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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
I think this book would have been a lot better had it been shorter. It could have been 150 pages shorter. Thankfully, I like descriptive writing, so I was able to get through it, but I think for a lot people the writing style is simply too much. I also like a happy ending, even if this one was bit too tidy and neat to be completely realistic.
The author is really good at keeping you guessing though, I was certainly invested in the mystery, which was why I kept reading even after the book started to feel a little slow and stale at some points. The character of Sadie wasn't very likeable to me, but the parts of the book set in the 30s were very compelling to me. I cared about the Edevane family. There were some really dumb decisions made though where I just wanted to smack several characters.
I really wanted more of Peter! Plus, I felt a bit cheated not getting to see Sadie meet her daughter. All we got for resolution to that was an offhand comment at the end that she'd clearly given in and met her and that they had formed some sort of relationship. Why do authors insist on skipping ahead and telling us the end rather than showing it? I want to see that conclusion play out, darn it, not to skip to a year after it happened and have it briefly explained to me. Cut out those extra 150 pages I mentioned and there would have been plenty of room to fill in those details that I really wanted.
TL;DR - a good book, but too long.
The author is really good at keeping you guessing though, I was certainly invested in the mystery, which was why I kept reading even after the book started to feel a little slow and stale at some points. The character of Sadie wasn't very likeable to me, but the parts of the book set in the 30s were very compelling to me. I cared about the Edevane family. There were some really dumb decisions made though where I just wanted to smack several characters.
I really wanted more of Peter! Plus, I felt a bit cheated not getting to see Sadie meet her daughter. All we got for resolution to that was an offhand comment at the end that she'd clearly given in and met her and that they had formed some sort of relationship. Why do authors insist on skipping ahead and telling us the end rather than showing it? I want to see that conclusion play out, darn it, not to skip to a year after it happened and have it briefly explained to me. Cut out those extra 150 pages I mentioned and there would have been plenty of room to fill in those details that I really wanted.
TL;DR - a good book, but too long.
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I didn't enjoy reading the first 1/3 of this book. It was wordy, and incredibly hard for me to follow. The second 1/3 was interesting. I was finally starting to get into Morton's writing style and that made a huge difference, keeping me up to read just another chapter. The final 1/3 of the book was how this book got four (and almost got five) stars. She wrapped it up in a way that never crossed my mind. Part of me felt that it was a little too neat and forced, but the other part was amazed at her creativity and attention to detail to make it happen.
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was new to Kate Morton when I picked this book up, I've since also read the Secret Keeper and by far this is had made my top 5 list. I'm a sap and love Jodi picoult books and this was a little lighter, but just as enticing.
I adore Kate Mortons style of writing where you find out information first and can't wait till the characters discover what you know.
I adore Kate Mortons style of writing where you find out information first and can't wait till the characters discover what you know.
This might have been Kate Morton's best novel yet. I almost wanted to go for 5 stars here, but couldn't quite get there because the ending was a bit too tidy for me, and for Morton.
Morton takes the dual narrative to a new level of skill. DC Sadie Sparrow's last case and life history contribute to her interest in the decades old cold case of the missing Edevane child and make her uniquely qualified to solve it. The parallels between the timelines are more feeling, thought, and theme than plot points and characters, which works really well. And all of the characters are wonderfully drawn, including some that must be described at different ages. As the story jumps from Alice's present (in her late 80s) to past (at age 16) to before her birth (when her parents were courting after the Great War), every person that graces the page felt real.
Meanwhile, the mystery is sufficiently twisty and the reader is able to solve the case along with Sadie, falling for false leads and all. I enjoyed that aspect a lot. Adding just a bit about her modern case provided a nice contrast.
So Kate Morton continues to be one of my all-time favorite authors, and I'm really disappointed that I've finished this book and have to wait for a new one now. Her books are the type of books you feel, not read - falling into the pages and struggling to surface at the end.
The fine print: received ARC from NetGalley.
Spoiler
While I loved that Bertie was actually Theo and the thought had actually crossed my mind earlier, it was a bit too neat for Morton, I thought.Morton takes the dual narrative to a new level of skill. DC Sadie Sparrow's last case and life history contribute to her interest in the decades old cold case of the missing Edevane child and make her uniquely qualified to solve it. The parallels between the timelines are more feeling, thought, and theme than plot points and characters, which works really well. And all of the characters are wonderfully drawn, including some that must be described at different ages. As the story jumps from Alice's present (in her late 80s) to past (at age 16) to before her birth (when her parents were courting after the Great War), every person that graces the page felt real.
Meanwhile, the mystery is sufficiently twisty and the reader is able to solve the case along with Sadie, falling for false leads and all. I enjoyed that aspect a lot. Adding just a bit about her modern case provided a nice contrast.
So Kate Morton continues to be one of my all-time favorite authors, and I'm really disappointed that I've finished this book and have to wait for a new one now. Her books are the type of books you feel, not read - falling into the pages and struggling to surface at the end.
The fine print: received ARC from NetGalley.
Morton always crafts a good story with interesting twists and turns.
Decent. A bit too long, but a good mystery and complex characters. It was hard to stay invested at times.
a good, engaging mystery story. loved the descriptions of the location. the author doled out clues and red herrings that made me sure I knew who "done it" several different times! the ending was a little too neat. a satisfying read.
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated