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

mesmerizing!

I binged-listened to this book in about a week's time. I almost squealed in delight at THE plot twist, I love it when I don't see those coming. The author is great, I read one of her books previously but I love this narrator, it brings these stories to a whole new level.

Fantastic all around listen!!

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

When I figured out the secret.

Have you listened to any of Caroline Lee’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I love this narrator! I usually find that female narrators are overly dramatic, Caroline Lee has delivered a stunning performance each time I have listened to her. Great news as Kate Morton is my new favorite author!

Who really are those people we call our parents

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

The imagery, the fact that the main characters were so human with all their flaws and hopes and the performance was well managed through the various characters and the different times. It made me re-think and appreciate my parents as people.

Great story with twisted and turns that leave you wanting more!

I thought it started a bit slow and the story going back-and-forth and time of the two women's lives through me at first. However the more you get into the story the more it grips you. It is riddled with all sorts of emotions and has a lot of twists and turns, some I never saw coming! Well worth listening to the narrator does a wonderful job.

Surprising Selection

What did you love best about The Secret Keeper?

The plot! I'm not usually one for mysteries, but this story was so well conceived. I'm really glad I gave it a listen. Also, the reading was really well done. There were many characters but Caroline Lee gave them each very different voices and was able to keep them all distinct.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Vivian was my favorite character. My interpretation of her throughout the book really did a 180. She was a very complicated character and her portrayal made her come to life.

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

Vivian! She did a wonderful job.

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

I would take Jimmy Metcalf to dinner. I feel like there are a few situations that I'd like to hear his take on.

Wonderful story and narration.

This book is full of twists and turns and the characters are really developed. The narrator brought it to life as well.

Fabulous

So many twists and turns. A wonderful read full of character development. I felt like I knew everyone in the story. Hated it to end.

Favourite novel ever

There are very few books that I could read/listen to three times and still enjoy. However, for me, The Secret Keeper is one that I can’t help but come back to every few years.

First off, what attracts me to this story (and Kate Morton’s books in general), is that the characters and the tale are all expertly laid out over the course of 20 hours of listening; alternating between voices of past and present, it is impossible not to be hooked immediately.

Furthermore, when it comes to characterization, Kate Morton has done a remarkable job; as a listener, I couldn't avoid forming feelings and thoughts about each character - some positive, some negative.

Finally, as every listener knows, when it comes to audiobooks, the narrator is everything - and Caroline Lee was extraordinary; bringing life to an incredible tale.

Overall, I honestly couldn't recommend this novel enough. In fact, I have 'forced' two of my friends to read The Secret Keeper so that I could have someone to discuss the plot twist with.

It will grip you in an unexpected way.

When I started listening - the book picked primarily because I love the narrator - I had a bit of a hard time getting into it. But I kept listening and I soon became enthralled. I just finished and I already miss the beautifully rich characters with the love and sadness they experienced, and the surprises shared along the way. Highly recommend.

Engrossing and different

This was my first Kate Morton book. I found the characters interesting and the story unique.