This book was not what I expected, but it was still so amazing. The Secret Keeper is my third Kate Morton book, and it did not fail to surprise me.
When Laurel was sixteen-years-old, she witnessed her mother stab a stranger to death in her own front yard. Laurel has been haunted by this event her entire life. Now her mother, Dorothy, is about to celebrate her ninetieth and likely final birthday, and Laurel realizes this is the last chance she will have to uncover the truth about that shocking day in 1961.
This story simultaneously follows Laurel in present-day England (2011) and Dorothy in 1941 London during the war. We learn about Dorothy's life and her friends and lovers during that time, including about the lives two important people in her life, Jimmy and Vivien. The two timelines interweave as Laurel tries to solve the mystery while we learn about Dorothy's life leading up to that day as well.
The Secret Keeper is a twisty and engaging tale that I could not put down. I love how Kate Morton slowly reveals answers while also posing more questions throughout the entire book. This novel felt more historical than the other two I've read so far (The Forgotten Garden and The Lake House) since it takes place during the middle of World War Two and the characters are constantly facing the consequences of war, such as bombs being dropped in their neighborhood, family members going off to war, friends dying during the Blitz, etc. The other novels were historical but had a very different feel than this one did. I will admit I enjoyed her other books slightly better because of this aspect, but I obviously still loved this one. And HOLY COW THAT TWIST AT THE END!! I thought we had all the answers and the entire mystery was solved and then she throws that at us? I was dead. So good.
I absolutely recommend The Secret Keeper to any historical mystery fans out there. Morton is exceptionally skilled at creating realistic and compelling atmospheres that make you feel like you are there with the characters. She's descriptive without going overboard. I've loved everything I've read by her so far, and I will continue to read all of the books she releases until the day I die.
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