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The Secret Keeper

4.11 of 5 stars 4.11 · rating details · 19,200 ratings · 3,886 reviews

The new novel from the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of The Distant Hours is a spellbinding mix of mystery, thievery, murder, and enduring love.

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 a...more

Hardcover, 481 pages

Published October 9th 2012 by Atria (first published October 1st 2012)

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Oct 17, 2012 Jeanette rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: all-fiction, domestic-and-relationship-fiction, europe-and-british-isles, miss-trees

No spoilers. I promise. Which means I won't go into much plot detail.

In 1961, when Laurel Nicolson was sixteen, she witnessed a shocking event. She and her mother were the only ones who knew the truth, and they never spoke of it. Fast-forward to 2011. Laurel is a famous actress in her sixties, and her mother Dorothy is dying. Before her mother dies, Laurel wants to uncover the roots of that long-ago shocking event. Her investigation takes her back to the London of 1941, when her mother was youn...more

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Apr 21, 2013 Yileen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed

I will not hold back on my 5 stars for this book. I had won the uncorrected proof of the book in a giveaway held by Tien at {http://tiensblurb.wordpress.com/} and I can't thank Tien enough for having this giveaway (and the lovely bookmark that came with it!).

The first chapter brings you back to the life of 16-year old Laurel who had witnessed her mother from a faraway treehouse, seemingly stabbing a strange man in the premises of their very own home. Laurel was then coaxed by both her parents in...more I will not hold back on my 5 stars for this book. I had won the uncorrected proof of the book in a giveaway held by Tien at {http://tiensblurb.wordpress.com/} and I can't thank Tien enough for having this giveaway (and the lovely bookmark that came with it!).

The first chapter brings you back to the life of 16-year old Laurel who had witnessed her mother from a faraway treehouse, seemingly stabbing a strange man in the premises of their very own home. Laurel was then coaxed by both her parents into keeping the event a secret from her other siblings. Almost 50 years later, as her mother lies on her deathbed, Laurel (naturally) finds herself wondering who that man was, and what had compelled her mother to commit such an act of murder. What secrets did her mother keep? "Who was Dorothy Nicholson before she became 'Ma' ", as Laurel puts it.

Dorothy's past is slowly uncovered as the Author writes of Dorothy's life as a teenager -- how she had met Jimmy Metcalfe and their passionate young love for each other; Dorothy as a young adult during the World War and her friendship with Vivien -- a beautiful, rich socialite who lived the life that Dorothy wanted; how Dorothy's relationship with Jimmy were on the rocks before Dorothy came up with the plan that changed everything; and finally Vivien's life during the war, and all the secrets she had kept from everyone else but herself.

Kate Morton has a knack for making her characters come to life. There was enough in just one chapter to make you relate to her characters in a way that you could relate to a close friend. I had found myself immersed in the characters that the author had cleverly weaved. They were simple, yet complex enough for them to be loathe in one chapter yet loved in the next, or vice versa. In short, I had especially enjoyed Dorothy's wild nature and free spirit; Jimmy's loyalty and his love for Dorothy and his oh-so-kind heart; and Vivien who was stronger than any of them put together.

Whatever it is, this book will not be short of twists in its storyline. I had caught myself speed-reading through the book several times as the plot thickened, or when Laurel was getting closer to an answer. As a result, I was urgently flicking through the pages to re-read certain parts of the book after I had reached the last page. Hence, I have to warn you that it would be best to dwell a little longer with Laurel on any vague memories or thoughts that she had in her mind. Trust me, it will later be for your own benefit (Morton is quick to hand out vague one-line giveaways that will only want to make you smack yourself for dismissing them pages after).

The author had jumped from one place in time to another, according to Laurel's present discovery of artefacts or new-found knowledge of her mother. Despite that, the book was easy to follow with only my tendency to speed-read to blame.

I will not be surprised if this book is made into a movie of the likes of 'The Lovely Bones' or 'The Time Traveller's Wife'. It has a story line of a movie in the making with characters that can only be more engaging if given the right stage.

NB: Please correct me if I am wrong in any parts of my review, as I have written this out of pure memory :)(less)

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Oct 02, 2012 ☆Jessie☆ (Ageless Pages Reviews) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, mystery, must-have, pre-review, arc, netgalley-arc, emotional-whiplash, excessive-fangirl-alert, read-need-to-buy, best-of-2012, 2012-reads, 2012-reviews, the-best-of-the-best, reviewed, drama-drama-drama, i-love-you-for-your-words, ssh-ssh-family-secrets, you-clever-girl, super-sized-story, five-stars-for-you-glen-coco, gothic

Read This Review & More Like It On My Blog!

I love this book wholeheartedly. Kate Morton rocketed to my absolute favorite author list last year on the strength of The Distant Hours and The Forgotten Garden, but this latest novel absolutely cements and guarantees her continued place there. The Secret Keeper blew my mind. Honestly, it might even rival The Distant Hours for my all-time favorite Kate Morton and mystery novel. It's just that good great; it's more of what Kate Morton does so very v...more Read This Review & More Like It On My Blog!

I love this book wholeheartedly. Kate Morton rocketed to my absolute favorite author list last year on the strength of The Distant Hours and The Forgotten Garden, but this latest novel absolutely cements and guarantees her continued place there. The Secret Keeper blew my mind. Honestly, it might even rival The Distant Hours for my all-time favorite Kate Morton and mystery novel. It's just that good great; it's more of what Kate Morton does so very very well. All the time taken and careful preparations of the plot, scene, characters clearly show, and add up to make this novel a compulsive read filled with vibrant and flawed characters. I wanted to stretch out my reading experience - it's one of those few times when 480 pages seems like too little for a novel rather than a good size. For all my restraint and desire to keep this going as long as possible, I inhaled this novel in 14 hours - eight of which I was sleeping. An impressive fourth novel from a very talented author, fans and newcomers alike will eat The Secret Keeper up.

When I first started this, I was sure I was going to like it, but it didn't immediately grab me the way her first two novels had. I was curious, and intrigued where the multiple plotlines across various periods of time would eventually go, but it wasn't until about 100 pages in that I was truly gripped and aware that I was reading something truly special. The tension slowly builds as main character Laurel uncovers more and more about her mother's life before children and marriage, evoking both intensity and curiosity as her revelations show a very different woman than the mother she had known her whole life. The shifting perspectives of various characters (Laurel, her mother Dorothy, and a woman named Vivien) from 1941 to 1961 to 2011 allow for a wide view of the plot across the many eras that impact the story. The merging of the different plotlines and timeliness works so well under this author's capable hands. I did not want to put this down to eat, to sleep, or anything. It's hard to write this review because the reveal and payout are so rewarding, and I don't want go give anything - ANYTHING - away that might spoil the deft authorial sleight of hand that Morton has going.

I had high hopes going into reading The Secret Keeper, and if anything, this book exceeded any and all expectations I had for it. Morton's obvious and immense talent for prose, for setting, and for crafting such realistic, concrete characters to operate upon the page - alive in all their wishes, hopes, pasts, flaws, and mistakes - marks her as one of the best authors I have ever had the pleasure to read. With twists and turns and huge reveals that I never predicted and never once came off as hackneyed, this is an author that continually proves she knows how to write a story, as well as a truly mystifying mystery. An impressive storyteller with talent across the board including an-all-too-rare talent for subtlety and foreshadowing, her latest novel is heavy on detail, inner observations, and contemplation, but is never slow or boring. Themes of unexpected consequences, and desire are explored with caution and care, further adding to the complicated plot of the novel. With one of the top three best endings I've ever had the surprise of reading, The Secret Keeper is thoroughly satisfying and totally unpredictable.

Kate Morton is amazing. I am a huge fan, and I won't let too much time go before I dig into the only novel of hers I've yet to read - The House at Riverton. Her style is uniquely her own, and her ability to create such detailed, well-characterized novels truly sets her above most other authors. Nuanced, emotionally involving, original, and completely wonderful, The Secret Keeper further proves that my ~~fangirling~~ extreme love for Kate Morton's novels is more than founded - it's necessary. I haven't had such a strong reaction to a novel in far too long; I cared intensely about the characters, I was caught up in every timeline shown. This is an author who will be a favorite for a long, long time. I can only hope that a fifth novel is on the horizon for this immensely talented writer. (less)

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Mar 25, 2013 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

THE SECRET KEEPER by Kate Morton
My actual rating is 3.5 stars

The opening of the story starts with a bang set in the early 1960’s as 16 year old Laurel Nicolson witnesses a shocking crime. Everything she knows about her mother and her family is turned upside down. In Morton style, the story flashes forward to 2011 and Laurel is now in her 60’s revisiting her family farm where she grew up. Her mother is celebrating her 90th birthday and Laurel is searching for answers to family secrets from so lon...more THE SECRET KEEPER by Kate Morton
My actual rating is 3.5 stars

The opening of the story starts with a bang set in the early 1960’s as 16 year old Laurel Nicolson witnesses a shocking crime. Everything she knows about her mother and her family is turned upside down. In Morton style, the story flashes forward to 2011 and Laurel is now in her 60’s revisiting her family farm where she grew up. Her mother is celebrating her 90th birthday and Laurel is searching for answers to family secrets from so long ago.

This story was a real slow burner that took me quite a while to feel engaged in. I did enjoy it even though I never really felt connected to the characters. It seemed like I was watching from the outside rather than feeling the empathy I wanted, but the last third of the book definitely kept me reading. Kate Morton is amazing at character development and atmosphere but this story didn’t quite hold the same magic that I felt about the “Forgotten Garden.” The use of flash backs and flash forwards requires the reader to keep track of everything and it can sometimes feel convoluted to me. (I’m sure many readers like the challenge of this but I’m not one of them). I think with this type of writing style, it’s very important to make time to read as continuously as possible. When I began, I only read a chapter or two each time and it was difficult to keep the facts straight when I picked the book up again. There is a lot going on in this story and even minor details sometimes turn out to be significant later on. So my advice—set aside a chunk of time for reading and the story will flow much better.

In regards to historical fiction, I felt the author did her homework about London during the blitz. I really appreciated understanding this event in history a little better. Ms. Morton has such a talent of being able to immerse the reader in the setting and make it feel completely authentic especially as it was shown to us through the eyes, heart, and lenses of Jimmy Metcalfe.

I also liked the fact that at the beginning of the book we form opinions about the characters and as the story progresses, new layers are peeled away and our whole perspective changes and things are not what they seemed. These new revelations kept me interested and made the characters much more human and flawed. We all make mistakes and I liked how the story makes you contemplate how you might react in such difficult circumstances.

The ending caught me by surprise and I actually said, “Wait…what just happened?!” I had to go back and re-read the previous few paragraphs to make sure I hadn’t missed something. I began formulating my own ideas about how it would come together, but I was wrong…Again! I loved the conclusion and even teared up but I’m a softy. Kate Morton knows people and how to write them. I was captured once again by the way she describes feelings about family—the little nuances that we can all relate to---the warmth and security of belonging and being loved.

Was it a happy ending? Here’s what Kate Morton has to say about “Endings” and it felt “right” to me.

“I don’t not believe in happy endings, but I don’t believe all endings need to be happy ones. Of far more importance to me is what I call “narrative rightness.” Narrative rightness is that feeling you get when you read the last page of a book, or finish watching a movie, and you experience a welling up of emotion---pleasure verging on the thrill of culmination---because the story ended exactly as it should. It’s not an easy thing to describe, but I have a theory that we’re all equipped to recognize “rightness” at a deep, human level, even if we can’t always find the words to describe why we feel it. It’s a sixth sense, or sorts, an awareness of balance so that the ending feels complete and inevitable---as if it’s the only way the story could have ended.”
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Feb 24, 2013 Jo at Jaffareadstoo rated it 5 of 5 stars

When Laurel Nicholson is sixteen she witnesses a shocking event during a family birthday party which disturbs not just her comfortable existence, but also her belief in what is right and proper in her world. Fifty years later, Laurel returns to her childhood home to be with her dying mother, and the appearance of a long forgotten photograph unleashes memories of a hidden family secret.
What then follows is a cleverly narrated dual time story which explores the ravages of war time London and combi...more

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Apr 22, 2013 Kathy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorite-authors, favorite-covers, historical-fiction, england, favorites, mystery

Kate Morton is one of the most consistent authors I read, as in consistent excellence. As with her previous tales, Morton has created a story with twists and turns that keep the reader on the edge of the seat trying to determine the outcome. The Secret Keeper is aptly titled. It is deliciously filled with the secrets of a lifetime, starting with Dorothy Nicolson's life in war-torn London during WWII and the discovery of inconsistencies by her daughter Laurel 50 years later. Laurel has kept her o...more

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Oct 20, 2012 Beatnik Mary rated it 3 of 5 stars

http://www.cozylittlebookjournal.com/...
The opening chapter of Kate Morton's novel, The Secret Keeper, has such an explosive ending that I immediately went back and re-read the whole chapter to see if I had missed any clues as to what had just happened. The year is 1961 in rural England and teenaged Laurel is debating (which, for some reason, is written as "de-bating" in this novel, but maybe that was just in my advanced copy) leaving home to run off with her boyfriend Billy but she doesn't want...more http://www.cozylittlebookjournal.com/...
The opening chapter of Kate Morton's novel, The Secret Keeper, has such an explosive ending that I immediately went back and re-read the whole chapter to see if I had missed any clues as to what had just happened. The year is 1961 in rural England and teenaged Laurel is debating (which, for some reason, is written as "de-bating" in this novel, but maybe that was just in my advanced copy) leaving home to run off with her boyfriend Billy but she doesn't want to miss her baby brother's second birthday. While she's lurking in a treehouse weighing her options, she witnesses her mother commit a violent crime that will surely affect the rest of their lives (and most definitely the rest of the novel). After rereading Chapter One, I realized I had nowhere to go but forward if I was going to get answers about what I had just read. And race forward I did. I could barely put the book down! The story meanders back and forth from modern day, the early 1960's and before and during World War II. It's sort of like Tigers in Red Weather set in the Cotswolds (for those of you who have read my review of Liza Klaussmann's debut novel, you know that is high praise indeed).

This was my first time reading Kate Morton and usually when I read an author--particularly for the first time--I find myself thinking about the writing as I'm reading (because I know I'll be posting a review). I make note of any literary quirks they have, things I like or dislike about their writing style, questions I have as I'm reading or further research I may want to do. With this book, however, I found myself barely noticing the writing at all. That is to say, I was so engaged in the story she was telling, and the writing itself was so natural and effortless, that I couldn't see the process in the product. I was speeding through this book simply because I couldn't put it down, with no thought to the review I would write or the questions I would ask the author if I could. Kate Morton (and, I'm sure, her editors at Simon & Schuster) made it all look effortless. And that, I'm certain, is the sign of a tremendously talented and fastidious writer (and editor).

I won't give away any endings, but I will tell you that I'll certainly be reading Kate Morton again!

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for writing a review, though the review did not necessarily need to be favourable, just honest. I frequently read and review books for this reason, but I am always very truthful (and, I hope, fair) in my reviews. Therefore any opinions expressed are strictly my own.
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cheryl love that i'm not alone in spotting "de-bating"...the (possibly genetic) tendenc to proofread (which doesn't apply to my ramble here as i am sleepy!)...more
Dec 03, 2012 08:55pm

Tracy Eldridge I can't you believe you people can be so picky. Why aren't you just enjoying the magnificent story. When I read a review I want to know if the story i...more
Apr 06, 2013 04:59am

Beatnik Mary Tracy wrote: "If you liked it so much why have you only given it three stars?"

Well I did like it. But it didn't, you know, change my life or anything....more
Apr 06, 2013 05:08am

Oct 02, 2012 Nancy rated it 5 of 5 stars

I had this mystery figured out at least five different times throughout the book. Because I'm smart like that. But then new information came to light so I had to change my mind. I did get one major part right but I completely missed the big shocker. Wow.

Typical Kate Morton style, there are double meanings in the sentence structure. Additionally, Morton is gifted in her transitions. Different time periods and different points of view left me hanging at the end of each chapter but only a short wh...more

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Mar 05, 2013 Barb rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, new-in-2012, read-in-2013, secrets, wwii

I wasn't sure how this was going to turn out. I was getting a little frustrated with Kate Morton toward the end of this book...I couldn't figure out what she was doing to her story, I thought she was ruining it. I just couldn't see how she could possibly create a satisfactory ending for these characters...But she did!

I listened to the audio book and enjoyed Caroline Lee's reading/acting very much. As always I can accept unlikely events more readily when I hear them versus when I read them with m...more

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Jan 06, 2013 DubaiReader rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, netgalley

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 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 spar...more

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Oct 20, 2012 switterbug (Betsey) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: received-kindly-from-publisher

Set alternately between the present and the past, much of this mystery novel takes place in London during the Blitz, when the Luftwaffe bombed the UK for fifty-seven consecutive nights, killing over 40,000 civilians. Laurel Nicholson, a successful actress in her sixties, reflects back to her teen years in the 1960’s and a crime she witnessed her mother, Dorothy (now ninety and dying), commit outside their Greenacres farmhouse.

The Blitz years’ sections belong to Dorothy, which Laurel pieces toge...more Set alternately between the present and the past, much of this mystery novel takes place in London during the Blitz, when the Luftwaffe bombed the UK for fifty-seven consecutive nights, killing over 40,000 civilians. Laurel Nicholson, a successful actress in her sixties, reflects back to her teen years in the 1960’s and a crime she witnessed her mother, Dorothy (now ninety and dying), commit outside their Greenacres farmhouse.

The Blitz years’ sections belong to Dorothy, which Laurel pieces together from scraps of memorabilia that her mother possesses. It opens up to the reader as Dorothy’s story, primarily. As Laurel and her siblings gather for Dorothy’s last days, the reader follows the trail of clues revealed through memories, inquiry, and Laurel’s amateur sleuthing. As the pages turn, we get more involved and intrigued by the intertwined lives of Dorothy, a woman from Dorothy’s past named Vivien (and Vivien’s husband, Henry Jenkins), and Dorothy’s former beau, Jimmy.

The most engaging aspect of this book is the smooth narrative and the intimate voices of the past and present. Morton creates characters that stand out, especially those from the WW II period. Dorothy is a complex woman trying to carve a future from the fear and impermanence that wartime creates. You can fairly hear the explosions in the background. Vivien is an enigmatic woman who never ceases to pique the reader’s interest, and her husband, Henry, the celebrated author, adds to the curiosity. Jimmy, the photographer and Dorothy’s love interest, is the moral center.

What kind of relationship did Dorothy and Vivien have? Were they friends, or adversaries, or mere acquaintances? There’s a photo of them standing together, emanating defiance and daring. But the more the photo is brought to light, the more the women in the picture elude Laurel.

Laurel is driven and defined by the answers she seeks more than her life as an actress, which is secondary to the story. Although there is a murder mystery, it reads as a family saga. She decides to engage her scientist brother, who was there when the tragedy happened, (in his mother’s arms—as a toddler) to help her solve the answer to their mother’s secret.

But first, Laurel has to tell him how she witnessed the scene from her hiding place in the tree house, watching while her mother placed the heirloom knife next to the birthday cake, readying for a family celebration, while Laurel dreamed the dreams of a typical yet gifted sixteen-year-old, secluded from the main action of her family and the outsider who intruded.

As a family and historical drama, it was often engrossing. However, Morton did not surprise me with the big disclosures, or catch me off guard, although she clearly intended to keep us guessing. It was less about my fortuitous abilities and more about Morton's transparency. I read a review of her first book that stated she tipped her hand too soon and too conspicuously, which is done here, also. It is the one trait that tends to undermine an otherwise very pleasant read, a book that fits well with a cozy, plush chair next to a crackling fire on a damp day with a cup of hot English tea warming your hands.(less)

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Sep 04, 2012 Yianna Yiannacou rated it 5 of 5 stars

I can't wait for this book! My favourite book by Kate is The Forgotten Garden. If you haven't read it, stop reading this and go.. Now!

41 likes · like · see review

Feb 11, 2013 Sally906 rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: australian-author, mystery, aww2013

The crime that Laurel witnessed is her mother Dorothy fatally stabbing a man with a birthday cake knife; no great spoiler as it happens in the first few pages. The stabbing is written off as self-protection as the man was threatening to kill Dorothy and the baby she was holding; he was also believed to be a sexual predator who had been roaming around the area. The family says nothing more about it, and the event is practically forgotten until they gather to give Dorothy a final birthday as she l...more The crime that Laurel witnessed is her mother Dorothy fatally stabbing a man with a birthday cake knife; no great spoiler as it happens in the first few pages. The stabbing is written off as self-protection as the man was threatening to kill Dorothy and the baby she was holding; he was also believed to be a sexual predator who had been roaming around the area. The family says nothing more about it, and the event is practically forgotten until they gather to give Dorothy a final birthday as she lies dying in hospital and a photo is discovered. This photo sets Laurel off on a personal quest to discover more about their mother’s life before she married; to find out what secret she has been keeping from her family all these years.

And the secret is a good one.

THE SECRET KEEPER is Kate Morton’s fourth book and (hanging head in shame) the first I have read. Why have I ignored the previous three? OK – I have a fair idea – they are all huge books – well over 500 pages and the sheer size put me off. But once I started reading the story so engrossed me that I didn’t notice the size – size and time had no meaning. Slowly Laurel’s present day investigation results in snippets of information here, more snippets there, but to start off with few dots connecting. However, in balance Dorothy tells her story of the events of the war years which fills in some of the missing details. Slowly, very slowly the hidden truths are revealed. Just when you think you know what is going on, you find that you don’t because with a little tweak here and another tweak there the story goes off in another direction. The characters are wonderful, each of them coming alive on the pages, warts and all. Not all the characters are nice, but they are wonderfully portrayed and very believable. I could not put this book down, and so glad that I won an advance copy because I would have continued to not try her books solely on the size – and that would have been criminal of me.
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Nov 14, 2012 Ellie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebooks, contemporary, historical, 2012, reviewed

The Secret Keeper is a beautifully written historical fiction novel. It has a gripping and original plot with just enough twists and turns to keep the reader interested. The novel was also very well-researched. I thought the various time shifts in the novel were handed quite well and I found the story very easy to follow.

Kate Morton has a tendency to go into too much detail at times. The novel is 600 pages long but the story could have been written in under 400 pages. There were a lot of unnece...more The Secret Keeper is a beautifully written historical fiction novel. It has a gripping and original plot with just enough twists and turns to keep the reader interested. The novel was also very well-researched. I thought the various time shifts in the novel were handed quite well and I found the story very easy to follow.

Kate Morton has a tendency to go into too much detail at times. The novel is 600 pages long but the story could have been written in under 400 pages. There were a lot of unnecessary, long-winded details describing the various settings of the novel. I felt it slowed the story down in places, especially at the beginning.

The characters were all interesting, vivid, realistic and well-developed. Some were likable, others were not. I loved the characters of Laurel, Jimmy and Vivien (I think I like her the best!) but I really despised Dorothy Smitham and Henry Jenkins.

The big reveal at the end completely surprised me! (view spoiler) I did like the ending though and it did bring a smile to my face!!

There is one major flaw in the story that annoyed me though – near the end of the first chapter. Don't click on this spoiler until you've finished reading the novel because it will definitely spoil the whole ending for you: (view spoiler)(less)

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Apr 27, 2013 Donna Weaver rated it 4 of 5 stars

WHAT MY STARS MEAN:
5 Stars--the book had a profound impact on me. It touched me on some special level and lingered with me long after I'd finished reading it.
4 Stars--I loved this book. If I don't own it, I will buy it so I can read it again and again.
3 Stars--I enjoyed the book but may have had an issue or two with it.
2 Stars--I had more than a few issues with it.
1 Stars--I hated it.

WHAT IT'S ABOUT:
During a party at the family farm in the English countryside, sixteen-year-old Laurel Nicolson h...more WHAT MY STARS MEAN:
5 Stars--the book had a profound impact on me. It touched me on some special level and lingered with me long after I'd finished reading it.
4 Stars--I loved this book. If I don't own it, I will buy it so I can read it again and again.
3 Stars--I enjoyed the book but may have had an issue or two with it.
2 Stars--I had more than a few issues with it.
1 Stars--I hated it.

WHAT IT'S ABOUT:
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.

MY TAKE:
This book should have been a 4 1/2 because, once again, Morton left me thinking about her story when I couldn't read it and even after I finished it. My only real issue with the book is it drags in the middle.

Once again, Morten's storytelling reminds me of Rosamunde Pilcher's "The Shellseekers" with the way the story moves between 1941, 1961, and 2011. I loved the way she unfolded the story and developed the characters. It's a bit like how we get to know people in real life. We reach certain conclusions at first and then, as we get to know them better, we either continue to like them or loath them. That's the case in this book.

The mystery is quite shocking in the beginning and there's such a sense of satisfaction at the end when it's solved, especially with the resolution for the characters. Not perfect, but satisfactory--like the perfect amount of dessert after a good meal.(less)

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Dec 26, 2012 Britt rated it 5 of 5 stars

I want to give this a 4 and a half star and by tomorrow it might be 5. This was a good book and could definitely re read it. What a great twist :)

2 likes · like · see review

Oct 13, 2012 Liviu rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012_release_read, aq_more_favorites, mainstream, read_2012, review_fbc, top_25_2012_novels

the Secret Keeper is a book that catapults Kate Morton from the rank of top historical fiction writers of today to my very short list of huge favorite writers period (of active authors who write historical fiction, Steven Saylor, Iain Pears and Christian Cameron are there, though of course Colleen McCullough would be there too if she were to write more historical fiction).

Actually there is some resemblance between Stone's fall and The Secret Keeper in the way that you have to read the book at le...more

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Nov 15, 2012 Jenifer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-galley, contemporary-fiction, historical-fiction, mystery-suspense

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 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...more

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Oct 10, 2012 Brittany rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-reads, netgalley

When I saw Kate Morton’s forthcoming novel listed on NetGalley, my heart skipped a beat, and I audibly gasped . . . I was that excited. The Secret Keeper is a definite winner; for the three days it took me to read it, my kids may have noticed a faraway look in Mommy’s eyes as I was engulfed by the characters’ world. I didn’t properly inhabit my own world until I reached the immensely satisfying conclusion.

The book opens in 1960s England with the Nicolson family celebrating their youngest child’s...more When I saw Kate Morton’s forthcoming novel listed on NetGalley, my heart skipped a beat, and I audibly gasped . . . I was that excited. The Secret Keeper is a definite winner; for the three days it took me to read it, my kids may have noticed a faraway look in Mommy’s eyes as I was engulfed by the characters’ world. I didn’t properly inhabit my own world until I reached the immensely satisfying conclusion.

The book opens in 1960s England with the Nicolson family celebrating their youngest child’s second birthday. Sixteen-year-old Laurel, the oldest, sneaks away for a moment of peace to her tree house. While perched in her aerie, she sees a mysterious man walk up the road and approach her mother and baby brother. She watches, horrified, as her mother takes the cake knife and violently stabs the intruder. Mysteriously, once the police leave the family farm, her parents never speak of this event again.

Now it is 2011, and Laurel returns from London to visit her elderly mother. She determines to discover exactly what happened on that fateful summer day in 1960 before her mom passes away. Who was the mysterious man? How could her “perfect mother” commit such a shocking act? What kind of woman was her mother before she married her dad, and what does her mom mean when she talks about her “second chance?”

In trademark Kate Morton fashion, the heroine embarks on a quest to find answers, and the reader is launched on a thrilling ride of discovery. The book alternates between the war-torn London of the 1940s, and Laurel’s present day search for answers. The WWII sections were so engaging that I couldn’t put the book down (much to my family’s dismay). Morton does such a superb job of creating interesting, fully-developed characters; she guides the reader to an understanding of each character’s motivations and helps us sympathize with them. The ending was very satisfying and the resonating tone was one of peace, not despair. Readers who were frustrated by The Distant Hours’ slow-moving plot will be pleased that the pace of The Secret Keeper is much faster…the wonderful attention to detail and character development are still there, but never to the detriment of the plot.

Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys reading historical suspense with richly developed characters.
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Sep 22, 2012 Bonnie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, adult, arcs-read, full-of-wonderful, aussie, owned-arc, edelweiss, arc-via-publisher-or-author

The Secret Keeper was kindly provided to me by Netgalley for Simon & Schuster/Atria Books.
Expected publication: October 9th 2012 by Atria

'It was the liquid silver flash Laurel would always remember. The way sunlight caught the metal blade, and the moment was briefly beautiful.'

In 1959, when Laurel was sixteen years old she watched as a stranger walked up her driveway, said hello to her mother, before her mother stabbed him to death. But the man wasn’t a stranger at all because before he died...more The Secret Keeper was kindly provided to me by Netgalley for Simon & Schuster/Atria Books.
Expected publication: October 9th 2012 by Atria

'It was the liquid silver flash Laurel would always remember. The way sunlight caught the metal blade, and the moment was briefly beautiful.'

In 1959, when Laurel was sixteen years old she watched as a stranger walked up her driveway, said hello to her mother, before her mother stabbed him to death. But the man wasn’t a stranger at all because before he died she heard him speak:
”Hello, Dorothy,” the man said. “It’s been a long time.”

When the police interviewed her mother, Laurel admits to seeing everything. Her mother didn’t do anything wrong, that the stranger had attacked her and she had no choice but to do what she had done. Nothing more was ever said about the man’s death and Laurel never asked but she the memories of that day never left her.

Fifty years later, Laurel’s mother has been hospitalized so she returns to her childhood home to be with her. Returning only revives the memories but this time she’s determined to finally find the answers to the mystery that has plagued her for almost her entire life.

The story flashes back and forth between 1940 and present day. As Laurel begins uncovering answers to her mother’s past, the truth begins to unfold. There is so much that can be said but shouldn't for fear of ruining the story. Definitely one that truly needs to be experienced to be fully appreciated. Suffice it to say, it was an incredible mystery with intriguing and amazingly well-developed characters; a definite treat.

The immensity of the revelation at the end truly took my breath away. That moment when all is revealed and all the unanswered questions are finally given resolution and you finally see it all in its finality? Oh, the feelings! This book made me feel so much and it was intense, amazing, bittersweet and so poignant. Reading something with such intricate detailing, intersecting storylines that blended beautifully, and an ending I never could have possibly imagined… this was a real gem. I won’t be forgetting this story for a long time to come.(less)

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Sep 24, 2012 W rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, 2012-read, favorites

Why did it matter anyway? It was over. So long as Laurel didn’t pick too closely at its delicate threads, the tapestry hung together. The picture remained intact. At least it had done until now. Incredible, really, that after fifty years all it took was the return of an old photograph and the utterance of a woman’s name for the fabric of Laurel’s fiction to being unravelling.

Fifty years ago, Laurel watched her mother kill a man. It was deemed to be self-defense, but Laurel knew, even at the age...more Why did it matter anyway? It was over. So long as Laurel didn’t pick too closely at its delicate threads, the tapestry hung together. The picture remained intact. At least it had done until now. Incredible, really, that after fifty years all it took was the return of an old photograph and the utterance of a woman’s name for the fabric of Laurel’s fiction to being unravelling.

Fifty years ago, Laurel watched her mother kill a man. It was deemed to be self-defense, but Laurel knew, even at the age of seventeen, that there was more to the story — the man knew her mother’s name — Dorothy — and her mother had recognized him as well. Now, as Dorothy’s last days are approaching, Laurel is determined to discover the rest of the story behind Henry Jenkins — the man Dorothy killed — and the mysterious Vivien who seems to be the connection between the two. Paralleling the story of Laurel’s search are the WWII-era events of Dorothy’s life as she struggles to reach her dreams, doing seemingly whatever it takes.

I adore Kate Morton’s ability to pull the reader into a story. I always end up feeling torn between rushing through it to fill in the gaps and find out what’s really happened, and inching my way through to savor the beautiful prose and the excitement and anticipation of the mystery. Some of the aspects of the past I had expected, but even with my suspicions, there were things that didn’t quite fit, which left me guessing and wondering how it all fit together all the way up until the end. The historical setting of this particular story — London during the Blitz of WWII — gives the reader a feeling of the every day lives of people during this time period without it becoming the center of the plot. In reading historical fiction, it’s good to remember that even as these life-changing events are happening, people are still living their lives and dealing with daily struggles as well. The emotional relationships within the story — the friendships, romances, and family love — were all portrayed with wonderful realism, flaws and all. The ending fit together like pieces in a puzzle, bringing together clues that the reader hadn’t even realized were there, and although bittersweet, tied up the book very nicely — although once I knew what had really happened, I did immediately want to re-read it to see what clues I had missed and experience it with the new knowledge I now had.

I found very few flaws in this book. Some of the current-day storyline did seem a bit slow at points, but only because I was so anxious to figure out what had happened in the past. At times the past (Dorothy’s) storyline would end in a cliffhanger, and the next chapter would be the present (Laurel’s) storyline, which would frustrate me to no end, but I suppose it served the purpose — to make me want to keep reading.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy of this book!

Overall: Another beautifully-crafted, emotionally intense, historical fiction novel full of secrets, mystery, and lost love. Possibly my favorite Kate Morton novel yet.

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Jan 16, 2013 Jane C. rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: couldn-t-get-through

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Oct 29, 2012 Kris Irvin added it

Shelves: 2012

Close call between 3 and 4 stars but ultimately I had to go with the lower.

I might be the only one in the world who loved Kate Morton's "The Distant Hours," so if you hated Distant Hours you may love Secret Keeper.

For me, though, it started out choppy. the first few chapters didn't interest me very much. Maybe, having read the end, I would feel differently if I re-read this novel. But on the first read, meh.

The time jump was too much for me this time. Normally I love skipping POVs but this on...more

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Nov 06, 2012 Anne rated it 2 of 5 stars

I am an avid fan of Ms. Morton's historical fiction and devoured The Forgotten Garden, The Distant Hours and The House at Riverton in what seemed like mere minutes. Her characters are well-thought, researched and even the minor characters are real. Further, Ms. Morton's plot lines in the aforementioned were intriguing and almost seamless.

While I certainly don't regret my time reading The Secret Keeper, I would recommend her first three over this new novel. To me the first three were more robust...more

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Feb 14, 2013 Charmaine Clancy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: aussie

At first I felt this story was too slow, too long, pompous and tiresome, and the type of narrative that would include words like pompous and tiresome. But I was soon won over by the very clever way the author pulls us into each character's head and heart. Of course the twist is amazing and not one I saw coming. Loved the ending. A little sad but perfect.

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Feb 10, 2013 Alison Lee rated it 4 of 5 stars

The book started a little slow, but picked up somewhat as the plot revealed itself.

The characters were richly drawn, the story moved smoothly between eras and the twist at the end completely gripped me, and made me go back and read some paragraphs again. Only because it was startling and stunning.

A great read, highly recommended.

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Mar 15, 2013 Gaby rated it 5 of 5 stars

While the beginning of this book was painfully slow and I wanted to quit reading it more than a few times, by Part II I didn't want to put it down and loved the story so much I didn't want it to end all the way up to and including the very surprising twist ending. Amazing!

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Jan 27, 2013 Fiona Williams rated it 4 of 5 stars

Great characters & wonderful twists & turns. Morton tests us in our loyalties & assumptions towards her characters. Fantastic read!

1 like · like · see review

Nov 06, 2012 Brenna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fantasy, fiction-favorites

I am having conflicting emotions when it comes to this book. On the one hand, I always enjoy Morton's books and how she creates onion characters that you have to continue to "peel" throughout the story. On the other hand, there are was a lot of build up and a lot of layers to get through for a pretty simplistic ending. There were still quite a few questions left at the end and storylines that didn't quite add up which were a little frustrating. Overall though, it was a book that sucked me in and...more

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Nov 06, 2012 Julie Ann rated it 4 of 5 stars

I owe a great big apology for writing my last review without finishing the book. I had gotten to Chapter 21, and hated Dorothy's character so much that I couldn't read any more. But, after being encouraged by my daughter not to give up on it, I picked it up again and finished it. My faith is restored!

7 likes · like · see review

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Kindle Book Club ...: SPOILER ALERT: Discussion, The Secret Keeper, Completed Reading	33	118	May 10, 2013 09:56pm
K12 Parents' Book...: K12 Parents Book Chat	1	4	Mar 26, 2013 06:44am
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About Kate Morton

Kate Morton grew up in the mountains of southeast 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.
Kate Morton's books have been published in 31 countries. The House at Riverton was a Sunday Times #1 bestseller in the UK in 2007 and a New Y...more

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Kate Morton Collection: The House at Riverton, The Forgotten Garden & The Distant Hours

The Kate Morton Collection: The House at Riverton and The Forgotten Garden

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Quotes from The Secret Keeper

“It's a terrible thing, isn't it, the way we throw people away?” — 13 people liked it

“Gerry?' Laurel had to strain to hear thought the noise on the other end of the line. 'Gerry? Where are you?'

'London. A phone booth on Fleet Street.'

'The city still has working phone booths?'

'It would appear so. Unless this is the Tardis, in which case I'm in serious trouble.” — 8 people liked it

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