I was so looking forward to reading this ARC courtesy of Net Galley and the publishers as I have enjoyed Kate Morton's other books. This one started really well but by 40% I had lost any interest in the plot, the mystery, or what happened to any of the characters. It flits around time periods, spends a lot of time on children, and just seems to get bogged down. The thought of reading another 360 pages having already read 240 was enough to make me ditch the book. Not something I often do especially if I am reading for a review.

This story moves between the present and the summer of 1862. It is then that Edward Radcliffe buys Birchwood Manor and invites his friends for the summer. At the end of the summer one woman is dead, one is missing along with a family heirloom.
What happens next? What is the mystery of Birchwood Manor over the following centuries and why does the light shine in the top window?
Move forward to the present and a young archivist, Elodie, uncovers an artifact which could finally solve the mystery.
Throughout this story is told by a woman whose name and fate will eventually be revealed in a further twist.

This is an interesting novel, and one which I need to re-read sooner rather than later, in order to be able to read it straight through, rather than needing to refer back every now and then to check the flow of and links between different parts of the narrative. Characterisation is very good, in part due to a very effective use of different direct and indirect narrative voices and in part due to excellent, evocative descriptions of the landscape and, in particular, of Birchwood House, which are also significant characters in the plot.

"The Clockmaker's Daughter" is a mystery story set over about 150 years, involving several love stories and some folklore. However, for me, the heart of it is concerns how landscape connects to people over time and how some places, including the built environment, can have a stronger influence on us than others. It would make an excellent book club choice.

Many thanks to the publishers and to Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for this honest review.

In a beautifully written novel, with lovely, acutely observed descriptions, and with an attention to historical accuracy that brings each period in the story to life, Kate Morton has woven a tale around the lives of a group of artists who lived in 1862, in particular Edward Radcliffe and his muse, Lily Millington, and about those who lived at the same time or came after them.

On a whim, Edward bought a gabled Oxfordshire manor house situated at the bend of a river, Birchwood Manor, and moved in there with his artist friends. The house had seemed to call to him, as it was to call to others who lived after him, all of whom were in some way connected to Edward, Lily or the house. Using multiple voices, Kate Morton tells us their stories, using as a framework, the discovery in 2017 by archivist, Elodie Winslow, of a leather satchel containing a sketchbook and a photograph.

Intrigued by the inexplicable familiarity of both, Elodie embarks upon a search to explain their presence in the satchel, and their connection to the satchel’s owner. As the reader follows her efforts, the secrets encompassing Edward, Lily and Birchwood Manor, and the events of 1862, are unfolded.

I found it difficult to put the novel down and read for far longer each night than I’d intended. I was completely caught up in the story of each of the principle characters, and was always disappointed when it was time to leave that character and move to a different period and character. Within minutes, however, I’d adjusted to the 'new' period and was caught up in the ‘new’ character’s story. Kate Morton is, indeed, a gifted storyteller.

I read this novel on a kindle, and wished as I did so that it had been out in paperback as I would have bought the book and finished reading it in print. It’s a long novel, and at times I would have liked to have been able to look back and refresh my memory with greater ease than one can on a kindle, or to read again a particularly satisfying description. My advice, potential reader, is that if you have the choice of ebook or print, opt for the print edition – I think it worth paying a little extra to make it as easy as possible to read and enjoy a novel of this quality.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

I am a fan of Kate Morton books. The Clockmaker's Daughter is no exception spanning 150 years from 1862. There are glorious characters from Birdie to Elodie that are woven throughout this engaging tale and through the years. If you are a fan of Kate Morton you will not be disappointed. It's too substantial to read in one sitting but is gripping enough to keep you awake instead of turning off the light to sleep. I loved it.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher, I could not wait to read this book. The story is about a murder in the summer of 1862 and in the present day. This was a little slower than her other books but good nonetheless.

"...accept that life is messy and sometimes mistakes are made; that sometimes they're not even really mistakes, because life isn't linear, and it comprises countless small and large decisions every day"

A big thank you to @katemortonauthor and @netgalley for giving me the opportunity to review The Clockmaker's Daughter ahead of its UK release on Sept 20th.
This was my first foray into the beautiful writing of Kate Morton...and it won't be the last! It's fair to say I was hooked from the first chapter!

This story has so many layers,  it's a detective novel,  a love story,  a fantasy tale all wrapped into an intricate plot which spans generations.
My overarching memory of this book will be the imagery cunjured by the author. I have such a clear mental picture of Birchwood Manor, of Elodie's office, of Uncle Tip at the end of the garden! One note that dawned on me as I finished this story was that it centres around Edward Radcliffe...and we manage to get a clear picture of him without ever hearing any part of the story from his perspective...no mean feat!

There are quite a few characters and relationships to keep up with but once you're immersed in the story line that doesn't seem to matter.

I'd definitely recommend losing yourself at Birchwood Manor when this one comes out... #libraryatsevern #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #bookworm #bookmarkit #goodreads #igreads #otsreads #igbooks #bookstagrammer #bookishreads #read #theclockmakersdaughter @mantlebooks

I loved this book. It is superbly written and does not 'drag' (I am a reader who dislikes books that spend pages on describing rooms, weather, clothes etc. that make me want to skip paragraphs to keep the story moving). I really do like books that are set over 3 or 4 time periods with the links between people and periods gradually disclosed as your progress through the book. I think my appreciation of these story lines came from a TV series, Marchlands, from a few years back. My only minor criticism and it may be me rather than the book is that I was hoping for a link from present day Jack to someone from the earlier periods. If you love a good story line then don't miss this one

The Clockmakers Daughter is a wonderful book. From the first page I was actually drawn into the story. Kate Morton has a way of pulling you into the book and you don’t want to leave. It was refreshing not to be able to see what was coming next, the plot twisted and turned. It is a must read.

The main theme of the book is actually an interesting one but it takes time to get going. You really need to stick with it and for this reason, I’m not sure it will grab everyone. However if you are a Kate Morton fan you will put the effort in and be rewarded by an intricate and well written plot set in different time periods with a wealth of interesting and colourful characters.

This dual time frame novel seemed rather complicated to me and though I love the author and stories which feature 'then and now' timelines combining modern and historical perspectives this was quite hard going for me.

It centres on the hedonistic and bohemian lives of artists in the mid to late 19th century in England. It's not a light and fluffy read by any means and it is best suited to anyone who has some knowledge of and interest in the art world, if you enjoy watching fake or fortune this should really appeal.

With a young woman Elodie, drawn back into the past by two artefacts she discovers, there is a haunting and mysterious thread running through the book and another young woman in the past Birdie the eponymous clockmakers' daughter there is lots going on and plenty to keep the reader turning the pages.

What an amazing read! The story had me searching the internet to see if it was based on real events or chacters, it was so well constructed.
It is a read which demands your full attention due to the elaborate time slip and host of narrators but if you persevere it has everything to make a very memorable read. The story opens with Birdie, a clockwise daughter and follows her childhood and into adulthood when she becomes an artist's muse. Birchwood Manor becomes a key focus for events and spans a 150 year period starting with artist Edward Radcliffe buying the property some years after a frightening flight through the woods as a child led him to seek refuge there.
The story is several stories within one which will appeal to a wide audience. There are love stories, a mystery, a murder, a ghost story and fantastic, believable characters. This is Kate Morton at her best.

I was totally entranced by this book. The language and descriptions and sense of place and time were just so exquisite. A really beautifully told story with some glorious twists and turns, much like the hidden nooks and crannies in the evocative Birchwood Manor. I’ll be recommending this to everyone. Bravo!

This is a very challenging book to review. It was brilliant in places, captivating, beautifully written and full of interesting characters, but... it was waaaay too long. The main premise of the book is actually an interesting one, once we finally get to it! There are so many side stories and supporting characters that for more than one third of the book I was convinced I was reading a different story to the one described in the synopsis. The story can be a bit confusing and feel disjointed as it is told from several points of view and in different time periods. Also, there are a significant number of characters in the book and I really struggled at times to remember who was who and how did they fit into the story. 

I think this could be a five star book if it lost half of its volume, and re-focused on the main storylines and some of the characters.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'd like to thank both NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC in return for an honest review.

The book comprises richly-woven, interconnected stories spanning the centuries, linked by a beautiful country house and its mysterious tale of tragedy, murder and intrigue. We meet many characters, learning of their lives and the ways in which each has been drawn almost magnetically to Birchwood Manor and affected it by its ghostly inhabitant, our main narrator, who longs to connect with her visitors and for the chance to tell her unfortunate tale of love and loss.

Kate Morton's wonderful ability as an imaginative and creative storyteller is evident; however, I found that she wrote in such depth about each of the many characters and time periods between which we switch back and forth, that I had to revisit previous chapters to remind myself their stories thus far; hence, for me, the book lost a little of its flow, particularly in its mid-portion where the pace felt slowed.

However, this in no way spoiled my enjoyment of the story, I felt compelled to continue reading as the mystery unravelled and I felt empathy towards many of the characters. It may take a little perseverance at times, but I would certainly recommend it particularly if you have blocks of several hours to commit to reading - definitely suited to curling up on the forthcoming, long, cold, winter's evenings!.

An amazingly well written story that weaves together the lives of people drawn to Birchwood Manor.
How do all these people’s lives connect? What is it about Birchwood Manor that draws them there?
Kate has done it again. Highly recommend

Another winner from Kate Morton, this book travels between the present day and Victorian England. There is mystery, suspense and near obsession all thrown into the mix with several things connecting the two stories. Great book and a must for all Kate Morton fans.

This is an epic tale, beautifully written by Kate Morton, which entertains from the first of its almost 600 pages to the last and each of these is necessary to tell a complex story linking people, families, even strangers, across centuries and continents. It is told by those whose lives led to and were, intentionally or unintentionally, interwoven with the very existence of Birchwood Manor and the things that happened there one day in 1862 when the house was owned by artist Edward Radcliffe who had himself been drawn there many years earlier as a safe haven in a time of abject terror.

Although the book starts and ends with Elodie Winslow in 2017 she is just the conduit for the echoes of the past from the men and women trying to make sense of what occurred and why. Throughout the story people come and go, things are mentioned or happen which are almost inconsequential until as the story winds down you realize just how cleverly constructed it is, how well planned, for nothing is overlooked, nothing is as unimportant as it first seemed and that makes for a very satisfying read indeed.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to Netgalley, thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who likes a multi-faceted tale which visits and explores the past, the present and their inhabitants in such a spellbinding way.

A clever story which weaves tales from different time periods together all with a connection to Birchwood Manor. There are mysteries which are explained and relationships made, broken and revisited. I loved this novel and I loved the description of Birchwood Manor.

I’m a fan of Kate Morton and enjoyed much of this book. She is a beautiful writer and this is no exception, however it ultimately ends up being overlong, particularly the last 10%. Up to that point I was engaged with the story but the final reveals were too much for me. The mystery about Lily, on which the book hinges, ends up being farcical and very disappointing.
I know this is fiction but for me a storyline has to credible and this stretched it too far.
My thanks to Netgalley for this copy.