The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton

Title: The Clockmaker’s Daughter

Author: Kate Morton

Publisher: Atria 2018

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 485

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: UnRead Shelf; Women Authors; Dancing with SciFi and Fantasy - Ghosts

In the summer of 1862, a group of young artists led by the passionate and talented Edward Radcliffe descends upon Birchwood Manor on the banks of the Upper Thames. Their plan: to spend a secluded summer month in a haze of inspiration and creativity. But by the time their stay is over, one woman has been shot dead while another has disappeared; a priceless heirloom is missing; and Edward Radcliffe's life is in ruins.

Over one hundred and fifty years later, Elodie Winslow, a young archivist in London, uncovers a leather satchel containing two seemingly unrelated items: a sepia photograph of an arresting-looking woman in Victorian clothing, and an artist's sketchbook containing the drawing of a twin-gabled house on the bend of a river.

Why does Birchwood Manor feel so familiar to Elodie? And who is the beautiful woman in the photograph? Will she ever give up her secrets?

I’ve enjoyed a few of Morton’s previous works, so I had to have this one when it came up for Book of the Month last October. I finally picked it up to dive in last week and immediately fell into another world. I love how Morton creates an entire atmosphere surrounding her setting. The house is just fantastic and beautiful and mysterious and enchanting. I love how Morton connects all the different characters and ad time periods to create one epic story. The murder mystery was actually one fo the least interesting aspects. I really wanted to hear more about many of the other characters like Ada and Leonard. In fact, I think Ada was my favorite character. Overall, I took my time with this book and loved every page of it.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Distant Hours by Kate Morton

Title: The Distant Hours

Author: Kate Morton

Publisher: Atria 2010

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 562

Rating:  4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: TBR Reduction; 52 Books - W37

It starts with a letter, lost for half a century and unexpectedly delivered to Edie’s mother on a Sunday afternoon. The letter leads Edie to Milderhurst Castle, where the eccentric Blythe spinsters live and where, she discovers, her mother was billeted during World War II. The elder Blythe sisters are twins and have spent most of their lives caring for their younger sister, Juniper, who hasn’t been the same since her fiancé jilted her in 1941. Inside the decaying castle, Edie searches for her mother’s past but soon learns there are other secrets hidden in its walls. The truth of what happened in “the distant hours” has been waiting a long time for someone to find it. In this enthralling romantic thriller, Morton pays homage to the classics of gothic fiction, spinning a rich and intricate web of mystery, suspense, and lost love.

I loved Morton's The Forgotten Garden and was hoping to love this one also. Thankfully I did love this one. The story of the Blythe Sisters twisted and turned in all the right places. I kept second guessing my assumptions about what had happened to Juniper, Percy, and Saffy. I loved finding the truth right along with Edie. But my favorite part of the book was the atmosphere. Morton creates something special with her writing. I could almost feel myself traveling the drafty old Castle along with the characters. Although it took me almost two weeks to finish, I really enjoyed this book. I hope to read more from Morton in the future.

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

Title: The Forgotten Garden

Author: Kate Morton

Publisher: Washington Square Press 2008

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 552

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: T4MC - About a family; Genre - Women's Fiction; Women Authors; TBR Pile

How I Got It: I own it

A tiny girl is abandoned on a ship headed for Australia in 1913. She arrives completely alone with nothing but a small suitcase containing a few clothes and a single book—a beautiful volume of fairy tales. She is taken in by the dockmaster and his wife and raised as their own. On her twenty-fi rst birthday, they tell her the truth, and with her sense of self shattered and very little to go on, "Nell" sets out to trace her real identity. Her quest leads her to Blackhurst Manor on the Cornish coast and the secrets of the doomed Mountrachet family. But it is not until her granddaughter, Cassandra, takes up the search after Nell’s death that all the pieces of the puzzle are assembled.

Our February book Club selection and I freaking loved it!  It's a gorgeous novel tracing the exposure of a huge mystery.  I love Morton's writing.  Even attempting to follow multiple narrators, I didn't have any problems.  Morton seamlessly transitions between times and narrators.  I was with each of the characters throughout.  Speaking of characters, I was in love with all of them.  Well, that's not exactly true.  Rose and Adeline were definitely the villains of the piece.  Of course, Rose is unintentionally a villain, but still her reversal towards Eliza makes her a suitable villain.  I felt very connected with Cassandra and Nell and Eliza.  There was something about those three characters that just pulled me straight in.  And the mystery kept me guessing for most of the book.  I admit that I figured it out before the big reveal, but Morton's storytelling kept me engaged throughout.  Amazing book.  Now I must add Morton's other books to my TBR list.