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

Didn’t want it to end

This is a good mystery/historical fiction combo. The author paints a picture by weaving in and out of the past and the present. While in wanted to get to the bottom of the mystery, I didn’t want the book to end. By the end of the boom, I felt completely invested in the characters and felt a sense of loss when it was over. I will definitely be looking for more of her books in the future.

loved it

never read or listen to a book by kate mortan, will for sure be looking for another to read by her

Slow start but worth it!

Started off very slow and took me several attempts to get into it, but once the story started moving I couldn't wait to find out what happened!

Loved it!

Love, Love, Loved it! Great transition of 1920's to 1940 war time in London and current time 2011. Kate Morton can grab you on the 1st page and take you on a journey that has you on the edge of your seat unraveling all those family secrets. Great Read!

Captivating!

I was hooked from the 1st chapter. Kate Morton spun an amazing story. I did not see the end coming at all. She nicely tied up the loose ends. The transitions from one time period to another were smooth, moving the plot forward. Great character development. Definitely one of my favorite reads.

Not my favorite Morton book, that's for sure

The ending saved the middle. I found myself frustrated with one of the main characters. My dislike of her whiny and manipulative ways made me almost stop listening to the book. I enjoyed the surprise ending though so I was glad I stuck with it.

spell binding

I loved this book. Twists and unexpected turns abound. The characters came alive. loved the narrator. Thanks

Good story, but better if shortened!

Coming from Kate Morton's Lake House, I was excited to listen to the Secret Keeper. However, unlike in Lake House, Morton's vivid, descriptive style didn't draw me deeper into the novel. Rather, it felt excessive - especially when the descriptions broke up the story's momentum towards the end. When the big secret was finally revealed, it seemed a bit anti-climactic and undeserving of the meandering build up. I found myself thinking, "Oh, that's it? That's rather ordinary for that era." Maybe the novel would have been more enjoyable if it was shortened. Or if I hadn't read Lake House first.

Caroline Lee did a good job on the narration. The sharp tone of her voice pierced my eardrums at first, and at times it seemed her accents and character voices were a bit indistinguishable, but overall a fine performance.

Loved It!

This is one of those books that stays with you long after you’ve finished reading it. The characters are richly defined. The events in the story leave you engaged to the end. And a wonderful ending it is!

Fantastic tale!

She kept me guessing until the very end! Love love love this author! The narrator I could listen to all day!