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ehoyal's review against another edition
3.0
I have yet to be disappointed with a Kate Morton book. While this isn’t her best, it was still entertaining. Great if you love a downton abbey feel.
Some parts dragged on, and some were easy to guess/put together. But still a good read.
Some parts dragged on, and some were easy to guess/put together. But still a good read.
toesinthesand's review against another edition
4.0
This was really good, although I figured out some of the twists right away, I enjoyed the final reveal. Parts kept reminding me of Downton Abbey although the author doesn't credit that for inspiration.
rebeccalm's review against another edition
2.0
This book had some really good ideas in it, but I found the voice and the writing style to just be generally very boring. The timeline bounces back and forth from past to present on several occasions but the more modern storyline doesn't forward the plot in the least.
Spoiler
The main character, Grace, in her old age really does nothing more than faint at every moment possible. I get that the author is trying to build up the suspense and make the reader believe the event in question was such a shocking thing that even all these years later she can't cope. But the same reaction every single time we get to present day Grace's POV get old very quickly!ladygreyreads8's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent example of historical fiction with a little mystery, unrequited love and tragedy all rolled into a nicely constructed novel. Sure, I was able to figure out some of the mysteries early on, but this didn't lessen the emotional impact of the story and I got a little teary at the end because without realizing it I had become attached to Grace (the narrator now aged 99 and nearing death), Hannah, Emmeline, Robbie and the other characters. Highly recommend this and I am going to read Kate Morton's second novel soon!
fachrinaa's review against another edition
5.0
I bought this book randomly in a book sale. When I looked the title up on Goodreads, however, I discovered that I've put this book on my to-read list.
I am so glad I bought this book. It hit all the sweet spots: gothic elements, the interbellum period, Britain's infamous class dynamics, and a complex, complicated (non-romantic) relationship between women.
Grace Bradley is a former archaeologist who is spending her last days in a retirement house worrying over her missing grandson. In a former life, though, she was a housemaid at Riverton Manor, where a young poet killed himself in 1924. The witnesses, Hannah and Emmeline Hartford, passed away not long after. Grace's peace is disturbed by a letter from Ursula, a film director working on a film about the suicide. Finally, Grace has to confront herself and admit the truth.
The prose is gorgeous. Grace has a strong voice, someone who is held in great confidence by her mistress, Hannah, but who, by the lottery of birth, is always on the outside looking in. I particularly enjoy the contrast between present Grace and past Grace - the former's certainty of self, still budding, manifesting in a different shape in the latter's.
The book's blurb refers to this book as 'a thrilling mystery and a compelling love story'. I agree wholeheartedly with the former; I read at night, before bed, and I had a hard time putting this book down, so my bedtime is messed up now, but totally worth it. As for the latter claim, though, I'd say it's a compelling story, yes, but not love story. Rather it's a compelling story about the various relationships between women: mother-daughter, sisters, mistress-maid, friends.
I am so glad I bought this book. It hit all the sweet spots: gothic elements, the interbellum period, Britain's infamous class dynamics, and a complex, complicated (non-romantic) relationship between women.
Grace Bradley is a former archaeologist who is spending her last days in a retirement house worrying over her missing grandson. In a former life, though, she was a housemaid at Riverton Manor, where a young poet killed himself in 1924. The witnesses, Hannah and Emmeline Hartford, passed away not long after. Grace's peace is disturbed by a letter from Ursula, a film director working on a film about the suicide. Finally, Grace has to confront herself and admit the truth.
The prose is gorgeous. Grace has a strong voice, someone who is held in great confidence by her mistress, Hannah, but who, by the lottery of birth, is always on the outside looking in. I particularly enjoy the contrast between present Grace and past Grace - the former's certainty of self, still budding, manifesting in a different shape in the latter's.
The book's blurb refers to this book as 'a thrilling mystery and a compelling love story'. I agree wholeheartedly with the former; I read at night, before bed, and I had a hard time putting this book down, so my bedtime is messed up now, but totally worth it. As for the latter claim, though, I'd say it's a compelling story, yes, but not love story. Rather it's a compelling story about the various relationships between women: mother-daughter, sisters, mistress-maid, friends.
specialk136's review against another edition
4.0
Kate Morton's novels always seem to use the same formula...a young female character seeking to learn a Big Dark Secret from an older female mother figure, all played out in an old grand house with lots of time jumping in between. But darn if that formula doesn't work again. I was honestly thrown by the twist in this story. I liked the implication that one little lie can have such tragic consequences, and that not everything worked out perfectly in the end. It does take a little while to truly get going (I was tempted to yell "What happened at the lake???" multiple times), and the story wouldn't have been hurt had it been about 100 pages less, but I enjoyed it much more than the Distant Hours, and almost as much as The Forgotten Garden.
socorrobaptista's review against another edition
4.0
Amo romances históricos, e este é muito bom. Fiquei muito triste no final ao pensar que uma falha na comunicação entre duas jovens levou a um desfecho triste e desolador. Mas vale muito a pena ler.