Crime, Mysteries & Thrillers discussion

Hello fellow Crime, Mystery & Thriller readers,

Welcome to our discussion about The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton, your discussion leader is Andra.
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about spoilers

Please note: If you have not finished reading the book spoilers are permitted in this discussion from the start. If you would like to use the spoiler formatting it can be found on the top right of the comment box in the "(some html is ok)" menu.
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Summary

During a summer party at the family farm in the English countryside, sixteen-year-old Laurel Nicolson has escaped to her childhood tree house and is happily dreaming of the future. She spies a stranger coming up the long road to the farm and watches as her mother speaks to him. Before the afternoon is over, Laurel will witness a shocking crime. A crime that challenges everything she knows about her family and especially her mother, Dorothy—her vivacious, loving, nearly perfect mother.

Now, fifty years later, Laurel is a successful and well-regarded actress living in London. The family is gathering at Greenacres farm for Dorothy’s ninetieth birthday. Realizing that this may be her last chance, Laurel searches for answers to the questions that still haunt her from that long-ago day, answers that can only be found in Dorothy’s past.

Dorothy’s story takes the reader from pre–WWII England through the blitz, to the ’60s and beyond. It is the secret history of three strangers from vastly different worlds—Dorothy, Vivien, and Jimmy—who meet by chance in wartime London and whose lives are forever entwined. The Secret Keeper explores longings and dreams and the unexpected consequences they sometimes bring. It is an unforgettable story of lovers and friends, deception and passion that is told against a backdrop of events that changed the world.

Hi
Ive read this one before, but cant remember it well. So, shall definitely join in.

I had this book on my to be read list for a long time. The CMT nomination inspired me to actually read it this month. I have to say it was a bit of a slog for me in the beginning and it’s a very long story toggling back and forth between WWII era London and an end of life scenario in 2011. The idea of secrets being revealed at your parents end of life is some thing that I had experienced fairly recently. it seems that people do tend to reveal life’s secrets or regrets before they pass on. there’s also a drive to understand and know before your parents passed because it’s the last chance. The opportunity to change your life in response to trauma or just because of the opportunity to re-create yourself in a disaster scenario is an often used tool. I really struggled with some of the personality flaws in the story. I really don’t understand why the main character actually lied as a child while many other emotions aren’t explained, this crucial action on the part of the child without any explanation was unsatisfying. I did enjoy the many twists and reveals in the last 5 chapters of the book. This left me overall more satisfied with the book. it was kind of a relief to finally understand what happened with Dolly and that people stay more true to their character. that was kind of a relief for me and redeemed the entire novel.