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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
Good book but a little longer than necessary and self indulgent for sure
This is the first book by Kate Morton that I've read, so I wasn't familiar with her style. The synopsis sounded intriguing so I requested an ARC (thanks @netgalley!). The book focuses on Jess, Polly and Nora, and a tragedy that happened in their family in 1959. Present day timeline is 2018.
I really enjoyed the characters of Jess and Nora and to a lesser extent Polly as she was not as fleshed out as the other two. I felt like I really got to know them and understand what made them tick.
I also loved the descriptions of place and time. I really saw Tambilla and South Australia in my mind.
The mystery aspect of the book was the best part for me. I thought it was a great mystery with enough complication that I didn't see it all coming. I figured out one major part of the mystery right off the bat, but the smaller parts and piecing it all together had me guessing to the end.
That said, this book is too long. There is way too much exposition and unnecessary detail in many parts. Once I got about halfway I just started skimming and skipping pages at a time until she brought the main story back. I felt that the parts that were the book within a book could have been done differently. There was so much information in those parts and then some of it was repeated again in a different character's voice.
I think if you're a fan of Kate Morton, you may love this book. If you're not, personally I'd skip this.
I really enjoyed the characters of Jess and Nora and to a lesser extent Polly as she was not as fleshed out as the other two. I felt like I really got to know them and understand what made them tick.
I also loved the descriptions of place and time. I really saw Tambilla and South Australia in my mind.
The mystery aspect of the book was the best part for me. I thought it was a great mystery with enough complication that I didn't see it all coming. I figured out one major part of the mystery right off the bat, but the smaller parts and piecing it all together had me guessing to the end.
That said, this book is too long. There is way too much exposition and unnecessary detail in many parts. Once I got about halfway I just started skimming and skipping pages at a time until she brought the main story back. I felt that the parts that were the book within a book could have been done differently. There was so much information in those parts and then some of it was repeated again in a different character's voice.
I think if you're a fan of Kate Morton, you may love this book. If you're not, personally I'd skip this.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Child death, Death, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting
Minor: Infertility, Infidelity, Kidnapping, War
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not a “I need to stay up all night and finish” kind of book but a slow-burn of building the setting and story and characters. Loved the dual plot line of past and present and even more interesting was the book within a book to gain another perspective of the tragedy that occurred. So had some mystery along with family and small town drama. I usually am not one for tons of description, but I found this style captivating, and I look forward to reading more by this author!