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

Kate Stumbles

When I have finished with a Kate Morton book I am left with a sad sense of disappointment because I don’t want the story to end. I want to know more. I want to sit and chat with the protagonist and chew the story over. But sadly with this new book I have to say I was glad for it to finally be over. I’m still shocked that I feel that way. I find myself reexamining the feeling to be sure that’s what I really feel, and yes, sadly, it is.

The characters of “The Secret Keeper” were extremely difficult to empathize with. I struggled from the very beginning to find one to latch onto, to root for. The leading characters were, for the most part, neither endearing nor engaging, however I slogged through the book, sure that Kate Morton wouldn’t let me down, and near the end I finally found what I had been looking for. The last third of the book held me riveted and redeemed the story. I finally discovered the character I wanted to keep as my imaginary friend. Sadly, it was too little too late.

Caroline Lee’s delivery of the book was, as always, sublime.

Like visiting again with my mother

It has been so long since I've fallen in love with a book, but this one took me there from the first page. This book is about a woman and her sisters preparing to be with their mother at the mother's death. Having had this experience not too long ago myself, it took me back to that beautiful, conflicted, loving time. Also, somehow this author captured that often lingering wish... to have known one's mother when she was a young girl. Time and distance just cannot break the bond between a mother and a daughter. I've given this book to a number of friends and they have much the same reaction. We've talked about it again and again, and I know I'll be reading this book again and again. (I bought a hard copy as well. That's how good this one is.) And the narration is so perfect. Perfect.

Great story!

I loved this story. Kept me always guessing!! I thought I had it figured out early, then I thought "no I don't".... then later I went back to my original thoughts on the outcome... and I was right. I cried a lot too.

I previously had read the Clockmaker's Daughter and that one took me forever because I found it hard to follow... but this one I ate up in two days.

Simple delicious

This is a wonderful story that just kept me wondering till the end with a wonderful surprise ending . Beautifully written with a very talented narrator. Audibles have pretty much replaced movies for me.

Phenomenal. Subtle. Well-crafted story. Best ever.

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

The characters' motivations were beautifully laid-out. I found this book to be highly intelligent and insightful. I loved the author's ability to switch voices and tell the story from several perspectives. I only wish I might craft an amazing work of literature like this one day.

What did you like best about this story?

I got so attached to the characters and while I thought I knew the ending well beforehand, I was not as clever as I thought. I love books that surprise and take readers new places. Gorgeous writing. Beautiful performance, too.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I wished I had it in paper, too, so I could read when listening was inappropriate. I got SO much done while listening to this story. I cleaned like nobody's business just so I could justify my continuing to listen while my sweet family was home. :)

Any additional comments?

Truly one my favorite Audible book ever. I have listened to many. This one takes the prize. I do tend to like this author. I just noticed I have two other books of hers but I hadn't made the connection until today. Some literature translates beautifully to the spoken word; that is certainly the case with this book. Magical, beautiful, I miss the characters.

Got good!

The beginning was interesting enough to keep listening but it got more intriguing about halfway though! That’s when the secrets actually begin.

Fabulous book!!

The story is amazing with the unbelievable twists and the narrator so engaging!! Loved it!!!
I have read two books written by Kate Morton and have not been disappointed. I plan to read all of her books now.

Wonderful, haunting.

Any additional comments?

Beautifully written and read, a wholly character-driven mystery and love story that was full of surprises, little jewels that I never saw coming. This one will stay with me. Well worth the credit - you won't be sorry.

Wonderful. Just wonderful

Loved it. Completely submerged me into the story that was wonderfully told. Thoroughly recommend it to others.

Highly Recommended

Any additional comments?

While it might take an hour or two to get enraptured by the story, The Secret Keeper is definitely an entertaining novel.
Told through different perspectives and different times, the sequence of the story aids in unraveling the mysterious life of Dorthy and Vivian.
While the twist is definitely foreshadowed through out the plot, it wasn't glaringly obvious, and I still wanted to finish the novel to make sure my "hunch" was right.