herself brought back to a dark event that involves her mother that happened when she was a teenager in 1961. Now by being back home Laurel is determined to find out what really happened in 1961, which leads her to her mother's hidden past.
I learned how to be patient when reading this book. The build-up of this book nearly drove me crazy but the end made it all worthwhile. This was one of my favorite endings of a book in quite a while. I really can't articulate how much I enjoyed this book. I would without a doubt recommend this book to historical fiction fans.
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last.This book follows Laurel, a famous actress, Dorothy, her mother, and Vivien, a mysterious woman from Dorothy's past. The book also switches back and forth between 1941 and present day (it also does show events from Laurel's childhood in the late 1950's and early 1960's). Laurel comes back home for her mother's ninetieth birthday and finds herself brought back to a dark event that involves her mother that happened when she was a teenager in 1961. Now by being back home Laurel is determined to find out what really happened in 1961, which leads her to her mother's hidden past.
I learned how to be patient when reading this book. The build-up of this book nearly drove me crazy but the end made it all worthwhile. This was one of my favorite endings of a book in quite a while. I really can't articulate how much I enjoyed this book. I would without a doubt recommend this book to historical fiction fans.
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LibraryThing member avanders
It's not your standard mystery -- no detectives or cops (really). Rather, it's sort of a family saga, multi-generational historical fiction with a compelling mystery wrapped up in it. It's a quick read, and it's one of those that is highly satisfying when it's all said and done.
What's it about? The
It has plenty of "what?!" and "a-ha!" and "no ... that can't be..." moments, and an abundance of "aww" and "so sweet!" and other touching and moving moments. It's a great book for discussion and a great book for pondering.
The only things that I thought could use some improvement, as far as the writing was concerned, are the following: (1) I felt that there were a few characters who seemed like bit characters or those you didn't need to "hold onto" in your brain that later turned out to matter.... and so I found myself flipping back and forth a bit more than normal to try to remember who is this person that suddenly I'm supposed to remember; and (2) I thought the end, though great and satisfying in many ways, was a little abrupt. Can't say more, but there you have it.
Overall, a great book. I'm happy that my 2nd Morton didn't disappoint!
Definitely recommend.
What's it about? The
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blurb (so I don't inadvertently add anything by attempting my own synopsis ;)): "During a picnic at her family’s farm in the English countryside, sixteen-year-old Laurel Nicolson witnesses a shocking crime, a crime that challenges everything she knows about her adored mother, Dorothy. Now, fifty years later, Laurel and her sisters are meeting at the farm to celebrate Dorothy’s ninetieth birthday. Realizing that this is her last chance to discover the truth about that long-ago day, Laurel searches for answers that can only be found in Dorothy’s past. Clue by clue, she traces a secret history of three strangers from vastly different worlds thrown together in war-torn London—Dorothy, Vivien, and Jimmy—whose lives are forever after entwined. A gripping story of deception and passion, The Secret Keeper will keep you enthralled to the last page." (from Amazon)It has plenty of "what?!" and "a-ha!" and "no ... that can't be..." moments, and an abundance of "aww" and "so sweet!" and other touching and moving moments. It's a great book for discussion and a great book for pondering.
The only things that I thought could use some improvement, as far as the writing was concerned, are the following: (1) I felt that there were a few characters who seemed like bit characters or those you didn't need to "hold onto" in your brain that later turned out to matter.... and so I found myself flipping back and forth a bit more than normal to try to remember who is this person that suddenly I'm supposed to remember; and (2) I thought the end, though great and satisfying in many ways, was a little abrupt. Can't say more, but there you have it.
Overall, a great book. I'm happy that my 2nd Morton didn't disappoint!
Definitely recommend.
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LibraryThing member jsamaha
Oh my goodness, where do I begin? I LOVED this book! Now, to be fair, one of my favorite novels is The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton so chances were good that I would like her newest novel. I was so certain that this would be true, though. I’ve heard from a few people that loved The Forgotten
Well, I’ve just read the last words within the last few minutes and I have decided that Kate Morton is one of the masters of stories that jump between different time periods and characters (is there an official name for this? I’ve heard a few: dual story lines, the “two nows structure”, etc.). I love stories like this, maybe because as a history major, I love to see how history affects our present lives and stories.
Anyways, back to my review…have I mentioned that I LOVED this story? It is beautiful and it is sad…it is about second chances and love and mystery. I couldn’t put it down. I had so many ideas on how the story would play out. In the end, I was happy with how Kate concluded the novel. She tied everything together nicely without seemed rushed about it or leaving loose ends.
I’ve read a few poorly written books lately (some I’m even able to finish) so it’s so refreshing to read something like The Secret Keeper.
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Garden nearly as much as I did that they just did not like her first novel, House at Riverton. So, when I saw that The Secret Keeper was offered as an advanced reader copy to reviewers, I accepted it with reservation. I told myself that I would read it with an open mind (all the while being afraid that Kate Morton was a “one hit wonder” with The Forgotten Garden).Well, I’ve just read the last words within the last few minutes and I have decided that Kate Morton is one of the masters of stories that jump between different time periods and characters (is there an official name for this? I’ve heard a few: dual story lines, the “two nows structure”, etc.). I love stories like this, maybe because as a history major, I love to see how history affects our present lives and stories.
Anyways, back to my review…have I mentioned that I LOVED this story? It is beautiful and it is sad…it is about second chances and love and mystery. I couldn’t put it down. I had so many ideas on how the story would play out. In the end, I was happy with how Kate concluded the novel. She tied everything together nicely without seemed rushed about it or leaving loose ends.
I’ve read a few poorly written books lately (some I’m even able to finish) so it’s so refreshing to read something like The Secret Keeper.
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LibraryThing member kiwifortyniner
I have read other of Kate Morton's books but this is the one I like the best. As with the others it is written in more that one time period - the present day and London during the Second World War - a time period I like to read books about. The book starts though with a dramatic incident that
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happened in 1961 that is the focus of the story and the secret to be discovered. Teenager Laurel is in her tree house on a beautiful summers day dreaming of a life as an actress and thinking she should go and help the rest of the family celebrate her young brothers birthday. But before she can do so she witnesses a crime that will haunt her years to come. Move to the present, and her mother is in hospital and not expected to recover. Laurel, now a succesful actress is determined before her mother dies to unlock the story of that day - a story that concerns her mother, and two others Vivein, and Jimmy who were brought together in wartaime London. Kate Morton is just the best story teller, and she evoked the atmosphere of war time London really well for me. This was one of those books that I could not put down. There were so many twists and turns in the story as the secret was gradually revealed, like the peeling of layers of onion skin. The climax when it came was not what I expected - but what an ending. This was a really great book for me. Show Less
LibraryThing member antao
My first Morton’s book.
She's a tremendous storyteller.
Modern Daphne du Maurier? Just a thought...
It's beautiful and sad at the same time… it's about second chances, love and mystery.
I'm a sucker for books that jump between different time periods and characters. I love to see how
It's not often that I'm fooled when it comes to a good mystery. I can usually figure part of it out, but Morton tricked me and I was pleasantly surprised by it.
By the end of the book, I couldn't believe the outcome and I was so impressed by Morton's skills.
What Morton does really well is creating complex characters and making the reader get emotionally attached. She teases us with secrets and keeps us reading with her crafty intrigue.
"
She's a tremendous storyteller.
Modern Daphne du Maurier? Just a thought...
It's beautiful and sad at the same time… it's about second chances, love and mystery.
I'm a sucker for books that jump between different time periods and characters. I love to see how
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history affects our present lives. In a way it reminded me of a Peter Robinson Book: In a Dry Season", also a superior form of this kind of narrative structure.It's not often that I'm fooled when it comes to a good mystery. I can usually figure part of it out, but Morton tricked me and I was pleasantly surprised by it.
By the end of the book, I couldn't believe the outcome and I was so impressed by Morton's skills.
What Morton does really well is creating complex characters and making the reader get emotionally attached. She teases us with secrets and keeps us reading with her crafty intrigue.
"
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LibraryThing member Iudita
I am normally a Kate Morton fan but I found this one bogged down in detail that became downright tedious at times.This one wasn't for me.
LibraryThing member mchwest
Ok, so this book out of the 4 this author has written was definitely slower then the others, just as well done, just slow. I have to admit I went to other reviews to see if I should continue the read and it was well worth it in the end. Whopper surprise at the end, never saw it coming! Good job,
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once again, Kate Morton. Show Less
LibraryThing member DubaiReader
Great ending.
At 498 pages, this is quite a read; not one that can be picked up and put down, as it would be easy to lose the thread. I was hovering around 4 stars until I got to the final chapters and the clever twist, which made it all worth while.
There are a lot of back stories entwined
In current time, Laurel, now a famous actress, returns to her childhood house to visit her ailing mother in hospital. Her memories are sparked by her surroundings and she remembers an event from her childhood that she had tried to bury in her past. It was a moment of violence, quite uncharacteristic of her mother and never explained. Dorothy, Laurel's mother, is failing fast but she does manage to answer some of Dorothy's questions. A lot remains unanswered, however, so Laurel visits libraries in search of old letters, trawls the internet, and pays visits to the few people still alive from the war. The reader follows Laurel's search but we also spend time with the characters in the given time frames and understand their motives and experiences.
If this sounds a little dry, well, it is a bit slow in parts and could have done with some further editing, I felt. But the twist at the end and the final denouement made it all worth while.
Definitely a book to tackle when you have some time to kill, a perfect holiday read. Final verdict: 4 1/2 stars.
Also read by Kate Morton:
The House at Riverton (5 Stars)
The Distant Hours (4 stars)
At 498 pages, this is quite a read; not one that can be picked up and put down, as it would be easy to lose the thread. I was hovering around 4 stars until I got to the final chapters and the clever twist, which made it all worth while.
There are a lot of back stories entwined
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throughout this book, but the main time frames are 2011, 1961 and 1941.In current time, Laurel, now a famous actress, returns to her childhood house to visit her ailing mother in hospital. Her memories are sparked by her surroundings and she remembers an event from her childhood that she had tried to bury in her past. It was a moment of violence, quite uncharacteristic of her mother and never explained. Dorothy, Laurel's mother, is failing fast but she does manage to answer some of Dorothy's questions. A lot remains unanswered, however, so Laurel visits libraries in search of old letters, trawls the internet, and pays visits to the few people still alive from the war. The reader follows Laurel's search but we also spend time with the characters in the given time frames and understand their motives and experiences.
If this sounds a little dry, well, it is a bit slow in parts and could have done with some further editing, I felt. But the twist at the end and the final denouement made it all worth while.
Definitely a book to tackle when you have some time to kill, a perfect holiday read. Final verdict: 4 1/2 stars.
Also read by Kate Morton:
The House at Riverton (5 Stars)
The Distant Hours (4 stars)
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LibraryThing member MarieDrake
5 Stars are not enough for this incredible read. This has to be one of the best books I have read in quite some time. A story of love and loss, regrets and second chances. The horrors of war, the drama of family and siblings, a murder mystery, a deep and life lasting love story. This book has it
I was given a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
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all. The author leads you through the story by moving back and forth from the past to the present while Laurel seeks to unravel the truth of a violent incident she witnesses in her teenage years. What a compelling novel! It has interesting characters you can sympathize with and yet still think, “I can't believe they did that!”. The plot keeps the pages turning and a twist at the end left me speechless. All I could say was, “Wow!”. Then I couldn't wait to share with friends, family members, anybody, what I had just read. A book that inspires that kind of excitement is definitely a MUST READ. I highly recommend it.I was given a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member Donura1
Great book, subtle mystery right up to the very end. Loved every aspect of the story.
LibraryThing member bibliobeck
This is a great twisting tale about the complexity of relationships, secrets and questions we don't dare to ask. It's set partly in the 60s, partly modern day and mostly during the war. It is a beautifully woven tale set as Dorothy, the matriarch of a family who have taken diverse pathways in life
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celebrates an important birthday. As the siblings come together to spend time with their mother at her nursing home, the eldest child, Laurel is driven to understand the motives for a terrible crime that she secretly witnessed her mother commit years before. The tale twists and turns through the decades as we follow Dorothy 'Dolly's' life through her petulant teenage years and into the war years as she becomes a young adult,desperate for attention and the special life she dreams of. Small details are deftly told and I had no idea about the ending right up until I read the lines - a sign of a very skillful storyteller. A thoroughly enjoyable read that I am already recommended to fellow readers. I just wish it could have been longer - I feel a bit bereft without the characters in my life. Show Less
LibraryThing member Bduke
I'm not really sure what to think about, or how to rate this book. Possibly 3 1/2 stars? It is Kate Morton, for heaven's sake, and if she had written the phone book I would read it from cover to cover. Her writing is so beautiful and she always sucks readers in from the first page. I can't really
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describe my feelings for this book without revealing too much. It's one of those books you want to discuss with someone who has already read it. I saw that another reviewer thought that Kate Morton tipped her hand too quickly in this book, but I will have to say that if she hadn't tipped her hand, I wouldn't have enjoyed it as much. I was actually a tad bit disappointed in it (although I can't say why without giving things away) until around page 300 or so, when all of a sudden I gasped and said, "Maybe.....?", "Could it be....?", "What if....?". After that I completely devoured it, all the time changing my mind and second guessing myself over and over again. I do so love Kate Morton! This one will have to be rated after The House at Riverton (5 stars) and The Forgotten Garden (4 stars, probably more like 4 1/2), but before The Distant Hours (3 stars). Show Less
LibraryThing member SilversReviews
To be sixteen, to witness a murder, and to keep it a secret your entire life? When would Laurel find out the "real" reason for the murder. After fifty years, she needed to ask, but could she really find the answer? She had to. Time was running out.
Set in England and moving from the 1930's to 2011,
The storyline is intriguing and the descriptions are amazing as you go back and forth in time to see what Laurel's mother's life was like as a child and also as a young adult and what life was like for Laurel, her sisters, and her brother as they grew up on a quaint farm in a loving family. Dorothy, Laurel's mother, lead a very significant life and had interesting people in her life that shaped her and her decisions.
The book seamlessly moves between time periods giving creative details of each era in the characters' lives and has you wanting to know more. An amazing storyline that keeps you guessing about the real reason for the murder and one that makes you want to be a part of the story in order to be part of the life the characters lead in each decade of their lives.
Finding out about her mother's motives and life before she was married was a goal Laurel was determined to solve before her mother died, and her mother is the only one who could give the answers to many questions, but could their dying mother tell all? Once clues about Dorothy's past begin to surface, you will be as anxious as Laurel was to find out other secrets her mother kept to herself all her life and secrets that caused her mother to commit murder.
This book was marvelous and captivating as all of Kate Morton's books, and the ending is absolutely SUPERB.
I thoroughly enjoyed the walk through Laurel's life and the flashbacks to her mother's life. Don't miss this book or any book Kate Morton has written...you will be taken away with her exceptional writing and fantastic storytelling skills as she weaves lives and situations together into incredible books. 5/5
This book was given to me free of charge by the publisher in return for an honest review.
Set in England and moving from the 1930's to 2011,
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you will follow Laurel as she continues to keep this secret and attempts to find out why her mother stabbed a visitor on her brother's birthday. Did the baby see or remember anything? Could that be possible? What if he did remember? Laurel, her father, and her mother were the only ones that were supposed to know, but were they?The storyline is intriguing and the descriptions are amazing as you go back and forth in time to see what Laurel's mother's life was like as a child and also as a young adult and what life was like for Laurel, her sisters, and her brother as they grew up on a quaint farm in a loving family. Dorothy, Laurel's mother, lead a very significant life and had interesting people in her life that shaped her and her decisions.
The book seamlessly moves between time periods giving creative details of each era in the characters' lives and has you wanting to know more. An amazing storyline that keeps you guessing about the real reason for the murder and one that makes you want to be a part of the story in order to be part of the life the characters lead in each decade of their lives.
Finding out about her mother's motives and life before she was married was a goal Laurel was determined to solve before her mother died, and her mother is the only one who could give the answers to many questions, but could their dying mother tell all? Once clues about Dorothy's past begin to surface, you will be as anxious as Laurel was to find out other secrets her mother kept to herself all her life and secrets that caused her mother to commit murder.
This book was marvelous and captivating as all of Kate Morton's books, and the ending is absolutely SUPERB.
I thoroughly enjoyed the walk through Laurel's life and the flashbacks to her mother's life. Don't miss this book or any book Kate Morton has written...you will be taken away with her exceptional writing and fantastic storytelling skills as she weaves lives and situations together into incredible books. 5/5
This book was given to me free of charge by the publisher in return for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member bachaney
Kate Morton's latest novel "The Secret Keeper" opens in 1961, where 16 year old Laurel witnesses her mother, Dorothy, commit a horrible crime that her family then decides to sweep under the carpet. 50 years later, Dorothy is dying and Laurel decides she wants to understand her mother's motives all
This was another good read from Kate Morton. Like her earlier works, the Secret Keeper tells a complex family history, with lots of rich characters with interwoven lives. I like how the characters form the central core of the story, and that their lives still go on the extraordinary time that was the Blitz in London.
Although I enjoyed this novel, I do think that it was a bit weaker than some of Morton's earlier work. The characters set in the modern day felt flat and almost unnecessary at times.
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those years ago. As she pulls at the yarn of her mother's story, she will learn more than expected about the past.This was another good read from Kate Morton. Like her earlier works, the Secret Keeper tells a complex family history, with lots of rich characters with interwoven lives. I like how the characters form the central core of the story, and that their lives still go on the extraordinary time that was the Blitz in London.
Although I enjoyed this novel, I do think that it was a bit weaker than some of Morton's earlier work. The characters set in the modern day felt flat and almost unnecessary at times.
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LibraryThing member shellyquade2
This novel was the first that I have read by Kate Morton, but was fairly well done, and makes me interested in reading another by her. As you might have guessed, the novel revolves around personal and family secrets, with a juicy murder at the heart of a daughter's investigation into her ailing
Morton writes characters who are fleshed out and believable, and whom you want to continue reading about, even though you don't like everything about them. Really, there is only one character who is truly despicable in the novel, though a few of the characters do horrible things - and that is one of the possible flaws. The villain is the only character who is not fully fleshed out. Somehow, this lack of detail for that one character worked for me, as a reader; however, I do think that this issue might bother some readers.
Despite having foreseen what was supposed to be a shocking revelation, I continued to enjoy reading this novel. And while I knew where the writer was going, I was not entirely sure how she was going to get there.
Thus, The Secret Keeper is a pretty good novel that I highly recommend. While I received a free copy for review, I would not have been disappointed to have paid money for it.
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elderly mother's past.Morton writes characters who are fleshed out and believable, and whom you want to continue reading about, even though you don't like everything about them. Really, there is only one character who is truly despicable in the novel, though a few of the characters do horrible things - and that is one of the possible flaws. The villain is the only character who is not fully fleshed out. Somehow, this lack of detail for that one character worked for me, as a reader; however, I do think that this issue might bother some readers.
Despite having foreseen what was supposed to be a shocking revelation, I continued to enjoy reading this novel. And while I knew where the writer was going, I was not entirely sure how she was going to get there.
Thus, The Secret Keeper is a pretty good novel that I highly recommend. While I received a free copy for review, I would not have been disappointed to have paid money for it.
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LibraryThing member bibliolisa
The Secret Keeper is an expertly plotted page-turner that this reader simply could not put down. My apologies to my students who were waiting for their papers to be graded: I could not put this book down. Kate Morton's fourth novel weaves together two romances, at least three distinct historical
At the heart of this novel is a secret. Laurel Nicolson is sixteen when The Secret Keeper opens with a pivotal moment in her adolescence: she is experiencing her first romanctic crush, she has found her vocation (acting), and she is staging her first teenage rebellion against her close and loving family. While her parents and sisters celebrate her brother Gerry's second birthday with a family picnic, Laurel is hiding out in the family treehouse, daydreaming about her new boyfriend, and plotting her escape to London and drama school. From her hiding place Laurel witnesses a violent crime that is reported but then swept under the carpet and kept secret from her siblings. Fifty years later Laurel's mother Dorothy is dying, and Laurel finds herself seeking answers to this central mystery of her mother's life: who was the stranger who approached the Nicolson family farmhouse one summer afternoon, and was his death an accident, or was it murder?
Morton creates a mesmerizing and contradictory character in Dorothy (Dolly), Laurel's mother. One strand of the narrative follows Dolly from her late teen years in Coventry, living with her dull and conventional family, to wartime London, where Dolly works as a companion to a wealthy invalid and pursues a friendship with the elusive and glamorous Vivien Jenkins. Also in London is Dolly's love interest, Jimmy Metcalfe, a photographer who is documenting the ravages of war. Morton's depiction of wartime London is wonderfully evocative, and she captures the urgency and moral ambiguity of ordinary people in extraordinary times.
Morton shifts back and forth between parallel narratives, between wartime London and the contemporary story of Laurel trying to solve her mother's mystery. The secret referred to in the title is the linchpin of the story, and Morton kept me guessing right up until the end. The Secret Keeper is adreniline-charged, a real pager-turner, but it also has depth. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical or literary fiction.
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periods, and two continents in a seamless and perfectly paced narrative.At the heart of this novel is a secret. Laurel Nicolson is sixteen when The Secret Keeper opens with a pivotal moment in her adolescence: she is experiencing her first romanctic crush, she has found her vocation (acting), and she is staging her first teenage rebellion against her close and loving family. While her parents and sisters celebrate her brother Gerry's second birthday with a family picnic, Laurel is hiding out in the family treehouse, daydreaming about her new boyfriend, and plotting her escape to London and drama school. From her hiding place Laurel witnesses a violent crime that is reported but then swept under the carpet and kept secret from her siblings. Fifty years later Laurel's mother Dorothy is dying, and Laurel finds herself seeking answers to this central mystery of her mother's life: who was the stranger who approached the Nicolson family farmhouse one summer afternoon, and was his death an accident, or was it murder?
Morton creates a mesmerizing and contradictory character in Dorothy (Dolly), Laurel's mother. One strand of the narrative follows Dolly from her late teen years in Coventry, living with her dull and conventional family, to wartime London, where Dolly works as a companion to a wealthy invalid and pursues a friendship with the elusive and glamorous Vivien Jenkins. Also in London is Dolly's love interest, Jimmy Metcalfe, a photographer who is documenting the ravages of war. Morton's depiction of wartime London is wonderfully evocative, and she captures the urgency and moral ambiguity of ordinary people in extraordinary times.
Morton shifts back and forth between parallel narratives, between wartime London and the contemporary story of Laurel trying to solve her mother's mystery. The secret referred to in the title is the linchpin of the story, and Morton kept me guessing right up until the end. The Secret Keeper is adreniline-charged, a real pager-turner, but it also has depth. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical or literary fiction.
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LibraryThing member erinhill01
The Secret Keeper is a unique and intriguing combination of historical fiction and mystery. The majority of the story switches between London during WWII blitz and present day as Laurel tries to uncover her mother’s hidden past/secret. Well-developed characters, war, mystery, and romance lead to
Unfortunately, I felt that the novel was almost 200 pages to long. The action and suspense of the story is bogged down with descriptions and character tangents that could go on for pages and pages before getting back to the original plot. While the occasional back story was interesting, most of them did not add much to the over plot or character development.
I would definitely recommend this beautifully written novel to anyone who enjoys a leisurely paced historical fiction or mystery.
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beautifully written novel. Unfortunately, I felt that the novel was almost 200 pages to long. The action and suspense of the story is bogged down with descriptions and character tangents that could go on for pages and pages before getting back to the original plot. While the occasional back story was interesting, most of them did not add much to the over plot or character development.
I would definitely recommend this beautifully written novel to anyone who enjoys a leisurely paced historical fiction or mystery.
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LibraryThing member cathyskye
First Line: Rural England, a farmhouse in the middle of nowhere, a summer's day at the start of the nineteen sixties.
Of course most teenage girls would think any farmhouse in the country is the middle of nowhere, and sixteen-year-old Laurel Nicolson is no exception. Playing hooky from a sibling's
Fifty years later, Laurel is an award-winning actress who's gathered with her sisters at the family farm to celebrate their mother's ninetieth birthday. Their mother has always been beautiful, vivacious, loving, almost perfect in her children's eyes, but her health is fading quickly. Laurel realizes that she's had questions about that long ago day when she saw the stranger walking up the road-- and she's running out of time to get the answers she wants because the information Laurel needs can only be found in her mother's past.
Dorothy Nicolson's memory seems as fragile as her health, but even on her good days, she's unwilling to part with any information. Laurel must dig for clues, check records, and talk to Dorothy's contemporaries. Reliving her mother's life as a paid companion in London during the Blitz, Laurel slowly begins to put the pieces together and discovers the stunning truth.
I have read and enjoyed all of Kate Morton's books; each one is better than the last. In her latest, there are many secret keepers-- it seems as though each character has something to hide. The narrative moves between present-day England where Laurel searches into her mother's past, and London during the 1940s where as a young girl her mother tries to survive despite endless shortages and nightly bombing raids. Laurel soon finds that her mother's story is entwined with those of two others: rich, beautiful Vivien married to a successful novelist, and handsome war photographer Jimmy.
Morton is masterful at revealing facts in increments-- clues a tiny nugget at a time. While the reader may get the impression that the characters' feelings, histories and motivations are becoming clearer with each chapter, are they? Really? Or is the reader merely seeing what Morton wishes them to see? Morton's talent is that she does both at the same time.
One thing that Morton does wish the reader to see is that each decision made by Dorothy, Vivien and Jimmy has its consequences, and that each decision may not have been the right one. As each character comes under closer scrutiny, the reader's loyalties may shift from one to the other until the very end where all is revealed.
Did I place any of the puzzle pieces in the proper positions? A few, but not many. I've learned in reading Kate Morton's books that it's best to pretend I'm going whitewater rafting. There are quiet pools, strong currents, electrifying rapids, and a sense of near euphoria by story's end. Do what I did: sit back and enjoy a wonderful ride filled with vivid, memorable characters.
Of course most teenage girls would think any farmhouse in the country is the middle of nowhere, and sixteen-year-old Laurel Nicolson is no exception. Playing hooky from a sibling's
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birthday party, she's daydreaming of her future up in the tree house. A little later she sees a strange man walking up the road to the house where he speaks to Laurel's mother.Fifty years later, Laurel is an award-winning actress who's gathered with her sisters at the family farm to celebrate their mother's ninetieth birthday. Their mother has always been beautiful, vivacious, loving, almost perfect in her children's eyes, but her health is fading quickly. Laurel realizes that she's had questions about that long ago day when she saw the stranger walking up the road-- and she's running out of time to get the answers she wants because the information Laurel needs can only be found in her mother's past.
Dorothy Nicolson's memory seems as fragile as her health, but even on her good days, she's unwilling to part with any information. Laurel must dig for clues, check records, and talk to Dorothy's contemporaries. Reliving her mother's life as a paid companion in London during the Blitz, Laurel slowly begins to put the pieces together and discovers the stunning truth.
I have read and enjoyed all of Kate Morton's books; each one is better than the last. In her latest, there are many secret keepers-- it seems as though each character has something to hide. The narrative moves between present-day England where Laurel searches into her mother's past, and London during the 1940s where as a young girl her mother tries to survive despite endless shortages and nightly bombing raids. Laurel soon finds that her mother's story is entwined with those of two others: rich, beautiful Vivien married to a successful novelist, and handsome war photographer Jimmy.
Morton is masterful at revealing facts in increments-- clues a tiny nugget at a time. While the reader may get the impression that the characters' feelings, histories and motivations are becoming clearer with each chapter, are they? Really? Or is the reader merely seeing what Morton wishes them to see? Morton's talent is that she does both at the same time.
One thing that Morton does wish the reader to see is that each decision made by Dorothy, Vivien and Jimmy has its consequences, and that each decision may not have been the right one. As each character comes under closer scrutiny, the reader's loyalties may shift from one to the other until the very end where all is revealed.
Did I place any of the puzzle pieces in the proper positions? A few, but not many. I've learned in reading Kate Morton's books that it's best to pretend I'm going whitewater rafting. There are quiet pools, strong currents, electrifying rapids, and a sense of near euphoria by story's end. Do what I did: sit back and enjoy a wonderful ride filled with vivid, memorable characters.
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LibraryThing member shelleyraec
The Secret Keeper is the fourth novel from popular Australian author Kate Morton, whose previous books such as the The House At Riverton and The Forgotten Garden, have enjoyed international success.
In the Secret Keeper, Morton grabs the reader’s attention with the first chapter as sixteen year
As the narrative shifts between Laurel’s search into her mother’s past in present-day England to London during the Blitz, the reader is witness to Dorothy’s life. A headstrong and vivacious teenager, Dolly flees her staid family to make a life for herself in London, certain she is destined to become something special. She imagines having a life of luxury, social standing and wealth, like that enjoyed by Vivian Jenkins, which seems possible when she becomes the companion of the rich, eccentric and elderly, Lady Gwendolyn but when Dolly’s dreams sour, she is devastated. Despite the adoration of her boyfriend, Jimmy, Dolly concocts a plan to claim what she believes is her destiny, triggering a cascade of events that lead to tragedy.
In a vividly drawn setting, Morton creates a cast of intriguing, believable characters who are motivated by wistful dreams and dark secrets. As their relationships unraveled and the plot grew more intricate I was drawn into the twists and turns of the story, that leads to a stunning conclusion that will take most readers by surprise.
Finely crafted, The Secret Keeper is both an engrossing mystery and a sweeping historical saga. A compelling tale of love, loss and betrayal this is a wonderful read from a gifted storyteller.
In the Secret Keeper, Morton grabs the reader’s attention with the first chapter as sixteen year
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old Laurel witnesses a tragic altercation between her mother and a stranger. Nearly fifty years later Laurel’s latent curiosity prompts her to investigate Dorothy’s past, inspired by an inscription in a copy of a Peter Pan, a photo of Dolly linking arms with a friend, Vivian, and the vague whispers of her dying mother, slowly piecing together an extraordinary story.As the narrative shifts between Laurel’s search into her mother’s past in present-day England to London during the Blitz, the reader is witness to Dorothy’s life. A headstrong and vivacious teenager, Dolly flees her staid family to make a life for herself in London, certain she is destined to become something special. She imagines having a life of luxury, social standing and wealth, like that enjoyed by Vivian Jenkins, which seems possible when she becomes the companion of the rich, eccentric and elderly, Lady Gwendolyn but when Dolly’s dreams sour, she is devastated. Despite the adoration of her boyfriend, Jimmy, Dolly concocts a plan to claim what she believes is her destiny, triggering a cascade of events that lead to tragedy.
In a vividly drawn setting, Morton creates a cast of intriguing, believable characters who are motivated by wistful dreams and dark secrets. As their relationships unraveled and the plot grew more intricate I was drawn into the twists and turns of the story, that leads to a stunning conclusion that will take most readers by surprise.
Finely crafted, The Secret Keeper is both an engrossing mystery and a sweeping historical saga. A compelling tale of love, loss and betrayal this is a wonderful read from a gifted storyteller.
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LibraryThing member Mrsmommybooknerd
As a reader, I think that the first chapter of a book really sets the stage for a novel. In the Secret Keeper I was blow away by how beautifully it was written and then left reeling by the last sentence of the chapter. From there the story just got better and better. The story flips from past to
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present, setting the stage for twists and turns, great characters and an amazing story. It novel is a must read and I rate it 4.5 stars. Show Less
LibraryThing member arielfl
Kate Morton sucked me in with the House at Riverton. Ever since then I have been looking for that same level of excitement with other novels and while I have enjoyed them they were just not as stellar for me. Until this one, which I think may be the best one yet.
When Laurel is 16 she witness her
I love the way Kate Morton was able to weave all of the different strings of the story together like a tapestry. Just when you are wondering if a character will ever discover the truth of the events you are treated to another satisfying wrap up down to the last page. Kate Morton has out done herself with The Secret Keeper.
When Laurel is 16 she witness her
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mother Dorothy kill a man at their home. When her mother is on her death bed Laurel takes it upon herself to unravel the secret of her mother's life. Turns out her life was one huge doozy of a secret. Jimmy, Dorothy, Vivien, and her husband Henry intersect during WWII creating a perfect storm of events that will effect their lives ever after. Clues about the past are dolled out like tasty tidbits along the way until the huge twist at the end. To say anymore would be to give too much of this beautiful story away. I love the way Kate Morton was able to weave all of the different strings of the story together like a tapestry. Just when you are wondering if a character will ever discover the truth of the events you are treated to another satisfying wrap up down to the last page. Kate Morton has out done herself with The Secret Keeper.
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LibraryThing member susiesharp
Another great book from Kate Morton; she sure knows how to weave a story. This one is a story of secrets, family, murder and of learning the truth before its too late. When Laurel was a child she witnesses something very disturbing and now 40 years later her mother is dying and she sets out to find
As always Kate Morton blends the past and present story together with masterful ease, I had such a hard time turning this off (audio) I did not want to stop listening for a minute, this one grabbed me in the first 5 minutes and never let me go right up to the end. I started suspecting certain things **No Spoilers** and was glad when it confirmed I was right. I think the biggest lesson Laurel learned in this one was that the mother she knew and loved all her life was still that same woman even with all her secrets laid bare, it really didn’t change anything in her feelings towards her mother and I liked that.
The story of Dorothy’s past gave such a great feel of England during the blitz, how even with bombs dropping people tried to keep their chin up. I really felt the atmosphere of the time.
There was also a Doctor Who reference that made me love this author all the more!
Caroline Lee does the narration, and I just love the combination of these two women Caroline conveys Kate’s words better than I think anyone could, I also will forever say Zaaanzibaah (Zanzibar) the way Lady Gwendolyn does it was so perfect, right there I knew what this woman looked like and who this woman was! I highly recommend all of Kate Morton’s books on audio they are all read by the wonderful Caroline Lee!
If you can’t tell I love this author and will read whatever she writes and look forward to another book very soon!
4 ½ Stars
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the truth behind what happened. But what she finds isn’t what she expects does she even know her mother at all. Her mom always said they were her second chance but from what or who?As always Kate Morton blends the past and present story together with masterful ease, I had such a hard time turning this off (audio) I did not want to stop listening for a minute, this one grabbed me in the first 5 minutes and never let me go right up to the end. I started suspecting certain things **No Spoilers** and was glad when it confirmed I was right. I think the biggest lesson Laurel learned in this one was that the mother she knew and loved all her life was still that same woman even with all her secrets laid bare, it really didn’t change anything in her feelings towards her mother and I liked that.
The story of Dorothy’s past gave such a great feel of England during the blitz, how even with bombs dropping people tried to keep their chin up. I really felt the atmosphere of the time.
There was also a Doctor Who reference that made me love this author all the more!
Caroline Lee does the narration, and I just love the combination of these two women Caroline conveys Kate’s words better than I think anyone could, I also will forever say Zaaanzibaah (Zanzibar) the way Lady Gwendolyn does it was so perfect, right there I knew what this woman looked like and who this woman was! I highly recommend all of Kate Morton’s books on audio they are all read by the wonderful Caroline Lee!
If you can’t tell I love this author and will read whatever she writes and look forward to another book very soon!
4 ½ Stars
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LibraryThing member nbmars
In spite of being an avid reader, I remain astonishingly clueless when it comes to picking up clues, innuendos, and allusions in plots. Thus, when I began this book, I couldn’t imagine how any of what I was reading could possibly be plausible. I persevered however, and was rewarded by it all
Laurel Nicolson is sixteen years old in 1961 when she witnesses something terrible and inexplicable to her (and to me!) that shatters her illusion of her family’s life as “perfect.” The book next moves us up fifty years, to 2011, when Laurel’s mother, now almost 90, is dying. Laurel again has occasion to ponder the events of that summer’s day so long in her past, and begins to feel desperate to find out what it all meant before her mother is no longer around to share the truth. As the story moves backwards and forwards in time from the 1940’s to 2011, we, along with Laurel, finally come to understand the secrets that have remained hidden for all those years.
Discussion: This book moved quite slowly for me at first. Nothing was making sense to me, and I was impatient with the author’s slow build-up of atmosphere. Nevertheless, I didn’t want to stop reading. When I finally got gobsmacked by what other astute readers might have seen long before, I was fully invested with the story. There are at least two other ways I can think of that it could have all turned out, and it seems to me that the author chose the best of the possibilities.
The characters are very well-drawn, their portraits rich with irony. There is Dolly Smitham, who loved to pretend (“There was nothing that made her spin quite like it, the invisible moment of transition when she stopped being Dolly Smitham, and became instead Someone Else”); Jimmy Metcalfe, a sensitive World War II photographer who specialized in the breaking-through of illusions; and Vivien Jenkins, the mysterious and beautiful woman whom no one seemed to know. You will find it hard to forget any of them!
Evaluation: If you feel a bit lost or stalled at the beginning, as I did, I recommend staying the course. I admit that I didn't appreciate the book much until the end, when all the meanings and the well-crafted ironies became clear. My evaluation of the book increased quite a bit at that point.
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making sense to me in the end (and into the wee hours of the night, when I was reviewing what happened in my head).Laurel Nicolson is sixteen years old in 1961 when she witnesses something terrible and inexplicable to her (and to me!) that shatters her illusion of her family’s life as “perfect.” The book next moves us up fifty years, to 2011, when Laurel’s mother, now almost 90, is dying. Laurel again has occasion to ponder the events of that summer’s day so long in her past, and begins to feel desperate to find out what it all meant before her mother is no longer around to share the truth. As the story moves backwards and forwards in time from the 1940’s to 2011, we, along with Laurel, finally come to understand the secrets that have remained hidden for all those years.
Discussion: This book moved quite slowly for me at first. Nothing was making sense to me, and I was impatient with the author’s slow build-up of atmosphere. Nevertheless, I didn’t want to stop reading. When I finally got gobsmacked by what other astute readers might have seen long before, I was fully invested with the story. There are at least two other ways I can think of that it could have all turned out, and it seems to me that the author chose the best of the possibilities.
The characters are very well-drawn, their portraits rich with irony. There is Dolly Smitham, who loved to pretend (“There was nothing that made her spin quite like it, the invisible moment of transition when she stopped being Dolly Smitham, and became instead Someone Else”); Jimmy Metcalfe, a sensitive World War II photographer who specialized in the breaking-through of illusions; and Vivien Jenkins, the mysterious and beautiful woman whom no one seemed to know. You will find it hard to forget any of them!
Evaluation: If you feel a bit lost or stalled at the beginning, as I did, I recommend staying the course. I admit that I didn't appreciate the book much until the end, when all the meanings and the well-crafted ironies became clear. My evaluation of the book increased quite a bit at that point.
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LibraryThing member bearette24
Really great book! HUGE twist at the end. I wasn't able to get into any of Kate Morton's books before, but I liked this one so much that I'm going to revisit her previous ones.
Awards
Davitt Award (Longlist — Adult Fiction — 2013)
RUSA CODES Reading List (Shortlist — Women's Fiction — 2013)
Australian Book Industry Awards (Shortlist — General Fiction — 2013)
Queensland Literary Awards (Finalist — People's Choice — 2013)
BookPeople Booksellers' Choice Award (Shortlist — 2013)
This Mystery is Amazing! (#2 — 2015)
Original language
English
Original publication date
2012-10-30