The Secret Keeper - Book Review
Genre: Fiction | Historical fiction | Mystery
Author: Kate Morton
Year: 2011
Pages: 592
Content warning: Domestic violence
If you’re looking for a highly original story to devour, look no further than The Secret Keeper. It’s the prefect blend of multiple genres that cultivates in another brilliant novel by Kate Morton.
On a hot summer’s day in 1961, sixteen-year-old Laurel dreams of the stage. When a strange man appears at the family’s Suffolk home that day, she bears witness to a crime that she’ll never forget. Now a beloved and ageing actress, Laurel is plagued by long forgotten memories. As she begins to delve deeper into her family’s past, Laurel begins to realise that the mystery of that fateful day is more complicated than she thought. Because nothing is as it seems.
I love Kate Morton’s books. She deftly combines a mix of mystery and intrigue, plenty of detail and a story that runs concurrently between past and present. Her vivid, intricate descriptions and original writing make Morton one of my favourite authors. The fact that she combines the Australian landscape with a British setting just makes me like her even more. I’ve reread this tale countless times and it never fails to bring a smile to my face.
The Secret Keeper is a beautifully written story that spans across multiple decades, from war-torn London to the present. This mesmerising tale follows the different perspectives of Laurel, Dolly, Jimmy, Vivien and Dorothy. As with most of her books, Morton’s characters are flawed and multifaceted, which only makes her novels all the more compelling. Morton’s stories tend to be a more lengthier read but it always pays off.
The Secret Keeper is a satisfying and enjoyable book. It’s very easy to get swept up in the mystery and it’s deeply descriptive. Every one of Morton’s works is an immersive experience. No detail is spared, and it helps tie together character development while setting the scene and furthering the plot.
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★.5