The Secret Keeper: A Novel

Kate Morton is a master at transporting you to another time and place and creating rich, layered, and believable characters. The Secret Keeper is a wonderful mix of mystery and historical fiction and has more of a modern feel than most of her other novels, both in writing style and setting. It's not set in a grand estate, rather WWII is the setting that acts as character. The 1940s contains the answers to the family mystery that "started" in the 1960s, which a daughter is trying to solve in the present day 2011. Morton jumps between time periods and writes from multiple characters' perspectives seamlessly. This book had a slower build for me than her other novels. Early on it felt destined to be my least favorite of her stories, but by the end it became the one I arguably appreciate most. It definitely won a place in my heart and permanent shelf. It took some time for me to become absorbed in the story, though the characters of Dolly, Vivien and Jimmy were intriguing from the start. However, the last third of the novel is un-put-downable. There is a sort of sinking feeling you get as the story unfolds and you learn more about the characters and ruminate on their futures. However, by the end of the novel this weight is lightened as you realize everyone's role in the family mystery. I've always loved how Morton is able to craft multiple mysteries and surprises. In this novel her ability to mix hints and red herrings was top-notch and kept me guessing and second guessing. I was able to predict some pieces correctly but they weren't obvious, which is a common frustration with many novels. She masterfully gives you enough to develop theories yet question them continually, leaves other pieces as true mysteries to keep you intrigued, and still manages to completely shock you with a surprise or two that fit wonderfully rather than feeling contrived. A slower build, but an incredibly satisfying finale that left me wanting to go back and re-read to pick up on all the clues and reacquaint myself with these characters I grew to understand, sympathize with, and in many ways, love.

Kate Morton demonstrated a great talent for getting into the heads of her characters and understanding their motivations. Her descriptions of both the tough and vulnerable characteristics of Dolly, Vivien and Jimmy kept me wanting to know more about them. I found myself drawn back to visit with them when I really was supposed to be otherwise engaged.

At first I thought this would be an easy read, and I read casually. As time went on, I realized that the story was more complex than I had given it credit, and I started paying closer attention. I'm glad I did. While I am often frustrated because I figure out the ending of many novels long before I get there, I was very taken and surprised by the end. It is the best kind of novel that gives a full sense of closure and understanding at the end. Kudos to you, Ms Morton! I will be reading her other titles soon.

Laurel is a successful actress in modern-day London. Seventy years earlier, her mother Dorothy is doing her best to survive war-torn London. As a child, Laurel witnesses a death that haunts her for the rest of her life. Laurel and Dorothy’s stories come together to form the dual timeline of a family’s secrets.

I love stories that take place in WWII London. I also love me some Kate Morton. She is one of my favorite authors and the ‘Forgotten Garden’ is one of my top five books of all time. I also loved the ‘Lake House’, ‘The Distant Hours’, and ‘The House at Riverton’ so I was super stocked to finally pick-up the ‘Secret Keeper’.

‘The Secret Keeper’ does not disappoint. It gives a personal look at what the blitz did to the population of London. It also gives us an in-depth at the relationship people form during extreme times. I really loved the characters personalities: Dorothy in her childishness, Jimmy in his idealism, Vivian in her aloofness, and Henry in his harness.

I love historical fiction but it can be a bit dry at times. I find that I enjoy it most when it alternates between the past and the present. Morton is a master at this and taking the tediousness out of historical fiction.

Dorothy’s past and present are woven beautifully and Laurel’s revelations through research propel the story forward. I did predict the twist halfway through (as Morton alway has a twist ending) but I wasn’t 100% sure I was right until the twist was revealed.

This novel is another favorite for me. While, ‘The Forgotten Garden’ is still my number, one this one is included in my favorites of all time.

I had just completed another Kate Morton title, The Forgotten Garden, and wanted another rich and detailed read. I couldn't put down "Garden," and loved it more than any other book in the last month or so. So, I ordered The Secret Keeper.

What I found was that unlike Garden, Secret Keeper had a bit of a 'depressing' feel to it I couldn't quite shake. Not bad, not morbid or distasteful, but something I couldn't put my hand on. Maybe it was 'my mood.' Sometimes you aren't that into reading anything. But I believe that wasn't it. I found the past and present narratives just a hint confusing, too. I had to remember who was who with the minor characters, even though, as with every other Kate Morton title,they were richly developed. I loved some of them a great deal, including Jimmy's dad. The other two 'dads' got a little confusing, as they seemed to be the same man in different eras. Different nations, even.

World War II was a character in the book, and I felt the shakiness (emotional and physical) of the time in Dorothy's chapters. Morton does this especially well. Her historical detail is outstanding! I liked Jimmy, but felt his background didn't remain 'true' throughout the tales. He seemed to be too 'sophisticated' by the final chapters, which made me like him more. I do understand that he was described by Dorothy, but the point is, Dorothy was from a similar background. In the Vivian chapters he was not the very low income boy from those earlier chapters. Vivian would have noticed, I think, and probably commented on it a little at first. That threw a monkey-wrench into the 'willing suspension of disbelief.' Ditto the author husband of Vivian's descriptions.

Mostly, I felt there were 'too many' characters to hold on to. THAT made it harder to fall in to each narration. Great characters, but a LOT of 'em. Large families, mostly. But also a play with too many 'parts.'

So, even though I really LIKED this book, I think it might have been better with a bit of editing. Now, don't ask me who I'd have gotten of...but may be a few of the background characters might have been just that, background. Kate Morton develops these 'snapshots' of people in varied times, which she does almost TOO well! So, a 4, not a 5. Even a 4.5.

There was insufficient character development of the villan when the reader is first introduced to him. The twist of identities was the hinge on which the novel developed. I felt tht the character of the real "Doll" started out as innocent but then she suddenly evolves into a blackmailing, venal woman and this was not true to the character the author created in the beginning of her story. I was dissapointed with such a long read and little character development, but the device of looking backward in time to solve the puzzle worked. It seems to be a favorite story telling device for the author.

I am stunned this book has ANY good reviews. I purchased it on Audible and it is a mind-numbing BORE. I will not be listening to the rest of this horrible book. I actually yelled "WHO CARES???" while the narrator droned on and on about stupid details regarding one of the boring characters. UGH ZERO STARS

In my opinion none of the characters did anything even remotely good. They were deceitful, failed to communicate openly and honestly and were unfairly judgmental of each other. There were other choices that could have been made and they typically made the bad one. Not my kind of book. Very disappointing considering all the good reviews. I felt like reading it was a waste of time.

I started with THE FORGOTTEN GARDEN and loved it; unfortunately, the next two of her books were just rated "OK" in MY book as a result in comparison. I then read this book last. I read some of the negative reviews, and if nothing else, it goes to prove that 'to each his/her own.' Those complaints were ones I just didn't see as possible to describe THIS book. Someone said it was too flowery in style. I found it the complete opposite. I was prepared to dislike it bc it was NOT written as in her previous novels, the words and passages had more of a clean, modern twist to it, but it worked for me. It held my interest, it was easy to get through, and I hated for the story to end. As with any story, on TV or in a book, you have to get thru the first quarter of the book sometimes to establish characters and set up the story. But once you get past that, you keep moving along. Kate Morton has a lot of twists and turns and surprises in all four of her novels, but I found that this one novel along with THE FORGOTTEN GARDEN did something the other two did not: I wanted to read them both over again to find the little clues I missed or glossed over, deliberately set down that way by the author in a skillful, subtle way. I liked this book very much. I hope she is writing another.

I am halfway thru this & really don't know if I should keep giving this the benefit of my doubt. It is SO CORNY! And the author just babbles & babbles unnecessarily to the point of nausea. If that useless babble was edited out of the story, the book would be at least 100 pages shorter. The jumping around from current to past is dizzying. Confusing. I'm constantly rummaging backwards to refresh my memory on some subject from another chapter. And who is the biggest fool of all? ME!! I bought a couple of other books by this author based on the reviews. My local library will get a good donation.

It's a trashy book in my opinion. I also read The Forgotten Garden and feel the same way. Tormented relationships, secrecy and dishonesty, and poor decision making are major themes throughout both novels. I'm not sure why these get such good reviews... I actually tossed this one towards the end. If you're looking for drama like this, I'd opt for 20/20, at least you'll only waste about 40 minutes not counting commercial breaks.