THE CLOCKMAKER’S DAUGHTER

My father called me Birdie; he said I was his little bird. Others knew me as his child, the clockmaker’s daughter. Edward called me his muse, his destiny. I am remembered as a thief, an imposter, a girl who rose above her station, who was not chaste.

My real name, no one remembers.
The truth about that summer, no one else knows.

_________

In the summer of 1862, a group of young artists led by the passionate and talented Edward
Radcliffe descends upon Birchwood Manor on the banks of the Upper Thames. Their plan: to spend a secluded summer month in a haze of inspiration and creativity. But by the time their stay is over, one woman has been shot dead while another has disappeared; a priceless heirloom is missing; and Edward Radcliffe’s life is in ruins.

Over one hundred and fifty years later, Elodie Winslow, a young archivist in London,
uncovers a leather satchel containing two seemingly unrelated items: a sepia photograph of an arresting-looking woman in Victorian clothing, and an artist’s sketchbook containing
the drawing of a twin-gabled house on the bend of a river.

Why does Birchwood Manor feel so familiar to Elodie? And who is the beautiful woman in the photograph? Will she ever give up her secrets?

Told by multiple voices across time, THE CLOCKMAKER’S DAUGHTER is a story of murder, mystery and thievery, of art, love and loss. And flowing through its pages like a river, is the voice of a woman who stands outside time, whose name has been forgotten by history, but who has watched it all unfold: Birdie Bell, the clockmaker’s daughter.

 – New York Times Bestseller –
– Sunday Times Bestseller –
– #1 Bestseller Australia –
– #1 Bestseller Canada –
 – Indie Next Pick Oct, 2018 –
 – Library Reads Selection Oct, 2018 –

CRITICAL PRAISE

‘Morton (The Lake House) explores the tangled history of people and place in her outstanding, bittersweet sixth novel . . . the stories, brilliantly told by Morton, offer musings on art, betrayal, and the ways in which real lives and real places can evolve over time into the stuff of legends.’ — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

‘Morton’s latest time-travelling tale of lust, deception and lies. . . Think The Miniaturist meets The Little Stranger, woven together with a contemporary thread, and you won’t be far off.” — The Pool

‘. . . another triumph, captivating from start to finish. . . masterfully constructed. . . a stunning tale of murder, mystery and thievery, of art, love and loss.’ — Better Reading

‘This is an immersive, beautifully told story which was made to be devoured on a drizzly Sunday afternoon with a round of crumpets and a pot of tea.’ — Red Magazine

‘. . . in her most ambitious work yet . . . Morton proves once again that history is not a straight line but an intricate, infinite web.’ — Booklist

‘. . .(a) meditative read, with lush settings, meticulous period details, and slowly unfurling enigmas will enjoy this book.’ — Kirkus

‘Beautifully written. Unforgettable’ — Australian Women’s Weekly

‘Kudos to Kate Morton for spinning such a tale.’ — New York Journal of Books

‘. . . a stunning and imaginative tale set around another hauntingly beautiful and unforgettable rural house. . . Morton is on spellbinding form in this engrossing mystery. . . The Clockmaker’s Daughter is packed with rich historical detail and seductive lyricism. . . an exciting, atmospheric reading treat that moves seamlessly through time and space. . .’ — Lancashire Evening Post

‘Moving back and forth in time, Morton weaves her disparate stories together involving murder, theft, love and loss, secrets and lies. She’s a deft and consummate storyteller.” — Woman & Home

‘It’s so multi-layered that I marveled at her plotting as well as her storytelling as I was reading. It’s the kind of book you want to really focus on as you read it, and savor every last detail as it unfolds.’ — Bookreporter.com

‘. . . a story with a lot of moving parts, grand in scope and full of bewitching charm. . . A truly hypnotic tale. . .’ — Booktopia

‘. . . a booklover’s dream come true. . . a simply bewitching tale . . . another captivating mystery that is impossible to put down. Dreamy prose, lush landscapes, and fascinating characters combine to create a reading experience that is truly like no other. . . ‘ — Angus & Robertson, Book of the Month

‘. . .  like the house at its centre, it is beautiful, welcoming and very good not only at keeping its secrets but at revealing them in due time.’ — Winnipeg Free Press

‘The Clockmaker’s Daughter. . . has all the signature twists of a gothic Morton tale: deeply buried secrets, fateful twists, and old homes that almost breathe and reverberate from the energy contained within.’ — The Toronto Star