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

Yes!

What made the experience of listening to The Secret Keeper the most enjoyable?

I love this book with all my heart! Kate Morton became one of my absolute favorite authors this year after reading The Forgotten Garden and The Shifting Fog (also known as The House at Riverton), but this latest novel absolutely cements and guarantees her continued place there. The Secret Keeper blew my mind and it just showed me more of what Kate Morton does so very very well. All the time taken and careful preparations of the plot, scene, characters clearly show, and add up to make this novel a compulsive read filled with vibrant and flawed characters.

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

I would compare authors rather than books. I think Kate Morton is in the same league as Susanna Kearsley and Kimberley Freeman in my opinion.

Which character – as performed by Caroline Lee – was your favorite?

I just LOVE Caroline Lee and any character that she perfoms is exceptional!

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

Hmmmm...Not sure about this one.

Love Kate Morton books

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

this story keeps you engaged and interested wanting more.

Any additional comments?

Just when you think you have it figured out there comes a twist which take the story a different direction.

A Treat, As Always!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Kate Morton's stories are wonderful. I love how she moves between past and present, telling the stories of two women in different times. And I adore her use of language. So wonderfully descriptive. When I saw this audiobook was released just the day before I was to take a road trip, I purchased immediately - even though my monthly credit wasn't available yet! I am more than happy to pay the cash price to hear one of Ms. Morton's books. And a Caroline Lee performance makes the experience perfection.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Secret Keeper?

The ending was superb. Just when I thought the story had reached its end, there was a wonderful surprise!

What does Caroline Lee bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I love Caroline Lee's performances. She speaks as if telling a story from her own experience, rather than reading it from a page.

Any additional comments?

One of the tensions for me with Ms. Morton's stories is always that part of me can't wait to have the mysteries unfold, but another part of me never wants the story to end.

I enjoyed this story more than any of my recent reads. It is probably at the top of my list.

This book is a great story fulfilling so many requirements to spellbind a reader. I loved the characters, they were so real! I could care for each despite their mistakes and faults. The time period for the story and the mysteries it contained were like stepping into the past. This book has intrigue, love of many different kinds, secrets to be revealed, human stories of lives and times that are believable. I could relate to the thoughts and feelings of how children, both young and as adults view the events in their lives, how understanding often comes later in life if it comes at all. How most of us growing up never consider the lives of our parents when they were young and what happened to shape their lives.
It is the best Kate Morton I have as yet to read. So full of life and the truths it holds.

Soooo good!

Any additional comments?

I really liked this one! The narrator was great. The story was engrossing and kept me interested. I did figure it out early on but couldn't be sure until the end. I love a book that can make me feel something about the characters. I found myself disliking Dolly and actually saying out loud to Jimmy that he was too good for her.

Captivating!

The start of the book can be a little slow, but press on and you will find a treasure trove of well developed characters, clever plot twists, and an ending that you never expected!

The narration was spectacular! The only little criticism I have is the narrator's narration of male characters sounding unnatural, and may have portrayed them a little more feminine then they should be. Can't really blame the narrator because she is a woman..

a secret within a secret...great read!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Secret Keeper to be better than the print version?

Yes, I would consider it. I had both, but then I just plugged my earphones into the Kindle and listened to book.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jimmy. He sweet and naive and yet I could help want to know what happened to him.

Which character – as performed by Caroline Lee – was your favorite?

Vivian

Who was the most memorable character of The Secret Keeper and why?

Jimmy because he really had a vision about life and want to live it. You could always feel his quiet, yet unspoken zest for life.

Any additional comments?

The author did splendid job of slowly revealing the various secrets. Some people may not like the book because I constantly felt that I had the answers. The author’s style is such that I thought I figured it out the big secret, and then I was like maybe not. Sometimes I think that we, readers, are prone to look for big surprise twists. In this book, there are big twists and little twists. The excitement in reading this book is not to solve a mystery per se; rather it is to experience the characters’ lives, and in some ways examine their motivations. The author tells the stories in a deliberate manner that held my interest.

The bottom line is that the author tells stories of several individuals whose lives are inexplicably intertwined. Character by character the story unfolds and all of the characters’ lives are fully resolved for the reader. The story ends with the perspective of the small child from the beginning who is now all grown up. This book is a long relaxing read, but an interesting read. If this was a made for TV movie, it would be a mini-series and not a Sunday night movie.

Wonderful story

A very personable and believable story that was always catching me off guard every time it took a direction in the story different from what I was expecting. Wonderful narration, too.

Fantastic!

I thought a book this long wouldn't keep my attention. Wow was I wrong! I sat in my car freezing to listen to just one more chapter.

Well worth the time!

I REALLY enjoyed this book. It does start out a bit slow, but soon you are thoroughly caught up in the characters' stories. The book switches between early 1940s and 2011, between the mother and her past and her daughter trying to untangle a family mystery. The ending took me by surprise, but at the same time was quite fitting. I will look forward to listening to more Kate Morton books.