THE SECRET KEEPER by KATE MORTON

THE SECRET KEEPER

BY KATE MORTON

THE BLURB:-

1961: On a sweltering summer's day, while her family picnic by a stream on their Suffolk farm, sixteen-year-old Laurel hides out in her childhood tree house dreaming of the bright future she just can't wait to seize. But before the idyllic afternoon is over, Laurel will have witnessed a shocking crime that changes everything.

2011: Now a much-loved actress, Laurel finds herself overwhelmed by shades of the past. Haunted by memories, and the mystery of what she saw that day, she returns to the family home and begins to piece together a secret history; a tale of three strangers from vastly different worlds- Dorothy, Vivian and Jimmy- who are brought together by chance in wartime London and whose lives become fiercely and fatefully entwined.

Shifting between the 1930s, the 1960s and the present, this is a spellbinding story of mysteries and secrets, murder and enduring love.

THE REALITY:-

Wow! I have read Kate Morton before, and always find myself asking; where the hell does she get all her clever ideas from?!  I only hope that my brain turns out to be as creative and fertile as hers, and that my writing manages to draw readers in with the same intensity that draws me into her stories.

This is another full-on and in-depth read, tailor made for lovers of family sagas. It highlights human relationships and not just of the romantic variety- the relationships between siblings, the relationships between parents and their children, estrangement, and the way people from the same family can be so very different are all tackled and explained sufficiently. I like the way that the book explores the concept that scratching below the surface of a seemingly idyllic situation can reveal something altogether more sinister. I also loved the way mild mental illness became a theme through the character of Dolly, who lives out her own fantasies via her own narcissistic personality disorder.

Like the writings of Charles Dickens, there are many separate little stories going on within the main theme, which makes for strong and believable characters in a multi-faceted novel which takes you on a journey that does have a surprising and clever twist to it. It is clearly laid out, so it's easy to differentiate between the different perspectives, places and time frames.

Sensitively written, so that it's easy to sympathize with some characters and absolutely hate others, this is not a novel you will be able to put down in a hurry!