I very rarely give 5 star ratings. For me 4 stars is a fantastic book but this time I couldn’t resist. This absolutely deserves it. It’s over 600 pages long but doesn’t feel like that as you’re reading it. It goes by in a flash. I never got restless, I just wanted to know what happened next. The whole story just flows effortlessly. It has lots of twists and turns that will keep you turning the page. It’s a really compelling family drama. Morton’s characters are so vivid & complicated. They are flawed but you also root for them. There are a lot of characters included in this novel but some how Morton manages to make them all feel fully fleshed out and completely human. There are so many strands but somehow she ties them all together.
I’m a little nervous of giving too much detail because I don’t want to ruin anything or give any spoilers but basically Jess is an Australian journalist living in London. She gets a phone call one day that her beloved grandmother Nora, suffered a fall and is in hospital. Now Jess must return to Sydney after many years away. Once home she discovers a true crime investigation into a long-buried tragedy and the connection it has to her own family. I was so impressed by now many different characters and stories Morton wove into this story yet none of them fell flat or felt unexplored. When Jess returns home she discovers a book written years ago that tells the story of unsolved murders and so begins the unravelling of a gripping mystery. The discovery of this book means that Morton writes a book within a book and it is truly impressive storytelling. She made a very intricate story feel effortless. The pacing was very well done. It kept my attention the whole way despite its considerable length.
It’s an ideal read for this time of year. Perfect for a holiday because once you start you just won’t want to put it down. This was my first Kate Morton book but it defiantly won’t be my last. I want to read them all now. This book has everything, a sweeping family drama, crime, mystery, intrigue and so on. A truly fantastic read!
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