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The Storyteller's Daughter
Listening Length = 10 hours and 3 minutes
A secret buried for decades… A story that will change everything.
1940: When twenty-one-year-old Nita Bineham is offered the chance of independence, away from the high walls of her family’s Surrey estate, she grasps it with both hands. But her new role at a local newspaper coincides with the emergence of a sinister rumour in their quiet village: that there is a traitor in their midst. Nita is determined to prove herself by uncovering the truth, but is she prepared for revelations that could change her life forever?
2008: Following the death of her great aunt, Beth flees London for the privacy of rural Surrey. Within the confines of her family’s dilapidated manor house, she hides from the dual wreckage of her career and her marriage. But when her aunt’s dying words lead her to a stack of old newspaper articles, Beth finds herself drawn into a decades old mystery: about a long-buried secret, and an enemy dangerously close to home.
A 2025 release narrated by an Earphones Award–winning performer: Beth travels to her family’s dilapidated house in Surrey to escape the wreckage of her life in London — but the discovery of a stack of 1940s newspapers reveals an old secret.
A secret buried for decades… A story that will change everything.
1940: When twenty-one-year-old Nita Bineham is offered the chance of independence, away from the high walls of her family’s Surrey estate, she grasps it with both hands. But her new role at a local newspaper coincides with the emergence of a sinister rumour in their quiet village: that there is a traitor in their midst. Nita is determined to prove herself by uncovering the truth, but is she prepared for revelations that could change her life forever?
2008: Following the death of her great aunt, Beth flees London for the privacy of rural Surrey. Within the confines of her family’s dilapidated manor house, she hides from the dual wreckage of her career and her marriage. But when her aunt’s dying words lead her to a stack of old newspaper articles, Beth finds herself drawn into a decades old mystery: about a long-buried secret, and an enemy dangerously close to home.
11 pages, Audible Audio
First published January 15, 2025
3680 people are currently reading
11921 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Scott
7 books142 followersVictoria Scott is a bestselling British author of life-affirming fiction, known for her gripping gothic historical mysteries and uplifting book club novels that explore themes of hope, resilience and the power of human friendship and love. Her books are perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley, Kate Morton, and Jojo Moyes.
Her novels, The Storyteller’s Daughter and The Women Who Wouldn’t Leave, are both Amazon Top 100 bestsellers. Her latest novel, The House on the Cliff – a haunting, atmospheric tale of secrets and second chances – is out now.
Before becoming a novelist, Victoria worked as a journalist for the BBC, The Telegraph and Al Jazeera. She now combines her love of storytelling with lecturing in journalism at Kingston University.
Victoria lives on an island in the River Thames with her husband, two children, and a cat called Alice. When she’s not writing, she is a keen (but amateur) singer and gardener.
Follow Victoria for updates and behind-the-scenes book content:
Instagram & TikTok: @VictoriaScottAuthor
Facebook: @VictoriaScottJournalist
X/Twitter: @toryscott
Her novels, The Storyteller’s Daughter and The Women Who Wouldn’t Leave, are both Amazon Top 100 bestsellers. Her latest novel, The House on the Cliff – a haunting, atmospheric tale of secrets and second chances – is out now.
Before becoming a novelist, Victoria worked as a journalist for the BBC, The Telegraph and Al Jazeera. She now combines her love of storytelling with lecturing in journalism at Kingston University.
Victoria lives on an island in the River Thames with her husband, two children, and a cat called Alice. When she’s not writing, she is a keen (but amateur) singer and gardener.
Follow Victoria for updates and behind-the-scenes book content:
Instagram & TikTok: @VictoriaScottAuthor
Facebook: @VictoriaScottJournalist
X/Twitter: @toryscott
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 319 reviews
January 2, 2025
Victoria Scott has done it again. She's written an engaging story with wonderful characters and added a bit of a mystery that I couldn't wait to solve. You can tell the author has done her research impeccably, and I highly recommend reading her notes at the end.
This is in the dual timeline format (my favourite) with a 1940/41 timeline and a 2008/09 one. As is usual for me I enjoyed the earlier timeline more. We also get the points of view of both main female characters, Nita and her great-niece Beth. I loved Nita's story so much and learning about how hard it was to be a woman reporter at the time, especially considering she came from such an influential family. What I found remarkable is that women are still fighting some of the same challenges today…trying to break through that glass ceiling in a man's world while wanting children and family life. Both Beth and Nita face these challenges in one way or another 70 years apart. Nita was such a compelling character as was Beth and I was cheering them on and wishing them well.
I love when I can learn something from a fictional story and this one taught me a lot about the war, spies and Wiccan. This book made me appreciate the time I live in and my ancestors who fought in WWII. I also know to appreciate and celebrate our differences and not shun them no matter our beliefs or rituals. I highly recommend this one to historical fiction lovers who enjoy an atmospheric tale.
This is in the dual timeline format (my favourite) with a 1940/41 timeline and a 2008/09 one. As is usual for me I enjoyed the earlier timeline more. We also get the points of view of both main female characters, Nita and her great-niece Beth. I loved Nita's story so much and learning about how hard it was to be a woman reporter at the time, especially considering she came from such an influential family. What I found remarkable is that women are still fighting some of the same challenges today…trying to break through that glass ceiling in a man's world while wanting children and family life. Both Beth and Nita face these challenges in one way or another 70 years apart. Nita was such a compelling character as was Beth and I was cheering them on and wishing them well.
I love when I can learn something from a fictional story and this one taught me a lot about the war, spies and Wiccan. This book made me appreciate the time I live in and my ancestors who fought in WWII. I also know to appreciate and celebrate our differences and not shun them no matter our beliefs or rituals. I highly recommend this one to historical fiction lovers who enjoy an atmospheric tale.
January 20, 2025
3.8 stars
One Liner: A bit slow but poignant
1940: Nita Bineham is twenty-one, the daughter of a wealthy businessman (industrialist) who wants to be independent and not marry someone her parents choose. One day, she gets a chance to join the local newspaper as an assistant. Nita is determined to prove her worth as a journalist. However, danger lurks in the form of a traitor.
2008: Beth Bineham is Nita’s great-niece and a thirty-two-year-old woman still doing what her parents want. After a mishap, Beth’s job at her father’s company is under scrutiny. As if that’s not enough, her marriage is about to end. Beth’s visit to Nita’s house leads her to the secrets from the past. Eager to ignore the mess in her life, Beth starts to dig for the truth. But it might bring the enemy closer home than intended.
The story comes in the third-person POV of Beth (in present tense) and Nita (also in present tense) in alternating chapters.
My Thoughts:
The prologue provides a great hook and hints at the danger we’ll read about. However, it turns out to be a snippet from one of the later chapters. While I like prologues, I want them to add extra value to the plot and not repeat an existing element. That means, a certain reveal is exposed right on the first page.
The first 25% is slow as the foundation is established in both timelines. Thankfully, the pace picks up a little after 30% or so. The alternating chapters ensure we get enough information in both timelines. It does feel a little strange to read the past track in the present tense but okay. Not a deal breaker.
For a change, I liked both timelines well. The characters are flawed but not annoying. They make mistakes but are willing to learn and do what’s right for their future. I also like the parallels between Nita and Beth’s arcs though the situations are different. We can still see the similarities, though.
The parents in this book are ugh! The side characters are good; be it Harriet or Rowan, I like how sweet and affectionate they are. Kindness matters.
Things come together well at the end. There’s even a surprising twist which I liked a lot. The ending is hopeful and positive with a hint of potential love. It doesn’t overpower the plot at any point.
Wiccan has a dominant role in the book. I didn’t expect that but well, I like all things pagan, so this is good. The definition is positive and well-presented. I wouldn’t have minded a little more detail into this element. Also, I’m not sure if the ‘possibly paranormal but maybe rational’ events that happen in the book. You either make them supernatural or you don’t.
WWII is the backdrop for the past timeline but the focus is on Nita and her life. Of course, the book deals with many themes like gender discrimination, war, working-class troubles, financial concerns, selfish parents, marital trouble, etc. One piece of advice by Rowan was wonderful. Appreciate that.
While the title fits the story in two ways, I still don’t think it is that suitable for the overall plotline. But then, I have enough trouble naming my stories, so don’t listen to me!
To summarize, The Storyteller's Daughter is a poignant and slightly heavier read about love, life, second chances, relationships, and finding oneself.
I liked it a lot more than the author’s previous book (The House on Water), so I’m looking forward to her next release.
Thank you, Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley
One Liner: A bit slow but poignant
1940: Nita Bineham is twenty-one, the daughter of a wealthy businessman (industrialist) who wants to be independent and not marry someone her parents choose. One day, she gets a chance to join the local newspaper as an assistant. Nita is determined to prove her worth as a journalist. However, danger lurks in the form of a traitor.
2008: Beth Bineham is Nita’s great-niece and a thirty-two-year-old woman still doing what her parents want. After a mishap, Beth’s job at her father’s company is under scrutiny. As if that’s not enough, her marriage is about to end. Beth’s visit to Nita’s house leads her to the secrets from the past. Eager to ignore the mess in her life, Beth starts to dig for the truth. But it might bring the enemy closer home than intended.
The story comes in the third-person POV of Beth (in present tense) and Nita (also in present tense) in alternating chapters.
My Thoughts:
The prologue provides a great hook and hints at the danger we’ll read about. However, it turns out to be a snippet from one of the later chapters. While I like prologues, I want them to add extra value to the plot and not repeat an existing element. That means, a certain reveal is exposed right on the first page.
The first 25% is slow as the foundation is established in both timelines. Thankfully, the pace picks up a little after 30% or so. The alternating chapters ensure we get enough information in both timelines. It does feel a little strange to read the past track in the present tense but okay. Not a deal breaker.
For a change, I liked both timelines well. The characters are flawed but not annoying. They make mistakes but are willing to learn and do what’s right for their future. I also like the parallels between Nita and Beth’s arcs though the situations are different. We can still see the similarities, though.
The parents in this book are ugh! The side characters are good; be it Harriet or Rowan, I like how sweet and affectionate they are. Kindness matters.
Things come together well at the end. There’s even a surprising twist which I liked a lot. The ending is hopeful and positive with a hint of potential love. It doesn’t overpower the plot at any point.
Wiccan has a dominant role in the book. I didn’t expect that but well, I like all things pagan, so this is good. The definition is positive and well-presented. I wouldn’t have minded a little more detail into this element. Also, I’m not sure if the ‘possibly paranormal but maybe rational’ events that happen in the book. You either make them supernatural or you don’t.
WWII is the backdrop for the past timeline but the focus is on Nita and her life. Of course, the book deals with many themes like gender discrimination, war, working-class troubles, financial concerns, selfish parents, marital trouble, etc. One piece of advice by Rowan was wonderful. Appreciate that.
While the title fits the story in two ways, I still don’t think it is that suitable for the overall plotline. But then, I have enough trouble naming my stories, so don’t listen to me!
To summarize, The Storyteller's Daughter is a poignant and slightly heavier read about love, life, second chances, relationships, and finding oneself.
I liked it a lot more than the author’s previous book (The House on Water), so I’m looking forward to her next release.
Thank you, Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley
December 18, 2024
1940: Nita Bineham lives at her family’s Surrey estate Melham Manor, her mother is trying to marry her off and she grabs the chance to help out at the local newspaper The Bugle. Around the same time a rumour is going around Melham Village, of a Nazi spy and Nita is determined to find out who it is and she has no idea she has met the person and what happens will change the direction of her life and future.
The story has a dual timeline and it alternates from 1940 to 1941 and 2008 to 2009 and is told from the two main female characters points of view and is very easy to follow.
2008: Beth dashes to Surrey to visit her great- aunt before she passes away, her mother in particular didn’t like her influence she had over Beth when she was a child and thought she was downright odd. The manor house has been in the family for over a century, here Beth hides away from the wreckage of her life, she made an embarrassing mistake at work and her marriage is falling apart. Beth finds herself drawn into a solving a decade old mystery, she has to locate a box in her great-aunts cluttered attic and undercover a long kept secret following cryptic clues and it includes a prediction of a coven of witches.
I received a copy of The Storyteller’s Daughter by Victoria Scott from NetGalley and Boldwood books in exchange for an unbiased review. I love reading stories about old houses, this one grabbed my attention from the start and I really liked Nita and Beth’s characters.
The narrative focuses on topics such as domineering parents, something both Nita and Beth had in common, overcoming obstacles and dealing with difficult relationships and with the help of like-minded women and living in a community that sticks together. Beth starts looking at her life and re-evaluates what she wants for herself and children and the importance of the house and the surrounding land and forest.
Five stars from me, I’m interested in pagan ideas around witchcraft, a modern form of Wicca, rituals and affinity with the moon, land and plants and all of this is included in the well written novel and I’m keen to read The House in The Water by Ms. Scott and I have a copy.
The story has a dual timeline and it alternates from 1940 to 1941 and 2008 to 2009 and is told from the two main female characters points of view and is very easy to follow.
2008: Beth dashes to Surrey to visit her great- aunt before she passes away, her mother in particular didn’t like her influence she had over Beth when she was a child and thought she was downright odd. The manor house has been in the family for over a century, here Beth hides away from the wreckage of her life, she made an embarrassing mistake at work and her marriage is falling apart. Beth finds herself drawn into a solving a decade old mystery, she has to locate a box in her great-aunts cluttered attic and undercover a long kept secret following cryptic clues and it includes a prediction of a coven of witches.
I received a copy of The Storyteller’s Daughter by Victoria Scott from NetGalley and Boldwood books in exchange for an unbiased review. I love reading stories about old houses, this one grabbed my attention from the start and I really liked Nita and Beth’s characters.
The narrative focuses on topics such as domineering parents, something both Nita and Beth had in common, overcoming obstacles and dealing with difficult relationships and with the help of like-minded women and living in a community that sticks together. Beth starts looking at her life and re-evaluates what she wants for herself and children and the importance of the house and the surrounding land and forest.
Five stars from me, I’m interested in pagan ideas around witchcraft, a modern form of Wicca, rituals and affinity with the moon, land and plants and all of this is included in the well written novel and I’m keen to read The House in The Water by Ms. Scott and I have a copy.
February 8, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up! The Storyteller’s Daughter was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by author, Victoria Scott. I was quite impressed by how well written it was and how much research went into it. It was written in a duel timeline and told from the POV of two strong yet hampered women who had a lot in common with each other despite the fact that they lived almost 70 years apart. Nita Bineham’s story took place from 1940 to 1941 and Beth Bineham’s story took place in 2008 and 2009. The Storyteller’s Daughter took place in Surrey, England and London, England.
When Beth was a young girl, she, her older sister and her parents, often visited Great Aunt Nita at her home in Surrey. The estate was called Melham Manor and it sat on hundreds of acres of land. Beth recalled the time she spent with her Aunt Nita as some of the happiest times in her life. She remembered venturing into the woods and swinging on a handmade swing that hung from a tree branch. Beth’s mother did not particularly like Aunt Nita. She found her to be quite odd and strange. Those trips to Melham Manor and Aunt Nita ended abruptly. One year they ceased to visit and that was the end of spending time with Aunt Nita. Beth was never offered any explanation for why they no longer visited her aunt nor did Beth ever ask how come.
Nita Bineham was still living under her parent’s roof at Melham Manor when she was twenty-one years old. Her parents were over protective and very domineering. Nita’s mother always commented about Nita’s choices of clothes she chose to wear and more often than not insisted Nita wear an outfit that her mother had selected for her. Nita was a tall woman and her mother always commented on her weight. Her mother’s most important and time consuming task was finding an eligible and appropriate husband for her only daughter. Nita wanted no part in this and longed to be able pursue a career instead. One night, Nita’s dream came true. Her parents had invited the owner of the local newspaper, The Bugle, to dinner. He was looking for someone to take over the position of assistant that was being vacated because the person who had been in that position was being promoted. Nita loved to write. This was everything she hoped for. Finally, she could leave her parent’s house for hours at a time. Even though the position was a glorified gopher position, Nita didn’t care. The man whose position she was replacing took Nita under his wing and helped her learn what was expected of her. The two easily formed a fast friendship. Then when Nita had been at the newspaper for a short time, she learned that there was a possibility that a Nazi spy was living somewhere in Melham Village. Nita was determined to find this spy. She became consumed with her need to discover who the spy was and make sure he/she got what was coming to him/her. Was Nita able to get to the bottom of this story and find the spy?
In 2008-2009, Beth returned to Melham Manor. She had learned that her aunt was dying and Beth wanted to see her great-aunt Nita one more time before she died. When Beth arrived At Melham Manor, she was taken to her aunt’s room by a woman Beth assumed was her aunt’s nurse. Her aunt did not have a lot of time left but she opened her eyes as Beth entered her room. She recognized Beth right away and was so glad to see her. Aunt Nita knew that Beth would come. In her last words that Aunt Nita spoke to Beth she told Beth about a box that contained secrets. Later that night, the nurse came to inform Beth that her aunt had died. Beth was sad but she herself was going through some tough times. Her marriage to her college sweetheart was ending. One day, her husband informed Beth that he wanted a divorce. Beth had not seen this coming. She was sad and angry. Beth had to think about her two children, Raphie and Ella. Their wellbeing came first and utmost. Then there was also the embarrassing incident at work. Beth worked in her family’s business but after the comment she made she was told to lie low for a while. Since she wasn’t working, Beth offered to help clear out some of her aunt’s things from the house. Melham Manor had been in Beth’s family for over two hundred years. Beth’s life was in a shambles so why not just loose herself in all that needed to be done at the Manor. At some point, Beth remembered about the box that her aunt had mentioned. When Beth finally found it she discovered that not only had her aunt been a reporter for The Bugle but she had been hunting for a Nazi spy. Beth went to the building that The Bugle had occupied when her aunt was a young woman during the early 1940’s and she discovered that The Bugle was still in circulation, but barely. The owner convinced Beth to write some stories for the paper. In exchange, the owner allowed Beth to access archived material that she felt might explain what her aunt had found out. What would Beth learn about her aunt? Had there really been a Nazi spy living in Melham Village back then?
I really enjoyed reading The Storyteller’s Daughter by Victoria Scott. In the future, I hope to read more books by her. The Storyteller’s Daughter explored the roles of parents in their children’s lives and how they could positively or negatively impact their lives. It focused on how women’s choices, rights and decisions during the 1940’s were dictated by their male counterparts. It feels like women are still striving for equality and opportunity. I really enjoyed Nita’s and Beth’s characters. Both women ended up being so much stronger than they thought they were. I also enjoyed the way Victoria Scott brought the rituals of Wicca and their knowledge of plants and love for the land into the story. Without any hesitation, I recommend this book very highly.
Thank you to Boldwood Books for allowing me to read The Storyteller’s Daughter by Victoria Scott through Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
When Beth was a young girl, she, her older sister and her parents, often visited Great Aunt Nita at her home in Surrey. The estate was called Melham Manor and it sat on hundreds of acres of land. Beth recalled the time she spent with her Aunt Nita as some of the happiest times in her life. She remembered venturing into the woods and swinging on a handmade swing that hung from a tree branch. Beth’s mother did not particularly like Aunt Nita. She found her to be quite odd and strange. Those trips to Melham Manor and Aunt Nita ended abruptly. One year they ceased to visit and that was the end of spending time with Aunt Nita. Beth was never offered any explanation for why they no longer visited her aunt nor did Beth ever ask how come.
Nita Bineham was still living under her parent’s roof at Melham Manor when she was twenty-one years old. Her parents were over protective and very domineering. Nita’s mother always commented about Nita’s choices of clothes she chose to wear and more often than not insisted Nita wear an outfit that her mother had selected for her. Nita was a tall woman and her mother always commented on her weight. Her mother’s most important and time consuming task was finding an eligible and appropriate husband for her only daughter. Nita wanted no part in this and longed to be able pursue a career instead. One night, Nita’s dream came true. Her parents had invited the owner of the local newspaper, The Bugle, to dinner. He was looking for someone to take over the position of assistant that was being vacated because the person who had been in that position was being promoted. Nita loved to write. This was everything she hoped for. Finally, she could leave her parent’s house for hours at a time. Even though the position was a glorified gopher position, Nita didn’t care. The man whose position she was replacing took Nita under his wing and helped her learn what was expected of her. The two easily formed a fast friendship. Then when Nita had been at the newspaper for a short time, she learned that there was a possibility that a Nazi spy was living somewhere in Melham Village. Nita was determined to find this spy. She became consumed with her need to discover who the spy was and make sure he/she got what was coming to him/her. Was Nita able to get to the bottom of this story and find the spy?
In 2008-2009, Beth returned to Melham Manor. She had learned that her aunt was dying and Beth wanted to see her great-aunt Nita one more time before she died. When Beth arrived At Melham Manor, she was taken to her aunt’s room by a woman Beth assumed was her aunt’s nurse. Her aunt did not have a lot of time left but she opened her eyes as Beth entered her room. She recognized Beth right away and was so glad to see her. Aunt Nita knew that Beth would come. In her last words that Aunt Nita spoke to Beth she told Beth about a box that contained secrets. Later that night, the nurse came to inform Beth that her aunt had died. Beth was sad but she herself was going through some tough times. Her marriage to her college sweetheart was ending. One day, her husband informed Beth that he wanted a divorce. Beth had not seen this coming. She was sad and angry. Beth had to think about her two children, Raphie and Ella. Their wellbeing came first and utmost. Then there was also the embarrassing incident at work. Beth worked in her family’s business but after the comment she made she was told to lie low for a while. Since she wasn’t working, Beth offered to help clear out some of her aunt’s things from the house. Melham Manor had been in Beth’s family for over two hundred years. Beth’s life was in a shambles so why not just loose herself in all that needed to be done at the Manor. At some point, Beth remembered about the box that her aunt had mentioned. When Beth finally found it she discovered that not only had her aunt been a reporter for The Bugle but she had been hunting for a Nazi spy. Beth went to the building that The Bugle had occupied when her aunt was a young woman during the early 1940’s and she discovered that The Bugle was still in circulation, but barely. The owner convinced Beth to write some stories for the paper. In exchange, the owner allowed Beth to access archived material that she felt might explain what her aunt had found out. What would Beth learn about her aunt? Had there really been a Nazi spy living in Melham Village back then?
I really enjoyed reading The Storyteller’s Daughter by Victoria Scott. In the future, I hope to read more books by her. The Storyteller’s Daughter explored the roles of parents in their children’s lives and how they could positively or negatively impact their lives. It focused on how women’s choices, rights and decisions during the 1940’s were dictated by their male counterparts. It feels like women are still striving for equality and opportunity. I really enjoyed Nita’s and Beth’s characters. Both women ended up being so much stronger than they thought they were. I also enjoyed the way Victoria Scott brought the rituals of Wicca and their knowledge of plants and love for the land into the story. Without any hesitation, I recommend this book very highly.
Thank you to Boldwood Books for allowing me to read The Storyteller’s Daughter by Victoria Scott through Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
January 1, 2025
This was a lovely story, told in 2 timeslines. Beth’s story in 2008 and her Great Aunt Nita at the age of 21 in 1940. It’s a tale of family relationships – both good and bad, history, mystery, and personal values.
It’s 2008, and Beth works for the family business – which she is not enjoying, and having said the wrong thing to the press she is now on gardening leave. When she hears that her beloved Great Aunt Nita is dying, she goes to see her and is there when she passes away. This brings back very happy memories of her childhood with her Great Aunt and she wonders why she hadn’t been there for a while. Before Nita passes, in a lucid moment she tells Beth about a secret in the attic. As Beth and her husband’s marriage comes to an end, Beth finds herself spending more and more time at her Great Aunt’s home with and without her children, and spends time trying to work out the secret that Nita was trying to tell her.
A beautiful story that kept me enthralled to the end. I hadn’t heard of Victoria Scott but I will be looking out for further books of hers.
It’s 2008, and Beth works for the family business – which she is not enjoying, and having said the wrong thing to the press she is now on gardening leave. When she hears that her beloved Great Aunt Nita is dying, she goes to see her and is there when she passes away. This brings back very happy memories of her childhood with her Great Aunt and she wonders why she hadn’t been there for a while. Before Nita passes, in a lucid moment she tells Beth about a secret in the attic. As Beth and her husband’s marriage comes to an end, Beth finds herself spending more and more time at her Great Aunt’s home with and without her children, and spends time trying to work out the secret that Nita was trying to tell her.
A beautiful story that kept me enthralled to the end. I hadn’t heard of Victoria Scott but I will be looking out for further books of hers.
January 20, 2025
Beth’s Great Aunt Nita whispers to her about an old mystery just before she dies. Beth is suddenly wrapped up in trying to solve this mystery and her current life.
This story is told with dual timelines. It started out a little slow and I wasn’t too sure about it. Much to my relief it picks up and I found myself completely engrossed in both story lines. Definitely add to your list
This story is told with dual timelines. It started out a little slow and I wasn’t too sure about it. Much to my relief it picks up and I found myself completely engrossed in both story lines. Definitely add to your list
December 30, 2024
I very much enjoy dual timeline historical fiction stories. This one missed the mark. The main characters came off as naive and were not relatable in my opinion. I’m sure others will enjoy this book. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
May 21, 2025
I loved this book so much! The story had all the things I like and unexpected twists. Best book I’ve read in awhile
January 1, 2026
Very much a women's book club sort of read, once again the author weaves together sual timelines of the modern world and the back in the times of WW2.
There's a lot of overlap in themes, character types, events, and the way the plot pans out with The River House (there's also a little nod to that book within this story), though this one goes deeper into "women's issues" be that the historical lack of agency given to young ladies or the modern misery that is the unpaid workload, both physical and mental, of the working mother.
Those similarities did bother me a little and add to the fluffy predictablity. It might not keep you guessing, but it's highly readable and concerns the character development as they move through these difficult situations.
There's a lot of overlap in themes, character types, events, and the way the plot pans out with The River House (there's also a little nod to that book within this story), though this one goes deeper into "women's issues" be that the historical lack of agency given to young ladies or the modern misery that is the unpaid workload, both physical and mental, of the working mother.
Those similarities did bother me a little and add to the fluffy predictablity. It might not keep you guessing, but it's highly readable and concerns the character development as they move through these difficult situations.
December 11, 2025
definitely a very slow beginning, i almost want to say first half. i feel like there were things being mentioned early on that i was expecting to dive into a bit more but in a captivating way, and i feel like it fell short. i guess the story to me just wasn’t anything special & didn’t have me as hooked as i would have liked
January 6, 2025
Once I started reading this, I couldn’t put it down. Both Nita's story in the 1940s and Beth's in 2008 were so compelling. Both were bits of non conformists, and it was fun following Beth as she worked out Nita's secrets after her death. And what a story it was, and it impacted the present day through Nita's bequests. This was a thoroughly enjoyable read, as both women worked towards the life that suited them. Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.
January 16, 2025
A brilliant read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was so interesting and plus it was a dual timeline which I enjoy. Set in present day and wartime. Quite sad in places. I highly recommend this one. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
May 28, 2025
Not quite historical enough to appease me in that respect. Not quite emotive enough to make me feel connected to either character. Very sorry, it just didn't hit the mark for me.
June 30, 2025
This as a DNF for me. I got about halfway through and it just didn’t seem to be going anywhere. It definitely wasn’t keeping me interested.
October 28, 2025
This story unfolds from a dual time line with one story line in 2008/2009 and the other set in the early 1940’s in England. In the 1940’s storyline we follow Nita as she tries to escape the confine of her wealthy family and pursue being a journalist. In the more current day timeline Nita has just passed away and her great niece, Beth is told of a secret in the attic, the process of discovering the secret Beth begins to emerge and grow in new ways.
I have to say I really enjoyed this book, I picked it up on the whim when I was in between library holds and so glad that I did. I loved the location of a small town in England, the dual story lines, the journey that both women take to discover new things and embrace a life that is important and meaningful to them. Overall glad I read this book, it was the first book I have read by this author and will look out for other books.
I have to say I really enjoyed this book, I picked it up on the whim when I was in between library holds and so glad that I did. I loved the location of a small town in England, the dual story lines, the journey that both women take to discover new things and embrace a life that is important and meaningful to them. Overall glad I read this book, it was the first book I have read by this author and will look out for other books.
October 6, 2025
Was looking forward to it, however couldn’t get into the now parts of the story.
February 22, 2025
The Storyteller’s Daughter
Definitely a very good story that was difficult to put down. I loved the mystery that Beth was tasked to find by her great Aunt Nita and how the story unfolded.
Definitely a very good story that was difficult to put down. I loved the mystery that Beth was tasked to find by her great Aunt Nita and how the story unfolded.
June 21, 2025
Great read
This is a wonderful story about the family we make, and the family we choose. Set in a beautiful location with a wonderful memories all around.
This is a wonderful story about the family we make, and the family we choose. Set in a beautiful location with a wonderful memories all around.
December 26, 2024
The Story Teller’s Daughter by Victoria Scott is a highly moving and uplifting dual timeline that handles some difficult topics extremely well. Beautifully written, this story is set in 1940/41 and 2008/09 that takes us on a journey of two resilient women, Nita and Beth, who are from the same family but a few generations apart. We learn so much about their lives: their challenges, mistakes and choices concerning the situations they face. They handle those bumps along the road with determination and fervour. I was completely caught up in both of these women’s lives in different timelines equally. The pacing is perfect and the character building is highly developed so I felt I truly knew each of them thoroughly by the end of their stories. I love how the beginning and ending are finely laced together to create a touching whole picture.
Nita of 1940/41 timeline, has a secret that she wishes to share with her great niece Beth. Just before she passes, she tells her to look for a box in her old homestead. She has grown up in quite a prominent and controlling family. But in 1940 she is offered a chance to work at a newspaper which gives her the independence she craves. But her role begins and progresses quite differently than expected. She meets some interesting people, both at work and outside the office. A romance begins she never expected. But with the war on, will her new love be called away and taken from her? In the meantime, she pursues a story that suspects a German spy in their midst and goes about trying to uncover the truth of Mr X. In time, the revelations will both shock and rip her heart apart. Nita’s life will change drastically and her future will be altered as she finds herself standing in unknown territory.
Beth of 2008/09 timeline, is married with two children but her husband decides he wants to separate. This sends her into a state of turmoil and confusion. Why is this happening now? Her parents have never thought her husband was good for her and it seems now they might have been right. She has always done what they wanted but this one time she went against their wishes and now her marriage is in shambles. Even so, she does not regret her choice of loving her husband and the two beautiful children that their union provided. Far worse is the fact she has been under her parents controlling influence a long time. They have governed her every move, including making her ignore her own career choice. Instead she is pushed to work in Stellar, the family’s property business. Until of late, Beth has done what they asked but an incident occurs that puts her on the outs. Her parents aren’t as perfect as they would like everyone to think, either. Her mother is a successful novelist but has an alcohol problem and her father is a workaholic. Business is all he breathes and knows. Until something happens that shakes his less than solid foundation—exposing his own social and emotional deficits.
Once Nita passes, Beth is left tending to her great aunt’s dilapidated family manor. While getting appraisals and sorting out other affairs, she learns a lot about Nita and this place she loved so much. There is an enchanting forest around the property where spiritual pagan activities occurred. And while there, Beth learns all about it, after she meets Nita’s best friend’s daughter. This place was very special to Beth, too, and while tending to her great aunt’s affairs, she reconnects with those feelings she had as a child. She learns a lot about her great aunt’s pastoral and writing activities and pursuit of uncovering a spy.
This story has many layers concerning family and marital relationships, friendships and secrets. Also, added to the mix are mysterious elements of WW2 spies and Wiccan practitioners with plenty of surprises and dramatic plot twists! I truly enjoyed every minute on these pages that kept me pinned in suspense. Nita and Beth, two related women of amazing courage and strength, were fantastic characters who pushed boundaries, found solutions and achieved positive results in the end. There is also an excellent supporting cast, too. The Story Teller’s Daughter is a wonderful mesmerising, atmospheric tale I highly recommend. Without question, this a riveting 5 Star read! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for a review copy.
Nita of 1940/41 timeline, has a secret that she wishes to share with her great niece Beth. Just before she passes, she tells her to look for a box in her old homestead. She has grown up in quite a prominent and controlling family. But in 1940 she is offered a chance to work at a newspaper which gives her the independence she craves. But her role begins and progresses quite differently than expected. She meets some interesting people, both at work and outside the office. A romance begins she never expected. But with the war on, will her new love be called away and taken from her? In the meantime, she pursues a story that suspects a German spy in their midst and goes about trying to uncover the truth of Mr X. In time, the revelations will both shock and rip her heart apart. Nita’s life will change drastically and her future will be altered as she finds herself standing in unknown territory.
Beth of 2008/09 timeline, is married with two children but her husband decides he wants to separate. This sends her into a state of turmoil and confusion. Why is this happening now? Her parents have never thought her husband was good for her and it seems now they might have been right. She has always done what they wanted but this one time she went against their wishes and now her marriage is in shambles. Even so, she does not regret her choice of loving her husband and the two beautiful children that their union provided. Far worse is the fact she has been under her parents controlling influence a long time. They have governed her every move, including making her ignore her own career choice. Instead she is pushed to work in Stellar, the family’s property business. Until of late, Beth has done what they asked but an incident occurs that puts her on the outs. Her parents aren’t as perfect as they would like everyone to think, either. Her mother is a successful novelist but has an alcohol problem and her father is a workaholic. Business is all he breathes and knows. Until something happens that shakes his less than solid foundation—exposing his own social and emotional deficits.
Once Nita passes, Beth is left tending to her great aunt’s dilapidated family manor. While getting appraisals and sorting out other affairs, she learns a lot about Nita and this place she loved so much. There is an enchanting forest around the property where spiritual pagan activities occurred. And while there, Beth learns all about it, after she meets Nita’s best friend’s daughter. This place was very special to Beth, too, and while tending to her great aunt’s affairs, she reconnects with those feelings she had as a child. She learns a lot about her great aunt’s pastoral and writing activities and pursuit of uncovering a spy.
This story has many layers concerning family and marital relationships, friendships and secrets. Also, added to the mix are mysterious elements of WW2 spies and Wiccan practitioners with plenty of surprises and dramatic plot twists! I truly enjoyed every minute on these pages that kept me pinned in suspense. Nita and Beth, two related women of amazing courage and strength, were fantastic characters who pushed boundaries, found solutions and achieved positive results in the end. There is also an excellent supporting cast, too. The Story Teller’s Daughter is a wonderful mesmerising, atmospheric tale I highly recommend. Without question, this a riveting 5 Star read! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for a review copy.
January 12, 2025
Will a long buried secret change her life...?
1940: Nestled in the Surrey countryside beyond a row of trees lining the drive lay Melham Manor. A vast estate spanning hundreds of acres and a sprawling manor house that has been home to the Binehams for over two hundred years. Twenty one year old Nita Bineham is resisting her mother's attempts to marry her off, grabbing the chance to work at a local newspaper The Bugle. Her mother naturally is horrified as "Bineham women do not work". Her father is just happy to have out from under his feet. Of course the journalists she is working with think of her as a glorified secretary, but for the first time in her life, Nita feels as if she is doing something worthwhile. And soon she is on the hunt for a Nazi spy as reports come in about some unrest in the village. But the deeper she digs, what will she uncover?
2008: With the news that her great aunt Nita is on her deathbed, Beth Bineham dashes to Surrey to visit before she passes away. Beth had always adored her aunt Nita until her parents stopped her visits as a child and she never visited again. Until now. She manages to see her aunt Nita one last time before she passes away. In the wake of Nita's death Beth navigates her own personal crisis, she escapes to Melham Manor away from the wreckage that is her life. Along with her dog Stanley (a Staffordshire bull terrier whom I was thrilled to see portrayed in the loyal loving way that staffies naturally are) and her two children, Raphie and Ella, Beth hides away in the Surrey countryside taking up a part time journalist job at the very paper her aunt Nita had once worked. Her aunt made mention of a box in the attic with many secrets so Beth made that her mission to unravel.
I was drawn to this story by the premise and the fact that it was dual timeline, a genre I love. However, I was sadly disappointed to find it riddled with wicca (which I don't mind mentioned but this book was steeped in it) that wasn't alluded to. I don't have anything against wiccans but I am not interested in books about it. And the title made no sense until the last 15% of the book. It really had so much potential but I found I didn't enjoy it as much as I'd hoped and was disappointed as such.
I would like to thank #VictoriaScott, #Netgalley and #BoldwoodBooks for an ARC of #TheStoryellersDaughter in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
1940: Nestled in the Surrey countryside beyond a row of trees lining the drive lay Melham Manor. A vast estate spanning hundreds of acres and a sprawling manor house that has been home to the Binehams for over two hundred years. Twenty one year old Nita Bineham is resisting her mother's attempts to marry her off, grabbing the chance to work at a local newspaper The Bugle. Her mother naturally is horrified as "Bineham women do not work". Her father is just happy to have out from under his feet. Of course the journalists she is working with think of her as a glorified secretary, but for the first time in her life, Nita feels as if she is doing something worthwhile. And soon she is on the hunt for a Nazi spy as reports come in about some unrest in the village. But the deeper she digs, what will she uncover?
2008: With the news that her great aunt Nita is on her deathbed, Beth Bineham dashes to Surrey to visit before she passes away. Beth had always adored her aunt Nita until her parents stopped her visits as a child and she never visited again. Until now. She manages to see her aunt Nita one last time before she passes away. In the wake of Nita's death Beth navigates her own personal crisis, she escapes to Melham Manor away from the wreckage that is her life. Along with her dog Stanley (a Staffordshire bull terrier whom I was thrilled to see portrayed in the loyal loving way that staffies naturally are) and her two children, Raphie and Ella, Beth hides away in the Surrey countryside taking up a part time journalist job at the very paper her aunt Nita had once worked. Her aunt made mention of a box in the attic with many secrets so Beth made that her mission to unravel.
I was drawn to this story by the premise and the fact that it was dual timeline, a genre I love. However, I was sadly disappointed to find it riddled with wicca (which I don't mind mentioned but this book was steeped in it) that wasn't alluded to. I don't have anything against wiccans but I am not interested in books about it. And the title made no sense until the last 15% of the book. It really had so much potential but I found I didn't enjoy it as much as I'd hoped and was disappointed as such.
I would like to thank #VictoriaScott, #Netgalley and #BoldwoodBooks for an ARC of #TheStoryellersDaughter in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
January 1, 2025
Intriguing setting but I found most of the characters to be sad or unhappy. There was a lot of potential with Nita’s character but Beth seemed weak from the beginning. I did question Nita and Beth’s relationship. My guesses were wrong, and there were unexpected events and surprises at the end.
Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.
Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.
January 4, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an early arc.
This book was kind of just okay for me. I didn't really love the characters and the character development just didn't feel like it was enough. Like so many things kept happening to these characters and then just wrapped up a little too quickly.
I did like Nita's POV more than Beth's. I just wasn't really a fan of Beth's POV. It was really more family drama and less investigating the secrets of the past than I wanted.
I also don't like the title with this book. It's supposed to be a big secret to one of the characters and it really is more of a spoiler. And along with that, we see Nita with her daughter well before Beth finding out and I think the timelines should have followed each other a little closer. It's like that for a lot of things and it makes it feel like what is the point of Beth's POV?
There were also some lines that I were a bit offputting, such as "her ample breasts are now pointing towards the sky, like anti-aircraft guns."
This book was kind of just okay for me. I didn't really love the characters and the character development just didn't feel like it was enough. Like so many things kept happening to these characters and then just wrapped up a little too quickly.
I did like Nita's POV more than Beth's. I just wasn't really a fan of Beth's POV. It was really more family drama and less investigating the secrets of the past than I wanted.
I also don't like the title with this book. It's supposed to be a big secret to one of the characters and it really is more of a spoiler. And along with that, we see Nita with her daughter well before Beth finding out and I think the timelines should have followed each other a little closer. It's like that for a lot of things and it makes it feel like what is the point of Beth's POV?
There were also some lines that I were a bit offputting, such as "her ample breasts are now pointing towards the sky, like anti-aircraft guns."
January 8, 2025
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of The Storyteller's Daughter by Victoria Scott
I loved reading this story of 2 generations, 2 wonderful women, Beth current day and Nita Beth's aunt as a young woman in the 1940's
This novel had me hooked from the beginning, I loved the characters and the plot. The author does an amazing job with description of people and places. I loved how the story developed, I couldn't put the book down and didn't want it to end
I will definitely read more books by this author
I loved reading this story of 2 generations, 2 wonderful women, Beth current day and Nita Beth's aunt as a young woman in the 1940's
This novel had me hooked from the beginning, I loved the characters and the plot. The author does an amazing job with description of people and places. I loved how the story developed, I couldn't put the book down and didn't want it to end
I will definitely read more books by this author
June 26, 2025
Interesting story
This is yet another dual timeline story with the earlier story taking place during WWII. Quite a carefully crafted story although the reference to bandwidth in the earlier story seemed to be an error. Don’t want to throw out any spoilers, but I did find it curious as to how Nita “knew” that Beth would find the clues and also honor her wishes when she never knew her as an adult.
This is yet another dual timeline story with the earlier story taking place during WWII. Quite a carefully crafted story although the reference to bandwidth in the earlier story seemed to be an error. Don’t want to throw out any spoilers, but I did find it curious as to how Nita “knew” that Beth would find the clues and also honor her wishes when she never knew her as an adult.
June 12, 2025
A charming yet sad book
I almost overlooked how charming it was because the grammar, lack of insight into the way people spoke in certain social classes and eras, and the narrative inconsistencies were all annoying me.
It is worth reading as the story itself has merit, although very clunky in places with characters and Stellar being absolute pastiches!
I almost overlooked how charming it was because the grammar, lack of insight into the way people spoke in certain social classes and eras, and the narrative inconsistencies were all annoying me.
It is worth reading as the story itself has merit, although very clunky in places with characters and Stellar being absolute pastiches!
June 21, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
{4.5/5}
The Storyteller’s Daughter by Victoria McCombs:
An excavation of inheritance, grief, and betrayal told through a lens sharpened by war, womanhood, and withheld truths 💪🏻
This was not the book I expected—but it was exactly the book I needed. It was a CRIME how long i’ve kept this on my ‘NEXT’ shelf 🫣
The Storyteller’s Daughter is historical fiction at its most emotionally intelligent: not overly theatrical, not romanticized, but raw and reverberating. This isn’t a war novel, it’s a post-war reckoning. It asks what happens after the bombs drop—on homes, on families, on identities—and how that wreckage seeps into the next generation.
The narrative balances a dual timeline with elegance: Nita in the past, Rowan in the present. But it’s not just a structural device—it’s a thematic one. Two women, generations apart, navigating the rubble left behind by one man’s double life. What begins as a quiet family inheritance quickly unravels into espionage, emotional manipulation, and identity distortion that spans decades.
I annotated this like I was in the story—responding in real time to the betrayals, predictions, and slow reveals. (Yes, I did call the Nazi spy subplot early on. No, I’m not humble about it.) But this book’s power lies not in its plot twists but in its emotional payload. It’s about discovering that your foundational memories—your origin story—have been quietly doctored by the very people you trusted. And the fallout from that isn’t just dramatic; it’s devastating.
What McCombs does particularly well is show how trauma ripples. Nita’s story isn’t just about betrayal in the romantic sense. Her pain is multifaceted—it’s about being used, erased, lied to, and then expected to move on like nothing happened. Her trauma is physical, relational, generational. Her decisions are infuriating and deeply human. And her silence? That felt the loudest 📢
The themes around identity, particularly in relation to religion, gender roles, divorce, and the constraints of motherhood, made this feel deeply resonant. These aren’t just subplots—they’re systemic echoes of how society teaches women to suppress, accommodate, endure. It reminded me how many of us carry trauma in a way that’s normalized, almost invisible, until we’re forced to name it.
And Rowan—Rowan was the key to the future. Her journey isn’t just about discovering her family’s history, it’s about reclaiming narrative control. The inheritance subplot wasn’t about wealth; it was about agency. Legacy. Choice. It felt like the author was asking: What do we do with the pain we didn’t ask for? Rowan’s answer—introspective, brave, a bit broken but still standing—was one I felt in my bones.
Final Thoughts 💭
This is not your breezy dual-timeline historical fiction. It’s cerebral. It’s emotionally jagged. It makes you sit with discomfort—particularly around the ways families hide things “for your own good.” And yet, it also offers healing—not as a perfect ending, but as the quiet act of choosing your truth over someone else’s mythology.
Read this if you’re drawn to:
• Intergenerational trauma explored with nuance
• Historical fiction grounded in post-war moral ambiguity
• Complex female protagonists navigating betrayal, identity, and silence
• Themes of religion, memory, and maternal inheritance
• Subtle but shattering emotional beats that echo long after the final page
Skip this if:
• You’re looking for a clean “romance plus mystery” plot
• You need tidy resolutions or fully redemptive arcs
• You can’t sit in the grey areas of what love and loyalty look like after betrayal
This book doesn’t whisper—it haunts 👻
And honestly? I’ll be thinking about Nita and Rowan for a long, long time.
{4.5/5}
The Storyteller’s Daughter by Victoria McCombs:
An excavation of inheritance, grief, and betrayal told through a lens sharpened by war, womanhood, and withheld truths 💪🏻
This was not the book I expected—but it was exactly the book I needed. It was a CRIME how long i’ve kept this on my ‘NEXT’ shelf 🫣
The Storyteller’s Daughter is historical fiction at its most emotionally intelligent: not overly theatrical, not romanticized, but raw and reverberating. This isn’t a war novel, it’s a post-war reckoning. It asks what happens after the bombs drop—on homes, on families, on identities—and how that wreckage seeps into the next generation.
The narrative balances a dual timeline with elegance: Nita in the past, Rowan in the present. But it’s not just a structural device—it’s a thematic one. Two women, generations apart, navigating the rubble left behind by one man’s double life. What begins as a quiet family inheritance quickly unravels into espionage, emotional manipulation, and identity distortion that spans decades.
I annotated this like I was in the story—responding in real time to the betrayals, predictions, and slow reveals. (Yes, I did call the Nazi spy subplot early on. No, I’m not humble about it.) But this book’s power lies not in its plot twists but in its emotional payload. It’s about discovering that your foundational memories—your origin story—have been quietly doctored by the very people you trusted. And the fallout from that isn’t just dramatic; it’s devastating.
What McCombs does particularly well is show how trauma ripples. Nita’s story isn’t just about betrayal in the romantic sense. Her pain is multifaceted—it’s about being used, erased, lied to, and then expected to move on like nothing happened. Her trauma is physical, relational, generational. Her decisions are infuriating and deeply human. And her silence? That felt the loudest 📢
The themes around identity, particularly in relation to religion, gender roles, divorce, and the constraints of motherhood, made this feel deeply resonant. These aren’t just subplots—they’re systemic echoes of how society teaches women to suppress, accommodate, endure. It reminded me how many of us carry trauma in a way that’s normalized, almost invisible, until we’re forced to name it.
And Rowan—Rowan was the key to the future. Her journey isn’t just about discovering her family’s history, it’s about reclaiming narrative control. The inheritance subplot wasn’t about wealth; it was about agency. Legacy. Choice. It felt like the author was asking: What do we do with the pain we didn’t ask for? Rowan’s answer—introspective, brave, a bit broken but still standing—was one I felt in my bones.
Final Thoughts 💭
This is not your breezy dual-timeline historical fiction. It’s cerebral. It’s emotionally jagged. It makes you sit with discomfort—particularly around the ways families hide things “for your own good.” And yet, it also offers healing—not as a perfect ending, but as the quiet act of choosing your truth over someone else’s mythology.
Read this if you’re drawn to:
• Intergenerational trauma explored with nuance
• Historical fiction grounded in post-war moral ambiguity
• Complex female protagonists navigating betrayal, identity, and silence
• Themes of religion, memory, and maternal inheritance
• Subtle but shattering emotional beats that echo long after the final page
Skip this if:
• You’re looking for a clean “romance plus mystery” plot
• You need tidy resolutions or fully redemptive arcs
• You can’t sit in the grey areas of what love and loyalty look like after betrayal
This book doesn’t whisper—it haunts 👻
And honestly? I’ll be thinking about Nita and Rowan for a long, long time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 15, 2025
This was such an engaging dual timeline story, anchored by the family estate at Melham Manor – with such a strong sense of place that it almost becomes another character in the story.
In 2008, Beth arrives there as her great aunt is dying – she was a key figure in her childhood, with many happy (but hazy) memories, but later shunned by the family. Tasked with wrapping up her estate, the manor becomes Beth’s sanctuary as she escapes the issues in her own life – a disintegrating marriage and an error at her work in the family’s business that’s led to her suspension. But before she dies, her great aunt tells her about a box left for her in the attic – and that leads her on a quest to uncover deeply hidden secrets of the past, while making decisions about where her own future lies.
In 1940, Nita – her life very much controlled by her parents, wanting her to make a suitable marriage – eagerly grabs the opportunity to work at the local paper, owned by a friend of her father, as a volunteer. At first, she’s frustrated to be treated as a dogsbody, struggling to fit in with her wealthy and privileged background – but her growing closeness with one of the reporters sets her on the trail of a Nazi spy operating in the area, and ultimately changes the whole direction of her life.
The story is told from the viewpoints of both main female characters – both sympathetic and very well developed, encountering similar issues in their lives around family relationships and challenges in being able to follow their chosen paths in life despite the very different times they live in. The supporting cast is very well drawn too – the male-dominated newsroom in Nita’s time, the current editor of the paper that Beth finds herself working with, the women they both encounter in their lives when they most need them. And there are other elements to the story I particularly enjoyed – the cryptic clues, a few supernatural touches (not overdone – just intriguing), and the exploration of Wiccan beliefs and the connection with the natural world that ran through both stories.
Nita’s story was particularly compelling and emotional, but the stories were so well balanced, the shifts seamless and easy to follow – I was never wrenched from one timeline when unwilling to follow. And it’s all so beautifully told – excellent storytelling, perfectly paced, well handled emotional touches, a very intriguing mystery, and a book I thoroughly enjoyed. Very much recommended.
In 2008, Beth arrives there as her great aunt is dying – she was a key figure in her childhood, with many happy (but hazy) memories, but later shunned by the family. Tasked with wrapping up her estate, the manor becomes Beth’s sanctuary as she escapes the issues in her own life – a disintegrating marriage and an error at her work in the family’s business that’s led to her suspension. But before she dies, her great aunt tells her about a box left for her in the attic – and that leads her on a quest to uncover deeply hidden secrets of the past, while making decisions about where her own future lies.
In 1940, Nita – her life very much controlled by her parents, wanting her to make a suitable marriage – eagerly grabs the opportunity to work at the local paper, owned by a friend of her father, as a volunteer. At first, she’s frustrated to be treated as a dogsbody, struggling to fit in with her wealthy and privileged background – but her growing closeness with one of the reporters sets her on the trail of a Nazi spy operating in the area, and ultimately changes the whole direction of her life.
The story is told from the viewpoints of both main female characters – both sympathetic and very well developed, encountering similar issues in their lives around family relationships and challenges in being able to follow their chosen paths in life despite the very different times they live in. The supporting cast is very well drawn too – the male-dominated newsroom in Nita’s time, the current editor of the paper that Beth finds herself working with, the women they both encounter in their lives when they most need them. And there are other elements to the story I particularly enjoyed – the cryptic clues, a few supernatural touches (not overdone – just intriguing), and the exploration of Wiccan beliefs and the connection with the natural world that ran through both stories.
Nita’s story was particularly compelling and emotional, but the stories were so well balanced, the shifts seamless and easy to follow – I was never wrenched from one timeline when unwilling to follow. And it’s all so beautifully told – excellent storytelling, perfectly paced, well handled emotional touches, a very intriguing mystery, and a book I thoroughly enjoyed. Very much recommended.
December 26, 2024
I always loved Victoria Scott's books, and she's 100% done it again with this one, the Storyteller's Daughter!
A dual timeline story told from the points of view of Nita Bineham in the 1940s and of her great niece Beth in the present age.
Nita was a bit of an enigma during her time. She does not have the figure and looks preferred in those times, but she comes from a family of means. Her mother laments that the war has not given her daughter a chance to be presented to society, meaning less chance of a suitable match. On top of it all, fewer men are around, as they are all being called up.
Her father arranges for Nita to escape the house for a few days here and there, helping at the local paper. What was meant to be a brief break becomes a massive part of her life as she embarks on a junior reporter career.
On her deathbed, Nita requests that her great-niece, Beth, find a box in the attic with secrets for her to unfold.
This strange task comes at the perfect time for Beth, though she doesn't realise it. Suffering the news that her marriage is about to end and that her job in the family business may not be there for her, she embarks upon an adventure. She mourns her great aunt and tries to piece clues together to solve the cryptic puzzle that Nita has left her.
Pages were turned quicker and quicker as I became absorbed in this story.
I've always loved dual timelines done well and throwing the war years into it, and I am hooked! The way Nita and Beth's lives and connections come full circle kept me reading.
Fantastic story!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.
A dual timeline story told from the points of view of Nita Bineham in the 1940s and of her great niece Beth in the present age.
Nita was a bit of an enigma during her time. She does not have the figure and looks preferred in those times, but she comes from a family of means. Her mother laments that the war has not given her daughter a chance to be presented to society, meaning less chance of a suitable match. On top of it all, fewer men are around, as they are all being called up.
Her father arranges for Nita to escape the house for a few days here and there, helping at the local paper. What was meant to be a brief break becomes a massive part of her life as she embarks on a junior reporter career.
On her deathbed, Nita requests that her great-niece, Beth, find a box in the attic with secrets for her to unfold.
This strange task comes at the perfect time for Beth, though she doesn't realise it. Suffering the news that her marriage is about to end and that her job in the family business may not be there for her, she embarks upon an adventure. She mourns her great aunt and tries to piece clues together to solve the cryptic puzzle that Nita has left her.
Pages were turned quicker and quicker as I became absorbed in this story.
I've always loved dual timelines done well and throwing the war years into it, and I am hooked! The way Nita and Beth's lives and connections come full circle kept me reading.
Fantastic story!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.
January 14, 2025
I really enjoyed this dual time line story.
We meet Beth, visiting her dying great aunt who her family has had nothing to do with since she was a little girl. We follow Beth’s story as she comes to terms with big changes in her life, while also trying to find out about her great aunts life. Along side this, we get to discover Nita’s life and how she ended up where she did, and how this joins with Beth’s story.
The first half of the book greatly introduces us to the characters, the family, their situations, the house in which Nita has spent her life. There is great character development and a real feeling of getting inside this story. It pulls you in and gets you hooked. The second half really pulls you in more as you discover secrets kept across the decades. I love how friendships and relationships develop through the story, the hope of friendship even after relationships fail.
All in all a lovely story to loose yourself in. It includes tales of witches, tales from the war, but also how important it is to take time to get to know someone, even someone within your family, rather than assuming what they are going through.
4.5 stars
We meet Beth, visiting her dying great aunt who her family has had nothing to do with since she was a little girl. We follow Beth’s story as she comes to terms with big changes in her life, while also trying to find out about her great aunts life. Along side this, we get to discover Nita’s life and how she ended up where she did, and how this joins with Beth’s story.
The first half of the book greatly introduces us to the characters, the family, their situations, the house in which Nita has spent her life. There is great character development and a real feeling of getting inside this story. It pulls you in and gets you hooked. The second half really pulls you in more as you discover secrets kept across the decades. I love how friendships and relationships develop through the story, the hope of friendship even after relationships fail.
All in all a lovely story to loose yourself in. It includes tales of witches, tales from the war, but also how important it is to take time to get to know someone, even someone within your family, rather than assuming what they are going through.
4.5 stars
January 16, 2025
A new to me author I was first attracted to this title as when reading the blurb I discovered it was set in rural Surrey. Imagine how delighted I was then to discover later that not only was it set in the Dorking area, my birthplace, but that the country estate Melham Manor is based on a place I know well!
The protagonist Nita Bineham is based on a real person who is a distant relative to Victoria Scott. She has carefully blended this lady into an entirely fictional but credible account of her WWII secrets that were buried for decades. Until in 2008 her great niece Beth is drawn into a family mystery.
An engaging dual timeline story of secrets and loss which is recommended to fans of historical family drama and intrigue. With thanks to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and the author for giving me the opportunity to read and review 'The StoryTeller's Daughter.’
https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogsp...
The protagonist Nita Bineham is based on a real person who is a distant relative to Victoria Scott. She has carefully blended this lady into an entirely fictional but credible account of her WWII secrets that were buried for decades. Until in 2008 her great niece Beth is drawn into a family mystery.
An engaging dual timeline story of secrets and loss which is recommended to fans of historical family drama and intrigue. With thanks to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and the author for giving me the opportunity to read and review 'The StoryTeller's Daughter.’
https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogsp...
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