The Secrets of Harbour House

by Liz Fenwick

'Compelling, intriguing, romantic… deeply satisfying and emotional' Santa Montefiore'A sweeping story of love, loss and finding the courage to be your true self' Phillipa Ashley

*****

When Kerensa is sent by her father’s auction house to catalogue a neglected house overlooking the sea in Newlyn, Cornwall, it’s a welcome escape. Once the home of two female artists, Harbour House is a treasure trove, but one painting in particular catches Kerensa’s eye – a hypnotically sensual portrait of a beautiful young woman which dominates the hallway.

Captivated and intrigued, Kerensa finds herself piecing together the enigma of Bathsheba Kernow, a fiercely talented young artist who left St Ives almost a hundred years before, eager to escape a society that wouldn’t understand her, and her sweeping journey from the underbelly of Paris to the heady luxury of Venice, where a chance encounter would change her life for ever, drawing her into the most dangerous and forbidden of love affairs.

For Kerensa, still reeling with a grief of her own and facing an uncertain future in love, Harbour House will have secrets that will change her life too, and in ways she could never have imagined…

*****

‘A heartbreaking, addictive story told by the very best – a forbidden love that will break your heart’ Amanda Geard

‘A haunting story of love lost and love found set against an intriguing mystery that will keep you turning the pages. Entrancing!’ Sam Blake

'Woven with mystery, this hauntingly evocative book is a work of art' Clare Marchant

'Cornwall AND Venice. What a perfect blend. History and Art, Poetry and Romance, Fenwick is a mesmerizing storyteller' Pernille Hughes

'Heartrending, captivating and compelling, from the very first page I was swept away by the story' Fiona Schneider

'Oozes glamour and elegance. Captivating from the first page' Lorna Cook

'Achingly beautiful, so evocative and moving. I was completely transported to Venice and Cornwall, and found myself thinking about the characters long after I'd put it down' Emily Kerr

'An utterly enthralling story of love, loss, hope and redemption. I adored it!' Amanda James

'A dazzling and heartrending story of love and loss full of exhilarating twists and turns' Linda Wilgus

'Rich, expansive, thoughtful and engrossing – I loved it' Jane Johnson

*****

Readers give The Secrets of Harbour House five stars!

'This was storytelling at it's best, Liz always finds a way to make you completely entranced in her books'

'Read it. I absolutely loved it'

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Fiction, British Literature, Historical

384 pages, Paperback

Published September 16, 2025

About the author

Award winning author of ten novels and two novellas. The latest is The Secrets of Harbour House out in the UK in July 2025. There are translated editions of my novels available in Dutch, German, Portuguese, French, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Estonian, Latvian, Turkish, Serbian, Czech, Hungarian, Italian, and Finnish.

Reviews

[Tilly Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant story from a seriously underrated writer! I absolutely loved this dual timeline novel that explores the way men have taken credit for women’s talent historically, and even now. Karensa and Bathsheba were both amazing and compelling characters, and I was so invested in their stories from the very beginning - even if that could be heartbreaking at times. I ran through so many emotions reading this, but ended feeling uplifted.

[Linda Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story has absolutely everything a read wants in order to be completely captivated. There’s art, travel, history, mystery and deep, deep passion that thrums through the pages of The Secrets of Harbour House, making it utterly compelling.

The plot is crafted with obvious care and I loved the story, but even better was the writerly depiction of time and place and the exquisite artistry of description. I know Liz Fenwick is a painter as well as an author and this shines through her writing because every description is so vivid and beautiful.

Obviously, secrets are at the heart of the narrative. It’s not possible to mention them all for fear of spoiling the story, but I’d defy any reader not to be enthralled. There are secrets because of attitudes to sexuality, there are professional, political and family secrets, and, even more importantly, there are secrets we keep hidden deep within us, about ourselves and our lives. I found this aspect hugely thought provoking.

I loved the touches of real historical figures, dates, and accuracy because they lent an authenticity to the narrative. The inclusion of Hitler, Mussolini and Marlene Dietrich provide a veneer of threat that heightens the reader’s awareness of the danger Sheba and Katherine place themselves in.

With Kerensa and Sheba dominating the narrative voice through their first person accounts set in the two timelines, we get to know, understand and love them thoroughly. Through their lives, Liz Fenwick illustrates how history can repeat itself and she depicts both feminism and toxic masculinity to perfection. This is not just a story that entertains, but rather one that strips back the veneer of society and reveals the frequently duplicitous and murky reality beneath it with pinpoint accuracy.

I loathed Paul with such a visceral passion that I had to read the parts where he was present in small doses. He raised my blood pressure far too high! Simon too is a prime example of privileged masculinity that tramples the finer feelings of those deemed socially or intellectually inferior. I’d have given anything to crawl into the pages of the book and spend half an hour with each of them…

But for all the consummate story telling, creation of character and beautiful settings of Cornwall and Venice, it was the depth of emotion in The Secrets of the Harbour House that I found so mesmerising. The author engendered such strong reaction in me as a reader that I experienced a huge range of emotion from loathing and rage to compassion and sadness. This is a story that reverberates long after it is read.

Sumptuous, sensual and sizzling with tension, The Secrets of the Harbour House is a book not to be missed and I loved it. It’s one of my books of the year.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this not quite as good as her others. Slow and it didn't get going until well over halfway through. My thanks to netgalley and the publisher's for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

[Ruth Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never would have thought to pick this up, but it was a book club pick (so naturally I blitzed through it in order to finish it in time...) and found myself enjoying it considerably more than I expected! It wasn't perfect, there were a couple loose ends, every now and then the dialogue felt lifted out of a "how to talk to gay people" manual, and the Paul of it all drove me a bit insane. However, I thought it was structured well and I enjoyed picking out the little clues and unraveling the story. The dual narratives complemented each other well and, for the most part, I enjoyed the characters. Didn't set my world alight, but generally well-written and enjoyable!

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always love a book set in Cornwall as it’s a place I’m very fond of. This was part set there, Italy, and London, pre World War Two which is not often the case with historical fiction. The story is well plotted and with a dual timeline, which is a favourite of mine with one foot in the present day and the other in the 1930s. The characters are well developed but there were a couple who I didn’t like very much but this, I’m sure, was the idea! As we follow the story, the connections are made with secrets, lies and a mystery or two along the way. I really enjoyed it.

[Lydia Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this latest book by Liz Fenwick, she is a great story teller & portrays Cornwall particularly well. There are a great many Cornwall- based (as opposed to Cornish) authors but not all of them manage to get the true feeling of the county across.

I really enjoyed the dual time-line. It’s unusual to have a 1930’s pre-war timeline & I found it fascinating. The characters of Katherine, her bully of a husband, her relationship with Bathsheba and their time together in Venice was captivating. It was also fascinating to read, in the author’s notes, how the meeting between Hitler & Mussolini in Venice was a true event.

I feel I’ve also learned a lot about art history!

The 1930’s storylines were cleverly woven into the present day sections in Cornwall. Ren, affected badly by grief and a lack of confidence together with the dire situation of her mother, gradually regains that confidence and comes out of her shell ready to fight for what is rightfully theirs. Her friend, Tasha, is a brilliant champion of her cause. The characters of Paul & Stephen I did find slightly irritating, obviously we are supposed to but Paul’s controlling ways did come across as a little over-exaggerated, signposting a doomed relationship too early in the book for me & that did jar the reading experience a little.

Apart from that I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the ending was perfect & I loved the humour sprinkled throughout too (especially Bastard the cat!!). I would definitely recommend it to friends.

Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC in return for honest review.

[Fiona Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was delighted to be offered the chance to read a proof copy of The Secrets of Harbour House, having read and loved another of Liz Fenwick's books, The Secret Shore.

The Secrets of Harbour House is a dual-timeline novel set in Venice and Cornwall. It is beautifully written and the interweaving of the stories from the past and the modern-day keeps the reader guessing.

The Secrets of Harbour House was heartrending, captivating and compelling. From the very first page, I was swept away by the story. 

Liz writes so evocatively about Cornwall and Venice that I felt like I was there, experiencing the sights, sounds and scents of these distinct places.

The characters in both the modern-day strand and the past were relatable and intriguing. I really loved the nuanced romance between the characters in the past, and how it was depicted through their creativity, using painting and poetry as a medium of expressing their feelings for each other. 

In the modern day, I enjoyed Ren's journey into Sheba and Katherine's story through the clues left by the past. Ren embarked on her own journey of personal growth, which was very satisfying to follow.

Impeccably researched and exquisitely written, The Secrets of Harbour House held me spellbound until the very end.

[Anne Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having had a particularly difficult time before leaving her job at the family auction house in Cornwall, Kerensa has reluctantly returned to tie up the many loose ends after the death of her father. While attempting to get her head around the increasingly complicated financial situation – obstructed at every turn by her uncle, and while wrestling with her own grief and concerns about her mother – she has issues with her long-term partner Paul, his constant need for contact and less than comfortable interventions making life even more difficult. But she also takes on a commission to catalogue the estate of two elderly women – Sheba and Vivian, both artists – who recently died at their home in Harbour House. Intrigued by the stunning portrait of a beautiful woman that dominates the hallway, she’s driven to try to uncover the women’s story.

In parallel, Sheba’s enthralling and emotional story is gradually uncovered – her encounter with Katherine and her husband Simon while travelling to Venice, both to find artistic inspiration and to escape criticism of her chosen lifestyle, and the way their lives become increasingly entwined. Forbidden love – whatever the reason – is something the author always handles so superbly, and Sheba’s obsession with troubled Katherine becomes desperately painful but interspersed with moments of the most exquisite joy. It’s the 1930s, and the historical setting is wonderfully captured – the constraints on women’s lives, attitudes to sexuality when it deviates from the norm, the backdrop of the rise of fascism, and a society in a heightened state of ferment. The descriptions of the physical settings are superb too – Harbour House beautifully drawn, hiding its many secrets, and the maze of back alleys in Venice leading to unexpected friendships and new discoveries.

Sheba’s story is laced with surprises, and has a particular emotional intensity – you feel her passion, her every experience, always in complete sympathy with her impossible situation. The mystery in the present day is intriguing – a touch lighter perhaps, with its initial focus on Kerensa’s own fragility and relationship issues, although her discoveries add considerable complications – but the past and present day stories are beautifully wrapped around each other, both with their wholly unexpected twists and turns. The pacing throughout is simply perfect – and the stories are told from both women’s perspectives, in the first person, which only increases the degree of emotional engagement.

This is dual time writing at its very best, with an ease about every transition – both narratives are strong, and I was never reluctant to move from one timeline to the other. There are clear parallels between the stories – the primary male characters in both are equally well drawn, and certainly almost as odious as each other – and the way they converge towards the book’s end is quite perfectly handled. And there are layers of deeply buried secrets to be uncovered, which make for a particularly compelling read. I also very much liked the depth of detail – wholly accessible – about the art world and the operations of present day auction houses, quite fascinating and so impeccably researched and brought to life.

But it was the wonderful storytelling and that depth of emotion that turned a book I enjoyed into a book I really loved, filled with moments that deeply moved me and will long linger in the memory – totally captivating. This will, without question, be one of my books of the year.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore Liz Fenwick’s writing and so I was really looking forward to reading her latest novel The Secrets of Harbour House. The book has a dual timeline narrative, one of my favourite ways of telling a story and this one was done so beautifully.

In the present day we have Kerensa, returning to Cornwall after her father’s death to help with her ailing mother and the family auction house business. She finds the business is not in a very good state which is most unexpected and she has to work out what has happened. While there, she is tasked with cataloguing the contents of Harbour House, which was the home of two female artists, Sheba and Viv. She finds many treasures in the house and one or two very intriguing pieces of work which give rise to secrets of the book title.

In the past we follow the story of Sheba, a talented artist who leaves Cornwall, travelling to Paris and Venice. An encounter with glamorous Katherine and her rather unpleasant husband Simon leads to unexpected and forbidden love for Sheba, a love which will change her life.

There are parallels in both timelines with women not always being allowed to shine or have their work acknowledged, although this is particularly evident in Sheba’s story. There are also men in both parts of the story who are very controlling, sometimes in quite an insidious way. The 1930s setting is wonderfully atmospheric both in location but also with regard to the increasingly unsettled and dangerous political climate at the time. In the present day, Kerensa really grew stronger as a character helped by many supportive friends, old and new. Special mention for the cat on the front cover who I will not name here!

I feel I have not done this book justice. I absolutely adored it and was equally invested in both timelines, enjoying both parts of the narrative as the mysteries were unravelled and the secrets revealed. Indeed, the author continued to surprise me with some revelations right to the end of the book. A beautifully told story, The Secrets of Harbour House was compelling and poignant. I think this is Liz Fenwick’s finest book yet.

[Joanne D'Arcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kerensa is called back to Cornwall when her father dies, to take care of her father's auction house and look after her mother, who has recently become unwell. She finds herself at Harbour House, ready to catalogue the contents, which was her father's last job.

A painting captures her as soon as she walks through the door, and it must have a story to tell as well as the two women who lived in the house. One of them Bathsheba Kernow was a famous artist but overlooked at the time. Kerensa wants to learn more about this woman and her art.

The book alternates between the modern day story as Kerensa learns not just about Bathsheba but also the life she is currently living. And the story of Bathsheba as she comes to terms with her art, in the mid 1930s and more importantly the feelings she develops for someone she asked to paint. Her actions will change more than just her own life forever.

The story is plotted well, it takes me too the wind swept parts of Cornwall to the Venetian Summer as fascism starts to infiltrate across Europe. The characters are all fully developed and some are loved, some you feel sorry for and some are despised with a great passion - I am looking at Kerensa's partner Paul.

Themes of grief, loss, forbidden love, control, passion in all its forms are covered so well in this book, that it kept me reading because I was so invested I needed to make sure that the right result was reached.

An excellent example of Liz's work which is one of the best books I have read in 2025.

[Linda Wilgus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in modern-day Cornwall and 1930s Venice, The Secrets of Harbour House is the captivating and at times heartrending story of Kerensa, sent by her father's auction house to catalogue a neglected house overlooking the sea in Newlyn, Cornwall, where she finds an incredible portrait of a woman. Harbour House used to be the home of two female artists, who were far more talented than Kerensa realized, and she is determined to give the two women their place in art history, as well as learn more about the breathtaking portrait.

Her quest to find out more leads her to the story of one of the two artists, Bathsheba Kernow, and her time in Venice in the 1930s. Hugely romantic, this dual timeline novel had me up late at night reading as I couldn't put it down! I loved being swept away to Cornwall and Venice. The author's descriptions are stunning and the characters wonderfully complex and driven. There are plenty of exciting twists and turns as the story moves along but what I loved most of all were the motivations of the characters, Kerensa's journey of self-discovery and the novel's exploration of love and grief, as well as women's roles in art. Simply gorgeous!

[Christine Moriarty · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very beginning, I was engaged and enthralled. I sat and read this right through over a couple of days. What I love most - after the story -is learning about the art business. Even the descriptions of paintings with the various hues of blue stand out as I saw the paintings in my minds eye. And I am not visual!!! Ms. Fenwick captured and described so much feeling on the canvas but also the ethereal feelings of love, loss and light.
This shows so much learning and love - of a situation so different from mine though each emotion and event I felt in my heart.
The deepness of the characters as all were well developed as was the love story – beautiful. But the friendship and art rounded out the characters thereby allowing me to immerse myself in the scenes. I wanted to hang out with most of the characters!
I even repeatedly looked up Katherine and her husband thinking they must have existed. And Ike too. They rang so true I had thought I’d find them.
And sprinkling history was just the right amount of presence.
I cannot say enough about how I enjoyed it and am sad to have it done.
Liz Fenwick is a gifted writer and storyteller. I am ready for the next one!!!!

[Nutkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story, easy read, gorgeous settings of Venice and Cornwall. Parallel lives of abusive relationships that link despite the years in between. I loved it

[Elizabeth Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

very good story 👏 it kept me interested 😀

[Jas Stock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and HQ for this arc copy!

Whilst the first few chapters didn't grab me, I'm glad to say that I soon fell deeply in love with this story. It is a dual timeline/POV story following Kerensa in the present and Sheba in the 1930s. Kerensa is tasked with valuing an intestate estate for two dead artists following the death of her own father. As she discovers the secrets for Sheba's life and art we also follow Sheba herself as she falls for the wealthy Katherine who is trapped in a loveless marriage to her abusive and controlling husband Paul. Paul has been using Katherine to write his poetry for years when we meet Katherine on a train to Venice. This marriage mirrors the toxic relationship of modern protagonist Kerensa who is stuck with Paul an arrogant controlling professor who doesn't have his girlfriend's best interests at heart.

The sapphic love story was beautifully portrayed giving the reader just enough steam without being gratuitous or overly sexual.

The descriptions of the areas allow the reader to jump into the stories well and the arcs of all characters are well done and enjoyable.

I really loved the way the author wrote and will be looking at her other works for sure!

[Yvonne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this to be a lovely easy read going back and forth in time between today and WW2. The overall story is good but I found the characters of Paul and Stephen to be very OTT and annoying. Kerensa, the main character throughout, was likeable but I found her relationship with her uncle to be patronising and disjointed at times. She was portrayed as someone who was a shadow of their former self, and she thus came back into herself throughout the story. The story between Bathsheba and Katherine was interesting as of the time. Overall, both stories were ultimately about tainted love and both relied on an element of serendipity. I felt the epilogue was a nice round off, but perhaps a bit contrived.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

[Tracey- Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liz Fenwick has written a novel that has really kept my attention, the only time I was not reading it was when I was asleep.

I have enjoyed the art historical side of this novel, especially when in Venice with Hitler ( a scary man with no concern for other people's opinions of what art is ! )
I love the settings of Cornwall, Paris and Venice , and reading about St Mark's Square in Venice took me back to my holiday there with Liz's is writing. The time in Venice I felt was was wonderfully descriptive and the writing flowed so easily and I was enthralled by his historical side of it as well as the fictional side.
The Cornwall part of the story for me was so familiar as it's my home County and was so natural as part of the story and it's probably my favourite part to be honest because of my biased Cornish life that I have done here.
The underlying storyline was forbidden. love and I really liked the way that story developed as Kerensa catalogues a neglected house in Newlyn, Cornwall that belong to 2 female artists. Kerensa becomes intrigued by an artist called Bathsheba Kernow who left St Ives almost 2 years before to escape the Society that wouldn't understand who she was.
I liked learning about Bathsheba & Katherine story slowly over the book , it definitely was the right speed for the story and it's so beautifully written by the author.
But there's also Kerensa's storyline and Harbour house secrets that she discovers, and it also changes her life in ways that she can't imagine. I think that.Kerensa's story really was one of growth and finding herself and I do like the way that Liz Fenwick writes the two timeline stories and you can tell that it's really researched as the details come across so solid in the historical part of the book as well the present timeline.
Both parts of these two stories merge so well and it has you so intrigued and entranced as a secrets become revealed , which creates a powerful read as it echoes over the two timelines.
I think this is now my favourite book by Liz Fenwick and it now gets passed on to my mum and I will definitely recommend it to other people that likes to read about Cornwall, historical books , books with two timelines and anyone that has a love like me for stories about forbidden love .

[Madeleine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Following her father's death in a cycling accident, Kerensa returns to her native Cornwall to sort out his estate, help her grieving and ailing mother, and also wind up the estate of 2 women artists, who both died within a few weeks of each other, and whose work was little known, though when they did sell a piece it usually sold for quite a bit of money. Kerensa is fascinated by a portrait of a beautiful woman in the house of the title, and tries to find out more, especially her identity,and so we get the subject's back story, and the book follows two timelines, the present day and the mid 1930s, when we first meet one of the artists, Bathsheba (Sheba) Kernow, who travels on the Orient Express to Paris and Venice to follow in her late mother's footsteps. On the train she meets a woman who beguiles her, but it's when they meet again in Venice that their story really starts.  At  a time when such relationships were forbidden for both men and women, they have to be very careful, especially as Sheba's new love is married, to a cold controlling husband who is a poet trying to gain favour with Mussolini and Hitler, both of whom feature, thankfully briefly, i in thebook.  Meanwhile back in the present Kerensa's return to Cornwall isn't looked on happily by her uncle, who ran the family auction house with her father, or her partner Paul, who wants her back in London as soon as possible as he can't live without her, but once she starts to find discrepancies in her father's financial affairs, she has no choice but to stay in Cornwall to sort things out.  So the main themes of this book are family mysteries and dynamics, forbidden love and controlling men, and this was were the book fell down for me, for most of the male characters were so two dimensional I wanted to hiss whenever they appeared!  It was an OK read but not that convincing though the settings are lovely and the artistic references , to both real and fictitious writers and artists, were also interesting. 6.5/10

[Tea Leaves and Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liz Fenwick’s books were on my shelves long before I ever imagined owning a bookshop. She’s one of those early favourites, the kind that quietly stays with you, and has been part of my reading journey from the beginning. She was also one of the very first authors to visit and sign books here. Liz Fenwick was in our bookshop. She’s even come back since, and will be joining us again for our Festival in September!

But fan-girling aside, I always review books honestly and if anything, there’s even more pressure when the author is not only incredibly talented but also genuinely lovely and passionate about books, bookshops, and literature.

Rest assured: this one is fabulous. In fact, The Secrets of Harbour House might be one of my favourites of Liz’s novels. I’ve always loved her books for their sense of place, beautiful, evocative Cornwall, but this story felt different. While still set in Cornwall, the novel stands solidly on its own, not relying too heavily on the landscape. Cornwall is there, vividly so, but it’s Harbour House that truly takes centre stage. A character in its own right, the house is brought to life through Liz’s exquisite storytelling, the perfect setting for secrets to slowly unravel, both past and present.

It’s a dual timeline novel, something I sometimes find tricky to connect with, but here, the two narratives are woven together so seamlessly that I was equally invested in both. There’s romance, grief, illness, history, art, and layered relationships. We move between Venice and Cornwall, past and present, and throughout, there’s a rich exploration of the world of art, auctions, and society.

The Secrets of Harbour House is haunting, beautiful, and absorbing, and it will linger long after you’ve turned the final page.

[Felicity Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful, and exquisitely touching tale of love and the terrible bias and non recognition and respect of women in the art and literature worlds is the twentieth century.
The story is set on two timelines in the main from the mid 1930’s and post Covid year of 2022, with links between the characters, spread between Cornwall London and Venice.
Sheba is travelling to Venice from Paris to follow her mum’s footsteps in the mid 1930’s to progress and hone her art. She is running away from situations in Cornwall, and what she meets along the way is completely unexpected. Ren is returning to Cornwall in 2022 to sort out her father’s estate, his share of the family auction house and the care of her mother. When she discovers through what should be a simple house clearance many secrets which in turn help her find her way.
The writing is as always with Liz Fenwick’s books, intellectually fascinating, brilliant, well researched and an absolute joy to read. The characters are charming and engaging, a book you can immediately immerse yourself into, enjoying every word! Wow this is just an extraordinary piece of work, it made me stop and think to appreciate all those unrecognised female artists that are now being discovered.
Loved the social comments of the time, and of course the resident cat at Harbour House!!
This is a fabulous summer read, intelligent and absorbing and of course a fabulous escape to Venice. This book stays with you!
Hugely recommended for a totally great read!!
Thank you NetGalley and HQ books for the early read greatly appreciated and enjoyed!

[Bzz Kolla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and HQ for this eCopy to review

I was completely drawn into The Secrets of Harbour House, a beautifully layered novel that blends art, history, and emotional healing in a way that felt both intimate and epic.

The story centres on Kerensa (Ren) Barton, a thirty-year-old woman reeling from the sudden death of her father. Her life is in disarray: her mother is unwell, her career in the family auction house was derailed years ago, and she’s stuck in a controlling relationship. When her uncle sends her to catalogue Harbour House, a crumbling Georgian estate on the Cornish coast, it feels like a lifeline.

Harbour House was once home to two elderly female artists—Bathsheba Kernow and Vivian Sykes—who have both died within weeks of each other. As Ren explores the house and its treasure trove of artwork, she becomes captivated by a sensual portrait and the mystery of Bathsheba’s life. The narrative shifts between Ren’s present and Bathsheba’s past, taking us from Cornwall to the bohemian underworld of Paris and the opulence of Venice, where a forbidden love affair changed everything.

What I loved most was how Fenwick wove together the two timelines. Ren’s journey of self-discovery mirrors Bathsheba’s in subtle, powerful ways. The themes of grief, identity, and reclaiming one’s voice are handled with sensitivity and depth. The setting—Cornwall’s rugged beauty and Venice’s faded grandeur—was so vivid I felt transported.

The Secrets of Harbour House is a haunting, evocative read that stayed with me long after I turned the last page.

[Lisbeth Zabihi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Endnu engang en fantastisk roman fra Liz Fenwick.

Kerensa har netop mistet sin far og er derfor hjemme hos sin mor, for at få styr på boet. Hendes mor er syg, men det viser sig, at hun er mere syg end hvad både hendes mor og hendes far har givet udtryk for. Samtidig viser det sig, at alle økonomiske midler er forsvundet. Hvorfor? Og hænger det sammen med det skrantende familiefirma?

Kerensa får til opgave, at katalogisere et dødsbo og klargøre til auktion. Det viser sig at være en stor opgave. Samtidig har hun problemer med kæresten og familiefirmaet kræver al hendes opmærksomhed, hvis det skal løses at få det til at overleve.

En dejlig roman i to tidslinjer. Vi følger Kerensa i nutiden, mens hun gennemgår det gamle hus. Samtidig følger vi den tidligere beboer af huset i 1930'erne. En kvindelig kunstmaler, der er rejst til Venedig, for at finde sig selv og sin malestil. Hun møder en gift kvinde og bliver stormende forelsket. De to tidslinjer fungere rigtig godt i denne roman.

[Ann Hutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew I would love this book, I was lucky enough to win a copy!! I love Cornwall and Venice and of course, I love Liz Fenwick's books.

It is a beautifully written, dual time line story from 1930's Paris and Venice to present day Cornwall. You are lead through passion, forbidden love and loss, art, poetry and romance.

Kerensa works for her father’s auction house and she is sent to catalogue a neglected house overlooking the sea in Newlyn, Cornwall. It was once the home of two female artists, Harbour House is a treasure trove of beautiful things, but one painting in particular catches Kerensa’s eye – a hypnotically sensual portrait of a beautiful young woman which dominates the hallway.
Captivated by the beautiful woman, Kerensa finds herself piecing together the story behind the portrait.

This is one of those books that makes you wish you had been there and you don't want it to end!

[Hannah Symonds · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story that will whisk you away not only to Cornwall but also to Venice, a place I have heard about but never been too. Kerensa is from Venice and working for her father, she finds herself in Cornwall to valuate items in a very run down property. This is perfect for her as she needs to get away for a bit. When Kerensa finds a painting, she goes and researches into it. She has things going on in her life that she needs to come to terms with. This was storytelling at it's best, Liz always finds a way to make you completely entranced in her books. I enjoyed all aspects of this book, the history and the art and I found it useful to know a little more about both of these. I really enjoyed this spellbinding read.

[Sandra Leivesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was quite slow to get going but once it did I found it an intriguing mystery. The story is set on two timelines. In the present Kerensa has the job of valuing the estate of artist. Bathsheba, and Katherine, and in the past, just before WW2, we learn more about Bathsheba and Katherine. I l particularly loved the 1930s setting, where attitudes to women and sexuality were so different. I also liked the inclusion of Hitler and Mussolini and also Marlene Dietrich. The story is set in Cornwall, London, Paris and Venice and all are described beautifully. The female characters are well written and I particularly liked Bathsheba's story, though some of the male characters, particularly Simon and Paul, feel more like caricatures.

Laura Kirman read the book beautifully.

[Helen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cornwall, artists, antiques and a mystery. What's not to like? Kerensa is going through Harbour House after the death of it's owners; artists Bathsheba and Viv. While she tries to discover the origins of the art left behind she is also dealing with her ill mother, grief for her recently deceased father and an overbearing partner who wants her to return home. In contrast in 1934 Bathsheba is travelling to Venice to paint, meets the love of her life and creates her best artwork. It's up to Kerensa to piece together the clues of Bathsheba's life.

Really good book, especially if you like art and antiques. Some pretty shitty male characters make for some frustrating reading but it's fiction so it all works out in the end.

[Tracy Hodge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my word I loved this book!!

I bought this from a lovely independent bookshop that I visit rarely, and I love it because it has books from local authors - authors I wouldn't normally read.

I chose this one as I've stayed in Newlyn and the other places and locations in the story and I was so pleased I did as I loved it!

I loved the story, I loved the characters and I loved the story moving from years ago to the current day.

I loved the story from the start and then I just couldn't put the book down as I so desperately wanted to know how it ended and how things turned out!

I also loved the fact it was so much about string women and strong women coming out of the shadow of controlling men.

Loved it and will be back in the bookshop to look at more of Liz's work!

[NickeySummer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotive, well written, with twists and turns, this book may look like a ‘light read’ from the cover but the characters come to life, jumping between the 1950’s in Venice to Cornwall in the 2020’s, revealing the lives of women artists fighting for their place in society and the arts world, and for acceptance for who they are and whom they love before LGBT rights were a thing.
This is a powerhouse of a novel, for anyone who has been in or knows someone in a controlling relationship, or indeed a male dominated society, here women re-claim their power and strength and forgive themselves and others around them for mistakes made.
Ps there are nice men in this book too!

[Carolyn R Swickard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

All is not happiness in this generational read, but it is excellent. A group of women artists in pre-WW2 England, struggling with the mores and challenges of those years. Then a group of 2020s women struggling to unearth the secrets of the earlier group and conquer their own demons. The tale twists back and forth between the two groups as challenges are met and acknowledged. Loss is pervasive on both sides, but life carries on for both groups and others around them. Complex and twisty - very enjoyable.