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The Secrets We Keep
A mother’s secret, a father’s betrayal, a town on the edge…When social worker Aimee arrives in the mining town of Kalgoorlie, she is ready for a fresh start. Her colleagues Lori and Paddy seem friendly, and she is also drawn to one of her the Steele family, whose future looks particularly bleak. But Aimee has a dark secret and as the past reaches out towards her once more, she realises that somehow her secret is connected to this unfamiliar but harshly beautiful town and its inhabitants.As she strengthens her ties with the local community — especially with the vibrant Lori, stoical Kerry and wise Agnes — she finds herself questioning earlier decisions. Can she reveal her secret, even if it is not hers alone to share?A compelling novel of the transcendental love of children and the truth’s unwillingness to stay hidden.
Audio CD
First published March 19, 2018
About the author
Shirley Patton
2 books9 followersDr Shirley Patton grew up in outback Western Australia and now lives with her partner and a miniature schnauzer, in wine-growing country overlooking the beautiful Tamar River, Northern Tasmania. She left an academic career as a published researcher of family violence and a lecturer to write fiction full time. Since then, she has published several short stories in a variety of literary publications. Prior to practising social work, Shirley worked in the media as a television newsreader and television chat show host. Like one of the characters in The Secrets We Keep, Shirley’s Irish great grandmother read tea leaves.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
March 8, 2018
4.5★s
Aimee McCartney's decision to leave her home in Perth for the mining town of Kalgoorlie wasn't made easily, but she was looking forward to the change. A social worker, Aimee's new job felt right - her work-mates were friendly and welcoming, especially Lori, who seemed constantly full of life. As Aimee learned the ropes in the small town, she felt constant empathy toward the people she met. Her meeting with Paul, Kerry and Amber Steele as their support person taught her strength - the friendship between the family and Aimee grew.
The close knit community included Aggie, a reader of tea leaves. Aggie had lost her husband Frank some years previously, but was loved by all. When a problem with the mines reared its ugly head, the townsfolk banded together. But Aimee found herself dwelling too much in the past and the secrets she held. Could she release the hurt without hurting others?
The Secrets We Keep by Aussie author Shirley Patton is a gentle story of heartache, hope, respect and forgiveness. Set in Western Australia in the harshness of the desert of 1986, it shows the plight of the Aboriginals, the struggles of the miners and their families, and the simple caring of friends. The Secrets We Keep was a thoroughly enjoyable read and different from anything I've read in awhile. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read and review.
Aimee McCartney's decision to leave her home in Perth for the mining town of Kalgoorlie wasn't made easily, but she was looking forward to the change. A social worker, Aimee's new job felt right - her work-mates were friendly and welcoming, especially Lori, who seemed constantly full of life. As Aimee learned the ropes in the small town, she felt constant empathy toward the people she met. Her meeting with Paul, Kerry and Amber Steele as their support person taught her strength - the friendship between the family and Aimee grew.
The close knit community included Aggie, a reader of tea leaves. Aggie had lost her husband Frank some years previously, but was loved by all. When a problem with the mines reared its ugly head, the townsfolk banded together. But Aimee found herself dwelling too much in the past and the secrets she held. Could she release the hurt without hurting others?
The Secrets We Keep by Aussie author Shirley Patton is a gentle story of heartache, hope, respect and forgiveness. Set in Western Australia in the harshness of the desert of 1986, it shows the plight of the Aboriginals, the struggles of the miners and their families, and the simple caring of friends. The Secrets We Keep was a thoroughly enjoyable read and different from anything I've read in awhile. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read and review.
October 5, 2018
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4.5 stars
Kalgoorlie, a West Australian mining town is brought vividly to life through the expert eyes of Shirley Patton, the talented storyteller of the new novel, The Secrets We Keep. This is a tale told from the depths of the heart, from an author who possesses an astute understanding of life, love, family, children, loss and hope. Nothing pleases me more than to introduce a new writer to the world and it gives great pleasure to congratulate Shirley Patton on such a refined first novel.
The dusty roads that lead into Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, is the catalyst for the revelation of dark secrets and hidden truths in The Secrets We Keep. At the centre of this compelling new novel is Aimee, a social worker who has just arrived to the town. Aimee hopes the move to the mining town of Kalgoorlie will rejuvenate her life, as she leaves behind a trail of heartbreak and disappointment. Supporting Aimee are her open and friendly work colleagues. Aimee also sympathises with one of the clients of her cases, a local family. As Aimee settles into her changed life in Kalgoorlie, it seems the more she tries to bury the past, the more it seeps to the surface. Despite the unconditional support of her new friends and colleagues, Aimee is apprehensive about revealing a dark secret from her past. Will this embracing new community help Aimee on her path to reconciliation with the past?
Following great authors such as Judy Nunn and Liz Byrski, Shirley Patton is fast making a name for herself in the Australian book publishing world. Word is travelling fast about this novel and Shirley’s writing. In fact, I recently had an extended chat with another like-minded reader in my local bookstore about The Secrets We Keep. This particular reader has nothing by praise to issue to Shirley Patton and according this reader, she nails the period, as well as the vivid setting.
Rarely does a book make me revisit my days as a student, but the issues raised in The Secrets We Keep, allowed me to track back to my former life as a Sociology and Community Development student. Patton expertly weaves a rich narrative around the societal conditions present in Australian towns across the country. She draws our attention to the societal pressures, moral thinking, social movements and political influences of this particular period, the 1980s. There was also a sense of nostalgia for me personally that came hand in hand with the period setting. I was able to look back fondly on my childhood memories of growing up in the 1980s through this book.
The central storyline of The Secrets We Keep does revolve around Aimee, the new social worker, who seeks a fresh start in the mining town of Kalgoorlie. Aimee’s storyline is an accurate reflection of the time in which the story it situated. I found myself incredibly drawn to the way in which Aimee’s secret is slowly unfurled. Aimee was a genuine and lovely soul. My heart went out to her many times over. What I appreciated about Aimee’s character journey was the way in which Patton was able to tie in themes of optimism and support. Patton also shows us the value of friendship, which Aimee develops through her time in Kalgoorlie. The supporting character set help to expand Aimee’s story and the overall narrative. I am confident readers will discover a sense of understanding and connection to Lori, Kerry, Agnes and the rest of the Kalgoorlie crew.
The pinnacle of The Secrets We Keep has to be the setting itself. I often note in well received books that the setting is a character in itself. This is easily the case in The Secrets We Keep. Patton and her protagonists live, breathe and are the very salt of the earth of the town. There is an implicit sense of familiarly to the landscape of this novel, that only comes from a storyteller who has a deep connection to this setting. Patton has carefully used her first hand experiences to shape the narrative of this rich novel. Although I haven’t personally visited Kalgoorlie, an outback town in my own state, the experiences I have garnered from close friends who have lived and worked in this region certainly makes everything about the setting of The Secrets We Keep ring true.
A surprising narrative thread in The Secrets We Keep concerns the use of a supernatural side storyline and a focus on visions or premonitions. I really enjoyed this aspect of the book and I felt it was composed very well by Shirley Patton. The art of reading tea leaves was fascinating and indicates Patton’s dedication to her craft to get these details just so.
There is no doubt that The Secrets We Keep is a confronting read, an intricate drama, a solid portrait of the recent past and it pivots around the revelation of the core secret held by the central protagonist. Patton’s approach is steady, honest and perceptive. Patton takes care to ensure the ending note is full of promise, acceptance and recovery.
It is with much jubilation that I throw my full support behind Shirley Patton and her debut novel The Secrets We Keep. Patton is a skilled new voice in Australian fiction. May there be many more yarns of Shirley Patton’s to enjoy!
The Secrets We Keep is book #130 of the Australian Women Writers Challenge
4.5 stars
Kalgoorlie, a West Australian mining town is brought vividly to life through the expert eyes of Shirley Patton, the talented storyteller of the new novel, The Secrets We Keep. This is a tale told from the depths of the heart, from an author who possesses an astute understanding of life, love, family, children, loss and hope. Nothing pleases me more than to introduce a new writer to the world and it gives great pleasure to congratulate Shirley Patton on such a refined first novel.
The dusty roads that lead into Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, is the catalyst for the revelation of dark secrets and hidden truths in The Secrets We Keep. At the centre of this compelling new novel is Aimee, a social worker who has just arrived to the town. Aimee hopes the move to the mining town of Kalgoorlie will rejuvenate her life, as she leaves behind a trail of heartbreak and disappointment. Supporting Aimee are her open and friendly work colleagues. Aimee also sympathises with one of the clients of her cases, a local family. As Aimee settles into her changed life in Kalgoorlie, it seems the more she tries to bury the past, the more it seeps to the surface. Despite the unconditional support of her new friends and colleagues, Aimee is apprehensive about revealing a dark secret from her past. Will this embracing new community help Aimee on her path to reconciliation with the past?
Following great authors such as Judy Nunn and Liz Byrski, Shirley Patton is fast making a name for herself in the Australian book publishing world. Word is travelling fast about this novel and Shirley’s writing. In fact, I recently had an extended chat with another like-minded reader in my local bookstore about The Secrets We Keep. This particular reader has nothing by praise to issue to Shirley Patton and according this reader, she nails the period, as well as the vivid setting.
Rarely does a book make me revisit my days as a student, but the issues raised in The Secrets We Keep, allowed me to track back to my former life as a Sociology and Community Development student. Patton expertly weaves a rich narrative around the societal conditions present in Australian towns across the country. She draws our attention to the societal pressures, moral thinking, social movements and political influences of this particular period, the 1980s. There was also a sense of nostalgia for me personally that came hand in hand with the period setting. I was able to look back fondly on my childhood memories of growing up in the 1980s through this book.
The central storyline of The Secrets We Keep does revolve around Aimee, the new social worker, who seeks a fresh start in the mining town of Kalgoorlie. Aimee’s storyline is an accurate reflection of the time in which the story it situated. I found myself incredibly drawn to the way in which Aimee’s secret is slowly unfurled. Aimee was a genuine and lovely soul. My heart went out to her many times over. What I appreciated about Aimee’s character journey was the way in which Patton was able to tie in themes of optimism and support. Patton also shows us the value of friendship, which Aimee develops through her time in Kalgoorlie. The supporting character set help to expand Aimee’s story and the overall narrative. I am confident readers will discover a sense of understanding and connection to Lori, Kerry, Agnes and the rest of the Kalgoorlie crew.
The pinnacle of The Secrets We Keep has to be the setting itself. I often note in well received books that the setting is a character in itself. This is easily the case in The Secrets We Keep. Patton and her protagonists live, breathe and are the very salt of the earth of the town. There is an implicit sense of familiarly to the landscape of this novel, that only comes from a storyteller who has a deep connection to this setting. Patton has carefully used her first hand experiences to shape the narrative of this rich novel. Although I haven’t personally visited Kalgoorlie, an outback town in my own state, the experiences I have garnered from close friends who have lived and worked in this region certainly makes everything about the setting of The Secrets We Keep ring true.
A surprising narrative thread in The Secrets We Keep concerns the use of a supernatural side storyline and a focus on visions or premonitions. I really enjoyed this aspect of the book and I felt it was composed very well by Shirley Patton. The art of reading tea leaves was fascinating and indicates Patton’s dedication to her craft to get these details just so.
There is no doubt that The Secrets We Keep is a confronting read, an intricate drama, a solid portrait of the recent past and it pivots around the revelation of the core secret held by the central protagonist. Patton’s approach is steady, honest and perceptive. Patton takes care to ensure the ending note is full of promise, acceptance and recovery.
It is with much jubilation that I throw my full support behind Shirley Patton and her debut novel The Secrets We Keep. Patton is a skilled new voice in Australian fiction. May there be many more yarns of Shirley Patton’s to enjoy!
The Secrets We Keep is book #130 of the Australian Women Writers Challenge
June 12, 2018
Three and a half stars
Looking for a fresh start, social worker Aimee ends up in the West Australian mining town of Kalgoorlie. Lori and Patrick, are easy to work with and Aimee soon becomes involved in the community, especially the situation of the Steele family. No matter what she does though, Aimee cannot ignore the secret she has kept for years. It keeps coming back at inopportune moments. Kerry and Paul Steele have their own secret. What they need to do is find the right time to tell their daughter Amber. But events do not always work out as planned. It seems the government has also been keeping secrets that affect some of the people, especially the Indigenous people in the area.
I found this story set in the mid 1980s interesting to read. I liked the way the setting and the different people and their problems were portrayed. Kerry was probably my favourite character although several of the others including Aimee were likeable too. Even if I personally don’t hold with it, I did find the tea leaf reading Aggie and her tutoring of Lori in the arts, okay to begin with. After a while though the emphasis on spirit guides, chakras and clairvoyance etc. became more of an intrusion. I realise this is a personal reaction though and may not worry some other people.
For anyone interested in events that happened in Australia in or before the 1980s, this is an interesting read. The characters draw you easily in to the story, although I did think one major plot point was a little too convenient. And also that something that had been built up to be a major issue was then glossed over too quickly.
I liked the way the community banded together when a serious health issue arose. I really liked the way this story ended and the choice made by one of the main characters. It felt absolutely right. As for the cover of this one, I loved it. Sets the scene perfectly and the setting was beautifully described in the text. You could almost feel the heat coming off the pages. I am sure a lot of people will really enjoy this debut novel.
Looking for a fresh start, social worker Aimee ends up in the West Australian mining town of Kalgoorlie. Lori and Patrick, are easy to work with and Aimee soon becomes involved in the community, especially the situation of the Steele family. No matter what she does though, Aimee cannot ignore the secret she has kept for years. It keeps coming back at inopportune moments. Kerry and Paul Steele have their own secret. What they need to do is find the right time to tell their daughter Amber. But events do not always work out as planned. It seems the government has also been keeping secrets that affect some of the people, especially the Indigenous people in the area.
I found this story set in the mid 1980s interesting to read. I liked the way the setting and the different people and their problems were portrayed. Kerry was probably my favourite character although several of the others including Aimee were likeable too. Even if I personally don’t hold with it, I did find the tea leaf reading Aggie and her tutoring of Lori in the arts, okay to begin with. After a while though the emphasis on spirit guides, chakras and clairvoyance etc. became more of an intrusion. I realise this is a personal reaction though and may not worry some other people.
For anyone interested in events that happened in Australia in or before the 1980s, this is an interesting read. The characters draw you easily in to the story, although I did think one major plot point was a little too convenient. And also that something that had been built up to be a major issue was then glossed over too quickly.
I liked the way the community banded together when a serious health issue arose. I really liked the way this story ended and the choice made by one of the main characters. It felt absolutely right. As for the cover of this one, I loved it. Sets the scene perfectly and the setting was beautifully described in the text. You could almost feel the heat coming off the pages. I am sure a lot of people will really enjoy this debut novel.
February 13, 2019
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**3.5 stars**
The Secrets We Keep by Shirley Patton. (2018).
In 1986 social worker Aimer moves to the mining town of Kalgoorlie to work and for a fresh start. She likes her new colleagues and is drawn to one of her cases, the Steele family. But Aimee has a dark secret and somehow that is connected to where she now lives. As she grows closer ties to the local community - including colleague vibrant Lori, client stoical Kerry, and wise Agnes - she finds herself questioning earlier decisions and wondering if she can reveal her secret although it's not only hers to share...
Ok, I wanted to include a disclaimer in this review that I fully believe I went into this book with too high expectations after reading high reviews from people with similar tastes to me. So I was a bit disappointed that I didn't love it like others. However, I did still like it well enough!
The book includes the viewpoints of four different women who have their own stories but are connected in some way. For me, I would prefer to delve more fully into one or two character viewpoints and those characters backstories rather than skim across multiple characters, so I felt I didn't connect to the main characters as I didn't get enough time to really get to know them. In saying that, the four all had interesting stories. The storylines were all quite emotional to read as there were some hard hitting topics included but again, I felt like there wasn't enough detail on certain things as there were too many lead characters to cover.
So overall I guess I have mixed feelings due to feeling a bit disappointed that I didn't love it, but I did appreciate the book and can see why others loved it.
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**3.5 stars**
The Secrets We Keep by Shirley Patton. (2018).
In 1986 social worker Aimer moves to the mining town of Kalgoorlie to work and for a fresh start. She likes her new colleagues and is drawn to one of her cases, the Steele family. But Aimee has a dark secret and somehow that is connected to where she now lives. As she grows closer ties to the local community - including colleague vibrant Lori, client stoical Kerry, and wise Agnes - she finds herself questioning earlier decisions and wondering if she can reveal her secret although it's not only hers to share...
Ok, I wanted to include a disclaimer in this review that I fully believe I went into this book with too high expectations after reading high reviews from people with similar tastes to me. So I was a bit disappointed that I didn't love it like others. However, I did still like it well enough!
The book includes the viewpoints of four different women who have their own stories but are connected in some way. For me, I would prefer to delve more fully into one or two character viewpoints and those characters backstories rather than skim across multiple characters, so I felt I didn't connect to the main characters as I didn't get enough time to really get to know them. In saying that, the four all had interesting stories. The storylines were all quite emotional to read as there were some hard hitting topics included but again, I felt like there wasn't enough detail on certain things as there were too many lead characters to cover.
So overall I guess I have mixed feelings due to feeling a bit disappointed that I didn't love it, but I did appreciate the book and can see why others loved it.
April 12, 2018
It was the setting that made me want to pick up this book. Kalgoorlie is not somewhere I come across too often and I realised after a couple of pages that it’s set during the 1980s which was an interesting time. Aimee has just arrived to take up a social worker position. She’s definitely running from something but the tight knit community embraces her and she finds herself making strong connections. Lori from her office becomes a great friend, inviting Aimee into her large and boisterous Italian family, making sure that Aimee always has someone to spend special days with. Aimee throws herself into her casework as well, becoming close to the Steele family – dad Paul, mother Kerry and daughter Amber. They will need a lot of help and support over the coming months and it will be up to Aimee to provide much of it.
In the big picture, the mid-1980s is not that long ago. But for some instances in this book, it feels much, much longer ago in history. It’s set around the beginning of things like environmental concern and mining regulation. The location also allows the author to explore the treatment of local Indigenous communities and the evolution of attitudes towards them and their rights. They have some passionate advocates in this novel, including Aimee herself as she is given clues about what is happening and why in one of the communities. Aimee tries to learn one of the local languages and communicate with the Indigenous population and takes the opportunities presented to visit some of the communities and learn as much as she can. I really enjoyed Aimee moving to take up the new job and getting herself settled in Kalgoorlie. She develops a good rapport with the Steele family which I thought was great and having the point of view of Kerry Steele gave the reader a lot more insight into their situation and what they were facing. It was a tragic position to be in, complicated by a secret that the Steeles also had that they didn’t really want to face but were given a bit of a timeline where they felt they had to. I also really enjoyed the strong friendship that developed between Aimee and her colleague Lori, who had lived her whole life in Kalgoorlie. Lori was from a somewhat traditional Italian family but she hadn’t gone that traditional route of getting married when she finished school and had children, like her sisters. Her family were big and loud and super fun and they added a lot of colour and character to the story each time Aimee was in their company.
As well as the narratives of Aimee and Kerry, we also get Aggie, an elderly lady who reads tea leaves. Although I liked Aggie and her close relationship with Jack, her next door neighbour (Jack, Aggie and Aggie’s late husband Frank had been friends for decades) I have to admit that the story surrounding the tea leaves wasn’t really my sort of thing. I could kind of get on board when it was just the tea leaves as a bit of….fun at a girls night type thing but then it goes quite a bit deeper with Agnes noticing that someone has the same gift she does and teaching them to harness it. It becomes quite a large part of the story and although I did enjoy the bond that built up between Agnes and the person she’d designated her successor, the actual fortune-telling/second sight/whatever you want to call it with spirit guides and chakras just isn’t something I’m particularly interested in or enjoy reading about. I ended up skimming some of those sections. Perhaps I’m too much of a cynic for that part of the storyline but I definitely found it hard to really sink into it.
I guessed part of Aimee’s dark secret quite early on, she alludes to it several times. As unpalatable as it is, it’s pretty clear what she is referring to and I definitely understood why she’d gone to Kalgoorlie and her motivations for being in such a remote place. What she has been through is very painful and traumatising and she makes reference several times throughout the book that she probably needs more help, or to talk to someone, in order to process it, especially when she realises that her time in Kalgoorlie has actually brought her closer to her secret, not further away, in some respects. Aimee was a very strong character, to come through all she had endured – it was her motivation for becoming a social worker and it was obvious she did everything she could for her cases, often probably going above and beyond. I enjoyed her journey in the Kalgoorlie, which was in some ways, quite bittersweet. The decision she made at the end of the novel felt the same way – truly a way forward but not without some pain.
An enjoyable read with a really interesting setting.
In the big picture, the mid-1980s is not that long ago. But for some instances in this book, it feels much, much longer ago in history. It’s set around the beginning of things like environmental concern and mining regulation. The location also allows the author to explore the treatment of local Indigenous communities and the evolution of attitudes towards them and their rights. They have some passionate advocates in this novel, including Aimee herself as she is given clues about what is happening and why in one of the communities. Aimee tries to learn one of the local languages and communicate with the Indigenous population and takes the opportunities presented to visit some of the communities and learn as much as she can. I really enjoyed Aimee moving to take up the new job and getting herself settled in Kalgoorlie. She develops a good rapport with the Steele family which I thought was great and having the point of view of Kerry Steele gave the reader a lot more insight into their situation and what they were facing. It was a tragic position to be in, complicated by a secret that the Steeles also had that they didn’t really want to face but were given a bit of a timeline where they felt they had to. I also really enjoyed the strong friendship that developed between Aimee and her colleague Lori, who had lived her whole life in Kalgoorlie. Lori was from a somewhat traditional Italian family but she hadn’t gone that traditional route of getting married when she finished school and had children, like her sisters. Her family were big and loud and super fun and they added a lot of colour and character to the story each time Aimee was in their company.
As well as the narratives of Aimee and Kerry, we also get Aggie, an elderly lady who reads tea leaves. Although I liked Aggie and her close relationship with Jack, her next door neighbour (Jack, Aggie and Aggie’s late husband Frank had been friends for decades) I have to admit that the story surrounding the tea leaves wasn’t really my sort of thing. I could kind of get on board when it was just the tea leaves as a bit of….fun at a girls night type thing but then it goes quite a bit deeper with Agnes noticing that someone has the same gift she does and teaching them to harness it. It becomes quite a large part of the story and although I did enjoy the bond that built up between Agnes and the person she’d designated her successor, the actual fortune-telling/second sight/whatever you want to call it with spirit guides and chakras just isn’t something I’m particularly interested in or enjoy reading about. I ended up skimming some of those sections. Perhaps I’m too much of a cynic for that part of the storyline but I definitely found it hard to really sink into it.
I guessed part of Aimee’s dark secret quite early on, she alludes to it several times. As unpalatable as it is, it’s pretty clear what she is referring to and I definitely understood why she’d gone to Kalgoorlie and her motivations for being in such a remote place. What she has been through is very painful and traumatising and she makes reference several times throughout the book that she probably needs more help, or to talk to someone, in order to process it, especially when she realises that her time in Kalgoorlie has actually brought her closer to her secret, not further away, in some respects. Aimee was a very strong character, to come through all she had endured – it was her motivation for becoming a social worker and it was obvious she did everything she could for her cases, often probably going above and beyond. I enjoyed her journey in the Kalgoorlie, which was in some ways, quite bittersweet. The decision she made at the end of the novel felt the same way – truly a way forward but not without some pain.
An enjoyable read with a really interesting setting.
November 3, 2021
Two and a half stars.
This was a pleasant book, not quite a comfort book, perhaps, but the sort of book one reads when one is not in the mood for bad stuff. That is not quite the impression the cover strives to give though: "A mothers secret! A father's betrayal!!'a town on the edge...!!!" Yowls the subtitle. Whoever wrote that should go back to their day job.
Our leading lady, Aimee arrives in the mining town of Kalgoorlie fresh from the big city of Perth. She needed some time away from her parents and as a woman with trust issues she is kind of fleeing an almost-happened relationship so she has asked for a transfer from work; the department of welfare. Arriving in Kalgoorlie, she makes friends, through her we meet some of the locals and their stories and it is all quite placid and enjoyable. I liked Kalgoorlie as a location and would have been happy to see more of it. The strong theme of Aboriginal welfare and inclusion of characters and local words was good and another thing I would happily have seen more of instead it kind of peters out as the book progresses. Ultimately, though this is a story about a few people and their relationships. And about mysticism.
Our second character, Lori, is native to the town and is learning how to fortune tell from a local old lady who reads tea leaves, so this 'Sight' element is a constant through the story and includes some pretty heavy foreshadowing, some Deus Ex Machina moments and, well, it is probably in some ways the main plot element. It left me rather underwhelmed though.
Now the main thing about this book that underwhelmed me and which knocked a star off my rating is a sort of weird sentence structure, and confusing lack of time lines. The sentence structure, especially early in the book, meant that I had to re-read several sentences before getting their meaning. Also, the author uses 'Patrick' and 'Paddy' interchangeably for a single character without warning or explanation for a long time, often both names being used by the same character. That did my head in, took me ages to figure out too.
The time line... Well, for most of the book I had no idea when it was meant to be set. It is published in 2018 so originally I assumed that was when it was set but doubts kept creeping in there. The 70 miles an hour on [pg] 146 finally disabused me of that since Australia uses Kilometres and has for a long time. But it was not until [pg] 227 when the narrative mentions Bob Hawke being elected for the third time that I finally had a reference point. I Googled it. Have you any idea how difficult it is to Google Bob Hawkes third election win? Trust me, it is tough! After that I understood that the book was set in 1987.
I have thoughts and feelings about works of fiction that force me to google for information. None of those thoughts and feelings are positive.
It seems to me, that the author knows the era so well that she just ASSUMES that a lot of the tiny snippets of information are going to be enough to set the era for anyone reading it. Like, maybe, the way kids ask for "cooldrink" when they want a drink - is that an 80's WA thing? I don't know. Or the mining details - perhaps that would date the incidents to the people who lived there? The name of Centerlink being the Welfare department? But that department seems to change it's name like a hooker on Hannan st changes undies, so that is no real guide either. I mean, I was there in the late 80's and I couldn't tell, so the hints are way too obscure. Her editor should have had something to say about that, if you ask me.
The ending, well, it just kind of winds down. Aimee gets over her trust issues and abruptly announces she is moving to Tasmania, the other characters continue drifting through their life, nothing really occurs, it just kind of drifts to an end. That's ok, since most of the book is characters drifting through life, so it is consistent. Again, a pleasant enough book just not really a strong theme of any kind.
This was a pleasant book, not quite a comfort book, perhaps, but the sort of book one reads when one is not in the mood for bad stuff. That is not quite the impression the cover strives to give though: "A mothers secret! A father's betrayal!!'a town on the edge...!!!" Yowls the subtitle. Whoever wrote that should go back to their day job.
Our leading lady, Aimee arrives in the mining town of Kalgoorlie fresh from the big city of Perth. She needed some time away from her parents and as a woman with trust issues she is kind of fleeing an almost-happened relationship so she has asked for a transfer from work; the department of welfare. Arriving in Kalgoorlie, she makes friends, through her we meet some of the locals and their stories and it is all quite placid and enjoyable. I liked Kalgoorlie as a location and would have been happy to see more of it. The strong theme of Aboriginal welfare and inclusion of characters and local words was good and another thing I would happily have seen more of instead it kind of peters out as the book progresses. Ultimately, though this is a story about a few people and their relationships. And about mysticism.
Our second character, Lori, is native to the town and is learning how to fortune tell from a local old lady who reads tea leaves, so this 'Sight' element is a constant through the story and includes some pretty heavy foreshadowing, some Deus Ex Machina moments and, well, it is probably in some ways the main plot element. It left me rather underwhelmed though.
Now the main thing about this book that underwhelmed me and which knocked a star off my rating is a sort of weird sentence structure, and confusing lack of time lines. The sentence structure, especially early in the book, meant that I had to re-read several sentences before getting their meaning. Also, the author uses 'Patrick' and 'Paddy' interchangeably for a single character without warning or explanation for a long time, often both names being used by the same character. That did my head in, took me ages to figure out too.
The time line... Well, for most of the book I had no idea when it was meant to be set. It is published in 2018 so originally I assumed that was when it was set but doubts kept creeping in there. The 70 miles an hour on [pg] 146 finally disabused me of that since Australia uses Kilometres and has for a long time. But it was not until [pg] 227 when the narrative mentions Bob Hawke being elected for the third time that I finally had a reference point. I Googled it. Have you any idea how difficult it is to Google Bob Hawkes third election win? Trust me, it is tough! After that I understood that the book was set in 1987.
I have thoughts and feelings about works of fiction that force me to google for information. None of those thoughts and feelings are positive.
It seems to me, that the author knows the era so well that she just ASSUMES that a lot of the tiny snippets of information are going to be enough to set the era for anyone reading it. Like, maybe, the way kids ask for "cooldrink" when they want a drink - is that an 80's WA thing? I don't know. Or the mining details - perhaps that would date the incidents to the people who lived there? The name of Centerlink being the Welfare department? But that department seems to change it's name like a hooker on Hannan st changes undies, so that is no real guide either. I mean, I was there in the late 80's and I couldn't tell, so the hints are way too obscure. Her editor should have had something to say about that, if you ask me.
The ending, well, it just kind of winds down. Aimee gets over her trust issues and abruptly announces she is moving to Tasmania, the other characters continue drifting through their life, nothing really occurs, it just kind of drifts to an end. That's ok, since most of the book is characters drifting through life, so it is consistent. Again, a pleasant enough book just not really a strong theme of any kind.
July 12, 2018
Beautiful cover drew me in from the start – then the lovely imagery of the Australian country town of Kalgoorlie. Characters were interesting but unfortunately I didn’t really connect 100 per cent with any of them, although I enjoyed reading about them. I felt for the great community banding together to fight the big mining giant and the stories of love and loss entwined throughout. A nice gentle Sunday afternoon read – 3 ½ stars….
April 10, 2018
A tale of new starts and old secrets, ancient wisdom and new ways, The Secrets We Keep is a clever debut from Shirley Patton. Set in the goldmining town of Kalgoorlie in the 1980s, Patton paints a picture of a harsh and yet not unforgiving place, one where healing can happen among the red dust and dry land – a place of contrasts. And she also firmly establishes the social realities of the time for women, Aboriginals, relationships and politics.
Her descriptive writing is spot on, evoking sense of place as much as character, and it’s easy to get caught up in what matters to the characters as they stand up for their own rights as well as those of others. What stood out was that the simple “fresh start” theme was taken in a new, complex and bittersweet direction that kept me compelled to the end.
Thanks to Harlequin for sending me a copy.
Her descriptive writing is spot on, evoking sense of place as much as character, and it’s easy to get caught up in what matters to the characters as they stand up for their own rights as well as those of others. What stood out was that the simple “fresh start” theme was taken in a new, complex and bittersweet direction that kept me compelled to the end.
Thanks to Harlequin for sending me a copy.
April 2, 2018
The first thing that drew me to this book was the stunning colourful cover, I could see it was an outback town in Australia, one of my favourite book settings. This book is set in Kalgoorlie in the 1980’S, in an era of change.
Aimee is a social worker taking a position in the Australian frontier mining town of Kalgoorlie. Here she’s privy to many social injustices including the relocation of aborigines and the undermining of health in the local community from the local mining company. As she becomes more involved with the local residents, she realises some of her secrets are intertwined.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it had many aspects which are still very relevant today. I lived in a smelter town in the 1980’s myself and I remember the dangers of lead poisoning coming to light then. The characters were very colourful and I loved the line of reading tea leaves, I found that fascinating.
This is a novel of personal growth, regrets and moving forwards.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for an ARC to read and review.
Aimee is a social worker taking a position in the Australian frontier mining town of Kalgoorlie. Here she’s privy to many social injustices including the relocation of aborigines and the undermining of health in the local community from the local mining company. As she becomes more involved with the local residents, she realises some of her secrets are intertwined.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it had many aspects which are still very relevant today. I lived in a smelter town in the 1980’s myself and I remember the dangers of lead poisoning coming to light then. The characters were very colourful and I loved the line of reading tea leaves, I found that fascinating.
This is a novel of personal growth, regrets and moving forwards.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for an ARC to read and review.
March 14, 2018
This was a good story, set in Kalgoolie in the 1980's it was interesting to read how different yet how the same it was 30 years ago. Unfortunately the one thing that doesn't seem to have changed much is the treatment and policies for the aboriginal people which the author winds into the story using the welfare office to do this.
Aimee was a strong character, who had been through a few traumatic incidents, we are not told what they are until near the end, but they are hinted at and I was able to discern what they were. The rest of the characters were all great, having their own flaws and strengths. I enjoyed Aggie, she had a lot of charm, depth and humour. With the interesting addition of spirituality woven into the story, and some very relevant issues from then and now and plenty of emotional times, this makes for a really enjoyable read that will hopefully start you thinking.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin (Australia), TEEN / MIRA for a copy in return for an honest review.
Aimee was a strong character, who had been through a few traumatic incidents, we are not told what they are until near the end, but they are hinted at and I was able to discern what they were. The rest of the characters were all great, having their own flaws and strengths. I enjoyed Aggie, she had a lot of charm, depth and humour. With the interesting addition of spirituality woven into the story, and some very relevant issues from then and now and plenty of emotional times, this makes for a really enjoyable read that will hopefully start you thinking.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin (Australia), TEEN / MIRA for a copy in return for an honest review.
December 2, 2018
3 stars. An enjoyable and easy read. A bit of waffle along the way and some too try hard descriptions but a good enough story. Likeable characters.
A hint at something sinister by the father towards the main character but this never actually gets dealt with. This “secret” by Aimee got a tad annoying at the round about way she kept alluding to it but never saying it. The hints went on too long.
The adoption story was predictable
A holiday book
A hint at something sinister by the father towards the main character but this never actually gets dealt with. This “secret” by Aimee got a tad annoying at the round about way she kept alluding to it but never saying it. The hints went on too long.
The adoption story was predictable
A holiday book
August 6, 2018
A “nice “ story but one that I didn’t find overly engaging. I did like the Australian content.
March 29, 2018
Book blurb...
A mother’s secret, a father’s betrayal, a town on the edge…
When social worker Aimee arrives in the mining town of Kalgoorlie, she is ready for a fresh start. Her colleagues Lori and Paddy seem friendly, and she is also drawn to one of her cases: the Steele family, whose future looks particularly bleak. But Aimee has a dark secret and as the past reaches out towards her once more, she realises that somehow her secret is connected to this unfamiliar but harshly beautiful town and its inhabitants.
As she strengthens her ties with the local community — especially with the vibrant Lori, stoical Kerry and wise Agnes — she finds herself questioning earlier decisions. Can she reveal her secret, even if it is not hers alone to share?
A compelling novel of the transcendental love of children and the truth’s unwillingness to stay hidden.
My thoughts…
The Secrets We Keep, by Aussie author Shirley Patton, explores friendship and love and the heartache that both can bring.
As the title suggests, there is a big secret at the heart of this story. The narration is detailed, telling of the lives of each character, including their flaws and strengths, and the author also describes the harshness of the local environment with the colour a place like Kalgoolie (outback WA) deserves.
I found the clairvoyant skills of two of the characters to be interesting plot device, especially in one scene where the skill is particularly useful in helping Kerry during her time of need.
The story explored the issues surrounding gold mining in the Kalgoorlie region and the government bureaucracy of a small town.
The review is also published on http://www.readroundoz.wordpress.com
A mother’s secret, a father’s betrayal, a town on the edge…
When social worker Aimee arrives in the mining town of Kalgoorlie, she is ready for a fresh start. Her colleagues Lori and Paddy seem friendly, and she is also drawn to one of her cases: the Steele family, whose future looks particularly bleak. But Aimee has a dark secret and as the past reaches out towards her once more, she realises that somehow her secret is connected to this unfamiliar but harshly beautiful town and its inhabitants.
As she strengthens her ties with the local community — especially with the vibrant Lori, stoical Kerry and wise Agnes — she finds herself questioning earlier decisions. Can she reveal her secret, even if it is not hers alone to share?
A compelling novel of the transcendental love of children and the truth’s unwillingness to stay hidden.
My thoughts…
The Secrets We Keep, by Aussie author Shirley Patton, explores friendship and love and the heartache that both can bring.
As the title suggests, there is a big secret at the heart of this story. The narration is detailed, telling of the lives of each character, including their flaws and strengths, and the author also describes the harshness of the local environment with the colour a place like Kalgoolie (outback WA) deserves.
I found the clairvoyant skills of two of the characters to be interesting plot device, especially in one scene where the skill is particularly useful in helping Kerry during her time of need.
The story explored the issues surrounding gold mining in the Kalgoorlie region and the government bureaucracy of a small town.
The review is also published on http://www.readroundoz.wordpress.com
April 14, 2018
I was enthralled by this story by Shirley Patton. It tells the story of a young social worker Aimee who moves to Kalgoorlie in the Western Australian bush to escape a failed relationship and something more sinister. She is soon part of the close knit local community, which includes a cast of eclectic and endearing characters who are all beautifully portrayed and achingly human. Aimee becomes emotionally involved with one of her cases, the Steele family, who are going through their own hardships and her empathy triggers a series of memories that lead the reader into the heart of Aimee's life.
It is apparent early on that this book will have a mystical feeling by the way the author evokes images of psychic readings and intuitive experiences in the central characters. There are portrayed with skill and authenticity, evoking images of the 80's Australian lifestyle and the basic goodness of the human condition.
As Aimee becomes more aware of her own past through the events of the present, she reconsiders her life and the impact of her earlier actions and makes decisions which will change her life forever.
I was really drawn into this story. The characters are all really believable and the situations are heart breaking but there are hero moments that will make you weep. I read this in two days and highly recommend it to anyone who wants a well structured story about real life situations and the people who survive them.
It is apparent early on that this book will have a mystical feeling by the way the author evokes images of psychic readings and intuitive experiences in the central characters. There are portrayed with skill and authenticity, evoking images of the 80's Australian lifestyle and the basic goodness of the human condition.
As Aimee becomes more aware of her own past through the events of the present, she reconsiders her life and the impact of her earlier actions and makes decisions which will change her life forever.
I was really drawn into this story. The characters are all really believable and the situations are heart breaking but there are hero moments that will make you weep. I read this in two days and highly recommend it to anyone who wants a well structured story about real life situations and the people who survive them.
September 2, 2019
Having no previous knowledge of the time and place this book is set, I didn't know what to expect when I started reading one morning. But I found myself quickly drawn to the characters and their stories and couldn't stop reading until I found out what was to become of these incredibly diverse and compelling women. I finished it that same day.
Despite being told from a number of points of view, I was impressed by the depth of each character and the stories they each had to tell. Through their eyes I was introduced to outback Western Australia and feel that Patton captured a wonderfully vivid and raw picture of the people and period in which it was set. I found the social history and community issues eye-opening, and felt the author was particularly sensitive when dealing with matters of Aboriginal relocation and politics, as well as loss, abuse, love and relationships.
Beautifully written, this is a book filled of promise and heartache, hope and loss, identity and forgiveness. I couldn't put it down and will be happily recommending it to others. A wonderfully rich and moving debut.
Despite being told from a number of points of view, I was impressed by the depth of each character and the stories they each had to tell. Through their eyes I was introduced to outback Western Australia and feel that Patton captured a wonderfully vivid and raw picture of the people and period in which it was set. I found the social history and community issues eye-opening, and felt the author was particularly sensitive when dealing with matters of Aboriginal relocation and politics, as well as loss, abuse, love and relationships.
Beautifully written, this is a book filled of promise and heartache, hope and loss, identity and forgiveness. I couldn't put it down and will be happily recommending it to others. A wonderfully rich and moving debut.
March 31, 2018
4.5 stars.
I loved this book.
Set in a small mining town in Western Australia in the 1980s, it has a strong sense of time and place that anchors the main characters - Aimee, Lori and Kerry - and the events that unfold.
There’s also the delightful Aggie, who reads tea leaves who brings a strong sense of spirituality to the story and hints about some of the characters’ secrets. And a great supporting cast, including male characters who are sincere and good.
There are plenty of secrets. It seems everyone has a secret - some are big, some small, some dark, some hopeful - and they are scattered constantly through the book, but it is Aimee’s secret and her desire to keep it hidden that carries through the length of the story.
We follow the women as they struggle to find strength within their vulnerability and to find courage despite their self-doubt. There were painful moments for the characters, which Shirley wrapped in empathy while being careful not to shield the reader from the raw emotion. Indeed, there were parts that made me burst into tears and just from a simple, expertly worded sentence or turn of phrase that captured the mood and emotions so well.
And yet there was always a sense of the characters moving forward, moving through the hard stuff towards something more real and true for them. And it felt good to cheer them on while they did so.
What also greatly impressed me is the way Shirley seamlessly weaves in the social history from that time - ethical and moral issues around social work, the treatment of Aboriginals, environmental concerns, health issues and the political landscape - which adds other important layers to the novel and connects everything beautifully while never being heavy-handed.
Just as powerful are the dynamics around family expectations and romantic relationships.
It’s a thoughtful and ultimately uplifting novel full of heart and humanity and musings on community and friendship and connection. I especially loved the strong, female characters and how they navigated their lives through “moments of destiny and moments of choosing” as described in the first intriguing and perfectly theme-setting sentence of the novel.
After the final sentence, I was sad to close the book and no longer hang out with these wonderful characters who I would gladly have as friends in real life.
I loved this book.
Set in a small mining town in Western Australia in the 1980s, it has a strong sense of time and place that anchors the main characters - Aimee, Lori and Kerry - and the events that unfold.
There’s also the delightful Aggie, who reads tea leaves who brings a strong sense of spirituality to the story and hints about some of the characters’ secrets. And a great supporting cast, including male characters who are sincere and good.
There are plenty of secrets. It seems everyone has a secret - some are big, some small, some dark, some hopeful - and they are scattered constantly through the book, but it is Aimee’s secret and her desire to keep it hidden that carries through the length of the story.
We follow the women as they struggle to find strength within their vulnerability and to find courage despite their self-doubt. There were painful moments for the characters, which Shirley wrapped in empathy while being careful not to shield the reader from the raw emotion. Indeed, there were parts that made me burst into tears and just from a simple, expertly worded sentence or turn of phrase that captured the mood and emotions so well.
And yet there was always a sense of the characters moving forward, moving through the hard stuff towards something more real and true for them. And it felt good to cheer them on while they did so.
What also greatly impressed me is the way Shirley seamlessly weaves in the social history from that time - ethical and moral issues around social work, the treatment of Aboriginals, environmental concerns, health issues and the political landscape - which adds other important layers to the novel and connects everything beautifully while never being heavy-handed.
Just as powerful are the dynamics around family expectations and romantic relationships.
It’s a thoughtful and ultimately uplifting novel full of heart and humanity and musings on community and friendship and connection. I especially loved the strong, female characters and how they navigated their lives through “moments of destiny and moments of choosing” as described in the first intriguing and perfectly theme-setting sentence of the novel.
After the final sentence, I was sad to close the book and no longer hang out with these wonderful characters who I would gladly have as friends in real life.
April 24, 2018
What happens if you read Shirley Patton's quintessentially Australia debut, 'The Secrets We Keep' when you're living on the Amalfi coast? I'll tell you. The setting transported me back home and gave new life to memories of living and working in rural and remote Australia. The author's depiction of life in Kalgoorlie is rich and credible because she grew up there. An array of colourful characters jumped off the page as the story unfurled within the context of happenings within a social welfare district office, reminding me of the inherent joys and challenges of social work. There's another element which makes this story unique; that of Shirley Patton's interest in reading tea leaves and other aspects of the para-normal. Congratulations Shirley Patton on a joyful, energetic first novel which gives insights into the troubles secrets can cause. I look forward to being transported again by your next story.
October 28, 2018
Aimee leaves Perth and arrives in Kalgoorlie during a dust storm. Her new job is with the government as a social worker. She becomes friends with one of her clients, the husband is suffering from lung disease brought on by working in the underground mines. Kerry, the wife stands by him through this dreadful ordeal while having to choose the right time to tell their only daughter that she is adopted.
Lori is Aimee's friend from work and she has secrets she keeps to herself and becomes friends with an older lady, Aggie, who is a tea-leaf reader. Aggie realises Lori has the gift of spirituality so teaches Lori all she knows about tea-leaf reading so the gift can be carried on after Aggie's time is up. Every person in the book has their own story, including the aborigines whom the government are relocating for the almighty dollar, from the land they have known since time began.
An interesting look at Kalgoorlie and its people.
Lori is Aimee's friend from work and she has secrets she keeps to herself and becomes friends with an older lady, Aggie, who is a tea-leaf reader. Aggie realises Lori has the gift of spirituality so teaches Lori all she knows about tea-leaf reading so the gift can be carried on after Aggie's time is up. Every person in the book has their own story, including the aborigines whom the government are relocating for the almighty dollar, from the land they have known since time began.
An interesting look at Kalgoorlie and its people.
April 16, 2021
A sensational debut novel from an exciting new Australian literary voice. The Secrets we Keep draws you in from the first paragraph where we meet the main character, Aimee, and are as catapulted into the story as she is. Shirley Patton beautifully captures the backdrop of a Western Australian mining town, a character in its own right and holding secrets of its own; we feel the heat of it, the harshness that has molded the characters, the intriguing way the personal weaves into the political as it builds to its startling and triumphant conclusion. The Secrets we Keep is un-putdownable with vibrant characters and provoking issues that stay with you long after the last page is turned. I can't wait to read her next offering. Highly recommended.
April 7, 2021
The Secrets We Keep is a compelling debut novel by author Shirley Patton. Patton has composed a novel with strong, compelling female characters set upon a richly painted landscape of 1980s Kalgoorlie. She manages to bring to life this particular era of Australia, the attitudes and social mores, whilst also delicately weaving a fascinating supernatural thread through the prose. Perfect holiday (or Lockdown) reading.
May 19, 2021
Populated with women’s stories and much of the ordinary stuff of life. The characters are well drawn and engaging. The ‘insights’ of some of the characters are centred on the mystic ideas is reading auras and tea leaves ..
I question the need to have this. Do we do a disservice to those who have a deep understanding and capacity for care of others by making it somewhat mystical (or even witch like)?
I question the need to have this. Do we do a disservice to those who have a deep understanding and capacity for care of others by making it somewhat mystical (or even witch like)?
March 26, 2022
I was distracted by the lack on timeframe this book was written in. The tunnels in Kalgoorlie not the open cut mine helped the reference to America Cup win was what helped cement a timeframe.
I enjoyed Lori and Kerry storyline’s but found Amy’s everywhere and wrapped up fast with no real character development of Lee in particular.
I enjoyed Lori and Kerry storyline’s but found Amy’s everywhere and wrapped up fast with no real character development of Lee in particular.
March 31, 2024
This book deals with a serious subject, but Aimee attempts to deal with it by denial, and casts a shadow over the whole book. In spite of the irrepressible Lori and a cast of other lively characters I didn’t warm to the story
March 7, 2025
Loved the time and place which were very realistically described - some of the themes less so, some decisions and actions of characters seems a little misaligned with the characters and the First Nations issues might have been presented with a little more depth.
May 26, 2018
Interesting story with beautiful imagery of the gorgeous Australian country town setting and lots of plot twists. Loved the clairvoyant inclusion. Love, loss, grief and moving past this!! Lovely 😘
May 29, 2018
I felt the author tried to cover too many social issues at once.
July 20, 2018
3.5* Thoroughly enjoyed this book - set in Australia with an adoption and social work story-line.
October 22, 2018
Beautiful.
November 9, 2018
Refreshing read based in Australia by an Australian author. I predicted part of the story but it wasn't like a spoiler, I still wanted to read until the end. Good read.
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