Reviews

The House at Riverton by Kate Morton

meme_too2's review against another edition

5.0

I really enjoyed this book. It was well written and had a good ending. Halleluia!

hessianhighfashion's review against another edition

3.0

I feel this novel could have been so so much better if it had been cut down into something smaller. Way too much foreshadowing, so much so you had no question of what was happening far before it did and some parts, were so slow it was painful to read, especially because you knew where it was going.
It wasn’t bad by any means and the characters were great and true to the times just a lot that felt unnecessary.

rach345's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

lmk217's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

fateleanor's review against another edition

informative medium-paced

3.5

I enjoyed the historical aspect of this book and the sense of duty that might exist between those below stairs and above stairs.  

rchluther's review against another edition

4.0

2012 -- This book lost a star from me because I've already read the much better "The Forgotten Garden". But overall I really enjoyed it. There were a few laggy parts, and a few Really? moments, but I have begun to really enjoy Morton's jumping around in time format. Lots of the surprises were telegraphed early, but some were still a surprise to me. I wish that I had gotten to know Hannah & Emmeline better though. I did feel like they were a little too under-developed. Overall a great read though!

Reread in 2015 -- Reread this for a book club this year. Still enjoyed it, and feel almost exactly the same as I did from before. I had forgotten a lot of the details, so it was a fun reread.

mg_in_md_'s review

4.0

I absolutely loved this historical fiction tale set primarily in England in the early 1900's. The story begins in present day when Grace is visited at her nursing home by a young film director seeking to do a film based on a death that occurred in the house where Grace served as a servant to a wealthy family in her youth. The visit triggers memories of life at the House of Riverton, as well as memories of the events surrounding the suicide of the young poet who was a friend of the family. The story focuses on relationship between Grace and the family, especially the daughters Hannah and Emmeline. The three are the only ones who know the truth about what happened on the fateful night back in 1924. The suspenseful tale blends history, mystery, passion, and human flaws. Historical details enhanced the story and gave it a three-dimensional feel, as did the development of the characters. This is the second book I've read by this author and will definitely seek out and read more by her in the future.

cgstarks19's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious tense slow-paced

3.5

clianthus's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

jaymi_elswick's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5