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The Storms of War Trilogy #3
The House of Shadows
The final compelling historical saga concluding a trilogy that began with Storms of War and The Edge of the Fall, from popular TV historian and critically-acclaimed author Kate Williams.
Celia De Witt is half-German, half-English and heir to her family's vast fortune. But it is 1929, the world is changing and her life seems less secure than ever. A shocking revelation from her father sends her far from England and the life she knew and headlong into New York, a city brimming with money and promise.
Celia sets about saving the family firm by creating an innovative new range of convenience foods for the new generation of independent young women. But she also has other plans. The son she thought was dead is in America and the man she once thought she loved is nearby - but if she opens the Pandora's Box of the past, she may find other secrets will escape...
As the shadow of war once again threatens to fall across Europe, Celia is determined to save those she loves, even if it comes at the highest price...
'A beautifully conjured family saga. Fans of Downton Abbey will love it' - Alison Weir
'This terrific saga comes with a fascinating twist ... Williams has a gift for showing how great movements in history affect the lives of people caught up in them' The Times
432 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 24, 2018
26 people are currently reading
436 people want to read
About the author
Kate Williams
70 books586 followersHello! Thank you for visiting my page. It's a great privilege to be on here - and to say hi to readers. Thank you very much for all your support and interest in my books! My twitter account is @katewilliamsme and I have a facebook page for Kate Williams author, come and say hello! I'm always thrilled to hear from you and your thoughts about my work.
I grew up in a very modern house in a dormitory village in the Midlands- and as a consequence became completely obsessed by the past. When I was about six, we got a new washing machine - and I took the huge cardboard box, covered it in silver foil and told my little brother it was a time machine. I used to rumble it about and tell him 'Look! We're in Egypt in the time of the pyramids - but you can't get out!' So he had to listen to all the stories inside, my poor brother...
'One of Britain's best young historians', Independent.
'Historian Extraordinaire', The Today Programme, Radio 4
'Queen of historical fiction' and 'History at its best', Guardian
'Unforgettable', (the book, not me!), The Lady.
'Gripping, seductive', The Times
I'm still looking for that time machine - and still living in it, really as I am obsessed by history.
Thanks so much for coming with me in my time machine.....
My latest novel, Edge of the Fall, is about the DeWitt family in the 1920s as they try to make sense of their lives in the aftermath of the war. It's the Flapper Age - and everything is in flux. As Kirkus puts it, there is ' a beautiful socialite threatened by a stranger, a murder trial and a baby born out of wedlock' - 'strange disappearances, unexplained deaths, dramatic births and a juicy court case' Grazia
'Brilliant', Daily Mail
'Gripping from the first page', 'Thrilling' 'a must read', Grazia
'Imbued with a sharp awarenss of the devastating effects of war in any era, Williams' novel presents sympathetic characters who transcend history', Kirkus
My previous novel, The Storms of War, is the first in a trilogy about the de Witt family. The first explores their lives from 1914-1918, as the youngest girl, Celia, sees her perfect world crumble and change. I've wanted to write about the wars since I visited the trenches in France when I was ten on a school trip. I was fascinated by how small they were - and how men could ever live in such places. I really wanted to go into the lives of Germans - the Victorians couldn't get enough of them. Then - almost overnight - they were the enemy and people saw German spies everywhere and the newspapers demanded that all Germans in the country be imprisoned. At the beginning of the book, Rudolf and Verena have four children - and their lives will never be the same again.
'Quietly impressive...hard to put down....Gripping, thoughtful, heartbreaking and above all human', Kirkus (starred review)
'truly affecting...richly detailed, light of foot..tantalises with loose ends and disturbs with shocking shadows', Independent
'Fans of Dowton Abbey will love it, as do I', Alison Weir
'Vivid....fascinating,' Observer
My most recent history book was in 2013, Josephine: Desire, Ambition, Napoleon (UK) and 'Ambition and Desire: the Dangerous Life of Josephine Bonaparte' (US). It has been optioned by Ecosse Films (Nowhere Boy, Mrs Brown) and they are working on the script now.
'I send you a thousand kisses, but send me none back because they set my soul on fire', wrote Napoleon to Josephine.
In 2012, my book about Elizabeth II, 'Young Elizabeth' was published, exploring the Princess's life before she became Queen - and how the abdication of Edward VIII changed her world. In 2011, I co-wrote The Ring and the Crown with Alison Weir, Tracy Borman and Sarah Gristwood about the history of royal weddings.
My previous novel,The Pleasures of Men, about Catherine Sorgeiul, a young woman in 1840 who terrifies herself with her obsession with a murderer, appeared in 2012. I began writing the book while living in Paris, one
I grew up in a very modern house in a dormitory village in the Midlands- and as a consequence became completely obsessed by the past. When I was about six, we got a new washing machine - and I took the huge cardboard box, covered it in silver foil and told my little brother it was a time machine. I used to rumble it about and tell him 'Look! We're in Egypt in the time of the pyramids - but you can't get out!' So he had to listen to all the stories inside, my poor brother...
'One of Britain's best young historians', Independent.
'Historian Extraordinaire', The Today Programme, Radio 4
'Queen of historical fiction' and 'History at its best', Guardian
'Unforgettable', (the book, not me!), The Lady.
'Gripping, seductive', The Times
I'm still looking for that time machine - and still living in it, really as I am obsessed by history.
Thanks so much for coming with me in my time machine.....
My latest novel, Edge of the Fall, is about the DeWitt family in the 1920s as they try to make sense of their lives in the aftermath of the war. It's the Flapper Age - and everything is in flux. As Kirkus puts it, there is ' a beautiful socialite threatened by a stranger, a murder trial and a baby born out of wedlock' - 'strange disappearances, unexplained deaths, dramatic births and a juicy court case' Grazia
'Brilliant', Daily Mail
'Gripping from the first page', 'Thrilling' 'a must read', Grazia
'Imbued with a sharp awarenss of the devastating effects of war in any era, Williams' novel presents sympathetic characters who transcend history', Kirkus
My previous novel, The Storms of War, is the first in a trilogy about the de Witt family. The first explores their lives from 1914-1918, as the youngest girl, Celia, sees her perfect world crumble and change. I've wanted to write about the wars since I visited the trenches in France when I was ten on a school trip. I was fascinated by how small they were - and how men could ever live in such places. I really wanted to go into the lives of Germans - the Victorians couldn't get enough of them. Then - almost overnight - they were the enemy and people saw German spies everywhere and the newspapers demanded that all Germans in the country be imprisoned. At the beginning of the book, Rudolf and Verena have four children - and their lives will never be the same again.
'Quietly impressive...hard to put down....Gripping, thoughtful, heartbreaking and above all human', Kirkus (starred review)
'truly affecting...richly detailed, light of foot..tantalises with loose ends and disturbs with shocking shadows', Independent
'Fans of Dowton Abbey will love it, as do I', Alison Weir
'Vivid....fascinating,' Observer
My most recent history book was in 2013, Josephine: Desire, Ambition, Napoleon (UK) and 'Ambition and Desire: the Dangerous Life of Josephine Bonaparte' (US). It has been optioned by Ecosse Films (Nowhere Boy, Mrs Brown) and they are working on the script now.
'I send you a thousand kisses, but send me none back because they set my soul on fire', wrote Napoleon to Josephine.
In 2012, my book about Elizabeth II, 'Young Elizabeth' was published, exploring the Princess's life before she became Queen - and how the abdication of Edward VIII changed her world. In 2011, I co-wrote The Ring and the Crown with Alison Weir, Tracy Borman and Sarah Gristwood about the history of royal weddings.
My previous novel,The Pleasures of Men, about Catherine Sorgeiul, a young woman in 1840 who terrifies herself with her obsession with a murderer, appeared in 2012. I began writing the book while living in Paris, one
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
December 15, 2018
This is the last in the trilogy of the sweeping historical saga featuring the de Witt family, but my first read of it, it worked mostly fine as a standalone as there is much information on what has happened previously. This has been compared to Downton Abbey, but it is much darker and the majority of the family characters are distinctly more unlikeable with the possible exception of the half German Celia, who nevertheless still manages to irritate me on a few occasions. This novel covers the years from 1929 including the repercussions of the Wall Street Crash to the start of WW2, set in New York and at the family home of Stoneythorpe in Winchester. There had been the revelation from her father, Rudolf, that he and Verena, her mother, had lied about the death of her baby son Michael, that he was in fact adopted in the US. Michael is the product of Celia's love for Tom, although he never felt the same. Her brother, Arthur, had been exonerated of murdering his wife, Louisa, at a sensational trial in London. Arthur is looking to establish a new life in New York, find a rich new wife and save the family firm of Winter Meats, and Celia accompanies him to help, but it is Michael, her son, she really wants to find.
Arthur fails to persuade the financiers to bankroll Winter Meats, it is Celia who succeeds as a capable business woman, launching her range of Flapper Foods, aimed at the rising market of young women looking for convenience foods. Tragedy is to ensue as investments lead to their ruin with the economic crash as Celia is once again burdened by harrowing secrets. Having located Michael, Celia's new fiance Jonathan Corrigan helps her gain custody of him. Returning to a Stoneycroft that she has been advised to sell, she is shocked at just how dilapidated and rundown the family home is. Michael settles down remarkable quickly as he forges a close relationship with Lily, Emmeline's daughter. Celia's plans disintegrate in the face of the intransigence of her parents, refusing to move, and Emmeline expecting Celia to save their house of shadows with its secrets from the past and present. None are willing to shoulder their share of responsibilities, and lack the capacity to adapt to their changing circumstances. Despite the sorrow, grief and horror that her family have burdened her with, Celia's greater allegiance is to her fickle family and Michael, not her personal happiness. The new generation prove to be as traumatising and problematic in ways that echo the history of their elders. Faced with further trials and tribulations, Celia sets about replicating her American business success with the establishment of her Violet's Kitchen food range.
Celia has a saviour complex, the need to save others, and is surprised when her efforts are rebuffed by some, and when it comes to her family, they are willing to exploit this quality in her. I personally feel she would have been better off letting them try to handle their own problems, even if they failed, instead of putting up with their continuous carping and the nastiness of her sister, Emmeline. However, perhaps the tragic loss of her brothers, family secrets, and her need for family acceptance leave her open to their machinations. Kate Williams takes us through key events in the inter war years, such as the Spanish Civil War, the establishment of radical groups, the anti war efforts, planning for war, all through the De Witt family. Williams historical knowledge drives the various threads in the novel and in her characterisation. An interesting and entertaining historical read. Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.
Arthur fails to persuade the financiers to bankroll Winter Meats, it is Celia who succeeds as a capable business woman, launching her range of Flapper Foods, aimed at the rising market of young women looking for convenience foods. Tragedy is to ensue as investments lead to their ruin with the economic crash as Celia is once again burdened by harrowing secrets. Having located Michael, Celia's new fiance Jonathan Corrigan helps her gain custody of him. Returning to a Stoneycroft that she has been advised to sell, she is shocked at just how dilapidated and rundown the family home is. Michael settles down remarkable quickly as he forges a close relationship with Lily, Emmeline's daughter. Celia's plans disintegrate in the face of the intransigence of her parents, refusing to move, and Emmeline expecting Celia to save their house of shadows with its secrets from the past and present. None are willing to shoulder their share of responsibilities, and lack the capacity to adapt to their changing circumstances. Despite the sorrow, grief and horror that her family have burdened her with, Celia's greater allegiance is to her fickle family and Michael, not her personal happiness. The new generation prove to be as traumatising and problematic in ways that echo the history of their elders. Faced with further trials and tribulations, Celia sets about replicating her American business success with the establishment of her Violet's Kitchen food range.
Celia has a saviour complex, the need to save others, and is surprised when her efforts are rebuffed by some, and when it comes to her family, they are willing to exploit this quality in her. I personally feel she would have been better off letting them try to handle their own problems, even if they failed, instead of putting up with their continuous carping and the nastiness of her sister, Emmeline. However, perhaps the tragic loss of her brothers, family secrets, and her need for family acceptance leave her open to their machinations. Kate Williams takes us through key events in the inter war years, such as the Spanish Civil War, the establishment of radical groups, the anti war efforts, planning for war, all through the De Witt family. Williams historical knowledge drives the various threads in the novel and in her characterisation. An interesting and entertaining historical read. Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.
February 2, 2019
Was this even written by the same author?!
SPOILER ALERT
I am so disappointed with this novel. After waiting for a few years I cannot believe what I have just read. It was more like 50 years of melodramatic soap opera dramas all rolled into one. The writing was clunky, there were so many interludes I lost count and by the end I hated every character except Jonathan.
Sorry, but not my cup of tea at all which is a shame because I enjoyed the first novel in the series.
SPOILER ALERT
I am so disappointed with this novel. After waiting for a few years I cannot believe what I have just read. It was more like 50 years of melodramatic soap opera dramas all rolled into one. The writing was clunky, there were so many interludes I lost count and by the end I hated every character except Jonathan.
Sorry, but not my cup of tea at all which is a shame because I enjoyed the first novel in the series.
November 11, 2018
Very disappointing.
April 12, 2019
Plot-wise this concluding volume to Kate Williams's inter-war trilogy seemed a bit confused to me, including more coincidences than even EM Forster could have got away with, and the lives of heroine Celia and her family being caught up in too many world events during the late 1920s and 1930s. Celia has also gone from an interesting character to an annoying one, as she learns nothing from the vast number of bad experiences she endures. She does become a successful business-woman, which is a plus, but she can't seem to apply her level-headed approach to her company to the rest of her life. The book does tie up ongoing plots, and is well written, but I could have left the story after the more satisfying first volume.
July 30, 2018
Fast and light read, concluding the De Witt trilogy. This time Celia is in New York in the months leading up to the Wall Street Crash, which leads to crisis in the De Witt family. Celia continued to irritate me enormously (I think she grows younger, not older) and the new generation of children were also irksome. However, the scenes in New York were enjoyable and I do like the author's prose. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights.
August 27, 2019
I jumped into this series on this book, the third and final one, as there was nothing on the back description that indicated it was the finale in a trilogy, nor anything in the opening pages that listed the series info. After a few pages in, there was so many references to off-scene characters and previous events that I figured it was part of series.
So, I wasn't a super fan. It was readable, but the dialogue between characters was awful and I *hated* every single character, everyone was irritating and thoroughly unlikable (except for maybe Violet, who had the right idea to just run fast and far from that misery bag, Celia) . The protagonist, Celia, was such a wishy-washy, indecisive, teary, doormat. The bickering with her and her sister was endless and didn't bring the story any further. And the parents! Ugh! Helpless, whiny. I was hoping for the Blitzkrieg to hit their estate and just end the lot of them out of their misery.
So, I wasn't a super fan. It was readable, but the dialogue between characters was awful and I *hated* every single character, everyone was irritating and thoroughly unlikable (except for maybe Violet, who had the right idea to just run fast and far from that misery bag, Celia) . The protagonist, Celia, was such a wishy-washy, indecisive, teary, doormat. The bickering with her and her sister was endless and didn't bring the story any further. And the parents! Ugh! Helpless, whiny. I was hoping for the Blitzkrieg to hit their estate and just end the lot of them out of their misery.
November 8, 2018
4.5
I’ve been waiting for what seems like years for this book and I read it in one sitting. :/
The problem with reading the next book in a series as soon as it’s released is that when the next instalment comes out, you’ve forgotten just about everything!
Once I brought myself back up to speed with the storyline, I read this book in a few hours.
While this was long, it was fast-paced, engaging and complex. The story covers a lot of ground and spans many years.
Here are some unsolicited thoughts on specific characters:
The melodrama and cattiness of Celia and Emmeline got tiresome as the book went on. I find that as Celia grew up, I connected less and less with her. She almost seemed to get more immature as time went on. Her lying and omission of the truth spanned three books and although I know it was a plot device for suspense, even I was fed up by the end. Just be honest! Emmeline was just awful.
My opinion of Arthur has not changed: he is a slime ball of the highest order.
I felt for poor Jonathan. Celia was a total cow to him. Like Jonathan, I couldn’t see why her family was blaming her for everything and saying she’d “fix it” to all their problems, while they just sat around whinging? Celia wasn’t even that competent yet all the family worries were placed on her questionable shoulders... it kind of lessens the mystery as to why . I speculated on
What little respect I had for the parents was completely lost in this final instalment.
Tom showed real growth and development.
The historical detail in this is spot-on. It truly transplants the reader in a different era!
I do recommend this book and the series. It’s great escapism. There is a lot of tragedy and it’s pretty bleak at times, but it’s also quite real.
Kate Williams is one of my favourite authors and I look forward to her next fictional projects!
I’ve been waiting for what seems like years for this book and I read it in one sitting. :/
The problem with reading the next book in a series as soon as it’s released is that when the next instalment comes out, you’ve forgotten just about everything!
Once I brought myself back up to speed with the storyline, I read this book in a few hours.
While this was long, it was fast-paced, engaging and complex. The story covers a lot of ground and spans many years.
Here are some unsolicited thoughts on specific characters:
The melodrama and cattiness of Celia and Emmeline got tiresome as the book went on. I find that as Celia grew up, I connected less and less with her. She almost seemed to get more immature as time went on. Her lying and omission of the truth spanned three books and although I know it was a plot device for suspense, even I was fed up by the end. Just be honest! Emmeline was just awful.
My opinion of Arthur has not changed: he is a slime ball of the highest order.
I felt for poor Jonathan. Celia was a total cow to him. Like Jonathan, I couldn’t see why her family was blaming her for everything and saying she’d “fix it” to all their problems, while they just sat around whinging? Celia wasn’t even that competent yet all the family worries were placed on her questionable shoulders... it kind of lessens the mystery as to why . I speculated on
What little respect I had for the parents was completely lost in this final instalment.
Tom showed real growth and development.
The historical detail in this is spot-on. It truly transplants the reader in a different era!
I do recommend this book and the series. It’s great escapism. There is a lot of tragedy and it’s pretty bleak at times, but it’s also quite real.
Kate Williams is one of my favourite authors and I look forward to her next fictional projects!
July 22, 2020
Disappointing. 10 years history condensed into 420 pages, so events are only superficially touched on with no depth. The things that happen to the family are just not credible. Whole book feels very rushed, like the author just wanted to finish it. Not as good as Book 2 or Book 1 in trilogy.
September 17, 2019
Such a disappointing ending to a wonderful series. Celia character changes drastically without making sense any at all. She doesn’t learn from her mistakes or grow up. It was as if a completely different author wrote the book.if I’d stopped after the second book I would have been much happier.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2019
So disappointing in comparison to the previous two which I loved. Cella’s character grew more and more frustrating (as did most of the others actually) and the whole thing was too far-fetched.
September 25, 2022
Similar to other readers, I hadn't realised this was the final book of a trilogy when I picked it up in the library. It made sense as a stand alone novel which I thoroughly enjoyed until about half way (the story of Celia finding her son michael).
After this I started to resent her for every decision that she made, cutting likeable characters from her life, leading on Johnathan and abandoning him (seemingly unphased when he marries her only friend!!) and continuing to support her extremely spiteful family.
I read on in the hope of a happy ending but basically she just makes poor decisions for about 400 pages, which is totally frustrating as a reader.
Lily and Michael's story is enjoyable but entirely extravagant.
After this I started to resent her for every decision that she made, cutting likeable characters from her life, leading on Johnathan and abandoning him (seemingly unphased when he marries her only friend!!) and continuing to support her extremely spiteful family.
I read on in the hope of a happy ending but basically she just makes poor decisions for about 400 pages, which is totally frustrating as a reader.
Lily and Michael's story is enjoyable but entirely extravagant.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2021
I hadn't read the previous two books so I had no point of reference. The first part of the book was quite good, however, somewhere along the way it just turned to crap.
Most of the characters needed a slap, especially Celia, closely followed by Emmeline. Celia spent most of the book attracting and repelling both Jonathan and Tom, crying and scoping out new places for Miss Violets Kitchen. To top it all she set fire to the house at the end. I think she should've done it 419 pages earlier, with all the characters in situ!
I would try other books by Kate Williams, it's possible that this was just a duff one. I'd give this one a miss though!
Most of the characters needed a slap, especially Celia, closely followed by Emmeline. Celia spent most of the book attracting and repelling both Jonathan and Tom, crying and scoping out new places for Miss Violets Kitchen. To top it all she set fire to the house at the end. I think she should've done it 419 pages earlier, with all the characters in situ!
I would try other books by Kate Williams, it's possible that this was just a duff one. I'd give this one a miss though!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2020
A sweeping and gloriously moving novel of love, war and change in 1930s Europe and America tells the story of the de Witt family from 1914 to 1939 . . Celia de Witt is half German, half English. . heir to her family's fortune.She arrives in New York, sets about saving the family business by creating a luxury food line for independent young women. The son she thought was dead is in America . As the shadow of war once again threatens to fall across Europe, Celia is determined to save those she loves, even if salvation comes at the highest price.
October 17, 2021
I have given up on this book after reading 8 chapters. I really enjoyed the first two book and couldn't wait to read the last book in the trilogy.
This book is depressing and left me feeling really angry about Celia having her child removed and adopted without her knowledge. Between the missing baby, being expected to save her family fortune and everything seeming to conspire against Celia I've realised that life is too short to waste time reading books like this. It's a shame as I normally enjoy both Family Sagas and historical fiction.
This book is depressing and left me feeling really angry about Celia having her child removed and adopted without her knowledge. Between the missing baby, being expected to save her family fortune and everything seeming to conspire against Celia I've realised that life is too short to waste time reading books like this. It's a shame as I normally enjoy both Family Sagas and historical fiction.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2020
Dreadful and very strange particularly in the latter part. Admit I skimmed through through to the end. It was not a well written book, characters were cardboardy, annoying and just plain silly at times. The comparison to 'Downton Abbey' is a gigantic stretch. Might be a similar time frame for the story but that would be it. Not recommending this book at all and will not be reading the other two books in the trilogy.
June 11, 2023
I struggled with the first two books in this series as I didn’t find them too engaging but wanted to round out the trilogy. I found Celia to be insufferable in this novel. There was no character growth and she still acts and thinks like she’s 15. I started skimming half way through because it was so hard to make any progress.
If you want some of the loose ends tied up for your own satisfaction just find a review with spoilers.
If you want some of the loose ends tied up for your own satisfaction just find a review with spoilers.
February 28, 2021
This books is ok. I was put off by the poor attention to detail (e.g they referred to the new sibling to Princess Elizabeth as ‘a future king’ in pre-abdication 1930) and the repetitive internal narrative of the main character. I didn’t read the first two books and you can follow the story easily without doing so as it is explained well.
August 28, 2025
Some of the reviews on this book were not that good but I enjoyed it very much. Although in some of the situations I was thinking, well that's not what I would have done. But I didn't live during those times. I recommend reading the first 2 books in the series first for a better understanding of the characters.
September 13, 2019
Clumsy writing and ridiculously melodramatic plotting - and a good editor would have a quiet word about run-on sentences and comma splices. Unfortunately, the author does *not* have a good editor. The biggest question - who do you most want to slap, quite hard? Celia or Emmeline?
March 16, 2022
I picked this book up randomly at the library, not realizing it was the final book in a trilogy. Part way through I realized, but continued to finish the book. It was still a good read, even as a stand alone book.
February 11, 2024
I really enjoyed this trilogy overall but book 2 was my favourite. This installment moves the story to 1920s New York City with a successful business being built & loyalty to family interfering with a love life.
September 9, 2018
Execllent read! Well paced historical fiction with a lot of twists and turns, making it a real page turner. My first of Kate Williams’ novels, but won’t be my last.
March 4, 2019
Not quite as good as the second in the series
Want to read
December 21, 2019bought this as a £2 fiction Amazon bargain. enjoyed the others so looking forward to reading this final part.
October 29, 2020
This trilogy has got progressively worse as it has gone on. one was good, two was okay but three was awful. Every time Celia said anything I just wanted to slap her and as for the ending...
April 1, 2021
Disappointed with the book. Story never really got going properly and Emeline was protrayed as a bitter sister. Celia was protrayed as subservient to her family.
May 6, 2021
Even though it’s a trilogy, can’t help but wish for a 4th instalment. In WWII. Micheal.
June 25, 2021
I enjoyed the final book in the trilogy but found some of the plot to be implausible and a bit far fetched. Overall I enjoyed it
July 17, 2021
Boring, not believable.
August 25, 2021
Lives up to the blurb
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews