books_and_tea_with_me's review against another edition
4.0
I loved her books, they have such turns and twists
tiaeli02's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely adored this book. No surprise, really, as each Kate Morton book has earned a keeper spot on my bookshelves. Fantastic characters and a truly beautiful writing style. Bravo Ms. Morton!
thain's review against another edition
5.0
A woman seeks answers about her dying mother and a shocking incident she witnessed as a teenager, uncovering a web of secrets and lies dating back to the Blitz. Another lush, multiple-timeline saga from Morton.
halfcentreader's review against another edition
4.0
Had a lot of fun with this book, it was perhaps, a little bit slower than her last, The Distant Hours. I would be impatient when the chapter would slip back into 1941. Loved Vivien and Jimmy and to some extent Laurel (whom I pictured as Dame Judy Dench). Loved the ending! What a great way to end 2012!
somojones's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. Looking at a marriage from the outside does not always depict the pain, shame or family secrets that a spouse or family member might be experiencing. Just saying, be careful what you wish for and be grateful for what you have. I considered giving this book 5 star because the plot had so many twists and secrets that weaved together splendidly. I decided to give it 4 stars because I wasn't immersed into the story until after 100 pages. This is the third novel I have read by Kate Morton and do enjoy her writing and storytelling.
fiberreader's review against another edition
4.0
This was a good solid read. My only complaint was that it seemed to go on a bit longer than it needed to, but I appreciated the unexpected twist at the end and how well the story was wrapped up.
govmarley's review against another edition
4.0
This book hit all the right notes with me. Historical setting, family drama, romance, war, mystery. Totally my jam. Of course I loved it.
Laurel is an actress (a fairly famous one, btw). Her aging mother is dying and she is coming home to support her family. Laurel is also carrying a secret, one only she and her mother know. When Laurel was 16 she saw her mother stab and kill a stranger in the yard. Somehow they kept this from her siblings. And now that her mother is dying Laurel is bent on discovering the truth. We go on a journey of alternating timelines, past in WWII and present 2011. The mystery slowly unfolds, and it's a good one. I thought I had figured it out several times, then something else would happen to mess up my guess. And while I was mostly right about it, I was wrong in several ways.
Very satisfying story. I completely recommend it.
Laurel is an actress (a fairly famous one, btw). Her aging mother is dying and she is coming home to support her family. Laurel is also carrying a secret, one only she and her mother know. When Laurel was 16 she saw her mother stab and kill a stranger in the yard. Somehow they kept this from her siblings. And now that her mother is dying Laurel is bent on discovering the truth. We go on a journey of alternating timelines, past in WWII and present 2011. The mystery slowly unfolds, and it's a good one. I thought I had figured it out several times, then something else would happen to mess up my guess. And while I was mostly right about it, I was wrong in several ways.
Very satisfying story. I completely recommend it.
ch4pterfour's review against another edition
4.0
The book got off to a slow start for me and I had some issues with the writing style, but since it was highly recommended by a friend, I stuck with it. I'm really glad I did. Once things picked up, the story drew me in. The author did a good job of switching among three time periods, so I never felt lost or confused. There was one surprise after another, right up to the end of the book. It was worth sticking with through the slow beginning.
jessthebookworm's review against another edition
5.0
It is now official: I am a huge fan of this author. Both this book and the Forgotten Garden are amazing!
This book starts out with a teenager witnessing her mother committing murder on their doorstep. It is never spoken of again. Then it fast forwards decades into the future, where the girl is now grown up, and her mother is dying.
What follows is the daughter's quest to find out about her mother's past, and what led to the murder on that fateful day. The author jumps between 2011 and 1941, slowly but surely letting us into the mystery of Dorothy and Vivien, only letting the reader learn the truth bit by tantalising bit.
Just when you think that you have the whole story figured out, a bombshell is dropped, and nothing is quite as it seems.
I thoroughly enjoyed the plot, and I especially loved the characters in this story, which will stay with you for days afterwards, as you process all of the twists and turns in your mind.
Highly recommended for anyone who loves family dramas, love stories, and twists in the tale.
This book starts out with a teenager witnessing her mother committing murder on their doorstep. It is never spoken of again. Then it fast forwards decades into the future, where the girl is now grown up, and her mother is dying.
What follows is the daughter's quest to find out about her mother's past, and what led to the murder on that fateful day. The author jumps between 2011 and 1941, slowly but surely letting us into the mystery of Dorothy and Vivien, only letting the reader learn the truth bit by tantalising bit.
Just when you think that you have the whole story figured out, a bombshell is dropped, and nothing is quite as it seems.
I thoroughly enjoyed the plot, and I especially loved the characters in this story, which will stay with you for days afterwards, as you process all of the twists and turns in your mind.
Highly recommended for anyone who loves family dramas, love stories, and twists in the tale.
leavesofmytree's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75