THE SECRET KEEPER
1961: On a sweltering summer’s day, while her family picnics by the stream on their Suffolk farm, sixteen-year-old Laurel hides out in her childhood tree house dreaming of a boy called Billy, a move to London, and the bright future she can’t wait to seize. But before the idyllic afternoon is over, Laurel will have witnessed a shocking crime that changes everything.
2011: Now a much-loved actress, Laurel finds herself overwhelmed by shades of the past. Haunted by memories, and the mystery of what she saw that day, she returns to her family home and begins to piece together a secret history. A tale of three strangers from vastly different worlds – Dorothy, Vivien and Jimmy – who are brought together by chance in wartime London and whose lives become fiercely and fatefully entwined.
Shifting between the 1930s, the 1960s and the present, The Secret Keeper is a spellbinding story of mysteries and secrets, theatre and thievery, murder and enduring love.
– New York Times Bestseller –
– Sunday Times Bestseller –
– Spiegel Bestseller –
– El País Bestseller –
– 2013 Australian Book Industry Awards (winner) –
CRITICAL PRAISE
‘Morton has obvious star power . . . Her novels are Australia’s most successful exports since Colleen McCullough’s “Thorn Birds” stormed the world in 1977.’ — The New York Times Book Review
‘Morton is masterful at controlling a story’s flow and tension. Readers will not suspect the twist at the end.’ — Publisher’s Weekly
‘Secrets told with exquisite timing.’ — The Australian
‘As always, Morton weaves an intriguing mystery, shifting between past and present and among fully realized characters harboring deep secrets.’ — People (****)
‘Morton’s finesse with family secrets increases with each novel.’ — Kirkus Reviews
‘A page-turner . . . Morton creates realistic characters that captivate the reader.’ — Canberra Times
‘Morton is a master storyteller.’ — Sun Herald
‘It’s a corker.’ — Sydney Morning Herald
‘A gripping tale of love and betrayal.’ — Good Housekeeping, US
‘A spellbinding new novel that mixes mystery, murder, and enduring love.’ — Barnes & Noble
‘Morton’s war-ravaged London, depicted with atmospheric flair, is a treacherous place swirling with heightened emotions, class-conscious socialites, bright spots of glamorous decadence, and the ever-present possibility of death or betrayal.’ — Reading the Past
‘Tense and atmospheric’ — Woman & Home, UK
‘Kate Morton excels in this enthralling novel about desires and divided loyalties.’ — Good Housekeeping
‘An evocative tale of wartime secrets and family loyalty . . . The story unfurls with a beguiling sweetness, but there’s a real sting to this tale, too.’ — Marie Claire, UK