This book was an atmospheric, intriguing read. It was based on a house that people were strangely drawn to. You could tell that the characters were all interlinked and it was fascinating to try and work out what the common ground was.
The story and its effects stretched across the generations. `there were some twists and turns along the way but the overall impression was of a gentle read.

A good story but unfortunately I found the constant changing through different time periods quite confusing and there were too many characters for me to keep track of so I struggled with this one.

Another wonderful book from the always reliable Kate Morton, the Clockmaker's Daughter takes the reader on a journey through time in order to solve a mystery and right a wrong that has been shrouded in time. When historical archivist Elodie Winslow finds a photograph of a strangely captivating young woman in the belongings of a Victorian artist she becomes irresistibly drawn into an attempt to identify her. The more she learns , the stranger the story seems , there are rumors of an affair, a jewel heist and a strange disappearance. Even stranger, it seems the photo may have been taken at a house that Elodies mother told her about as a girl and may even have visited on the day she died. With consummate skill, Morton draws the reader into a web of intrigue which plays out wonderfully to an even more satisfying conclusion. While the majority of the story is told from Elodie's point of view, there are several chapters from other characters, both in the past and in the current time frame that serve to reveal and round out the story , and while I was not sure about this technique at first as I felt it made the book feel disjointed , it played really well as the book moved towards its conclusion.
Vividly evocative and richly written , this was a treat.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own,

I received a copy of The Clockmaker’s Daughter from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Clockmaker’s Daughter is the first of Kate Morton’s works that I’ve read, but after finishing, I very quickly added her back catalogue to my to-read list. This, for me, was one of those books that overwhelms you when you finish it, and you dive straight in for a 5 star rating.

But I didn’t go in to this novel, knowing it would be such a love for me. In fact, for most of the way through I was wanting it to end. Not in a bad way, just – it’s such a long book. And it seemed to take me forever to crawl through. It’s not that I wasn’t enjoying reading it – I truly did – there is just something about books which are so long. Does it really need to be so long? I’m normally a fast reader and there is something about seeing that bar at the bottom of my Kindle progress so slowly that is off-putting to me. But I know that that’s on me, not the book itself.

There were parts however, that felt too long, that they could have been more succinct, that it was words for the sake of words. But at the same time, that very detail made the book what it was. It was such an in depth account of these characters, so much so that at times it felt like I was reading about real people throughout history, that it needed to be such an epic narrative to squeeze it all in.

But it wasn’t too much. There are books which try to do too much, to have too much going on, and don’t work because of it. But this was a triumph. Each character was so defined, and the connections between them didn’t feel contrived at all. I adored each journey through the different characters, clawing at more information about them all, and of course, Birchwood Manor, a character in itself.

So yes, while at times I found it a slog, the story overall, the resolution and the fact that it’s stayed with me so far since I’ve finished it, and I can feel it sticking around for a lot longer, all those things overpower the struggles I sometimes felt with it. So in reality, I would probably rate it a reasonable 4.5 out of 5, I’m rounding up to a 5. It’s stories like this, epic histories and winding, intricate connections, that as a writer I strive for in my work. It was an adventure to read, and a pleasure to finish, and I still find myself excited to carry on reading, only to be disappointed that I have no more left.

If you enjoy an intriguing ride through the 19th century to present day, a book chock full of mysteries waiting to be solved, myriad, charismatic characters, with tangled relational threads of love and longing, masterly storytelling and a delightful, poetic writing style, then this novel fits the bill.

It seamlessly, if not briefly, skips between people, events and time periods. One major character shines out above the rest. It's a house. Not just any house but the place where these disparate souls meet, and where some experience great joy, mingled with tension, uncertainty and tragedy.

Birchwood Manor is the place Edward Radcliffe became besotted with as a boy and eventually purchased. It's where his sister Lucy set up her school for young ladies and witnessed scenes of horror. Others are drawn to it as a place of refuge from pain and it has a magnetic hold on all who stay within its walls.

Elodie Winslow, an archivist, who is our main link to the present, becomes fascinated by it too. She cannot resist investigating its connection to events she is seeking to resolve from a discovery in an old, battered art satchel that comes to her attention. Little knowing how it would speak into her own romantic entanglement and personal history.

Birdie Bell, the clockmaker's daughter referred to in the title, whose story is woven throughout the book, is the one who holds the secret to past events. As her tale unravels, the loose ends begin to tie up and previous mysteries show signs of being solved. A little bit long and meandering but still a great read.

The Clockmaker’s Daughter switches frequently between different time periods and points of view, some of the latter being introduced for the first time quite a long way into the book.  The first person narrator referred to in the book description as ‘a woman who stands outside time’ may require the willing suspension of disbelief by some readers; others will find it intriguing and inventive.  I enjoyed this narrator’s mischievous nature whilst at the same time feeling an empathy with her evident underlying sadness.   

In the depiction of the group of friends who arrive at Birchwood Manor in 1862, the author conveys the insular atmosphere of an artistic community, full of petty rivalries and jealousies.  (I was reminded of Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot mystery, Five Little Pigs, and Ngaio Marsh’s Inspector Alleyn novel, Artists in Crime.)  There’s a sense of simmering discontent that may boil over at any moment.  When it does, it’s in a quite unexpected way and with far-reaching consequences .

Appropriately given its title, the book makes frequent reference to the passing of time. ‘There was no going back. Time only moved in one direction.  And it didn’t stop.  It never stopped moving, not even to let a person think.  The only way back was in one’s memories.’  Timing devices have significance as well.  At one point, a character remarks, ‘There was no clock inside the studio.  There was no time.’  Another character recalls a grandfather clock whose ‘tick-tock’ sounded louder at night, ‘counting down the minutes, though to what he was never sure; there never seemed to be an end’.  

The book also explores the idea of a sense of place, epitomized by Birchwood Manor which sits at the centre of a web connecting it to the different characters to varying degrees.  The melding of past and present is another recurrent theme.   For example, the book refers to a character entering the house and feeling that they were ‘stepping back in time’.  At another point, Birchwood Manor is described as being like ‘a Sleeping Beauty house’ as if just waiting for someone to reawaken it.   

From my point of view, The Clockmaker’s Daughter marks a return to form for Kate Morton as I really liked The Secret Keeper but didn’t get on at all with The Distant Hours (which is still, I’m afraid, sitting unfinished on my bookshelf).  Although the author has delivered another chunky book and the multiple timelines and points of view demand a good deal of concentration from the reader (a few more reminders of the time period in the chapter headings would have helped), it has a great sense of atmosphere and the unfolding of the mystery is skillfully intertwined with the stories of the various characters.   Edward Radcliffe’s sister, Lucy, observes at one point, ‘a story is not a single idea; it is thousands of ideas, all working together in concert’.  There are certainly a lot of different ideas and narrative strands in The Clockmaker’s Daughter but, on the whole, I believe they do all work together in concert to create a satisfying read (perfect for autumn/winter nights, by the way).

In The Clockmaker’s Daughter, narratives spanning the years from 1862 to 2017 are woven together, anchored around the fascinating Birchwood Manor, the site of a mysterious murder and theft of a precious heirloom. Family secrets intertwine through the years, overlooked by a mysterious woman whose fate is tied to the house.

I thought this was a wonderful novel, excellently plotted, giving up secrets at just the right time.

I found the story a little difficult to get into at first, but really enjoyed it once the main narrative strands were established. It was great to become very involved in one strand and then more onto another, where the narratives started to overlap and secrets were revealed.

Due to the number of main characters, and the fact that Birchwood Manor acts as the main character, some characters weren’t explored as much as others, so I wasn’t so invested in all the narrative strands and it felt at times that I was reading more for plot than character.

The writing flows well, with beautiful descriptions of the house and surroundings, giving a very strong sense of place.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical mystery and intrigue.

I have always enjoyed previous books by Kate Morton but I must admit I did struggle to finish this. It was too long and had so many characters. It also flitted back and fro through the ages, that at times I had to think where I was in the story. There is a mystery surrounding the murder and theft and the events leading up to it are slowly revealed. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I am always completely hooked by Kate Morton's books. Even though I know what the likely outcome will be for some of the characters, I am always drawn into the world that she creates.

"Sentimentality [is] mawkish and cloying, where nostalgia [is] acute and aching...it describe[s] yearning of the most profound kind: an awareness that time's passage could not be stopped..."

Except, presumably, in fiction. Morton's work, whether sentimental or nostalgic, uses a formula that works: a mystery, a wrong that needs to be set right, a big house with its own secrets, a focus on the lives of women across generations. It's part historical fiction, part mystery and all of these novels have the pace of a thriller. The books - though formulaic - magically work their way under the skin. That's not to say there are no surprises. There are twists and turns and also some fabulously inventive writing. One such moment occurred early in the novel where the reader was allowed to hear the inner monologue of a satchel under the weight and history if its contents. That might sound odd, but it worked.

Each woman's story in this particular case is deftly and richly told and then is ultimately woven together, like a great tapestry.

We start with a mysterious character in an old house and who is recounting stories from the past. We discover more in the present-day about this woman and the various allegations that were made against her. There are some allusions made within this story to The Titanic and more than a passing nod to the artist Rossetti. Next up is our main character: Elodie, a clever archivist with her own interesting family history, who is struggling with an interfering soon-to-be mother in law and a relationship that just doesn't seem to be working. Other female narrators are then introduced, with wonderful parallels drawn between each of them.

Yes, this is slightly longer than some of Ms Morton's other books but it's well worth it.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Pan Macmillan, Mantle and Kate Morton for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was looking forward to reading The Clockmaker’s Daughter as Kate Morton’s The House at Riverton and The Secret Keeper are two of my favourite books, but I’m in two minds about it. Whilst I loved parts of it I struggled to read other parts, bogged down by the many changes of time, places and characters, even though I like complicated plots and dual time-lines. It could easily have been made into several books.

I found it difficult to separate the various strands and to create a coherent whole – and it is so long and drawn out. And then there is the supernatural element, which intrigued and delighted me. So, all in all, my reaction is confused and mixed, so much so that at times I wanted to give it 5 stars and then plummeted right down to 2 stars – hence the 3 stars!

It’s richly descriptive and I loved the descriptions of the locations, and of Birchwood Manor, the house on the bend of the river and the story of how Elodie searches to find the history and connections between the satchel, the photograph of a beautiful Victorian woman and an artist’s sketchbook certainly caught my imagination. I also loved the story of Birdie, the clockmaker’s daughter, who is the catalyst for the disaster that befell Edward’s life.

There are multiple narrators very gradually building up a history of Birchwood Manor and the people who lived there over the years up to 2016. But it’s hard to keep track of them all as the narrative jumps backwards and forwards so disjointedly. The connections between what seem to be separate stories eventually become clear – but you have to keep all the separate strands in your head and remember who is related and how their paths meet and diverge.

As the synopsis says it is a story of murder, mystery and thievery, of art, love and loss – all of which appeals to me. And I’m sure plenty of other readers will love this book. It’s a book that I really needed to concentrate on, which is not a bad thing, but for most of its 592 pages it moves at a snail’s pace and I found it an effort. But once you have got to the end and can see the whole picture it really is a good story; very cleverly plotted, maybe too cleverly for me.

An intriguing mystery that spans several decades. The answers are gradually revealed from the perspective of different characters, including a spirit, and the conclusion is both satisfying and frustrating.
Whilst I appreciate Morton is setting the scene and introducing us to one of the main characters, I found the opening chapters a little too slow. - but perhaps that was my own impatience in wanting to discover and unravel the fundamental elements of the mystery.
This didn't grip me as much as some of Morton's other writing but I did enjoy it nonetheless.

I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this book much, I thought it was going to be chick-lit. However, I found myself looking for extra opportunities to pick it up and read a bit more. The winding together of all the different stories was very well done. I’d not be averse to seeking out more books by this author. A really enjoyable read.

Birchwood Manor attracts people – they feel curiously soothed and comforted by it. This is the story of the mysteriously ‘welcoming’ Birchwood Manor, which has a strange familiarity to many of the characters from their own family bedtime stories. It also holds the secret to a shattering day in 1862 where an idyllic Summer ends abruptly for an artists’ community.

Edward Radcliffe finds the house he stumbled across during a traumatic event in his childhood, which then offered him peace and sanctuary. He buys it and invites his friends and little sister to share a convivial summer there. Lily, his muse who is also present is a rather sad character; having been robbed of her childhood when she fell into the care of a cold, greedy woman who sends her (and other ’unwanted’ children) out to steal and pickpocket each day. Edward and Lily’s affection grows.

Stories at the house take place at various dates – the 1860s and the ‘Magenta’ artist community, later when the house becomes a girls’ school, the 1920s – and a private individual’s investigations of the fateful events of 1862; 1940s wartime and the London family (ancestors of the present day character, Elodie) that move after their home is bombed and the present day when we meet archivist, Elodie Winslow. She finds a forgotten, unarchived box at work in a storage area. Inside is a hauntingly familiar picture of a lovely house, together with a satchel and a picture of a beautiful woman; An individual called Jack is also at the lodge of the house, unknown to Elodie he is trying to trace the mysterious ‘Radcliffe Blue’ diamond pendant which vanished on the day of the murder.

As well as a haunting, gothic feel to this book is the affinity you feel for the well described characters; particularly the 3 main women – Lily, Lucy, Edward’s little sister and Elodie. You want Lily to tell her story, Lucy to achieve her promising future and Elodie to ‘grow’ emotionally.

It’s a great ‘curl up on a Winter’s evening’ type of book (though it takes longer than one!) A fascinating trail of events, all linked through the different stories and characters. The fate of the ‘Radcliffe Blue’ diamond and that of the suspected protagonists of the violence on that day in 1862 is muddied by those protecting the reputation of the murder victim; the events are never properly investigated leaving the most convenient solution as the accepted version. But the house has secrets to reveal…

I have liked books by Kate Morton in the past but I found this very slow to get into - it took me a whole week to read it. Once I was two thirds through the pace did improve and I wanted to see how it all came together.

There were too many story lines for me which did come together in the end but I felt as though you had to be focusing to keep on top of them.

The story has Birchwood Manor at its core - a place with magical properties - which draws people in. You become immersed in the trials and tribulations of the Radcliffe family and those linked to them across the generations.

An epic story in many ways covering murder, mystery, theft, secrets and lies as well as a fantastical element.

I have enjoyed all Kate Morton's books and was delighted to receive a pre publication copy of The Clockmaker's Daughter. As usual Kate Norton nails her location, Birchwood Manor, an old house set on the Thames, beautifully. Her characters are also relatable - I especially liked Lily/Birdie.

I didn't much like the choice of title because the book is about so much more than the clockmaker's daughter. Birchwood is the character that hovers over this Gothic tale of a Victorian artist, his family and group of friends in earlier timelines and Elodie in the resent day who discovers a photograph which leads her to Birchwood and the eventual uncovering of a tragedy which took place there.

The Clockmaker's Daughter is a complex read, with many characters and switches in timeline, so not for the fainthearted but with autumn/winter on the horizon a great book to spend a cold weekend with. Many thanks to NetGalley and PanMacMillan for the opportunity to read and review it.

I have read a few of Kate Morton’s books and always enjoyed them. This is no exception. The writing transports you to all the times involved in the story and grips you in their moment. However whilst it is a very long story I felt that the ending didn’t finish it well and left some unanswered questions and a feeling for me anyway of sadness for Birdie. The only section that I didn’t enjoy so much was the section about the family in the house in WW2. It just didn’t evoke the period as much or make me feel empathy for those involved. I would have loved to hear more about both Ada and also why Elodie’s mum went there. I would recommend this book highly but felt the ending let it down slightly

When Elodie discovers a satchel at work containing a picture of a beautiful woman, little does she know how her search to find out who the mystery lady is will lead her to discover secrets closer to home. In The Clockmaker's daughter Kate Morton switches between various narrators and intertwines stories from the 1800s to the present day but they all have one thing in common, Birchwood Manor. What secrets does the manor hold within its walls and will Elodie be the one to finally let them out?
Kate Morton has written a beautiful tale of mystery and intrigue and I thoroughly enjoyed each and every one of the different tales told throughout the book. Truly capivating.

It's the classic Kate Morton formula of past meets present with various threads intelocking in the 'theme of the week/novel' type formula. This time Morton has upped the word count. At times it feels laborious but as it hurtles though it's final third and the pieces come together, you'll find yourself hooked.

Another winner.

A house that slowly yields its secrets.

Elodie Winslow, a young archivist, living in London, unearths an old satchel, the contents of which start her on a journey taking her back 150 years. Her research involves a house that in some strange way she feels she has a personal connection with. The one person who is a key to all the mysteries is Birdie Bell, the clockmaker’s daughter, who is now a spirit, living in the house and watching as all the events of the past start to unfold.

This is a story of murder, mystery, the art world, love and loss. It darts backwards and forwards over the years with not one story but several that finally link up at the end.
This is a formula that might work for some, but I found a little tiresome. The jolting from one era to another is jarring. No sooner did you become involved with one storyline than the narrative takes a completely different tack into another set of characters and another time. It is really about several stories that make up one long book. Each story is written in great detail and rich in the background but pulling all the strands together in the final chapters is done very abruptly, and this proves unsatisfactory after the long read.

Kate Morton has certainly done her research, and the many varied topics that are covered are all written with authenticity, but the detail often gets in the way of the storyline and in bringing the main characters to life. At the start, Elodie Winslow seems to be the heroine but no sooner do we become involved in her story than another begins and so on and so forth. The main narrative is also presented by a spirit who moves through time, and this renders the whole thing rather hard to believe.

Followers of Kate Morton, who are familiar with her genre, will probably enjoy this book. Others will find it tough going with too many distractions.

Jane

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

While I appreciated the slightly pedantic writing style, which is especially suited to the historical chapters, I became so confused by the plethora of characters that I became irretrievably lost. Sorry not for me.