The Secret Keepers

by Tilly Bagshawe

The past can't be locked away forever…_________________________________________________________________

*Perfect for fans of Kate Morton, Eve Chase & Lucinda Riley*

Sweeping from the French Riviera to the wind-blown Cornish cliffs, lose yourself in this spellbinding novel about one golden family – and a devastating secret that binds them, forever…

Year after idyllic year, the Challant family retreat to their summer house on the glittering French Riviera.

Until one stormy night in 1928 when a local boy suffers a fatal accident in the grounds. Overnight, it becomes a place of ghosts.

As time unspools, those dark memories loosen their grip on the four Challant children. And yet the local whispers about that night never quieten, calling them back to the house on the Riviera.

A family secret lies waiting in the past.

But dare they unlock the truth?

_______________________________________________

READERS LOVE ESCAPING WITH TILLY BAGSHAWE'S EPIC, SWEEPING great novel to get totally immersed by' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Her books are always captivating!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'It drew me in from the very first page' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'This is an epic page-turner of love and war' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Such skilled storytelling that draws you in and keeps you gripped throughout' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Tilly Bagshawe is a brilliant, vivid writer, who is a leader in her field. Bravo!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genres: Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Historical

385 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 11, 2024

About the author

Matilda Emily N. Bagshawe was born on 12 June 1973 in England, UK. She attended local all-girls Catholic schools near her family home in Surrey. She was a single mother at 17, but she won a place at Cambridge University and took Persephone, her ten-month-old baby daughter with her. As a journalist, she went on to enjoy a successful career in London, and contributed regularly to The Sunday Times, Daily Mail and Evening Standard, before turning her hand to novels. Her first book, Adored as Tilly Bagshawe, was a smash hit on both sides of the Atlantic in 2005, and she hasn't looked back since.

Tilly is married Robin Nydes, a US businessman, and the couple have two sons together, Zac and Theo. The family divide their time between their homes in London and Los Angeles. Tilly is also the sister of the writer and politician Louise Bagshawe.

Reviews

[Lauren Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect holiday read. The characters were all really interesting, and I loved how it covered such a long period of time but moving across time, characters, and countries with great story telling.
The underlying themes were enjoyable and quite different to previous stories by Tilly.
I really enjoyed this story.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect family saga, spanning decades, great locations & wonderful characters
The Secret Keepers follows the lives of the Challant family.

[Judy Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great holiday read and storytelling. Loved it and couldn't put it down as the secrets were revealed.

[Tyler Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Complex and captivating!

My first book by this author has blown me away, i'm a big historical fiction lover and Tilly does an amazing job of implementing that genre into a novel that is so much more. I really enjoyed how the author seamlessly blends genres such as mystery, historical fiction and romance into a tale that is hard to put down.

From the first chapter you are sucked into this story. With characters that are enjoyable but maybe not so relatable, Bagshawe will have you on the edge of your seat with the intricate mystery and suspense that runs through out this read. I liked that we do get to see jumps in time as well as location during the book as I felt like it really brought more to the story the author was building as well as with her amazing writing and attention to detail I felt transported to the locations she was describing. Such an easy read to get into this is a book I would recommend for readers to have on their 2024 TBR!

[aprilla]

3/4 through and just not interested, quitting

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

As expected, there is more than meets the eye in this compelling tale of love and lost from Tilly Bagshawe. It starts off quite strong, with one protagonist in the present time facing some inner demons on a shrink couch, and paces efficiently once the novel revisits the past for the family drama to unfold. From the get-go I felt connected with most of the characters (I draw the line with the rotten dad), especially the four siblings who try their best to stay afloat despite constant turmoil in their lives. Of course like in any well-made or not so well-made sagas, everyone is gorgeous and rich (or surrounded by wealth) and suffers greatly in the name of love (or self love to some) but never did I feel, in this particular novel, unattached to their plights.

Fans still looking for Bagshawe’s unique bonkbuster style, however, may be a tad disappointed as the sex and shopping approach in this one is quite tamer, but overall THE SECRET KEEPERS is still a very amorous affair with its strong narrative, colorful characters, not to mention its finely-tuned historical flavor. Indeed, since her previous novel THE SECRET OF SAINTE-MADELEINE, there’s a new Tilly Bagshawe in town, a Tilly Bagshawe who’s matured to an ever greater storyteller, a writer who knows where she stands in this so-called women fiction territory. And all is left to say is: brava, talented lady, you’ve got another winner in your hands.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this 4 and a half stars reviewed ARC.

[Rudrashree Makwana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every family has secrets but some secrets binds them while some breaks them and some are just so heartbreaking that they burry them. But they still find a way to come out. The Challant family has secrets too.

Ines Challant is traumatised by the past memories. The painful memory filled with grief, resentment and fear still haunts her. She was nine year old when she heard something but she is oblivious to the truth or her brain is not ready to accept the truth. Buried secrets and truth find their way out but the tragedy has already gripped the entire family. To completely remove the memory of Summer, 1928, Ines must revisit the past and get grip on her fears. She is now an interior designer. Author takes us back to the past where Challant Children were growing up and choose their own path as soon as dark memories swamped over them and unsettling truth broke the family. Tragedy has happened at the French Riviera. But the truth is so dark and destructive. Loved how the truth unfolded with mystery and unsettling reality.

This was such a thought provoking and powerful read. The Writing is flawless and compelling. There was no dull moment. Characters were interesting. The vibe of the book was mysterious and melancholic. The setting was intriguing. I loved the ending. It has everything; love, loss, death, grief, death, secrets and shocking truths. The book has following themes; Family, home, wartime and sudden changes in everyone’s life.

Thanks to the Author and Publisher.

[Piper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Instaboooks tours and Harper Collins for having me on this book tour

I recently came across a beautifully written historical fiction book by Tilly Bagshawe. The story revolves around the Challant children, who find themselves entangled in a complex family dynamic. Their mother grapples with deep-seated self-loathing and resentment towards her husband due to her unfulfilled artistic aspirations. She feels as confined as the birds in her aviary, while her husband exerts dominance with a strong sense of patriarchal superiority.

What I find truly compelling about this book is how it intricately follows the children over time, delving into the pivotal moments of their past that have profoundly shaped their present selves. The narrative primarily focuses on the sister and a captivating character named Hector Gunn, who has become one of my favourite characters in the story. The novel artfully portrays how their lives are deeply influenced by love, loss, and the tumult of war, while also skillfully bringing their journeys full circle, particularly for Ines and Gunn.

#HistoricalFiction #FamilyDrama #CharacterDevelopment #LoveAndLoss #WarTumult #IntriguingNarrative #EmotionalDepth #RelationshipComplexity #ResilienceAndGrowth #BookTourExperience

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of a family, the Challant family, whose lives are divided between Paris where the four children were raised and educated, their winters spent in the mountains of Mergeve in the French Alps and their summers in Beaulieu=sur-mer on the French Riviera.

Ines is nine-years old in the summer of 1928. With her parents, brother and two sisters, Ines innocently enjoys being together in the peace and freedom of the countryside in Beaulieu. When tragedy occurs during one summer evening and a local boy dies, the effects of it resounds for all of them for decades.

Spanning the years from 1928 to 1967, this is a story of tragedy; lies, deceit and betrayal which reverberates through the lives of the family and beyond.

A beautifully written and researched story from the cliffs of Cornwall, the cities of London and Paris, the perfect summers of the French Riviera and the glittering Alpine resort of Melgeve to the pain and suffering of World War II, this is a very compelling story of how a tragic loss of a life impacts on a family.

My first book by Tilly Bagshawe and one I highly recommend to other readers. Secrets and mysteries are a great attraction for me in reading and this story has it all.

[Cheryl M-M · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Challant children are wedged between a mother who secretly despises herself and her husband for not being able to live the life she wants. Her soul wants to be the artist, and yet she is as caged as the birds she treasures in her remarkable aviary. Her husband rules the roost with a patriarchal sense of superiority.

As the reader moves from the adult children in the future back to important periods in their past, it becomes clear that a tragic event has not only triggered a lifetime of fears and insecurities, but perhaps also determined the paths the children have taken. The adults they grow into, the baggage they carry and the secrets they keep – it has the potential to destroy them.

I think Bagshawe deviates from her usual popular recipe with this book – it has more of a family and tortured emotional bond meets the demands of unresolved trauma vibe. Evolving from the physical to the fraught webs of the kind of relationships that weave webs of invisible patterns across both decades and people.

It’s contemporary fiction with a steadfast hold in the past. A story driven by past fears, trauma, conflicted feelings of guilt, and at the core of it all is a tragic mystery.

[N.L. Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the summer of 1928, a death takes place that will lead to events that change the Challant family forever.

This novel will take us on a journey of mystery, misery, secrets and betrayal.

Bagshawe writes complicated characters, with real-life scenarios and conflict. I liked that we followed the character of Ines the most, however, I liked that her sisters were not forgotten and played a large part in this narrative.

This novel spans over several decades following the three sisters as well as Hector Gunn, and how their lives are affected by love, loss and the war, but how this novel also comes full circle for Ines and Gunn.

This author keeps us on our toes and gives nothing away until they are ready, keeping us engaged and guessing until the very end.

This novel is a great mix of Historical fiction and mystery that will be enjoyed by all.

[Lunaa_archives · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first book from Tilly Bagshawe and it was beautifully written. It captivated me straight away, I loved the tale of family secrets. The suspense was great and so was the character development (the book mainly focuses on the youngest daughter, Ines, who witnesssed something very traumatic in the summer of 1928). She beautifullly wrote about the difficulties of relationships and power, making me want to read on. I also loved the how each location of this book was amazingly written, from French Riveria, Paris, the Swiss Alps and Cornwall. I would definitely recommend this if you love thrilling mysteries and historical fiction as it is set in the 1900's.
Thank you to randomthingstours for this ARC

[Michaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Centred around the Challant family - who are so complex and interesting - and a tragic accident in 1928 that tears the family apart.

I really felt for the women in the family. They truly had no say over their own fates lest they be cast out from the family fold.

Genevieve was my favourite from the start. So lively and confrontational. It made me sad to read her steady decline.

I really enjoyed this especially the chapters centred around the war and the effect it had on different people in different countries. An excellent storyline well written and enough drama to keep you entertained.

[ACottageFullofBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Challant family have been spending their summers in Beaulieu in the French Riviera for years. However, on stormy night in 1928 a terrible tragedy occurs and a young girl local boy is killed.



The four Challant children are deeply affected, especially Ines. However, as time goes by their memories of the time begin to fade.



However, local rumours swirl even as the years go by about what truly happened. In searching for the truth, what hidden family secrets are they about to reveal?



A novel full of family secrets set between the French Riviera and the Cornish coast. I loved the dual timeline of this book and I can’t wait to read more Tilly Bagshawe books.

4.5 stars

[Leigh's Little Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable historical fiction read full of love, lies, betrayal, and secrets

Written from different characters' perspectives through the course of many years, I enjoyed the connections and the paths that each character's lives journeyed on.

Ines is pretty much the main protagonist and how she grows from being so innocent in childhood to a mature and successful woman, with a few troubles that she has difficulty understanding. But with the help of her family and friends along the way, she is able to put to bed the horrors of secrets from her past and move on.

It's written really well, I think, too. I just was swept up in the story and thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Megan Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a truly gorgeous read, incredibly immersive and full of emotion. The family were likeable to follow so I enjoyed getting to know them and following their antics over the years. The plot is incredibly complex and we pick up with the family at key moments over their lifetimes. This was good in that it moved the plot on and Bagshawe was able to incorporate a lot of events however this was also my one negative. Bagshawe has fitted so much into the plot that sometimes things are just stated and then the plot jumps forward in time and it would have been nice to explore the consequences further.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for an advance copy.

[Hannah Symonds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in 1900's and The Challant family have returned to their family summer house on the French Riviera, with a whole family to entertain some are happy to be back but some are not. There are lots of characters to read about all with their own agenda. When a storm blows through and something dreadful happens, all the ghosts from the past rear their ugly heads and will life ever be the same again for the Challant family. It was a good read packed with history and full of mystery. I liked the way the story flowed and kept me on the edge of my seat. It was brimming full of secrets.

[ssloves books - Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an enjoyable read which moves between France and England. It follows a family over a number of years and the love, loss and secrets they hold. Weaved through the story is love in its many forms and I was captivated by the characters, setting and plot.

The basis of the story centres around a tragedy at the Challant family home in the South of France and the secrets that play a profound part on the lives of those in the family.

It’s a captivating story, I absolutely adored everything about this book, it features glamorous locations, fabulous characters and certainly provides an atmosphere which pulls you into their lives. Their feelings and actions provide such an immersive read and I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a family saga and such a warm and wonderful story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Karen Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid 4 stars I really enjoyed this book! The book starts in 1928 in Beaulieu-sur-Mer on the French Riviera, where the Challant family spends their summer. The privilege family own three lavish homes across France and they split their time moving between them. However the summer of 1928 changes the family’s life forever and no matter how much money or status they cannot escape the ghosts of that year. The story covers 40 years and is interwoven with Hector Gunn a driven English man from Cornwall who is determined to make his way in the world and improve his and family’s status in life.

The synopsis of this book leads you to believe it is full of secrets however I found the secrets are very predictable but that did not make me enjoy it any less. I loved so much about this book, I loved the writing, the multiply character points of view, the setting and the time periods this covered this story covered. Tilly Bagshaw says the two main themes of the story are home and family, however me, money and power are intertwined in this story. Ultimately money may buy power but it will never make you truly happy only love and family will do that.

For me this book was so so close to being a 5 star book but I felt the author rushed some parts, she tried almost to do too much and the story suffered slightly for it. That being said it is a wonderful piece of historic fiction and really was swept up in it.

[Maddy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved this book the whole way through until the last few chapters. What do you mean Ines, after how far she has come, goes back to her pig of an ex husband after he cheated on her? What a terrible ending and a waste of character development. Also, was the fact that her father was also Bernard's father supposed to be a surprise? Because from the very first paragraph where the boy was mentioned we were told some vaguely about his father, and suddenly we see Charles with an inexplicable aversion to the boy. Great characters, great settings but horrible execution

[Frances Bestley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very readable but a bit unsubstantial. I loved Ines but she really was too good to be true. Gunn behaved appallingly and I don’t really think that it was that easy to have the lifestyle of a gigolo no matter how handsome you were. As with many of this genre characters seem to be unbelievably talented and successful in whatever they do. The solutions to everything were irritatingly very neatly tied up in the last few chapters.
However I knew what I was choosing with reading this book and it was exactly the escapism I needed. It delivered perfectly.

[Lisas Books, Gems and Tarot · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a gripping read set in the 1900s. Historical fiction at its finest. There was so much to learn with this read, and so much mystery too!

The Challant family return to their summer house on the French Riviera.

After a huge storm, there is a tragedy, and suddenly the past is coming back to haunt them.

Some of the family are happy to be back for the summer, and some are not. This doesn’t help with the many secrets that are about to unfold!!

Great read. I gave it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[gail_nadezna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book of the year

Seems to be my current theme I click on a book and wow it takes me to a different life to a different time an era of people places and emotions
Love the way the author writes explains things happening very fast but whilst it’s just in a conversation say the words just fly off the page and you get to savour the entire lifetime of description

Thank you will deffo look out for her others books❤️

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A intriguing and captivating read that just falls short somewhat. The book spans decades and starts on a promising premise but this dwindles through the story. Certain storylines add a punch to the overall story but fizzle out. A good read but a level of disappointment evident on finishing the book.

Thank you Netgalley

[Julie Beckett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweeping family saga spread across France and the UK, starting in the pre-second world war years and ending in the sixties. Ines comes from a wealthy & privileged background - they own 3 homes - and this ultimately helps with the challenges she faces. A very easy story to read, with interesting characters.

[Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Secret Keepers is a historical family saga based on the Challant Family. Awash with buried secrets and complex characters, it was hard to put down. Charles Challant is like a past-day Logan Roy, ruthless!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

[Sophie Hadlington · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started off very unsure about this one as it seemed fairly slow, and I wasn’t really sure in what direction it was attempting to go. However by the end I found I was actually quite attached to the characters.

[Angie Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book, following the family in their adventures/migrations. The ups and downs of life and secrets are uncovered, and how they are dealt with. Definitely keeps you going with the unexpected

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely story which takes you from 1928 through to 1970's and beyond. This book really caught my attention and I really wanted to find out what the secret was. I didn't find out until nearly at the end of the book which was fine as the story was really good.

[Vera · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 1/2 ⭐️
A bit disappointed as this book started off really well. However there were pacing issues, character development didn’t quite meet my expectations and overall, I really had to force myself to finish it.
I believe if editing was tighter, this could have been more enjoyable read..