The Lake House in Aussie Readers

Mar 18, 2016 Kate Forsyth rated it really liked it · review of another edition

A new Kate Morton is always cause for celebration! THE LAKE HOUSE is once again set in Cornwall, and moves between the mysterious disappearance of a child in 1933, and a policewoman’s struggle to overcome her guilt at being unable to solve the mystery of a missing woman’s in modern times.

Mysteries and secrets have always been at the heart of Kate Morton’s books, but with this one she takes a step closer to the crime genre. The result is as beguiling and suspenseful as always - the book is a mass ...more

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Sep 10, 2017 Kira rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, mystery

At 608 pages, the Lake House is a long read. Even so, I managed to finish it in the space of a weekend.The mysteries are unravelled mainly through Alice and Sadie’s viewpoints. There are other chapters written from multiple perspectives allowing you to get a better understanding of what happened. Alice’s story is written in both the past as a young teenager, and as an elderly woman. I loved that we got to see both the youthful, excitable side to Alice, as well as her more wise and reserved older ...more

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Aug 06, 2015 Belinda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2015, i-own-this, aussie, war, favorites

I just cried my little heart out over this book, handed it to my mother in law and said "Drop what you're doing and read it"... which she promptly did. ...more

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Aug 12, 2015 Kathy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

In Kate Morton's latest release, The Lake House, the seventy year old unsolved kidnapping of eleven month old Theo Edevane takes center stage when DC Sadie Sparrow stumbles across the family's abandoned home while out for a jog. Told from multiple points of view and through flashbacks, this perplexing mystery is brimming with history, family secrets and colorful personalities.

In 1933, the Edevane's annual midsummer house party is a time of heartbreak for many of the family members and cherished In Kate Morton's latest release, The Lake House, the seventy year old unsolved kidnapping of eleven month old Theo Edevane takes center stage when DC Sadie Sparrow stumbles across the family's abandoned home while out for a jog. Told from multiple points of view and through flashbacks, this perplexing mystery is brimming with history, family secrets and colorful personalities.

In 1933, the Edevane's annual midsummer house party is a time of heartbreak for many of the family members and cherished friends. Sixteen year old Alice, an aspiring mystery writer, has just completed her first novel and her schoolgirl crush on one of the family's gardeners is about to end in heartache. Oldest daughter Deborah's relationship with mom Eleanor is fraught with tension as they plan Deborah's upcoming wedding. Youngest daughter Clementine is a tomboy clinging tightly to childhood but she absolutely adores Theo. Longtime family friend Daffyd Llewellyn is anxious and fighting not to sink into another depression. Grandmother Constance is embittered and her relationships with all of inhabitants reflect her dour, strict nature. Parents Eleanor and Anthony are deeply in love and they are shattered by Theo's kidnapping. In the wake of Theo's unsolved disappearance, the entire family departs from the estate with no one returning for the next seventy years.

In 2003, Sadie's own personal history plays a role in her belief that Maggie Bailey did not abandon her young daughter, but with little evidence to support her theory, Sadie goes a little too far once the case is officially closed. Now trying to salvage her career, she is spending four weeks with her grandfather when her curiosity about the Edevane's abandoned estate leads her to begin an off the books investigation into the unsolved kidnapping. Stunned to discover one of the policeman from the original case is still living in the local area, she gets a firsthand look into the original file. This information, along with her discoveries from her personal research, provide her with a few theories about what happened to Theo.

Deciding she needs to take a look inside the house, Sadie contacts Alice who is now living in London where she is still writing a popular detective series. Although now in her eighties, Alice shows no signs of slowing down and she still has a keenly analytical mind. Alice is convinced she knows what happened to Theo and she is wracked with guilt over what she perceives to be her role in the events of that long ago night.

The narrative seamlessly flips back and forth in time and through different characters' points of view, the truth about the Edevane family is slowly revealed. These shifts in perspective and time periods are clearly marked but the story gets a little bogged down in superfluous details. The characters are well-developed with distinct voices and the Edevane family dynamics are quite fascinating. The revelation of long held family secrets effectively keeps readers guessing the truth about Theo's fate and Kate Morton throws in a whopper of plot twist that is as delightful as it is unexpected.

Atmospheric with plenty of family secrets, The Lake House is an intriguing mystery that I recommend to readers of police procedurals. ...more

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Dec 05, 2016 Lesley rated it liked it · review of another edition

I took a long time to get 'hooked' into this book but when I did I found it an enjoyable read. Very atmospheric. However, I found myself feeling that there was a little too much detailed description at times. I found the ending a little too 'sewn up' and it left me a little frustrated. I enjoyed 'The Secret Garden' a lot more. ...more

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Apr 08, 2017 Tanya rated it liked it · review of another edition

So I'm really conflicted on how to rate/review this book.

First off, I'll admit The Lake House isn't my usual reading fare. My Mum got it and read it, and since she has no room for books she passed it on to me. Since I just love books, I happily take it and read it. Problem is, I'm also stubborn and refuse to give up once I have started a book. Even if I'm not enjoying it.

Which is where I find myself. I struggled, really struggled with The Lake House. Multiple times I put it back on the shelf an ...more

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