The Secret Keeper

By: Kate Morton

Narrated by: Caroline Lee

Length: 19 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

England, 1959: Laurel Nicolson is 16 years old, dreaming alone in her childhood tree house during a family celebration at their home, Green Acres Farm. She spies a stranger coming up the long road to the farm and then observes her mother, Dorothy, speaking to him. And then she witnesses a crime.

Fifty years later, Laurel is a successful and well-regarded actress, living in London. She returns to Green Acres for Dorothy’s 90th birthday and finds herself overwhelmed by memories and questions she has not thought about for decades. She decides to find out the truth about the events of that summer day and lay to rest her own feelings of guilt. One photograph, of her mother and a woman Laurel has never met, called Vivian, is her first clue.

The Secret Keeper explores longings and dreams, the lengths some people go to fulfill them, and the strange consequences they sometimes have. It is a story of lovers, friends, dreamers and schemers, play-acting, and deception told against a backdrop of events that changed the world.

©2012 Kate Morton (P)2012 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

We Are All Secret Keepers

What did you love best about The Secret Keeper?

The plot, the writing, the characters. The way the story unfolded.

What other book might you compare The Secret Keeper to and why?

Couldn't say. But it was a great story about an older woman looking back on her life and trying to resolve a long, purposely repressed memory of a significant family event before her dying mother is gone and it may be too late.

Nice to read a mystery that was neither a procedural detective story nor a gruesome dark trip that made me want to take a bath afterwards. (Bath-wise, I'm talking to you,"Sharp Objects" by Gillian Flynn.)

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Yes.

If you could take any character from The Secret Keeper out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Vivian. Vivacious, fun, multi-faceted. A secret keeper.

Any additional comments?

I almost ditched this audiobook before it really got going. At first I found the reader's voice/accent a little off-putting - although most of the books I listen to have a British reader. Gradually, I realized that it was part of the overall performance and settled into it. Also, I found the very beginning a little self-consciously literary and slow getting started. But once the story kicked in, I couldn't stop listening. I highly recommend it.

I loved it!

What did you like best about this story?

I loved the way it told the story in flashbacks, and kept you wondering about the secrets to be discovered.

What about Caroline Lee’s performance did you like?

I don't normally like narrators with British accents, but this was an exception. She did an excellent job. I wasn't overly impressed with her depiction of a few characters, especially the pompous ones. I particularly loved the voice of Dolly. Ms. Lee did a good job of conveying the characters' personalities by her rendition of their voices.

If you could take any character from The Secret Keeper out to dinner, who would it be and why?

The elderly mother, in hopes she would share some of her wisdom....and secrets.

Very enjoyable!

Slow start, but the story picked up pace. I'm looking forward to purchasing the next Kate Morton book.

Great book

I really enjoyed the book, it was suspenseful and the different point of views gave you the information you wanted so much for the main character to know but knew somehow she would find out in the end.

So captivating!

This story is read is such a lovely fashion. I am very picky about readers and found this one exceptional! The story itself is incredibly captivating. So many twists and turns and just when you think you know what happened another surprise is waiting! I can't wait to read/ listen to more by Kate Morton!

Loved the story

Loved the story although sometimes moved slow. Ending was a surprise! Character description was great

One of the BEST books I've read in a long time!!!

This book has everything one needs to curl up and get lost with: hard to put down, keeps you guessing about "who-dun-it" and why, crosses time, generations and history, family bonds, all while weaving love in and out and is beautifully and superbly written! The only book I have ever finished and wanted to open back up and start over immediately! Thank you, Kate Morton!!!

Great read!

Very well written. Characters well developed. Stilll thinking about them one week after finishing book.

Keep listening!!!

I wanted to quit listening to their book during the first half. It was really drawn out in some parts. But i am so glad I stuck with it. What a great story! Beautiful and heartbreaking!

I really LOVED this book.

This book was exceptional, I knew there were twists, turns, etc. I thought I knew them...I didn't, you think you are smarter than all the other reviews and think you guessed it, you know you've guessed it, or have a good idea of what's going on, and you really don't. I would definitely recommend this book.

It's hard to listen to at first but keep listening, it is so so worth it. I read a review that said it, and I am so glad that I kept listening. I felt like I knew the characters so well by the end and was very attached to them and the entire story.

Great Book!