It is a truth universally acknowledged that Kate Morton is one of the best authors in the world. That is just a fact. Anyone who reads her books will be blown away by the brilliance of her writing and the intricacies of the plots. She is an author that I will always read and reread, and I will continue to do so. Forever. She has written many novels, but I believe this one might be her best yet! What a ride! An excellent mystery/thriller but it was so much more than that. With Kate Morton it always is, Everyone would enjoy the twists and turns and the brilliant original plot - but she manages to also tell a story about the love and bond of family, and of secrets that can fester and destroy. Wonderful, captivating writing gives this novel the depth and ability to pull in any reader. Vivid, descriptive story-telling, with interesting characters that have depth to them, and skillfully rendered, and I also really enjoyed the 'police procedural' aspect of the book. I highly recommend this author and all of her other books I have read have been nothing less than fantastic. She is definitely an auto-buy author for me, and I can't wait to own this novel in print. My profuse and overflowing thanks to netgalley and the publisher for granting me an ARC of this absolutely fantastic book!

Such a wonderful novel full of twists and turns. Truly transporting and page Turning. Just a beautiful cover and story

I really liked the story and the world being built in this novel, though it could have been more tightly edited. I found myself not needing the pages of description of interior - it's more fun for me to imagine most of that. The twists and turns bordered on gimmicky, but I was okay with them in the end.

For the most part, this is a classic Kate Morton book. You have dual timelines, strong sense of place, interesting side characters, and of course, a twist. I felt that in this case, the twist(s) felt a little contrived. Also, there were several parts that felt redundant, but maybe that will be cleaned up before the final publication. It certainly paints a vivid picture of South Australia. While the book is long, which one expects from a Kate Morton novel, it kept my interest.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.

One of my favorite writers, a wonderful wonderful book, full of all the KM hallmarks and magic. A fabulous novel.

What a great book! Taught and well written but most importantly I couldn't out it down. I love all her books but this was even better!

I really enjoyed the plot and storyline, but the pace was just a little too slow for me, The writing is really great, but it is also longwinded.

Writing: 4/5 Characters: 5/5 Plot: 5/5

A dual timeline story in the Adelaide Hills (Australian Outback). In 1959 an inexplicable tragedy occurs with a nasty, but generally accepted explanation which is never actually proved. In 2018 Jessica Turner-Bridges races back to Sydney when the grandmother who raised her suddenly takes ill. A free lance journalist, Jessica gets obsessed with with the 1959 story which she has stumbled on and which — it turns out — is closely related to her family.

Vivid writing bringing to life the surroundings and individual, interconnected stories. Good pacing continually introduces new stories and sources that shift your understanding at the same pace as it does for Jessica. I kept thinking I knew what had happened but was continually surprised. There was a little more scenic description than I like (I’m not a visual person) but I was able to skim those sections if they got too long. Plenty of drama (but not melodrama — the events were dramatic but the characters got on with doing their best and didn’t descend into wailing and teeth gnashing). It was difficult at time knowing in advance what happened (and that is is awful) and watching the narrative slowly unfold to explain the details. On the other hand, in a weird way it is less stressful knowing the end as there is no way to avoid it.

Some beautiful commentary on books and reading and a nice array of literary and cinematic references. Some genuine and insightful reflection on loneliness, community, motherhood, purpose, identity, and the impact of events on a wider assemblage of persons than might be suggested by the event itself.

After twenty years working as a journalist in London, Jess finds herself jobless after she’s laid off. A phone call from Sydney brings her home when she learns her beloved grandmother, has fallen and been hospitalized. At her grandmother, Nora’s home, Jess uncovers an old book that tells of the terrible tragedy that befell the Turner family, who have connections to Jess’s own family, on Christmas 1959. The sensational murder mystery has never been solved. Jess’s journalistic instincts kick into high gear, the story could be the start of a new career – if she is willing to put love and family loyalty aside. Morton is one of the best “English country house” mystery writers around, and I was excited to read this, her first book in a few years. While the English country house is in Australia this time out, all the elements that make Morton’s stories pure gold are there