Elizabeth returns to Ireland to tend to her mother's affairs after her death. While there - she finds letters from her father, a man that she's never known.

This book is ...unexpected. Graham Norton is known for his TV personality. In fact, I wasn't even aware of his fiction writings. This is just a delight. An unexpected and wonderful delight.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I had no idea what to expect from this author, only previously aware of him as a TV personality. This book switches between the present and around 40 years earlier, switches which I initially found a bit annoying, but I soon got used to them as the technique helped to draw out and explain the main plot. There are a couple of sub-plots involving an ex-husband and the son of the principal protagonist. In my opinion these sub-plots are essentially unnecessary but they do add to the fun of the read and bulk out the book which is a real page-turner that I read in one afternoon. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me a copy of "A Keeper" in exchange for this honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for providing with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book had me torn ; I really enjoyed the mystery element and how it drove the story but I felt almost everything around it was unnecessary and not as interesting, though I got the parallel between Elizabeth's situation at the end and her mother's.

I also enjoyed the Irish countryside setting in this book and especially the descriptions of the sea.

I however did not like our mc that much, she annoyed me and I didn't feel like she was that great of a person ; obviously I understand that her life hasn't been easy and the discoveries she makes in the span of this book are a lot to take in but she just seemed a bit mean to me.

To end on a good note, I always love when stories are told going back and forth between present and past so this was great for me and helped me go through the book quickly.

I much preferred the story in the past to that of the one in the present (especially at the end), but this was a pleasant surprise. It went in directions I never expected, in all good ways.

I did not know this is the same Graham Norton as the talk-show host/comedian until I read some of the reviews from the other readers. It is a well-written novel with a very sombre tone that I wouldn't have expected from Graham Norton the comedian. It goes to show one should never judge a book by its cover ;)

Divorced New Yorker Elizabeth Keane returns to Ireland following the death of her mother in order to settle her mother's affairs and clear her estate. She fully intends on selling up and returning to New York as soon as possible, but when she begins to clear the house, she stumbles on a bag of letters before she was even born - letters written by her father, who she never knew. We then follow Elizabeth's mother Patricia's life through the letters, finding out how she ended up being a spinster living alone in a rat-infested cottage. Meanwhile, Elizabeth's beloved son Zach is spending time with his estranged father in California, which adds further elements to the overall story (I won't say too much as I don;'t want to spoil anything!)

This is a really well-written book about family, love, loss, mental health, and the secrets we keep. I was pleasantly surprised by both the plot and the well-rounded characters, and would definitely read more from Graham Norton.

NOTE: I was provided with a free ARC copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I read Graham Norton's autobiography and thoroughly enjoyed it so was intrigued to learn that he has ventured into the genre of fiction. I was not disappointed. I enjoyed this book and could empathise with most of the characters - apart from Brian who I found unnecessary and a little "creepy."
I like books which jump between timelines and this was done brilliantly in "A Keeper." Set in Ireland, it was obvious that Graham Norton was comfortable with the geography and the people and this certainly added to the enjoyment of the story.
I am amazed but not surprised at the versatility and talent of this author.
Thank you Netgalley, Graham Norton and Atria Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book and give my honest opinion.

I was really impressed by Graham Norton's first novel, so I was excited to have an opportunity to read A Keeper from NetGalley. Mr. Norton delivers again!

This is a quiet family drama about a woman (Elizabeth) who returns to her birthplace in Ireland after her mother (Patricia) passes away. While there she discovers a batch of love letters from a man she guesses might be her birth father who passed away when she was an infant. She learns that she has inherited not just her mother's home, but also a "castle" in another village. The story is told from two perspectives: Elizabeth's in the present and Patricia's in the past.

Graham Norton is a gifted storyteller, and he is especially talented at character development. Once I got started, I couldn't put A Keeper down. There was a tangential story about Elizabeth's son that I didn't find that interesting, but it provided a nice way to tie the two women's stories together in the end.

My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing a digital ARC.

Graham Norton is best known for his work on television, but I knew nothing about him until 2016, when I read his first novel, Holding, which pulled me in through its originality, warmth, and humor. When I learned that he had another book to be released this summer, I didn’t have to think twice. Thank you to Net Galley and Atria for the review copy. A Keeper will be available to the public August 13, 2019.

Elizabeth is her mother’s only child, so like it or not, she must return to Ireland to deal with her estate. Her childhood wasn’t a happy one; her mother was never a warm fuzzy sort. But as she sifts through the many piles of crud left behind, she finds a pile of letters. Perhaps she can finally learn something about the father her mom would never discuss! But soon she learns that she is also heir to a second home near the sea. Since she never knew her father and her mother was hardly in a position to purchase a vacation home, Elizabeth is mystified.

Told alternately with Elizabeth’s story is that of her mother, Patricia, forty years earlier. Lonely and dateless, she lets the singles advertisements in the local paper decide her destiny, although nothing goes the way she anticipates. Some of us are swept away by love; others by something else entirely.

The level of suspense Norton creates is undeniable. I ignore errands and invitations while I am reading it, carrying out household tasks in an absentminded way that nearly finds me dropping dog food into the washing machine. It’s a quick read, and perfect for a long vacation weekend or just curled up in front of the fan with a cold drink. In fact…you definitely want to read this while the weather is warm. Trust me.

Highly recommended.

"When Elizabeth Keane returns to Ireland after her mother’s death, she’s focused only on saying goodbye to that dark and dismal part of her life. Her childhood home is packed solid with useless junk, her mother’s presence already fading. But within this mess, she discovers a small stash of letters - and ultimately, the truth.

Forty years earlier, a young woman stumbles from a remote stone house, the night quiet except for the constant wind that encircles her as she hurries deeper into the darkness away from the cliffs and the sea. She has no sense of where she is going, only that she must keep on.

A Keeper confirms Graham Norton’s status as a fresh and evocative literary voice, and illustrates his clear-eyed understanding of human nature and its darkest flaws."

A love Graham SO MUCH! What I wouldn't give for a US signing tour, just saying...

A quick read full of family secrets waiting to be discovered. The situation with the Foley family was unexpected (trying not to put in any spoilers).
Graham Norton does a great job capturing the characters and the setting. Thanks for letting me read it! ........................................................................................................................................................................

I'm a huge fan of Graham and this is the first book I have read by him and was surprised as it was s creepy.

This is a first class page turner from start. to finish. With present and pass day characters. It keeps the reader interested and entertained and really was not what I expected with a real mystery about Elizabeth's mother's past and her own identity. Great writing and a brilliant story; I enjoyed this book very much and would definitely read another of Graham's books.

Thanks Netgalley and publisher for letting me have this book.

When cleaning out her recently deceased mother's house, Elizabeth comes across letters from the father she never knew. I enjoyed this a lot. I liked Patricia and, like Elizabeth, wished she'd still been alive once Elizabeth began to find out the truth. Four stars.

A Keeper is the first book I've read by Graham Norton. I was drawn to it because he is an Irish author and I like to read books set in Ireland. This was an excellent story, although rather sad overall. It tells the story of Elizabeth Keane and of her mother, Patricia Keane, through the use of alternating chapters of 'Then' and 'Now'.
Elizabeth lives in America, but returns to Ireland after her mother's death to settle her Estate. While clearing some things from the family home she discovers information that reveals how little she really knew of Patricia's life, and of her own father. Always told her father is dead, Elizabeth sets out to visit the area he was from. Many surprises about her heritage await her there, and Elizabeth's entire perception of her birth and family is changed by what is revealed. While all this is going on, Elizabeth is also dealing with some shocking news about her 17 year old son, who is supposed to be visiting his own father on the West Coast of the US.
I greatly enjoyed reading this book, and highly recommend it. Many thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read it in exchange for my honest review. I look forward to reading more books by Mr. Norton!

This book is definitely a page-turner. I was super intrigued by the story and enjoyed it alternating between past and present. I wish some of the mystery’s “reveals” were more shocking or suspenseful, but I enjoyed the story altogether. Would recommend to people who like mysteries that aren’t necessary thrillers.

Not as good as his first but still shows he has a talent for writing., I enjoyed the storyline and characters and it held my interest.

I tend to wait at least a day after finishing a book to post review, but I am highly annoyed right now and just want to put this book behind me. I maybe at one point while reading this ARC said are you serious and then started muttering to myself about just DNFing it. I don't like to do that with NetGalley reads though, so I may have to rethink on that in the future. This book was all over the place. I thought I was sitting down to read a solid mystery about a woman returning (Elizabeth) to her hometown in Ireland and finding out about her mother's (Patricia) past. Instead we don't really find out about it, we hear bits and pieces via other inconsequential secondary characters. The author throwing Patrica's POV in did nothing to help things. The plot with Elizabeth's son came out of nowhere and just made zero sense. Maybe if Norton actually spent time building up any of these characters I would have cared more.

"A Keeper" follows Elizabeth Keane as she returns back home to settle her deceased mother's (Patricia) estate. Elizabeth hates being back in her hometown and feels like a failure. She's a single mother raising her 17 year old son and dealing with the fall out of her marriage still. While staying at her mother's home, Elizabeth is informed there's a codicil to her mother's will and also finds letters from her father that he wrote to her mother almost 40 years ago. From there we have Elizabeth traveling back to where her father lived and finding out about what led her mother to him all of those years ago.

So I was unsympathetic to Elizabeth during this entire book. She pretty much sucks from beginning to end. She didn't really stay in touch with her mother and even when she was dying didn't seem to see the need to be there. She acts put out by things and is reluctant to be away from her son. Most of the book is Elizabeth remembering how her mother raised her and either finding fault with it and or missing her at the same time. She goes on and on about her marriage and the her POV's were so scattered. I don't think Norton did a very good job developing Elizabeth. She was a chess piece to move around while he focused on what he wanted the story to be about, Patricia.

The second POV flashes back to Patricia when she was in her early 30s. After more than a decade taking care of her ill mother. Patricia is a bit lonely and when her friend pushes her to put an ad in a farmer's magazine she ends up starting correspondence with a man named Edward Foley. No spoilers, but things are not what they seem there.

So Norton goes back and forth between Elizabeth and Patricia. I pretty much guessed most of what is revealed. It wouldn't have been an issue if the plot had been put together very well. I just found myself bored from beginning to end of this book.

I can't say much about anyone else in this book because they are not developed well at all. We have Elizabeth's son Zach, her ex-husband, Patricia's ex friend Rosemary and Edward Foley. Don't even get me started on why we get a separate POV for Rosemary, it wasn't necessary and added nothing to the story.

The writing was not very good I found. I just think that there were too many things happening and that Norton didn't make sure that both POVs worked well. Maybe if there was no Patricia POV that would have helped flesh out Elizabeth's POV more. The book then could have been more reliant on the mystery aspect. I thought that whole thing fizzled out. Elizabeth finds out about things and just does nothing. I just had to shake my head on all of that effort to tell this story for no big pay off.

The flow was not great. The POVs between Patricia and Elizabeth and the mini POVs for Edward and Rosemary just didn't hang together well.

The book's setting is Ireland in the present and the 1970s. Maybe I have been reading too much Tana French and Maeve Binchy, but the book didn't feel "Irish" to me. Even Elizabeth didn't. Maybe because she had been away for so long, but there's no mention of her having an accent or how her relatives sound, etc. We get descriptions of the house and farm and that's it.

The ending was definitely a disappointment. I mean you can guess what was coming based on the context of everything you read before. The stuff with Zach should have been left on the cutting room floor.

More family secrets, and the reader asking "how well DO we know our family members? what secrets have they hid"? Graham gives another twisting mystery that will leave you wondering why he didn't start writing fiction YEARS ago! As the story weaves back and forth, the reader has to try to decide who is telling the truth and where the lies remain to be unsealed. And what happens when they come to the light? It's a tale from a perfect Irish storyteller, and one not to take on vacation, as you'll be GLUED to its pages until you finish!

Secrets die kept to the last breath.

Elizabeth Keane travels with a heavy heart from New York to Buncarragh just north of Kilkenny. Her mother passed away and it is now up to Elizabeth to sort through her things and close up the house. She's a recently divorced mother of seventeen year old Zach. Zach will be spending time with his father in San Francisco during her absence.

Living in America has left a void in Elizabeth as she tries to interact with her extended Irish family. She comes across some handwritten letters to her mother from a man by the name of Edward Foley in Cork. Elizabeth is perplexed as to the nature of the letters.

While trying to figure out the source of the letters, Elizabeth is contacted by her mother's attorney. She's inherited a house in Cork with no explanation whatsoever. Out of curiosity, Elizabeth plans a day to trip to view the property. It is here that the story gets a firmer foothole and we, as readers, will come to see what Graham Norton has in mind for us.

A Keeper has the vibes of Misery by Stephen King in some respects. What begins as a mother/daughter relationship novel will soon take on a much, much darker theme. And that, Boys and Girls, is a delightful plum pudding.

Graham Norton will reach back into Elizabeth's mother's past with chapters entitled "Then and Now". Patricia Keane's younger life will catch you off guard. We certainly didn't see it coming and when it arrives it will knock the chair right out from under you. The more you struggle, the deeper you sink.

A Keeper is a clever, creative read with some highly unusual characters. It's comprised of events of faulty decision-making that befalls one while searching for a better life. Lifting the lid may be quite the shocker. A Keeper is my first Graham Norton read and I'm very much impressed by the writing. I look forward to the next offering. It's that good.

I received a copy of A Keeper through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Atria Books and to Graham Norton for the opportunity.

A well written, original mystery that really hooked me and made sure I finished. While not my very favorite, it still was one that I found to be well written and intriguing enough to finish. I loved the switching of time periods, to give the story more of a back history. Definitely one that was well written and chilling at times.
Will recommend to those in Chapter Chatter Pub!