nicolesnook's review against another edition
4.0
I love all of Kate Morton's books. They all have a very similar pattern, the narration switches between past and present and a tragedy is uncovered. While it seems predictable, the characters are so well written and their are so many twists in the plot that the reader can't help but be engaged.
bekah_boom's review against another edition
2.0
I love Kate Morton. But in this one the mystery felt rushed and a lot of details that didn’t seem necessary. Not my favorite of hers but still an enjoyable read.
lgiegerich's review against another edition
2.0
Abandoned this also over 100 pages in. Took forever to get anywhere, & where it went was not compelling. Bad streak!
inkwitchery's review against another edition
3.0
THE DISTANT HOURS by Kate Morton
First of all, this book was entirely way too long and wordy for what the storyline entailed. I should have known better based on all the reviews, but I like to give books a chance y’know?
The premise of three old spinster sisters living in a run down castle full of history and secrets sounded so good. It had all the makings of a great gothic novel. However, by the time the author got to the actual story and events, I was not convinced and honestly didn’t care enough to find out what happened.
The sisters’ story was dark, disturbing and incredibly tragic. I wish the author would have just stuck to telling their stories/perspectives, it would have been a better novel.
Overall, this isn’t something I would recommend if you’re a fan of gothic horror or historical fiction. This is my first Kate Morton novel and while I’m disappointed, I’m willing to give her other books a chance.
Rating: 2.5/5 ⭐️
#TheDistantHours #KateMorton
First of all, this book was entirely way too long and wordy for what the storyline entailed. I should have known better based on all the reviews, but I like to give books a chance y’know?
The premise of three old spinster sisters living in a run down castle full of history and secrets sounded so good. It had all the makings of a great gothic novel. However, by the time the author got to the actual story and events, I was not convinced and honestly didn’t care enough to find out what happened.
The sisters’ story was dark, disturbing and incredibly tragic. I wish the author would have just stuck to telling their stories/perspectives, it would have been a better novel.
Overall, this isn’t something I would recommend if you’re a fan of gothic horror or historical fiction. This is my first Kate Morton novel and while I’m disappointed, I’m willing to give her other books a chance.
Rating: 2.5/5 ⭐️
#TheDistantHours #KateMorton
kimscapturedlife's review against another edition
3.0
Love the back and forth story telling and the suspense of finding out what happened. But there were some very odd holes or unrealistic events.
Story of 3 spinster sisters Bythe (Percy, Saffy, and Juniper) living in Milderhurst Castle outside of London and the tragic events surrounding their family, father Raymond, and his book "Mud Man"
Edie started investigating the story after her mother, Meredith, received a 50 year old letter in the mail from Juniper. Mystery: why did the 3 sisters never marry, why is Percy bitter, what happened to Thomas Cavill, and why Saffy and Juniper crazy.
Kate Morton does a great job jumping from the 1990s to the 1940 to reveal the story.
Meredith stayed at the castle as a child evacuee; became best friends with Juniper and learned her love of writing.
Raymond's wife cheated on him, he found them together in the library, he pushed Oliver out of the window into the moat and he wife caught on fire and ultimately died. Saffy, age 4, saw the whole thing and had nightmares about the mud man. She told her dad about the nightmares and that was the inspiration for the "Mud Man" book. Once he published the book and it became a play, Saffy went crazy and was never the same. Lost her finance, Matthew, to her cousin Emily.
Percy wanted to keep Milderhurst castle. She fell in love with their housekeeper, Lucy. But Lucy wanted children and left to marry the handyman. (odd)
Juniper and Raymond both had mental issues and would lose moments of time. Juniper wanted to leave for London and write stories and fell in love with Thomas Cavill. Raymond wrote in the will, gave Juniper the castle, but if she married the castle would go to charity, because he wanted to keep her there to write.
Juniper and Thomas returned in separate trains (odd). Juniper arrived first, had blood on her shirt, so took drugs and went to sleep. Saffy was sleeping in library. Percy went to fix the broken shutter in the rain. Thomas arrived, decided to also fix the shutter in the rain (odd), got to the window, Saffy thought she was dreaming of mud man, so she hit him with a conveniently placed wrench, he fell in filled muddy moat and died. Percy buried him in pet graveyard, and Saffy thought it was all a dream. Juniper saw Percy burying Thomas and thought she had done it in black out.
Percy ended up telling Edie the whole story so she could give Oliver and Thomas death dates. Then she got Saffy and Juniper sleeping in library and set the castle on fire. Crazy.
Juniper had actually delivered a baby on the side of the road, which is where the blood came from.
Edie and Meredith became close again. Meredith published books. And Edie moved into the flat in London that belonged to Juniper and Thomas. And she ran the publishing shop.
Story of 3 spinster sisters Bythe (Percy, Saffy, and Juniper) living in Milderhurst Castle outside of London and the tragic events surrounding their family, father Raymond, and his book "Mud Man"
Edie started investigating the story after her mother, Meredith, received a 50 year old letter in the mail from Juniper. Mystery: why did the 3 sisters never marry, why is Percy bitter, what happened to Thomas Cavill, and why Saffy and Juniper crazy.
Kate Morton does a great job jumping from the 1990s to the 1940 to reveal the story.
Meredith stayed at the castle as a child evacuee; became best friends with Juniper and learned her love of writing.
Raymond's wife cheated on him, he found them together in the library, he pushed Oliver out of the window into the moat and he wife caught on fire and ultimately died. Saffy, age 4, saw the whole thing and had nightmares about the mud man. She told her dad about the nightmares and that was the inspiration for the "Mud Man" book. Once he published the book and it became a play, Saffy went crazy and was never the same. Lost her finance, Matthew, to her cousin Emily.
Percy wanted to keep Milderhurst castle. She fell in love with their housekeeper, Lucy. But Lucy wanted children and left to marry the handyman. (odd)
Juniper and Raymond both had mental issues and would lose moments of time. Juniper wanted to leave for London and write stories and fell in love with Thomas Cavill. Raymond wrote in the will, gave Juniper the castle, but if she married the castle would go to charity, because he wanted to keep her there to write.
Juniper and Thomas returned in separate trains (odd). Juniper arrived first, had blood on her shirt, so took drugs and went to sleep. Saffy was sleeping in library. Percy went to fix the broken shutter in the rain. Thomas arrived, decided to also fix the shutter in the rain (odd), got to the window, Saffy thought she was dreaming of mud man, so she hit him with a conveniently placed wrench, he fell in filled muddy moat and died. Percy buried him in pet graveyard, and Saffy thought it was all a dream. Juniper saw Percy burying Thomas and thought she had done it in black out.
Percy ended up telling Edie the whole story so she could give Oliver and Thomas death dates. Then she got Saffy and Juniper sleeping in library and set the castle on fire. Crazy.
Juniper had actually delivered a baby on the side of the road, which is where the blood came from.
Edie and Meredith became close again. Meredith published books. And Edie moved into the flat in London that belonged to Juniper and Thomas. And she ran the publishing shop.
katesusko's review against another edition
4.0
Although I loved the story and I love Morton's writing, it felt like the book abandoned a few story lines throughout. Overall worth the read.
lisamlane's review against another edition
4.0
Usually Kate Morton is more even; here the first half didn't seem to be going anywhere, then in the second half as more questions were answered and more arose, the story became more interesting. The modern portions were focused on Edie not knowing her mother's whole story, while the others go back to the war. The book became absolutely Gothic near the end, with three sisters, a castle, and a storm. The writing, as always, was beautiful. You feel you've met all the characters, except that Edie's mother remains as distant to the reader as she is to Edie.
linseyr's review against another edition
5.0
WOW. Beautifully written, and a great story! I love the story weaves in and out of the 1930s-1940s and the 90s. Even better is that it's done without leaving you confused. I was enthralled with this book from some of the very first pages, and felt drawn to it till I was done with it.
ms_matou's review against another edition
3.0
Could have benefited from some serious editing. I liked the gothic premise, but had trouble getting into it. After the first third of the book it gets more interesting though.
small_town_librarian's review against another edition
5.0
It's been a long time since a book has gripped me like this! Didn't want to set it down and tried to puzzle it out whenever I wasn't reading it. Loved the plot, characters and setting!